MEN AND WOMAN WITH FISTS

Haesul summersaulted and landing in front of Gopheung Rang his face was struck with another mighty one of his blows which was enough for him to get a little bit dizzy.

Haesul started to stagger and Seungman felt a little bit too concerned about him.

Gopheung Rang threw at him another blow all of a sudden and that alone was enough to force Haesul Rang to black out.

Everyone looked at him while he lay in the ring and Gopheung Rang raised his hands up and cheered himself while he walked away.

Seungman hurriedly rushed up to her friend and there kneeling down she started to shake him violently.

"Haesul? Haesul?" She called but he wasn't answering.

A number of Nangdos were looking at the two and Alcheon Rang who was supposed to fight as well looked a bit too concerned about the attention that Haesul was receiving from Seungman.

Other members of the Phoenix corps rushed over to the place and picking up their colleague they walked away while Seungman watched from a distance withdrawing from the midst of the congregation.

Princess Deokman walked up closely to them and everyone had quietened down while Seungman looked at her feet.

She might have impulsively reacted but at that very moment she felt that she needed to do so.

While Gopheung walked up to his initial position.

"The next group fighting shall be Alcheon Rang and Junghwan Rang." Princess Deokman announced as Junghwan Rang walked up into the middle.

She needed to get worried at that moment because she always cared so much for him even when it was hard for her to express it.

She closed her eyes as she put her fingers on her mouth and she couldn't help but remember how she'd fought with him back in the North in Jeongcheon County.

Opening them, Alcheon Rang had already appeared at the arena and Princess Deokman was holding the Union banner while she looked at the two contestants.

She waved it and the gong was struck a second time.

The two stew closer to one another as Alcheon Rang studied his opponent from head to toe.

Junghwan looked persistent and confident in what he was doing and when Alcheon Rang launched himself towards him, the two clashed holding one another's fists.

Alcheon Rang using his gigantic might appeared to be forcing Junghwan Rang onto his knees.

Everyone watching in awe it was a matter of time before the signs of Junghwan's resistance became prominent as he was rising up to counter the attack investing nearly every bit of strength that he had left in his body.

Alcheon Rang threw a kick at him and he staggered backwards but quickly regained his stance as Alcheon made his other attack.

He started by throwing a couple of punches but Junghwan guarded fiercely as Alcheon struck at his hands with so much fury.

Seungman who was watching everything noticed that there was something wrong that was going on as the look on Alcheon's face on top of being serious looked provoked.

Eventually Junghwan threw a fist as well and clashing with his opponent's he tightly clutched it.

Junghwan swang Alcheon Rang who moving to his side he positioned himself in the perfect angle that motivated his foe to throw at him a flying kick.

Alcheon Rang noticed it soon enough to guard with his left hand but the force of collision drove him into a momentum which launched him a couple of feet backwards.

Junghwan flew with his fist but Alcheon Rang summersaulted and he happened to dodge it narrowly.

Landing on his own feet, he was quick to drive a spinning kick towards Junghwan and striking him in his lower abdomen he sent him flying down to the ground.

Alcheon Rang was angry and no one could tell why he had suddenly turned to vicious Princess Deokman where she was seated she tightly folded her hands as well.

Junghwan Rang stood up and he got back onto his feet firmly as Alcheon paced around side to side while he was breathing so heavily.

Junghwan Rang attacked and they two threw fists at one another until both of their fists struck one another.

They seemed to instantly repel after their collision for a while and resorted to kicking but as they threw them both, their right legs came into collision once again and painfully gritting their teeth they were separated by five feet between them.

Alcheon Rang looked at Junghwan what appearing to have been his anger had culminated into a bloodthirst.

Alcheon Rang made the next attack on his fellow and the two clashed once again as Junghwan threw a punch with his right fist but Alcheon bent over and dodging it he threw his own towards his abdomen and struck him.

Junghwan leaped a little because of the impact.

