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

Cheng Ying sat in the room for a while.

She wiped away the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes and slowly stood up, leaning on the bookshelf for support.

He bent down to pick up the books that had fallen to the ground.

My fingertips trembled uncontrollably when they touched the pages.

Yang Guo's words still echoed in my ears.

"Your red lips are so beautiful, may I kiss them?"

His recklessness, his directness, his... made her heart race uncontrollably.

"Cheng Ying, you really are..." she muttered to herself, her tone full of self-mockery.

Just as I was about to compose myself, there was another knock at the door.

"Tap, tap, tap."

Three soft sounds, neither hurried nor slow.

Cheng Ying froze, and the book in her hand almost slipped from her grasp again.

Could it be... that he's back again?

She bit her lip, forcing herself to remain calm as she walked towards the door, but hesitated when her hand touched the latch.

"Uncle-Master, it's me." Yang Guo's voice came from outside the door, clear and gentle. "Please open the door."

Cheng Ying took a deep breath and opened the door.

Outside the door, Yang Guo indeed stood there, his blue robe neat and new, a faint smile on his face, his eyes clear and open, as if the enchanting entanglement just now had never happened.

"You... why are you here again?" Cheng Ying subconsciously took a half step back, her voice tinged with panic.

Seeing her wary expression, Yang Guo couldn't help but chuckle: "Does Martial Aunt perhaps think that I've come here to continue asking for kisses?"

Cheng Ying's cheeks flushed instantly, both embarrassed and angry: "You... what nonsense are you talking about!"

"Then why are you so nervous, Aunt?" Yang Guo stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. His gaze swept across the room, finally settling on her slightly reddened eyes. "Aunt...did you cry just now?"

Cheng Ying turned her face away: "No. What important matter could Junior Nephew Yang have that you've returned to?"

She deliberately emphasized the words "junior disciple," as if to remind him, and also as if to remind herself.

Yang Guo turned to look at her, a sly glint in his eyes: "This disciple does have something to attend to. However... it's not the kind of thing Uncle-Master is thinking of."

Cheng Ying felt uncomfortable under his gaze and pursed her lips, saying, "Then tell me, what is it?"

"This disciple wishes to take my martial uncle to meet someone," Yang Guo said solemnly. "This person will surely delight my martial uncle upon meeting him."

Cheng Ying was taken aback, her delicate brows furrowing slightly: "Who is it?"

Yang Guo, however, kept everyone in suspense: "You'll know when my uncle comes with me. If I tell you now, there will be no surprise."

"You..." Cheng Ying said helplessly, "How could I possibly go out of the manor with you so easily? What if my senior sister asks..."

"I will explain to Master," Yang Guo said with a smile. "Besides, this person has a deep connection with my martial uncle. If my martial uncle doesn't see him, he will definitely regret it later."

He spoke so solemnly that Cheng Ying's heart began to waver.

Leaving the manor with Yang Guo... If this gets out, who knows how much gossip will circulate.

She only learned about Yang Guo's teasing from the servants' discussion.

The news has already spread throughout the entire Guo residence.

If we go out with him now, wouldn't that be confirming what those people were saying?

But he spoke with such certainty, as if there really was someone important waiting for her.

"Who exactly is it?" Cheng Ying asked again. "You should at least give me a hint."

Yang Guo pondered for a moment and said, "This person... my martial uncle knew her many years ago. But it has been so long since we last met, my martial uncle must have almost forgotten what she looks like."

"You've known each other for many years?" A thought flashed through Cheng Ying's mind, almost impossible, but she forcibly suppressed it.

impossible……

My cousin... she's long gone.

A flicker of pain crossed her eyes as she lowered them and said, "Junior Nephew Yang, you must be joking. Among the people I know, there are probably not many who would make you so solemn to bring me to meet you."

Yang Guo looked at her gloomy expression and understood—she must have thought of Lu Wushuang.

"Uncle-Master, you'll know once you come with me." He stretched out his hand, palm up, "I promise I will not disappoint you."

