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

Just then, a series of tinkling sounds rang out from inside the passageway.

The sound was abrupt and piercing, reverberating along the cold stone walls on both sides with a rapid and tense rhythm, like a death knell, instantly shattering the peaceful atmosphere of the birthday banquet.

Yang Guo stopped upon hearing the sound, looking around with a hint of confusion in his eyes.

The ancient tomb was full of intricate mechanisms, but this was the first time he had heard such a rapid ringing of the bell since he entered the tomb a month ago, and he couldn't figure out the reason for it.

As he was still pondering, his robes fluttered slightly beside him, and Xiaolongnu rose and walked to his side, her cool gaze fixed on the entrance of the ancient tomb:

"Someone's coming."

Upon hearing this, Yang Guo raised an eyebrow and casually chuckled:

"Could it be that some outsider knows it's your birthday today and has specially traveled over mountains and rivers to come and offer their congratulations?"

Little Dragon Girl gently shook her head, pursing her cherry lips, and did not answer.

Before the two had finished speaking, Grandma Sun had already turned back from the other end of the passageway, and the old woman's steps were a little faster than usual.

The smile that had graced his face at the banquet was now completely gone, replaced by a cautious solemnity.

Granny Sun quickly walked up to the two of them, her gaze falling on Little Dragon Girl, and said in a deep voice:

"Young lady, there's been a disturbance from the mechanisms in the back mountain. Someone must have trespassed into the forbidden area. I'll go check it out."

Little Dragon Girl did not stop her, but simply nodded slightly and whispered a word of advice:

"Be careful, Mother-in-law."

"Don't worry, young lady, this old woman knows what she's doing."

Grandma Sun responded and then turned around and walked quickly toward the entrance.

Looking at the old man's hunched yet resolute back, Yang Guo did not hesitate at all and immediately followed him.

The identity of the person who came from outside the tomb is unknown. If they are a villain with malicious intentions, Granny Sun alone will inevitably face danger.

I will accompany them so that I can lend a helping hand at any time and ensure the safety of the elderly.

Two figures, one old and one young, walked one after the other through the dimly lit passageway, their steps quick yet steady.

Little Dragon Girl stood quietly in place, glanced down at the wooden box containing the white jade hairpin in her hand, and then walked slowly toward the main gate.

Before long, Granny Sun and Yang Guo arrived at the heavy stone gate.

The old man reached out and pressed the mechanism on the stone wall. A dull thud sounded as the stone axle rubbed against the metal, and the heavy stone door slowly opened a narrow crack.

The moment the stone door opened, the cold wind of the twelfth lunar month rushed in through the crack, carrying with it the salty, earthy smell of withered leaves and soil.

The two peered out through the narrow gap and saw that the mountains and forests outside the door were calm and peaceful, with not a single person in sight.

The pale sunlight filtered through the sparse branches of the ancient trees, casting dappled shadows.

The withered branches and fallen leaves scattered on the ground were swirling slightly in the cold wind, making a continuous rustling sound.

A few clear and melodious chirps came from afar, which only made the whole forest seem even more secluded and quiet.

Grandma Sun looked puzzled and muttered to herself:

"Strange, could it be that some wild animal accidentally triggered the mechanism?"

However, no sooner had she finished speaking than a series of hurried and chaotic footsteps suddenly rang out from the outside of the woods.

The next instant, a slender figure suddenly burst out from the dense bushes.

The person was petite with delicate features, appearing to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, with her long, black hair casually tied up with a thick wooden hairpin.

She was dressed in a faded blue cloth shirt, but now she was in a sorry state, her eyes filled with panic and fear.

There were several marks on his clothes where they had been torn by thorns, and the cuffs and hem were covered with dried leaves and dirt, making it clear that he had been chased all the way here.

The girl rushed out of the dense forest and immediately saw the stone gate of the ancient tomb. Her steps became heavier, as if she had come specifically for the tomb.

But just as she took a few steps, several figures in green Taoist robes suddenly darted out from the dense forest behind her; they were Taoists from the Quanzhen Sect.

One of the Taoist priests in green robes moved like an arrow released from a bow, closing the distance by several feet in the blink of an eye.

