Chapter 90:

Chapter 90:

Mu-dang Journey (1)

After spending a day at Hyun-gwang’s residence, Yunheo Zhenren and the young Daoist left Shaolin early the next morning.

“Take care. Daoist Mal-ko.”

“Just you wait, you damned monk.”

Having shared drinks the previous night, it seemed the relationship between the two had somehow worsened.

After bidding farewell to Yunheo Zhenren, Hyun-gwang turned to Mu-jin and spoke.

“Then this old man will go and talk with senior brother Bang-geon. You continue your training.”

“Yes, grandfather.”

With a gentle smile to Mu-jin, Hyun-gwang turned and headed towards the head monk’s office.

“Oh, welcome, senior brother.”

With a slightly trembling voice, Abbot Hyun Cheon, who had prior dealings with the Great Restoration Pills, greeted Hyun-gwang.

“I heard the Taiji Sword Immortal has been here.”

“He left just a while ago. Haha. In fact, I’ve come because I made a promise to that Daoist Mal-ko.”

“Da-Daoist Mal-ko, you say?”

Who would dare call the Taiji Sword Immortal by that name?

But thinking about it, Hyun-gwang was indeed capable of such familiarity.

He was once evaluated to be superior to Yunheo Zhenren and had even attained enlightenment close to Buddhahood.

Although he seemed to have become somewhat eccentric after that enlightenment.

Regaining his composure, Abbot Hyun Cheon inquired about the nature of the promise.

“May I ask what the promise was?”

At the abbot’s question, Hyun-gwang explained the promise made the previous day.

Mu-jin needed to go to Wudang to treat their sword masters. The pretext for this was to propose a martial arts exchange.

“An exchange with Wudang, huh. It doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

Wudang was currently hailed as the Supreme Sect of the World, outshining many other martial sects. A martial arts exchange with Wudang wouldn’t be a loss for Shaolin either.

Moreover, the fact that Mu-jin would be in their debt was indeed pleasing news for Shaolin.

“Then, we need to decide who will participate in this exchange. Naturally, Mu-jin should be included.”

“Actually, I came here with some thoughts on that matter, senior brother.”

“Who do you have in mind, senior brother?”

“Since it’s a martial arts exchange, it would be beneficial for the younger disciples to gain insight into Wudang’s techniques, don’t you think? Along with Mu-jin, how about including Mu-yul, Mu-gung, and Mu-gyeong? Having the four second-class disciples participate would be ideal.”

“Hmm. All three are outstanding even among the Muja division, so it’s not a bad idea.”

“Haha. I’m relieved to hear that you agree, senior brother.”

Saying this, Hyun-gwang suddenly extended his palm forward.

Somehow familiar with this gesture, Abbot Hyun Cheon involuntarily flinched and looked at the outstretched palm.

“Why are you extending your palm?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m asking you to hand it over.”

“Hand it over? What do you mean?”

“Hahaha. Since Mu-yul, Mu-gung, and Mu-gyeong are going to visit Wudang, naturally, they should be given Lesser Restoration Pills before they go, right?”

“What does visiting Wudang have to do with Lesser Restoration Pills...?”

“What do you mean, senior brother Bang-geon? Even if it’s just an ‘exchange,’ our Shaolin disciples might lose their spirit in front of the Wudang disciples, right? Moreover, the Wudang’s Daoists fight with swords shamelessly, so at the very least, we should enhance their internal energy before sending them.”

Hearing this, even Abbot Hyun Cheon, who would usually oppose such ideas, nodded in agreement.

“That makes sense. Even if it’s an exchange, we can’t have Shaolin disciples losing their spirit.”

Abbot Hyun Cheon had always blamed himself for the reputation of Shaolin falling below that of Wudang.

Therefore, he strongly wished that the young disciples would not be defeated by Wudang.

“Hahaha. It seems we finally understand each other, senior brother Bang-geon. Thanks to Mu-jin, we have income from the clinic, so there’s no issue in making new Lesser Restoration Pills, right?”

“Indeed, Mu-jin is undoubtedly the greatest blessing in our martial arts world. Amitabha.”

“Amitabha.”

The two old monks, now in agreement, shared a hearty laugh.

