Considerate and Gentle Junior Brother

The sudden flash of cold steel made Zhou Zhiruo blink involuntarily.

When her vision refocused, she saw that the bandit's throat had already been sliced open with a smooth cut.

Blood gushed continuously from the wound with a "glug, glug" sound.

The bandit who had been unconscious on the ground twitched twice before falling completely still.

Gu Shaoan, standing nearby, sheathed his sword.

Taking in the scene, Zhou Zhiruo was stunned for a moment. Then, relief spread through her heart—one of her troubles had been removed.

At the same time, Miejue was still taking down one bandit with each palm strike in the distance.

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

Especially when Zhou Zhiruo had faced the bandit earlier, Miejue had circulated her True Qi to its limit, clearly prepared to intervene and assist at any moment.

Under Miejue's watchful gaze, Gu Shaoan's guidance afterward, as well as his decision to let Zhou Zhiruo fight the bandit on her own once she had adapted, were all seen clearly by Miejue.

Miejue had not explained herself earlier because she wanted to see how Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo would respond when facing the four bandits.

Gu Shaoan's response had far exceeded Miejue's expectations.

Not only had he decisively used Sunset Swordplay to eliminate three bandits in an extremely short time, but he had also protected and guided Zhou Zhiruo as she fought the bandit.

Especially while Zhou Zhiruo was battling the bandit, Gu Shaoan had kept his right hand on his sword the entire time, maintaining a stance ready to strike at any moment. This made Miejue's eyes light up even more.

When action was called for, he acted without hesitation. Even when he did not strike, he maintained sufficient vigilance and showed not the slightest carelessness.

Even someone as exacting as Miejue could not find the slightest fault with Gu Shaoan's conduct.

Miejue smiled gently, but in the eyes of the other bandits, there was something different about her at that moment.

What decent person smiled so contentedly while smashing someone else's crown?

For a moment, several bandits who noticed the smile on Miejue's face inexplicably felt a chill in their hearts. They did not dare step forward, their eyes filled with terror.

Just then, an even more violent roar drowned out the clamor.

"Get the hell out of my way! A bunch of useless trash!"

His voice exploded like rolling thunder! The packed crowd was forcibly split apart by a savage force!

He was of medium height but exceptionally muscular. In his hands was a strangely shaped, thick-backed Ghost Head Saber, its edge flowing with a cold, bloody gleam in the firelight.

As the one-eyed burly man appeared, two others leaped over the heads of the bandits at the same time.

The man on the left was powerfully built and carried a pair of Golden Gourd Hammers.

The other was as burly as a bear, with a square face that nevertheless held a sinister cast.

He carried no weapon, but his steps were steady. Anyone could tell at a glance that he had trained his lower-body techniques extensively.

His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, sweeping over Miejue and the others before finally settling on Miejue.

They were the three bandit leaders of this stronghold.

When the three bandit leaders appeared, the bandits who had previously been scared witless by Miejue's ruthlessness seemed to have suddenly found their backbone and began speaking one after another.

The One-Eyed Third Boss's Adam's apple bobbed as he let out a beastlike growl. "Where did this blind fool come from? How dare you destroy my stronghold?"

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

"Who are you, sir? Why have you trespassed into my stronghold?"

His gaze remained locked on Miejue, a hint of wariness lurking in his heart.

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

After the three bandit leaders appeared, especially once the First Boss spoke, the noisy bandits gradually quieted, forming an oppressive encirclement.

Yet Miejue acted as though she had not seen the three bandit leaders at all. Instead, she turned to Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo behind her.

"The last bandit just now was knocked unconscious by Zhiruo. Zhiruo should have killed him herself. Why did you overstep your bounds, Shaoan?"

Apparently, Miejue had not expected that, with dozens of bandits glaring at him menacingly, she would suddenly ask about what he had just done.

Gu Shaoan paused briefly before replying, "There is still a long road ahead. Senior Sister's nature is pure and kind; she should be enjoying her innocence and carefree youth. I feel that some things can wait a few years."

There was no joy or anger visible on Miejue's face. "You really are a considerate and gentle junior brother."

Gu Shaoan smiled. "I am her junior brother, after all! Isn't it only right that I treat my own senior sister a little better?"

His candid and straightforward words brought warmth to Miejue's face once more.

In another two years, Miejue would be forty.

For an ordinary woman, that was an age at which she could already be a grandmother.

As a woman, who would not want to enjoy the affection of children and grandchildren?

Yet Miejue was usually quite strict with her disciples, causing Zhou Zhiruo, Zhao Jingxuan, and the others to act especially cautious in her presence.

Someone like Gu Shaoan, casual without being disrespectful and open while carrying a hint of intimacy in his words, instead made Miejue even happier.

As parents, who would not dote more on a sweet-tongued, obedient child?

The same was true of a teacher.

In this world, no favoritism existed without reason.

Still, looking at Gu Shaoan's handsome and refined features, then thinking of his thoughtful and considerate manner in every matter, Miejue could not help thinking, I wonder how many girls' hearts Shaoan will break in the future.

If Gu Shaoan had been someone else's junior, Miejue would inevitably have felt a chill in her heart. She might even have warned Zhiruo and the other disciples to stay far away from him in the future, lest he ensnare them.

But when it came to Gu Shaoan, Miejue felt that her disciple ought to be exactly like this.

The flames raged, while dozens of bandits watched them like tigers waiting to pounce.

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

That arrogant attitude immediately made the three bandit leaders feel that they were being looked down upon.

The One-Eyed Bandit Leader said coldly, "Stinking nun, you're courting death."

Unable to suppress the anger in his heart, the One-Eyed Bandit Leader hefted his saber, gathered his strength, and charged toward Miejue.

"Attack together!"

Seeing this, the First Boss of the three immediately spoke up and attacked alongside the Second Boss.

The three of them charged toward Miejue rapidly, forming a triangle.

In the blink of an eye, they crossed nearly two zhang, their momentum fierce.

Facing this, Miejue snorted coldly, the heavy nasal sound filled with disdain.

She lightly tapped the ground with her toes and leaped into the air, taking the initiative to jump into the three men's encirclement.

Seeing Miejue enter of her own accord, the three men were stunned for a moment before attacking in unison.

The One-Eyed Third Boss's Ghost Head Saber tore through the air with a shrill whistle. The Second Boss swung his Golden Gourd Hammer, while the First Boss used Eagle Claw Technique, seeking to seize and restrain her. The three attacked from a pincer formation and reached her in an instant.

It had to be said that the three men were undoubtedly extremely familiar with one another and had clearly practiced coordinated attacks.

Now that they struck together, their moves sealed off every avenue of retreat for Miejue!

Yet faced with the three-way assault, Master Miejue's expression remained calm.

"Parlor tricks."