Chapter 32:

Chapter 32:

Hyun-gwang (3)

An electrical stimulation therapy device. No, Hyun Gong furrowed his brow and asked.

“Are you truly saying that sending Thunder Energy to senior brother Hyun-gwang can cure him? Such a small amount of energy will not be able to burn off the waste accumulated in the meridians.”

“It is not the meridians where the Thunder Energy will be sent. Monk, Head of Jurisdiction Department.”

Hyun Gong, as well as everyone else in the headmaster’s office, wore a look of confusion.

However, Mu-jin, whether they understood or not, wrapped his extended right arm with his left hand and spoke.

“The muscle inside the skin. I will send Thunder Energy to stimulate that muscle.”

“...Are you talking about stimulating the muscle?”

“That’s right. When a very slight electric current is passed through the muscle, it has the effect of promoting metabolism within the muscle and circulation of the blood, and it is also effective in increasing muscle contractility and the size of muscle fibers.”

Mu-jin explained the efficacy of the electrical stimulation therapy device as simply as possible so that the people of this world could understand.

The reason Mu-jin knew such knowledge was simple.

Mu-jin had obtained a national certification as a physical therapist and a private certification as a rehabilitation masseur while working as a fitness trainer.

Back when he was forced to retire from the military and had to heal his completely broken body.

Shocked by the exorbitant cost of physical therapy and rehabilitation treatment, as well as Pilates, he started studying the three in order to save money.

After that, he delved into various exercises such as yoga and fitness to fix his body, and eventually became a fitness trainer, even becoming proficient in nutrition.

In particular, learning physical and manual therapy along with rehabilitation massage was a great help in his fitness trainer career.

[11:57 PM]

At first, when he became a trainer, he would provide acupressure massages as a service concept after every one-hour PT session.

He would relax the muscles worked out that day with acupressure methods learned from rehabilitation massage, which proved to be quite effective, so many of the members who had OT with Choi Kang-hyuk signed up for PT as new members.

In addition, having a physical therapist license and a rehabilitation massage certification allowed him to work as a ‘rehabilitation specialist trainer’ at a large fitness center.

Even when he first opened his own gym and became a boss, he would take on the role of rehab specialist trainer to save on labor costs.”

“Ha, ha, ha. I used to attend night school at a vocational college to get my license as a physical therapist. I was really young back then.”

In particular, to become a licensed physical therapist, which is a nationally recognized certification, one had to graduate from a department of physical therapy to take the examination.

Although Choi Kang-hyuk had already learned the theories to some extent through the internet and books, he attended night college while working as a fitness trainer to obtain the license.

Well, even though he wasn’t someone who could make an electrical shock device from scratch or knew the ins and outs of its operating principles since he was a vocational college graduate from a department of physical therapy, at least he remembered how to use it and its efficacy.

Of course, all that was Mu-jin’s own affair.

“Are you saying that by sending electricity through the muscles, you can achieve such effects?”

Hyun Gong, having been turned into an electrical stimulation therapy device, looked at Mu-jin with a skeptical expression.

“Too weak a stimulation has no effect, and on the contrary, too strong a stimulation can be a burden. That’s why I wanted to divide it into five stages to provide the appropriate stimulation for the patient. And if you truly cannot trust my treatment method, then I will give up on the treatment.”

Facing those who looked at him skeptically, Mu-jin answered confidently.

From the stories he had heard and the glimpse he had seen in the training yard, he knew that senior brother Hyun-gwang’s physical condition was quite serious.

Trying to heal such a body without an electrical stimulation therapy device or any other equipment was like trying to smash a rock with an egg.

He judged that it was better to step back here than to take the blame for any potential failure.

As Mu-jin took a firm stand, everyone in the headmaster’s office looked at him with various expressions.

[12:08 AM]

Hyun Seong, who already fully supported Mu-jin, was filled with belief, while Abbot Hyun Cheon looked desperate, senior brother Hye-dam was invariably stoic, and Hyun Gong was skeptical.

“Cough. Then, how much time is needed for your treatment to be effective?”

“I would need to examine senior master uncle Hyun-gwang’s body directly to determine the specifics, but if we proceed for about a month, the effects should start to become apparent.”

Upon Mu-jin’s reply, Hyun Gong nodded as if he had made up his mind and said,

“Then, for the next month, we will follow your instructions. However, if there is still no improvement in senior brother after a month, you will be held accountable for insulting the masters. Do you understand?”

Hyun Gong, with a solemn face befitting the title of Head of Jurisdiction Department, issued a warning to Mu-jin.

“In that case, we should first increase the accuracy of the electrical stimulation therapy device. No, the precision of the Vajra Divine General, shouldn’t we?”

Mu-jin casually took the warning in stride.

“Let’s try once more. When I channel the Thunder Energy through my arm as the Vajra Divine General, you must direct it precisely to the ‘muscle’ area I indicate with my finger.”

“Hmph. That should not be difficult.”

