For the next several days, Baekhyun and Kyungsoo reverted to their usual way of life, or how they had lived prior to Baekhyun’s ‘discovery’ of Merchant Lee’s money. The better part of their day they spent gathering firewood, fishing in the nearby stream, or picking edible mushrooms and berries. Sometimes, Baekhyun would whip out his sword and slice at the falling leaves as he practiced his moves. During these times, Kyungsoo would sit idly on the side, sometimes practicing his calligraphy by carving words into the dirt, but more often than not, he spent his time staring at Baekhyun, mesmerized by his quick footwork and the smooth arcs of his sword gliding through the air. He often wondered if someday, he too might be able to wield a weapon as gracefully, but upon realizing the wishful nature of the thought, he would sigh in annoyance and wander off to do something else.

            This day was different though, and it was destined to be the day in which Baekhyun and Kyungsoo left this peaceful existence in the forest altogether.

            Kyungsoo had woken early and through their simple breakfast of watery congee, had stared at Baekhyun with bright eyes. Finally unable to take it anymore, Baekhyun asked, “Well, what is it?”

            Kyungsoo’s eyes grew wider and he frowned petulantly. “You know perfectly well!”

            This genuinely confused Baekhyun, who truly hadn’t any clue as to what Kyungsoo was on about. He expressed as much in words.

            “It’s today!” Kyungsoo exclaimed. “Today’s the day Song Naeun finds her husband!”

            After digesting the words, Baekhyun sighed and rolled his eyes. Trust Kyungsoo to remember this, of all things. Though an introvert by nature, Kyungsoo was one of those incomprehensible beings who nevertheless grew lonely and anxious often and easily. Thus while he was unable to withstand prolonged human interaction, he hated to be alone. And truth be told, dwelling in a forest with just Baekhyun was beginning to dampen his mood. Weddings and festivals were just to his liking, as he could immerse himself in the happy throng of strangers without having to commit to any true involvement with other human beings.

            With some exasperation, Baekhyun took in Kyungsoo’s rare, childlike excitement and resigned himself to another day in town. After all, he reasoned, Kim Kai and his pursuers had likely left already; even if they had not, their affair seemed unrelated to Kyungsoo and himself. And in any case, given the huge crowds that would surely gather today, he was confident that he and Kyungsoo could easily blend in and escape if trouble arose.

            “Alright, I suppose we shall have to go.”

            How wrong Baekhyun was.

            The Song estate stood on the outskirts of town, inhabiting an impressive number of acres. Numerous red mansions were interspersed between lush lily ponds lined by breezing weeping willows and carefully designed rock mountains. On any given day, flocks of servants milled about its grounds, delivering cakes and treats to this daughter, sweeping fallen leaves from the yard of that wife, bringing scrolls and ink to the other son.

On this day, the estate was, unsurprisingly, busier than usual as servants scrambled to set up the stage built from wooden planks and fenced by twine ropes on which the men would battle. On an adjacent platform covered by fabrics to shade it from the sun, there sat the Song patriarch along with his three wives, his many sons and their wives, and of course, Song Naeun herself.

She was indeed a beauty; silky black hair framed a small face that was endowed with all the gentle features characteristic of girls from the temperate south. And yet she was an anomaly. All her sisters had been strategically married off to similarly wealthy merchants or powerful regional bureaucrats. Only she, the last one remaining, would find her husband through a wushu competition.

Rumor had it that the Song patriarch was particularly fond of this baby daughter of his and indulged her with anything her heart might desire. Fortunately for him, she possessed a kind heart and wanted little. But from a young age, she was discovered to be astoundingly athletic and fearless, unusual in a girl those days, and traits which might have been beaten out of any other girl.  But Song Naeun was a girl blessed with an exceptionally doting father, and so instead, she was allowed to cultivate her natural capabilities by training to become a skilled martial artists herself. As she could hardly fathom marrying a weak man with a soft belly, she shyly requested that her father that her husband might be decided through competition instead. He happily obliged, seeing no harm in finding a strong man for his daughter. And so here they were, ready to witness young men from near and far go at each other to be the last one standing.

On her seat on high, Naeun studied the competitors with a complacent smile. Undoubtedly, very few men seeing her now could imagine how easily they might be defeated by her delicate little fists.

Baekhyun was certainly one of the deceived. With a low whistle, he whispered to Kyungsoo, “Just look at her, she’s beautiful.” Kyungsoo rolled his eyes and pushed Baekhyun’s head away non-too-gently. He tried to inch away to dissociate himself from his more vulgar companion, but found that he couldn’t quite manage it given the sea of spectators that surrounded them. Resigned, he stayed put.

