The grass was still wet with dew and the sky was scattered with white clouds. Xiao trekked up the grassy hill dotted with sparse oaks. Many disciples followed behind, chattering among each other. Jonah Festinger skipped alongside him and talked about what happened on the mountain the past two years. 

"Aidan has gotten quite good after two years. Though you would have trained him better than Steph and I. But oh well, you can help him now. He will benefit from this too, learning and stuff. Kelvin and Peter got into a fight just the other day - "

"About what?" Xiao asked interestedly.

"Oh, I don't know. Something about sharing responsibility on chores. What young kids fight over, you know?"

Xiao laughed. He was sure he had heard Jonah complaining to Stephanus about chores just that morning. But in an attempt to be a nice brother and to preserve Jonah's dignity, he didn't mention it.

After a short walk, they reached the grassy clearing Xiao had intended for them to practice on. Tiny purple flowers formed clumps in the wide clearing and tall pine trees worked as an shield for the sunlight that would hit them by midday. Had it been a windy day, the thick layer of trees would have blocked the wind too.

Xiao spread his arms. "Welcome to my paradise!"

Unexpectedly, Bradley hit him hard on the back. Xiao instantly turned towards him to see him scoffing at him and kicked. Bradley dodged and retaliated with a strike to the neck. Jonah laughed and Stephanus yelled "Stop!"

Xiao backed away, laughing. "Steph, this is called constant practice. It keeps your skills fresh."

Bradley smoothed down his pants, a bit embarrassed at causing a scene. "Alright, let's start practicing."

They all split into groups. The bunch of young men started showing off some of their sects' most impressive swordplay, saber or knife sequences, or some free hand martial arts. Xiao got into a group with Jason from Wen River, Brian from Svetlana River, and Kun from Phoenix mountain.

"Xiao-Ge, you're the leader. You go first," Brian said.

Xiao smiled. "Alright." He didn't show off anything really special, just a sequence called the Mount Huai Death Strike. It was one of the first things the disciples learned. He did a well enough job of it though. His movements were to the point and fast, and his body twisted in the air beautifully. When he was done, not only his group but other groups also clapped. Xiao held the last pose for a long second and before returning to a standing position and smiled around. He was known as the pride and joy of Mount Huai, after all. 

Cole Fessler was in another group, standing apart from the rest. He was looking fixedly at Xiao, his face full of disdain. Xiao's smile faded when their eyes met and he instantly looked away.

"Xiao-Ge, that's incredible," Jason said. "I loved the part where the side kick followed the strike so cohesively."

Xiao smiled and moved to the back of the crowd. "Thanks. You go next."

Jason performed a sequence called the Red Strike, in which strikes to the neck were ubiquitous. Xiao squinted at Jason, watching his steps, and his twists, and his hands. Torso, neck, head, back ... He tried to memorize the sequence and the ways he striked. Jason was quite good, perhaps even as good as him. He didn't even bother to take off his long robes before practice and the red fabric fluttered in the air, making the sequence look majestic.

Then Brian did the famous Water Sequence from Svetlana River and Kun did the Tiger Sequence. Xiao watched them all quietly, clapping and cheering only at the end. He longed to learn them all. Then he saw Reece from Phoenix Mountain do the Tiger Sequence in front of everyone again and Xiao mimed the motions minutely. Bradley came over. "Why are you waving your arms around?"

Xiao ignored him and kept at it. Turn, kick, kick, strike - 

"What's wrong with you?" Bradley asked.

Xiao shushed him and only until he was done did he answer. "Learning, what do you think?"

Bradley frowned. "That's basically spying. If you want to learn, ask."

"You think they would tell us? It's their sect's secrets," Xiao said. 

"You still can't spy on them and steal the moves."

"Watch me."

Bradley hit him hard. "Go and do the Mount Huai Power Sequence."

Xiao stumbled but caught himself. "Alright, everyone, the martial arts lord had spoken," he announced. "I am to do the Mount Huai Power Sequence."

Everyone laughed and backed away to give him space and Xiao got into position. Starting with a quick backhand, he did it all to precision. When he was done, he looked at Bradley, who nodded, a reluctant but proud smile on his face. Xiao saluted him, half mockingly, and went to stand beside Jonah. Unfortunately, he also found himself next to a figure dressed in white. It was Cole. Ignoring this unwelcoming presence, he asked his younger brother, "how was it?"

"Good of course," Jonah said in a feigned impatient tone to tease him.

Xiao clapped him on the back, smiling. "Practice hard like a good lad and one day they will cheer you on too." Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Cole's mouth twitch.

