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

Little Dragon Girl listened quietly.

Looking at the wrinkles on the old man's face, etched by the passage of time, and at the undisguised love and joy in his eyes.

Something seemed to flicker slightly in her usually aloof eyes.

Grandma Sun's voice was distant and resonant as she continued:

"At that time, Mochou was only a little over ten years old, with two little buns on her head, and she was very mischievous."

"I still remember the first time the old mistress brought you back to the stone chamber. She stood on tiptoe, peering through the swaddling clothes, and asked me, 'Grandma, what is this?'"

"I told her, 'This isn't an object, it's your little junior sister.' She was overjoyed and spent all day circling around the swaddling clothes, touching your little hands and pinching your little feet..."

That brings us to this point.

She paused slightly, glanced sideways at Li Mochou nestled beside Xiaolongnu, a complex and indescribable melancholy flashing in her eyes, and slowly continued:

"Later, as you grew up and started talking and walking, you were timid and afraid of the dark. Every time you walked through the tunnel, you would hold tightly to Mochou's clothes. She would pat her chest and tell you: 'Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, your senior sister is here, you don't need to be afraid of anything...' You two were so close back then..."

Memories flooded back, and Grandma Sun's voice choked with emotion, but she continued to speak:

"When the old master taught you martial arts, Mochou always learned faster than you. But the old master often said that you were a calm child and that your future cultivation would never be inferior to Mochou's. It's a pity that later..."

She didn't say the second half of the sentence, but just sighed heavily, picked up the wine bowl, took a sip, and quietly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Setting down her wine bowl, Granny Sun took a deep breath, her eyes becoming serious, and her tone earnest:

"Young lady, today is your eighteenth birthday. May you live a peaceful and joyful life, free from disasters and illnesses."

"This old woman doesn't have any great skills. All I can do is wash your clothes, cook for you, and stay with you in this ancient tomb."

"From this day forward, the Ancient Tomb Sect is completely in your hands. If the old master knew this in the afterlife, he would surely be gratified to see how outstanding you are now."

"This bowl of wine is for you, old woman."

After she finished speaking, she picked up the wine bowl again, tilted her head back, and drank the sake in one gulp.

After a moment of silence, Xiaolong grasped the wine bowl in front of him, raised it to his lips, and drank it all in one gulp.

She never drank alcohol, but the sake was slightly spicy and the taste went straight to her throat, causing her to furrow her brows slightly before slowly relaxing them again.

Setting down the empty bowl, she looked up at Granny Sun, her cool voice now tinged with genuine warmth:

"Mother-in-law, you've worked so hard all these years."

These few words brought tears to Grandma Sun's eyes again.

She quickly lowered her head, raised her hand to hide the tears in her eyes, and muttered repeatedly:

"It's not hard work, it's not hard work. As long as the girl is safe and sound, this old woman will be content."

Yang Guo sat to the side, quietly watching the tender scene of the old man and the young man facing each other, and the karmic ties of their past lives involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

In my past life, when I turned eighteen, all the elders in my family gathered together to celebrate with a feast.

Everyone around him kept asking him about his future aspirations and studies, their words filled with talk of fame and fortune.

Only your mother spoke frankly, saying she didn't ask you to stand out or become famous, but only wished for you to be free from misfortune and to live a peaceful and healthy life...

The past is but a fleeting thought; he picked up his wine bowl and drank the wine in one gulp.

Granny Sun, having calmed her excitement, looked up at Yang Guo, a smile returning to her face, and teased him:

"Young man Yang, stop burying your head in your drink. Today is the young lady's birthday. What have you prepared as a guest?"

Yang Guo put down the empty wine bowl, reached into his robes and took out the wooden box, pushing it in front of Xiaolongnü:

"I went down the mountain two days ago to buy this item, but I don't know if it will suit Miss Long's taste."

Little Dragon Girl's gaze fell on the wooden box, then she looked up at the boy in front of her.

His snow-white hair and eyebrows accentuated his extraordinary appearance, causing a strange stirring in her usually calm heart.

She suppressed her emotions and asked softly:

"What's in the box?"

