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

At the same time.

Tongguan General's Mansion.

Inside the study, Wang Jian slapped his hand on the rosewood desk.

The fine inkstone was shaken to the ground, and ink splattered all over the floor.

"What did you say?!"

Wang Jian pointed at the kneeling deputy general, his eyes wide open.

"Commander Zhao is dead? Leng Feng is dead too?"

The lieutenant lay prostrate on the ground, his forehead pressed against the blue brick, and dared not lift it for a long time.

"Reporting to the General, the city gate guards have reported that Commander Zhao was struck through the right shoulder with a finger inside the south gate, and his sternum was also shaken internally by the force of a palm strike, killing him instantly. My men led a search along the south side and found the body of Leng Gongfeng by the official road thirty miles away. All twelve of his personal guards who accompanied him were also killed."

Wang Jian tightened his grip on the corner of the table, leaving shallow marks on the edge of the sandalwood.

He guarded Tongguan Pass for many years, and his soldiers had experienced many battles.

Although Commander Zhao is not a top-tier expert, he is capable of commanding personal guards and is quite skilled in both swordsmanship and horsemanship.

Leng Feng is a retainer in the mansion, with a mid-stage innate cultivation level. He would be capable of establishing a sect in the Guanzhong Jianghu.

Both men died overnight.

And they both died at the hands of the same person.

Wang Jian suppressed his anger, drew his sword from his waist, and pressed the tip of the sword against the back of the deputy general's neck, three inches away.

"Who did it? Tell me the whole story."

The lieutenant's back was ramrod straight, and sweat dripped from his forehead onto the blue bricks.

"According to the city gate guards, the man's travel permit came from the Quanzhen Sect. He was young and accompanied by two women. When he attacked, he could pierce nails with one finger and break bones with one palm, mostly using superior finger techniques and subtle palm strikes."

He paused, then added, "There's another matter. There's a lingering scent of Crimson Blood Pill near the body of the Cold-blooded Elder. I checked the pharmacy's ledgers, and the forbidden drug was taken away last night by the Young General with a warrant."

There was a moment of silence in the room.

Wang Jian sheathed his sword, his face turning ashen.

Crimson Blood Pill is a forbidden medicine in the army. It is made from ingredients such as bezoar, cinnabar, blood ginseng, and tiger bone, and is usually sealed deep in the treasury.

This pill can strongly restore the meridians, allowing a severely injured martial artist to regain their true energy within half an hour.

After the medicinal effects are dispelled, the meridians become depleted, resulting in either complete loss of martial arts skills or death.

This kind of medicine is only used for suicide attacks.

The fact that Leng Feng was still killed despite swallowing the Crimson Blood Pill shows that this was no ordinary battle in the martial world.

"Go, bring that wretched child to me."

Wang Jian spoke softly, but the guards standing outside the study felt a chill run down their spines and turned to leave.

A short while later, Wang Zhaoxing was dragged into the study by two guards.

He was wearing a brocade robe, his belt askew, and he still smelled of alcohol.

He stumbled as he entered, but when he looked up and saw Wang Jian standing beside the overturned desk, he regained some of his senses.

"Father, you were looking for me?"

Wang Jian did not answer.

He stepped forward and kicked Wang Zhaoxing in the stomach.

Wang Zhaoxing crashed into the bookshelf, causing several volumes of military books to fall down and hit him, making him scream in pain as he clutched his head.

"Look what you've done."

Wang Jian bent down, grabbed his collar, and lifted him off the ground.

"You sent Commander Zhao to intercept people at the South Gate, and then gave Leng Feng the Crimson Blood Pill. For the sake of two women, you dragged the Tongguan General's Mansion into trouble. You've really grown some skills."

Wang Zhaoxing clutched his abdomen, his lips turning white with pain, yet he remained defiant.

"Father, that brat humiliated Leng Feng in the inn and publicly insulted our royal residence. If I tolerate this, what will people outside think of us? Leng Feng always boasts that he's at the mid-stage of the Innate Realm and can easily kill a young Taoist. Who knew he'd be so useless?"

Wang Jian slapped him across the face with his backhand.

Wang Zhaoxing's cheek was swollen on one side, and blood was flowing from his mouth. He dared not utter another sound.

"useless?"

Wang Jian stared at him, saying each word slowly and deliberately, "Leng Feng was able to sit on the honorific seat at Tongguan for ten years, and that wasn't just boasting. A mid-stage Innate Realm martial artist with unobstructed Qi channels, if he fought desperately, even a battalion of soldiers might not be able to stop him. Yet he died, taking twelve of his personal guards with him. Do you still think he was just a greenhorn?"

The lieutenant hesitated for a moment, then took out a scroll of urgent reports from his sleeve.

"General, news has also come back from the ferry crossing. Thirteen members of the Fierce Tiger Gang have been killed. Their leader, Scarface Liu, was pierced through the heart by a finger strike, and the rest mostly died from palm strikes that penetrated their bones. The refugees at the ferry crossing seized a small boat, and the Quanzhen disciple took two women onto a large passenger ship, heading south downstream."

