The RoFan Novel Fan Has Reincarnated Into A Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 51: So They’ve Taken the Bait
The next day, Yeon and her group left Shaolin.
Master Damdeok neither came to see them off nor asked about their destination.
That, in truth, was only natural.
Rather than feeling disappointed, Yeon felt relief that she hadn’t been caught for stealing the prayer beads.
More importantly, she was satisfied with what she had actually come to Shaolin to do—figure out the location of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Even if “figuring it out” meant traveling with the ghost of Master Myoeun.
[To think the day would come when I could see the world again. Really proves it—live long enough and anything can happen.]
Myoeun’s voice echoed from the prayer beads, and Yeon gave a small snort.
‘Hearing that from a ghost is just... absurd.’
[Ghost? Please. If you’re going to say it, at least call me a “soul.” “Ghost” has a nasty ring to it.]
‘Let’s see, ghost, phantom, specter... What else is there? Evil spirit?’
[Hey! You keep that up and I’ll—]
Yeon pulled off the prayer beads, barely stifling a laugh.
It was unexpectedly fun teasing a genius monk who, in life, probably never lost a verbal battle.
Of course, Yeon didn’t actually enjoy tormenting a soul with nothing left but its spirit.
But since he kept trying to gaslight her every time she wore the beads, she figured this was a decent way to remind him who was really in control. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
Once she put them back on, the low voice returned.
[...You’re really going to do this to me?]
‘Then stop saying weird stuff. Especially about Cheongang and me. If you start again, I’m only wearing the beads when I absolutely have to.’
[Fine, fine. You’re breaking my heart. If I knew it’d be like this, I wouldn’t’ve even died.]
Just as Yeon was thinking, “What a ridiculous monk,” Soso gave her a quick glance.
Yeon winked at her.
‘Soso, you remember, right?’
‘Yes, unni.’
Their eyes exchanged that understanding.
Soso already knew about the ghost of Master Myoeun.
Unlike Cheongang, though, she didn’t want to wear the beads herself. Said ghosts were too scary.
Which meant, among this group, only one person didn’t know of Myoeun’s existence.
“What’s so funny, Benefactor Hwangbo?”
The one who asked was Gongye, who had come along on this journey as well.
It seemed the Master wanted Gongye out of the way for a while.
“Oh... nothing. Just a funny thought popped into my head.”
“Is that so...”
Gongye looked a bit down, as if he’d been expecting more.
‘Don’t tell Monk Gongye, okay?’
[Yeah, that’s probably best. He’d be really confused. Might run straight back to Shaolin.]
Myoeun’s tone held no mischief this time.
Yeon couldn’t really imagine Gongye that shaken, but since Myoeun had known him since he was young, she chose to believe him.
‘I just feel a little bad.’
[Then go ahead and tell him.]
‘Okay.’
[Actually—no. On second thought, don’t. Take your time.]
‘What the heck? You keep changing your mind.’
After that little back-and-forth, Yeon decided to leave the matter alone for now.
Truthfully, Gongye didn’t even know where they were going.
As usual, he just seemed happy to be out of the monastery.
“Young Lady Yeon, shall we keep heading north as you said?”
Cheongang, walking ahead, turned to ask her.
He’d taken on the role of guide.
His family home was nearby, in Shanxi province.
“Yes, but... are you really sure you don’t want to visit your family?”
“Yes.”
Yeon was curious about Cheongang’s background, but he didn’t seem too keen.
He mentioned it might delay their journey too much.
‘His family’s place is west of here, so it’s not in our path. But would it really waste that much time?’
“Perhaps on the way back. That might be better.”
“Alright.”
As Yeon agreed to leave it for later, Cheongang stepped a bit closer.
“By the way, Young Lady Yeon.”
“Yes?”
What now? What was this man trying to do, getting close like this again?
Yeon couldn’t help but feel a little hopeful.
But instead, he said something unexpected.
“Have you felt anything strange?”
“Strange? Like what?”
“Like... the feeling we got when we arrived at Baekha Escort Agency.”
“Hm?”
Yeon didn’t look around like an amateur.
Instead, she expanded her sensory perception.
Nothing stood out immediately, but... as she kept focusing, a subtle gaze began brushing faintly against her nerves.
