RED STAR IN THE SKY GORYEO (The Scent Of Life 2)
CHAPTER 14 FEMALE WARRIOR
The next day, Byeol was ready to leave. She was wearing a palace lady dress to walk out of the palace with Eunuch Han. The sky was still dark, in the middle of the city a man brought two horses for them. They rode out of the city, into a mountain far from the city.
Traveling all day, at dusk they entered a large house with a wooden fence, on a mountain. The area had no guards, even like the homes of ordinary residents. A woman came out of a pavilion when she heard the sound of horses neighing.
"Ahh, you have come," said the woman with a friendly face, her dress and clothes were as simple as most of the village women.
Byeol and Eunuch Han got off the horse and was greeted by the woman.
"Let's go in, you must be Byeol," said the woman.
"Call me Mrs Joo" continued the woman.
Byeol saluted while commenting on the smile. From inside the house came a woman with a rather cold face. Judging from her makeup and clothes she must have a higher standing than Madam Joo. Eunuch Han saluted as soon as he saw the woman.
The three of them sat in a room. Eunuch Han gave a letter to the woman. He read the letter and burned it in the furnace next to him.
"Mrs Soo, I put Byeol on you" Kasim Han said
"Yes, I understand" said Madam Soo
Lady Soo calls Madam Joo to escort Byeol.
***
Byeol followed Madam Joo to the back of the house a bit away from the main house. There was a wooden house. The voices of the women practicing the sword were becoming clearer. In his yard were wooden poles for physical exercise and a large field next to it. Byeol saw a group of women practicing swords in the field. They were trained by a female instructor in red.
Madam Joo invited Byeol to rest that day in a room while waiting for some people to come. The room was spacious with several cots that looked like they already had. It seemed to belong to senior-senior Byeol who was training at that time. Madam Joo gave Byeol a shirt to wear during training. The short hanbok clothes were dark blue, and white, the same as the ones his seniors wore.
As soon as Madam Joo left, Byeol changed clothes. Soon came a woman with narrow eyes, white and thin lips. He wore ordinary clothes like a commoner with a wooden box and a bundle of cloth on his shoulders.
"Hi, what's here room for the new soldier?" ask the woman while smiling.
"Yes, did you just come?" ask Byeol.
"Yes, my name is Hwa Young, are you?" said the woman
"What a pretty name. My name is Byeol" said Byeol
"Well, I hope we can be good friends" Hwa Young said
"Can you help me put on a suit like that?" ask Hwa Young
"Of course," Byeol replied and helped Hwa Young get dressed.
Hwa Young put her luggage, a package of clothes, and a wooden box near Byeol's cot. Hwa Young opened the wooden box, and checked the contents. An urn of ashes, a sword, and a wooden headstone were removed from the box and laid out on the table, next to their bed.
"Who's mom is that?" ask Byeol
"My brother. I have no one else but my brother. But now he has left me forever. She's the reason I became a female soldier. He died on the battlefield.
Byeol.
"Sorry" said Byeol
Hwa Young smiled.
"My brother was a physician, because my father was a court physician. I'm actually a healer, too" explains Hwa Young
***
The soldiers gathered in a march on the field, including Byeol and Hwa Young. Carefully they listened to what Madam Soo had to say
"You soldiers are specially trained to serve this country, and escort the members of the palace. Not only trained with physical abilities, and martial arts to fight. You will also be specially trained on women's medicine, art, and work. About passwords, and spying. You are the chosen women. Not just anyone can be a soldier. Then you should be proud to be part of the military division. Do you understand your duties?" miss Soo
"Yes, we got it!" answer the female soldiers in unison
"No one can be careless and careless. The country was in an unstable condition due to the war with Liao. War could suddenly erupt again. So prepare yourself as well as possible, even you must be ready to sacrifice your lives" continued Lady Soo.
