Chapter 106: Sparring (Five Updates)_1
Translator: 549690339
“Mo Hua!” Bai Zisheng said happily, “Did you bring some food?”
“So you came to play with me?”
“It’s not that… I came to see Mr. Zhuang,” Mo Hua replied honestly.
Bai Zisheng felt quite disappointed.
“Did you finish your homework?” Mo Hua asked.
“Not yet, there’s a little bit left, I don’t want to do it anymore.” After finishing his words, Bai Zisheng lay back down.
Mo Hua’s eyes lit up, “So, you don’t have anything to do right now?”
“I guess so.” Bai Zisheng nodded his head.
“Spar!” Bai Zisheng sat up excitedly, but after glancing at the thin and frail Mo Hua who was at the fifth level of Qi Refinement with scant Spiritual Power, he furrowed his brows and said, “What would we spar with?”
Mo Hua spoke softly, “We can spar with movement techniques.”
Bai Zisheng was a bit lackluster, “That’s so boring.”
“If you don’t want to, then never mind,” Mo Hua said, turning to walk away.
Bai Zisheng hastily got up and grabbed Mo Hua, saying,
“It’s not boring, not boring at all, it’s better than lying around doing nothing.”
After thinking for a moment, Bai Zisheng asked, “But how should we compete? Movement techniques… what’s there to compete about?”
“I’ve newly learned a movement technique for preserving my life,” Mo Hua said, taking out a cheap Jade Pendant and threading it with a cloth strip, tying both ends securely and hanging it around his neck.
“You try to snatch this Jade Pendant from me, if you manage to get it, you win.”
Mo Hua said with some difficulty, “I don’t have many Spirit Stones.”
Bai Zisheng waved his hand, “I don’t care much for Spirit Stones.”
“If you win, then, I’ll treat you to some beef, and add a pot of osmanthus wine.”
The prospect of eating, having fun, and sparring with movement techniques made Bai Zisheng very happy. He thought it over and suddenly negotiated with Mo Hua, “Add a box of crabapple pastries too, for Zixi.”
“Sure,” Mo Hua agreed cheerfully.
The two of them delineated boundaries in the open space on one side of the great locust tree, with each standing at one end.
As soon as Mo Hua said “Begin,” Bai Zisheng’s gaze changed, and in his white clothes, he pounced like a fierce tiger, incredibly fast.
Mo Hua’s eyelids twitched, he held his breath and concentrated, predicting Bai Zisheng’s trajectory through his Divine Sense. He lightly sidestepped, avoiding him. Then, with a tap of his foot on the ground, he lightly retreated three zhang away.
Bai Zisheng was surprised; he had thought he would certainly catch Mo Hua this time, yet with just a slight move, Mo Hua had dodged past him.
“Where did you learn that movement technique?”
“It was taught by a passing, unknown, kind-hearted uncle,” Mo Hua explained.
Not quite understanding, Bai Zisheng didn’t bother to inquire further, but his competitive spirit was roused, his eyes shining even brighter.
With a push off the ground, Bai Zisheng flashed a faint golden Spiritual Power, and in the blink of an eye, appeared again in front of Mo Hua, reaching out his right hand to snatch the Jade Pendant from Mo Hua’s neck.
Mo Hua leaned back, almost falling to the ground, when he used Spiritual Power to pull his body and glided backward just above the ground.
Bai Zisheng’s hand missed, and his body turned, chasing after Mo Hua even faster than before.
Before Mo Hua could finish his move and redirect his Spiritual Power to change his stance, it was too late; Bai Zisheng tackled him to the ground and snatched the Jade Pendant from his neck.
Bai Zisheng pulled Mo Hua up, feeling somewhat guilty, “I got carried away, are you okay?”
Mo Hua rubbed his arm. Despite the pain, there was no serious harm. He replied, “It’s fine, it was just a friendly spar.”
Bai Zisheng then felt relieved, and couldn’t help but shake the jade pendant in his hand, somewhat proudly, “Don’t forget the beef and pastries, though.”
Seeing his childlike demeanor, Mo Hua couldn’t help but laugh, “Don’t worry, I’ll bring them to you tomorrow.”
