did not enjoy how easily the other disciples looked up to Qiao Zhi. She was younger than he was, had become the Young Sect Leader while still in her teens, and rarely seemed to put in the kind of visible effort that he believed a person should show before earning respect.
Qiao Zhi turned to him and raised her eyebrows. "Good morning to you too, Senior Brother Han. Did you eat breakfast? You sound hungry."
A few people made choking noises as they tried not to laugh. Han Yueliang's expression tightened. "I am asking for a match."
"I heard you. I was checking whether you were asking because you wanted to learn something or because you wanted to show everyone how strong you are. Those are two different reasons, and only one of them makes for a useful morning."
"I have no need to show off." Han Yueliang lifted his sword. "I only want to test whether the Young Sect Leader's reputation matches her skill."