Alcheon Rang took hold of his right hand and tightening his grip to the side of his chest, he tripped him from behind and then he forced him onto the ground.

Junghwan fell and Alcheon Rang was on top of him as he threw a fist at his face while he moved to the side landing it in the sand.

Junghwan ceased that opportunity to throw his own at Alcheon Rang's face and then ceasing him he threw him in his right while he mounted his body and sat on top of him.

Junghwan started throwing a couple of punches towards Alcheon's face but he guarded with his own hands while he was exploding with so much fury.

"Noooo" Alcheon Rang shouted and he threw his own fist towards Junghwan knocking him from his chin and launching him off of himself.

He pinned him down and mounted him again as he tried beating him up repeatedly over and over again.

Junghwan who was enraged punched Alcheon in his abdomen which weakened him and pushing him away he stood up and faced him again.

Angrily, Junghwan launched himself towards Alcheon Rang who still recuperating from the earlier attack was caught off guard with a heavy blow to his face.

He spat blood.

Junghwan threw another and twisted his head once again he did the same.

with his elbow and Alcheon Rang who had already surrendered, he struck him from below that Alcheon Rang fell backwards into the sand.

His anger had subsided by force and all that he could see above his head was the sun while be heard the sounds of people cheering growing relatively lower and lower.

His vision was becoming blurry slowly and his eyelids were growing heavier and heavier.

Junghwan Rang lifted his hands up in the air as the Dragon Corps cheered for him loudly.

Seungman was stilled in one place as she watched the other Nangdos rushing up to Alcheon Rang's side while he lay there without any reaction that it seemed clear to everyone he had passed out.

Her heart was bleeding and feeling heavier that she raised her leg to try and run towards him but was halted when she couldn't go any further while many eyes turned to her.

Princess Deokman who had been seated was standing in front of everyone else.

"The last pair for the day is Yushin Rang and Seungman Rang." She announced and the stare that everyone had given her only became more and more intense while she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she sighed.

She walked up to the front where everyone was ready to watch her and in a short while even Yushin Rang was already walking up towards her.

"You've beaten him before " She told herself, you can certainly do it." She added as she looked at him who in a short while had seemed to become a bit more gigantic.

"She clenched her fists as she stared into his dark eyes while he finding hers to be just as friendly he smiled as well.

The two started walking around in circles as they studied one another and Princess Deokman waving the Union banner, the gong was struck for the two to go head to head with one another.

Yushin brought a fist with his right hand but Seungman evaded it with hers and throwing another with his left she did the same with hers as well.

Eventually Yushin held her hands and sliding them through his grip she struck him on his chest that he withdrew instantly while mildly staggering backwards.

Seungman looked at him while he looked up at her.

Clenching her fists again and positioning them right in front of herself, she also made a second attack on Yushin.

She threw a series of straight fists at him but he either bowed his head down or moved it backwards and dodged them.

Tired of wasting the time Seungman threw a kick at him with his right leg and Yushin Rang ceased it gathering all his strength to eventually push her down into the soil.

She landed on her butt and everyone that was watching amongst the Nangdos laughed at her.

"What happened this time?" She heard some of them say.

"Yushin Rang won't let her win this time around." Others said.

"Last time she won by accident." One said.

"Probably because Yushin Rang isn't the type of person to fight with women." Someone remarked.

Seungman tried to turn a deaf ear to the comments and she stood back up onto her feet.

She looked at Yushin Rang who leaped at her with a kick.

She moved backwards a little and dodged it while Yushin landing it threw another one which he descended towards her head.

Seungman guarded with her left hand but applying his weight on her she was lowered down that she made a one eighty.

Seungman swung her legs to try and trip Yushin Rang bit he leaped away just in time to miss her attack.

She stood up while Yushin made another head on attack and this time he speared her and carried her off the soil the two eventually landed in the sand and Seungman herself was already weakened by the impact which came from the collision.

Yushin Rang gathering all his strength and might lifted Seungman up and then she forced an elbow attack onto his back that Yushin eventually let her go.

