Sorry for not updating the story these few days. There was no internet connection yesterday, and the day before I fell down while climbing down a mountain, getting cuts and bruises on my face, legs and arms, argh... Btw, i am so sorry that I forgot to credit DirtFlower in the last chapter. DirtFlower thought of the storyline, so all credits to DirtFlower. Let's continue with the story...
Just before leaving with Gi Chul, Choi Young found an excuse to return to his room for a moment. He hid the chemical in his pocket and sneaked in Eun Ja and Soo In's room. Both of them went to the training grounds to monitor the training of the private army. Choi Young poured some of the chemical into the flowers vases which were used as decorations in the room and left the room, pretending nothing had happened.
" I am ready! " reported Choi Young as he met Gi Chul by the stable.
" Hm.. Okay. Let's set off now. Soo In and Eun Ja would stay, they would not come with me. " replied Gi Chul.
" Why? " asked Choi Young, acting as though he didn't know the obvious reason. He just wanted to act really clueless in front of Gi Chul so as not to arouse any suspicion. Gi Chul sensed that he leaked out a little to much information. It was better if Choi Young knew little about where Eun Soo is locked, Gi Chul thought. Without a reply, Gi Chul got on his horse and rode off. Choi Young followed. Upon seeing Gi Chul's private army running from behind, towards the gates, Choi Young knew that Eun Ja and Soo In had returned to their room. Choi Young looked around for signs of Dae Man, but he didn't see him. Dae Man, vice captain and a junior hid on the roof, avoiding any eye contact from the soldiers on the ground. Once the army and Choi Young left, the trio climbed down the roof and checked the surroundings.
Dae Man guarded the room of Eun Ja and Soo In at a side while the other two checked the two suspicious rooms. They found no secret compartments nor signs of Eun Soo, hence deducing that Eun Soo was locked in the room which Eun Ja and Soo In stayed.
" Let's go in now! " hurried the vice captain.
" No wait! If Eun Soo was inside, why won't the general see her? Are you sure Eun Soo isn't in those two rooms? " questioned Dae Man. He spoked a little too loudly this time. The sharp eared Eun Ja heard everything and told Soo In not to speak. Eun Ja pointed towards the door, getting ready his flute while Soo In removed her glove. They pushed opened the Dodd and saw the trio outside. The three of them jumped backwards, in fear, momentarily forgetting about the chemical and its effect. When Soo In tried to used her fire hand, no scalding or burning occurred. Dae Man took the chance to attack her, catching Soo In by surprise. Eun Ja picked up his flute and tried blowing in it, but he didn't have enough air to get the flute to sound in the right tune. The vice captain seized him. Eun Ja had a dagger with him. He passed it to Soo In who started a counter attack too. The trio fought against the duo, fighting endlessly.
" Why are they still so strong? " grumbled Dae Man as he struggled to fight off them. Out of a blue, Eun Ja and Soo In clutched their abdomen and chest simultaneously, dropping their dagger and fists.
" What did you do to us? Why can't we use our powers and now we are feeling the pain? " demanded Soo In.
" The poison will destroy your powers. It will kill you. Tell me where is Eun Soo now, and I may consider giving you the antidote! " scared Dae Man.
" Don't be stupid, we won't fall for your trick. " argued Eun Ja.
" No! " shouted Soo In as she crawled closer to Eun Ja who was on his knees." if we can get the antidote, we can regain our powers, we can still stop him from saving Eun Soo. Give him a false location to stall some time first. " Eun Ja hesitated. Soo In and Eun Ja debated on and on, while Dae Man continued to force them to speak.
At the other side, Choi Young and Gi Chul have arrived at the Chul pushed open the doors of the Main Hall and both of them entered. The King and Queen were already seated. King Gongnim recovered faster than Choi Young as he had proper medical attention while for Choi Young, no healer was by his side.
" Gi Chul, can you explain your actions? Why do you want to attack me? " questioned King Gongnim.
" Your Majesty, are you not smart enough to understand? A king ought to be smart. " replied Gi Chul.
" You want me dead? " asked King Gongnim. The reply from Gi Chul was a mere cold laughter. Lady Choi couldn't stand seeing her nephew standing beside a bad guy, she didn't want her nephew to take the wrong step.
" Choi Young, do you really want to follow Gi Chul? He is right now standing in front of the King. In the past, you would definitely stand in front and protect the King. Take a look at what you are doing now! " Lady Choi started to say.
Choi Young lifted his head slightly and looked around at his position, with a sense of guilt, that he failed to protect the King until it was so late. However, now he was confident. He knew Dae Man won't fail him, he could concentrate on protecting the King.
