THE AMAZING RACE

"We have all staked out lives to fight for your Highness, I only hope that Heaven's will coincides with yours and that unlike Mishil you realise your goal." He added.

"Don't worry, unlike Mishil, she never realized her dream to rule because she felt the urge of needing a man to fulfill it, on the other hand if the heart is determined, so is my mind." Princess Deokman said.

Princess Deokman walked up to the balcony of the pavilion.

"This is all the vast expanse of Seoraebeol that can be seen in all its Glory and magnificence, this is all Shilla I'm it's beauty when it has blossomed and flourished.

Not the gold and silver, not the diamonds and all the precious jewels, just the neighing of horses and the noise of the people in the markets defines tranquil in it's own way." Princess Deokman said.

"I see it all your highness but even with all those People down looking up at the Palace for peace amongst them are swindlers, murderers, harlots and assassins." Gukban said.

"There is no good or bad people they are all seasonal but to me I love them all the same because even if they were to give up on themselves, never would I ever give up on them." Princess Deokman said.

"Then I wish you all the best Your Highness, what you are asking for is something that is not only very difficult but troublesome as well." Gukban said.

"I believe that you did not come to me because you were overwhelmed by concern." Princess Deokman said.

"I did as you said Your Highness, I have noticed that recently, Baekban hasn't been up to anything." Gukban said.

"He's not being patient." Princess Deokman said.

"What's he trying to be then Your Highness?" Gukban asked.

"Overly cautious or he is scheming something that we are both uncertain of." Princess Deokman replied.

"Whatever it is Your Highness, I trust that you could have your suspicions about either one or two things." Gukban said.

"The New Queen like myself is an ambitious woman and she is making quite an effort not to try win my favour but keep hidden from me her deepest thoughts." Princess Deokman said.

"Her marriage to the King was to give him a child however there is no news about it yet, surely if she were to give the throne a male heir then she would enjoy power and Prestige with the onset of the King's demise as a regent." Gukban said.

"You think that in her current stature she'd match up to a person that is capable of wielding all that de facto power?" Princess Deokman asked.

"When I think of it, she has no political foundation so your Highness is suggesting that there is someone behind her?" Gukban asked.

"If It was Ichan Seulbu who proposed the enthronement of a new Queen for Shilla and the King agreed, normally as a villain even though not publicly Galmunwang Baekban would have shown some signs of resistance because that would threaten his position in trying to have for himself the throne which he didn't that something occurred to me.

If however he is childless then he would be no threat to the Queen and her son and to support his claim on the throne, since my dear uncle is politically enlightened then the both of them would best work together." Princess Deokman said.

"I see your Highness, so you believe that this was something that Baekban had already foreseen before he then decided to make preparations for it?" Gukban asked.

"Yes." Princess Deokman replied.

"Then I worry for nothing if her Highness already knows all." Gukban said.

"Right." Princess Deokman said, "However I have another task for you." She added.

"What is it Your Highness?" Gukban asked.

"You command a large portion of the army and most of it's High officials are entirely prestigious men.

I understand that as war is coming to the country then we must be ready and I know that I can't always lean on those who have everything so I wish for you to help me recruit some soldiers that serve at lower levels.

I wish as Princess Deokman to boost the morale of the army and safeguard against any future aggression." Princess Deokman replied.

"Don't you think that it's a little bit too late Your Highness?" Gukban asked.

"It's never too late." Princess Deokman replied, "As long as there is still a chance to prepare then you must take it." She added.

"Yes Your Highness." Gukban said.

"I understand that Baekban is watching you so Whatever you do please do it discreetly." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Gukban replied as he bowed his head.

The six competitors eventually arrived outside Seoraebeol and they stood and faced the woods where they were supposed to be headed for their challenge.

They halted and Ichan Chilsuk walked up to the front and stood their facing them.

"As you can all see for Yourselves, within those woods as you ride you are on your own.

Be careful because the beasts that are inside there are very fierce and once you get in there is no way of turning back around.

The horses will run but none of them shall go beyond the city upon your return.

You shall possess with you what you were sent for and you shall return to the Arena at once." Ichan Chilsuk said.

"Yes." They all replied in unison as they bowed their heads and then mounted their steads.

They started off in the direction of the forest and Junghwan led the way as the six of them negotiated a corner within a meandering path that set them on a course towards the forested hill.

As it seemed to Seungman nearly everyone was struggling to get into the forest first but she was rather calm along with Haesul who was riding slowly beside her.

She was making an effort to ignore his presence but unable to tell what was going on in Haesul's mind she decided to ride on further in front of him.

