58: I'm not Guo Jing, but I can help you marry Huang Rong.

The morning mist in the valley had not yet dissipated when Xie Hui was awakened by a rustling sound.

Opening his eyes, he saw Huang Rong crouching by the stream, teasing small fish with a thin twig.

The sunlight spilled onto her hair tips, and even the dewdrops on her eyelashes were sparkling.

Just as he was about to get up, he heard Seventh Hero Hong snoring behind him—the old man was hugging a wild fruit, fruit jam still on the corner of his mouth, sleeping soundly.

"Don't pretend to be asleep once you're awake," Huang Rong suddenly turned back, smiling like a cat that had stolen some cream. "Yesterday you said you would help Guo Jing marry me; does that still count?"

Xie Hui was stunned for a moment, only then remembering what he had casually said while fleeing yesterday.

He hadn't expected this girl to remember it so clearly.

He walked over, picked up a pebble, and threw it into the stream.

The splashing water made the small fish scatter in all directions.

"Why wouldn't it count? But you have to cooperate. You can't expect me to tie you up and deliver you to Guo Jing, right?"

"Who wants you to tie me up!"

Huang Rong glared at him, yet handed him a warm roasted sweet potato.

"I just think that silly boy Guo Jing is too honest. If he were bullied by Ouyang Ke and Yang Kang, he wouldn't even be able to say a word in rebuttal. Your mind is quick; helping him come up with ideas can be considered accumulating merit and doing good deeds."

Just as they were talking, Hua Zheng suddenly rode in from outside the valley, carrying a cloth bag in her hand.

She shouted from afar, "Xie Hui! Huang Rong! Come quickly and look, I caught a 'spy'!"

The two ran over and took a look.

Inside the cloth bag was a youth wearing coarse cloth clothes, his face covered in mud, clutching an oil-paper package tightly to his chest.

Who else could it be but Guo Jing?

Xie Hui hurriedly untied the cloth bag.

As soon as Guo Jing emerged, he anxiously shouted, "Miss Huang! Brother Xie! I heard you were being hunted by Ouyang Feng, so I came specifically to bring you food. I didn't expect to be mistaken for a spy by Miss Hua Zheng!"

Hua Zheng scratched her head, embarrassed.

"I saw you acting sneakily and thought you were one of Ouyang Feng's men. My apologies, Brother Guo Jing."

Mu Nianci also arrived upon hearing the news, helping Guo Jing pat the mud off his body.

"Brother Guo, how did you find this place? Did you encounter any danger on the way?"

Guo Jing laughed foolishly.

"I followed your hoof prints. On the way, I encountered a few Jin Soldiers and used the martial arts you taught me to fight them off. By the way, this is the Beef Jerky my mother made. You should taste it quickly."

Seventh Hero Hong smelled the fragrance of the Beef Jerky and instantly woke up.

He leaned over and snatched the oil-paper package.

"Young Guo is still the sensible one! The Old Beggar is starving!"

Several people sat around the stream eating Beef Jerky.

Seeing Guo Jing sneaking glances at Huang Rong but not daring to speak, Xie Hui couldn't help but tease him, "Brother Guo, is there something you want to say to Miss Huang? If you don't say it now, you won't have a chance once Ouyang Ke arrives."

Guo Jing's face turned red.

After hesitating for a long time, he stammered, "Miss Huang, I... I know I am stupid, not as clever as Brother Xie, nor as skilled in martial arts as the Seventh Master, but I will protect you well and will not let you suffer any grievances."

Huang Rong's heart stirred, but she deliberately kept a straight face.

"Just based on you? Last time at the Prince's residence, you couldn't even beat Mei Chaofeng; how will you protect me?"

Guo Jing was so anxious that his face turned pale.

Just as he was about to defend himself, Xie Hui hurriedly smoothed things over.

"Miss Huang, don't tease him. Although Brother Guo is honest, he is very thoughtful. Last time you were sick, he stayed by your bedside without closing his eyes for the whole night. This sincerity is more important than anything else."

Huang Rong didn't say anything, but she felt warm inside.

She took a small porcelain bottle from her bosom and handed it to Guo Jing.

"This is a detoxification pill I prepared. Take it; if you encounter Ouyang Feng's poison, it can save your life. Also, next time you encounter Jin Soldiers, don't fight head-on. If you really can't beat them, run. Saving your life is what matters."

Guo Jing took the porcelain bottle, clutching it to his chest as if it were a treasure, and nodded repeatedly.

"Thank you, Miss Huang! I will remember!"

Just then, the sound of hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the valley, along with Yang Kang's voice: "Guo Jing! Huang Rong! Don't hide anymore, come out and accept your death! Otherwise, I will set fire to this valley!"

The expressions of the group changed.

Xie Hui said to Guo Jing, "Brother Guo, you take Miss Huang, Hua Zheng, and Miss Mu and leave from the small path behind the valley first. Seventh Master and I will deal with them!"

"No!"

Guo Jing immediately opposed.

"Brother Xie, Seventh Master, you have helped me so much; I cannot leave you behind! I will stay and fight Yang Kang with you!"

Seventh Hero Hong patted Guo Jing's shoulder.

"Good lad, you have backbone! But you must listen to the Old Beggar. Later, you are responsible for protecting the three young ladies. I and young Xie will deal with Yang Kang and the Jin Soldiers. Remember, don't fight head-on, safety first!"

