CHAPTER SEVEN

The next morning Lady Bong Cha left very early in the morning before the sun rose. She checked on Baek-Hyun but she was still sound asleep so she left her. When Baek-Hyun woke up, Moon helped her prepare but she had no armour so she wore normal dress to the training ground. When she arrived, the morning practice was finished. Chi-Mae was walking with the princess about to leave when he saw her walk into the training field. Lady Bong Cha was not there and she thought she had something to take care of. She wondered what a princess was doing at the battle field. "You are a soldier and you came late". He said to her with a flare and the princess felt like jumping in excitement, and there she was thinking that Chi-Mae was having something to do with Baek-Hyun. "I did not know the training time". Baek-Hyun said without bowing, formalities or anything. The few soldiers around stared at her with anger and Princess Aya secretly scoffed at her. Then she walked to Baek-Hyun and kicked her knee joints from behind and that sent her crashing to the ground. "Aya". Chi-Mae yelled. "General, she is being disrespectful". Princess Aya said looking crossed. Chi-Mae stared at her for a while before he looked back at Baek-Hyun. "you live with lady Bong Cha and she was present today and look at you, you wear wrong uniform". Chi-Mae continued with Baek-Hyun. "I wasn't informed about the dress code neither was I was given any uniform". Baek-Hyun replied. Then Chi-Mae walked closer to her and Baek-Hyun stepped back. Then he moved swiftly to her and held her hand and lifted her up. Baek-Hyun suddenly with great uncommon energy hit his hand away but in the process, she fell to the ground because he was still way stronger than her. Then he smirked and stared at her in a way that made her feel little. "you weren't interested." He told her and she fell quiet. She didn't have more pretexts for that. Then he walked away from her and suddenly returned and draw his sword and placed it on her cheek. "you are a soldier, not any soldier but my soldier, you must report to duty every morning before the cock crows and every evening, when the cock crows twice after lunch. If you are late or miss any, you will be punished severely. Meanwhile, as your punishment for today, you shall practice all day long tomorrow. Very early before anyone gets here, that is including me, you must await us all in this training field." He said and rolled the sword over her face then he walked away, Princess Aya smiled victoriously to herself as she followed Chi-Mae. What she just saw convinced her that Chi-Mae hated Baek-Hyun and that was exactly what she liked. Baek-Hyun was dumb struck as she watched Chi-Mae walk away. Now she knew why no one succeeded in killing him. She got off her butt and she cleaned her dress but it was stained seriously by the wet floor. Princess Aya turned to Baek-Hyun one last time and stared repulsively at her before leaving with Chi-Mae. Baek-Hyun turned to see Lady Bong Cha looking at her. "Are you okay?". The woman asked and Baek-Hyun nodded. She wondered why the woman always stared at her with indifference but her words were affectionate. "Let's go, let's go prepare breakfast". The woman said and Baek-Hyun started walking. "Baek-Hyun, I know it might be hard to fit in here, because things are done very differently from all other kingdoms. Like party which is thrown every night over here. The type of clothes we wear and even our foods, drinks and games. Our king is quite young and we adapt to American lifestyle in some few ways. And Chi-Mae, I don't know what attract you to him but you have to avoid him if you want to live". Lady Bong Cha said to Baek-Hyun while they were making breakfast. Baek-Hyun was just helping to selecting maize grain while Moon did most of the work and Lady Bong Cha just watched and directed. Baek-Hyun nodded. "But has the general really been this way all his life?". Baek-Hyun asked and Moon exchanged glances with Lady Bong Cha. "Oh please My Lady let me tell her this part". Moon pleaded and the woman smiled and nodded. "Go on". She said knowing how much all the young girls wanted to talk about Chi-Mae but none of them ever wanted to meet him. "Chi-Mae was normal and very fun just like other young soldiers in the capital. He even taught some of the maidens self-defence each time we took food for them in the training ground. He always went with the king Young-Jae while he was still a crown prince to the markets and they did give away each new year. They always patrolled along with other soldiers to the market and everyone wanted to deliver their food to them. But from the beginning, he was also a very reserved person. But the war changed him. The war between Tang and our kingdom took away his family and after he went after the Tang king, when he came back, he changed completely. No one really knows what happened to him but that is the origin of the rumour that he is cursed. Oh Lady Baek-Hyun, I so miss our General before the war happen. Now, one can have a nightmare if one comes across him in person". Baek-Hyun listened intently as Moon's voice made the story much more imaginative to her. "Moon go get water, the pot is about to burn". Lady Bong Cha said and Moon scurried away. "Are you okay?". The woman asked when she noticed Baek-Hyun's sudden coldness and Baek-Hyun nodded. She was thinking of how on earth she was going to kill such a person. After all, His story was similar to hers but she never became cold, her pains encouraged her to fight for what she wanted and not become a nightmare for everyone. "But why is the king so warm? Moon told me they both loosed their parents". Baek-Hyun asked. "the King has always been more warm than Chi-Mae and he wasn't so affected like Chi-Mae was. Chi-Mae loosed his parents and sister and the manner in which he loosed them is what makes him what he is today". Baek-Hyun stared at Lady Bong Cha wanting to ask more questions but she held herself back. The woman knew she had loads of questions and she didn't know if she had all the answers for her.