Seungman then brought upon Yushin a double knee attack but he guarded them both with his two hands he eventually threw fists at Seungman's chest and she was thrown onto the ground again.

"She's tried holding up a little bit longer but sadly she won't last." The Nangdos around her said.

"She's certainly lost this round." Others added.

"There's no hope." One said.

"Even if it's there this is the end for her another remarked.

Seungman stood up again and closed her eyes as she listened to all the words that everyone was saying about her.

"Calm down." She inwardly thought to herself, "You've beaten him before." She reminded herself.

"You can do this." She could suddenly picture her father telling her.

"You stood up against the world with no name you chose to make it for yourself, stood up against the world with no legacy you chose to make it.

Seoraebeol isn't a dream of yours anymore and neither is it a place that you wish to protect, Seoraebeol is your home and it is the warrior's reality that you are living." She could nearly hear him whispering in her ear.

Yushin Rang was puzzled as She seemed to clench her fists.

"You are not as strong as me Seungman." She recalled her father once telling her.

"I am stronger." She convinced herself and opening her eyes she remembered the training that she had all those years ago she recalled the very way that Alcheon Rang had thrown a fist at her.

She made her attack as Yushin Rang threw his right fist at her and bending backwards, she dodged it and then ceased it while she propelled herself and struck him on his back mounting him and kicking him forward Yushin went ahead and landed face first in the sand.

Everyone was amused to see her make a move with such ease and accuracy and as she returned to the ground only a couple of seconds later they were all marvelled.

Yushin stood up shortly after and turning around he realized that Seungman had already made her second move and she kicked him on his face he spinned before landing onto the sand again.

He wasn't giving up anytime soon so he stood up again and faced Seungman who already another combat powerhouse sprang herself towards him.

Yushin brought along with himself a powerful blow and Seungman sensing it just in time she wound him up by punching him in the abdomen and with her leg she tripped him.

She Attached herself to his body and ceasing his hand she pulled it to his back and forced him face first onto the sand while she pulled his leg as well.

"Give up." Seungman said.

"Never." Yushin Rang replied and at last she was forced to strike the pressured point at the back of his neck which forced him to pass out at once.

Everyone looked at Seungman who stood up from the retired Yushin Rang her face with some bruises on it while she sweating profusely her hair had fallen loose on her shoulders.

There was more than Silence coming from the people she could tell and at that moment she looked up at the Princess and she went onto her knees.

Princess Deokman stood up.

"Seungman Rang has won." She said while Seungman looked up at her determined.

"Two of the Princess' powerhouses were defeated?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Yes Your Majesty." His Eunuch replied.

"How odd." King Jinpyeong said, "Yushin and Alcheon Rang are some of the best Hwarang that she boasts." He added when there was a knock on his door.

"Come in." King Jinpyeong said while they were opened and Bora walked in.

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

"What is it?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Her Royal Highness the Queen invites you to Ilsan Palace." Bora replied.

"Why so?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"A Buddhist priest is said to be coming to conduct a prayer for her and the baby that is in her womb, she took the liberty of inviting him here to join us and pray for her and the child's welfare." Bora replied.

"Why not organise the event to make it public?" King Jinpyeong asked.

"Your Majesty, there are the Hwarang games and today is the most auspicious day, the priest is well known to be a fortune teller and exorcist as well and Her Highness believes that the Palace should be cleansed." Bora replied.

"Very well then, I shall have all the members of the Royal family attend it as well." King Jinpyeong said.

"Her Highness shall be thankful." Bora said while King Jinpyeong turned to his Eunuch.

"Go and have all the members of the Royal family informed that today in Ilsan Palace we are going to receive a Priest to pray for the Queen and her child.

Have the best decorations put in place and let the family relatives gather here as one." King Jinpyeong said.

"Yes Your Majesty." His Eunuch replied while he along with Bora bowed their heads and they withdrew from the room.

"Alcheon Rang and Yushin Rang were defeated." Haek Ga said.

