Chapter 365: Chapter 314: I Won’t Forgive You

「The Xiao Mansion training grounds.」

Today, Xiao Mo was once again practicing the Godslaying Spear with his master.

Perhaps because he was getting used to the Godslaying Spear’s techniques, Xiao Mo’s practice today went much more smoothly than on the first day.

Of course, in Xiao Mo’s eyes, it still wasn’t enough.

’Perhaps it’s just as Master said. It’ll take me four or five years just to memorize the Spear Techniques...’

But Xiao Mo knew there was nothing to be done about it.

’Haste makes waste. I can’t apply the talent I had in my fourth life to my current situation.’

’Especially since I’m cultivating the Martial Dao, not the Demon Dao.’

For those who practice martial arts, being down-to-earth and taking things one step at a time was the most important thing.

As for the other disciples of the Xiao Family, they were practicing a Fist Technique.

However, they weren’t practicing the Heaven-Opening Fist, but rather a Fist Technique called the "Eight Gates Fist."

It wasn’t that Huang Shan deliberately withheld it from them because they weren’t his disciples; it was simply because their talent was insufficient.

Forcing someone with insufficient talent to cultivate a Fist Technique or Spear Technique that reached for the heavens wasn’t helping them—it was harming them.

Still, the Fist Technique they practiced was of a high grade, and their own talent wasn’t low either.

It was just that compared to Xiao Mo, they were quite a bit worse.

If they worked hard in the future, they might even be able to enter the Nascent Soul Realm.

When that time came, they could join the army, go on campaigns, and climb the ranks step-by-step to achieve considerable success.

"That’s all for today. And like I always say, don’t be impatient. We who practice martial arts must never act too hastily. Just move forward little by little. Stability is more important than speed. Do you understand?"

Huang Shan emphasized again, even feeling that he was being a little long-winded.

But it couldn’t be helped.

’This kid’s talent is a bit too high, and he cultivates a little too fast.’

’I’m worried that now that he’s hit a bottleneck and his cultivation speed is much slower than before, he’ll become too anxious.’

"Yes, your disciple will remember." Xiao Mo saluted, holding his spear.

"Alright, go and rest. Your little childhood sweetheart happens to be here again. Go and play with her," Huang Shan said to Xiao Mo with a smile.

Xiao Mo straightened up and turned his head to see a little girl in a long pink dress peeking over the training grounds’ fence, her small head poking out as she blinked at him.

When Qin Siyao saw that she had been discovered, she happily stretched out a small hand and waved at Xiao Mo.

"Master, this disciple will take his leave then."

Xiao Mo bowed, then walked toward the little girl outside the gate, Long Spear in hand.

"Greetings, Princess." Arriving in front of the little girl, Xiao Mo bowed.

Qin Siyao pouted. "You promised to call me Siyao."

Xiao Mo smiled. "I will call you Siyao, but proper etiquette, like this formal greeting, can’t be skipped."

"Fine." Qin Siyao clasped her small hands behind her back and happily took a step forward. "Xiao Mo, did you miss me?"

"I didn’t have time to miss you before you arrived, Siyao." ’I thought I wouldn’t see her again for a while, but it’s only been a day...’

"Hee hee, that just means I missed you," Qin Siyao said happily. "Come on, let’s go play."

"Are we going outside the city again?" Xiao Mo asked.

"Ummm, I can’t play that late today, or my mother will scold me." Qin Siyao thought for a moment, her gaze falling on the Long Spear in Xiao Mo’s hand. "Hey! Xiao Mo, why don’t you teach me how to use a spear?"

"Use a spear?" Xiao Mo considered it. "Spears are too dangerous. How about I teach you some Fist Technique instead?"

Xiao Mo knew Qin Siyao just wanted to play, but a spear had a blade. He figured it would be better to teach her some Fist Technique, which would also be good for her health.

"No, I want to learn the spear." Qin Siyao puffed out her cheeks. "You look so cool when you wield a spear. I want to learn too."

"But a Spear Technique can’t be mastered overnight. Besides, I’ve only just started learning myself. I’m afraid I’d be a bad teacher for you, Siyao." Xiao Mo smiled. "How about this? My master said that to learn the spear, you must first learn the fist. Why don’t you learn some Fist Technique with me first, Siyao? Once you’ve learned that, I’ll teach you the spear."

"Really? Then you can’t trick me."

"I won’t trick you."

"Pinky promise."

"Pinky promise."

"Pinky promise, hope to die, stick a needle in your eye~" The two children hooked their pinkies together as the little girl sang the innocent rhyme.

"Xiao Mo, liars have to swallow a thousand needles, you know," Qin Siyao said, bending over slightly.

"I won’t lie," Xiao Mo nodded.

"Hee hee, come on, let’s go practice our fists." Qin Siyao happily pulled Xiao Mo’s small hand and started walking.

Before long, Xiao Mo led Qin Siyao to a small garden.

"Follow my lead. Do exactly as I do," Xiao Mo said to Qin Siyao.

