The weeks slipped by, marked by the steady rhythm of training. Shi-Woon would wake up before dawn to perform the basic exercises Master Goo had assigned him, go to school during the day, and then meet up with his teacher in the late afternoon for more intensive sessions. His social life had dwindled to nothing, but he didn't care. He was too focused on his goal of getting stronger.
Master Goo not only taught him combat techniques, but also the philosophy of Murim. He spoke to him about the importance of respect, discipline, and self-control. He explained that strength without wisdom was dangerous, and that a true martial artist must use his power responsibly.
One day, while practicing in a vacant lot further away from the park, Master Goo blindfolded Shi-Woon.
"Now, attack me," he said. "Use everything you've learned."
Shi-Woon hesitated. Attacking his master, even in an exercise, felt strange. But Master Goo insisted, his voice firm. Cautiously, Shi-Woon darted forward, guided by the sound of his master's breathing. He tried a punch, then a kick, but Master Goo dodged them easily, moving like a shadow in the darkness.
Shi-woon became frustrated. He couldn't touch it. He felt clumsy and lost without the guidance of his sight.
"You're relying too much on your eyes," Master Goo told him. "In real combat, your senses can deceive you. You must learn to sense your opponent's presence, to anticipate their movements."
They continued the exercise for hours. Shi-woon attacked again and again, but Master Goo was always one step ahead. Finally, exhausted and frustrated, Shi-woon stopped.
"I can't," he said, his breath coming in short gasps. "I can't hit you without seeing."
"Then learn to see with other senses," Master Goo replied, removing the blindfold. "Feel the air, listen to the tiny changes in sound, perceive your opponent's intent. Combat isn't just about brute force, but about anticipation and strategy."
That lesson stuck in Shi-woon's mind. He realized that Master Goo's training went far beyond simply learning how to punch and kick. He was learning to perceive the world in a whole new way.
A few days later, while walking home from school, Shi-woon noticed someone following him. He couldn't see him directly, but he felt a presence behind him, a sensation of being watched that made his skin crawl. He remembered Master Goo's lesson about sensing his opponent's presence. He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating on his other senses. He noticed the slight change in the pace of footsteps behind him, the sound of bated breath.
He quickened his pace, then suddenly stopped and turned. Behind him, a few feet away, stood a disheveled-looking young man with a nervous look. Seeing himself discovered, the young man hesitated for a moment before running away.
Shi-woon didn't pursue him, but the experience left him thoughtful. He had managed to sense someone's presence without seeing them, just as Master Goo had taught him. It was a small victory, but a significant one. It was proof that his training was paying off, that he was beginning to see the world differently, a way that made him feel less helpless. The shadow of weakness still haunted him, but now he felt he had the tools to confront it, step by step, lesson by lesson, in the dark and secret world of the Murim.
To be continued...
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