Be a proper Taoist priest in The Condor Heroes

Chapter 70 Guo Jing and Yang Guo

The city of Xiangyang was bustling with activity, with a constant stream of merchants and travelers.

At this moment, a burly, robust, and composed middle-aged man led a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old with lively and mischievous eyes into Xiangyang City and found an inn on the street to rest.

The two, weary from their journey, sat down in the main hall and ordered their food. They noticed that at the surrounding tables, diners were gathered in twos and threes, discussing the various strange and unusual stories circulating in the martial arts world recently.

The boy was naturally active and had extremely keen ears. He soon overheard the guests at the next table talking loudly, praising a young swordsman named Su Yan from the Quanzhen Sect. The crowd embellished the story, exaggerating that this young man possessed unparalleled martial arts skills at a young age, and that he had single-handedly suppressed the infamous Black Wind Stronghold, making the entire stronghold so intimidating that no one dared to raise their head. His deeds were described as almost mythical.

Yang Guo immediately became very interested and couldn't help but lean forward to interject, wanting to ask about the background and past of this young hero, Su Yan.

The middle-aged man beside him quickly reached out and gently pressed him down, offering a soft reassurance.

"Guo'er, do not interrupt others when they are talking. Sit still and do not run around or cause trouble for no reason."

The boy stuck out his tongue, suppressing his mischievous nature, but still couldn't help asking out of curiosity.

"Uncle Guo, just who is this Su Yan? How can he single-handedly suppress the entire Black Wind Stronghold and make them unable to raise their heads?"

These two are none other than Guo Jing, the husband of the current leader of the Beggar Clan and the descendant of the Northern Beggar who became famous a few years ago at the Mount Hua Sword Tournament. The lively and carefree boy beside him is Yang Guo, the only son of his deceased sworn brother Yang Kang.

Earlier, Guo Jing and his wife encountered Yang Guo, who was orphaned and destitute, in Jiaxing. Out of brotherhood, they took him back to Peach Blossom Island and cared for him well.

By chance, Yang Guo encountered the mad Ouyang Feng and recognized him as his adoptive father. Later, Ouyang Feng followed the two to Peach Blossom Island, where he fought with Guo Jing and Ke Zhen'e. Yang Guo secretly intervened and let this public enemy of the martial arts world go.

Ke Zhen'e's five sworn sisters were all killed by Ouyang Feng, a blood feud he could not forgive. Therefore, he was extremely adamant, stating that if Yang Guo was on the island, he would not be; only one of them could remain. Guo Jing had no choice but to leave Peach Blossom Island and escort Yang Guo to the Quanzhen Sect on Zhongnan Mountain to become a disciple.

The Quanzhen Sect is the orthodox sect of Taoism in the world, with strict and upright rules. Its internal energy cultivation and sword techniques are open and aboveboard. Guo Jing wholeheartedly hopes that the strict Taoist precepts can temper Yang Guo's rebellious and unruly nature, teach him to distinguish right from wrong, uphold chivalry, and embark on the righteous path of martial arts.

Guo Jing was an honest and simple man with straightforward thoughts. When Yang Guo asked him, he gently shook his head and said, "I have never heard of this young hero Su Yan. The Quanzhen Sect is the leader of the righteous path in the Central Plains martial arts world, and many masters have emerged. He must be a newly accepted disciple of one of my senior masters. It is truly rare for someone so young to have such a reputation."

Seeing that Yang Guo was particularly interested in the Quanzhen Sect and kept asking about its origins, Guo Jing patiently explained the history of the Quanzhen Sect to him.

Wang Chongyang, the founder of the Quanzhen School, was originally a patriotic anti-Jin hero. After his uprising failed, he retired to Zhongnan Mountain and founded the Quanzhen School. In the first Mount Hua Sword Tournament, his unparalleled martial arts skills surpassed all others in the world. He overpowered the four top masters, the Eastern Heretic, the Western Poison, the Southern Emperor, and the Northern Beggar, and firmly held the title of the number one martial artist in the world. He also won the martial arts treasure, the Nine Yin Manual, and his fame shook the world.

His seven disciples of Quanzhen, while not possessing the world's top-tier individual combat skills like the Five Greats, were all dedicated to cultivating the Dao.

Indifferent to fame and fortune, they were all virtuous and noble individuals, living their lives in chivalry and upholding justice. The seven of them, working together, unleashed the Heavenly Dipper Formation, a formation of unparalleled ingenuity and seamless offense and defense, capable of rivaling even the Five Greats. Therefore, the Quanzhen Sect was revered as the supreme orthodox sect of Taoism throughout the Central Plains martial arts world.

