Do Not Excuse Evil, No Matter How Small

An incense stick's time later, under the leadership of several elders, all the Emei disciples who had taken part in the Bandit Suppression gathered before the entrance to the mountain stronghold.

Aside from the Emei disciples, there were also several dozen women, most of them quite attractive.

However, none of them looked well. Some were even disheveled.

They were precisely the women the bandits had abducted to the mountain over the past six months for their daily amusement.

After sweeping his gaze over everyone, Miejue said, "First find out whether any of them still have family living. If they do, help send them back. If they have nowhere to go, take them back to the city and have the disciples there help arrange some kind of work for them."

As for Miejue's instructions, neither Juechen nor the other elders found them unusual anymore.

The world was harsh. Once these powerless women fell victim to disaster, their fates were even more tragic.

In the past, whenever women or orphans suffered such misfortunes, everyone had basically done whatever they could at Miejue's request, helping as much as possible.

Anything beyond that could only be left to fate.

That was why, when people in the martial world spoke of Miejue, although they called her ruthless and fierce, saying that she often showed little regard for human feelings,

no one ever criticized Miejue or Emei Sect for their usual conduct.

On the way down the mountain, some of the Emei disciples whispered among themselves, their faces flushed with excitement, while others had gone pale, their thoughts still immersed in the scenes of their earlier battle with the bandits.

This Bandit Suppression operation had not been a major affair, so all the Emei disciples brought along were those who had never seen blood before. It was also meant to give them experience.

The same rice raised a hundred different people. When different people experienced the same thing, their reactions naturally differed.

But after experiencing certain things enough times, most people gradually grew accustomed to them.

That was simply how the martial world was.

Behind Miejue, Zhou Zhiruo seemed more silent than usual.

Gu Shaoan also said nothing.

His thoughts churned as he repeatedly reviewed his battle with the bandits, searching for the shortcomings he had displayed during the fight.

Just then, Miejue's voice suddenly rang out.

"Shaoan, Zhiruo."

When the two looked up at Miejue, who had her back to them, her voice slowly sounded again.

"You two must take what happened with Ding Minjun today as a warning. Do not commit evil merely because it is small, and do not refuse to do good merely because it is small. Good is good, and evil is evil."

"As Emei disciples, you must hold to kind thoughts. Do not excuse evil, no matter how small."

Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo nodded together in response.

"This disciple understands."

Miejue gave a soft "Mm" and said nothing more.

Yet the two of them clearly heard the long sigh that followed.

Her voice seemed weathered by the wind and frost, filled with exhaustion.

An hour later.

Inside a residence in the eastern part of Yushan City, Gu Shaoan sat cross-legged, his expression peaceful, as though a monk in meditation.

A short while later, feeling the internal energy within him fill up once again, Gu Shaoan smiled inwardly.

The Emei Nine Yangs Technique originated from the Nine Yangs True Scripture.

When it came to restoring internal energy, it was already superior to ordinary Internal Cultivation Methods.

On top of that, Gu Shaoan's foundation was exceptionally solid, and the Emei Nine Yangs Technique First Layer had even reached Complete Mastery.

As a result, the effects of the Emei Nine Yangs Technique had been brought into full play.

Otherwise, with only a little over a month of cultivation, how could Gu Shaoan have continued fighting for so long on Heimu Mountain without exhausting his internal energy?

"Knock, knock, knock."

Just then, Gu Shaoan noticed a figure moving back and forth outside the door.

A series of knocks suddenly sounded.

"Junior Brother, are you asleep?"

Hearing Zhou Zhiruo's gentle voice, Gu Shaoan rose and opened the door.

What entered his view was Zhou Zhiruo's lovely face, filled with confusion.

Looking at Gu Shaoan, Zhou Zhiruo seemed somewhat embarrassed. Lowering her voice, she said, "Did I disturb Junior Brother's cultivation?"

Taking in Zhou Zhiruo's expression, Gu Shaoan waved his hand first. "I've already finished cultivating."

Immediately afterward, Gu Shaoan took the initiative to suggest, "I just finished cultivating anyway, so I was thinking of coming out for some fresh air."

As he spoke, Gu Shaoan stepped out of the room and sat down on the threshold.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhiruo sat down right beside him.

The night was dark and the wind strong. When they looked up at the sky, all they saw was pitch-black darkness, without a single star in sight.

But Zhou Zhiruo's thoughts were clearly elsewhere.

Staring at the night sky, her eyes slightly vacant, she said, "Junior Brother, tell me... Second Senior Sister had stayed at Emei for so many years. How did she end up dying like that today?"

Before Gu Shaoan could respond, Zhou Zhiruo continued.

"And aren't we fellow disciples? Why did Second Senior Sister try to harm us? Did we do something wrong before, something that angered her?"

Gu Shaoan did not rush to answer Zhou Zhiruo's question. Instead, he asked in return, "What if Junior Brother does something in the future that angers Fourth Senior Sister? Would Fourth Senior Sister harm me?"

Facing Gu Shaoan's question, Zhou Zhiruo barely hesitated.

"How could that be? You're my junior brother. Even if you made me angry, you'd still be my junior brother. How could I harm you?"

Gu Shaoan continued asking, "What if it were Eldest Senior Sister, Second Senior Sister, or Third Senior Sister?"

Zhou Zhiruo's small face was filled with seriousness. "Naturally, they wouldn't either."

Gu Shaoan nodded. "Then why does Senior Sister think Second Senior Sister would harm us for that reason?"

"This..."

Zhou Zhiruo suddenly fell silent, not knowing how to respond.

Then Gu Shaoan said, "Senior Sister must understand that people are different. You are kind, but that does not mean others are kind at heart as well. Never use your own standards to measure or judge other people."

"That is also why Senior Sister cannot understand how Second Senior Sister could suddenly develop malicious intent and turn against her fellow disciples."

"As for why Second Senior Sister suddenly drew her sword against us, once Senior Sister has spent a few more years in the martial world and experienced more things, you will understand the reason she did it."

Zhou Zhiruo asked, "Junior Brother is so clever. You must already know the reason. Why can't you tell me now?"

Gu Shaoan shook his head. "Even if I tell you now, Senior Sister still won't understand. Rather than that, it would be better for you to understand later."

What happened with Ding Minjun today also involved Miejue.

It was somewhat complicated.

If he explained it too clearly, it would inevitably affect Zhou Zhiruo's state of mind, doing more harm than good.

Seeing that Gu Shaoan was unwilling to explain, Zhou Zhiruo sighed softly and stopped pressing him.

After a while, Zhou Zhiruo spoke again. "Second Senior Sister had stayed at Emei for so many years, yet Master killed her without the slightest hesitation today. I wonder how Master could bear to do it."

Hearing this, Gu Shaoan asked, "Does Senior Sister think that Master's punishment of Second Senior Sister today was too severe?"

Zhou Zhiruo did not answer, but her silence was no different from tacitly acknowledging Gu Shaoan's words.

Seeing this, Gu Shaoan thought for a moment before asking, "Does Senior Sister think it is easy or difficult to be the Sect Leader of a sect?"