Guo Jing’s heart gave a sudden leap, and he turned to look at Yang Guo:
“Guo'er, what on earth is going on here?”
Yang Guo rubbed the bridge of his nose, making no attempt to deny it:
“Uncle Guo, I really did do this.”
Guo Jing and Huang Rong exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking simultaneously.
Just a moment ago, they were worried Ke Zhen'e would vent his anger on Yang Guo because of Yang Kang.
Who would have thought?
The bloodline matter hadn't turned out to be a big deal.
Instead, Yang Guo had gone and stirred up a major storm himself.
Who could have guessed that back in Jiaxing, this kid had used the old blind man as a shield!
Ke Zhen'e snorted coldly:
“Jing'er, did you hear that?”
“This brat admitted it himself!”
Yang Guo shuffled half a step forward and cried out at the top of his lungs in grievance:
“First Master Ke, I admit it, but still!”
“You can't just tell half the story!”
“At the time, I had been poisoned by Li Mochou's Ice Soul Silver Needles.”
“And I had to protect four companions beside me who didn't know a single stroke of martial arts. I really couldn't handle it alone.
“Most importantly, Li Mochou said with her own mouth back then that she didn't want to provoke Uncle Guo and Aunt Guo or make enemies of them.”
“Nor did she plan to harm First Master.”
Yang Guo spread his hands, speaking with complete confidence:
“So since she didn't dare harm you, I simply led my companions to hide behind you to take refuge in your great prestige!”
Hearing this, Guo Jing looked down at Yang Guo's right hand, which still retained its dark greenish-black hue, feeling an unbearable ache in his heart:
I initially thought the severe poison on Guo'er's hand was caused by Ouyang Feng.
To think it was actually sustained back at Lu Manor!
At this moment, Ke Zhen'e was shaking so hard with rage that his earlobes trembled, and his iron staff struck the ground until loose gravel bounced in all directions:
“According to you brat, this old life of mine has to rely on the names of two juniors, Jing'er and Rong'er, for protection?!”
Yang Guo pulled his neck in slightly and said:
“First Master, Li Mochou shouted that to my face; it's not something I made up.”
“She said she wouldn't kill you.”
“I couldn't exactly cover my ears and pretend I didn't hear it.”
Guo Jing hurriedly stepped sideways to block him, speaking to Yang Guo in a warm tone:
“Guo'er, do not talk back to First Master!”
Yang Guo's eyes darted around, and he immediately did a sharp pivot in conversation:
“First Master, a dog's mouth produces no ivory—what Li Mochou says naturally can't be taken seriously!”
“If you ask me, your martial arts... er...”
Yang Guo froze for half a second.
Ke Zhen'e's ears twitched: “Hmm? What about it!”
Yang Guo swallowed hard, beating a fast retreat in his mind:
Forget it. If I lie through my teeth and praise his martial arts as peerless and invincible under heaven, the heavens will strike me with lightning.
It's way too fake; I really can't bring myself to say it.
Yang Guo straightened his neck and forcibly steered the topic in another direction:
“If you ask me, Li Mochou wasn't entirely afraid of Uncle Guo and Aunt Guo either.”
“What she truly feared was your illustrious reputation in the jianghu!”
“The Seven Heroes of Jiangnan possess righteousness reaching the heavens, renowned across the lands north and south!”
“When I was in Jiaxing, which teahouse storyteller didn't tell of Hero Ke's righteous deeds of helping the needy and punishing evil?”
“No matter how ruthless Li Mochou is, she's afraid of offending you.”
“She wouldn't want to draw the enmity of all the righteous heroes in the jianghu who admire your noble name!”
“If I truly thought you weren't formidable enough...”
“...would I dare bring all my companions behind you?”
This round of flattery was delivered loud, clear, and spot-on, landing squarely in the old blind man's heart.
Ke Zhen'e's shriveled chest puffed up involuntarily, and he exhaled a heavy breath through his nostrils, his anger inexplicably dissipating by more than half.
The old blind man cleared his throat, thumped his iron staff against the ground, and said with a sullen face:
“Hmph, slick-tongued brat! Do you know your mistake now?!”
Yang Guo bowed deeply to the ground, his attitude so upright that no fault could be found:
“This junior knows his mistake and admits it.”
“To err is human, but to correct one's mistake is the greatest virtue after all.”
“If I stubbornly refused to admit my fault, wouldn't First Master say I'm even more like my father?”
Ke Zhen'e choked on his breath:
“You!”
Yang Guo smiled and said:
“Rest assured, First Master, if we encounter a similar danger in the future...”
“...this junior will definitely follow proper procedure in advance and seek your consent first.”
Ke Zhen'e froze, his pale gray eyes rolling upward:
“You brat, what do you mean by that?”
Yang Guo gestured with both hands and said:
“For instance, next time we run into a formidable enemy like Li Mochou, I'll definitely ask first: 'First Master, may I hide behind you to borrow a bit of your shelter?'”
“Once you nod your head, I'll hide behind you!”
Pfft!
Guo Fu, standing to the side, couldn't hold it in any longer.
She covered her small mouth and laughed until she doubled over, waving the small wooden sword in her hand wildly.
Ke Zhen'e was so enraged that his mustache stood on end, and the iron staff in his hand clattered:
“You still want there to be a next time?!”
“Stinking brat, are you making fun of this old man?!”
As if his soles were greased, Yang Guo zipped behind Guo Jing with a whoosh, poking out half his head:
“If First Master doesn't agree, next time I'll just swap to putting Uncle Guo in front of me—it's all the same!”
Guo Fu stepped forward in her small boots, wrapping her arms around Ke Zhen'e's arm and shaking it cutely:
“First Master! Brother Yang was only acting out of desperation to save people, so he lost his footing in the heat of the moment.”
She shot a glance at Yang Guo, her cheeks flushing slightly as she mumbled softly:
“He's so handsome... no, he's so badly injured and miserable! Don't be so mean to him!”
Huang Rong stepped forward, taking Ke Zhen'e's wrist in a gentle hold, and said softly:
“First Master, please calm your anger.”
“Guo'er has wandered the streets for many years and has not been taught etiquette or rules. Using an elder as a shield was indeed improper.”
Huang Rong looked at Yang Guo again and said earnestly:
“However, even while heavily poisoned, he still sought to keep several companions safe. That backbone and sense of loyalty are genuine.”
“Now that we are back on Peach Blossom Island, Jing-ge and I will teach him step by step, and we certainly won't let him overstep decorum again.”
Huang Rong provided a smooth and dignified way out, while Guo Fu kept tugging at his arm beside him.
No matter how fierce Ke Zhen'e's anger was, he couldn't vent it now.
The old blind man let out a heavy snort through his nostrils:
“Hmph!”
“This brat is slick-tongued and full of tricks.”
“Forget it!”
“Brat, based solely on the courage you showed in protecting those children, you are indeed a tiny bit better than your father!”
Hearing this sentence, Guo Jing breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Huang Rong smiled as well.
She knew that with Ke Zhen'e's temper...
...being able to say this was already equivalent to half an acknowledgment.
Having spoken, Ke Zhen'e propped himself up with his iron staff, turned on his heel, and walked away.
The dull thuds of his iron staff rapidly receded into the peach grove.
Yang Guo reacted quickly, cupping his hands on the spot:
“Thank you for the praise, First Master.”
From around the bend in the peach grove came Ke Zhen'e's exasperated roar:
“I wasn't praising you!!”
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