How to Get Close to the Young Sect Leader

Winter passed once more over Gwangmyeong Peak, and spring arrived right on cue.

Baek Yeon, the Young Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Sect, was already approaching his thirteenth birthday.

Though I was growing a year older, my daily routine remained largely unchanged.

The moment I opened my eyes, I would head to the training room to practice the Xuanwu Inner-Facing Mind Method. Afterward, I trained my physical body alongside Instructor Do at the training grounds.

The Thirteen Styles of the Dark Moon had been refined even further, adapted perfectly as a saber technique rather than a sword art. Now, no matter how tense I became, there was no way I would ever forget the forms.

Well... probably? Hopefully?

Anyway.

My public image as a dignified, elegant, cruel, and powerful Young Sect Leader remained rock-solid.

Some might find such a repetitive, clockwork routine incredibly tedious.

But for an extreme introvert like me, a life where everything was entirely predictable, with no outside activities or new people to meet, was actually quite pleasant.

Indeed.

It had already been two years since I reincarnated as Baek Yeon, the Young Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Sect.

I was slowly but surely adapting to this life.

Adapting to the life of a martial artist—honing the skills and the mindset required to take a human life at any given moment.

And adapting to being surrounded by people who feared me yet wanted to get close, who respected me yet constantly kept their guard up against me.

It happened on a day like any other, while I was training in my private chamber.

Knock, knock.

Just as it was time to wrap up my session, a quiet knock sounded from the door.

"Young Sect Leader. May I come in for a moment?"

It was Baek So-cheong's voice.

"Enter."

But when the door slid open, So-cheong was not alone.

"Young Sect Leader, I hope we aren't interrupting your training."

"It is fine. But... what brings you here?"

Ha Yeon-ryeong stepped in right behind Baek So-cheong, and most importantly...

"Mother asked me to look after her while she speaks with Grandfather."

Holding So-cheong's hand was a tiny, precious creature with sparkling, round eyes.

It was Hwa-rin, the baby sister born to Jang Su-ryeon, making her half-sister to both So-cheong and me.

"Hwa-rin, look! Go to your big brother."

The moment So-cheong let go of her hand, the toddler began waddling toward me, stretching her tiny arms out.

It was as if she understood the word "brother" and was begging to be held.

I instinctively took a slow, cautious step backward, but...

"Oh my! Hwa-rin seems to adore you, Young Sect Leader."

"Surely not."

This was incredibly flustering.

In my past life, I only had older siblings and no younger ones. Naturally, I had absolutely no idea how to handle babies, nor had any baby ever taken a liking to me.

Besides, wasn't Baek Yeon's face terrifyingly fierce?

I possessed an appearance so intimidating that even grown adults with decent courage would shrink back in my presence... So it was utterly bizarre that a pure, innocent baby who knew nothing of the world was gravitating toward me.

"Look at her. She wants to go to you more than her own big sister."

"Oogah, oo..."

This was highly problematic for someone who had to maintain the persona of a cruel and ruthless Young Sect Leader. It was one thing if only So-cheong was here, but with an outsider like Ha Yeon-ryeong watching, I couldn't exactly cradle a baby and start cooing at her.

Before I knew it, my back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to retreat from Hwa-rin.

But then...

Oh, her front teeth are coming in... Good grief, her fingers are so tiny...

In that moment, I properly took in Hwa-rin's innocent, pale face, her wide, sparkling eyes, and her plump, tiny hands and feet.

"Go on, hold her."

"..."

After a brief hesitation, I slid my hands under her tiny arms and gently lifted her into my chest.

"Wah!"

Hwa-rin let out a bright, bubbly giggle, seemingly thrilled to be in her big brother's arms.

Watching her laugh, a smile almost slipped onto my own face.

"Ah-bah, ah-bah!"

"Sister, did Hwa-rin just..."

"Oh my! I think she just tried to say 'brother'!"

"Ah-boo, ah-bah!"

"Did she not? To my ears as well..."

Watching Hwa-rin mumble with her tiny mouth, seemingly trying her best to say "big brother," my mind momentarily went blank with pure affection.

Get a grip. I almost completely lost my dignity as the Young Sect Leader.

"Ahem."

