Zhao Mu looked directly into Mo Guanguan's eyes and spoke in a calm, almost indifferent tone:
"Next round… I'm throwing Rock."
At that very moment, the two of them were still locked in a rapid exchange, their movements quick and precise. The sudden statement, however, caused Mo Guanguan's heart to skip a beat.
Rock?
Was he serious?
Or was this just a trick?
Her thoughts spiraled instantly.
He must be trying to mislead me… If I believe him, I'll throw Paper, and he'll counter with Scissors…
But then another thought followed.
No, that's too obvious. Anyone could see through that. Maybe he's expecting me to think that way, so he'll actually throw Rock…
Her mind raced.
But she had no time.
In the end, driven by instinct—
She chose not to believe him.
She threw Scissors.
And Zhao Mu—
Really threw Rock.
"Dong!"
The hammer came down with a sharp, clear sound as it struck her helmet.
Mo Guanguan froze for a moment, stunned.
He… actually did it?
Annoyance surged in her chest as she quickly reached for her helmet to recover.
But before she could regain her rhythm—
Zhao Mu spoke again.
"Next round… I'll still throw Rock."
Mo Guanguan's brows twitched.
Again?!
This same trick?
Now that she was on guard, there was no way she'd fall for it twice.
He must be lying this time.
So in the next instant—
She chose accordingly.
But the result—
Was exactly the same.
Zhao Mu threw Rock.
She lost again.
This time, she barely managed to block in time, but the frustration had already begun to build.
"This time… I'll still throw Rock."
Zhao Mu's voice remained steady, almost casual.
But to Mo Guanguan—
It sounded like a provocation.
Her thoughts descended into chaos.
Rock? Paper? Scissors?
Her mind spun through countless possibilities.
There's no way he'll do it three times in a row… right?
No one would.
No one should.
So she made her decision.
She changed her move.
And once again—
Zhao Mu threw Rock.
She lost.
Again.
A faint redness crept onto Mo Guanguan's face.
Her pride—
Was being chipped away, piece by piece.
Yet Zhao Mu didn't stop.
"This round… I'll throw Rock."
Mo Guanguan clenched her teeth.
Enough!
This time, no matter what, I'm throwing Paper!
Does he really think I'm an idiot?!
But just as she was about to act—
A sudden thought flashed through her mind.
Wait…
It's already the fourth time.
Even a fool wouldn't keep throwing Rock, right?
And I'm definitely not a fool.
Which meant—
If Zhao Mu expected her to change…
Then he would change too.
So—
She chose reverse thinking.
She wouldn't change.
She stuck with Scissors.
The result?
Zhao Mu still threw Rock.
"Teng!"
It was as if steam erupted from Mo Guanguan's head.
"Why do you keep throwing Rock?!"
She couldn't hold back any longer.
Her voice rang out, filled with anger and disbelief.
Zhao Mu simply looked at her with a faint smile.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Almost amused.
After another quick exchange of attacks and defenses, he spoke again:
"Next round… still Rock."
Mo Guanguan felt like she was going insane.
Her eyes burned with frustration.
Fine!
Fifth round—I'm throwing Paper!
This time, she made her decision without hesitation.
But—
What awaited her—
Was Zhao Mu's Scissors.
She lost.
Again.
Mo Guanguan stood there, stunned.
Her mind felt blank.
Why…?
Why do I keep losing?
The answer, in truth—
Was written all over her face.
But she didn't realize it.
Zhao Mu, meanwhile, remained composed.
Although his strategy wasn't flawless, as the rounds continued, his proficiency in the skill [Rock-Paper-Scissors] increased rapidly.
A trivial skill—
Yet its mastery grew at an astonishing speed.
Very quickly—
It reached 100%.
The battle continued.
Fast.
Relentless.
From the outside, their hands moved so quickly that it seemed like a blur of motion.
But in reality—
Zhao Mu was consuming far less Spirit Power than Mo Guanguan.
Because he was winning.
Consistently.
His win rate had already exceeded eighty percent.
Mo Guanguan, on the other hand, was losing again and again.
Yet she refused to give up.
She gritted her teeth and endured.
Waiting.
Waiting for Zhao Mu's Spirit Power to run out.
Once that happens…
He'll be completely at my mercy!
Zhao Mu watched her.
Her eyes were red.
Her expression fierce.
Like a small beast ready to bite.
And yet—
He smiled.
Gently.
Like an amused elder watching a stubborn child.
Finally—
It happened.
Zhao Mu's Spirit Power was exhausted.
As a Rank-3 Battle Spirit user, he had reached his limit.
A flash of joy appeared in Mo Guanguan's eyes.
Her lips curled into a grin, revealing her small, sharp teeth.
"Now…"
"It's my turn."
But Zhao Mu's eyes narrowed slightly.
A sharp glint flashed within them.
Another round.
Another decision.
Another win.
Without hesitation—
He grabbed his hammer.
Mo Guanguan giggled.
Confident.
Relaxed.
She picked up her hat and placed it neatly on her head.
"Now that you're out of Spirit Power…"
"How are you going to fight me?"
"Dang!"
The hammer struck.
Clean.
Direct.
Mo Guanguan's head buzzed.
Pain spread instantly.
"…Huh?"
She looked at him, dazed.
Zhao Mu spread his hands casually.
"Who said I need Spirit Power to hit harder?"
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Mo Guanguan's face turned red.
Not from anger alone—
But from embarrassment.
Her eyes glistened slightly.
"You…"
"You're bullying me!"
Her voice carried a hint of grievance.
The arrogance she had shown earlier—
Was completely gone.
In its place—
Was something unexpectedly soft.
She looked almost like a little girl who had been wronged.
With a huff—
She threw her hat to the ground.
Then turned—
And ran.
The surrounding trainees watched with strange expressions.
Zhao Mu could only shrug helplessly.
"I didn't even use much strength…"
He muttered.
The truth was simple.
Mo Guanguan had lowered her guard.
That was all.
At this point, Zhao Mu himself was completely drained.
He stretched his arms, preparing to sit down and meditate.
But just as he was about to do so—
A figure darted over.
Meng Qiuqiu.
Sneaky.
Grinning.
"Brother Xiao Mu!"
"You're amazing!"
"You hooked up with Mo Guanguan so fast!"
Zhao Mu rolled his eyes.
"She's just upset because I took her ranking."
Meng Qiuqiu leaned in, lowering his voice.
"Listen…"
"I don't know her exact background…"
"But I've seen enough people to recognize it."
"She's not ordinary."
"If you get a chance…"
"Don't miss it."
Zhao Mu looked him up and down.
"…Are you suggesting I live off a woman?"
Meng Qiuqiu laughed.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Plenty of powerful figures rose that way!"
His tone turned serious.
"In this world…"
"Talent alone isn't enough."
"If you can't enter the upper circles…"
"You won't get access to real cultivation resources."
"Advanced techniques… powerful relics… rare materials…"
"They're all monopolized."
He paused.
Then added quietly:
"At a certain level…"
"You'll be recruited anyway."
"As a matrilocal son-in-law."
"So why not choose early?"
Zhao Mu widened his eyes slightly.
This—
Was the first time he had heard such blunt truth.
But then—
He smiled.
Raised his fists.
Clenched them tightly.
"No need."
"With these two fists…"
"I'll carve my own path."
Meng Qiuqiu froze.
Then—
After a long pause—
He gave a thumbs-up.
"…You're incredible."
Zhao Mu said nothing more.
He simply closed his eyes.
And began to meditate.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)
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