Intimidated

[No ones pov]

"Father...is Xianye's punishment...Way too harsh?" Said Zhangxe.

"No,Its a Way to discipline him,He has Disrespected me Yesterday and he must accept that punishment,Goodthing i have some empathy left or else ill give him a Whip punishment" Said By the king in his strict Voice

"But father,Isolation is bad for someone's mind,You know how much A-ye hates being isolated because he feels lonely and sad" Yuli said as she stands by her younger brother's Side.

"A-Li,Isolation keeps him locked up to never do anything reckless again,Besides, its his fault for talking in that way to me" King yuzhi said.

It lwft the two Sighing,They know their father will snap if they contemolate more and tell that Xianye Doused himself in the rain last night.

"As you say,Father,We will be going now" Yuli spoke and bid both of their Goodbyes and left the Throne hall.

[Xianye POV]

I woke up to a Nauseatic feeling,I feel Extremely heavy to the points that i cant move at all.

I drooped my Eyes shut again,My head aches so bad,My body felt so weak i cant even move,Well yeah thanks to my Skinny Body i dont have any muscle mass and energy left to stand up.

Then came a Sound of an opening door,Then thats when i remembered what i did last night.

"Gosh" I winced at the memory of last night,But i miss being soaked in the rain. That I want to soak myself under a waterfall.

"Hey Xianye" I opened my eyes slowly and moved my head Slooooowly towards the person well i still feel so dizzy.

Zhangxe is here.

"Um,Zhang gē,Who placed me to bed last night?" I asked in a groggy and Weak little voice.

He looked hesitant to speak but spoke to me anyways.

"Um,Sa-Ah,Me*small cough*"

He kinda Suspicious when he stuttered.

"Well...ok then...thanks" I said.

"Your welcome" he said and Looked away in akward way like there is someone controling him. But he keeps coughing a little everytime he speaks.

"Elder sister(JiěJiě) Yuli  is the one who Took care of your *small cough* Fever" He said and coughed.

"Zhang gē,Are you feeling well?,Why are you coughing constantly?" I asked with concern.

"Thats non of your concern  A-ye,Get some rest now" He said and left my room.

i sighed and continued to keep my head down. I averted my sight to my artworks hanging in my bedroom walls.

My vision may be blurry like how a glass window gets blurry when it gets wet, But i can see  my artworks easily and flashback to the times when i created them. I can see the bright sunny sky with birds flying by,clouds bright white,it felt like heaven while i was painting it,the experience was lovely,i was so young when i painted it,so it looked a bit ugly,then next to it was a painting that i made using my imaginations,i was imaging trees,squirrels and different colored birds and house mde of wood and in the center was a camp fire,i can still remember how i imagined the trees rustle and dance with the wind as it blows.

then i remembered that i imagined a child sitting by the fire with his parents in the chilly night while drinking some tea,and then there was a wheelbarrow with hay in it and there was a horse standing next to it,eating the hay happily and peacefully.

The third paint was a whole diffferent story,the houses were burning,the trees are not dancing with the wind anymore, it was dying in the flames,then there were people chasing the people living there,then a kid and the parents were nowhere to be found,it was gruesome and dark,the painting is different from the 2nd one,i can still remember what i was thinking that time,i was sad so i painted it with a negative intention.

then a knock on the door is what my ear just heard, The fancy decorated sliding door opened,Revealing older sister Yuli,i never called her by her nickname,because i have high respect for her as my nonblood related sister or in short,sworn sister.

"how are you feeling A-ye?" she spoke to me in her most sweetest voice,so sweet that it will give you a toothache. 

"im still feeling the same, but less weaker now" i said with a bright smile

"good,the medicine is working well"she said with her infamous bright sunshine smile that spreads to people like a deadly and powerful virus.

