THE CLASH OF WARRIORS

Moo Mak arrived at his old house and he still found it quite spotless and yet there wasn't anyone inside.

it was already coming to mid day and despite it being a little while later, he found some dust gathered about the place.

Looking down at one of the pillars that supported it, be noticed that there was a large nylon ropes that had been untied which implied that someone had been there already before.

He bent over and inspected the rope as he started to wonder who the victim could have been and with his cloak on his forehead he stared at the rope as he remembered how Seungman had fought him.

"Who are you?" He suddenly heard the voice of a woman calling to him that he turned around to see who it was.

Coincidentally, Lady Namwon stood there and slowly he removed his hood.

"Moo Mak?" She said herself already so surprised.

"Where is Seungman?" Moo Mak asked.

"I am not certain either, at first I thought that she was with you and now, and now?" She was saying but she seemed to be short of breath as she started sobbing.

"What happened?" Moo Mak asked.

"Seungman returned but that night Damhyeong wanted to elope with her so she knocked him out." Namwon replied as Moo Mak walked up closely to her.

"What?" He asked.

"We heard Damhyeong scream and he told us that he needed to find Seungman and he thinks that since she is aware that you might go and search for her in Seoraebeol, she might change her mind about going there so he is going to traverse along the borders until be finds her." Lady Namwon said.

"You just let him go?" moo Mak asked.

"We didn't think that he would leave, he fled in the middle of the night leaving behind nothing more than a letter." Lady Namwon replied.

Moo Mak embraced her.

"I don't know what to do if anything happened to my son." She sobbed.

"Nothing shall happen to him, he is a very strong man." Moo Mak comforted her.

"He knows no one and the world out there is nothing but a cruel place." Lady Namwon said.

"Nevertheless." Moo Mak said. "This is all my fault, I let those children grow too close, I brought bad luck to your home the very instant that you saved me." he added.

"Don't say that." Lady Namwon said.

"Don't worry, I am going to go and look through the whole of Shilla, I shall find your son and I shall bring him back to you." Moo Mak promised as he pulled away from her.

"Thank you so much." Lady Namwon said.

"You saved my life seventeen years ago, it is high time that I also returned the favour." Moo Mak said as he walked out of the house.

He had just stepped into the Courtyard when Lady Namwon halted him.

"Wait " She said that he turned around to see her.

"Be careful." She added.

"I will." Moo Mak replied as he turned around and mounted his red stead.

He turned it around and then he rode off Southwards while the middle aged woman looked on at him her eyes lit with hope she was finding some ease.

"I'll find you Seungman." Moo Mak thought.

"Neither heaven nor the earth below shall keep me from you, there is no mountain that shall come in between as I made a promise to your father and a promise to myself that I intend to keep.

No matter how far you run, I shall find you there and I shall protect you." He added as he slowly descended the hill and joining the path below he vanished from Lady Namwon's sight having raised a thick cloud of dust in the air.

Seungman leaned against the window sill where she was seated and there she gazed at the large round moon in the night sky.

She admired it as the stars were glowing bright and at that moment, she recalled the conversation that she one time had with Alcheon.

Meanwhile, where Alcheon was he was also lying on the roof and gazing at the moon, he raised his hand to try and catch it while Seungman did the same.

"What am I thinking?" She thought to herself, "He is much older than I am." She added.

At that very moment she heard someone saying to her.

"You want to grab the moon?" It was more of a question that forced her to look around and see who it was but she was unable to see anyone around.

"Am I mad?" Seungman asked.

"You are not " The voice said again as it appeared to come from behind she looked and noticed there was another window that was next to hers and there was someone.

"You are?" She asked and the person turned around and looked at her that their faces were so close to one another.

"You." She said after she noticed that it was Haesul and withdrawing her face she positioned herself right Where she was before.

"You get shy when you are that close to a boy." Haesul asked.

"I am a rural girl who grew up around one boy as a brother, I should be shy when I am staring at a stranger." Seungman replied.

"We aren't strangers." Haesul replied.

"What are we?" Seungman asked.

