Ding Minjun saw it clearly. Gu Shao'an's sword-drawing speed in those last few attempts had actually become comparable to hers.
Moreover, Gu Shao'an wounded but did not kill. Though he had dealt with more than a dozen Mountain Bandits in succession, he had not expended much stamina.
"No. If this continues, even if I deliberately hold back and let these Mountain Bandits rush toward them, they still won't be able to handle that brat. If Master returns..."
As her thoughts deepened, a flash of malice flickered through Ding Minjun's eyes.
With a sweep of her peripheral vision, Ding Minjun stabbed a mountain bandit before her to death, then subtly hooked and flicked her foot.
A thumb-sized pebble shot into the air and landed inside Ding Minjun's left sleeve.
Then, seeing several more Mountain Bandits rush toward Gu Shao'an, Ding Minjun gave her wrist an extremely furtive shake.
In an instant, the pebble shot forth like an armor-piercing arrow fired from a powerful crossbow, silent yet accompanied by a piercing sound like tearing silk.
From a vicious angle, it flew straight at Gu Shao'an's right wrist resting on his sword hilt! The timing was incomparably sinister!
Whoosh—!
The sharp sound of something cutting through the air suddenly stabbed into his ears. Gu Shao'an's heart sank, and without thinking, his right hand instinctively turned and swept outward from the hilt!
At that moment, Gu Shao'an no longer held back. He drew his longsword with all his strength, turning it into a streak of sword-light that flashed through the air and struck precisely toward his front right.
Clang!!!
The next instant, an ear-piercing explosion of metal against stone rang out, and the blade accurately cleaved the pebble containing a peculiar force into fragments.
At the same time, Gu Shao'an felt a hidden force surge up through his wrist, numbing his arm slightly and sending pain shooting through the web between his thumb and forefinger.
He was certain that if he had not reacted swiftly and drawn his sword at once, that pebble would most likely have crippled his right hand.
Before he could react further, Zhou Zhiruo raised her sword and struck a mountain bandit, forcing him back. Gu Shao'an seized the moment to surge forward like a crimson rainbow. A dazzling point of cold light gathered at his sword tip and passed between the legs of two mountain bandits before him in succession, after which he retreated again with Zhou Zhiruo and opened a safe distance.
On Ding Minjun's side, seeing that Gu Shao'an had actually blocked the pebble she had fired using a hidden weapon technique, Ding Minjun froze for a moment.
"How could his sword speed just now have been so fast?"
Ding Minjun had seen clearly that Gu Shao'an's draw in that instant had been several degrees faster than before.
It was so fast that even she had to admit she was inferior.
At that moment, Ding Minjun recalled what Miejue had said about being Born with a Sword Bone, and she immediately understood.
Yet immediately afterward, intense jealousy and hatred filled Ding Minjun's heart.
She had practiced the sword for nearly twenty years, diligently without rest every day, yet it still could not compare to Gu Shao'an practicing for one month.
This made Ding Minjun's jealousy of Gu Shao'an grow even stronger, while also filling her with rage at the injustice of Heaven.
There were so many geniuses in this world. Why couldn't there be one more like her?
Just then, Gu Shao'an abruptly lifted his head. His icy gaze was like two Sharp Swords, piercing through the crowd locked in chaotic battle and instantly pinning Ding Minjun, whose face showed astonishment, in the distance.
His longsword still hummed and trembled at the tip from the tremendous force of the earlier block, a glint of chilling light lingering upon it.
Seeing Gu Shao'an looking up at her, Ding Minjun's heart sank.
"No. This little bastard has discovered me. If he survives and reports me once Master returns, Master certainly won't spare me. He cannot be allowed to live."
With that thought, Ding Minjun swept her sword horizontally, slicing open the throat of a mountain bandit in front of her. Her steps were as light as treading sand as she charged toward Gu Shao'an with sword in hand, killing intent fully exposed.
Noticing Ding Minjun's movements, Gu Shao'an's gaze narrowed.
"Fourth Senior Sister, fall back."
As he spoke, Gu Shao'an retreated first.
When Zhou Zhiruo's body shielded him from view, Gu Shao'an suddenly circled his longsword around the cuff of his left sleeve. Only after cutting the strip that tied the cuff tight did he sheathe his blade.
Yet anyone watching Gu Shao'an's left hand would have noticed that his other four fingers were gripping the scabbard tightly.
Only his left pinky pressed against the cut-open sleeve, as though preventing something inside from being exposed.
After making his preparations, Gu Shao'an immediately stopped. While desperately regulating his breathing, he frantically circulated the scant Inner Force within his body.
Even the Original Inner Force in his dantian gathered at the entrance of his dantian.
He was clearly preparing to risk his life.
Whoosh~
Just then, a copper coin tore through the air and struck Ding Minjun's right calf with precision as she was rushing forward using lightness skill.
Though it was merely a thumb-sized copper coin, it embedded itself directly into Ding Minjun's flesh.
The force behind it also caught Ding Minjun off guard, throwing her body off balance as she pitched forward.
Ding Minjun endured the pain and spun once through the air before bracing herself with one hand against the ground, barely avoiding a fall.
Though her calf was injured, Ding Minjun had no time to care about the pain in her leg. Instead, she gritted her teeth and looked up at the person who had ambushed her.
However, the moment Ding Minjun raised her head and saw by the firelight the figure that swept through the air like a wild goose before landing steadily in front of Gu Shao'an, her eyes trembled.
The mountain wind rolled the flames, which crackled and snapped. Miejue stood with her hands behind her back, her plain robes and wide sleeves fluttering. Her expression was as calm as an ancient well or cold pool, as though the roaring blaze before her was no more than a gentle breeze brushing her face.
Yet in those eyes, there seemed to be heartache, anger, and killing intent rapidly taking shape.
As Miejue appeared, more figures rushed out from the darkness one after another.
They were Abbot Juechen and several dozen other Emei disciples.
"M-Master?"
Looking at Miejue, who stood before Gu Shao'an, as well as Juechen and the others, the color drained from Ding Minjun's face like a receding tide. As her body trembled, she collapsed directly onto the ground.
Seeing Miejue suddenly appear, the other Mountain Bandits no longer had any courage to continue fighting. They cried out and scattered in every direction, preparing to flee for their lives.
Yet before those Mountain Bandits could escape far, several Emei elders led Emei disciples in an assault from the rear of the mountain stronghold.
Before long, they had slaughtered every last mountain bandit.
At the sight, the heart Gu Shao'an had kept tightly clenched finally settled again, and he let out a long breath.
He relaxed completely.
Miejue's gaze first fell upon Gu Shao'an.
She carefully examined him from head to toe several times. Only after confirming that he was unharmed did she raise a hand and gently stroke his head.
"I saw everything that happened just now. Shao'an, you did well."
Hearing those words, how could Gu Shao'an not understand that Miejue had been hiding in the shadows and watching their situation all along?
"Wait, Master had been here the entire time. Then earlier..."
Suddenly, a thought flashed through Gu Shao'an's mind. He could not help turning to look at Ding Minjun, then drew in a light breath.
"Good grief, this was a sting operation!"
Noticing Gu Shao'an's reaction, Miejue laughed inwardly.
This little disciple of mine really was quick to catch on!
Before you continue