I smiled back and tried to stand up,but the head ache stuck me so severe that it felt like my head is gonna explode into pieces. " ey,dont try to lift yourself up like that,here let me help you" she said in her sweet concerned voice.

she helped me lift myself up and sat me down "thanks" i said and rubbed my eyes to see well.

"ah,you must be hungry,here,i prepared your favourite soup and also some ginger tea,and then drink your medicine after" she said and placed the wooden tray of food in my lap.

" oh and by the way,i added more spices and ingredients for it,since your sense of taste decreases when you are sick,so you can still taste it"she said in a 

"thanks sister" i said and smiled,then took a 1st sip of the soup,it tasted a bit bland but i can still taste its playful and aesthetic flavour that i always loved.

"i always wanted to say this,i kept having this weird feeling like ive tried it but i just dont know when?"i said with a pout and in a complaining way.

"hahaha,its called Nostalgia, A-ye,maybe you missed my soup thats why you felt it"she spoke with a sweet giggle that brings you're lips to a bright smile.

After i was done With my meal,I Kept refusing to drink the medicine.

"Ugh,Elder sister,It taste bitter,i dont like it"I whined and refused like a Kid.

"A-Ye,You eat Bitter gourd,so why not the medicine?" She asked.

"Because i can handle the bitter gourd but not the Medicine" I whined like a child throwing tantrums.

"Hm,lets Make it not taste bad then" She said with a Smile hiding a secret.

"Sure" I said and pouted.

"Ok,Open your mouth" She instructed,I opened my mouth like what she said

She instructed me to put half of my toungue out so i followed like a Good student i am.

And to tilt my head upwards a little.

Then all of a sudden This sister snitch Quickly Doused the Bitter and poison like tasting medicine, down my throat.

And since i can control my gagging, i Gulped it down.

Then immediately Regretted it to the highest level of regret.

My face winces and cringes in the Bitter and Extremely disgusting and Bothering taste of it.

"Ew,Mlem,You snitch!AAAAHHH" I said with the same face i made when it hitted me.

"HAHAHA,Good thing you are easy to be fooled,Now your fever will be better in a few days or even later,Or maybe your fever will be gone your punishment is over" She said and i nodded.

Then i rushed to drink the Cup of water on the bedside tables to cleanse my Mouth and get rid of that disgusting Taste.

Once she left my room,I felt lonely again,since i cant go outside anymore.

And i felt even sad again,The feeling of loneliness reach to another level when i heard My training mates Training in the training grounds just a few kilometer distance from my room.

I know i dont like Swordfights or any sword related battles,There is something in it that drives me insanely lonely and This feeling of Déja vu.

I just dont know nor cant describe it,Maybe its the Sound of swords clashing?,or is it someone?

UGH i just dont know

And by just thinking of this Makes me Sleepy,so im gonna go sleep again.

[Sanwol pov]

"Crowned prince?" A voice called me So i just Looked at my back, I have no time to open my mouth and waste my voice and saliva to something Irrelevant.

"Why did Prince Huang Xianye not attend the training today?"

One of my Royal companions Asked,But his Polite and Soft way of speaking and asking about Xianye made my heart soften for no reason,I just couldnt stay tough on the inside whenever he is mentioned.

I just ignored the truth and told the lie.

"He has some other important matters to do,Since he is the Prince of this kingdom that we are standing in right now,He has to do his Prince duties"

I said in my normal and Signature Cold stone faced and Professional way of speaking that Asserts more of my dominance to others who are inferior to My superiority.

He nodded and Bid his leave and went on to his own business.

I went back to staring of to the distance,Just tying to distract myself from These Annoying Thoughts that kept Bothering me since Day 1 when i arrived here,The mysterious Emblem,The Surroundings,The language barriers,Culture shocks,And a specific person that randomly pops up in my mind that seems familiar and i have met before but i couldnt Consider who it is.

I looked at my sword,Glamourous,Elegant,Shiny,Aestheticaly made.

