-Icewind Territory, Voidsoul Sect, Sect Master Ling's Estate-

Within a large courtyard the babbling of a brook could be heard. If one were to listen closely enough they would hear the sound of small feet running throughout the courtyard as well.

The source of the sound was a small child running around the edges of the large courtyard. Heavy breathing plagued the child as he continued on, not stopping for a single break. The small child had a hair full of dark black hair that fell loosely all the down to the middle of the child's back resembling a pitch black waterfall. 

He had a very young face but with a single look anyone could tell that he would be dangerously handsome later on. His face, however, wouldn't draw in as much attention as his crystal blue eyes that shone brightly in the light.

Hours went by and the child continued to run around the courtyard, clenching his teeth until his feet finally gave out beneath him. The child collapsed onto the ground and lie there taking in huge gulps of fresh air as his chest rose up and down. 

"Jun'er you did very well this time around mother is very proud of you" a warm voice full of love sounded out as it approached. 

The child's name was Ling Jun and he was the 6th son of Sect Master Ling Shen. The person who spoke just now was his mother Yue Lan, she made her way over to Ling Jun's side and handed him a gourd as he sat up. 

She had a fox-like face that radiated pure beauty along with crystal blue eyes that would capture anyone's attention and red lips that made one want a taste. She had dark black hair and one could see where Ling Jun recieved his looks from. She was around 5.3 chi and was wearing a dark blue cheongasm that hugged all of her curves.

Ling Jun took the gourd and emptied it in only a few gulps as he drank it down quickly. "Hah, thank you mother, that was delicious!" he exclamed as he looked at her, full of gratitude and joy. 

"'Giggle' My little Jun'er only deserves the best. Mother was able to trade with Elder Gu in order to attain a few gourds of this Crystal Spirit Water" she said as she bent down and ran her hand over Ling Jun's head and through his hair while she smiled at him. 

Her smile would cause kingdoms to fall if seen by others since it was so beautiful, however only few had ever seen her smile. Many others would freeze if they had seen her smile but Ling Jun was used to his mother wearing a smile on her face so he thought nothing of it.

"It tastes so delicious mother, what is so special about it?" Ling Jun's young voice asked. 

"This Crystal Spirit Water is very special because it can only be found in a Crystal Spirit Spring, which are very rare. This Crystal Spirit Water helps slowly expand and strengthen ones meridians with no ill effects. It is best to use when one is very young and hasnt cultivated yet." Yue Lan answered.

"Wow! You're the best mother, I am going to grow up and become so strong that I will be able to protect you from anything bad forever" Ling Jun said as he raised a fist in the air. 

"How could I not afford to take care of my baby boy? I will help you become the strongest Little Jun'er" she told him.

"Okay, you have finally reached the goal of 100 laps around the courtyard. From today onwards you will run 100 laps in the morning and then take lessons from me in the study in the afternoon. After your lessons I will teach you how to use a weapon." Yue Lan said while stroking Ling Jun's head once again.

"Yes! I can finally learn how to use a weapon and show everyone how strong I am!" Ling Jun exclaimed. 

"Go on and play for the rest of the day but make sure to go to bed early so that you will have enough energy for your duties tomorrow. Mother needs to go prepare your lessons for tomorrow" Yue Lan said as she retrieved the gourd from Ling Jun and walked away. 

"Yes mother" Ling Jun said before making his way out of the courtyard and through the halls of his family's estate. 

As Ling Jun walked through the halls of his family's estate he thought about what he wanted to do today. He usually tried to chase his mother's tamed beast called 'Shua' but lately he wasnt able to find it.

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As he was thinking heavily on what to do he suddenly bumped into something and fell backwards onto his bottom. His face held a look of surprise as he didnt expect or even hear someone standing in front of him.

Ling Jun looked up and saw a tall dark haired man who had sharp eyes and a cold look on his face. Ling Jun recognized this person as his 3rd eldest brother, Ling Feng. 

"Oh, if it isnt our runt of a brother" Ling Feng said as he looked at Ling Jun who was still on the floor. 

"This is perfect timing elder brother! Why don't we show Llitle Jun some of our Voidsoul Sect's punishment methods."

"Yes! Yes! It's about time and mother isn't around to stop it this time!"

