In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 116 It is precisely because people's hearts are treacherous that public opinion is so terrifying.
Zhou Zhiruo is intelligent and kind, and Yang Yan is even more shrewd. Both of them are smarter than ordinary people, so they were able to understand the impact behind what seemed like an insignificant matter from Gu Shaoan's words.

Especially considering the righteous indignation of the elders in the sect, such as Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen, if the Emei Sect were to be accused of colluding with the demonic sect because of them, it wouldn't be impossible for Abbess Miejue to kill her own relatives for the greater good, given her style of doing things.

Just thinking about that scene sent chills down Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan's spines.

Both Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan nodded seriously in response.

Zhou Zhiruo said softly, "If my junior brother hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have imagined that such a small matter would have such a serious impact."

Gu Shaoan continued walking, his tone softening: "Many things are not big, but the fear is that they can be taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives. It is precisely because people's hearts are treacherous that people's words can be so terrifying. Those who wrong you often know better than you how wronged you are. That's why Master treats his disciples so strictly, in order to prevent this as much as possible."

"Even if one is a disciple of a prestigious and righteous sect, how can one command the respect of others if one cannot even maintain upright conduct?"

Gu Shaoan explained in great detail, without the slightest impatience.

Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan are now in their early teens, and their future attitudes and beliefs towards people and things will all come from what they see, know, and are influenced by the people around them.

Therefore, what Gu Shaoan needs to do is to use what he encounters and sees to instill correct values ​​in the two women.

In the future, when encountering similar situations, one's thoughts and actions will not be wrong.

Mistakes often stem from a single thought; a single wrong thought can lead a person down a completely different path.

Yang Yan stuck out her tongue and said, "Sometimes, Senior Brother really does talk just like the Sect Leader."

Gu Shaoan slapped Yang Yan on the head in an annoyed tone.

"Then next time you go out, let your master take you with him!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Yan immediately put on a fawning smile, leaned forward, and shook Gu Shaoan's shoulder.

Seeing this, Gu Shaoan continued, "Of course, all of this is based on the premise of safety. If danger is encountered, it will be a different story."

Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo looked at Gu Shaoan with curiosity.

Gu Shaoan said irritably, "I'm telling you to be clear about your position, not to be stubborn when you encounter problems. If you encounter danger or an enemy you can't handle, protect your own safety first. When you should be accommodating, don't be so headstrong as to go looking for a beating."

"However, after you get away, remember to tell your master or me about the situation as soon as possible, so as to avoid any misunderstandings later."

Gu Shaoan's confidence in directly rejecting Dongfang Bai's invitation and even his nagging today was based on his own strength.

If today's opponent is a master that even Gu Shaoan himself can't handle, then he should admit defeat when necessary.

Gu Shaoan never intended to raise two stubborn kids.

Yang Yan rolled her eyes and pouted, saying, "Senior brother, you're making us sound like idiots. Who doesn't understand this?"

Seeing Yang Yan like this, Gu Shaoan couldn't help but raise his hand and ruffle her hair until it was all messed up before withdrawing his hand in front of Yang Yan's glare.

"Junior brother, here you go!"

Suddenly, Zhou Zhiruo handed the Rain of Pear Blossoms Needles to Gu Shaoan.

Gu Shaoan turned his head to take a look, then replied, "Senior sister, you and junior sister should keep it! This thing isn't very useful to me, but it's perfect for you two."

With Gu Shaoan's current strength, he is confident that he can even deal with experts who have condensed Qi into Yuan.

However, for Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan, the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle was more useful and could be considered a trump card.

Now that it's been taken out, Gu Shaoan naturally won't take it back.

Neither Zhou Zhiruo nor Yang Yan were polite to Gu Shaoan.

Upon hearing what Gu Shaoan said, the two women happily put the things away.

Although it was late, Dengfeng Prefecture had not imposed a curfew, and Dengyun Tower, where Gu Shaoan and his companions had visited during the day, was still open for business.

After eating and leading the horse away, the three of them entered the restaurant on the recommendation of the waiter.

Outside the bathhouse, while the two women were bathing, Gu Shaoan stood at the door with his eyes lightly closed. His internal energy flowed slowly, but his thoughts were on reviewing his battle with Dongfang Bai, identifying his shortcomings, and thinking of a more suitable way to deal with the situation.

He tried his best to make use of the experience gained from this battle with Dongfang Bai.