Jonah huffed. "That's all good and all, but I'll never be as good as my third brother."

Xiao laughed. "You don't mean that." Jonah was very much like him, especially in his vanity. But of course, they were not proud without a reason. Both were very talented.

Jonah laughed too. Then, in an effort to throw Xiao off, he said, "say, Xiao-ge, what was the most painful experience you've had the past two years?"

Xiao paused for a long moment in which he could see Cole turn his head slightly towards him. "Lime dust," he said finally.

"Lime dust?" Jonah repeated, incredulous.

"It's a funny story, really," Xiao said, smiling, though not bothering to elaborate. "Bradley was to thank for that, of course."

They watched for a while and then Jason sauntered over. "Let's do some sword practice, eh?" Xiao smiled at Jason, but he didn't miss the provocative look he had shot Cole before speaking. He wondered what their deal was. However, before he could even turn to look at Cole to confirm that he had seen it too, Cole had walked away.

That night, Xiao pulled Jonah to the most remote corner of the Mount Huai Residence. He set up a target with rings of red and black and lit a few extra lanterns. Then he turned around to face Jonah with a grin.

"What is this?" Jonah asked, suspicious that it was a prank of some sort.

Xiao spread his arms. "Target practice."

Jonah looked at him, confused. "But we do target practice during training."

Xiao rolled his eyes. "How frequently? Almost never. I'm telling you, in the real world, this is important." He walked around Jonah as he talked and wagged his finger in an attempt to flaunt his cool. "I had to practice by myself the past two years to perfect my hidden weapon skills. Let me tell you, those stones and short arrows would come of use. I know all these stigma about hidden weapon and how victories won by them are not glorious and whatnot but it's better to conserve energy for more meaningful targets."

Jonah scrutinized him. "You know mentor does not like it."

Xiao sighed. "Look, he still taught us them, alright? And that's because they are useful. If you're not going to use them, fine. I'll teach you how to dodge them."

Jonah nodded. "Alright."

Xiao grinned. "Let me see how well you can shoot them, then."

Jonah stood in front of the target and let out countless stones and short arrows that hit the center of the target. Xiao clapped him on the back. "That's my boy. Now we fight and you have to shoot the stones at me."

Jonah looked doubtful. "While fighting?"

Xiao rolled his eyes. "When did you become so dense, Jonah?Just go at it."

Jonah nodded and started the Mount Huai Death Strike. Xiao retaliated with the same sequence. In the past two years, Jonah had perfected his Death Strike. If not for the drawback that he had to release the stones periodically, he might have been evenly matched with Xiao. Xiao saw all the stones coming and dodged them all. 

But after a few twists and turns, he got mischievous. When he saw a stone coming for his nose, he twisted his torso away to the left and caught it with his right hand. Then he turned so he was behind Jonah.

Jonah gasped in shock and quickly turned to face Xiao, only to be welcomed with the stone coming at him. He quickly jumped away to avoid it, accompanied with a mumble of "I hate you".

Xiao laughed. They exchanged a few more punches and strikes before Jonah let out another stone. Xiao caught it again with a grin. "Too sloppy, Jonah. I can foresee it five seconds before you release it."

And so it went on until - "Stop!" Xiao jumped out of the fight.

Jonah pulled out too. "That was quite a drag but I think I've got it," he said. "After all, the last one nearly hit you."

Xiao smiled. "You still need more practice, Jonah. Besides, I was going easy on you."

"Sure you were."

Xiao grinned. "We'll practice for the next two weeks. You'll be way better by the end of it."

Jonah fixed him with a look. "Xiao-ge, why are you teaching me only?"

Xiao patted him on the shoulder. "You are the next one off Mount Huai. I need to make sure you are prepared in something mentor refuse to let you practice. Besides, Bradley's got a favourite. Can't I have one too?"

Jonah's lips slowly morphed into a grin. "Well, then. You better teach me all you know."

Xiao walked around the dark mountain side. Moodily, he kicked the rocks and pebbles along the trail. Why did he have to show everyone the dam clearing? It was a place where he and Bradley and the rest of the Mount Huai disciples had bonfires during summer nights. It was a sacred place, at least, back when Mount Huai hadn't been so crowded and Grandmaster Liang still had time to talk to Xiao.

Compared to his childhood being chased around, beaten by his guardian's wife, harassed by the city's bully, Mount Huai was the best thing that had happened to him. It was his first home, really. It was only natural that he felt threatened by the others who took away all his brothers and mentor.

