Huang Rong from The Return of the Condor Heroes: Brother Jing, let's get a divorce.

The chill of the jade bed crept up Yang Guo's spine, and he shuddered, suddenly opening his eyes.

Before his eyes, a pair of fair and white wrists lay across his chest.

Yang Guo was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses.

That was true last night.

The wedding ceremony was real, and the bridal chamber was real.

Yang Guo carefully moved his body, only to feel as if he had been beaten for half the night, unable to move his entire body.

Could it be that practicing the One-Finger Divine Skill is also real?

In his dream, he remembered how his One-Finger Divine Skill made his enemies submit, kneeling and begging for mercy, not daring to utter a single word of dissent.

He turned his head to the side.

Little Dragon Girl is still asleep.

She slept in a very bad manner, which Yang Guo had already secretly observed.

He was sprawled out on his back, with one leg still on top of Yang Guo.

Yang Guo was about to scold Xiaolongnu, but one glance at her legs made him swallow his words back.

At this moment, Xiaolongnu's breathing was deep and even, her eyelashes like two small fans resting on her eyelids. Gone was her usual aloofness; she looked soft and fluffy, like a freshly baked glutinous rice ball.

Yang Guo felt a tickle in his heart, and his "want to be beaten" spirit came up again.

He stretched out a finger and quietly brought it close to the tip of Xiaolongnu's pert nose, wanting to give her a "manual breath-holding" moment.

The moment her fingertips touched her nose, Xiaolongnu's eyelashes trembled, and she opened her eyes.

Those eyes were so clear and bright, there wasn't a trace of the drowsiness of someone who had just woken up.

"woke up?"

Yang Guo awkwardly withdrew his hand and scratched his face as he did so. "Ah, I'm awake. Good morning, my wife."

The way he called her "wife" came out so naturally, and it even carried a hint of showing off.

Little Dragon Girl didn't refute him, but simply looked at him calmly and asked, "What were you trying to do just now?"

"Nothing much." Yang Guo's eyes darted around, and he leaned closer with a grin. "I just saw that my wife was sleeping so soundly, and I was worried that you would get too cold on this jade bed, so I wanted to... warm you up."

"Warm?" Little Dragon Girl raised an eyebrow, her body remaining still as she looked at him with a half-smile. "How warm? You've practiced all night and only barely broken through to the next realm. What good is that?"

Yang Guo froze.

Something doesn't sound right about that.

"Ahem, my wife, you're wronging me." Yang Guo said righteously, "Although my progress is slow, it's just because I'm not skilled enough. As they say, practice makes perfect. By the second time I practice, I'll have more experience. Besides, my fingers are very nimble; they can not only kill enemies, but also..."

He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, his eyes looking strange.

Little Dragon Girl didn't respond to that. Instead, she turned over, facing him sideways, propping her head up with one hand, her posture extremely languid.

"What else could it be? Could it be like that 'handsome young man' in the picture book, helping the pretty widow to clear her meridians?"

Yang Guo almost choked to death on his own saliva.

"No, Sister Long... oh no, my wife, where did you learn such nonsense from?" Yang Guo's eyes widened.

Where is that aunt who used to be so otherworldly? Where is that Dragon Sister who even needed him to explain the proper conduct between men and women for ages?

Little Dragon Girl pointed to a box in the corner: "I've finished reading the book under your pillow, 'The Romantic Swordsman and the Charming Nun'."

Yang Guo blushed.

Those were "banned books" that he had casually picked up at a bookstall when he went down the mountain to buy things a few days ago. He originally intended to keep them for his own amusement, but he never expected that this old lady would find them.

"That...that's all made up, don't take it seriously." Yang Guo tried to salvage his image.

"I think it's well-written," Little Dragon Girl said earnestly. "Especially the third chapter, where the swordsman says, 'The first move in sword practice is to forget your beloved,' then turns around and disappears into a nunnery. Is that what you call... saying one thing but doing another?"

Yang Guo: "..."

He taught me that word too.

They really shot themselves in the foot.

"My dear wife, it's so early in the morning, can we talk about something more refined?" Yang Guo decided to change the subject. "Like, what are we having for breakfast today?"

