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The mid-morning sun was high overhead and the time of the trial was near.

The stadium was vacant of its normal occupants, the place empty and barren like a desolate tomb. It was a sad analogy, as if fate itself had already passed judgement on his family’s demise. At the edge of the arena, staff worked in tandem to erect the temporary dais that the High Magistrate would use to decide the final destiny of his wife and daughter.

Another seat of importance was being constructed next to it.

That for the Warden.

Hei Dong had not seen her yet, but now that her presence was confirmed it served to only heighten his anxiety. Would she try and help by risking her own position to fight Lo Feng? Or would she simply let the outcome fall where it may?

More than once he had considered begging the Warden for her help, but he knew Rhi Dong wouldn’t hear of it. Her honor would not allow her to seek reprieve from her great aunt. Rhi Dong was determined to take responsibility for this mess her family had created.

Or so Rhi no doubt assumed the Warden would see the matter, from her perspective.

A private family affair that had little to do with the clan proper.

Hei Dong nestled his face into his wife’s lustrous silver hair. “You are an honorable warrior, my love. May Fate guide your blade.”

Far across the stadium, Hei Dong glimpsed the contingent from the Fire Bird Clan—the two flunky witnesses along with Lo Feng himself. The Fire Bird Leader had dressed for the occasion, trimming down his ceremonial robes for something far more fit for combat.

As Hei Dong finally pulled away from his wife, he noted her attire was much the same—her black and silver robes were shortened and adorned with the scabbards of her three jian blades.

“Perhaps it is time you leave to prepare, my love,” Hei Dong said.

“A few more minutes. They should be bringing Fia to the court once the High Magistrate arrives. I wish to see her one last time.”

Hei Dong only nodded, realizing the implication of what she had said.

His wife must have noticed the melancholy look on his face and lifted his chin to give him a kiss.

“Fear not, husband,” Rhi Dong said with confidence. “I believe we will be delivered. Still, I’d like one more chance to see my daughter, before this unholy match begins.”

* * *

I stood outside the arena with fire and fury pumping through my veins.

We’d run from across town to reach the arena in record time, but now a squad of Enforcers stood in our way. Jian Yi was locked in a heated debate with the court official in charge of them, begging him to allow us entry.

“For the last time,” the clerk said. “You have nothing to do with this case, and there is no public viewing of the trial. I wonder how you even found out about it!”

“We just need some information,” Jian Yi said. “A chance to speak to the accused.”

“Have you only just gotten your license?” the clerk said. “On what grounds do you propose such a thing?”

Jian Yi went on to spout some legal jargon, but even my untrained ears could pick up on the bullshit from a mile away. I sighed as the frustration mounted. “This isn’t working.”

“Perhaps I can try,” Gui Zu said.

“You?” Kelsey said.

“I’m no lawyer, but I do have an idea. Follow me.”

As we stepped toward the clerk and the Enforcers, Jian Yi shot us a deathly stare. “What are you all doing?”

“Honorable Clerk,” Gui Zu said, dropping to one knee. “Forgive our attempt to hire this poorly trained barrister as a means to gain access to the arena. It is clear your superior knowledge of the law has bested her already.”

Jian Yi’s eyes shot wide open. “What?!”

“Here is the trouble,” Gui Zu said, pointing to me. “As you may or may not recognize, this man is the Iron Bull. He unfortunately left a valuable personal item in the locker room. His prized bull mask. He did not realize the arena would be closed due to this case. May you please grant him access to retrieve it?”

“Eh?” the clerk said. “Are you serious?”

“I am the Iron Bull if that’s what you mean?”

The clerk sighed. “Look, I have no authority over the arena itself, you’ll just need to wait until the case is ov—”

“What seems to be the issue here?”

All eyes turned to see a tall man dressed in imperial robes exiting from the doors to the arena. It was Lein Cho, the stadium director and right behind him was a man I recognized immediately.

Bo Ren!

My heart soared as I dropped to one knee beside Gui Zu. “Stadium Director Lein Cho, Master Bo Ren, This One humbly seeks your intervention in this most embarrassing matter.”

