When someone says something you were thinking

 "Trust me, Fu is my friend," Cheng is wide-eyed as he gets practically in a Man called Horse's face. Of course, the general will give him no approval of going it alone to the Beggar's Sect alone.

"You are not our leader," Horse hugs himself as he leans against the stone wall just off the road to the village.

"We don't have a leader," Cheng shakes his head, no. He steps back as if he's ready for some swordplay, but Horse is much older than he seems. He's always putting down Cheng for being too much of a youngster. Yet, Cheng can't help to be fierce. He wants to move forward. Milo is just an arse sitting on his ass. 

"Milo doesn't give a damn what I do," Cheng turns from Horse in a huff.

"He most certainly does," Horse lifts himself off the wall and stands tall, towering over Cheng. "Have you been learning anything from those scrolls we found?"

"I don't have to," Cheng protests. 

Horse only sighs. 

"If you would think before you act, it would be a lot easier on all of us," Horse says as he walks away. He only has Qing to turn to, but she's with ChaCha picking herbs and other medicinals from the creek bottom.

Cheng doesn't mean to be a hothead. He can't help it. Sure they can say it's his age, but he's no idiot. He wants to take pride in what he already knows. He's a soldier, mostly of misfortune, but somehow he ended up here thanks to ChaCha his childhood friend.

"God, where would we be if she wasn't with that stupid Milo?" Cheng fumes. Before he can turn to see, Milo has heard every word. Milo flings him into the air and Cheng lands on his ass.

It was such a harsh wake-up call. 

"It's been a long time coming, but I know what you need," Milo says while Cheng is out of breath and sitting on the hard ground.

"What?" Cheng's face screws up in disgust. as he rests his hands on his knees.

"I'm only going to show you this once," Milo says.

Wasn't that how it always started?

Cheng remembered the old drunk he had met one time who was going to show him his secret powers. He didn't get to see anything. It was pitch black at night.

Milo takes out the bamboo beggar's stick from behind his back. Cheng could hardly think what trick Milo might use. But he waves it about which turns into a spin until he flies into the air and when he points the stick it shoots a strange light that could burn flash, but he aims to burn a tree instead.

"This is what I remember when I was small. My parents were once part of the Beggars Sect until it scattered," Milo tells him.

Cheng winces. 

"We were from the originals, very few exist anymore."

"So what are you trying to tell me? That's not really the Beggar Sect we are trying to get into?" Cheng gets up and Milo tosses him the beggar's stick.

"Where did you get it?"

"I'd rather not say," Milo shrugs.

"Why can't you just be honest with me," Cheng tells him they are brothers and he should have some faith in him.

"When you start acting like a true brother, then I'll tell you," Milo glares back. Meanwhile, Cheng did his best to repeat the moves Milo showed him. Of course, it didn't work. Milo chuckles with a smile as he hugs himself and watches Cheng make a fool of himself in the dust.