Proving one's path through killing—this kind of merit is poisonous!

Chapter 21 Winning and Losing

Zhou Yue snapped out of her daze, and only when she heard the surrounding chatter did she realize what she had just missed.

Her expression was complicated as she searched her storage bag, and she couldn't help but ask, "Junior sister, aren't you afraid?"

"What are you afraid of?" Gu Jinhe raised her hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear and asked in return.

"Although this jade pendant doesn't belong to Fu Qingxue, aren't you afraid of being gossiped about by your fellow disciples for blatantly stealing it?"

As she spoke, a mocking smile appeared on her lips: "After all, many disciples of Qingkou Peak like her."

"Senior sister, we're here to cultivate, not to build relationships."

Gu Jinhe patted Zhou Yue on the shoulder and said, "Although you are in the menial affairs department, you are still a genuine cultivator. If you act according to other people's opinions and listen to their gossip, how are you any different from an ordinary person?"

Moreover, the discussions among fellow disciples are insignificant; what matters is what you actually get in your hands!

This was a truth she had learned at the cost of her life in her past life...

Zhou Yue stared blankly at Gu Jinhe, unsure how much she had taken in.

Finally, she took out a dagger, handed it to Gu Jinhe, and said, "If it's just a friendly spar, you don't need to draw this dagger, but if Fu Qingxue draws her sword, don't hesitate."

She paused for a moment, realizing that Gu Jinhe wasn't one to listen to advice, and then cautioned, "Win if you can, don't get hurt!"

Gu Jinhe looked down at the finely crafted dagger in her hand.

The dagger is entirely black, with gold patterns engraved on the sheath. It may seem understated, but it is unforgettable.

She pulled it out halfway and ran her thumb horizontally along the blade, but without applying any force, her finger felt a slight tear in the skin.

This dagger is truly sharp!
Realizing that Zhou Yue genuinely cared for her, Gu Jinhe hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Senior Sister, if I really get my hands on this jade pendant, will you still want it?"

But Zhou Yue's focus was clearly not on the ownership of the jade pendant. She excitedly reached out and grabbed Gu Jinhe's shoulders, asking, "Do you believe that jade pendant is mine?"

Seeing Gu Jinhe nod, Zhou Yue couldn't help but smile and quickly said, "Here, take it. I don't want it."

The jade pendant was a family heirloom. It looked ordinary and wasn't very useful, but she kept it to express her feelings.

She didn't know why Fu Qingxue would frame her because of this jade pendant, but she knew very well that she would rather give the jade pendant to her junior sister than to Fu Qingxue.

Gu Jinhe breathed a sigh of relief, gripping the dagger and assuring her, "Don't worry, Senior Sister, I won't lose."

After saying that, she walked towards Fu Qingxue's position...

Fu Qingxue held a sword in her right hand. When she saw Gu Jinhe, she was furious inside, but she had to pretend to be calm on the surface.

She said, "Junior sister, although it is a friendly spar, swords have no eyes. You can still return the jade pendant to me now."

"Is that jade pendant really my senior sister's?"

"Please watch your words, junior sister. If it's not mine, whose is it?"

Fu Qingxue frowned. She had originally intended to maintain her image as a kind and understanding person and let her off the hook, but now it seemed unnecessary.

Before taking action, Fu Qingxue asked one last question: "I haven't yet asked my junior sister's name."

Before Gu Jinhe could answer, she attacked him with her sword like an arrow released from a bow.

Gu Jinhe gripped the dagger, parrying the opponent's attacks as he said, "Gu Jinhe, a menial disciple of Qingkou Peak."

As she spoke, she had already received a wave of attacks from Fu Qingxue.

Another wave of attacks is coming...

Gu Jinhe dodged to the side, then used the black dagger to flick upwards, forcing Fu Qingxue to withdraw her sword and defend.

Seeing her use her sword to block, Gu Jinhe simply abandoned the dagger and kicked the sword instead. Fu Qingxue didn't take it seriously, thinking that a little girl like her couldn't possibly have much strength in that kick.

She had even figured out how to adjust her offensive strategy to take her down in one fell swoop!
What she didn't expect was that although Gu Jinhe didn't use her spiritual power, she was a genuine Qi Refining Level 2 cultivator, and her strength and physical abilities were far beyond Gu Jinhe's reach.

She was still in a daze when Gu Jinhe kicked her away and she sat on the ground.

"This……"

"It's at least five steps away!"

Five steps, roughly five meters away...

The onlookers were all curious about how Gu Jinhe had done it.

As if sensing their doubts, Gu Jinhe said casually as she pulled her foot back, "Luckily, I'm quite strong."

Fu Qingxue clenched her fists, gritted her teeth, and stood up. She brushed the dust off her clothes and looked at Gu Jinhe, saying, "I underestimated you..."

After saying that, she gripped the sword with both hands, drew it, and then pointed it at Gu Jinhe, saying, "I don't believe you can make it to the end by strength alone."

Looking at the sword she had drawn, Gu Jinhe sighed, "Senior Sister Zhou was right after all."

She didn't lower her voice when she said this, so Fu Qingxue heard it clearly and couldn't help but ask, "What did she say to you?"

Gu Jinhe did not answer, but simply pulled out the dagger and then stabbed at Fu Qingxue.

Seeing this, Fu Qingxue quickly held her sword horizontally in front of her, trying to block the attack.

Unexpectedly, just as Gu Jinhe was about to get close to her, he turned around and went behind her, and then raised his foot again.

Fu Qingxue felt a sharp pain in her back, and then staggered and was about to fall to the ground.

Fortunately, she reacted quickly, and Gu Jinhe caught her sleeve from behind, preventing her from actually falling.

She glared at Gu Jinhe, embarrassed and angry, and whispered, "Don't think I'll be grateful to you for this."

Gu Jinhe glanced at her. Did Fu Qingxue think she was trying to save her?

Gu Jinhe felt nothing in response to her words; only a burning desire to win remained in his eyes.

So she forcefully pulled her hand, which was hooked around her sleeve, and easily pulled Fu Qingxue in front of her.

Before she could react, Gu Jinhe used a dagger to knock the sword out of her hand.

With the sound of a sword hitting the ground, her dagger was already pressed against Fu Qingxue's neck...

"Senior sister, you lost!" Gu Jinhe said loudly.

For disciples whose cultivation level had reached the Qi Refining stage, their sparring was full of flaws.

Yet it is still wonderful.

After all, Gu Jinhe's victory was already beyond everyone's expectations!
"Junior sister, now that the sparring has reached a conclusion, can you put down your dagger now?"

As she spoke, Fu Qingxue raised her hand to move Gu Jinhe's right hand away.

But Gu Jinhe pushed the dagger forward a little further and said, "Senior sister, you haven't admitted that you lost yet, how dare I let go at this time?"

The dagger is sharp; even a light touch will leave a mark.

Fu Qingxue dared not move. The cold blade pressed against her skin, and a faint stinging pain came from her neck, as if it had already cut her skin open...

(End of this chapter)