"Mo Hua!" Bai Zisheng exclaimed happily, "Did you bring something to eat?"
"No..."
"Then are you here to play with me?"
"Not really... I came to see Mr. Zhuang," Mo Hua replied truthfully.
Bai Zisheng felt disappointed.
"Have you finished your homework?" Mo Hua asked.
"Not yet, almost done, but I don't feel like doing it," Bai Zisheng replied, lying back down.
Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "So you don't have anything to do right now?"
"I guess not," Bai Zisheng nodded.
"Then let's spar!" Mo Hua suggested.
"Spar!" Bai Zisheng sat up excitedly, but after looking at Mo Hua, who was at the fifth level of Qi Refinement, with thin spiritual power and a slender figure, he frowned. "What are we going to spar about?"
Mo Hua whispered, "Let's spar in body techniques."
Bai Zisheng seemed a bit uninterested. "That sounds boring."
"If you don't want to, that's fine," Mo Hua turned to leave.
Bai Zisheng quickly got up, grabbing Mo Hua and said, "No, not boring! It's better than lying around doing nothing."
Thinking for a moment, Bai Zisheng asked, "But how are we going to compare? Body techniques... what's there to compare?"
"I've learned a new body technique, useful for survival." Mo Hua took out a cheap jade pendant, threaded through with a piece of cloth, tied securely around his neck.
"You try to snatch this jade pendant from me, and if you succeed, you win," Mo Hua explained.
"Is there a prize?" Bai Zisheng asked.
Mo Hua hesitated, "I don't have many spirit stones..."
Bai Zisheng waved his hand, "I don't care about spirit stones."
"In that case, if you win, I'll treat you to beef and a pot of osmanthus wine."
"Deal!"
With the prospect of food and fun, as well as a chance to spar in body techniques, Bai Zisheng was delighted. After a moment's thought, he negotiated with Mo Hua again, "And add a box of Begonia Pastry for Zixi."
"Alright," Mo Hua agreed readily.
The two drew a boundary on the ground near the large locust tree, each standing at one end.
Mo Hua announced, "Start!" Bai Zisheng's eyes changed as he dashed towards Mo Hua like a fierce tiger, incredibly fast.
Mo Hua blinked, held his breath, and predicted Bai Zisheng's trajectory with his spiritual sense. He gently dodged aside as Bai Zisheng pounced. Then, using his feet to lightly touch the ground, he retreated three steps.
"Huh?" Bai Zisheng was surprised. He had thought he would catch Mo Hua for sure, but Mo Hua had effortlessly sidestepped him.
"Where did you learn this technique from?" Bai Zisheng asked, puzzled.
"From a passing, unnamed, kind uncle," Mo Hua replied vaguely.
Bai Zisheng was baffled but didn't bother to inquire further. His competitive spirit was aroused, and his eyes gleamed brighter.
"Watch out!" Bai Zisheng pushed off the ground, a faint golden spiritual power flashed on his body, and in a blink of an eye, he reappeared in front of Mo Hua, reaching out to snatch the jade pendant hanging from Mo Hua's neck.
Mo Hua leaned back, intending to evade, but his spiritual power wasn't quick enough. Before he could change his technique, Bai Zisheng had already tackled him to the ground, grabbing the jade pendant.
Bai Zisheng helped Mo Hua up, feeling a bit guilty. "I lost control for a moment. Are you alright?"
Mo Hua rubbed his arms, a bit sore but otherwise fine. "I'm fine, just sparring."
Only then did Bai Zisheng relax. He shook the jade pendant in his hand triumphantly. "Don't forget the beef and pastries."
Mo Hua chuckled at his childish appearance. "Don't worry, I'll bring them to you tomorrow."
"Hmm hmm." Bai Zisheng nodded repeatedly, then feeling unsatisfied, he corrected himself, "Want to play more? No, I mean spar!"