“Oh?” Lein Cho stepped forward to stand before me. “What brings you here, Iron Bull?”

“I just require access to the arena,” I said. “To retrieve my mask. I won’t be but a few minutes. Perhaps Master Bo Ren can accompany me?”

“Yes,” Jian Yi said, suddenly interjecting. “As a surety.” She then turned to the clerk. “Surely that can be allowed?”

The clerk wobbled his head with uncertainty and then deferred to Master Lein Cho. “Well, if the honorable stadium manager permits it, I would have no issue…Master Lein Cho?”

Lein Cho chuckled. “Is that all, Bull Man? A small matter. Bo Ren, see to it.”

“At once,” Bo Ren said with a smile as Lein Cho continued on his way. “Follow me, Iron Bull.”

I concealed an internal fist-pump with [Indifference] as Bo Ren and I walked past the guards and into the arena.

Step one accomplished, I thought. But I still had no real plan.

Once Bo Ren and I got far enough away from the Enforcers and everyone else, I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “Master Bo Ren, I have a huge favor to ask of you. One I shouldn’t even be asking.”

“Eh?” He looked up at me with a raised brow. “What is it?”

“I didn’t really come for just my mask,” I admitted with [Struggler’s Resolve]. “There is a woman being kept here for trial. A Lady Silver Light. I desperately need to speak to her. Just a few minutes, in private if you can manage.”

He stared back at me, shocked. “Are you freaking serious?”

“Please don’t ask why, it’s best you not even know, but is there any way you can get me to her?”

Bo Ren stared at me a moment more before releasing a huge sigh. “I’ll be honest with you, kid. I stopped questioning the crazy crap you seem to get yourself into a long time ago. I know where they’re holding her, but no guarantees, and if you get caught, you’re on your own.”

I beamed with elation. “Thank you, Master Bo Ren. Thank you!”

“This way,” he said.

* * *

We took a detour from the changing rooms and headed down into the bowels of the arena. We passed through the same tunnel where they had kept the Rapling Brood Mother and for a moment I had a flashback to the time when I’d save Gui Zu from its massive jaws.

Bo Ren then stopped short as he peeked around a final corner. “You’re in luck, kid. The guards are all up top, helping construct the dais. But they’ll be back soon. I’ll keep lookout here. Go quickly!”

He didn’t need to tell me twice.

I rushed around the corner and down the corridor to the cell at the end of the hall.

“Fia,” I called. “Fia!”

A soft and uncertain voice replied.

“Max?”

My heart soared with elation as Fia stepped towards the bars of the jail cell. Her face was as beautiful as ever, but there was nothing elegant about her disheveled hair or gray prison clothes. She looked as if she hadn’t slept for days, her eyes bloodshot and haggard.

I ran to her and clutched her in an embrace through the bars. “I’m sorry, Fia. I’m so sorry for all of this!”

Confusion filled her eyes. “How did you find me?”

“Your barrister, Lui Wi, showed up with a cancellation of the writ. He told me how it happened.”

“Oh,” Fia said and then her countenance abruptly changed, becoming sour. “So you know then…” The accusation in her tone resonated with the guilt within my soul. “That I’m here because they are accusing me of murdering Hong Feng and slaughtering a hundred members of the Fire Bird clan.”

I stepped away from the bars and hung my head. “Yes, I know…”

A lull of silence fell between us.

“I have only one question,” she said, before fixing her eyes on me. “Why?”

I dug down for the truth. “Because they were evil. They were murdering cultivators in the wild. All of them were demonic cultivators like Hin Wu.”

“That’s not the why I was asking about,” she said, and my heart sank even further when Fia showed me the single silver quill. “I gifted this to you as a keepsake. But instead, you used it as a weapon? Why?”

I had no words, my guilt eating me alive.

Her eyes melted with tears as she finally shook her head. “Why, Max? Why would you do this? Did you hate my family that much to bring such doom upon us?”

