Skill With the Sword I

Nam Mu and Li Jie weren’t not shocked by Jeong Ho’s words. Nam Gil had made them do some crazy practices. Shooting two arrows had become the most simple thing they could do. However the other participants started to panic. Complicated thoughts were running through their minds; ‘Two arrows at the same time! Who are these monsters! I wonder who their teacher was? I should ask, maybe I can take lessons from them. My chance is over.’

They were wondering if they had to do the same thing. A few were considering trying to also shoot two arrows but that thought was quickly abandoned since none of them would be able to do it. They were giving Nam Mu and Li Jie looks of loathing. Soon Chungo’s words resolved their hesitation but not their hate. “Just focus on trying to hit the target. Just one other has hit the target! Next group! Go!”

After an hour the last two participants shot their final arrows, the mounted archery test was finally over. Chungo and the others in charge were deeply disappointed. Just four out of the 30 people had managed to pass. The number was too low. Li Jie and Nam Mu had easily passed the test but it didn't make them popular. They had made the other participant feel like they were holding a bow and arrow for the first time. “You four can go over there. The rest of you can leave.” The once that had failed looked like they were about to cry. Dae Seong looked at the participants' sad faces. “Is it smart to eliminate such a large group? I'm sure the next group will be just as bad.

We won’t have enough people over.” Zeng had been thinking the same thing but he refused to agree. He was still sulking and being petty. He was planning on telling the Crown Prince about Jeong Ho's stupid words. Jeong Ho shrugged. “It can’t be helped. The Crown Prince wants people who are the best. I think none of them come even close to what the Prince wants. By the way, why is he still not here!”

“Maybe… Let’s not send the group away yet. Let them still do the sword test. If they still fail, we’ll send them home. What do you think?” Jeong Ho looked at Dae Seong and Zeng. Zeng gave Jeong Ho a blank look. Dae Seong sighed deep. “Do we have a choice? I mean I don't really have a hope for that group so let’s try that.” Dae Seong pointed at the large group who didn't know anything. Jeong Ho saw that palace servants hadn’t left the field yet. He called them over.

“All of you come with me.” They once again walked towards the group. He looked each failed participant in the eye. “To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. We’ll give you one more chance, one chance only. You’ll get the chance to try with moving targets. Leave your horses here and go to the archery group.” The sad faces of the participants turned into smiles. They might be able to still make it! 'The monsters won't be in our group!' They were sure that they would make it if Nam Mu and Li Jie weren't in their group. Jeong Ho then turned to Nam Mu, Li Jie and the other two that passed. “The four of you will do the sword test. Go stand with the sword group.”

The group got off their horses and went to their new groups. The palace servants took the horses and brought them just outside the field. Saja's head drooped down. ‘This is too far away. I was hoping to see Asi fight. All these trees are in the way. Are those... Apples! Melons and carrots! Give me! Give me more!’ Saja forgot his disappointment and attacked the food the servants gave him and the other horses. Back at the field Nam Mu and Li Jie had reached the sword group. They were met with looks of jealousy and envy. There were a lot of whispers "I'm sure they can only do that." "They just wanted to show off." "I can easily beat them with my sword."

The two ignored all the talk and found a place a little away from the rest of the group. “If they knew the struggle we had to go through, they wouldn’t be saying manure that.” Li Jie shook his head in annoyance. Nam Mu nodded his head while looking around. “Who are you looking for?” Nam Mu stopped looking around. “I’m looking for Shu. Master Ping’s son. We were sent to do the examination together but I can’t seem to find him.” Li Jie wasn’t interested in Shu. After Nam Mu's stories about Shu, Zhi and Jie, Li Jie wasn’t in a hurry to meet any of them.

“Isn't it a good thing that he isn't here? He can't bother you or talk trash to you. It doesn’t matter either way. Let’s just focus on this, we can ask master Jin or Nam Gil later.” Nam Mu wasn't worried about Shu's health or anything. He just felt that it was disrespectful towards master Ping, he had sent them to do this examination and Shu had just bailed. What Nam Mu didn't know was that Shu was on his way back to Asdal. Shu had nearly died.

He had sustained multiple broken bones. Shu's arrogance had gotten him into trouble. A week after arriving Shu had offended another young master in a shady brothel. The young master had vowed to teach Shu a lesson but Shu had laughed in the man's face telling him to come find him. Shu had even told him about his aunt's Jian house. He thought that his uncle's name, who was a lowly officer, would have any authority. He didn't know that the young master was the son of a infamous black market merchant. Weeks went by and Shu forgot about the threat but the young master had been waiting and plotting his revenge.

A month ago, after leaving a gisaeng house in a drunken state, Shu was beaten within an inch of his life and left for death. He was extremely lucky that it happened near his Jian house or he would have died. Shu had finally experienced what Nam Mu had to go through all those times he had his mother had beaten Nam Mu. On the day of the examination Shu was well enough to be transported back home.

