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

Huang Rong put down her water glass and looked at Yang Guo: "You can't even get out of bed now, how can you chop off someone else's hand? Take my advice, spend these forty-nine days healing in the Ancient Tomb. Let the outside world run wild. Wait until those people jump out and fight each other to the death, then you can go out and clean up the mess. This can be considered a major purge."

Huang Rong, as expected of the leader of the Beggars' Sect, had an extremely clear understanding of the issues. She wanted to use these people to squeeze out all the cancerous growths within the Quanzhen Sect in one fell swoop.

Very light footsteps came from outside the tomb, and Xiaolongnu walked in.

She changed into a clean white dress, looking elegant and refined, completely unlike her previous disheveled self.

She walked to the wooden tub and glanced at Yang Guo in the water. Yang Guo quickly sank his body down, leaving only his shoulders exposed.

"I just went to the back mountain," Xiaolongnu said calmly, without any extra emotion. "The Quanzhen Sect is indeed in chaos; Li Zhiqing has been arrested."

Yang Guo's eyes narrowed: "Li Zhiqing has been arrested? Who did it?"

Li Zhiqing was an inner circle leader whom he had personally promoted, and also his eyes and ears within the Quanzhen Sect. Li Zhiqing's arrest indicates that someone is trying to undermine his core base.

"Zhao Zhijing's junior brother, Shen Zhifan."

The Dragon Girl continued, "He gathered over a hundred third-generation disciples and tied up Li Zhiqing and the twelve inner hall members, hanging them on the bluestone square. Shen Zhifan said that you colluded with the enemy and betrayed the sect, bringing in the Mongols and causing great damage to the Quanzhen Sect. He wants to re-elect the sect leader."

Yang Guo let out a cold laugh.

Shen Zhifan used to be so afraid of him that he wouldn't dare to utter a sound, but now that he's not around, he actually dares to step forward and take charge, even putting the blame on him. He's really good at this.

"Teacher Long, what about those old men, Qiu Chuji and the others? Aren't they taking care of them?" Yang Guo asked.

"They are badly injured. Wang Chuyi is staying in the alchemy hall and won't come out. Qiu Chuji and Hao Datong are being held captive in the backyard by Shen Zhifan's men." Xiaolongnu revealed all the information she had gathered.

Yang Guo stood up from the wooden tub, splashing water everywhere. Lu Wushuang quickly turned around and covered her eyes.

"Bring me the clothes," Yang Guo ordered.

Lu Wushuang turned her back and handed over a clean set of black tight-fitting clothes.

Yang Guo dressed and stretched his limbs; the clothes fit him perfectly. He walked to the cold jade bed and took out the sect leader token made of black iron from his tattered Taoist robe.

"Don't mistake my strength for weakness." Yang Guo tossed the token to Lu Wushuang. "Wushuang, take this and go to Chongyang Palace."

Lu Wushuang caught the token, turned around and looked at Yang Guo: "What? I can't beat Shen Zhifan and his hundred-plus men."

Yang Guo patted her shoulder: "Who told you to go fight? Go find the head cook of the kitchen in the back mountain of Quanzhen Sect and tell him that I, Yang Guo, told them that Shen Zhifan withheld their food allowance for half a year, and I found out. As long as they rescue Li Zhiqing today and cripple Shen Zhifan and his gang, I'll have the inner hall give them double their monthly pay, and they'll have meat with every meal."

Yang Guo knew the Quanzhen Sect's true nature all too well. Those fire-working monks were the lowest-ranking and most fearless members of the Quanzhen Sect. They did the hardest work and ate the worst food, and they had long been burning with resentment.

They'll do anything as long as they're given enough incentive.

Lu Wushuang gripped the token tightly and nodded vigorously: "I'll go right away."

Huang Rong looked at Yang Guo's arrangement and a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes. This little thief was not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also had first-rate skills in manipulating people's hearts. He knew how to use the contradictions at the bottom to deal with the rebellion at the top, and he could stir up trouble without her having to get involved.

Yang Guo turned to Xiaolongnu, Li Mochou, and Huang Rong: "Three bodhisattvas, our healing must continue. After I've dealt with these clowns outside, I'll discuss the wonders of this marrow cleansing with you. My new body will surely give you a big surprise."

Li Mochou rolled her eyes at him, turned her head away, and ignored him.

Little Dragon Girl watched him quietly, walked to the cold jade bed, sat down, and began to circulate the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra to regulate her breathing.

Huang Rong returned to her seat and closed her eyes.

The kitchen behind Chongyang Palace.

Lu Wushuang dragged her left leg as she walked on the stone path, the air thick with the smell of cooking oil and swill.

The yard outside the kitchen was piled high with chopped firewood, and several large iron pots were placed on the stove, with yellowed vegetable leaves being cooked inside.

A dozen or so shirtless men were working around the stove. They were covered in sweat and soot, their muscles were strong, but their faces were sallow and thin.

These people were the Fire-Worker Monks of the Quanzhen School. They did not have the status of Taoist priests, but did the hardest work and ate the worst food.

The head chef, Wang Tieniu, was a bald man in his forties with a long scar on his face. He was chopping white radishes on the cutting board with a chipped butcher's knife.

Lu Wushuang walked into the courtyard.

Several pyrotechnicians stopped what they were doing and turned to look at her.

They didn't recognize Lu Wushuang, but seeing that she was dressed in clean clothes, they assumed she was the young Taoist priest who had come to urge them to eat.

"What are you looking at?" Wang Tieniu slammed the butcher's knife onto the chopping board. "The food isn't ready yet. Tell Master Shen that today there's only radish and greens, no meat!"

Lu Wushuang took out the black iron token from his waist, on which were engraved the words "Chongyang".

Wang Tieniu's expression changed drastically when he saw the token clearly. He quickly wiped his hands on his dirty apron and strode up to Lu Wushuang. The surrounding fire-working monks also gathered around; the Quanzhen Sect members all recognized the sect leader's token.

"Sect Leader Yang has given an order!" Lu Wushuang held up the token, his voice very loud, "Shen Zhifan withheld your food allowance for half a year. The Sect Leader has investigated everything and found that Shen Zhifan used all that money to buy wine down the mountain."

Wang Tieniu gritted his teeth, his cheek muscles bulging.

"The sect leader said," Lu Wushuang continued to relay Yang Guo's words, "as long as you go to Qing Shi Square today, rescue Li Zhiqing, and cripple Shen Zhifan and his gang, the inner hall will give you double your monthly salary and meat to eat every meal! Whoever performs well will be personally accepted by the sect leader as a formal disciple of the Quanzhen Sect."

The courtyard was very quiet, with only the crackling sound of firewood burning under the stove.

Wang Tieniu's eyes turned red.

They work six hours a day doing heavy labor and don't even get a full meal.

Shen Zhifan's third-generation disciples were living a life of luxury, and he would whip them at the drop of a hat.

When Yang Guo was the leader, their meals were actually improved for a few days. However, as soon as Yang Guo was injured and Shen Zhifan took power, the meals were immediately reduced to the bare minimum.

Double the monthly pay, meat at every meal, and the chance to become a formal disciple—these three conditions completely ignited the fury in the hearts of these fire-working monks.

Wang Tieniu pulled the butcher knife off the chopping board.

"Brothers!" Wang Tieniu roared, "Master Yang stood up for us! That bastard Shen Zhifan used our meal money to drink and carouse! Today we'll take down those scoundrels! Let's go!"

"Take down the bull's nose!"

"Save Master Li!"