Chapter 339: The Fisherman

A sharp intake of breath from Hwayeon Shinni broke the silence.

Hyungong tensed immediately. In the world of martial artists, a sudden change in breathing often signaled the onset of a fight.

‘I was careless.’

Mentioning the relationship with Sam Anbul had clearly struck a nerve with Hwayeon Shinni.

He had anticipated some reaction, but not one this intense.

‘Is she going to attack?’

It wasn’t certain yet, but the mere possibility of an attack was a significant concern.

Hwayeon Shinni spoke up.

“Hyungong.”

“Yes.”

“You came alone, didn’t you?”

That question confirmed Hyungong’s suspicions.

In Hwayeon Shinni’s mind, the ominous words “kill without mercy” were likely echoing.

But Hyungong had no intention of accepting death so easily.

He had faced countless challenges to reach this point, and he had overcome them all.

His mind raced.

‘How should I answer?’

If he simply admitted, ‘Yes, I came alone,’ it could be the end of him.

Yet, pretending to have companions and lying wasn’t a good option either. That would only add to his offenses.

In such situations, a third option, neither a lie nor the truth, was needed.

But to devise such a plan, he first needed to understand something.

Why was Hwayeon Shinni so intent on hiding her relationship with Sam Anbul?

‘Is she embarrassed to show a human side as a respected elder of the martial world?’

No, that wasn’t it. Hwayeon Shinni wasn’t one to hide her emotions.

She was someone who expressed anger when angry and joy when happy. She enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster of romance novels and was known to give advice on love.

‘Is it because she feels ashamed of having a romantic connection with someone who was once a monk?’

That seemed more plausible, but he couldn’t be sure.

Sam Anbul had left the Shaolin Temple decades ago, and Hwayeon Shinni had parted ways with her sect just as long ago. It was unlikely she was still bound by the rules of her past life as a nun.

‘No, that’s definitely not it.’

Hwayeon Shinni had clearly already broken the rule of not forming attachments.

Would she break the rule of non-violence just to hide that fact? That didn’t make sense.

‘Then what is the issue?’

Hyungong’s mind worked furiously.

At the same time, his eyes subtly scanned the room, taking in every detail. The room was simple and unadorned, her attire neat, her hair perfectly in place. And then there were her large eyes—

‘Large eyes?’

A realization struck Hyungong.

Unlike before, Hwayeon Shinni’s face was lightly made up.

There are various ways women enhance their appearance.

Darkening the eyebrows, adding a yellow tint to the forehead, or whitening the face are common. There are also many elaborate and colorful styles.

But Hwayeon Shinni’s makeup was different.

Just a hint of blush to highlight her cheeks and a touch of eyeliner to make her eyes appear larger.

It was a very subtle makeup. Yet, the fact that she chose these two specific enhancements was telling.

Both were meant to make her look younger. Not something someone as youthful-looking as Hwayeon Shinni would typically choose.

In that moment, a light bulb went off in Hyungong’s mind.

Through the clue of her makeup, he understood why Hwayeon Shinni was hiding her relationship with Sam Anbul.

However, Hwayeon Shinni, watching Hyungong, felt no unease.

Hyungong’s expression remained unchanged, and it took him only a single breath to reach his conclusion.

‘Stay calm.’

Hyungong replied in a composed voice.

“Hwayeon Shinni, please, there’s no need for alarm. I have no intention of prying into your relationship with Sam Anbul.”

Of course, his words did little to appease Hwayeon Shinni. Her tone grew even harsher.

“You claim not to pry, yet you seek to exploit a weakness? You insolent fool. If you thought you could cover your sinister intentions with a mere acquaintance, you were mistaken.”

Hyungong maintained an air of confusion, as if he hadn’t even noticed her murderous intent.

“Weakness? How is that a weakness? Sam Anbul, despite his intimidating appearance, is a deeply understanding person. It’s only natural for a young, curious woman to admire him. Even if she once took monastic vows, she’s no exception.”

Hyungong seemed to argue that the relationship between the two former monks was not improper. Yet, one phrase stood out to Hwayeon Shinni.

‘A young, curious woman?’

In truth, Hwayeon Shinni felt a significant amount of guilt and shame about her relationship with Sam Anbul.

Not because of their past as monks. Both had long since left that life behind.

It had been too long since she had ended her life as a nun to feel guilt for that reason. She had even reclaimed her name, Haryeong, instead of her monastic name, Hwayeon Shinni.

Her guilt and shame stemmed from the age difference between her and Sam Anbul.

When Sam Anbul was born, she was already a renowned master of the Ami sect.

As time passed and the young Sam Anbul was cooking and fetching water at the Shaolin Temple, she had become the head of her sect, known as Hwayeon Shinni.

There were many differences between them: status, martial prowess, reputation, and age.

Unlike wealth or martial skills, age was a gap that could not be bridged or widened.

Thus, every time she saw Sam Anbul, she thought about their relationship.

The relationship between her and Sam Anbul, and the relationship between a woman in her sixties and a boy in his teens. Was there really a difference?

She knew her appearance belied her true age. But her thoughts remained unchanged.

Even if she had regained a youthful body, the soul within had not changed.

Hwayeon Shinni often felt guilty, as if she were an old woman toying with a young man. This was a deep-seated concern that even Sam Anbul was unaware of.

Her determination to hide their relationship stemmed from this fear.

She was afraid of being seen as foolish and bizarre, of being criticized for showing affection to someone so much younger.

But Hyungong’s words carried none of that judgment.

While Hwayeon Shinni hesitated, Hyungong continued.

“It’s not strange for Sam Anbul to have feelings for you, Hwayeon Shinni. It’s been over thirty years since he left the Shaolin Temple. Meeting someone full of life and energy would naturally bring a bloom to a withered heart. Sam Anbul must have found it hard to hide his feelings.”