Subconsciously, he found himself heading towards the clearing. He guessed that he needed the solitude. However, as he neared the place, he heard noises. There was muffled screaming and scuffling. Xiao's eyes widened and he hastened forwards. Through the trees, Xiao saw Jason. He was holding a struggling young maiden against a tree and the maiden's clothes were dirty and ripped in places. 

Xiao hid behind a thick oak tree and drew out a stone and tossed it. It hit Jason on the back of the head. Jason froze. Before he could turn around, two short arrows hit his shoulders and one short arrow hit his nape. Blood instantly gushed out and Jason ran. Xiao waited until he left before he went to the tree where the maiden stood frozen on the spot.

"Maiden, are you alright?" Xiao asked.

She nodded bleakly and tried to cover herself. Xiao hadn't realized how badly her clothes were torn and hastily took off his outer robe and gave it to her. He cursed Jason for doing all this. She gratefully took it. "Thank you."

"How did you end up here?" Xiao asked her.

"I was walking around here. My brothers told me of the clearing so I came to look, and then that ... that thing came and started molesting me," she said in a quiet, quivering voice.

"You're Rose," Xiao remembered. "Reece mentioned you."

She nodded.

"Let's go," Xiao said. "I'll take you back to your brothers."

"No, please. Let me get cleaned up first. I don't want them to worry."

Xiao looked around. "Where would you go?"

"She can come into our place," a deep voice behind Xiao answered.

Xiao jumped and turned around, inserting himself between whoever that had spoken and Rose. But it was only an elderly monk. Xiao had met him that morning at breakfast. He was the Grandmaster of Sunfall Temple.

"Grandmaster Maguire," Xiao saluted and bowed down. Behind him, he heard a flutter of clothes as Rose curtsied.

"Maiden, you can come and wash up in the seclusion wing," the monk said again.

Rose nodded. Xiao saluted and began to explain the situation. "Grandmaster Maguire - "

"I saw," he said. "I was about to come out when you shot the stone and arrows."

Xiao nodded. He waited for the grandmaster to criticize him for using hidden weapons and not coming out to fight and defend the damsel in distress, but none came. Only after they reached the seclusion wing and Rose was given a room and clothes did he speak. "It was nice of you to save the maiden," he said.

"It's what anyone would have done," Xiao replied.

"How many years have you been training?" the monk inquired.

"Almost ten years, grandmaster."

The monk nodded. "It's Xiao, right?"

"Yes, grandmaster."

The monk smiled. "I would like to teach you Sunfall's sequences."

Xiao's eyes widened and it probably betrayed all the greed in it. He hastened to look away and calm himself down so that the monk did not change his mind. If the monk detected anything, he didn't show it but kept on smiling. Xiao fell onto the floor in a bow and kowtowed. "Mentor Maguire."

The monk helped him up. "If you want, we could start tonight."

Xiao hesitated. "Could you give me a few minutes to tell my fifth brother? We were supposed to practice together."

The monk nodded appreciatively. "Xiao, I like that you wouldn't just ditch your brother. Go and train with him. We can meet tomorrow morning."

Xiao opened his mouth to protest but then closed it. He was disappointed at this but didn't want to come off as too greedy. "Yes, Grandmaster," he finally said.

The next morning, after eating breakfast with everyone, he went off to the back discreetly. However, Bradley caught him.

"Xiao! Where are you going?"

Xiao turned around slowly and rolled his eyes at Bradley. "What do you think? The back?"

"You just passed the road to the disciples' wing," Bradley pointed out. "Are you headed to the seclusion wing?"

Xiao smiled. "And do what? I'm just taking a stroll, Bradley, calm down."

Bradley gave him a hard look. "When you're done with your walk, come and help me train Jonah and the rest. Jonah's been looking tired the past two days."

Xiao grimaced inwardly. That had probably been his fault for training Jonah so hard. "Alright," he said. Then he walked to the seclusion wing where Grandmaster Maguire was standing.

Xiao saluted and bowed. Grandmaster Maguire nodded at him. "I'll show you a basic Sunfall Strike." Xiao nodded respectively, too nervous to even say anything.

The Strike was something Xiao had never seen before. It was light but powerful. Every landing was as soft as a dragonfly skimming a pond but each strike brought about a gust of wind that could extinguish a candle flame from eight steps away. It was a bright sunny day and a thunderstorm all at once. By the end, Xiao was in awe and could only clap and exclaim "amazing" and "majestic" again and again.

Grandmaster Maguire smiled. "I'll teach you the first part of it today and then the second part tomorrow."

Xiao nodded eagerly and the lessons began. That was how several bruises came to be.