Cheng Ying looked at his outstretched hand, hesitated for a long time, and finally gently placed her hand on it.

That's it.

I'll believe him this once.

The two left Cheng Ying's courtyard and headed towards the side gate of the Guo residence.

Yang Guo and Cheng Ying walked side by side. Along the way, they encountered several servants and maids. When they saw the two walking together, their eyes flashed with surprise, but they dared not ask any questions and simply bowed.

Cheng Ying lowered her head, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She could feel the probing gazes in those eyes, and her heart couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Was it right or wrong for me to follow Yang Guo out of the manor?

After exiting the side gate of the Guo residence.

Yang Guo led Cheng Ying towards the south of the city, his pace unhurried, as if he were deliberately waiting for her.

"Junior Nephew Yang," Cheng Ying finally couldn't help but ask, "who exactly is the person you're taking me to see?"

Yang Guo turned his head to look at her, a smile in his eyes: "Why don't you take a guess, Martial Aunt?"

Cheng Ying shook her head: "I can't guess."

"Does Uncle-Master still remember... what happened at Lu Family Manor back then?" Yang Guo asked tentatively.

Cheng Ying stopped abruptly, her face turning deathly pale: "Why...why are you bringing this up?"

Lujiazhuang...

That was the deepest pain in her heart.

Li Mochou, the Red Serpent Fairy, massacred the Lu Family Manor. Her uncle Lu Zhanyuan and aunt He Yuanjun were both killed, and her cousin Lu Wushuang was kidnapped by Li Mochou, her fate unknown.

She was hiding in the shadows, watching the woman in the apricot-yellow Taoist robe grinning maliciously in the firelight, watching her cousin being dragged away crying, but she was powerless to do anything about it.

That scene became her nightmare for many years.

"Don't be anxious, Aunt." Yang Guo quickly reassured her when he saw that her expression was not right. "The reason I brought this up is because... the person we are going to meet today is related to the Lu Family Manor."

Cheng Ying looked up abruptly, her eyes flashing with shock and doubt.

There was still a sliver of hope, one that was almost too precious to cling to: "Is it related to the Lu Family Manor? Could it be... could it be...?"

Her voice trembled, and she could barely continue speaking.

Yang Guo nodded: "Uncle-Master is right. It is indeed Miss Lu Wushuang."

"Wushuang...cousin?" Cheng Ying's eyes widened, tears welling up instantly. "She's still alive? Where...where is she?"

"It's just a short distance ahead at the Yue Lai Inn," Yang Guo said gently. "I met her in Zhongnan Mountain a few days ago and rescued her from Li Mochou. She has been looking for her martial uncle, but she doesn't know his whereabouts."

Cheng Ying stood there, speechless for a long time.

My cousin is still alive...

The little girl who used to follow her around and sweetly call her "cousin" is still alive!

Tears streamed down her face like broken pearls. She raised her hand to cover her mouth, trying not to cry out loud.

Looking at her like this, Yang Guo sighed inwardly and gently put his arm around her shoulder:

"Don't cry, Uncle-Master, this is a joyous occasion. Wushuang... has been waiting for you all along."

Cheng Ying leaned on his shoulder, crying uncontrollably.

For so many years, she had always believed that her cousin had been murdered by Li Mochou, and every time she thought of it, her heart ached terribly.

Unexpectedly, fate gave her such a pleasant surprise.

After crying for a long time, Cheng Ying finally managed to calm herself down, wiped away her tears, and looked at Yang Guo: "Why...why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Yang Guo smiled wryly: "It's a long story. Wushuang... is now with Li Mochou."

Cheng Ying's expression changed: "With Li Mochou? What do you mean? Could it be that my cousin... is being coerced by Li Mochou?"

"It wasn't coercion," Yang Guo shook his head. "This matter is far more complicated. My uncle will know once he sees Wushuang."

Countless questions welled up in Cheng Ying's mind.

But the surprise of seeing her cousin outweighed the doubts.

She took a deep breath and said, "Then... let's go quickly."