"Thanks mom. I like yours better though."
"Don't worry Yong Tae," Che Ju said. "Even if you won't eat them, Ah Won will."
"Mmmpf naw muengf," Ah Won tried to protest, but her mouth and both hands were full of rice cake. She blushed a bright crimson, smiled, and stuffed another cake into her mouth with a shrug.
"Thats good, Ah Won. Eat a lot." Shi Woo smiled at her son's friend. "Young children need their energy. And you three will need some extra energy today. " She collected the empty plate as the children popped the last of the rice cakes into their mouths. "Yoo Sang will have something special in mind for your punishment, I'm sure."
Yong Tae and Che Ju stopped chewing immediately. They shot looks at each other. Ah Won continued munching blissfully.
"How did you know about our punishment? Did grandfather tell you?" Yong Tae asked uneasily.
"My father and I have no secrets, Yong Tae. You know that." Shi Woo smiled and placed a reassuring hand on her son's shoulder. "Finish your rice cakes and get over to the Do Jang before too long. It is best not to keep our Sah Boo waiting. "
Che Ju and Ah Won stood up, brushing loose rice flour from their pants.
"Thank you for breakfast, Miss Shi Woo." Ah Won said.
Shi Woo bowed politely and ushered the children towards the door. "Ok, now hurry up. I have much to do this morning before the celebration."
She smiled at her son as he and his friends slid their shoes on and began the trip up to the mountain top to her father's Do Jang. She watched them until they turned out of site, then she turned inside, singing softly as she readied herself for her trip to the market.
"Ya, Little Brother, Ah Won, wait here. I need to run to Mee Rho's house. Sah Boo Nim already saw me in the forest without my hat, and I can't go to his Do Jang without it."
"Oh, right!" Ah Won mocked. "We'll wait right here...You go get your hat from little miss Mee Rho." She puckered her lips and made kissing sounds. "I'm sure Sah Boo Nim won't mind waiting for you to visit your girlfriend."
"C'mon Ah Won, cut it out! I need my hat. You know I can't go in front of Yoo Sang without it. It's disrespectful, and we're already in trouble."
"He's right."
"Thanks, Yong Tae"
"But so is she. Promise us you won't waste time there Che Ju, we'll get into more trouble too if we're late waiting because of you." Yong Tae stuck out his little finger.
"Alright," Che Ju extended his little finger and hooked it around Yong Tae's, sealing the promise. "I'll run as fast as I can." Che Ju gave a small laugh, "I may even beat you guys to the Do Jang!"
Che Ju did, in fact, beat his friends to the Do Jang. He met them at the foot of the stairs, his hat tied on snugly beneath his chin.
"Wow, Big Brother! You really are fast! I can't beleive you beat us here!"
Ah Won rolled her eyes, "And I can't believe you didn't spend time smooching with Mee Rho."
"Who says I didn't?" Che Ju winked. "But never mind that. While I was waiting for you turtle legs to get here, Master Jung and Master So went into the Do Jang."
"The chiropractor and the stone mason? So what. They probably came to pay tribute to Sah Boo Nim." Ah Won said. "Let's get inside and get this over with. I already miss my freedom."
Without another word, Ah Won turned and trotted up the steps. Yong Tae sighed, gave Che Ju a half smile, and tried his best to look brave as he mounted the stairs behind her. Che Ju adjusted his hat and brought up the rear.
Inside, the Do Jang was simple. Wooden floors, worn smooth from hours of training and a thousand scrubbings, stretched out to meet the walls, which held racks of swords, spears, and other weapons. A tapestry hung from the ceiling to the floor down the wall opposite the door. On it, a dragon's face smiled sharp teeth. There were no students practicing. the villagers had not trained for battle in the years since Yoo Sang had brought peace to the village. The large space seemed dormant.
Yong Tae's imagination filled the room with many warriors, sweating and breathing hard, preparing for a coming battle. They worked in unison, drilling skill and tearing at the air with sharp technique. Behind the warriors, the tapestry sprung to life, and the dragon's eyes flashed approval as it watched the men and women training.
"Yong Tae. Ya! Yong Tae," Ah Won's voice brought Yong Tae back to the moment. "Did you hear me?"
"No, sorry, I was thinking..."
"I asked if you noticed anything strange."
"No, I guess not. " Yong Tae shook his head. "Why?"
"The Challenge Emblem is missing! Sah Boo Nim has issued a challenge for someone in the village."
"Alright!" Che Ju smiled as he punched his palm. "There's gonna be a fight!"
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