Hyungong’s words seemed to stray from her worries and guilt.

Yet, that only reassured Hwayeon Shinni more. She even found his expressions pleasing.

Hwayeon Shinni posed a question, her tone ambiguous.

“But the age difference is significant…”

Hyungong responded without hesitation.

“Some narrow-minded people might see Sam Anbul as a bit foolish. There will be those who pity you, Hwayeon Shinni.

But I’m sure someone as wise as you has already considered that. Relationships are not for others to judge. If Sam Anbul ever feels guilty or troubled, I’m sure you’ll take good care of him. That will solve everything.”

As Hyungong finished speaking, Hwayeon Shinni trembled with a subtle thrill.

The guilt Hyungong spoke of was reversed.

Instead of people pointing fingers at her and pitying Sam Anbul, they might point at Sam Anbul and pity her.

The idea that she might appear as the victim was exhilarating.

Unlike before, Hwayeon Shinni spoke with a lighter tone, subtly hinting at her concerns.

“Not many would see it that way. After all, I’ve experienced rejuvenation. It’s a special situation, making it hard to see Sam Anbul as foolish…”

Hyungong noticed the significant softening in her tone.

The threat to his life had passed; now it was a matter of how well he could persuade her.

With a voice tinged with sympathy, Hyungong said,

“I understand the situation is complicated. But you must also understand people’s perspectives. You’ve undergone rejuvenation, literally becoming a child again. In this situation, Sam Anbul’s feelings for you might lead people to question his preferences.”

“No, you still call me ‘elder,’ don’t you? Rejuvenation and truly becoming a child are different matters…”

Hwayeon Shinni tried her best to look troubled, and she was doing a fairly convincing job of it.

But it wasn’t enough to fool Hyeongong.

“Actually, that title is just a formality, a way to show respect to a senior in the martial world. If I weren’t a martial artist, I’d speak more casually. Like, ‘Hey, Haryeong, have you eaten?’ That’s actually much more natural and comfortable for me…”

Hyeongong rambled on, only to suddenly realize his mistake and cover his mouth in shock.

“Oh no, I didn’t mean I’d actually speak to you like that. Please forgive me if I seemed disrespectful.”

“Uh, um. It’s fine. I’m not that petty.”

The conversation paused for a moment.

Hwayeon Shinni found herself struggling to remember why she had been angry with Hyeongong in the first place. As she retraced her thoughts, she spoke up.

“Oh, right, you said you came seeking guidance? I’m quite busy looking after Nanhyang, so I’m not sure if I have the time to teach you martial arts.”

In truth, she was hinting that she was willing to pass on her skills.

But revealing her intentions too soon would be a rookie mistake. Hyeongong shook his head.

“What? No, that’s not why I came to see you. If I were desperate for martial arts training, I would have returned to Mount Wudang.”

“Then what guidance are you seeking from me?”

Hyeongong lowered his head, his ears turning a bright shade of red, betraying his embarrassment.

“Master, you remember the girl from Samgu Village, Seolhwa?”

“The foreign girl? Of course, I remember.”

“Yes. The truth is, I have feelings for Seolhwa, but things haven’t progressed, and it’s been troubling me. While I was agonizing over it, Mujin gave me a tip.”

“What kind of tip?”

“He said that Master Hwayeon Shinni is exceptionally skilled at understanding matters of the heart between men and women.”

If Danselyeong had heard this, she would have been furious, but Hyeongong’s expression remained perfectly composed.

Hwayeon Shinni felt a pang of guilt. She had almost acted rashly based on a ridiculous misunderstanding!

She cleared her throat, trying to mask her discomfort.

“Of course. I’m quite adept in that area.”

A seasoned angler knows not to rush. Even if the fish bites, you must ensure the hook is set before reeling it in.

But this time, Hyeongong seemed hesitant.

“Actually, after meeting you, I’m not so sure anymore. With your beauty, Master, I’m sure many have admired you. I’m afraid you might see relationships as simple and straightforward. Unlike you, I have to approach love from an ordinary person’s perspective.”

A compliment disguised as doubt. Hwayeon Shinni was caught up in Hyeongong’s eloquent flattery.

“There’s no need to worry about that. My knowledge and experience are substantial.”

Even if her direct experience was limited to just one instance, having experience is vastly different from having none. Hwayeon Shinni’s confidence soared.

Hyeongong asked cautiously.

“If I receive your guidance, will I be able to win Seolhwa’s heart? Please answer sincerely, as my situation is quite urgent.”

Hwayeon Shinni nodded with satisfaction and gestured for Hyeongong to sit.

“Of course. Come in and have a seat. Hya! Is there any tea? Bring us some good tea.”

“Yes, right away.”

The sound of footsteps descending to fetch the tea echoed through the room. Hwayeon Shinni offered Hyeongong a seat, a contented smile on her face.

Hyeongong discreetly observed Hwayeon Shinni.

To avoid suspicion, he had asked for advice on romance instead of martial arts. But that was a minor issue.

The time it took to charm someone who had intended to kill him into serving him tea was less than half a daegyeong.

Convincing Hwayeon Shinni to offer martial arts advice would be even easier.

“So, tell me what you know about Seolhwa.”

“She’s a foreigner from the north. But I’m worried because she seems more interested in martial arts than in me.”

Hyeongong subtly dropped a hint, and Hwayeon Shinni was overjoyed.

“Really? That’s a simple problem. Your martial arts skills are already impressive, so with a little guidance from me, you’ll easily win Seolhwa’s heart.”

Exactly the reaction he had hoped for.

Feigning surprise, Hyeongong enthusiastically reeled in his line.

“There’s a way to do that?”

Both Hwayeon Shinni and Hyeongong were delighted.