Chapter 617: First Encounter with Haitang
"Guo'er, let's go. Do you have anything to take with you?"

Chai Xin no longer paid attention to Master Li Mochou and his disciples, and instead looked down at Yang Guo.

Yang Guo smiled and shook his head when he heard this: “Uncle, I don’t have anything important, not even a change of clothes.”

When he said this, he did not show any shyness at all, but rather was quite natural and open-minded.

"Good boy, stay with your uncle from now on, and I will never let you suffer again."

Chai Xin grabbed Yang Guo’s wrist and went out of the cave.

Li Mochou leaned against the wall, watching the two people leave with a complicated expression, without saying another word.

Hong Lingbo walked up to her and asked worriedly, "Master, are you okay?"

"Don't worry, you won't die."

Li Mochou replied calmly, then sat cross-legged and began to regulate her breathing on the spot.

Although Hong Lingbo was not pleased, he was not depressed. Instead, he sat down happily next to Li Mochou and quietly protected her.

After leaving the cave, Chai Xin did not stop at all. He took Yang Guo and used his Qinggong skills to go to the Iron Spear Temple.

"Let's go pay respect to your parents before we go on our long journey."

Chai Xin said to Yang Guo as they hurried on their way.

Yang Guo nodded, then realized the peculiarity in his words, raised his head suddenly and asked in surprise: "My father? Uncle, you even know my father?"

All he knew about his father was "Yang Kang" and he knew nothing else.

And ever since he could remember, whenever he asked his mother about his father, she would remain silent or even get furious. It seemed that this had become a taboo topic between him and his mother.

"Of course I know him. I met Brother Yang Kang several times before you were born. He looks a lot like you, just as handsome and smart."

Chai Xin made up a story with a smile on his face.

Yang Guo was very happy to hear this and asked excitedly, "Then uncle, do you know what kind of person my father is and what he does?"

"Your father...didn't your mother tell you about your father?"

Chai Xin asked in pretended surprise.

Hearing this, Yang Guo couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed, and his mood also became low. He slowly shook his head and said, “No. Mother never told me about Dad, and she didn’t allow me to ask.”

"It's so..."

Chai Xin continued to act with a mysterious expression on his face.

"Well, since your mother didn't tell you, then I can't tell you either. I guess Sister Mu thinks you're too young and there are some things that are hard to tell you."

"Why? Why can't you tell me about my father's affairs? I'm his son!"

Yang Guo was probably confused, and became a little excited while speaking.

"You are so impetuous. If I tell you many things, I am afraid it will bring disaster. How about this, I will tell you again when you are not so impetuous one day."

Chai Xin shook his head and smiled.

After hearing what he said, Yang Guo knew that it was useless to ask further questions, so he could only lower his head in disappointment and said no more.

Seeing that he was in a low mood, Chai Xin laughed and said, "Guo'er, have you ever learned martial arts? Do you want to learn martial arts?"

"Uncle, I learned some martial arts from my mother, otherwise I wouldn't be alive today. However, my mother fell ill and passed away within two years of learning... I really wasn't good at learning martial arts."

Yang Guo replied somewhat sadly.

In fact, it was not that he was not skilled enough, but that Mu Nianci's own strength was limited. Moreover, she had been carrying a huge emotional burden since she became pregnant with Yang Guo. Even when teaching her son martial arts, she often found it difficult to concentrate.

Moreover, the mother and daughter did not live well, and practicing martial arts required adequate nutrition - under these restrictions, even if Yang Guo was extremely talented, it would be difficult for him to achieve great success.

"That's fine. If you're interested in learning martial arts, let your uncle teach you. As long as you don't slack off, you'll definitely achieve something within ten years."

Chai Xin said confidently.

This is not bragging. With his accumulation of martial arts, plus Yang Guo's martial arts aptitude, he is fully confident that within ten years, Yang Guo will become one of the best in the martial arts world.

Even becoming a top-notch master wouldn't be too difficult.

Of course, there is another prerequisite, which is that Yang Guo must be attentive.

No matter how powerful a talent is, or how excellent a master is, they cannot make a person who is unwilling to work hard successful.

"That's great. Uncle is so powerful. I can learn martial arts from you. I will definitely become a hero like you!"

Yang Guo shouted excitedly.

Chai Xin shook his head upon hearing this and said with a faint smile: "I am not a hero, nor do I want to be one. Guo'er, if you are interested in this, your uncle can help you."

