The Considerate and Gentle Junior Brother

The sudden flash of cold light made Zhou Zhiruo blink involuntarily.

When her eyes refocused, she saw a smooth cut across the mountain bandit's throat.

Blood gushed continuously from the wound with a dull gurgling sound.

After the mountain bandit lying on the ground, previously unconscious, twitched twice, he went completely still.

Gu Shao'an, standing nearby, sheathed his sword.

Taking in this scene, Zhou Zhiruo was briefly stunned, but then relaxed inwardly, one burden having been lifted.

At the same time, Miejue was still taking down mountain bandits one palm at a time in the distance.

However, part of Miejue's attention had remained on Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo.

Especially when Zhou Zhiruo had faced the mountain bandit just now, Miejue had pushed the circulation of her true qi to its limit, clearly prepared to intervene at any moment.

Under Miejue's watchful gaze, she clearly saw Gu Shao'an's subsequent guidance, as well as how he had let Zhou Zhiruo face the bandit herself once she had adapted.

Miejue had not said anything earlier because she wanted to see how Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo would react when facing these four mountain bandits.

Gu Shao'an's response far exceeded Miejue's expectations.

Not only had he decisively used Sunset Swordplay to dispatch three mountain bandits in a very short time, he had also protected and guided Zhou Zhiruo all the way as she fought the remaining bandit.

In particular, while Zhou Zhiruo fought the mountain bandit, Gu Shao'an had kept his right hand on his sword throughout, ready to strike at any moment. That made Miejue's eyes light up.

He acted without hesitation when he needed to, and even when he did not act, he maintained sufficient vigilance without the slightest carelessness.

Even someone as demanding as Miejue could find no fault with Gu Shao'an's actions.

Miejue smiled gently, but in the eyes of the other mountain bandits, there was something different about her now.

What decent person smiled with such satisfaction while smashing in someone else's skull?

For a moment, some mountain bandits who noticed the smile on Miejue's face felt a chill rise in their hearts. They actually did not dare step forward, their eyes filled with horror.

Just then, an even more violent roar drowned out the commotion.

"Get the hell out of the way! You worthless trash!"

The voice exploded like rolling thunder! The packed crowd was forcibly split apart by a brutal force!

He was of average height but exceptionally muscular, wielding a strange, broad-backed demon-head saber whose blade flowed with an icy blood-red gleam beneath the firelight.

As the one-eyed man appeared, two others leaped over the heads of the mountain bandits at the same time.

The man on the left was powerfully built and carried a pair of golden melon hammers.

The other was as burly as a bear, his square face carrying a sinister air.

He carried no weapon, but his steps were steady. One glance showed that his lower-body techniques were exceptionally well-practiced.

His gaze, sharp as an eagle's, swept across Miejue and the others before finally settling on Miejue.

They were the three bandit chiefs of this stronghold.

At the sight of the three chiefs, the mountain bandits who had been scared out of their wits by Miejue's ruthlessness seemed to suddenly find their backbone again, and they began speaking one after another.

The one-eyed Third Leader's Adam's apple bobbed as he let out a beastlike growl. "Where did these blind fools come from? How dare you wreck my stronghold?"

The burly First Leader raised a hand to stop him, his voice low as a muffled drum.

"Who are you? Why have you broken into my mountain stronghold?"

His eyes remained fixed on Miejue, with a faint wariness in his heart.

The mountain wind whipped up the flames, making them crackle as they illuminated the rigid standoff between the two sides.

As the three bandit chiefs appeared, particularly after the First Leader spoke, the clamorous mountain bandits gradually quieted down, forming an oppressive encirclement.

Yet Miejue seemed not to notice the three bandit chiefs at all, instead turning to Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo behind her.

"The last mountain bandit was knocked unconscious by Zhiruo. Zhiruo should have been the one to kill him. Why did you take it upon yourself to do so, Shao'an?"

Apparently not expecting Miejue to suddenly ask about what he had just done while dozens of mountain bandits watched them like tigers, Gu Shao'an was slightly taken aback before replying, "The future is long. Shijie has a kind and pure nature. She is still at an age when she should be innocent and carefree. I think some things can wait a few more years."

Miejue's expression revealed neither joy nor anger. "You are quite the considerate and gentle junior brother."

Gu Shao'an smiled. "I'm her junior brother! Shouldn't I treat my own shijie well?"

His candid and straightforward words brought a gentle look back to Miejue's face.

In another two years, Miejue would be forty.

For an ordinary woman, at that age, she could already be a grandmother.

As a woman, who would not wish to have younger generations bring joy at her side?

Yet Miejue was usually quite strict with her disciples, causing Zhou Zhiruo, Zhao Jingxuan, and the others to always act cautiously before her.

Gu Shao'an, on the other hand, was relaxed without being disrespectful, candid while carrying a hint of closeness in his words. That instead made Miejue even happier.

What parent would not dote more on a sweet-tongued, well-behaved child?

The same was true of a teacher.

There had never been favoritism in this world without cause.

However, looking at Gu Shao'an's handsome, refined features, then thinking of how thoughtful and considerate he was in everything he did, Miejue could not help thinking, I wonder how many girls' hearts Shao'an will ruin in the future.

If someone else's junior had been like Gu Shao'an, Miejue would inevitably have felt a chill in her heart. She might even have warned Zhiruo and her other disciples to keep their distance, lest they be led astray.

But when it came to Gu Shao'an, Miejue felt that her own disciple ought to be like this.

The flames raged, and dozens of mountain bandits watched them covetously.

Yet amid such an atmosphere, Miejue chatted casually with Gu Shao'an, not taking the mountain bandits present seriously at all.

Such an arrogant attitude immediately made the three bandit chiefs feel slighted.

The one-eyed bandit chief said in a deep voice, "Filthy nun, you're courting death."

After saying this, seemingly unable to suppress the fury in his heart, the one-eyed bandit chief seized his saber, gathered his qi, and charged at Miejue.

"Attack together!"

Seeing this, the First Leader immediately spoke, moving with the Second Leader.

The three quickly rushed toward Miejue in a triangular formation.

In the blink of an eye, they crossed nearly two zhang, their momentum fierce.

Facing this, Miejue gave a cold snort, the heavy sound from her nose filled with contempt.

With a light tap of her toes, she soared into the air, actually taking the initiative to leap into their encirclement.

Seeing Miejue walk straight into their trap, the three paused in surprise before attacking together.

The one-eyed Third Leader's demon-head saber shrieked through the air, while the Second Leader swung his golden melon hammers and the First Leader used Eagle Claw Skill in an attempt to seize her. The three pounced at once from three directions.

It had to be said that the three were undoubtedly extremely familiar with one another and had practiced combined attack techniques.

Now that all three attacked together, their moves completely sealed off every route of retreat for Miejue!

Yet in the face of their combined assault, Abbess Miejue's expression remained calm.

"Trifling tricks."