The party followed the old man back to their boats. No bandits dared to chase after them with such a powerful man on their side. When they reached the dock, everyone dropped to their knees in thanks. The old man helped them all up.

"There's no need for that. Especially not here," he said gruffly. "Really idiotic of you to come here with such little people. And that level of martial art skills, too."

Cole glanced at Xiao with disdain. Xiao didn't quite know if it was disdain towards him or the old man. He bowed down. "Sorry, senior, it was my fault."

The old man looked him up and down, scrutinizing his taunt face, his wet and messy hair that had tendrils clinging onto his neck and face, his now mud stained clothes. "Yeah, I thought so. Just by the look of you. And suggesting to tire that piece of shit out like a shameless little turd."

Xiao didn't know why but he found the old man funny. "Yes, senior."

The old man huffed. "Well, let's get off this island first."

Xiao didn't move but looked to Grandmaster Liang. "Mentor, I -"

His mentor fixed him with a look, his lips pursed. "We can talk later."

Xiao opened his mouth but shut it again as he saw his mentor's chin quivering.

"Come onto my and Cole's boat, mentor," Xiao quickly said.

 His mentor nodded curtly. Xiao led the way up with his mentor and Cole following close behind. He saw Cole hesitate for a brief moment before boarding and he gave him an encouraging nod. Stephanus climbed on too behind him. Xiao's gaze met Stephanus' and he froze for a moment, his face set in a grimace. Then he met his mentor's eyes and he instantly dropped to his knees and fell into a kowtow position.

"Mentor."

Grandmaster Liang didn't make an answer.

"Mentor, please, don't believe any rumour Jason spread," he cried to the floorboard. "Grandmaster Maguire really taught me the Sunfall Sequences. And I didn't kill Bradley or do anything that the government alleged. I would never - "

"Xiao."

Xiao shut up and waited, not daring to look up at all.

"It's not alright, but let's put it behind us."

Xiao kowtowed again. His mentor helped him up. Xiao felt Stephanus lend a hand too.

"Jonah told me," his mentor said, a tear swiveling around in his clear eyes. "Bradley died a hero's death."

"I have vowed to avenge him," Xiao said instantly, his eyes blazing with fire. "I have two more people to kill now."

His mentor closed his eyes briefly. "Are you alright, Xiao?"

Xiao knew what he was asking. His mentor understood both of them clearly. "I haven't dreamt of him in a while, not like when he just died. I had nightmares... Now, I'm just afraid I would forget him."

His mentor sighed. "Xiao, what you two had was special. Don't remember him as someone who died tragically but as a fellow disciple back on Mount Huai, alright?"

Xiao nodded. "It just made me realize how short and precious life really is. When I saw Jonah being tortured in Tajfel, I was hit with the pain of it all over again. I - "

His mentor pulled him into a hug. Through all of their time together, they had never hugged as a source of comfort to each other. But right now, only his third oldest could make the grandmaster feel closer to his second oldest.

Xiao breathed in his mentor's scent that was the seclusion wing, the back lake, grassy lakes, and bright morning skies. It was home as he knew it.

When they pulled apart, Stephanus looked between his mentor and Xiao before speaking up. "Xiao, I was a jerk. I knew what you were suffering, I knew Jason was an asshole, I knew you wouldn't have committed crimes. I - "

Xiao laughed drily once. "Let's put it all in the past, Steph."

Stephanus wasn't sure he was being sincere but nodded. Xiao looked up at his mentor again. "Mentor, what do you think about the odds of defeating the criminals?"

His mentor took a big breath. "I think that with Laken, we could win."

Xiao nodded.

His mentor then fixed him with a hard look. "Why did you decide to go to Fisher Island all on your own?"

Xiao lowered his head. "I just thought that with my martial arts skills, I could save Rose. I owed Bradley and her that at least."

His mentor froze for a fraction of a second then laughed, exasperated. "Of course you would know about that."

Xiao held up both his hands in front of him. "It was Bradley who overheard! Not me!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Stephanus broke into tears. Xiao's mouth fell open. "What - " He turned to his mentor for assurance that he did nothing wrong but a tear slid down his tanned skin too.

His mentor wiped his tear away before remarking, "even after he's dead! Xiao, you don't know how frequently you and Bradley pushed the responsibility to the other person."

Xiao wanted to clarify that he was telling the truth but then he realized what his mentor was saying. He wanted to cry too.

His mentor sighed. "We will wait until all our friends are here and then we will hold a meeting about attacking the place. You just believe that we will save Rose and avenge for Bradley."

Xiao nodded. "Right, mentor. On our way here, Cole and I caught a priest who used to be a part of the organisation. He told us that the maidens are all kept in a pagoda at the center of the island. We have the map and everything."

His mentor smiled at him and Xiao felt the world spin. The last time he had seen that smile, he was still a disciple on Mount Huai. Then, thinking that his mentor looked tired after a long journey and fight, he stopped talking and retreated into his own mind. As he looked up to the grey sky and felt that he was at peace because even though there were things to do, at least he was with the right people.

When they reached the shore, their savior looked to Xiao. "So this is the anti Anlang Sect movement then?"

"No sir," Xiao said instantly. "It's about being against the trafficking organisation."

The old man grunted. "Wouldn't be too bad to kill a few Anlang's though, would it?"

