The Grand Instrunt
When Mu-yul set out on the tiger hunt with Hye-geol.
“Did you return?”
Mu-gung was also greeting his master, Hye-dam.
“Yes, Master.”
His master was always stern and taciturn.
Having committed the cri of running away in the middle of the night, Mu-gung couldn’t imagine what kind of punishnt awaited him.
However, Hye-dam did not scold Mu-gung. Nor did he have any affectionate words for him.
“Co inside.”
He simply let Mu-gung into the room as if nothing had happened.
Mu-gung swallowed nervously and asked,
“…Are you not going to hold accountable for my cri?”
“Didn’t you already receive punishnt from the Jurisdiction Departnt?”
Hye-dam’s response implied there was no need for him to intervene further since the proper institution had already dealt with it.
Mu-gung’s lips curled slightly at the thought that his master’s response was very characteristic of him.
As Hye-dam entered the room with Mu-gung, he looked at him and asked,
“Did you gain anything from your martial journey?”
“I found joy in helping others.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Hye-dam rely spoke those words and looked at Mu-gung in silence. After a mont of contemplation, Mu-gung spoke first.
“In fact, this has given sothing to ponder.”
“Speak.”
With Hye-dam’s permission, Mu-gung slowly recounted his experiences and concerns from his martial journey.
“While others like Mu-gyeong and those at Cheongsu Dojang develop their martial arts based on their experiences, I feel like I am rely repeating the sa things.”
Hye-dam nodded heavily and replied,
“Do not worry. Repeating what you have done is enough.”
“…?”
Seeing Mu-gung’s puzzled expression, Hye-dam uncharacteristically elaborated,
“The Tathagata Palm you are learning is imnsely powerful. The more you practice, the stronger it becos. There is no need to look for other paths; just delve deeper into this one.”
Hye-dam’s words carried a sense of pride in the martial arts he had mastered.
“So, do not be hasty. Slow and steady, continue to build it up.”
“Thank you for your guidance, Master.”
It was a truly heartwarming exchange, embodying the quintessential Shaolin relationship between master and disciple.
* * *
While the Muja Group children were reuniting with their masters.
Mu-jin, after finishing his conversation with Hyun-gwang, headed towards the iron weights to pursue his commitnt.
“Transformation…”
Standing before the iron weights, Mu-jin pondered the term.
Transformation.
In literature and everyday usage, it positively describes soone who has undergone a significant change.
However, in martial arts novels, it often carries a different aning.
It refers to a state where one’s bones and muscles are transford into an ideal body for martial arts, often achieved after a protagonist survives a perilous battle, finds a miraculous elixir, and uses the enlightennt from the battle and the elixir’s energy to transform.
“The protagonist of the first part returned to his sect and beca the Heavenly Demon after achieving transformation.”
Mu-jin realized that despite being written by the sa author, the protagonists of the first and second parts, Dao Yuetian, followed very different paths.
The first protagonist, with his exceptional talent, mastered various martial arts and reached transformation to use them perfectly.
Dao Yuetian, with less talent, twisted his body to perfect a single martial art.
So, what about himself?
Mu-jin was attempting to reach the level of transformation by twisting his body without enlightennt, just like Dao Yuetian.
“What path would the original Mu-jin have taken?”
This question briefly crossed Mu-jin’s mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
It was a moot point now, as knowing the original Mu-jin’s path would not change anything for him.
Achieving transformation through enlightennt was impossible for him anyway.
“Huuh.”
Mu-jin focused his breathing, concentrating solely on the iron weights before him and his own muscles.
The path he was about to take was one he understood only theoretically and had not yet achieved in practice.
“First, train the muscles to their limits.”
Mu-jin’s plan was quite simple.
To reach the peak of human strength.
He aid to reach the level of the “World’s Strongest Man” competitors, who were renowned for their imnse strength.
However, none of those competitors were skilled fighters due to their overly large muscles, which hindered everyday life.
“The challenge is to see how far the Jade Vajra Technique can support.”
Building enormous muscles capable of reaching human strength limits while also compressing them to maintain a fighter’s physique.
“The latest champion’s combined lift total was about 1,200 kg.”
Mu-jin planned to reach that weight and simultaneously train the Jade Vajra Technique to maintain his physique.
Though it sounded simple, it was a preposterous goal. If anyone could achieve it easily, the record wouldn’t be the world’s best.
Moreover, he needed to maintain flexibility suitable for martial arts despite the massive strength.
Additionally, humans couldn’t survive below a certain body fat percentage.
So, Mu-jin had to grow muscles and maintain an appropriate level of fat.
Moreover, excessive strength could destroy his own bones.
“Along with muscle compression, the Jade Vajra Technique also fortifies the bones, which is fortunate.”
The only issue was not knowing the extent of this fortification.
In the end, Mu-jin’s upcoming process was akin to conducting an experint on his own body.
Combining extensive exercise knowledge acquired over a decade with the Jade Vajra Technique learned in this world, Mu-jin embarked on this insane experint.
To begin this absurd experint,
“Hup!”
Mu-jin decisively lifted the iron weights stacked with nurous plates.
* * *
About fifteen days passed with Mu-jin spending his ti rigorously training his muscles, eating like a madman, and recovering.
During this ti, a visitor arrived at Shaolin Temple.
“It’s been a while, Jegal Jin-hee Shiju-nim!”
“Ha ha ha, it’s been a while.”
“It’s been a while, Mu-jin Sunim. Master Hyun-gwang.”
