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His reason to join the velvet shade isn't so grand, he just wanted to learn their secrets, something that could tell him about his uncle.
The young master clearly had the skills to infiltrate, but for a sect that is all about romance and fun, they have such a tight security, and he didn't want to risk being the enemy of one of the great sects in the Jianghu.
There are a few ways to join, one is having someone already in the inside and young via recommendation, and the other is their strange requirement; "marry someone and then divorce then later."
What kind of requirement is that? Isn't that against the concent of the Velvet Shade itself?
He didn't want to question such rules and waste time. But his morality also didn't sit right by marrying a woman just to divorce her.
He might be eager to join for his own purpose, but he won't ruin someone's life for it.
That's how he ended up meeting the mercenary.
A man, taller than him, hair longer and his skin darker, it was more then clear that he isn't someone from around.
Maybe Khitan? But he seems too.. sophisticated to be them.
Then the idea crossed his mind.
The Velvet Shade said he needs to marry someone and divorce soon after, but they never specified he only needs to marry a woman.
He could pretend marry the man, divorce soon and get the invitation to join the sect.
Who knew it'll be this easy.
For the next few days, the young master did nothing but silently follow the mercenary.
He thinks and maybe half sure that he's a mercenary because he keeps accepting bounties, infiltrating outposts and even almost defeating a goose.
Obviously he didn't defeat it but he didn't die either, that alone means this man is clearly stronger than him.
The young master found himself liking it, why or what he liked? He didn't know.
But since he's sure he's a mercenary, he might as well give it a shot.
The mercenary came from a faraway nation, he wanted to learn the martial arts or the Jianghu, the tales of the immortals and the sword arts got his curiosity that he came all the way here.
Because of his complextion, people were wary of him. He remained them of the brutes that are all over the Jianghu. But at least they weren't openly hostile towards him.
But lately he found himself being followed by someone.
At first he thought the person is trying to assasinate him, maybe he was someone sent by one of the sects to follow him?
It didn't take long for him to see who exactly is following him, it's a boy, probably close to his age, someone looking innocent but the face had a touch of feminine trait.
So why is this pretty boy following me?
For some reason, the mercenary didn't really mind being followed by the boy.
The young master figured that the mercenary is definitely aware of him, but he choose not to do anything. It's better than both of them fighting so he took it as a good thing.
It's time for him to make his move.
On the bounty board, the young master pasted his request, a paper small enough and words vague enough that most people ignored it.
But the mercenary didn't.
"Outside Kaiden's main gate."
And the mercenary followed, he's not sure what he's going to expect, but he wanted to anyway.
Soon enough, he's standing before a tree, on top of the branch sat the young master, looking at him curiously but there is a hint of hesitation in his face.
The young boy jumped down, now that he is close enough, both of them noticed how their heights are so different, their bodies are so build different.
The young master coughed, scratching the back of his head, trying to find the right words to say.
"I'll be upfront, i need us to be married."
"..."
What now?
The young master stumbled on his words he tried to explain, his face flushed up in embarassment.
The mercenary understood the assignment however, as strange as it may be, but he understood.
But the request without any context almost made his heart stop.
Why was he a little disappointed though?
The request is that they need to be married and soon divorce so the young master could get the invitation to join the sect. And velvet shade is one of the main sects in Jianghu, the mercenary is curious enough to join as well, besides he too would recieve the invitation so he figured this is a win win situation for both of them.
So he agreed.
And that's how both of them married each other.
"My love, you know you can stay behind me, I will protect you." The mercenary held the young master's hand, kissing the boy's fingers.
The young master on the other hand rolled his eyes, flicking the mercenary's nose. "I'm just as strong as you, i can handle myself."
"I hate to see you hurt, it pains my heart."
"..didn't you make me get stung by bees so you could practice healing on me?"
"That's different!"
The young master rolled his eyes once again, pushing the man down on the grass and straddled, sitting on his lap.
"Today its my turn, you better saved your strength."
"For you, i always have."
It was more than a year since they married, and somehow both of them forgot about joining the sect that they never divorced.
The young master knows, and the mercenary certainly too knows, but both of them are too prideful to never admit they fell hard for the other at first sight.