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chapter 11
The traveling troupe that had come to the Hong Kong market had been performing in the open square for five days, and each day after finishing his work, Geomryeong would go watch their performances.
Although it was the same opera and the same skits every day, it was still entertaining.
For Geomryeong, who had lived alone on Heukam Island, all of this was fascinating and delightful.
“They say there’s a lot of fun in the world, and there really is. Following Grandma’s advice to come to the martial world was the right choice.”
Geomryeong wore a satisfied expression as he listened to the comedian’s stories.
“So then, Gongsun Chan of the Nine Yang Martial Empire…”
“When he tried to cut through the waist of the Nine Ancient Demonic Sword using the technique of the Moon-Returning Crescent Palm…”
Since childhood, Geomryeong had been praised as a prodigy by three people, and he had the five senses to recall stories he had heard even once.
Hearing the same story five times, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that he almost memorized it.
Geomryeong’s excitement slightly embarrassed the comedian.
“When he tried to cut through the waist of the Nine Ancient Demonic Sword using the technique of the Moon-Returning Crescent Palm…”
“The Nine Ancient Demonic Sword stepped on the Flowing Line Diagram and retreated sideways, countering with the technique of the Thousand-Waves Yearning…”
As Geomryeong recited the next lines, the eyes of the audience and the comedian turned toward him.
Geomryeong, noticing everyone’s gaze, wore a confused expression, not understanding why all attention was on him.
The comedian tried to continue the story seriously, but Geomryeong kept speaking the next part before he could.
The comedian, slightly irritated, asked him:
“What comes next?”
Geomryeong blinked at the question.
“You’re asking what comes next?”
“Gongsun Chan of the Nine Yang Martial Empire aimed for the heart of the Nine Ancient Demonic Sword while giving up his waist, but unfortunately, he failed…”
The comedian nodded and gestured for Geomryeong to come up.
“Come up here?”
“Yes. Stand here and tell the story yourself.”
“Me? Really?”
“Of course. Why not act it out a little while you’re at it?”
Most people would have shied away, but not Geomryeong. He immediately jumped up and walked onto the stage.
The comedian’s expression twisted slightly. He had expected Geomryeong to fail and had planned to tell him to quietly listen. Seeing him step forward was unexpected.
Still, he couldn’t backtrack on his words. Curious whether Geomryeong really knew the story, he let him continue.
“Gongsun Chan, wounded in the waist, faced a crisis and fought on desperately…”
Geomryeong, unconcerned with the comedian’s position, seemed overjoyed. He mimicked sword techniques and Taoist moves on the stage as if he were the characters themselves, making the audience laugh with delight.
The comedian, observing from the side, noticed that Geomryeong’s performance with grand gestures and flashy moves was more entertaining than his own simple storytelling.
“Hahaha! Hohoho!”
Seeing the crowd enjoying himself, Geomryeong became even more enthusiastic. Even the members of the troupe came out to watch him.
“When Gongsun Chan, thinking it’s the end, closed his eyes, like a ray of light, from the ancient text…”
Geomryeong mimicked a trembling body and a vertical downward strike.
Shhhiiik!
The canvas roof above him suddenly tore along the path of his strike.
However, no one inside the tent noticed this.
When Geomryeong finished the story, the audience applauded.
“You could be a comedian yourself. That was entertaining…”
The crowd encouraged him, saying he was even more fun than the comedian, causing a hint of jealousy in the comedian’s eyes.
As Geomryeong stepped down, Wang Yi, the troupe’s leader, ran up, grasped his hand, and asked:
“How do you tell stories so well?”
“The comedian told it so entertainingly that I could memorize it,” Geomryeong said, attributing all credit to him.
But Wang Yi knew it wasn’t only that; Geomryeong had a natural flair for performance.
After the crowd left, only the troupe members remained in the tent.
“Would you consider working in our troupe?”
“In the troupe?”
“Yes. You could create stories and perform them…”
The comedian called out to Wang Yi, unwilling to lose his place.
“Do you really think an inexperienced youth can create stories? He only repeats what he’s heard…”
Still, Wang Yi saw an opportunity: Geomryeong could perform and be paid less than the comedian.