He watched her go as she overtook Bidam Rang and she charged into the forest right behind Junghwan Rang.

To search for Shilla's most precious thing in there when they were aware that it was under the aegis of ferocious beasts was bound to be very difficult as they followed the path in.

Everyone was simply waiting for the perfect opportunity as their eyes searched around the place but all of them were still maintaining the same direction.

Seungman decided to hell with the monotony and pulling the reins if her stead she changed her course of direction and landed first past a series of nearby shrubs.

She was out of the formation and she was riding through the trees.

Others seemed to interpret it as a signal so a few also broke off after her.

"Is she smelling them?" She heard them whispering behind her back but she pretended not to really care.

Junghwan also broke away from the course of the path and everyone seemed to notice before they had gone further away to follow Seungman.

"What is he doing?" She thought to herself as it appeared that those riders that were following her changed their course of direction and ended up following Junghwan Rang.

"He tried to get them away from me." She concluded but even then she noticed that as everyone else had deserted her, Haesul was still riding and trying to keep up with her.

She also didn't know the forest very well so she was just riding about not caring which direction she was taking but as long as she could find a lion.

Junghwan was being followed by the other Hwarang and the last two not seeing anything after riding for a while they decided to break away from him but Bidam Rang still had his attention on him.

Eventually, Junghwan took a halt and he made a left turn where he took a small path through the trees.

Seungman had gone for a while but then as she went further she realised that her horse started neighing loudly.

"Shhhh." She tried to silence it but it wasn't cooperating with her.

There she heard the sound of leaves shaking, twigs breaking and as a mild wind rushed throughout the entire forest, eventually from her left she saw something travelling very fast in the grass.

She struck her horse and it was forced to go faster right when a very huge lion leaped from the bushes and then stepped between Haesul and Seungman.

Haesul made a quick right turn as Seungman pushed further ahead with the Lion pursuing her.

They went further for a while as it roared loudly and Junghwan where he was with the other few were alerted that the Lion was nearby and someone had already come across it.

Suddenly, in front of him he saw the bushes turbulently shaking and out of them a lion leaped towards him that he tightened the reins of his stead and along with it the two jumped right over the lion as it tried to reach for his steads abdomen.

The Lion landed to the side of the ground and it rolled while those that were following him scattered in the opposite direction while the lion went for Junghwan instead furious the more.

Bidam Rang who had parted ways with Junghwan Rang was also intercepted by another of the three lions and the chase for him only got interesting.

Seungman noticed that the Lion was coming towards her and she had nothing like a bow and an arrow all that she possessed was a dagger.

She caught sight of another very narrow path that was filled with twigs and very large branches from the trees that had fallen around.

She was confident that she would be in the position of slowing down the lion and easing her search of the precious treasures so she launched herself inside.

The lion followed her inside and as she had expected it seemed to only grow slower and slower as she penetrated the branches and was on a clear path again.

Her eyes were searching about the place as she rode into the direction that the lion had emerged from in the first place.

As she went on Haesul had managed to catch up to her but her eyes only kept on searching the premises when they both heard another roar.

Their eyes moved into the right direction and there she beheld Jaejung Rang who was riding and getting closer to the both of them.

"Stay away from him" Haesul warned.

"Why?" Seungman asked.

"He's going to make you his bait." Haesul replied as he diverted his stead from the path while it seemed that Seungman and Jaejung Rang were coming into close proximity.

Something caught her eye and it was a pile of raw meat that had been put aside.

Next to it there was a bag and as she had realised it's presence, so had Jaejung who was riding side by side with her.

The second lion had caught up and the two were being pursued by the wild beasts as they approached their targets.

Jaejung Rang rode ahead of Seungman and then took the front as the lions were left at her tail and she was indirectly serving like a shield to him.

"To hell with your scheme." She said to herself as she diverted from the path and the two lions persisted to pursue Jaejung Rang.

He led them to the very place where there was a bag and he picked it up while he left led them through the narrow tree spaces.

The Lions stopped for a while when Haesul Rang picked up the other bag.

He caught their attention and they went after him instead while Seungman was still surveying through the other part of the woods.

Bidam Rang happen to also meet up with her and the two rode as she caught sight of the other site which was clear with only two bags.

Bidam Rang rode ahead of her and grabbed the first while she halted for a while as Bidam Rang vanished from her sight.

She heard the lion roaring and she knew that it in deed had to be nearby so she searched by the place.

She opened the bag and saw a few taels of gold.

