Chapter 12 …
Parting with Jin Aseol
Geomryeong walked out of the traveling troupe and strolled through the market street.
“People are really strange. Why don’t they believe what I say?”
He could feel that the people of the troupe didn’t trust his words.
“Is it because I’m close with Grandpa Ghost?”
Back on Black Darkness Island, when he would boast to the child every day, Cheon Nam-yeon would scold Gu Young-cheol for exaggerating—but in truth, it wasn’t an exaggeration.
For the three of them, it was truth, but for the listeners, it was hard to believe. That was inevitable.
The same applied to Geomryeong.
Living with the three of them was his everyday life, but for others, it was an opportunity they might never experience in their lifetime.
Based on the stories he had heard from them while growing up, associating with these people could seem unusual to outsiders.
“It must be because I’m still young. If I show people my martial skills, they’ll believe me.”
Geomryeong was of age, but he was still a child in terms of worldly knowledge.
Though he learned quickly, the gap between himself and others could not be bridged so easily.
“No… Grandpa Godeok said martial arts shouldn’t be practiced just to show off. Grandma Jeonmo also said martial arts shouldn’t be learned to boast.”
Lost in thought, Geomryeong shook his head.
“Why do I even have to think about this?”
Looking back, it was true.
Just because people didn’t believe he was a master didn’t mean he wasn’t one.
“That’s right. Grandpa Ghost said in the martial world, it’s better to hide oneself if one can.”
Geomryeong smiled brightly, as if a long-standing problem had been solved.
“If people don’t believe me, that’s even better. I’m not lying, after all.”
His steps became lighter.
When he returned to the Gangnam Trading Post, a crowd had gathered.
“What’s going on?”
Geomryeong asked Chief Manager Seo Nam-chun as he approached the gathering.
“Geomryeong? Coming back after finishing your errands?”
“Yes!”
There was no need to mention his visit to the traveling troupe.
“By the way, what’s happening? Looks like a female guest has come.”
“How did you know?”
“I’m a master in the martial world. I can sense people’s presence.”
Snap!
Nearby, Naguk tossed a chestnut at Geomryeong.
Although he had lost his right arm to Ak Jeong, the head of Wangak Mountain Outpost, he had been living at the Trading Post under the care of Madam Jin Seol, observing the martial skills of the post’s staff.
“Inseok, can’t a master even dodge this?”
“Well, there’s no murderous intent. And it’s not like a chestnut can kill…”
“If you can’t even say anything… Didn’t you realize a guest had come by seeing the shoes left at the main hall?”
Seo Nam-chun nodded at Naguk’s words.
With the new shoes in sight, it was natural to assume a guest had arrived.
“I almost got fooled too.”
“No, it’s true… But why did that old lady come?”
“A high-ranking person from the Wolyeong Sect came. She wants our Aseol to become her disciple.”
Geomryeong nodded.
He had guessed correctly that Naeng Yeoseol approached Jin Aseol to make her a disciple.
“A talented Aseol is becoming a disciple of the Wolyeong Sect. So a girl like Aseol will become a martial artist?”
The others, perhaps not wanting to argue with Geomryeong, spoke as if assuming Aseol was truly a master.
“That’s unknown. If Madam allows it, she will go to the Wolyeong Sect to learn martial arts. In ten years, our Gangnam Trading Post could gain fame and grow significantly.”
Seo Nam-chun said this with some excitement.
Who would dare mess with a Trading Post that had a martial arts master? In fact, the post only needed to watch out for the Green Forest Outposts and the Watercolor Faction, but no one could confront the Wolyeong Sect.
Even the rumor that Jin Aseol was becoming a disciple would make many merchants want to entrust their goods to the post.
“I see. Well, since that lady is a master, she can teach Aseol well.”
Seo Nam-chun and Naguk exchanged a few words with Geomryeong, but they didn’t know one thing: how Geomryeong had already known that the guest was an old lady.
Clatter!
The door opened, and Jin Seol, Jin Aseol, and Naeng Yeoseol stepped out together.
As the three emerged, the people gathered before the main hall moved aside.
“They were probably standing there out of curiosity, Seonja-nim!”
