The Theory of Perfected Weight Training
On the night Mu-jin received crucial advice, Jegal Gung, now the head of the family, visited Jegal Jin-hee following Mu-jin’s departure.
“Greetings, Head of the Family.”
“Hahaha. When it’s just the two of us, you can still call me Father.”
Jegal Gung, waving off Jegal Jin-hee’s formal greeting, smiled gently.
“Does the sudden appointment as the Young Master feel burdensome?”
Recalling the conversation with Mu-jin, Jegal Jin-hee smiled softly.
“At first, I was a bit confused, but now I’m fine with it, Father.”
“Good.”
Jegal Gung, smiling proudly at his daughter’s mature response, soon adopted a serious expression.
“Since you’ve calmed your mind, I must assign you an important task as the Young Master.”
“Please, tell me.”
“This is a very crucial task, so listen carefully. Your first duty as Young Master is to research martial arts.”
“Martial arts research? Isn’t that something our family has been steadily doing?”
“Yes, but our family lost many advanced martial arts techniques. Therefore, we need to restore or recreate techniques like the Hyeonwon Jeondanshingong, Chilhyun Mu-hyung Sword, and Cheongi Milibo using the remaining manuals and historical records.”
“…Are you saying I should recreate them?”
Jegal Jin-hee, who had been determined, looked bewildered.
Creating new martial arts techniques is not as simple as naming a dog.
Seeing her incredulous expression, Jegal Gung cleared his throat and continued.
“Ahem. I don’t mean for you to do it alone. I have heard some mnemonics from our ancestors that can help. Moreover, you should select talented individuals from our family to join in this research.”
After speaking, Jegal Gung glanced sideways and added,
“And have you heard when the Shaolin monks plan to return to their temple?”
Surprised by her father’s sudden question, Jegal Jin-hee shared what she had learned from Mu-jin.
“They said they would leave once our family stabilizes, as they stayed only because Jegal Gi-hwan escaped.”
Jegal Gung spoke urgently at her response.
“Can you keep them here for a few more days?”
“The monks?”
“Yes.”
Jegal Jin-hee didn’t ask why. She already connected the current conversation with their earlier one.
“Ah! You mean to get their help in researching martial arts.”
“Exactly.”
It was an embarrassing request, which made Jegal Gung, as the head of the family, blush.
But it was something he had to achieve, even if it meant losing face.
Especially,
‘Mu-gyeong! We must retain that monk!’
Jegal Gung was utterly fascinated by Mu-gyeong’s extraordinary talent.
Identifying the trap in the ‘Moonlight Sage Dance’ manual, which even he and Jegal Jin-hee couldn’t find, was just the beginning.
While Mu-jin and Cheongsu Dojang visited Wudang,
Jegal Gung and his group, along with Mu-jin’s team, headed to Yangbeon-hyeon.
During that time, Jegal Jin-hee had only one day to master the ‘Moonlight Sage Dance’.
And Mu-gyeong’s remarkable talent shone brightly during this period.
He deciphered the mnemonics in the martial arts manual after just a few readings, explaining it to Jegal Jin-hee.
Jegal Jin-hee, who had to learn the basics of ‘Moonlight Sage Dance’ in just one day, managed to do so partly because she was already skilled in martial arts, but mainly due to Mu-gyeong’s precise interpretation.
Watching this, Jegal Gung was convinced.
‘With that monk, recreating new divine techniques isn’t just a dream!!’
Mu-jin’s talent was also impressive, but his potential was more suited to leading a family, not aligned with the Jegal family.
In contrast, Mu-gyeong was the perfect match for the Jegal family, dedicated to martial arts and tactical research.
However, this was merely Jegal Gung’s opinion.
‘Indeed! Mu-jin must have foreseen this!’
Combining Mu-jin’s external training methods with the Jegal family’s techniques to create a harmonious new martial art could lead to the family’s resurgence.
‘Father must have finally realized Mu-jin’s value!’
For Jegal Jin-hee, this was excellent news.
Yet, a problem remained.
“Father, I can try to keep him here, but how can we rely on another sect’s disciple to develop our martial arts?”
Surprisingly, Jegal Gung had a ready answer, as if he had anticipated this question.
“We don’t need him as an outsider. We can make him part of our family.”
“Part of our family?”
