The silence that followed the departure of the two Murim men was almost as shocking as the fight itself. Yi Shi-Woon stood motionless, staring at the spot where they had fallen, his mind still processing the speed and brutality of the confrontation. Master Goo, for his part, seemed unfazed, as if an altercation of that nature was a common occurrence in his life.
"Are you okay, kid?" Master Goo asked, his voice returning to its usual tone, though Shi-Woon still sensed an underlying tension.
Shi-woon nodded slowly, though inside he felt a whirlwind of emotions. Fear, confusion, but also a strange fascination with the power he had witnessed. He had never seen a real fight before, and Master Goo's lethal efficiency had left him stunned.
"Who were they?" Shi-Woon asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"People who look for trouble," Master Goo answered evasively. "People who belong to the darker side of the Murim. Don't worry about them."
But Shi-Woon couldn't help but worry. The ease with which Master Goo had defeated those men was impressive, but also terrifying. It made him realize the depth of the world he was entering, a world where violence seemed to be a way of life.
"The Azure Dragon Tablet? What is that?" Shi-Woon dared to ask.
Master Goo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's a complicated matter. Something that doesn't concern you for now. The important thing is that you understand that the Murim are not a playground. There are powerful and dangerous people there, and disputes are often resolved by force."
The warning sank deep into Shi-woon. His training up until now had been primarily physical, with drills and basic movements. The fight in the park showed him that there was a huge gap between what he was learning and the reality of Murim combat.
"Will my training... prepare me for that?" he asked, doubt evident in his voice.
"If you apply yourself and learn well, yes," Master Goo replied firmly. "But the road is long and difficult. You must be willing to push yourself, to surpass your limits. Do you still want to follow this path, boy? After what you've seen..."
Shi-woon looked at the spot where the two men had fallen, then at his own thin, still-weak body. The fear was palpable, but he also felt a new determination. He had tasted the humiliation of weakness for too long. The sight of Master Goo's power, though terrifying, was also inspiring.
"Yes," Shi-Woon said with more conviction this time. "I want to be strong."
Master Goo nodded, a faint smile returning to his lips. "Good. Then we shall continue. But you must understand that what you saw today is only a small sample of what exists out there. You must be discreet about your training. No one outside of here must know what you are learning."
From that day on, Shi-Woon's training became more intense and focused. Master Goo began teaching him more advanced combat techniques, swift and precise movements designed to incapacitate an opponent as efficiently as possible. Shi-Woon learned diligently, his body sore and tired, but his spirit growing stronger.
He also began to notice small changes in himself. He felt more agile, faster. His reflexes seemed to have sharpened. Even at school, though he remained reserved, he felt a newfound self-confidence, a quiet certainty that he was no longer the same weak boy he had been. The scars of humiliation were still there, invisible but present, but now he felt he had the tools to prevent them from spreading again. The Murim path was dangerous, but for Yi Shi-Woon, it had also become a path to self-acceptance and the possibility of a different future.
To be continued...
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