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

The next morning, before dawn.

Yang Guo and his group of five had packed up and were ready to leave Lantian.

Wanyan Ping changed into Lu Wushuang's light green shirt and wore a veiled hat to cover her face. Although she was still somewhat weak, she was able to ride a horse on her own.

And her horse was Lu Wushuang's.

Since Lu Wushuang gave her horse to Wanyan Ping, she could only share a horse with Hong Lingbo.

"Brother Yang, are we really going to take her with us?" Lu Wushuang asked in a low voice, glancing at Wanyan Ping who was tying the saddle.

"She's still recovering from her injuries, and it's not safe for her to stay behind alone." Yang Guo hung the water pouch on the horse's back. "Besides, if the military intelligence she provides is accurate, it will be a great service to Xiangyang. Aunt Guo will know how to arrange things."

Lu Wushuang nodded and asked no further questions.

Li Mochou mounted her horse.

She glanced at Wanyan Ping and said coldly, "If you can keep up, then keep up; if you can't, don't drag us down."

Wanyan Ping bit her lip: "Don't worry, Master Li, I won't hold you back."

"That would be best."

The five men rode out of the city and headed east along the official road.

Wanyan Ping was an excellent horseman. Although her shoulder injury had not yet healed, she controlled her horse steadily and her speed was no slower than others.

Yang Guo observed this and secretly praised it.

As expected of someone from the Jin Dynasty royal family, his horsemanship was indeed superb.

There were no further troubles along the way.

Just past noon, the outline of Shangzhou City appeared on the horizon.

Unlike the calm in Lantian, the atmosphere in Shangzhou City was noticeably more tense.

More guards were added at the city gate to check passersby, especially those carrying weapons.

"Something's not right." Li Mochou reined in her horse, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly. "Shangzhou isn't a border city; its defenses wouldn't be this tight on a normal day."

Yang Guo also noticed something was wrong.

Among the soldiers patrolling the city wall were several people dressed in Mongolian attire, wearing leather armor and carrying curved swords at their waists!

"A Mongol spy," he whispered. "It seems the news about Miss Wanyan was true; the Mongols have already begun their infiltration."

The five men dismounted and lined up to enter the city.

When it was their turn, the soldiers guarding the city carefully examined them, paying particular attention to Li Mochou and Wanyan Ping: "Where are you from? What are you doing in the city?"

"I come from Zhongnan Mountain, on my way to Xiangyang to visit relatives," Yang Guo replied calmly, handing over the travel permit—which Li Mochou had prepared beforehand.

The soldier checked and found no one was amiss, then looked at the women: "Who are these women...?"

"My wife and sisters," Yang Guo said without changing his expression.

The soldier looked at Li Mochou suspiciously—what kind of Taoist nun would be a wife?

Seeing Yang Guo's extraordinary demeanor and the women's outstanding looks, they didn't seem like bad people, so they waved and let them pass.

"Go inside. Things haven't been peaceful in the city lately, so don't cause trouble."

"Thank you, sir."

Upon entering the city, the atmosphere became even more somber.

The streets were sparsely populated, most shops were closed, and the few that were open were deserted.

Several men dressed in Mongolian attire loitered on the street corner, their eyes scanning passersby like hawks.

"Let's find a place to eat first," Yang Guo said.

Yuebinlou is the largest restaurant in Shangzhou, a three-story wooden building with carved beams and painted rafters.

Although it was nearly noon, there were not many guests in the lobby.

The five people entered and chose seats by the window.

The innkeeper personally came over to greet them: "What would you gentlemen like to eat?"

"Five bowls of rice, four meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, and a pot of tea." Yang Guo ordered the dishes and then glanced around the hall.

There were only seven or eight tables of guests in the lobby, most of whom looked rushed.

Three江湖客 (jianghu ke, meaning martial arts practitioners) were sitting at the table near the door, talking in hushed tones.

The table in the middle is occupied by a family of four.

In the innermost corner, a one-eyed old man was pouring himself a drink.

Before the dishes were even served, the conversation of three江湖客 (jianghu ke, a term referring to people from the martial arts world) at the next table drifted over:

"Have you heard? There's been an accident in the mountains west of the city!"

"What's wrong?"