Yang Guo became increasingly interested and took the opportunity to inquire about Guo Jing's connection with the Quanzhen Sect.

Guo Jing looked around, lowered his voice, and softly recounted the past: "Back then, I was young and alone in the desert. Master Ma Yu traveled thousands of miles to the borderlands to secretly teach me the Quanzhen Sect Xuanmen internal martial arts, which gave me a second life. Master Ma was kind-hearted and virtuous, and he is an elder I respect and am grateful to throughout my life."

As they spoke, Guo Jing's gaze quietly fell on Yang Guo, his heart filled with mixed emotions, a deep worry quietly spreading within him. He valued brotherhood above all else, and could never forget how his sworn brother Yang Kang had become so stubborn, gone astray, and ultimately met a tragic end.

The eyebrow and eyes of Yang Guo before him were extremely similar to those of Yang Kang. He was quick-witted, rebellious, and unruly, which made him particularly concerned about Yang Guo.

Moreover, when Yang Guo lived on Peach Blossom Island, he had a chance encounter with Ouyang Feng, the Western Poison, and secretly followed Ouyang Feng to practice the Toad Stance, thus becoming deeply involved with this public enemy of the martial arts world.

He pondered to himself that if he told the Seven Masters of Quanzhen the truth about Yang Guo's entanglement with Ouyang Feng, they would definitely harbor resentment and be unwilling to accept Yang Guo into their sect. However, if he deliberately concealed it, Yang Guo would have no place in the Quanzhen Sect if the matter were exposed in the future, and it might even bring about greater disaster.

Guo Jing couldn't decide whether or not to confess everything to his Quanzhen master beforehand.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, at Chongyang Palace in Zhongnan Mountain.

The Sanqing Hall was solemn and dignified, with a heavy and oppressive atmosphere. Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, Hao Datong, Liu Chuxuan, and Sun Bu'er, the six disciples of Quanzhen, were gathered in the hall, all with extremely solemn expressions.

Ma Yu's expression was solemn as he slowly spoke.

"Last night I received an urgent secret letter from a frontier spy. Several top experts from Mongolia are rushing day and night towards my Chongyang Palace in Zhongnan Mountain. Their movements are secretive and their intentions are unclear."

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts tightened, and they immediately began to discuss it amongst themselves.

Qiu Chuji spoke in a deep voice.

"Could it be those Mongolian henchmen who secretly colluded with Zhao Zhijing last time, attempting to seize the position of leader of my Quanzhen Sect? This group harbors ill intentions and has always coveted the martial arts and sect power of my Chongyang Palace."

The secret letter was extremely brief, not detailing the sender's identity, but only vaguely mentioning that the group of experts were all direct disciples of the Mongolian National Preceptor, whose martial arts style was strange and domineering, and whose strength far surpassed that of ordinary martial arts masters.

Hao Datong pondered for a moment, then added the earth-shattering rumors that had recently spread throughout the martial arts world.

"Fellow disciples, you've probably heard that Li Mochou, the Red Serpent Fairy, has been spreading rumors that a woman surnamed Long from the Ancient Tomb Sect, now eighteen, will be holding a public martial arts contest at the Tomb of the Living Dead in Zhongnan Mountain to find a husband. The winner will not only marry her but also receive countless treasures and top-tier martial arts manuals from the Ancient Tomb. Is this related to this news?"

For a moment, no one could tell whether the Mongolian National Master's disciple had come specifically to plot against the Quanzhen Sect, or to take advantage of the chaos of the martial arts contest at the Ancient Tomb to stir up trouble and disrupt the martial arts world of the Central Plains.

Despite lengthy discussions, they were still unable to ascertain the other party's true intentions.

With the Mongol army eyeing the Central Plains, border wars raging, the conflict between good and evil in the martial arts world raging, and a martial arts contest for marriage taking place in an ancient tomb, the situation is extremely complex and intertwined with various forces.

Finally, Ma Yu calmly decided on a countermeasure.

"The current situation is unclear and the dangers are unpredictable. The entire sect must be on high alert immediately. Disciples should double their patrols inside and outside the mountain gate. All disciples should intensify their practice of the Big Dipper Formation, diligently cultivate their martial arts, and prepare for battle with all their might. The country is in turmoil, and there are many troubles in the martial world. A storm is coming for Chongyang Palace. No one can afford to be the slightest bit negligent or careless."

The atmosphere inside the main hall grew increasingly heavy. Everyone knew that Chongyang Palace, which had just survived a calamity, was unlikely to be safe again.