Yang Guo: I defied death and reached the heavens in The Return of the Condor Heroes

Qiu Chuji's expression changed several times. His gaze first swept over Zhao Zhijing, then fell on Yang Guo, and finally looked at Guo Jing.

He knew that Guo Jing was upright and honest, and would never speak falsely about such matters.

It seems that Zhao Zhijing's sneak attack earlier has already become a fact.

He remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"In that case, let us choose another person to teach and impart knowledge."

His gaze slowly swept over the group of third-generation disciples in the hall, finally settling on one person.

"Li Zhichang".

A Taoist priest of about thirty years old stepped forward in response, bowing deeply.

"Disciple is here."

This person has a dignified and upright appearance, with a calm and reserved demeanor.

He was Li Zhichang, a prized disciple of Qiu Chuji.

He once accompanied his master on a journey to the west to meet Genghis Khan. He was deeply learned in Taoism and acted with composure and fairness.

He has always enjoyed an outstanding reputation among the third-generation disciples of Quanzhen.

"Zhichang, you will be Yang Guo's teacher. You must teach him carefully and never neglect or indulge him."

Qiu Chuji gave the order in a deep voice.

Li Zhichang's gaze unconsciously fell on Yang Guo.

Yang Kang's son.

These five words resonated in Li Zhichang's mind, causing a slight ripple in his chest.

He naturally remembered Yang Kang—the Quanzhen traitor who betrayed his master and recognized a thief as his father.

This person's rebellious behavior back then brought shame and humiliation to the Quanzhen Sect and made him a laughingstock in the martial arts world.

Now his own son is standing right in front of him, wanting to become his disciple.

Li Zhichang's thoughts were in turmoil.

He was well aware of the faults of the previous generation and should not blame the younger generation.

However, the old shame of his sect remained in his heart, and this resentment was ultimately difficult to completely dispel.

He gazed at Yang Guo's still somewhat childish features and pondered to himself:

Will this boy repeat his father's mistakes and become wicked in the future?

If he goes astray in the future, wouldn't I become a sinner who misleads his disciples and harms the Quanzhen School?

He hesitated for a moment, but finally bowed his head.

"Your disciple obeys."

Yang Guo looked up at Li Zhichang, quickly weighing his options in his mind:

He remembered this person from the original work, knowing that he was a man of upright character and profound moral cultivation, a gentleman of integrity.

Compared to a scheming and treacherous person like Zhao Zhijing, this Taoist priest Li is undoubtedly much more reliable and dependable.

However, he was still unwilling to go through the formal apprenticeship ceremony.

Yang Guo stepped forward, speaking humbly:

"I am deeply grateful for the favor and kindness of my grandmaster, and I am also very grateful to Master Li for accepting me as a junior."

"As a junior who has just entered Zhongnan Mountain, I have not made any contribution to Quanzhen Sect, so I dare not rashly perform the formal ceremony of becoming a disciple."

"This junior only asks to become a nominal disciple and follow Master Li to learn the fundamental martial arts."

"If one's moral character and cultivation improve in the future, then a formal apprenticeship ceremony may be held. Is that possible?"

Li Zhichang was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, never expecting that the young man would voluntarily request to become a disciple under a pseudonym.

He stared intently at Yang Guo, his gaze subtly scrutinizing him as he pondered:

Is this person genuinely humble, or does he have ulterior motives?

He couldn't see through it for a while.

Yang Guo's explanation was well-reasoned and appropriate.

If I insist on taking him as my disciple, it would seem like I'm making a difficult request of him.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded:

Since you have such thoughts and aspirations, then so be it.

Qiu Chuji, observing the scene, felt somewhat relieved.

Since he is only a nominal disciple, he has not yet been formally accepted into the sect.

If this young man were to truly stray from the right path in the future, the Quanzhen Sect would not have lost face.

He raised his hand and waved it lightly, saying in a deep voice:

"And so the matter is settled."

"Zhichang, you will temporarily take over as Yang Guo's teacher and teach him the basic techniques of Quanzhen."

"Since he is a disciple under the formal name, everything shall be done in accordance with the rules for disciples under the formal name."

Li Zhichang bowed his head again.

"Your disciple will respectfully obey the Dharma's instructions."

Guo Jing's relaxed brows furrowed slightly. Although he felt a little regretful, he refrained from saying anything more.

