End and Beginning
‘...It’s not as great as Grandfather’s.’
Mu-jin took a deep breath and corrected his stance as he watched the starlight he had created.
Striking with internal energy equivalent to one cycle in a single punch brought an odd sense of fatigue throughout his body.
In fact, it was not just about internal energy but also the aftereffects of using internal energy without prioritizing ‘stability.’
‘As expected, the limit for stable execution is around one cycle?’
Exceeding one cycle would likely result in significant aftereffects.
If he were to use more than two cycles, utilizing all his internal energy, it would probably cause serious damage to his bones, muscles, and internal organs.
‘This is the limit for increasing power.’
Even while training with Hyun-gwang, Mu-jin didn’t stop weight training and maintaining his diet.
Thanks to this, he had reached the inhuman level of three thousand jin, which was his initial goal.
Anyone who has done weight training knows that repeating weight training doesn’t automatically increase weight capacity for everyone.
Muscles have their own talent, and from Choi Kang-hyuk’s perspective, the body of the novel’s protagonist ‘Mu-jin’ was exceptionally talented.
A body with the talent not undeservedly called ‘Heavenly Martial Constitution,’ meticulously developed over years by an expert’s touch.
Conversely, this meant that even maintaining his current level required relentless effort.
However, this didn’t mean further growth was impossible.
Now, like other martial artists, he needed to gain a special ‘realization’ to advance to a higher state, or there existed another method.
While Mu-jin was thinking about the future,
“Hahaha, excellent.”
Hyun-gwang, who had been watching Mu-jin’s punch, smiled warmly.
Mu-jin composed himself and bowed to Hyun-gwang.
“It’s all thanks to your teaching, Grandfather.”
“Hahaha, it seems you have mastered the punch. Now, Mu-jin, what remains for you is to incorporate what you’ve learned into other movements.”
“...”
Mu-jin was momentarily speechless at Hyun-gwang’s words.
The way he thought about becoming stronger was in line with what Hyun-gwang mentioned.
It would be difficult to gain realizations now like others with his current talent.
Mu-jin, silently staring at himself, was prompted by Hyun-gwang’s gentle gaze.
“Has the year and a half spent with this old monk been tiresome?”
Mu-jin shook his head.
“I’m grateful and happy.”
Just being with Hyun-gwang washed away something deeply entrenched in Mu-jin’s heart.
He had been like an orphan in the world, raised by his grandfather and grandmother.
In high school, he couldn’t do anything as his grandfather passed away. At that time, he thought he had no choice because he was a student.
As a soldier, he couldn’t return home due to training and missed his grandmother’s passing.
Back then, he believed that earning money to support his grandmother was the best he could do.
Not being there for their final moments and not being able to take care of them...
It remained a deep-seated regret within him.
Mu-jin knew that Hyun-gwang wasn’t his real grandfather. It was just a form of vicarious satisfaction.
But after losing his real grandparents, Mu-jin had no elder to guide him.
He had to survive on his own.
For someone like Mu-jin, Hyun-gwang was the first elder he met after losing his real grandparents, someone who could embrace him.
And above all,
‘Grandfather and Grandmother would want me to be at peace....’
Perhaps because some of his regret had been washed away, Mu-jin started to naturally have such thoughts.
Hyun-gwang, looking at Mu-jin’s much more relaxed face compared to when they first met as a disciple, laughed warmly.
“Hahaha, thank you for considering this poor monk as your grandfather. Now, can this poor monk leave one last request with you?”
“Anything.”
“Please take care of Shaolin.”
However, they did inform those who had some connection with Hyun-gwang.
The first to visit Shaolin were Ryu Ji-gwang, the head of the Cheonryu Sangdan, his mother Yeon Ga-hee, and the Ryu siblings, Ryu Seol-hwa and Ryu Seol-ryong.
Mu-jin guided them to Hyun-gwang’s place where he resided, and a new pagoda that wasn’t there before had been erected.
