Bradley followed Xiao. There were four hours until the feast, so Bradley knew Xiao wasn't just going to clean up. He watched from afar as Xiao greeted Kun and Reece in an utmost friendly manner and and they chatted for a while. Then Xiao left them and continued walking towards the front of the mountain. Bradley nodded at Reece and Kun as they passed each other. As he left, he heard Reece continue his and Kun's conversation. "Yeah, Xiao's great."

Bradley curled his lips and scrunched his nose. What was it that Xiao did that made him so well liked by the Mount Phoenix disciples? 

A stone hit his forehead. Xiao was still walking a far distance away, his hand lowering down from the throw. Bradley scoffed. He caught up with Xiao since Xiao already knew he was following up.

Xiao looked sideways at him. "What do you want to argue about now, brother? Let's see, me going to the back a lot, not training with you, wanting to molest maidens, spying on others because I am that despicable ... " He pretended to think. "What did we argue about yesterday? Me practicing a Mount Phoenix Sequence? Or are there new topics?" he glanced at Bradley.

Bradley ignored his provocations. "Where are you going now?"

Xiao rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, that was the one I forgot to mention. And for your information, I was going to walk around until I am in a good enough mood for the feast." Bradley didn't answer and Xiao continued on. "Now that you're here, however, my hands itch for my sword."

Bradley stopped walking. "Mine have been itching for a few days now."

Xiao turned around to face him. There was no hint of a smile on his face, which made it look menacing. When an usually happy person got angry, it was to be feared. Xiao saw a sliver of doubt flash across Bradley's face and he smirked a tiny bit, eyes narrowed. "Go ahead, brother."

Bradley drew his sword and went for Xiao's neck. Xiao instantly recognized the swordplay as Mount Huai's Dragon sword. He flicked it away then twisted his sword down to eviscerate Bradley's stomach. That was the first move of the Yueyang Sword he just learnt today. Bradley parried and jabbed at him, which Xiao anticipated and he twisted away from it then retaliated with a strike to the neck. They went on for a while and Xiao constantly switched between all the swordplay he had learnt in the past week. Bradley was at a disadvantage because Xiao could anticipate most of his moves and he had to act fast to block all of Xiao's moves, many he hadn't seen before.

That made Bradley angry and he slashed more ferociously that he should have done and aimed for Xiao's vital places. This in turn made Xiao furious at Bradley for his intent on actually killing him. When Bradley was going for his eyes, he jumped aside and kicked Bradley's wrist. Bradley's sword, Yunchang, flew out of his hands. Taking advantage of his moment of shock, Xiao went behind him and kicked him in the back. Bradley fell onto the ground.

Xiao laughed. "I suggest that you spend more time to practice than thinking up arguments against me, Bradley." Then he walked away. When he turned the corner, he saw Jonah running up to him. 

"Xiao-Ge!" he cried out. "What they were saying against you were awful."

Xiao smiled. "What did they say?"

"Just building up on what Brad-Ge said," Jonah replied in a quiet voice, obviously not wanting to repeat what he had heard.

Xiao patted Jonah's shoulder. "You just keep your head down and study, Jonah. What they say doesn't involve you."

"How can I not stand up for you?" Jonah exclaimed. 

Xiao smiled at him indulgently yet with a trace of melancholy. "I'm glad I still have a friend here."

Jonah smiled back at him. "As soon as I can go off Mount Huai, I'm coming to you."

Xiao laughed at this, throwing his head back so that he can see the white clouds through his half opened eyes. "No, no. Jonah, once you are qualified, you need to learn your way around the world. But if I have any problems with Bradley again, I'll call on you, eh?"

Jonah laughed too.

Xiao felt better. "Look, Jonah, if you're not too tired or too full, I'll teach you a Wen Swordplay."

Jonah's eyes widened. "Jason really taught it to you?"

Xiao nodded. "I had to endure Cole humiliating me but I think I got it."

Jonah shook his head. "Xiao-Ge, I don't know what your problem with him is."