He could only repeatedly ask Li Zhichang to take good care of Yang Guo, and in public repeatedly urged Yang Guo to strictly abide by the etiquette of respecting his teacher and to quietly and diligently cultivate martial arts.

Yang Guo agreed to each of their requests, his expression calm and composed.

As dusk fell over the windows, the shouts and cries of the Quanzhen disciples practicing swordsmanship echoed from outside the courtyard.

Yang Guo sat alone in his small house, his eyes closed, completely oblivious to the noisy martial arts practice outside.

He traveled thousands of miles to Zhongnan Mountain, but what he sought was never the martial arts of the Quanzhen School.

All he sought was a legitimate excuse to live in Zhongnan Mountain, and an opportunity to sneak into the ancient tomb in the back mountains and find that cold jade bed.

As his cultivation of rebirth approached the threshold between the first and second levels, his desire to rush to the back of Zhongnan Mountain grew stronger, and the opportunity he was determined to obtain lingered in his mind more and more.

"The Jade Bed..."

......

Guo Jing rested for three days at Zhongnan Mountain.

During these three days, Yang Guo was only a nominal disciple of Quanzhen.

However, since Guo Jing was still in the mountains, the Quanzhen Sect treated him with utmost courtesy and showed him no disrespect.

Despite his deep resentment, Zhao Zhijing ultimately dared not mistreat Yang Guo in front of Guo Jing.

After all, Guo Jing had saved Quanzhen from danger, and his senior uncles were all grateful to him.

If one were to deliberately make things difficult for Yang Guo at this moment, it would be tantamount to humiliating oneself.

Yang Guo, on the other hand, found himself quite carefree and at ease.

Guo Jing often visited him in his spare time, bringing some dried fruit and snacks, and would sit in the house and chat with him.

What he said was nothing more than telling him to respect his teacher, practice his skills diligently, and uphold the principles of chivalry and righteousness.

Yang Guo bowed his head and agreed without hesitation, his expression respectful and without the slightest hint of displeasure.

Only when Guo Jing mentioned the words "your father" did Yang Guo's heart stir.

It wasn't out of sorrow or guilt, but because I had already foreseen what would happen next.

He simply recounted some old stories about him and Yang Kang, urging him not to "repeat the same mistakes."

Guo Jing had said these words many times before, his words filled with apology and expectation.

Yang Guo was already well-versed in how to deal with this situation. He simply listened silently, nodded when appropriate, and waited for the man to finish speaking.

He never argued or tried to comfort himself; the past held little weight for him.

Yang Kang is Yang Kang, and I am myself. Apart from our blood ties, there is no longer any connection between us.

On the morning of the third day, Guo Jing prepared to leave the mountain.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, the pines and cypresses were still green, and the morning dew clung to the bluestone slabs in the mountains, making them slightly damp and cool.

Yang Guo escorted Guo Jing all the way to the outside of the mountain gate.

As the autumn wind swept by, it swirled up several withered leaves, which danced leisurely around their feet.

Guo Jing stood on the stone steps and turned to look at Yang Guo.

His lips moved several times, a thousand words of advice stuck in his throat, but he remained silent for a long time.

The boy in front of me was still young, with a childlike air about him, but his eyes revealed a calmness far beyond his years.

Seeing this, he couldn't help but recall Yang Kang in his youth, and then he vaguely saw himself in his youth.

In the end, it all boiled down to a profound admonition:

"Guo'er, Uncle Guo is leaving now."

"You should study diligently in the mountains. If you suffer any injustice, write a letter to Uncle Guo. Do not... do not keep it to yourself."

Yang Guo bowed and nodded, saying:

"Guo'er will remember this, Uncle Guo, take care on your journey."

Guo Jing gazed at him intently for a moment, then finally turned and slowly walked down the mountain path.

His broad and upright figure disappeared among the pines and cypresses, gradually fading into the distance.

The morning mist slowly enveloped the silhouette, gradually swallowing it up.

Yang Guo stood quietly on the stone steps, watching the figure disappear.

His face remained calm and expressionless, showing no sign of emotional fluctuation.

But he stood there until the morning mist had completely dissipated before turning back to Chongyang Palace.

From this point onward.

He was left to face the countless dawns and dusks of Zhongnan Mountain all by himself.