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

Yang Guo first lowered his head and glanced at Li Mochou, who was unconscious and lying on the ground.

Once it was confirmed that her breath was weak and she no longer had any ferocity, there was absolutely no possibility of any further complications.

Then he turned to look at the pale-faced Wang Zhengsong and calmly cupped his hands in response:

"Master Wang, there's no need to be so polite. Li Mochou has countless blood debts and her evil deeds are all over the martial arts world. Besides, I have some old grudges with her. My help just now was just a small favor and can't be described as a favor."

His tone was calm and composed, his brows furrowed in tranquility, showing no trace of arrogance or pride in his achievements.

It was as if the earth-shattering battle that had just stunned everyone and captured the Crimson Fairy with his bare hands was nothing more than a trivial matter to him.

Wang Zhensong stood to the side, his respect for the young man growing stronger upon hearing this. He couldn't help but raise his eyes to carefully examine the boy before him.

The more he looked, the more alarmed he became, his heart filled with turmoil.

In that instant, a thought quietly arose in his mind:

Could it be that by sheer coincidence today, I have truly encountered the legendary master of the Tianshan lineage in the Western Regions, a person who has maintained his youthful appearance and lives in seclusion, as described in ancient books?

This thought flashed through my mind in an instant.

He quickly composed himself, bowed deeply again, and spoke with even greater respect and sincerity:

"Senior's cultivation is extraordinary, and his magnanimity is open-minded. He does not boast about his superb skills. I, Wang, sincerely admire him."

Having said that, he immediately turned his head to look at his beloved daughter standing beside him, and softly urged her:

"Qingyuan, hurry up and step forward to thank this senior for saving your life."

Upon hearing this, Wang Qingyuan's heart trembled slightly, and she quickly stepped forward with delicate steps.

Her lotus-colored skirt gently swept across the withered yellow leaves on the ground, her figure slender and elegant, every movement exuding the gentle refinement of a lady from a noble family.

She bowed gracefully to Yang Guo, her eyes lowered, her clear and melodious voice like pearls falling on a jade plate, gentle and pleasing to the ear:

"I am Wang Qingyuan. I am very grateful to you, young master, for saving me from this perilous situation."

"May I ask your esteemed name, young master? My Wang family will certainly pay a visit to express our gratitude in the future, to repay the kindness shown to us today."

She spoke humbly, but instead of addressing him as "senior" like her father, she called him "young master".

The girl's thoughts are delicate and subtle, concealing a gentle heart.

Although she could see with her own eyes that the other party's martial arts skills were unfathomable, she could not resist the allure of the fairy-like beauty before her.

Moreover, she lacked her father's profound understanding of the martial arts world and extensive experience, making it difficult for her to confuse such a handsome and extraordinary young man with those old monsters who had lived for decades.

Secondly, she harbored a naive and selfish motive deep in her heart:

If one were to address him as "senior," it would create a vast chasm of disparity in status and generation, making it impossible to cross. Only by calling him "young master" can one retain a semblance of equality and intimacy, and leave a glimmer of hope for the future.

Yang Guo looked back at the gentle and shy girl in front of him. He saw that her eyes were clear and her heart was pure and kind. Just as he was about to speak, the tip of his ear suddenly trembled slightly.

After his Reverse Life Cultivation reached the second level, he could hear everything within a radius of several miles, from falling leaves and chirping insects to footsteps and the sound of the wind.

At that moment, several footsteps and the sound of wind faintly came from the distance in the forest. Although they were light and concealed, they could not escape his perception.

Knowing that this was not a place to stay, he immediately stopped talking, bent down and put one arm around Li Mochou's soft and weak waist.

Looking up at the Wang father and daughter, he spoke in a light, quick voice, yet remained composed:

"Time is short, and I cannot stay any longer. Take care, both of you. The journey is long, but we will meet again if fate allows. Until we meet again."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Guo lightly tapped his toes, and the frozen soil and withered branches snapped with a crisp sound. He suddenly rose up, his gray robe fluttering in the wind, his sleeves billowing like a gray crane soaring through the sky.

He held the unconscious Li Mochou in his arms, his two colors, one gray and one yellow, lightly skimming among the dense forest branches, rising and falling several feet.

In the blink of an eye, the two figures disappeared into the depths of the dense forest, leaving only the swaying branches rustling incessantly.

Wang Zhengsong and his daughter, along with a group of guards, stood there, staring at each other in silence.

The cold winter wind swept through the forest, chilly and desolate, swirling up the fallen leaves that covered the ground.

Wang Qingyuan stared blankly at the secluded forest path where Yang Guo had left, her cherry lips slightly pursed, a thousand words in her heart that she wanted to say but could not, and in the end, they could only sink into the depths of her heart.

She lowered her head and looked down, her fingertips gently twisting the hem of her dress that had fallen down when she bowed, a faint sense of melancholy and loneliness creeping into her eyes.

Looking at the empty forest, Wang Zhengsong exhaled a long breath, feeling a mix of emotions, yet also a secret sense of relief.

He had spent half his life arrogance over the exquisite martial arts of his family's Golden Saber technique, but today's series of setbacks and insights have finally made him truly realize that there are always people more capable than him, and that there is always something beyond his understanding.

The world of martial arts is vast, and countless hidden talents exist. All my life's learning is but a drop in the ocean.

He shook his head slightly, about to turn around and instruct everyone to clean up the mess and collect the bodies.

Suddenly, they heard the soft rustling of clothes and the sound of steady footsteps coming from the forest path to the east.

Hearing the sound, Wang Zhengsong turned his head and saw five or six Quanzhen disciples dressed in blue Taoist robes filing into the forest.

The leader was a Taoist nun in her fifties, wearing a jade crown, with a gaunt face and dignified bearing.

She was none other than Sun Bu'er, the only female Taoist priest among the Seven Masters of Quanzhen—the "Pure and Tranquil Hermit".

She was followed by four or five young disciples, each with a long sword at their waist, looking wary, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings, clearly drawn by the commotion of the fierce fighting in the forest earlier.

Sun Bu'er's gaze swept across the mess on the ground—two corpses lying on the ground, mottled dark red bloodstains, and messy broken grass, trees, and weapons all came into view.

Her gaze finally settled on the pale-faced, burly man in brocade robes, one hand on his chest, and her pupils contracted slightly.

The Wang family of Luoyang, known as the Golden Knife Wang family, had a branch in Fanchuan, Zhongnan Mountain. They regularly donated grain and supplies to Chongyang Palace. The two families had always been on good terms and had close ties.

Sun Bu'er naturally recognized Wang Zhengsong. Seeing him severely injured and the forest in disarray, her expression tightened, and she quickly stepped forward, cupping her hands in greeting, and asked:

"Master Wang, it's been a long time. Why are you so badly injured? The battle in the forest just now was deafening. What exactly happened?"

Wang Zhengsong also recognized Sun Bu'er. Composing himself, he returned the greeting with clasped hands and answered frankly:

"Greetings, Master Sun. This matter is a long story, just now..."

He briefly recounted the whole story of how he had just ambushed and killed Li Mochou, and the fierce battle that had taken place between them.

Upon hearing this, Sun Bu'er's expression changed drastically, and she exclaimed in shock:

"Li Mochou?! This fiend has been absent from Zhongnan Mountain for many years, yet she dares to sneak back today? Does Master Wang know which direction she went?"

Seeing how nervous she was, Wang Zhengsong quickly comforted her:

"Master Sun need not worry. Although Li Mochou is fierce and vicious, she has been subdued and captured on the spot by a peerless master, and is no longer able to wreak havoc on the martial arts world."

"What? Capture Li Mochou alive?"