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

The snow on Zhongnan Mountain melted and accumulated again, and the days flew by in the dark stone chamber of the ancient tomb.

These past few days, Yang Guo has experienced both pain and joy.

During the day, he had to deal with Li Mochou's aggressive care and drink all sorts of strange and wonderful tonics; at night, he had to go to Xiaolongnu's room to play those various "practice games".

Yang Guo touched his waist, feeling that all the pure internal energy he had accumulated over sixteen years was about to be drained dry in this ecstasy cave.

If it weren't for the truly wondrous nature of the Yi Jin Duan Gu chapter of the Nine Yin Manual, he would probably have become a dried-up corpse in this ancient tomb long ago.

However, while life remained peaceful inside the ancient tomb, the outside world had been turned upside down.

After the battle at Chongyang Palace, Yang Guo's name swept through the entire Guanzhong martial arts world like a hurricane, and even spread to Jiangnan.

In order to preserve its crumbling reputation, the Quanzhen Sect claimed that Yang Guo was a peerless genius secretly cultivated by the Quanzhen Sect and the last disciple guided by the divine intervention of the Patriarch Wang Chongyang.

As for Zhao Zhijing? He's a madman who went mad from practicing martial arts and has been expelled from his sect.

This matter should have ended here.

However, jealousy in people's hearts is like a rat in a sewer; it cannot stand the light, yet it can multiply wildly in the darkness.

At the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, several teahouses that serve as rest stops for pilgrims have recently been bustling with business.

"Have you heard? The Quanzhen Sect has produced a young hero who drove away a Mongol prince!" A group of martial arts practitioners were discussing animatedly.

A fat Taoist priest sitting next to me, dressed in a Quanzhen Taoist robe, slammed his teacup on the table with a "bang".

It was Lu Qingdu.

At this moment, where was the trace of the tranquility and inaction of a monk? His fat face was full of resentment and disdain, and his features were squeezed together with jealousy.

Since Zhao Zhijing fell from power, his eldest apprentice has had a very difficult time.

In addition, now that Yang Guo has become a hero, he used to bully Yang Guo quite a bit, and he lives in constant fear that Yang Guo might come back to settle scores with him one day.

This fear turned into an even more vicious hatred.

"A hero? Does he even deserve that title?"

Lu Qingdu gave a sarcastic snort, successfully attracting the attention of those around him.

"Master, what do you mean by that? Isn't Yang Guo a disciple of Quanzhen Sect?" someone asked curiously.

"A disciple of Quanzhen Sect?" Lu Qingdu sneered, grabbing a handful of melon seeds and spitting the shells on the ground as he cracked them open. "That's because of the Quanzhen Sect's reputation that the Sect Leader didn't expose him! Don't you all think about it? How profound could a mere twenty-something-year-old brat's internal energy be, even if he started practicing from the womb? Could he possibly defeat the Golden Wheel Monk's disciple?"

Everyone agreed that it made sense.

"Why is that?"

Lu Qingdu lowered his voice, a lewd expression that every man would understand appeared on his face, his eyes gleaming as if he were about to share some earth-shattering secret.

"What's that place behind Zhongnan Mountain? That's the Tomb of the Living Dead!"

"Two stunningly beautiful enchantresses live in there!"

Lu Qingdu held up two short, chubby fingers and wagged them: "Yang Guo stayed in that ancient tomb for several years, and when he came out, his martial arts had greatly improved. What legitimate martial arts skill can you achieve overnight? Unless…"

He deliberately dragged out his words until everyone craned their necks.

"Unless it's some kind of shady, evil practice—like draining yin to replenish yang!"

"Whoosh—" A commotion erupted in the teahouse.

This kind of gossip, tinged with scandal, spreads a hundred times faster than any heroic deed.

Seeing the enthusiastic response from the crowd, Lu Qingdu became even more excited, spitting as he spoke: "You all don't know, aren't Little Dragon Girl and Li Mochou of the Ancient Tomb Sect peerless beauties? Yang Guo risked his life for power, cultivating day and night in the Ancient Tomb... Hehe, that internal strength, he got it all from sleeping around!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder."

"I knew it! There's no such thing as a young grandmaster. Turns out he's just a gigolo."

"Yang Guo is really lucky with women. I would be willing to live ten years less."

Vulgar language, accompanied by lewd laughter, echoed through the teahouse.

As Lu Qingdu listened to these words, he felt a twisted pleasure that was greatly satisfied.

Aren't you, Yang Guo, awesome? Aren't you a hero?

I'm going to portray you as a lecherous thief who climbed the social ladder by relying on women and mastered evil arts! Let's see how you'll ever establish yourself in the martial arts world again!

……

Rumors always manage to find their way into the ears of those involved in the most insidious way.

An ancient tomb, on a bed of cold jade.

