"Why are you two staring at me like that?" replied Yun-Seong scratching his crop of bright red hair.

"Well…it's just that we're a little surprised at you describing Hwang as your destined rival. I mean, when did you come to this conclusion?" asked Seong Mina, sipping some of the delectable broth from her bowl.

"It's written in the stars, of course. The great Hwang Sung Kyung, the defender of Choson, the dragon of the East sea, the man whose blade knows no equal, is just now coming back from his great journey! I've been working all this time to live up to a man with his honor and glory. Do you honestly think it is just coincidence I passed the last grade and am now a disciple here at your dojo? No, this was all meant to happen!"

"That's all well and good Yun-Seong, and neither Mi-na nor I would ever steal your thunder, but why challenge him to a match? Don't you think it's a tad hasty on your part? He's come back from strange, foreign lands," responded Han Myong, stroking his beard.

"He can't refuse me. I mean how else is our great rivalry to start off? I will be his young protégé, and through our battle he'll recognize my skill and see me as an up and coming hero of Korea."

"I just don't want your feelings to get hurt is all Yun-Seong. I know Hwang better than you and I just don't think…" pleaded Seong-Mina.

"Oh can it already, I've had enough of your doubts and complaints! I'll show the both of you," angrily interjected Yun-Seong, who then left the dojo disgruntled.

"Such great potential…" remarked Han Myong.

"Such immaturity…" sighed Seong Mi-na, returning to eating her breakfast.

----------------------------

The noon sun rose high into the air overlooking the harbor of the city. Throngs of people had gathered to welcome back many of the sailors who were due to return home. No one was more enthralled than Yun-Seong, who pushed his way through the crowd and towards the front. The ocean twinkled with a sort of ineffable majesty as the white sails of the ships appeared along the horizon. Yun-Seong leaned on the railing, hardly able to contain himself.

"Oh I hope they're all alright…" said one woman to another, both of them weeping for joy.

"Don't worry, our soldiers will come back home. We've got Hwang Sung Kyung to protect us!" replied Yun-Seong, patting the woman's back and grinning.

The ships made their way into the dock and weighed anchor. The plank was lowered down and sailors and soldiers began to make their way onto land. Enthusiastic relatives and family members greeted their own with hugs and tears. It was clear to see on the soldier's faces that they were happy to finally be home after being away for so long. Yun Seong ran over to the flagship of the fleet, the Yaksuk, eagerly awaiting Hwang Sung Kyung to get off the ship. The young man's hopes were soon fulfilled when he caught a glimpse of his idol walking off the ship, flanked by several other hardy looking soldiers. With formality and protocol far from his mind, Yun-Seong rushed forward and immediately bowed before his storybook hero.

"Hwang Sung Kyung, I am Yun-Seong, disciple of master Han Myong at the dojo. Pleased to meet you, sir!"

The 'Dragon of the East Sea', as he was often called, was somewhat taken aback by the forward and brash nature of Yun-Seong.

"So you are a disciple at my master's dojo then?" replied Hwang in a very commanding tone of voice.

"Yes!"

"My first order of business here was to visit my master and pay my respects. Would you lead me to the dojo?"

"Of course sir!" Those were the most joyful words the young man had ever heard in his entire life, and he eagerly motioned for Hwang and the others to follow him. Much to Yun-Seong's dismay though, Hwang seemed quite stolid and reserved, hardly talking even to his compatriots. He did give off the aura of an extremely experienced martial artist, and as far as appearances go he was everything Yun-Seong had hoped for. They eventually reached the dojo grounds after walking up the vast staircase leading towards the complex. Many of Han Myong's pupils were hard at work training in the main yard, and the sound of yelling and fighting could be heard.

"Right this way. By the way, Hwang, how long has it been since you've seen master Han Myong?"

"About a year or so young man."

"Oh, that's about the same time you went and looked for the sword of Heroes! Tell me something, when you traveled through China, did you meet any desert marauders?"

"Well, for one thing…Yun-Seong is it? For one thing my travels are not any where near as glamorous as the tales they make up here. The desert was harsh and the people there were far less forgiving."

"But you made it all the way back, and that's the good thing. But you never found the sword of heroes did you?"

"Well for one thing, Yun-Seong, it's probably a pure myth, something to put kids to sleep at night."

"Why can't there be though? A powerful sword like that in the hands of a capable man would save all of Korea! We could all live in peace and prosperity by its power alone."

"You'll find, young man, that in life nothing really ever resolves in such a simple manner," replied Hwang, placing a hand on Yun-Seong's shoulder just before he walked into the main building of the dojo.

Han Myong was examining some of the dojo weaponry on the walls when Hwang entered. Immediately falling to the floor, Hwang kowtowed before his master and long time friend.

"It has been too long master."

"Ah, Hwang Sung Kyung, if my aged eyes do not deceive me. How are you my boy. I heard you had quite a trip, and plus I'm sure Mi-na was a handful."

"Yes it has been a long hard road master. I was lucky to save Mi-na when we were attacked by that murderous lizard creature. Since then my men and I have been patrolling the waters of the border kingdoms on the look out for the Japanese."

"Well things seem to be as they always are in that regard. I'm sure you received a hero's welcome when you returned at port?"

"Yes but I should like to be congratulated once the kingdom has been truly set free," replied Hwang, gazing off to one side.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Hwang," said Han Myong stroking his beard and pacing towards the main grounds of the dojo. "You always were too serious."

"Life is serious, master."

Han Myong simply chuckled to himself as he led his former pupil out into the main grounds of the dojo.