A moment later, after the debriefing was over, Gu Shaoan recalled the move "Immortal Supporting the Head" that he had used before the end of his battle with Dongfang Bai.

However, just like the last time at the Hengshan Sect.

At this moment, when Gu Shaoan once again circulated his true energy and used this move in mid-air in front of him, the special charm that made him seem like an immortal descending to earth completely disappeared.

Gu Shaoan frowned at first, then relaxed.

If it were someone else, they might really have no way to deal with this situation.

But for Gu Shaoan, any martial art is difficult to learn at the beginning.

But once the first time is achieved, with the help of the "enlightenment" effect, given time, Gu Shaoan can turn this fleeting moment into a second, a third, and eventually, it can appear whenever he wants.

The next day.

noon.

North of Dengfeng Prefecture, there is a secluded stream with babbling water and occasional bird calls in the woods.

Gu Shaoan squatted beside a newly lit campfire, several plump potatoes strung on sharpened twigs and placed steadily on the forked branches of the twigs on either side of the campfire.

He held another thin wooden stick in his hand, turning it slowly and deliberately, letting the flames lick the rough skin of the potato evenly, gradually releasing a warm, roasted aroma.

In another, slightly smaller fire nearby, several yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes were buried under the hot ashes, silently brewing their sweet and soft interior.

About ten feet away, under the dappled shade of an old tree, Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan sat side by side.

Both were elite disciples of Emei, and even during a short rest, their posture exuded an air of uprightness and heroism.

Their longswords lay horizontally on their knees, the hilts and scabbards gleaming quietly in the light.

However, at this moment, both Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan had slightly red eyes, their clear eyes filled with uncontrollable tears, which rolled down like beads from a broken string, leaving wet and shiny marks on their cheeks, and even the tip of their small noses was slightly red.

Their fair and slender fingers were carefully holding a rather "strange" flower.

Upon closer inspection, those were not colorful flowers at all.

They are clearly two open scallions (onions).

The top of the onion was precisely cut off by nearly half. The rough, soil-covered end, wrapped in dry outer skin, was removed, revealing the layered, translucent bulbous structure inside.

Several thin flakes, with a pale purple-white hue, are slightly open, like petals about to bloom but not quite closed. Light can even pass through their edges, giving them a strange and fragile crystalline quality.

Someone skillfully inserted them into the top of a short, straight, slender branch. The rough bark contrasted with the scallion-white, moist interior, making them look quite similar to the night-blooming cereus at first glance.

The two of them suddenly burst into tears, clearly because the scallions had stung their eyes.

Gu Shaoan turned his head slightly and looked at the two junior sisters under the tree whose eyes were stinging from the "onion flowers" and were crying uncontrollably. A mischievous smile crept onto his lips.

A moment later, as the two women under the tree came to their senses, they both raised their tear-filled eyes to look at Gu Shaoan.

Immediately, Yang Yan, holding the "flower" in her hand, let out a sharp shout and charged towards Gu Shaoan using her lightness skill.

"You stinky senior brother, I'll bite you to death."

With Yang Yan leading the way, Zhou Zhiruo, unable to bear it any longer, also rushed towards Gu Shaoan with tears streaming down her face.

Seeing this, Gu Shaoan chuckled and instantly circulated his true energy, leaping more than five zhang away, a smile playing on his lips.

After a chase and playful fight, Gu Shaoan reached out his hands to the two women, whose eyes were red even though they had stopped crying, and said, "Alright, bring them here, I'll roast these two scallions too!"

However, when Gu Shaoan reached out his hand, he was met with two cold snorts in unison.

Although Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo stretched the onion flowers stuck in the branches a little further away, they had no intention of giving them to Gu Shaoan to roast.

Seeing that the two were holding on tightly and wouldn't let go, Gu Shaoan didn't force them.

Fifteen minutes later, the campfire gradually died down, leaving only specks of red light in the ashes.

Zhou Zhiruo put down the last sweet potato peel in her hand, shifted her gaze from the branch of the flowering scallion stuck in it, turned her head to look at Gu Shaoan, and asked, "Junior brother, are we going to go straight back to Emei next?"

Gu Shaoan put the last bite of potato into his mouth and nodded: "Not bad."

He casually tossed the potato peels into the fire. "It will take at least two or three months for Master to return to the mountain. Our mission is complete, so we don't need to rush back as we did when we went to Dengfeng."