* * *

Ten days later.

Shaolin disciples, fully prepared to depart for Wudang, gathered at the mountain gate.

“It would be best to pull and train for two days, then rest for a day to focus on recovery and Qi Conducting Technique.”

At Mu-jin’s subsequent suggestion, everyone let out a deep sigh. Whether it turned out good or bad, they were going to pull the carriages.

* * *

In the end, it was decided that they would pull the three carriages loaded with various iron weights.

Mu-yul, Mu-gung, and Mu-gyeong took positions in front of the three carriages.

Mu-jin, Hye-geol, and the accompanying second-class disciples were ready to run alongside.

To ensure efficient training, they planned to take turns pulling the carriages.

“Let’s get going!”

As soon as Hye-geol’s shout rang out, Mu-yul, who was in charge of the left carriage, surged forward.

“Woaaaaah!”

He seemed to think pulling the carriage instead of a horse was some kind of game.

With a cheerful expression, Mu-yul pulled the carriage.

Drawing on the strength he had built up, the Celestial Weight technique he learned from Hyun-gwang, and the Qi he absorbed from the Lesser Restoration Pill a few days ago, Mu-yul ran like a madman.

Mu-jin, who was leisurely keeping pace with the other two carriages, asked Hye-geol beside him.

“Master Uncle, is that really the direction of Mount Wudang?”

“Probably not.”

“...Shouldn’t we stop him?”

Pointing to the now-dusty carriage Mu-yul was pulling, Mu-jin asked, and Hye-geol burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha. When training, one sometimes takes the wrong path! Going there and coming back is also training!”

“....”

Feeling a slight headache, Mu-jin sighed deeply.

“I’ll go after him then.”

“Do that.”

With Hye-geol’s permission, Mu-jin chased after Mu-yul, who was heading in the wrong direction.

‘Hoo.’

Mu-gung, pulling the carriage with a calm face as if possessed by an ox, was training diligently.

However, his expression was merely the result of the Immovable Mind technique he learned while enduring Master Hye-dam’s training.

His eyes, however, were burning with a competitive spirit.

‘I can’t lose in strength!’

Even though he was training in Immovable Mind under Hye-dam, Mu-gung was a boy who joined Shaolin with the desire to become the best.

Since his days as an initiate disciple, over the span of four years, Mu-gung had encountered many Shaolin disciples and understood how difficult it was.

Setting aside Mu-jin, who defied common sense, there were times when the timid Mu-gyeong displayed more mastery of martial arts than himself, causing Mu-gung to struggle with impatience.

Mu-yul’s talent was also exceptional, but his frequent bizarre actions didn’t particularly arouse envy.

One day, when his fists wavered from impatience, his master uncle Hye-dam, usually so reticent, opened his mouth to give him advice.

The doctrine of “Manlyugwijong” was that even if one became the best in just one field, one could become the best in the world.

From that moment, Mu-gung gave up on learning flashy martial arts. Instead, he delved deeply into the essence of Shaolin’s orthodox techniques.

Therefore, in the realm of strength, Mu-gung did not want to lose to anyone.

“Haaa!”

As he grew, Mu-gung reached over 6 cheok 3 chi in height, with a robust physique. His muscles bulged, and veins stood out as he exerted his strength.

Screeeeech.

The carriage, loaded with the heaviest weights from Mu-jin’s exercise equipment, began to pick up speed.

Meanwhile, Mu-gyeong, moving at the slowest pace, looked at Mu-gung’s carriage ahead with a puzzled expression.

‘We have to go a long way, why are they both moving so recklessly?’

From the start, pulling the carriages all the way to Wudang instead of riding them was a foolish endeavor.

But since pulling the carriages was already decided, the important thing for the long journey was efficient movement.

‘When I push, the wheels gain momentum but then slow down again due to friction.’

Carefully pulling his carriage, Mu-gyeong gradually adapted to the recoil created by pulling it.

By intricately using the various stepping techniques and the Celestial Weight technique he had mastered, he developed a unique Qinggong method suited for pulling the heavily loaded carriage.

As time passed and the Qinggong method for pulling the carriage became more refined, Mu-gyeong’s speed also gradually increased.