Chapter - 244 Master Gongsun of the Valley (11)

The pain that Yang Guo was in was indescribable but he didn't want Xiao Longnu to get upset so he clenched his teeth and didn't make a sound. None of the words of Valley Master Gongsun entered his ears as he endured the pain.

When Xiao Longnu saw the suffering he was in; her pity was roused and as soon as this happened, the Passion Flower poison in her finger flared up and she felt the excruciating pain again. She thought, "I've only been pierced once by the Passion Flower and it is already this painful; but he's covered with thousands and thousands of thorns, how can he stand it?"

Valley Master Gongsun knew what she was thinking and said, "Sister Liu, I sincerely want to marry and be with you; I have only admiration and love for you, I have no ill intent, you should understand this."

Xiao Longnu nodded her head and said mournfully, "You have treated me well all along; but even if we met before you saved me and you treated me like an empress you wouldn't be able to win my heart." She hung her head for a short while and then gave a long sigh; she said, "Mr. Gongsun, if you hadn't seen me that day by the mountainside, if you hadn't saved me and had let me die there, it would have been better for the three of us. You know that forcing me to marry you will result in a lifetime of unhappiness for me. What good is that to you?"

Valley Master Gongsun's eyebrows slowly rose again; he deepened his voice and said, "I have always been a man of my word; I don't allow people to insult or lie to me. Since you've agreed to marry me, you have to marry me. When it comes to happiness, sadness, joy and pain, the future is hard to predict; who knows what tomorrow may bring? Let's just see what happens." He waved his sleeve and said, "This person has been pricked by the Passion Flowers all over his body; the suffering will deepen every two hours; thirty six days from now he will die in excruciating pain. I have a medicine that I can give to him which will cure him within twenty four hours; but after a day, even a god won't be able to save him. It's up to you whether he lives or dies." He walked slowly towards the door and pushed it open; he turned his head and said, "If you'd rather watch him die slowly then you can stay here and watch him for the next thirty six days; it's up to you. I won't harm you so you can relax. If you change your decision within twenty four hours, all you've got to do it give a shout and I will bring the antidote to him." He was about to leave the room.

Xiao Longnu saw that Yang Guo was trembling all over; his lips were bleeding because of him biting down in pain; his eyes had been as bright as a shooting star, but now there was not even a single speck of light in them. The pain that he was in now was already unbearable; but the pain would deepen every two hours for the next thirty six days; even hell wouldn't have such a punishment. She bit down on her lip and said, "Mr. Gongsun, I'll agree to marry you. Quickly let him go and give him the antidote."

Valley Master Gongsun had been trying to force her to say this all along; when he heard this he was delighted but also resentful. He knew that from now on, she would detest him and loathe him. She would never have any love towards him so he nodded his head and said, "It's for the benefit of everyone that you have changed your mind. After we've consummated our marriage tonight, I'll give him the antidote in the morning."

Xiao Longnu said, "First cure him."

The Valley Master sighed and said, "Sister Liu, you think too little of me. I know that agreeing to this is not what you want; even if I was stupid, how would I not know? Do you think I would cure him first?" He turned to leave the room.

Xiao Longnu and Yang Guo looked at each miserably, neither one saying a word for a while. Yang Guo said slowly, "Gu Gu, even when I'm down in the underworld I will feel no pain because of your love. Just kill me with one palm!"

Xiao Longnu thought, "I'll first kill him with one palm and then commit suicide." So she raised her hand and gathered internal energy in her palm.

Yang Guo's face had a smile, his eyes soft and peaceful; looking at her sweetly, he whispered, "This is where we'll consummate our love."

Xiao Longnu saw his air was glorious; she thought, "Why is heaven so cruel towards such a handsome and graceful man, wanting him to die today." Her chest ached and suddenly she tasted sweetness at the back of her throat; it appeared that she would throw up blood again and the internal energy in her arm immediately dissipated. Suddenly, she threw herself on top of Yang Guo; the thousands and thousands of thorns of the Passion Flower pierced her body; she said, "Guo'er, we'll endure the suffering together."

Valley Master Gongsun called out, "Oh no!" in shock, he said, "You… you…" He then said coldly, "Why did you do this? Will your suffering lessen his?"

Xiao Longnu took one deep look at Yang Guo, then slowly turned around. She exited the room and didn't look back.

Valley Master Gongsun said, "Brother Yang, I'll give you the antidote in twenty hours time. All you've got to do in these twenty hours is cleanse your thoughts and don't rouse any feelings of love. Even if there is pain, it won't be that hard to endure." He then left the room and closed the door.

Yang Guo's body was wracked with pain and his heart was full of hurt. "All the pain and suffering that I've experience before today is nothing compared to the pain I'm experiencing now. The Valley Master is such an evil person; how can I just die like this and let Gu Gu suffer at his hands? Besides, I still have to avenge my father; how can I allow the phony, righteous and benevolent Guo Jing and Huang Rong to not get what they deserve for their evil deed?" When he thought about this, his blood boiled, shaking and stirring him, "I cannot die; whatever happens I cannot die! Even if Gu Gu becomes the wife of the Valley Master I'd still need to save her. I need to train my martial arts and avenge my father." So he clenched his teeth and sat up. Although he couldn't assume the proper form in the fish net, he was still able to submerge his chi into his dan tian and started to circulate his internal energy.

Four hours later, midday had passed. A disciple in green entered with a plate; there were four new buns on it. The disciple said, "Our master is celebrating his wedding and he's allowing you to have a good meal." The disciple placed the plate by the fish net; his hand was covered with a coarse cloth to avoid getting injured by the passion flowers. As Yang Guo stretched out his hand through the net for the buns and ate them, he thought, "Since I'm going to fight with my life against that bastard Valley Master, I can't torture myself."

The disciple laughed, "I couldn't have guessed that you would have such a great appetite."

Suddenly there was a green blur by the door; another disciple had come through the door and had moved up silently behind the first disciple. That disciple threw a heavy punch against the first disciple's back. The disciple fainted before he could see who threw the punch.