"Given that we both fought one another then at least we should be close to acquaintances." Haesul said.

"We fought and it was my bad." Seungman said. "I also considered defeat in your favour." She added.

"Everyone clearly saw me lose to you, you seem to have quite a soft heart for other people." Haesul said and Seungman was reminded about her father.

"I don't think that this heart of mine is any soft, I have selfishly sacrificed so much in the end I could have hurt all the people that I loved." Seungman said.

"When the weight of living itself becomes to great a burden, all of us as people we become selfish because to us all life is but a precious gift." Haesul said.

"Perhaps you are right, but there are things that a real human being should never give up." Seungman said.

"You had said earlier that you never admit defeat." Haesul said.

"And you are wondering why I admitted it later to you?" Seungman asked.

"Yes." Haesul said.

"It is a pity, I have only two little that's left in the world to fight for and I am betting my life on meeting someone." Seungman said.

"You really remind me of someone." Haesul said.

"Who?" Seungman asked.

"Myself." Haesul replied.

"There isn't much of an age difference between us, I think it is most likely a couple of months." Seungman said.

"It doesn't matter." Haesul said.

"Don't you resent someone like me?" Seungman asked.

"What for?" Haesul asked.

"I am filthy and everyone that loves me suddenly can't seem to have me." Seungman said.

"I wouldn't even if I tried." Haesul replied.

"Why do you think so?" Seungman asked.

"You might not know it inside you and you might not understand me now but what's much easier for everyone than hating you is falling in love." Haesul replied.

"Perhaps it's that." Seungman said. "I don't know how many miles I must devote myself to run away from that love because I feel that for the sake of Shilla I might keep on breaking more hearts." Seungman said.

"Do you know what love is?" Haesul asked.

"It's what I am wondering, love between parents and their children, between brothers , between sisters and between a man and a woman, how could I even try to describe it?" Seungman replied. "Do you know it?" She asked.

"In any case love is still the same, LOVE IS FORGIVENESS AND TOLERANCE, WILLINGNESS TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN." Haesul replied.

"You seem to understand it very well." Seungman said. "Have you loved anyone before?" She asked.

"No." Haesul replied. "In fact I always wondered why." He added.

"At first I always used to think that it was a must but none of the people in this village ever flattered my heart and none of them ever spoke openly to me like you are doing right now." Haesul said.

"They'll like being around you because you are the General's son, some because you are very handsome, others because they are curious, if it were me it would be because despite your short temperance you have care and you are quite loveable, because even when you look very hard at heart you are literally very delicate that they can not see, because even when you try so much it's not because you want but because you care to try and be adequate in everyone's eyes.

Others may feel abandoned but your heart is pure that you wouldn't abandon them even if they abandoned you." Seungman said.

"And even today despite not knowing everything before I noticed I had already fallen in love." Haesul said.

"Congratulations." Seungman said, "I wish you all the best." She added.

"Because just as that has been hard for you, having to abandon it and sustaining it shall both be the hardest decisions to make." Seungman said.

"I won't." Haesul said. "I'll only hold on to it much tighter." He added.

Seungman stared at the moon and she barely noticed as she suddenly fell asleep there.

Haesul jumped from his window and looked up at her as he climbed into hers and entered her room.

once he was inside he got a hold of her slowly as she tightened her arms around him.

"Alcheon?" She called and he halted for a while.

"Father?" She added and Haesul smiled as he thought that she could have been calling her father's name.

He lay her down on the bed and standing up he looked at her as she peacefully slumbered.

He smiled consequently as he tucked her in and when he was done he returned to the window but didn't forget to look at her.

"Goodnight Seungman." He softly whispered before he jumped out of the window.

The sun rose above Seoraebeol and Queen Maya having Forsaken her title of Queen Consort stood in the palace courtyard as she was being seen off by her family.

The King had gathered all the strength that he could possibly find to stand and the two remaining Princesses in the Palace Princess Cheonmyeong and Princess Deokman stood by.

"Mother." Princess Cheonmyeong wept next to her husband Kim Yongsu as she hugged her.

