Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Blood Successor

Around the time Mu-jin and Mu-gyeong were undergoing Blood Demon’s trial,

“Ha!”

Dao Yuetian was wielding a black sword at one side of the Shaolin training ground.

Dao Yuetian had come to Songshan through the Jegal family with Mu-jin, but he was left in a state of confusion when Mu-jin was suddenly confined in the Cave of Repentance.

Fortunately, the Cheon Seom Moon family and senior disciples had arrived first at Deungbong-hyeon.

However, Dao Yuetian chose not to descend Songshan to meet them.

‘Now is the time to complete my martial arts.’

The bloodshed at Cheon Seom Moon was still engraved in Dao Yuetian’s mind.

Especially now, training in Shaolin safely, he was dedicating himself to mastering the true essence of the Swift Shadow Strike technique used in the black sword.

Swinging the black sword slowly, he repeatedly performed the new mnemonics for the Swift Shadow Strike, forgetting the old ones.

“Phew.”

Ignoring the screams from his overworked body, Dao Yuetian steadied his breath.

He had exhausted his internal energy from pushing himself to his limits.

As he prepared to start training again, recovering his internal energy with the Qi Conducting Technique,

“Hehehe.”

A soft laugh reached his ears, one he hadn’t sensed.

Turning his head quickly, Dao Yuetian saw Hyun-gwang, Mu-jin’s great grandmaster.

“Greetings, Master Hyun-gwang.”

Dao Yuetian quickly bowed with a fist-palm salute, and Hyun-gwang smiled gently.

“Hehehe. I heard you came to Shaolin with Mu-jin?”

“Yes, Master. Please, speak freely. Mu-jin is a benefactor to my family and me. Thus, you are also a benefactor to us.”

“Hehehe. Very well. As they say, ‘Courtesy is proportional to respect.’ Treat this humble monk as you would a grandfather.”

Hyun-gwang’s soft words left Dao Yuetian momentarily conflicted, but he eventually agreed.

“I will do so.”

After observing Dao Yuetian’s face for a moment, Hyun-gwang spoke with a somewhat sorrowful tone.

“Hehehe. I was curious about what kind of young hero Mu-jin brought, and it seems you too have a destiny as extraordinary as his.”

“Can you read destiny too, Master Hyun-gwang? Oh, of course, you are Mu-jin’s great grandmaster, so it makes sense.”

Dao Yuetian’s response made Hyun-gwang tilt his head slightly.

‘Master Hyun-gwang too?’

So, someone else could read destiny?

And judging by his words, Mu-jin seemed to believe in destiny reading as well.

However, there was no need to clarify here that Mu-jin lacked such an ability.

Hyun-gwang continued with his intended conversation.

“It seems you have many trials ahead in your destiny. If you don’t mind, I could offer some help.”

“Did you say, Master Hyun-gwang?!”

Dao Yuetian asked with a surprised face.

Understandably so, as he had climbed Songshan with Mu-jin’s party, directly witnessing the match between Namgung Muguk and Hyun-gwang.

Receiving help from such a master, one who seemed to touch the heavens, was an opportunity he wished to seize even if he had to beg.

But instead of feeling grateful, Dao Yuetian felt guilty.

“I have not yet repaid Mu-jin’s kindness. How can I accept more from you, Master Hyun-gwang?”

“Hehehe. Relationships are mysterious. I offer help knowing you will aid our Mu-jin in the future.”

“…Then, I will shamelessly seek your guidance. I will repay Mu-jin’s kindness with your teachings.”

Dao Yuetian’s answer made Hyun-gwang smile gently.

“Could you show me the martial arts you are practicing?”

“I’m sorry, Master Hyun-gwang. I have exhausted my internal energy and need to recover it through Qi Conducting Technique.”

“Hehehe. There’s no need to use internal energy. Just demonstrate the form and mnemonics.”

Indeed, a master like him could understand everything from a simple demonstration.

While Dao Yuetian processed this marvel, Hyun-gwang added,

“And I’ve already seen your sword technique. Just explain the stepping techniques and other skills.”

Following Hyun-gwang’s instructions, Dao Yuetian demonstrated and explained the forms and mnemonics of his martial arts.

From the basic stepping techniques and body techniques of Cheon Seom Moon to the Golden Locking Hand technique.

After listening to all of Dao Yuetian’s demonstrations and explanations, Hyun-gwang asked,

“One last question. I noticed you repeatedly practiced a single technique earlier. Is there a reason for this?”

“…It’s due to my lack of talent and understanding.”

Dao Yuetian explained further, detailing the advice and help he had received from Mu-jin.

After hearing his story, Hyun-gwang tilted his head again.

‘Huh… Mu-jin can’t read destiny, so how did he know of the misfortunes awaiting this child?’

Even Hyun-gwang, at his high level, could only read the broad flow of destiny, not specific events.

It reaffirmed to him the mysterious nature of his great grand disciple.

However, Hyun-gwang chose to focus on the matter at hand.

“Now, I understand your situation. Let me make some adjustments to your martial arts.”

With those words, Hyun-gwang moved his body slowly, demonstrating a step.

His movements resembled Dao Yuetian’s family stepping technique, Hundred Shadows Step, yet differed in subtle ways.

After the demonstration and mnemonic explanation, Hyun-gwang spoke,

“I have condensed your Hundred Shadows Step technique to fit the Swift Shadow Strike’s principle of speed over unnecessary changes. It won’t be too difficult to learn since there are no major alterations.”

Dao Yuetian, stunned by this explanation, stood with his mouth agape, unable to recognize his own rudeness.

Adjusting martial arts with just a single demonstration and explanation?

