Chapter 105:

Chapter 105:

Protagonist (1)

For the next four days, Mu-jin’s routine flowed similarly.Cheêck out latest novels on n/o/ve/l/bin(.)c/o/m

He trained in martial arts at the Shaolin Hall and continued his strength training at the Cheonryu Sangdan Branch.

Since he had scheduled his time in advance, Jegal Jin-hee often visited him.

One peculiar point was:

“Is it lower body training again today?”

“I’m ready, Monk Mu-jin.”

For some reason, both women showed an excessive obsession with lower body exercises.

Thus, they spent three days in a seemingly harmonious yet somewhat intense atmosphere. On the fifth day, the Muja-ba Four visited the Murim Alliance.

Today was the day of the second preliminary round evaluation of the Yongbongji Conference.

Handing over the first preliminary round pass, the Muja-ba Four passed through the entrance of the Murim Alliance and headed to the training ground where the second preliminary round was held.

Near the training ground, they encountered Jegal Jin-hee and Tang So-mi, who had also come for the second preliminary round.

“You’ve come out early.”

“It’s been a while, Monk Mu-jin~!!!”

Jegal Jin-hee greeted calmly while Tang So-mi was extremely cheerful.

Despite being firmly rejected last time, she showed no trace of negative emotions on her face.

To Tang So-mi, Mu-jin was an intriguing figure.

Jegal Jin-hee, who burned with a stronger desire to compete than Namgung Jin-cheon, was someone who straightforwardly rejected the demands of a direct descendant of the Sichuan Tang Clan as if it were natural.

Her sharp rejection only heightened Tang So-mi’s curiosity.

“Who are you most looking forward to sparring with in this tournament, Monk Mu-jin?”

Naturally, having met Mu-jin for the first time in four days, Tang So-mi kept talking to him, trying to get closer and learn more about him.

“If you ever visit Sichuan after the tournament, please come by. I’ll treat you properly.”

The one who first showed signs of annoyance at her persistent courtship was not Mu-jin but Jegal Jin-hee.

“Miss Tang, don’t make Monk Mu-jin uncomfortable before the evaluation. Surely, you’re not trying to hinder him, are you?”

“Oh ho ho, what are you talking about? Do you really think Monk Mu-jin, whom you consider a rival, would fail at this mere second preliminary round?”

Jegal Jin-hee maintained her usual expressionless face, while Tang So-mi wore a cheerful smile as they faced each other.

Sparks were flying. Sparks that only Mu-jin couldn’t recognize.

‘It’s tiring enough dealing with the youngest daughter of Cheonryu Sangdan, and now there’s also a woman from the Tang Clan.’

‘Judging by Jegal’s reaction, it doesn’t seem like she sees him just as a rival.’

Jegal Jin-hee felt slightly annoyed, while Tang So-mi found the situation increasingly interesting.

Sensing a foreboding aura in Tang So-mi’s gaze, Jegal Jin-hee quickly turned her head to look at Mu-jin.

“Monk Mu-jin, instead of staying here, shouldn’t we proceed with the evaluation registration?”

“It would be best to finish the evaluation quickly and return. I need to train today as well.”

“That sounds good. Let’s complete the evaluation and go back together.”

Jegal Jin-hee smiled softly at Mu-jin’s words. She felt happy at the thought of training with Mu-jin after the evaluation.

Well, even though she would have to deal with the youngest daughter of Cheonryu Sangdan and her competitive spirit there, she could at least get rid of Tang So-mi for now.

Seeing that smile, Tang So-mi thought to herself, ‘As expected!’

Jegal Jin-hee, known for her pure and elegant beauty, was often called “the woman with a heart of stone” because of her always expressionless face.

But whenever she was with Mu-jin, she would smile every time.

And that rare smile from such a beautiful woman was enough to captivate the attention of those around her.

‘...Why is that woman with such a despicable monk?’

Hong So-il, a disciple of the Hwasan Sect who had come for the second preliminary evaluation today, also saw that smile.

Disciples of the Hwasan Sect, who lived closer to the secular world compared to Wudang or Shaolin, often traveled around the Central Plains engaging in chivalrous acts.

During these travels, they sometimes made acquaintances with disciples from other sects. Hong So-il had met disciples from Wudang and the Jegal family in Hubei Province.

It was there that he was captivated by Jegal Jin-hee’s appearance and her lofty, proud demeanor.

