"Hani is just like you. She does not get scared. You see she grabbed the hand of Ji Hoon and twisted it. I can imagine the pain he suffered that time," Sunwo stated who was lying on his bed.
"I do not think she is like Yoon Shik at all. They are different. The only thing that is similar in both of you is that you two do not get scared. Well, I still remember that day when she came running to the garden which was restricted for Yangbans only. She was such a small kid then and hid behind Yoon Shik when Sung Tae talked with her in a loud voice," stated Do Yeong and slightly laughed.
"Sung Tae, do you remember?!" Yeong asked.
"How can I forget? That was the first time someone offended me," Sung Tae replied and looked at Yoon Shik who was sitting on the second bed, above Sunwo.
"That was the place where yours chemistry started with him?" Sunwo asked.
"What do you mean by chemistry? You should say it was one-"
"Fated encounter," Sunwo stated and started laughing. Do Yeong also laughed along with him. "Stop it, Sunwo," Yoon Shik and Sung Tae spoke at the same time. They then glared at each other. Lee Eunshi just then entered the room. Sunwo got down the bed and quickly swung his arm around Lee Eunshi's shoulder.
"Where were you?" he then asked. Lee Eunshi put down Sunwo's hand from his shoulder. "Do not ever do that. I do not like these kinds of gestures," he declared and walked to his bed.
"Why are you getting angry? We all are friends," asserted Sunwo.
"I am not your friend," stated Lee Eunshi and picked the book from the tiny table. He then seated on his bed and started reading it.
"By the way, Wang Wook is flogged today," Sunwo said and laughed. Do Yeong also laughed with him.
"Why?" Sung Tae asked.
"Because he is punished for not speaking for two days and if he speaks then he will be flogged," Sunwo declared and laughed.
"He should not have said false things," Sung Tae stated. Do Yeong nodded and looked at Yoon Shik who was smiling.
"Will you all stop talking? Do you not have eyes that I am reading?" Lee Eunshi muttered and glared at Sunwo.
"We studied all day. So, are now relaxing by talking with each other. You should not be angry over such little things. I have one important information. From tomorrow we will have archery session too. Ahh, I suck in that," Sunwo asserted.
"How did you find about this? Archery sessions usually start late" Lee Eunshi stated and put the book aside which he was holding.
"I easily get such kinds of information. I can be a good secret agent," Sunwo said and smiled. Lee Eunshi shook his head in disbelief which Sunwo noticed. "Well, they think students must be well versed in these things. So, they are starting early from this session," stated Sunwo.
"I do not know archery. Will there be points allocated for archery class?" Yoon Shik queried.
"Of course, there will be marks for that. Those classes are extracurricular because of a reason so that one can get towards graduation points. Studies are difficult here and to pass the exam is also tough that is why we are given such additional subjects. Not only as you are preparing to be a government official so such skills are needed," asserted Do Yeong.
"Okay," Yoon Shik answered.
"You stepped inside this academy but graduating from here is going to be tough," asserted Lee Eunshi.
"I will work hard," Yoon Shik replied with a determined tone.
"Do you really think you will be able to graduate from here?" Lee Eunshi asked him and chuckled.
"What do you mean?" Yoon Shik asked. Sung Tae, Do Yeong and Sunwo looked at Lee Eunshi.
"You are a Sangmin. Yangbans won't let you come out of this academy. I might be sounding rude but this is the truth. A Sangmin reaching the level of Yangban is not acceptable to anyone. Nobility is all about keeping people under them. So, in my opinion you should not struggle that much and just try to be get yourself a job in the academy itself if you graduate next year," stated Lee Eunshi.
"Future is still unknown. I cannot give up just based on this assumption. Many people stopped me from giving this exam but still I passed this. I believe that I can make till the end," asserted Yoon Shik.
He stepped down the bed through a small wooden stair and walked out of the room.
"Is he angry?" muttered Sung Tae. "Eunshi, you should not tell him such things. He ignores the good advise," pronounced Sung Tae and slightly chuckled.
"He makes me feel something," Lee Eunshi murmured and got up from the bed. "I am also going out," he said and left the room.