Wang Jian turned around and reached out to take the urgent report.

The handwriting on the paper was messy, but it was still clear.

The victim had a deep wound between his eyebrows and internal ruptures in his chest and ribs; there were no signs of him fighting back.

After reading the urgent report, Wang Jian placed it on the table.

"A young master from the Quanzhen Sect, his finger techniques are fierce, and his palm techniques can injure the heart meridians. Even Leng Feng, using the Crimson Blood Pill, was no match for him. Investigate when the Quanzhen Sect produced such a figure."

The lieutenant bowed and said, "I have already had my spies verify it. A few days ago, news came from Zhongnan Mountain that there has been a change in the position of leader of the Quanzhen Sect. The new leader is named Yang Guo, and he is very young. There are also rumors that Guo Jingming's wife, Huang Rong, personally escorted him up the mountain."

Wang Jian stopped in his tracks when he heard the name "Yang Guo".

Guo Jing's nephew.

Huang Rong personally escorted him to Zhongnan Mountain.

The new leader of the Quanzhen Sect.

These three titles combined carry entirely different weight.

Tongguan was an important town on the western front. Although Wang Jian was the garrison commander, he was well aware of the situation in Xiangyang.

With the Mongols pressing south, Lü Wenhuan needed to defend Xiangyang, which required Guo Jing and his wife to rally the heroes of the martial arts world.

The Quanzhen School has deep roots in the north, with its disciples spread throughout Guanzhong, Hedong, and Hebei.

If Wang Zhaoxing's lustful thoughts cause a feud between the Quanzhen Sect and Tongguan, the consequences will be far more serious than simply losing a few guards.

Wang Jian turned around and kicked over the broken desk.

"brute."

He pointed at Wang Zhaoxing and shouted, "Of all people to mess with, you had to mess with Master Guo's men. Commander Lü is short of food and troops at the front and still needs Master Guo to stabilize the hearts of the people in Xiangyang. Your actions are going to cut off the road to Tongguan."

Wang Zhaoxing collapsed to the ground, his effects of the alcohol completely worn off.

When he first met Yang Guo at the inn, he assumed that the other was just a junior from the Quanzhen Sect with some martial arts skills.

Despite the great reputation of the Quanzhen Sect, he still believed that the Prince's Mansion was in charge in the Tongguan area.

He never expected that the other party was actually the leader of the Quanzhen Sect.

I never expected Leng Feng to die so quickly.

"Father, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Wang Jian shouted towards the door, "Someone come here!"

Two bodyguards entered and clasped their hands in greeting.

"Tie up the young general and throw him in the dungeon. No wine or meat are allowed to be sent to him for three days. Anyone who dares to visit him without permission will be punished according to military law."

Wang Zhaoxing was lifted up by his personal guards, and cried out in fear, "Father, I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again."

Wang Jian turned his back and stopped looking at him.

After the screams faded into the distance, Wang Jian looked at his deputy.

"Prepare the horses and send one hundred elite cavalrymen to follow me out of the city."

The lieutenant looked up, his face showing surprise.

"The general will go in person? Yang Guo's martial arts are superior to Leng Feng's; even a hundred elite cavalry might not be able to subdue him. If he..."

"Who said I was going to suppress him?"

Wang Jian interrupted, saying, "I'm going to apologize."

The lieutenant was stunned.

Wang Jian walked to the window, looked at the military flag in the courtyard, and his tone became more serious.

"If Yang Guo brings this matter to Xiangyang and tells Guo Jing that the General's Mansion at Tongguan intercepted and killed the leader of the Quanzhen Sect, how will I, Wang Jian, face Commander Lü?"

He paused, then continued, "Internal strife is the worst enemy in the army. Right now, the Mongols are watching us from the north, yet we're stabbing our own people in the back. If Commander Lü hears this, he'll cut off my head first."

The lieutenant bowed and agreed.

Wang Jian then said, "Go to the storeroom and fetch two boxes of gold ingots, ten bolts of Shu brocade, and three bottles of top-grade healing pills. Have someone familiar with the waterways scout along the river first, without alerting the passenger boats, and only report their location."

The lieutenant accepted the order and was about to leave.

Wang Jian called him back again.

"Those pirates from the Fierce Tiger Gang usually use the Prince's name to extort money, and I haven't touched them because they can gather information on the waterways. Now that they have offended Yang Guo, they cannot be allowed to remain anonymous. Put their heads in a box and take them to Headmaster Yang. Also, write a military letter stating that the Fierce Tiger Gang has illegally set up a checkpoint and has been dealt with according to military law."

"Understood."

After the deputy general withdrew, Wang Jian stood alone for a moment.

Having served in the military for many years, he knew best that people from the martial arts world were different from those in the army.

Military orders can subdue soldiers, but they cannot subdue innate martial artists.

At Yang Guo's level, one person can wreak havoc on a city in a single night.

