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

Huang Rong's words fell into the front hall, where it was so quiet that the sound of the lamp wicks popping could be heard.

Lu Wende's smile faded slightly, and Zhao Fan also straightened his posture.

The last disciple of Huang Yaoshi of Peach Blossom Island.

With this identity revealed, no one would dare to gossip about him to his face.

Guo Jing stood still, looked at Huang Rong, and then at Cheng Ying standing beside Yang Guo.

The speech he had prepared in his mind was all stuck in his throat.

Since this is an internal matter of Peach Blossom Island, and Huang Yaoshi has not yet officially announced it to the public, if he were to use the old agreement from twenty years ago to pressure people at this time, it would not only be disrespectful to Peach Blossom Island, but also disrespectful to his elders.

No one in the hall responded.

The old fisherman from the Han River at the table on the left switched the hand he was using to support his bamboo cane, and his gaze swept between Huang Rong and Cheng Ying.

The elder surnamed Lu at the table on the right picked up his wine cup and used his three missing fingers to cup the inside of the cup, covering half of his face.

It's obvious what these seasoned veterans are thinking.

Once the marriage agreement between the leader of the Quanzhen Sect and the disciple of Peach Blossom Island is confirmed, the power structure within Xiangyang City will have to be redrawn.

With three thousand disciples from Zhongnan Mountain, the Beggars' Clan's hidden agents throughout the north and south, and Huang Yaoshi's reputation in the martial arts world, these three forces combined are enough to make anyone think twice before speaking.

There was silence for a few breaths.

Guo Jing sighed, his tone tinged with regret, but he still maintained the demeanor of an elder.

"Since this is the will of Island Master Huang, Guo'er, you must treat Miss Cheng well. You are the leader of the Quanzhen Sect, and your conduct must be worthy of your Taoist robe and the honor of Peach Blossom Island."

Yang Guo bowed respectfully, his expression extremely humble.

"Uncle Guo is right. I will certainly keep to my duty and would never dare to wrong Miss Cheng."

As he said this, his gaze shifted half an inch to the side, landing squarely on Cheng Ying's profile.

Cheng Ying was wearing a veil, so her whole face couldn't be seen, but the exposed part of her neck was already red all the way to her ears.

She clasped her hands together in front of her, her ten fingers digging into the flesh of her palms, her nails digging in, barely managing to keep herself from kneeling down on the spot.

The words "I would never dare to feel wronged" rolled around in her mind several times.

All the things I've endured along the way—being forced to undress and have my back scrubbed in the inn, being forced to publicly call someone "master" at the mule and horse market...

The lingering warmth in his palm, the indelible mark of yang energy in his meridians—everything was mixed together.

She stood in the center of the main hall of the Xiangyang Marshal's Mansion, the lights shining on her, dozens of eyes staring at her, but she didn't even have the right to refute them.

If Yang Guo were to twitch his finger, she would lose all face in front of everyone.

Cheng Ying lowered her head and remained silent.

Just then, a crisp clanging sound came from the main table.

Guo Fu's teacup fell onto the table, spilling tea that soaked her light red silk skirt.

She didn't even glance at him, her eyes fixed on Cheng Ying, her chest heaving violently.

"Mom, you're lying!"

She rushed to Huang Rong, her eyes red-rimmed.

"Junior Martial Aunt has been staying secluded on Peach Blossom Island. When did she ever go to Zhongnan Mountain? She's only known Yang Guo for a few days, how could she possibly be engaged!"

Huang Rong's face darkened.

She hadn't been unaware that her daughter would make a fuss.

But she originally thought that Guo Fu's temper would at least last until the banquet ended.

If we make a scene behind closed doors at that time, there will still be room for maneuver.

She hadn't expected that Guo Fu wouldn't even have this much patience, showing absolutely no consideration for others in front of Lü Wende, Zhao Fan, and all the guests.

"Fu'er, shut up! There are guests here, it's not your place to shout."

Guo Fu didn't listen.

She was pampered growing up and had everything she wanted on Peach Blossom Island.

Wu Dunru and Wu Xiuwen fawned over her, and her father, Guo Jing, never dared to say a harsh word to her.

