"Third match – " Su Yuan said as he picked a nameplate. He saw it was a gold nameplate with the crest of a leaf cleaved at its tip. " – Qianxu Sect, Qian Lin." He said when he saw the name engraved.

"Oooh! Another one from the big sects!" the audience cheered.

"Finally, someone from the Qianxu Sect!" someone said.

Qian Lin rose from his seat. "I'll be going." He said and gave his fan to Jing Hei.

"Good luck, Ah Lin." Jing Hei held his hand.

"Good luck." Jing Bai said and smiled.

"Good luck." Jing Cheng nodded at him.

"Good luck, second young master Qian!" Xi Ming said.

Qian Lin looked at Jing Hei before he turned to the others. "Yeah. Thanks." he told them and pulled his hand from Jing Hei.

"Opponent – " Su Yuan said and took out another nameplate. " – Nanshu Sect, Shu Mu."

Jing Hei, Jing Bai and Jing Cheng were shocked. They looked at Shu Mu who immediately went up the stage. He grinned at Qian Lin who froze on his steps.

"Just as I was wondering when would he show up…" Qian Lin said, his face is dark.

"Ah Lin!" Jing Hei called as he pulled Qian Lin back. "You – " he said, his voice filled with alarm. He shot a glare at Shu Mu before he looked at Qian Lin.

Qian Lin pulled his hand back again. "Ah Hei." He called. "It's time for me to settle scores with him." He told him and went up the stage.

"Ah Lin!" Jing Hei called but Jing Cheng and Jing Bai pulled him back.

"Ah Hei. Do you want for Qian Lin to lose his chance to compete?" Jing Bai asked.

"Have faith on Qian Lin, okay?" Jing Cheng said as they pulled Jing Hei back to their seat. "You know him the most!" he added.

"Second young master Qian… I hope he'll be alright." Xi Ming said as the four of them saw Shu Mu took out talismans from his pocket. "Anyone can use talismans, but the ones who can also make them are a mage." he said. "Shu Mu… he knows how to make them." his face went serious.

"AH LIN!" Jing Hei called and wanted to run up the stage. However, Jing Cheng and Jing Bai pulled him back again to stop him.

Cheng Sheng and the others heard Jing Hei was yelling. "Ah. This pest that can't die managed to climb back up the plateau?" he was surprised to see Shu Mu. They didn't pay attention before when the winners of the preliminary stage were announced. They're over their head since they all passed the preliminary stages.

"That cockroach!" Feng Mo frowned. He really didn't like Shu Mu's actions back then. He was clearly provoking Qian Lin. They're not idiots to not guess Shu Mu and Qian Lin have bad blood between them.

"Who's he?" You Rou asked. She's back to wearing their uniform. "He looked obscene." She said when she saw Shu Mu's smile.

"Pft – " Sun Yi laughed when he heard what You Rou had said. Indeed, Shu Mu's gaze and smile are obscene in a perverse way. He's obviously seeking out blood – Qian Lin's blood.

"Ah. Him again?" Lei Qing frowned in dislike when she also remembered him.

"Shu Mu of the Nanshu Sect… they're also strong." Chen Han said. "They're equal with the Huakai Sect." he added.

"Qian Lin is in trouble." Fei Yin said when the match finally started.

Qian Lin was obviously suppressed by Shu Mu. Shu Mu's attacks are vicious. If Qian Lin wasn't looking out for his limbs, Shu Mu must have already had cut them!

"Ah Lin!" Jing Hei called as he struggled from Jing Cheng and Jing Bai's hold.

"Quiet down." Jing Kang said. He's the only who looked calm among them. "You know second young master Qian the most. Have faith in him." He told him.

"I already told him that." Jing Cheng said.

"Qian Lin's match will be forfeited if you'd interfere. He'll lose his chance in the competition." Jing Kang told Jing Hei.

"I already told him that." Jing Bai said.

Jing Kang shut his mouth and focused on the ongoing match.

"I know Ah Lin the most, but I also know that bastard!" Jing Hei said as he pushed Jing Cheng and Jing Bai. Despite what he said, he finally had his head cooled. "That perverted guy… he likes to see blood!" he said, his face dark. "He likes to torture people! He gets excited when he sees blood!" he added and balled his fists when he saw Qian Lin was cut despite rolling away. "Ah Lin…" he gritted his teeth when he saw the long wound along Qian Lin's arm. Shu Mu… he really wanted to cut Qian Lin to pieces!

