The night was deep. Zhou Zhiruo remained silent for a long while, her body pressed close to Gu Shao'an's trembling faintly.
Gu Shao'an's words had dropped a massive stone into the lake of her young heart, stirring not ripples, but raging waves.
She raised her head and stared blankly toward the courtyard where Miejue lived.
At that moment, young Zhou Zhiruo seemed to truly touch, for the first time, the mountain-heavy coldness and burning loneliness contained within the words "sect leader."
It was no longer lofty authority, but responsibility filled with blood, tears, and difficult choices.
The night wind stirred her hair, as though plucking at her confused yet reshaping thoughts.
Gu Shao'an did not disturb her. He merely sat quietly at her side. He knew this seed needed time to take root in her heart.
After a long while, Zhou Zhiruo spoke softly. "So Master has been carrying so much all by herself."
Gu Shao'an nodded. "Yes. Becoming a sect leader is not difficult, but becoming one with responsibility and a sense of duty is far too difficult."
Take Sect Leader Yue of the Huashan Qi Sect. Like Miejue, his life's pursuit was to strengthen Huashan.
For that single goal, had he not even willingly castrated himself, personally trampling a man's pride beneath his feet?
Mercy could not command troops, and righteousness could not manage wealth. As the leader of a sect, one had to prevent trouble before it arose.
If he had to point out flaws, then in Gu Shao'an's eyes, Miejue acted too aggressively and one-sidedly.
It was almost as though she handled everything with a single slash of the blade.
And regarding what happened today, Miejue had also acted somewhat unfairly.
If Miejue had not created such a suitable environment for Ding Minjun, Ding Minjun might not have dared to make a move against Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo.
The human heart was never something that could withstand temptation.
Though Gu Shao'an understood all of this, he did not think much of it.
At that moment, Zhou Zhiruo turned her head to look at Gu Shao'an.
"Master values you so highly, little junior brother. Your talent is so great, and you see matters so clearly. If you become sect leader in the future, you will surely make Emei flourish just as Master has."
Hearing this, Gu Shao'an chuckled and slowly shook his head.
"Who becomes sect leader is not important, so long as it is good for Emei."
"As for me, the position of sect leader is not what matters right now."
Zhou Zhiruo became interested upon hearing that.
"What is your goal, little junior brother?"
Gu Shao'an smiled lightly. "Are you asking about my goal before today, Shijie, or after today?"
Zhou Zhiruo blinked her bright, watery eyes. "Is there a difference?"
Gu Shao'an said softly, "Of course there is, and it is a great difference."
"Before today, my goal was simple. It was merely to cultivate diligently and do everything I could to increase my strength."
Zhou Zhiruo asked, "And after today?"
Gu Shao'an paused. "It is still to cultivate diligently and raise my strength as much as possible within these ten years."
Zhou Zhiruo carefully compared what Gu Shao'an had said before and after. Her willow-like brows furrowed slightly as she asked in confusion, "Your two goals do not seem any different, junior brother."
Gu Shao'an shook his head. "They are very different. Before today, I sought strength only for myself. But after today, aside from myself, I will also do it for Master and Emei."
Seeing that Zhou Zhiruo still did not understand, Gu Shao'an raised a hand and rubbed her head.
"It means cultivating hard, then becoming strong enough to stand up for Shijie, Master, and everyone in Emei—to have their backs."
As he said this, Gu Shao'an could not help sighing.
Bad people never spared others, while good people never spared themselves.
And Gu Shao'an possessed both qualities, good and bad alike.
He was not bad enough to commit every evil, nor good enough to sacrifice himself for others.
This also meant Gu Shao'an could not be ungrateful or hard-hearted.
Over the past month, Miejue's meticulous care and patient guidance had absolutely made her a fine teacher.
What had happened today also allowed Gu Shao'an to clearly feel that Miejue truly had been wholeheartedly protecting him, her disciple.
Since he had already received her grace as a teacher, then so long as Miejue did nothing to wrong him in the future, that grace would forever outweigh the heavens.
Miejue's affairs would naturally become Gu Shao'an's affairs as well.
