Huang Rong from The Return of the Condor Heroes: Guo'er, calm down.

"Oh dear! Sister Long! Dear sister! I'm telling the truth... Ouch!"

"Bang!"

With a sharp crack, the feather duster struck Yang Guo squarely on the buttocks.

"Truth? I think you're just being glib! That frivolous look you gave me just now, where was a shred of sincerity?" Little Dragon Girl gritted her teeth, showing no mercy with each blow, each strike laced with shame, anger, and grievance.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Awooo~ Awooo~ Awooo~"

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Sister Long, I was wrong! I'll never joke around like that again! I was just talking nonsense! I only made up lies to get rid of them!"

Yang Guo winced in pain, his heart filled with remorse: "It's over! Sister Long is really angry. She must think I was being disrespectful to her and defiled her purity. I deserve to die! How could someone as pure and innocent as her possibly fall for a scoundrel like me? How dare I even dare to try and test her!"

When Xiaolongnu heard him shout that "it was a lie he made up to drive everyone away," her anger intensified.

Alright, it was all a lie after all. That confession just now was all fake!

Another good beating ensued, until Yang Guo's pleading voice was hoarse. Only then did Xiaolongnu stop, panting heavily. She snorted coldly, tossed the feather duster aside, turned away from him, and said with slightly reddened eyes, "Go out and eat!"

Yang Guo felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and dared not linger any longer. He assumed that his "confession" had angered the fairy, like a toad trying to eat swan meat. He covered his buttocks, grimaced, and shuffled out of the secret chamber.

Upon arriving at the dining hall, Yang Guo could no longer feign indifference. He braced himself against the cold stone wall with one hand and supported his buttocks with the other, his backside burning with every step, constantly having to be careful not to aggravate his injuries.

"Ouch... hiss..."

He limped over to the stone bench, tentatively trying to sit down. The moment his bottom touched the surface, he jerked back as if burned, his face contorting in pain.

Just then, Grandma Sun came over carrying a large pot of steaming chicken soup.

"Oh my, Guo'er's out! Why are you standing instead of sitting?"

Looking at Yang Guo's awkward and uneasy appearance, Granny Sun's eyes were so kind they could almost drip water, and even carried a hint of... ambiguity.

"Grandma, I... I can eat standing up. My legs are numb from practicing martial arts." Yang Guo endured the pain and dared not tell the truth, which made Grandma Sun feel a little uneasy.

"Your legs are numb? Are you tired?" Grandma Sun greeted you warmly. "Quickly, drink this soup while it's hot. This is a special tonic soup that I made especially for you. It contains ginseng, deer antler, and goji berries... It's the best for strengthening your body and improving your health."

She deliberately emphasized the words "strengthen the body," and her gaze seemed to casually sweep over Yang Guo's lower body, which dared not sit down.

Yang Guo was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening.

This old lady must have misunderstood something.

He glanced at the pot of thick, almost viscous chicken soup, then at Granny Sun's meaningful smile, and then at his own awkward, uneasy state...

have to.

Now there's no way to clear my name, no matter what.

but……

Yang Guo could only grimace as he leaned against the stone table, picked up the bowl, and carefully took a large gulp.

Really fragrant!

Let it be a misunderstanding; it'll become the truth sooner or later anyway.

The difficulties are only temporary, but the future is bright.

Sister Long cannot escape my Yang Guo's Five Finger Mountain.

Just as they were drinking, Little Dragon Girl walked in.

Granny Sun immediately ladled out another bowl and handed it to Little Dragon Girl: "Girl, have some too. This soup nourishes yin and improves complexion; it's good for your health."

Little Dragon Girl, not understanding why, took the bowl and drank a sip, only to find the taste extremely delicious.

"Thank you for your trouble, Mother-in-law."

Grandma Sun looked at the perfect couple—one aloof and refined, the other handsome and dashing despite covering his bottom—and felt incredibly happy.

"No trouble at all. As long as you're all alright, I'm happy. Um... try to be less noisy in the future. This ancient tomb may be remote, but it's not an uninhabited area..."

