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

Yang Guo followed Wang Zhensong's gaze and looked at Wang Qingyuan.

The girl frequently glanced at him discreetly, her eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

He answered with a calm expression and a slight nod:

"What the master says is absolutely right. This journey has lasted for more than half a month, and the road is long and winding. With Miss Wang by my side, the journey has been much more lively. I have no objection."

When Wang Qingyuan heard him personally agree to accompany her, a surge of intense joy welled up in her heart, but on the surface, she still maintained the dignified demeanor of a well-bred young lady.

She lowered her head and bowed her robes, then softly thanked him, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Yang."

Wang Zhensong took in his daughter's excited yet restrained expression, feeling both amused and tender as a father.

He waved his hand and made the following request:

"Alright, since it's settled, then Qingyuan, you'll be in charge of arranging all the details of this trip, including the transportation, luggage, food, and lodging along the way. Make sure everything is done thoroughly and properly, without any oversights."

"My daughter knows."

Wang Qingyuan softly agreed, bowed to Wang Zhengsong, then gave Yang Guo a slight bow before turning and leaving.

As she left, her steps were much lighter than when she entered the hall. Her lotus-colored skirt swept across the threshold of the hall, and her elegant figure disappeared behind the carved beams and pillars under the corridor in an instant. Her steps were graceful, and her joy was hidden in every inch of her movement.

Wang Zhengsong watched his daughter's departing figure, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and, feigning casual conversation, smiled at Yang Guo:

"I hope Master Yang will not take offense. Qingyuan has been pampered by my wife and me since she was a child, so she is inevitably a bit spoiled and willful."

Yang Guo smiled upon hearing this:

"Miss Wang is well-educated and knows how to behave appropriately. The master is being far too modest."

After a casual chat over tea, all the details of the trip were discussed and finalized.

Yang Guo gently placed the celadon teacup on the rosewood table, rose, and bid farewell to Wang Zhengsong.

"Master, everything here has been settled. I will now set off to return to the mountain. I will come down the mountain to meet you at your residence in the early morning three days from now."

Wang Zhengsong quickly got up to see him off:

"Master Yang, please rest assured and return to the mountain to recuperate and wait. In three days, I, Wang, will make all the necessary arrangements and await you at my residence."

Yang Guo nodded slightly, said no more, cupped his hands in farewell, and slowly stepped out of the main hall of the Wang family mansion and out of the courtyard gate.

He did not ask for a horse to take him, and set off alone into the mountain path.

With his current speed, he can safely reach the back of Zhongnan Mountain from Zhouzhi County in just one hour.

The mountain path winds and twists, with dense forests layering over it, and clear mountain streams gurgling as they flow through the woods.

Yang Guo moved swiftly, treading the mountain path as if it were flat ground, with trees and rocks rushing past him, never stopping or lingering for a moment.

As the sun dipped below the western horizon and the evening glow painted the peaks crimson, he arrived before the massive stone gate of the Tomb of the Living Dead.

The heavy stone wall slowly moved aside, and the ancient, cold aura unique to the tomb rushed out, washing away the heat and dust of the journey.

Yang Guo stepped into the deep passageway, his footsteps echoing softly against the cold stone walls, dissipating into the surrounding stillness.

He navigated the forks and corners with practiced ease, heading straight for the Cold Jade Stone Chamber.

The candlelight in the stone chamber flickered gently, casting a dim, yellowish glow across the surrounding stone floor.

Little Dragon Girl was sitting upright on the cold jade bed, meditating peacefully.

Her once jet-black hair had turned completely white, with her temples falling over her shoulders. This was a natural change in appearance resulting from cultivating the Reverse Rebirth Triple Technique.

Four years ago, when Yang Guo passed on the Reverse Life Triple Technique to Xiaolongnu, he still felt somewhat uneasy.

The threshold for the Reverse Rebirth Triple Cultivation is extremely high, with extremely strict requirements on the cultivator's physical constitution and mental fortitude. Ordinary martial artists in the world can hardly even touch the first layer.

When I first started teaching him the skills, I was just trying it out and verifying it; I didn't have high expectations for it.

Who would have thought that Xiaolongnu, having lived in the Ancient Tomb since childhood, had freed herself from worldly distractions, possessing a clear and pure mind, and a tranquil and undisturbed heart, making her an exceptionally talented individual for cultivation.