He spoke casually, and his implication was clear: on the way back, they could take their time and enjoy the scenery along the way.

Upon hearing this, both Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan's eyes lit up with joy.

Of the three, Zhou Zhiruo was the oldest in terms of the order of entry into the sect, but before leaving the mountain, both Abbess Miejue and Abbess Juechen instructed the two to follow Gu Shaoan's instructions when they went out.

Now that Gu Shaoan had said they could leisurely return, they were naturally happy to accept and had no objections. After tidying up and extinguishing the campfire, the three of them led their horses south along the official road, leisurely heading towards the Shu region.

The journey was accompanied by mountains and rivers, and although weary from the travels, it was also full of charm.

Gu Shaoan was well-versed in geography, and sometimes he would lead the two women off the main road to explore quiet spots; at other times he would stop briefly in towns to sample some local delicacies.

When the mood strikes, they choose a scenic spot nestled against the mountains and by the water for a night of leisure. With Gu Shaoan around, the two women have no worries and can sleep soundly even at night.

With this kind of leisurely pace, stopping frequently to admire the mountains and rivers, the journey wasn't too slow.

It was nearing dusk that day.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a soft golden edge on the undulating mountains. The three rode their horses to a sparsely wooded official road, not too far from the town called "Linjiang" ahead.

Although Linjiang Town is located in a mountain valley and belongs to Xuzhou Prefecture, making it somewhat remote, in terms of the division of sect power, it is already within the territory covered by the Emei Sect's influence and can be regarded as their own territory.

The official road meandered, and all around was quiet, with only the clatter of horses' hooves on the solid road and the calls of birds returning to their nests in the woods.

When they were still ten miles away from Linjiang Town, a tavern with its back to a bamboo forest and facing the official road came into view.

It was clearly set up as a temporary resting place for people traveling to and from Linjiang Town.

The tavern was simple, just a wooden hut with some bamboo tables and stools outside, and about half of the seats were already occupied.

As Gu Shaoan and his two companions approached, all eyes involuntarily fell upon them.

The people outside the tavern were immediately struck by the sight of the three men, who were full of energy and possessed remarkable looks and demeanor.

Looking at the swords held by the three men and the heavy sword on Gu Shaoan's back that resembled a door panel, no one had any inappropriate thoughts.

In a corner a little further away from the tavern, there was a relatively independent bamboo table.

There was a figure wearing a wide white straw hat and a snow-white outfit.

The white veil around the brim of the conical hat almost completely covered the person's chest and above.

The only clue was that she was a woman, judging from her graceful figure.

On the bamboo table in front of him, there was only a dish of salted edamame and a pot of tea.

She also held a folding fan in her hand, and as she slowly fanned herself, the light veil in front of her swayed, making her temperament completely different from the others around her.

As Gu Shaoan and his two companions approached, the gaze from beneath the shadow of his bamboo hat also turned towards them.

However, when her gaze fell upon the delicate silver-embroidered Emei cloud emblem on the collars of the three people's blue and white robes, the woman's fingers, which were holding the teacup, paused almost imperceptibly.

But it soon returned to normal.

As soon as the three of them dismounted, a waiter immediately came up to them and helped them tie the horse's reins to the post.

"What would you gentlemen like to order?"

Yang Yan said, "A pot of tea will suffice."

As she spoke, Yang Yan glanced at the price list standing next to her and then took out twenty copper coins from her money bag and placed them on the table.

"Alright~ A pot of good tea."

The waiter put away the coins and immediately turned around to shout out.

After the waiter left, Zhou Zhiruo first scanned the surroundings, then paused for a moment before looking at Gu Shaoan at the figure in the corner who was holding a folding fan and gently waving it.

Gu Shaoan said, "Although Linjiang Town is located north of Xuzhou Prefecture, there are senior sisters from our sect stationed there. After we enter Linjiang Town, we should go to where our senior sisters are stationed and write a letter back to the Emei Sect to let them know we are safe. In case our master and the others return to the sect first, they will know our whereabouts and won't worry."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo nodded in response.

Soon, a rough porcelain teapot and three rough earthenware teacups were brought up.

After pouring the tea, Yang Yan took out a packet of medicine and sprinkled some powder into the bowls to make sure it was safe before presenting the teacups to Gu Shaoan and Zhou Zhiruo.

The tea soup is warm, with a slightly bitter taste and a sweet aftertaste characteristic of rough Maojian tea.

