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

Although Yang Guo escaped with his life, it was not a pleasant experience.

The cold jade bed beneath him was bone-chilling, yet the fire within his stomach still burned. After all, the Nine-Turn Life-Extending Pill was the Quanzhen Sect's most prized possession, far beyond what his meager cultivation could possibly consume in a single bite.

The feeling right now is like having a red-hot iron weight inside my stomach, but wrapped in a layer of ice.

"hand."

A clear, cold voice rang in my ears.

Yang Guo struggled to open his eyes and saw Xiaolongnu standing by the bed. She still had that cold and aloof look, as if nothing in this world could move her.

Yang Guo obediently extended his wrist.

Cool fingertips touched me.

So slippery.

Even in this half-dead state, Yang Guo's mind was still racing with mischief. The fairy-like woman's fingers were as white as scallions; touching his wrist seemed to lessen the burning sensation. If he could keep touching her like that, the suffering would be worth it.

But when Yang Guo thought of Xiaolongnu's harsh manner yesterday, he felt he still had to push her onto his master's bed.

I can't warm this ice block by myself.

Xiaolongnu frowned slightly, and after a moment, withdrew her hand.

"How is it? Girl, is there any hope for this child?" Granny Sun paced anxiously to the side, holding a bowl of honey.

"His life has been saved."

Little Dragon Girl said calmly, "But he couldn't bite off more than he could chew. The medicine was too potent, and it accumulated in his dantian and couldn't be dissolved. It's like a three-year-old child trying to carry a hundred-pound boulder; sooner or later, he'll collapse under its weight."

Grandma Sun's face turned pale: "Then...what should we do?"

"Just take your time."

Little Dragon Girl turned to leave, "The Jade Bed can suppress the heat poison. As long as he doesn't recklessly use his internal energy, he won't die. As for whether he can turn that internal energy into his own, that depends on his fate."

After saying that, a white shadow flashed and the person was already out of the stone chamber.

They didn't kick people out.

Yang Guo breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they didn't chase them away, this was a victory. Lying on the bed, he forced a weak smile at Granny Sun: "Granny, I want some water."

"Hey! Coming right away!" Granny Sun quickly brought the jade bee jelly to her lips. "Drink it slowly, it's good stuff, it can protect your heart."

The sweet liquid flowed down his throat, and Yang Guo felt slightly revived.

The days that followed were tedious and painful.

Yang Guo dared not risk his life like he had that night. The Toad Stance was too domineering; his meridians were now extremely fragile, and if he reversed the flow again, he would probably be going straight to meet the King of Hell.

He could only obediently practice the Complete True Dao Song.

Although the introductory techniques of the Quanzhen Sect are slow, they are steady and reliable. Wisps of true energy rise from the dantian, like ants carrying food, gradually consuming the enormous medicinal power.

Although progress is slow, at least they can move around now.

……

Inside the ancient tomb, time seemed to stand still, but for Yin Zhiping outside, each day felt like an eternity.

first day.

Yin Zhiping squatted in the woods in front of the thatched shed, staring at the tightly closed stone door with a perverted smile on his face.

"They're in! They're really in!"

He rubbed his hands together excitedly.

"That boy, Guo'er, is truly capable. His self-inflicted injury ruse was brilliant!"

He imagined Yang Guo drawing inside.

Every passageway, every stone chamber, even the direction in which the Dragon Maiden's bed faces...

With the map, the ancient tomb was like his own backyard.

He can go see Miss Long whenever he wants.

even……

Yin Zhiping wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and chuckled foolishly.

the next day.

Yin Zhiping is here again.

He brought a roast chicken to reward his good apprentice.

But even as the sun set, the stone gate remained closed.

"Why aren't you out yet?"

Yin Zhiping frowned, feeling a little uneasy.

"Could it be that the ancient tomb is too complex and hasn't been finished yet?"

"That's true. The ancient tomb is full of traps and mechanisms, and it will definitely take some time to figure it out. Guo'er is meticulous, so it's normal for him to stay an extra day."

He comforted himself, put the roast chicken in the straw shed, wandered around the woods a few times, fed the mosquitoes, and then went back.

Day three.

Yin Zhiping was getting restless.

He walked around in front of the thatched hut, trampling the grass on the ground until it was bare.

"It's been three days already!"

"Even if you were painting 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival,' wouldn't it be finished by now?"

An ominous premonition came over me.

"Could it be... that his injuries were too severe and he died inside?"

The thought of this possibility made Yin Zhiping's face turn pale.

If Yang Guo dies, how will we explain this to the sect leader?

Yang Guo was personally handed over to him by Qiu Chuji.

Yin Zhiping clasped his hands together in front of the stone gate and muttered some incantations.

"Guo'er, you must hold on. Your master's happiness for the rest of his life depends entirely on you."

But then I thought about it again.

What if Yang Guo hadn't died?

What was he doing in there?

A lone man and a lone woman, alone in a room.

Although Yang Guo was still a child, the boy was handsome and had a sweet tongue.

What if Miss Long took pity on him and personally fed him medicine and wiped his sweat...

Images flashed through Yin Zhiping's mind.

With her untouched hands, Xiaolongnu held the medicine bowl and brought it to Yang Guo's lips.

Yang Guo lay in Long Niang's arms, looking completely content.

"ah--"

Yin Zhiping let out a low growl, grabbing his hair, his eyes red with jealousy.

"Let go of that beast! Let me handle this!"

He wished he were the one lying inside, half-dead.

Even if all meridians are severed, even if all martial arts skills are lost.

I'd die happy just to be cared for by Miss Long for three days!

Fourth day.

Yin Zhiping completely broke down.

He had huge dark circles under his eyes, and stubble had sprouted from his beard.

He looked as if a fairy had drained his life force.

"Yang Guo..."

He glared at the stone door through gritted teeth, "If you dare to have any improper thoughts about Miss Long, I... I will haunt you even as a ghost!"

He wanted to rush in and find out what was going on.

But when he saw the Dragon-Slaying Stone, which weighed over ten thousand pounds, he chickened out again.

In the end, all she could do was squat in the grass like a resentful woman, pulling up weeds to vent her anger.

"Liars! They're all liars!"

"What happened to the drawing you were promised?"

"It's been four days! Not a single word!"

The more Yin Zhiping thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. He felt like a fool who threw a meat bun to a puppy.