"They had to." Baekban said.

"What makes you say that Your Excellency?" Haek Ga asked.

"If everyone lost then this stage of the games would have been held for no reason and only a waste of time." Baekban said.

"If that's the case is it possible that the two fought on the Princess' orders?" Haek Ga asked.

"No." Baekban replied, "If my instincts are right then it is possible that the Princess is trying to weigh Seungman in her own eyes." Baekban replied.

"Why?" Haek Ga asked.

"She has been excellent all this time and I am certain that her suspicion towards her has nearly orchestrated a series of ploys it was even reported that she had Yushin Rang following her." Baekban replied.

"Then what are we going to do Your Excellency?" Haek Ga asked.

"There are many things that we have to do and that is not even the most important." Baekban said.

"But Your Excellency if Seungman lands into trouble then you shall indirectly be implicated." Baekban replied.

"There is nothing that Princess Deokman can do to me." Baekban replied, "Even if she tried I have reliably been informed by the Queen that there is something that she's pulling up in the Palace tonight." He added.

"What is it Your Excellency?" Haek Ga asked.

"Many of the Courtiers doubt there discipleship to the Princess and it is the perfect timing that the Queen has to sideline her and draw others to her side." Baekban replied.

"Does that include Seungman?" Haek Ga asked.

"Yes." Baekban replied.

"If Princess Deokman is that suspicious of her then she and Bidam should meet consequently and she must have connections to both us and the Queen.

Additionally, after what the Queen chooses to do she promised that whatever the case is, she'll crumble the Princess' influence amongst the people and the Courtiers as well which could only widen the rift between herself and Seungman.

Without a future on the side of the Princess, I plan to help Seungman build her own influence amongst the Hwarang and in return her devotion to us shall have been consolidated." Baekban replied.

"We control her..." Haek Ga said.

"We control the Hwarang." Baekban concluded as he smiled ghastly.

Princess Deokman was walking towards her Chambers and she halted when she came face to face with a couple of Palace maids that blocked her path.

"Your Highness." They said as they bowed their heads.

"What is it?" Princess Deokman asked and one of them stretched out their hand and offered an envelope to her.

She took it into her hands and opened it while she pulled out a piece of paper which she unfolded to read.

"An invitation to attend a Prayer ceremony in Ilsan Palace this afternoon." She said.

"Yes." One of the palace maids replied as she bowed her head.

"Tell me what this is." Princess Deokman said.

"It is Her Highness the Queen's good fortune to be with child and she has organized a Prayer ceremony in Ilsan Palace where everyone who is a member of the Royal family is invited." The Palace maid replied.

"Thank you, you may leave." Princess Deokman said.

"Yes Your Highness." The Palace maids bowing their heads they said in unison as they turned and walked past the Princess.

"What do you think about this Your Highness?" Gopheung asked.

"Nothing much." Princess Deokman said as she sat down at her table.

"Your Highness, for the Queen to suddenly organize a Prayer ceremony I don't think that she feels blessed it must be because she is up to something." Gopheung said.

"Do you know her any better than I do?" Princess Deokman asked.

"I am just worried Your Highness." Gopheung said.

"Of course Her Highness is up to something and on top of that let us say that she wishes to mess with me, I have no choice however except to go and see fir myself and even if we found out what she was after it wouldn't be any different." Princess Deokman replied.

"What are we going to do Your Highness?" Gopheung asked.

"I know that the Queen ever since she was pregnant she is going to use that pregnancy of hers to gain herself some influence in court and with the support of my uncle she'll probably like me become just as powerful.

However the question is not what she is going to do but after what she will do what shall we do next?" Princess Deokman asked.

"I don't know Your Highness." Gopheung replied.

"The Paekche troops have had a number of movements in the South and some of our scouts in Dosal Fortress reported to me a couple of days ago that a war is likely to break out." Princess Deokman said.

