Yang Guo: I'm invincible in the opening battle against Aunt Guo!

Cheng Ying waited quietly under the eaves.

He overheard the conversation inside the courtyard, but his face remained expressionless.

As he walked over, she whispered, "You're very good to them."

Yang Guo smiled and said, "We are all comrades who have shared life and death, so naturally we should take care of each other."

"You called that girl Ping'er?" Cheng Ying asked, puzzled.

In her memory, and in the occasional stories told by the Guo family, there was no girl whose name contained the character "Ping".

"Miss Wanyan Ping, she is injured, so it is only right that we take extra care of her."

After listening, Cheng Ying was a little confused, but she didn't say anything more.

When the two arrived at the front hall, it was already brightly lit.

Guo Jing sat in the main seat, Huang Rong was beside him, and Ke Zhen'e sat at the lower end.

Da Wu and Xiao Wu changed into clean clothes and sat opposite Guo Jing.

Guo Fu stood next to Huang Rong, and her eyes lit up when she saw Yang Guo enter.

"Guo'er is here." Guo Jing looked up, and upon seeing Yang Guo, a relieved smile appeared on his face. "Please sit down. Junior Sister Cheng, you sit down too."

Yang Guo and Cheng Ying bowed and took their seats.

"Uncle Cheng," Guo Fu greeted with a smile.

Cheng Ying nodded: "Miss Guo."

Cheng Ying was Guo Fu's maternal grandfather's disciple, so according to seniority, she was indeed her senior uncle.

However, she was quite polite to Guo Fu, so she always addressed her as "Miss" instead of "Junior Sister".

After everyone was seated, the food and wine were slowly served. Guo Jing glanced at everyone, especially Yang Guo, and then raised his cup:

"It's a joyous occasion that Guo'er has returned safely. This cup of wine is to welcome you back and wash away the dust of your journey."

Everyone raised their glasses and drank together.

After that drink, the atmosphere at the table should have been harmonious and lively.

However, Wu Dunru suddenly put down his wine glass and stood up.

"Master," his voice trembled slightly, "your disciple has something to say."

Guo Jing frowned: "What is it?"

Wu Dunru pointed at Yang Guo: "Yang Guo... he brought back that vixen Li Mochou today! That vixen even injured our brothers!"

Wu Xiuwen also stood up: "Master! That witch is our mother's killer! You also know about the tragedy that happened in Lu Family Village, Jiaxing many years ago!"

The atmosphere in the hall froze instantly upon hearing this.

Guo Jing's face darkened: "Guo'er, is this true?"

Yang Guo put down his chopsticks, his expression calm: "It is true. Master Li did come to Xiangyang with me, and Brothers Da and Xiao Wu did indeed fight with her."

"You admitted it!" Wu Dunru exclaimed excitedly. "Master, you heard it! Yang Guo knew perfectly well that Li Mochou was our mother's killer, yet he still brought her to Xiangyang! He... he didn't care about our blood feud at all!"

Guo Jing looked at Yang Guo, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes: "Guo'er, why...?"

"Uncle Guo," Yang Guo interrupted him, "Master Li has come here to fight against the Mongols."

"Resist the Mongols?" Wu Xiuwen sneered. "Who doesn't know Li Mochou is a ruthless killer? Would she really help out of kindness? Yang Guo, do you think we're three-year-olds?"

When Ke Zhen'e heard that Yang Guo was actually hanging out with Li Mochou, he was furious.

He immediately grabbed the iron rod beside him and slammed it heavily into the floor, almost making a hole in it.

Then, in a cold voice, he said, "Yang Guo, tell me honestly, what exactly is your relationship with that female demon?"

All eyes in the hall were on Yang Guo.

Guo Fu looked at him nervously.

Huang Rong remained calm, picked up her teacup, and took a small sip.

Cheng Ying frowned slightly, and her eyes showed a hint of worry as she looked at Yang Guo.

Yang Guo was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I met Master Li by chance on the road. She heard that the Mongol army was coming and wanted to come to Xiangyang to help. I thought that the more people there were, the more help there would be, so I invited her to come with me."

