The RoFan Novel Fan Has Reincarnated Into A Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 18

Chapter 18. The Recluse’s Trial

A small pavilion stood deep within the forest, surrounded by gnarled trees and overlooking a crystal-clear spring. Three people sat together inside it.

An elderly man with a hooked nose sipped his tea and spoke.

“So, you want to learn martial arts from me?”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

The one who answered was Yeon. She had successfully caught up with Hwang Bo Gyeong.

When she first asked him to teach her martial arts, he hadn’t given her a response. Instead, he had simply turned and headed toward his secluded retreat. Left with no other option, Yeon had followed him all the way here.

At least his hideout isn’t that far away. But the fact that no one from the family knew about this place... Maybe it wasn’t because it was hidden. Maybe no one had ever bothered to look for him.

Hwang Bo Gyeong drank his tea in silence. The faint scent of flowers lingered in the air, but Yeon had no way to taste it—there was only one teacup.

"For someone called a hidden master, he’s just a lonely old recluse. Kinda sad. He’s this strong, but he’s been living like this?"

If she hadn’t come here, would he have just spent the rest of his life alone, waiting to die? The thought left her with a strange feeling.

In the original novel, Hwang Bo Gyeong had only existed as a background setting. He never actually appeared in the story. And yet, here he was, living out his days in solitude.

Did this happen because I entered the novel? Or is this world something entirely different?

As Yeon was lost in thought, Hwang Bo Gyeong spoke again.

“Why me, of all people?”

“Huh? Well, because you’re the strongest in our family.”

Yeon forced a wide grin, sucking up to him despite her reluctance. She had come this far—she wasn’t leaving empty-handed.

I need to milk this old man for everything he’s got. A cranky recluse must have some hidden martial arts inheritance...

But before her schemes could take root, Hwang Bo Gyeong scoffed.

“Strongest in the family? Hah! Did Jeonggun tell you that?”

“No, not exactly...”

“Figured. Then who?”

His sharp questioning caught her off guard.

I thought he’d just gloat, but he’s actually pressing me... What do I say?

“I did.”

The voice that cut in belonged to Cheon-gang. He had followed Yeon in her pursuit of Hwang Bo Gyeong and was now sitting alongside them.

“You?”

“Yes.”

“A mere outsider dares to speak on the level of the Hwang Bo Family? You arrogant little frog...”

Just as the old man was about to go off on another rant about frogs, Yeon quickly intervened.

“My mother said so!”

“...What?”

Hwang Bo Gyeong’s thin eyebrows twitched. His beak-like lips pursed.

Yeon swallowed nervously. She had never actually met her mother in this life. She had no memories of her. In other words—this was a lie.

“That girl?”

“Yes.”

“Hmph...”

His unpredictable temper seemed to momentarily settle.

Hwang Bo Gyeong fell silent, lowering his gaze. His thin fingers pressed together, rubbing gently. It seemed to be a habit of his when deep in thought.

"You should be grateful to your mother."

That was what he had said to her the first time they met.

There had been a subtle emotion in his voice then, barely perceptible. It had been a strange remark at the time, but Yeon had seized upon it now, and—for whatever reason—it had worked.

“She said that...?”

He muttered something else under his breath, but Yeon couldn’t make it out. His usual grumpy expression made it impossible to tell whether he was pleased or not.

Well, at least he’s not angry, so I don’t think I messed up... Ugh, why is this old man so difficult to read?

As Yeon carefully observed him, Hwang Bo Gyeong finally removed his fingers from their meditative position.

“Fine. I will teach you martial arts.”

Hearing that, Yeon immediately bowed her head, a triumphant smile on her lips.

Success! The recluse has been tamed!

“Thank you, Gra—uh, Grandfather.”

“But before that—!”

His sudden loud voice startled Yeon into looking up. His expression had shifted—an unmistakably mischievous glint now flickered in his eyes.

...Huh?

Just as unease crept up her spine, the old man smirked wickedly.

“You must pass my trial first.”

****

Hwang Bo Gyeong led Yeon and Cheon-gang down a hidden path behind the pavilion. They walked for quite some time before arriving at the foot of a massive cliff.

The cliff was jagged and nearly vertical, at an almost ninety-degree angle. Its peak was obscured by thick clouds, making it impossible to tell how high it truly was.

"Is that mist or actual clouds?"

Yeon squinted up at it, shading her eyes with her hand.

Hwang Bo Gyeong spoke.

“Thundercloud Cliff. That’s the name of this place.”

“Because it’s where storm clouds gather?”

“Exactly.”

For once, the old man answered Cheon-gang’s question without sarcasm. Then, he continued.

“At the very top of this cliff, a single flower blooms. Bring it to me.”

“...You want me to climb this cliff?”

“Why? Can’t do it?”

“No, it’s not that.”

Yeon studied the cliff before slowly nodding. Cheon-gang, however, looked more skeptical.

“That’s all we have to do?”

“That’s all, brat. And even if it weren’t, why would it concern you?”

Before another argument could start, Yeon stepped in.

“Alright, Grandfather. I’ll be back.”

“If you fail, forget about learning martial arts from me.”

“I know.”

“Hmph! You sure talk big. I’ll be waiting back at the pavilion.”

Without hesitation, Hwang Bo Gyeong turned and walked away.

As Yeon prepared to scale the cliff, a thought crossed her mind.

“...I wonder if Father will be worried.”

“I already spoke with him.”

“...Wait, really?”

Cheon-gang had told him in advance? How unexpectedly thoughtful.

“The Gaju asked me to stop you.”

“And?”

Cheon-gang glanced at her, his gaze steady.

“But I decided against it.”

“If you truly insist, he said to let you do as you please. As long as it’s not too dangerous.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

That’s... unexpected. Why would Father say that? Does he actually trust Grandfather Gyeong’s abilities? No, that doesn’t seem likely.

