Youth is Indeed Good

The night was deep, and Zhou Zhiruo remained silent for a long time, her body trembling slightly as she pressed close to Gu Shao'an.

Gu Shao'an's words had cast huge stones into the tranquil lake of her young heart, stirring not ripples, but a tempest.

She raised her head, looking towards Miejue's courtyard with a faint daze.

At this moment, the young Zhou Zhiruo seemed to have truly touched, for the first time, the mountain-like coldness and the burning loneliness contained within the words "Sect Leader".

It was no longer a distant majesty, but a responsibility filled with blood, tears, and choices.

The night wind stirred her hair, as if plucking at her chaotic and reshaping thoughts.

Gu Shao'an didn't disturb her, merely sitting quietly beside her. He knew this seed needed time to take root in her heart.

After a long while, Zhou Zhiruo spoke softly, "So, Shifu carried so much by herself."

Gu Shao'an nodded. "Indeed! Becoming a Sect Leader isn't difficult, but becoming a Sect Leader with responsibility and a sense of duty is incredibly hard."

Unlike Sect Leader Yue of the Huashan Qi Sect, like Miejue, his lifelong pursuit was to strengthen Mount Hua.

For this single goal, would he even be willing to castrate himself, to personally trample his dignity as a man underfoot?

Mercy does not command armies, and righteousness does not manage wealth. As a sect leader, one should eliminate worries before they arise.

If one were to truly pick fault, in Gu Shao'an's eyes, Miejue's actions were too radical and biased.

It was almost a one-size-fits-all approach.

Moreover, what Miejue did today was also somewhat underhanded.

If Miejue hadn't created such a suitable environment for Ding Minjun, Ding Minjun might not have dared to lay hands on Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo.

Human hearts, this thing, can never withstand testing.

Although Gu Shao'an understood all of this in his heart, he didn't feel anything about it.

At this moment, Zhou Zhiruo turned her head to look at Gu Shao'an.

"Shifu values you, my junior brother, so highly, and your talent is so immense. You also see things so clearly. If you were to become Sect Leader in the future, you would surely bring glory to Emei, just like Shifu."

Hearing this, Gu Shao'an chuckled and slowly shook his head.

"Who the Sect Leader is doesn't matter, as long as they are good for Emei."

"For me, what's important right now isn't the position of Sect Leader."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiruo became interested.

"What is your goal, junior brother?"

Gu Shao'an smiled lightly, "Are you asking about my goal before today? Or after today?"

Zhou Zhiruo blinked her watery eyes, confused. "Is there a difference?"

Gu Shao'an said softly, "Of course, and a very big difference."

"Before today, my goal was simple: to cultivate diligently and improve my strength with all my might."

Zhou Zhiruo asked, "And after today?"

Gu Shao'an paused. "Still cultivating diligently, doing my best to improve my strength within these ten years."

Zhou Zhiruo carefully compared Gu Shao'an's previous and current statements, her delicate willow eyebrows furrowing, her face full of confusion. "Your two goals seem to have no difference, junior brother."

Gu Shao'an shook his head. "The difference is huge. Because before today, improving my strength was just for myself. But after today, besides for myself, it will also be for Shifu and Emei."

Seeing that Zhou Zhiruo still didn't understand, Gu Shao'an raised his hand and rubbed her head.

"It means cultivating diligently. When my strength is great, I'll support and back up my senior sister, Shifu, and everyone in Emei."

Speaking of this, Gu Shao'an couldn't help but sigh.

Bad people never let others off, while good people never let themselves off.

Yet Gu Shao'an possessed both, being both good and bad.

He wasn't so bad as to commit all sorts of evil, nor so good as to sacrifice himself for others.

This also made it impossible for Gu Shao'an to be ungrateful or have a heart of stone.

Miejue's meticulous care and patient guidance over the past month could certainly be called that of a good teacher.

Coupled with what happened today, Gu Shao'an could clearly feel that Miejue was truly protecting him, her disciple, with all her heart.

Since the master's kindness has been established, as long as Miejue does nothing to betray Gu Shao'an in the future, this kindness will forever be greater than the heavens.