Just as they had finished discussing, Yang Kang led a dozen Jin Soldiers charging in, holding a knife in his hand, pointing at Guo Jing and cursing: "Guo Jing! You ungrateful wretch, actually mixing with Xie Hui and Seventh Hero Hong, and you even want to snatch the Miss Huang I have my eye on? Today I will cripple you!"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Guo Jing's face turned red with anger, and he drew his knife.

"Miss Huang is a good girl; don't slander her! Also, my mother said you recognize a thief as your father and caused my father's death. Sooner or later, I will avenge my father!"

Yang Kang sneered and gave a look to the Jin Soldiers.

"Go get him! Capture Guo Jing and Seventh Hero Hong. Leave Huang Rong, Mu Nianci, and Hua Zheng behind; this Young Master wants to 'entertain' them well!"

The Jin Soldiers immediately rushed up.

Xie Hui and Seventh Hero Hong hurriedly met them.

Xie Hui unleashed the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, knocking down a Jin Soldier with one palm.

Seventh Hero Hong's dog beating staff also danced with great force, and in no time, he had knocked down over a dozen Jin Soldiers.

Guo Jing protected the three young ladies, not letting the Jin Soldiers get close.

Although his Move was clumsy, he was exceptionally serious.

Seeing that the Jin Soldiers couldn't win, Yang Kang suddenly pulled a dagger from his bosom and quietly circled behind Guo Jing, intending to ambush him.

Huang Rong had sharp eyes and hurriedly shouted, "Guo Jing! Watch out behind you!"

Guo Jing hurriedly turned around, but was still a step too slow.

Just as the dagger was about to pierce his chest, Xie Hui suddenly rushed over and struck Yang Kang's wrist with one palm.

The dagger fell to the ground with a clatter.

Yang Kang screamed in pain and turned to run, but Mu Nianci stopped him.

She swung her horsewhip and wrapped it around Yang Kang's leg.

"Yang Kang, you have harmed so many people; don't even think about running today!"

Xie Hui walked over, stepped on Yang Kang's chest, and said with a smile, "Young Master Yang, last time at the Black Wind Fortress, you used laxatives to harm us, and this time you want to ambush Guo Jing again. Tell me, how should we deal with you?"

Yang Kang's face turned pale with fear, and he hurriedly begged for mercy: "Brother Xie, for the sake of our acquaintance, please spare me! I will never dare to do it again!"

"Spare you?"

Hua Zheng kicked him angrily.

"You harmed my people on the grassland and even wanted to capture me, Sister Mu, and Sister Huang Rong. Why should we spare you!"

Just then, Ouyang Feng's voice suddenly came from afar: "Kang'er! I have come to save you!"

Xie Hui's expression changed, and he said to the group, "Not good, Ouyang Feng is here! Let's leave quickly, don't go head-to-head with him!"

Seventh Hero Hong also said, "That's right, Ouyang Feng's Toad Skill is too powerful. We can't run fast while carrying Yang Kang. It's better to let him go and ensure our own safety first."

Xie Hui thought for a moment and lifted his foot.

"Yang Kang, I will spare you this time. If I see you doing evil again, I will definitely take your dog life!"

Yang Kang felt as if he had been granted amnesty.

He scrambled up and ran.

After running only a few steps, he was picked up by Ouyang Feng.

Ouyang Feng glanced at Xie Hui and the others and snorted coldly, "If I encounter you again, I will definitely tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

The group hurriedly ran out through the small path behind the valley.

They ran for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick before stopping to rest.

Guo Jing looked at Huang Rong and said apologetically, "Miss Huang, it's all my fault. If my martial arts were a bit stronger, I wouldn't have implicated you all in running away."

Huang Rong smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Silly boy, it has nothing to do with you. If it weren't for Xie Hui and Seventh Hero Hong, we would have been captured by Ouyang Feng long ago. By the way, you must practice your martial arts well in the future and don't let me down again."

Guo Jing nodded heavily.

"I will! I will also learn the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms from Seventh Master and learn to be clever from Brother Xie, so I can protect you and everyone well in the future."

Xie Hui watched the interaction between the two and was secretly happy—it seemed he was doing a pretty good job as a "matchmaker."

He said to the group, "There is a small town ahead. Let's go there, stay, have a good rest for a few days, and then think about how to deal with Ouyang Feng and Yang Kang."

Several people nodded and walked toward the small town.

As the sun set, their shadows were stretched very long.

Guo Jing walked beside Huang Rong.

Although he still wasn't very good at talking, he always handed the delicious food to Huang Rong first and left the dangerous places for himself.

Xie Hui watched this scene and said to Seventh Hero Hong with a smile, "Seventh Master, look at Guo Jing and Miss Huang; aren't they a perfect match?"

Seventh Hero Hong chewed on the Beef Jerky and said with a smile, "A perfect match! Much better matched than you and Huang Rong! But don't be discouraged either. Hua Zheng and Miss Mu are also good. If you like them, the Old Beggar will help you propose!"

Hua Zheng and Mu Nianci both blushed upon hearing this.

Xie Hui hurriedly waved his hands.

"Seventh Master, don't talk nonsense! We are just friends; how could I have such thoughts!"

Huang Rong also laughed along, "Who would believe that! Sister Hua Zheng made you wrist guards, and Sister Mu sewed your clothes. If you continue to play dumb, you will really be letting them down."