I Became a Supporting Character in a Martial Arts Novel (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
While tying my hair ribbon, I couldn’t even turn around right away—but I still froze at the title attached to the other person’s words.
‘Sect Leader?’
Well, since I’m a Dao Sect disciple, it’s not unusual for outsiders to address me as Sect Leader or Junior Sect Leader… but hearing it directly feels really strange.
No, actually, this isn’t even the outside world.
I hastily finished tying the knot and turned around, bewildered. What met my eyes was an unfamiliar boy.
He looked about fourteen or fifteen years old.
‘…He’s handsome.’
His appearance was genuinely quite refined—so much so that this was my very first thought upon seeing him.
Though his cheeks and jawline still retained a hint of youthful softness, there was nonetheless an indescribable air of grace about him overall.
He wore ordinary winter clothing typical of common folk, yet even through the thick fabric, his considerable height and broad frame were evident. Anyone would agree he had the ideal physique for martial cultivation.
Though my observation lasted mere seconds, I easily discerned his identity.
‘So this is him.’
The protagonist of the original story.
Undoubtedly, my future junior disciple.
‘But the protagonist is calling me… Sect Leader…?’
Not “junior martial sister”?
Briefly seized by this odd doubt, I soon regained my composure.
‘Ah, right—of course that’s normal now.’
Given that Master hadn’t mentioned anything about this boy to me, and considering they couldn’t easily create another exception like me, it seemed Master hadn’t yet instructed him to address me as such.
Still, unfamiliar was unfamiliar.
The title “Sect Leader” combined with the protagonist’s very presence—two unfamiliar elements merging into something wholly strange.
‘Though perhaps only I would feel it this way.’
Apparently, I’d been staring at him too blankly, for the protagonist’s faint smile gradually turned awkward.
Only then did I realize I hadn’t properly replied.
“Oh, sorry. I was just startled…”
“No, it’s my fault for speaking so suddenly. You’re the first Daoist master around my age I’ve seen here, so I couldn’t help but greet you right away out of sheer delight.”
His reply was long and courteous—almost apologetic. Half-listening, I examined him more closely.
‘He looks… like a young master from some noble household.’
Separately, his expression, though set firmly despite his youth, gave off a slightly cool impression. Upon closer look, his sharp eyes might have contributed to that effect.
Perhaps he maintained that faint smile all along precisely because he already had a rough idea of how his own face appeared to others.
Yet, though his lips smiled, his eyes didn’t truly join in.
He claimed he greeted me out of gladness, but genuine joy seemed absent. Instead, he appeared intent on extracting something from me.
Had I not been observing him as attentively as I was now, I likely wouldn’t have noticed.
I didn’t know what he sought, but one thought immediately came to mind upon seeing him.
‘…He’s mature beyond his years.’
That was precisely what the adults here always said about me.
Had Master, Grand Elder, Senior Martial Brothers, and Junior Martial Sisters felt the same way upon meeting me?
But this was different—after all, while I genuinely possessed an adult’s mind, he was merely a teenage boy.
It was as if he’d matured far too early—aware of how others perceived him and capable of presenting a carefully crafted facade.
Where one would expect the typical youthful impulsiveness or fiery spirit of boys his age, he instead seemed filled with its opposite.
‘Something like caution or wariness.’
Seeing me remain silent, my prospective junior disciple assumed I was shy and softened both his tone and expression before speaking again.
“Sect Leader?”
“Yes?”
“Are you alright? If anything’s troubling you…”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Oh, I’m glad.”
Looking at his expression, I couldn’t fathom what he was so curious about that he’d go to such lengths to ease the atmosphere. Come to think of it, even this approach felt unusually mature for his age.
After a brief hesitation, I decided to play along.
‘If I hint that I know who he is, he’ll probably reveal more.’
It felt awkward watching him struggle like this.
“Yes. So… you’re the one Master brought here, right? I’ve heard about you.”
“Oh.”
As I’d anticipated, he seized the opening I’d provided.
“Yes, that’s correct. So you truly are the disciple of the Plum Blossom Sword King, Sect Leader.”
“You know of me?”
“I heard a little from the Plum Blossom Sword King himself.”
He added with another smile,
“While being pursued over a personal matter, I happened to meet him by chance… Having nowhere else to go, I asked to be taken to Mount Hua. During our journey together, I had several chances to hear about you.”
“I see.”
