The duel between the Wu brothers was becoming more and more heated. Both of them were using the âYue Maiden Swordplayâ. This skill belonged to Han Xiaoying of the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan. The two had practiced and trained this swordplay countless times over the years but this time, it was not a sparring session; it was a life and death duel where one mistake would be fatal.
Yang Guo watched them for a while and thought, âUncle Guoâs martial arts reign supreme but it appears that his students have not absorbed these skills. With the Wu brotherâs martial arts talents plainly ordinary, I donât think they have learned even twenty percent of Uncle Guoâs martial arts.â He suddenly laughed out loud and slowly walked out.
The Wu Brothers leapt back in shock and pointed their swords in the direction of the laugh. When they saw that it was Yang Guo, they both shouted at the same time, âWhat are you doing here?â
Yang Guo laughed, âWhat are you doing here?â
Wu Xiuwen gave a laugh and said, âWe both felt bored tonight so weâve come out here to practice our swordplay.â
Yang Guo thought, âLittle Wu is pretty alert, heâs acting as if nothing was happening.â He chuckled, âPracticing so hard that you donât have a care for your life? How hard working you two are.â
Wu Dunru yelled, âGo, this is none of your business.â
Yang Guo chuckled, âIf you guys were really just working hard practicing, of course it wouldnât be my business. But between every stance you are unleashing, you are filled of thoughts for my sister Fu, if this is none of my business then whose business is it?â
Yang Guoâs words of âmy sister Fuâ pierced the brothersâ hearts, leaving their bodies shaking and swords quivering.
Wu Xiuwen roared, âWhat the hell are you saying?â
His tone was becoming more and more serious as he said this and he left the brothers speechless. They both knew that Guo Jing had always wanted to marry his daughter to him but Huang Rong and Guo Fu had always disliked Yang Guo. When the twoâs thoughts were revealed by Yang Guo, they could only glance at each other and didnât know how to reply.
Wu Xiuwen was again alert in urgent times and chuckled, âHuh, betrothed? Only you would say a thing like that! Has there been an agreement between the matchmakers? Has the engagement been stamped down on paper?â
Yang Guo replied, âOkay, so both of you brothers have had the permission of your parents and the agreement from your matchmakers I take it.â
Custom was extremely important during this time; marriages must have the agreement of parents and the matchmakers. The two brothers had assumed that after one of them loses, only the winner will go back to Guo Fu leaving with her with no choice. Sheâll definitely agree to the proposal leaving just the task of convincing the Guo couple to agree. They were not prepared for this meddling from Yang Guo.
Wu Xiuwen took a second to think before replying, âIt might be true that Master wants to betroth sister Fu to you. But Master wife has planned to betroth her to one of us. The three of us are in the same boat, none of us can truly say their claim is right, it looks like sister Fuâs future is going to be complicated.â
Yang Guo laughed at the sky.
Wu Xiuwen snapped when he saw that Yang Guo was laughing loudly non-stop without saying anything and said, âWhat are you laughing at? Are my words wrong?â
Yang Guo laughed, âWrong, so wrong. Uncle Guo loves me, Auntie Guo loves me even more, how can you two compete with me?â
Wu Xiuwen said, âHuh, whoâs going to believe your words?â
Yang Guo laughed, âWhy should I lie? Auntie Guo long ago agreed to this marriage, otherwise, why would I risk my life to save them if they werenât my in-laws? Itâs all because of sister Fu. Tell me, has your Master wife ever promised you theyâll betroth their daughter to you?â
The two brothers looked at each other with alarm, their Master wife has indeed not said a single word about this matter, not even hinted that sheâll say something about it; could it be that she has indeed agreed to betroth her daughter to this punk? The two brothers were having a duel to the death with each other; but with this sudden appearance of a common enemy, they both moved closer towards one another.
Yang Guo had heard their conversation with Guo Fu earlier on and wanted to make the two jealous so he smiled, âSister Fu said to me; âThose two brothers are annoying me to deathâ, and she couldnât discourage you guys so she said that she liked both of you. Tell me, is there a virtuous girl whoâll say she loves two people at once? My sister Fu is more than virtuous, so of course sheâd never do a thing like this. Let me make it clear for you; when she says that she likes both of you, sheâs actually saying that she doesnât like either.â He then impersonated Guo Fuâs voice on that night and said, âLittle brother Wu, youâve told me a thousand times, a million times how you feel about me, I already know. Donât you know how hard it is for me? You are always weird like this, what do you want to say to me?â
The brothers faces turned red. Those words were said by each of them to Guo Fu with no one else around; if she didnât tell Yang Guo, how would he know about it? The two of them felt their heartsâ breaking, both thinking that Guo Fu has refused all along to agree to marry them because of this.
Yang Guo called out, âGu Gu!â But there was no reply; he immediately thought that Li Mochou had made this sigh and that person cannot meet the Wu family at all so he said loudly, âIf you two continue to act like this, people will only laugh at you. In respect of my in-laws, Iâll forget about this matter. You two better go back to Xiangyang and help my in-laws guard the city.â He was actually calling the Guo couple his in-laws.
The Wu brothers were now despondent and were now holding each otherâs arms.
Wu Xiuwen said gloomily, âFine, brother Yang, I wish you and apprentice sister Fu⊠a long and prosperous life. Weâll leave this place for somewhere else; weâll disappear from the world.â The two of them turned to leave.
Yang Guo was feeling pleased with himself; the two brothers were still as angry as ever at him but now theyâll hate Guo Fu. The two brothersâ relationship will now be stronger than ever after this; their fatherâs wishes will at least be fulfilled.
Wu Santong was listening from the bushes and when he heard that Yang Guo had convinced his sons to stop fighting, he was overwhelmed with delight; as he saw his sons walking away, he couldnât stop himself from calling out, âWenâer, Ruâer, letâs leave together.â