Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Exchange

Yang Dong-myeong, whose face had quickly become gaunt, hurriedly left after promising to exchange various decoction recipes and musculoskeletal treatment techniques from the Danfeng Yang Clinic.

The fear that acupuncture would be next after the decoction recipes compelled him to leave.

After Yang Dong-myeong had vacated his seat, Ryu Seol-hwa, who had been gleefully tormenting him, turned to Mu-jin and asked,

“Did you make that suggestion to the divine elder on purpose to help me?”

Even if the decoction recipes from the Danfeng Yang Clinic could further enhance the inner strength of Shaolin disciples, the one who would benefit most directly from the exchange of musculoskeletal treatment techniques with the Danfeng Yang Clinic was obviously Ryu Seol-hwa.

“Well, isn’t it just nice to do good things?” Mu-jin deflected, aware of her feelings but not ready to reciprocate.

“If you did it because of the ‘debt’ I mentioned before, you didn’t need to go that far.”

Despite saying that it wasn’t necessary, it seemed as if he had done his best to extract as much as possible from the Danfeng Yang Clinic.

“This is just a small token of appreciation for the debt I owe. Please don’t worry about it.”

* * *

Aside from the medical exchange with Yang Dong-myeong, Mu-jin began to busy himself day by day with rehabilitation.

In addition to consuming protein diligently six times a day, he repeatedly lifted weights according to a meticulously planned schedule.

“Hup!”

“Haat!”

However, those fierce shouts did not come from Mu-jin’s mouth.

‘…Did they eat something wrong?’

As Mu-jin pondered this, he looked at the Muja Trio and the members of Cheongsu Dojang, who were sweating profusely and repeating their weightlifting exercises.

Although they were renowned sect’s junior disciples who trained consistently, it was clear that their training intensity was much higher than Mu-jin remembered.

* * *

When Mu-jin first opened his eyes after receiving treatment from Yang Dong-myeong,

the Muja Trio and the members of Cheongsu Dojang, who had left the hall after Mu-jin collapsed from muscle loss, had relieved expressions.

However, their relief was short-lived.

Mu-gyeong, with a bitter expression, spoke up.

“To be honest, I didn’t like being treated like a child by my junior brother Mu-jin, but I now understand why he did it.”

Everyone seemed to share Mu-gyeong’s sentiment.

They had lived a life of training in the mountains from a young age.

They had never realized that so many villains lived in the world, nor that there were many masters among these villains.

Although they had heard stories about demonic sects and villains from their elders, these stories had never felt real to them.

“As you all know, my master, Monk Hye-gwan, is renowned for exterminating demons and villains. I will likely follow that path. I’ve realized that I might encounter opponents as formidable as the master who injured Mu-jin.”

“Why are you suddenly bringing this up, Brother Mu-gyeong?” Mu-gung, who had been quietly listening, asked.

Mu-gyeong replied with a determined expression.

“Now that Mu-jin’s condition is improving, I think it would be better to focus on our training instead of worrying about him.”

His comment pointed out that they had spent the past few days doing nothing but hovering around the hall, worrying about Mu-jin.

Cheongsu Dojang nodded in agreement.

“Indeed, you’re right. I’ve also realized that my sword skills are far from being able to protect anyone.”

Cheongsu Dojang’s sword had been broken in two within just two exchanges against a sudden opponent.

If Mu-jin hadn’t risked his life to bind the opponent, it would have been impossible to protect Baek Ga-hwan or Ju Kyung-il.

“Hmph. Instead of just waiting, it’s better to train, which is what Mu-jin would want.”

Mu-gung also agreed with them, and thus the Muja Trio and Cheongsu Dojang began their earnest training.

“Hup!”

“Haat!”

Day and night, they lifted weights much heavier than those they had used before the Yongbongji Conference, training their external skills and sparring to hone their martial arts.

“Cheongsu Dojang, may I ask for a lesson?”

“Haha! I am always up for sparring. Amitabha.”

Like street ruffians starting a fight just by making eye contact, Mu-gyeong and Cheongsu Dojang assumed their stances at a distance.

“Here I come!”

Mu-gyeong was the first to charge at Cheongsu Dojang.

Swoosh!