She closed the bag at once as her eyes moved about and right beside the tree, there was another small bag nearby.

One would hardly have noticed it as it was the same colour as ground at it was covered in some dust.

Seungman got a hold of it at once and mounted her stead when at that time, the lion had eventually approached her.

She knew it there and then that it was time for her to make her flight and pulling the reins of her stead she rode away while the lion came in closer to her.

Junghwan Rang had gone a while without seeing any of the lions and as his eyes searched about the trees she saw one exposed part of the forest and there two sacks had already been dumped.

He stretched out his hand as he got closer and then ceasing one he possessed it and noticed a while later that the other five were also very close and as they watched one another the three lions were already close enough to surround then.

Nearly colliding they reacted quickly and shuffling themselves through they combined into one single force and each one of them was riding into the same direction.

The three lions had also ganged up on them in hot pursuit of their prey and Seungman noticed that everyone was unwilling to diverge from the main path they were certain was supposed to lead them out of the forest.

Surprisingly as they had progressed further, the path happened to split and much as their horses were in flight, it was impossible for them to hold up any longer.

Seungman broke off the gang and isolated herself while one if the lions broke off leaving the other two to chase down the rest.

"Everyone scatter." Junghwan Rang said and Bidam and the rest all took different directions as the lions dispersed as well.

"Why can't we lose these things?" Seungman asked herself as she looked ahead where she saw a tree branch that was hanging.

She ceased the small sack and tied it around her waist and reaching her hands up she held the branch and swang herself off the horse to hold herself up.

The lion itself noticed that she had stayed behind so she made her way up as she broke one of the trees branches until she was high enough.

She caught sight of the others that rode past her while the lion at the bottom of the tree kept on trying to leap up to her as it roared loudly.

She got out her dagger and she slowly started to sharpen the tree brunch with it.

She was able to give it a definite pointed head upon which she was able to calculate the best angle as she stretched her hand and then aimed for the lion.

It didn't seem threatened at first as it continue to move about the place trying to climb up the tree.

Seungman launched herself with the spear ahead as she descended along with it and then she held herself midway letting it go as the lion tried to move to the side but the branch made it into it's abdomen and it fell down and roared loudly out of pain.

The other Hwarang heard as Seungman herself taking advantage of the bleeding weary lion she landed onto the ground and started running off in the very direction that her horse had gone.

Haesul who still in the woods was riding his horse caught sight of Seungman's stead which was empty at that time and before it would go any further, he cut it off at the front confident that he had lost the lions.

"Where is Seungman?" He asked himself as his eyes looked around but nothing came into his view he knew that she must have fallen in danger.

He turned around with the very stead that she'd been riding and facing the direction that it had come from he followed it back into the thicker parts of the woods.

"Bidam Rang had managed to finally get out of the woods but right behind him Junghwan Rang was riding.

The other few Nangdos that were waiting outside the city spotted a thick cloud if dust and in a distance the two riders could be spotted.

Seungman had ran for a while but he was unable to hear a thing, not even the sound of horses neighing and there right next to her there were a lot of small red berries.

She was still spotless and her clothes were white so she rushed over to some of them and then crushing them she applied them all over her uniform until she was contented that she was dirty enough for the world to believe she's killed it very well.

She held out the small bag that she had picked up and then opening it she looked inside only to find there a small egg.

She recalled the words that Princess Deokman had mentioned to them before they had left the Arena.

"These three tigers are each guarding something that is most precious and it is only the first five people who can return back to Seoraebeol with it that shall advance to the next stage and the last shall be eliminated.

However should the last person bring the right object back here with themselves then the last in the chain of those that brought the wrong one shall be eliminated." Princess Deokman had said.

"something that is most precious." She said as she heard the sound of horses neighing and it was also accompanied by the roads of the other two lions.

She put the egg back and tied ut around her waist as she caught sight of one rider with two horses that was headed her way.

Looking closer she noticed that it was Haesul who was approaching her and she walked up towards him and as the horse was close enough, she mounted it and rode off with him.

"Where is everyone else?" Seungman asked.

"I bet they are on their way out of the forest." Haesul replied.

"Let's do the same before those lions eat us all alive here." Seungman said as they went further and joined the main path that led to the exit of the forest.

They could feel the aura of another right next to them and joining the two was Seosun Rang of the Lion Corps.

The two rode faster and faster as the roads if the lions had temporarily vanished from their sight.

Bidam Rang and Junghwan Rang were already halfway towards Seoraebeol when Jaejung Rang emerged from the woods as well as he rode faster towards Seoraebeol.

