Sera Kang's card remained in Yi Shi-Woon's pocket like a constant weight, a tangible reminder of the doubts that now plagued him. He had taken it out and looked at it countless times, the phone number etched into the glossy paper like a silent invitation to cross a line. A line between the blind trust he had placed in Master Goo and the uncertainty Sera Kang had sown.
Shi-Woon struggled internally for days. On the one hand, he felt a deep loyalty to Master Goo, the man who had lifted him out of his misery and shown him a path to strength. He trusted his judgment and guidance during his training. But on the other hand, Sera Kang's words were persistent, and Master Goo's reluctance to talk about his past only fueled his suspicions.
Was he being naive to trust his master so blindly? Were there dangers in the Murim that he wasn't aware of and that Master Goo wasn't revealing to him? The idea that his training might be involving him in something bigger and more dangerous than he imagined kept him uneasy.
One afternoon, after a particularly quiet training session, Shi-woon decided he needed answers. He plucked up his courage and confronted Master Goo.
"Master," he began, his voice a little firmer than usual. "I want to know more about the Murim. About their enemies. About the Azure Dragon Tablet."
Master Goo sighed, his expression tired. "I told you, those things don't concern you, boy. Concentrate on your training."
"But they do concern me," Shi-woon retorted, feeling frustration rising inside him. "You're training me to fight in this world. I need to know what I'm up against."
Master Goo stared at him for a long moment, his gaze piercing. Shi-Woon held his gaze, determined not to give in.
Finally, Master Goo relented, though his tone remained reticent. "The Murim is a complex world, filled with power struggles and old grudges. There are clans that seek power at any cost, and there are those who try to maintain balance. The Azure Dragon Tablet is a symbol of power, and many seek it for their own purposes."
He didn't elaborate on his own enemies or his past, but at least he acknowledged the existence of those threats. For Shi-woon, it was a small step forward.
However, the conversation hadn't completely satisfied him. He felt like Master Goo was still withholding important information from him. Curiosity and a need to know drove him to make a decision.
That night, after Master Goo had left, Shi-woon took Sera Kang's card out of his pocket. He hesitated for a moment, his heart pounding. Calling that woman was a betrayal of his master's trust, but he felt he had no choice. He needed more answers.
He took a deep breath and dialed the number.
A soft, authoritative voice answered on the other end of the line. "This is Kang speaking."
"Miss Kang, I'm Yi Shi-Woon," he said, his voice slightly trembling.
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Then Sera Kang's voice became warmer, almost expectant. "Yi Shi-Woon. I'm glad you called. What can I do for you?"
Shi-woon hesitated for a moment, unsure what to ask. Finally, he decided. "I wanted to know more about... about Master Goo's enemies. And about the Azure Dragon Tablet."
Sera Kang sighed lightly. "I knew you'd have questions sooner or later. It's understandable. Goomoonryong isn't a man who easily reveals his past."
He agreed to meet Shi-woon the next day at a discreet café in the city center. Shi-woon hung up the phone, feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension. He had taken a step that could change his relationship with Master Goo forever.
To be continued...
.
Hello everyone. Please comment on what you thought of the chapter to help me improve the writing I offer my readers. Information about the novel "THE AWAKENING OF THE DRAGON" is available in PDF format in the store. It consists of three seasons of 20-24 chapters each. If you'd like to purchase it, visit my KoFi right now!.
🤩ko-fi.com/winterstar01/shop🤩