CHAPTER 12

"A woman has come here. She will teach us the military skills", said one of the students in the open field.

"What? But scholars don't need that", said the other one.

"A woman will teach us? Isn't it something new in this kingdom?", said Chan Sul.

"She will be defeated easily. Don't know what the teachers are thinking here", said Sung Tae.

Yoon looked at them with disbelief.

"Have you all talked enough?", asked Baek loudly from the podium. 

Everyone got silent listening that.

"That old hag....nags all the day", mumbled Sung Tae.

"You all will be thinking that why military skills are involved for your session. The great king had decided this to teach the scholars a little bit of it so that you all can help the king to save our kingdom", said Baek looking at all the scholars in the vast stretch of ground.

Suddenly a woman appeared in front of them with a sword in her hand. She looked at the scholars and smiled.

"You all might be thinking what a woman is doing here. Let me answer your all questions. I'm Noh Eunho. I'm the grand-daughter of great military general of previous king and daughter of king's advisor", said Eunho while walking above and forth.

"Can I ask a question?", asked Yoon. Everyone looked at him.

"Why should we know that your father and great grandfather are serving and served this kingdom? The introduction should be about you", said Yoon looking into her eyes.

"You're right but let me tell you one thing. Your father and grandfather's achievements what you can be truly", said Noh Eunho.

"Hh...ridiculous. What if someone's father and grandfather didn't achieve anything. Then their son or daughter can't be like a respected person?", asked Yoon Shik.

Everyone started whispering. 

"He will be punished surely", murmured Sunwo.

"Yoon Shik I'll answer your this query later. Since Ms Noh is about the same age as of you all so she might not know many things", said Baek.

"Okay let's start with the sword skills....is anyone among you who want to have a friendly fight with me before starting the practice?", asked Eunho looking at the scholars.

"Only two?", said Noh looking at Yoon Shik and Lee Eunshi.

She threw two swords at them and they caught them at right time.

"Who will fight first?", asked Noh.

Eunshi stepped forward looking at Yoon. "Don't be easy on me thinking that I'm a woman", said Noh.

"Never", said Lee and hit her with the sword. But she dodged it and kicked him which made him stumble but he get balanced. Noh smirked at him. Lee tightened his grip on the sword and the sound of hitting of swords can be heard but no one is backing off. 

"You indeed have good mastery in sword fighting", said Lee and stormed at her. She reacted with the same force and said, "such exception sword skills can be of a prince".

They both then backed off as the bell rang. 

"It was quite good ", said Noh looking at Lee.

After 10 minutes she started fighting with Yoon.

"You forgot me?", asked Noh while attacking Yoon.

"What?", said Yoon and looked at her with surprise. But he attacked with the same force but the next second he fell on the floor because of kick by Noh. She smirked and hit at his hand lightly. Blood oozed out from there...and then Noh pointed her sword to Yoon.

"Yoon will not stand before her", mumbled Sunwo.

"Hm...I think so", said Yeong with concern.

Yoon looked into her eyes and  this time he was heavy on her..."You surely are a good fighter", said Yoon looking at Noh. He then was going to cut her hand with the sword but she dodged it  but the sword hit her leg and she fell but balanced herself..."you're end", said Yoon and pointed his sword on her neck from the back.

Yeong got surprised seeing this because it was the same move as he used against him when they first fought....

"He won", said Sunwo in disbelief. 

Lee Eunshi too got surprised seeing this.

Yoon gave her a hand and she took his hand and got up but get stumbled. Yoon caught her tightly and seeing this Lee tightened his grip on the sword.

"Okay keep the silence. Ms Noh and Yoon Shik please accompany Ji Hyun, he will show you the medical department....rest will practice the sword skills with your seniors.....", said Baek.

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"You were indeed amazing there. It's the first time I'm being defeated by a man except grandpa", said Noh.

"Ms you were also amazing....it was fun fighting you", said Yoon.

The medical officer put the bandage on their wounds. 

"Your question was quite good. I'm thinking of changing my perception", said Noh.

"You should because a person's identity is because of him not because of his predecessors", said Yoon and got up from the bed.

Noh smiled at them and said, "I'm privileged to meet a soon to be scholar like you" and walked ahead of him.

