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

Looking at the two brothers before him, Yang Guo's mind was as clear as a mirror.

He calmly cupped his hands in return, saying, "Brother Da Wu, Brother Xiao Wu, it's been several years since we last met. You two are even more radiant than before."

Wu Dunru replied with a humble smile and respectful words:

"Brother Yang, you flatter me. My brother and I are dull-witted. Over the years, we have only followed our master's teachings and practiced diligently every day. We have barely managed to maintain a basic foundation. How can we talk about any style or demeanor?"

"As for Brother Yang, after all these years, his appearance and demeanor are completely different from when he was on Peach Blossom Island. If it weren't for Sister Fu's shout, my brother and I would never have recognized him."

Yang Guo smiled slightly, his expression calm and composed: "Brother Da Wu, you flatter me too much."

As Wu Xiuwen listened to the two men's polite greetings, the nameless anger in his heart burned brighter and brighter.

Although Yang Guo's martial arts skills far surpassed those of the two brothers on Peach Blossom Island back then.

But he remained unconvinced. Over the years, he had diligently studied martial arts with Guo Jing, and he had long felt that his own skills far surpassed those of his peers in the martial arts world.

But when I saw Yang Guo again today, he was dressed in white as snow, with white hair covering his shoulders. He stood calmly, and his profound and imposing demeanor was even more unfathomable.

He was filled with jealousy and suspicion, but if he remained silent, he would appear petty.

So he forced a polite smile, cupped his hands, and said:

"Yes, Brother Yang's full head of white hair is quite eye-catching. I wonder what kind of unparalleled martial arts he has practiced? My brother is ignorant and really curious."

This question may seem like a casual inquiry, but its true meaning is undisguised, and anyone who can discern it from the tone of voice can see right through it.

Before Yang Guo could even reply...

Guo Fu, who was standing to the side, was already impatient. Her pretty eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she immediately interrupted, saying:

"Ugh, aren't you two annoying? Brother Yang has come all this way to attend this gathering, and you keep nagging on and on. Can't you let him take a break?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she glared at Wu Xiuwen, her reproach evident in her eyes.

Wu Xiuwen's face froze instantly, as stiff as an iron plate, after being glared at and rebuked by her in public, yet he dared not utter a single word in rebuttal.

He had been in love with Guo Fu since childhood, and had always been accustomed to being subservient to her, indulging her every whim and obeying her every word, never daring to disobey her in the slightest.

Being reprimanded by Guo Fu in front of Yang Guo and a group of outsiders made him feel utterly humiliated.

He had no choice but to shut his mouth, swallowing his anger and resentment, while his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Seeing this, Wu Dunru knew things were going badly, and quickly tried to smooth things over with a smile:

"What Sister Fu is right. We brothers were not thinking things through and lost our composure for a moment. We were so focused on catching up with Brother Yang that we disturbed his rest. We hope Brother Yang will not take offense."

Yang Guo smiled faintly:

"Brother Da Wu, you flatter me. It's only natural to ask a few words of concern after so many years. There's nothing strange about it."

He spoke these words calmly and casually, showing neither anger at Wu Xiuwen's deliberate probing nor a hint of pride at Guo Fu's protection.

The mere suspicions, tests, and petty squabbles among the younger generation were, to him, trivial matters of the mundane world.

Huang Rong observed the expressions, temperaments, and overall demeanor of the people in front of her.

He shook his head inwardly and sighed:

The Wu brothers had cultivated diligently for several years, and although they had made some progress under their husbands' tutelage, and their foundational skills were far superior to those of their youth, their temperament and overall character had not changed much.

Especially now, standing next to Yang Guo, the difference in their abilities is even more obvious!

One is calm and composed, remaining unmoved even if Mount Tai collapses before them; the other is easily flustered by a single sarcastic remark, unable to hide their impatience even on their face.

No wonder his silly daughter completely ignored the friendship between her two senior brothers over the years and devoted herself entirely to Yang Guo.

Such a vast difference is something that any ordinary woman would naturally understand.

These thoughts raced through her mind, then she smiled and spoke softly to defuse the situation:

"Alright, we're all family, why be so polite every time we meet?"

"Dunru and Xiuwen, the front courtyard is full of guests, and Master Lu may not be able to attend to them all. You two should also go to the front courtyard to help out, so that the guests don't feel that we have lost our manners."

Upon hearing this, Wu Dunru quickly replied, "Yes, Madam."

Although Wu Xiuwen was filled with resentment and unwillingness, he dared not disobey Huang Rong's orders. He could only suppress his bitterness, nod reluctantly, and follow his brother as they turned and walked towards the front yard.

After walking a few steps, he finally couldn't resist turning back for a glance.