I quickly schooled my expression and prepared to put Hwa-rin down.

Actually, maybe I can hold her just a little bit longer before setting her down.

The sweet baby powder scent, her bright giggles, and her adorable expressions were absolutely ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lethal. Before I could stop myself, the corners of my mouth twitched upward into another gentle smile...

"Ah..."

Startled, I looked up to see So-cheong staring at us, her eyes curved into warm crescents as she beamed with pure joy.

It was that familiar "motherly smile" of hers that I hadn't seen in a while.

Even Ha Yeon-ryeong was wearing a similar, soft smile as she watched the two of us.

Danger. This is an absolute emergency.

This must be a calculated trap by Baek So-cheong to expose my true nature!

Of course, I didn't actually believe that. But if I didn't force myself to think that way, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wouldn't be able to overcome this crisis.

"To think her only capability is flailing about..."

"Wah!"

"And her vocabulary is dreadfully simplistic. Would you not agree, Sister?"

Steeling my heart, I hardened my expression and deliberately spat out cold, detached words. Then, with utmost care, I set Hwa-rin back down on the floor.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, Hwa-rin reached her hands back out to me in disappointment, but So-cheong scooped her up with a knowing smile.

I cleared my throat and spoke in my most authoritative, imposing tone.

"It seems my temperament is far too violent and cruel to associate with a mere infant."

Hearing this, Ha Yeon-ryeong tilted her head, her eyes practically forming question marks.

But So-cheong simply nodded, seemingly playing along.

"Indeed. It is a pity, but Hwa-rin does seem quite terrified of you, Young Sect Leader. We should probably take our leave now."

"Ah-bah, ah-boo!"

Ha Yeon-ryeong tilted her head the other way, her confusion growing even larger.

Well, what does Ha Yeon-ryeong know? She's barely known me for a year. She obviously doesn't understand me as well as So-cheong, who has known the original Baek Yeon's temperament since childhood. She has no idea just how terrifying of a man the Young Sect Leader truly is...!

"Oh, by the way, Young Sect Leader. Are your preparations for the hunt going well?"

So-cheong, who was about to leave with Hwa-rin in her arms, turned back to ask.

"What is there to prepare? It is hardly a grand affair."

"Still, Grandfather seems to have high expectations. I think it would be wonderful if you could try your best to achieve a good result."

Perhaps sensing the subtle grimace that crossed my face at the mention of the hunt, So-cheong spoke in a gentle, coaxing tone before finally departing the training room.

"Then take care, Sister. Lady Ha."

Once the two of them left, I sat back down and let ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out a heavy sigh.

Truth be told, the hunt itself was one thing, but having to do anything involving my maternal grandfather was a massive burden.

Baek Yeon's maternal grandfather—Jang Su-ryeon's father—was Jang Yeon-hwi, the leader of the Cheongun Merchant Group, one of the largest merchant groups in the southwestern region of the Murim.

He was usually far too busy with his merchant group's affairs to visit, but this time, he had traveled all the way to the Sun and Moon Sect under the pretext of celebrating my thirteenth birthday.

Apparently, this family hunt was also organized entirely at Jang Yeon-hwi's behest.

Though my birthday is likely just a convenient excuse, and his real motive is to see his actual grandchildren, Baek Hyeon and Baek Hwa-rin.

My grandfather, Jang Yeon-hwi, was intimidating not just because he was practically a stranger.

He was a man of immense ambition, having inherited a mediocre, struggling merchant group and single-handedly built it into one of the most powerful trade alliances in the Murim.

Though he acted warm and grandfatherly on the surface, there was no telling what cold, calculating thoughts he harbored underneath.

Well, the Sect Leader is joining the hunt tomorrow too, so surely nothing crazy will happen, right?

I tried my best to reassure myself.

But perhaps because I had enjoyed such a long stretch of peace since the pilgrimage... My finely tuned introverted instincts were screaming at me to skip the hunt at all costs.

Meanwhile, Baek So-cheong and Ha Yeon-ryeong were walking back from their visit.

Ha Yeon-ryeong, who had been walking with slumped shoulders and her eyes glued to the dirt, suddenly let out a long, melancholy sigh.

"Junior Sister! What's wrong?"

