How would Yang Guo know what she was feeling at this time? He thought about how he was about to face a great danger yet she could still smile; his heart was in pain, even more deeply than before. In the midst of these feelings of hurt, sorrow, indignation, and approaching danger, he suddenly had an idea and didnât continue on with these thoughts. He went over to Xiao Longnu and bowed lightly. He said, âGu Gu, Guoâer is in danger today; I would like to borrow your silk belt and silk gloves.â
Xiao Longnu was only thinking about the joy of dying with him and nothing else; when she heard these words she immediately took out a pair of silk gloves and a silk belt to give to him.
Yang Guo received them slowly and stared at her, he said, âYouâre acknowledging who I am now?â
Xiao Longnu was filled with love and smiled, âMy heart acknowledged you long ago!â
Yang Guoâs spirits were greatly lifted and he quivered, âYouâve decided to leave with me and not marry that Valley Master?â
Xiao Longnu smiled and nodded, âIâve decided to go with you, and of course I wonât marry anyone else. Guoâer; naturally that makes me your wifeâ.â
When she said âgo with youâ, she was talking about dieing with Yang Guo. Yang Guo didnât understand so of course the others would not either; but her words of ânaturally that makes me your wifeâ couldnât be clearer.
Valley Master Gongsunâs face went white and he hurried the disciples in green to make their move. The sixteen disciples set the nets in motion and moved around.
After hearing these words of Xiao Longnuâs, Yang Guo felt as if he was bought back to life from death; his courage and valor soared; even if he were facing greater dangers he wouldnât care. He put on the impregnable silk gloves and held the silk belt in his right hand. The silk belt was sent out with its ringing noises like a white snake.
At the end of the silk belt was a gold bell, the belt extended and retracted once, the bell had struck the âConcealed Valleyâ pressure point of one of the disciples in the southern position and on its way back it struck the âCrooked Pondâ pressure point of one of the disciples in the eastern position. The âConcealed Valleyâ pressure point is found on the knee, the person could not stay upright and knelt on the floor; the âCrooked Pondâ pressure point is found on the elbow area, as soon it was struck, the personâs arm became numb and limp, the fish net slipped out of their hands.
After those two pre-emptive attacks, the fish net formation immediately broke up. The four disciples in the west were shocked and when they attacked they were slightly slow; Yang Guoâs gold bell turned towards them and after another two strikes, another two disciples had their pressure points struck. But at this time, the net from the north was thrown over his head. The knives and hooks were half a foot away from his head; he couldnât use the silk belt to deal with them.
Yang Guoâs left hand turned upwards and grabbed the fish net; he used its force and flung it away. Although he grabbed hooks and daggers, his hands were covered by the silk gloves and were completely protected. The net was now heading back towards the four disciples in green.
When these disciples practiced this net formation, the only thing they were afraid of was the enemy slipping through the net; they concentrated on keeping it tight and unyielding. The thought of the net returning over them had never entered their minds. They watched as the glittering knives and hooks came towards their heads; they knew exactly how powerful the net was and called out in alarm as they let go and leapt away. The youngster who replaced Gongsun Lu E was weaker than the rest; a dagger eventually pierced his thigh, blood poured and he fell down, crying out in pain on the floor.
Yang Guo laughed, âLittle brother, donât be scared, Iâm not going to hurt you.â His left hand flipped the net away and his right moved the silk belt. Sounds of âqiang lang langâ and âding ling lingâ were heard as the hooks and daggers collided with each other with the golden bell ringing. The sounds were extremely crisp. After this, none of the disciples dared to come forward and stood far away by the wall. But because they hadnât received the order to back down by their master, they didnât dare admit defeat and run away. Though they didnât admit defeat, they had already lost.
Ma Guangzuo clapped and cheered for a while but because he was the only one, he felt a bit lonely and glanced over to Fawang saying, âHey monk, arenât brother Yang Guoâs martial arts great? Why arenât you cheering?â
Fawang laughed and said, âHis skills are great, extremely good but thereâs no need to call out like that.â
Ma Guangzuo asked, âWhy?â
Fawang saw that the Valley Master was frowning and was now making his way towards the centre of the hall slowly. Fawang concentrated on him and ignored Ma Guangzuo.
When Valley Master Gongsun heard Xiao Longnu say, ânaturally that makes me your wifeâ, he knew that his sweet dream of the past two weeks had come to an end; though he was disappointed and angry, he thought, âEven if I canât have your heart Iâm going to have you. Iâll kill that bastard in one palm and I donât care what your feelings towards me will be, after a time, your heart will eventually return to me.â
Yang Guo saw that his eyebrows were rising higher and higher to a point where his brows and eyes looked like they were standing straight up; he didnât know what school of martial arts this was from and became slightly afraid. His right hand lifted the silk belt and his left clutched the net, he was completely prepared. He knew that this battle would decide the life and death of he and Xiao Longnu; he didnât dare to allow one strand of carelessness in his actions.
Valley Master Gongsun circled around Yang Guo slowly. Yang Guo too turned around slowly on the floor; he didnât dare to gaze away from him. He saw that he was still delaying making his move and knew that when he attacked, it will be extremely swift and vicious. All he saw was him raising his hands, leveling them three times in front of him and then his hands came together. The sound generated was as if gold and iron had collided. Yang Guoâs heart skipped a beat and he moved back a step. Valley Master Gongsun suddenly stretched out his right arm and grabbed the fish net, pulling it away to one side. Yang Guo felt that his pull had great force behind it; his fingers ached and he could only let go. Valley Master Gongsun threw the net to the four disciples and shouted, âStand down!â
After having the net snatched away, Yang Guo didnât allow him to make the first move again. The silk belt shot out and the gold bell shook, attacking the opponentâs âLarge Boneâ and âCelestial Tripodâ pressure points on the shoulder and neck.
Valley Master Gongsunâs chest was open with his arms stretched out to the side but Yang Guo didnât dare to attack the major pressure points on his chest rashly. He first attacked the smaller pressure points on his body to test him out.
Valley Master Gongsunâs martial arts were actually from a different school of martial arts; he ignored the pressure point attacks of the bell and stretched out his right arm to grab Yang Guoâs arm. A âding dingâ sound was heard as the âLarge Boneâ and âCelestial Tripodâ pressure points were struck but he didnât feel it. A âhuâ sound was heard as the grab turned into a palm, striking towards Yang Guoâs chest on the left side.