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chapter 10
Geomryeong went to the place where Naeng Yeoseol was to buy some traditional sweets.
“Please give me some sweets.”
After paying first, Geomryeong waited as she filled a paper bag with the treats.
“Did you say your name is Geomryeong?”
“Yes.”
“You must have left home out of admiration for the martial world.”
She asked, assuming that because Geomryeong had mentioned the so-called greatest martial artist in the world to Jin Aseol, he must long for the martial arts.
“I’m not exactly admiring the martial world. My grandparents told me to go out into the world, that’s why I came.”
“Grandparents?”
“Yes, they said I’d be lonely living alone. That’s why I came out to the martial world.”
“Then did you learn martial arts from them?”
“Yes, I did.”
Naeng Yeoseol looked at Geomryeong once more, but could find no trace of martial arts training on him.
Still, she didn’t think he was a master beyond her recognition. She assumed he was lying.
“I see. So what kind of martial arts did you learn?”
“I learned a bit of everything. But do I really have to tell my grandmother all about it?”
“No… no, it’s fine. I’m well acquainted with the Moonlight Sect. Why not try learning real martial arts there? If you learn there, you could become a martial artist recognized throughout the world.”
Geomryeong thought briefly about the Moonlight Sect, which he had heard about from Jeonmo Yakbing, and nodded.
“Ah… so my grandmother was from the Moonlight Sect.”
Naeng Yeoseol tilted her head at how confidently he stated it.
“Why do you think your grandmother was from the Moonlight Sect?”
“Because she’s also a master.”
Geomryeong took the paper bag of sweets that Naeng Yeoseol had prepared 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 from the Moonlight Sect. And honestly, I’m tired of learning martial arts now.”
From the moment he had been able to perceive the world, he had been learning martial arts. And the three people who taught him were no ordinary masters.
Having mastered such arts, Geomryeong had no need, nor desire, to learn any more.
Naeng Yeoseol couldn’t tell whether he was speaking from genuine experience or simply making assumptions.
“Geomryeong, you shouldn’t think so lightly. You have outstanding physical potential, which is why I wanted to introduce you personally.”
“I appreciate it, but I’m fine. I’m already a master. Or is this because Aseol has exceptional talent?”
He asked, presuming that someone like Naeng Yeoseol wouldn’t bother with him otherwise.
“That is…”
Naeng Yeoseol stopped mid-sentence.
“If it’s Aseol, she’ll study diligently and learn well.”
Geomryeong said this, then got up and turned to leave.
Watching him walk away, Naeng Yeoseol bit her lip. Then, as if reaching a decision, she picked up a tiny pebble from the ground and flicked it toward Geomryeong’s thigh.
The stone flew at him with the speed of light.
“Uncle Wang! What are you doing here?”
Just as the stone was about to hit Geomryeong’s thigh, he changed direction to dodge it.
“Isn’t this Geomryeong? Are you working?”
It was a slightly small-built man selling traditional sweets at the marketplace.
Naeng Yeoseol thought Geomryeong had dodged her attack by chance. She flicked another tiny stone toward him.
“No, I came to buy sweets from that grandmother over there.”
Geomryeong dodged again, turning toward Naeng Yeoseol.
“I see. So that’s why you didn’t come to buy candy earlier—you were buying sweets.”
Geomryeong gave an awkward smile and quickly moved away.
Naeng Yeoseol tilted her head. It didn’t seem like he had dodged on purpose, but the timing was too strange to be a coincidence.
“Hmm…”
Before long, Geomryeong had disappeared.
Seeing him gone, Naeng Yeoseol got up without hesitation and took the sweets with her.
“If I watch a little longer, I’ll understand.”
After Naeng Yeoseol left, Nakolge appeared a short while later, looking around.
“He looks like Moonlight Disciple Naeng Yeoseol…”
After a brief thought, he moved in the direction she had gone.
“Who in the Moonlight Sect could be that skilled…”
Geomryeong had heard about the martial arts masters from Godokmaya Cheon Namyeon, Ghost Demon Lord Gu Yeongcheol, and Jeonmo Yakbing.
By his standards, Naeng Yeoseol was definitely a master.
After a moment of thought, his eyes sparkled.
“If it’s Moonlight Disciple Naeng Yeoseol, she could indeed be that skilled.”
Although he wasn’t completely certain, she was strong enough that ordinary people couldn’t easily challenge her. Based on what he had heard from Gu Yeongcheol about the top 100 martial artists, the only person in the Moonlight Sect who could match that was Naeng Yeoseol.
Even though the Moonlight Sect was part of the righteous and the corrupt, they didn’t accept just anyone as a disciple. Being recommended meant she had connections and a notable position in the sect.
He concluded that Moonlight Disciple Naeng Yeoseol was likely at least as skilled as her grandmother.
“She’s sly, attacking when people turn their backs. Unlike what I heard, she’s a bit mischievous.”
Gu Yeongcheol had told him a lot about the top 100 martial artists, their character, and their behavior.
Naeng Yeoseol seemed a bit more cunning than what he had heard.
“Since I’m a man, I’ll overlook it. By the way, have more people been monitoring the trading post?”
Geomryeong had noticed recently that three groups had been keeping watch over the trading post.
They weren’t doing anything particularly strange, so he kept observing, though their actions were irritating.
“No one has followed me from the marketplace before. Usually, Ghost Grandpa would have said something would happen…”
No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t understand why they were following him or monitoring the trading post.
“Whatever. When did I ever care about this?”
Feeling bothered, he shook his head violently. The serious expression he had moments ago was gone.
“Geomryeong!”
Jin Aseol’s voice called from a short distance.
“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 called him “oppa” when necessary and “uncle” otherwise, causing Geomryeong to give an awkward smile.
“Well…”
As Aseol reached out, Geomryeong instinctively handed her the bag of sweets.
‘This isn’t how it should be…’
Seeing Jin Aseol open the bag and eat a sweet, he felt a little wronged but could do nothing.
“Is it good?”
She happily ate, making the question more cheerful.
“Yes! You should eat too, Uncle. You’re bigger than me, so you need a big one.”
Jin Aseol generously picked the largest sweet for him as if it were hers.
Geomryeong was bewildered by her behavior but took the large sweet and bit into it.
“Tasty, right?”
“Yes, it’s delicious. Even more so since you gave it to me.”
Jin Aseol smiled brightly.
“Oppa, let’s go see the market performance.”
“Market performance?”
“Yes! A traveling troupe is coming today.”
“Traveling troupe?”
“Yes! They do operas and comedy skits. It’s really fun. You’ll come with me, right?”
Geomryeong nodded.
Since it was also his first time seeing a traveling troupe, he was curious about what it involved.
“Then let’s go now.”
