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

Li Mochou left after uttering harsh words. The stone door slammed shut with a dull thud.

Yang Guo let out a long breath and collapsed sprawled out on the jade bed. He raised his hands to rub his aching lower back, all traces of his earlier commanding presence now gone. He sighed deeply, wishing he could just fall asleep and die.

None of these three women were easy to deal with. Just now, to keep the situation under control, he had relied entirely on his inner strength, barely daring to breathe. Now that the crisis was over, all the exhaustion from being drained over the past few days surged up, leaving his bones aching.

He knew perfectly well that tonight's drama was only half over. The first wife's anger hadn't died down yet. If Huang Rong's jealousy flared up, he'd be in deep trouble tomorrow. She left quickly, not even giving him a second glance, clearly intending to settle scores later.

Yang Guo sat up abruptly, put on his shoes and socks, and tiptoed out of the stone chamber. He followed the dimly lit passageway until he reached Huang Rong's stone door. He pressed his ear to the stone slab to listen for any sounds; it was completely silent inside. He swallowed hard, then steeled himself and pushed the door open.

An oil lamp was lit in the stone chamber. Huang Rong sat upright on a stone bench with her back to the door. Hearing the sound of the door hinges turning, she didn't turn her head, clutching the emerald green dog-beating stick in her hand. Her back was extremely tense, exuding a coldness that kept strangers at bay.

"What are you doing here?" Huang Rong asked, her voice icy. "Why aren't you with your Teacher Long and Technician Li? What are you doing here?"

Yang Guo slammed the stone door shut, blocking out the cold wind. He knew this woman's temper all too well; he couldn't back down now, the more he avoided her, the angrier she would become. He quickly stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Huang Rong's waist from behind, and rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Rong'er, your words are so sour they could make my teeth ache," Yang Guo said in a low voice, his lips close to Huang Rong's earlobe.

Huang Rong struggled twice but couldn't break free. She turned her head and glared fiercely at Yang Guo. She didn't want to appear so jealous, but the thought of herself, the dignified leader of the Beggars' Sect, serving this boy's feet with two vixens made her furious.

"Stop trying to sweet-talk me. Just now in the stone chamber, you were all high and mighty, with women on your left and right. You even made us do such lowly tasks as washing feet. You, Uncle Yang, have really grown some guts now!" Huang Rong poked Yang Guo in the chest with the end of her dog-beating stick. The force wasn't strong, but it was full of resentment.

Yang Guo snatched the Dog-Beating Stick and tossed it onto the stone bed beside him. He hugged Huang Rong tighter, his hand tracing the curve of her waist upwards. He switched into actor mode, his tone as sincere as could be, his mind racing as he calculated how to smooth things over.

"Rong'er, you've wronged me." Yang Guo buried his face in Huang Rong's neck and rubbed against her. "Which of you, Teacher Long or Technician Li, is easy to deal with? If I don't keep them in check, how will I get them to help me in the future? I'm doing this all for our future plans."

"For us?" Huang Rong scoffed. "I think you're enjoying it. Did Li Mochou's massage feel good to you? Did Xiaolongnu's foot massage feel good to you?"

"It's comfortable, but that's not the point." Yang Guo raised three fingers, pointed to the sky, and swore, "I, Yang Guo, swear to the heavens that my belly only holds Rong'er. You are the greatest achievement of my life, and I will love you until the end of time!"

"Of course, I love Teacher Long and Technician Li too!" Yang Guo added silently to himself. He only hoped that these cheesy words of love would please this female strategist.

Huang Rong had never heard such a direct confession before, and her expression softened considerably. She was inherently extremely proud and loved hearing Yang Guo praise her to the highest degree. She thought to herself, "This little rascal may be fickle, but he still knows who's truly important." She turned around and wrapped her arms around Yang Guo's neck.

"You little thief, all you know how to do is sweet talk to me. You didn't say that on the Jade Bed during the day." Huang Rong's eyes welled up with tears as she stared intently at Yang Guo, the absurd scenes from earlier that day involuntarily flashing through her mind, making her body feel weak.

Yang Guo lowered his head and pecked Huang Rong's lips.

"During the day, I couldn't help myself. Rong'er, with a figure like yours, which man wouldn't be mesmerized?" Yang Guo's fingertips touched the edge of the pink bodice embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water. "You came all the way from Xiangyang to see me, wearing this bodice, doesn't that mean you missed me?"

Huang Rong's cheeks flushed, and her breathing quickened. She had long been unable to restrain herself after being provoked by Yang Guo. With his feelings so bluntly revealed, she simply abandoned her last bit of reserve. She pressed herself against Yang Guo, her body going limp.

"Guo'er, you're staying tonight," Huang Rong said in a sickeningly sweet voice.

Yang Guo felt a chill run down his spine, and his stomach churned with misery. These past few days, he had been tormented by Xiaolongnu, tied to the jade bed, and forced to practice hidden weapons by Li Mochou. This afternoon, he had even engaged in close combat with Huang Rong.

The grain tax that was due has already been paid; I really don't have the strength to continue.

