Bingo!

'I'll have to bullshit my way out of this somehow... I can't get away, and I can't win in a fight. Tsk...'

"What do you think?" The Young Master of the Flamboyant Vermillion Tiger Sect asked as he crossed his legs, remaining seated on the balcony that was a couple of meters above the ground. "With that pathetic performance, I doubt you could survive a good hit."

"I wouldn't be so sure." Zhao said with a defiant smile.

"Last time we had a fight, you beat me up pretty bad. But that was only because I am one year younger. My talent has always been more impressive. That hasn't changed."

"Did you expect me to remember your age or something?"

"Oh, no, no." The Young Master of the Flamboyant Vermillion Tiger Sect chuckled as he waved his hands. "But it is important, since I've been waiting for this rematch for a while."

Lei sniffed, and he felt his lips almost curl upwards.

'It smells...' He thought to himself.

The Young Master of the Flamboyant Vermillion Tiger Sect stared for a bit.

"So..." He uncrossed his legs. "Ready?" With a slight push, his bottom was off the balcony, and he fell to the ground.

The long hair flowed down in a golden cascade, and the ground cracked under the weight of the burning Qi oozing out of his body.

He took a step forward. Zhao Laohu did not move.

"You think you can take me on without using your Qi?" The Young Master of the Flamboyant Vermillion Tiger Sect winced, but his facial expression quickly turned into an amused smile.

Zhao Laohu suddenly turned away.

"When do you want the duel to take place?"

"Right now doesn't work for you?"

"Mm... I suppose it does. But does it work for you?"

The Young Master of the Flamboyant Vermillion Tiger Sect's lips curled upwards.

"Absolutely not. You're a weakling right now."

Zhao Laohu did not turn back around, but his eyes did narrow at those words.

'It's obvious that he wants revenge... No. More than revenge, what he wants it to test himself against Zhao.'

He thought silently for a bit.

'Could this guy be the Hero? I'm meeting the Hero in two weeks, but that doesn't mean I can't see him before that if our paths cross. This guy knows Zhao, and is different from any other Martial Artist I've seen up to now... But what's bothering me is...'

"Then?" Zhao Laohu said after a moment.

"I'll let you set the date. The Trial of Solitude must have exhausted you."

"So you know about that..." Zhao muttered as he turned around.

"Of course," The Young Master of the Flamboyant Vermillion Tiger Sect waved his hand dismissively. "I'm not fighting you after you've starved for 40 days. I'll wait for you to recover, then, this time, show that I am truly superior. Though it is annoying that you passed the Trial before I got the chance to undertake it." The last sentence was grumbled.

'Goes with how I envisioned him...' Lei nodded internally. 'And with that expression on his face, it's obvious that this is really important to him. Proving himself against Zhao is.'

"When?"

"Huh..." Zhao scratched his chin. "I'm surprised you would take the fight against me..."

"Ha? Your victory against me was long ago. What makes you think you stand a chance against me? Especially after that pathetic-"

"That smoke you offered earlier..." Lei interrupted. "Can I have it?"

"Sure...?" The Young Master stared suspiciously as he reached into his robe.

Zhao Laohu walked forward, and the cigarette was handed to him.

"It is strange though..." He muttered.

"What is?" The Young Master asked as he took out a match.

"As I said..." Zhao placed the cigarette between his lips. "I'm surprised you would take the fight."

The Young Master's eyebrow twitched with annoyance.

"It seems like you're mistaken, Zhao. All this is, is me wiping away a stain from my past..." He paused for a bit, as Zhao leaned forward instead of grabbing the match. "You're not as strong or important as you think. Though that's always been issue for you."

With a snap of his fingers, the match was lit.

'That's convenient...' Zhao Laohu noted to himself.

He leaned closer towards the lit match.

"Then, I suppose that means..."

Zhao inhaled, and the flame of the match grew a bit brighter.

He was leaning forward and downward, but his gaze did not move away from the Young Master's face, now visible more clearly thanks to the flame.

"You're not the one who sent those Assassins. Or am I wrong?"

The Young Master's eyebrow twitched. The match broke. Qi started oozing out. And Lei stepped back, before exhaling a thick cloud of smoke.

"What the hell... Are you talking about?"

From the facial expression to the veins covering his neck and the burning Qi oozing out,

'Bingo!' Lei thought to himself, pleased by the reaction.