The spring wind blew Xiao's long hair away from his face. Other people on the busy street of Guan Town pointed at him and whispered insults. Among them were the ones he had heard many times, including "insolent", "rich brat", and "where are his manners". There was a new one though, and this one made his blood boil.

"Do you see his sword? I bet he can't even brandish it with those thin arms."

Xiao turned his head sharply towards the source of the voice to see a young man close to his age at a fruit stand selling apples with another young man. Both looked like they have trained in martial arts for some time since they had burly arms and chest. They were selling fruits - a low profit business - yet the one who had spoken was dressed in fine silk much like himself.

"Oh hello," Xiao said, approaching the fruit stand.

"If you're not here to buy fruits, get lost," the one who had insulted him before spoke.

The one beside him nudged him. "Sorry, young knight," he apologized. "How can we help you?"

This young man was dressed in some grubby cotton robes. Upon deciding that he was well mannered, Xiao became playful.  "How do you know I'm a knight then?"

"You have a sword," he replied.

Xiao smiled. "I like you. What's your name?"

"Woah what are you doing?" the first young man who spoke asked.

"Talking," Xiao said in his best arrogant voice, his chin jutted out.

"You're a pervert!"

"Now, spoiled brat," Xiao said, raising his eyebrows, "I only came here because you said that I am unable to lift my sword."

The rich young man flushed, but maintained his ground to Xiao's amusement. "So what if I did?"

"Then you want to duel?"

The nicer one stepped in again. "Uh young knight, we don't want any trouble. My friend is very frank and he is bad tempered today so he insulted you. I apologize on his behalf."

Xiao smiled. "Don't worry about it. What's your name?"

"Why do you care? Go ride your carriage!" the first one said.

"Stop!" The well mannered young man told his friend. Then he turned to Xiao. "My name is Jacob Laken and he is Wang Zhan."

Xiao looked Wang up and down. "You are dressed quite well, Wang Zhan. Why are you selling fruits?"

Wang glared at him. "Why do you care?"

"Hey," Xiao raised both his arms and backed up two steps, "you called me over."

"When did I do that?"

"Remember? You were like 'look at his sword, blah blah, rich childe, blah blah...'" Xiao smiled sweetly, intentionally provoking him.

"Well, am I wrong?"

"Yeah, you were."

"Just leave, will you?"

Xiao laughed, throwing his head back. "Fine, fine." Then he walked away jauntily to more insults from Wang Zhan and some older ladies. There were a few girls, however, who giggled as he passed. Xiao glanced at them and smirked. Silly.

He came from Castle Gui and was heading towards Castle Fei where his childhood best friend worked as the mayor. Though George Michaels was but twenty, he was a genius among all scholars, and obtained the post two years back. It was only because of his young age that he was not assigned a place in the capital of Xenon, Sunfall. Xiao was indignant about that fact when he heard by mail, but George had been satisfied. He was to move there this summer, however, so Xiao had came to visit him before he left. Then Xiao would have to head to the west, where his mentor would be holding a big feast to celebrate the discovery of a sharp blade. All his fellow disciples would be there, hoping to get the sword, as well as all his mentor's friends.

His mentor, Xu Liang, was the Grandmaster of Mount Huai and a renowned sword wielder. He resided and trained his disciples on Mount Huai when he wasn't hiking through mountains and visiting friends. Xiao was the third oldest disciple of Xu Liang's. His senior disciples, which he called "Ge" - a honorific for people older than him or as a show of respect, were John Lowe who was thirty five and Bradley Howell who was only one year his senior. Bradley and him were taken in by Xu Liang at the same time and they fought endlessly, ever since they were only ten years old. At first they competed in who can do the splits, then who could punch harder, and even who could clean their residence faster when they were sent do chores because of their fighting. Xu Liang scolded them for fighting but they both knew that Xu Liang, and everyone around them, enjoyed their comebacks to each other and their competitive spirits. Seven years after they went up to Mount Huai to train, when Xiao was seventeen, Xu Liang told them that their training was over and they were free to go down into the real world. 

Xiao was a jaunty person with his long hair always tied haphazardly, always without a cap, and drank alcohol all the time. On Mount Huai, he hadn't dared to drink much. The only times he did was when Xu Liang went down the mountain for business or to visit friends. Those times were accompanied with hangovers and havoc in the residence (Bradley couldn't report him because he drank too). 