Even the strongest kidneys can't withstand this kind of abuse.

His internal strength has increased, but he has absolutely no energy left in that area. If they actually go to bed and he can't fulfill his sexual duties, where will he put his pride as a man? How will he ever be able to hold his head high in front of his first wife again?

We need to find a plausible reason to refuse.

Yang Guo held down Huang Rong's mischievous hands and pressed her back down on the stone bench. He dropped his playful demeanor, put on an extremely serious face, and pretended to be righteous and awe-inspiring.

"Rong'er, not tonight."

Huang Rong was stunned. She, the dignified leader of the Beggars' Sect, had taken the initiative to make advances towards him, and this brat dared to refuse? She lost face, and her anger flared up again. She thought that this little thief must have exhausted his energy on those two vixens earlier and was now just going through the motions with her.

"What do you mean? Do you think I'm too old? Or were you bewitched by those two vixens just now?" Huang Rong shook off Yang Guo's hand and questioned him sharply.

"What are you thinking?" Yang Guo squatted down, took Huang Rong's hands again, and spoke earnestly, "I have just fused the internal energies of three families and broken through to the sixth rank of One-Finger Divine Skill. Now the true energy in my meridians is surging, and I must meditate for a night to stabilize my realm. If I break my primordial yang and my true energy runs rampant, my martial arts will be ruined."

Yang Guo's lie was well-reasoned and plausible. Huang Rong, who knew martial arts, naturally understood that sexual activity was most taboo when one's internal energy had just broken through. After hearing this, her anger vanished, replaced by a sense of guilt.

She cursed herself inwardly for being so foolish, only thinking of herself, and almost ruining Yang Guo's future.

"It was my fault for not considering the bigger picture." Huang Rong grasped Yang Guo's hand in return, her tone softening. "Then you should go back and meditate quickly. Make sure nothing goes wrong."

"There's no rush." ​​Yang Guo stood up and smoothly changed the subject to avoid her pressing him about staying overnight. "Rong'er, the Tongtian Arena will open in half a month. Although my internal strength has greatly increased, the Seven Masters of Quanzhen's Tiangang Beidou Formation is no ordinary formation. You are knowledgeable and experienced, so please give me some advice."

Huang Rong was hailed as a female Zhuge Liang, and she loved to offer advice to others. When Yang Guo asked her for guidance, she straightened her disheveled clothes and resumed her dignified and authoritative demeanor as the leader of the gang.

She walked to the stone table, poured two cups of cold tea, and mentally reviewed the methods of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen.

"Your internal strength is now profound; in a one-on-one fight, none of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen are your match." Huang Rong handed Yang Guo a teacup and began to analyze the battle situation. "But the Big Dipper Formation is the brainchild of Patriarch Chongyang. When the seven of them join forces, their power is multiplied. You absolutely must not fight head-on."

Yang Guo took a sip of tea, pulled over a stone bench, and sat down.

"Li Mochou said during the day that I should provoke them with words to break their formation from within. Will this method work?" Yang Guo asked humbly, secretly planning to combine their strategies.

"That vixen only has these underhanded tricks up her sleeve," Huang Rong commented with utter disdain, regarding Li Mochou as someone who was beneath her dignity. "You can use provocation, but you can't rely on that entirely. The Seven Masters of Quanzhen have cultivated for many years; even if they have fiery tempers, they will maintain their composure on the arena. If you just keep hurling insults, you'll only make yourself look bad and cause the heroes of the world to despise you."

"Then, in your opinion, what should be done?"

Huang Rong dipped her finger in tea and drew the Big Dipper's positions on the stone table. Her commanding presence was undeniably impressive.

"The Big Dipper Formation has the four pillars of Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, and Tian Quan as its head, and Yu Heng, Kai Yang, and Yao Guang as its handle. The key point of the formation is constantly changing. To break the formation, you must find the weakest link and break through the whole by focusing on that point." Huang Rong pointed to one of the water stains with her finger.

"Who is the weakest link?" Yang Guo stared at the stone table, pondering the key to breaking the deadlock.

"Sun Bu'er," Huang Rong answered. "Her martial arts are the weakest among the Seven Masters, and she's narrow-minded and easily influenced by external factors. When you go on stage, feign weakness to lure them into a frenzy. Once their formation is in motion, use the penetrating force of your One-Finger Divine Skill to specifically target Sun Bu'er's lower body. As soon as Sun Bu'er's footwork falters, the entire formation will show a flaw. Then, you can use the 'tripping' technique from the Dog-Beating Staff Technique to completely tear open the gap."

Yang Guo nodded repeatedly. This female strategist was truly brilliant. Li Mochou taught him the fighting style of a street ruffian, while Huang Rong taught him the proper and honorable art of war. With her planning, their chances of winning the Tongtian Arena had increased even further.

"There's one more person you must be wary of." Huang Rong wiped the water stains off the table, her expression turning serious. She recalled the contents of the letter, and a sense of disgust welled up inside her.

"Who?"

"Your good master, Yin Zhiping." Huang Rong took out the secret letter from her sleeve and slammed it on the table.

