The Grand Instrument
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.
Havingmitted the crime of running away in the middle of the night, Mu-gung couldn’t imagine what kind of punishment awaited him.
However, Hye-dam did not scold Mu-gung. Nor did he have any affectionate words for him.
“Come 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 me ountable for my crime?”
“Didn’t you already receive punishment from the Jurisdiction Department?”
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 merely spoke those words and looked at Mu-gung in silence. After a moment of contemtion, Mu-gung spoke first.
“In fact, this has given me something 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 merely repeating the same 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 borated,
“The Tathagata Palm you are learning is immensely powerful. The more you practice, the stronger it bes. 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 rtionship 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 hismitment.
“Transformation…”
Standing before the iron weights, Mu-jin pondered the term.
Transformation.
In literature and everyday usage, it positively describes someone who has undergone a significant change.
However, in martial arts novels, it often carries a different meaning.
It refers to a state where one’s bones and muscles are transformed into an ideal body for martial arts, often achieved after a protagonist survives a perilous battle, finds a miraculous elixir, and uses the enlightenment from the battle and the elixir’s energy to transform.
“The protagonist of the first part returned to his sect and became the Heavenly Demon after achieving transformation.”
Mu-jin realized that despite being written by the same 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 enlightenment, 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 enlightenment 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 n was quite simple.
To reach the peak of human strength.
He aimed to reach the level of the “World’s Strongest Man”petitors, who were renowned for their immense strength.
However, none of thosepetitors were skilled fighters due to their overlyrge 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 alsopressing them to maintain a fighter’s physique.
“Thetest champion’sbined lift total was about 1,200 kg.”
Mu-jin nned 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 musclepression, 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 uing process was akin to conducting an experiment 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 experiment.
To begin this absurd experiment,
“Hup!”
Mu-jin decisively lifted the iron weights stacked with numerous tes.
* * *
About fifteen days passed with Mu-jin spending his time rigorously training his muscles, eating like a madman, and recovering.
During this time, 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, weed 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 came to keep a promise.”
“A promise?”
When Mu-jin asked curiously, Jegal Jin-hee looked behind her instead of answering immediately.
At that moment, they heard someone struggling, and the sound gradually got closer to Hyun-gwang’s ce.
“Ugh.”
Soon, martial artists from the Jegal family, carrying heavy iron weights, began entering Hyun-gwang’s ce 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 me?”
The iron weights the Jegal family members brought in were at least 1.5 timesrger 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 ce them here?”
While Jegal Jin-hee exined the weights to Mu-jin, one of the Jegal family members, catching his breath, asked.
“Yes, please ce them in the wide yard over there.”
Upon Jegal Jin-hee’s instruction, they carefully ced the heavy iron weights on the ground, worried they might bend under their weight.
Thunk.
Even though they ced them down carefully, the heavy thud indicated their substantial weight.
The continuous thuds from cing 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 immediately.
“Thank you for such a grand gift.”
“The help you provided to our family is beyondparison. 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 dy.
Upon her exnation, Mu-jin finally remembered 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 time for that!’
Recalling her role as the young leader, sheposed herself and spoke.
“Could you teach us some external training methods while we stay here?”
“External training methods?”
“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 apanied her to deliver the iron weights were talented members of the Jegal family, chosen to create new martial arts techniques with her.
They hade to learn weight training from Mu-jin, bringing the iron weights along.
After a brief contemtion, 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 some time.
“Thank you, Mu-jin Sunim.”
“Ha ha ha. The pleasure is mine.”
As Mu-jin and Jegal Jin-hee exchanged respectful bows, a second-ss disciple of Shaolin arrived at Hyun-gwang’s ce.
“Greetings, Master Hyun-gwang.”
“Ha ha ha. What brings you here?”
“The abbot has summoned Mu-jin.”
“Me?”
Mu-jin looked puzzled at the second-ss 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-ss disciple, but he did not know the reason either.
“Is there a problem?”
“I haven’t been informed 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-ss disciple Mu-jin. I greet the abbot.”
“Ha ha ha. Sitfortably.”
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 me to the Cave of Repentance, and now he’s praising me?’
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 bes the core of Shaolin, the chief disciple will take the position of abbot.”
“So, you want me to be 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 me?’
Why should I take on such a bothersome role?