Hwang woke up in the armory the next morning after being knocked out by Mi-na.
He stood up feeling really confused and left the armory, which was placed outside the dojo.
The sun was rising. Everybody must have still been sleeping at the dojo.
Feeling dizzy, and without remembering what had exactly happened, he entered the dojo and he headed towards the kitchen, in order to get something to eat and try to remember what had happened the night before.
But, to his surprise, he found out that the kitchen had been emptied. The cupboards were open and the remaining food was scattered all over the place, but most of it had disappeared.
At that moment, Hwang started to remember. He remembered that the last thing he heard before being knocked out was Mi-na saying: "This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you".
And then he started to connect the events that had taken place.
Just to confirm his suspicions, he went back to the armory. One of the weapons was missing, just like he had thought. In particular, a halberd.
He just had something left to check in order to develop his theory.
He headed to Mi-na's bedroom and went in, at the risk of finding her inside and having to put up with one of her tantrums.
But like he had anticipated, the room was empty. Mi-na was gone, and so were her belongings.
Undoubtedly, Mi-na had escaped from the dojo. In order to do so, she had taken a weapon, some food and all her belongings. Hwang didn't know why she had done that, but the fact that she had listened to his conversation with her father made him think that she was going to do something crazy and go to find Soul Edge herself.
He immediately headed to Mr. and Mrs. Seong's bedroom.
He knew that the owner of the dojo would be really upset if awakened so early. He wasn't one of those demanding masters who trained themselves until their death and wanted their pupils to work hard all day. He was rather permissive. He himself didn't wake up until midday, and his pupils had a right to rest twelve hours a day at the most and could choose when to do so.
But the situation was really serious. It was all about the master's daughter. He would understand.
Hwang arrived at the Seong's bedroom door, he hesitated for a second and finally he knocked it with his knuckles.
He didn't get any answer, so he insisted. Still nothing.
He was about to enter the room when he heard a voice behind his back.
- What are you doing?
Hwang turned around. It was Yunsung, the boy who liked Mi-na.
- I need to talk to the master. But it's not your business. Go back to your room or get out and start your training. – answered Hwang roughly.
- I don't believe the master will be happy with you bothering him at this time. – replied Yunsung, ignoring Hwang's order.
- I'm not happy with a brat sticking his nose in my business. – said a menacing Hwang, confronting Yunsung.
Both of them stood still staring at each other, defiantly.
- Maybe you should talk to Mi-na instead. – suggested Yunsung. – She's already awake. I've seen her bedroom's door open and she wasn't inside.
Hwang pursed his lips, losing his patience.
- It's just a piece of advice. – ended Yunsung, before leaving with steady steps.
Hwang waited for him to get far enough and entered the Seong's room.
At that very moment, Han-Myeong was getting up, while his wife remained asleep.
The two men didn't react for some seconds, until the master finally spoke.
- May I ask what is it that you are still doing here? – whispered the master in an angry mood.
- Eh...
- Wait for me outside. This isn't a good place for talking.
Hwang bowed and retired, closing the room's door.
...
- Mi-na did...what? – exclaimed Han-Myeong when Hwang explained what had happened.
- I'm sorry, master. I should have done something else to prevent her from leaving, but she caught me by surprise.
- What could the reason be for that rebellious behaviour?
- I don't know, master, but maybe…
Hwang stopped talking.
- Yes?
- You will see...she confessed to me that...she didn't want me to risk my life in such a dangerous task. Maybe she decided to go in my place.
Han-Myeong was thinking about it when a voice interrupted them. A disgusting voice, which was unfortunately familiar to Hwang.
- That is absurd. – interrupted Yunsung, getting out of his hiding place, where he had been listening to their conversation.
- Hong Yunsung! – the master scolded him. – This was a private conversation!
- Your daughter listened to one, why can't I? – replied an insolent Yunsung.
- Boy, you'd better get away before I slap your face! – exclaimed Hwang.
- Calm down, Hwang. – asked the master. – That's not what we do at this place.
He talked to Yunsung.
- Your punishment will be to clean up the weapons of the armory, during this whole week. And you'd better start now if you don't want it to be this whole month.
- What are you going to do regarding Mi-na? – asked Yunsung, ignoring the master's words.
- Are you deaf, boy? – yelled Hwang. – Out of my sight!
- I'm not going anywhere without knowing what you are going to do. Because if you don't go after her…I will.
- Ha! – laughed Hwang, sarcastically. – It would be a hard task even for me, so imagine for a little stupid boy like you.
- Enough! – yelled the master this time. - Yunsung, get out of here or the consequences could be really disgusting.
Yunsung didn't change his defiant face.
- All right. I get out.
Yunsung quickly headed to the armory. But he wasn't going to clean up the weapons.
He searched among the many weapons and he found what he was looking for. Hwang's favourite saber, which he always used on practices and displays.
He picked it up, sheathed it and he left the dojo, managing to prevent Hwang and the master from seeing him.
He didn't even take any supplies. He was determined and very self-confident, and he thought he could survive at his own means.
Mi-na could be the master's daughter and she could be in love with Hwang, but there was something she had in common with Yunsung. Rebelliousness.
Yunsung was going to find the girl he loved. At all costs.