It was gifted to me By my Father,I still remembered the time I was Clenching and holding on to this sword That was owned by my Father,He gave it to me With tears in his Eyes and a Heart full of pain and loss When we were being attacked.

It was stained with blood,I held it until i got rescued by My foster fathers who took me into ther clan and Took care of me until we had revenge on the invaders.

I used This sword to Chop off the head of the leader of that invader clan.

I chopped his Evil and Disgusting head off,Ending his maniac of a life and Sending his Soul to the Hell and hades.

And up to now,I dont claim this sword as my sword,But the sword of the former King of Jeonju,The leader of the Noble Jeonju lee clan.

I still remember my father,The Wise,Loyal,Strong king.

The memories of him and me In the training ground and Fake sword fighting with Tree branches, I even got a scratch from Tripping on a tree root,And Mother Treated my wound.

Im still here,Reminiscing the Good memories i had with my parents in those 6 years of my life as a Kid then that tragedy happened,Exactly on the Wedding Anniversary of my parents.

Everyone was celebrating when an explosion happened that caused extreme chaos in the palace and in the whole Kingdom.

Screams and Cries of The Lee clan citizens,Everything is all Burning,piles and piles of Corpses of the Guards.

And piles of Baby corpses and their parents.

And i even saw my Parents being stabbed right infront of me as i got rescued.

And Mother was holding a Child that time.

But i think she was trying to save a child from its parents because they might have been killed.

It hurts,It hurts alot

It hurts so much to lose my parents at such a young age,I Get Mad and Upset whenever i see Kids with their parents,Imagining and wishing it was me and my parents.

Deep inside,It still hurts,Even if they are dead 10 years ago,The memories wont fade,and when it returns in my mind,the Tragic pains becomes tougher to Handle,Hard to manage,Tough to Tolerate.

Thats why i dont Show any emotions cuz i trained myself to be cold and emotionally strong so i can take the position as King,I have to be strong,I cant show my weak self.

I hate being emotional,It makes Me weak,i hate crying,It shows how vulnerable i am,i hate smilling,It makes me go off guard.

My favorite emotion is Anger,It boils my blood satisfyingly,It brings back the memory that i Strangled that Bastarded Demon leader with my full force of anger and urge of revenge,I felt satisfied and happy to cut his head off and burn his corpse just like how he burnt My people.

From that day on,Trusting someone wont be easy.

"Crowned Prince Lee sanwol?" The voiced Shook me and caught me off guard that i stood my sword with swift and force.

"Hey watch where you are swinging that sword,Young man" I heard another voice. That stopped my sword feom swinging anywhere.

Then i came face with the Huang siblings.

Prince Huang zhangxe looked at me weirdly then walked away towards the training grounds.

"Oh,I-im so sorry,I was caught off guard for a moment,its just my reflexes" I apologized and bowed.

"Hm,Yeah its ok,Prince sanwol,But are perhaps Feeling fine?" Princess Haung Yuli asked with her siganture concerned and sweet voice.

"Uh,Yes,um,yeah Everything is fine" i cursed at my self for stuttering after speaking,And cleared out my voice.

"You sure?,Then why are crying?" She told me that I was crying,then it hit me suddenly,Making me realize extremely.

I quickly felt the rushing tear down my cheek,so i instantly Wiped it off and stood manly and Tough with my signature stoic and Cold facial expression.

"I-ah - um,i wast crying,Princess,Maybe it was a Water droplet" I said and Avoided eye contact,Because i hate making eye contacts.

"Hm,Ok,But if you are ever feeling down or in need of Support and comfort,i am always here,ok?" She said and smiled brightly and spoke with her flawless and charming voice. And patted my Shoulder

I bowed and she walked away but i came to face and encountred with another unfamiliar stranger that was behind her.

I didnt look at him but i can see him.

"who are you?" The Intimidating and Disrespectful looking stranger spoke,But his voice was kind and soft.

"I am Crowned Prince Lee sanwol,from the Jeonju lee clan of Korea" I introduced myself and bowed with half of my respect.

