Everyone is gathered at the palace courtyard the next morning. Chunhwa and the Hwarang general are doing rounds to check each Hwarang if they are correctly geared up with their warrior uniform.

The female teacher passed by Jidwi who made an eye contact with her and as she looked away, she noticed that Sooho’s belt was slightly loose. She stopped in front of him— making the Hwarang inwardly curious— and reached out towards his waist to fix his belt, completely surprising the man.

“You and Master Banryu will be the first one to spar.” she discreetly whispers to him and he snapped out from his trance, ignoring the not so faint beating of his heart of having her this close to him.

“I know.” he answers her back, his eyes travelling forward and away from her forehead that was only a few centimetres away from his lips.

What he did not expect though was for Chunhwa to look up to him with pleading eyes.

“Try not to hurt each other.”

Sooho looked at her, trying to act nonchalant as he gave her a subtle nod in understanding. In response, the young maiden gave him a small smile before finally stepping away and joining Master Wi Hwa and the Princess in front who were observing the Hwarang men.

“Must you see blood? Is that what you want?” Master Wi Hwa softly asked the Princess, slightly turning his head to face her.

Princess Sookmyung looked at him with her signature frown. “A brave warrior must not fear blood.”

“However...”

The two of them looked at each other with great tension, one who is completely against the whole idea and one completely looking forward to what these men will show everyone for today’s event.

Their intense staring immediately ended when Hwarang’s Assistant Chief Instruction, Master Bujae made his way in front of them. Master Wi Hwa and Princess Sookmyung turned their heads to look at him.

“The Queen and the officials have arrived.”

Queen Ji Soo sat on her throne chair that was situated on the top of the stairs facing the palace courtyard as Master Wi Hwa, Master Bujae, Chunhwa, and Princess Sookmyung on the other side of the Hwarang Chief Instructor made their way up to her to pay their respect.

After all of them bowed at the same time, the Hwarang Chief Instructor looked up at the Queen with a small smile.

“Your Highness,” he says, “Must you see blood and stir up Hwarang?”

Queen Ji Soo seemed to appear a little taken aback at his question but she only looked away and pretended she did not heard anything from him at all.

“Thank you for inviting us old folks into Hwarang’s event.” Minister Park Youngshil suddenly says and they all looked at him. Princess Sookmyung stared at him with a blank expression.

“I heard that you would be overseeing this competition yourself.” he continued, addressing this to the princess.

“Also,” Minister Youngshil directed his eyes towards Chunhwa who was standing behind Hwarang’s Assistant Chief Instructor. “I was informed that Lord Guhae’s granddaughter, Lady Heo Chunhwa, who I heard learned a lot of skilful martial arts from the North was the one who trained them in preparation to this event.”

He turned back to Princess Sookmyung with a smug smile.

“That raised our expectation more.”

Chunhwa couldn’t help but clench her fists as she looks at the old minister’s smug expression.

“Well then,” the princess finally speaks, “I hope it meets your expectations.”

The ministry officials, mostly on Minister Youngshil’s side sat on the Queen’s left side while Princess Sookmyung, Master Wi Hwa, Master Bujae, Chunhwa, and the rest of other ministry officials sat on the right side of the Queen. Jidwi looked up at his mother intently, determined to show her that this whole ridiculous idea, no matter how dangerous it was, he will overcome it and the rest of the Hwarang men as well.

Sooho and Banryu stood facing each other in the middle of the palace courtyard, the other Hwarang men surrounding and watching them at the same time. The Assistant Chief Instructor stands from his seat.

“Begin the sparring competition!”

Sooho and Banryu started clashing their swords like they were just having a practice spar but was serious about it at the same time. Their swords clash for a few more times before Sooho made a certain move— resulting for him to slash Banryu on his side.

Sunwoo, Yeowool, Jidwi, and Chunhwa froze— their faces looking stricken at what had just happened. Minister Youngshil narrowed his eyes at his adoptive son with a frown while Lord Ho beside him looked concerned. Minister Seub on the other hand looked proud and pleased with his son.

Banryu clutched his side with a pained grimace on his face while Sooho looked at the blood on his sword with terrified eyes. Although he and Banryu had been arch nemeses since they were younger and had been involve in a lot of fights, he still couldn’t believe that he could hurt him like this— especially in a sparring event that one of them has to die in order to win.

Chunhwa gripped on her chair, her knuckles almost turning white at the force of her grip. Is this what the Queen and the Princess want? What on earth are they actually thinking for them to let these Hwarang men, the King’s Hwarang to kill each other?

However, despite that his side was already bleeding, Banryu nods at Sooho to continue their fight. Without any other choice, the two of them started clashing their swords once again but not long after, Sooho pushed the other away— not wanting to hurt him further.

Master Wi Hwa smiled at them as he watched. He knows that the Hwarang men will never want to hurt each other even if it is by the Queen’s orders as they have already formed a sort of brotherhood within the past few months of being in the Hwarang House.

Princess Sookmyung sighs in frustration and turned towards the Chief Instructor with a deep frown.

“This is supposed to simulate war.” she tells him, “What kind of war is this clumsy?”

“Because they know what is more important than meaningless killing.” he answers her, still watching the two Hwarang men as they continue to spar.

The Princess was looking worked up as she raises her hand in signal, the Assistant Chief Instructor stands up at this and shouted.

“Stop!”

Sooho and Banryu immediately stopped fighting and turned their heads to look up at them.

“Princess Sookmyung.” Minister Youngshil suddenly calls out and the princess turned her head to look at him from the other side.

“I do not think sparring among Hwarangs will be much to watch.” he tells her with a frown.