Miejue's affairs would naturally become Gu Shao'an's affairs.

Gu Shao'an could not turn a blind eye to any future misfortunes that befell Miejue.

If Miejue and Emei could protect Gu Shao'an for these ten years, Gu Shao'an would also do his utmost to protect Miejue and Emei.

To back up Miejue and Emei.

As for helping reason over personal ties...

A disciple helping their master is reasonable, logical, and justifiable.

If the reasons from both sides differ, then they will clash, and we'll see whose reason is more robust.

Zhou Zhiruo didn't know what Gu Shao'an was thinking. Facing Gu Shao'an's last sentence, she responded with a look of agreement, "Junior Disciple, your talent is so high, your future strength will definitely surpass Shifu. If anything really happens, you'll definitely be able to protect Shifu and me."

Gu Shao'an turned his head and looked at Zhou Zhiruo, who was responding earnestly. His smile became a bit more innocent.

"That's for sure, but Senior Disciple, you have to work hard. You're a Senior Disciple, and protecting Shifu and the Emei Sect is also your responsibility."

Zhou Zhiruo nodded, "I will work twice as hard from now on. When Junior Disciple cultivates, I will cultivate too. When the time comes, I can also help Shifu and protect our Emei."

Listening to Zhou Zhiruo's words, Gu Shao'an couldn't help but smile.

He had to admit, having a simple-minded Senior Disciple to tease was quite nice.

Especially since this simple-minded Senior Disciple was so easy on the eyes.

Teasing her was even more fun.

Having already gone through several battles, both Gu Shao'an and Zhou Zhiruo were exhausted.

After their conversation, Zhou Zhiruo's emotions were soothed, and sleepiness washed over her.

As they chatted, her head tilted, and she leaned onto Gu Shao'an's shoulder.

Feeling the sudden weight on his neck, Gu Shao'an's words came to an abrupt halt.

"Youth is truly good. When you're tired and sleepy, you can just fall asleep like that, even leaning your head over."

Muttering to himself, Gu Shao'an gently closed his eyes and began to cultivate his inner force.

However, Gu Shao'an, who was already immersed in cultivation, and Zhou Zhiruo, who had fallen asleep, didn't notice.

Just as they were talking, on the rooftop behind them, Miejue stood motionless like a sculpture, taking in their entire conversation. Her emotions churned, and she couldn't calm down for a long time.

People's hearts are made of flesh and blood.

How could Miejue truly have a heart of stone?

But as Gu Shao'an said, Miejue, as the Sect Leader of the Emei Sect, could not let personal feelings dictate her actions. Everything had to be for the sake of Emei first.

For decades, she had not dared to slack off in the development of Emei.

Externally, even when she knew certain things were wrong, she had to maintain a tough stance.

It wasn't because Miejue was foolish enough not to know right from wrong, but because in the martial world, people always bully the weak and fear the strong.

In such a dog-eat-dog world, if one hesitated and retreated at every turn, others would only think that Miejue was weak and easily bullied, and that Emei was easy to bully.

Only by presenting a strong front could other forces be made to be wary.

Many things were beyond her control, yet she had to do them.

The fact that Emei could develop to its current state, with ordinary forces not daring to offend it, was it not also because Miejue bore all the infamy herself?

Now, who could remember that before succeeding the Sect Leader position, Miejue was once innocent and carefree, and once smiled at people?

If given the choice, who wouldn't want to be like Zhang Sanfeng, renowned and respected?

Miejue had thought that in this life, apart from the elders who had already passed away and her absent senior brother, no one else could understand her difficulties.

She never expected that a junior disciple who had only joined for a little over a month could understand the hardships of being in her position.

Recalling Gu Shao'an's words just now, Miejue didn't know why, but the emotions in her heart seemed to break through like the Yellow River breaching its banks.

This forced Miejue to tilt her head back, holding back the tears that threatened to well up in her eyes.

After a long while, she lowered her eyes and looked at the figure sitting with his eyes closed below. Miejue truly felt that the heavens were not unfair all these years.

They had actually allowed her, Miejue, the fortune to take in such an excellent disciple.

It was enough to comfort her for a lifetime.