It was an unusual quite morning at the Baek Residence. Usually as it was near the Kunlun Sect who they were aligned with, it was quite busy in the mornings, with many servants and disciples roaming around. But because of yesterday's guest's arrival no one dared to disturb.
"Young Master, it's time for you to wake up." The deep voice of a man startled me awake.
I frowned while opening my eyes, adjusting to the sudden brightness.
"Jaeyeong?" I rubbed my eyes." You're already back from your outer training?"
"Yes. It didn't take as long as I had anticipated." He answered cryptic.
"Well. It's good that you're back. It was quite boring without you here." I patted his shoulder in friendly manner.
In response Jaeyeong tried to smile back but with his stiff expression it looked bizzar. "Stop smiling if you don't like it." I sighed. "But why is it you that's waking me up? What's with your Saha?"
"She's busy. The Master asked for more servants to help out in the kitchen and assist in the guest quarters."
Gong Jaeyeong and was orpahned from a young age on, leaving him and his younger sister alone in this world. He had to be responsible and mature early on which resulted in him being somewhat stiff in expressing his emotions, so much that he had difficulties showing them even in his face.
Jaeyeong had climbed the mountain where the Kunlun sect lies together with his sister in a cold and snowy winter night. When they arrived, they were half frozen dead and injured all over their bodies. But Jaeyeong had an undying determination in his eyes which deeply impressed the elders of the sect. Our Baek Clan then adopted them into the sect as disciples.
The Gong Siblings turned out to be excellently talented in martial arts, their nickname was the Twin Swords of Kunlun. Especially Jaeyeong, he wa someone that trained and cultivated day and night. He and Hana were the greatest rivals and respected equals to each other.
"If only you were my sister's fiancé." I let out a disappointment sigh. Realising then what Jaeyeong had just said I narrowed my eyes.
"Guest Quarters..." The happenings of yesterday came to mind and I clenched my fists.
"Who's this important guest? That even Baek Chul doesn't dare to come over?". Jaeyeong expressed curiousty.
"Hah." I messaged my forehead in frustration."The Crown Prince.". This time Jaeyeong couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise.
"Why is he here?" His expression was not good. It was only natural. Ki Jongmu's reputation was everything but good. "Is the Clan in trouble?"
"No! It's me who's in trouble. The Prince wants to take me with him to..." I hesitated. I looked left and right before leaning in towards Jaeyeong to whisper into his ears."He wants me to find his fated partner. He has a mark."
Jaeyeong narrowed his eyes. "Young Master...you-".
I interrupted him. "Nonsense. Don't think too much about useless things." I then poked his cheek. "Also, stop calling me Young Master. Call me comfortably like before."
"Yes Youn- Hwi-hyung."
"That's right. I'm your Hyung. Our Baek Family has adopted you and your sister and we are both disciples under the same master ,so we're basically brothers!"
Jaeyeong smiled or at least tried to. It looked strangely distorted, more like he was going to fight someone than being sincere.
"You.. really need to work on your smile. It's kinda creepy." Sweat tickled down my forehead.
Jaeyeong just looked at me with confusion and disappointment. "It's the best smile I've got".
"It's okay as long as you don't smile you're handsome and... You're good at fighting."
"Is that an insult or compliment?"
"Ahem let's go. I'm sure my sister will be happy to see you. She finally got her sparring partner back." I chuckled. Also Jubok will be all sulky once he sees you. I grinned mischievously.
Together we walked to the training grounds. The weather was nice, sunny but not too hot with a light breeze of wind, so normally many disciples would have been here sparring each other at this time. But due to Jongmu it was strangely quiet. Only the figures of Hana and Jubok were visible from the distance.
"Hana-ah! Look who's back." I called out to my sister, purposefully ignoring Jubok who was glaring daggers at me and Jaeyeong.
"Nonna." Jaeyeong folded his hands accordingly and greeted Hana with a stiff smile.
"Jaeyeong!" Hana's face instantly brightened. "It's good to see you again!" She grinned from ear to ear. Her hand slapping on Jaeyeong's shoulder. Even though Jaeyeong was taller than Hana he somehow looked like a helpless little kid next to her. "All the other disciples are no good. Only you can match up to me.".
"Thank you, Nonna." Jaeyeong's cheeks turned red, he easily blushed when he was praised. He then turned to face Jubok and greeted him. "Young Master Seong. You've not progressed much."
Hearing him say that I couldn't help myself but chuckle. Jaeyeong might not know it but he is harsher on people who he thinks have potential and talent. For some reasons he thought Jubok to be such a person and therefore didn't have much positive things to say to him even though he liked him. "You shouldn't be lazy just because you reached a certain level. Nonna you shouldn't be too soft on him. A good beating will do him good once in a while. You will have to make sure he knows how powerful you are."
Jaeyeong for unbeknown reasons thinks that beating your lover in a sparring or fight is a romantic way to show love. "Jaeyeong...do you wish me dead?" Jubok looked at him with a pale face. Hana's kicks and punches were very painful.
"Such a coward yet you want to marry my sister."
"Stop being ridiculous, Hwi-ah." Hana interrupted the roasting session against Jaeyeong, helplessly shaking her head.
"Jubok is perfect the way he is." She then turned to Jubok and smile at him.
I visibly shuddered at the open show of affection she was giving him. The way her voice turned all sweet and sticky made me sick to my stomach.
"Stop being all lovely dovley now. Jaeyeong's here too. Look how unc-" I couldn't continue my words. Jaeyeong's bright eyes were staring at the two of them. I had forgotten that Jaeyeong was a man of few desires having only cultivation ...and romance storybooks in his heart.Surprisingly even though he doesn't look like it, he was someone who enjoyed everything romance related.
