Chapter - 473 Three Golden Needles (2)

Yang Guo smiled, "Why do you look up to me so highly?" He paused for a while then said, "You're sixteen years old this year. September… October… 22nd… 23rd… 24th… Your birthday is on the 24th of the tenth month, right?"

Guo Xiang was very surprised and exclaimed "Ah!" then said, "Yes, how did you know?"

Yang Guo did not answer and continued, "You were born in Xiangyang, so your given name is 'Xiang', right?"

Guo Xiang said, "So you know everything, yet you pretended not to know me. The day I was born you carried me, true?"

Yang Guo began day-dreaming and did not answer her, he lowered his head and mumbled, "16 years ago, on the 24th of the tenth month, we were fighting with Fawang (Golden-wheel Monk), and Long'er was holding that baby…"

Guo Xiang did not understand what he was talking about, but she heard the fight in the forest becoming more intense and feared her sister would injure Shi Mengjie, so she said, "Big Brother, I really have to go now."

Yang Guo was still mumbling, "On the 24th of the tenth month, time flies, it's almost 16 years already." Suddenly he woke up and said, "Ah… you're going… on the 24th of the tenth month this year you're going to burn joss-sticks to ask for three wishes." He remembered she said that when she asked for her wishes, she would pray for him and Xiao Longnü's reunion.

Guo Xiang said, "Big Brother, if in future I request three wishes from you, will you agree?"

Yang Guo said, "I will definitely try my best to fulfill your wishes." He took out a small box from his bosom and flipped open the lid. Then he took out three golden needles which Xiao Longnü used as projectiles and gave them to Guo Xiang, saying, "When I see these needles, it's like seeing you. If you can't meet me, get someone to send the needles here and I'll carry out your requests."

Guo Xiang said, "Thanks very much!" She took the needles and said, "I'll say my first wish now." She then returned a needle to Yang Guo and said, "I want you to take this mask off and let me see you with my own eyes."

Yang Guo laughed and said, "This is really too easy. It's just that I don't want my old acquaintances to recognize me so I put this mask on. You use one needle so casually, won't it be a waste?"

Guo Xiang said, "I've never even seen your face, how can I claim that I know you? This is not a small matter."

Yang Guo said, "Fine!" He reached up to his face and lifted the mask off.

Guo Xiang saw a suave and handsome face, with sword-like eyebrows and bright and sparkling eyes, but he was slightly pale and rather slender. Yang Guo saw her closely examining his face and smiled, "What?"

Guo Xiang felt her face go red. She softly said, "Nothing." But she was thinking, "I never knew you would be so good-looking."

Guo Xiang pulled herself together and returned another needle to Yang Guo, saying, "I'll tell you my second wish."

Yang Guo smiled, "Telling me a few years from now will make no difference, young lady, and you're having childish wishes." He did not stretch out his hand to receive the needle.

Guo Xiang stuck the needle in his shirt and said, "My second wish is that on the 24th of the tenth month, which is my birthday, I want you to come down to Xiangyang to have a chat with me."

This wish required more effort to complete, but was still rather childish. Yang Guo said, "I promise, it's not so difficult. But I will only meet you alone; I won't see your parents or your sister."

Guo Xiang smiled, "That's alright with me." Her smooth white hand clutched the third needle and waved it in the moonlight and said, "My third wish is…"

Yang Guo shook his head, thinking, "Do I, Yang Guo, grant wishes so easily? This young lady is naïve and treats this as a game."

He saw her face had turned red and she laughed, "I can't think of the third wish now. I'll tell you some other day." She then rushed into the forest calling, "Sister, sister!"

Guo Xiang ran towards the clashing sounds and she saw Guo Fu fighting fiercely with Shi Mengjie and the Big Head Ghost, while Feng Yiweng and Shi Jiqiang were watching the fight with their weapons at the ready. Guo Xiang shouted, "Sister, I'm here, and these are good friends."

Guo Fu's training had her parents' guidance in martial arts, while her husband, Yelu Qi, was a highly skilled expert. In the past few years her skills had improved greatly. But she was inattentive and impatient, so she did not train hard. Although her parents and husband were well-known experts, her wugong was only slightly above average. She found it difficult with the two's continuous onslaught and was becoming listless. Then suddenly she heard her sister calling out, so she shouted, "Sister, come here."

Shi Mengjie heard Guo Xiang call Yang Guo "Big Brother", and now Guo Fu called her "sister", he was surprised and thought, "Can it be that this woman is the Eagle Hero's wife or sister?" He had just sent out a blow that he quickly withdrew and leapt backwards.

Guo Fu clearly knew her opponent had given way to her, but she was angry and she thrust her sword forward fiercely and slashed Shi Mengjie's chest. The Big Head Ghost was shocked and shouted, "Hey, what…" Guo Fu made turned the sword with a bright flash and the Big Head Ghost's back suffered a long slit. She felt proud of herself and said, "Now you know my great prowess!"

Guo Xiang shouted, "Sister, I said these are friends!" Guo Fu angrily said, "Quickly follow me back! Who could be friends with these scoundrels?" Shi Mengjie's chest injury was not light. He staggered a few steps backwards and collapsed onto the ground.

Guo Xiang hurried forward and bent down to raise him up, asking, "Uncle Shi, how are you?" Shi Mengjie's chest was bleeding profusely, staining her dress. Guo Xiang quickly tore off a strip of cloth from her dress and dressed his wound.

Guo Fu held her sword and stood aside, nagging, "Hurry up, let's go! I'll go back and tell Father and Mother and we'll see if they beat you!"

Guo Xiang angrily said, "You rashly injured people. I'll tell Father and Mother as well!" Shi Mengjie saw her face turning red with fury and tears forming in her eyes so he said, "Lady, please don't worry. I won't die from it." Shi Jiqiang held the horn to his mouth and breathed heavily, but he could not decide if he should fight all out with Guo Fu or attend to his brother's injuries.

Suddenly Guo Fu screamed "Ah!" Two fierce tigers appeared out of the blue silently, then, as she turned away to evade them, she saw two lions squatting in front of her, and four leopards waiting by the side. It was Shi Zhongmeng who had led the animals here and surrounded her. Guo Fu became white as sheet and almost fainted.

Then from within the forest someone shouted, "Fifth brother, how are your wounds?" Shi Mengjie said, "I'm still fine." Then that person said, "The Eagle Hero has instructed us to allow these two ladies to leave." Shi Jiqiang made a few whistles and the animals turned around and disappeared into the darkness.

Guo Xiang said, "Uncle Shi, I apologize on behalf of my sister."

Shi Mengjie's wound was hurting badly, so he laughed bitterly and said, "Because of the Eagle Hero's intervention, even if your sister killed me it would be nothing."