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

As dawn broke, a chilly breeze swept through the valley.

When Cheng Ying opened her eyes, she felt unbearable soreness all over her body, as if her bones were about to fall apart.

A burning sensation emanated from her thighs.

She frantically reached down, only to find that the pink Taoist robe had already been rolled up to her waist, and her underpants had been torn open, barely hanging in the back of her knees.

Cheng Ying was startled and quickly tried to pull her pants up.

But as soon as he reached out, a large hand pressed down on his hand.

Yang Guo was lying on his side, one hand supporting his head, and the other hand resting on her lower back.

The calluses on that large hand were sliding down her waist, leaving a trail of sparks in their wake.

Cheng Ying's already sensitive body couldn't take this.

A sudden ache shot through her lower back, and she collapsed, her body pressing against Yang Guo's chest.

Yang Guo lowered his voice and breathed into her ear.

"What's the panic? Wushuang isn't awake yet."

Cheng Ying's face flushed red instantly, and she raised her hand to push him away.

Unfortunately, the medicine she took last night was too strong. Although Peach Blossom Island's internal energy was strong, her meridians were exhausted from the Qiankun Technique all night and were now extremely weak.

"Husband...stop fooling around...it's dawn."

Cheng Ying pleaded in a breathy voice, her voice trembling violently.

She was stunned as soon as she uttered those two words.

Last night she was still gritting her teeth and refusing to back down, but unexpectedly, this morning she blurted out these words.

Yang Guo chuckled softly.

"Oh, you're quite adept at calling it that. Who was it last night who claimed to be a disciple of Peach Blossom Island, saying they'd rather die than submit?"

Cheng Ying didn't dare to look at him, and could only pull her collar up higher.

The Taoist robe she was wearing originally belonged to Lu Wushuang, but it was half a size too small for her. The buttons on the chest were tightly fastened, and the waist was also cinched very tightly.

With the residual heat of the fire, the clothes clung tightly to her body, making her appear even more disheveled and alluring the more she tried to conceal herself.

Yang Guo glanced at it once and cursed under his breath.

This woman usually acts all gentle and sweet, but when she really gets going, she can kill without even saying a word.

Cheng Ying noticed his gaze, her ears turned even redder, and she whispered, "Stop teasing me. Wushuang is awake, and I'm too ashamed to face her."

"Now you know you have a sense of shame?"

Yang Guo withdrew his hand and lazily sat up.

"When you secretly swallowed the snake gall last night, didn't you think about the consequences?"

Cheng Ying bit her lip; she couldn't refute those words.

Five gallbladders of the Bodhi snake are no ordinary medicinal materials.

The snakes in this valley are nourished by the earth's veins, and the essence in their gallbladders far surpasses that of snakes outside.

If Yang Guo hadn't suppressed it with the Qiankun Technique, her meridians would have been damaged at best, and at worst, she would have lost half of her martial arts skills.

Just then, the haystack next to him rustled twice. Lu Wushuang sat up, rubbed his eyes, and yawned.

"Husband, you're up so early?"

Cheng Ying tensed up, quickly turned her back, and fastened her belt in a few quick movements.

She moved too quickly, and her lower back suddenly ached, almost causing her to lose her balance.

Yang Guo reached out and supported her arm.

"Slow down, the medicine has just returned to its effects, don't overdo it."

Lu Wushuang didn't think much of it and leaned closer to look at Cheng Ying.

"Cousin, why is your face so red? Did you have a fever again last night?"

Cheng Ying cleared her throat. "The effects of the snake gall haven't worn off yet. Just wash your face and you'll be fine."

Lu Wushuang nodded, picked up the water bag, and walked towards the pool.

"I'll go get you some water. It's chilly in the mountains in the morning, don't catch a cold."

Yang Guo almost burst out laughing when he saw Lu Wushuang's carefree attitude.

This girl is usually stubborn, but she's quite considerate when it comes to taking care of people.

She just wasn't quite right in the head; she didn't even think of the faint red marks under Cheng Ying's collar in any inappropriate way.

Cheng Ying helped Qing Shi to her feet, but after taking only two steps, her knees buckled.

Yang Guo casually supported her waist.

Through the thin fabric, the waist beneath my palm was astonishingly slender.

Cheng Ying paused, turned around to glare at him, but fearing Lu Wushuang would see, she could only lower her voice and say, "Don't do anything rash!"

"Who's causing trouble?"

Yang Guo said with a serious face, "Have you forgotten that you're my fiancée now? You personally admitted this in front of Uncle Guo and Aunt Guo. Isn't it perfectly reasonable for me to help you up?"

Cheng Ying was so angry she couldn't speak.

What's most annoying about this person is that, despite being full of bad intentions, they can still make their fallacies sound as serious as the teachings of their ancestors.