I gave a short reply and watched him silently, signaling he could continue if he wished—but this wasn’t the reaction he’d expected. A flicker of flustered surprise passed through his eyes.
‘Did I get this wrong?’
His reaction startled me slightly. I quickly racked my brain.
…Now that I thought about it, his request to “be taken in” could broadly be interpreted as asking to become a disciple.
Perhaps everything—from his arrival here to deliberately mentioning that detail—carried the unspoken meaning: “I wish to become your junior disciple. Since we’d share the same master, how do you feel about that?”
Realizing this, I inwardly winced.
‘Did I… make a mistake?’
Had he expected a clear expression of approval or disapproval? Should I have feigned eagerness or offered help to foster goodwill?
“…Ah, now that I think of it, you were in the middle of training. I must have disturbed you.”
Seemingly concluding I wouldn’t yield useful information as he’d hoped—and finding it difficult to extract anything directly—he decided to leave altogether.
“I’ve caused enough trouble. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Wait—”
“I hope we meet again soon, Sect Leader.”
Maintaining impeccable manners until the end, the protagonist quickly departed before I could stop him. Watching his retreating back, I summed up the situation in one word.
‘Ruined.’
In every possible sense, things were definitely ruined.
[This is the timeline separator]“Sect Leader, it’s Yuwon.”
“Come in.”
Hearing the reply, Yuwon immediately pushed open the door and strode into the Sect Leader’s chamber. The Sect Leader, as if expecting him, already had a tea set prepared on the table.
As Yuwon sat before him, a teacup was slid forward.
“Let’s talk while drinking tea.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
In truth, Yuwon had just returned from supervising a raw new disciple’s training after a very long absence, so he was in a hurry. He had no desire to idle over tea and small talk.
Yet he couldn’t refuse tea personally brewed by the Sect Leader—and besides, he’d known the Sect Leader would summon him at least once today. It was merely an inconvenient timing.
‘Nothing to be done.’
Though occasionally worrying precisely because he wasn’t childish enough, Haheun generally managed well on her own. Planning to return quickly once their conversation ended, Yuwon looked at the Sect Leader.
“You know why I called you, don’t you?”
Fortunately, the Sect Leader got straight to the point. Yuwon answered immediately.
“Yes, it must be about that child.”
“Indeed.”
The Sect Leader nodded.
The previous evening, Yuwon had returned to Mount Hua accompanied by a young boy. Because of this child, a journey that should have taken a month and ten days had stretched beyond two months.
He’d roughly explained the reason in his letter: as a Dao Sect disciple, it would have been wrong to ignore someone in peril or turn away someone seeking help, so Yuwon’s actions weren’t at fault.
However, there was one issue—the circumstances closely mirrored last year’s incident when he’d brought Haheun.
Jinhe, Grand Master and Leader of Mount Hua Sect, briefly recalled the arrival of the sect’s youngest current disciple before asking,
“Did you bring this child intending to take him as your disciple as well?”
“No.”
“Yes, but… Hm?”
The Sect Leader, mid-sentence, paused and widened his eyes.
“…You said no?”
“Yes, I did.”
Though taken aback by this unexpected answer, Yuwon’s reply remained unchanged. The Sect Leader fell momentarily speechless, blinking in surprise.
Given how similar this situation was to last time with Haheun, he’d naturally assumed the same outcome.
He’d planned to firmly state that two such exceptions would be difficult—but never expected Yuwon to draw that line himself.
Collecting himself, the Sect Leader asked,
“Then why?”
“As I mentioned in my letter, the boy was being pursued, and from what he said, his circumstances seemed complicated… Since he asked for my help, I couldn’t ignore him as a Daoist. After all, I intervened of my own accord.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Yuwon took a deep breath, then began a lengthy statement.
“Don’t I already have Haheun as my disciple? Despite my insistence, you didn’t punish me and immediately granted her Dao Protection, even though she was unstable. I’m deeply grateful for the sect’s decision. Though she was younger than appropriate for such favor, which might have bred resentment, accepting her early into Mount Hua allowed her to quickly settle and display her talent.”
The Sect Leader listened, slightly dazed. In fact, aside from reciting scriptures, he’d never heard Yuwon speak at such length before.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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I feel complicated about her future fellow disciple. She could have had it easy but he is going to make it more difficult for her. I am sure of it
This part was interesting, especially the way everything was explained and master and haheun part is so cute. I wonder what will happen next.
This part was interesting, especially the way everything was explained and master and haheun part is so cute. I wonder what will happen next.