Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Great Talent

As Mu-jin returned to Hyun-gwang’s residence, Mu-gyeong also headed to the place where Hye-gwan was staying.

“Master?”

Hye-gwan, who often left the Shaolin Temple to kill the heretics, made Mu-gyeong speak cautiously as he entered the hall.

But fortunately or unfortunately, Hye-gwan was still at the Shaolin Temple.

With a drunken face, he sat on the hall floor, blowing on a bottle of alcohol.

“It’s been a while, disciple.”

“I greet you, Master.”

As Mu-gyeong hastily bowed to show respect, Hye-gwan took another sip of his drink and smirked.

“I’ve come to understand your grand intentions.”

Mu-gyeong had clearly realized why Hye-gwan had beaten him so relentlessly, thanks to his experiences in Guangxi Province.

“Grand intentions, my foot.”

Despite his words, Hye-gwan’s face twisted into a crooked smile.

Still chuckling, Hye-gwan placed the bottle to his lips, took the last sip, and tossed the bottle behind him.

“Anyway, for a third-generation disciple to be causing such trouble already, it seems some punishment is in order.”

“Isn’t the punishment I received at the Cave of Repentance enough?”

“Hahaha. You’ve grown bold, talking back now that you’ve been to the martial world.”

Just as he said “you’ve grown bold,” Hye-gwan, who had been sitting on the floor, was suddenly right in front of Mu-gyeong.

Despite the illusion that Hye-gwan was still sitting on the floor, Mu-gyeong knew better.

Hye-gwan was using the mysterious art of Yeontae Gupum.

But Mu-gyeong was not the same as he used to be.

Expecting this outcome, Mu-gyeong calmly avoided the first strike by also utilizing Yeontae Gupum.

“It won’t be the same as before!”

Shouting this, Mu-gyeong boldly displayed Shaolin’s martial arts.

“Hoo~?”

After exchanging a few moves with Hye-gwan, who seemed intrigued, Mu-gyeong realized something.

‘Indeed, Shaolin’s martial arts alone won’t suffice.’

Even for Mu-gyeong, it was a challenge to compete with Hye-gwan, who had at least thirty years more experience with Shaolin’s martial arts.

So, Mu-gyeong devised a plan.

“Master! Now, I will show you what I learned outside Shaolin.”

“Hahaha. Sure, give it a try.”

As soon as Hye-gwan gave his permission, Mu-gyeong began to unleash a series of martial arts moves he had learned and stolen from the Yongbongji Conference, Sichuan, Guangxi Province, and the Jegal family. ŕÀŊ𝐎BÈꞩ

“Hahaha! You’ve stolen quite a bit! You have a knack for being a great thief!”

Though it was unclear whether it was a compliment or an insult, the direction of the duel began to shift.

Due to the variety of techniques Mu-gyeong displayed, Hye-gwan could no longer easily overwhelm him.

‘As expected, Master is different.’

The more Mu-gyeong fought Hye-gwan, the harder it was to hide his amazement.

Even when using techniques Hye-gwan could not have anticipated, Hye-gwan adapted and neutralized or dodged them all with exceptional skill.

As the leader of the Demon Extermination Squad, Hye-gwan’s prowess, with the most extensive combat experience in Shaolin, was evident.

However, amusingly, Mu-gyeong saw hope in this evenly matched duel.

‘If I can manage this now, what if I use that!’

Soon enough, an opportunity arose.

“Hah!”

When Mu-gyeong used a stick technique from the Beggar Sect he had seen at the Yongbongji Conference, Hye-gwan retreated to avoid the attack.

“Haap!”

Not missing the moment, Mu-gyeong scattered his energy into Sa-ji-baek-hae.

Golden energy, like steam, started forming countless golden droplets in the air around Mu-gyeong.

“Try avoiding this, Master!”

As Mu-gyeong confidently shouted, the dozens of golden droplets in the air flew towards Hye-gwan.

“Where did you learn this strange technique!”

Hye-gwan shouted as he narrowly dodged the golden rain.

‘Just a bit more!’

Mu-gyeong’s face brightened with a smile as he saw Hye-gwan struggling to dodge the attack.

“Here I go!!”

Golden energy spread wider around Mu-gyeong, and even more golden rain began to pour down.

Unlike before, the golden rain, initially falling from above, now swirled in all directions like a storm.

Mu-gyeong didn’t intend to kill Hye-gwan. He just wanted to land a single hit on him.

‘Just get hit once!!’

Having been beaten like a dog on a hot day so many times, he wanted to return the favor just once.

“You really want to beat me, don’t you!!”

Hye-gwan, leaping around the hall like a madman, dodged the downpour of golden rain and shouted angrily, while Mu-gyeong giggled and replied.

“Surpassing the master is the greatest fortune for a disciple, Master!”

Fully excited, Mu-gyeong pressed on, driving Hye-gwan into a corner.

But Hye-gwan, with his extensive combat experience, did not fall into a dead end, even while dodging all the golden rain.

After fighting for what felt like an eternity.

“Huff, huff.”

Mu-gyeong, who had poured out his inner energy wildly in his excitement, began to breathe heavily.

Although he had learned to use the Blood Rain Demon Technique without the Celestial Blood Absorption Technique, the problem of insufficient inner energy remained unsolved.

As Mu-gyeong’s breathing grew rough, Hye-gwan’s lips curled into a sinister smile.

“Hehehehe.”

As if all his previous dodging was a performance, Hye-gwan began to approach Mu-gyeong leisurely.

Indeed, it had been a performance. Although Hye-gwan didn’t recognize Mu-gyeong’s martial arts at first, he soon identified the Blood Rain Demon Technique.

