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

Late at night.

The three upper rooms on the east side of the second floor of Yuebinlou are arranged in a row.

The first room on the east side was inhabited by Li Mochou and her disciple Hong Lingbo.

In the middle is Yang Guo and Lu Wushuang's room.

At the far west end were the rooms of Wanyan Ping and Yelü Yan—both were wounded, and they were arranged together for easy care.

In the room at the west end.

Wanyan Ping sat by the bed, looking at Yelü Yan who was fast asleep on the bed, her expression complicated.

She herself was still recovering from a shoulder injury, which was throbbing slightly at the moment, but she had no desire to rest.

In the afternoon, after Yang Guo treated Yelü Yan's injuries, he arranged for them to stay in the same room.

Both she and Yelü Yan were wounded, so it was indeed convenient for them to stay together, but at this moment, one of them was unconscious and the other was suffering from insomnia.

"Well……"

Yelü Yan on the bed suddenly stirred, her brows furrowed, as if she were having a nightmare.

Wanyan Ping got up, poured a glass of warm water, walked to the bedside, and softly called, "Miss Yelü?"

Yelü Yan slowly opened her eyes, her gaze initially filled with confusion, which quickly turned into alertness.

She propped herself up, a sharp pain shooting through her left shoulder, making her gasp.

"Don't move." Wanyan Ping supported her. "Your shoulder injury is very serious. Young Master Yang said you'll need to rest for at least a few days to recover."

"Young Master Yang..." Yelü Yan recalled the young man in the blue robe, "Was it him who saved me?"

"Yes." Wanyan Ping nodded and handed over the water glass. "He saved me too."

Yelü Yan took the water cup and drank it all in one gulp.

She looked at the woman in front of her and saw that she had a beautiful face, but there was a lingering worry between her brows, and the bandages could be faintly seen under her clothes on her left shoulder.

"You were also... injured by the Mongols?" Yelü Yan asked.

Wanyan Ping smiled bitterly: "Yes. I am a descendant of the Jin royal family, but my clan was almost wiped out by the Mongols. I infiltrated the Central Plains to gather military intelligence, but was surrounded and captured by Mongol soldiers in Lantian. Fortunately, I was rescued by Young Master Yang."

"The Jin royal family?" Yelü Yan was taken aback, then a look of shared misfortune flashed in her eyes. "So you are one too..."

"A person who has lost his country," Wanyan Ping replied, her tone calm but unable to conceal the bitterness within.

The two women remained silent for a moment.

The sound of the night watchman's clapper came from outside the window—it was already past midnight.

"And you?" Wanyan Ping broke the silence. "Miss Yelü, how did you end up being surrounded and attacked by the Vajra Sect?"

Yelü Yan leaned against the headboard, a look of pain in her eyes: "I am a descendant of the Liao royal family, the daughter of Yelü Chucai."

Wanyan Ping's pupils contracted slightly.

She had heard of Yelü Chucai—a famous minister of the Liao Dynasty who surrendered to the Mongols after the fall of Liao and rose to the position of Grand Chancellor.

However, he is said to have lost power in recent years and is under house arrest.

"My father..." Yelü Yan's voice was low. "He surrendered to the Mongols back then, hoping to preserve his people and leave a bloodline for the Liao Kingdom. But the Mongols are cunning. They used him to govern the country while simultaneously distrusting and suppressing him. Three years ago, my father was falsely accused of treason and placed under house arrest. I took advantage of the chaos to escape and fled with my old followers."

She paused, tears welling in her eyes: "Over the years, we've been hiding and fighting, contacting righteous men against the Mongols. Half a month ago, we intercepted a secret intelligence report from the Mongols, learning that they intended to attack Xiangyang. I wanted to send the report to Xiangyang, but that exposed our whereabouts. The Vajra Gate pursued us relentlessly, from Hebei to Shangzhou... If it weren't for Young Master Yang, I would be dead by now."

Wanyan Ping was deeply moved upon hearing this.

The same pain of national subjugation, the same path of exile.

She thought of her people—her brothers and sisters who died under the Mongol hooves, and those loyal ministers and generals who would rather die than surrender.

