“Let me guess, you want a duel as well?” Susu asked, lips curved into a sharp smile, she kept her eyes on the courtyard, not allowing Hong Quan to grow closer.

“Why would I want to duel you?” Hong Quan replied, furrowing his brow in confusion. “Do you know how irritating it is to fight with that whip of yours? What did you call it—Scar?”

“Scourge,” she corrected, her voice flat with a hint of pride within it.

“…Right.” He shook his head, dismissing it, and turned his gaze toward the group of disciples in the distance. His eyes lingered, curious, on Zhao Li, the girl whose clothes hung off her as if they belonged to someone twice her size. “Something caught your eye?” Susu asked, her tone sharp.

“Yes…You have a daughter?”

“I do,”

“Six years old?”

“Yes.”

“Ahh…so that’s why you vanished from the Jianghu,” he said, more to himself than to her.

Susu’s silence stretched between them like a barrier. “Someone has to raise her,” she finally said, her voice quieter, but firm.

“No doubt…”

The sun begun its descent in the late afternoon. A soft glow blossomed, that caught a few silver threads woven into Hong Quan’s otherwise jet-black hair. His demeanour was different that Susu had remembered, he was always held a cold look within his eyes, but now, there was a hint of warmth within them.

“Are you busy Cold Steel?” Susu asked.

“I am not,”

“Good, unlike this…rudimentary conversation. I would like a private conversation with you. There’re things I have to ask.”

“I see…walk with me,” he said firmly.

He gestured toward the inner gardens, where the ancient trees stood watch over the winding stone paths. He then turned to the boy in rags, who’d been following him. “Wei Long, wait here…I won’t be too long,”

The boy nodded and found the nearest corner to set himself aside. It was clear he didn’t want to be seen. Everyone here was dressed appropriately, whilst he was the only to wear rags.

“Luan, watch over Li’er, make sure she doesn’t flounder around,”

“Yes Master Susu,” the lad said primly.

“Thank you, I won’t be long.”

Her disciples exchanged uncertain glances with each other, but before they could protest, she disappeared with Hong Quan.

They walked in silence as the welcoming scent of cherry blossoms drifting on the cool breeze of the gardens of the Martial Arts Alliance command office. The bamboo swayed gently, their shadows forming intricate, delicate patterns on the stone path.

They reached a small, ancient stone bench by a pond and Hong Quan gestured for Susu to take a seat, he turned right and spotted some koi fish swimming beneath the water’s surface.

Their vibrant scales glinted gold and white, bright flashes of life in the stillness. He let out a long, measured breath before speaking.

“Six years,” Hong Quan said finally. “The world has changed much in your absence, Scorpion Maiden.”

Susu wanted to roll her eyes, but she kept a straight face. As a single cherry blossom landed on the surface of the pond, sending small ripples through the otherwise still water. “So, I’ve noticed,”

“That’s just the surface,”

“I’m sure it is…anyways, what have I missed? Has Old Man Tu’s position been filled? If so…who?”

Hong Quan shook his head, “no, one of the ten grandmaster’s spot is still open.”

“What?” Susu asked confused, narrowing her eyes. “What do you mean his seat is still vacant…aren’t there any viable candidates from the Nine Masters of Martial Arts?”

“No…” Hong Quan said, shaking his head.

“Not even Yan Fan…or Shi Qiu?”

“Yan Fan has been dealing with sect matters for years, you know how large the Golden Bowl Sect is…she hasn’t been able to break through to the Arhat Realm.”

“…and Shi Qiu?”

“He’s been in seclusion for years…no one knows his current strength.”

“What?”

“He’s not the Sword Saint?”

“He is not, fortunately, the Sword Saint title goes to my senior brother, Cang Ke.”

“Silver Eye Ke, is the current Sword Saint?”

“Indeed,”

“The Heavy Sword Sect must be proud to have Silver Eye Ke and Cold Steel Quan as Sword Kings, what’s your rank?”

“Fourth…your martial brother Silent Sword Guo is higher than me.”

“Oh? That’s good to know,”

Hong Quan chuckled sightly and nodded. He turned to his right and waved for one of the servants to approach. “What of your senior brother, Shredding Claw Xing is he fine? He withdrew six years ago just like you did, the most that’s known about him is the sect he created…the Purple Mist Sect.”

“I’m sure you already know the disciples I brought are from the Purple Mist Sect, and to answer your question…Senior Brother is fine, much has changed for him…for the better.”

