A Blood-Moving Realm has arrived in the world of The Return of the Condor Heroes.

After a few rounds of drinks, the dinner came to an end. Everyone said their goodbyes and returned to their rooms.

During the meal, Zhang Huai also subtly inquired about Qiu Chuji's Quanzhen Sect.

Guo Jing was also quite puzzled as to why the Quanzhen Sect had collectively come out of seclusion to fight against the Mongols. He had sought help from them many times, but had been refused each time.

However, Guo Jing could understand. Although this was somewhat unusual, he didn't think too much about it, since it was a good thing after all.

As for Qiu Chuji, Guo Jing arranged for him to be stationed at the outskirts of the city. After all, given the capabilities of the Quanzhen Sect disciples, if the Mongol army were to invade, their presence would buy Xiangyang considerable time to prepare a response.

While eating, Guo Jing said that he wondered who had injured Master Qiu so badly. If he found out, he would definitely teach that person a lesson and avenge Master Qiu.

Zhang Huai simply sat to the side, eating silently without saying a word.

However, Master Qiu was reasonable enough. He had a good relationship with Yang Guo, and Yang Guo was regarded as his own son by Guo Jing. If he told Guo Jing that Zhang Huai had done this to him, it would be awkward when they met in the future.

Zhang Huai returned to his room, drank a couple of sips of tea, and prepared to go to bed.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, followed by a shy female voice.

"Brother Zhang, are you there?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Huai walked to the door and opened it.

Upon closer inspection, the visitor turned out to be Guo Fu.

Zhang Huai didn't quite understand why Guo Fu was looking for him now.

"Miss Guo, what brings you here so late at night? Do you still harbor resentment towards me, Zhang, and wish to argue with me?"

Zhang Huai joked.

"No, no, no, Brother Zhang, you've misunderstood. You don't need to call me Miss Guo. My father calls you his nephew, so we're practically family. You can just call me Fu'er or Sister Fu."

I've come to sincerely apologize to Brother Zhang, and also to ask him some questions.

"I suppose the second half is the key point?" Zhang Huai said with a smile. "Let's still call you Miss Guo. Come in and chat."

"No, no, Brother Zhang, let's chat in the courtyard." Guo Fu waved her hand repeatedly.

Zhang Huai then remembered that during this period, women were not allowed to stay alone in the bedroom with other men, especially late at night.

Zhang Huai put on his coat and stood in the courtyard with Guo Fu.

"Miss Guo, what would you like to ask?"

Guo Fu's voice suddenly became somewhat shy, her gaze falling on her toes, and she spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"My mother told me, Brother Zhang, you and Yang Guo are sworn brothers, is that right?"

"Yes, we have a very good relationship."

Zhang Huai turned his head to look at Guo Fu beside him. Although it was dark, he could still see that Guo Fu's face was already a little blushing in the moonlight.

"So how did you two meet?"

Listening to Guo Fu's words, Zhang Huai briefly recounted how he met Yang Guo.

After hearing this, Guo Fu couldn't help but gasp softly.

"Brother Zhang, do you mean he didn't learn martial arts at the Quanzhen School? And instead took an unknown woman as his master?"

"That's right, but that woman is no unknown. When Yang Guo became her disciple, her strength was only slightly inferior to Qiu Chuji's. She must have far surpassed Qiu Chuji by now."

"By the way, don't tell Uncle Guo about this. It's better for Yang Guo to say some things himself, which will save a lot of trouble."

Guo Fu nodded heavily.

"Don't worry, Brother Zhang. No one else will know about what happened today."

As for Yang Guo becoming Xiaolongnu's disciple, Guo Fu didn't think much of it, after all, where there is a way, there is a teacher.

My own father also had a female master.

Looking at Guo Fu like this, Zhang Huai couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Yang Guo, oh Yang Guo, how can I help you? You'll have to rely on yourself."

"Tsk tsk." Zhang Huai shook his head, and for a moment, thinking of the scene of Yang Guo facing a carnage in the future, he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him.