"I understand," Wanyan Ping said softly. "I was thirteen when the Jin Dynasty was destroyed. I watched my father commit suicide for his country, watched my mother be captured, and watched my brothers die one by one in battle... I crawled out of a pile of corpses and vowed to take revenge."

Yelü Yan looked at her and suddenly asked, "How did you get the wound on your shoulder?"

"In Lantian, five Mongol guards surrounded me," Wanyan Ping said calmly. "I was stabbed three times. In the end, it was Young Master Yang who intervened and killed them all."

"Kill them all?" Yelü Yan recalled Yang Guo's ruthless methods when he killed people that afternoon. "He... showed no mercy when he killed."

"To show mercy to the enemy is to be cruel to yourself." Wanyan Ping shook her head. "Over the years, I've come to understand one thing: the Mongols won't let you go just because you're merciful. They only recognize swords and only respect the strong."

Yelü Yan remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "You're right."

The two fell silent again, but the atmosphere was no longer as unfamiliar as before.

We are both wanderers in this world, why should we need to have known each other before?

"How old are you this year?" Wanyan Ping suddenly asked.

"Nineteen," Yelü Yan replied. "And you?"

"Twenty." Wanyan Ping smiled. "I'm a year older than you, so I should call you 'little sister'."

Yelü Yan smiled and said, "From now on, I will call you sister."

The two women smiled at each other, tears glistening in their eyes.

Over the years, they have been all alone, burdened by national and personal grievances, with no one to confide in.

Tonight, however, I unexpectedly encountered someone like myself.

"Sister," Yelü Yan asked softly, "what are your plans for the future?"

Wanyan Ping's expression was solemn: "I am going to Xiangyang. The Mongol army is approaching, and I must inform Guo Jing, the great hero, of the military intelligence I have gathered. If I can help the Central Plains defend Xiangyang, it will be... my contribution to avenging my people."

"I'm going to Xiangyang too," Yelü Yan said. "I also need to deliver the secret reports I intercepted."

The two looked at each other, their eyes flashing with determination.

"Then let's go together." Wanyan Ping grasped Yelü Yan's hand. "It'll be good to have someone to look after us on the way."

Yelü Yan nodded and gripped the handle tightly.

Just then, a soft sigh came from outside the door.

"Who?!" The two women exclaimed simultaneously.

The door was gently pushed open, and Yang Guo stood outside.

"Young Master Yang?" Wanyan Ping was taken aback. "You..."

"I was in the next room and heard you talking." Yang Guo walked into the room, his expression calm. "Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

Yelü Yan blushed slightly—had he heard everything she just said?

Yang Guo walked to the table and sat down, looking at the two women: "I heard your conversation. Your hatred is also the hatred of the Central Plains. If the Mongols gain control of the world, the Han people will have no way to survive."

These words, spoken calmly, sent a shiver down the spines of both women.

"Young Master Yang..." Wanyan Ping's eyes reddened slightly, "Why... are you so kind to us?"

Yang Guo looked at them and said, "You want to take revenge and resist the Mongols, which is a righteous act. Since I have encountered this, I will naturally help you."

Yelü Yan couldn't help but ask, "Young Master Yang, with such superb martial arts skills, why don't you...why not simply charge into the Mongol camp and kill Kublai Khan?"

Yang Guo shook his head: "If we kill one Kublai Khan, there will be a second and a third Mongol Khan. The real enemy is not any one person, but the dynasty that wants to annex the Central Plains."

He paused, then continued, "Your current strength is insufficient to protect yourselves. If you truly wish to take revenge and contribute to the resistance against the Mongols, you must first survive and become stronger."

Wanyan Ping and Yelü Yan both fell silent.

They knew Yang Guo was right. If it weren't for his rescue, they would both be dead. With such limited strength, how could they possibly seek revenge?

"I can teach you martial arts," Yang Guo suddenly said, "but on the condition that you follow my instructions."

The two women looked up at the same time, their eyes flashing with surprise.

"Young Master Yang...is it true?" Yelü Yan's voice trembled.

"Really?" Yang Guo nodded. "But not now. Your injuries haven't healed yet, so focus on recovering first. Once we get to Xiangyang and settle down, I'll teach you."