"Mhm," Qin Siyao nodded seriously, her eyes full of anticipation.

"Horse stance, lower your waist, use your hips to drive your arms, and punch!"

"Like this?" Qin Siyao copied him, throwing a punch.

"Yes, not bad. Now, take a step forward with your left foot."

Xiao Mo was teaching Qin Siyao the "Eight Gates Fist," the same Fist Technique that the other Xiao Family disciples practiced. Naturally, Xiao Mo knew it as well.

Xiao Mo taught earnestly, and Qin Siyao learned earnestly.

At first, Xiao Mo had thought the little girl was a bit slow.

But as it turned out, Xiao Mo found that Qin Siyao learned quite quickly; she seemed to have a certain degree of talent.

After Xiao Mo demonstrated the Eight Gates Fist once, he had Qin Siyao perform it on her own.

Although some of the details in Qin Siyao’s form were off, she had grasped almost all the moves of the Eight Gates Fist.

"Xiao Mo, how was it? Did I do a good job?" Qin Siyao stood up straight, wiping the hot sweat from her forehead.

"Yes, the Princess did very well," Xiao Mo said truthfully.

"Really?" Qin Siyao’s eyes sparkled with joy.

"Of course it’s true," Xiao Mo smiled.

"Then let’s spar!"

"Hm?"

"Isn’t sparring what you do when you practice fist techniques? I see my big brother and second brother do it all the time," the little girl said, eager to try.

"Well..."

"Come on, come on, let’s play..." Qin Siyao whined, shaking Xiao Mo’s arm coquettishly.

"Alright. Then, Princess, your subordinate will be impolite." Xiao Mo figured there was no harm in playing along with her.

"Here I come!" Qin Siyao happily jumped back to create some distance, clenching her small fists. "This heroine is coming for you!"

"Please," Xiao Mo said with a smile.

"Heiyah!" Qin Siyao ran toward Xiao Mo, her small fist aiming to tap his chest.

Xiao Mo sidestepped to dodge, then gently extended a fist.

Xiao Mo was intentionally going easy on her. Each of his punches was weak and slow, just enough for her to block, and he would find ways to let her throw her own little punches.

The two of them seemed to be evenly matched.

But gradually, Xiao Mo felt that the Eight Gates Fist Qin Siyao had just learned was getting a little interesting.

On a whim, Xiao Mo decided to increase the difficulty for Qin Siyao, but he accidentally lost control of his Fist Gang. With a yelp, Qin Siyao was sent flying by the force of Xiao Mo’s Fist Gang and landed squarely on her bottom with a hard thud.

"Siyao, are you okay?" Xiao Mo jumped in fright and hurried forward.

"Xiao Mo, you bullied me..." Tears welled up in the little girl’s eyes.

"I..."

"I’m not talking to you anymore..."

Just as Xiao Mo was about to explain, Qin Siyao scrambled to her feet, clutched her little skirt, and ran to the other side of the garden. She then squatted by the pond, hugging her knees, looking utterly wronged.

Xiao Mo glanced at Sister Hua Sheng, who was standing to the side. The maid simply gave a faint smile and said nothing.

Gazing at Qin Siyao’s small back, Xiao Mo scratched his head, unsure of how he should explain himself.

Xiao Mo thought for a moment. Noticing some tender green vines and colorful wildflowers nearby, his eyes lit up, and he picked a few.

Squatting by the pond, Qin Siyao rubbed her little bottom where she had fallen. It didn’t seem to hurt that much anymore.

Besides, a little girl’s anger comes and goes quickly. She wasn’t really that mad anymore.

But...

Qin Siyao secretly glanced in Xiao Mo’s direction, wondering, ’What’s he doing?’

’Why hasn’t he apologized to me yet?’

’Honestly.’

’I’m not that angry anymore, you know.’

’Hurry up and apologize to me.’

’If you don’t apologize, how am I supposed to keep playing with you?’

’Wait...’

’It seems like Xiao Mo was about to apologize before, but I got angry and ran away...’

’Hmph, I don’t care!’

’You can just apologize a second time!’

The more she thought about it, the angrier Qin Siyao found herself becoming again.

A moment later, Qin Siyao saw Xiao Mo stand up and walk toward her. She quickly turned her head away, pretending to be angry as she stared at the pond.

"Princess, I didn’t mean to do that just now. My control over my Gang Qi isn’t very good yet. Can I apologize to the Princess with this?"

Xiao Mo apologized to Qin Siyao.

Hearing Xiao Mo’s words, Qin Siyao stood up and turned her head for a glance. When she saw the colorful flower crown in his hand, her eyes instantly lit up.

But she quickly turned her head back again, pouting as she said, "It’s just a flower crown. I’m not going to forgive you for that."

"Then what will it take for the Princess to forgive me?" Xiao Mo asked with a smile.

"Put it on for me."

Qin Siyao puffed out her cheeks.

"If you put it on for me, I’ll forgive you."