Nam Mu looked around one more time before returning his attention back to the field. The archery group, with the failed mounted group now consisted of 255 participants. They were all looking relaxed, but their faces turned black when they discovered that this wouldn't be a simple archery test. The soldiers were setting up 15 dummies on wooden wheels. After seeing that everything was set up, Chungho turned to the participants. "You'll get 10 shots each. If you fail to hit the dummy 5 times you'll fail. If you hit one of the soldiers pulling the dummies, you'll fail immediately. I want 15 groups. What are you waiting for!" After his words people began forming groups.

"Stand in a line!" Chungo went around pulling people away or adding people in groups. After a few minutes there were 15 groups with 17 participants in each group. "You can move around but you can not take more than 15 steps. First group! Get ready! Now!" After his words, arrows were shot in the air. None of them managed to hit the red circle. Instead two nearly hit the soldiers. Chungo turned to the culprits with an irritated look. He gave them a dark glare, giving them a silent warning.

"I'm sure more than half will fail." Li Jie softly said to Nam Mu. "How do you know? This was only the first group." But Li Jie's words were correct. Only nine had managed to hit the target five times. They were told to go to the sword group, while the ones who had failed were told to stand to the side. After more than three hours all the 255 participants had taken their turn. In the end only 95 participants managed to hit 5 or more arrows. From the archery group only 11 managed to pass. Chungho looked at the 15 archery group people. "You've failed a second time." He turned to the others. He turned to a random soldier. "Un... Bai, can you bring them back to the gate?"

Bai nodded before leading the disappointed people back to the gate. When the servants saw their master coming, they couldn't hide their disappointment. To pass the time, they had been betting who would be eliminated, with them leaving meant that they would be losing out on some big money. Compared to the others Mule had eaten and drank till he was full. He was now taking a nap and missed the group leaving.

"We are now going to conduct the sword fighting test. All you have to do is disarm your opponent." Chungho looked at the large group in front of him. Together with the archery group, there were now 300 people. The participant looked around, trying to find an easy opponent. After a few seconds they felt a slight tremor followed by a large rumbling. The tremor and rumbling became more severe making them think that there was an earthquake. "No need to panic. Your opponents are coming."

Chungho yelled. The participants' eyes grew big when they saw a large dust cloud coming their way. A few minutes later a man on a horse arrived at the field, followed by 500 soldiers dressed for battle. Jeong Ho, Zheng, Dae Seong and the soldier walked over to the man before giving a salute to the man on the horse. Jeong ho pulled a face. "You took your sweet time. Crown Prince Tae Yong" The participants' eyes grew big. 'The Crown Prince!'

Tae Young got off his horse and looked at the participants with anticipation. "Don't get your hopes up. The archery past has just finished..." Jeong Ho's words made him look confused. "What our Commander is trying to say is that the majority has little talent. We found two boys who can shoot two arrows simultaneously but that's it. We're going to do the sword fighting test. Maybe we'll find some talented swordsmen but your idea of finding 100 multiskilled people will not be possible."

Dae Seong shrugged, looking disappointed. Tae Yong frownd. "100? When did I say I wanted 100 men?" Everybody looked at Dae Seong. “Didn’t you… Jeong Ho!” Jeong Ho had been feigning ignorance. “I… I’m sure I heard you say…” Tae Yong shook his head in disbelief. “I said we are lucky if we get 100 men! We have seven days! The plan was to train them first and then have the examination!” The others shot Jeong Ho dirty looks. “What to expect from this airhead!” Zheng scoffed. “How many have you sent away?” Jeong Ho gave a bashful look. “15, they were all young masters.”

Tae Yong gave Jeong Ho a contempt glare. “That’s alright. I don’t want too many of them anyway. I’ll have to answer to their fathers and that is not what I want. I need loyalty to myself only.” He turned to participants. “Everybody, listen up! You will be fighting my soldiers. The only way to pass is if you disarm or kill. You have to last 30 minutes.” The participants were shaking in their shoes. They had never killed anybody before and now they were expected to fight to the death.

'How can the Crown Prince be so cruel!' Tae Yong nodded at the first line of soldiers. Like one they turned and walked to the back of the line. A few seconds later they returned with baskets full of wooden swords. The whole group let out a deep sigh. ‘Why didn’t he say that we would be fighting with wooden swords!’ The first 500 participants were given a sword. Nam Mu was in the first group, while Li Jie was in the second. “If you can’t disarm your opponent 10 times, you'll have to grant me a wish.” Nam Mu glared at him before hitting him with the sword. “We’ll see how well you’ll do later.” Li Jie and the others were told to move to stand in front of the canopy.

“Attack!”