The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 41

That evening, after the big fight with Il-jik.

The Martial Uncle returned to the guest hall only when it was almost evening, and I waited for him and started to have a late dinner together.

"Martial Uncle! I was tricked, I tell you! I was scammed. A scam!"

"Strictly speaking, it can't be seen as a scam, can it? Because he answered exactly what you asked."

"Even so, to say that I just need to eat a lot of beans and bracken, and practice the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic diligently... It's not like he's going to teach me the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic, so what kind of answer is that?"

The Martial Uncle just laughed at my banter and didn't say a word about the spar I had without his permission.

It's probably because I won overwhelmingly.

If you look closely, Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang is also a person with a tremendous desire to win.

"Then in the end, we have no choice but to do as we have been doing. I'll try to suggest a little change in the diet, but..."

The Martial Uncle trailed off and was lost in thought for a moment.

It's probably because he's starting to think that the gap between Shaolin and Wudang has widened like this because of the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic.

I also think so. The diet will not be a fundamental solution.

Then in the end, unless they create a pupil technique like the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic or improve the current internal techniques well, it will be difficult for Wudang to develop further from here.

'When I return to Wudang, I have to make it a top priority to create an internal technique that can train the body.'

Fortunately, earlier today, the abbot of Shaolin, Grandmaster Gakil, had said that my body was similar to one that had learned the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic.

In other words, that is proof that the training I am doing now is going in the right direction.

Although my senior brothers can also make their bodies this much if they train as much as I do, even I think this method is too inefficient.

"Well. It wasn't ours in the first place, was it? We shouldn't regret what we don't have, but we should develop what we have more. Isn't that right?"

"Yes. You're right. But... can I tell you my honest thoughts for a moment?"

"What thoughts?"

"The people of the orthodox faction are really petty."

"What...?"

Since the topic had come up, I said what I had been thinking since my past life.

"That the sect is important, and the sect's martial arts are also important. Of course, I know that too. But, can't we learn by sharing good things with each other?"

"Learn by sharing?"

"For example, Wudang and Shaolin. Of course, Shaolin's internal techniques are also outstanding, but they have a great strength in external arts that train the body and use the body, and we have a strength in internal techniques that use the energy of nature in our bodies rather than external arts, right?"

"Um... that's right. Go on."

"Then we exchange our martial arts. To us, the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic, and to Shaolin, our internal techniques. Wouldn't we be able to become stronger more efficiently then?"

At my words, the Martial Uncle looked at me with a dumbfounded expression and then opened his mouth.

"If I were to tell you the reason why that's not possible, I could say it in two big ways."

"I'm listening."

"First, it's because Shaolin also has many outstanding internal techniques. We think that our Wudang's internal techniques are the best in the martial world, but if you ask the Shaolin monks, their answer will be different. Because there are great martial arts that even I, who am not from the Shaolin sect, know the names of, like the Horse Stance Standing Pile Art, the Qi Strengthening Art, and the Eighteen Arhat Art."

"In other words, you're saying that Shaolin has nothing to gain from us?"

"Strictly... strictly speaking, that's right."

To be honest, I don't think so.

It's not about just exchanging each other's martial arts, but if we train together and exchange martial arts, there will surely be something to learn from each other.

Even just a moment ago, although I didn't teach them anything special like martial arts, didn't those high-nosed Shaolin martial monks gain big and small enlightenments?

"And, the second reason is, our relationship with Shaolin."

He looked at me with a more determined voice and gaze than before and said, "Strictly speaking, our Wudang and Shaolin can be seen as being in a competitive relationship."

"A competitive relationship?"

"Yes. We are competing to see which sect will be the leader that can lead this martial world. Until now, Shaolin has played that role as the number one sect of the orthodox faction, and our Wudang is constantly challenging that stronghold."

"The hegemony of the martial world... what's so good about taking that hegemony?"

"That's..."

The Martial Uncle couldn't answer easily.