His cultivation of the Reverse Rebirth Technique went smoothly, and he is now firmly rooted in the second level of the Reverse Rebirth Realm. His once black hair has turned completely white. Although he has not yet reached Yang Guo's level, his cultivation is already different from before.

Yang Guo stood by the stone chamber door, quietly gazing at the figure on the bed, dressed in plain clothes with snow-white hair. His originally peaceful heart was involuntarily rippled with soft waves.

Xiaolongnu slowly opened her clear eyes, her gaze falling on Yang Guo.

Her eyes, which were usually covered with a layer of cold frost, melted away the bone-deep indifference the moment she saw him, turning into a ray of warm and gentle light.

Her voice was soft and gentle, like the sound of a candle flickering in the wind:

"Guo'er, you're back."

Yang Guo stepped forward and sat down comfortably beside the jade bed, his voice warm and reassuring:

"Yes, Long'er, I'm back."

Little Dragon Girl nodded slightly, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment to confirm that he had traveled safely before slowly withdrawing her gaze, her fingertips still resting steadily on her knees.

Looking at the woman whose heart and eyes were filled with nothing but him, Yang Guo smiled faintly and slowly began to recount what he had seen and heard that day:

"Today I went to the Wang family for tea and a chat, and I learned some news from the martial arts world. In a month, Dasheng Pass, which is located at the border of Henan and Hubei, is going to hold a gathering of heroes. Wang Zhengsong will be going to the gathering on behalf of the Golden Saber Wang family of Luoyang, and he specially invited me to accompany him."

The Little Dragon Goddess's expression remained completely unchanged; she simply asked in a calm voice:

"You agreed?"

"Yes, we'll set off in three days."

Yang Guo responded softly.

Little Dragon Girl's long eyelashes slowly drooped, and after a moment of silence, she uttered a simple sentence:

"Then let's go."

Her tone was flat and indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

But Yang Guo saw it clearly: her slender fingers, resting on her knees, curled inwards almost imperceptibly, then slowly relaxed again. A subtle emotional fluctuation could not be completely concealed.

Yang Guo gazed at her lowered eyes, a slight stirring in his heart, and spoke:

"Long'er, come with me."

Xiaolongnu paused slightly upon hearing the voice, looked up at him, and her eyes held a hint of bewilderment and surprise.

Yang Guo's tone was calm and composed, yet it carried an undercurrent of certainty:

"You have been confined to this Tomb of the Living Dead since childhood and have never set foot in the outside world. Now, you can take advantage of this Heroes' Gathering to go out and see the vast land and the myriad aspects of human life."

Little Dragon Girl remained silent for a moment, then gently shook her head, her voice carrying a hint of long-held conviction:

"Our founder established a rule that disciples of the Ancient Tomb Sect must not step out of the tomb gate at will."

Yang Guo did not immediately refute her, but quietly gazed at her cool and aloof face, and slowly said:

"The rules of the sect are established by our predecessors and are ultimately dead. But you are a living person and do not need to be bound by these old rules."

Little Dragon Girl's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she closed her mouth, saying nothing more.

The stone chamber fell silent for a moment, with only the candlelight on the table flickering slightly in the wind. The firelight cast two intertwined shadows on the stone wall, and all that remained was the sound of their long, steady breathing.

A long silence flowed slowly.

After a long silence, Xiaolongnu's voice rang out weakly, carrying a hint of barely perceptible unease:

"Do you... in your heart, want me to go?"

Yang Guo was slightly taken aback at first, then his lips relaxed into a warm smile:

"Naturally, I hope so."

Xiaolongnu lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the hem of her plain white dress.

After much internal struggle and a long silence, she finally nodded very softly and slowly, her voice low and gentle:

"In that case, I will go with you."

Yang Guo was overjoyed upon hearing this and gently instructed:

"Okay, we'll set off at dawn three days from now. I'll wake you then."

Xiaolongnu nodded gently, sitting quietly on the cold jade bed in white robes, her frosty white hair falling over her shoulders, the candlelight illuminating her exquisite face.

Amidst the chilly atmosphere of the room, an indescribable warmth gradually spread.