Two voices sounded out at almost exactly the same time very enthusiastically. Ling Jun couldn't help but look to his left and finally notice his 4th and 5th elder brothers, Ling Mu and Ling Mo.

They were twins. Both of them had short spiky black hair and an evil look on their faces, however, Ling Jun was too young to know what an evil look was so he just thought that it was a natural look to have on ones face for these two always had that look on their faces. 

"Hmm, I would deem it essential to bring along the runt. He needs to witness one sooner or later. It would be best if mother does not catch us in the act. Lets hurry, father does not appreciate tardiness" Ling Feng said as a shiver ran through his and the twins' bodies, seemingly recalling something. 

Ling Feng led the way through the halls as the twins followed, dragging Ling Jun by the arm along with them. 

"Where are we going? Shouldnt we tell mother?" Ling Jun asked as he tried to keep his footing. His small legs had to take three steps for every one of his brothers' resulting in a comical sight of Ling Jun being dragged through the estate.

"We are going to the sect's communal square to see a special treat hehehe" Ling Mu said as laughed, showing how giddy he was. 

"A special treat? What is it?" Ling Jun asked.

"Just wait and see Little Jun, just wait and see hehe" Ling Mo responded.

Ling Jun's brothers dragged him out into the front courtyard of their estate.

"Okay, hold on Little Jun" Ling Mo said as he started rising into the air.

"Ah!" Ling Jun was startled by the suddn flight into the sky.

Ling Jun had never been flying before. He had seen his brothers, mother and even his father fly before but he himself had never left the ground. 

As the group flew to their destination Ling Jun couldn't keep his head still as he gazed at the multiple buildings, courtyards, lakes, and even the icy white mountains in the distance. 

Ling Jun was mesmerized by those icy white mountains the most and felt a strange feeling from within his body. It felt as if he was freezing from the inside out. It started in the core of his body and expanded until it reached every part of his body and then suddenly disappeared. 

Ling Jun couldn't help but ask his brothers about the strange feeling he was experiencing within his body but he was told to keep quiet so he kept it to himself. 

'I wonder what that feeling was? I know! I'll tell mom when I see her again' he thought to himself.

After flying for a few minutes the group reached their destination and descended into a courtyard filled with crowds of people. As Ling Jun looked at the people around them he noticed that almost all of them were wearing robes.

There were four different colors of robes that Ling Jun could see. More than half of the people in the large communal square wore red robes, around 1/4th of the people wore purple. The other two colors were silver and black. Around twenty people wore silver robes and only two wore black robes. 

"Oh, even Elder Chanyu came. I had thought that Elder Bian would be the only Elder presiding over the sentencing" Ling Mu said in surprise.

"This is an Inner Court matter, it's only necessary that Elder Chanyu be here for it since he is the Inner Court Grandmaster" Ling Feng said as they made there way over to the two elders that they were talking about. 

The crowd surrounded an empty stage where a middle-aged man in a red robe was standing with his hands and feet in chains. Two men in silver robes were at his side and a giant of a man, standing a little over 7 chi, was behind them. 

Ling Jun's group reached the side of the two Elders easily because everyone recognized the sect masters sons and parted the way. Their gazes did linger, however, because of a small boy within the group of young masters. 

"Hey Biao, who is that tiny thing with the young masters?" a tall skinny man asked a purple robed man beside him.

"I have no idea, maybe one of the young masters raided a cabinet and kept some of the food to grow" the stout man beside him speculated. 

(*'Raiding a cabinet and keeping food to grow' in this sentence implies that one of the young masters forced himself on a woman and kept the child she bore him.)

"Wait, didn't the Sect Master's wife have a son a coupke of years ago?" a petite blond woman in a red robe asked a dark haired woman with jade-like skin beside her.

"She did, it was during that dreadful storm too. Aww he is too cute, I want to keep him all to myself" the dark haired woman with jade-like skin answered. 

"I'll help sow one with you if you want junior sister Rong" a brown haired man in a red robe said from behind her, intruding on the two girls conversation. 

Junior sister Rong's face turned dark and she snapped back at him, "If you dare try I will strip your soul from your body!" 

"Haha just joking, just joking" the brown haired man said as he backed away slowly. 

"Shh, here comes the sect master now" the petite blond woman said to the two and turned around to watch the sect master descend, landing next to the two sect elders and the group of young masters.