Yang Guo: I'm invincible in the opening battle against Aunt Guo!

While Guo Fu went to Huang Rong's place to investigate.

Inside the martial arts arena.

Wanyan Ping, dressed in a neat and tidy outfit and holding a long sword, was slowly performing a set of basic Peach Blossom Island sword techniques in the arena.

Her arrow wound to the chest had healed by about 80-90%, but it would still aggravate the injury if she moved too much. Her brows furrowed slightly, but she gritted her teeth and persevered.

Yelü Yan stood to the side, holding a heavy curved sword in both hands.

That was her family heirloom weapon from the Liao Kingdom's royal family; the blade was slightly curved and the edge was gleaming.

She was practicing the power-generating posture for slashing, following the instructions given by Yang Guo.

"Keep your wrists steady and your waist strong."

Yang Guo's voice came from behind.

Yelü Yan paused, then felt a pair of warm hands grasp her wrists.

Yang Guo had somehow appeared behind her, pressing close from behind, his chest almost touching her back.

"This strike isn't delivered with the strength of your arm," his voice rang in my ears. "It's delivered with your waist. Look—"

He grasped her wrist and guided her as she slowly swung the knife.

Yelü Yan felt a powerful internal force emanating from Yang Guo's palm, guiding her arms, shoulders, waist, and hips, ultimately converging at the blade.

When that slash was unleashed, the sound of it cutting through the air suddenly became sharper, and the blade's light slashed through the morning light like a bolt of lightning.

"Can you feel it?" Yang Guo asked.

Yelü Yan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded gently: "Hmm... the power comes in when the waist turns."

Although she was straightforward and had already decided to follow Yang Guo, she still felt shy when he gave her such close guidance.

But she felt more joy than anything else. The fact that Brother Yang was willing to teach her so meticulously showed that he cared about her.

"Remember this feeling." Yang Guo released his grip, took a half step back, and said, "Practice it ten more times on your own."

"good!"

Yelü Yan took a deep breath, composed herself, and gripped the hilt of her knife tightly again.

This time, she deliberately felt the rotation of her waist and hips, channeling all her strength into the blade.

"laugh--"

The wind howled fiercely.

Yang Guo nodded in satisfaction and turned to Wanyan Ping in the arena.

Wanyan Ping's sword technique included the move "Falling Petals," which required her to spin and thrust repeatedly.

Halfway through her spin, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest wound, her steps faltered, and she swayed as if about to fall.

"careful."

Yang Guo flashed to her side, supporting her waist with one hand and gently supporting her wrist holding the sword with the other.

Wanyan Ping was almost leaning against him, and could clearly feel the warmth of his chest and his steady heartbeat.

Two blushes rose to her cheeks, and she whispered, "Brother Yang, I'm alright..."

"Your injury hasn't fully healed yet, don't push yourself." Yang Guo said gently, "The footwork for this move should be like this—"

He held her waist and slowly turned her around.

His broad, strong hand steadily supported her waist, preventing her from falling while also avoiding any inappropriate behavior.

Wanyan Ping felt a burning heat where he touched her, and her heart pounded like a drum.

She bit her lip, forcing herself to focus on the sword move, and followed Yang Guo's guidance to complete the entire move.

"Very good." Yang Guo released his grip. "Ping'er has good comprehension, but she still needs to recover. Let her practice these gentle moves first. Once her injuries are fully healed, I will teach her some advanced sword techniques."

"Thank you, Brother Yang." Wanyan Ping lowered her head, her voice barely audible.

She secretly glanced at Yang Guo and saw that his gaze was clear and open, without the slightest hint of frivolity. She felt both grateful and disappointed.

I am grateful for his gentlemanly conduct, but I am also disappointed...

She didn't actually mind him getting closer.

The two women continued practicing martial arts, with Yang Guo occasionally offering guidance.

As the sun rose higher, the shadows of the three people on the training ground gradually shortened.

Entrance to the training ground.

After dealing with her doubts, Guo Fu felt completely relaxed when she came out of Huang Rong's room.

Since Mother changed the room's decor, it means that Brother Yang's peach blossom scent was truly unintentional.