Gopheung and Yushin Rang could see the competitors headed towards them and Seosun Rang overtook Seungman as Haesul launched himself faster ahead to guard his position.

Bidam Rang and Junghwan had already come in too close and the entrance to Seoraebeol was only a couple of metres away.

The two of them looked at one another.

As they came in really fast that ceasing the two sacks that the both of them possesed they halted at once outside and then they leaped off their steads and they hurriedly ran into Seoraebeol.

Princess Deokman and Galmunwang Gukban who were standing at the balcony spotted the Hwarang flags that were being raised in a distance.

"They are here." Princess Deokman said as she turned around and looked at Gukban.

"Your Highness, in whom are you most confident?" Gukban asked.

"Need you as me that question uncle?" Princess Deokman replied.

"Perhaps I am only too curious." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"There is only one woman strong enough to challenge the might of all the other men and also become a Hwarang.

Here in Shilla there is another like me but rather a female warrior whose devotion I can certainly find to be truly equal to mine.

Seungman Rang is just as caring and passionate as an individual, she in all her modest actions and her great courage represents not only me but also a generation of strong women this Shilla has nourished and sheltered over the years and the dreams of those that preceded us so that we could give it glory today." Princess Deokman said.

"To others, Seungman could be an aggressing beautiful warrior woman but to me she is more than that because she is the sword and shield of Shilla and she is the might of her people." Princess Deokman added.

"I understand Your Highness." Gukban said.

"We'd better go and see them back." Princess Deokman said.

"I don't mean to be disrespectful to Your Highness but I do believe that it is best that I carried out what you asked of me." Gukban said.

"I have noticed that recently there has been minimal activity of Sangdaedeung Ichan Seulbu in the Royal Court and I do believe it that there must be something wrong with it.

Find out what he is up to lately and find me someone that can tame carrier pigeons." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Gukban replied as he bowed his head and Princess Deokman walked past him and headed for the Hwarang Arena.

Seungman seeing the entrance to Seoraebeol ahead, with the last full strength of her stead that she had saved up, she rode faster as she made her way past Haesul and Seosun Rang and she took the fourth position.

They appeared to be gradually slowing down and she ceased that opportunity to make her advance and leave them about thirty metres behind.

She jumped off her horse as it was still running and landed safely past Yushin Rang as she strode through the streets if Seoraebeol.

she could see Jaejung Rang who was already overwhelmed by the weight of the bag that he was carrying and the others were all in deed so busy with their loads but they noticed that unlike them all, she wasn't carrying anything.

"Where is her sack?" Gopheung Rang asked Yushin who noticed her persistently going ahead of the rest while Haesul followed in a tight competition with Seosun Rang who being a little bit older and bigger than he was, he was able to carry the sack with some ease but that wasn't the case for Haesul.

He did seem to invest an effort in trying to keep up and Seosun Rang who pushed in each and every bit of energy slowed down when hw could no longer force his body, it was as though he was temporarily collapsing system by system and his legs were paralysed that he fell down in the street.

Haesul was a little bit relieved by the result.

Princess Deokman walked across the small bridge that led to the Hwarang Arena and there she could hear the noises that were being made by other Nangdos.

She halted right on top of the stage where her seat was and surprisingly the Queen Sungman was already there on hers.

Seeing her headed her way she stood up and faced her.

"Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head.

"Greetings Your Highness." Princess Deokman replied as she smiled at her before she turned and facing the Hwarang she stood down.

"It so happened that the moment that she had settled down like this, Bidam Rang rushec through the gates of the Arena.

The Knight Corps' shouted on top of their voices as they waved their flags up into the sky while Bidam halted in front of Princess Deokman and throwing the sack before himself, he opened it and from it a number of golden taels fell out.

Princess Deokman smiled while Bidam Rang bowed his head.

"Your Highness, Bidam Rang of the Knight Corps reporting to you." He said.

Princess Deokman bowed her head lightly as she smiled at him.

Junghwan Rang made it through the gates of the Arena and the Dragon Corps cheered him loudly as they waved their flags while he made his way to the front right besides Bidam and then placed his sack there as well before he knelt down and bowed his head.

"Your Highness, Junghwan Rang of the Dragon Corps reporting to you." He said.

Princess Deokman bowed her head lightly as she smiled at him.

Shortly afterwards, Jaejung Rang and Seungman Rang rushed in and Seungman Rang overtaking at that last moment she knelt down before the Princess while Jaejung Rang fell down right next to her.

"Your Highness," Jaejung Rang said, "Jaejung Rang of the Sun Corps reporting to you." he added as he bowed his head.