“Gosh, what wouldn’t I give for a beautiful wife like her,” Baekhyun continued, staring wistfully at the beauty. This displeased Kyungsoo, though he couldn’t say why. Then again, most things Baekhyun did displeased him. He frowned heavily at the latter. “Well, why don’t you just compete? God knows you’re probably good enough,” Kyungsoo muttered, frowning heavily.

“Kyungsoo ah,” Baekhyun cooed with a smile, “I wouldn’t dream of abandoning you. Also, try not to make that scary face at me please. That is, I’m used to it, but look, everyone else is having a hard time.”

And indeed, some fellow onlookers seemed to have felt Kyungsoo’s murderous energy; they stole anxious glances at him. Kyungsoo shot a last venomous look at the cheerfully unaffected Baekhyun before turning away resolutely to stare at the stage.

Baekhyun could do as he wished.

On the other side of the stage, also crowded in by a throng of excited villagers were Taemin and Jongin. They had exchanged their expensive robes for plain cloth ones, blending in more easily with the masses, though their handsome looks still set them apart to the careful observer.

Taemin, as it were, fared little better than Baekhyun. He stared at Naeun unblinkingly for a few moments before tugging furiously at Jongin’s arm. Jongin, barely awake, growled at his friend, “What.”

“She’s beautiful,” Taemin replied breathlessly.

Jongin cracked an eye open and took a glance at Naeun before shaking his head slowly. “Just average.”

Upon hearing this, Taemin narrowed his eyes. “Jongin, trust me, she’s beautiful. Just because you tend to prefer, ahem, a different type, does not mean you should thoughtlessly denigrate the fairer before the rest of us.”

Jongin glowered at Taemin briefly before shutting his eyes again, as if attempting to sleep on his feet. “Can’t believe you dragged me out for this,” he muttered.

“Kim Jongin! Might I remind you that the only reason we’re still here is because you insist on staying to look for your pretty boy. If not for that, we’d have made it to the next town already!”

            Jongin shrugged nonchalantly. “Just enjoy yourself while you can Lee Taemin.”

            Taemin huffed in annoyance but turned his attention back to the stage.

The competition soon began in earnest.  Men of all stripes announced themselves and sprung to the battling arena. Some were skilled and strong, others weak and clumsy, and still others frustratingly wily in their tactics. Spectators jeered for their favorites under the midday sun, and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely (except for the losers, perhaps). Kyungsoo watched quietly, but excitement shown in his large eyes as he observed the men exhibit their martial arts skills. From time to time, Baekhyun would glance over inconspicuously and smile at Kyungsoo’s silent enjoyment.

The competition took a turn for the worst though when suddenly, the butcher’s son jumped into the arena. A hulking giant, he curiously resembled the ugly beasts that he slaughtered and had a similarly ugly personality. The crowds booed unhappily, his not being a popular figure in town but he paid them no heed.  Rather than face his opponents with any artful wushu moves, he instead clobbered them clumsily with his gigantic fists, bloodying their faces until they begged for mercy. Against the exceptionally stubborn opponent, he would directly pick the man up in his beefy arms and toss him out of the ring. Spectators, the Song family included, watched with unhinged jaws as he vanquished opponent after opponent. Finally, after he had beat the umpteenth man unconscious, a servant shakily asked if there would be any more challengers and no one volunteered. The crowds expressed their displeasure through silence, but again, the butcher’s son was unfazed. He was, as it were, the victor. With a piggish grin, he leapt from the battle arena to the platform on which the Songs were seated and made a beeline for Naeun.

Enraged, the Song patriarch stood from his seat and yelled, “Stop at once, you buffoon! Step away from my daughter!”

The butcher’s son snorted derisively. “I have defeated every other man. I will now take Naeun as my wife.” With that, he stomped resolutely toward the terrified girl and grabbed her by the wrist with a lecherous grin.

Kyungsoo watched all this unfold with furrowed brows. Though he hated involving himself in others’ matters, nothing bothered him more than men who used their physical stature to bully others. It brought to mind unpleasant memories of his taller brothers who taunted and hurt him. But Kyungsoo also felt that independent of his own experiences, it was a disgusting act of tyranny in itself, one that should hardly be tolerated in civilized society.

Beside him, Baekhyun nervously watched emotions flit across his face and quickly took him by the arm, as if to warn him not to act.

By now, the butcher’s son had already tugged Naeun to her feet, and though she knew martial arts herself, she was no match for his strength. She stared helplessly at her father, who found that he could do nothing. How he wanted to call for his guards, and yet he himself had set the rules of the game; he could not go back on his word now without losing face. The old man watched as the beast of a man strived to drag his unwilling daughter off the platform, powerless.