At those words, the Queen glanced at the old minister from the corner of her eye while Master Wi Hwa silently scoffs.

“May I make a small suggestion, Your Highness?”

Princess Sookmyung nods, “Go ahead.”

“How about my guard, who is skilled in martial arts, and a Hwarang representative spar?”

Master Wi Hwa and Queen both turned their head to look at the minister with a slight frown.

“Come out!” Minister Youngshil calls and a few moments later, his guard— dressed in his warrior clothing made his way towards them and bows in front of the Queen.

“What do you say, Your Highness?” he asks the Princess.

Princess Sookmyung seems to be assessing the old minister’s suggestion, “Fine.”

Master Wi Hwa closes his eyes at her answer and Chunhwa immediately perked up at that.

“But, Your Highness—“

The Princess immediately halts her with a raise of her hand and Minister Youngshil looked smug.

“You are indeed as magnanimous as generals.” he says with a pleased smile. “Since you agreed to my suggestion, may I chose the person to represent Hwarang?”

Master Wi Hwa and Chunhwa snapped their heads towards him, looking aghast. Princess Sookmyung on the other hand looked unaffected.

“Go ahead.”

At that, the old minister looked ahead towards the Hwarang men that were all lined up, pretending to choose when he had already a person in mind.

“I heard Master Sunwoo is skilled in martial arts.”

The four Hwarang men who are roommates with Sunwoo snapped their heads towards him with a worried look. Chunhwa looked at Sunwoo from her seat with a worried frown as well.

Princess Sookmyung looked at Minister Youngshil for a while before raising her hand once again in signal.

“Master Sunwoo,” Master Bujae calls him, “Come forward.”

Sunwoo made a step forward but Sooho stopped him with his arm from continuing further.

“I will go.” Sooho tells him with a frown. “You cannot win with your skills.”

Sunwoo gently pried his arm off him and gave him a reassuring look. “It’s fine.”

As Sunwoo made his way up the podium to stand before the Queen beside Minister Youngshil’s guard, Chunhwa couldn’t help but look at him with a worried expression.

‘No...’ she thinks, ‘Why did he choose him of all people? He’s not as good as the others yet.’

“Your Highness, please instruct that status is irrelevant and that if one dies, you will not hold the other responsible.” Minister Youngshil says, looking at Princess Sookmyung.

The Princess looked at the two warriors standing before the Queen Regent. “I shall.”

At that approval from the Princess, the guard spoke out loud.

“Upon Master Youngshil’s honour, I shall do as honoured.”

“Upon Hwarang’s honour, I shall do as honoured.” Sunwoo then also says after, looking straight in front of him with a determined expression.

Chunhwa looked at Sunwoo, completely worried for him as the possibility of him being killed in this sparring was high. Yeowool looked up at Chunhwa from his place in the courtyard, taking note of her reaction towards Sunwoo with an unreadable expression.

Sunwoo and the guard looked at each other as they stand on their ground in the open space of the courtyard. Everyone was quiet as they watch the two men bow to each other and started their fight.

Sunwoo swung his sword in hard swings while the guard blocked each of them with swiftness. The two exchanged a few attacks when the guard went down and slashed the Hwarang’s thigh with his sword— making him fall on the ground with a pained groan. Everyone who was watching jerked in surprise, looking shaken at what had just happened while Chunhwa couldn’t help but grip on her chair.

“I’m glad.” Minister Youngshil suddenly speaks as he continued looking at the fight below. “I was worried that Master Sunwoo may be the King as the rumour says.”

The Queen glared at him with a heated expression— Chunhwa also sending a glare towards the old minister after hearing those words. The fight between the Hwarang and the guard continues and this time, the guard managed to slash him on his shoulder and push him down on his back to the ground.

Chunhwa couldn’t help but stand from her seat at this and Queen Ji Soo seemed to start panicking but Minister Youngshil only looked determined as he shouted over to his guard.

“It is to the death! It is not over yet.”

The Hwarang men looked at Sunwoo worriedly while Chunhwa snapped her head towards Minister Youngshil with a hard glare after hearing his words before turning back again at Sunwoo with a terrified expression.

The guard looked up at his master, giving him a nod before turning towards Sunwoo and raising his sword to deliver his final strike—

“Stop right there!” the Queen suddenly shouts, making every head turn towards her direction. The guard also froze from his strike and Sunwoo who was looking at the guard turned his head towards the Queen.

At that order from the Queen Regent, the guard put down his sword and turned to his back to walk away. However, Sunwoo immediately stood up from his position and jumped in front of the guard.

“Continue.” Minister Youngshil then says after the Hwarang did so and the two of them started clashing their swords once again but this time, Sunwoo made a surprising move— he jumped once again and managed to chop off the guard’s bun.

Everyone froze for a second and different reaction rose from each of them. Jidwi looked at Sunwoo with a stunned expression, the ministry officials especially from Minister Youngshil’s side looked aghast while the guard was looking furious.

Sunwoo stood up straight from his position and the Hwarang started to shout and celebrate at his victory. Queen Ji Soo looked down at Sunwoo with a satisfied expression while Master Wi Hwa on the other hand was grinning ear to hear, looking proud of his students. Princess Sookmyung was looking secretly pleased while Chunhwa was smiling brightly as she looked down at the Hwarang men from her seat.

As they all celebrate for Sunwoo’s victory, Minister Youngshil looked down at the Hwarang with a calculating expression— his hand tapping on the support of his chair and then after a few moments, looking at him if an answer was given to his question.

- flyingjunmyeons [20170716]