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

As the stone door of the ancient tomb was about to close, Yin Zhiping wrung his hands anxiously, but dared not force his way in, and could only watch helplessly.

"Wait a minute, Mother-in-law!"

Yang Guo suddenly shouted, tucked the broom under his arm, and pulled out an oil paper package from his pocket.

Granny Sun paused, her cloudy old eyes peeking out from the crack in the door, a hint of impatience in them: "What else is there? This old woman doesn't have time to listen to you bunch of stinking Taoist priests chanting scriptures."

"It's not chanting scriptures, it's about this duck." Yang Guo rushed to the door, not caring if he got his hand caught, and stuffed the oil paper package through the crack. "When Master bought the duck, he specifically asked the shopkeeper to add an extra packet of sweet bean sauce. Without this sauce, this Osmanthus Duck tastes like chewing wood chips. Grandma, your teeth aren't good, if you choke, it will be my fault."

Yin Zhiping, listening from behind, stared wide-eyed. This kid, just now he was saying salty and sweet complement each other, and now he's become a blockhead? Also, who has bad teeth? This old woman looks strong enough to bite Yin Zhiping's neck off.

Grandma Sun was taken aback. She had lived in the ancient tomb for decades, and the Quanzhen Taoist priests she had seen were either hypocritical or fierce-looking. She had never seen a junior like this before, who was so glib and even remembered to bring her sauce.

"You've got some filial piety, kid." Granny Sun reached out and took the oil paper package. Although her tone was still cold and hard, the chill that had kept people at a distance had dissipated somewhat. "Alright, go back now. Don't come here too often in the future. The young lady likes peace and quiet. If you anger her, she'll unleash her jade bees to sting you to death."

"Yes, yes, I'll be going now." Yang Guo replied with a smile, but did not turn around immediately. Instead, he sighed and muttered in a voice just loud enough for Granny Sun to hear, "Alas, if my elders were still alive, even if they were only half as kind as Granny Sun, I wouldn't have to suffer from that fat Taoist priest on this mountain."

Grandma Sun stopped closing the door.

"Being bullied?" She frowned and peeked at Yang Guo through the crack in the door. Although the boy was smiling, there was indeed a sense of dejection in his eyes, and his Taoist robe didn't fit him very well, with the cuffs worn out.

"No, no, no, no one bullied me." Yang Guo quickly waved his hands, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Master is very good to me, really. It's just... it's just that I miss my mother. My mother died early, and I never met my grandmother. When I saw my grandmother just now, I felt so close to her, like seeing a family member."

His words were seven parts false and three parts true. Yang Guo's acting skills, honed from years of hardship in the lower rungs of the martial arts world, were superb. Especially when he mentioned Mu Nianci, his eyes welled up with tears.

Granny Sun's heart stirred slightly. She had no children of her own and had lived her life with her mistress. Now, seeing that this child, though a Taoist priest, was also a poor orphan, she couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.

"Those Taoist priests of the Quanzhen Sect, not a single one of them is good." Granny Sun snorted, took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom, and tossed it through the crack in the door. "Here. This is jade bee jelly, it's incredibly effective at treating bruises and sprains. Since you've been bullied, fight back. Stop grinning like an idiot all day long, it's annoying to look at."

Yang Guo, quick-witted and agile, caught the porcelain bottle, overjoyed at finding a treasure: "Thank you, Granny! You are truly a living Bodhisattva! Much better than those clay figures in the main hall!"

Stop being so cheeky.

With a loud bang, the stone door slammed shut.

Yin Zhiping stood behind, dumbfounded.

That's... that's it?

Not only did I not get scolded, I even got a bottle of medicine?

"Guo'er, you..." Yin Zhiping pointed at the porcelain bottle in Yang Guo's hand, his words tumbling out incoherently, "Is your mouth blessed?"

Yang Guo fiddled with the porcelain bottle, a smug smile playing on his lips.

Granny Sun may be stubborn, but she has a soft heart. As long as we grasp this point, the door to this ancient tomb will eventually be opened for her.

"Master, learn from this." Yang Guo tucked the porcelain bottle into his robes and patted Yin Zhiping on the shoulder. "To win a woman's heart, you can't just rely on gifts. You have to be sincere. If you want to see the fairy sister, you have to win over this old lady at the gate first. That's what they call 'to catch a thief, first catch the king; to win a woman, first win over her mother.'"

Yin Zhiping was stunned. Although he felt that something was wrong with what was said, he also felt that it made a lot of sense.

"Then... shall we come again tomorrow?" Yin Zhiping asked tentatively.

