The Beginning of All Things is Difficult

Perhaps it was because he had already killed someone, taking that first step.

Or perhaps it was because his heart was set on Zhou Zhiruo, knowing that now was not the time for indecision. At this moment, Gu Shao'an unleashed his strongest attack, the Sunset Swordplay, with every move holding nothing back.

After Gu Shao'an dealt with two of them, he didn't attack the last one. Instead, he let the remaining bandit charge towards Zhou Zhiruo.

Gu Shao'an knew that with Miejue's strength, stopping these few mountain bandits from rushing at them would be as easy as lifting a hand.

The only reason he allowed these four to approach was to use them to train Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo.

At the same time, he quickly wiped his long sword on the clothes of a mountain bandit lying dead on the ground, the body still slightly warm, and then swiftly sheathed it.

He immediately flashed to a position just two zhang away from Zhou Zhiruo and the mountain bandit.

After coming to a stop, his right hand remained on the sword hilt, his legs slightly bent.

He was clearly in a state of readiness to strike at any moment.

In fact, with the effect of the "Drawing Sword Like a Rainbow" perk, Gu Shao'an's sword was at its fastest and most powerful the moment it was drawn.

On Mount Emei, Gu Shao'an had also witnessed Miejue testing Zhao Jingxuan, Ding Minjun, and Bei Jinyi multiple times.

By comparison, Gu Shao'an could be sure that with the effect of the "Drawing Sword Like a Rainbow" perk, the speed of his draw at that instant even surpassed theirs by a little.

In other words, a martial artist like Zhao Jingxuan, who had been training for nearly twenty years, might be injured or even killed by Gu Shao'an if caught off guard and attacked first.

This was even considering Gu Shao'an's young age and the fact that his meridians had not been nourished for a long time.

If he were a few years older, as his body grew and his physique strengthened, with the effect of the "Drawing Sword Like a Rainbow" perk, Gu Shao'an's drawing speed could become so fast that even Zhao Jingxuan and the others wouldn't be able to react.

Only with this move did Gu Shao'an have enough confidence that if any problems arose, he could immediately kill the mountain bandit rushing towards Zhou Zhiruo and ensure her safety.

Catching a glimpse of his three companions being killed, the remaining mountain bandit, after a brief moment of panic, hardened his heart and stared intently at Zhou Zhiruo.

Rushing to Zhou Zhiruo's front in a few steps, the bandit swung the heavy nail-headed club in his hand mercilessly towards Zhou Zhiruo's body, using the momentum of his charge.

Facing the whistling nail-headed club, Zhou Zhiruo's heart skipped a beat, and the fierce aura that hit her made her limbs go cold.

Panic resurfaced from the depths of her heart, urging her to retreat, but her body was stiff as stone, unable to move an inch!

"Shijie, "Willow Catkin Veils the Misty Trees," attack the chest."

Just then, Gu Shao'an's calm voice, like cold iron piercing the chaos, reached Zhou Zhiruo's ears.

With a hint of sternness in his voice, and the sword move seemingly imprinted in Zhou Zhiruo's heart, she instinctively moved according to "Willow Catkin Veils the Misty Trees" from the Willow Leaf Swordplay.

The wooden sword was already light when swung.

Coupled with the sword stance practiced daily for over half a year, Zhou Zhiruo's bones and muscles had also been tempered with results.

The wooden sword thrust out, and it was actually faster than the bandit's attack, piercing the bandit's chest first.

Even though it was not sharpened, being poked in the chest by the sharp wooden sword still made the bandit's movement falter, and a pained expression appeared on his face.

But the pain in his body was met with the bandit's even more violent curses.

"You little bitch, you're asking for death."

As he spoke, the bandit raised the nail-headed club in his hand again and swung it at Zhou Zhiruo, but this time, it was aimed directly at her face.

"Shijie, "Snow Falls Without a Trace," deflect the force."

The voice reached her ears, and Zhou Zhiruo did not hesitate. Her body moved like a willow catkin, gracefully shifting to the side. She raised her wooden sword, and the moment the blade touched the bandit's nail-headed club, she quickly swept it, deflecting the force of the club to the side, causing the bandit's club to swerve.

In the next instant, Gu Shao'an's voice entered Zhou Zhiruo's ears again.

"Spring Catkin Pierces the Curtain," strike the Kidney Shu Acupoint."

Zhou Zhiruo shifted sideways, and the wooden sword in her hand thrust out with a tricky angle, piercing gently but swiftly, concentrating its force to a single point and striking the bandit's right waist.

The pain in his waist acupoint immediately made the bandit tremble, and he couldn't help but let out a pained cry.

But before the bandit could recover from the pain, under Gu Shao'an's guidance, Zhou Zhiruo had already swung her sword again.

This mountain bandit in front of her was just an ordinary person, with no skill or strategy in fighting. How could he be a match for Zhou Zhiruo, who had already been cultivating for some time?

The reason for her poor initial reaction was simply that it was her first time facing an enemy, and Zhou Zhiruo had lost her composure.

But with Gu Shao'an's guidance, as Zhou Zhiruo swung her wooden sword, her flustered state gradually calmed down, and she could clearly feel the bandit's movements, which were full of flaws.

The confidence and steadiness gained from several exchanges of parries completely dispelled the fear in her heart.

Even if Gu Shao'an hadn't spoken to guide her, Zhou Zhiruo could have handled the mountain bandit as usual with the Willow Leaf Swordplay and her movement techniques.

Seeing Zhou Zhiruo's situation, Gu Shao'an nodded slightly.

"Shijie's first test of courage has been a success."

Every beginning is difficult.

For Zhou Zhiruo, being able to face these mountain bandits in combat was already taking the first step.

At this, Gu Shao'an felt a slight relief, but his right hand remained on the sword hilt.

After more than ten exchanges, Zhou Zhiruo, who had fully adapted, used "Snow Falls Without a Trace" again. While dodging the opponent's attack, she leaped up, turned sideways, and thrust her sword directly into the bandit's temples.

The temples were already vital points of the human body.

Even though the wooden sword was not sharpened, being struck by Zhou Zhiruo's full-force thrust, carrying the force from the tip, made the mountain bandit grunt and fall unconscious.

At this point, Zhou Zhiruo finally began to pant heavily, her dark hair sticking to her cheeks from sweat.

But looking at the mountain bandit she had just knocked unconscious, Zhou Zhiruo's eyes grew even brighter.

"Shijie is amazing!"

Suddenly, Gu Shao'an's voice rang out from the side.

Zhou Zhiruo looked at Gu Shao'an, who was walking quickly towards her, and as she recalled what had just happened, a sense of lingering fear welled up within her.

Just moments ago, Zhou Zhiruo had been intimidated by the mountain bandit's momentum. If Gu Shao'an hadn't spoken up to remind her, she would likely have been injured or even captured by now.

In response, Zhou Zhiruo quickly said, "Thank you, Shidi, for your help just now."

Gu Shao'an smiled and replied, "We're not outsiders, Shijie. There's no need for such politeness."

Zhou Zhiruo smiled softly, then raised her gaze. She first looked at the bodies of the mountain bandits Gu Shao'an had killed earlier, and then at the bandit lying unconscious before her.

Recalling Gu Shao'an's words to her before, both previously and on Emei Mountain, Zhou Zhiruo's face showed a hint of hesitation.

"Hum~"

Just then, a cold glint flashed in Zhou Zhiruo's eyes.