Lu Wushuang returned carrying a water bag and saw the two of them standing very close together, so she couldn't help but blink.

"Cousin, you can barely stand! Is this snake gall really that powerful?"

Yang Guo chimed in, "She's incredibly powerful, but don't try to emulate her. The Bodhi Serpent constantly consumes exotic herbs from the mountains, and its gallbladder harbors a potent, untamed energy. One snake is fine for one person, but five snakes are not a tonic; it's gambling with your life."

Lu Wushuang shrank her neck.

"I'm not that stupid. Besides, with my husband teaching me martial arts, why am I in such a hurry?"

She said it so easily, but Cheng Ying didn't feel good hearing it.

Lu Wushuang's dependence on Yang Guo is now obvious.

It seems difficult for her, as the older cousin, to take people away now.

The three of them washed up briefly by the pool.

Cheng Ying scooped up some water and patted her face. The coolness seeped into her skin, and her mind cleared up considerably.

She looked down at the reflection in the water. She wore a pink dress with a cinched waist and her hair was slightly disheveled. Her usual elegance and poise were gone, replaced by an indescribable charm.

"Hurry up and finish washing up and eat. We have important things to do after we've eaten."

Breakfast was leftover snake meat from last night.

Yang Guo cut the snake meat into several pieces, placed them over a fire to roast, and the oil dripped into the fire, crackling and popping, and the aroma quickly spread.

Lu Wushuang squatted down beside him, turning the meat over with a twig, her movements as practiced as if she were roasting corn on a stove in the countryside.

"Husband, is it cooked yet?"

"What's the rush? It'll be burnt on the outside but raw on the inside; eating it will give you a stomachache."

"I'm starving."

"How can your belly be flat? You ate more than that idiot last night."

Lu Wushuang was so angry that she poked him with a tree branch.

"You're the one who's even comparable to an eagle!"

The Divine Eagle, perched on the large rock, heard these words, tilted its head to look at Lu Wushuang, and made two gurgling sounds in its throat, as if it were cursing.

Yang Guo laughed.

"See? That idiot's not having it."

Lu Wushuang made a face at the Divine Condor.

"Your master must have been quite annoyed by you back then."

When Dugu Qiubai was mentioned, Yang Guo stopped joking.

He tore off a piece of snake meat, chewed it a few times, and secretly circulated his internal energy.

The essence of snake meat enters the abdomen, first passing through the Ren meridian, and then into the Dantian.

The red and black true energy circled the innate primordial energy pearl three times before smoothing out its agitation.

The third line has solidified; though not wide, it is firmly attached to the outer layer of the Qi Bead.

The mid-stage of the Innate Realm cannot be achieved simply by having profound internal strength.

The acquired practice is Qi cultivation, while the innate practice is Yi (意).

After true qi enters the prenatal state, it must be able to combine with the meridians, acupoints, and the five internal organs.

If one only focuses on skill and power, the energy will dissipate quickly, but the foundation will become weak.

Although the meat of the Bodhi snake is highly nutritious, eating too much can cause one's vital energy to become restless.

Last night, Yang Guo helped Cheng Ying neutralize the effects of the medicine and took the opportunity to use the Qiankun Technique to circulate through her meridians, thus figuring out the methods of Peach Blossom Island's internal energy cultivation.

The true qi of Peach Blossom Island flows through the Shaoyang and Jueyin meridians, excelling in skillful techniques and emphasizing change, and its foundation is not bad.

However, Cheng Ying was too preoccupied and often held back some of her strength when practicing martial arts. Her true energy was hidden too carefully, and she couldn't suppress it when faced with strong medicine.

This woman will need to be polished up again before she can be used in the future.

Lu Wushuang handed the roasted meat to Cheng Ying.

"Cousin, eat more. You were up all night last night, you've lost weight."

Cheng Ying's hand trembled, and she almost dropped it.

"Wushuang, don't talk nonsense."

"What do you mean by talking nonsense? Didn't you practice your breathing exercises until midnight last night?"

Lu Wushuang said earnestly, "With my husband watching over me, I can sleep soundly."

Yang Guo coughed, almost choking on the snake meat.

This girl is a real gem.

Cheng Ying's ears turned bright red. She lowered her head, biting her meat, and stopped talking.

After Yang Guo finished eating the last piece of meat, he clapped his hands.

"Alright, pack your things."

Lu Wushuang tied the willow-leaf dagger and hung the water bag on her waist.

Cheng Ying also straightened her clothes, wearing a pink Taoist robe over them, the sleeves of which were a bit short, revealing her slender white wrists.

She wanted to change back into her own clothes, but the ones she wore last night were soaked and torn in several places, so she had no choice but to wear them as they were for the time being.

Yang Guo shook his head at the sight.