"Stay strong my dear." Queen Maya said as she pulled apart and then walked towards Deokman who being unable to shed any tear she stood there strong but wearing a nearly gloomy expression.

Queen Maya held her cheek.

"All the best my dear, I wouldn't find the courage to slumber and I'll earnestly pray that you fulfill your dream and beat this ordurous cause." She said.

"Take care of yourself mother." Princess Deokman said.

Queen Maya went on and she stood in front of her husband King Jinpyeong.

"Maya." The King called his eyes quite teary.

"You know it that the very day that you chose your kingdom you had to be alone." Queen Maya said.

"Not your sons, not your daughters and today not me but whatever the case is it must be Shilla and because of Shilla I shall give you my assurance, just as we swore to stay love one another and look after each other.

I swore to help you with your burden and I sought to make the weight of the Crown lighter and that of the throne bearable as well.

I promised that I'd keep and watch you in good health and I can not sleep in luxury while you are blown by the cold, I can't smile while you are fighting to beat the wind in the palace alone." Queen Maya said.

"If only I could change everything then I wouldn't have been the King." King Jinpyeong said.

"Don't be foolish just you be brave." Queen Maya said. "There is no distance in this world that shall ever stop me from loving you because my greatest virtue and my most grandiose honor came in the day that I decided I'd become your wife and not your Queen." Queen Maya replied.

She turned around band with a heavy heart as tears were falling from her eyes, she mounted the small stairs and entered the Palanquin that had been prepared for her.

Even without the gold and all the other precious jewels to adorn her, the coloured silk garments and the earrings to match up to her elegance, despite being a victim of the old age Queen Maya was still very beautiful.

The Palanquin was closed and inwardly Princess Deokman vowed to herself.

"Please don't you worry mother." she said. "Prior to my coronation I shall have you return here and see me achieve the unfeasible dream.

The Palanquin was lifted up and at once Queen Maya's small entourage marched out of the palace as the people outside watched.

"Our Most gracious Queen departs from us all, who shall ease the Mind of His Majesty the King and become the great mother she has been to us all." She heard the people murmur.

"I hear that the courtiers wanted to impeach her because all her sons died in infancy and the Crown is without an heir." Others were saying.

"She didn't fail in her duty as a Queen, her sons were only unlucky." The people kept on saying.

"She was the bane of the Seonggols, at last they have deprived the throne of enough Hallowed bone heirs to inherit it." Others continued.

Queen Maya listening to all that felt that her heart had become heavy and she quietly sobbed until she vanished from sight.

Princess Deokman turned around and looked at her father who looked back at her.

"You promised mother." He said. "See to it that you fulfill it." She added as she turned around to go but Cheonmyeong yelled at her.

"This is all your fault Deokman." She shouted. "Had you not obsessed over the throne then mother wouldn't have departed from us." She added.

Princess Deokman turned around and she looked at her sister.

"Just as your heart you know deep down is filled with so much love and devotion towards Yongchun, mine is filled with love and devotion towards Shilla, I cherish it so fervently to the extent that I wish to grab it and possess it.

You loved a man and abandoned Shilla even as my older sister, I abandoned the love of a man and embraced Shilla.

The difference between love to us is that much as I was not born a boy, to you love is Kim Yongchun and to me, love is this Shilla." Deokman replied.

****ANOTHER SMALL NOTE, PRINCESS CHEONMYEONG THOUGH BEING MARRIED TO KIM YONGSU, IT WAS WELL KNOWN THAT SHE TRULY LOVED HIS BROTHER KIM YONGCHUN****

She walked away followed by her servants and there leaving behind her was her sister and her father who looked at her vanishing from their sight.

"Let's go." Princess Cheonmyeong told her husband and the two of them walked away while King Jinpyeong remained their with his servants looking at the the gates of the palace.

"In the end you are the one that I looked up to because here without you even my daughter's can not forgive me and I'll forever be alone." King Jinpyeong said to himself as he turned around and then he walked inside.

Kim Chunchu was seated inside his quarters when one of his servants walked up to him.

"What is it?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"It's a letter for you Your Highness but I don't know whom it's coming from." The servant replied.