In the air, Mu-gyeong displayed various martial arts he had learned or stolen, while Cheongsu Dojang naturally deflected these techniques with the new sword provided by the Cheonryu Sangdan.

Mu-gyeong.

He had one unresolved worry that he hadn’t shared with anyone.

To be precise, he had come to a significant realization during this journey.

Although he said he would naturally succeed Hye-gwan, there was a flaw in that statement.

There was no strict rule in Shaolin that one must belong to the same sect as their master or senior.

Nevertheless, Mu-gyeong made such a statement because he had realized something important during this incident.

He could never be an ordinary monk.

When he learned about the atrocities committed by the mountain bandits, the So-cheongmun, and the human traffickers at the black market,

a deep-seated murderous intent would arise from within his mind.

Moreover, during the process of killing those dreadful villains in Guangxi Province, Mu-gyeong felt a peculiar thrill.

It might be that his innate nature was something he couldn’t change.

“Haat!”

Swish!

During the sparring, when these moments flashed in Mu-gyeong’s mind, the image of Hye-gwan naturally came to him.

‘I don’t feel grateful, but I understand now, Master.’

Whenever murderous intent and pleasure welled up within him, the voice of Hye-gwan echoed in his mind, and the phantom pain from Hye-gwan’s beatings would bring his senses back to normal.

Also, after experiencing the surge of murderous intent and thrill from killing, he would feel a strange sense of calm.

Indeed, his destined path seemed to lead him to a life of battling evil spirits.

‘If I have to live a life of killing, then I’d rather walk the path of a demon slayer, seeking out and destroying villains.’

During the sparring, Mu-gyeong resolved to mix killing techniques into his martial arts.

For Mu-gyeong, sparring was a way to control himself, prevent himself from falling into murderous madness, and train to eradicate evil.

Just as he had learned from his master, Hye-gwan.

Mu-gyeong’s killing techniques in the sparring match, which were more akin to a real life-or-death struggle than a friendly duel, made Cheongsu Dojang burst into a cheerful laugh.

“Hahaha! This is excellent!”

Cheongsu Dojang, who simply enjoyed the art of the sword, had seen the world alongside Mu-jin, just as Yunheo Zhenren had hoped.

However, the world he witnessed was closer to ugliness than beauty.

As Cheongsu Dojang’s sword, which had been deflecting Mu-gyeong’s lethal strikes in a circular motion, suddenly moved in a straight line towards Mu-gyeong’s heart.

Swish!

A killing strike filled with clear murderous intent.

Cheongsu Dojang thought that while protecting the weak was important, eliminating those who preyed on the weak was necessary to prevent recurrence.

That was the conclusion Cheongsu Dojang came to after witnessing the world.

* * *

About fifteen days passed after they began their rigorous training following Mu-gyeong’s suggestion.

During this time, Mu-gung found himself troubled with one particular thought.

The ones showing the greatest progress in their training were Cheongsu Dojang and Mu-gyeong.

Although both had natural talents, Mu-gung felt the main difference lay elsewhere.

‘What path should I take…’

During breaks between training sessions and after sparring, Cheongsu Dojang and Mu-gyeong often discussed such matters.

Mu-gyeong aimed to master martial arts to eradicate demonic sects, while Cheongsu Dojang sought to protect the weak from villains.

Unlike these two, who were advancing their martial arts with clear direction, Mu-gung was merely repeating the martial arts he had learned in Shaolin.

Feeling the limitations of finding answers on his own, Mu-gung asked them,

“Ahem. How did you both come to be so sure that your chosen paths are the right ones?”

However, Mu-gyeong’s answer was rather enigmatic for Mu-gung to comprehend.

“I simply decided to accept my destiny, Brother Mu-gung.”

“Destiny?”

“…Something like that.”

Mu-gyeong couldn’t bring himself to admit that he was born with the fate of a killer, so he chose to speak vaguely.

“I just chose the most positive direction while accepting my destiny.”

Next, Cheongsu Dojang spoke, but his words didn’t resonate much with Mu-gung either.

“I simply find joy in training with the sword, Brother Mu-gung.”

Mu-gung had rarely thought of training as enjoyable.

He had trained with the desire to become a master and make a name for himself in the martial arts world.

“If you simply enjoy the sword, there’s no need to choose that path, Cheongsu Dojang.”