There, Beob-geon, Mu-jin’s nominal master and Hyun-gwang’s disciple, welcomed them.
Beob-geon had been managing affairs at the Musculoskeletal Treatment Clinic in Deungbong-hyeon in Mu-jin’s stead and had returned to Shaolin upon hearing the news of Hyun-gwang.
“The pagoda contains the kasa and relics Master was wearing when he achieved nirvana. The head abbot named it the Pagoda of the Compassionate Buddha.”
Facing the pagoda named for the Compassionate Buddha, the Ryu family began to chant and bow.
Ryu Ji-gwang and the two siblings finished their simple bows and stood up, but Yeon Ga-hee continued to bow slowly and steadily as if she had a set number in mind.
Watching her for a moment, Ryu Ji-gwang spoke to Mu-jin.
“We have some matters to discuss with the abbot, could you look after my mother until then?”
“I will.”
“Then, I will guide you to the abbot’s office.”
The Ryu family, along with Beob-geon, headed to the abbot’s office.
They returned only after Yeon Ga-hee had finished her one hundred and eight bows.
“Did you have a good conversation?”
“Yes. We will return with what we agreed upon with the abbot later.”
“...?”
Mu-jin didn’t understand Ryu Ji-gwang’s words but replied that he understood and finished with a bow.
Just before they left, Ryu Seol-hwa
handed Mu-jin a letter.
“It’s about what you asked me to find out.”
“Thank you, Seol-hwa Shiju-nim.”
She looked at Mu-jin for a moment, then shook off her regret and left with her family.
Knowing today wasn’t a day to have a conversation with Mu-jin.
Watching them leave, Beob-geon spoke to Mu-jin.
“Mu-jin, I heard you have inherited Master’s teachings. I will stay here and keep watch, so you may go train for a while.”
“...How can I leave for training on such a day?”
“Master would have been pleased, so don’t worry. Also, I wish to spend some time alone with Master.”
Perhaps unable to be there for the moment when Hyun-gwang achieved nirvana, Beob-geon seemed to be suppressing his emotions, prompting Mu-jin to eventually leave the place.
Knowing the sorrow of not being able to be with his grandparents when they passed, Mu-jin decided to give him space.
Leaving the place, Mu-jin opened and read the letter from Ryu Seol-hwa.
“...So, there’s about half a year left?”
The letter contained the information Mu-jin had asked Ryu Seol-hwa to find.
The most crucial information was about the future Heavenly Demon.
Since the time for him to leave the Demonic Path Institute had passed, he had asked Ryu Seol-hwa to gather information about him.
Although it was difficult to gather information about someone active outside the mainstream, it seemed there was nothing impossible for the Five Great Merchant Unions.
‘Considering the distance, the information here would be from at least half a month to a month ago. I should meet him within five months at the latest.’
Conversely, it meant that he had roughly five months left.
‘It should be enough time to set out after the lantern festival for Grandfather....’
Mu-jin thought it was more important to finish his farewell with Hyun-gwang first.
Aside from the information about the future Heavenly Demon, the letter contained various pieces of information.
The recent movements of opposing forces and how Shaolin or allied sects were responding.
While most of the information was not particularly noteworthy, one thing caught Mu-jin’s attention.
‘...There have been many injuries in the Zhongnan Sect recently?’
The Zhongnan Sect was originally destined to be taken over by the Hwasan Sect.
However, Mu-jin believed he had altered that fate by dealing with the Ten-Thousand Hall and the Zhongnan Sword Pavilion through Ryu Seol-hwa and the Baek siblings.
‘Why does it feel like the plot is following the novel?’
At this rate, Shaanxi Province would end up in the hands of the Hwasan Sect, which was practically a pawn of Xinchen.
Over the past two and a half years, while Mu-jin had been focusing solely on training at Shaolin, it seemed the winds of change had begun to blow.