After Lady Soo finished her speech, the soldiers marched towards the dining room. Byeol saw two people talking in whispers
"Who is he?" ask the woman who walked in front of Byeol
"She's Lady Soo Yeon, a former lady-in-waiting at Queen Shin's palace. I know he was kicked out of there by Queen Shin out of jealousy. Queen Janghwa recruited the woman back to take care of this place" the woman next to her explained.
Byeol and Hwa Young listened to their conversation.
***
In the dining room they sat neatly. There were about twenty people in that room. Byeol watched them one by one. The girl thought, they came from all sorts of backgrounds, and their respective abilities. Then came a young woman wearing a red warrior suit.
"Make me know I'm your instructor. Just call me Miss Park. Besides me, you will also be trained by Madam Joo and Lady Soo. Please eat, after this you go to the tea room to practice making tea and medicinal herbs" Miss Park explained
All the soldiers started eating.
"He's General Park's son. He often fought with his father. He's an expert in weaponry" explained someone next to Byeol as he whispered.
Byeol just nodded in understanding.
***
That afternoon in the middle of the field a crowd of soldiers stood around two women wrestling. Two women are fighting each other and trying to bring each other down. Dust poured into the air, followed by the voices of the cries of women who encouraged the dueling. Shortly after, one of the women was successfully dropped. The cheers of the victorious female supporters echoed.
"See Hee ... See Hee .., "the cheers of the victorious female supporter, Kim See Hee.
Byeol and Hwa Young were silent without taking anyone's side. They are new people so they still do not dare to show themselves. Miss Park calms down the soldiers, and begins to vote again on what name to fight See Hee.
"You know, See Hee is the senior and most feared soldier in this camp. Her abilities are almost on par with Miss Park's. Twice he accompanied Miss Park down to the battlefield. So you could say, he's his right hand. He was able to defeat five people at once during wrestling," explained someone beside Byeol.
Byeol was amazed but just kept silent and nodded his head. In his mind was drawn the power of the special soldier was not careless.
"Choi Han Byeol," called Miss Park to Byeol's surprise.
Byeol's name was chosen to fight See Hee. Byeol raised an eyebrow in disbelief at him being summoned. Hwa Young was worried as well. Miss Park sent Byeol to the middle of the field. Byeol's heart was pounding incoherently. He tried to control himself, and his fear. Desperate, that was what he could currently do. The cold sweat started to pour
Byeol and See Hee are facing each other. In the matter of three they pounced on each other's shoulders, and embraced each other to drop. The low noise of the wrestling supporters cheered the two women who dropped each other. Several times Byeol was scuttered, but did not manage to fall. Byeol tried to scuttle and slam See Hee, but the female power was amazing. Byeol saw See Hee's left leg slightly wobbly, due to a bruise in the first match. Byeol tried to attack See Hee's left leg. It's actually unfair that See Hee loses, because it's her second match. Many times Byeol kicked See Hee's left leg, and finally unbearably hurt the woman's leg. See Hee started grinning in pain, her legs wobbly. Shortly thereafter Byeol managed to lift, then overturned See Hee to the ground. Everyone cheered for Byeol's victory. The sound of clappers being hit signifies the time they are practicing physically is over. All disbanded under Miss Park's command.
Byeol was still standing adjusting his breathing. Then near him See Hee who was still sitting on the ground. Byeol extended his hand to See Hee. The woman looked up, looking at Byeol. He still managed to catch his breath and gather his energy back. See Hee smiles at Byeol. Byeol returned See Hee's smile.
There was no grudge, that was in Byeol's innocent mind. See Hee's hand welcomed Byeol's hand. Suddenly See Hee pulls Byeol to the ground.
Bruugh, Buaagh!
See Hee beats up the overwhelmed Byeol. Byeol survives and rolls around on the ground avoiding See Hee's attack. Byeol attempted to stand up but a slump kick in the stomach dropped Byeol back to the ground. Byeol grimaced in pain. See Hee stopped attacking. He looked sharply at Byeol, then left with limping feet. Byeol tried to stand up. He felt annoyed, but could not reply to his senior. Hwa Young who gasps at the scene between Byeol and See Hee wakes up and helps Byeol walk back to the dormitory.