Even if he thinks about it, there will be no suitable reason.

It's not like you suddenly get a billion gold pieces just because you become the number one sect of the orthodox faction, and it's not like a peerless martial art falls from the sky.

'The peace was too long.'

I now realized what the problem of the orthodox faction is.

As far as I heard, except for the invasion of the barbarians that happened hundreds of years ago, the martial world has been too peaceful for a long time.

While various outside forces such as the Demonic Cult, the Potala Palace, and the Blood Cult are growing in size outside the Central Plains, we are just bickering with each other.

Right now, Wudang and Shaolin are also only seeing each other as enemies, and they are not doing anything that would make the entire martial world develop.

"Amitabha...!"

At that moment, someone chanted a Buddhist prayer from behind.

We, who were surprised, turned in that direction, and although he had a much younger face, a monk I knew well was standing there.

'Grandmaster Juhyeon.'

He was Il-jik's master and the master of the Dragon Fist, Grandmaster Juhyeon.

"Grandmaster Juhyeon? What brings you here?"

"You came, so shouldn't I come out? Hehe. Have you been well?"

"Yes. Thanks to your concern, I have been well."

"What concern, I had completely forgotten about you until I heard that you came today."

He smiled with a playful expression.

It's an expression I haven't seen in a long time.

If the Martial Uncle hadn't greeted him first, I would have pretended to know him first.

It's still awkward to meet people I had a direct connection with in the past.

"I'm glad you look healthy."

"Yes. I'm also grateful for your concern."

He slowly turned his head towards me, smiled brightly, and then said, "So this is the almsgiver who gave my disciple a great enlightenment today."

"Enlightenment, you say?"

Martial Uncle Hyeon Yang asked back in a puzzled tone and looked at me.

I didn't say anything earlier because it felt like I was bragging about how my words and actions had become a chance for the Shaolin monks to look back on the basics, and how they had even bowed their heads to me and expressed their gratitude.

"Yes. My disciple even said that the young almsgiver was his benefactor."

"Benefactor...?"

My impression crumpled a little.

If you praise someone too much when they haven't done much, it becomes rather embarrassing.

My situation right now is exactly that.

"No, Monk. I haven't done much. You must be talking about Monk Il-jik, but it's just that he was reminded of the words that Grandmaster Juhyeon had always told him through the spar with me."

"Haha! I was not sure after hearing only Il-jik's words, but it seems it was true."

He laughed so loudly that the guest hall seemed to shake, and then continued.

"We call that 'opening the ears' in our Shaolin. Literally, it means that the ears have opened. What's the use of chattering about the Buddha's words next to someone if they close their ears and don't try to listen? They begin to truly know the will of the Buddha only when they open their ears and begin to accept its meaning. This situation is exactly that. Il-jik has great talent, but his ears were blocked due to his complacency, and he couldn't hear my stories, but thanks to you, his ears have finally opened. Thank you."

Grandmaster Juhyeon politely put his palms together towards me.

As I also bowed my head, he raised his hand and ruffled my hair.

"Hyeon Yang. Is he your disciple? He seems like a child who will become very great."

"He is not my disciple. However, he is a junior I always keep by my side and cherish."

"Haha! You still really hate being tied down to something, don't you."

"It must be my nature."

"Yes. Nature is important. And innate talent is also very important."

He smiled kindly, looked at me, and then continued again.

"And, I will also apologize. My disciple, who is not yet deeply cultivated, has committed a discourtesy first."

"A discourtesy? It was a good experience. When would I ever have a spar in the training ground where the Shaolin martial monks are training?"

"Hehe, so humble. But why did you bother to teach our disciples when you could have just left after winning the spar?"

"Because I also learned a lot from watching them train. I just returned what I received."

The moment I said that, Grandmaster Juhyeon and the Martial Uncle looked at me with a subtle gaze.

The Martial Uncle seemed to have roughly figured out what had happened from the conversation between Grandmaster Juhyeon and me a moment ago.