On the stage, Shu Mu laughed as he watched Qian Lin crawl away using one arm only after the skin on his left arm was cut.

"An effeminate man… you're a man, yet you're so weak." Shu Mu said as he walked towards Qian Lin, looking unhurried. "What's the point living when all you can do is being protected?" he asked as he pointed his sword to Qian Lin's neck.

Blood immediately trickled down Qian Lin's neck as the tip of Shu Mu's sword pierced his skin.

"All you can do is rely on others." Shu Mu added, his eyes are cold but dangerous.

Qian Lin's cheek is purple and his lip, nose and forehead was bleeding. There was also a cut just beside his tear mole.

"If he can't reverse his situation, he'll die." Li Tian said. Cheng Sheng was just silent.

"All weak people should be killed!" Shu Mu said as he raised his sword. Suddenly, he side-stepped when he saw something flashed. "You - !" he said and looked at Qian Lin, only to be greeted by Qian Lin's sword! "Bastard! You're waiting for me to raise my sword!" he glared at Qian Lin as he jumped back.

"Hah… hehe." Qian Lin laughed as he wiped his lip with his right hand while holding his sword. His left arm is bleeding profusely. He used his sword as a support to stand. "What's wrong? Scared?" he said as he smirked at Qian Lin.

Shu Mu's eyes widened and he looked at his left arm. He suddenly felt he couldn't move it. "What did you do?!" he asked. All his attention was on his sword since he's about to cut Qian Lin, he didn't notice an attack to his left arm.

"An arm for an arm." He said as he ripped his left sleeve with his teeth and wrapped it around his arm.

"I didn't see you… a needle?" Shu Mu said and stared at his left arm. Then, he saw something glistened. A needle was stuck at his wrist! It must be earlier when I'm talking to him! He murderously glared at Qian Lin and pointed his sword at him. He remembered, Qian Lin also used needles on him during the preliminary stage. Because he's hell-bent on his revenge, he forgot how his target managed to escape from his net!

"Ah Lin - !" Jing Hei called when he saw Qian Lin was standing again. He sighed in relief. He knew Qian Lin wouldn't fight without preparation. Poisoned needles… he remembered Qian Lin had mentioned them to him. However, he was mad at Jing Bai for leaving him to find Zheng Yi instead. Thus, he forgot the poison needles.

"Tch!" Shu Mu's eyes narrowed as he used his qi to move the talismans and attack Qian Lin. However, Qian Lin grinned. Shu Mu's eyes widened when he saw a needle between his teeth, then struck the talismans he used. He immediately moved his head to the side to avoid the needles.

"Shu Mu." Qian Lin called as he raised his sword, then pointed it at Shu Mu. "You're not the only one who has tricks up his sleeve!" he told him and smirked.

"OOOH! The second young master of the Qianxu Sect made a reversal!"

"Poisoned needles… how cool is that?!" the audience said in excitement.

"Qian Lin, you bast – ack!" Shu Mu cried when he felt a pain in his chest. His eyes widened and he fell on his knees, clutching his chest.

Qian Lin was shocked. "Hey! I haven't made my counterattack yet, now you fall?" he scoffed. However, Shu Mu didn't answer. Qian Lin's brows knit. "Hey…" he called.

"KAH!" Shu Mu coughed up blood.

"Shixiong!" the Nanshu Sect disciples cried when they saw Shu Mu placed his hand on the ground and started coughing blood. "What happened?!" they asked in confusion.

Qian Lin was stunned. "Hey!" he called. "I hadn't put anything lethal on my needles. Why are you…"

"So noisy!" Shu Mu said and suddenly swung his sword to Qian Lin. Qian Lin was startled and struck back in reflex. "Keh!" Shu Mu winced in pain when he felt his wrist was stung. A loud clang can be heard when Shu Mu's sword fell on the ground.

"Ah Lin!" Jing Hei called and his heart almost stopped beating when he saw Shu Mu launched a sneak attack after his feint. Fortunately, Qian Lin has been alert. "Ah Lin…" he sighed in relief. "That bastard!" he glared at Shu Mu who was heavily panting.

Suddenly, something unexpected happened. "I admit… defeat…" Shu Mu said as he closed his eyes tight as if he's in pain.

"WHA – " the audience was shocked. "Did I hear wrong? Admitting defeat?!"

"What happened to him?" Chen Han was puzzled. "Qian Lin hasn't struck him." He said.

The emcee was also surprised. "Uhm… Shu Mu of Nanshu Sect admitted defeat. Winner, Qian Lin of Qianxu Sect!" he said.