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

the next morning.

Wanyan Ping slowly opened her eyes, the pain in her chest forcing her to frown.

She turned her head and saw Yang Guo sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), resting with his eyes closed.

One hand was still resting on her wrist, as if it had been probing her internal energy all night.

His profile was clearly defined in the morning light, his eyelashes casting soft shadows under his eyes.

This decisive and ruthless man was now so quiet that it was captivating.

Wanyan Ping remained silent, simply watching him quietly.

While she was unconscious last night, she could feel a pair of warm hands tending to her wounds with gentle and delicate movements.

When those hands touched her chest, she felt no shyness, only peace of mind—because it was him.

"Awake?" Yang Guo suddenly asked, but his eyes remained closed.

Wanyan Ping said softly, "Young Master Yang...you didn't sleep all night?"

"I slept for a while." Yang Guo opened his eyes and reached out to touch her forehead. "The fever has subsided. Does your wound still hurt?"

"It's alright." Wanyan Ping tried to sit up, but the pain in her chest made her groan.

"Don't move." Yang Guo pressed her down. "The arrow wound is too deep. You'll need to lie in bed for at least a few days before you can get up."

Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and Yelü Yan entered carrying a bowl of hot porridge. Seeing that Wanyan Ping was awake, she exclaimed with delight, "Sister, you're awake!"

"Sister..." Wanyan Ping looked at the dark circles under her eyes, "You didn't sleep well either?"

Yelü Yan placed the porridge on the small table by the kang (heated brick bed) and said with a smile, "I'm fine. It's Young Master Yang who stayed up all night watching over you."

As she spoke, her eyes filled with heartache as she looked at Yang Guo.

Yang Guo stood up: "You two talk, I'll go check on Mo Chou."

He left the room and went into the courtyard.

Li Mochou was drawing water from the well, her apricot-yellow Taoist robe fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.

Seeing Yang Guo come out, she asked calmly, "How is that girl?"

"It's stable now." Yang Guo walked to her side. "What's the situation at Wuguan?"

"Martial law is in effect throughout the city, all four gates are tightly closed, and Mongol soldiers are searching house to house." Li Mochou brought up the bucket.

"However, they thought the assassins were still in the city and wouldn't search such a remote mountain village for the time being."

Yang Guo nodded: "Let's stay here for two more days, and leave once Ping'er is able to get up."

Li Mochou glanced at him: "Ping'er? That sounds quite affectionate."

Yang Guo laughed and put his arm around her waist: "What's wrong, are you jealous?"

Li Mochou stiffened slightly, but did not struggle. She simply snorted coldly, "Why would I be jealous? You can take as much as you want, just don't affect the number of times I'm supposed to have."

Even so, her ears turned slightly red.

Yang Guo lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "I neglected you last night, so I'll make it up to you tonight, and I promise I'll be quick."

Li Mochou raised a brow with her phoenix eyes: "Who needs you to fix it?"

Even so, a satisfied smile appeared on her lips.

At this moment, Lu Wushuang and Hong Lingbo came out of the kitchen, carrying breakfast.

"Brother Yang, Master, dinner's ready," Lu Wushuang said with a smile.

The five people sat around the stone table in the courtyard and had a simple breakfast.

After the meal, Yang went to check on Yan Ping's injuries.

And they changed her dressing again.

During the process, his fingers inevitably touched the skin on her chest.

Although Wanyan Ping's cheeks were flushed, she bit her lip and did not flinch.

"The wound is healing well." Yang Guo finished bandaging it. "Jade Dew Powder is indeed a holy medicine for healing wounds."

Wanyan Ping lowered her head and said softly, "Thank you, Young Master Yang..."

"No need for constant thanks." Yang Guo draped his coat over her shoulders. "With you by my side, I will naturally protect you."

These words, spoken so naturally, sent a shiver down Wanyan Ping's spine.

Stay by my side...

Does this mean he... acknowledges her identity?

"Young Master Yang," Wanyan Ping mustered her courage, "I...can I call you Brother Yang like Sister Wushuang does?"

Yang Guo smiled and said, "Of course."

"Brother Yang..." Wanyan Ping called out, tears welling up in her eyes.

Over the years, she has been all alone, and no one has ever made her feel so at ease.

Yang Guo gently wiped away her tears: "Take good care of yourself, there's still a long road ahead."

After saying that, he got up and left, leaving Wanyan Ping sitting on the kang in a daze.

In the courtyard, Yelü Yan was practicing her swordsmanship.

Her swordsmanship was fierce, but every time she swung her sword, her left shoulder would pause slightly—that was the effect of an old injury.

After watching for a while, Yang Guo said, "Stop."

Yelü Yan sheathed her sword and looked at Yang Guo, her forehead already beaded with sweat.

"Your swordsmanship is too forceful; you don't understand the balance between strength and gentleness."

Yang Guo walked up to her and said, "Moreover, every time you channel your energy to your left shoulder, your internal energy stagnates—this is due to a hidden ailment within your body."

Yelü Yan nodded, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes: "This ailment has been with me for ten years. Even when a master examined it back then, he couldn't cure it."

Yang Guo gestured for her to sit down and gently placed his palm on her back.

The internal energy of the Nine Yin Manual flowed into her meridians like a gentle stream.

Sure enough, several cold and vicious palm strikes were detected deep in the vital acupoints of the left shoulder, like a stubborn carbuncle that would not go away.

"This cold poison is indeed domineering." Yang Guo withdrew his hand, his expression solemn. "Even with the healing chapter of the Nine Yin Manual, I can only suppress it temporarily, not eradicate it completely."

Yelü Yan's face paled: "Even the Nine Yin Manual won't work? Then...then I'm...?"

"I have a way." Yang Guo looked at her. "The other martial art I practice is a top-tier dual cultivation technique. With the fusion of yin and yang, it can not only neutralize all poisons and repair meridians, but also help people break through bottlenecks."

He paused, then continued, "Mo Chou was able to break through to the Grandmaster level, and Wu Shuang was able to break through two realms from the early stage of the second-rate level to the threshold of the acquired realm, all thanks to this technique."

Yelü Yan was stunned.

What she had witnessed in the past few days was that Li Mochou was radiant after breaking through to the Grandmaster level.

Lu Wushuang's skin was radiant, her eyes sparkled, and her cultivation progress was astonishing.

It turns out it was all because of this dual cultivation technique...

"However," Yang Guo changed the subject, "the method of dual cultivation requires the fusion of body and mind, and the consummation of marriage. If you are unwilling, I will not force you. I can continue to use the Nine Yin Internal Force to suppress the cold poison for you. Although it cannot be eradicated, it will ensure your safety for ten years."

Yelü Yan's cheeks flushed instantly. She lowered her head and twisted the hem of her clothes, her mind in turmoil.

She wasn't an innocent girl who knew nothing about the world.

But is it really necessary to give oneself to a man...?

But when I think of Yang Guo's good qualities...

Yelü Yan raised her head, a resolute glint in her eyes, "I am willing."