Xiao was as much unruly as Bradley was rule abiding (but there were minor hiccups, as mentioned). Bradley frequently yelled at him for his lack of manners, which hadn't improved in the past two years. Presently, Xiao let his hair loose and only tied part of it so nothing blocked his view, contrary to the etiquettes of Xenon, which stated that hair should be piled into caps, or otherwise into a bun. "What is the fun in that?" Xiao had protested. "When I fight, and my hair floats around in the air, that's the fun part."

"Are you a man or what?" Bradley had retorted.

"What, you don't comb your hair? You don't like your hair?"

"Yeah I do and I protect it."

"Well my hair is better than yours and so I show it off!"

That had ended in a fight that got them thirty days of chores.

He not only received criticism from Bradley but everyone he passed on the streets. He had an arrogant thin face and lips that curled up almost flirtatiously when he threatened- though that was only to his enemies. Otherwise he was a pleasant young man who joked around with all his might. His eyes could be found constantly narrowed into thin lines due to the latest joke he had told or heard. However, when he walked in the streets with a sword and several jugs of wine dangling at his side and long black hair flying about him, he was regarded as a spoiled, insolent rich kid.

Do I look rich to you? I grew up being chased around by dogs! He had wanted to scream at everyone the first few months of his travels. He had refrained only because Grandmaster had told him to keep his temper and take care of himself. After two years of travelling around saving the weak and ruining the lives of corrupt government officials, he had become confident with his skills and thought himself superior to anyone who judged him by his appearance. He no longer felt the urge to fight commoners who insulted him, but rather liked to hear new insults - they always brightened his day. Though, in truth, he preferred letting people believe him to be a disgrace, as talking to them always ended up in disasters. Whenever he had to interact with the civilians, regardless of whether he had just saved their lives or not, some way or another, he would end up face to face with a marriage proposal.

He thought himself safe today, however. Besides, not being able to lift his sword was the best insult he had heard yet, and he just had to talk with those two fruit sellers.

As he continued his journey, he wondered why Wang would dress so nicely for fruit selling. But then he shrugged it off. Why did he care? He had to get to Castle Fei to see George. It had been more than a year since they met and George couldn't have gotten any letters across to him since he was constantly on the move. 

His hand instinctively went to his side where his wine jugs dangled as he did when he was bored. He found two empty and that there was one last swig of raspberry wine left in the third jug. "Dammit," he muttered and then smirked exasperatedly at himself. "I really drank all that this morning?"

He grabbed the third jug and downed it. He would have to refill it. It was noon anyway. So he looked about him carefully for the first time. The street was filled with shops big and small. Kids ran around, some holding the leashes of guard dogs. Older people in raised voices were attempting to call some customers over to their shops. Colourful banners fluttered over the noisy street, its end tied up on window ledges. It was actually quite nice, Xiao observed. There was a wine house and diner up ahead and his eyes lit up at a banner advertising for Zinfandel. 

He sped up and entered the place to find it nearly full. The owner saw him and made a small grimace before putting on a sycophantic smile and approached. "Young master, how are you?"

"I'm fine, sir," he answered. "Do you have any tables by the window by any chance?"

"Yes, yes, yes," the owner said, seeming surprised at Xiao calling him sir. "Follow me upstairs."

Xiao obliged. He was all too used to people kissing up to him in fear of him being a rich childe who would call on his rich daddy to ruin their business. He always quenched their fears quickly to not take advantage of them, though.

Upstairs, there were just as many people. "Sir, your restaurant must be famous in town!" he exclaimed.

The owner laughed. "It's only because it's meal time, young master."

Xiao laughed and ordered a four course meal to the owner's surprise.

"Young master, do you have guests? This is a lot of food at this restaurant."

"Don't worry, sir, I'll finish it in a flash," Xiao assured him. "Could you get me four jugs of Zinfandel as well?"

"Of course." The owner went to get the order down to the kitchen. Xiao was used to owners personally attending to him too.

Other customers had been watching him - who wouldn't with his hair falling over his shoulders? They whispered to each other things like drunkard and spoiled. Xiao sighed and rolled his eyes. He looked outside while he waited, shutting out his company, but soon he heard a familiar voice in this foreign town.

"Any seats upstairs, Mr. Yale?"

"Your usual seating was taken by a childe," the owner could be heard replying.

Xiao instantly perked up. It was Wang Zhan and Jacob Laken. "Wang Zhan! Jacob," he called as they appeared from downstairs. "Come sit with me."

Jacob smiled at him while Wang Zhan rolled his eyes dramatically. "You again?"

The owner looked quite taken aback. "Young master, you know these two young masters?"

"Naturally," Xiao said with a laugh. "We are old friends!"

Wang Zhan scoffed and Jacob rolled his eyes this time - though with less hostility as compared to Wang Zhan. Then Jacob turned to the owner. "Mr. Yale, it seems that we will be sitting with our old friend."