"I now see Your Highness." Gopheung said, "Is that why you had organized for the Hwarang games to take place a week earlier?" He asked.

"Yes." Princess Deokman replied.

"Whatever it is that Her Highness could use against you, you intend to change the war tides and use the situation at hand to suppress it." Gopheung said.

"And I intend to raise another of my people to prominence at that time." Princess Deokman replied.

"Do you mean....?" Gopheung asked.

"Yes." Princess Deokman replied.

"Very well Your Highness." Gopheung said.

"Go and watch Yushin and Alcheon Rang for me and wait." Princess Deokman said, "When I give you an instruction later I'll send you off to some place to help me find out something." She added.

"Yes Your Highness." Gopheung replied as he bowed his head and he walked out of the room leaving Princess Deokman alone.

She stood up from where she was seated and she walked over towards the Portrait of Mishil that was hanging on the wall behind her.

"Seju." She said as she touched it, "Your foes have become my very own." She added as she smiled at herself.

Seungman had entered the room where Alcheon Rang was and there she saw him from a distance as he was being tended to by a couple of doctors.

She seemingly recalled how everything had gone down at the Arena and she had to stop herself from feeling guilty.

"Are you alright?" She hears a familiar voice asking her and she turned to her side to see who it was.

"Bidam Rang?" She said.

"Yes." Bidam replied.

"I am surprised that you are here." Seungman said.

"Alcheon Rang and myself were childhood friends, naturally I'd be concerned if something awful were to happen to him." Bidam Rang replied.

"Perhaps not." Seungman replied.

"No." Bidam replied, "We could be different followers from him but we all care regardless of the capacity that we're in." He added.

"What do you mean by that?" Seungman asked.

"I can tell from the way that you are looking at him right now and the way that you did at the Arena, there's much more than friendship between Alcheon Rang and you or may be you feel more attached to him than anyone else usually does." Bidam said.

"That's a speculation that can never happen." Seungman denied.

"Then is it Haesul?" Bidam asked.

"Why would you involve yourself in my private life?" Seungman asked. "You were supposed to watch and help me and not read into my emotions." She added.

"For the jobs that we both do we must be heartless, it is the reason why we slay people and we shed the blood of our masters' enemies and also our very own." Bidam said.

"Do you hold any regard to your motherland?" Seungman asked.

"Where is Shilla?" Bidam asked.

"That's up to you to find out." Seungman replied.

"I am curious though." Bidam Rang said.

"Don't mention it." Seungman rebuked him.

"Alcheon Rang is loyal to the Princess." Bidam said.

"So?" Seungman asked.

"You are loyal to her nemesis." Bidam replied.

"Don't talk about it anymore." Seungman ordered.

"But I'm curious." Bidam said.

She turned around to walk away.

"Then be a coward." He shouted after her.

"I won't say a word." Seungman said.

"Like it or not you'll be enemies." Bidam said.

She halted in her footsteps.

"I don't care." Seungman said.

"Yes You do." Bidam replied.

"I said I don't." She mentioned again.

"Of course you do, don't lie to yourself in broad daylight, if you both with the excuse of fighting for your motherland side with two antagonistic parties then you'll never be a team.

You'll always disagree and one day you fear so much that he'll hate you to the extent of wanting to kill you and should that day dawn when the both of you are at daggers drawn and facing each other, if you won't kill him he'll kill you." Bidam Rang said.

Seungman clenched her fists and turned around and she knew that she couldn't deny it or else it could blow her cover.

"We are all different I admit in our views and our loyalties and I know much better than anyone else that I can never convince him to be on our side.

Should the day come when Alcheon Rang is my enemy then you please kill him for me because I guarantee you if I face him I'll either be willing to die at his blade or I won't be hesitant to let him go in peace and keep his life." She said.

"Why would I help you?" Bidam Rang asked.

"You need me to reach greater things and my unwavering Loyalty is something that to you you must hold so precious.

You promised to make me win the Hwarang Games but I know that you lost on purpose, in watching me isn't it your duty to finish the very jobs that I can't accomplish?" Seungman asked.

