The Return of the Condor Heroes: Starting with a Suicide Note and Conquering All Realms

Dasheng Pass. Lujiazhuang.

The midday sun was obscured by thick clouds. Colorful flags fluttered inside the manor, and the sounds of clashing weapons and boisterous toasts mingled on the training ground. Heroes from all factions of the martial world gathered, and the aroma of wine and meat mingled with the smell of sweat, pushing the atmosphere of this grand gathering of heroes to its peak.

Inside the main hall, candlelight blazed brightly.

Guo Jing stood before a massive map of the Central Plains, pointing to Xiangyang. Lu Guanying and Lu Youjiao stood on either side, their expressions grave. The three were discussing the city's defensive arrangements against the Mongols.

A series of hurried footsteps broke the solemnity of the main hall.

Two men stumbled into the hall, supporting each other. Their hair was disheveled, their grey robes were stained with mud, and they didn't even carry swords.

The assembled heroes in the hall all turned their heads in surprise.

Guo Jing turned around. He recognized the style of the lining of their robes. It was the lining of a Quanzhen Taoist robe.

"A Qing generation disciple of the Quanzhen Sect?" Guo Jing quickly stepped forward, reaching out to support the person in front. "What happened? Where are Master Wang and Master Qiu?"

The disciple looked up, his face ashen. He pulled a sweat-soaked letter from his robes and handed it to Guo Jing with trembling hands.

"Master Guo... the Quanzhen Sect is gone."

Upon hearing this, the main hall fell into a deathly silence. The wine cups froze in mid-air, and several Beggar Clan elders abruptly stood up.

Guo Jing suddenly clenched his fists. He ripped open the envelope and pulled out the letter.

The letter was written by Wang Chuyi himself. The handwriting was messy, revealing extreme weakness and despair.

Guo Jing's gaze swept over the letter. His face went from rosy to ashen, then to deathly pale. The veins on his forehead bulged.

The letter contained few words, yet every word was piercing to the heart.

Lin Yuan shattered the earth's veins of Zhongnan Mountain with a single step, breaking the Heavenly Dipper Formation. Wang Chuyi was forced to publicly announce the disbandment and closure of the Quanzhen Sect. Yin Zhiping was crippled for attempting illicit activities. Yang Guo, in front of hundreds of people, declared to the world that he would marry his master, Xiaolongnü.

"Bang!"

Guo Jing slammed his right hand on the sandalwood table beside him. A surge of powerful Subduing Dragon True Qi erupted from his body. The hard sandalwood table corner thudded, turning into a cloud of fine wood chips.

"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

Guo Jing's eyes were bloodshot, and his chest heaved violently. The Quanzhen Sect was the lineage of Wang Chongyang, and Ma Yu and Qiu Chuji had been his students. Now, their century-old foundation had been destroyed in an instant. What pained him even more was Yang Guo.

The image of Yang Kang's tragic death at the Iron Spear Temple flashed through his mind. He had vowed to guide Yang Guo back to the righteous path and teach him chivalry.

"Even if Guo'er has suffered injustice, he shouldn't have betrayed his master and ancestors! He shouldn't have allowed Lin Yuan to destroy the century-old foundation of the Quanzhen Sect!" Guo Jing's voice trembled, his anger and guilt intertwined. "Master and disciple falling in love is a grave transgression! How dare he harbor such rebellious thoughts!"

Huang Rong walked to Guo Jing's side and took the letter from him.

She skimmed through the text, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes.

The letter is vague about Yin Zhiping's scandals, only saying that he "made a mistake for a moment." However, it vividly describes Lin Yuan's violent oppression and Yang Guo's arrogant words.

Huang Rong was too good at this kind of tactic.

"Brother Jing, calm down." Huang Rong lowered her voice, folded the letter and put it away. "This letter is evasive. Master Wang was forced to write this letter. He sent the letter to Dasheng Pass not to ask for help."

Guo Jing turned to look at his wife, his brows furrowed: "Rong'er, the Quanzhen Sect has been forced to disband, and Guo'er has even strayed into the evil path. How can I remain calm?"

Huang Rong sighed. She looked out at the gloomy sky outside the hall.

Six years ago on Peach Blossom Island, the gray-robed boy who coughed up blood in front of the ruins of his study, yet used a series of schemes to trap everyone, resurfaced in her mind.

"This is an open conspiracy." Huang Rong's voice was solemn. "Lin Yuan didn't kill all the Quanzhen Sect members, but spared their lives to let them spread the news throughout the world. He's forcing you, forcing all the heroes of Dasheng Pass to take a stand."

Guo Jing stubbornly shook his head: "Right and wrong, black and white, will be judged by public opinion. No matter how high Lin Yuan's martial arts are, he cannot overturn the fundamental principles of morality. Since Guo'er calls me Uncle Guo, I will risk my life to pull him back from this evil path!"

Corner of the hall.

