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

The following afternoon, Xiaolongnu arrived in Shangzhou City.

She was still wearing that coarse cloth dress and a straw hat to cover her face as she mingled into the crowd and entered the city.

The atmosphere in the city was more tense than in the previous days, with Mongol spies everywhere and the guards conducting much stricter checks.

Little Dragon Girl carefully avoided those people, found an inconspicuous little restaurant, and prepared to eat something before continuing her journey.

The restaurant was small, and it was early afternoon, so there were few customers.

She sat down in the corner and ordered a bowl of vegetarian noodles.

Just as the noodles were served, a commotion erupted outside the door.

"Old man, trying to freeload again?!" came the waiter's angry shout.

Little Dragon Girl looked up and saw an old man with gray hair and tattered clothes being pushed into the room by the waiter.

The old man grinned, completely unconcerned, and instead reached for a steamed bun on the counter: "Young man, please have mercy, this old beggar has been starving all day..."

"Get out of my way!" The waiter slapped his hand away. "You still haven't paid for the meal you owed us last time! The boss said if you dare come back today, I'll break your legs!"

Several men gathered around, eager to get started.

The old man shrank into the corner in fright, but still kept smiling.

A burly man reached out and grabbed the old man's collar.

Little Dragon Girl frowned.

Although she was aloof by nature, she couldn't bear to see the old man being bullied by others.

He took out a silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the counter: "I'll pay for his meal. Then bring him another good meal."

The innkeeper picked up the silver, his face immediately lighting up with a smile: "Alright! Miss, you have the heart of a bodhisattva! Quickly, serve the dishes!"

The men then dispersed.

The old man emerged from the corner and bowed repeatedly to Xiaolongnu, saying, "Thank you so much, young lady! I've never met such a kind person in my entire life!"

Little Dragon Girl nodded lightly: "No need to thank me."

She returned to her seat and continued eating her noodles, unwilling to say anything more.

The old man, however, sat down opposite her as if they were old friends, picked up his chopsticks and started eating: "Young lady, you are such a kind person. This old beggar must repay you! How about this, I'll keep you company and chat with you to help you pass the time!"

Xiaolongnu frowned slightly, but seeing that although the old man had a joking face, his eyes were clear and he didn't seem like a bad person, she didn't say anything.

Soon, the delicious dishes were served.

The old man ate while chatting, telling stories of interesting things from the martial arts world, and occasionally making funny faces.

Little Dragon Girl listened silently, nodding occasionally.

The old man quickly devoured most of the dishes on the table.

After finishing her noodles, Xiaolongnu stood up and said, "Please enjoy your meal, Senior. I'll be leaving now."

"Oh, young lady, you're leaving already?" The old man quickly followed, "Where are you going, young lady? This old beggar will see you off!"

"No need." Little Dragon Girl put on her bamboo hat and walked out of the restaurant.

The old man followed her out, grinning, and said, "It's too dangerous for a young lady to travel alone. Let this old beggar come and protect you!"

Little Dragon Girl ignored him and walked straight toward the East Gate.

The old man followed along, talking incessantly.

After leaving the city gate and walking for about three miles, Xiaolongnu suddenly stopped.

On the official road ahead, a disheveled old man staggered along – it was Ouyang Feng!

His eyes were glazed over, and he looked around frantically, clearly searching for something.

Xiaolongnu's heart tightened, she lowered her bamboo hat, and turned to take a detour.

But Ouyang Feng had already seen her!

"Hehe...found it..." Ouyang Feng chuckled and pounced. "The Nine Yin Manual...hand over the Nine Yin Manual!"

He slapped out with both palms, and the toad-style wind was like a tidal wave!

Little Dragon Girl dared not take the blow head-on, and quickly retreated, while simultaneously throwing out three jade bee needles!

"A mere trick!" Ouyang Feng swept away the jade bee needles with a flick of his sleeve, his palm strike undiminished, aiming straight for Xiaolongnu's face!

Just then, the old man who had been following behind suddenly stepped in front of Xiaolongnu!

"You old madman, what kind of skill is it to bully a little girl!" The old man chuckled, drawing circles with his hands, and a gentle force surged out, actually deflecting Ouyang Feng's palm strike!

"Huh?" Ouyang Feng was taken aback. "Who are you?"

"Who do you care who I am!" the old man grimaced. "Come and arrest me if you dare!"

As he spoke, he flashed around like a ghost and appeared behind Ouyang Feng, striking him in the back with a palm!

