Emeralds and Enemies

Chapter Thirty-seven

Junseo was not surprised to see the Go brothers accompanied by extra guards but it took him a minute to recognize the master-at-arms from their home estate. Seeing this level of this protection made him relieved the brothers were still allowed to come to the practice courts. Not long after the guards stationed themselves around the walls, Knight-Master Lie arrived with Im Song-hee and an unfamiliar man.

"Captain Shiro, are you here to spar with me?" San Jin called an enthusiastic welcome.

"Let me see how this crew shapes up. Then you can have your dancing lesson," he grinned widely before turning to Knight-Master Lie to ask, "Who am I to coach through the exams?"

"Let's all get to know each other a bit." Knight-Master Lie suggested while organizing the boys to do set patterns and some baton work.

Me Yan happily coached Song-hee on the forms they were using and was surprised at how fast the young man adapted to the new style. San Jin was also happy to meet someone new who could keep pace with his brother and cheered for each of them in their sets with Junseo.

"Aren't you going to cheer for me?" Junseo asked with an exaggerated pout.

"Only when you do something to cheer for." San Jin answered with a broad wink to the other boys.

"Fine," Junseo said, switched his foil to his left hand and proceeded to disarm Me Yan.

"You have been practicing without us," Me Yan said with a frown.

Junseo could only laugh, "And just when do you think I would have time for extra practice?"

Knight-Master Lie intervened and asked Junseo and Song-hee to change to hand-hand.

The boys cautiously took each other measure at the start of the match but it was not long before their speed and intensity picked up. Junseo's moves showed the refinements he had picked up from his daily routine at the Sun Temple. Song-hee's speed more than compensated for his size and his more unorthodox moves had their own finesse. Both boys tried to keep the force of their contacts contained but there was still power behind some of the chalk laden "touches." When Knight-Master Lie called a halt the two boys shook hands and agreed the match was a draw.

The Go brothers looked at Song-hee with new respect. Me Yan rehearsed how the different points had been scored. "It's the most I have seen anyone score on Junseo," he said excitedly.

"That's only because you don't come to morning practices at the temple. The Masters leave marks, and not just ones you can brush off your practice clothes," Junseo complained.

"They probably believe a bit of pain makes the lesson stick better," Captain Shiro laughed as he limbered up for his bout with San Jin. He demonstrated some of the different moves he wanted San Jin to incorporate in their match and seemed genuinely pleased when San Jin was able to score points.

"You have gotten better at mixing things up, my young friend."

"Different partners and pattern work help," San Jin said looking toward where Junseo was helping Knight-Master Lie set markers up on a low table. "Are you sticking around for the strategy games as well?"

Captain Shiro had not planned to stay but found watching markers showing the variations on arrow attacks against keyhole defenses surprisingly interesting. Perhaps it was the way Knight-Master Lie got the boys to think through different challenges, or how the famous veteran threw in some wild-card elements like a shift in the weather for them to consider. He had recognized the initial set up from one of the classic battles he had studied as a cadet but watching the boys move their markers around made him understand the outcome had been anything but settled.

"I don't understand why the commanders would lock down their troops like this," Song-hee said with frustration, "Why not sweep around from behind with a mounted troop?"

"Good question. We will look at wing formations next time." Knight-Master Lie smiled broadly.

The boys took this as the signal to pack up. The Go brothers left with their heavily armed escort. Knight-Master Lie send Junseo and Song-hee along to the forge while he took Captain Shiro out for a drink.

"What do you think of our boys?"

"Are you asking me if I am still interested in serving as a part-time tutor for your training yard?" Captain Shiro took a long drink before answering. "Look, I know the Go brothers don't need a tutor. And if I am not mistaken, Park Junseo is preparing for qualifiers not examinations. So, you must want some polish put on your street fighter."

"I want to see him through his exams. He is just on a short-term contract and I would like him to have something to show for his efforts. We have others coming in from the countryside we need to assess."

"As much as I like the way the boy listened, and the questions he asked, you have to know my services won't come cheap."

"Can we separate it into different stages. Say academic assessment, study plans, exam preparation and armed combat training."

"You threw the last one in just to tempt me."

"No honestly, I am in no shape to train all the boys. It is great that San Jin and Junseo are at high enough levels to offer instruction but they have other responsibilities. Decide after you meet some of the others."

Junseo was thinking of his responsibilities as a senior in the group as he guided Song-hee through the streets when they were set upon by two men. Junseo managed to disarm the one threatening with a knife when he noticed hand signals being used by Song-hee and one of the would-be attackers.

"Friends from home?" he asked with sarcasm.

"Debt collectors," Song-hee answered and handed over a small package.

"It has better be the last we see of them!" he called to their departing backs then frowned at the new recruit. "Try not to bring too much trouble with you, or at least warn me when you do."

"I had to pay off my brother's debt to the Four-star gang. I couldn't have them going after my parents." Song-hee said this like it made sense.

Junseo didn't have the heart to tell him there was nothing to stop the gang from asking for more. "I'm not going to tell anyone but I you had better warn Scout Jia about this since he is the one who brought you here and I bet you don't know what you may have been smuggling."

"Smuggling?" Song-hee's face went pale and he shook his head.

Junseo waited until after Song-hee had talked with Scout Jia before he told his own tale of nearly falling into the middle of a Qin conspiracy. "I'm just saying nothing in the capital is as straight forward as things were at home, so we just have to be careful and look out for our crew."