With so many geniuses, why can't she be one of them?

Ding Minjun clearly saw that Gu Shao'an's sword-drawing speed had actually matched hers several times just now.

Moreover, Gu Shao'an only injured but did not kill. Although he had dealt with more than a dozen mountain bandits, Gu Shao'an's stamina consumption was not significant.

"No, if this continues, even if I deliberately hold back and let these mountain bandits around charge towards them, these bandits still won't be able to deal with that brat. By the time Shifu returns..."

Lost in thought, a fierce glint flashed and vanished in Ding Minjun's eyes.

Glancing sideways, after killing a mountain bandit in front of her with a sword, Ding Minjun subtly hooked and flicked her foot.

A pebble the size of a thumb flew into the air and landed inside Ding Minjun's left sleeve.

Then, she glanced sideways again and saw several more mountain bandits rushing towards Gu Shao'an. Ding Minjun's wrist flicked subtly!

Instantly, the pebble, like a piercing armor-piercing arrow shot from a powerful crossbow, flew silently but carried a sharp tearing sound.

At a tricky angle, it shot directly at Gu Shao'an's right wrist, which was resting on the sword hilt! The timing was incredibly sinister!

Sharp!—!

A sharp whistling sound pierced eardrums. Gu Shao'an's heart sank. Without thinking, his right hand on the sword hilt instinctively flipped outward to block!

At this moment, Gu Shao'an no longer held back. He drew his long sword with full force, turning it into a sword rainbow that flashed through the air, precisely cleaving to the front right.

"Clang!!!"

The next second, a harsh clang of metal striking metal exploded. The sword blade precisely shattered the pebble, which contained a special force, in mid-air.

At the same time, Gu Shao'an felt a surge of hidden force rush up his wrist, making his arm slightly numb and his tiger's mouth ache.

He was certain that if he hadn't reacted quickly and drawn his sword, his right hand would likely have been crippled by that pebble.

With no time for further reaction, taking advantage of Zhou Zhiruo's sword strike hitting a mountain bandit and forcing it back, Gu Shao'an turned into a crimson rainbow and charged forward. The tip of his sword condensed a dazzling cold light, passing between the legs of two mountain bandits in front of him, and then he retreated with Zhou Zhiruo again, creating a safe distance.

Ding Minjun, seeing Gu Shao'an actually block the pebble she had shot with her hidden weapon technique, was stunned for a moment.

"How could his sword-drawing speed be so fast just now?"

Ding Minjun saw clearly that Gu Shao'an's sword-drawing speed in that instant was even faster than his previous speed.

It was so fast that even she felt inferior.

At this moment, Ding Minjun thought of the "Born with a Sword Bone" that Miejue had mentioned, and her heart immediately felt at ease.

But then, intense jealousy and hatred filled Ding Minjun's heart.

She had been practicing swordplay for nearly twenty years, diligently day after day, yet it couldn't compare to Gu Shao'an's one month of practice.

This made Ding Minjun's jealousy and hatred towards Gu Shao'an deepen, and she also felt a sense of unfairness from heaven.

With so many geniuses in the world, why couldn't she be one of them?

Just then, Gu Shao'an suddenly looked up, his cold gaze like two sharp swords, piercing through the chaotic crowd and instantly locking onto Ding Minjun, who looked astonished in the distance.

His long sword, due to the immense force of the block just now, was still humming and vibrating at the tip, with a lingering trace of cold light.

Seeing Gu Shao'an look up at her, Ding Minjun's heart sank.

"No, this little beast has discovered me. If he survives, and reports me to Shifu when she returns, Shifu will definitely not let me off lightly. This child must not be kept alive."

With that thought, Ding Minjun drew her sword horizontally, slicing open the throat of a mountain bandit in front of her, and then charged towards Gu Shao'an with steps like treading on sand, her killing intent fully revealed.

Noticing Ding Minjun's movement, Gu Shao'an's eyes narrowed.

"Fourth Senior Sister, fall back."

As he spoke, Gu Shao'an retreated first.

While his body was obscured by Zhou Zhiruo, Gu Shao'an suddenly circled his long sword around his left sleeve's cuff, cutting the tie that secured the cuff before sheathing his sword.

However, if anyone observed Gu Shao'an's left hand, they would inevitably find that his other four fingers were tightly gripping the scabbard.

Only his left pinky finger was pressing down on the cut opening of his left sleeve, as if preventing anything inside the cuff from being revealed.

After making his preparations, Gu Shao'an immediately stopped, desperately adjusting his breathing while the meager inner force within him circulated frantically.

Even the Original Inner Force in his Dantian was now gathered at the entrance of the Dantian.

He was clearly preparing for a desperate fight.

"Whoosh~"

Just then, a copper coin, carrying a whistling sound, accurately landed on Ding Minjun's right calf as she was using her Qinggong to charge forward.

Yet, this copper coin, no bigger than a thumb, embedded itself directly into Ding Minjun's flesh.

And the force it carried also caused the unsuspecting Ding Minjun to lose her balance and lunge forward.

Ding Minjun endured the pain, spun her body in the air, and then braced herself with one hand on the ground, stabilizing herself without falling.

Despite her injured calf, Ding Minjun had no time to attend to the pain, but gritted her teeth and looked up at the person who had ambushed her.

However, as Ding Minjun just looked up, and through the firelight saw the figure that glided through the air like a wild goose and landed steadily in front of Gu Shao'an, Ding Minjun's eyes trembled.

The mountain wind whipped the flames, crackling. Miejue, in her plain robes and wide sleeves, stood with her hands behind her back, her expression as calm as a cold, ancient well, as if the raging flames before her were merely a gentle breeze.

Only her eyes seemed to hold heartache, anger, and a killing intent that was rapidly brewing.

And as Miejue appeared, more figures began to emerge from the darkness.

It was Abbot Juechen and dozens of other Emei disciples.

"Mas-Master?"

Looking at Miejue and Abbot Juechen standing before Gu Shao'an, Ding Minjun's face drained of color as if the tide were receding. Her body trembled, and she actually slumped to the ground.

The surrounding Mountain Bandits, seeing Miejue suddenly appear, lost all courage to continue fighting. With startled cries, they scattered, preparing to flee for their lives.

But before these Mountain Bandits could get far, several Emei Elders, along with Emei disciples, burst out from the rear of the mountain stronghold.

In just a moment, they had all killed these Mountain Bandits.

Seeing this, Gu Shao'an's long-held anxiety finally subsided, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

He completely relaxed.

Miejue's gaze first fell upon Gu Shao'an.

She scanned him carefully from head to toe, and after confirming he was unharmed, she raised her hand and patted him on the head.

"I saw everything that just happened. Shao'an, you did well."

Hearing her words, Gu Shao'an understood that Miejue had been hiding in the shadows, observing their situation all along.

"Wait, Master was here the whole time? Then just now..."

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Gu Shao'an's mind. As if realizing something, he couldn't help but turn his head to look at Ding Minjun, then took a quiet breath.

"Good heavens, it was entrapment!"

Noticing Gu Shao'an's reaction, Miejue chuckled inwardly.

"My little disciple really is quick-witted!"