The atmosphere today is even colder than that ancient, frozen jade.

Yang Guo had just returned from shopping outside, carrying two fat chickens and a jar of fine wine. He hummed a little tune as he walked into the stone chamber, when he felt a chill run down his spine.

Two bodhisattvas sat on either side of the stone table.

Li Mochou's almond-shaped eyes were wide open as she toyed with a silver needle in her hand, the tip of which gleamed with a faint blue light.

Xiaolongnu remained expressionless, holding a scripture in her hand, but she didn't turn a single page for a long time, her eyes staring blankly ahead.

"Oh, ladies, what's wrong?" Yang Guo's heart skipped a beat, but he plastered on his signature roguish smile. "Who made you angry? Tell me, and I'll chop him into eight pieces!"

"Cut him into eight pieces?" Li Mochou sneered, her gaze sweeping over Yang Guo like a knife. "Should I cut off your tongue first, and then gouge out your unruly eyeballs?"

Yang Guo shrank back, placed the fat chicken on the table, and sat down. "Good sister, don't scare me. I'm easily frightened."

"Guo'er".

Little Dragon Girl finally spoke. Her voice was still cold and clear, but if you listened carefully, you could hear a trace of barely suppressed emotion.

"Grandma Sun came down the mountain today and heard some rumors about you."

"Rumors? What rumors? Are they saying I'm handsome and dashing, and that I'm a force to be reckoned with in the martial arts world?" Yang Guo grabbed the teapot, trying to hide his inner turmoil.

"It's being said outside..." Little Dragon Girl put down her scripture and looked at Yang Guo with a deep gaze, "Your martial arts skills were obtained through the evil art of absorbing yin to replenish yang."

"And the news is said to have come from you..."

"puff--"

Yang Guo spat out the tea he had just drunk.

This time he wasn't faking it; he was genuinely choked.

Yin-nourishing yang?

These bastards who spread rumors, although they had no good intentions, seem to have revealed the truth in some way?

Yang Guo was in a panic, his brain speed instantly soaring to 180 miles per hour.

This is a matter of life and death!

The two people sitting in this ancient tomb are his nominal aunt, but in reality his wife; and his nominal senior martial arts brother, but in reality his lover.

Both of them believed that they were Yang Guo's only "cultivation object".

If they match up, then this ancient tomb will become a grave, and Yang Guo will be buried there!

Before Yang Guo could even come up with a way to argue his point, Li Mochou launched into a tirade.

"Bullshit!" Li Mochou slammed her hand on the stone table, making the teacups jump. "These despicable people! They can't beat you, so they spread rumors! Guo'er is gifted, he's... he's diligently practicing!"

Li Mochou cursed fiercely, but she also felt a chill in her heart.

Yin-nourishing yang?

She subconsciously touched her burning cheeks.

That day in the cave, I was indeed attacked by this kid... and although my internal energy was sealed afterward, my complexion got better and better. This kid sometimes looked very weak, but his strength seemed to be increasing rapidly.

Could it be... could it be true what's being said outside? Did someone see what happened between me and Yang Guo?

No! My junior sister absolutely cannot find out!

Li Mochou secretly glanced at Xiaolongnu, noticing the other's aloof expression, and thought to herself: "My junior sister has such an icy personality, she definitely doesn't understand matters between men and women. If she knew that I had an ambiguous relationship with this boy, wouldn't she laugh at me to death?"

Thinking of this, Li Mochou straightened her back and said righteously, "Junior Sister, don't listen to those people's nonsense. Guo'er behaved very well in the Ancient Tomb. How could he have done anything like 'sexual cultivation'? It must be those stinking Taoist priests from the Quanzhen Sect who are jealous of Guo'er!"

While listening to Li Mochou's words, Xiaolongnu had a different plan in mind.

Why is my senior sister reacting so strongly?

Could it be... that Senior Sister is afraid I'll find out that Guo'er often stays overnight in my room?

Little Dragon Girl sneered inwardly at Li Mochou's attempt to cover up her true intentions.

The rumor about "sexual enhancement" must be referring to me and Guo'er.

After all, the practice of dual cultivation on the Jade Bed, although intended for healing and training, involves such a shameful posture... if others knew about it, it would indeed seem like an evil art.

Moreover, Yang Guo's internal strength has indeed increased significantly recently.

Xiaolongnu glanced at Yang Guo somewhat guiltily.

But this is something you absolutely cannot admit, not even if it means dying. Especially not in front of Li Mochou.

So Xiaolongnu nodded in agreement, saying, "Senior Sister is right. Guo'er is of pure and kind nature. Although he is a bit glib, he has never overstepped the bounds on matters of principle. Those rumors are nothing but nonsense."

After saying that, she added, "Although Guo'er has been a little tired these past few days, it's because of his diligent practice and has nothing to do with anyone else."