Thinking this, she walked briskly towards the west courtyard.

Brother Yang had said he would be instructing Yelü Yan and Wanyan Ping in martial arts that morning, and she wanted to go and see—and incidentally assert her dominance.

After all, she is now Brother Yang's rightful woman.

As Guo Fu approached the entrance to the martial arts arena, she was about to call out to someone when she suddenly stopped.

She saw what was happening in the field.

Yang Guo was standing behind Yelü Yan, almost touching her back, holding her hands as he taught her swordsmanship.

Their figures overlapped in the morning light, their intimate posture almost blinding.

Guo Fu's lips tightened instantly.

Immediately afterwards, she saw Yang Guo support Wanyan Ping's waist, and the two of them spun around in an embrace.

Wanyan Ping's cheeks flushed, and her eyes held a shy and timid look; anyone who saw her would know what that meant.

A wave of bitterness suddenly surged into Guo Fu's heart.

Although her mother had taught her to be magnanimous that morning, although she knew she wasn't Brother Yang's only woman, and although Yelü Yan and Wanyan Ping had already expressed their feelings for each other...

Seeing it with my own eyes still makes me feel bad.

Guo Fu stood in the shadows at the entrance, clutching her sleeves tightly.

She bit her lower lip, staring intently at the scene, her chest tight with anxiety.

In the arena, Yang Guo seemed to sense something and suddenly turned his head to look at the entrance.

Eyes facing each other.

Guo Fu turned her face away and prepared to leave.

"Fu-mei!" Yang Guo called out, his figure already swift as the wind, blocking her path.

Guo Fu lowered her head, not looking at him: "Brother Yang, please continue teaching martial arts. I won't disturb you any longer."

The strong jealousy in his voice could be smelled even from three meters away.

Yang Guo chuckled inwardly, but feigned concern: "What's wrong, Sister Fu? Who upset you?"

"No," Guo Fu pouted. "What could I possibly be unhappy about?"

While saying this, his eyes glanced at Yelü Yan and Wanyan Ping in the arena.

Yelü Yan and Wanyan Ping exchanged a glance, both seeing the knowing smile in each other's eyes.

They had expected this to happen—they had experienced Miss Guo's temper firsthand these past two days.

"Miss Guo, you've come at the perfect time." Yelü Yan sheathed her curved sword and walked over confidently. "I feel awkward practicing the sword technique that Brother Yang just taught me. Miss Guo, could you take a look and help me?"

Wanyan Ping also sheathed her sword and came over, saying gently, "Miss Guo has mastered the Peach Blossom Island sword technique the best. I just couldn't get the 'Falling Petals' move right. Please give me some pointers, Miss Guo."

The two men were sincere and spoke naturally, which made it difficult for Guo Fu to lash out.

Looking at Yelü Yan's heroic face and Wanyan Ping's gentle smile, her jealousy subsided by a third.

She understands the saying, "You can't hit someone who's smiling at you."

Taking the opportunity, Yang Guo put his arm around Guo Fu's waist, pulled her into his embrace, and whispered in her ear, "Fu-mei looks so cute when she's jealous."

"Who's jealous!" Guo Fu blushed and struggled, but couldn't break free.

"Alright, alright, I'm not jealous." Yang Guo readily agreed, his voice as gentle as if it could melt water. "It's my fault for neglecting Fu-mei. How about this, I'll spend this afternoon with you alone and teach you a powerful martial art, okay?"

Guo Fu's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Of course it's true," Yang Guo said with a smile. "Now that Sister Fu's Xuan Guan (a martial arts technique) has been opened, she can learn martial arts much more easily. I happen to have a set of martial arts techniques that are suitable for you."

Guo Fu's jealousy dissipated almost entirely.

She glanced at Yelü Yan and Wanyan Ping, and saw that the two were looking at her with smiles, without the slightest displeasure. The last bit of resentment in her heart disappeared.

Brother Yang's public flattery of her was a great way of saving face for her.

Yelü Yan and Wanyan Ping were also sensible and showed no sign of jealousy or rivalry.

This... seems pretty good?