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Zhongnan had closed their doors, they couldn't go out to get involved with others and certainly others couldn't get involved with them either.
However, there was one person who liked to make exceptions and trample the limits of the rules, if not break them completely. To Zhongnan, Chung Myung was willing to even trample on his disciples personally, however, today had come for another matter.
It was not a matter of life and death, nor did it involve the Sect Leader. He snuck inside the walls of this Sect to meet one person: Lee SongBaek. He found Lee SongBaek still training his sword in the middle of the training grounds under the moonlight, diligently swinging the blade in the same position for hundreds if not thousands of times.
There was no one else around, he could feel the calm presences of spiritual energy like small candles flickering quietly indoors, surely sleeping. A few moved along the perimeter patrolling, and others restless somewhere far from where they were, so he paid no attention to it. Chung Myung approached the boy making his footsteps audible, barely drawing the attention of Lee SongBaek who was immersed in his goal.
"I'm sorry, Sahyung, I'm going to stay a bit longer," Lee SongBaek apologized, looking shy but unrepentant.
Chung Myung smiled, amused, "Oh, I'm sorry, but this is pressing. You see, I'm not a welcome guest."
Lee SongBaek lowered his sword quickly, turning on his heel with bright eyes, "Chung Myung dojang, you're here!" The disciple bowed in front of this person whom he highly respected, then asked, "But why are you here? It could not be that you have come to take revenge..."
Lee SongBaek's darkened face told him that he himself didn't think they would have a chance of stopping him if Chung Myung put his mind to it.
"That's not what I came here for now," he replied, not letting the possibility go. "Actually, I came for you. I'm going to kidnap you, it's okay? I'll do it even if it's not okay."
Chung Myung took two steps closer, wearing a mischievous smile that looked menacing.
Lee SongBaek blinked in confusion, "Okay?"
"Then things are easier."
The next second, Lee SongBaek was pushed onto Chung Myung's shoulder as they sped away from his Sect. When they reached the gate, Jin Geumryong was shocked to see one of his Sajaes being taken over by a very familiar stranger dressed entirely in black. Instinctively he drew his sword, pointing it at the man in black.
"Stop there!"
Pink eyes glanced in his direction for a moment, "Sorry, I'm going to kidnap this disciple for a while."
Jin Geumryong was not amused. "I don't know what your intentions are with our disciples, but I won't let you take my Sajae!"
Chung Myung drew his sword, "Oh, are you going to stop me?" He laughed, "My intentions are simple: marriage by capture."
Lee SongBaek and Jin Geumryong froze in their respective places.
Jin Geumryong seemed to think it was some kind of elaborate joke, but he didn't say anything else, just approached them swinging his sword to the side where Chung Myung wasn't carrying Lee SongBaek.
Chung Myung was even quicker to respond, wanting to get things over with quickly before they drew unnecessary attention.He only passed in front of Jin Geumryong on purpose so they wouldn't think that Lee SongBaek defected or something similar, his testimony would be taken seriously.
The sword cut towards Jin Geum Ryong with its internal energy put into it, colliding with Jin Geumryong's blade, who recoiled from the impact and even went flying.
"Damn, I didn't want to make noise. I thought you were stronger, tsk," Chung Myung complained. Any Zhongnan disciple listening to him would be upset at the careless evaluation.
Lee SongBaek once again proved to be different from other disciples, "Sahyung will be alright?"
"Hell yeah, I just hit him with a fraction of my strength."
Jin Geum Ryong stood up in anger, dusting himself off with a distorted expression. "You're going to pay dearly."
"I'm afraid not," Chung Myung said before taking off, using the light arts to speed through the darkness faster than the untrained eye could see.
...
"Repeat that."
Jin Geumryong did not show his annoyance to the elders, only repeated the words of the 'black-robed stranger' obediently, “He said: my intentions are simple, marriage by capture.”
The elders fell silent.
"He did not bear the symbol of any Sect, yet it was without a doubt Mount Hua's Divine Dragon."
The Sect Leader stroked his beard while wondering what he should do. They couldn't open their doors, but a disciple had just been kidnapped for the most ridiculous of reasons and by his recognized enemy. It was unheard of. It was something those hooligans from Mount Hua would do to antagonize Zhongna.
Lee SongBaek's master didn't seem as upset as Jin Geumryong, "Should we go look for him? Surely he fell on his own two feet with how much he seems to want to join Mount Hua."
Jin Geumryong was about to point out that Lee SongBaek had previously declined Chung Myung's invitation when the Sect Leader spoke.
"Leave it," the Sect Leader decided. "We have closed the door, and we will not open it until everything has been resolved."
...
"Dojang, are we going to Mount Hua?"
"There is no other place to go."
"Do you want me to become a disciple of your sect?"
"You got it right," he replied quickly. "I've already stated my reasons, though."
Lee SongBaek thought about it for a moment. The confused face of his was adorable, however Chung Myung couldn't see him properly from this angle.
"...Is it really a marriage by capture?"
Chung Myung chuckled softly.
"And what if I say yes?"
Lee SongBaek gently placed his hands on Chung Myung's smaller back.
"I'll think about it."
Hooo.
That's why he likes this boy. Honest, but thoughtful.
"That's enough. We're almost there."
"Dojang, won't your Sect say something?"
Chung Myung nodded seriously, "Yes, they'll say 'What trouble have you gotten yourself into now? No I don't want to know.'"
"... It seems they are used to Dojang's unique way of doing things."
Lee SongBaek had only experienced it twice, and those two times had irretrievably changed his life. He couldn't imagine living surrounded by the changes caused by Chung Myung, like riding a tiger in the eye of a hurricane.
Well, he's about to find out how is it.