Had he not witnessed Hyun-gwang’s match with Namgung Muguk, he might have thought him a fraud.

“Learning multiple techniques simultaneously can be harmful. For now, focus on practicing this stepping technique.”

At Hyun-gwang’s continued guidance, Dao Yuetian quickly closed his gaping mouth and bowed.

“Thank you for your grace, Master Hyun-gwang.”

After that, Dao Yuetian continued training with Hyun-gwang.

Hyun-gwang not only showed the form and mnemonics once but corrected Dao Yuetian each time he made a mistake.

‘Amitabha…’

Watching Dao Yuetian train with a gentle expression, Hyun-gwang inwardly sighed.

A child with talents and understanding, burdened by a fate almost impossible to overcome.

Thus, Hyun-gwang understood Mu-jin’s advice to Dao Yuetian immediately.

‘Becoming part of the technique itself…’

This child was not learning martial arts but becoming part of them.

“Ugh.”

At that moment, Dao Yuetian, practicing the new stepping technique, lost his balance and fell.

“I’m sorry, Master Hyun-gwang.”

Dao Yuetian apologized for his shortcomings, but Hyun-gwang shook his head gently.

The stepping technique he taught naturally caused initial falls.

In fact, the technique was designed to disrupt balance.

When Dao Yuetian’s body deformed to align with the Swift Shadow Strike, the technique would feel natural.

It was a method to accelerate the deformation of Dao Yuetian’s body.

Hyun-gwang also planned to embed similar traps in the other techniques he would later teach.

To ensure Mu-jin’s arrangement was realized. And to help this child burdened with a great fate to overcome it.

‘I wonder if Mu-jin is doing well.’

While teaching Dao Yuetian, Hyun-gwang’s thoughts drifted to his great grand disciple solving his task in the Cave of Repentance.

* * *

After Mu-gyeong began training with Blood Demon, Mu-jin sat cross-legged in a corner of the Cave of Repentance, lost in thought.

Since he was confined there, he decided to solve Hyun-gwang’s task, reflecting on the match between Namgung Muguk and Hyun-gwang.

Beside him, Mu-gung, believing himself the only sane one, sat cross-legged too.

‘That brat dragged me here, but at least he’ll behave, right?’

Mu-gung thought inwardly, unable to voice it.

Traveling the martial world with Mu-jin had its fun moments, but the escalating incidents left Mu-gung craving rest.

Thus, Mu-gung felt relieved seeing Mu-jin sitting quietly.

“We can’t just waste time thinking!”

Mu-jin suddenly stood up, causing Mu-gung to sigh deeply.

“What do you plan to do here?”

“We can think while exercising! Get up, man. You’ll lose muscle mass.”

“…How are we supposed to exercise here?”

Mu-gung looked around the barren Cave of Repentance skeptically.

“I was thinking about that! Mu-yul!”

“Yeah? Why~?”

“Hang on here.”

Mu-jin held out his arm like offering a banana to a monkey, and Mu-yul swung himself onto Mu-jin’s arm.

“You’re exercising too. Hold on tight.”

With that, Mu-jin began flexing his arm, lifting and lowering Mu-yul as if he were a dumbbell.

“Hehehe.”

Mu-yul laughed happily, clinging to Mu-jin’s arm.

‘Ha… Why is he so cheerful?’

While Mu-gung sighed, Mu-yul called out,

“Wow! Ling-ling, come join us!”

“Ook! Ook-ook!!”

“Good, adding weight.”

After fifteen reps with Mu-yul, Mu-jin added Ling-ling to his arm exercises.

“Mu-yul, you’re training too! Use the Celestial Weight technique to add more weight.”

“Okay!”

“Ugh! Haha!”

“Ook!”

Watching the trio’s antics, Mu-gung shook his head.

After finishing his arm exercises, Mu-jin approached Mu-gung.

“Your turn.”

“You want me to hang from your arm?”

“How could I lift a big guy like you with my arm?”

“Then?”

Mu-jin pointed his thumb at his shoulder.

“Hang on here.”

Mu-jin intended to do heavy squats with Mu-gung on his back.

Having been forced into years of weight training by Mu-jin, Mu-gung understood immediately.

But understanding didn’t mean he wanted to participate in such madness.

“No.”

Mu-gung’s curt refusal made Mu-jin tilt his head in confusion.

“Ah!”

With an expression of realization, Mu-jin approached Mu-gung.

“What are you doing?”

Mu-gung asked incredulously as Mu-jin climbed onto his shoulders.

“Didn’t you want to go first?”

“…”

Usually, saying “no” means wanting to skip the workout, right? How did he interpret it as wanting to go first?

‘This guy doesn’t have the concept of disliking or skipping workouts, does he?’

Realizing that “no” wouldn’t work, Mu-gung pondered how to stop Mu-jin’s madness.

Then he found the solution.

“Hey, you said it yourself. Working out without proper nutrition is muscle abuse. We can’t get protein or anything here, so we shouldn’t exercise.”

Although confined, they weren’t denied food.

Otherwise, Blood Demon wouldn’t have survived twenty years here.

However, the daily provision from a Jurisdiction Department disciple was just a bit of water, vegetables, and grains—no protein.

Mu-gung’s sharp argument made Mu-jin nod appreciatively.

“Smart guy. You were worried about that.”

Mu-jin, squirming on Mu-gung’s shoulders, pulled something from his clothes and handed it to him.

“Here.”

“What is this?”

“Protein supplement.”

“…Why is this here?”

“I brought it for times like this, obviously.”

His face seemed to say it was the most natural thing in the world, leaving Mu-gung speechless.