Chapter 37:

Chapter 37:

Diet therapy (1)

On the fifth day of starting physical therapy.

“Slowly raise your upper body, then slowly lower down. I’ve got your back, so don’t worry. Just go as far as you can. Grandfather.”

As Mu-jin supported Hyun-gwang’s back, he repeated the motion of slightly lifting and lowering his upper body to strengthen his abdominal muscles.

After helping Hyun-gwang to stand up on his own, Mu-jin held his hands and assisted him so that he could take steps on his own.

It was just like a patient who had injured their legs practicing walking on their own at a rehabilitation center.

‘Hoo. There’s still not enough muscle in the body. It’s almost impossible to use the Pilates equipment.’

However, there was a problem.

Hyun-gwang had relied on the strength of others to move due to his twisted joints and ligaments for decades.

In other words, the muscles throughout his body were seriously atrophied.

Continuing with the manual therapy, close-range spear technique, or electric stimulation therapy he had been undergoing would be like pouring water into a bottomless bucket.

No, there was even a risk of worsening.

Hyun-gwang’s cartilage was already degenerated due to age. If he moved without muscles, there was a risk that the condition of the joints would become more serious.

Either way, it meant that muscles needed to be built quickly before problems arose in the joints.

‘Is that really the only way?’

Mu-jin realized that drastic measures were necessary.

And those drastic measures were not something Mu-jin could proceed with on his own.

* * *

In the headquarter office of Shaolin.

There, Abbot Hyun Cheon, Hyun Seong, Hyun Gong, and senior brother Hye-dam, who were directly or indirectly involved in Hyun-gwang’s treatment, welcomed Mu-jin.

“So, you said you have something to discuss regarding the treatment of senior brother Hyun-gwang?”

Abbot Hyun Cheon asked Mu-jin with a pleased expression.

[7:10 PM]

When Mu-jin first called Hyun Gong ‘grandfather’, the headmaster who had sternly scolded him was long gone.

Senior brother Hyun-gwang was being treated! What was the big deal about the title of ‘grandfather’!

The other three were also reminded of this.

And Mu-jin, looking at the four of them with pleased expressions, spoke in a calm tone.

“Yes, I have come here because a slight problem has arisen during the process of treating grandfather.”

“What do you mean by problem!? Hasn’t his condition improved? Recently, we were moving on to the next phase, and senior brother Hyun-gwang was moving on his own!”

As soon as Mu-jin’s words fell, Hyun Seong and Hyun Gong exclaimed with startled faces.

Looking back and forth between the two, Mu-jin calmly replied.

“Yes, during the next phase of the treatment process, I discovered a problem.”

“Explain in detail what you mean by a problem.”

Even as the abbot of Shaolin, Hyun Cheon, known for his composure, asked in a solemn tone.

Mu-jin opened his mouth to reveal the problem he had realized. To properly treat Hyun-gwang’s body, it was necessary to build muscle. And above all, what was needed to build muscle was precisely...

“Grandfather must eat meat.”

It was about eating meat.

“......”

A chilling silence fell in the headquarter office at Mu-jin’s statement.

Indeed, the question of whether eating meat is essential for muscle growth is still a controversial issue even in modern times.

Vegetarian physiologists argue that it is entirely possible to build a healthy muscular physique with only vegetables, and Mu-jin, who often consults exercise science literature as a specialist in his field, was aware of this debate.

However, building muscle through a vegetarian diet comes with very complex conditions.

Both plant-based and animal-based proteins are made up of amino acids, but there is a subtle difference in those amino acids.

Ultimately, to build muscle in the human body, one must know the variety of amino acids in different vegetables and ponder how to combine them to create animal-based proteins for consumption.

Moreover, unlike meat like chicken breast, which is mostly composed of protein and water, even soybeans considered rich in protein actually contain fats and carbohydrates.

“You still do not understand how grave Shaolin’s laws are. The punishment you received last time was very light. This time, you may have to face the wall for a month. Are you still willing to take that punishment?”