Yeon didn’t know what had happened between her father and Grandfather Gyeong, but it was clear that their relationship was strained. She made a mental note to intervene and improve things between them in the future.

For now, she set that thought aside and turned to Cheon-gang.

“You’re going to wait at the pavilion, right?”

“I’ll climb with you.”

“...This cliff?”

“I told you, I need to train as well.”

“Not sure if this counts as training, though.”

Instead of answering, Cheon-gang took off his outer robe.

Yeon’s eyes widened instinctively—but, of course, he was wearing a simple martial outfit underneath. Still, his toned muscles were clearly visible.

Without a word, Cheon-gang finished rolling up his sleeves and spoke.

“Shall we?”

Yeon didn’t refuse. If anything, she was grateful he was coming along.

“Well, if it gets too tough, you can always climb back down. Ah, but who am I even saying this to? For you, this must be a walk in the park.”

“...I’d like to think so.”

“Hm?”

“Nothing, Soje Yeon. Let’s go.”

At the same time, the two of them reached for the cliff.

****

Hwang Bo Gyeong trudged toward the pavilion, grumbling to himself. The tall frog hadn’t followed him. He was climbing the cliff alongside Yeon.

“Fool. Does he even understand what kind of place Thundercloud Cliff is?”

And just like that, Hwang Bo Gyeong was left alone once again.

Realizing this, an old, familiar sensation crept back in—the one that had been absent for a brief moment.

Loneliness.

A companion who had stayed with him for so long, it felt like an old friend.

“Hmph!”

Unwilling to acknowledge the feeling, he scoffed loudly. A moment later, he muttered in a displeased tone.

“...Daring to ask me to teach her martial arts?”

She shouldn’t have been so shamelessly bold. Not if she knew the history between her mother and himself.

“She doesn’t know. That’s why she could ask so brazenly.”

With a deep sigh, Hwang Bo Gyeong’s aging mind began to stir. He willed the long-rusted gears of memory to turn, dredging up the images buried deep in the well of forgetfulness.

Scenes he had thought lost flickered before his eyes.

“What do you mean you won’t learn martial arts? You’re the only one who passed the trial! This is just the beginning!”

Unlike the earlier conversation at the pavilion, this was the complete opposite.

Hwang Bo Gyeong was the one desperately pleading—begging a woman to learn martial arts.

The woman’s name was Jin Hwayoung—an undeniably beautiful woman.

She had been Hwang Bo Jeonggun’s wife.

She had been Hwang Bo Yeon’s mother.

“I’m sorry, Elder. He insisted, and I had no choice but to respect his wishes.”

“Jeonggun? What nonsense did he spout?”

“He asked me to focus on the household rather than martial arts. He said that since he would become the head of the family one day, I should prioritize supporting him instead.”

“That fool! You would be the future of the Hwang Bo Family! How could he be so blind?!”

In the end, Jin Hwayoung gave up martial arts.

It was because Hwang Bo Jeonggun had refused to let her continue training.

He had insisted that she dedicate herself to managing the household instead.

And with that, Hwang Bo Gyeong’s dreams were shattered.

He had tried to find another disciple, but no one else could pass the trial. The martial art he wished to pass down could only be learned by women, yet there were no female candidates left in the Hwang Bo Family.

Time passed, and as expected, Hwang Bo Jeonggun became the family head.

And Hwang Bo Gyeong chose exile.

One day, in his secluded mountain home, he received news.

Jin Hwayoung had fallen ill and died young.

“Ugh...!”

Even now, thinking about it filled him with fury.

“You damned fool. You idiot! You’re the one who killed her!”

Hwang Bo Gyeong believed it without a doubt.

If she had learned martial arts, she wouldn’t have died.

If she had awakened the power of thunder, no illness would have dared touch her.

Jin Hwayoung had been a once-in-a-century talent.

The problem was—only Hwang Bo Gyeong had recognized it.

No one else in the family had understood her potential.

By ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) the time he had heard about her daughter, Hwang Bo Yeon, it was already too late.

And when he finally saw her, he had been thoroughly disappointed.

The girl was too weak.

She even had the absurd notion that martial arts shouldn’t be used against people.

“That’s what she had been like...”

Hwang Bo Gyeong muttered to himself.

He had no idea what had happened in the meantime, but Hwang Bo Yeon had changed drastically.

When she had chased after him, asking to learn martial arts, he had felt something indescribable.

For a brief moment, he had nearly reached out and grabbed her hand.

But he held himself back.

“No. I won’t be deceived again.”

After Jin Hwayoung, he had tested other women in the family—only to face repeated disappointment.

Not one had the ability.

And more importantly—not one had the will.

The Hwang Bo Family placed more value on external strength.

It was a household that upheld a male-dominated martial tradition.

Some women had tried out of curiosity.

But every single one of them gave up.

They couldn’t even climb Thundercloud Cliff, let alone challenge the true power of lightning.

That was when Hwang Bo Gyeong had developed his habit of dismissing women as weak.

And now, he expected the same result.

Hwang Bo Yeon was Jin Hwayoung’s daughter, not Jin Hwayoung herself.

Bloodline alone wouldn’t change anything.

“Thundercloud Cliff hasn’t been maintained for years. The natural energy must have built up... The lightning will be stronger than ever.”

Even under normal circumstances, no one had ever truly passed the trial.

And now?

Even Hwang Bo Gyeong wasn’t certain if he could climb it himself.

“That girl will give up crying like all the others. If she doesn’t fall, that alone will be impressive.”

At least she was a martial artist—she wouldn’t die from slipping.

That was the only reassurance he allowed himself.

I should never have come down the mountain.

Returning to the family was a mistake.

A bitter taste lingered on his tongue.