"Come on, why not?" Yang Guo picked up the broom from the ground, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and swaggered back. "Tomorrow we won't send ducks, we'll send something else. I saw that Granny Sun's face was sallow, probably because of the dampness in the tomb. Let's go to the pharmacy and steal... oh no, get some herbs to dispel dampness."

Yin Zhiping followed behind, watching his apprentice's arrogant back, and suddenly felt that he was a bit of a coward as a master.

Who is whose master?

……

When they returned to Chongyang Palace, it was already broad daylight.

As soon as Yang Guo stepped into the courtyard, he sensed that something was wrong.

At this time of day, the disciples would usually be practicing their swordsmanship in the square, their shouts echoing through the air. But today, the square was eerily quiet, not a soul in sight. Only a few crows were cawing in the old locust tree, their calls sending chills down one's spine.

"Master, something's not right." Yang Guo stopped and squinted.

Yin Zhiping also noticed something was wrong, and his heart skipped a beat: "Could it be Senior Brother Zhao...?"

Before he finished speaking, a group of Taoist priests emerged from both sides of the corridor, each wielding a long sword and with an unfriendly expression, instantly surrounding the master and disciple.

The crowd parted, and Zhao Zhijing walked out with a grim face. Behind him were two burly Taoist priests carrying a stretcher. Lying on the stretcher was Lu Qingdu, who had been tricked by Yang Guo yesterday.

The fat guy is in even worse shape now. Yesterday, only his legs were swollen, but today his whole body looks like it's been inflated; his face is swollen and shiny, and he's groaning in pain.

"Senior Brother Zhao, what does this mean?" Yin Zhiping forced himself to remain calm and stepped forward.

"What do you mean?" Zhao Zhijing sneered, pointing at Lu Qingdu on the stretcher. "Yin Zhiping, what a fine disciple you've taught! What kind of sorcery did this little beast use in yesterday's duel? Qingdu has had a high fever ever since he returned, and his wounds are festering and oozing pus, even medicine is useless! He's clearly been poisoned!"

"Highly poisonous?" Yin Zhiping exclaimed in shock. "That's impossible! Guo'er only used a peach wood sword, where would the poison come from?"

"A peach wood sword?" Zhao Zhijing stepped forward, staring intently at Yang Guo. "A peach wood sword could injure someone like this? This little beast must have poisoned the sword, or used some kind of evil technique! Yang Guo, do you know your crime?"

Yang Guo looked at Lu Qingdu, who was lying on the stretcher groaning, and understood everything perfectly.

The claim of it being highly poisonous is pure nonsense.

Yesterday, he did stab Lu Qingdu in the groin, but that's an acupoint. Plus, the Toad Style internal energy has a trace of fire poison, and this fat man, with his weak constitution, couldn't withstand the heat; inflammation and infection are to be expected.

But this is precisely an opportunity.

Yang Guo's face showed a look of utter terror, and he shrank behind Yin Zhiping: "Uncle-Master, you've been wronged! I didn't have any poison! If I had poison, I would have poisoned that big black dog yesterday, and I wouldn't have been chased all over the mountain by it!"

"Still dare to argue!" Zhao Zhijing roared. "Guards! Seize this treacherous little beast! Take him to the disciplinary hall and torture him severely. I refuse to believe he won't confess!"

The surrounding Taoist priests responded in unison and drew their swords to step forward.

Although Yin Zhiping was cowardly, he was now backed into a corner. If Yang Guo were really taken to the disciplinary academy, he would be severely injured, if not killed, and Yin Zhiping might even be implicated.

"Stop!" Yin Zhiping drew his longsword and stood in front of Yang Guo. "Senior Brother Zhao, everything requires evidence! You said your son poisoned someone, but do you have any proof? If not, what right do you have to arrest him?"

"Because I am the third-generation chief!" Zhao Zhijing tore off the mask of pretense. "Yin Zhiping, if you dare to protect this little beast, you are guilty as well! Get him!"

Several disciples who wanted to curry favor with Zhao Zhijing immediately drew their swords and attacked.

Yin Zhiping had no choice but to bite the bullet and fight back.

The scene instantly descended into chaos.

Yang Guo hid behind, watching Yin Zhiping struggle to stay afloat, and mentally calculating the time.

It's almost done.

The Quanzhen Sect can't stay here any longer. Rather than waiting to be played to death by Zhao Zhijing, they might as well take a big gamble.

"Master, be careful!"

Yang Guo suddenly shouted, picked up a stone from the ground, and hurled it at Zhao Zhijing's face.

Zhao Zhijing turned his head to dodge, but this obstruction slowed his movements by half a beat.

"Guo'er, run!" Yin Zhiping, showing a hint of chivalry, forced two disciples back with a single sword strike and roared back, "Go find the Sect Leader!"