“I’m not planning to be a comedian. Do martial artists have nothing else to do that they become comedians?”
The two adults were momentarily stunned.
“Who says I’m a martial artist?”
“I am. I just find the comedian’s stories fun. I’m not trying to become a comedian. And Grandma Jeonmo said a man should have big ambitions and live greatly, so I intend to live that way too.”
“Grandma Jeonmo?”
“Yes! She raised me. She said that in the martial world, everyone knows Jeonmo Yakbing. Don’t you two know?”
The troupe blinked at the name.
“You mean the legendary Jeonmo Yakbing who disappeared from the martial world fifty years ago?”
“Exactly. I lived with Grandma Jeonmo, Grandpa Godok, and Grandpa Ghost.”
Wang Yi narrowed his eyes.
“You mean you learned martial arts from Cheon Nam-yeon, Gu Yeong-cheol, and Jeonmo Yakbing?”
“Yes.”
The troupe nodded, suspecting Geomryeong might be lying.
“Alright. I see. A martial artist shouldn’t be a comedian.”
“Exactly. I have no intention of being one. I plan to travel through the Central Plains soon.”
“Good. You may go.”
Geomryeong left the tent.
“Handsome, but a bit crazy, it seems,” the comedian muttered.
“Yes, looks delicate like a girl, too.”
“They say beautiful people are often lying maniacs. Didn’t you know?”
Whoosh!
A gust of wind tilted the tent.
“Whoa!”
Crash!
The tent collapsed sideways, pinning those inside beneath it.
“Damn it! I told you not to skimp on construction!” Wang Yi shouted.
Fortunately, no one was injured, but the damaged tent was an unavoidable loss.
“Get to work! Fix the tent quickly, or there will be no evening business!”
Meanwhile…
At the Hong Kong branch, Gaegolgege knelt before Naeng Yeoseol.
He had been surprised to hear she appeared in Hong Kong, believing it unlikely that the former head of Wolyeongmun would appear in such a remote place.
Upon confirming her identity, he followed her personally to find clues about whether she had any connection to the recent incident at Wangak Mountain.
“Why are you following me?” Naeng Yeoseol asked.
“Something unfortunate has happened recently,” Gaegolgege said.
“Unfortunate?”
“Yes. Wangak Mountain’s outpost was completely annihilated by a mysterious martial artist.”
The word “annihilation” immediately drew attention. Information has ranks—some must be hidden, some revealed.
The Wangak Mountain incident wasn’t highly critical information, only whether a new powerful martial artist had appeared or if it was the work of an existing one.
“If it had been a minor dispute, the righteous would have merely punished them. That they were annihilated suggests a heretical martial artist may have visited them. We are investigating now.”
He couldn’t tell her that he had been suspiciously following her personally.
“Wangak Mountain’s outpost… were they the Green Forest bandits?”
“Yes.”
“And all of them were killed?”
“Yes. All died from internal injuries caused by a martial artist. We heard rumors that you were in Hong Kong, wondering if you were pursuing this villain…”
Though it might be a misunderstanding, it was understandable from their perspective.
“I am here on personal business. Do not concern yourself with me.”
“Understood.”
“And you seem to be monitoring the Gangnam trade house as well? Why?”
“Before Wangak Mountain was annihilated…”
Gaegolgege recounted everything he knew. Naeng Yeoseol’s expression shifted slightly, aware that the household of the girl she planned to recruit might be caught in a bloodbath.
“Is that all?”
“Yes. The Green Forest bandits at the Foosan outpost are also investigating this matter. They may attack the Gangnam trade house, feeling their property was stolen.”
She understood their reasoning.
“So you haven’t found the martial artist who wiped out Wangak Mountain?”
“No. We have no leads. Unless he reappears, we likely cannot identify him.”
Information about the villain was strictly restricted. Sharing it required higher authorization.
‘Regrettable, but I must take Aseol back to the sect first.’
With her business concluded, Naeng Yeoseol left. After she departed, Gaegolgege narrowed his eyes.
“Although Wolyeongmun is somewhat aligned with the righteous, there’s no way she is involved. I must report this to headquarters.”
