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

As Yang Guo spoke, he gently tore open the clothes on Wanyan Ping's left shoulder.

The wound wasn't deep, but the blade was poisoned, and the edges had turned purplish-black.

Wanyan Ping closed her eyes in embarrassment, her body trembling slightly.

Yang Guo remained calm and first washed the wound with clean water.

Then he took out the Jade Dew Powder from his bosom and sprinkled it evenly on the wound.

"Ugh..." The powder touched the wound, causing a stinging pain, and Wanyan Ping couldn't help but groan softly.

"Bear with it, this medicine can detoxify and stop the bleeding," Yang Guo said gently, skillfully bandaging the wound.

Wanyan Ping secretly opened her eyes and looked at the focused profile of the boy in front of her.

His movements were gentle, his eyes clear, and there was not a trace of evil in them.

How could a man like that be so ruthless just now?

"Young Master Yang," Wanyan Ping suddenly spoke, "why did you save me? Aren't you afraid of offending the Mongols?"

After Yang Guo finished bandaging you, he took two steps back before saying, "I can't stand the Mongols' rampant behavior in the Central Plains. As for saving you... it was just something I did on a whim."

"Just doing it on a whim?" Wanyan Ping smiled bitterly. "Does the young master know that the Mongol soldiers you killed were the personal guards of the garrison? They won't let this go so easily."

"So what?" Yang Guo smiled. "Kill as many as they come."

These words were spoken casually, yet they carried an air of dominance over the world.

Wanyan Ping stared at him blankly, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.

Over the years, she has witnessed the fickle nature of human relationships in the martial arts world.

Those so-called prestigious and righteous sects, upon hearing that she was a remnant of the Jin dynasty, either avoided her like the plague or wanted to use her to curry favor with the Mongols.

Yang Guo was the first person to rescue her knowing her identity and to mercilessly kill the Mongol soldiers.

"Thank you, young master." Wanyan Ping bowed solemnly. "Wanyan Ping owes you her life."

"No need for thanks," Yang Guo waved his hand. "You should rest well first. We can talk in detail tomorrow."

He said this and turned to leave.

"Young Master Yang!" Wanyan Ping suddenly called out to him.

Yang Guo turned around.

Wanyan Ping bit her lip and whispered, "I can't understand you. You must be from the Central Plains."

"Yes." Yang Guo nodded. "How so?"

"Then... are you aware that the Mongol army has amassed on the border, intending to attack Xiangyang?"

Wanyan Ping's expression was solemn. "My purpose in infiltrating the Central Plains this time is to gather military intelligence. The Mongol left wing army has reached Dengzhou, the right wing army is in Tangzhou, and the central army is personally commanded by Kublai Khan and stationed in Nanyang. The three armies number no less than 200,000."

Yang Guo's eyes narrowed.

This news came earlier than in the original story!

"How did you know?" he asked in a deep voice.

"I have some former subordinates working as spies in the Mongol army," Wanyan Ping said frankly. "This news is absolutely true. The Mongols plan to launch a general offensive after the autumn harvest, take Xiangyang in one fell swoop, and open the gateway to the south."

Yang Guo was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I understand. Thank you for informing me, young lady."

"Young Master Yang," Wanyan Ping looked at him, "you are highly skilled in martial arts and possess a chivalrous heart. If Xiangyang were truly in danger, could you... lend a helping hand to the people of the Central Plains?"

Yang Guo smiled: "I was going to Xiangyang anyway."

Wanyan Ping breathed a sigh of relief, and wanted to say something, but then felt a wave of dizziness.

Excessive blood loss, coupled with mental fatigue, finally caused her to collapse.

"Please rest well, young lady." Yang Guo noticed her fatigue, gently closed the door, and left.

In the corridor, Li Mochou leaned against the wall, clearly having been waiting for a long time.

"You asked?" she said casually.

"The Mongol army is approaching, Xiangyang is in grave danger." Yang Guo said solemnly, "We must get to Xiangyang as soon as possible."

Li Mochou glanced at him: "Where's Wanyan Ping? Are you with her?"

Yang Guo pondered, "Her injuries are quite serious, and she might be in danger if left alone. Let's take her with us first, and then make further arrangements when we reach Xiangyang."

Li Mochou snorted coldly: "Suit yourself. But... if she dares to have any disloyal thoughts, I'll be the first to deal with her."

