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

Huang Rong was taken aback.

She wiped away her tears, somewhat bewildered: "What did you say? Who else could you be but Yang Guo? Those eyebrows, those features, you're clearly..."

"The physical body is," Yang Guo interrupted her, "but the soul inside that body is not."

Huang Rong frowned. She was well-read and knowledgeable in all sorts of strange and supernatural things, but she still found such superstitious and bizarre talk absurd.

"Guo'er, are you out of your mind? Don't try to fool me with these lies."

"Lie to you?" Yang Guo turned around, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "Do you think the real Yang Guo would be indifferent to the hatred for his father's murder? Even if he weren't, wouldn't he harbor at least a grudge?"

Huang Rong was stunned.

This has been a question that has always puzzled her.

It's completely abnormal that Yang Guo could actually let go of his hatred and even give an objective evaluation of Yang Kang.

Moreover, Yang Guo's performance these past few days, whether in terms of knowledge, speech, or handling of matters, has revealed a maturity and insight that is beyond his years.

Sometimes, when he looks at people, his gaze is as if he is standing on a cloud overlooking all living beings, with a kind of indifference that has seen through the ways of the world.

"Then who are you?" Huang Rong asked instinctively.

Yang Guo walked to the fire and sat down.

"Who I am is not important." He patted the spot next to him. "What is important is that I am not the real Yang Guo. I have no blood ties of awe or ethical constraints towards you."

Huang Rong hesitated for a moment, but still walked over and sat down opposite him.

The night wind howled.

"Aunt Guo, do you believe in reincarnation?"

Yang Guo picked up a twig and drew a strange symbol on the ground.

"I don't believe it," Huang Rong shook her head. "The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits."

"I didn't believe it either," Yang Guo laughed, "until it happened to me."

He raised his head, his gaze deep and intense.

"The real Yang Guo might have died long ago in that dilapidated cave, frozen to death, starved to death, who knows. The 'Yang Guo' who woke up came from another world."

"Another world?" Huang Rong felt like she was listening to a foreign language.

"There is no martial arts there, no Song Dynasty, and no Mongols." Yang Guo's voice was calm, as if he were telling someone else's story. "The people there can fly and travel a thousand miles a day. The people there... are not as particular about rules as they are here."

He looked at Huang Rong with burning eyes.

"There, liking someone has nothing to do with age or status. As long as there is mutual affection, you can be together."

"If you don't like it, you can leave, and we'll never bother each other again!"

Huang Rong was somewhat dazed by what she heard.

Although reason told her that this was nonsense, looking into Yang Guo's eyes, she had a vague feeling that what he said was true.

This would explain why he was so unconventional, why he disregarded etiquette and law, and why... he would have such rebellious thoughts about her, his "aunt".

"You..." Huang Rong opened her mouth, but didn't know what to ask.

"So, Aunt Guo." Yang Guo threw away the branch, leaned forward, stepped over the fire, and grabbed Huang Rong's hand.

This time, Huang Rong did not dodge.

"Don't try to pressure me by saying I'm Yang Kang's son, and don't try to pressure yourself with ethical principles."

Yang Guo pointed to his chest.

"Inside this is a man who loves you."

"I have no nephews, no juniors."

"There is only one man who wants to be good to one woman."

Huang Rong's hands were trembling.

She looked at Yang Guo, her mind in turmoil.

These words are too shocking.

If... if he really wasn't Yang Guo...

Does the biggest mountain that stands between the two of them no longer exist?

No, no, there's still Brother Jing. Brother Jing has been so good to me, how could I do something to betray him?

Huang Rong eventually withdrew her hand.

The movements were not quick, and even carried a hint of hesitation.

The warmth in her palms vanished abruptly, and a cool night breeze blew. Huang Rong instinctively tucked her hands into her sleeves, her fingers twisting tightly together.

"You...you've gone too far...too far..."

She said "too much" twice, but ultimately couldn't find a suitable word to describe her feelings at that moment. Absurd? Shocking? Or... a sense of relief?

The fire crackled and popped, sending sparks flying.

Huang Rong trembled slightly, her gaze wandering. She dared not look into the burning eyes opposite her, and could only stare blankly at the flickering flames.

If the soul beneath this physical body truly had changed, then the so-called ethical boundaries would be nothing more than fleeting clouds, utterly meaningless. Yet even so, she was still Guo Jing's wife.

The thought of the name "Guo Jing" sent a jolt through her heart, as if someone had doused her with a bucket of cold water.

Jing-gege treated her very well, showing her respect and care for her for decades. How could she possibly have second thoughts because of a few strange tales about ghosts and gods uttered by this man before her, or because of the inexplicable stirrings in her heart these past few days?

But Yang Guo's words, "There is only one man who wants to be good to one woman," were like a pebble thrown into her originally calm lake of heart, causing ripples to spread in circles that she could not stop.

This straightforward and domineering admiration was something she had never experienced with Guo Jing before.

Guo Jing's kindness was like a gentle stream, a mutual respect and courtesy; but this "Yang Guo" in front of her was like a ball of fire, burning her heart and making her feel flustered.

"I...I'm so confused."

Huang Rong took a deep breath, suppressing the ripples in her heart, "This matter... is too unbelievable. You... you let me think about it some more."

She stood up, her steps slightly unsteady. She didn't look at Yang Guo, but simply lowered her head, hastily tidying her wind-blown hair, as if trying to hide something.

"It's too late tonight, you should get some rest."

After saying this, she turned around and walked towards the carriage.

Yang Guo remained seated, neither getting up nor making any attempt to stop him.

He watched Huang Rong's departing figure, his steps somewhat unsteady, a strange smile playing on his lips.

He picked up a branch from the ground and casually erased the symbol he had just drawn.

"it is good."

He whispered a single word to that retreating figure.

"I'm not in a hurry. There's plenty of time."

Huang Rong paused slightly, but ultimately did not turn around. Instead, she quickened her pace, as if there were some ferocious beast behind her.