In the world of Cosmic Juggernaut, beneath a resplendent starlit night...
"Zzzz~"
Fu Hua, lying on the rooftop, had grown bored gazing up at the stars and simply drifted off to sleep. Her body sprawled out diagonally amidst the sloping roof tiles, forming a large "X." Tiny bubbles appeared at her nose tip, expanding and contracting rhythmically with each breath—a sign of deep slumber.
"Pfft!"
Perhaps due to a slight gust of wind or a fluctuation in Fu Hua's sleep, those bubbles suddenly burst.
The noise didn't wake her, but it did cause her to uncomfortably wrinkle her nose in her dreams and roll over.
Unconsciously, while deeply asleep, one wouldn't realize they're lying on a sloped tiled roof.
With a single turn, she lost her balance, and Fu Hua began tumbling down.
"Thud!"
"Ahh!"
"Fu Hua" abruptly sat up on the ground, scratching her head and feeling strands of grass tangled in it.
"Hmm... Where am I? What happened?" she mumbled groggily to herself, yawning with traces of sleep still glistening at the corners of her eyes.
After a moment, as "Fu Hua" regained her senses, she looked up towards the ceiling towering over seven to eight meters high but froze instantly.
Beneath the flawless full moon, a girl clad in simple white robes stood gracefully atop the roof edge, her figure swaying like a willow tree. With a downward gaze, she smiled warmly at "Fu Hua."
"O-Old Antique..." Staring in awe, "Fu Hua" felt as if witnessing a painting of a celestial maiden under the moonlight, her cheeks subtly flushing without notice.
With a gentle push off her toes, the girl effortlessly leaped from the rooftop, descending softly like a drifting autumn leaf, until she landed before "Fu Hua".
Only then did "Fu Hua" realize that the plain attire, devoid of any embellishments or colors, resembled a casually draped piece of white cloth. It modestly yet barely covered her slender, delicate frame. Even a slight breeze would reveal glimpses of snow-white skin through the gaps, catching "Fu Hua's" attention.
"Did you hurt yourself?"
Fu Hua leaned down, her smile like a pure and radiant flower under the moonlight, gently patting "Fu Hua's" head.
A noticeable blush appeared on "Fu Hua's" face.
"I-I'm perfectly fine, of course! Humph! Even falling from the highest peak in the world wouldn't bother me!"
"But I asked if it hurts? Seriously, at least find a stable place to sleep; this should teach you a lesson."
With one hand still resting on "Fu Hua's" head, Fu Hua placed her other hand near her mouth, subtly hiding the gentle curve of her smiling lips.
This tender moment left "Fu Hua" feeling slightly giddy and disoriented, as if she had imbibed too much wine.
For a while, "Fu Hua" remained captivated before feigning composure with a slight pout, mumbling:
"You're so naggy."
Lowering her gaze, "Fu Hua" noticed Fu Hua's slender, snow-white calves and delicate, dainty feet.
"Phew—"
In that instant, "Fu Hua" felt steam uncontrollably puffing from her ears and nostrils—how could such an old relic look so stunning everywhere?!
After quite some time, when "Fu Hua" finally regained her senses from her dazed state, she found herself sitting shoulder to shoulder with Fu Hua on an expansive grassland under the unchanging moon above. They were so close that leaning slightly would bring them together.
When did I...get here? What just happened?
Trying to piece together the sequence of events, "Fu Hua" could only recall the profound sense of peace and joy, feeling utterly carefree while holding hands with Fu Hua, filling all her memories.
She involuntarily held her breath, glanced sidelong, then cautiously turned her head slowly, finally catching sight of Fu Hua's face.
The antiquated warrior gazed upward as if admiring the moon, yet amidst her otherworldly beauty, there lingered a subtle trace of melancholy, as though recalling sorrowful pasts through the lunar glow.
"What's wrong?"
Noticing "Fu Hua's" intense stare, Fu Hua turned, offering her a gentle smile.
"No...nothing! Wait! How did you come out by yourself, old antique? And what's with this body? A Soulium form? Did you get it from Zeke?" "Fu Hua," quickly regaining composure after a brief moment of panic, swiftly changed the subject.
Of course, these matters were indeed important.
Fu Hua lowered her eyes, contemplating briefly before responding, "Hmm... Let's just say, seeing you spar with Kevin day after day piqued my interest, so I decided to step out for some fresh air."
"What do you mean 'just'? Are you brushing me off?"
"Well, forgive me then—I don't know how else to explain it."
"...All right," Fu Hua reluctantly replied with a pout and a scratch of her head.
It wasn't important anyway; let the old antique do as she pleases. "Fu Hua" didn't feel any resentment.
"Wanna spar a bit?"
"Huh?" "Fu Hua" blinked innocently, unable to follow this sudden change in topic.
A moment later, her eyes lit up.
"Yes, yes! You always understand me best! I absolutely love a good fight!"
"Just a pure exchange of techniques, mind you. If we really go at it, my Soulium body wouldn't hold up. So please, spare some restraint," Fu Hua calmly explained—omitting that Divine Essence was another matter altogether, unaffected even by a Soulium frame.
"Fu Hua" flashed an enthusiastic thumbs-up and grinned broadly. "No problem! Just like controlling power during training, right? Gotcha!"
With that, "Fu Hua" dusted herself off, stood upright, and struck a martial stance.
Fu Hua mirrored her position, their forearms, straight as blades, gently meeting.
In the next instant, fists blurred like lightning, erupting with countless sharp cracks akin to firecrackers.
Time seemed to freeze at the moment their hands first met. Amidst gentle breezes, Fu Hua's delicate white fist hovered mere inches from "Fu Hua's" face.
"You..."
"Fu Hua's" pupils contracted; her mouth opened slightly, but she was speechless.
Meanwhile, Fu Hua slowly retracted her fist with a smile and asked,
"Shall we continue?"
"Yes!"
"Fu Hua's" expression turned serious as she resumed her stance and lightly touched Fu Hua's extended forearm once more.
"Crackling!"
"Boom!"
In the blink of an eye, Fu Hua had pinned both of "Fu Hua's" wrists with one hand while her other fist paused before "Fu Hua's" eyes, generating a powerful gust.
This time, without needing Fu Hua's prompt, "Fu Hua" took a deep breath and enunciated each word distinctly:
"Continue!"
"Crackling!"
"Boom!"
Now, hovering before "Fu Hua," it was Fu Hua's petite palm.
"Agh!!"
"Fu Hua" stumbled back two steps, frantically scratching her head, her face filled with bewildered self-doubt.
After a moment, she turned and said:
"Hold on! I'm still groggy from sleep and not fully warmed up. Let me get ready first."
"All right."
"Fu Hua" then took several deep breaths, expanded her chest, stretched her waist, rotated her wrists, and even performed some jumping jacks and backflips on the spot.
After warming up thoroughly, "Fu Hua" composed herself with a serious expression, brimming with confidence as she approached once more.
"Alright, I'm ready now. Let me show you my true strength."
"Crackling!"
"Boom!"
In another brief moment, the same scenario unfolded, with the gust from Fu Hua's punch whistling past "Fu Hua's" ears.
"Again!"
"Boom!"
"Keep going!"
"Boom!"
"Aaargh! Now you've made me mad!"
"Boom!"