No One Is Not Worthy of Death

His Qinggong technique was in motion, allowing Gu Shaoan to move with incredible speed. In just a few blinks of an eye, he had covered fifteen meters.

In contrast, the two guards at the entrance of the mountain stronghold only saw a blur of movement before a gust of wind hit them in the face!

The bandit on the left was filled with terror. Reacting instinctively, he swung his saber down with all his might! Amidst the whistling wind, the blade flashed menacingly.

Gu Shaoan continued his charge. Facing the deadly blade, he twisted his wrist!

His longsword, like a tender willow in spring, nimbly "stuck" to the side of the saber.

The moment they touched, a flexible, clinging force erupted from the sword.

The force surged, and the burly bandit felt his saber instantly become incredibly heavy, as if it had sunk into thick mud.

This was the second move of the Willow Catkin Sword Technique.

"Willow Threads Gently Brush."

His powerful downward slash was suddenly "pulled" by this strange, soft force, causing its trajectory to veer off course.

With a "clang," the saber deeply embedded itself into the wooden pillar on the right.

Gu Shaoan spun with the momentum, Qi rising from his Dantian. He channeled his strength into his left palm, pushing as if parting waves, and struck the burly bandit directly in the waist.

The big man's momentum from his saber strike was still ongoing. Being hit by Gu Shaoan's palm directly on his waist, coupled with the pain, completely threw off his balance.

With a muffled "thump," the latter bandit fell heavily onto the stone steps like a rolling gourd, his head hitting the ground, and he immediately passed out.

The entire process was so fast, taking no more than a few blinks of an eye, that the first bandit was dealt with by Gu Shaoan.

At this moment, the other bandit, tall and thin, finally reacted. He roared and swung his saber at Gu Shaoan.

Gu Shaoan, already prepared, slipped away like a phantom. His sword followed his body, and he once again employed "Willow Threads Gently Brush." The sword's spine, like a living snake flicking its tongue, made a "snap" sound as it precisely touched the incoming saber again.

The soft force was applied repeatedly. His wrist flicked rapidly three times like a nimble snake, creating several afterimages. Gu Shaoan's sword tip then trembled and slid down like a venomous snake.

Chii! Chii!

Two almost inaudible tearing sounds suddenly rang out.

The cold sword edge had flashed twice across the inner side of the tall and thin bandit's right wrist, and blood instantly spurted out!

"Ah~"

The tall and thin man's heart-wrenching scream was only halfway out!

Gu Shaoan employed his "Dragon's Three Appearances" footwork again, moving like a shadow! His sword light flickered, a cold star shooting towards the opponent's supporting ankle! Precise! Sharp!

Chii!

The sword tip pierced through the tendons of his right ankle without any obstruction.

The scream escalated to its peak of agony.

The tall and thin man immediately rolled to the ground, blood gushing from his wrists and ankles, completely losing his ability to move.

In an instant, before the mountain stronghold's gate, only the unconscious and the screaming bandits remained, along with Gu Shaoan, sword in hand, his face young and his build small.

However, if one observed closely, they would notice Gu Shaoan's chest heaving unevenly.

After all, this was his first time facing enemies alone, and they were notorious bandits.

At this moment, Gu Shaoan's heart was pounding, and a surge of hot blood seemed to be coursing through him, making him inexplicably excited.

From the moment Gu Shaoan made his move until the fight was over, it had only taken about ten breaths of time.

Watching Gu Shaoan stand there with his sword, Zhou Zhiruo's eyes sparkled.

"Junior Brother is so amazing!"

In Miejue's eyes, although Gu Shaoan had used his sword in the fight, he hadn't been confined to it. He had also utilized the Golden Summit Cotton Palm when appropriate.

The combination of three martial arts was quite commendable.

Only Ding Minjun stood beside Miejue, silent, her gaze lowered.

"Hoo!"

Before the mountain stronghold's gate, Gu Shaoan took several deep breaths, and the feeling of excitement within him gradually subsided.

He lowered his head and looked at the bandit before him, whose hands and feet he had disabled and who was now writhing in pain. Gu Shaoan's gaze sharpened.

The next second, Gu Shaoan's five fingers tightened around the sword hilt. A cold glint flashed, and a light breeze swept across the bandit

Only after this mountain bandit also lost his life did Gu Shaoan let out a long sigh of turbid Qi and turn back to Miejue.

"Master."

Looking at Gu Shaoan, whose right hand was still tightly gripping the sword hilt and whose face held a more solemn expression, Miejue pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Why did you kill them?"

Gu Shaoan replied without hesitation, "Because these people deserved to die."

Miejue seemed intrigued and asked, "These two were merely guards at the entrance of the stronghold. They might not be inherently evil. Are you not worried about your conscience for killing them without investigating their crimes?"

Gu Shaoan said gravely, "According to the investigation by Uncle-Master Juechen yesterday, the bandits on Blackwood Mountain are wicked in every way. While some in the stronghold may not participate in every raid on merchant caravans and travelers, they all live within the stronghold and their sustenance comes from robbery and murder."

"The people within the stronghold enjoy these benefits and conveniences, so they bear a share of the blame for the deaths and suffering of those who were killed and harmed."

"Therefore, everyone in this stronghold deserves to die."

Listening to Gu Shaoan's answer, Zhou Zhiruo, who was beside them, fell into thought.

Miejue, however, laughed heartily, "Good! I never expected that Shaoan, at your young age, could have such insight into matters."

"Indeed! All the bandits on Blackwood Mountain enjoy their daily lives through ill-gotten gains from robbery and murder. Their wealth is stained with blood, making them wicked."

"There is indeed no innocent person among the bandits in this stronghold. They deserve to die. Shaoan, you did well, very well."

Miejue did not hide her praise for Gu Shaoan.

The martial world saw battles every day, people killed every day, and people were killed every day.

But as a righteous sect, Emei, and as a disciple of Emei, one could not kill for the sake of killing. Instead, one had to understand why they were killing.

Otherwise, what difference would there be between them and the demonic cultists?

A few breaths later, Miejue, along with Zhou Zhiruo and Ding Minjun, walked up to Gu Shaoan.

Miejue, being extremely observant, noticed as she approached that Gu Shaoan's right hand was still tightly clenched around the Chengxin Sword. She knew then that Gu Shaoan's emotions were not as simple as they appeared.

With that, Miejue raised her hand and gently patted Gu Shaoan's head.

Her voice, softer than ever, said, "Killing is not a good thing. But as you said to Zhiruo earlier, killing those who deserve to die is benevolence, and sparing those who deserve to die is wickedness."

"Since you have done a good deed, you should feel at ease. What you did today is meritorious and without fault."

Gu Shaoan, on the other hand, was stunned and looked at Miejue as she spoke.

"Master, were you eavesdropping on me?"

Miejue: "..."