Yoon Shik was coming from the Infirmary when he encountered Cheung Shin. "Master Shin," Yoon greeted him and bowed his head.
"How are your hands?" Cheung Shin asked.
"They are not so good," replied Yoon Shik, looking at his hands which were bandaged. Cheung Shin placed his hand on his nape and then asked Yoon Shik if he had told anything about that day to anyone.
"Which day, master?" Yoon Shik questioned.
"The day I was being attacked by some robbers and you saved me." Cheung Shin gave a twisted reply to Yoon. Yoon shook his head in refusal. "No, I did not tell anyone," Yoon replied. Cheung Shin was relaxed upon hearing the response.
"But if they were robbers, then what is wrong in telling others, master?" Yoon Shik asked. Cheung Shin smiled.
"I happened to lost a really precious item of my brother to those robbers. If he would find about that then Hyung-nim (men use this as Elder brother in Korean) will not spare me. I did not know those robbers could fight as well else I would have never fought with them and lost that precious item to them." Cheung Shin explained Yoon Shik.
"You should be careful, master. Did you report about this in the Police Bureau, master Shin?" Yoon Shik asked him.
"I could not. Hyung-nim works in Police Bureau itself," Cheung Shin stressed his words.
"I understand. It means your elder brother is quite strict. Do not worry, I will never tell about that incident to anyone," Yoon Shik proclaimed. Cheung Shin patted Yoon Shik's shoulder. "You are really an obedient person. I like such persons." Yoon Shik smiled.
Cheung Shin put his hand down. "Master, can I ask you a question?" Yoon Shik asked with a bit hesitancy.
"Yes, you can ask." Cheung Shin permitted Yoon.
"Master, can I change department if I qualify in the next national level exam? I mean his majesty has given the decree to me to serve a 7th grade officer in Department of Rites. So, I would like to know if I can go into a better department if I qualify the exam with a good rank?" Yoon Shik put forwarded his question.
"Yes, you can. If you get 1st rank, you can get the Department of Personnel or Law. Either one of them you will get easily," Cheung Shin replied. "But it is not going to be easy. I am not looking down on you but there are already some intellects in your batch who will excel that exam. Why? Because they were being trained that way since their childhood days. You have to work hard for that… extreme hard work is needed," Cheung Shin pronounced.
"I know, master Shin. Thank you for telling me," Yoon Shik expressed his gratitude. "I shall take my leave, then," saying this Yoon Shik turned to go when Cheung Shin stopped him.
"If the king has given the decree of giving 'Department of Rites' to you in the future then there might be some reason behind that," Cheung Shin proclaimed. Yoon Shik turned to him and with an inquisitiveness peered at him. "I did not understand what is Master trying to say?"
"I mean his majesty knows what is good and what is bad. He has bestowed you this decree because of a reason. Indeed, the Department of Rites will not take you anywhere but that place is the right place to arise," Cheung Shin pronounced. "His majesty must have something in his mind that's why he made the decree like that. So, just try to qualify the exam. Secure yourself first and then plan the things ahead."
Yoon Shik became thoughtful of those words. He wanted to ask further but then Cheung Shin told him that he had to leave. Yoon Shik slightly bowed his head as Cheung Shin walked away.
Yoon Shik was coming to his Dormitory wing when Ji Hoon came to him. Yoon Shik ignored him when Ji Hoon called out his name which made him stop. Ji Hoon stepped towards Yoon and came at his front. "Forgive me for the morning's incident. Your sister's name is dragged in all this, I apologize for that," Ji Hoon stated as he gave a 90 degrees bow.
Yoon Shik was shocked seeing this. "It's fine. You do not need to bow before me," Yoon Shik proclaimed. Ji Hoon straightened himself. "Forgive my sister for being rude to you. I will tell her to apologize to you formally when I will go home," Yoon Shik stated.
"That's not needed. She apologized to me in the market today. I was coming there from market when encountered her. She apologized to me. But morning incident was not good. Even I have a sister so, I truly understand that we were wrong," Ji Hoon asserted.
Yoon Shik was startled to see the sudden change in Ji Hoon's behaviour. He could not believe that other than his roommates and friends, a Yangban was talking respectfully with him. "Ji Hoon, did Yeong told you anything? I mean earlier you were annoyed at me," Yoon Shik as he knitted his brows.
Ji Hoon gave a tiny smile to him. "The thing Yeong-aa told in morning make me realize that I did bad. I have no grudge against you. It's just that day, I had something going on with me and then she argued with me which angered me," Ji Hoon pronounced.
"Thank you for letting go this incident. I will talk out with Hani once more about this," Yoon Shik assured him.
"You should. Hani looks at world differently but it is not. By the way, you should be careful from Chan Sul. Today's incident must have made him more furious so. Try to avoid him as much as you can," Ji Hoon advised Yoon Shik.
"I do not know why they have problem with me. I did nothing wrong with them," Yoon Shik said confusedly.
"It is because you defy them. Like, mostly the class below us fear us but you do not. I think that has made him furious not only him but a few others as well," Ji Hoon told Yoon Shik.
Yoon Shik chuckled. He was surprised to see just because he never feared them, those few people pick on him and provoke him to do things which could even expel him. Today, Do Yeong had saved him else he would have been punished severely for using violence again. He now found that those few people will always provoke him but he had to kept his composure to survive among them.
"Yoon Shik, I shall leave," Ji Hoon said and went opposite to him. Yoon Shik on the other hand went to his room.
~~~~~~~~
Lee Eunshi was done completing the essay for the next day class and went to the bed. He laid down on the bed and thought to take a nap when the door was pushed so hard by someone which disturbed him. He tilted his head to see and saw Sunwo coming in. Behind him there was Sung Tae.
"Can't you open the door lightly?" Lee Eunshi asked Sunwo.
"I mistakenly pushed it that hard. Sorry, I disturbed your sleep," Sunwo apologized and smiled. Lee Eunshi did not say anything and averted his gaze from him. Sung Tae opened the knot on his hat and put it down on the table there.
"Did you see Do Yeong?" Sung Tae asked Lee Eunshi.
"No."
"Where did he go? Even I did not see him in the academy after the class," Sunwo muttered.
"He must be with Yoon Shik. They are close friends," Sung Tae stated.
"No. He is not with me," Yoon Shik replied who was at the door, listening their conversation.
"Then, where is he? Night is going to fall. He never stays this late outside," Sunwo said with a worried look.