"Jade Bee Honey," Little Dragon Girl answered crisply.

"Jade Bee Honey again?" Yang Guo wailed, collapsing onto the bed. "I'm practically turning into a bee from drinking it all. Can't we have something different? I want to eat meat."

"Meat?" Little Dragon Girl's gaze swept over him, her tone indifferent. "What kind of meat do you want? Braised lion's head meatballs, or... a young chicken?"

Yang Guo felt like he was being teased.

"My wife, you've changed." Yang Guo said with heartache, "You weren't like this before. You used to be so pure, how come now your mouth is full of...full of lewd words."

"One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black." Little Dragon Girl sat up and pulled the blanket up a little, as if she felt a bit chilly.

She was perfectly justified.

Looking at her expression that said, "I did nothing wrong, it's all because you taught me well," Yang Guo felt that anger rising up again.

"Alright, since I taught her, I have to take full responsibility." Yang Guo suddenly flipped over, placing his hands on either side of Xiaolongnu, looking down at her. "Wife, now that you've finished reading that book, do you remember what Chapter Ten was about?"

Chapter Ten is the most "exciting" part of the whole book.

Little Dragon Girl blinked, her face showing no sign of panic, but rather a thoughtful expression.

"I remember." She nodded. "It was about dual cultivation."

"That's right!" Yang Guo grinned mischievously. "Our Ancient Tomb Sect also has a method of dual cultivation. Since we're husband and wife, why don't we take advantage of this beautiful morning light and have a little sparring?"

He thought Xiaolongnu would be shy, push him away, or at least scold him for being "improper".

However, Xiaolongnu simply looked at him quietly, then slowly said, "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure!" Yang Guo puffed out his chest. "A man can't say no!"

"Oh." Little Dragon Girl nodded and reached out to untie her belt.

Now it was Yang Guo's turn to panic.

This script is wrong!

"Wait, wait, wait!" Yang Guo grabbed her hand. "Wife, are you serious?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to spar?" Little Dragon Girl tilted her head, looking completely innocent. "The seventh level of the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra requires opening one's heart, being completely honest with each other, and exchanging internal energies to achieve mastery. Although I was cured of the poison last night, my internal energies haven't fully merged yet, so this is a good opportunity to make up for it."

She paused, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes: "Or is it that Master Yang is only good with words, but when it comes to actual combat, he... is no good?"

"no?"

This word struck Yang Guo's pride hard.

"Who's not good enough? I can do it seven times a night... oh no, I can practice my skills seven times a night without even breaking a sweat!" Yang Guo shouted, his neck stiff.

"Then let's do it." Little Dragon Girl went to untie her belt again, her movements fluid and without the slightest hesitation.

Yang Guo's Adam's apple bobbed, and he felt a warm current flowing through his nasal cavity.

He wanted to do something.

But he dared not.

It's not because of anything else, it's because of his current physical condition.

Last night, he forced himself to break through the One-Finger Divine Skill in his dream, which put a tremendous strain on his body. Although he looks energetic now, his dantian feels empty, and his limbs and bones are still aching faintly.

If they were to actually "spar" at this point, he'd probably collapse before dessert even arrived.

At that point, it would be truly embarrassing.

"Um... my wife," Yang Guo chuckled awkwardly, releasing his grip and helping her straighten her clothes, "I think that practicing martial arts requires a gradual approach. We've just gotten married, so we need to take care of our health, don't you think?"

Little Dragon Girl looked at his cowardly appearance and a very faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Coward." She uttered the two words softly.

Yang Guo choked and almost passed out.

"I'm not being cowardly, I'm just... I'm conserving my energy!" Yang Guo tried to save face. "Once I've recovered, I'll show you what it means to have weak... ugh, strong husbandly authority!"

Little Dragon Girl ignored his grand words, straightened her clothes, and got out of bed.

She walked to the stone table, poured herself a glass of water, and moistened her throat.

"Oh, right." She turned around and looked at Yang Guo, who was still lazing in bed.

"Last night, before entering the bridal chamber, Granny Sun gave me a prescription."

"A prescription? What kind of miraculous medicine?" Yang Guo asked curiously, sticking his head out.

