Xia Shuran froze, looking surprised. "Really?"
"Really."
Gu Qing sounded certain. "A girl as beautiful as you has absolutely no need for makeup. Putting those cosmetics on your face would practically be defiling that pretty face of yours."
"Is that so?"
Xia Shuran was delighted by the praise, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Since you like me without makeup, Senior, I won't wear any from now on."
The two did not chat outside the martial arts school for long.
Gu Qing finished his buns in a few bites and soon headed to the Inner Hall with Xia Shuran.
When the two entered the Inner Hall.
Xia Wuyuan was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, quietly meditating.
"Good morning, Elder Xia."
"Good morning, Old Ancestor."
The two greeted Xia Wuyuan in turn.
Xia Wuyuan rose from his cushion, turned to look at the two who had entered, and said flatly:
"Come on, let's not waste time. We'll start sparring right away so we don't eat into my fishing time at noon."
"..."
Gu Qing and Xia Shuran exchanged a glance.
The next second.
Both lunged forward at once, charging at Xia Wuyuan at top speed.
As she advanced.
With a thought, Xia Shuran retrieved the long, thick Dragon Spear from her Storage Bracelet and leaped up to thrust at Xia Wuyuan, wisps of searing Qi and Blood Power accompanying her strike.
Her pose as she leaped was picturesque; she was the prettiest girl there.
Two hours later.
Xia Shuran lay sprawled on the floor, facing the ceiling and gasping for breath, her entire body drenched in sweat. She was utterly exhausted.
In comparison.
Gu Qing, who had likewise been sparring for two hours.
Had a calm expression and steady breathing, without so much as a drop of sweat on him.