For the next few days, Yi Shi-Woon couldn't stop thinking about his encounter with Sera Kang. Her words echoed in his mind, painting a picture of the Murim far darker and more complex than what Master Goo had revealed. Was his master protecting him by not telling him the whole truth, or was there something more behind his silence?
Shi-woon watched Master Goo more closely during their training sessions, looking for any sign that he was hiding something. He noticed the shadows that sometimes crossed his face, the sadness in his eyes when he talked about his past. He looked like a tormented man, carrying an invisible weight on his shoulders.
One day, while resting after a particularly intense session, Shi-Woon dared to mention the encounter with Sera Kang.
"Master Goo," he began cautiously, "a few days ago... I met a woman named Sera Kang. She said she knew you."
Master Goo froze, his expression suddenly tense. His usually calm eyes darkened slightly.
"Sera Kang?" he repeated, his voice low and gravelly. "What did he want with you?"
Shi-woon told him about their conversation, mentioning the Azure Dragon Tablet and Sera's warnings about the dangers of the Murim and Master Goo's enemies. As he spoke, he could feel the tension in his master's body increasing with each word.
When he finished his story, Master Goo remained silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the ground. Finally, he looked up and met Shi-woon's eyes. There was a mixture of concern and something else, something Shi-woon couldn't identify, in his gaze.
"Sera Kang is... a complicated person," Master Goo said finally, his voice laced with caution. "She has her own motivations, and they're not always what they seem."
She didn't elaborate, but her evasive response only increased Shi-woon's suspicions. Why wasn't she telling him more? What secrets was she hiding?
"Is what he said about his enemies true?" Shi-Woon asked, feeling a pang of concern for his master.
Master Goo sighed. "My past... it's not something you should be worrying about right now, boy. There are people looking for me, yes. But I can defend myself. Don't get involved in this."
His tone was firm, almost commanding. But for Shi-Woon, it only served to confirm that there was much more to the story than what he was being told.
Despite Master Goo's warning, Shi-Woon couldn't get Sera Kang's words out of his head. The thought that his master was in danger, and that he himself might be as well, kept him awake at night. He began to observe his surroundings more carefully, feeling the shadows of the Murim looming around him, even in the most mundane places.
Their training continued, but the atmosphere had changed slightly. Shi-woon felt a subtle distance between him and his teacher, an invisible barrier created by unanswered questions and unspoken secrets. The trust he had begun to build had been slightly eroded by the shadow of doubt.
One afternoon, while practicing hand-to-hand combat, Shi-Woon made a mistake, leaving an opening that Master Goo immediately took advantage of, easily taking him down.
"Your mind isn't here, boy," Master Goo said, his voice stern. "What are you thinking about?"
Shi-Woon hesitated for a moment before answering. "On what Sera Kang told me. On her enemies. On the Azure Dragon Tablet."
Master Goo sighed again, with an air of resignation. "I already told you not to worry about that. Focus on your training. That's all that matters now."
But for Shi-woon, it was no longer that simple. He felt that, in order to fully trust his master, he needed to understand the truth about his past and the dangers that lurked within him. The shadow of doubt had settled in his mind, and he knew it wouldn't disappear until he got answers. Yi Shi-woon's awakening was not only physical and martial, but also a growing awareness of the complexities and secrets surrounding the world to which he now belonged.
To be continued...
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