Chapter 10….
Moonlight Sect Disciple, Naeng Yeoseol
Geomryeong went to the place where Naeng Yeoseol was in order to buy some traditional sweets.
“Please give me some sweets.”
After paying first, Geomryeong waited for her to put the sweets into a paper bag.
“Did you say your name is Geomryeong?”
“Yes.”
“It seems you’ve left home out of a yearning for the martial world.”
Just by mentioning to Jin Aseol that he was the greatest master under heaven, she assumed he had a fascination with the martial world and asked.
“Rather than yearning for the martial world, it’s because my grandparents wanted me to go out into the world and live on my own.”
“Grandparents?”
“Yes. They said it would be lonely if I lived alone. That’s why I came into the martial world.”
“Then, did you learn martial arts from your elders?”
“Yes, I did.”
Naeng Yeoseol looked Geomryeong over again but could not find any trace of martial arts training on him. Yet, she didn’t think he was an unrecognizable master either. She suspected he was lying.
“I see. Then what kind of martial arts did you learn?”
“I learned a little of everything. But do I really have to tell my grandmother all about it?”
“No… no, it’s just that I’m familiar with the Moonlight Sect. Would you like to try learning true martial arts there? If you do, you could become a martial artist renowned even in the martial world.”
Geomryeong thought briefly about the Moonlight Sect, which he had heard about from Jeonmo Yakbing, and nodded.
“Oh… so my grandmother was from the Moonlight Sect.”
Naeng Yeoseol tilted her head at Geomryeong’s confident remark.
“Why do you think your grandmother is from the Moonlight Sect?”
“Because she’s also a master.”
Geomryeong took the paper bag of sweets she had packed for him and said,
“I don’t know why you’re selling sweets here. But I’ve already become a master without learning martial arts at the Moonlight Sect. And now, learning martial arts feels tedious.”
He had learned martial arts since he could perceive the world, and the martial arts taught by the three who had trained him were no ordinary techniques. Having mastered them, Geomryeong no longer felt the need to learn anything further, nor did he want to.
Naeng Yeoseol couldn’t tell whether he was truly speaking from experience or just assuming things.
“Geomryeong, you shouldn’t think about it so lightly. Your physical condition is exceptional, and I specifically wanted to introduce you to them.”
“I appreciate it, but I’m fine. I’m already a master. Is it perhaps because Aseol’s potential is exceptional that you’re doing this?”
Geomryeong guessed in advance, thinking that a master like Naeng Yeoseol wouldn’t bother otherwise.
“Well…”
Naeng Yeoseol paused mid-sentence.
“If it’s Aseol, she will learn diligently.”
Saying this, Geomryeong got up and turned to leave.
Watching him walk away, Naeng Yeoseol bit her lip. Then, with a determined look, she picked up a tiny pebble from the ground and flicked it toward Geomryeong’s thigh with her fingers.
The stone flew toward Geomryeong’s thigh at lightning speed.
“Mr. Wang! What brings you here?”
Just as the stone was about to hit his thigh, Geomryeong changed direction and avoided it.
“Isn’t this Geomryeong? Are you working?”
It was a slightly small-statured man who sold sweets in the market.
Naeng Yeoseol thought he had avoided her attack by chance. Then, she flicked another tiny stone at him.
“No, I’m just here to buy sweets from that grandmother.”
Geomryeong again moved his body, this time evading Naeng Yeoseol while facing her.
“I see. No wonder you said you weren’t coming to buy sweets—you were actually here eating them.”
Geomryeong gave an awkward smile and quickly left the spot.
Naeng Yeoseol tilted her head, puzzled. He didn’t seem to have noticed her attack, yet the timing was too uncanny to be mere coincidence.
“Hmm…”
Before she knew it, Geomryeong had disappeared.
Seeing that he was gone, Naeng Yeoseol got up without hesitation and gathered the sweets.
“I’ll know more if I watch a little longer.”
After she left, shortly afterward, Na Geolge appeared, looking around.
“She looks like Naeng Yeoseol of the Moonlight Sect…”
Na Geolge paused for a moment in thought, then followed the direction where she had disappeared.
“Who in the Moonlight Sect could be such a master…”
He had learned about some martial arts masters from the likes of Godokmaya Cheon Nam-yeon, Ghost Martial Lord Gu Young-cheol, and Jeonmo Yakbing.
By his standards, Naeng Yeoseol was definitely a master.
After a moment’s thought, his eyes sparkled.
“If she is Naeng Yeoseol of the Moonlight Sect, she could indeed be that strong.”
Even if he wasn’t certain, she was stronger than most, and among the top hundred martial masters Gu Young-cheol had mentioned, only Naeng Yeoseol in the Moonlight Sect fit the profile.
Even though the Moonlight Sect was neutral, not everyone recommended could join. To be recommended and allowed to study there meant she must hold a certain position within the sect.
He concluded that Naeng Yeoseol, the Moonlight Sect disciple, could be that kind of master.
“She’s sly—attacking when people turn their backs. Not quite what I expected.”
He had heard many stories about the top hundred martial masters, including their personalities and actions. Naeng Yeoseol seemed to have a slightly cunning side, contrary to what he had heard.
“Since I’m a man, I’ll overlook it. But by the way, have more people started observing the Tong family?”
Recently, Geomryeong noticed three groups monitoring the Tong family. Though their actions weren’t overtly strange, they were annoying to his nerves.
“None of them followed me from the market, though. Usually, the Ghost Elder would have warned if something was about to happen…”
Geomryeong couldn’t understand why these people were following him and monitoring the Tong family.
“Whatever. When have I ever cared about such things?”
His previous serious expression was gone as he shook his head in exasperation.
“Geomryeong!”
From a short distance, Jin Aseol’s voice called out.
“Aseol, what brings you here?”
“To buy sweets…”
Aseol noticed the bag of sweets in Geomryeong’s hand and smiled brightly.
Geomryeong tried to hide the bag, but it was too late.
“Wow! Oppa, you bought sweets for me!”
Jin Aseol cleverly switched between calling him “oppa” when convenient and “mister” otherwise, causing Geomryeong to smile awkwardly.
“Well…”
As Aseol reached out, Geomryeong instinctively handed her the bag.
‘This isn’t what I intended…’
Seeing her take a sweet and eat it, he felt a bit wronged but couldn’t do anything about it.
“Is it good?”
She asked while enjoying it, making smacking sounds.
“Yes! Mister, you should eat too. You’re bigger than me, so you should take the big one.”
Jin Aseol generously handed him the largest sweet as if giving him part of her own share.
Geomryeong couldn’t believe her action, but he took the large sweet and bit into it.
“Good, right?”
“Yes, it’s delicious. It tastes even better because you gave it to me.”
Jin Aseol said with a bright smile.
“Oppa, let’s go watch the market performances.”
“Market performances?”
“Yes! Today the traveling troupe is here.”
“Traveling troupe?”
“Yes! They do opera and comedic performances—it’s really fun. You’re going with me, right?”
Geomryeong nodded.
Being his first time, he was also curious about what the traveling troupe was like.
“Then let’s go now.