"It's not a medicine prescription," Xiaolongnu said calmly. "It's a recipe for a dietary supplement. My mother-in-law said she would make the soup according to the recipe and bring it over this morning. It's called 'Early Birth of a Noble Son Soup'."

"What the hell?" Yang Guo jumped up, his face filled with terror.

"They're probably some highly nourishing foods," Xiaolongnu glanced at him and added, "My mother-in-law specifically told me that you're young and vigorous, and if... if... you might have too much internal heat, so you need to nourish yourself properly to avoid harming your health."

Yang Guo's face turned green.

What's wrong with me? Why do they all think I'm no good?

"No, my wife, you have to explain this to me!" Yang Guo jumped off the bed, grabbing Xiaolongnu's sleeve. "I didn't do that!"

"Which one?" Little Dragon Girl asked knowingly.

"It's...it's that thing!" Yang Guo scratched his head anxiously.

The smile in Xiaolongnu's eyes deepened as she looked at him like this.

"I won't explain." Little Dragon Girl turned and walked out. "Go tell your mother-in-law yourself."

"Hey, hey, hey, wife, don't go!" Yang Guo hurriedly chased after her. "If I tell her, Mother-in-law will definitely think I'm impotent. How am I supposed to live in this family then?"

That's your problem.

"Sister Long! Good sister! My dear wife!" Yang Guo used his coquettish charm.

Little Dragon Girl paused, turned around and glanced at him.

"Her moan is lovely."

"Fairy sister! My darling! My lifeblood!" Yang Guo blurted out without any restraint.

Xiaolongnu's lips twitched, seemingly stunned by the phrase "lifeblood".

"You're so glib," she scolded playfully, but her tone softened considerably. "Alright, go wash up now."

"Yes, sir!" Yang Guo scurried off to get the basin.

Watching Yang Guo's retreating figure, Xiaolongnu gently touched her burning cheeks.

She would never have said those words before, not even if you beat her to death.

But why does it feel so natural to talk to Yang Guo now?

Is it really true that... one becomes corrupted by one's surroundings?

She recalled the plot of the book "The Charming Swordsman and the Pretty Nun," and her pretty face turned even redder.

Actually, apart from Chapter 10, she thought Chapter 18 was also well-written.

It seems to be about... being in the wild?

Little Dragon Girl quickly shook her head, shaking those chaotic thoughts out of her mind.

"I'm going crazy," she muttered to herself, but a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

"Wife! Where is my washcloth?" Yang Guo's voice came from inside the stone chamber.

"It's on your head!" Little Dragon Girl replied irritably.

"Oh, I see! My wife is so clever!"

Hearing that energetic voice, Xiaolongnu also pushed open the door of the stone chamber.

Outside the door, Granny Sun was holding a pot of dark soup, smiling at her.

"Miss, you're awake? Where's Yang Guo? Is he still feeling alright?"

Little Dragon Girl blushed, and before she could speak, a figure darted out from behind her.

"Grandma! I'm perfectly fine! As strong as an ox!" Yang Guo interrupted, his eyes fixed on the pot of soup. He swallowed hard. "This...this is the legendary 'Early Birth Soup'?"

Grandma Sun nodded happily, "Yes, I specially added deer antler, goji berries, and those hundred-year-old Cynomorium trees behind our ancient tomb. Very nourishing!"

Looking at the pot of soup that seemed to be steaming green, Yang Guo felt a dull ache in his kidneys.

He looked at Xiaolongnu as if pleading for help.

Little Dragon Girl turned her head and looked at the candlestick on the wall.

"Drink it," she said casually. "Don't let your mother-in-law's good intentions go to waste."

Yang Guo: "..."

Is this what they mean by "birds of a feather flock together, but fly away separately when disaster strikes"?

Seeing Granny Sun's eager gaze, Yang Guo steeled his heart and closed his eyes.

"Let's drink! For the sake of the Yang family line, we'll fight to the death!"

He picked up the bowl, looking as if he were bravely going to his execution.

Looking at his fearless expression, Xiaolongnu finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

That smile was like ice and snow melting away, and a hundred flowers blooming.

Yang Guo was stunned, and almost dropped the bowl in his hand.

Worth it.

Even if I drink myself to death here, it would be worth it.