“Fia, please, it wasn’t like that… I filed off the inscription. I didn’t want it leading back to you. I thought I was striking a blow against the Warden. I had no idea this would happen.”

“Well, it has!” she shouted with pain in her heart. “They’ve sentenced me to death, Max! And now my mother has tried to save me by fighting Lo Feng to spare my life.”

“What? Your mother is your proxy?”

She let out a sob as she nodded. “She stopped cultivating when she had my brother and I, never fully ascending to the Sacred Soul Realm like Lo Feng. And on top of that, she hasn’t fought in ages. Even I can best her on a good day.”

The gravity of what she was saying began to set in. She wasn’t just about to lose her life, she was about to lose her mother as well. “Fia, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean any of this to happen, I swear.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore…” she said through another sob. “Lo Feng will kill my mother in combat and we will lose the appeal, and then the courts will execute me. Our dream is over, Max.”

“Don’t say that! We’ll figure something out!”

“Like what? Will you confess you murdered all those people so they can kill you too?” She then shook her head sadly. “I know you didn’t do this on purpose, Max. I know your heart. Your hatred for what happened to you in the past did this… But now it’s stolen our future from us as well. Or at least from me.”

Her words settled like a ton of bricks on my soul.

I opened my mouth to say something else, but Bo Ren suddenly called from down the hall.

“Hey! They’re coming! You need to go! Now!”

“Go, Max,” Fia said and then gave me a final embrace through the bars. “I still love you. Perhaps we’ll cross paths again in a next life.”

“Fia, don’t say that!” I shouted as Bo Ren came to drag me away. “I’ll figure something out!”

“There’s nothing you can do now. I wish you well in your path, Max. Remember me.”

* * *

I stumbled out of the arena in a daze, still trying to process what the hell just happened.

My friends all rushed towards me with a million questions, but all I had strength to do was fall on my ass and let the Bull mask clatter to the ground next to me. As I looked at it, all I could think of was the farce it represented.

A farce that I myself now personified.

“Chun, what happened?” Jian Yi said.

“Did you find her?” Gui Zu asked.

Kelsey looked at me with more sympathetic eyes, perhaps sensing the pain in my soul. “Max, you okay?”

I ran my hands through my hair, shakily. “It’s not good. Her mother is her proxy. She’s fighting Lo Feng. And Fia is certain she’s going to lose.”

“What does that mean?” Gui Zu asked.

I shook my head. “They’re going to kill her. Kill both of them. She’s resigned to it.”

“That’s not good,” Jian Yi said as she began to pace. “None of this is good...I don’t know if there is much we can do.”

“What can we do legally?” Gui Zu asked. “There must be something, no?”

Jian Yi raised her hands in exasperation. “If we had some kind of new evidence or something maybe. We could file for an injunction for what she been accused of, or request a stay of execution at least, but I know literally nothing about the underlying cased.”

“What say?” Kelsey asked. “Talk words no understand.”

“Just a sec, Kelsey,” I said, but she rushed to drag me to my feet and pulled me away from the Enforcers and clerk at the door.

“What the hell is going on?” she asked in English, once out of earshot. “It looks like you came out of there with your tail between your legs. And what is Jian Yi yapping about? Does she have a way to stop the case or what?”

I spoke to her in English as Gui Zu and Jian Yi looked on.

“It’s not looking hopeful,” I said. “Fia’s mom is fighting as her proxy and she’s bound to lose. She’s going up against my sect leader, Lo Feng.”

“So just run in there and fight him for her then!”

“It doesn’t work that way, Kelsey. They have laws and stuff here.”

“Laws?” She let out a scoff. “Max, you fought an alien space goddess in the spiritual realm on the hell planes of the moon! What the hell does someone like you

need to care about laws for?”

When she said it like that, I truly did feel like busting the hell in there and mopping the floor with Lo Feng, if I could even manage it. My Flame agreed, sparking with enthusiasm, but the reality wasn’t so simple.

“Fighting him is one thing,” I said. “But getting permission to fight him is another. That’s Jian Yi’s department, and she says she can’t do anything. Not unless we find some new evidence or something.”