"As for the blood feud between Brother Da Wu and Brother Xiao Wu..." He looked at the two of them, "I'm sorry, I didn't know that before."

"You don't know?" Wu Dunru's voice was hoarse. "Yang Guo, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? To humiliate us!"

"Exactly!" Wu Xiuwen said, his eyes red. "If someone brought your father's killer to you, would you still be so calm?"

These words were spoken.

Guo Jing's expression immediately changed: "Xiuwen, shut up!"

Yang Guo glanced at Huang Rong casually.

Huang Rong was so engrossed in Xiao Wu's words that she didn't notice Yang Guo's gaze.

Wasn't Huang Rong the one who killed his father?

However, wasn't Wanyan Kang's (Yang Kang's) death entirely of his own making?

However, he is a junior and has no right to comment on the older generation.

Moreover, to be honest, he doesn't even have the slightest interest in revenge.

Huang Rong and Guo Jing treated Wanyan Kang so well; how could Yang Guo not know that?

Not to mention, the main reason for Wanyan Kang's death was his own folly. He ambushed Huang Rong and was poisoned to death by the poison armor on her body.

Silence fell over the hall.

Just then, Huang Rong gently put down her teacup and said softly, "Dunru and Xiuwen, your master understands your feelings."

Her voice was gentle, carrying a soothing power: "The hatred for killing one's mother is irreconcilable; it's only human nature. Your master's wife doesn't blame you."

Hearing his master's wife say this, Da Wu and Xiao Wu felt even more aggrieved.

But Huang Rong changed the subject: "But have you ever thought about why Li Mochou would come to Xiangyang with Guo'er?"

She looked at Yang Guo, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes that only Yang Guo could understand:

"I know Guo'er's temperament; he's not someone who doesn't know what's important. Since he brought Li Mochou along, he must have his reasons."

"What logic could there be?" Wu Dunru retorted.

Huang Rong smiled slightly: "Do you know where Li Mochou's martial arts ranks in the martial arts world?"

Da Wu and Xiao Wu were taken aback.

"Li Mochou, the Red-Lian Fairy, though ruthless in her actions, has already reached the peak of the Innate Realm in martial arts, only a step away from becoming a Grandmaster," Huang Rong said slowly. "If such a master were truly willing to resist the Mongols, what would that mean for the defenders of Xiangyang?"

Guo Jing's expression shifted.

Huang Rong continued, "Currently, the Mongol army has many masters such as the Golden Wheel Monk. What about our side? Although Brother Jing's martial arts are high, he can't fight alone. If we could have another master at the peak of the Innate Realm..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Wu Dunru opened his mouth, but didn't know how to refute it.

"But Master's wife," Wu Xiuwen said through gritted teeth, "she is, after all, our mother's killer..."

"I know," Huang Rong nodded. "That's why Guo'er didn't let her stay in the mansion, but told her to find another place to live. It's out of respect for you."

She paused, then looked at Guo Jing: "Brother Jing, what do you think?"

Guo Jing pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Rong'er is right. With a formidable enemy at hand, we must prioritize the overall situation."

He looked at Da Wu and Xiao Wu: "Dunru, Xiuwen, I've remembered your grudge. After we defeat the Mongol army, I'll personally take you to settle this score. But for now... please be patient, okay?"

Since Master has said so, what can Da Wu and Xiao Wu say?

The two reluctantly lowered their heads and said, "Yes, Master."

"Alright," Huang Rong said with a smile, "the food's getting cold, let's eat."

She personally served food to Da Wu and Xiao Wu, and then ladled a bowl of soup for Yang Guo: "Guo'er, you must be tired from the journey. Drink some soup to nourish yourself."

Yang Guo accepted the bowl: "Thank you, Master."

Seeing this, Guo Fu quickly put a piece of meat on Yang Guo's plate, saying, "Brother Yang, this is delicious."

Huang Rong saw this and chuckled to herself.

Cheng Ying ate her meal quietly, occasionally glancing at Yang Guo and then at Guo Fu, sighing softly in her heart.

The banquet continued, thanks to Yang Guo's safe return.

Guo Jing was very happy.

He then kept pouring wine for Yang Guo.

By the time it was over, it was already quite late.