To Abbot Hyun Cheon’s question, Mu-jin did not flinch.

A month of wall-facing?

That might scare children, but it was nothing to Mu-jin.

“Your disciple will gladly accept the punishment.”

As Mu-jin boldly answered, Abbot Hyun Cheon laughed heartily, as if he had heard the answer he had been hoping for.

“Haha, Head of Jurisdiction Department.”

“Speak, Abbot.”

[7:38 PM]

“In the name of the abbot’s relic, Nokok Buljang, I wish to amend a law.”

“What do you mean......?”

“I will add an exception to the Shaolin’s rule against eating meat. For those who are seriously ill, an exception will be made to allow meat consumption for the sake of treatment.”

“That should not be, Abbot!”

“I am aware it should not be. Therefore, as the abbot, I too will accept the punishment that the Jurisdiction Department will impose, along with Mu-jin.”

With that, Abbot Hyun Cheon showed a hearty smile to Mu-jin.

*

The punishment decreed by the Jurisdiction Department was postponed for a few days. This was to prevent any delay in Hyun-gwang’s treatment while Mu-jin took his punishment.

However, it was not possible to indefinitely postpone the punishment until Hyun-gwang fully recovered. Ultimately, a period of seven weeks was granted, and during that time, Mu-jin was to pass on the treatment method to Beob Geon, thereby concluding the day’s meeting.

And the next morning.

Hyun-gwang looked at Mu-jin, who was spooning out porridge for him, with complicated eyes.

Hyun-gwang knew that the porridge Mu-jin was serving contained meat.

For over fifty years, Hyun-gwang had lived without consuming meat. This was an attempt to gradually acclimate him to meat, starting with porridge that contained meat, considering his long history.

As a disciple of Buddhism who had abstained from meat for many years, Hyun-gwang couldn’t help but feel deeply conflicted about the current situation.

Yet, ultimately, Hyun-gwang had no choice but to accept the spoon that Mu-jin extended to him.

The original Hyun-gwang would have refused the spoon offered by Mu-jin, adhering to his beliefs as a Buddhist and a Shaolin disciple.

The reason Hyun-gwang accepted the spoon was due to a conversation with Abbot Hyun Cheon that occurred early this morning when Mu-jin was away.

‘Senior brother, I intend to entrust the future of Shaolin to Mu-jin.’

‘Haha, what are you saying all of a sudden, Abbot?’

In response to Hyun-gwang’s question, Abbot Hyun Cheon recounted the events of the previous night.

‘I’ve had this thought, senior brother. Perhaps, in our adherence to tradition, Shaolin has stagnated over the past thousand years.’

‘......’

Deep remorse was evident in the eyes of Abbot Hyun Cheon as he spoke.

Hyun Cheon had suddenly had to step into the role of senior brother due to Hyun-gwang’s injury, and eventually, he became the abbot.

From his days as a second-class disciple to now as abbot, he felt he had been so focused on upholding tradition due to his own lack of ability.

At least, that was how he judged himself.

Because of his inadequacies, Shaolin had lost its past glory.

While other sects progressed, Shaolin had merely maintained its status quo.

Though universally recognized as a prestigious sect, it had lost the title of ‘the best in the world.’

‘Abbot, not all change is necessarily for the better. Amitabha.’

[7:44 PM]

‘I am aware, senior brother. That is why I have chosen Mu-jin. I expect that he may bring about a positive change, a breath of fresh air.’

Hyun-gwang could not ignore the remorse and determination in Abbot Hyun Cheon’s eyes as he answered.

Furthermore, seeing how Mu-jin had defied the ancestors and led the situation to this point, all for the sake of his treatment, compelled him even more.

With such tangled emotions, Hyun-gwang chewed and swallowed the porridge with meat that entered his mouth.

It was the first time he had tasted meat since he had been registered at Shaolin.