"Leave it there." Kim Chunchu ordered and the valet complying bowed his head as he placed the envelope on the table and then he walked out.

Kim Chunchu was still seated when he heard the sound of someone that was sneaking right behind him.

"Come out." Kim Chunchu said and at that point, one of his men walked up to him.

"It's me Your Highness." The man replied.

"Do you have anything to say to me Geumyang?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"No Your Highness." Geumyang replied.

"It doesn't seem that way." Chunchu said.

"Why Your Highness?" Geumyang asked.

"You wouldn't sneak up behind my back." Chunchu said with a smile on his face.

"Pardon me for my impertinance but I was curious as well to know who would write to you Your Highness." Geumyang replied.

"Don't worry, I am still alive to sustain you much as everyone could think that I am a forgotten Prince." Kim Chunchu replied.

"Should I read it for you?" Geumyang asked.

"Do the honor." Chunchu replied and Geumyang took up the paper happily as he opened the envelope and pulled out the sheet inside.

He unfolded it and positioning it right beneath his eyes he read it out.

"YOU MY PRINCE ARE THE BLOOD OF KING JINHEUNG AND KING JINJI, WHY NOT MEET ME AT THE YELLOW PAVILION TEA HOUSE THREE DAYS FROM TODAY AND THERE TOGETHER WE COULD DISCUSS HOW I CAN MAKE YOU SHILLA'S NEXT KING." He said.

Geumyang was suddenly quietened as he looked at Chunchu who wearing a ghastly smile on his face eventually exploded into laughter which shocked him.

"Your Highness, what is funny?" Geumyang asked.

"It's hard to believe that other than myself there is someone that says I can also inherit the Crown." Kim Chunchu said.

"Why Your Highness?" Geumyang asked.

"Above all things, you should know better than anyone else that I am happy." Kim Chunchu said.

"Your Highness, if this letter lands into the wrong hands then you would be accused of treason and even if you are dignified and noble that can not save your head." Geumyang said.

"That is why I am happy." Kim Chunchu replied.

"How?" Geumyang asked. "I can not seem to understand what it is that you are probably thinking about." He added.

"I had never known that they'd think I am too stupid to put my neck on the line but they are right about one thing though, and that is my own desire for the Crown." Kim Chunchu said.

"But your Highness, isn't all that you have in your possession enough?" Geumyang asked.

"Enough?" Chunchu said.

"Yes Your Highness." Geumyang replied.

"What is enough?" Chunchu asked. "That my father was spared and that I was stripped of the Hallowed bone and possessed that which is true?

What is enough, that I can command a lot of knowledge but the people do not bow down to me?

What is enough for me, that even Princess Deokman is more legitimate to inherit the throne and not a smart, a strong and a very able man like me?" Chunchu added.

"I married Lord Bojong's daughter, had Mishil's followers and underdogs prey on my favours and consolidated them in my own hands.

Do you think that I did all that for Nothing?" Chunchu asked.

"Certainly not Your Highness." Geumyang replied.

"I am but a scapegoat in the eyes of this conniver and even once we can not be too hasty in admitting any kind of aid.

Your worry for me is clear and I do know that above everyone else you understand how complicated my mind is when it comes to issues such as this." Kim Chunchu said.

"Then what are you going to do Your Highness?" Geumyang asked.

"Just because this person has laid an offer strangely it doesn't mean that we should turn him down before paying him a visit because I wish to know who is this courageous to contend with the wise and Excellent Princess Deokman." Kim Chunchu replied as he smiled ghastly.

He got a hold of the later and raising it he placed it on the candle flame and watched it burn.

"I heard that my Grandmother has left the Palace." Kim Chunchu said.

"Your mother will be quite disappointed that you did not see her off." Geumyang said.

"She is always reluctant that I might get myself involved in the bloody battle for the throne." Kim Chunchu said.

"She must understand." Geumyang said. "You are her son." He added.

"I don't wish to impose on her because much as I came from her womb, my aunt and her shared the same one and they fed on the same breast.

She also understands that without my sister, no one can protect me from the aggression of the Courtiers that resented Mishil." Chunchu added.