"Everyone, fall in!" yelled out the old man, who could be very loud despite his small stature.

All of the trainees at the dojo immediately stopped their practice and ran in front, assembling into six lines. In unison they sat down and stared forward at Han Myong.

"I'd like everyone to welcome back Hwang Sung Kyung. He's back from a very long and arduous journey. You should all aspire to be like him one day and make the country proud."

Hwang stood next to his master, his expression like stone and the force of his presence like that of a tsunami. Yun-Seong could hardly contain himself and ran up to the head of the group, kowtowing before his master and Hwang.

"I know it is impetuous of me to talk out of turn master, but I can't wait for much longer. I'd like to ask Hwang Sung Kyung if he would hold an exhibition match with me right here, right now at the dojo. Everyone knows of his reputation and skill with the sword, as well as his acts of heroism and bravery. I would like to show him the fruits of my labor in hopes that I can one day aspire to be like him," cried out Yun-Seong, his forehead pressed to the ground. Han Myong listened the entire time, and despite his expressionless exterior, he was moaning on the inside.

The air fell silent around the dojo, as everyone awaited to hear Hwang's reply to the young man's request.

"You arrogant, blind fool…" breathed Hwang in disgust, as he left the dojo grounds seething.

Han Myong sighed deeply, closing his eyes, his wrinkled brow furrowing. Yun-Seong stayed in the kowtow position, his eyes welling up with tears.

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"Did you have to be so hard on him, Hwang?" said Seong Mi-na, leaping down from a tree branch.

"How did you find me here?"

"This is your usual spot when you want to be alone and think isn't it?" replied the young girl. Hwang was sitting on a cliff at the edge of a forest overlooking the city. The lanterns in the city were lighting up as the sky darkened. The stars began to shine one by one, their glow flowing across the waves of the sea.

"Well yes but I usually enjoy quiet contemplation alone…"

"You're evading the question Hwang. Why did you have to be so hard on Yun-Seong back there? He practically idolizes you! You have to understand where he is coming from."

"I left because he was young and an upstart, the way I used to be when I was his age. I don't mind if he sees me as an idol but I do mind the fact that he thinks that by challenging me to a duel he'll become great."

"Don't tell me you're jealous?"

"I have no time for those types of emotions, Mi-na. Here, let me tell you a story. While I was searching for you I crossed barren, desolate countries. I met nomads during my stay in Mongolia and if it were not for them I would have succumbed to the harsh whims of the desert. They were decent folk, and were kind to share with me the little that they had. I didn't speak the language nor was I one of their people but they certainly took me in. Now how was their kindness and good works repaid? They were slaughtered by the clan of a warlord since they did not have enough for tribute to the khanate. Women, children, men, they were all slaughtered like cattle, as if their lives were totally worthless. What that young man may believe was a journey of heroism and bravery, was really a descent into the bowels of the world. If he thinks he can understand all of this simply by dueling me like a drunken buffoon at a bar, then its best if we never see each other again…" Hwang got up and dusted off his pants, and looked up towards the sky.

"There is much that lies beyond the sea, Mi-na. Much that you and I would rather not care to know," said Hwang as he re-entered the forest, heading for his home.

Mi-na was left speechless, simply left to stand there alone. The young woman sat down for a moment, and stared up at the sky.

"That's why we dream Hwang, that's why we dream…"

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The next day at the dojo, Seong Mi-na couldn't shake the previous night's conversation out of her head.

"Mi-na, you've hardly touched breakfast…" replied Han Myong, sneakily angling his chopsticks to swipe a piece of Mi-na's fish. She swiftly replied by parrying his chopsticks.

"Waiting until my defenses are down, you silly old man!" snickered Mi-na.

"Hmmph," replied Han Myong, returning to his meal and grumbling.

"I'm just worried about Hwang and Yun-Seong. Hwang is nothing like the man I knew when he brought me back to the dojo. Something has really gotten to him but he wouldn't tell me what. And now I think Yun-Seong may have just been at the wrong place at the wrong time. Did he show up this morning?"

"No I haven't seen him since he left the dojo yesterday. He looked really upset though, and I hope he's not too angry at Hwang."

"It really is unfair though, what would've been wrong with a match between the two of them?"

"Hwang is the type of man that puts a heavy burden on himself. He carries the weight of the world sometimes, but it really isn't his place to do so. If I were you I wouldn't worry too much about Yun-Seong. It'll take him some time to sort everything out in his head, but he'll come around to reality eventually."

"It'd be wonderful to be as optimistic as you…hey…where'd my fish go?" replied Seong Mi-na as Han Myong gulped down the last piece of fish. The two of them looked at each other, and then began to laugh.

---------------------

Mi-na had decided to drop in on Yun-Seong to see how he was doing. After all, from what Han Myong said, he must have been pretty distraught after being turned down by Hwang. Yun-Seong lived in a small house in the hills away from the city. His parents were taken by illness when he was younger, and he'd been living here by himself for awhile. Mi-na knocked on the door twice, but was surprised to find no response. The door gave in to her knock, indicating it was not locked. Suspicious, Mi-na opened the door slowly and looked inside to find the house completely bare.

"What the….where is everything?"

Everything in the house was gone, including Yun-Seong's clothing and keepsakes. Thinking that something bad had happened, Mi-na ran all the way back to the dojo almost not taking a break to catch her breath. When she made it into the main building, she found Han Myong standing in front of an empty weapon case, his hands behind his back.

"Master, Yun-Seong …" said Mi-na panting for air.

"It seems the young man has gone on a trip, and has taken a souvenir with him…" replied Han Myong, pointing to the empty weapon rack.