Chapter - 497 Grudges Over Three Generations (3)

Guo Fu saw Hou Du lying motionlessly on the stage with his hideous face and could not believe it was fake, so she drew her sword and jumped onto the stage, saying, "Let's see what this traitor really looks like." She then used her sword's tip to poke his nose.

Suddenly Hou Du shouted and leapt up, forcefully striking his palms downwards. Actually after being hit by the golden rod, he was fatally injured but he did not die immediately. He purposely remained motionless, waiting for Da'erba to come forward and examine him so that he could execute a fatal move and cause Da'erba to die with him. However Da'erba just chanted some prayers and left immediately. Then Guo Fu came forward instead. Hou Du pretended to come back to life and stunned her to reduce her resistance. Her Soft Armour was with Yelu Qi so it seemed death was imminent. Guo Jing, Huang Rong and Yelu Qi jumped onto the stage but it seemed too late…

Then two 'peng' sounds were heard and two projectiles flew through the air side by side and pierced Hou Du's chest. The projectiles were small and seemed like pebbles but the force behind them was mighty. Hou Du leaned back and collapsed backwards, throwing up a pool of blood. He was dead.

The people were shocked and looked in the direction where the projectiles had come from but only saw the pale moon and the starry night. The night was still and the projectiles seemed to have been launched from on top one of the two flag poles erected in front of the stage.

When Huang Rong heard the projectiles hurtling through the air, she knew that apart from her father's 'Divine Flicking Finger' [Dan Zi Shen Tong], no one else had this skill. The two flag poles were more than ten yards apart, how could the projectiles come from the two flag poles at the same time? Surprised, she did not think clearly, so she said, "Father, is that you?"

An old voice from atop one of the flag poles laughed, "My friend Yang Guo, let's go down!" The voice atop the other flag pole replied, "Yes!" and the two people jumped down together.

Huang Yaoshi taught Yang Guo the Divine Flicking Finger to counter Li Mochou years ago. Under the moonlight, the two people descended gracefully, with their clothes floating in the wind. One was wearing a refined green robe while the other was a one-armed man wearing a blue shirt. It was indeed Yang Guo and Huang Yaoshi. Huang Yaoshi took Yang Guo's hand and the two people landed on the stage. The people thought they were witnessing the Celestial Generals descending from the heavens.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong quickly jumped up on the stage and bowed to Huang Yaoshi. Then Yang Guo bowed to Guo Jing and Huang Rong, saying, "Nephew Yang Guo kowtows to Uncle and Aunt Guo."

Guo Jing quickly raised him and laughed, "Guo'er, your three presents, ah, are really… really…" He was very grateful and could not find any words to express his gratitude.

Guo Fu was afraid her father wanted her to thank Yang Guo for saving her life so she quickly said to Huang Yaoshi, "Grandfather, fortunately you used your "Divine Flicking Finger" and saved me from that scoundrel's palms."

Yang Guo jumped off the stage and walked over to Guo Xiang, laughing, "Sister, I'm late."

Guo Xiang felt her heart beating rapidly and her face turned red so she softly said, "You spent so much effort to get me the three presents, it was really… really a lot of trouble."

Yang Guo smiled, "It was nothing. Since it's your birthday we merely added to the fun." He then waved his hand.

The Big Head Ghost said, "Bring everything up." Then several people also repeated, "Bring everything up." The message was then relayed outside.

After a while a group of people came in with lanterns, baskets and planks. They then put the planks together and started nailing, forming a wooden stage. More and more people came in but they moved in an orderly way and worked silently.

When the people saw Yang Guo's presents they all respected and admired him deeply. They also thought he brought those people here for some major purpose. However, before long the stage was completed and some people started drumming and donning opera costumes and performing "The Eight Immortals Celebrate a Birthday". Following that several people entered from the west and started singing "Man Chuang Hu", a song from the story of Guo Ziyi celebrating his birthday with his seven sons and eight sons-in-law. At the same time some people lit firecrackers and some did conjuring tricks, turning the whole event into a grand celebration. The performers were famous troupes from Henan and Huguang. Everyone was in a festive mood and were dancing and cheering all over the field.

By this time the Shi brothers had quietly left with their animals and the Xishan Ghosts, Qingling Zi and the group of experts followed suit.

Guo Xiang saw that Yang Guo had arranged the matter down to the last detail and she was moved to tears, remaining speechless for a while.

Guo Fu remembered their conversation at the Yang Tai Fu Temple, and now a young hero actually came to celebrate her birthday; she was secretly seething with anger. She just took Huang Yaoshi's arm and bombarded him with questions, pretending she did not see anything.

Guo Jing felt the way Yang Guo celebrated his daughter's birthday was making a mountain out of a mole-hill but he was broadminded. Moreover, Yang Guo helped Xiangyang and the Beggar Clan accomplish three great feats in one day so Guo Jing just let him do whatever he wanted, only shaking his head with a smile.

Huang Rong asked her father, "Father, did you arrange with Guo'er to hide on top of the flag poles?"

Huang Yaoshi laughed, "No, no! One day I was at a lake admiring the moon when I heard some people whispering that some "Eagle Hero" would be visiting Xiangyang and that his martial arts were excellent and his character strange. I was worried he wanted to harm my good daughter and son-in-law so I came here secretly. So this Eagle Hero is Yang Guo. If I'd known earlier I needn't have worried so much."

Huang Rong knew her father liked to roam Jianghu but was always thinking of her, so she laughed, "Father, don't go away again, let us be reunited."

Huang Yaoshi did not answer and waved to Guo Xiang, laughing, "Little girl, come over here and let Grandfather take a look at you." Guo Xiang had never met him before so she quickly stepped forward to bow to him. Huang Yaoshi took her hand and closely examined her face, saying sadly, "What a great resemblance." Huang Rong knew he was thinking of his late wife, so he was saying that Guo Xiang looked like her grandmother. She was afraid to stir his emotions so she did not say anything.

Guo Fu laughed, "Of course! You're the Old Eastern Heretic and she's the Little Eastern Heretic…"

Guo Jing scolded, "Fu'er, you have no respect for your grandfather!" Huang Yaoshi was however delighted and said, "Xiang'er, are you the 'Little Eastern Heretic'?" Guo Xiang blushed and said, "At first it was only Sister who called me that, later on everyone called me that."

At this time the four Elders of the Beggar Clan crowded around Yang Guo and thanked him profusely, thinking, "He's rendered such a great service to Xiangyang, recovered the "Dog Beating Stick", exposed Hou Du's devious plan, avenged Leader Lu. If he's willing to be the next Leader that would be splendid." Elder Liang said, "Hero Yang, our late leader passed away tragically…"

Yang Guo had already guessed what they were up to and quickly interrupted, "Master Yelu is proficient in both martial arts and literature, he's heroic and compassionate and he is a great friend of mine. If he becomes the new Leader, he will be able to continue the great legacy of Leaders Hong, Huang and Lu."