Do Not Indulge Even the Smallest Evil

After one incense stick time, led by several elders, all the Emei disciples participating in this bandit suppression operation gathered before the mountain stronghold.

Besides the Emei disciples, there were also dozens of women, most of them quite pretty.

However, none of them looked well, and some were still improperly dressed.

They were the women the Mountain Bandits had abducted to the mountain over the past half year for their daily amusement.

After sweeping her gaze over the crowd, Miejue said, "First, find out whether any of them still have family alive. If they do, help send them home. If they have nowhere to go, take them back to the city and have the disciples there arrange some means of livelihood for them."

Neither Juechen nor the other elders found Miejue's instructions unusual.

These were harsh times. Once women without the strength to defend themselves met with misfortune, their fate was even more tragic.

In the past, whenever they encountered such unfortunate women or orphans, under Miejue's orders, they generally did all they could and offered whatever help was within their power.

As for the rest, they could only leave it to fate.

That was why, in the martial world, although people called Miejue ruthless, fierce, and often unreasonable,

no one criticized the conduct of Miejue or Emei in their daily affairs.

On the way down the mountain, some of the Emei disciples whispered among themselves, their faces flushed with excitement, while others had gone pale, their thoughts still trapped in the scenes of slaughter against the Mountain Bandits.

This bandit suppression had not been a major matter to begin with, so the Emei disciples brought along were all disciples who had never seen blood before. They had been brought out for experience as well.

The same rice fed a hundred different kinds of people. Different people reacted differently to the same experiences.

Yet after experiencing certain things often enough, most people grew accustomed to them.

That was the martial world.

Behind Miejue, Zhou Zhiruo was much quieter than usual.

Gu Shao'an did not speak either.

His thoughts churned as he continuously reviewed the battle with the Mountain Bandits and searched for the shortcomings in his earlier fighting.

Just then, Miejue's voice suddenly rang out.

"Shao'an, Zhiruo."

When the two of them looked up at Miejue, who had her back to them, her voice slowly sounded again.

"Take what happened with Minjun today as a warning. Do not commit evil simply because it seems small, and do not neglect good simply because it seems small. Good is good, and evil is evil."

"As Emei disciples, you must hold kindness in your hearts. Do not indulge even the smallest evil."

Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo nodded together.

"This disciple understands."

Miejue gave a soft hum and said nothing more.

Yet both of them clearly heard the long sigh that followed.

It sounded as though it had been worn down by wind and frost, filled with exhaustion.

An hour later.

Inside the residence in the eastern part of Jade Mountain City, Gu Shao'an sat cross-legged, his expression tranquil, like a meditating monk.

A moment later, feeling the inner strength within him replenish once more, Gu Shao'an smiled inwardly.

The "Emei Nine Yang Skill" originated from the "Nine Yang Manual."

Its recovery of inner strength was inherently superior to that of ordinary internal cultivation methods.

Furthermore, Gu Shao'an's foundation was exceptionally solid, and the "Emei Nine Yang Skill First Level" had reached the perfected level.

This allowed the "Emei Nine Yang Skill" to display its full effects.

Otherwise, with the inner strength Gu Shao'an had cultivated for barely over a month, how could he have fought for so long on Blackwood Mountain without exhausting it?

Knock, knock, knock.

Just then, Gu Shao'an suddenly noticed a shadow pacing back and forth outside his door.

A series of knocks suddenly sounded.

"Junior Brother, are you asleep?"

Hearing Zhou Zhiruo's soft voice, Gu Shao'an rose and opened the door.

Before his eyes was Zhou Zhiruo's pretty face, filled with confusion.

Looking at Gu Shao'an, Zhou Zhiruo seemed somewhat embarrassed as she lowered her voice. "Did I disturb your cultivation, Junior Brother?"

Taking in Zhou Zhiruo's expression, Gu Shao'an first waved his hand. "I've already finished cultivating."

Then, Gu Shao'an took the initiative and said, "I just finished cultivating, so I was about to come out for some fresh air."

As he spoke, Gu Shao'an stepped out of the room and sat down on the threshold.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhiruo sat down beside him as well.

The night was dark and the wind was high. When they looked up at the sky, all they saw was a stretch of darkness without even the faintest starlight.

But Zhou Zhiruo's mind was clearly not on that.

Staring into the night sky with slightly vacant eyes, she said, "Little Junior Brother, Second Senior Sister had stayed at Emei for more than twenty years. How did she end up dying like that today?"

Without waiting for Gu Shao'an to answer, Zhou Zhiruo spoke again.

"And aren't we fellow disciples? Why did Second Senior Sister want to harm us? Did we do something before that made her angry?"

Gu Shao'an did not rush to answer Zhou Zhiruo's question. Instead, he asked, "If, in the future, I did something that angered Fourth Senior Sister, would Fourth Senior Sister harm me?"

Zhou Zhiruo did not hesitate in the slightest when faced with Gu Shao'an's question.

"How could that be possible? You're my Junior Brother. Even if you made me angry, you would still be my Junior Brother. How could I harm you?"

Gu Shao'an continued, "Then what about Eldest Senior Sister, Second Senior Sister, or Third Senior Sister?"

Zhou Zhiruo's small face was filled with seriousness. "Of course they wouldn't either."

Gu Shao'an nodded. "Then why would Shijie think that Second Senior Sister would harm us for that reason alone?"

"This..."

Zhou Zhiruo suddenly fell silent, unsure how to answer.

Then Gu Shao'an said again, "Shijie needs to understand that people are different. Shijie is kind, but that does not mean others are kind at heart as well. Never use your own standards to judge or understand others."

"That is also why Shijie cannot understand why Second Senior Sister would suddenly harbor malicious intentions and turn on her fellow disciples."

"As for why Second Senior Sister suddenly drew her sword against us, once Shijie has spent a few more years in the martial world, gained more experience, and encountered more things, Shijie will understand why she did it."

Zhou Zhiruo asked, "Junior Brother is so clever. You must already know the reason. Why can't you tell me now?"

Gu Shao'an shook his head. "Even if I told Shijie now, Shijie still would not understand. Rather than that, it would be better to understand later."

What happened with Ding Minjun today also involved Miejue.

It was somewhat complicated.

If he explained it too thoroughly, it would inevitably affect Zhou Zhiruo's state of mind. It would do more harm than good.

Seeing that Gu Shao'an was unwilling to speak, Zhou Zhiruo sighed softly and did not press further.

After a while, Zhou Zhiruo spoke again. "Second Senior Sister had been at Emei for more than twenty years, yet Master killed her today without the slightest hesitation. I wonder how Master could bear to do it?"

Hearing this, Gu Shao'an asked, "Does Shijie think Master's punishment of Second Senior Sister today was too severe?"

Zhou Zhiruo did not answer, but was her silence not an admission of Gu Shao'an's words?

Seeing this, Gu Shao'an thought for a moment before asking, "Does Shijie think being the head of a sect is easy or difficult?"