“Evidence of what?”

I shrugged. “Of the case. Or what she’s been accused of.”

“Well didn’t you say you’re the one who killed all those people and then blamed her by accident by leaving that quill?”

“Yeah,” I said, slumping my shoulder with guilt again. “And you know what’s really messed up? Fia wasn’t even that pissed off when I told her. She understood. Knew it was just me trying to get back at her great aunt and not her personally. But I ended up sacrificing our future for it all the same.” I then sighed. “The girl still loves me, Kelsey, despite everything. I just didn’t know it could go this far, you know?”

Kelsey stared at me like she wanted to tear my head off. “Are you really a moron?”

“What?” I said.

“Oh, my flipping hell, Max!” she screamed. “That is new evidence! Did you not tell Jian Yi that you’re the one who actually killed all those guys?”

“Er… no, not yet, I suppose.”

Kelsey screamed an expletive and began tugging on Jian Yi’s arm. “How the hell do you say evidence in Yee?”

“What’s she doing?” Jian Yi said. “What’s going on?”

I rushed to make sense of it all myself, but just began reciting what Kelsey had said in Yee, instead.

Both Jian Yi’s and Gui Zu’s mouths fell open.

“You did it?” Jian Yi said incredulously. “Why in the nine hells did you not tell us this before?”

“I don’t know… my head is all messed up,” I said. “I’ve been swapping between languages, talking to all you guys and then Kelsey. I kind of lost track of who I told what, I guess.”

“I can’t believe this,” Jian Yi said, still trying to digest it all.

“Why, brother?” Gui Zu said perplexed. “How even? When even? When did you find time to do all this?”

“Look that’s not important right now,” I said and turned to Jian Yi. “Is what Kelsey said correct? Can this be used?”

“Not without it simply causing you to swap places with Lady Silver Light on that executioner’s block.”

“I don’t care. Just make it happen,” I said. “Saving her is all that matters.”

Jian Yi stared at me with a furrowed brow and then suddenly her eyes lit up.

“Wait, there may be a way,” she said. “A slim chance, but we’d need to move now.”

“I’ll call the clerk again,” Gui Zu said.

“No, no time for that,” Jian Yi said, glancing overhead. “The match has already started. Every second counts.” She looked at me and inside her I could sense her ember smoldering. “Max, this will mean both of us taking a huge risk. We need to get in there to stop that fight, but when we do, you’ll need to be ready to fight Lo Feng. Can you even face challenging him?”

“Doesn’t matter,” I said. “I’m doing it anyway.”

Gui Zu chuckled. “Then allow me to clear the path for you, brother. You owe me a night in jail for this.”

Before I could even say anything, Gui Zu took off in a sprint and then launched a flying kick into the back of one of the Enforcers. He knocked them all down like a stack of dominoes, including the clerk who cried out in a squeal as Gui Zu began slugging it out.

“Holy shit!” Kelsey shouted in English. “What the hell just happened? Should I go help?”

I thought quickly.

“No, you’ll get into way too much trouble being involved in that fight. Plus, I might need you for your Flame.”

“What? Are we battling more space demons?”

I grimaced as I contemplated just how strong Lo Feng might be.

“Possibly,” I said, monitoring the distraction Gui Zu had caused. I saw an opening. “Come on, the way is clear! Let’s go!”

The three of us made a mad dash for the door as Gui Zu put up one hell of a fight. Absently, I admired just how far he had come within his own progression to face off against four Enforcers all at once, but he was fending off the multiple slaps of bamboo just fine. We dashed through the empty corridors, heading for the main arena, but then a thought occurred.

“You two head for the ring,” I said slowing down. “I’ll be right there.”

“What?” Jian Yi said. “Where are you going?”

“To the changing room,” I said, glancing down at the bull mask in my hands and the hollowed-out insides of the horns. “There’s one more piece of costume I need.”

“There’s no time for that!”

“Trust me. I’m going up against the leader of the Fire Birds in the middle of a court room…I’m going to need every edge I can get.”