Considerate and Gentle Junior Disciple

The sudden cold glint that flashed into view made Zhou Zhiruo involuntarily blink.

When her eyes refocused, she saw a smooth cut across the throat of the bandit on the ground.

Blood was continuously welling from the wound with a "drip, drip" sound.

The bandit on the ground, who had been knocked unconscious, twitched twice before becoming completely still.

Gu Shaoan, standing nearby, sheathed his sword.

Witnessing this scene, Zhou Zhiruo was stunned for a moment, but then her heart relaxed; one less worry.

At the same time, not far away, Miejue was still dispatching bandits with a palm strike each.

However, a portion of Miejue's attention remained fixed on Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo.

Especially when Zhou Zhiruo had faced the bandit earlier, Miejue's True Qi had circulated to its peak, clearly prepared to intervene at any moment.

Under Miejue's watchful gaze, Gu Shaoan's subsequent guidance, and his actions of letting Zhou Zhiruo fight the bandit on her own after she adapted, were all clearly observed by Miejue.

Miejue hadn't spoken explicitly before because she wanted to see how Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo would react to these four bandits.

And Gu Shaoan's reaction far exceeded Miejue's expectations.

Not only did he decisively use Sunset Swordplay to eliminate three bandits in a very short time, but he also protected and guided Zhou Zhiruo as she fought the remaining bandit.

Especially when Zhou Zhiruo was fighting the bandit, Gu Shaoan maintained a posture with his right hand on his sword, ready to act at any moment, which made Miejue's eyes light up.

He acted decisively when necessary, and even when not acting, he maintained sufficient vigilance without the slightest carelessness.

Even the picky Miejue could find no fault with Gu Shaoan's conduct.

Miejue smiled gently, but to the other bandits, Miejue's demeanor now felt somewhat different.

What kind of decent person smiles with such satisfaction while crushing someone's skull?

For a moment, some bandits who noticed the smile on Miejue's face inexplicably felt a chill down their spines, daring not to advance, their eyes filled with dread.

Just then, a more ferocious roar drowned out the clamor.

"Get lost, all of you! A bunch of useless trash!"

The voice boomed like rolling thunder! The crowded mass was forcefully pushed aside by a brute force!

He was of medium build but exceptionally stout, wielding a strangely shaped, thick-bladed ghost-head saber. Its blade flowed with a cold, bloody light in the firelight.

As the One-eyed Man appeared, two more figures leaped over the heads of the bandits simultaneously.

The one on the left was burly, carrying a pair of Golden Gourd Hammers in his hands.

The other person was as burly as a bear, with a square face that held a sinister expression.

He carried no weapons, but his steps were steady, indicating excellent lower body training.

His gaze, sharp as a falcon's, swept over Miejue and the others, finally settling on Miejue.

These were the three bandit leaders of the mountain stronghold.

Upon seeing the three leaders, the mountain bandits, who had been terrified by Miejue's ruthlessness, suddenly seemed to find their backbone and spoke up repeatedly.

The one-eyed Third Boss's throat bobbed, and he let out a beast-like growl, "What blind fool dares to destroy my stronghold?"

The burly First Boss raised a hand to stop him, his voice low like a muffled drum.

"Who are you? Why have you trespassed into our stronghold, and what is your intention?"

His gaze was locked onto Miejue, a sense of vigilance stirring within him.

The mountain wind whipped up flames, crackling and illuminating the tense standoff between the two sides.

The clamoring mountain bandits gradually quieted down after the appearance of the three leaders, especially after the First Boss spoke, forming a suffocating encirclement.

But Miejue seemed not to notice the three leaders, turning instead to Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo behind her.

"The last mountain bandit was knocked unconscious by Zhiruo. Zhiruo should have killed him. Why did Shaoan interfere?"

As if surprised that Miejue would suddenly ask about his actions amidst dozens of menacing mountain bandits, Gu Shaoan paused slightly before replying, "The future is long. Senior Sister has a pure heart and should be enjoying her youth. I feel some things can wait a few more years."

Miejue's expression was unreadable. "This junior brother of yours is quite considerate and gentle."

Gu Shaoan smiled. "As a junior brother, isn't it natural to be good to one's own senior sister!"

His forthright and direct words brought a gentle expression back to Miejue's face.

In another two years, Miejue would be forty.

For ordinary women, this age would be old enough to be a grandmother.

As a woman, who wouldn't want to dote on their grandchildren?

Yet, Miejue was usually quite strict with her disciples, making Zhou Zhiruo and Zhao Jingxuan appear timid and cautious in her presence.

Gu Shaoan's casual yet respectful demeanor, his carefree yet subtly affectionate words, made Miejue happier.

As parents, who wouldn't favor sweet-talking, obedient children?

The same applied to teachers.

In this world, there is never favoritism without reason.

However, looking at Gu Shaoan's handsome and refined appearance, and then thinking of Gu Shaoan's thoughtful and considerate actions in everything, Master Miejue couldn't help but think, "I wonder how many girls' hearts Shaoan will break in the future."

If it were someone else's junior like Gu Shaoan, Master Miejue would inevitably feel cold, and even warn Zhiruo and other disciples to stay far away in the future, lest they be corrupted.

But when it came to Gu Shaoan, Master Miejue felt that her disciples should be like this.

The fire raged, and dozens of mountain bandits eyed them menacingly.

In such an atmosphere, Master Miejue chatted leisurely with Gu Shaoan, completely disregarding the mountain bandits present.

This arrogant posture made the three bandit leaders instantly feel underestimated.

The One-Eyed Bandit Leader said in a deep voice, "Stinky nun, you're courting death."

After speaking, as if unable to contain his inner rage, the One-Eyed Bandit Leader grabbed his saber, gathered his energy, and charged towards Master Miejue.

"Attack together!"

Seeing this, the First Boss among the three immediately spoke, joining the Second Boss in the attack.

The three of them charged towards Master Miejue in a triangular formation.

In the blink of an eye, they covered a distance of nearly two zhang, their charge fierce.

Facing this scene, Master Miejue snorted coldly, her deep nasal sound filled with disdain.

With a light tap of her toes, her body leaped up, actually jumping into the encirclement of the three.

Seeing Master Miejue enter uninvited, the three were stunned before they all attacked.

The Third Boss's Ghost Head Saber whistled through the air, accompanied by the Second Boss swinging his Golden Gourd Hammer, and the First Boss using the Eagle Claw Technique to try and capture her. The three attacked from three angles, instantly closing in.

It had to be said that the three were extremely familiar with each other and had practiced combined attacks.

As the three attacked together, their moves sealed off all of Master Miejue's escape routes!

However, facing the combined attack of the three, Master Miejue's expression remained calm.

"Tricks of a petty performer."