Xiao tilted his head. This had been his first time mentioning Cole to anyone. The truth was he tried not to think about Cole but when he did, it was often with disgust. Every feature of Cole disgusted him, from his dark eyebrows to his hairline. "What problem?"

"You never talk to him. And in public events, you avoid him."

Xiao smiled. "I didn't notice."

Jonah shrugged. "Just talk to him tonight at the feast."

"Let's focus on the swordplay first, alright?" Xiao said, a tad bit too loudly.

Xiao proceeded to show Jonah the moves he'd been going over in his head. He had to constantly go back to it in order to not forget it amid everything else that happened. He wanted to go somewhere to practice his sword after the fight in the disciples' wing but that accursed brother of his had to go after him. If you wanted to talk to me, why get me all worked up, Brad?

When he was done, he asked Jonah to repeat it and corrected Jonah whenever there was a mistake. Then they did their usual practice on hidden weapons. Xiao again used his method of mixing several swordplays together. As a result, he nearly got hit with an arrow. 

"I can help you train him," a voice spoke as Xiao finally overpowered Jonah.

Xiao whirled around, sword raised. He knew who it was and he resented him.

Cole was walking towards them in his overly confident way, dressed in his usual white robes. His back was straight as a board and his chin was held high. Xiao tried to calm his anger. "Why are you spying on us?"

Jonah elbowed Xiao. "It's not spying, really. We are not in a private place."

Xiao snorted. "Yeah, Mount Huai isn't private anymore, I know."

Cole looked at Xiao. "I could help you with hidden weapons."

Xiao looked at him steadily. "I don't need your help."

Cole flicked his eyes at Jonah, who seemed to be bubbling with excitement. Xiao suddenly felt a strong repulsion towards his closest brother too. No one was worthy of him. No one on this mountain. John was too nice and didn't defend him at all today. Bradley wanted to kill him. Stephanus was loyal to Bradley and determined to think that he was right. Jonah was a good kid but way too scared to do things and follow instructions way too easily... He had liked Jonah as Jonah was like an excited kid who always strived to learn, just like him. 

"Jonah," Xiao said. "You should listen to what Cole teaches you. But only on things related to martial arts. When it comes to the conducts of chivalry, I suggest you learn from pricks like Bradley."

Jonah looked at him. "Where are you going?"

Xiao smiled coldly. "The back."

Aidan was merely nine when he joined the ranks of Mount Huai and he was a nervous wreck. One early morning, Xiao dragged Aidan out of chores.

"I'll help you do it later," Xiao promised. "Come on, I'll show you a surprise."

Aidan looked up at him nervously. "Uh - Xiao-ge, are you sure?"

Xiao rolled his eyes with a lazy grin on his face. "Oh, come on, it's your third day already and you still haven't properly explored the place. Back in my day - " he cut himself off. Bradley had told him not to talk nonsense to Aidan. So he paused mysteriously to seem important before speaking again. "Well, anyway, let's go."

He led Aidan to the back of the residence. At the wall, he grabbed onto Aidan's collar and jumped over it, ignoring Aidan's yelp. Then he set him down and grinned. "Aren't you loving this already?"

Aidan grimaced. "Not really, brother."

Xiao laughed. "You'll love it soon. Just look at the woods in front of us. Don't you know there are all kinds of creatures in there?" Then, recollecting himself again, he said, "but you can deal with them. Anyway, let's go."

He led him into the forest. The ground angled up and then down, and after several small hills, they reached the brown bridge that Xiao loved so much.

Aidan gasped at the water flowing down the hill, splashing the rocks and splaying over the shore. Eagerly, he ran to the edge. Laughing, Xiao ran after him.

"I'll teach you how to catch fish," Xiao said. "It's a tradition with me and all the Mount Huai disciples. After your first catch, you'll be a true member of Mount Huai."

Aidan looked up at him eagerly, his young face shining with excitement. Xiao grinned down at him.

In the end, Xiao sent Jonah and Peter to do Aidan's chores for him as a return of a favour, and Bradley scolded him for a solid ten minutes.

Once, they were a cohesive family. Once, Mount Huai had felt like home to him.