Thunderous Methods

Finally, Miejue turned to Zhou Zhiruo and nodded, saying, "Zhiruo, you've done well too."

It was the first time Miejue had praised her, and Zhou Zhiruo's bright eyes flickered, a sense of joy rising within her.

But then she lowered her head and said, "It's all thanks to Shidi protecting me, Shifu. I don't deserve your praise."

Miejue smiled and said, "Although your courage remains, you can listen to Shao'an and act at crucial moments. For your temperament, this is already not easy."

After offering her candid assessment, Miejue withdrew her gaze and walked towards Ding Minjun with one hand behind her back, saying nothing.

Sensing Miejue's approach, Ding Minjun instinctively tightened her grip on her sword, but then relaxed it.

It wasn't that she didn't want to resist.

It was because Ding Minjun knew that with her strength, in front of Miejue, let alone just this ordinary sword, even if the Heavenly Sword were placed in her hands, she still wouldn't be able to defeat Miejue.

A few breaths later, Miejue's cloth shoes entered Ding Minjun's lowered field of vision.

Her gaze fell upon Ding Minjun, and Miejue's expression was unreadable.

After a long moment, Miejue's voice finally sounded slowly.

"Why?"

Although her voice was as stern and majestic as usual, it was laced with a hint of heartache.

It was like a basin of ice water poured over Ding Minjun from head to toe, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

Ding Minjun looked up blankly, her mouth opening, but the words wouldn't come.

Since Miejue had been watching from the shadows, her actions had naturally been seen by Miejue.

Caught red-handed, even with Ding Minjun's usual silver tongue, she didn't know how to argue her way out of it.

Immediately, Ding Minjun ignored the injury and searing pain in her leg, quickly knelt properly, and looked up to admit her fault: "Shifu, your disciple was simply momentarily deluded by jealousy and hatred for Shidi's talent. After returning to Emei, I am willing to be confined to the rear mountain for half a year, no, a year..."

"I only beg Shifu to spare your disciple this once, considering the twenty years of companionship by your side."

Looking at Ding Minjun, who was pleading with her, Miejue's eyes showed a hint of reluctance.

But this reluctance was quickly suppressed by Miejue.

Miejue had already given Ding Minjun a chance.

If Ding Minjun had obeyed and taken good care of Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo this time, it would have at least proven that Ding Minjun still had Emei in her heart, and her Shifu, and a sense of goodness.

Then her usual behavior would have been nothing more than arrogance and a bit of sharp-tongued pettiness.

In Miejue's opinion, although these were flaws, they could be corrected.

If used well, she could become a strict elder within the Emei Sect in the future, suitable for the Hall of Law Enforcement.

But what Ding Minjun had done was simply too much.

As a Shijie, instead of helping her Shidi and Shimei when they were in danger, she had secretly attacked them.

Later, seeing that her actions were discovered, she had even harbored murderous intent.

Such a person, let alone her own disciple, even the Elders of the Emei Sect, Miejue would not spare lightly.

Taking a deep breath, Miejue leaned forward and swiftly struck Ding Minjun's head with her right palm.

As the palm force surged, Ding Minjun immediately spat out a mouthful of blood.

The divine light in her eyes rapidly faded after she coughed up the blood.

Zhou Zhiruo beside her couldn't help but gasp and turn her head away.

Looking at Ding Minjun, who had fallen to the ground, Miejue's hand trembled involuntarily.

But she quickly retracted her hand into her sleeve and declared loudly, "Remember, all Emei disciples must not turn their weapons against fellow disciples. Those who harm fellow disciples will be killed without mercy."

As the words fell, Juechen and a group of Emei disciples and elders quickly responded.

"We obey the Sect Leader's command."

Gu Shao'an first glanced at Ding Minjun on the ground, then looked at Miejue.

"As expected, there are no wrong names, only wrong titles. 'Upper Miejue, Lower Miejue.' My Shifu really doesn't hold back when it's time to act!"

Miejue's reputation for hating evil was known throughout the martial arts world, and her methods also struck fear into the hearts of the wicked.

Once she acted, she was ruthless and merciless, judging only right and wrong, not personal feelings.

If it were someone else, they might hesitate, or even be unable to act, when upholding justice against their own kin.

But with Miejue, that was not a concern at all.

After all, Miejue was a ruthless person who could even turn on herself when pushed.

If Ding Minjun had merely turned a blind eye to Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo being surrounded by mountain bandits today, intending to use a borrowed knife to kill them, Miejue might have only crippled Ding Minjun's martial arts and confined her to the Emei forbidden area for life.

But Ding Minjun, as a Shijie, had actually intended to murder her Shidi and Shimei.

And not only Miejue, Gu Shao'an, and Zhou Zhiruo were present, but also Juechen and other Emei Sect elders and disciples.

If Ding Minjun did not die, how could Miejue, as the Sect Leader, maintain her authority?

However, looking back at this bandit suppression mission, from the moment Miejue only brought him, Zhou Zhiruo, and Ding Minjun up the mountain, she had already been setting up a plan to test Ding Minjun.

As for the reason, Gu Shao'an vaguely felt it was related to himself.

For a sect, a disciple with outstanding talent is extremely important.

Miejue had dedicated her life to expanding the Emei Sect and eradicating the Ming Cult.

The talent she had previously displayed likely made Miejue believe that the Emei Sect could prosper because of him in the future.

This was why she had set up this situation to test Ding Minjun.

However, regardless of Miejue's intentions today, her starting point was for Gu Shao'an's own good.

Gu Shao'an could only accept this kindness.

At this moment, Miejue turned her head to glance at Ding Minjun on the ground again.

Finally, she sighed and waved her hand at Juechen, saying, "After all, they were master and disciple. Find two disciples to bury her in a place with good feng shui!"

Juechen nodded and casually summoned a few disciples to carry away Ding Minjun's body.

While Juechen and the other Emei Sect disciples continued their search in the mountain stronghold, Miejue turned and looked at Gu Shao'an.

"What did you hide in your left sleeve?"

Gu Shao'an did not conceal it. He released the fingers that had been holding his sleeve shut, and some medicinal powder scattered into his palm.

"This is some medicinal powder I prepared before coming down the mountain. When sprinkled, it can cause people to fall unconscious."

After all, it was his first time descending the mountain, and Gu Shao'an's current strength was insufficient. Besides preparing powder to detect poisons, he had also prepared some medicines with different effects for emergencies.

Miejue's gaze swept over the medicinal powder in Gu Shao'an's hand. After a slight pause, she said, "A martial artist's strength comes from within themselves. Harming others with poison is ultimately not the act of a righteous path. Such methods, unless in a moment of extreme danger, are best not used."

Gu Shao'an nodded. "This disciple understands."

Seeing Gu Shao'an respond so readily, Miejue nodded gently.

Her stern expression softened slightly.

But thinking of Ding Minjun, Miejue couldn't help but sigh again.

Regarding the plot involving Ding Minjun, this author admits it was a bit rushed, mainly because I was worried that if it dragged on too long, some readers might find it boring, spending so much space on a supporting character. However, after reading the comments and confirming everyone's opinions, I will dedicate more space to developing similar plot points in the future, so that the process isn't so rough!