Before Xiao's eyes went to Jason, Cole had stepped into the ring. 

"I'll have a go, Hao-Ge," he said.

Hao looked a bit surprised that someone as quiet and shy as Cole would put himself in the center of attention. "I'll be honored to fight you, Cole-Ge."

The two saluted each other but they were interrupted. Jason stepped into the ring. "Shouldn't we turn it up a notch? We all practice weapons, after all."

Xiao's eyes widened. Being hit by a punch was relatively harmless. If the attacker was powerful enough, death might occur. But among them youngsters, a punch would be nothing to worry about. However, when blades were drawn, some blood was unavoidable. Did Jason want Cole to be killed? Or was he really confident with Cole's skills?

Xiao watched Cole carefully for any changes in his expression. Cole seemed calm as always and merely looked at Hao. It was clear that he was fine with using weapons. Naturally, Hao couldn't refuse, so he consented and both drew their swords.

Among the spectators, muttering broke out. Some were excited for the upcoming match, but those less intoxicated were a bit more cautious.

"What's he up to?" Stephanus muttered to Bradley and Xiao.

Bradley shrugged. "Nothing good, that's for sure."

Xiao voiced his questions from earlier.

Bradley looked at him in shock. "Kill Cole or Kill Hao? Isn't that too extreme even for Jason? Why would he kill them?"

"Don't ask me to sympathise with a rapist," Xiao muttered under his breath so no one could hear and turned his attention to the ring. The two in the ring started fighting. It was the first time Xiao saw Cole fight. He was really good. The Wen River sequence he used was the one Jason taught Xiao a few days ago, the Golden Leaf Sequence. 

The fight didn't last as long as Xiao had expected it to. Five minutes later, Cole kicked Hao's sword out of his hand and placed swung his blade at Hao's neck. Hao fell back to avoid the point of the sword.

Everyone cheered. Finally there was a new King after so long. 

Cole moved away his sword and helped Hao get up. Hao was red faced and lowered his head as he headed to Robbie, his fellow Xue Lake disciple. 

"Who's next?" someone excitedly asked.

Everyone looked around for the next challenger, but Cole sheathed his sword. "I don't want to be King. Someone else can go up."

"What?" Jifang exclaimed. "You can't beat the King and then not be the King!"

Cole smiled. 

Jason laughed and went into the circle. "Cole, why don't you call on someone to be King?"

Cole looked at Jason and hesitated. Xiao felt that Cole was struggling between two options. Finally, Cole sighed. "Xiao-Ge, would you like to be king?"

Xiao suddenly understood what Jason whispered to Cole. He had wanted Cole to choose Xiao as King! However, that didn't explain why Cole had to go through with beating Hao. Jason could have beaten Hao and then ask Xiao as an opponent. Unless he wanted to conserve his strength? Either way, he felt betrayed by Cole, though he knew he shouldn't.

While these thoughts ran through his head, on the surface he had on his best carefree face. "Alright. I suggested this fighting ring anyway."

He walked to the center and Cole walked to his spot at the back of the crowd. Xiao looked at Jason, who didn't move at all.

"Are you challenging me, Jason-Ge?"

Jason smiled sweetly at him. "It's all for fun, of course."

Xiao smiled back. "Of course." It took a bitch to know a bitch.

Xiao drew out Severus and Jason drew out his own sword. 

"Please," Jason said. "Go ahead."

Xiao lunged. The two swordsmen swirled around in the yard and the ring gradually got bigger as two of them went around the place. The swords flew up and down, flashing lights. 

At first, Xiao stuck with Mount Huai's sequence and didn't attack as much. He wanted to see how skilled Jason really was. In truth, he felt confident that he could beat everyone present, even the Xue Lake disciples. So he dragged on the match to analyse Jason's moves. He was sure that this wouldn't be the last time they fought. 

It turned out that Jason wasn't as good as he thought himself. Though he said he wanted to find a worthwhile opponent, he wasn't too worthwhile himself. After a while, Xiao saw through Jason's moves and he decided to end the fight. He slashed at Jason's waist. Jason blocked it. Swinging his sword around, Xiao slashed at Jason's neck. He had expected this to be the end, but Jason merely jumped back and lunged at him again. Xiao's face became serious. 

In contrary, Jason grinned. "Finally decided to really fight, Xiao-Ge?"

Xiao's face flushed red in anger and frustration. Jason had been faking the whole time too? He redoubled his effort and fought for real. The past nine years, he had been practicing swordplay day and night. Right now, he felt that he had a purpose other than just helping the weak.

Jason put more effort into the fight as well and his sword moved faster than before. As Jason slashed at Xiao, Xiao parried, and he slipped into Yueyang Sword. It was almost natural to him now, after two weeks of practicing. Jason slipped into something unusual as well. The sequence was cohesive in the most unnatural way. To counter it, Xiao did his thing of mixing several sequences together. He had been doing this for the past two years. When he saw a section of a sequence he liked, he would memorize it and practice it himself. However, sometimes he forgot bits and pieces and he would add something to it. Xiao'd seen Bradley wield his sword and saw how he followed the sequences strictly. The lack of flexibility in Bradley's sequence was a flaw to Bradley's swordsmanship. Xiao, unlike Bradley, fought however he liked ever since a young age. 

Finally, Xiao added in a Xue Lake sequence. He had just memorized the intrinsic sequence. This time, without a doubt, Jason lost. The edge of Xiao's sword pressed into the side of Jason's neck.

