"You... you can't do this!"
She circulated her cultivation technique.
Gao Meng immediately felt warmth spreading through her body.
However, she knew this was not allowed.
At this moment, Song Qiao was too close to her!
If this continued, she might be fine.
But what if Song Qiao lost control?
"You better let go, let go now."
Gao Meng's face was flushed red.
Her heart was pounding like a drum.
She could already hear Song Qiao's heavy breathing.
If he couldn't control himself, then...
Her purity would be compromised...
"Don't worry, we're just hugging."
Song Qiao let out a gentle sigh.
The scent of a man, coupled with the warmth,
made Gao Meng feel dizzy and unsure of what to do.
Although she knew in her heart she should resist,
her body moved involuntarily.
"Huh? What's going on? What are you two whispering about?"
Just then,
Ding Kai Dong, groggy from sleep, poked his head out.
Although it was his first time living in the countryside,
he had adapted quickly and had already fallen asleep soundly.
Now, the commotion nearby had woken him.
"You, get back!"
Song Qiao's face, for once, turned red.
He slapped Ding Kai Dong on the head.
*Slap!*
Poor Ding Kai Dong didn't understand what was happening.
He was immediately knocked unconscious by Song Qiao's slap and lay on the kang, unable to move.
However, taking advantage of this opportunity,
Gao Meng distanced herself from him.
She retreated to the side, her eyes warily watching Song Qiao.
"Really, if he hadn't interrupted, I would have succeeded."
Song Qiao regretted bringing this third wheel along.
He thought to himself that he must teach him a good lesson tomorrow.
As expected,
the very next morning, as soon as Gao Meng woke up, she heard shouting from the courtyard.
Peeking through the window,
she saw that Song Qiao had already begun training Ding Kai Dong.
However, today's training seemed to carry a hint of... resentment?
Gao Meng couldn't quite decipher it.
Shaking her head, she went outside.
"You're awake too. Good, join us."
Song Qiao called out.
"Don't think the New Year is an excuse to slack off on training."
"Martial arts are like that, use it or lose it."
"What? We can't even rest during the New Year?"
Ding Kai Dong's eyes widened in disbelief.
However, before he could react,
he was met with Song Qiao's sharp gaze.
"Fine, no rest, no rest. Why are you getting angry?"
He grumbled in a low voice and reluctantly rejoined the training.
"It's just training, I can handle it."
Gao Meng took a deep breath.
Looking at Song Qiao's expectant eyes, she encouraged herself.
"I will surely live up to expectations and become a powerful martial artist."
As she spoke,
Gao Meng joined the training session.
Her effort astonished Ding Kai Dong.
He couldn't understand,
why this young lady, who could have lived a life of comfort,
was so dedicated to the path of martial arts!
"By the way, your cultivation recently shouldn't be limited to this."
Song Qiao seemed to remember something after a moment and then told the two of them.
"According to my theory,"
"a martial artist is forged through constant real combat."
"Martial arts are techniques of killing, therefore, you must comprehend their true essence through actual combat."
The two looked at Song Qiao in confusion. "Comprehend the true essence through combat? But where will we get so many opportunities for real combat..."
Then, they exchanged glances, as if they understood something.
"Exactly, this is why I brought you two along."
Song Qiao smiled, his expression calm. "You two will spar with each other from now on."
"Remember, don't always aim for a draw."
"Martial artists grow through bloodshed! If either of you loses a limb, I'll support you for life!~"
Song Qiao's words were sincere, aiming to encourage them to fight without restraint.
"Then let's give it a try."
Ding Kai Dong looked eager.
He had always wanted to prove himself in front of Song Qiao.
This was the best opportunity for him.
"Alright! Let's go!"
Seeing Song Qiao say this,
Gao Meng took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and beckoned to Ding Kai Dong.
Then,
Ding Kai Dong attacked instantly.
Even a simple lunge strike had immense power.
It truly sounded like a hundred bowstrings being released simultaneously.
However, Gao Meng merely evaded his attack with a slight sidestep.
*So fast!*
Ding Kai Dong thought instinctively.
Then, his fists rained down like a storm.
As he attacked, Ding Kai Dong's brows furrowed tighter.
He could sense that Gao Meng's strength was considerable.
Perhaps even superior to his own.
Her speed in evading his attacks was proof enough.
However, Gao Meng's fighting spirit seemed lacking.
Up until now, she had only dodged, with no intention of counter-attacking.
"Should I... keep fighting or not?"
Ding Kai Dong pondered.
In this situation, even if he won, it wouldn't be a glorious victory, right?
Moreover, facing a girl, he should show some leniency.
Thinking this,
Ding Kai Dong's attack speed gradually slowed.
However, Song Qiao, seeing this, shook his head with a hint of helplessness.
Their reactions,
were somewhat different from what he had expected!
"This won't do,"
Song Qiao said, shaking his head with a detached expression.
"This level is far from meeting the training requirements."
Gao Meng bit her lip upon hearing this.
However, before she could speak,
unexpectedly,
Song Qiao stepped forward and directly joined the fray!
Almost instantly, he was in front of Gao Meng.
He casually unleashed a palm strike, yet Gao Meng felt a deadly threat.
Song Qiao's strength was on an entirely different level compared to Ding Kai Dong and Gao Meng!
"Not good!"
Panic flashed in her eyes.
Gao Meng didn't understand why Song Qiao had suddenly intervened.
All she felt was a sense of immense grievance!
At the same time, the deadly premonition of danger urged Gao Meng to keep evading.
However,
Song Qiao's strength was vastly superior to theirs!
The seemingly slow palm strike,
once locked on, was almost impossible to evade.
The palm grazed Gao Meng's arm, and a fearsome surge of energy swept through her.
She was violently thrown to the ground, and her arm was slashed by the powerful force, leaving bloody trails.
The bleeding wounds were heart-wrenching to behold.
However, Song Qiao showed no sympathy.
His expression remained detached.
"This won't do. I told you to go all out."
"Why do you repeatedly hold back?"
"Is it compassion, hmm?"
Hearing Song Qiao's reprimand,
Gao Meng's expression became even more wronged.
"Why, why are you doing this?"
She thought, confused. "And you said it was supposed to be my spar with Ding Kai Dong."
"What's the meaning of your sudden intervention?"
"Whether I'm soft-hearted or not is my business, as long as it helps with training."
Gao Meng felt a rare surge of dissatisfaction.
After all, she was a girl.
Although she rarely showed such emotions.
She turned her head away, unwilling to look at Song Qiao.
Gritting her teeth, she said,
"If you want to intervene, then don't let Ding Kai Dong come."
"I'll spar with you directly, how about that?"