Wanyan Ping rose and bowed solemnly: "Young Master Yang's great kindness will never be forgotten by Wanyan Ping!"

Yelü Yan was about to rise and pay her respects, but her shoulder injury caused her to wince in pain.

"Don't move." Yang Guo waved his hand. "Take good care of your injuries; that's the best way to thank me."

He stood up to leave, but as he reached the door, he suddenly turned back: "By the way, we'll be setting off for Xiangyang tomorrow. Since you're injured and can't ride horses, I'll hire a carriage. If we encounter pursuers on the road, follow my orders."

"Yes!" the two women replied in unison.

Yang Guo nodded, closed the door, and left.

Silence returned to the room.

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

For the first time in years, they felt that revenge might not be an unattainable dream.

"Sister," Yelü Yan said softly, "Young Master Yang... he is a good person."

Wanyan Ping nodded, a complex expression flashing in her eyes: "Yes, he's a good person. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"But there seem to be quite a few women around him," Wanyan Ping said with a bitter smile. "When you were unconscious today, you held his hand the whole time."

Yelü Yan's cheeks flushed instantly: "I...I was unconscious at the time, I don't know..."

"I know." Wanyan Ping smiled. "I don't blame you. It's just... a man like this is destined not to belong to just one person."

Yelü Yan was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I don't ask that he belong only to me. As long as I can stay by his side and help him, that's enough."

Wanyan Ping looked at her and suddenly realized—this younger sister had already fallen for her.

What about her?

Wanyan Ping asked herself honestly, and found that she also felt a slight flutter in her heart.

What woman wouldn't be moved by such a man—highly skilled in martial arts, handsome, righteous, considerate, and decisive in killing?

"Enough," Wanyan Ping shook her head. "Let's think about the important things first. Revenge and resisting the Mongols—those are what we should be thinking about."

Yelü Yan nodded, her eyes regaining their resolve.

When Yang Guo pushed open the door and entered the middle room, the candlelight had gone out, but by the moonlight from the window, he could see a blurry figure on the bed.

"Wushuang?" he called softly.

"Brother Yang..." Lu Wushuang's voice came from the bed, tinged with shyness, "You...you're back."

Yang Guo walked to the bedside, about to speak, but then froze.

Moonlight shone through the window paper onto Lu Wushuang—she was lying naked in the quilt, only her fair shoulders and delicate collarbones were visible.

Those watery eyes shone brightly in the darkness, looking at him timidly.

"Wushuang, what's wrong with you...?" Yang Guo's throat was a little dry.

Lu Wushuang bit her lip, her voice barely audible: "I...I can see that Brother Yang has many people in his heart...Uncle Long, Master, and now Miss Wanyan and Miss Yelü...I'm afraid...afraid that my place in your heart will become less and less..."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, "So...so I want a little more...a little more of Brother Yang's affection...is that alright?"

These words were so blunt and pitiful that they stirred up feelings of pity in Yang Guo's heart.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and gently stroked her cheek: "Silly girl, your place in my heart will never diminish because of anyone else."

"Really?" Tears welled up in Lu Wu's eyes.

"Really." Yang Guo leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. "Everyone who enters my heart has a unique place. You are lively, innocent, and your smile is like the purest spring water in the mountains—these qualities are irreplaceable."

Lu Wushuang burst into laughter through her tears, reaching out to wrap her arms around his neck: "Then... Brother Yang... can you be a little more gentle with me tonight?"

That was a bold question. After she finished speaking, she buried her face in Yang Guo's arms, too ashamed to look up.

Yang Guo smiled, gently laid her down, and leaned down to kiss her lips.

This kiss was more passionate than any before.

Lu Wushuang responded awkwardly but enthusiastically, her hands groping on Yang Guo's back, untying his belt.

His clothes slipped off.

Under the moonlight, two young bodies embraced.

Yang Guo did not rush into cultivation.

Instead, use your lips to move from your forehead to your eyebrows and eyes, and from your neck to your collarbone.

Then there's that delicate bud.

"Um... Brother Yang..."

Yang Guo chuckled.

"Wushuang, are you ready?" he asked in a low voice.

"Um……"

Lu Wushuang nodded, her face flushed, but her eyes held anticipation.