Now she got what Cheongang meant.
“What is this? Or maybe... who is this?”
“It’s an incredibly subtle energy. I’ve been carefully monitoring it, but the person hasn’t revealed themselves yet.”
In other words, whoever it was, they were more skilled than the Red Flower Gate scouts they’d faced back in Hunan.
But why would a martial master be keeping an eye on them?
‘Who could know we’re headed for the Northern Sea Ice Palace?’
[No way... we’ve got a tail? This is getting exciting. Maybe you’re more important than I thought.]
Ignoring Myoeun’s snide commentary, Yeon lifted her head.
‘No way...’
“Cheongang, is there anyone who comes to mind?”
“There is. But...”
“You’re wondering if they’d really go this far, right?”
“Yes. Do you think so too?”
“I do.”
Yeon smiled faintly, something competitive flashing in her eyes.
“Shall we throw out some bait?”
“What kind of bait?”
Yeon chose to answer with actions instead of words.
She linked arms with Soso and whispered softly,
“Soso, don’t look around. Just listen, okay?”
“Huh? What is it, unni?”
“I think someone’s following us.”
Soso’s shoulders twitched slightly, but thankfully, it wasn’t obvious.
“W-who?”
“That’s the thing. I’m not sure. So I want to poke the hornet’s nest a bit.”
“What should I do?”
“Just follow my lead from now on. Got it?”
“O-okay.”
Then Yeon turned to Gongye.
She wanted to tell him the truth too, but she knew he’d probably start flailing his arms and making a scene.
Yeon had a more efficient way of moving this monk.
“Monk.”
“Yes?”
“Wanna race in lightfoot technique?”
“Lightfoot... race?”
“It’s just boring, y’know?”
Gongye looked interested, but confused.
“Hoho... what’s gotten into Benefactor Hwangbo?”
“I’ve been training lately. I want to test my skills.”
“Is that so...”
He looked a little disinterested at the word “training,” so Yeon sweetened the pot.
“If you catch me, I’ll buy you drinks tonight.”
“W-what? Really?”
“Of course.”
“Don’t go back on your wo—”
Before he could finish, Yeon launched forward.
She felt Cheongang and Soso burst into motion right after her.
“Hoho! What is this, some kind of group tag?”
With Gongye’s joyful shout behind them, the four of them sprinted down the road.
Tap-tap-tap-tap!
Yeon darted forward, weaving through the crowd.
She didn’t use full-strength lightfoot technique—she didn’t want to hurt any bystanders.
But that limit would apply to whoever was tailing them too.
And they couldn’t afford to make themselves obvious.
“I didn’t expect this method...”
Cheongang quickly caught up, running beside her with a slight smile.
“I didn’t see it coming.”
Yeon raised the corners of her lips and quickened her pace.
She heard rapid footsteps behind her—Soso was keeping up better than expected.
A glance at her face told Yeon she wasn’t even struggling.
‘Soso’s lightfoot technique was faster than I thought?’
Just then—crash!
There was a loud sound of a collision, followed by something spilling everywhere.
“Ow—! Oh no, I’m so sorry!”
“Watch where you’re going, would you?!”
Yeon glanced back as she ran.
Gongye was on the ground, scooping up spilled dried garlic.
Far behind him, two figures were pushing through the crowd.
Yeon memorized their silhouettes—slightly different in height.
“Monk! You should’ve been more careful!”
As soon as she saw Gongye resume running, Yeon swerved into a narrow alleyway.
She didn’t even know where it led.
What she was looking for was a dead end.
‘This is it!’
Spotting a wall-blocked alley, Yeon darted in.
Cheongang and Soso arrived almost simultaneously.
Following Yeon’s signal, the three held their breath and waited.
They kept their eyes trained on the alley’s mouth.
Soon, Gongye came stumbling in, panting hard.
He rushed in, grabbed Yeon’s sleeve to shout—then paused, sensing something was off.
“Wh—huff—what’s going on?”
“Monk, the truth is... someone was chasing us. Sorry we didn’t warn you earlier.”
Gongye didn’t look annoyed.
If anything, his face showed curiosity.
“Huh? Who was it?”
“You’ll see in a second.”