Jin Seol, concerned that her staff might have offended Naeng Yeoseol, first asked for understanding and then relayed the result.
“Our Aseol has decided to become a disciple of the Wolyeong Sect.”
“Waaah!”
The crowd cheered at the news.
It was natural that they rejoiced, since the growth of the Trading Post would also bring them benefits.
‘Is becoming a disciple of the Wolyeong Sect really such a joyful thing? I heard there are stronger and better sects in the martial world…’
For a family running a trading post in a remote place like Hong Kong, even the Wolyeong Sect was a huge privilege.
Still, with Wolyeong Seonja, one of the top hundred martial masters, as the former head, and Aseol becoming her direct disciple, the joy was understandable.
‘Should I just play with her and teach her martial arts?’
Geomryeong thought.
Playing with Jin Aseol wasn’t boring. Occasionally teasing her was also fun.
If Aseol left to learn martial arts under Wolyeong Seonja, he would lose that enjoyable pastime, which felt like a personal loss.
—“The world is unpredictable. If it’s not your responsibility, you must not make assertions.”
This was what Cheon Nam-yeon had told him. Unlike the blunt Gu Young-cheol, he had taught Geomryeong many things.
‘Indeed, I can’t teach Aseol martial arts by her side.’
Though fun now, he realized that in a year, things might change, so it was better for Aseol to learn martial arts at the Wolyeong Sect.
Jin Aseol approached Geomryeong and spoke.
“Uncle! I’m going to learn martial arts! Aren’t you jealous?”
She said it to tease him.
“No, not at all. I’m already a master.”
“Ha! I’ll become a real master! Not a fake one like you!”
Emphasizing “real master,” Jin Aseol glanced at Naeng Yeoseol, seeking acknowledgment.
Naeng Yeoseol nodded at her gaze.
Jin Aseol smiled triumphantly at Geomryeong, as if saying, ‘See?’
“Yes, the Wolyeong Sect’s martial arts are extraordinary. Aseol will definitely become a martial master.”
Jin Aseol made a face, thinking, ‘Not exactly…’
“When you go to learn martial arts, don’t cry saying you miss your father. And don’t cry saying you miss me either.”
“I’m a kid!”
Jin Aseol shouted and ran into Jin Seol’s arms.
“Or not… shouting is…”
“Uncle, I’m not playing with you!”
The people smiled at their playful banter.
“Geomryeong!”
Naeng Yeoseol called him.
“Yes?”
“Wouldn’t you like to learn martial arts as well? Studying alongside Aseol will be fun and never boring.”
Naeng Yeoseol tried to tempt him, but Geomryeong’s response was indifferent.
“You shouldn’t miss this opportunity, Geomryeong.”
Others nearby also urged him to go learn at the Wolyeong Sect, but he remained steadfast.
“Uncle, don’t do that. Learn martial arts with Aseol instead.”
“No. I’m already a master. Why learn more? You should go and surpass me in martial arts.”
No matter how great the Wolyeong Sect’s martial arts were, they still differed from what he had learned. Besides, he was not keen on taking a different master other than his three teachers.
“Pfft, always claiming to be a master. Not even a real master.”
“I am a real master!”
“Master! Is Geomryeong really a master?”
Having heard that masters can recognize other masters, Jin Aseol asked Naeng Yeoseol.
“Well… I can’t recognize this master.”
Naeng Yeoseol tactfully implied that Geomryeong was indeed a master, though she didn’t reveal it directly.
“Wow! A master even you can’t recognize?”
Pretending to be surprised, she teased him slightly.
“That’s right. If Aseol learns diligently, she can become a master like Geomryeong. So go and study hard.”
“Yes! Master!”
Geomryeong understood that they were teasing him, but he accepted it calmly.
Before leaving Black Darkness Island, he had attained his final enlightenment and could defeat Cheon Nam-yeon in a life-or-death duel in just over fifty seconds.
If he wanted, he could always defeat Naeng Yeoseol in a fight, but knowing she bore no ill will and that she didn’t believe he was a master, he saw no point in arguing over it.
‘Someday, people will recognize that I am a master.’
