There are so many geniuses, why can't there be one more of her?

Ding Minjun saw clearly that Gu Shaoan's sword-drawing speed had actually matched hers several times just now.

Moreover, Gu Shaoan only injured, not killed. Although he had dealt with more than ten mountain bandits in succession, Gu Shaoan's stamina consumption was not large.

"No, if this continues, even if I deliberately hold back and let these mountain bandits around rush towards them, these mountain bandits still won't be able to deal with that kid. If I wait until Master returns..."

Lost in thought, a ruthless glint flashed across Ding Minjun's eyes.

Glancing sideways, after stabbing a mountain bandit in front of her to death, Ding Minjun subtly hooked and lifted her foot.

A stone the size of a thumb flew into the air and landed inside Ding Minjun's left sleeve.

Then, she swept her gaze again and saw a few more mountain bandits rushing towards Gu Shaoan. Ding Minjun's wrist flicked extremely discreetly!

Instantly, the stone shot out like a crossbow bolt, piercing armor with a sharp tearing sound.

At a tricky angle, it shot directly at Gu Shaoan's right wrist, which was resting on his sword hilt! The timing was incredibly sinister!

Screech!

A sharp whistling sound pierced Gu Shaoan's eardrums. His heart sank. Without thinking, his right hand, resting on the sword hilt, instinctively flipped outward.

At this moment, Gu Shaoan no longer held back. He drew his long sword with full force, turning it into a streak of sword light that flashed through the air, precisely slashing to the front right.

"Clang!!!"

The next second, a harsh clang of metal striking metal erupted. The sword blade precisely shattered the stone, which contained a special force, in mid-air.

At the same time, Gu Shaoan felt a hidden force surge up his wrist, making his arm slightly numb and his tiger's mouth ache.

He was certain that if he hadn't reacted so quickly and drawn his sword immediately, his right hand would have likely been crippled if he had been hit by that stone.

There was no time for other reactions. Taking advantage of Zhou Zhiruo's sword strike hitting a mountain bandit and forcing him back, Gu Shaoan turned into a crimson rainbow and charged forward. His sword tip condensed a dazzling cold light that passed between the legs of two mountain bandits in front of him, and then he retreated with Zhou Zhiruo again, widening the safe distance.

On Ding Minjun's side, seeing that Gu Shaoan had actually blocked the stone she had thrown with her hidden weapon technique, Ding Minjun's expression froze for a moment.

"How could his sword-drawing speed be so fast just now?"

Ding Minjun saw clearly that Gu Shaoan's sword-drawing speed in that instant was even faster than his previous sword-drawing speed.

It was so fast that even she felt inferior.

At this moment, Ding Minjun thought of the innate sword bone that Miejue had spoken of, and her heart instantly felt at ease.

But immediately after, intense jealousy and hatred filled Ding Minjun's heart again.

She had practiced the sword for nearly twenty years, diligently every day, yet it couldn't compare to Gu Shaoan's one month of practice.

This made Ding Minjun's jealousy and hatred towards Gu Shaoan deepen, while also filling her heart with anger at the injustice of heaven.

There were so many geniuses in the world, why couldn't she be one of them?

Just then, Gu Shaoan suddenly looked up. His icy gaze was like two sharp swords, piercing through the chaotic crowd and instantly locking onto Ding Minjun, whose expression showed astonishment in the distance.

His long sword, due to the immense force of the block just now, was still humming and trembling at the tip, retaining a trace of cold light.

Seeing Gu Shaoan look up at her, Ding Minjun's heart sank.

"No, this little beast has discovered me. If he doesn't die, and he complains to Master when she returns, Master will definitely not let me off lightly. This child cannot be left alive."

With that thought, Ding Minjun drew her long sword horizontally, the blade cutting through the neck of a mountain bandit in front of her. Her steps were light as if treading on sand, and she charged towards Gu Shaoan with her sword, her killing intent fully revealed.

Noticing Ding Minjun's movement, Gu Shaoan's eyes narrowed.

"Fourth Senior Sister, fall back."

As he spoke, Gu Shaoan retreated first.

While his body was obscured by Zhou Zhiruo, Gu Shaoan suddenly circled his long sword around the cuff of his left sleeve, cutting the tie that tightened the cuff before sheathing his sword.

However, if anyone observed Gu Shaoan's left hand, they would inevitably find that his other four fingers were tightly gripping the scabbard.

Only his left pinky finger was pressing down on the cut left sleeve, as if preventing something inside the cuff from showing.

After making preparations, Gu Shaoan immediately stopped his movement, desperately adjusting his breathing while the meager Internal Energy within him circulated madly.

Even the origin internal energy in his Dantian was now gathered at the entrance of the Dantian.

It was clear he was preparing for a desperate fight.

"Whoosh~"

Just then, a copper coin carrying a whistling sound accurately landed on Ding Minjun's right calf as she was using her movement technique to charge forward.

Yet, this copper coin, no bigger than a thumb, embedded itself directly into Ding Minjun's flesh.

And the force it carried caused the unprepared Ding Minjun to lose her balance and lunge forward.

Ding Minjun endured the pain, spun around in mid-air, and then steadied herself with one hand on the ground, preventing herself from falling.

Her calf was injured, but Ding Minjun had no time to care about the pain in her leg. She gritted her teeth and looked up at the person who had ambushed her.

However, just as Ding Minjun looked up and saw the figure that glided through the air like a wild goose, landing steadily in front of Gu Shaoan in the firelight, her eyes trembled.

The mountain wind whipped the flames, crackling. Miejue stood with her hands behind her back, her plain robes and wide sleeves flowing. Her expression was as calm as a deep, cold ancient well, as if the raging flames before her were merely a gentle breeze.

Only her eyes seemed to hold heartache, anger, and a killing intent that was rapidly brewing.

And as Miejue appeared, more figures began to emerge from the darkness one after another.

It was Master Juechen and dozens of other Emei disciples.

"Mas, Master?"

Looking at Miejue and Juechen standing before Gu Shaoan, Ding Minjun's face drained of color like a receding tide. Her body trembled, and she actually collapsed onto the ground.

The surrounding bandits, seeing Miejue suddenly appear, lost all courage to continue fighting. With cries of alarm, they scattered, preparing to flee for their lives.

But before these bandits could get far, several Emei elders, along with Emei disciples, burst out from the rear of the mountain stronghold.

In a short while, all the bandits were slain.

Seeing this, Gu Shaoan's heart, which had been hanging by a thread, finally settled back down. He let out a long sigh of relief.

He completely relaxed.

Miejue's gaze first fell upon Gu Shaoan.

She scanned him from head to toe several times, and after confirming he was unharmed, she raised her hand and patted his head.

"Everything that just happened, I saw it all. Shaoan, you did well."

Hearing her words, Gu Shaoan understood that Miejue had been hiding in the shadows, observing their situation all along.

"Wait, Master was here the whole time? Then just now..."

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Gu Shaoan's mind. It seemed he'd realized something, and he couldn't help but turn his head to look at Ding Minjun, then took a shallow breath.

"Good heavens, it was entrapment!"

Noticing Gu Shaoan's reaction, Miejue chuckled inwardly.

This little disciple of mine is quite quick-witted!