Overcoming the Wall – 1

After a tumultuous visit to Anhui, the Yomryun Skill group resumed their wandering across the Central Plains.

They never stayed in one place for more than six months.

Except for official business, their destinations were always places rarely visited by people.

This time, they briefly unloaded their baggage in a village of slash-and-burn farmers, where they dealt with bandits who were harassing the villagers.

They also helped build a fence around the village.

“Oh my, you’re so good at building fences too.”

Inho was roughly weaving branches to make a fence when the village women gathered in groups of three or five behind him, offering unsolicited advice.

He was working with his sleeves rolled up because of the scorching sun, and the village women whispered, admiring his bulging veins and firm muscles.

“Hehe, I bet he’s good at building all sorts of things.”

Inho gave a bitter smile at the subtle sexual harassment.

Normally, Martial Artists would be feared, but perhaps it was because he was so approachable?

The village women treated Inho kindly.

As they gossiped amongst themselves, appraising Inho, he finished weaving the fence, stood up, and brushed the dirt off his buttocks.

“U-um, excuse me…”

A woman with her eyes covered by her bangs offered him a gourd filled with water.

Seeing this, the gathered women exclaimed, “Oh my, oh my.”

“Ah, thank you. I was just thirsty.”

He took the gourd and gulped down the water.

“Oh my, oh my.”

The women murmured, watching the water trickle down his neck.

Inho thought that reacting to it would be the lowest of the low, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

If he showed any sign of embarrassment, they would surely pounce on him like predators who had found their prey.

“Thank you for the water.”

The woman who had handed him the gourd blushed and scurried away, where her friends grabbed her and squealed.

‘Damn it… I’m screwed.’

Inho, who had been silently watching the scene, felt a sharp Killing intent from a short distance away and let out a long sigh.

-Thwack

Eventually, small stones started being thrown at the back of his head.

“Haha, I’ll be going now.”

With an awkward smile, Inho left the area.

Leaving behind the women calling out to him, Inho headed towards a large tree that stood at the entrance of the village.

The tree was so large that it would take three adult men to encircle it, and Inho, upon arriving at the tree, raised his head.

“What is it this time?”

“……”

Namgung Soyou was sitting on a high branch of the tree.

Soyou, who had been looking down with a sulky expression, jumped down and landed lightly in front of Inho.

Her face was clearly filled with anger.

Inho thought that today wouldn’t be easy either.

-Snatch

Namgung Soyou roughly grabbed Inho’s collar.

Inho felt a tight pressure and his neck became uncomfortable.

“Are you crazy?”

“…What do you mean? Is it so wrong to drink a gourd of water?”

“I told you not to get too close to them unnecessarily.”

“What do you mean by getting too close unnecessarily?”

“Why did you roll up your sleeves in the first place? And you should keep your clothes neat. Your chest is all exposed.”

Soyou adjusted Inho’s clothes.

Her fingertips seemed to brush against his chest subtly, but Inho assumed it was accidental.

“It’s because it’s hot.”

“As a disciple of Yomryun Skill, you must take care of your appearance. What will they think? They’ll think that a Martial Artist learning Yomryun Skill is, uh, lewd.”

Soyou shouted, her face as red as a beet.

“Geez… that’s quite a leap… Anyway, I understand. I’ll be careful.”

Inho declared defeat, not wanting to argue any further.

However, Soyou had no intention of letting it go so easily.

She hugged Inho tightly.

Burying her face in his chest, Soyou grumbled discontentedly.

“Don’t allow others to get close to you in the first place. What is this? Your clothes already smell like another woman.”

Inho gave an awkward smile.

Since the incident in Anhui, Soyou had been nagging him more often.

Inho thought it was only natural, as she was thirsty for affection.

He raised his hand and stroked her hair.

He had recently discovered that this action had a calming effect on her.

“How can you tell me not to allow others to get close, and then cling to me like this, Master.”

“I’m okay. I’m okay.”

Sighing, Inho continued to stroke Soyou’s hair, feeling helpless.

‘There have been a lot of things like this lately. Is she not doing well?’

The reason they had briefly stayed in the slash-and-burn farming village was not only to help the people but also for Soyou’s training.

[Categorization of Killing intent]

It was the last technique that Grand Master Yeomjin had told Soyou about.

He hadn’t explained any principles, and had only shown it to her once.

Soyou had been trying to implement it for months.

In the Martial world, only a handful of people had achieved the Categorization of Killing intent.

Even Namgung Soyou, who had reached the ranks of a master, could not achieve it immediately.

In this situation, as difficult as finding a needle in the desert, Soyou was always in a bad mood.

She had hit a wall.