In all her understanding, the phrase "cannot get" does not exist.

When Yang Guo was on Peach Blossom Island, he was just a poor outsider who was beaten to the ground by her and the two Wu brothers.

Later, when they parted ways at Zhongnan Mountain, she clung to Yang Guo's sleeve and refused to let go, which led to her being scolded by her mother in public.

After that, she cried alone in her room for half the night, thinking about Yang Guo's face countless times.

The news circulating in the martial arts world is becoming increasingly outrageous.

He won the Tongtian Arena, rectified the Quanzhen Sect, and forcefully defeated the Golden Wheel Dharma King.

She was initially indignant at every piece of news she heard, but when she tossed and turned at night unable to sleep, she couldn't help but think about that person.

Upon learning that Yang Guo had returned to the Marshal's Mansion early this morning, she changed into three different outfits in her room, finally choosing this light red silk dress, and even had her maid put that pearl hairpin on it for her.

She was convinced that with her father's marriage proposal tonight, everything would fall into place naturally.

But this is what I got in return.

Guo Fu turned her head and strode up to Cheng Ying.

"Junior Uncle, tell me yourself! Is my mother making up lies for you?"

Cheng Ying was forced to take a half step back, her heel hitting the table leg.

She looked at her junior apprentice who had grown up with her on Peach Blossom Island, her lips moved several times, but she couldn't utter a single word.

What could she say?

"So this marriage agreement is fake?" Yang Guo was standing just three steps away.

To say that the engagement is real? She'd rather bite off her own tongue.

Seeing that she remained silent, Guo Fu's anger flared up, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Say something! You taught me to play the flute and read on the island. You said you hated those violent, filthy men in the martial arts world!"

"Who does Yang Guo think he is? He was a hooligan on the island. Why would you want to marry him!"

These words made the air in the hall feel colder.

Several seasoned veterans at the left table exchanged bewildered glances.

Lu Wende frowned slightly, gently placed the teacup back on the table, and remained silent.

Zhao Fan's eyes darted around, glancing towards Lü Wende.

Both of them knew that the internal strife within the Guo family was not a bad thing for them.

Just watch the show.

"Guo Fu, how dare you!"

Guo Jing strode over, raising his right hand.

Huang Rong acted first, grabbing his arm.

"Brother Jing, Fu'er is still young, why are you angry with her?"

Guo Jing's face turned bright red, and the veins on his forehead stood out.

"She insulted the leader of the Quanzhen Sect and her junior martial uncle in front of so many people!"

"What kind of behavior is this!"

"I'm going to teach her a lesson today!"

Huang Rong held onto Guo Jing's wrist tightly.

She was more anxious than anyone else.

If Guo Jing were to slap her, Guo Fu would definitely cry even harder and make a bigger scene, and tonight's performance would be completely ruined.

When Guo Fu saw her father about to strike, tears streamed down her face.

But her gaze bypassed Huang Rong and Guo Jing and landed on Cheng Ying.

"Cheng Ying, are you deliberately trying to make a fool of me? You know perfectly well that my father and Uncle Yang have a past agreement, you know perfectly well that Yang Guo should be mine..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

Yang Guo took a step forward, his figure positioned perfectly between Cheng Ying and Guo Fu.

He wasn't angry; his expression was calm.

"Miss Guo."

Yang Guo's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear clearly.

"When it comes to feelings, who can say for sure? Miss Cheng and I hit it off immediately when we met in Zhongnan Mountain. We went down the mountain together and looked after each other along the way."

"When fate brings two people together, nothing can stop it."

He turned his head and looked at Cheng Ying.

"You agree, right, Ying'er?"

The last two words were spoken so softly that only Cheng Ying could hear them.

Cheng Ying was all too familiar with the meaning in that tone.

It's not a question.

It is an order.

Her jaw clenched.

Just then, Yang Guo's left hand, which was hanging at his side, flicked his fingers imperceptibly.

A wisp of innate yang energy was released from the fingertip, connecting with the residual qi in the air, and precisely cutting into the dormant yang energy imprint in Cheng Ying's Shaoyin meridian.

Cheng Ying let out a muffled groan.