A flash of cold light appeared on the long sword at his waist, and the blade stabbed straight towards the girl's back!

Hearing the whistling of sword wind behind her, the girl hurriedly dodged to the side, but her steps became chaotic, and she staggered and lost her balance, falling heavily to the ground.

With a "ripping" sound!

The fabric was torn by the sword's edge, slicing across her arm, and bright red blood instantly seeped from the wound, soaking her sleeve.

"what!"

A cry of pain escaped from the girl's mouth.

She curled up on the ground, clutching her bleeding arm tightly with one hand, her face as pale as paper, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

Grandma Sun stood inside the stone gate and saw the scene clearly through the crack in the door. Her brows immediately furrowed.

Although she didn't know who the girl was, nor what connection the girl had with the Quanzhen Sect.

Seeing several burly Taoist priests so cruelly attacking a girl of fifteen or sixteen years old, he couldn't help but feel a nameless rage rising in his heart.

However, the Taoist priest did not stop there.

Seeing the girl fall to the ground, unable to dodge, he flipped his wrist and the tip of his sword drew an arc in the air, once again stabbing straight at the girl's shoulder!

This sword strike was both fast and ruthless; if it were to land a solid blow, it would surely pierce the scapula, leaving the victim severely injured and crippled.

The girl collapsed to the ground, unable to get up. As the sword tip grew larger and larger in her pupils, leaving her no room to dodge, she instinctively closed her eyes tightly.

At this critical moment!

A thick wooden staff was held horizontally in front of the girl, precisely blocking the long sword thrust by the Taoist priest.

Ding--

A crisp sound of metal striking metal echoed through the forest.

The Taoist priest felt a sharp pain in his hand, and his entire arm went numb from the heavy, sustained force. His long sword almost slipped from his grasp.

He staggered back several steps before finally regaining his balance. Looking up, he saw a hunched old woman holding a wooden cane, standing steadily in front of the girl.

"Stop it, all of you!"

Grandma Sun's voice wasn't loud, but every word she spoke was firm and carried an undeniable authority.

The sword-wielding Taoist priest was stunned, seemingly not yet realizing how she had appeared there.

The three or four Quanzhen disciples who followed behind also stopped in their tracks, frozen in place, their eyes all fixed on Granny Sun.

Grandma Sun completely ignored the surprised and suspicious looks of the group of Taoist priests and looked down at the girl who had collapsed on the ground behind her.

His gaze lingered on her bleeding wound for a moment, and seeing that the injury was not serious and that she was not in immediate danger, he slowly straightened up.

She raised her head, her sharp gaze sweeping over the Quanzhen disciples before her, and rebuked them in a deep voice, each word like a needle:

"Great! Excellent! Several grown men, wielding sharp swords, are chasing after a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, shouting and threatening to kill her."

"They're already lying on the ground, and you still won't give up, wanting to finish them off with a fatal blow!"

"Is this how your Quanzhen Sect operates? Wang Chongyang's disciples and their descendants are truly becoming more and more accomplished!"

The sword-wielding Taoist priest, who had been knocked back by her staff and whose arm ached, was filled with shock and anger. Hearing her rebuke, he felt even more ashamed.

But when he heard Granny Sun address the patriarch Chongyang by his given name, her words full of sarcasm and contempt, a surge of anger shot up his head.

He swiftly raised his longsword horizontally in front of him, the tip pointing directly at Granny Sun, and shouted sharply:

"Shut up! Where did this old hag come from, daring to speak disrespectfully to my Quanzhen Sect Patriarch Chongyang! And she even dares to protect this little thief behind her. I don't think you're any better!"

Despite being insulted like this, Granny Sun showed no anger; instead, a mocking smile appeared on her lips.

"Hahaha, this is the first time in my life that someone has called me 'old hag'!"

"Excellent, excellent indeed! If Wang Chongyang knew that his disciples were so ill-mannered, and so ruthless and vulgar in their words and actions, he'd probably be turning in his grave!"

Upon hearing that she was still insulting the patriarch, the Taoist priest flew into a rage, his anger consuming all his reason.

He flicked his wrist, the sword humming, and raised it to strike again:

"How dare you, you old hag, insult my ancestor! You're asking for death!"