So right now he was staring at my sister and Jubok with a curious gaze. If his expressions.weren't so stiff he would be foolishly grinning at this moment.
"Hana-ah didn't you say you wanted to spare with Jaeyeong?"
"Oh! Right! Come on Jaeyeong. Let's see how much you improved during your outer training. You better didn't slack off." My sister immidiantly stopped clinging to Jubok, who was looking like an abandoned puppy and motioned her finger to Jaeyeong to follow her.
Seeing them like this I felt satisfied. They looked good together. My sister was a beautiful woman without question but Jaeyeong also was very handsome, matching well with her. He was tall, with wide shoulders and muscular body. His face also fairly handsome with no blemishes but strong and pronounced features, thick eyebrows and dark bluish eyes, that seemed almost black.
If my sister married him. My nephew's and niece's would all be pretty and talented children.
While I was daydreaming about their future family. They had started sparring. As soon as they took their stans the air changed. You could feel the powerful spiritual energy surrounding them. Hana did the first move. She twirled around greating the illusion of her swords multiplying, within seconds she was infront of Jaeyeong and without hesitation swung her sword at him. Anticipating this move, Jaeyeong turned his head right, avoiding the sword that was marching at him with ease. Unlike myslef Jaeyeong wasn't the type to defend and wait for openings but someone that went right into counterattack mode. He swiftly thrusts his dual chain blades towards Hana, aiming at lower abdom. But of course he didn't land a hit, as Hana blocked it easily with her sword.
Both attacked and blocked each other, their fight looked more like a sword dance, it was a quiet beautiful and exciting sight. At the end Hana twirled in the air reminding of a butterfly and landed a clear hit on Jaeyeong's heel. "It's my win.".
Jaeyeong narrowed his eyes. "Another round." His competitive spirit was showing itself. "You've mastered a new move. Butterfly Trance?"
"So you recognize it? Yes it's indeed Butterfly Trance." Hana arrogantly raised a brow as if to provoke Jaeyeong.
The two of them bickering like like this. I missed this sight. It's better if they keep on spending more time together. I curved my lips. Maybe there's still a chance that she will leave Jubok for Jaeyeong.
"You two. It-". Just when I was about to encourage the two of them a voice sounded behind me.
"So the rumours are true. The Baek Clan's disciples are truly remarkable."
A deep yet cool voice. It was all too familiar yet somhow strange to me. The voice of Jongmu, the Crown Prince.
I turned around and bowed slightly. "Greetings, Your Highness." I then locked eyes with him, which suprised me. The way Jongmu looked at people was intense. He gazed at me as if he was observing every move I made. Just waiting for me to make a mistake. "What brings you here at this early hour?".
As I asked the others also bowed in greeting Jongmu. But he ignored them, focusing only on me. "Well I have heard a lot about the Baek Clan and their famous sparring matches."
It can't be that he wants to do sparring together with us. I silently hoped for him to not utter words similar to my thoughts.
But fate was wasn't, like most of the times, on my side. Infront of the tiger's son I am nothing but a mere cat, not worth noticing.
"I have been very curious. So I would like to request for a sparring match." He finally spoke his purpose.
Jongmu was the Crown Prince of the Kingdom. He was someone that grew up surrounded by luxury and the best opportunities. Major sects,royal guards and great masters all came to teach him from a young age on. He even served in the military for a time. His real combat experience against ours which was practically nonexistent was on an entirely different level. Also even if one of us happened zo be stronger we couldn't possibly risk to offend someone like him.
"Your Highness",he bowed slightly. "I am Gong Jaeyeong, a disciple under the same master as the Baek siblings." He then straightened his back and put on a stiff smile that looked more like he was mocking Jongmu than trying to be polite. "Do you wish to fight me?", Jaeyeong's way of speaking could be easily misunderstood as mockery. I knew that he had no such intention but with his face paralysis like expression skills it couldn't be helped.
"Fight you?",Jongmu finally turned himself to face the others he had previously ignored. His gaze traced my sister and Jubok from head to toe before turning to look at Jaeyeong. "Gong Jaeyeong was it? Hm", he stared at him with a smile plastered on his lips but eyes colder than any snowstorm. "No. I'm not interested in fighting you."
I hurriedly intervened to stop an actual fight from breaking out. "Ahaha. Your Highness, please forgive Jaeyeong-ah. He's like a little brother to us. He can sometimes be blunt and appear rude but he doesn't mean it like this." I tried to put on the prettiest amd sincerest smile possible. "He actually most admires your skills that is renowned in the whole kingdom.",I approached Jaeyeong and half hugged him. "Isn't that so?", I nudged him, hiding half my face behind a paper fan.
"Ah yes! I admire Your Highness greatly!" Jaeyeong's excited voice held sincerety. He did indeed look up to the Crown Prince who despite his young age had achieved greatness in battle, being on the same level as many sect elders. He was a unparalleled genius worth admiring.
Then out of nowhere my wrist was grapped by a hand. It was Jongmu's. His grip was big and powerful, I could feel evey joint in his finger. He then pulled me to his side. His hand wandered from my wrist to my lower waist. It was such an awkward posture. He brought his face closer to mine, his grin mischievous. "I'd much rather have you, Youn Master Baek, sparring with me."
His hands engulfed my waist entirely. I flushed red at this posture. His hot hands felt like they would burn themselves into my body. Our faces were close almost touching, only my fan was putting distance between us. I turned my head away from him. "Your Highness. Could you le-", my words came to a sudden stop when I suddenly felt his hands pinching my waist. "Ah!", i let out a soft and quiet moan in suprise, my fan falling down, revealing my face and neck that were now completely flushed red. I dared not make eye contact with him.
I could feel Jongmu's breath on my neck and ear as he leaned in. "Are you willing?", he whispered.