"Haha...! Hyeon Yang. This is the first time I've been envious of you. I came to check because I was so curious about what kind of almsgiver he was, to the point where Il-jik even said he was a respectable martial artist... my disciple had a reason to say so."

"He is still a child. I am afraid that too much praise will disturb the child's mind."

"Haha! Do you still think so after seeing that face? It seems that such praise can't even create a wave in that heart."

"The child is precocious... I'm embarrassed."

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but what our young almsgiver said was very impressive. The orthodox martial world is petty..."

"It's what a child who can't distinguish right from wrong yet said. Please don't mind it too much."

"No. It's more meaningful because it's a child's words."

He looked at me with eyes that seemed to see right through me and then continued.

"In my eyes... it seems the young almsgiver is being chased by something. What on earth is the almsgiver worried about?"

"......!"

This is why I'm reluctant to talk to monks or Taoists who have been training for a long time.

Whether it's because they've delved deep into one field, or because they get special abilities when they're immersed in religion, I don't know, but I've often felt like my mind was being read.

'How should I say it?'

I contemplated for a moment whether to mumble that there was nothing like that, or to make up something plausible.

But, I soon changed my mind.

I don't think there's a need to lie in this situation.

But, if I tell everything as it is, I'll be revealing too many of my weaknesses, so I moderately sorted out only the truth and said to him.

"Since I'm in Shaolin, I'll express it like this. It's the evil demons and heretical ways."

"Evil demons and heretical ways...!"

In Buddhism, the evil demons and heretical ways refer to the evil demons that interfere with training and the heretical groups other than Buddhism.

But, in the martial world, the evil demons and heretical ways refer to the Unorthodox Factions that exist in the Central Plains, and the outside forces that are eyeing the Central Plains.

Of course, the Demonic Cult is also included in that.

"Hahaha...! Not only my disciple, but you also give me a great enlightenment. This... I've been hit."

He laughed heartily for a long time, as if he was in a good mood.

But, besides Grandmaster Juhyeon, the Martial Uncle also seems to be lost in deep thought.

Since the Martial Uncle knows that I received a revelation from the Primordial Heaven Supreme, my words will not be heard lightly.

"You have the strength to speak the right words confidently."

"It's because I'm a reckless fool who isn't scared of anything yet."

"Haha. A real reckless fool doesn't say such things with their own mouth."

He looked at me with warm eyes.

A gaze I had never received even once in my past life.

"Since you have given both my disciple and me a great enlightenment. I'd like to repay you with something."

"A repayment?"

"I heard that you are looking for a way to train your body while staying away from meat and fire. Is that correct?"

"That's right. Since the secret of Shaolin is the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic, I can't follow it, so I'll have to find another way."

"I don't know if you know, but the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic is not just for building the body. It also serves as an internal technique, and at the same time, it also serves as a Buddhist cultivation that follows the will of the Buddha."

I nodded my head, as I was well aware of that fact.

"Yes. That's why I heard that it has been the core of Shaolin martial arts since it was created by Bodhidharma."

"Yes. All of that combined has become the core. Then, if we were to separate only the part that trains the body, could it still be called the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic?"

"That's..."

"I don't think so. Haha! Suddenly, since the chicken is bright, I want to chant a Buddhist prayer. Namu Amitabha, Wei Tuo Xian Chu, Zhai Xing Huan Dou, Wu Xin Xiang Tian, Jin Li Hu Huan..."

"......!"

He, who suddenly started chanting a Buddhist prayer while counting his prayer beads.

'It's the incantation of the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic...!'

The incantation that Grandmaster Juhyeon is chanting now... I instinctively realized that it was undoubtedly the incantation of the Muscle-Tendon Change Classic.

Although I have a few questions, that's not what's important in this situation. For now, I began to concentrate all my attention on him so as not to miss a single letter of his words.

(End of Chapter)