Twenty years ago, Hye-gwan had also been involved in capturing the Blood Demon, then the second disciple.

‘Though he entered the Cave of Repentance, I didn’t expect him to learn that man’s techniques.’

For a Shaolin disciple to learn demonic techniques was unexpected even for Hye-gwan.

However, Hye-gwan didn’t point this out. With his vast combat experience, he understood that tools were just tools.

‘As long as he doesn’t fall into the demonic nature, it’s fine.’

Moreover, unlike the Blood Demon’s techniques, Mu-gyeong’s carried a Buddhist energy, indicating no significant problem.

And if Mu-gyeong ever fell into the demonic nature?

He would beat him back to his senses.

“Hehehehe.”

As Hye-gwan approached with a smile, it felt to Mu-gyeong like the grin of a grim reaper.

“Ma-master, I’ve shown you what I’ve learned in the martial world. So, how about ending the duel here?”

“Hahaha. What a funny thing to say. You started it, so I should finish it, don’t you think?”

“You started it too!!”

Mu-gyeong couldn’t finish his sentence.

Hye-gwan, once again using Yeontae Gupum, aimed his fist at Mu-gyeong’s solar plexus.

“Uwaaah!!”

After seven months, Mu-gyeong’s scream echoed from Hye-gwan’s residence.

* * *

While Mu-gyeong’s scream resonated through one part of Shaolin Temple.

“I’m back~!”

“Ooki! Ookiki!”

Had he forgotten he had run away at night?

Mu-yul cheerfully entered the hall, greeted by Hye-geol and Beob-hyun.

“Mu-yul, what’s with that monkey?”

“Hehe. This is my friend, Ling-ling!”

“Ooki! Ooki!”

As Mu-yul lifted Ling-ling to introduce him, the monkey waved its arms at them.

“Hahaha. A friend, you say.”

“Yes! Ling-ling is so kind. Right, Ling-ling?”

“Ooki! Ooki!!”

“……”

Hye-geol and Beob-hyun were at a loss for words at the sight.

‘Judging by its behavior, it seems to understand Mu-yul’s words… Could it be a spiritual creature?’

‘…I always knew Mu-yul was closer to animals than humans.’

And this child, closer to animals than humans, was their disciple.

“Haha. Haha. It’s good to make friends.”

“Yes! We also beat up many bad people!”

“Hahaha. With that monkey?”

“Yes!”

When Mu-yul confidently assumed the stance of the Crane Fist.

“Ooki!”

Surprisingly, the monkey also took the same stance.

And thus began the bizarre synchronized martial arts of a human and a monkey.

“……”

“……”

Hye-geol and Beob-hyun watched in a daze.

Not just because it was ridiculous, but also because it was awe-inspiring.

‘A monkey using the Shaolin Five Fists!’

However, upon closer inspection, it wasn’t perfect.

“Hmm. That was impressive. But I noticed some flaws in Ling-ling’s technique.”

“Ooki?”

Ling-ling tilted its head in confusion at the mention of flaws.

“Because it hasn’t learned the mnemonics, it seems like it’s just imitating the form.”

“Ooki? Ookiki?”

“Ling-ling is asking what mnemonics are!”

As Mu-yul translated for Ling-l

ing, Hye-geol and Beob-hyun were taken aback again.

“Mu-yul, can you understand Ling-ling’s words?”

“Yes. We’re friends, so of course!”

“Of course. Hahaha…”

Why could he understand the monkey but not his master?

Oh, because they weren’t friends.

Or maybe, because he wasn’t a monkey, Mu-yul couldn’t understand him.

‘No, this isn’t right.’

Momentarily lost in useless thoughts, Hye-geol collected himself and explained.

“Mnemonics are the method of moving inner energy when performing martial arts.”

“Ooki! Ookiki!”

“Ling-ling is asking if it can learn too!”

Since Ling-ling was a spiritual creature with inner energy, it seemed possible.

“Ooki! Ooki!”

“Then teach me too!”

Mu-yul’s request made Hye-geol ponder for a moment.

‘A monkey wanting to learn the Shaolin Five Fists mnemonics…’

He could teach it, but the problem was the acupuncture points.

Since a monkey’s and a human’s acupuncture points differed, teaching Ling-ling as he would a human wouldn’t be effective.

However, another thought came to mind.

‘If that monkey learns the Shaolin Five Fists mnemonics and performs synchronized techniques with Mu-yul?’

It might create a formidable synchronized attack that would overwhelm ordinary opponents.

“Hmm. I can teach you. But since the acupuncture points of humans and monkeys differ, we need to adjust the mnemonics to suit Ling-ling.”

“Ooki! Ookiki!”

“Wow! Ling-ling is so smart.”

“Why suddenly say smart?”

Mu-yul replied with a bright smile.

“Ling-ling said it understood!”

“And? What’s so smart about that?”

“Master’s explanation was too long for me to understand, but Ling-ling understood it! Hehe.”

“…”

Hye-geol, feeling a headache coming on for the first time in a while, watched his disciple declare he was dumber than a monkey.

At that moment, Shaolin’s second disciple entered Hye-geol’s residence with a letter.

After reading the letter’s contents, Hye-geol stood up immediately.

“Mu-yul.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Will you come on a trip with me?”

“Sure!”

As Mu-yul and Ling-ling followed Hye-geol, Beob-hyun, who had been watching, asked.

“Who is the letter from that you’re leaving in such haste?”

“It’s from a famous hunter in Henan Province.”

“A hunter?”

A look of confusion on his face, Beob-hyun questioned, but Hye-geol answered as if he had an epiphany.

“Now that Mu-yul is back, it’s time to catch it.”

Catch what?

A tiger, of course.