As Mu-jin pointed to the central area of his forearm muscle with the index finger of his left hand, Hyun Gong wrapped his hands around the indicated spot.

And, true to the skills of a master, he sent Thunder Energy to the exact muscle area Mu-jin had pointed to with the same level of power he had called ‘this stage’ just a moment ago.

But why was it?

*

After checking the states of the electrical stimulation therapy device and the infrared lamp, Mu-jin soon returned to the Arhat Faction.

In the headmaster’s office, where Mu-jin had been sent off, the four monks were still conversing.

“What do you all think?”

At the question from Abbot Hyun Cheon, Hyun Gong replied.

“We will have to observe for a month to see if this method truly has an effect on senior brother’s treatment. However, aside from the treatment, it seems it will be greatly beneficial to both me and senior disciple Hye-dam.”

To Hyun Gong’s response, the other three monks nodded in agreement.

“I never thought that we would use the Vajra Divine General and the Tathagata Palm in such a way.”

“Yes. It is certainly a skill that must be taught to the young disciples who will learn the Vajra Divine General and the Tathagata Palm.”

“Not only the Vajra Divine General and the Tathagata Palm, but this also applies to most of our Shaolin martial arts that handle the Extreme Yang Energy.”

Shaolin martial arts mostly involve the use of Yang energy that contains the power to vanquish evil. Among them, especially, the martial arts that wield the strong forces of Fire energy and Metal energy are predominant.

[12:26 AM]

It is a well-known saying in the martial world that those who practice martial arts dealing with Extreme Yang Energy or Fire energy tend to have explosive personalities due to the influence of their internal energy on their disposition.

In fact, Shaolin was no different in this regard. That’s why they also practiced martial arts that combined Metal energy with Fire energy. The aim was to wrap and control the fierce Fire energy with Metal energy.

In essence, the Shaolin monks were forcibly suppressing their explosive tempers and rage with iron-like patience.

Indeed, because of practicing such martial arts, many Shaolin disciples were very stubborn or inflexible, uncharacteristic of a monk. The internal heat of anger that surged within them day after day had made them too rigid over time.

On the other hand, if the Fire energy was stronger than the Metal energy, they might end up like Hye-gwan, belonging to the Demon Extermination Squad, or even become fallen monks pursued by the Jurisdiction Department for breaking their precepts.

The conclusion was that a perfect harmony between the two energies was essential, but this was no easy task, even for seasoned monks with decades of practice.

“We had always thought this to be just another form of asceticism left by our predecessors, but I never knew there would be such a solution. Amitabha.”

“We may have been too rigid in our ways. Amitabha.”

The goal of Buddhists is enlightenment, and to become a Buddha means to cast off all worldly desires and troubles.

The Shaolin monks, who were Buddhists before they were martial artists, viewed the characteristics of Shaolin martial arts as a form of asceticism.

Yet, thanks to Mu-jin’s healing methods, they realized a new direction.

There was no need to suppress Fire energy by incessantly chanting sutras day and night. Instead, they could simply train in martial arts.

Instead of fully exerting martial arts, they could practice using a minimal amount of internal energy repeatedly with the same power as they had just done, or like holding concentrated energy in the palm without releasing it.

In doing so, they could cultivate patience along with practicing the use of martial arts and internal energy.

“Before tomorrow’s treatment of senior brother, I should return to my quarters and practice a little. Since we will be using it directly on senior brother’s body, we must be thoroughly prepared.”

[12:34 AM]

“I will do the same, Abbot.”

Hyun Gong and Hye-dam rose to their feet and said so.

“And once we have a good grasp of it, we will teach this method to our disciples and junior generations.”

“Once the practice is firmly established, we should teach it to the other disciples as well. It seems that it will be very helpful, even if it’s not just for the Vajra Divine General and the Tathagata Palm.”

“I will do so, senior brother Abbot.”

After saluting Abbot Hyun Cheon, Hyun Gong and Hye-dam left the headmaster’s office.

Although it was not Mu-jin’s intention, Shaolin seemed to be on the verge of mass-producing electrical stimulation therapy devices and infrared lamps.

*

The next day.

“What brings the Abbot here...?”

Hyun-gwang, taking rest in his own quarters, looked bewildered at the visitors.

It was only natural for Mu-jin, who would become his great-granddisciple, to come to him.

But why had Abbot Hyun Cheon come along with Mu-jin, and why was Hyun Seong, the Arhat Faction leader, with them as well?

To Hyun-gwang’s question, Abbot Hyun Cheon stepped forward to answer.

“Actually, this young man might be able to heal senior brother’s body to some extent, so we came together.”

“What do you mean...?”

Mu-jin, the child he had chosen as a disciple for Beob Geon, was now suddenly going to heal him? What was this all about?

Responding to Hyun-gwang’s confusion, Hyun Seong and Hyun Cheon recounted the events that had taken place at the Arhat Faction and the discussion with Mu-jin the night before.

“Then, may I start the examination?”

After the explanation, Mu-jin stepped forward to ask. He was ready, and it was time to start the treatment.