Compensation of gold and silver alone is not enough to settle this matter.

Yang Guo should blame Wang Zhaoxing and the Fierce Tiger Gang, not the garrison at Tongguan.

Wang Jian changed into light armor and personally inspected the cavalry.

The accompanying elite cavalry all removed their heavy crossbows, carrying only their swords and gift chests.

There were also two clerks in the group, carrying military orders and official seals, specifically to testify during the apology.

Half an hour later, the south gate of Tongguan opened.

One hundred elite cavalrymen escorted two carriages out of the city, their hooves pounding the stone road as they headed straight for the old road to the southern wilderness.

Wang Jian rode at the very front, his whip striking down with extreme speed.

He didn't expect to stop Yang Guo before the passenger ship entered Xiangyang; he only hoped to make his stance clear before Yang Guo met Guo Jing and Huang Rong.

Otherwise, this disaster would not be limited to the son's scandalous affair.

……

On the river, passenger boats drift downstream.

Yang Guo stood on the deck, facing the river breeze.

Lu Wushuang leaned against him, pointing at the scenery on both sides of the river and chattering away.

The river breeze rustled his sleeves as Yang Guo rested his right hand on the railing, casually turning half a circle the iron ring he had obtained from Wang Chongyang's stone tablet between his index and middle fingers.

The iron ring has a strange texture; it feels warm and smooth to the touch, and when it comes into contact with the true energy of the One-Finger Divine Skill, it will generate a slight warmth.

Previously, when Yang Guo killed Scarface Liu at the ferry, he tried to brush his finger energy along the edge of the ring. The concentration of energy was slightly stronger than when he used his finger empty-handed, but the backlash from his meridians was also clearer.

In his message, Wang Chongyang said that after mastering the One-Finger Divine Skill to the fourth rank, one can take this ring to Dali to seek opportunities with the Duan family.

Yang Guo is still at the peak of the seventh rank, far from the fourth rank.

Having killed Leng Feng, the personal guards, and the water bandits today, he has gained new insights into the method of concentrating finger power.

If the conflict between the positive and negative Nine Yin True Qi can be reduced by another 20% in the future, it will not be difficult for One Yang Finger to reach the sixth rank.

Lu Wushuang didn't understand any of this; she only saw the wide river surface and water birds skimming over the waves.

"My lord, once we arrive in Xiangyang, are you truly going to see Hero Guo and Chief Huang?"

"Of course I want to see him."

Yang Guo turned the iron ring back to his finger and laughed, "We've killed the Prince's servants and wiped out the Fierce Tiger Gang along the way. If we don't find someone who can talk things out and settle accounts, there will be a lot of trouble later. Uncle Guo is loyal, and Chief Huang is good at accounting. It's best to leave this to them."

Lu Wushuang nodded, then lowered her voice and asked, "Will Wang Jian come after us?"

"meeting."

Yang Guo looked at the waterway behind him.

Lu Wushuang gripped the hilt of her sword: "Should we dodge first?"

"I won't dodge."

Yang Guo said, "If he brings troops to kill us, we'll settle it on the river. If he brings gifts to apologize, we'll accept them. The general guarding Tongguan couldn't have been completely brainless to reach that position. Just because his son is stupid doesn't mean he's stupid too."

Lu Wushuang only half understood what Yang Guo said, but felt that it made a lot of sense, so she moved closer.

The cabin door opened.

Cheng Ying came out, her clothes neat and her hair combed again.

She carried a plate of sliced ​​fruit, her steps much steadyer than before.

After half a day, she had managed to forcefully suppress the remaining yang energy in her body back to the edge of her dantian. The true energy still could not be dispelled, but it had temporarily stopped rushing through her meridians.

However, whenever she gets close to Yang Guo, her Qi Sea will be drawn together, making it difficult for her to stay calm.

She walked behind the two of them and whispered, "Husband, have some fruit."

Lu Wushuang turned her head and took Cheng Ying's hand: "Cousin, you should rest for a while. I can take care of these things."

Cheng Ying shook her head: "I'm not tired, this is what I should do."

She said this in a low voice, and there was no sign of resentment in her voice.

But the handkerchief was already clenched into a ball by the fingers inside the sleeve.

She didn't truly accept her fate.

She was just better able to see the situation than Lu Wushuang.

The prince's pursuers are still at large, and Huang Rong is still in Xiangyang. If she were to openly confront Yang Guo now, she would only be the one to lose.

Yang Guo turned around, picked up a piece of fruit, and threw it into his mouth.

He burst into laughter at Cheng Ying's docile appearance.

"Miss Cheng is right."

Yang Guo put his arm around Lu Wushuang's waist: "She understands the rules now. From now on, let her do the serving work. You just need to keep me company."

Cheng Ying gripped the edge of the plate tightly with her hand.

Her lowered eyes were filled with humiliation, yet she dared not utter the slightest act of resistance.

The passenger ship broke through the water and headed towards Xiangyang.

The surging river left the white waves at the stern of the boat far behind.