Yang Guo did not expect Xiaolongnu to ask questions directly. Normally, when giving gifts, there is no reason to open them and ask questions on the spot without waiting for the return address.

However, he still answered truthfully:

"A jade hairpin and a jade ring."

"I was passing by a jade shop when I saw that these two pieces of jade were of fine texture and exquisitely carved. I thought they would suit you well, so I bought them both."

Little Dragon Girl, unfamiliar with worldly etiquette, immediately reached out her fingertip and gently lifted the lid of the wooden box.

She looked into the box, which was lined with bright red velvet, and on it lay a white jade hairpin and a white jade bracelet.

The hairpin head is carved with several lotus flowers, with exquisite and elegant patterns; the jade ring is a plain round bar, without any complicated patterns, simple and clean.

Her fingers gently traced the lotus pattern on the jade hairpin, caressing it for a long time before she closed the wooden box again and softly uttered two words to Yang Guo:

"Thanks."

Seeing that she had carefully put away the gift, Yang Guo didn't stand on ceremony.

"If you like it, that's good."

Grandma Sun watched the two of them from the side, her smile growing even wider.

She picked up the wine jar, refilled the empty bowls on the table, and greeted them with a smile:

"Come on, come on, I'm in a good mood today, let's drink a few more bowls. Young man Yang, don't pretend you can't outdrink me, an old woman."

Yang Guo smiled upon hearing this, picked up his wine bowl and clinked it with Granny Sun's, then tilted his head back and drank most of the bowl of sake.

The liquor has a slightly spicy taste upon entry, but then a sweet aftertaste lingers, with the rich aroma of grains resonating in the mouth for a long time, making it intoxicating without being overpowering.

The atmosphere at the dinner table gradually became lively.

Granny Sun would sometimes serve food to Little Dragon Girl, sometimes clink glasses with Yang Guo, and occasionally take care of Li Mochou beside her.

As Yang Guo drank his wine, he looked at the scene before him and felt quite pleased with himself.

Time passed quietly, the dishes on the table were gradually emptied, and the entire jar of sake was drunk up by him and Granny Sun.

Although the alcohol content was not high, Yang Guo drank several bowls in succession, and inevitably became somewhat drunk, his expression showing a slightly tipsy and dazed look.

In contrast, Grandma Sun, despite her advanced age, had a remarkable capacity for alcohol and showed no signs of drunkenness; her movements remained nimble and steady.

After everyone had finished eating and drinking, and put down their bowls and chopsticks, Granny Sun gathered all the leftovers and cold dishes together and headed towards the kitchen.

Inside the stone chamber, only Yang Guo, Xiaolongnu, and Li Mochou remained.

Yang Guo sat upright on the stone chair, his gaze slightly heavy, and his eyes fell on Li Mochou, who was squatting in the corner, playing with pebbles by herself.

He spoke in a low voice, as if talking to himself:

"Her current state is actually beneficial to both herself and others... Heh..."

Sitting beside him, Xiaolongnu glanced at him in the direction of his gaze, her expression indifferent.

Yang Guo withdrew his gaze, turned to look at the girl in white, and spoke in a low voice with a hint of mockery:

"You know... if your master knew that I... made her give up her infatuation with just a few slaps, would she... would she thank me? Hahaha."

Hearing this drunkenly sarcastic remark, Xiaolongnu glanced at him sideways without saying a word.

Seeing that she had no intention of talking to him, Yang Guo, after easing his drunkenness, got up and planned to return to the stone chamber to continue his cultivation.

Before he could even step out the door, Xiaolongnu's soft voice suddenly came from behind him:

"Yang Guo".

Yang Guo paused and looked back. Xiaolongnu's fingers rested on the wooden box containing the jade ornaments, her cool eyes fixed on him, her cherry lips slightly parted:

"Thank you."

This three-word thank you was, I wonder if it was to thank him for sending a birthday gift today.

In response to his earlier joking remark, she thanked him for dispelling Li Mochou's lifelong obsession.

Or perhaps both.

Upon hearing this, Yang Guo smiled slightly and nodded gently in reply:

"You're welcome."

After saying that, he waved his hand, turned around, and walked into the passageway.