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

Dust swirled along the official road at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain.

Yang Guo and his group of four rode at full speed.

Li Mochou led the way, Yang Guo brought up the rear, and Lu Wushuang and Hong Lingbo rode side by side in the middle.

The four horses were all purchased from a market town at the foot of the mountain. Although they were not top-quality steeds, they were still quite capable.

"At this speed, we should be able to reach Lantian County by tonight."

Li Mochou reined in her horse and looked back, her apricot-yellow Taoist robe fluttering in the wind.

"After passing Lantian, it will be two more days to reach Wuguan. From Wuguan to Xiangyang, it will only take three or four days at a fast pace."

Yang Guo nodded, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards Zhongnan Mountain.

We've been away from the ancient tomb for most of the day, and we still have no idea where Little Dragon Girl has gone!

Lu Wushuang spurred his horse closer and asked softly, "Brother Yang, are you still worried about Uncle Long?"

"Yes." Yang Guo readily admitted, "She's aloof and naive, and I'm really worried about her being alone out there."

Upon hearing this, Li Mochou raised a slight brow with her phoenix eyes: "Junior Sister's martial arts are not weak, and her lightness skill is even more superb. She is more than capable of protecting herself. Instead of worrying here, you should think about how to explain things to Chief Huang when you get to Xiangyang—bringing me and Wushuang, two 'troublemakers,' will probably be enough to give you a hard time."

Although these words were spoken in jest, they also served as a reminder to Yang Guo.

Huang Rong was incredibly intelligent. Upon meeting Li Mochou and Lu Wushuang, she would likely be able to guess the whole story in an instant.

Not to mention, there's also Guo Fu.

Just thinking about it gives me a headache.

At that time...

Yang Guo smiled wryly: "Let's deal with whatever comes our way."

The four continued on their way.

As the official road widened, more pedestrians and carriages appeared.

Some caravans slowly moved along with their goods, some wandering swordsmen galloped on horseback, and some ordinary people traveled with their families.

Hong Lingbo suddenly pointed ahead: "Young Master Yang, do you see a teahouse over there? Would you like to rest for a while?"

Yang Guo looked up and saw a simple thatched hut by the roadside with a banner bearing the character "tea" hanging on it.

Several square tables were set up under the shed, where a few travelers were already resting.

"Alright, have some tea before you go."

The four men dismounted, tied the reins to wooden stakes outside the shed, and entered the teahouse.

The tea shop owner was a thin, frail old man in his fifties. Seeing a customer arrive, he quickly went to greet him.

"Gentlemen, what would you like some tea? Our shop has coarse tea, mountain tea, and homemade rice wine."

"Four bowls of mountain tea, and some dry rations." Yang Guo took out a few copper coins and placed them on the table.

"Alright!" The old man turned around and went to make arrangements.

The four of them found a table at the back and sat down.

Lu Wushuang rubbed her lower back, her face pale—after all, she was a virgin, and the bumpy ride of the horse for half a day was really too much for her.

Yang Guo, seeing this, said in a low voice, "Wushuang, if you are really feeling unwell, we can slow down our journey."

"No need, no need," Lu Wushuang quickly shook her head, "I can manage. Finding Uncle Long is the priority."

Li Mochou glanced at her, said nothing, but simply placed her hand on her wrist to check her pulse briefly.

"Your qi and blood are a little weak, but it's nothing serious." She withdrew her hand and took out a red pill from her bosom. "This is my unique blood-replenishing pill. Taking it will relieve fatigue."

Lu Wushuang accepted the pills, her heart warmed: "Thank you, Master."

Li Mochou hummed in agreement and turned her face away.

Hong Lingbo watched from the side, a slight smile playing on her lips.

That's how my master is; he's sharp-tongued, but he's very soft-hearted.

The tea was served, and the four of them drank it in silence. The conversation of several merchants at the next table drifted over.

"Have you heard? Things haven't been peaceful in the Zhongnan Mountains lately."

"What's wrong?"

"They say that a few days ago, two third-generation disciples of the Quanzhen Sect died, and their bodies were hung at the entrance of Chongyang Palace. It was a terrible sight!"

"Who did it?"

"I don't know. But some people say it's someone from the Ancient Tomb Sect..."

Yang Guo frowned slightly.

