Good Listener, Good Learner, Good Diligence

After all, the bandits involved this time weren't just ordinary people. There were martial artists among them as well.

Naturally, aside from Gu Shaoan, Zhou Zhiruo, and Ding Minjun, the three Personal Disciples, Miejue would also bring some ordinary disciples and elders.

As Miejue and the others made their way down Mount Emei, more than a hundred Inner Sect Disciples were already waiting at the foot of the mountain.

Leading them were Master Juechen, whom Gu Shaoan knew well, and two other elders.

The mountain foot had been somewhat noisy, but the moment Miejue appeared, it quickly fell quiet.

One after another, reverent gazes briefly swept over Miejue before settling on Gu Shaoan beside her.

Seeing Gu Shaoan, who was young but handsome and carried himself well, the disciples' eyes lit up.

They had heard that a little boy had suddenly arrived at the women-filled Emei Sect to take the Outer Sect examination, and had even become Miejue's Personal Disciple.

Many disciples were curious about the junior brother who had persuaded Miejue to make an exception and take him under her wing.

Unfortunately, Gu Shaoan had spent almost the entire past month immersed in cultivation, never leaving the rear mountain. The other disciples had heard of him, but never seen him.

Now that they had met him in person, they couldn't help admiring his looks and bearing.

But after taking a closer look, quite a few disciples covered their mouths and giggled.

Gu Shaoan was only eleven, and stood just over four feet tall, yet he was holding a treasured sword a full three feet long.

It looked less like he was holding a long sword and more like he was carrying a stick.

The sight was rather comical.

Feeling the gazes nearly pouncing on him, then seeing the disciples at the foot of the mountain giggling behind their hands, how could Gu Shaoan not guess what his senior sisters were laughing about?

But when he glanced at the sword in his hand, he could only sigh helplessly.

Even though Gu Shaoan was well-developed and tall for his age, he was still only eleven. There was only so tall he could be. What could he do about it?

As Miejue and the others drew near, Master Juechen and the other Emei elders stepped forward to greet them.

"Greetings, Sect Leader!"

Miejue gave a slight nod. Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo then stepped forward to pay their respects.

After rising, Gu Shaoan turned and gave Juechen a solemn bow.

Gu Shaoan wasn't an ungrateful person. When he had encountered bandits and been on the brink of death, it was Juechen who had saved him and even brought him back to Emei.

The debt of a life saved weighed heavier than a mountain.

Gu Shaoan naturally held Juechen in high regard.

Juechen's gaze fell on Gu Shaoan. Seeing that he was full of energy and no longer looked exhausted as he had before arriving at Emei, she could tell he had been doing well over the past month.

A smile appeared on Juechen's face. She nodded, and the worry in her heart finally eased.

Miejue had already asked Juechen about Gu Shaoan's situation. Seeing his respectful gesture now, she too smiled in satisfaction.

In this world, there were plenty of disciples who turned against their masters, even going so far as to attack the very people who had taught them.

What master wouldn't want their disciple to be someone who remembered kindness and repaid it?

Juechen withdrew her gaze and bowed. "Sect Leader, the carriages are ready. Shall we set off now?"

Miejue gave a soft "Mm," then stepped forward. Juechen and the others immediately moved aside.

Gu Shaoan and the rest quickly followed.

"Shaoan, Zhiruo, you're both young and don't have much stamina. Come into the carriage with your master. Minjun, drive it."

When they reached one of the carriages, Miejue spoke.

"Yes, Master."

Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo replied obediently and followed Miejue into the carriage.

A flash of malice crossed Ding Minjun's eyes. She then sat outside the carriage, flicked the reins, and drove the horses forward.

The remaining disciples mounted their horses one after another and escorted the carriages as they set off.

The carriage Miejue rode in had clearly been specially built. It looked ordinary on the outside, but was quite steady inside. Even on the main road, it had none of the violent jolting of an ordinary carriage.

As soon as he boarded, Gu Shaoan closed his eyes and guided the inner energy in his body along the route of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique Second Layer.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhiruo also closed her eyes and began cultivating her inner technique.

"With Shaoan as an example, Zhiruo has become a little more diligent too."

Miejue watched their reactions with satisfaction, then closed her eyes.

[Congratulations, player, for cultivating an Internal Cultivation Method for half an hour. Achievement Points +5.]

Two hours later, another notification appeared before Gu Shaoan, but the inner energy flowing through his body did not return to his Dantian.

Instead, under Gu Shaoan's control, it continued circulating along the route of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique Second Layer, only at a much slower pace.

As the inner energy flowed slowly, Gu Shaoan could clearly feel a faint warmth coursing through his body.

He was using his inner energy to nourish his Meridians.

Only after nourishing his Meridians did Gu Shaoan guide the inner energy back into his Dantian.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Miejue's gentle gaze.

"In just one month, you can already cultivate an Internal Cultivation Method for two hours straight. It seems you've truly followed my advice and nourished your Meridians every day."

Gu Shaoan smiled and replied, "A master teaches and guides their disciples. The martial arts I know were taught to me by you, Master. Every word you say comes from experience. Of course I'll remember it and never slack off."

"Good Listener, Good Learner, Good Diligence. If you can hold fast to just these few qualities, your future achievements will surely be limitless."

Gu Shaoan asked, "Is there some problem with that?"

At this, Miejue chuckled. "Of course."

Zhou Zhiruo also looked over, and Miejue then spoke slowly. "I've seen many people display exceptional talent from a young age. Even I was once young, so how could I not understand the temperament of the young?"

"When they're young, many people have a great deal of drive, but struggle to settle their minds. They're also full of ideas, often given to wild imaginings, and set their sights too high."

"So even when their seniors in the sect give them instructions on cultivation, they may comply outwardly but resist inwardly. They think the rules and advice handed down for centuries are proof that their elders are hopelessly old-fashioned."

"They don't realize that every one of those rules laid down by their seniors is a bitter lesson learned through the experiences of those who came before."

"For example, when cultivating an Internal Cultivation Method, one should finish each session by using inner energy to nourish the Meridians. Only by keeping to this practice can one keep the Meridians unharmed and make them stronger and more resilient."

"Yet most martial artists, when young, think they're special. At first, they might persist in nourishing their Meridians with inner energy every day. But after a while, they'll try doing it every other day."

"Once they see that they can get away with it, they'll stretch the interval from one day to two, then to several."

"And that's how laziness takes root."