Sunlight streamed down the courtyard corridor, where Guo Fu smiled radiantly, leaning slightly to Yang Guo's side as she chatted softly. Her joy and intimacy were genuine and undisguised.

That bright smile pierced his heart like a sharp blade, causing him waves of pain.

He gritted his teeth, fiercely withdrew his gaze, and quickly followed his brother's steps, but the jealousy and obsession in his heart could not be shaken off.

Yang Guo and his group walked slowly forward, and soon they all entered the inner courtyard of the Lu Family Manor.

The courtyard is spacious and elegant, with winding corridors and lush flowers and trees, exuding the orderly and grand style of a noble family manor.

Huang Rong was meticulous and thorough in her work. She immediately summoned the servants and maids in the manor and carefully instructed them to clean the guest rooms, lay out the bedding, and prepare tea and snacks for Yang Guo, Xiaolongnu, Wang Zhensong and his party.

The maids and servants each performed their duties, moving back and forth with light and orderly steps. In a short while, they tidied up the guest rooms, making them clean and elegant. The entire courtyard was busy but not chaotic, and was well-organized.

Meanwhile, below the gate of the manor in the front yard.

The brothers Wu Dunru and Wu Xiuwen were standing to the side, helping to greet the guests.

They all wore standard, polite smiles as they welcomed and saw off heroes from all walks of life, their manners impeccable, and no one noticed anything amiss.

But deep down, both of them harbored their own secrets and were filled with melancholy.

Once a group of guests had entered the garden and the area was deserted, Wu Xiuwen lowered his voice, a hint of resentment in his eyes, and said to his elder brother beside him:

"Brother, do you think Master's wife did this on purpose? We're all reunited after a long separation, yet she deliberately sent my brother away! Instead, she left Sister Fu alone with him for a chat..."

Wu Dunru frowned slightly and advised in a deep voice:

"Xiuwen, stop talking nonsense. Your teacher's wife is insightful and fair in her dealings. She has her reasons for making this arrangement."

"Besides, Fu-mei and Yang Guo were just casually reminiscing about their old friendship. You and I grew up together since childhood, spending every day with each other. Don't we understand her personality? Don't make wild guesses and cause trouble."

Upon hearing this, Wu Xiuwen found it laughable and said coldly:

"Just casually reminiscing? Brother, put your hand on your heart and tell me, in all these years, has Sister Fu ever smiled at my brothers like that? The way she looked at Yang Guo was completely different from how she looked at you and me!"

Wu Dunru was speechless for a moment, then sighed slowly:

"Second brother, some things cannot be forced. If you keep getting stuck on this, you will only be haunted by your obsession and ultimately suffer."

"Moreover, Yang Guo's talent, temperament, and overall character far surpass those of you and me; we should both be aware of this."

This advice was objective and pertinent, and Wu Dunru thought his younger brother would take it to heart.

Instead of being appeased, Wu Xiuwen's stubbornness and jealousy were aroused even more.

He let out a heavy, cold snort:

"Hmph, far surpassing you and me? You're nothing but a pathetic worm who was banished from Peach Blossom Island by Master and Mistress back then, with no one to rely on!"

"These past years, hiding in the deep mountains and deserts, I wonder what kind of strange and unorthodox skills you've learned. You've even grown a head of white hair and started acting like a mystic, pretending to be profound. Do you really think you're some kind of unparalleled master? In my opinion, it's nothing but empty pretense and posturing!"

"Revise the text!"

Wu Dunru's face darkened, and he shouted in a low, stern voice:

"You may say these things to me, but you must never utter them outside! Yang Guo is the son of Master's old friend. If these words reach Master's ears, he'll punish you by making you kneel in the ancestral hall!"

Wu Xiuwen finally stopped his wild words after being sternly rebuked by his elder brother, but the resentment, jealousy and stubbornness in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

He looked up towards the deep inner courtyard, his gaze heavy, and he muttered through gritted teeth:

"I simply don't believe that Yang Guo truly possesses any extraordinary abilities. If there's a chance at the banquet, I'll definitely see whether he truly has unparalleled skills or is merely a fraud!"

Looking at his younger brother's stubborn and obstinate appearance, Wu Dunru sighed helplessly. He wanted to say something to persuade him several times, but in the end, he remained silent.

He knew his younger brother was extreme in temperament, and the more he tried to dissuade him, the more rebellious he became, so there was no point in saying anything more.

I only hope that the banquet tonight will proceed smoothly and peacefully, and that he will not act impulsively and cause trouble in public, offending Yang Guo and also embarrassing Guo Jing and Huang Rong.

He gently shook his head, suppressing his worries, and put on a polite smile again before turning around to continue greeting the guests who came to the meeting.

It was as if the brothers' argument and whispers had never happened.