Guo Fu sat in a grand chair, toying with a riding whip in her hand. Wu Dunru and Wu Xiuwen stood on either side of her behind her.

Upon hearing Guo Jing's words, Guo Fu curled her lips and sneered.

"Father, you're just too kind-hearted." Guo Fu raised her voice, making it particularly jarring in the hall. "People like Yang Guo are inherently evil. What good could Yang Kang's offspring possibly be? He even dared to touch his own master, he's utterly shameless. Lin Yuan is a madman too. The two of them together are nothing but a menace to the martial world. When they arrive, just beat them out with sticks."

Da Wu and Xiao Wu nodded in agreement.

"Shut up!"

A loud shout rang out in the hall.

Guo Jing turned around abruptly. He strode up to Guo Fu, his eyes wide with rage.

The energy from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms leaked out uncontrollably. A sandalwood table beside him suddenly exploded. Splinters of wood crashed into the bronze brazier in the center of the hall, sending up a cloud of smoke.

Guo Fu trembled with fright, dropping her riding whip to the ground. Da Wu and Xiao Wu's legs went weak, and they staggered backward.

"What do you know! The affairs of the Yang family are none of your business!" Guo Jing shouted sternly, pointing to the gate. "Get back to the backyard! Without my permission, you are not to step into the main hall!"

Guo Fu's eyes instantly reddened. In all her life, Guo Jing had never been so angry with her. She covered her face and ran crying out of the hall. Da Wu and Xiao Wu quickly chased after her.

The assembled heroes in the hall fell silent, trembling with fear.

Although Guo Jing was furious at Yang Guo's actions, he was still fiercely protective of his own. He would not allow anyone, not even his own daughter, to use the term "bastard" to humiliate Yang Kang's bloodline.

Huang Rong stepped forward and grasped Guo Jing's arm. She could feel Guo Jing's tense muscles trembling slightly.

"Brother Jing," Huang Rong soothed softly.

Just then, Lu Guanying, holding a secret report, strode into the hall.

"Master Guo, Chief Huang, urgent report from the Beggars' Sect front." Lu Guanying's expression was solemn. "The Mongol National Preceptor, Golden Wheel Monk, has led his disciples, Huodu and Darba, across the border and is rushing towards Dasheng Pass at full speed. Along the way, they have taken down several small sects from the Central Plains, using extremely ruthless methods."

Guo Jing took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the family troubles on his mind.

"The Golden Wheel Monk is trying to use the Heroes' Gathering to demoralize the martial arts world of the Central Plains." Guo Jing regained his composure, his gaze sweeping over the assembled heroes in the hall. "In the face of national righteousness, personal grudges shall be set aside for now. The Heroes' Gathering shall proceed as scheduled."

Guo Jing turned to look at Lu Guanying.

"Pass down the order. If Yang Guo and Lin Yuan arrive at Lu Family Manor, no one is allowed to stop them, nor are they allowed to seek revenge privately. Invite them directly into the main hall." Guo Jing's voice was calm and steady. "I want to personally ascertain the truth."

Lu Guanying clasped his hands in acceptance of the order and turned to leave.

Huang Rong stood by the window. The wind outside picked up, making the flags of the Lu Family Manor flutter wildly.

The Golden Wheel Monk marched south, and the Mongol army pressed in. This should have been the greatest crisis for the Heroes' Gathering. But Huang Rong's heart was pounding unusually fast.

She has a strong intuition.

Even if the Golden Wheel Monk was strong, he was still within the realm of martial arts masters. But Lin Yuan, who could melt refined iron with his bare hands six years ago, shattered the Zhongnan Mountain's earth veins with a single step today.

This kind of monster no longer follows the rules of the martial arts world.

At dusk.

The sky darkened completely. Dark clouds pressed down on the eaves of the houses in Lujiazhuang. The air was so stuffy that it was hard to breathe.

Inside the hall, the assembled heroes were having dinner. The clinking of wine bowls sounded somewhat subdued.

Sudden.

"clang!"

Outside Lujiazhuang, the massive bronze bell, weighing a thousand pounds, emitted a deafening roar.

The bell wasn't struck with a mallet, but rather resounded directly by an extremely powerful surge of internal energy. The intense sound waves pierced through the courtyards, causing dust to fall from the roof of the main hall. Several martial artists with weaker internal energy covered their ears, their faces contorted in pain.

Guo Jing abruptly put down his wine bowl and stood up.

Huang Rong gripped the dog-beating stick tightly in her hand.

A gatekeeper stumbled and crawled into the main hall. His face was deathly pale, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he could barely speak.

"Master Guo...Master Guo!" The gatekeeper knelt on the ground, pointing towards the gate, "They're here! They're here!"

Guo Jing strode down from the main seat: "Who's here?"

"Yang Guo! And that Lin Yuan in the gray Taoist robe!" The gatekeeper swallowed hard. "They didn't even present their visiting cards; they just kicked the stone lions outside the manor to pieces!"