" Don't listen to them Choi Young! You promised to stay by me and you would help me in all ways to change the King, then I will release Eun Soo. Don't you want her to be released? " asked Gi Chul.
" Choi Young, listen to Lady Choi. She knows you the best. All along you have been trying to help us. The attack on the King was a mistake, you didn't know about it and there was nothing you could do. " explained Queen Nogoog.
" Choi Young, what are you waiting for? Isn't Eun Soo the most important person in your heart right now? Kill the King and everyone else now. I believe you can fight them off easily! " ordered Gi Chul.
Choi Young was very clear in his mind what he was going to do next. He would have no regrets.
" Your Majesty, I am sorry! " apologised Choi Young. He raised his sword, pointing towards the King. Queen Nogoog stood up, not believing what she had just heard. She thought, " How can Choi Young choose to betray the King? Is Eun Soo really that important to him? "
" Good Job Choi Young, you made the right decision. I am glad that even without Soo In and Eun Ja, we would definitely be able to win the battle. When both of us combine forces, we can obviously win all of them! " laughed Gi Chul in delight, thinking that Choi Young has decided to join forces with him. But he didn't anticipate the next action, the next sentence.
Choi Young swung his sword in the direction of Gi Chul's neck. Gi Chul nearly died under that surprise attack, but his quick reflexes allowed him to step away instantly, receiving only a slight cut to his neck.
" I am sorry, that I was caught in a fix. I was foolish. The first person I should protect is your majesty and no one else. Sorry, for realising it after such a long time. But just now, I was very clear what I had to do. " continued Choi Young. Everyone gasped in shock. Gi Chul almost dropped his sword for he was standing all alone now, without any support.
" Don't think you will win me easily. I will never let this bunch of people live safely. Eun Soo is still in my hands! " threatened Gi Chul.
" Stop threatening me with Eun Soo. She asked me to protect the King first, so no matter what happens, I will follow what she says! " argued Choi Young. " Woodalchi! Prepare for attack. Beware of his freezing power. "
" Yes General! " echoed the Woodalchi. A smile was seen on the faces of everyone except Gi Chul who started to panic. He might not even escape this battle...
Gi Chul was a strong fighter and the real competitor he had was Choi Young. Gi Chul considered the rest as powerless and simply waving their swords around. When the swords of Choi Young and Gi Chul clashed, everyone stared and looked at the duo. They were competing who could last longer, who had more energy.
" You will not win me! " said Gi Chul's eyes. Both pulled their swords away at the same time and the Woodalchi hurried over, closing up the gap and forcing Gi Chul to be on his knees.
" Your Majesty, what is your sentence for this criminal? " asked Choi Young.
" Your Majesty, don't forget. Choi Young is a criminal too. He fought with the Woodalchi and your soldiers. He harboured the thought of killing you too. " replied Gi Chul.
" Your Majesty, don't listen to Gi Chul. You have just seen what Choi Young has done. He is now willing to let go of Eun Soo just to protect you from Gi Chul. He cannot be found guilty and sentenced." Queen Nogoog immediately defended Choi Young.
" Bring Gi Chul into the prison and lock him up! Choi Young, I will give you another chance to be the General again. I will not forgive you the next time round. Follow me, I have some words to say to you." ordered King Gongnim.
" Your Majesty, how could you be so unfair and bias? Both Choi Young and I did the same thing. If not for me, Choi Young might be dead because of his stomach wound. And who caused him to be injured? It is you, your majesty. If he didn't insist on protecting you,meh might not be injured. He owes me his life. " argued Gi Chul, who tried to pull Choi Young into trouble too.
" My word is final. Nothing else! What are you people waiting for? " screamed the King. The soldiers took immediate action and forced Gi Chul out of the Main Hall.
Soo In gave Dae Man a false location, but Dae Man was smart enough not to believe in it. He grabbed Soo In's neck and forced Eun Ja to speak. Eun Ja uttered nothing while Dae Man continued struggling Soo In. The time was ticking. Eun Ja noticed his spies at the step of the door. They signalled to him that Choi Young betrayed Gi Chul. Eun Ja flew into a rage, mastering all his power once more, hoping that his power would work. However, once he exerted strength, he vomited blood out as the blood vessels of his systems ruptured and burst. Everything was shocked by the damage of the poison. Even Dae Man didn't know it would have such dire consequences. Dae Man quickly snapped back to his main aim.
" If you don't want to be like him, tell me where is Eun Soo now! " threatened Dae Man.
" In...my...room...! " Soo In said as she struggled to speak.