After hesitating several times, opening and closing her mouth, Yeon-ryeong finally mustered the courage to ask.

"Senior Sister, does the Young Sect Leader dislike me?"

"Hmm?"

Before a bewildered So-cheong could even formulate an answer, Yeon-ryeong rushed to continue.

"I've been staying here at the Sun and Moon Sect for nearly a year now, but the Young Sect Leader doesn't seem to have any interest in me whatsoever."

Hearing her lament, So-cheong found herself deeply sympathizing with the girl's frustration.

Ha Yeon-ryeong was currently fourteen years old.

At a crucial age for her growth as a martial artist, she had left her home sect of Kunlun to stay all by herself at the Sun and Moon Sect.

Although the Sun and Moon Sect provided her with the best possible environment to train, it was naturally different from learning the orthodox arts of her own sect.

Despite all this, the sole reason she refused to leave Gwangmyeong Peak was Baek Yeon.

Yet, over the past year, her relationship with the Young Sect Leader had not progressed in the slightest.

Setting aside the matter of their potential betrothal, he acted as if he simply didn't care about her existence at all.

"Even just now, he didn't say a single word to me."

So-cheong fell into thought for a moment before turning to her with a gentle smile.

"That's not true, Junior Sister. When you entered the training room, the Young Sect Leader welcomed you quite warmly."

"He welcomed me warmly?"

Yeon-ryeong tried to recall Baek Yeon's actions from moments ago.

Baek Yeon had greeted So-cheong with a fist-and-palm salute, then immediately offered the exact same polite gesture to Yeon-ryeong.

Then, after asking what brought them there, he had immediately shifted his gaze to baby Hwa-rin.

"Are you sure that counts as a warm welcome?"

He hadn't even offered a standard greeting, let alone a smile. How could that possibly be considered a warm welcome?

Though Yeon-ryeong's confusion was entirely justified, So-cheong shook her head and explained.

"Normally, when the Young Sect Leader is alone and someone enters his space, his face instantly darkens. It doesn't matter who it is. But when he saw you, he didn't show a single hint of discomfort, did he? There are barely enough people in the entire Murim who can claim that privilege to count on one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hand."

So-cheong chuckled softly, finding the memory of her brother's usual defensive reactions quite amusing.

"Only a handful of people? I assume you are one of them, Senior Sister..."

"Yes. Aside from me, there's only Commander Yeongho, Young Master Namgung, his younger brother Hyeon, and you."

Hearing that, it did make some sense, but Yeon-ryeong still couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion.

Does that mean the Young Sect Leader never smiles or offers a warm greeting to anyone at all? She knew he was cold, but to this extent?

"Furthermore, do you remember what he said when we left the training room?"

"I don't think he said anything out of the ordinary..."

"He said, 'Take care, Sister. Lady Ha.'"

"Ah, that's true."

"The parting words themselves are standard, but the crucial part is that he explicitly added your name to the farewell. Outside of formal, public settings, he almost never does that. It means he already considers you someone familiar and comfortable."

"Really? Truly?"

"Yes. And that's not all. During the short time we were there, he looked at you and made eye contact at least seven times."

"Did... did he?"

"For anyone else, making eye contact even twice is a rarity. So the fact that he did it seven times means he holds you in very high regard!"

In truth, So-cheong had instinctively and flawlessly deciphered the psychology of her introverted brother.

However, living in an era that lacked the concept of "introversion," Yeon-ryeong found it incredibly difficult to wrap her head around this logic.

"Maybe... I should just be more proactive and strike up a conversation next time."

"Ah! No, Junior Sister! Absolutely not."

So-cheong hurriedly shook her head, stopping her in her tracks.

Through her long and meticulous observations, she had realized that trying to force oneself into the Young Sect Leader's personal space would only backfire, making him retreat even further into his shell.

So-cheong paused, falling into thought for a moment, before a playful smile spread across her lips.

"Junior Sister, you really want to get closer to him, don't you?"

"Yes, Senior Sister."

"Then do exactly as I say."

She then began to explain the secret methods she had compiled over the past two years on how to approach the elusive Young Sect Leader.

The very first rule of getting close to the Young Sect Leader was...