Autumns and winters passed, one after another.
Xiao Mo's daily routine remained almost unchanged. Apart from going to learn spear techniques from his master, he returned to the courtyard, where his mother taught him poetry, songs, and famous essays.
Without learning from books, a person could not see the road ahead.
Zhou Ruoxi did not expect her child to become a Confucian Great Power. She only hoped he would understand a few principles and know his own heart.
Xiao Mo's mastery of the God-Slaying Spear also improved by the day.
As the days passed, Xiao Mo could perform most of the God-Slaying Spear on his own.
Only the final portion remained difficult to execute.
But that was merely a matter of time.
Qin Siyao often came to play with Xiao Mo, too.
However, her Father Emperor and Mother Queen restricted how often she could visit him.
She could only come to see Xiao Mo about once every three days.
This made Qin Siyao very unhappy. She tried sneaking out of the palace, but her Mother Queen discovered her and confined her for several days.
She was forbidden from going out for a month.
When Qin Siyao could finally play with Xiao Mo again, she grumbled into his ear, "Father Emperor and Mother Queen are big pigheads!"
Xiao Mo could only pretend he had not heard.
In the blink of an eye, five springs and autumns passed.
Qin Siyao grew from a little girl into a graceful young maiden.
Likewise, after five years, Xiao Mo had grown into a youth.
By then, he had entered the cave mansion realm.
He stood tall and straight, and the spear in his hand carried an even more chilling aura.
When he wielded it, he had the bearing of a great general.
Qin Siyao's favorite