Li Mochou sneered and lowered her voice, "The Quanzhen Sect certainly knows how to create momentum, publicizing the deaths of Zhao Zhijing and Zhen Zhibing. Are they trying to use public opinion in the martial arts world to pressure us?"

"Let them be." Yang Guo said calmly. "I killed them. If they want revenge, I'll take their place."

I rested for a while.

"Let's go." Yang Guo got up to pay the bill.

The four men remounted and continued eastward.

……

Meanwhile, in the hidden valley below the cliff.

Little Dragon Girl had been standing in front of the thatched hut window for about an hour.

As the morning light gradually rises, the mist in the valley slowly dissipates.

Her cool eyes gazed at the distant, mist-shrouded peaks, a rare hint of anxiety flashing across them.

She was worried about Yang Guo.

That madman is still wandering around Zhongnan Mountain. What if he runs into Yang Guo...?

Although Yang Guo's martial arts have now reached the level of a grandmaster, Ouyang Feng is, after all, one of the Five Greats, and is mentally unstable, acting without any rhyme or reason.

If the two were to fight, Yang Guo might be in danger if he were distracted.

"No." Little Dragon Girl suddenly turned around.

She can't stay here any longer.

"Grandma Sun." Little Dragon Girl stepped out of the room and bowed to the old woman who was drying herbs in the courtyard. "Thank you for taking me in. I have urgent business to attend to and must leave."

Granny Sun stopped what she was doing and looked at her kindly: "Young lady, are you leaving already? You've only rested for an hour..."

"Mm." Little Dragon Girl nodded. "Sorry to bother you."

"Don't say I'm bothering you." Granny Sun waved her hand with a smile. "Since you have something to do, young lady, I won't insist that you stay. However, this valley is secluded. If you wish to come again, you are always welcome."

Little Dragon Girl bowed again and turned to walk towards the cave.

Instead of taking the usual route, she used her light-footed skills to climb up the steep cliff face.

The Ancient Tomb Sect's lightness skill is unparalleled in the world; although this cliff is dangerous, it is as flat as flat ground for her.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she had already climbed to the top of the cliff.

Looking back, the valley was already hidden under the clouds and mist, nowhere to be seen.

Without lingering, Xiaolongnu unleashed her movement technique and sped towards the ancient tomb.

Throughout the journey, she remained cautious and vigilant, her figure appearing and disappearing in the forest as she tried to avoid revealing her whereabouts.

Fortunately, Ouyang Feng seems to have left the area.

Half an hour later, the entrance to the Tomb of the Living Dead appeared before them.

The stone gate, hidden by vines, was tightly closed.

Little Dragon Girl gently pushed open the stone door and went inside.

Inside the ancient tomb, the fluorescent stone still glowed eerily, yet the silence was terrifying.

"Miss Long?" Granny Sun's voice came from deep within, filled with surprise.

Little Dragon Girl walked quickly and, sure enough, saw Granny Sun from the ancient tomb emerge from the stone hall, carrying a bowl of medicine in her hand.

"You're back!" Granny Sun's eyes were full of relief. "I knew you wouldn't really leave us."

Xiaolongnu felt a warmth in her heart, but had no time for pleasantries. Her gaze quickly swept around: "Where is Yang Guo?"

Granny Sun sighed, "That boy... he was so worried when he saw you leave that he took Mochou, Wushuang, and Lingbo down the mountain to look for you."

Little Dragon Girl's heart tightened: "Which direction did they go?"

"He didn't say where you were going," Granny Sun said. "Young Yang said that after you come back, you should wait for him in the ancient tomb and not wander off."

"Thank you for informing me, Grandma." She turned to leave.

"Wait!" Granny Sun called out to her, "Miss Long, are you going to chase after them?"

Little Dragon Girl nodded.

"But..." Granny Sun hesitated, "I'm worried about you traveling alone. Perhaps... we should wait for them to return?"

"No," Little Dragon Girl shook her head. "I'll go find them."

She couldn't wait any longer.

With each passing moment of waiting, the unease in my heart intensified.

She needed to see Yang Guo safe with her own eyes before she could feel at ease.

"Then... please be very careful." Grandma Sun knew she couldn't dissuade her, so she could only remind her, "If you encounter danger on the road, don't be reckless."

Little Dragon Girl nodded and turned to leave the stone hall.