Yang Guo picked up the letter. He had already read it; it was full of Yin Zhiping's sowing discord and nonsense. He considered Yin Zhiping a clown who couldn't cause any real trouble.

"This old guy's martial arts are mediocre, what's there to be wary of?" Yang Guo asked, puzzled, and threw the letter back onto the table.

Huang Rong shook her head, her eyes revealing a shrewd insight into people's hearts. She had seen too much of the deceit and treachery in the martial arts world and knew this kind of person's ways all too well.

"Don't underestimate this kind of person. This letter is written in a high-sounding and righteous manner, full of benevolence and morality, but in reality it is all a conspiracy to kill someone with a borrowed knife. This kind of person appears respectable on the surface, but is extremely cowardly and sinister at heart."

Huang Rong stood up and paced around the stone chamber.

When Huang Rong spoke of Yin Zhiping, she couldn't hide her disgust. She knew all too well how many despicable things this hypocrite, spouting benevolence and morality, would do for the sake of saving face.

"A true villain isn't scary; what's scary is a hypocrite. Yin Zhiping knows you're highly skilled in martial arts, and he also knows you have leverage over him. To protect his reputation and status, he'll use any underhanded means. He will never fight you fair and square at the Tongtian Arena."

Yang Guo's mind flashed back to Yin Zhiping's perpetually prim and proper face. That old bastard always acted so respectable, yet he dared to harbor such shady thoughts about Teacher Long behind her back. He was truly a shameless scoundrel.

"Rong'er means he's good at underhanded tactics?"

Huang Rong placed her hands on the edge of the table, her eyes filled with shrewd insight into people's hearts.

"He will definitely seek outside help. In his letter, he accused you of colluding with the evil sects, which is like a thief crying 'stop thief!' If I'm not mistaken, he is very likely to secretly collude with the Mongols. The Mongol prince Huodu has his eyes on the Quanzhen Sect, and the two of them hit it off immediately. On the day you go to the arena, you not only have to guard against the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, but also against Yin Zhiping's underhanded tactics."

Yang Guo broke out in a cold sweat after hearing these words.

He had seen many villains on television in his previous life and knew all too well how ruthless these cornered little people could be when they went berserk. Huang Rong's reminder served as a wake-up call for him, and he almost capsized in this ditch.

It has to be this first wife who's reliable. Yang Guo sighed inwardly. This female strategist's mind works faster than anyone else's. If he can keep her in check, he can avoid so many detours.

"Rong'er, with you by my side, I feel at ease." Yang Guo stepped forward and hugged Huang Rong back into his arms.

This time, there wasn't a hint of flirting; it was all genuine gratitude.

Held so tightly in his arms, and listening to his tender words, Huang Rong's previously composed demeanor softened.

She leaned against Yang Guo's chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, playfully poking his chest with her finger, and, mixing the greater good of the martial world with her own selfish desires, admonished him: "Don't try to sweet-talk me. Remember this: you must win the Tongtian Arena. Only when you become the leader and the Quanzhen Sect and the Beggars' Sect form an alliance can the martial world be at peace. If you lose, I'll be the first to not forgive you."

Yang Guo could easily understand the sentiment in her words. This woman was all talk and no action; she clearly wanted him to be well, but she insisted on using the excuse of peace and stability in the martial world to cover it up.

"Yes, my female Zhuge Liang." Yang Guo lowered his head and kissed Huang Rong's lips, silencing her from saying anything more.

After a while of passionate lovemaking, Huang Rong's body grew increasingly hot, and her hands began to wander.

Yang Guo felt a chill run down his spine. He was completely out of resources. If the first wife continued down this path and discovered that his spear was all show and no substance, she might even guess that the problem stemmed from overwork. That would be the end of him.

He knew when to quit while he was ahead and quickly made an excuse to escape before he was exposed.

"Rong'er, I have to go back to meditate. I have special training tomorrow." Yang Guo subtly pressed down on Huang Rong's hand, released his embrace, and retreated towards the door as if his feet were greased, afraid that she would pester him again.

Huang Rong's anger was extinguished by this sudden retreat. She straightened her disheveled clothes, looked at Yang Guo's hurried appearance, and assumed that he was really in a hurry to go back and consolidate his cultivation. She did not insist on keeping him, but her tone was tinged with a hint of unfulfilled resentment.

"Go ahead. Come early tomorrow afternoon, and I'll teach you the last three moves of the Dog-Beating Stick Technique."

Yang Guo left the stone chamber and quickly closed the stone door. He leaned against the cold stone wall and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He had finally calmed the woman down and preserved his dignity as a man.

He let out a long sigh of relief. This kind of blessing of having multiple wives was something that ordinary people couldn't enjoy. Even an iron body couldn't withstand such a continuous cycle.

He would have to continue his battle of wits with these three women for the next few days, and also guard against that old bastard Yin Zhiping's underhanded tactics. Dragging his aching legs, he slowly made his way to his stone chamber, hoping to quickly lie down on the bed and get a good night's sleep.