"Ms wait....your pendant", said Yoon showing her the pendant which fell on the bed.

"Oh thanks", said Noh and took her pendant from Yoon's hand. 

"It seems precious so wear it before it fell.....", said Yoon and walked away.

Noh smiled and then ran behind him...."Yoon Shik your handkerchief. Thanks for your help that day", said Noh.

"You have it...thanks it's precious to me", said Yoon taking back this handkerchief.

Eunho thought it's of her beloved so said, "You shouldn't have given me this when your beloved gifted it to you".

"What? It's of my sister. She made this with her hands", said Yoon smiling and walked away.

Noh felt happy because she has fallen for Yoon.

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"Well you've good sword skills so I will be your partner in teaching you some more techniques", said Mun Won to Yoon.

"It's my pleasure to get to learn from you", said Yoon.

"Next week there will be a competition where if you get first rank will benefit you in many ways",said Mun.

"Well then I should practice hard", said Yoon.

"Of course because the elimination round will be decided from shooting arrows and then remaining will have to go for sword fighting", said Mun.

"My shooting is somewhat weak", said Yoon.

"Then we will focus more on that part", said Mun and walked with him towards a field.

"The direction of wind speed is an important factor while shooting the arrows. Other than this the focus must be only on the target and nothing else", said Mun.

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During the summer every one was enjoying the dinner when one of scholars among them said, "Next week we will be allowed to go out".

"But it's not month's end", said the other one.

"Senior Gwan told that upper authority has decided to let us go twice a month", he said.

Everyone became happy.

"Where will you go?", asked Sunwo from Yoon.

"Home....my sister and father are all alone", said Yoon while chewing the rice in his mouth.

"You're no fun.....let's go the Kisaeng house for some fun", said Sunwo.

"I don't want to....", said Yoon and then remembered the day he went there.

"Something happened there?", asked Sunwo curiously.

"I was caught by those ladies that day.....I'll never go there", said Yoon.

"Go with me....we will be having fun", said Sunwo with a smile.

"Bring your sister too", said Chan Sul and smiled along with Sung Tae and others.

"What did you say?", asked Yoon with anger in his eyes.

"Why can't hear anything about your sister. Then why she went there that day? I think she also knows that she will be good in soothing the men", said Sung Tae and smiled along with others.

"Sung Tae just stop", said Yeong with a loud voice.

"Yeong-aa why don't you tell her? She came there herself and threw dung on you..... That day if you hadn't stepped forward then I would've made her into a Kisaeng", said Sung Tae. All other laughed with him. Yoon lost his temper and threw his chopsticks on the table. 

He marched towards Sung Tae and started punching him. Sung also reiterated back....Sunwo and Yeong went between to stop the fight along with some others.

"Leave me....I'll kill him today", said Yoon and tried to release his grip from Sunwo.

"Do you want to be kicked out from here? Calm down", whispered Sunwo in his ear.

The teacher came there along with Baek. 

"You two come outside", said Baek and walked away.

"Who raised the hand first?", asked Baek.

"I did", replied Yoon glaring at Sung Tae.

"You will not be given food for an entire day tomorrow", said Baek.

Sung smiled looking at him. 

"Sung Tae you've to clean all the bathrooms in this institution along with 30 rooms", said Baek.

"But I did nothing", said Sung Tae.

"Saying bad words about a woman is worst.....You both are dismissed", said Baek and walked away.

"That oldie...", mumbled Sung Tae and walked away.

In the room Yeong and Sunwo were waiting for them. Lee Eunshi entered the room and looked at them. After him Baek came.

"Where's Yoon?", asked Sunwo.

"How would I know?", said Baek and rested on his bed.

"Why did you say such thing about her sister? I told you not to meddle", said Yeong angrily.

"What's in her sister? Just a lowly class.....", mumbled Sung Tae.

"You don't have a sister? Mother?", said Lee looking at Sung.

"I have but why are you asking?", asked Sung.

"What if someone made your sister a concubine?", asked Lee.

"What?? How dare you?", said Sung and got up from the bed.

"Look you're angry now. Same goes for his sister.....You don't have a right to decide about his sister and say such things about her", said Lee and laid down on the bed...."blow off the candle. I'm sleepy", said Lee and covered himself from the blanket.