"Yelü Yan, a remnant of the Liao dynasty, was surrounded by experts from the Mongol Vajra Sect! The battle is said to have been fierce, with many dead!"

"Yelü Yan? Is she Yelü Chucai's daughter?"

"It's her! When the Liao Dynasty fell, Yelü Chucai surrendered to the Mongols, but his daughter was a tough nut to crack. She led her old followers in exile and has been fighting against the Mongols ever since..."

"The Vajra Sect has dispatched three 'Guardian Vajras' this time, all of whom are experts at the Innate Realm. Yelü Yan is likely in grave danger..."

Yang Guo paused for a moment, his teacup still in his hand.

Yelü Yan!

The cheerful and straightforward Liao woman in the original story, the daughter of Yelü Chucai, later became Wu Xiuwen's wife.

But in this life...

Thinking of those two good-for-nothings.

He glanced at Wanyan Ping across from him.

Well, since we've encountered this, we can't just ignore it.

"Brother Yang?" Lu Wushuang noticed that his expression was strange.

"I'm going to the mountains in the western suburbs," Yang Guo said, putting down his teacup. "You all stay here and don't go out."

Li Mochou frowned: "You're going to save that Yelü Yan? She's not related to you at all, why take the risk?"

"I cannot stand by and watch the Mongol Vajra Gate besiege and kill the righteous warriors who resist the Mongols." Yang Guo stood up. "Besides, if she is truly a person who resists the Mongols, saving her would be beneficial to Xiangyang."

Wanyan Ping suddenly spoke up: "Young Master Yang, I will go with you. Yelü Yan... I have heard of her."

"Your injuries haven't healed yet, stay here." Yang Guo shook his head and looked at Li Mochou, "Mochou, you come with me."

Li Mochou snorted coldly but did not object. She stood up and said, "Wushuang, Lingbo, protect Miss Wanyan."

"Yes, Master!"

After Yang Guo and Li Mochou found out the direction of the western suburban mountains, they left the restaurant and used their lightness skills to speed away.

……

It is located in the western suburbs, about ten miles from Shangzhou City.

The forest was in a mess, with broken trees and branches scattered everywhere.

More than ten corpses lay scattered on the ground, some dressed in Mongolian attire and others in Central Plains clothing.

The stench of blood was so strong it was almost overwhelming.

In a clearing in the woods, a girl in red leans against a rocky cliff, her right hand wielding a blood-stained curved knife, her left arm hanging limply at her sides.

An arrow was stuck in his shoulder; the shaft was broken, and the arrowhead was deeply embedded in his flesh.

She was all alone; all her family members and generals had perished in battle.

Opposite them, twelve lamas in yellow robes formed a fan shape.

The three men at the head were tall with prominent temples; they were the "Guardian Vajras" of the Vajra Sect—iron arms, bronze heads, and stone bodies.

"Yelü Yan, surrender," the Iron-Armed Lama sneered. "Your men are all dead, why resist?"

Yelü Yan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve: "You want me to surrender to the Mongols? Only if I die!"

"Then I'll grant your wish!" the copper-headed lama roared, his palms clapping together, bringing a whistling wind with them!

Vajra Subduing Demon Palm!

This palm strike was powerful and heavy; even before the wind from the palm arrived, it was already making it hard for people to breathe!

Yelü Yan gritted her teeth, mustered her inner strength, and met the attack with her curved blade!

"clang!"

The blade and the palm clashed, producing a metallic clang!

Yelü Yan was already injured and lacked internal strength. He was forced back three steps by this palm strike, felt a sweet taste in his throat, and spat out another mouthful of blood.

The arrow wound on his shoulder burst open, and blood soaked through his red clothes.

"Miss!" A faint voice came from the pile of corpses—it was the last of the family retainers, stabbed in the chest, on the verge of death.

Yelü Yan turned around, tears welling in her eyes: "Ahu..."

The servant struggled to stand up, but collapsed, breathless, and died.

Yelü Yan closed her eyes, then opened them again, her eyes filled with a death wish.

The Iron-Armed Lama sneered, "A deep bond between master and servant? Then go and join him!"

With a wave of his hand, twelve lamas rushed forward at the same time!

Yelü Yan gripped her curved blade tightly, preparing for a final desperate attempt.

Just then!

……