"They can share my meal, sir," Xiao said. Then he turned to Wang Zhan and Jacob, "I ordered enough."

The owner bowed and left. Xiao beamed at them. "Come sit."

Wang Zhan reluctantly sat down across from him and Jacob pulled a chair over and sat at the side of the table. 

"Why are you here?" Wang Zhan demanded, avoiding his eyes and looking out of the window.

"Same reason as you, young master, to eat," Xiao said, and then glanced at Jacob who was smiling and grinned.

"We don't need your money," Wang Zhan told him. Evidently Jacob kicked him because Wang hissed in pain.

"We are friends, aren't we?" Xiao said. "And stop thinking that I'm so rich and what not."

"Let me guess, did you order an eight course meal? With ten jugs of wine?" Another hiss followed.

"Four course meal," Xiao said, all the while smiling annoyingly. "Just enjoy the meal, Wang Zhan."

"Hey, young knight, we never got your name," Jacob interrupted them. 

"Xiao."

"Got a family name?" Wang asked, still with his attitude.

"Yeah."

"Spit it out then."

Xiao mimed gathering saliva in his mouth and Wang Zhan narrowed his eyes and scrunched his whole face up in disgust. Xiao laughed. "I don't go by last names."

Wang made to ask why but Jacob gave him a look. "You are a visitor to Guan Town, Xiao Ge?"

"I'm passing through, yeah."

"Where are you going?" Wang Zhan asked.

"Castle Fei. My childhood friend is the mayor there."

"Oh I've heard of him!" Wang Zhan exclaimed, suddenly not so grumpy. "He was only eighteen when he became the mayor and he is fair to everyone. Everyone says that he is the best thing to happen to Castle Fei."

"It's so sad isn't it? How someone our age is managing a city orderly then there's me selling fruits," Jacob commented.

Wang Zhan glanced at him before saying "you don't do just that".

Xiao's interest instantly peaked. "What else do you do Jacob Ge?"

Jacob glared at Wang Zhan. "He's just bluffing."

Wang Zhan huffed. "Anyway, can you wield your sword?"

Xiao laughed loudly. He'd forgotten how they had started talking. "Why would I carry it if I didn't know how to wield it?"

"You do seem like a rich childe who wanders around demanding for money and women," Wang Zhan told him.

Xiao's eyes bulged in shock. "What?" At the same time Jacob kicked Wang Zhan again. 

"You seem quite decent now," Wang Zhan relented.

"Wang Ge, I live to kill those people or at least teach them a lesson! How could you accuse me so?"

"Wang! Apologize!" Jacob scolded.

"I said he looked decent now," Wang Zhan protested. This instantly made Xiao like him a lot more - he reminded Xiao of Bradley a little.

"Alright then," Xiao said. "Apology accepted."

Jacob shook his head in the most minute fashion to show his exasperation. Wang didn't seem to notice it or was too used to it to care. "So you wander around Xenon killing douchebags?"

"Precisely that!"

Then two waiters came with the food and they dug in. With the presence of their two frequent customers, every worker at the restaurant was more relaxed around Xiao now.

"How long have you been at it?" Jacob asked.

"Two years and a few months."

"How many insults have you heard?" Wang wondered.

Xiao laughed and took a swig of the Zinfandel. "Too many to care. What you said to me was a new one, though, Wang Ge, and that's why I had to talk to you."

They all laughed. Then Xiao told them some of his stories and Wang told him how Jacob's father had been a great professor but was killed by the mayor when he pointed out the flaws in the mayor's laws for the city.

"Why didn't you do something?" Xiao demanded. He could feel his anger rise up and he wanted to avenge for Jacob right that moment.

"I was only three when that happened," Jacob told Xiao. "I do want to do something, but I can't kill the mayor. Not with my mother at home needing care."

Xiao nodded slowly. "So that's why you sell fruits. But Wang Ge, how did you two meet?"

"Our family had been friends for a long time," Wang explained. "So Jacob and I naturally became friends."

Xiao nodded. These two were more similar to him than they thought. By now, the plates were all clean and they bid each other goodbye before going their separate ways. Wang was definitely rich, Xiao thought, so he invited his friend to eat at an expensive restaurant frequently, judging by how familiar the two were with the owner. Jacob looked like a proud guy who didn't like help or to disclose his personal information. He didn't talk much during the meal either. Xiao respected Wang for being friends with Jacob even though he was poor. 

"It would be nice to rest here for the night," he muttered to himself as he walked down the street. He wanted to visit the mayor.