He even felt a desire to conquer her, wanting to break her high and mighty attitude.

Though it might seem odd for a Taoist sect disciple to desire a woman, the Hwasan Sect, unlike Shaolin or Wudang, permitted marriages. There was nothing sinful about it.

“There’s no need to worry. Monk Mu-jin won’t lose to a swordsman of that caliber.”

Jegal Jin-hee’s confident answer was seconded by Mu-jin.

“Well, it seems he’s not a match for you, Donor Jegal Jin-hee, either. There shouldn’t be any problem.”

Ignoring Hong So-il, Mu-jin’s group chatted amongst themselves as they completed the registration for the second preliminary round.

Afterward, they waited for their turn to be judged while continuing their conversation for a while.

A judge’s voice shouted, piercing Mu-jin’s ears intensely.

“Dao Yuetian of the Cheon Seom Moon (Thousand Lightning Sect)! Please enter!”

Dao Yuetian of the Cheon Seom Moon.

That name was very familiar to Mu-jin.

Mu-jin’s gaze instinctively turned in the direction of the sound. Following the examiner’s call, a young warrior heading towards the training ground came into view.

Mu-jin. No, Choi Kang-hyuk recalled his high school days, when his favorite novel, the second part of Ga-gyeong’s trilogy, was *Legend of the Evil Emperor*.

The protagonist of that novel, destined to become the future ruler of the demonic path, the ‘Evil Emperor’, was right there.

* * *

“Protagonist.”

While this term refers to the leading character in a novel or play, its original etymology is derived from Buddhism, meaning an ‘enlightened person’.

Mu-jin had no idea that ‘protagonist’ was a Buddhist term, but he learned it during his six years at Shaolin Temple.

Naturally, the protagonist of the second part of the novel, Dao Yuetian, did not succeed in attaining enlightenment.

‘It was more akin to the Asura Path rather than the Buddha’s Way...’

Mu-jin reminisced about the novel he had read dozens of times during his school days, his favorite.

In the novel, Dao Yuetian’s talent was quite ordinary.

That didn’t mean he was as average as common people.

‘He wasn’t a genius like Mu-gyeong or from a prestigious place like Qing Shui, just had the talent of an average third-generation disciple of Shaolin.’

And through this Yongbongji Conference, the starting point of the novel *Legend of the Evil Emperor*, Dao Yuetian realized his talent was not extraordinary. He came to understand this by witnessing true ‘geniuses’.

Dao Yuetian accepted this fact humbly and returned to his hometown, simply refining his family’s martial arts.

Then, the event happened.

The massacre of his family. That was the trigger for Dao Yuetian’s awakening.

He entered the mountains and dedicated himself to training for five years for revenge.

Dao Yuetian knew his talent was average. So, he gave up perfecting his family’s martial arts. Instead, he endlessly honed just one technique.

And after five years, when he descended from the mountains.

His single blade technique, originally the best skill of an ordinary small sect, transformed into an extraordinary art that couldn’t be blocked, even if known.

In exchange for this divine skill, he lost the comfort of being human.

The human body is imperfect. Through habits, sleeping patterns, and lifestyle, it gradually distorts.

Just as athletes, after practicing certain movements for over a decade, have their bodies reshaped to specialize in those movements.

His body also distorted, becoming more comfortable wielding a blade than just standing still.

He surpassed his limits by turning his body into a device for wielding the sword, not a human.

‘When I was young, it seemed so cool...’

After experiencing physical deterioration, studying rehabilitation therapy, Pilates, and working as a fitness trainer for ten years, Mu-jin now knew.

How horrifying that act was.

But that’s why Dao Yuetian was Choi Kang-hyuk’s idol.

In a poor environment, with no parents, and even his grandfather who raised him had passed away.

Despite facing the massacre of his family and lacking talent, Dao Yuetian surpassed his limits through sheer effort, which was a great comfort to young Choi Kang-hyuk.

Whenever he felt exhausted while training to join the special forces, or during the grueling training sessions at the special forces training camp, he endured by thinking of Dao Yuetian.

‘I had forgotten it for a while...’

After successfully joining the special forces and finding stability in life, he had forgotten about martial arts novels.

Though Dao Yuetian was his childhood idol, he was just a character in a novel.

Confronted with such a person in reality, Mu-jin found himself instinctively moving towards him.