Baek-Hyun was determined to make it up to Chi-Mae even though the truth will remain that she isn't genuine, she would face her fate then, but for now she had to do the needful. Chi-Mae usually seldom ever attended the exercises that the soldiers had to do almost daily, but for some reason, he was there in the evening again. Everyone put on their best behaviour and no one dared look at his direction. U-Jin was giving the commands and Lady Bong Cha had gone to the arrow section to train the female warriors since most of the females specialized on flying arrows because of course, they were women. Princess Aya wasn't among these women, she was a warrior and she trained with the men with few other women that wasn't few at all. Chi-Mae kept looking around for Baek-Hyun but she wasn't there. He thought she was in the arrow section with Lady Bong Cha because that was where the weak ones hid away. Baek-Hyun thought she left very early when she finished the temple with Moon and she walked extra slowly and talked about things to pass away time but when she got there, training was nearly over and she wanted return to her chamber immediately because she didn't want Chi-Mae to embarrass her in front of his thousands but Aya saw her and she intentionally called her. "hey Baek-Hyun, you came late again". She said and started walking to her. Baek-Hyun crossed her fingers behind her so that Chi-Mae wouldn't turn but he did. U-Jin was confused and didn't know what to do with her so he passed her to Chi-Mae. "General, Baek-Hyun is here". He said hoping that Chi-Mae would take care of her, and he did. Baek-Hyun bowed deeply to Aya hoping she would consider her but Aya didn't even acknowledge her greeting. "I know the General did tell you not to come late". Aya said with her hands folded across her chest. She looked extra taller and more graceful than Baek-Hyun because of the armour she had on. "I do not know the time and so I thought I came really early". She said with a sympathetic face but Aya smirked and moved away for Chi-Mae to deal with her. "Baek-Hyun, I specifically outlined our rules to you". Chi-Mae yelled. "I know, I tried but I failed and I promise, I really want to make it up to you". Baek-Hyun said sincerely and Chi-Mae stared at her and said. "well I think I know a way you can make it up to me". "what do you want?". Baek-Hyun asked with a dimmed face and creased brows. "why don't you grace us with some of your Ji-Seok fighting skills against our own female warrior?". Chi-Mae said and the rest of the soldiers hailed and cheered. "who?". Baek-Hyun asked again. "meet Aya, our female champion". Chi-Mae said and Princess Aya walked away from Chi-Mae's side and stood in front of Baek-Hyun. Baek-Hyun was shocked to know that the beauty goddess she saw in the party was not just the Princess, but Hak-Kun's female champion. - No wonder she always walked with Chi-Mae - Baek-Hyun thought to herself. Princess Aya was tall just like Baek-Hyun but she had a bit more flesh than Baek-Hyun. She had a peculiar and round face with long hair that had red tips. By now, Lady Bong Cha and all other female warriors had joined them and they were all struggling to see what was going on there. Lady Bong Cha walked to U-Jin and asked "why didn't you take care of this yourself? And why is the general present in today's warm up?". the woman asked and U-Jin shrugged. All the soldiers began hailing and cheering for their champion. "why do I have to fight with your champion? I've been a warrior for… only… only four… five years". Baek-Hyun said and Chi-Mae smirked. "Princess Aya has been a soldier for three years, I think she wouldn't be that tough for a four… five-year warrior". Chi-Mae said which a puerile smile. Baek-Hyun swallowed a fake lump in her throat. "why don't you put me up with a beginner?". She asked nervously. "You ask too many question". Chi-Mae