“Mhm, mhm.” Bai Zisheng nodded repeatedly, then his enthusiasm returned, “Still playing, I mean… sparring!”
Bai Zisheng corrected himself. Sparring Taoist skills was a serious matter, unlike playing.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then regretfully shook his head, “No, our cultivation is too different, I’d lose even if we played a few more times.”
Bai Zisheng came from a great noble clan outside of Li State, with top-notch Spiritual Root, Cultivation Techniques, and learned Taoist Skills. He was also a prodigy in his family, with extremely high comprehension. Despite often appearing carefree, his strength was undeniably remarkable.
Just now, after using the Water Passing Step to contend for a while, Mo Hua clearly understood that with his current movement technique, he was no match for Bai Zisheng.
Not to mention Bai Zisheng’s realm was much higher than his.
Mo Hua couldn’t help but sigh.
Seeing Mo Hua a bit downhearted, Bai Zisheng said, “How about I suppress my cultivation and spar with you?”
Mo Hua hesitated for a moment, “Is that okay?”
“Since it’s a spar, it has to be fair,” Bai Zisheng said righteously. “Relying on superior cultivation is just bullying. Moreover, if we’re sparring movement techniques, we definitely can’t depend on cultivation; otherwise, it’s meaningless.”
Mo Hua nodded, “Alright, but let me rest a bit first.”
Mo Hua rubbed his arm again and couldn’t help but ask Bai Zisheng, “Zisheng, are you a Body Cultivator?”
Bai Zisheng wasn’t too happy, “You should call me big brother!”
Mo Hua rolled his eyes at him.
Helpless, Bai Zisheng whispered:
“I plan to practice Body Cultivation and master the Martial Dao. But this is not to be told to outsiders. I’ve only told Zixi, I haven’t even informed Aunt Xue.”
Mo Hua was speechless, thinking with Bai Zisheng’s character that couldn’t hide anything, it would be strange if Aunt Xue didn’t know…
“I heard some geniuses from the noble clans can practice Dual Cultivation of Spirit and Body. Can’t you do that?” Mo Hua whispered.
Bai Zisheng looked disdainful, “What’s the point of Dual Cultivation of Spirit and Body? It’s neither here nor there, not as pure and exhilarating as Body Cultivation! Overpower with Single Force, breaking myriad laws with one punch, who cares about dual or solo cultivation? If they provoke me, I will smash their noses with a single punch!”
Mo Hua looked on with envy. He, too, wished to shatter myriad laws with one punch.
Previously, when Qian Xing had caused trouble, had Mo Hua possessed Bai Zisheng’s strength, he certainly would have broken his nose with a punch.
Unfortunately, he could only wish…
After resting up, Mo Hua sparred several more rounds with Bai Zisheng, who had suppressed his cultivation.
The outcome was entirely different.
With Bai Zisheng’s cultivation suppressed to the fifth level of Qi Refinement, even with his not-so-common techniques and movement skills, it was evident that he was slower than before due to the lack of cultivation support.
Mo Hua’s Divine Sense could now clearly see.
Most of Bai Zisheng’s moves, Mo Hua could predict with his Divine Sense, and dodge with the Water Passing Step. Occasionally, some extremely tricky moves would catch Mo Hua too late to dodge, and he could only concede defeat.
The two agreed on twenty rounds to determine the winner. If Bai Zisheng managed to snatch the jade pendant, he would win; if not, Mo Hua would prevail.
Until evening, the two had their wins and losses, roughly equaling a tie, but Bai Zisheng was probably still a bit better.
Bai Zisheng had a great time, and Mo Hua gained profound insights into the Water Passing Step.
Bai Zisheng wanted to continue sparring, but Bai Zixi gently reminded him of “homework.” It was like cold water poured on him, and Bai Zisheng had to stop, hurrying to finish his homework before it got dark.
Mo Hua said goodbye to them, agreeing to return the next day, and, amid Bai Zisheng’s countless reminders, promised to bring alcohol, meat, and crabapple pastries.
All that happened under the big pagoda tree was observed by Old Kui in a bamboo pavilion nearby.
Old Kui, watching Mo Hua’s receding figure, had a profound look in his eyes, “The Zhang Family’s Water Passing Step, huh…”