"puff--"

Yang Guo spat out a mouthful of chicken soup, which aggravated the injury on his buttocks, causing him to cry out in pain, "Ouch!"

Little Dragon Girl looked bewildered: "What's all the commotion? What's wrong, Yang Guo?"

Yang Guo quickly wiped his mouth, rubbing his bottom as he interjected, "Grandma meant practicing martial arts! Practicing martial arts is too noisy and might damage the flowers and plants! Isn't that right, Grandma?"

As he spoke, he frantically tried to wink at Granny Sun, his facial features darting around.

Grandma Sun was a shrewd person, and she immediately understood.

"Yes, yes, practice, practice. Young people practice so diligently, it's truly admirable!"

Although Xiaolongnu felt that the two were acting strangely, especially Yang Guo's unsteady posture which was quite comical, she didn't think much of it and continued to drink her soup.

Yang Guo breathed a sigh of relief. Although his buttocks were burning with pain, he was overjoyed.

……

Outside the ancient tomb, the group of martial arts heroes were retreating down the mountain in twos and threes.

They came with high spirits, but left dejected, many with injuries, groaning and helping each other along.

"What the hell is this bad luck!"

The speaker was Xiao Yan, nicknamed "Iron-Armed Bear," who wielded a bronze staff. His staff was now bent.

As he walked, he spat, "Just who is that young Taoist priest from the Quanzhen Sect? That technique of using someone else's force against them doesn't seem like the Quanzhen Sect's style at all; it's more like..."

"It's like seeing a ghost!" The skinny guy with the Emei dagger next to him chimed in irritably. "I've been wandering the martial world for twenty years, and I've never seen anyone use a broken tree branch to make a fool of so many of us. That kid is really weird."

"Hey, don't be so smug."

The one-eyed man at the front turned around. "You were all so focused on that kid's uncanny martial arts skills, didn't you see what happened at the end?"

Upon hearing this, everyone slowed down.

"You mean... that fairy in white?"

The one-eyed man chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye: "The moment that fairy appeared, all of us were completely captivated. But did you see that? She didn't even glance at us, except for that little Taoist priest..."

He clicked his tongue twice, then held up two fingers to illustrate: "That look, that movement, feeding her medicine and supporting her. That young Taoist priest was practically glued to her, and the fairy didn't push him away. What does that tell you?"

"What does that mean?" Xiao Yan was a rough man and didn't quite grasp the concept.

"Idiot!" The skinny man slapped his thigh. "That means they're already a couple! Didn't you hear that little Taoist priest's last shout? 'Taken!' Who could it be? It was himself!"

Everyone suddenly realized.

"No wonder!" Xiao Yan slapped his forehead, the impact making his wound ache. "No wonder that little Taoist priest was risking his life to protect the ancient tomb; he was protecting his own wife!"

"These Quanzhen Taoist priests are also men. Having such a heavenly neighbor is like having the advantage of being close to the water tower."

"Tsk tsk, that kid looks slick and refined, but I didn't expect him to be so skilled in that area. He managed to coax such a cold and aloof fairy into submission. He's quite the talent."

Rumors spread faster than the wind.

These江湖人 (jianghu people) went down the mountain and into the town's taverns and teahouses. After a few bowls of soup, they couldn't stop talking.

Originally, it was just "Yang Guo protecting Xiaolongnu," but when it reached the first teahouse, it became "Yang Guo, a disciple of Quanzhen Sect, and the fairy of the Ancient Tomb pledged their love to each other."

When the story reached the second tavern, it became "Yang Guo fought three hundred heroes alone for the sake of his beloved, causing a bloodbath."

By the time it was completely dark, the rumor had reached Chongyang Palace again, and the version had changed to—

"The Quanzhen Sect has produced a romantic Yang Guo, who has already married the Fairy of the Ancient Tomb and they are about to have a child. Today, the couple is united in heart and mind, and they have defeated all the heroes."