“While I enjoy training with the sword, I found protecting the weak more enjoyable than killing someone. Hahaha.”

“Indeed… the more enjoyable path is usually more appealing.”

Mu-gyeong agreed with a peculiar expression to Cheongsu Dojang’s words.

While Cheongsu Dojang found more joy in protecting, Mu-gyeong found more joy in killing.

“Enjoyment…”

After the conversation with the two, Mu-gung pondered.

What had brought him joy?

In this contemplation, another fifteen days passed, and Mu-gung reached his own conclusion.

“It’s Mu-gung. Lady Baek Ga-ryeong.”

“Thank you again today, Monk Mu-gung.”

Baek Ga-hwan greeted him as he opened the hall’s door.

In the center of the room, Baek So-ryeong was lying down.

After his morning training. And after his afternoon training. Treating Baek So-ryeong twice a day had become part of Mu-gung’s routine.

But it wasn’t just about infusing her with Yang energy anymore.

“Did you manage to practice circulating your energy? Lady Baek Ga-ryeong.”

Baek So-ryeong nodded slightly in response to Mu-gung’s question.

Baek Ga-hwan, who had been watching the situation, approached to help Baek So-ryeong sit in a lotus position.

Once Baek So-ryeong managed to sit in the lotus position, Mu-gung sat behind her and placed his palm on her back.

“I will begin.”

“Yes.”

After hearing her faint response, Mu-gung channeled his inner energy through his palm into her back.

Mu-gung’s inner energy began circulating through her body in a specific pattern, battling the Yin energy that had taken over her meridians.

True Qi Guiding Technique.

Following the formula of Yang Energy Art, one of Shaolin’s inner energy cultivation techniques, Mu-gung was guiding his inner energy through her meridians.

As his hot inner energy warmed her cold, stagnant meridians, a small amount of energy began moving from her dantian.

It was a tiny amount of inner energy she had accumulated over the past few days.

While still keeping his palm on her back, Mu-gung observed the movement of her inner energy.

He wasn’t worried about her misdirecting her inner energy.

Her comprehension level was unparalleled by anyone Mu-gung had encountered.

She had fully understood and memorized the formula of Yang Energy Art, which had taken Mu-gung several days to grasp, after hearing it just once.

Yet, Mu-gung was observing her condition for a particular reason.

“Hup!”

Just like now, when her meridians were overpowered by Yin energy again. Her feeble inner energy couldn’t break through.

Each time, Mu-gung would reheat her meridians with his inner energy.

After guiding her through two cycles of small celestial circulation following the formula of Yang Energy Art, Baek So-ryeong let out a ‘warm’ breath and stabilized her breathing.

When she finished circulating her energy, she turned her somewhat relieved body to face Mu-gung.

“Brazen. Eunuchs of the Ten Regular Attendants.”

“She feels like a shameless eunuch from the Ten Regular Attendants of the Later Han Dynasty, constantly receiving your help, Monk Mu-gung, despite you being busy with your training,” Baek Ga-hwan interpreted.

Mu-gung smiled gently and responded.

“How could you compare yourself to those people, Lady Baek? They forcibly took from others, but I help you because I want to. Amitabha.”

This was the truth.

Treating her and teaching her the Yang Energy Art wasn’t something Mu-gung had to do.

The Yang Energy Art he was teaching her wasn’t one of the seventy-two supreme arts.

And to provide heat therapy for musculoskeletal treatment, Shaolin allowed lay disciples to learn the Yang Energy Art.

In other words, lay disciples could have taken care of her, but Mu-gung chose to do it himself.

“Burden. Apologies.”

“There’s no need to feel burdened. I’m doing it because it brings me joy.”

Mu-gung was a somewhat typical junior disciple from a renowned sect who dreamed of becoming a famous martial artist.

During this journey, he had experienced various heroic deeds, such as stealing from the Divine Thief Pavilion and fighting bandits and human traffickers.

But strangely, treating her brought him more fulfillment than fighting or exploring places of fortuitous encounters.

He realized the joy of helping others.

Perhaps Mu-gung’s sincerity had reached her.

“Thank you.”

When she expressed her gratitude with a sincere smile, Mu-gung’s face also lit up with a pleased smile.