"Then whose side are you own Your Highness?" Geumyang asked.

"You served me because I told you that my greatest desire was to become the King." Chunchu asked.

"No." Geumyang replied. "I served you because your Greatest desire was to make Shilla great." He added.

"Isn't that the prayer of every ruler?" Chunchu asked, "Isn't that Princess Deokman's wish?" He added.

"Princess Deokman only wishes to see to it that Samhan is united into one." Geumyang replied. "On the other hand she doesn't make it clearly that she wants to rule that Unified Shilla like you do." He added.

"And she is a woman?" Chunchu asked.

"Yes." Geumyang replied. "Once she gets married to another man and they have a child then your position would have been jeopardized and you'll only go farther and farther away from the throne." He added.

"Then you don't understand Princess Deokman like I do." Kim Chunchu said.

"What makes you say that?" Princess Deokman asked.

"Did it not occur to you why she had herself declared as a Crown Princess?" Chunchu asked.

"No Your Highness." Geumyang replied.

"Because she knows that it is the last thing that anyone else would suspect." Chunchu replied.

"And what is that your Highness, are you saying that.....?" Geumyang said as he trailed off slowly.

"Yes." Kim Chunchu replied. "She wishes to have the throne to herself because when they talk about Alcheon Rang becoming the Royal son in law they'd be quite devastated that it's useless to keep their hopes high given that she'd use the age difference as an excuse.

When the issue of my father being declared the Crown Prince reached her ears why do you think she asked to compete in her own right.

After all that commanding the Hwarang and becoming their keeper, one can not rule Shilla if they are against you which was why King Jinji was deposed with the help of Mishil.

Given all that it is an impossibility for Princess Deokman to surrender the Crown when her being a Hallowed bone she can wear it." Chunchu added.

"You fear." Geumyang asked.

"Not really." Chunchu replied.

"If Princess Deokman can have no children because she is unwilling to marry and have anyone share her power, whom do you think she'll support and name her most likely successor?" Chunchu asked.

"It's you flesh of her sister and blood of her own Your Highness." Geumyang said.

"If I were to form a clout that would contend with her might, initially, I could fall from her favour and the Crown might as well be passed on to someone else." Chunchu said.

"So what are you going to do Your Highness?" Geumyang asked.

"It's quite simple." Chunchu replied. "We need to first see Princess Deokman and let her know it's her side that we are on." He added with a smile.

The paper had long turned into ashes and by far too convinced, there was nothing on it to be read by anyone, he stood up at once and walked out of the room as Geumyang followed him.

Seungman woke up early in the morning and the very first thing that she saw was the Ray of the sun that struck her eyes.

Looking around she noticed that she was in her bed and trying to recall everything that had happened a while ago she'd clearly remembered that she had passed out at the window sill.

She was so worried that she opened her bed covers and looked inside only to find herself still wearing her clothes like she had been the previous night.

She sighed in relief.

"At least nothing wrong happened to me." She added as she stood up and stretched while she walked up towards the window which was wide open.

As she approached it she saw in a distance Haesul who was practicing his swordsmanship with his father General Sokham.

She stared for a while and admiring the both of them it reminded her of the very things that her father and herself had done as well.

From the first time that she had held the sword to the times she had to carry the buckets of water uphill.

She prepared herself but before she would walk out of the room, a couple of maids turned up with a pair of clothes.

"Good morning." They said as they bowed their heads.

"What's it?" Seungman asked.

"His Excellency ordered new clothes to be stitched for you." The women replied as they laid them beside the bed and Seungman watched.

"Really?" She asked barely believing their words.

"Yes." they replied.

At that moment, she got dressed in the striking navy blue and white attire.

She wore a head band that kept her hair from falling over her face and only let a strand be astray as she tied the other part of it behind her.

She looked exceedingly beautiful and even loved the pair of light shoes that she was wearing and the moment that she marched out of the house, she found herself in the courtyard where General Sokham was with his son Haesul who was hitting the wooden dummy.