Yang Guo nodded: "Probably not."

The two returned to Yang Guo's room, where Lu Wushuang and Hong Lingbo were already waiting.

"Brother Yang, is that girl alright?" Lu Wushuang asked with concern.

"It's alright." Yang Guo sat down and recounted the military intelligence that Wanyan Ping had revealed.

The three women's expressions turned serious after hearing this.

"Two hundred thousand troops..." Hong Lingbo murmured, "The garrison in Xiangyang numbers only fifty thousand. How can they possibly withstand them?"

"So we need to get there as soon as possible," Yang Guo said. "Uncle Guo and Aunt Guo need to make preparations early."

Lu Wushuang suddenly said, "Is that Wanyan Ping trustworthy? What if it's just a ruse by the Mongols..."

Yang Guo was naturally aware of her personality.

But others don't know that, so I can only explain.

"It doesn't seem like it." Yang Guo shook his head. "The wound on her shoulder is real, and her swordsmanship is real too. Besides... if she were really a spy, she wouldn't need to reveal such important military intelligence."

After thinking about it, the women stopped questioning it.

Late at night.

Yang Guo told the three women to go back to their rooms to rest, while he sat cross-legged on the bed and circulated his internal energy to regulate his breathing.

Although today's battle was not strenuous, the news of the approaching Mongol army weighed heavily on his mind.

In the original story, Xiangyang was defended for decades, but in the end, the city fell and its inhabitants perished.

Now that he's here in this life, he absolutely cannot let tragedy repeat itself.

Just as I was pondering this, a slight noise came from the next room.

Yang Guo had exceptional hearing and heard it clearly—it was Wanyan Ping's footsteps.

She seemed to be pacing around the room, her steps unsteady, clearly still recovering from her injuries.

A moment later, the footsteps stopped, followed by the sound of a window being opened.

Yang Guo's eyes sharpened, and in a flash, he was outside the door.

Gently push open Wanyan Ping's door, and sure enough, you'll see the window wide open, letting in the night breeze and causing the candlelight to flicker.

Wanyan Ping had changed into a clean black outfit and was standing by the window, preparing to jump.

"Where is Miss Wanyan going?" Yang Guo asked.

Wanyan Ping stiffened, turned around and saw Yang Guo, and said with a bitter smile, "Young Master Yang... I don't want to implicate you. The Mongols won't let me go, and my staying here will only bring you trouble."

"So you're leaving without saying goodbye?" Yang Guo walked into the room and closed the window. "Your injuries haven't healed yet; going out would be suicide."

Wanyan Ping lowered her head: "But I..."

"Stay here," Yang Guo said calmly. "Since I saved you, I will protect you. When we reach Xiangyang, things will be arranged for you."

Wanyan Ping looked up at him, the moonlight filtering through the window paper and casting a hazy shadow on his face.

Why is this man so domineering, yet so reassuring?

"Young Master Yang..." Her eyes reddened slightly, "We've only met by chance, why are you so kind to me?"

Yang Guo remained silent for a moment before saying, "I only seek to act with a clear conscience."

That same phrase again.

Wanyan Ping's heart pounded, and she suddenly asked, "If I weren't a princess of the Jin Kingdom, but just an ordinary woman, would you still save me?"

Yang Guo laughed: "I save people regardless of their status."

Wanyan Ping smiled, but tears streamed down her face.

Over the years, burdened by the hatred of her family and country, she has been hiding and fleeing, and has never felt as at ease as she does now.

"Alright," she said softly, "I'll listen to you, young master."

Yang Guo nodded: "Get some rest, we still have a long journey ahead tomorrow."

He turned to leave, but Wanyan Ping suddenly called out to him, "Young Master Yang!"

Yang Guo turned around.

Wanyan Ping bit her lip and whispered, "You...you have to be careful. The Mongol army is full of experts. Besides the Golden Wheel Monk, there are also the Vajra Sect of the Western Regions, and...some traitors from the Central Plains who have defected to the Mongols."

"I know," Yang Guo smiled. "Thank you for reminding me."

He closed the door, and his footsteps faded into the distance.

Wanyan Ping stood in the room for a long time before gently touching the bandaged wound on her shoulder.

The warmth of his palm still lingered there.

"Yang Guo..." she murmured the name, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.