Chapter - 499 Grudges Over Three Generations (5)

Guo Xiang said, "So you're saying Sister-in-law is already dead? This whole thing was just to fool him?"

Huang Rong quickly said, "No, no! Maybe Xiao Longnü is still alive and will meet him when the time comes; if so that'd be wonderful. She's the only disciple of the Ancient Tomb Sect, the founder Lin Chaoying was extremely knowledgeable and had profound martial arts and internal energy, so she might have left some incredible skill for Xiao Longnü to use to save her life."

Guo Xiang thought for a while then said, "Yeah, I think so too, Sister-in-law is such a kind person and Brother Yang loves her so much, she wouldn't die so easily. But if he doesn't get to meet her, won't he go crazy?"

Huang Rong said, "Today, when your grandfather came, I was thinking of asking him to cover up for us, but I was unable to do so."

Guo Xiang became worried and said, "Now Brother Yang and Grandfather are together, he'd surely ask about the Divine Nun of the South Sea. Grandfather doesn't know what's going on and he'd surely let the cat out of the bag. That'll be terrible."

Huang Rong said, "If Xiao Longnü could be reunited with him, which would require a lot of luck, then everything would be fine. But if he doesn't get to see Xiao Longnü, then I really don't know what he'd do. He'd hate me deeply for lying to him and making him wait in loneliness for sixteen years."

Guo Xiang said, "Mother, don't worry, it was for his own good. You saved his life."

Huang Rong said, "Besides the deep friendship of the Guo and Yang families for the past three generations, Guo'er himself has saved your father, mother and sister numerous times. Today he did so much for Xiangyang, we are truly grateful and we can never repay him. Ah, Guo'er has been lonely almost all his life. He's already past thirty but the only happy moments he had only made up a few days."

Guo Xiang thought, "If Brother really can't meet Sister-in-law, he might really go crazy."

Huang Rong said, "Your Brother Yang is of good character, but he has gone through much hardship when young so he's rather eccentric, but his conduct is extraordinary."

Guo Xiang tried to smile and said, "He, Grandfather and I are all heretic people."

Huang Rong said, "Correct, he's a good man but he has a heretic aura. If Xiao Longnü has unfortunately passed away, you must never ever meet him again."

Guo Xiang never expected Huang Rong to say that so she quickly asked, "Why…Why not?"

Huang Rong held her hand and said, "If they get to meet, of course you can roam around with them or visit their home. Even if you follow them to the edge of the world I wouldn't be worried. But if he doesn't get to meet her; Xiang'er, you don't know him well enough, if he goes crazy he's capable of anything."

Guo Xiang said, "Mother, if he doesn't see her, he'd be sad and depressed, so we should console him."

Huang Rong shook her head, saying, "He doesn't listen to others."

Guo Xiang thought for a while then said, "Mother, after sixteen years, do you think he would commit suicide in his sorrow?"

Huang Rong was quiet for a long while then replied, "I can guess what most people are thinking but I couldn't read your Brother Yang's thoughts since he was young. It's precisely because I can't guess what he'd do that I won't allow you to meet again; unless of course he's reunited with Xiao Longnü. Then that's a different story." Guo Xiang was lost in thought and did not respond.

Huang Rong said, "Xiang'er, Mother is doing this for your own good. If you don't listen to me, it might be too late when you regret it." She saw her daughter frowning and her eyes turn red, so she said gently, "Xiang'er, let me tell you something else. It's about your Brother Yang's father Yang Kang." So she then talked about how Yang Tiexin took Mu Nianci as his god daughter and how she sparred to find a husband, how she gave birth to Yang Guo and finally how she died of depression. Then she said, "Sister Mu Nianci's character and beauty were flawless, such a good girl is hard to come by, but she was tormented by her affairs of the heart and suffered such a sad fate."

Guo Xiang said, "Mother, she didn't have any choice. She loved Uncle Yang, so no matter what he did she still loved him."

Huang Rong stared at her and thought, "She's so young, how does she know so much?" She saw that she was exhausted and her eyes could hardly stay open so she helped her get out of her clothes and tucked her into bed, saying, "Quickly close your eyes! I'll watch you sleep then leave." Guo Xiang closed her eyes and since she had not slept for the whole night she was really tired so she sank into a deep sleep soon after.

Huang Rong looked at her sweet and refined face she thought, "Among my three children, I worry about you the most. But among the three of you, I really can't say who I pity the most." She then returned to her room and slept.

The next evening, the Wu brothers sent back fast horses with the report that all the supplies at Nanyang had been destroyed; the gun powder had exploded and killed many Mongolian soldiers. After the loss, the Mongolians had withdrawn 100 li (50 km) and did not stir from their camp. When Xiangyang heard this message, everyone cheered with joy and kept talking about the Eagle Hero. Some exaggerated the story and made Yang Guo seem like a deity and excitedly talked about how he exterminated the vanguard forces and burned Nanyang. All of them talked as if they saw everything with their own eyes.

That night the Guo couple was invited by Lu Wenhuan to discuss the military situation so they reached home very late. The next morning Yelu Qi, Guo Fu and Guo Polu went to pay their respects but after a long while, Guo Xiang still had not turned up. Huang Rong got worried and instructed a maid to check her room to see if she's ill. After a while, the maid came back with Guo Xiang's maid saying, "The lady did not go to bed last night."

Huang Rong was shocked and asked, "Then why didn't you say so last night?" Guo Xiang's maid Xiao Bangtou said, "Madam returned very late last night, so I didn't dare disturb you; I thought the lady would return after a while, I didn't know she'd still be missing until now."

Huang Rong quickly went to Guo Xiang's room and saw that she had not taken any spare clothes, weapons or money and was very curious. Then she saw a white slip of paper half-concealed under her pillow. Huang Rong knew something was wrong and she groaned inwardly then she picked up the slip of paper which said:

"Dear Father and Mother,

I'm going to convince Brother Yang not to commit suicide. When I've done that, I'll return immediately.

Signed,

Xiang."

Huang Rong stood there motionless and thought, "This kid is really naïve. Given Yang Guo's character, apart from Xiao Longnü, he listens to no one. If he did, he wouldn't be Yang Guo." She wanted to quickly find her daughter but the Mongolians were slowly closing in on Xiangyang on two fronts and they could attack any time, so she could not attend to her daughter's private affairs. After discussing it with Guo Jing, she wrote several letters to some capable Beggar Clan members who would split up to look for Guo Xiang and bring her back.