Skull Crusher

After Juechen left, Miejue took a deep breath, forcefully suppressed the anger in her heart, and then looked at Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo.

"Do you know why, before we took action, I sent someone to investigate the bandit's lair?"

Zhou Zhiruo thought for a moment and replied, "Master, is this to avoid wrongly killing good people?"

Miejue nodded, "There is that reason."

Zhou Zhiruo looked puzzled and said, "But weren't the news about the mountain bandits plaguing Yushan City delivered by our senior sister stationed in Yushan City? Why did Master still need to investigate again?"

Miejue said solemnly, "This is also something I want you to remember. For anything, if you haven't seen it with your own eyes, you must not believe one-sided words, lest you be used by others and become a blade in someone else's hand."

Zhou Zhiruo hesitated and said, "But won't this make the senior sister who sent the message feel untrusted?"

Miejue shook her head, "A gentleman is open-minded. If everything is done right, why worry about being investigated?"

"Although it will take more effort, it will also bring more peace of mind."

"Remember, our Emei sect is a righteous sect, not a demonic cult that kills innocent people indiscriminately. This is the principle by which our Emei disciples walk the jianghu."

"So when you two walk the jianghu in the future, you must also remember not to kill innocent people indiscriminately."

By the end, Miejue's expression and tone had become more solemn.

Zhou Zhiruo nodded seriously like a well-behaved student.

By now, Gu Shaoan could see that this time Miejue brought the two of them for training, not only to increase their experience and temper their courage, but also to instill a worldview in them along the way.

This was to prevent them from having great strength in the future but being unable to distinguish between good and evil, and going astray.

Seeing that the two had understood from Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo's reactions, Miejue changed the subject.

"Furthermore, my master and your Uncle Juechen and other elders have enough strength to protect themselves, but this time, other Emei disciples are also involved in eradicating the bandits."

"If the situation in the bandit's lair is unclear, it will undoubtedly add some danger when eradicating the bandits."

"When you two act in the future, you must also remember that only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you win a hundred battles."

"If you can find a way to reduce the danger your fellow disciples might encounter beforehand and do not do it, it is foolish."

As Miejue slowly revealed the true meaning behind sending people to investigate beforehand, her gaze swept over Ding Minjun, who was standing beside her.

After a moment of thought, she spoke, "Tonight, to ensure safety, I will personally deal with the three bandit leaders. I will inevitably be distracted then."

"Minjun, remember to look after Shaoan and Zhiruo then. Make sure nothing happens to them."

Ding Minjun respectfully replied, "Master, please rest assured. I will do my best to look after my junior brother and junior sister."

"Good! Seeing you so close makes this master very pleased."

Miejue nodded and smiled.

The night was deep, and the stars were not visible.

Heimu Mountain.

As the steepest mountain outside Yushan City, it only had two paths connecting the mountainside and the foot of the mountain.

The rest of the area consisted of steep cliffs.

Given the terrain, it was definitely easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Even when facing the officials, the bandits on Heimu Mountain could rely on the terrain to repel their enemies.

Although Yushan City had defenders, they numbered only a few hundred. With such a small force, it was wishful thinking to eradicate the bandits on the mountain.

This was why, for half a year, the bandits in Yushan City had not only been unharmed but had also shown a growing trend.

Beside a forest about three li away from the stockade on the mountainside, Zhao Laosan was hiding behind a rock.

He swatted a mosquito on his neck, wiped himself, and then said in a low voice, "Damn it, there are so many people in the stockade, can't they take turns guarding? They have to make me guard this damn place alone for three months."

Thinking about how those people in the stockade were having fun on the bellies of those young women while he was here feeding mosquitoes, Zhao Laosan felt a surge of anger and suffocation.

However, at that moment, a cool breeze suddenly blew from behind.

Immediately, a hand appeared silently above Zhao Laosan and struck down quickly and forcefully.

When the palm landed on his crown, Zhao Laosan seemed to clearly hear the sound of his skull cracking.

A few breaths later, several figures stepped forward and looked at Zhao Laosan, who had fallen to the ground.

"I didn't expect these bandits to be so cautious. From the foot of the mountain to the mountainside, they have set up six hidden sentries."

To be honest, if Miejue hadn't already arranged for Juechen and others to secretly scout the mountain beforehand, Gu Shaoan wouldn't have thought that some bandits would be so careful.

Miejue said, "Never underestimate anyone. Let alone bandits, even beggars by the roadside, or ordinary small vendors, may seem insignificant, but if you are careless, you might bring trouble upon yourself."

Gu Shaoan nodded, "Disciple understands."

With that, Gu Shaoan glanced at Zhao Laosan, who was bleeding from all seven orifices and clearly dead, and his eyelids twitched.

Six hidden sentries, and Miejue struck each one with a simple and direct palm, crushing their skulls.

Clearly a Skull Crusher.

"Master likes to smash people's skulls so much, does this move feel different?"

After muttering a few words to himself, Gu Shaoan followed behind Miejue and the others towards the bandit stockade.

He gazed into the distance, spotting buildings with visible lights. Thinking about the imminent action, Gu Shaoan tightened his grip on his longsword, a strange excitement stirring within him.

Thick, dark clouds obscured the stars and moon, leaving only a few flickering lights from the mountain stronghold to cast a dim, yellow glow, stretching distorted shadows across the stone steps and barricades. The mountain wind whispered through the trees, but it couldn't drown out the faint sounds of revelry and lewd laughter drifting from the stronghold in the distance.

At the entrance to the stronghold, two bandits leaned against rough wooden pillars, greatswords in hand, yawning out of boredom. The one on the right was tall and thin, rubbing his waist, which ached from standing for so long.

The other was burly, picking black dirt from under his fingernails.

Suddenly, the bandit rubbing his waist froze. His narrowed eyes snapped open, staring intently at the edge of the impenetrable darkness below the stone steps.

"Who's there?!"

His companion jolted, also grabbing his greatsword, his voice trembling with startled suspicion.

From the darkness, several indistinct figures emerged like mountain spirits or specters, silently stepping onto the stone stairs.

Who else could it be but Miejue and her companions?

However, Miejue paid no attention to the two bandits, instead looking at Gu Shaoan.

Understanding Miejue's intent, Gu Shaoan didn't waste words. He drew his longsword and took a deep breath.

The excitement of his first battlefield, mingled with tension, surged in his chest, urging the Internal Energy within him to flow faster.

The next second, Gu Shaoan pushed off the ground. Fueled by the explosive power of the Three Manifestations of the Divine Dragon, he shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, skimming the ground!