“That’s fantastic news, out of ‘Gentleman Fist’ Feng Chaoxiang disciples, he was always touted to become one of the Immovable Fist!”

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“Brother Xing never cared for such things. He never sought to become of the Nine Masters of the Martial Arts…the title of Intolerable Fist, means nothing to him. He just wants to live life…freely.”

“What Realm is he?”

“Qi Perception Realm”

“Of course he is,” Hong Quan nodded happily.

“Master Quan, Master Susu, would you like some refreshments?”

“Yes,” Hong Quan said, “black clover tea for me and Lady Susu. Fresh oranges and chilled water for the lady susu’s disciple.”

“Is there anything else?” The servant asked.

Susu coughed, looking at Hong Quan, then pointed his nose at the corner of the courtyard. “Haha…right, same for the lad in the corner on his own, please. His name is Wei Long, let him know the refreshments are from me…he doesn’t trust easily.”

“Understood Master Quan…Master Susu.”

“Good.”

Susu narrowed her eyes and sat back on the bench. Curiosity had been blossoming within her for a while and she no reason to keep it hidden. “Have there been changes to the Nine Masters of Martial Arts?”

“Of course, there’s always changes.” Hong Quan said nodding “The current Nine Masters. Have some faces you’ll recognize, others might surprise you.”

“Kill the suspense Cold Steel,”

“Aye…as I’ve mention, my senior brother Cang Ke holds the position of Sword Saint. Master Lung from the Verdant Gate Monastery still holds the position of Intolerable Fists, though he's grown even more... well, intolerable with age.”

“And what of the Warmaster of the Spear?” Susu asked, twitching her lips.

“Lady Ming from the Azure Spear Valley took the position three years ago after defeating the previous master convincingly, she’s the newest member of the Nine Masters of Martial Arts.”

“The Acupoint Sage position?”

“Doctor Yuan of the Sand Healing Society still holds that position. I believe it’s between him and my senior brother will get the nod to replace Old Man Tu as a Grandmaster.”

“…Weapon Master Demon?”

“That position belongs to Master Teng of the Hundred Blade Pavilion. You remember him?”

“Yes, he fought brother Guo in the Sword tournament,”

“Well…since his defeat, he has master five weapons, which allows him the right to be called the Weapon Master Demon.”

“Shocking…it seems I’ve missed a lot.”

“I wouldn’t say that, but your absence was realised.”

“I see…what of the Qi Tyrant position, Does Song Mei still hold that position?”

“No, Song Mei died last year from Qi Deviation, I heard she was trying to enter the Arhat Realm…Master Lei of the Surlong Peak Sanctuary is the new Qi Tyrant.”

Hong Quan lips faded from a smile to a line, his eyes grew cold, matching his Cold Steel title. “The title of Coiling Whip of the Shadows belongs to someone you might find interesting or abhor.”

“The suspense is killing me,” Susu said dryly.

“Madam Su Lin of the Amethyst Serpent Sect.”

Susu squeezed her hands into a fist as she heard the name of her old rival. “I guess, she deserves it,” Susu said sarcastically.

“Right…the Qinggong Skywalker position,” Hong Quan continued, perhaps sensing the need to move past the subject, “belongs to Young Master Feng of the Vine Tear Manor, the youngest of the Nine Masters of Martial Arts.”

“Of course he is, as a young master,”

“Your bleak as ever,”

“As I should, no?”

Quan laughed and shook his head, “right, finally the final title goes to Lady Sun Ting of the Jade Spring temple, the Divine Healer.”

“Good to know, tell me more of Su Lin has she improved since our last... encounter?”

“I wasn’t there for the encounter sadly, but from what I’ve heard the previous Coiling Lady of the Shadows thought you had the potential to take her title.”

“It doesn’t matter now,”

“Are you sure, I can see the fire in your eyes. You want to take on Su Lin again, don’t you?”

“Not. In. The. Slightest. I have other concerns.”

“Your daughter?”

Susu nodded with a gent smile.

“Understood…but I want to ask you one thing. No, not ask…but to make a request.”

“…and that would be?”

“A sparring match.”

“Why do you want to spar?

“My skin has been tingling ever sense we sat down. I can feel your Qi thrum with indignation. It excites me. It’s been a while since I’ve had a worthy challenge.”

Susu turned to Hong Quan, eyeing him from head to toe. “You’re excited, that’s a first. All those years ago…you weren’t one to relish a fight. Things have changed.”

“For the better,” he said with a glum smile on his face.