This stranger just stared and me like im sort of mosquito,Pfft,i bet his temper is small as a mosquito.

but then he bowed and smiled at me,'and i take that back'

"oh Crowned Prince lee,i am 1st prince Wu Liu-jin of the wu clan,we live just 2 mountains away from Fengjin" Prince Wu said in his most kindest voice and with  an assuring smile,well i still dont trust his smile.

"Prince Wu!,you're Here!" The familiar Voice of Princess Yuli appeared behind me.

I looked behind me to see Xianye's sworn sister running toward this man infront of me.

i quickly stepped to the side.

"when did you get here?" Princess Yuli asked after giving this Prince Wu guy a hug. Now i felt like a third wheel.

"just now,i wanted to visit my Princess Fiance"Prince Wu answered sweetly. My thoughts delivered thoughts of marriage of the two neighbouring kingdoms,but i learned that the royal parents restricts their eldest princess to leaving the kingdom's borders,so how on the land did she meet this guy?

"OH,Im doing ok tho,you dont have to worry and visit me here" Said princess yuli in her voice that is most addictively sweet like honey .

"um by the way,may i ask why this Korean prince here?" My eyes widened on how this rude double faced bastard called me.

*repressed korean clench* "dont test my temper" i thought to my self while glaring at him unnoticably.

"oh,this is Prince Lee sanwol,he is here since the start of the juniors training,he was invited since his foster parents are Chinese like us and-" i poitely interrupted her speech "um Just a reminder that i dont like it when my background is further said,i apologise for cutting you off" i said and bowed.

"oh in that case,no need for an apology,its your private life so i shouldnt spread it,But ill remember that reminder,Thank you" she said in a comforting and understanding tone.

i felt the glaring gaze of the wu prince so i glared back.

"ahem,why dont you want your family background to be said?, is there something that we shouldnt now?,do you have a plan on us or something?,Foreigners like you arent allowed to be connected with,we dont trust you,I think you are trying to learn things about our kingdoms and take us over huh?"this abyss crap of a bastard talked to me like im sort of a weak slave.

i glared intensely and attempted to step foward with full force of anger while clenching on my sword and as i move,his bodyguards step up towards him.

"Prince lee,Please refrain from moving any further from your steps" princess yuli said in her strong tone,strict and professional as she blocks me with her fan and walks towards him.

"Princes Wu,i tell you to apologize to the Crowned prince right here right now!,Your words are way out of your image" Princess yuli raised her voice dominantly on her Fiance.

"tsk,why would i?,Why should we trust this guy,He is nothing like us,he is not even born from a chinese family with cultivation in their blood-" he was cutted off with the sound of my powerful steel sword aimming right at his rude disgusting face,as  so his bodyguards and my companions did so too,taking put their swords and pointing it at each other.

"you take your words back,Prince Wu,you are testing my patience and i have no time for you,You displeased the next to be crowned king of Jeonju and Disrespected him and his privacy in the most angering way!" I said, dominant,loud and angry.

As i was about to push my sword a little further.

A wave of a blue and purple colored talisman pushed my sword away,stoping my next move.

"sanwol stop!" then i heard this weak familiar and fairly unrecognizable voice.

"Prince wu,Sanwol,please stop your conflict" Xianye approached us panting and still looking weak but a bit better.

"xianye" i said as worried as what it is written in Yuli's face,he nearly dropped to the floor with exhaustion,but i caught him,and helped him with my purest concerns.

"why are you here?,you should be in your room resting" i said with a worried voice, i felt concerned for my 'Friend''s state. But i still think of him a little as my Acquaintance.

"i came here when i heard that Prince wu is here,and i wanted to say hi,but as i wasnt expecting to encounter you pointing your sword at my Sworn sister's Future Husband,get off me" he spoke with a questioning tone,making me question it. And Detaches my hands off of him,Giving the Feeling and vibes of insults.