said and took a step towards her but Baek-Hyun took five steps back. "Besides, that will be unfair to your opponent". Chi-Mae said and Baek-Hyun stared nervously at the Princess who was smirking and staring at Baek-Hyun as if she was a minor. She had never fought with her bare hands without sword before. "Hey". Baek-Hyun greeted her but Princess Aya started walking towards her and Baek-Hyun retrieved her steps. "no, no, no, no, no, no…". Baek-Hyun kept saying but Princess Aya landed her a rib breaking kick which made her crash heavily to the ground. Lady Bong Cha closed her eyes as Baek-Hyun landed on the ground and the soldiers increased their hailing for their champion Princess. "get up". Princess Aya yelled at Baek-Hyun but Chi-Mae's cold voice cut off her good gestures. "keep fighting". Immediately Aya heard that command, she rushed to Baek-Hyun and was about to start punching her but Baek-Hyun lurched herself to her feet and wrapped her hands around her neck and flipped her over. Aya fell to the floor and for a moment, Hak-Kun soldiers gave Baek-Hyun a moo jeer. Immediately, Aya was back on her feet. Baek-Hyun stared at her with tiredness. Aya was mad about what Baek-Hyun did, she had played easy on her but she was being harsh in return. She walked quickly to Baek-Hyun and then she ran and speared her. Baek-Hyun landed harshly on the ground and curled up. She felt blood rush to her mouth. Aya gave her zero chance to redeem herself, she walked to her, sat on her and started giving her punches and blows on her face. Then when she saw that Baek-Hyun was unable to move an inch, she left her and started showing off around and the soldiers sang her praises and hailed her. Baek-Hyun with her last strength staggered to her feet. "the fight is not over." Chi-Mae said to Aya and she turned around to meet Baek-Hyun standing. "finish her, finish her, finish her…" the Hak-Kun soldiers kept saying to Princess Aya. Aya walked slowly to Baek-Hyun while thinking of the best way to end her. Then she walked to the lifeless Baek-Hyun before her and after about three or four spins, Aya finally gave Baek-Hyun a kick on her neck. Baek-Hyun tried all she could to keep her eyes open but when her head landed on the ground before her body, everything was blank… shutdown. She was unconscious but all Aya wanted to do was to kill her. She took out her saber, walked closer to Baek-Hyun and raise the sword high ready to cut off her head but Lady Bong Cha rushed to Chi-Mae and held his hands. "Make it stop please". The woman said but Chi-Mae was still indifferent. "Chi-Mae please, tell Aya to stop". The woman said again and Chi-Mae stared at her and said "stop". Everyone turned to stare at him in shock. Aya was angry that Chi-Mae stopped the fight at that point. Chi-Mae stared at the lifeless Baek-Hyun on the ground and he turned and walked away. Lady Bong Cha ran to Baek-Hyun and kept calling her name but Baek-Hyun didn't answer. She turned and yelled to a soldier. "Go get the healer". And the soldier left immediately. "No, she has to go to the healer, not the other way round". Aya suddenly reminded Lady Bong Cha. "Taegheon, hurry and take her to the healer". U-Jin ordered a soldier and Baek-Hyun was carried away to the healer's. Aya was dumb folded but she was satisfied. She had thought Baek-Hyun a lesson and also showed off the her that she was no match for her. She wondered why there was such commotion just because Baek-Hyun was unconscious. She stared at Lady Bong Cha in a repulsive manner then she left the training ground. Lady Bong Cha stared at her and she knew that she disliked Baek-Hyun. Then she turned to U-Jin who had been trying to avoid speaking to her. "Why didn't you handle the situation?". She nearly yelled and U-Jin stuttered "I… the… why did she come late anyways?". And Lady Bong Cha stared at him and walked away.