"I don't understand what my uncle said... But in Guo'er's eyes, my uncle is the most powerful and outstanding hero!"

Yang Guo grinned, not hiding his admiration for Chai Xin.

Little did he know that his destiny had taken a completely different path since the moment he met Chai Xin.

But this may not be a bad thing for him, it may even be a good thing.

Chai Xin changed Yang Guo's fate, which undoubtedly affected the original trajectory of the entire "hero world".

He has already felt that some of the rules of this world seem to be less stable.

Of course, with his current strength, he is still a long way from mastering these rules, or even breaking and reshaping them.

However, as his strength continues to grow and the various plot changes become greater and greater, the day when he can do it is getting closer and closer.

The uncle and nephew chatted as they walked, and soon they arrived at the Iron Spear Temple.

Several dozen feet outside the Tieqiang Temple, there stands a solitary grave. In front of the grave stands a wooden tombstone with a line of black characters engraved on it - the tomb of my late mother, Yang Mu.

This tombstone was made by the much younger Yang Guo himself, who went to great lengths to cut down a tree.

Chai Xin brought Yang Guo and first swept Mu Nianci's grave, and explained the situation of adopting Yang Guo.

Of course, Yang Guo also kowtowed to Mu Nianci and explained his situation.

After doing all this, Chai Xin brought Yang Guo to another lonely grave not far from Mu Nianci's tomb.

The tomb looked quite old and was covered with weeds. In front of the tomb stood a stone tablet with the words "Mother of Unworthy Disciple Yang Kang" engraved on it.

"Who... who would erect such a monument to my father? Who is so evil? My father is dead, but you still slander him like this?"

When Yang Guo saw the words on the tombstone, he immediately understood who was buried in the grave, and then he couldn't help but express his anger and dissatisfaction loudly.

Chai Xin grabbed his arm, shook his head seriously and said, "Guo'er, calm down! Kneel down quickly, kowtow to your father, and say some farewell words. After this trip, your uncle will take you to wander around the world, and you may not come back for some years."

After hearing this, Yang Guo gradually calmed down.

Although he was very happy that he had finally found a relative after wandering alone for many years, this relative appeared too suddenly after all, and he had no idea of ​​the other person's temper.

Even though Chai Xin treated him very gently, Yang Guo still felt uneasy and worried about what the consequences would be if he disobeyed the former.

Besides, he is not very old and his memory of his father is not very vivid, so it is hard to say that he has any deep feelings for him.

Moreover, Mu Nianci, as a mother, had kept silent about Yang Guo's father since he could remember. Even though Yang Guo was very young, he had already sensed the unusual meaning behind it. "Yes."

Yang Guo was silent for a moment before he responded softly.

Afterwards, he prostrated himself in front of Yang Kang's grave, kowtowed three times respectfully, muttered a few words, and then slowly stood up.

"Uncle, let's go."

Yang Guo's mood was no longer as high as before, and there was a rare hint of desolation in his words.

Even though he has always been open-minded, he still couldn't help feeling a little sad in this kind of atmosphere.

"Guo'er, how about we go to Lin'an?"

Chai Xin noticed his mood change and quickly brought up the topic.

After all, Yang Guo was still a teenager who was not even thirteen years old. When he heard the word "Lin'an", no matter how depressed he was, his mood was inevitably aroused again.

Lin'an is an extremely special city for the entire Song Dynasty and even for the people of the whole world.

As the capital of the Song Dynasty, the city's reputation for wealth and prosperity had long spread throughout the world, even to the Western Regions thousands of miles away.

As for a child like Yang Guo who has lived in the Song Dynasty since childhood, he naturally feels more fascinated and expectant about this name.

Ever since he was old enough to understand, he has met countless people around him who have mentioned this name.

When he was young, he had fantasized countless times that one day he would be able to go with his mother to see this world-famous prosperous capital.

It’s a pity that his mother passed away too early. Since he was left alone, he no longer had the time to think about these things.

I was naturally very excited when I heard from Chai Xin today that we were going to Lin'an.

"Okay, uncle, I've wanted to visit Lin'an for a long time!"

Yang Guo couldn't help but agree without hesitation.

Although Jiaxing is not far from Lin'an, less than two hundred miles away, it is definitely not close for a half-grown child.

What's more, not everyone can enter the capital of the Song Dynasty.

