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.
“Did you gain much experience in the martial world?”
“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!!’
“......”
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.