If calamity befell Miejue in the future, Gu Shao'an could not possibly stand by and watch.
If Miejue and Emei could protect Gu Shao'an for these ten years, then Gu Shao'an would also do everything in his power to protect Miejue and Emei.
He would have Miejue and Emei's backs.
As for helping reason rather than relatives—
A disciple helping his master was only natural and perfectly justified.
If the reason on each side differed, then they could clash and see whose reasoning was tougher.
Zhou Zhiruo did not know what Gu Shao'an was thinking. In response to his final words, she said with wholehearted agreement, "Your talent is so high, little junior brother. Your strength will surely surpass Master's in the future. If anything truly happens, you will definitely be able to protect Master and me."
Gu Shao'an turned his head and looked at Zhou Zhiruo, who was answering him so seriously. His smile became a little more innocent.
"That is certain. But Shijie must work hard too. You are the senior sister, after all. Supporting Master and the Emei Sect is also partly your responsibility."
Zhou Zhiruo nodded. "I will work twice as hard from now on. Whenever junior brother cultivates, I will cultivate too. Then I can share Master's burdens in the future and protect our Emei."
Hearing Zhou Zhiruo's words, Gu Shao'an could not help smiling.
He had to admit, having a slightly silly senior sister to tease now and then felt quite nice.
Especially when that silly senior sister was so pleasing to the eye.
That made teasing her even more fun.
Having already gone through several battles, both Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo were exhausted.
After this conversation eased Zhou Zhiruo's emotions, drowsiness rose within her.
As they talked, her head suddenly tilted, and she leaned against Gu Shao'an's shoulder.
Feeling the sudden weight upon his neck, Gu Shao'an's words came to an abrupt stop.
"Youth really is good. When you're tired and sleepy, you can fall asleep the moment your head hits the pillow—or just tilt your head and sleep."
After muttering this, Gu Shao'an lightly closed his eyes and began circulating his inner power to cultivate.
However, Gu Shao'an, already immersed in cultivation, and the sleeping Zhou Zhiruo failed to notice.
While they had just been talking, Miejue had stood motionless like a statue upon the roof behind them, hearing every word they said. Her thoughts churned, and she could not calm herself for a long while.
Every heart was made of flesh.
How could Miejue truly be made of stone?
But just as Gu Shao'an had said, as the leader of the Emei Sect, Miejue could not be bound by personal feelings. Everything had to put Emei first.
For decades, she had worked for Emei's development without daring to slacken in the slightest.
When dealing with outsiders, even when she knew she was in the wrong, she could only adopt a hardline stance in many matters.
It was not because Miejue was too foolish to distinguish right from wrong, but because the martial world had always bullied the weak and feared the strong.
In such a dog-eat-dog martial world, if she hesitated and retreated at every step, people would only think that Miejue was weak and easy to bully, that Emei was easy to bully.
Only by displaying strength could she make other forces wary.
Many things were beyond her control, yet she had no choice but to do them.
That Emei had developed to its present state, with ordinary forces not daring to offend it, was it not because Miejue had gathered every bit of infamy upon herself?
Who could remember now that before inheriting the position of sect leader, Miejue had once been innocent and carefree, once greeted others with a smile?
If possible, who would not want to be like Zhang Sanfeng, with both a great reputation and awe-inspiring prestige?
Miejue had believed that in this life, aside from the elders who had already passed away and her senior brother, who was likewise no longer around, no one would understand her hardships.
Yet she had never expected that a young disciple who had entered the sect only a little over a month ago would understand the difficulties of standing in her position.
As she recalled what Gu Shao'an had just said, Miejue did not know why, but the emotions in her heart seemed to burst apart like the Yellow River breaching its banks.
She had no choice but to raise her head and force back the surging emotions in her eyes.
After a long while, she lowered her gaze and looked at the figure sitting below with closed eyes. For the first time in many years, Miejue truly felt that Heaven had not been unfair.
It had actually allowed her, Miejue, the fortune of accepting such an outstanding disciple.
That alone was enough to comfort her for a lifetime.
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