Even if you are a commoner of the Song Dynasty, you will be turned away if you are not from Lin'an Prefecture or a high-ranking official.

You must pay a hefty entrance fee and go through relevant procedures before you can enter.

This is actually quite normal. After all, Lin'an Prefecture has a special status. If anyone could enter, it would have become a mess.

Of course, there are also many people who do not follow the rules, such as those powerful gangsters, or some people with special identities and backgrounds.

But in any case, Yang Guo is obviously not among them.

Three days later, Lin'an.

This time, Chai Xin's procedures for entering the city were very complete. After all, he brought Yang Guo with him, so it would be difficult for him to do anything illegal and disorderly so as to corrupt the child.

What's more, the amount of banknotes he had on him was so much that it was unimaginable for ordinary people.

With sufficient money to pave the way, coupled with his unparalleled martial arts, he is able to solve many problems that ordinary people can hardly imagine.

"Wow! Is this a magic trick? I've only heard mom talk about it before. It's amazing!"

Ever since Yang Guo entered the city, he was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, shouting and screaming in surprise all the way.

"It smells so good, what kind of food is this, why is it so appetizing..."

Seeing him like this, Chai Xin felt happy, but at the same time, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

He is just a half-grown child, but he has suffered a lot since childhood. Now he can finally live a stable life. It is really not easy.

"Guo'er, take this money and buy whatever you want. But remember, you must be within five meters of me, otherwise don't blame your uncle for punishing you to meditate!"

Chai Xin threw a palm-sized purse to Yang Guo, which contained about a hundred taels of silver.

This amount is not small for any ordinary citizen of the Song Dynasty. It is enough for a family of five in the capital to live comfortably for several months.

As for the people outside the capital, many of them are busy all year round and their income is far less than this figure.

The gap between the rich and the poor in feudal society was large enough to make people despair.

"Thank you uncle!"

Yang Guo's character is generous and open-minded. Although he is emotional and impulsive, he never acts coyly and accepts the money bag without hesitation.

"I promise not to run around, just hang out in front of my uncle."

After saying this, he ran to a stall selling candy figures.

The rare and precious beasts that the stall owner had outlined with hot sugar were so vivid and fragrant that Yang Guo had been envious for a long time. Now that he had money in his hand, how could he resist?
Chai Xin looked at this scene and couldn't help but smile with relief.

"Brother Chai! I didn't expect that we would meet again so soon after we parted outside the city!"

At this moment, a somewhat familiar voice came into Chai Xin's ears.

Chai Xin looked in the direction of the voice and saw a handsome, humble young man walking towards him with a smile.

It’s Zhan Zhao!

Zhan Zhao was still wearing a blue robe, holding the Juque sword in his arms, and walking like a dragon or a tiger.

"Brother Zhan!"

Chai Xin was also a little surprised when he saw this, and smiled and clasped his fists in return.

Soon, his attention was attracted by a handsome man beside Zhan Zhao.

The young man looked to be in his early twenties, wearing a gorgeous snow-white robe and a high bun. His eyebrows were like willow leaves, his eyes were like stars, his nose was high, and his thin lips were bright red.

He is indeed a handsome and elegant nobleman.

But Chai Xin could tell at a glance that the other person was a woman of stunning beauty, who was just disguised as a man.

In his hand was a folding fan inlaid with jade. There was a picture of pine trees painted on the fan, which looked very valuable.

"Brother Zhan, this brother has an extraordinary appearance, why don't you introduce him to me?" The noble young man closed his fan and smiled with calmness and nobility.

Zhan Zhao nodded and said, "Master, this is Brother Chai who I mentioned to you, the one who saved Brother Duan."

Then, he introduced Chai Xin, "Brother Chai, this is the owner of the No. 1 Manor in the World, Shangguan Haitang."

When introducing Shangguan Haitang, Zhan Zhao obviously lowered his voice to avoid attracting other people's attention.

"It turns out to be Brother Chai. Nice to meet you! You are indeed a handsome man. It is really a pleasure to meet you!"

"I have heard of the great name of Master Shangguan for a long time. Seeing him today, he is even more famous than I heard."

The two of them clasped their fists at the same time and greeted each other.

Shangguan Haitang said seriously: "Brother Chai saved my elder brother, and this favor must be repaid. Haitang sincerely invites Brother Chai to have a banquet at my No. 1 Manor in the World, so that my brother and I can express our gratitude. What do you think?"

(End of this chapter)