This seemingly casual palm strike actually contained profound internal energy, making it a genuine Xuanmen martial art of the Quanzhen Sect!

Although Ouyang Feng was not in his right mind, he was still able to react and met the attack with a backhand palm strike!

"Bang!"

The palms clashed, and a shockwave exploded!

The old man was forced back three steps, but laughed heartily, "What powerful palm strike! Again!"

Instead of being afraid, he was delighted and rushed forward again, engaging Ouyang Feng in battle.

Xiaolongnu could see clearly that the old man possessed extremely high martial arts skills, exquisite palm techniques, and profound internal strength, enabling him to hold his own against Ouyang Feng without being defeated.

But she knew that Ouyang Feng was one of the Five Greats after all, and that the old man would inevitably be defeated in time.

"Senior, run!" Little Dragon Girl shouted, throwing out a handful of white powder—Ice Soul Jade Powder!

The powder dispersed upon contact with the wind, turning into a white mist that enveloped an area of ​​three zhang in radius.

Obstructed by the white mist, Ouyang Feng could not see the direction for a moment and roared repeatedly.

The old man seized the opportunity and grabbed Little Dragon Girl's arm: "Girl, this way!"

The two used their lightness skills to speed away.

Ouyang Feng broke through the white mist and saw the two fleeing. He roared and chased after them.

However, the old man possessed extremely high lightness skills. He pulled Xiaolongnu through the forest and, with a few turns, shook off Ouyang Feng.

They ran for more than ten miles before stopping in a mountain hollow.

"Thank you for saving me, senior." Little Dragon Girl bowed.

The old man waved his hand and chuckled, "The young lady invited me to dinner, and I'll fight for her. A fair trade, a fair trade!"

Looking at the strange old man, Xiaolongnu wondered – if this man was so skilled, why would he have to beg for food in a restaurant?

But she was aloof and unwilling to ask further questions, only saying, "I will remember your life-saving grace, senior. Farewell."

With that, she turned to leave.

"Hey, young lady, don't rush!" the old man quickly followed. "That old madman is still nearby. It's too dangerous for you to walk alone! Let this old beggar give you a ride!"

Xiaolongnu wanted to refuse, but considering that Ouyang Feng might still be nearby, she nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble you, senior."

"No need for that!" the old man laughed heartily. "Where are you going, young lady?"

"Xiangyang".

"What a coincidence! This old beggar also wants to visit Xiangyang!" The old man clapped his hands. "We're on the same road, on the same road!"

The two continued eastward.

The old man continued to ramble on and on, spouting nonsensical things. Occasionally, he would pick a wildflower and tuck it into his hair, hopping and skipping around like a child.

Little Dragon Girl listened silently, occasionally responding with a word or two.

She was thinking about Yang Guo and only wanted to get to Xiangyang as soon as possible.

As the sun set, the two stopped to rest at a roadside tea stall.

The old man ordered another table of food and ate and drank heartily.

Little Dragon Girl only drank a bowl of tea and stared blankly in the southeast direction.

"Is the young lady looking for someone?" the old man suddenly asked.

Little Dragon Girl was startled and looked at him.

The old man chuckled and said, "This old beggar can tell that the young lady is preoccupied. Her eyes are always gazing into the distance, as if she is waiting for someone."

Little Dragon Girl was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"The old beggar guessed right!" the old man said proudly. "A person who can make a young lady so attached must be an extraordinary individual!"

Little Dragon Girl did not answer.

……

Wuguan.

When Yang Guo and his group of six arrived at the city gates, it was just as the last batch of pedestrians were entering the city before it closed at dusk.

"Hurry up! The city gates are about to close!" the soldiers on guard urged.

Yang Guo handed over the travel permit, and the guards waved him through after a cursory inspection.

In recent days, many wandering martial artists have been coming and going from Wuguan Pass, and as long as they are not Mongol spies, the guards have not bothered to investigate them.

The six entered the city smoothly and found a clean inn to stay in.

Yang Guo booked three superior rooms in the backyard of the inn and arranged for everyone to rest.

Wanyan Ping and Yelü Yan, still recovering from their injuries, returned to their rooms to recuperate.

Lu Wushuang and Hong Lingbo shared a room.

Yang Guo and Li Mochou lived in the main room in the middle, so that they could take care of each other.

As night deepened, the backyard of the inn became quiet.

Yang Guo sat cross-legged on the bed to regulate his breathing, while Li Mochou, after taking a bath, sat by the window gazing at the night sky in a daze, wearing a moon-white undergarment.

The two talked for a while.

He then went to bed.