The three of them sipped their drinks slowly, taking a break from their journey.

Yang Yan listlessly fiddled with a small bamboo tube with a section of dried weed stuck in it on the table. Her gaze swept over the men next to her who kept glancing at her with undisguised scrutiny and impatience, and those men sheepishly looked away.

Before long, when the tea in the pot was empty, the three of them, after a short rest, stood up and rode their horses back towards Linjiang Town.

But just as the three set off, the woman wearing a bamboo hat who had been sitting in the corner took out dozens of copper coins, placed them on the table, and then got up and headed towards Linjiang Town as well.

The woman did not ride a horse, but walked. Her steps seemed light and slow, like drifting clouds, but each step she took covered a distance of ten feet, clearly indicating that she had also mastered a clever light-body technique.

Meanwhile, on the official road, the horses' hooves pounded rhythmically on the hard earthen road covered with fallen leaves, and the calls of birds returning to their nests in the woods made the surroundings even more tranquil.

Inside the mountains and forests, several people were hurrying along.

"Faster, we can't let Wu Sangou get away."

"What's there to be afraid of? He's been stabbed in the stomach. Let's see how far he can run."

"Luckily, the foreman was careful and noticed that the person who ran away from the west side of the city looked strange, so he told us to search the south side of the city. Otherwise, that bastard would have really gotten away."

Meanwhile, on the official road, after the three of them had ridden for about a mile, Gu Shaoan, who was maintaining the circulation of his internal energy, suddenly looked up as if he had heard something.

However, before Gu Shaoan could think further, a faint sound suddenly reached his ears.

Soon, Yang Yan and Zhou Zhiruo also heard some rustling sounds coming from the front.

A few breaths later, under the watchful eyes of the three, a figure suddenly rolled down the tree-covered hillside five zhang away onto the official road like a ball.

But the moment his body stopped, the man struggled to his feet again, staggered a few steps, and then started running again.

Judging from his build, he should be a man. He looked extremely disheveled, his clothes were so tattered they barely covered his body, covered in mud and grime, and his hair was disheveled, making him look like a beggar.

Most striking was the large, wet, dark red bloodstain that had spread across his abdomen, which continued to seep and expand as he desperately ran away.

His face was ashen, his lips were bloodless, and his breathing was rapid like a broken bellows; he was clearly at his last gasp.

As the man ran, he ran along the edge of the official road. Next to the official road was another slope, three zhang high, leading down the mountain.

As he ran, the man kept looking back, clearly intending to rush down the slope again if he sensed anything was wrong.

Just then, the horse beneath Yang Yan seemed to be a little annoyed by the sudden stop and stamped its limbs one after another.

The horseshoes on the horseshoes made a few muffled "thump thump thump" sounds when they hit the ground.

The sudden noise made the man, who had been looking behind him, turn his attention to the front.

The man was taken aback when he saw Gu Shaoan and the other two sitting on horseback.

But as his gaze moved downwards, and he clearly saw the clothing of Gu Shaoan and the other two, as well as the emblems on their clothes, the man's eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Emei Sect".

As soon as he finished speaking, the man suddenly stopped, then turned right and took a step, preparing to rush towards the slope leading to the bottom of the mountain.

This scene caused Zhou Zhiruo and Yang Yan, who had discerned the man's intentions, to pause for a moment in surprise.

"Whoosh!"

However, just as the man's body began to move forward, before he could even put force into his other foot, a whooshing sound suddenly rang out.

In the next instant, several copper coins flew from Gu Shaoan's hand like arrows, whistling through the air as they landed on the man.

When the acupoints were pressed, the man's body immediately stiffened like a wooden board, rendering him unable to move.

It was when Gu Shaoan used a copper coin to seal the man's acupoints that Zhou Zhiruo frowned slightly.

"Junior brother, something seems off."

Gu Shaoan responded with a soft "hmm," saying, "Something does seem off."

In the territory of the Emei Sect, it was not unusual to be able to recognize the three of them as Emei Sect disciples by their clothing and insignia.

It would be rather strange if they showed such fear and trepidation when they knew that Gu Shaoan and the other two were disciples of the Emei Sect.

"Om."

Just then, a very faint buzzing sound, like the flapping of countless bee wings, suddenly echoed through the forest without warning.

　Because the second chapter didn't feel quite right, I'm rewriting it, so it will be posted a little later, probably before 9 PM! Sorry for the delay!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)