"I can now in deed see how smart you are but don't you think that I could still help you win the Hwarang Games in my position?" Bidam Rang asked.

"Instead of helping me then help yourself because I am not willing even if once in my whole life to rely on you for that honourable privilege." Seungman replied as she turned around and walked away.

Bidam smiled and he also turned around and looked at Alcheon Rang through the window as he smiled at him before he walked away.

Gopheung Rang walked out from behind a nearby wall where he had been hiding as he looked in the directions where the two had both vanished before he turned to look at Alcheon Rang.

"I can tell from the way that you are looking at him right now and the way that you did at the Arena, there's much more than friendship between Alcheon Rang and you or may be you feel more attached to him than anyone else usually does." he'd heard Bidam saying.

"Seungman?" He thought to himself, "What is the relationship between you and Alcheon Rang?" He added as he walked away from the place.

He entered the Compartment where Yushin Rang was seated on the bed and a series of bandages were being tied around his lower abdomen and his upper body.

"Yushin Rang." He said as he bowed his head and Yushin looking at all the others who were around he waved his hand and sent them away remaining only the two of them inside.

"What is it?" Yushin Rang asked.

"Her Highness sent me here go check on you." Gopheung replied.

"I am alright, I was just knocked out." Yushin Rang said as Gopheung sat down by his side.

"How close are you to Seungman Rang?" Gopheung asked.

"We aren't so close but either way we are both very good friends." Yushin Rang replied, "At least only recently." He added.

"She seems to be close with Bidam Rang." Gopheung said.

"I understand that." Yushin Rang said, "I just don't think that its for no reason." He added.

"Either way no matter what the reason is, Her Highness greatly believes that there is something between Bidam Rang and Galmunwang Baekban." Gopheung said.

"I understand that very well but Her Highness we must know is unlike us very wise she is not that stupid and considering the fact that I once told her but she didn't react that much to it there's a possibility that she has something in mind." Yushin Rang said.

"I'll take that for an answer but are you saying that the Princess really trusts Seungman that much?" Gopheung asked.

"I wouldn't say that because her Highness trusts no one and given her position it must remain so." Yushin Rang replied.

"Yes." Gopheung said, "I'm just wary when it comes to Seungman Rang because come to think about it I have noticed so oftenly that there could be something that's going on between Alcheon Rang and her." He added.

Yushin Rang quickly turned his head and looked at him

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Seungman Rang might have saved Alcheon Rang before but given the whole situation I believe that in a way she has feelings for him." Gopheung replied.

"I see." Yushin Rang said, "That's troublesome." He added.

"But it is no different from Princess and you." Gopheung said.

"It is." Yushin Rang replied.

"How?" Gopheung asked.

"My love and devotion towards Princess Deokman makes me all the more reliable to serve her because automatically it makes my loyalty towards her unwavering which is something that could aid her greatest cause.

For the case of Alcheon Rang if he could bear compassion and devotion to someone else, he could go beyond any extreme to please them and that alone would stake his loyalty and Devotion towards the Princess." Yushin Rang replied.

"But what more can we do?" Gopheung Rang asked, "A man can never forget the woman who saved his life." He added.

"We in nature can never bear the thought of rejection." Yushin Rang replied.

"Should we inform Her Highness?" Gopheung asked.

"No." Yushin Rang replied.

"I think she should know about this." Gopheung said.

"Don't you think that she is quite occupied with a lot of things lately and adding this to her burden is irresponsible of us as her disciples and the people that have sworn to guard and protect her with our lives.

Additionally, this could crumble the relationship and the trust that she has in Alcheon Rang which could propel him to withdraw from her service forcing her to cut off her own hand and I can not allow that to happen at any cost." Yushin Rang replied.

"It's not like Seungman Rang can reject Alcheon Rang even though she had a chance." Gopheung said.

"She may necessarily not but we could make it look that way" Yushin Rang replied