As Mu-jin and Hyun-gwang, who were taking a break from training, welcod Jegal Jin-hee, she also greeted them with a faint smile.
“But what brings you to Shaolin despite being busy as the young leader?”
“I ca to keep a promise.”
“A promise?”
When Mu-jin asked curiously, Jegal Jin-hee looked behind her instead of answering imdiately.
At that mont, they heard soone struggling, and the sound gradually got closer to Hyun-gwang’s place.
“Ugh.”
Soon, martial artists from the Jegal family, carrying heavy iron weights, began entering Hyun-gwang’s place one by one.
“Didn’t I promise to make high-weight iron tools for you, Mu-jin Sunim?”
“!!!”
Mu-jin’s eyes widened at her words.
“Are you saying all of these are for ?”
The iron weights the Jegal family mbers brought in were at least 1.5 tis larger than what Mu-jin had been using.
No wonder they were struggling to carry them, even using their internal energy.
“Yes. I wanted to bring them sooner, but I needed the abbot’s permission since they are iron weights.”
“Phew. Young leader! Is it alright to place them here?”
While Jegal Jin-hee explained the weights to Mu-jin, one of the Jegal family mbers, catching his breath, asked.
“Yes, please place them in the wide yard over there.”
Upon Jegal Jin-hee’s instruction, they carefully placed the heavy iron weights on the ground, worried they might bend under their weight.
Thunk.
Even though they placed them down carefully, the heavy thud indicated their substantial weight.
The continuous thuds from placing the iron weights sounded like music to Mu-jin’s ears.
‘I needed new tools to move to the next level, and now I have them right away!’
Mu-jin was eager to start training with the new iron weights imdiately.
“Thank you for such a grand gift.”
“The help you provided to our family is beyond comparison. Also, we will stay in Shaolin for a while as promised, to set up a new formation around Shaolin.”
Jegal Jin-hee had arrived at Shaolin about a day earlier.
She had been discussing the formation and the iron weights with Abbot Hyun Cheon, causing a slight delay.
Upon her explanation, Mu-jin finally rembered the promise and bowed respectfully.
“Thank you for considering us. Amitabha.”
“It’s only natural. Oh, and since we will be staying here while setting up the formation, I have one request.”
“Anything you need, just ask!”
Having received the new training tools, Mu-jin was willing to do anything within his power.
At his words, Jegal Jin-hee briefly thought of a ‘personal’ request.
‘Now is not the ti for that!’
Recalling her role as the young leader, she composed herself and spoke.
“Could you teach us so external training thods while we stay here?”
“External training thods?”
“Yes, about the ‘weight training’ you always talk about. Specifically, how to use those iron weights and the benefits of each exercise.”
This was her ‘official’ purpose for visiting.
Most of the people who had accompanied her to deliver the iron weights were talented mbers of the Jegal family, chosen to create new martial arts techniques with her.
They had co to learn weight training from Mu-jin, bringing the iron weights along.
After a brief contemplation, Mu-jin replied.
“I cannot teach you every day, but I can show you during my breaks.”
He
couldn’t train all day long; rest was necessary for muscle recovery.
Thanks to Jegal Jin-hee’s gift, more efficient weight training was possible with the heavier tools, so Mu-jin felt he could spare so ti.
“Thank you, Mu-jin Sunim.”
“Ha ha ha. The pleasure is mine.”
As Mu-jin and Jegal Jin-hee exchanged respectful bows, a second-class disciple of Shaolin arrived at Hyun-gwang’s place.
“Greetings, Master Hyun-gwang.”
“Ha ha ha. What brings you here?”
“The abbot has summoned Mu-jin.”
“?”
Mu-jin looked puzzled at the second-class disciple’s words, then bid farewell to Hyun-gwang and Jegal Jin-hee before leaving.
As he headed to the abbot’s room, Mu-jin asked the second-class disciple, but he did not know the reason either.
“Is there a problem?”
“I haven’t been inford of the reason.”
Eventually, Mu-jin arrived at the abbot’s room with growing curiosity.
Upon entering, he found Abbot Hyun Cheon waiting alone.
“Third-class disciple Mu-jin. I greet the abbot.”
“Ha ha ha. Sit comfortably.”
Once Mu-jin was seated, Hyun Cheon began to speak.
“Did you have a good conversation with the young leader of the Jegal family?”
“Yes. I heard she promised to set up a formation.”
“Ha ha ha. Indeed. Thanks to you, our alliance with the Jegal family is also smoothly maintained.”
After a brief summary of recent events, Hyun Cheon continued.
“I realized once again through these events how significant your contributions have been.”
Suddenly, Hyun Cheon praised Mu-jin, who naturally suspected his motives.
‘Just a month ago, he confined to the Cave of Repentance, and now he’s praising ?’
Despite Mu-jin’s suspicious gaze, Hyun Cheon continued as if unaware or deliberately ignoring it.
“So, I am considering appointing you as the chief disciple of the Muja Group.”
“The chief disciple of the Muja Group?”
“Yes. And in the future, when the Muja Group becos the core of Shaolin, the chief disciple will take the position of abbot.”
“So, you want to beco the chief disciple of the Muja Group and eventually the abbot of Shaolin?”
Hyun Cheon gently nodded with a kind smile at Mu-jin’s question.
Looking at Hyun Cheon’s benevolent face, Mu-jin thought.
‘Why ?’
Why should I take on such a botherso role?
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