Just three seconds after Yeon said that, hurried footsteps echoed through the alley—headed straight toward them.
Yeon glanced around at her group, her eyes gleaming.
‘So they’ve taken the bait!’
At last, the two pursuers revealed themselves.
Yeon stretched her finger out dramatically.
“We’ve been waiting! You—!”
But her bold shout didn’t last to the end.
Because once she saw their faces, her voice trailed off in disbelief.
“Great-Grandpa Gweong?”
****
“Hoho.”
“Heh heh heh.”
Several cups sat on the table, and awkward laughter hovered above them.
The two people they had mistaken as pursuers turned out to be Hwangbo Gweong and Tang Jeonghu.
“What brings the two of you all the way here?”
Yeon asked.
The two men cleared their throats at the same time.
Tang Jeonghu jumped in first.
“Well, the elder said we should go, so I followed him.”
“What are you talking about! Weren’t you the one who came along on your own?”
“Ahem, but Elder, you brought it up first. I’m young—how could I say no?”
“Hmph! Since when have you been so obedient to me?”
Watching the two bicker, Yeon furrowed her brows.
“Gweong Grandpa, why did you come?”
“Well, I had some errands. Hoho.”
“All the way to Henan?”
Hwangbo Gweong kept dodging until he finally spoke with some difficulty.
“Ahem, truth is... I was looking for a medicinal tonic that could replenish yin energy.
I searched the clan but everything was for strengthening yang.
Figured I’d have better luck up north.”
“A tonic?”
“I was going to keep it secret until I’d fully prepared it...”
Yeon looked at him.
If it was a tonic for yin energy, it was probably meant for her.
She felt thankful—but also suspected that wasn’t the only reason.
“Then why were you tailing us?”
“Tail? Me? Hoho. I was just headed in the same direction.”
“Please tell the truth.”
At Yeon’s firm gaze, Hwangbo Gweong scratched his nose.
“Well, the Shaolin abbot personally asked to see you, didn’t he?
I was curious what it was about.
And this guy—Tang Jeonghu—said he wanted to see his daughter...”
“W–when did I say that, Elder?!”
“You say that, but earlier—”
“Elder!”
Tang Jeonghu flailed, clearly flustered.
Soso’s eyes widened like she had heard something shocking.
“Don’t misunderstand. I just happened to be free, so I followed the elder.”
At his words, Soso’s big eyes slowly narrowed.
“...Yes, Father. Don’t worry. I understand.”
“N–no, I mean...”
Tang Jeonghu looked at Soso awkwardly for a moment, then turned his head away.
Yeon, watching the complicated father-daughter relationship, found herself rehashing a bitter feeling.
‘So the real tail was Grandpa and Clan Leader Tang?
I thought it was the Namgung siblings...’
But after encountering the two of them, she no longer sensed any presence.
Cheongang, too, had a similar expression.
Gongye just slurped tea as if this had nothing to do with him.
Then Hwangbo Gweong asked:
“So, how did the errand go?”
“Oh, that...”
Because it had been for her sake, Yeon responded out of a sense of obligation.
Of course, she didn’t mention the ghost of Master Myoeun.
“The abbot of Shaolin received you himself, in his own quarters?
No one in Hwangbo Clan history has ever been treated like that. Hoho!”
“It wasn’t just me. All of us were received.”
“Still, you were the lead, weren’t you?”
“No, I wasn’t.”
Flustered, Yeon tried to stop him.
But Hwangbo Gweong, as if oblivious, burst into hearty laughter.
Looking pleased, he pulled out a portable ink-and-brush kit and paper and started writing something.
“What’s that?”
“Not your concern.”
“Huh?”
Yeon tried to peek, but Hwangbo Gweong cleverly hid the paper.
He even moved it under the table ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ so that no one else could see it.
“A true hero doesn’t concern themselves with trivial things...”
Myoeun sneered in Yeon’s head.
[Hey. Did that old guy just call himself a hero? No way, right?]
‘...You misheard.’
A doting dad and a shameless grandpa.
Yeon shook her head.
At that moment, someone passed by the teahouse they were sitting in.
A glint of light—someone’s glance—flashed for just a moment.
But no one noticed.