Xiao smiled coldly. There was an vindictive pleasure burning in him and he longed to take the life out of the young man in front of him - 

"Xiao!"

Xiao jumped away from Jason and faced the source of the voice. It was his mentor.

"What are you doing?"

Jonah, being the best brother, stepped out. "We are having a fighting ring, Grandmaster."

Grandmaster Liang scoffed. "I saw."

Xiao's eyebrows knitted. "Then ... "

"What swordplay were you using?"

Dammit, of course Grandmaster Liang would hate anyone who mixed up sword sequences. He opened his mouth to defend himself but Grandmaster Liang turned his back on him. For a second, Xiao thought that he was let off easy. However, Grandmaster Liang said over his shoulder "Come with me, Xiao."

Everyone was silent and Xiao felt embarrassment radiate off of him. He felt resentment towards his mentor rise up. He could have been the King for the rest of the night. He could have challenged Cole and humiliate him in front of everyone. Yet he was the one being humiliated.

Without a word or a glance to the rest of them, Xiao followed his mentor. 

Jonah and Bradley called after him, but Xiao didn't look back. What could they say that would make him better?

He trailed after Grandmaster Liang, too scared and wronged to want to catch up. When they reached the Great Hall, Grandmaster Liang turned around and yelled at him. "What have you been doing in the back the past week?"

Xiao's eyes widened in shock. "Practicing."

"Not spying?"

"No!" Xiao's voice was higher than usual due to his shock but his mentor seemed to take it as a sign of lying.

"Where did you learn Yueyang Sword?" his mentor yelled.

Xiao didn't reply. He was at fault for not telling his mentor he had been learning from another person. It wasn't proper for someone of one sect to use the swordplay of another sect, especially without the permission of the sect leader.

"Were you spying on Grandmaster Maguire in the seclusion wing?"

Xiao shook his head vehemently. "No! I would never!" He understood Grandmaster Liang's extreme anger now. He thought that Xiao had been spying on Grandmaster Maguire every time he went to the back!

"Then how did you learn the sword sequence?"

"I learned it from Grandmaster Maguire," he said. "You could ask him."

"He left earlier tonight," Grandmaster Liang told him. 

"What? He left?" Xiao exclaimed. He wanted to say goodbye and thank you!

Grandmaster Liang snorted. "How very convenient for you to tell me that he taught you the swordplay when he can't confirm it himself. Xiao, I am beyond disappointed in you. First you use hidden weapons, then you start doing God knows what for the other sects' sequences, and now you start spying on a distinguished monk."

"It's not like that!" Xiao cried.

His mentor paid him no attention. "Not only that, you haven't even been practicing your sequences properly. What were you using tonight?"

"Hidden weapons are good for fighting mediocre opponents, I didn't do anything bad to learn sequences, and mixing together several sequences can catch your opponent off guard," Xiao said in one breath. Then he shut his mouth and quietly waited for the scolding.

"Xiao Sa! Did I teach you for seven years for you to become a wastrel!"

Xiao hung his head. His mentor was right in he had spent a lot of time on Xiao.

"Go to your room and think about everything you've done wrong," Grandmaster Liang said. "Don't come out until the end of the month."

Xiao nodded.

"Go!"

Xiao scrambled off. He went into his and Bradley's room and he sat in front of the window and pouted. He hadn't done anything wrong. It was his teacher being prejudiced. Because he let his hair down and talked a great deal, he wasn't proper. So naturally his mentor thought that he was being a slave to the other disciples in exchange for some sequences. And then he was caught using hidden weapons, which was viewed as undignified, which made it only natural to assume that he had been spying on other sects!

After a few moments, he felt that being on this mountain with its over-righteous views would only cause both mentor and disciple to feel bad. So he scrambled up and picked up his trusty pack that he had used for the last two years. Stuffing robes and garments into it, he went around the room in a frenzy. He packed his night suit, his hidden weapons, and his money bag, then he jumped out of the window. 

It was late at night. He jumped over the yard wall to the outside of the residence without anyone catching him. Then he headed down hill. However - 

"Xiao!"

Xiao turned around. Cole was standing there, sipping from a bottle.

"Cole," he greeted. He still hasn't forgiven Cole for dragging him up to the fighting ring. It was partly Cole's fault that he got scolded.

"Where are you going?"

Xiao smiled and turned back around. What was the use of answering Cole?

"Let me come with you," Cole called after him and walked towards him.

Xiao faced him. "Why do you want to come?" Was it some scheme you had with Jason?

"To have a partner in being chivalrous."

Xiao snorted. "You aren't short of friends among your own sect."

Cole's eyes widened. "I didn't mean to set you up with Jason."

Xiao laughed drily. "Alright."

Cole walked up to him. "Xiao-Ge, I'm good at martial arts. I could be of help wherever you go."

Xiao shook his head. "Cole, I don't know what you're thinking, but no."

Cole wanted to say more but he stopped at Xiao's cold gaze. "Goodbye then, Xiao-Ge."

Xiao nodded and went off, even more angry after the encounter. Did Cole have to add to his unhappiness? Did Cole think that they were good friends?

The night was silent as Xiao trekked down Mount Huai. Even the leaves did not dare rustle in his presence. Xiao knew where he would be headed. He would go and take care of the Maiden Case to clear his name.