The heat surged up from the depths of the pulse, converging along the meridians towards the lower abdomen, causing the bones in the legs to ache and feel weak, making it impossible to stand.

Her skill is based on the Shaoyang and Jueyin meridians, with pure and clear true qi, leaning towards yin and softness.

However, when Yang Guo planted that mark, he used the innate yang energy resulting from the fusion of the positive and negative Nine Yin, which was of a much higher grade than her own true qi.

The wisp of Nine Yin Manual that Huang Rong had previously placed on the sole of her foot was completely dispersed by this force.

Cheng Ying's knees buckled, and her body tilted to the right.

Yang Guo had been waiting for this moment.

He reached out with his long arm, placed his palm on Cheng Ying's waist, and through the light green fabric of her dress, he pulled her into his arms.

This movement was performed both quickly and steadily.

To outsiders, it would seem that Cheng Ying was emotionally distressed by Guo Fu's relentless questioning, and coupled with her already weak health, she couldn't stand up for a moment.

It was only natural for Yang Guo to help his fiancée up, out of concern for her.

But after Yang Guo embraced Cheng Ying, he never let go of her hand.

The warmth from his palm seeped through the fabric and continuously flowed into the acupoints on Cheng Ying's waist.

Cheng Ying was unable to move.

Her face was buried in Yang Guo's chest, and her lips under the veil were bitten until they bled.

She tried to struggle, but the moment the hand on her waist tightened its grip, her inner energy receded slightly.

This is not an ordinary acupoint technique.

The Yang energy imprint of the Qiankun Technique was embedded in her meridians, so Yang Guo was essentially holding her blood vessels in his hand and strangling her.

Guo Fu's eyes were red and bleeding as she looked at the two embracing.

"Let her go!"

Guo Fu pointed at Yang Guo.

Yang Guo did not let go.

He lowered his head, his lips close to Cheng Ying's ear, and spoke in a voice that only she could hear.

"Speak up, tell your dear nephew that you married me willingly."

Cheng Ying's body trembled slightly in his arms.

"If you don't tell me, I'll kiss you right now in front of your senior sister. Do you believe I can do it?"

Cheng Yingxin.

This person never makes empty promises.

He told her to call him "master" in public at the mule and horse market, and she actually did.

He said he'd have her feed him wine mouth-to-mouth on the passenger ship, and she actually did.

Every time he made a promise, he kept it; he never failed to deliver.

If she were kissed on the lips by Guo Jing in front of all the guests, she would never be able to wash away this reputation, no matter where she fled to for the rest of her life.

Cheng Ying bit the inside of her lip, and the taste of blood spread across her tongue.

She held on to her last breath, leaning against Yang Guo's chest, her voice trembling so much it was almost broken.

"Fu'er...stop fooling around. Brother Yang and I...are truly in love."

The moment those words were squeezed out of her throat, Cheng Ying felt as if something inside her heart had shattered into pieces.

All the rules, pride, and aloofness I learned on Peach Blossom Island over the past fourteen years were completely severed by these eight words.

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

Upon hearing this, Guo Jing lowered his hand.

Huang Rong also loosened her grip on his wrist.

The seasoned veterans raised their wine cups again, and the conversation among them began to drift elsewhere.

Lu Wende picked up a non-existent speck of dust from his sleeve, and a smile returned to his face.

Zhao Fan also relaxed his shoulders and poured himself a glass of wine.

Guo Fu stood alone in the middle of the hall.

She looked at Cheng Ying leaning against Yang Guo's chest, and at Yang Guo's hand on Cheng Ying's waist.

No one had ever treated her this way before.

Wu Dunru and Wu Xiuwen wished they could walk the road for her, and never dared to touch her with a single finger.

But the way Yang Guo embraced Cheng Ying was a possessive expression that every woman in the world could understand.

"A sincere promise... Well, what a sincere promise!"

Guo Fu's voice had already cracked.

She turned around, grabbed a tin kettle from the table, and smashed it onto the floor tiles.

The wine jug shattered into several pieces, and wine was spilled all over the floor.

"I hate you all! I never want to see you again!"

Guo Fu shouted, lifted her skirt, and rushed out of the front hall without looking back.