Bai Zisheng clarified that sparring in techniques was serious business, not just playing around.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then shook his head regretfully, "No, our cultivation gap is too large. Playing a few times would only result in me losing."
Bai Zisheng hailed from a prestigious family outside the province, with exceptional spiritual roots, techniques, and knowledge of Daoist methods, all of superior quality. He was also a standout within his family, possessing a high level of enlightenment. Though he often appeared carefree, his strength was undeniably formidable.
Mo Hua had just used the "Flowing Water Steps" a few times and was keenly aware that with his current skill, he couldn't possibly match Bai Zisheng.
Moreover, Bai Zisheng's realm was significantly higher than his.
Mo Hua couldn't help but sigh.
Seeing Mo Hua somewhat dejected, Bai Zisheng said, "I'll suppress my cultivation level to spar with you."
Mo Hua was taken aback. "Is that okay?"
"Since it's a spar, fairness is crucial. It's bullying if I rely on a higher cultivation level," Bai Zisheng asserted firmly, "Besides, we're sparring in techniques, so we shouldn't rely on cultivation levels. Otherwise, it wouldn't be meaningful."
Mo Hua nodded. "Alright, but let me rest first."
Rubbing his arms, Mo Hua couldn't help asking Bai Zisheng, "Zisheng, are you a Body Cultivator?"
Bai Zisheng wasn't too pleased. "You should call me Big Brother!"
Mo Hua rolled his eyes at him.
Helpless, Bai Zisheng whispered, "I plan to become a Body Cultivator, practicing martial Dao methods. But this isn't something I can tell just anyone. I've only mentioned it to Zixi; I haven't even told Aunt Xue."
Mo Hua was speechless. With Bai Zisheng's character, which couldn't hide anything, it was strange that Aunt Xue didn't know.
"I heard that some geniuses from certain families can cultivate both spirit and body. Why not you?" Mo Hua asked quietly.
Bai Zisheng looked disdainful. "What's the point of cultivating both spirit and body? It's neither here nor there. Body Cultivation is straightforward and refreshing! One strength to subdue ten, one fist to break ten thousand techniques. Who cares about dual cultivation or single cultivation? If someone provokes me, one punch and I'll break their nose!"
Mo Hua looked at him with some envy. He also wanted the power to break through ten thousand techniques.
Previously, when Qian Xing provoked trouble, if Mo Hua had Bai Zisheng's strength, he would have definitely broken his nose with one punch.
Unfortunately, it was just wishful thinking...
After Mo Hua rested, he sparred several rounds with Bai Zisheng under the suppressed cultivation level.
The results were completely different.
With Bai Zisheng's cultivation suppressed to the fifth level of Qi Refinement, despite his outstanding techniques and body skills, the lack of cultivation support noticeably slowed down each move.
Mo Hua's spiritual sense could clearly predict most of Bai Zisheng's moves. Using the Flowing Water Step, he dodged them, occasionally succumbing to some tricky attacks where he couldn't evade in time and had to admit defeat.
They agreed on twenty rounds to determine the winner: if Bai Zisheng could snatch the jade pendant, he would win; if not, Mo Hua would win.
Until dusk, they alternated victories and losses, with the outcome roughly even, though Bai Zisheng seemed to have a slight upper hand.
Bai Zisheng thoroughly enjoyed himself, while Mo Hua gained profound insights into the Flowing Water Steps.
Bai Zisheng wanted to continue sparring, but Bai Zixi reminded him softly about "homework," which acted as a bucket of cold water. Bai Zisheng had to give up and finish his homework before night fell.
Mo Hua bid them farewell, agreeing to come back tomorrow, and amidst Bai Zisheng's repeated instructions, promised to bring meat, wine, and Begonia Pastry.
Everything under the big locust tree was observed by Elder Kui from the nearby bamboo pavilion.
Watching Mo Hua's departing figure, Elder Kui's gaze held profound meaning. "The Zhang family's Flowing Water Steps..."
(End of the Chapter)