The night breeze rustled through the branches in the courtyard, and the moonlight cast long shadows of the two people.

Zhang Huai stood there, seemingly lost in thought, while Guo Fu gently bit her finger.

After a moment of silence, Guo Fu couldn't help but ask again, "Then... Brother Zhang, how is Yang Guo doing? When will he come?"

When she asked that question, her cheeks turned even redder, and even the tips of her ears turned a light pink.

She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt so concerned about this boy who had always been against her since childhood.

Fearing that Zhang Huai would see the longing she had kept hidden in her heart, she quickly added, "I just... I haven't heard from him in a long time. We lived together on Peach Blossom Island when we were little, so it's inevitable that I miss him a little."

Zhang Huai took in Guo Fu's expression and understood what was going on, but remained calm: "He didn't have a good life before. But later he met a good master who took great care of him. He himself was also very talented and his martial arts improved very quickly. However, he lived in seclusion in the Ancient Tomb for many years and rarely went out into the martial arts world, so there was not much news about him."

"That's good. We should thank Senior Long properly in the future."

Suddenly, Zhang Huai had a mischievous idea; it was unclear whether he wanted to help Yang Guo or cause him trouble.

He said, "If Brother Yang knew how much you care about him, he would be very happy."

Upon hearing this, Guo Fu lowered her head even further, as if trying to hide her already flushed cheeks.

She lightly touched the bluestone pavement with her toes and said softly, "Brother Zhang, please don't make fun of me. His father and my father were sworn brothers, just like you and him. I'm just... just thinking of our old friendship."

After saying that, she paused, as if she had made a great decision, and looked up at Zhang Huai with an undisguised expectation in her eyes: "Brother Zhang, if you ever see Yang Guo again in the future, could you please pass on a message for me?"

"Just tell him... just tell him that his parents miss him very much. His parents and I are doing well in Xiangyang. We just hope that if he has time, he can come to Xiangyang to visit, even if it's just for a short visit."

Zhang Huai chuckled inwardly, but couldn't bear to tease her any longer. He simply said solemnly, "Okay, I promise you, next time I see him, I will tell him exactly what you said."

However, he'll be here soon, and you might see him before I do, so it's better if you tell him yourself.

"Really?" Guo Fu's eyes lit up when she heard that Yang Guo was coming, but then she seemed to realize something and quickly said, "Who wants to see him? He'll only make me unhappy if he comes. It's better if he doesn't come."

"Oh? I see. When I see him, I'll tell him to stay away from you so you won't be bothered," Zhang Huai said, feigning seriousness.

Upon hearing this, Guo Fu immediately panicked and quickly said, "I...I didn't mean that!"

As soon as she spoke, she realized her lapse in composure, and her voice became very soft as she murmured, "I just felt... I just felt that since he was coming to Xiangyang, it was for the purpose of resisting the Mongols and defending the city, and it had nothing to do with me. I only reluctantly saw him because I was afraid that my parents would worry about me."

Zhang Huaiqiang suppressed a laugh and nodded.

"I understand. It's all Uncle Guo and Aunt Guo's idea, and it has nothing to do with you."

Guo Fu's heart pounded at his words, feeling both embarrassed and anxious, yet unable to refute him. She could only stamp her foot and say in a coquettish voice:

"Brother Zhang! You're making fun of me again! I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Having said that, she turned to leave, but after taking only two steps, she couldn't help but turn back and whisper, "You...you mustn't mention tonight's events to anyone else, and you absolutely mustn't tell Yang Guo!"

"Don't worry, I'm very tight-lipped. I'll keep what happened tonight a secret and I absolutely won't tell anyone."

"Swear it!"

"I swear!"

Zhang Huai immediately pointed three fingers to the sky.

Guo Fu was slightly relieved, but she glanced at him with a mixture of shame and annoyance before hurriedly disappearing into the night, lifting her skirt.

A gentle night breeze swept through, and the courtyard returned to silence.

Zhang Huai shook his head, turned around and went back to his room, closed the door, and remained silent all night.