Haesul turned around and looked at Seungman and from her head to toe, she stood there smiling with her angelic smile he couldn't help it but feel entirely flattered by her beauty.

Seungman slowly descended the stairs as she walked up to the both of them.

At that moment, Haesul turned around to look at his father and noticed that he is the one that was smiling at Seungman who was already close enough.

"Your Excellency." Seungman said as she bowed her head.

"I hope that you had a very wonderful night." General Sokham said.

"It's alright, I am rather sorry for having imposed on you." Seungman said.

"It's nothing." General Sokham said. "You are our guest after all." He added.

"Thank you." Seungman said.

"I can't just accept that thanks." General Sokham said.

"Pardon me Your Excellency but how do you wish I should show you my gratitude?" Seungman asked.

"I am a General who is a fan of fighting with all the wooden dummies in this courtyard of mine and the weapons I developed a primary training course but none of them is more interesting than sparring with a live person." Sokham replied.

"What should I do for you Your Excellency?" Seungman asked.

"Spar with me." Sokham replied.

"You are very much like a master to me, how can I spar with you?" Seungman asked.

"You were outstanding and unbeatable against my son it makes me curious as there is no limit to learning." Sokham said.

"I fear that I could hurt you." Seungman said.

"I won't take it at heart." Sokham replied and at that point he ceased his sword and unsheathed it.

Seungman looked around at the racks that were nearby and walking up to one of them, he possessed one of the very tall spears.

"I thought that you were a swordswoman alone." Sokham said.

"There is no limit and my Master exposed me to a number of weapons, I haven't used a spear in a very long time I wish to master that experience right now." Seungman replied as she span it and then planted it right by her side.

Haesul walked up to the side and at that moment a number of the servants inside the Manor stopped all that they were doing and they looked at their Master who was about to clash with the young girl.

Seungman attacked at first and with her spear she seemed to make a great deal of progress on trying to land a strike on General Sokham but he was quick to guard against her aggression she stood no chance at all.

She happened to land her spear on his sword and guarding it he slid and stepped on the spear as he threw a spinning kick which Seungman dodged a d she shook him of the spear.

She swang the spear around and as General Sokham tried landing a number of multiple attacks on her, she reflected them all that the fight became so interesting even his young daughter Cheongye walked up towards her brother to spectate as well.

The two were both skllled and it only seemed that they were the right size for each other as Seungman pointed the spear and Sokham and she flew towards him.

He stepped to the side and with his sword letting it slide past him, Seungman landed as he planned to strike her on the back that she bent forward and he missed.

Sokham ceased her by her left leg and dragged her back while Seungman bent the spear backwards with a spin he eventually let go while she span on her one right leg until she regained her equilibrium and landed her second.

"Which style is that?" General Sokham asked.

"The Goddess of the nineth heaven , dancing on the clouds." Seungman replied.

"It's a sutra." Sokham said.

"I invented it myself, that's what creative warriors do." Seungman replied as she leaped a couple of steps towards General Sokham.

She had mastered so much strength but she was at the same time very light and quick on her feet that landing a solid hit on her was going to be impossible.

She spinning her spear like a wheel slid as Sokham threw a front kick and went beneath him, she planted her spear on the ground and using it as a pivot she laughed herself upwards towards Sokham who lowering his legs at a one hundred and eighty degree pushed himself backwards and let Seungman fly over his head.

She turned around in mid air with her open fist ready to land it on him but with twice as much force he guarded with his own that he propelled Seungman to fly backwards she landed and before falling down she planted her spear in the ground as a support.

Sokham launched himself towards Seungman and she did the very same and the two clashing with an immense force ceased one another with their weapons as Seungman's spear pointed right at General Sokham's chest while his sword was right next to her neck.

"It's a tie. " Haesul said as everyone in the compound applauded the two while they withdrew their weapons and bowed their heads to one another.

"You are very talented." General Sokham said.

"You are a General whose might I can not match up to." Seungman said.

"Your technique is so unique and I love that your creative nature is something that is in deed befitting of a good warrior." Sokham said as he patted her on her shoulder.

At that moment looking at the Jade around her neck he seemed to find it a little bit familiar.