"Only the bad ones," Xiao replied with an determined air that could be associated with a stubborn child.

The old man glanced at him with narrowed eyes. "You're an interesting Gudu-Xue disciple. Speaking up for the Anlang sect?"

"Cole is an Anlang disciple, sir," Xiao said, gesturing to the figure in white next to him. "But I wouldn't let anyone kill him for being in that sect."

The old man's face brightened up by a fraction. "You're a good one, kid."

Xiao nodded in acknowledgement. 

"Forgive me, but who are you sir?" Cole asked.

"Call me Laken."

Xiao stared at him. He knew that name from somewhere else but he couldn't quite think of who it was. 

"You're Liang's disciple, eh?" 

Xiao nodded.

He then turned to Cole. "And you?"

"Grandmaster Pye of Wen River."

Laken nodded appreciatively. "Pye is a good man, I have to say. That explains this one's loyalty towards you then."

"You know my mentor, sir?" Cole asked.

Laken huffed. "Yeah I do. Gave him a good beating too." 

Cole didn't know what to do with that information. He didn't quite like the old man. Xiao, however, was quite taken by him. He leaned forwards in interest. "Sir, what was the knife sequence you were using again Freyer?" 

"You're a sword wielder. Why ask for a knife sequence?" Laken asked gruffly.

"A martial artist should know more than one weapon, sir," Xiao replied.

Laken laughed so that his short goatee quivered. "You're a witty one, aren't you? Does he talk too much?" he asked Cole.

Cole grinned, confirming his hypothesis.

"Use more of your time on waving your sword," Laken advised. 

By night, all who said they would come came. Frank led three disciples from the Pingyang Lake over, the Grandmaster of Xue Lake led Robbie and Hao to come help, Stephanus' friends - who Xiao now knew were collectively called the Southern Nine - came over too, along with many others. Among them, the most prominent were Grandmaster Liang, Grandmaster Ford, Grandmaster of Svetlana River, Grandmaster Jarrot of Xue Lake, Grandmaster Maguire, and Laken. Others were disciples from different Gudu-Xue sects. John was the only one not here, but people knew it was because he was busy settling things with the governor of Roche County so he would be late by a few days. 

They gathered in the largest room of the guesthouse, with the elders sitting behind a large table and the younger disciples standing on either side. It was quite like the commanding tent of a general. Unanimously, they elected Grandmaster Maguire as their leader as he was the most well known and, frankly, the best of all of them. With his presence, Xiao could tell that everyone was assured of their success.

"Alright, everyone, after consulting with Priest Evard and looking at the map that Xiao got, I think that we could split into four groups. When the military comes, they will surround the island quietly. One group led by Grandmaster Liang will go from the east to attack the pagoda. One group led by Grandmaster Ford will approach the pagoda from the north. A group led by Grandmaster Jarrot from the west and finally, one group led by me will attack it from the south. We have split copied down the specific sections of the map that concerns each party so each can be ready when the time comes."

"When will we attack?" Hao asked.

"When I deem it appropriate," Grandmaster Maguire replied coldly. Though he was a temperate man, he took a liking to Xiao and would not tolerate anyone slighting his disciple.

Hao blushed and looked down at his feet. Beside him, Xiao didn't even try to hide his snigger. 

Grandmaster Maguire then looked around the room. "But from the maps Priest Evard gave to us, all the traps and such of the pagoda can be disabled by disemboweling their control system. There is a well at the south east of the residence. We need someone to go there and destroy the controls."

Before he was done speaking, all the young disciples were bristling with excitement, Xiao among them. Subconsciously, Xiao took a step forward. Grandmaster Liang shot him a look that said no, but Xiao's gaze was focused on his second mentor, hoping that he would agree to it. At the same time, Frank stepped out and bowed to Grandmaster Maguire.

"Grandmaster, I would like to do it."

Grandmaster Liang looked at him and smiled. "No, Frank, I need you to be in one of the four groups so you could help rescue the maidens and then arrest the traffickers."

Frank looked quite taken aback but he quickly recovered himself. "Yes, grandmaster."

Grandmaster Maguire then looked at Xiao. "Xiao, I think you could do it."

Xiao beamed. He literally ran up to the table and bowed down. "Thank you, men- grandmaster! I won't let you down."

Grandmaster Maguire smiled. "Make sure to disable all the controls before the rescue team reach the top floor so the maidens can be brought down easily. Then, you will join the rest in arresting the bandits."

"Yes, grandmaster."

The grandmaster nooded, satisfied. Xiao returned to his place next to Cole and Jonah, earning envious looks from many other disciples. The grandmaster was talking again. "Now as for the members of the group: Grandmaster Ford, you will bring your own disciples, Frank, and knight McCubbin. Grandmaster Jarrot, you will bring your own disciples and the first five Southern Nine. Grandmaster Liang, you will bring your own disciples, Cole, and rest of the Southern Nine, and I will bring my own disciples and the rest."

Everyone nodded.

Xiao turned towards Cole, who looked relieved that he was with a group he trusted and trusted him back. "Take care of my mentor, or I'll kill you," he threatened.

Cole's face broke into a grin. "You got it."

Xiao grinned back. There was no need to tell Cole to be careful or say anything else. Just by looking into his dark eyes, he could hear Cole telling him all he needed to hear, whether he knew it or not.