He stumbled but yuli came to him and held his shoulders and face,with that bastard behind her. Sending Obnoxious Glares at me.

I took a few stpes back and Walked away from all of them,Leaving my companions behind and letting roam free in the training ground.

I couldnt understand this feeling,it feels like my heart has been stabbed,I feel humiliated To the next level peircing the clouds level in the sky.

But Despite the Stabbed heart feeling,It felt heavy and its disturbing my flow of breathes.

"D-Did he just...I-i cant understand,i-i tried to give him an explanation but he just...He just Rejected my words" I whispered as i sat by the Pond Nearby,Holding the heavy area in my chest.

This is a Strange but Unfamiliar Feeling that I swear that i had never felt before.

I keep questioning to myself of what is happening.

I couldnt handle the Heaviness and Unsheathed my sword and stabbed the ground,But i immediately Realized what i had done,It made my heart feel more heavy and it increased the stress level of my jumbled mind.

"For heaven's Glory,i forgot that Stabbing the ground with your sword means you have plans on claiming the occupied land or Claiming an unoccupied land,Darn it i Hope to the heavens that no one has witnessed this"   I whispered to the myself and sat back on the edge of the pond and held my head.

Then to the left corner of my eye,I caught a figure standing on a Corner and immediately Escaped as i glanced at it,I immediately thought that it saw what i just did and ran after it.

But for all this time it was just a Shadow from a Lantern.

"*sigh*,I think i need some rest" I said and walked back to my room.

I walked back to my designated bedroom With a Unbothered stance acting like nothing has happened,Even When encountered that mean Bastard Wu while being on the way.

I did will not waste my time not even a single second,to glare at him.

He is no priority of mine to look at.

So i just walked pass with my stone cold face like as usual.

But repressing an anger in my eyes,Mouth,Heart and Hands.

As before i could reach to my room.

I encountered a sound of a Whip in a corner.

My curiosity didnt bother me,but what did,was my mind

"Maybe its just a Naughty Guard being punished...but...Xianye went out of his room...he isnt allowed to get out of it yet...What if the person being punished is him?" And so i thought,As i slowly and creeped in to check.

My conscience were right...It is him.

Being whipped by His own sworn brother,I could see 10 to 15 whip marks.

Zhangxe's Hard whips are powerful that it left bleeding wounds on xianye's back.

In each and every whip,He cries out and whimpers,Making me struggle to my thoughts.

"I have to stop him,he is still sick!"

Or

"NO i should not,interfere,I have no rights to interfere in a family business,Im not part of the family"

But i chose what i feel is right...to step in and save him.

But before i could even get 5 more steps closer,A hand pulled my arm back,Making me stumble in reverse.

"Prince lee,Please dont interfere" A young teen's voice Appeared by my left.

And it appears to be a Lan clan disciple.

"What do you mean not interfere?,They are whipping him and he is still sick?,what if he dies?!" I Whispered a bit loud but Xianye's whines and cries makes it inaudible for them.

"Crowned prince,They do this with no Buts and no Ifs,They have to do the punishment in order to not be Done again,Those marks afterwards are written to them as their mistakes and trespasses,And those are the rules ever since in the 1st generations of cultivation,its just a thing" Said by this Young lan clan disciple.

I looked at him with nothing pure Worry, i kept getting anxious whenever he cries even more,I just cant stand seeing him in this state,He doesnt deserve this.

As i couldnt handle the crucial scene infront of my eyes,Regretting that i should not heard nor seen him being punished.

I Quickly walked back to my room's direction,in a fastrr pace,With a Shortened breath and a  heavy chest,A walked up to my room,Shut the door and Sat on the seat.

My hands wont quit on fidgeting and tapping on the arm of the seat and my trembling legs wont stop bouncing and my eyes wouldnt stop looking everywhere at a fast pace.

im feeling anxious and troubled for unknown reasons.

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