The atmosphere in the stone chamber instantly became eerie.

Li Mochou and Xiaolongnu, two women who usually don't get along, have surprisingly reached a subtle understanding at this moment.

They were all trying their best to protect Yang Guo's "innocence," but in reality, they were protecting their own secret "affair" with Yang Guo.

Yang Guo sat in the middle, looking left and right.

He's such a shrewd person.

With just one glance, he saw through the thoughts of these two ladies.

Good guy!

This isn't about trusting me; it's about everyone trying to shift the blame!

Yang Guo was sweating profusely, like a waterfall.

If they knew that I had not only picked this white lotus, but also that red rose, and even taken that magnificent peony from Xiangyang City…

The scene was too beautiful to look at.

If this gets back to Sister Rong's ears...

Yang Guo suddenly shuddered.

Compared to these two, Huang Rong, far away in Xiangyang, is the real killer weapon!

That's a female Zhuge Liang!

If Sister Rong were to hear these rumors, with her intelligence, she could deduce the truth with remarkable accuracy from even the slightest hint of something.

At that time, wouldn't my image in Sister Rong's heart collapse instantly?

It was so hard to finally consummate our marriage, so hard to finally make her lower her guard...

We must not let this rumor continue to spread!

We must nip it in the bud!

"Bang!"

Yang Guo slammed his hand on the table, stood up abruptly, his face full of anger as if he had suffered a great injustice.

"That's too much!"

Yang Guo's shout startled the two women, who were lost in their own thoughts.

"I, Yang Guo, a dignified seven-foot man, have always acted uprightly and sat with integrity!" Yang Guo pointed outside, his fingers trembling. "They may say my martial arts are weak, they may say my birth is lowly, but they can never smear my innocence!"

He turned around, looked at Xiaolongnu with deep affection, and then looked at Li Mochou.

"Sister Long, Sister Mochou, you know me. Every single one of my martial arts skills was honed through our practice, move by move. That Taoist priest from the Quanzhen Sect, he's a useless piece of trash, yet he wants to drag me down with him!"

"If this rumor gets out, it's a small matter if it ruins my reputation, but if it tarnishes the reputation of the Ancient Tomb Sect and the honor of my two elder sisters, then I, Yang Guo, will be guilty even if I die a thousand deaths!"

Yang Guo spoke with tears streaming down his face, his voice filled with righteous indignation.

"Especially..." Yang Guo gritted his teeth, a genuine glint of cold light flashing in his eyes, "This rumor is so vicious, clearly aimed at ruining someone's reputation. If it reaches the ears of those senior figures in the martial arts world who don't know the truth, like... like Uncle Guo and the others, what will they think of me? What will they think of our Ancient Tomb Sect?"

He specifically mentioned Guo Jing but didn't dare mention Huang Rong, but his meaning was already quite clear.

This matter needs to be addressed.

A cold glint flashed in Xiaolongnu's eyes.

She didn't care what the world thought, but she cared about Yang Guo. Moreover, since this rumor involved the Ancient Tomb, it had touched a raw nerve with her.

"Guo'er, what do you want to do?" Little Dragon Girl asked.

"How do I do it?"

Yang Guo sneered and reached out to grab the still-sheathed Gentleman's Sword on the table.

"Since their mouths are so dirty, I'll go and wash them for them."

"Doesn't the Quanzhen School like to talk about rules and morality?"

Yang Guo's carefree and irreverent aura vanished instantly.

"I'll go to Chongyang Palace and, in front of their patriarch, have a proper discussion with them about these so-called 'rules'!"

"I'll make them swallow every last bit of this mess they made, wherever this rumor came from!"

Li Mochou looked at Yang Guo at this moment, her beautiful eyes sparkling with admiration.

This is the man she has her eye on.

Ruthless, decisive, and vengeful!

"Alright!" Although Li Mochou couldn't use her internal energy, her momentum remained undiminished. "Guo'er, you go! If those Taoist priests dare to gang up on us, I'll risk my life to make them bleed on the spot!"

"Need not."

Yang Guo waved his hand and put the sword back at his waist.

"Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?"

A wicked smile curled at the corner of his mouth; the Yang Guo who made everyone want to punch him was back.

"I won't kill anyone this time."

"I want to destroy his spirit."

Yang Guo turned around and strode out of the ancient tomb.

At this moment, the mountain wind rushed into the tomb passage, making his clothes flutter loudly.

Yang Guo secretly vowed in his heart:

The Quanzhen School, right?

Do you really think I'm Hello Kitty if I don't show my power?

If I don't make you call me "Dad" this time, I'm not surnamed Yang!

and also……

Yang Guo glanced back at the deep, dark tomb and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

The fire in the backyard has been temporarily extinguished, but we still need to make plans to deal with the chaotic situation calmly.