"Your Highness, Seungman Rang of the Nameless sect reporting to you " Seungman said as she bowed her head.

Princess Deokman bowed her head lightly as she smiled at them and there the murmurs started as Rowun Rang who was standing with the dragon corps maintained his gaze at her.

"Everyone has something in their possession but what about her?" She had them murmur.

"She's entirely covered in blood, did she slay a lion?" She heard others ask themselves.

"Everyone else is spotless yet she is covered in so much blood." Seungman heard.

The words themselves were appeasing to her ears and she smiled while Bidam Rang turned and looked at her.

Haesul Rang managed to come into the fifth position and the Phoenix Corps relieved to see him cheered him while the Lion Corps didn't bother hoping any longer as Seosun Rang came in last.

Haesul Rang fell to his knees with his own load right in front of him.

"Your Highness, Haesul Rang of the Phoenix Corps reporting to you." He said as he bowed his head.

"Your Highness, Seosun Rang representing the Lion Corps reporting to you." Seosun said as he bowed his head as well.

"Rise up." Princess Deokman said and at once all the six stood up.

"Seungman Rang, where is what I asked from you and all your friends?" Princess Deokman asked.

Seungman untied the small sack that was right around her waist and held it out in front of Princess Deokman who walking to the edge of the stage accompanied by the eyes of Alcheon Rang.

"Show us what is inside." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Seungman replied as she bowed her head and opened it.

She pulled out a small white chicken egg and all the other Nangdos that were standing around laughed at her even the Lion Corps looked hopeful.

"How sad?" She heard other people saying, "She slayed a lion for nothing." Others added.

"How precious is a Chicken egg to Shilla?" Others said.

"This is the end of her." Others concluded.

"She won't last a Hwarang beyond this day." Others said and Princess Deokman smiled at everyone else.

"Tell me Seungman Rang, while everyone redeemed sacks of gold why was it that you yourself you chose to redeem a chicken egg?" Princess Deokman asked.

"Your Highness, I wish to first of all inquire if amongst the sacks that had been placed there the chicken egg was among them?" Seungman asked.

"I won't disappoint and in deed chicken eggs were put there and they were two at each of the stations however you had to look close enough to tell their presence." Princess Deokman replied.

"Thank you Your Highness." Seungman said.

"Now tell me Seungman Rang, while everyone redeemed sacks of gold why was it that you yourself you chose to redeem a chicken egg?" Princess Deokman asked again.

"Your Highness, my answer is quite simple." Seungman replied.

"Proceed." Princess Deokman said.

"Everyone thinks that it is wealth that makes a nation very great but I don't think so and that is why I forewent the gold that was in the other sack.

Gold is a very expensive mineral but despite it's monetary worth in nature it nevertheless isn't the most precious because other than it, there is life.

Life itself is the most precious treasure in Shilla that includes the lives of the people that we keep very dear to us and the plants and animals that we hold in our possession.

The instance I give for saving this egg and bringing it back with me is because from this egg there is life gold itself can not buy.

When the egg is hatched and it becomes a hen then it shall lay more and more eggs and when all those eggs grow they shall give life to our armies through chicken meat, they shall be sold to give our country men and women livelihoods their stools shall enrich the soils which cause our plants to flourish and I believe that all roundly, from this egg we'll give more life and wealth to Shilla which is why I brought it back." Seungman replied.

Princess Deokman smiled.

"The purpose of these Hwarang games I believe I told you before were to hone our skills, not only to fight but to also be smart and on top of that I believe that amongst all of you brave Nangdos that are here today, you are all talented but Seungman Rang in the challenge of today has defeated you all." Princess Deokman said and everyone was surprised.

"As Hwarangs even in times of trouble we mustn't be hasty to act and a number of you could have picked up the gold using the excuse that you didn't see the egg but I am firm that even if you saw it you would have ignored it just the same.

"Gold and other minerals could be very valuable but when we are at war with Paekche, Gorguryeo or Tang we aren't fighting to protect them, we put our lives on the line to protect the life of Shilla which is both it's people along with their plants and animals, that makes it most precious to Shilla." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Everyone said in unison.

"I hope that this is a lesson not to the competitors alone but to the others as well." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Everyone replied.

"That being said, Seungman Rang being the overall winner of this round, the lion Corps can no longer be represented in the games this year we hope to see you all in the next." Princess Deokman said as Seosun Rang moved away and left the other five candidates who turned around and faced the rest of the Hwarang.

Seungman looking at them all she smiled.