The tension between Yi Shi-Woon and Master Goo had become palpable. Unspoken questions hung in the air during their training sessions, creating an awkward and distant atmosphere. Shi-Woon felt torn between his loyalty to his master and his growing need to know the truth.
One afternoon, while training in the forest, Master Goo suddenly stopped the exercise. His expression was serious, his eyes fixed on Shi-woon.
"I know you've been doing some research," Master Goo said, his voice calm, but with a tone that brooked no argument.
Shi-woon tensed, his heart pounding. How did she know? Had she been spying on him?
"I don't know what you're talking about, Master," Shi-Woon lied, even though he knew it was useless.
Master Goo sighed. "Don't lie to me, kid. I know you met with Sera Kang. And I know you've been looking up information about me online."
Shi-woon looked down, feeling embarrassed. He had been discovered.
"I just wanted to know the truth," Shi-Woon murmured. "I feel like he's hiding things from me."
Master Goo remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on Shi-Woon. Then, with a resigned sigh, he sat down on the ground, leaning against a tree.
"You're right," he said finally. "I've been keeping things from you. But I did it to protect you."
Shi-Woon sat across from him, waiting for him to continue.
"My past among the Murim... was complicated," Master Goo began, his voice laden with a melancholy tone. "I did things I'm not proud of. I got involved in power struggles, in the search for the Azure Dragon Tablet. I made many enemies."
For the first time, Master Goo began to speak to Shi-Woon in more detail about his past. He told him about his incredible rise in the Murim, his exceptional talent, and how he had earned the nickname Nine Arts Dragon. But he also spoke of the darkness that had surrounded him, of the violence and betrayal he had witnessed and in which he himself had participated.
"The search for the Azure Dragon Tablet consumed me for a time," Master Goo confessed. "I believed it held the secret to ultimate power, but I was wrong. It only brought more conflict and suffering."
He then spoke of the tragic event Sera Kang had mentioned, the loss of someone close to him to Murim violence. It was this event that had led him to retreat, to try to put his past behind him and seek a more peaceful life.
"When I found you," Master Goo continued, looking into Shi-Woon's eyes, "I saw in you something of myself. The same weakness, the same feeling of helplessness. I wanted to help you find your own strength, to avoid the mistakes I made."
He explained that he hadn't told him the whole truth because he was afraid of putting Shi-woon in danger. His enemies were still looking for him, and knowing he had an apprentice would make Shi-woon a target.
"Sera Kang... she was also involved in my past," Master Goo said. "She's an ally, even if her methods are sometimes questionable. She also cares about my well-being."
The revelation left Shi-woon stunned. He had never imagined his master had such a complex and turbulent past. The enigmatic and secretive figure who had taught him martial arts was actually a Murim legend, a man tormented by his past and hunted by his enemies.
"So... everything Sera Kang told me is true?" Shi-Woon asked, feeling the pieces of the puzzle starting to fall into place.
Master Goo nodded slowly. "In large part, yes. But you must understand that their perspective is also influenced by their own experiences and loyalties."
The conversation continued for hours, with Master Goo answering all of Shi-Woon's questions honestly and openly. For the first time, Shi-Woon felt like he truly knew his master, not just as the man who trained him, but as the complex and tormented person he was. The shadow of doubt finally dissipated, replaced by a new understanding and an even greater respect for his master. Yi Shi-Woon's awakening was far from over, but he now felt more prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead, knowing that he was not alone on this perilous path.
To be continued...
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