Yoon Shik went to the library and saw Jangmi there who was writing something on a notebook. "Ahjussi," Yoon Shik called and smiled. Hearing Yoon Shik's voice, Jangmi rose his eyes up to meet his gaze. Instantly he got up from the chair with a delighted face. Yoon Shik went to him. "Yoon Shik, you made it," Jangmi said and patted his shoulder.
"Thank you for the help you offered me for 9 years," Yoon Shik said with a smile. He saw Jangmi's eyes were filled with tears. "Ahjussi, why does it seem you are going to cry?" Yoon Shik questioned.
"Ahh, these are the tears of happiness. I always thought it would be impossible for people like us but you proved us wrong. I am really happy that you entered here. I even heard that you were given a royal decree for the appointment by his majesty," stated Jangmi.
"Yes. But it is of no use unless I get passed from here, qualifying for national civil service examination," stated Yoon Shik.
"Yes. There is this exam which will give you a government post. If you have passed this then that means you can pass that too. I believe in you," Jangmi said with a delighted face.
"How is Ahjussi Baek doing?" Yoon Shik asked.
"He is good. After you left the job and came here the restaurant looks empty without you. Everyone misses you," Jangmi replied. "New books have come. Do you want to read a good book on governance? It is written by the great scholar of this kingdom, Scholar Kwak Jung Nim," stated Jangmi.
"Sure. I want to read the book by the great Scholar of our kingdom," replied Yoon Shik and expressed his desire to read the book. Jangmi nodded and went towards his right. He took out a book and gave it to Yoon Shik. "Read it thoroughly," Jangmi said.
"Thank you, Ahjussi," Yoon Shik replied and went to a table- chair there. He got seated on the chair. He opened the book and started reading that.
"This boy still works so hard. Now, I really want to see him as a government official," Jangmi murmured and continued his work.
~~~~~~~~~
In the lecture hall everyone was informed by Master Jin that before the lunch archery class will be there. Master Jin is the instructor of accountancy. After announcing that he left the lecture hall. The students walked out of the lecture halls.
They all reached the huge open ground. There was a large platform was made from which the targets were to hit. Total 10 targets were made hundreds of meters away from the platform. Behind the platform there were bows and arrows placed on the tables.
"The instructor is here," a loud announcement was made. Everyone shifted their gaze towards the platform. Yoon Shik was startled as he saw the person on the platform was none other than he encountered in the forest. He looked at him intensely when Yeong hit his arm lightly from his, making him come out of his thoughts.
"Why are you staring the master so much?" Yeong queried.
"No, I am not. Is he not look so young?" Yoon Shik muttered.
"Hmm, he looks young. I also wonder why Sungkyunkwan hired such a young person to teach us," Yeong asserted.
"What is she doing here?" wondered Lee Eunshi.
"He looks as if he is a girl," said Sunwo in a low voice. Yeong and Yoon Shik who were standing close to Sunwo chuckled upon hearing that. "What? Do you not think? Her figure is so petite like a girl," Sunwo stated.
"You should stop going to Kisaeng (Courtesan) House," Yeong told him.
"You go there?" Yoon Shik asked.
"Yes," Sunwo replied.
"It is not a good place. They consider women as objects there," Yoon Shik said in a low voice.
"He just goes there for getting information," Do Yeong stated, thus defending Sunwo.
"What kind of information?!" Yoon Shik asked.
"You have so many questions in your mind. Focus on the class," Sunwo whispered.
Noh Eunho was talking something with head administrator when her eyes fell on Yoon Shik. "What is he doing here?" Eunho thought. She skipped the thing which Head Administrator told her as she panicked.
"Head Administrator Hyun Woo, may I ask what is that person doing here?" Eunho asked, pointing her finger towards Yoon Shik. Kang Hyun Woo looked in that direction and saw Yoon Shik.
"You also know him, Cheung Shin?" asked Hyun Woo. (Noh Eunho uses pseudonym for her name that is 'Cheung Shin'- I will use this name mostly.)
"No, I saw him somewhere," Cheung Shin replied.
"He is from Sangmin class who passed the exam to enter Sungkyunkwan," pronounced Hyun Woo.
"What? A Sangmin has passed this exam? Unbelievable!" Cheung Shin stated.
"Indeed it is. He passed with second rank," Hyun Woo declared. Cheung Shin nodded.