"These clothes don't fit properly, and they're inconvenient for walking on mountain paths."

Cheng Ying thought he was going to laugh at her, so she pursed her lips and remained silent.

Yang Guo pulled a gray cloth waist rope from his bundle, walked up to her, tightened the hem of her outer robe, and tied the cuffs.

The movements weren't gentle, but they were swift.

Cheng Ying was taken aback.

Yang Guo whispered, "The cave is not like the outside. The place where Senior Dugu lived may not only have swords. We have to guard against the earth's energy, the cracks in the rocks, and poisonous insects. Dressed like this, you could easily expose yourself if you just hang something up. Don't blame me for peeping later."

Cheng Ying's face flushed again.

"Would you die if you didn't say the second half of the sentence?"

"You'll suffocate."

Lu Wushuang laughed so hard her stomach hurt.

After the three of them finished getting ready, Yang Guo walked towards the large rock.

The eagle was preening its feathers with its iron beak; the feather roots were thick and stiff, and its neck was still stained with snake blood from the previous night.

When it saw Yang Guo coming over, it raised its head and stared at him for a while with its yellowish-brown eyes.

Yang Guo kicked the stone.

"You idiot, are you full yet?"

The Divine Eagle made a few gurgling sounds in its throat.

"Take me to see where your master used to live."

Yang Guo pointed to the depths of the valley.

The statue seemed to understand, and turned to stride away.

This bird doesn't fly, but it walks incredibly fast.

Two thick legs pounded on the gravel, making a thud, much like an old ox pulling a cart across a dirt road in the village. It was a bit rustic, but the strength was really impressive.

Yang Guo gathered his strength and followed.

Lu Wushuang had practiced the Yi Jin Jing and Duan Gu Jing, and had the Snake Walking and Fox Turning techniques as a foundation. Although her internal strength was still shallow, her movements were quite agile.

She gritted her teeth and followed, unwilling to fall behind.

Cheng Ying was at a disadvantage.

Although her internal strength has increased, the effects of the medicine last night have impacted her meridians, and her energy channels haven't been fully restored yet.

The footwork on Peach Blossom Island emphasizes lightness and agility, which is fine on flat ground, but in this valley, there are scattered rocks of varying sizes, and she has to catch her breath every ten or so steps.

Yang Guo turned to look at her.

"If you can't take it anymore, just say so."

Cheng Ying raised her chin.

"I can walk."

"Fine, being stubborn takes skill too."

Yang Guo did not help her up.

This wasn't meant to torment her.

Those whose cultivation has just increased are most afraid of sitting still.

The medicinal properties are absorbed into the meridians. Walking around more allows the qi and blood to circulate more freely, which can actually stabilize the foundation.

Cheng Ying also understood this principle.

As she walked, she guided her qi according to the cultivation method of Peach Blossom Island.

Qi ascends from the Foot Shaoyang Meridian, but each time it passes through the side of the waist, it is always touched by a burning mark.

That was a barrier left by the Qiankun Technique, like a lock that blocked her retreat, but also gave her a place to borrow strength.

The further she walked, the less she could tell whether the mark was a curse or a help.

Lu Wushuang turned around and called out, "Cousin, hurry up!"

"They're here."

Cheng Ying responded and quickened her pace.

The valley was very humid, and the stone walls were covered with moss.

The further you go in, the narrower the air becomes, and the speed at which your inner energy circulates in your meridians slows down.

Yang Guo stopped and touched the cliff face, his fingertips getting a little wet.

"There is yin energy from the earth's veins here."

Lu Wushuang couldn't understand.

"What do you mean?"

"It means that this place is suitable for hiding swords and raising snakes."

Yang Guo looked around. "Senior Dugu didn't just choose any cave to sleep in. The mountain energy enters the cave, balancing yin and yang. If a swordsman stays here for a long time, his inner fire won't be so volatile, and his attacks will be more stable."

Cheng Ying continued, "The formations of Peach Blossom Island also involve utilizing the terrain. If we set up a formation here, we don't need to use many flag stones; we only need to block a few wind gaps to easily trap people."

Yang Guo glanced at her.

"My brain is still working; I'm not delirious from the heat."

Cheng Ying snorted.

The three followed the Divine Eagle around a patch of rocks, and the road ahead grew narrower and narrower.

After walking a few dozen more feet, the trees suddenly parted, and the view opened up.

However, they hadn't gone far when the road ended.

Before us was a steep cliff face, straight up and down, completely bare with no place to grab onto.

The eagle reached the bottom of the cliff and kicked off with both legs.

Its massive body rose straight up from the ground, took several steps on the cliff, and landed steadily at the entrance of a stone cave halfway up the mountain.

The Divine Eagle stood at the cave entrance, looking down at the three people below.