Just then, a voice rang out loud and clear from the crowd: “Unhand her immediately!”

Baekhyun slapped the palm of his hand to his forehead in exasperation. Of course Kyungsoo would speak.

All eyes fell upon the small figure of Do Kyungsoo. The pressure from the crowd felt stifling and Kyungsoo could feel his confidence begin to crumble. Indeed, it all but evaporated when the butcher’s son turned is beedy eyes upon Kyungsoo and glowered frighteningly. “What was that, little pipsqueak?”

“I s-said...I said unhand her at on-once!” Kyungsoo repeated, face severe but voice trembling this time and visibly shaken. Baekhyun sighed and rubbed soothingly at his companion’s inner wrist. What’s done was done, after all.

Meanwhile, Kim Jongin had snapped awake when Kyungsoo’s voice rang out. He would recognize that smooth voice anywhere, especially its endearing little stutter. From the other side of the stage, he jumped up and down and peered about frantically in an attempt to catch sight of its owner. Finally, he spotted the smaller man at the center of the crowd’s attention; his lips quirked into a smile at the boy’s obvious nervousness.

The butcher’s son was less charmed. “What is the meaning of this?” he shouted. “Do you mean to challenge me?”

“I-I...n-no, but the lady clearly does not wish to be your wife—”

“—If you wish to oppose me then be a man and fight me!” the butcher’s son growled, throwing Naeun to the side and raising his now empty fists at Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo, at a loss for what to do, turned to Baekhyun with huge pleading, apologetic eyes. Baekhyun sighed and patted Kyungsoo gently on the back. He then opened his mouth to reply to the giant man that he, Byun Baekhyun, would challenge him instead. His hand was already at the helm of his sword worn at his side.

Only, another had beaten to him to the punch.

“Sir, I challenge you!”

It was now Jongin’s turn to roll his eyes in displeasure. He glared at Lee Taemin, who faced the giant resolutely with a disarming smile. The giant sneered and beckoned him forward. The two men entered the arena and the crowds began cheering again in excitement.

Kyungsoo breathed a sigh of relief and all but collapsed against Baekhyun, no longer able to support himself on his wobbling legs. Baekhyun snickered but ruffled Kyungsoo’s hair playfully. “Shows you to play the hero,” he whispered to his friend. Kyungsoo glared halfheartedly in response and shifted more weight against Baekhyun. From the other side of the stage, Jongin watched Kyungsoo press closer to Baekhyun with narrowed eyes.

Meanwhile, the crowds cheered louder. The butcher’s son had resorted to his erstwhile tactics of clumsily throwing his large fists at Taemin, but unlike his other opponents, Taemin was exceptionally light and nimble. The lithe young man glided around the stage with such a carefree smile that everyone knew he was merely taunting the beast. The butcher’s son grew increasingly frustrated as beads of sweat rolled down his wide forehead. He clobbered at Taemin with increasingly aimless strikes. Finally growing impatient, Taemin struck at the back of the giant’s legs so that he fell into shamefully to his knees. He then finished him off with a skilled kick in the face. The butcher’s son crumbled to the ground in a heap of pain.

Kyungsoo joined the crowds in their happy cheering this time. But no one was happier than Naeun’s father, who quickly stood from his chair and applauded frantically. In a loud voice, he cried, “Thank you, young man! You have defeated the beast! You and you alone may take my daughter’s hand in marriage.” To his side, Naeun blushed prettily.

But now Taemin found himself in a quandary, because he hadn’t actually any plans to take Naeun for his wife, beautiful though she was. He had only acted in the heat of the moment, so what was he to do now? He eyed Jongin questioningly, but the latter stared back impassively, as if it say, well, it’s your problem now. Taemin rolled his eyes and turned back to the Song patriarch with an apologetic smile. “Sir, you bestow upon too great an honor. I could not possibly hope to—”

“It is an honor, but it is yours alone! You certainly shall have my beloved daughter!” the old man cut in excitedly. He was more than pleased at this handsome young fellow who, though dressed in common clothes, was clearly no commoner. Before Taemin could protest, he continued, “And you will join us for dinner presently!”

Then, in a surprise move, he turned to a curiously watching Kyungsoo and smiled benignly. “And you, young man! You who cried out in defense of my daughter—” Here, he pointed, so that a shocked Kyungsoo could no longer pretend ignorance, “—You too shall join us for dinner. I must thank you properly. You are a hero and we shall have a feast!”

The crowds erupted into happy cheers, and a helpless Kyungsoo was pushed to the front. Baekhyun shook his head in exasperation and slowly followed.

Kyungsoo would surely be the death of them. 

***TBC***