“I see…”

Susu sat back, thinking on whether if the spar was worth it, but deep down, she just wanted to leave the Martial Arts Alliance command office and take care of Li’er.

“Humour me Susu…”

“…under one condition?”

“Anything…!”

“…do not tell anyone you saw me here. Only my martial brother Heng Guo, OK?”

“That’s fine…”

“Good, now let’s enjoy this tea before we start…”

The moment their tea cups touched the stone table, the air crackled with anticipation.

Susu’s and Hong kicked off the bend, landing a few meters a part. She slid her hand across Scourge’s handle and flashed a wild smile.

“You don’t plan to take this serious?” Hong asked, confused.

“I am…”

“Then why are you using your left hand,”

“Cold Steel…we haven’t seen in each other in years. If you insist on me switching hands, lets cancel this spar.”

Hong Quan kept his hand on the hilt of his sword, unsure if to continue. A flare of Qi burst from Susu, sending a wave of goosebumps down his back, the excitement reignited. “Let us began.”

Scourge unfurled from Susu’s left hand, the whip singing through exploding as she cracked it.

The world turned black and white as if ancient calligraphy materialised around them.

Hong Quan drew his blade in one fluid motion, his Qi surging into the steel until it hummed.

Susu shifted left, cracking Scourge at Hong Quan’s face. He twisted, letting his qi-laden blade intercept the strike. An ink blotch blossomed from the impact sending ripples through their body.

Susu snared feeling slightly flustered, but was not deterred, she opened her Core Dantian and allowed her Qi to flow through her meridians.

Hong Quan anticipated the increase in strength from her and did the same, opening his Core Dantian…he opened his Mind Dantian and watched the Qi swirling around her lash at him exploding at different angles, hoping to distract him.

Hong Quan’s blade moved like a mountain given form. He parried three strikes, his sword feeling heavier from each clash until the air itself seemed to groan under its weight. “I don’t like this new attacking style of yours Scorpion Maiden…its far more bothersome than when you used your hand.”

“I can say the same for you, Cold Steel…you’re far more patient than you were all those years. I guess defeat has taught you a lesson. Susu snapped, coiling Scourge in an obtuse arc.

Hong Quan barely shifted his blade in time, the impact sending tremors through his qi-enhanced sword, forcing him to skid backwards.

He countered with a crushing downward strike, his sword cleaving the very air that separated them with terrifying might.

…but Susu had already read his intent in the flow of his qi.

She pivoted smoothly, Scourge dancing around her in three precise movements. The whip caught Hong Quan’s blade mid-strike, not meeting his force but redirecting it.

He widened his eyes in shock, then lurched forward by his own momentum. “One thing about the Heavy Sword Sect Style, it’s predictable as it comes!” Susu said spinning into his guard.

She then weaved Scourge weaving into scampering arc, making the whip appear at five different angles at once, each crack as devastating as the other.

Hong Quan’s blade blurred, as he deflected each struck as best as he could, but all it did was put him on the backfoot.

“Your right arm,” Hong Quan huffed, frustrated, “What happened to it?”

Susu didn’t respond in words, but by savagery. She began cracking Scourge in a devastating combination, that made the whip seem like an electric snake coiling around the courtyard at will.

She struck high, low, then twisting around Hong Quan’s defence. Each attack flowing into the next.

Where Hong Quan’s strikes sought to overwhelm with pure force, Susu's whip danced through his guard like a serpent seeking prey. Scourge coiled around Hong Quan’s blade as it descended, neither weapon yielding.

Colour bled back into the world. They stood facing each other in the garden, cherry blossoms drifting down around them though neither had seemed to move.

Only their heavy breathing and the lingering taste of qi in the air suggested anything had happened at all.

“Your left-handed style,” Hong Quan said as he sheathed his blade, “It’s more precise than your right hand ever was.”

Susu coiled Scourge at her waist with practiced ease. "A scorpion adapts, even when wounded.”

The afternoon sun caught the silver in his hair as he bowed slightly. “Congratulations Scorpion Maiden. It was an honour to fight someone of the Qi Perception Realm.”

“I assume you’ll keep my strength to yourself?”

“Of course, I will…but I have a request, unrelated to anything.”

Sus sighed, annoyed as if she was tired of Hong Quan. “What is it this time?”

“I have a Four-Star bounty, would you be interested in taking on a band of thieves?”

“fifty-fifty split?”

“The only split possible.”

“I’ll discuss it with my disciples, the points would do fine for them.”