“Ahem. Since Shaolin is primarily a Buddhist order, a monk would need to renounce his vows for marriage.”
“…Ah!”
He was suggesting making Mu-gyeong part of their family through marriage. The fact that he was discussing this with her implied,
‘Father is allowing me to be with Mu-jin!’
With the family’s support, there would be no comparison to Ryu Seol-hwa.
“I will do my utmost to complete this first task as the Young Master.”
Jegal Jin-hee, with a determined expression, responded with a respectful bow, making Jegal Gung nod with relief.
‘Thank goodness. Her quick acceptance suggests she might have had some feelings for Mu-gyeong. Hahaha.’
Jegal Gung’s mind started picturing a scene.
Mu-gyeong, brought in as Jegal Jin-hee’s husband, collaborating with the Jegal family’s martial artists to create new divine techniques.
‘If Jin-hee, as Young Master, can bring Mu-gyeong as a son-in-law!!’
The resurgence of the Jegal family would no longer be a dream!
His imagination was aflame with joy.
**The Next Afternoon**
Mu-jin headed to the Jegal family’s grand training hall upon Jegal Jin-hee’s invitation.
“What is the reason you called me here?”
“After careful consideration last night, I decided to follow your advice.”
“A wise decision. Amitabha.”
Mu-jin smiled contentedly at the prospect of another weight training partner.
Feeling reassured by his smile, Jegal Jin-hee continued with a lighthearted grin.
“And the reason I called you here is related to that. While it’s good for me to train our family’s martial artists, I thought it would be better for them to initially learn from a more skilled master.”
“…Are you asking me to teach the family’s martial artists?”
“Yes.”
This was Jegal Jin-hee’s plan to keep Mu-jin tied down and to spread his exercise methods within the Jegal family.
Of course, she couldn’t ask for such a favor without offering something in return. After all, Mu-jin was not yet a part of the Jegal family, meaning he wasn’t her husband.
Luckily, she had a good idea of what Mu-jin liked.
“In return, we will make sure you can comfortably do weight training while staying at the Jegal family estate.”
“!!!”
Mu-jin’s eyes widened in surprise, and Jegal Jin-hee pointed to a corner of the grand training hall with satisfaction.
“It’s a bit lacking now, but I’ve already placed a large order for additional equipment. Specifically, I’ve ordered extra-heavy weights just for you.”
This was true.
After receiving formal orders from her father to seduce Mu-jin, she immediately issued her first command as the Young Master.
Under the banner of ‘by order of the Head of the Family’, she had ordered the workshop to mass-produce weight training tools.
Since last night, the workshop had been working around the clock, and additional equipment had been placed in the hall along with what Jegal Jin-hee had already been using.
Mu-jin couldn’t help but swallow his dry saliva at the sight of the enticing new weight equipment.
“Furthermore, while borrowing your expertise, we won’t end it there. We also plan to share our family’s knowledge with the Shaolin Temple. Since Songshan is also a sacred mountain, how about creating a formation technique utilizing its terrain?”
“For the sake of solidifying the alliance between our families, there couldn’t be a better approach.”
Half-swayed by the news of the weight equipment, Mu-jin was fully convinced by her words.
‘Surely, the elders of Shaolin will understand this?’
With the promise of gaining the Jegal family’s formation techniques, a few days’ delay wouldn’t matter. Mu-jin started rationalizing his curiosity about the ultra-heavy weights they had prepared for him.
A short while later,
“Hmm? Were you summoned too?”
“Huh. What does the Young Master want to tell us that she called so many of us here?”
About half of the Jegal family members had gathered in the grand training hall.
Seeing that enough people had gathered, Jegal Jin-hee spoke with internal energy.
“The reason I’ve gathered you all here is that, for a while, Master Mu-jin will be teaching you external energy training methods.”
Some members looked puzzled, but no one voiced their doubts.
Jegal Jin-hee was now the official Young Master of the family, and they had just quelled a rebellion recently.
While they might grumble behind her back, no one dared to openly oppose her.
Thus, Mu-jin could comfortably teach over a hundred people about exercise.
“When doing this movement, do it slowly. Focus on the biceps, not the entire arm.”
Since it was arm day, Mu-jin explained the methods of isolating muscle groups one by one.
However, the Jegal family members’ ability to attentively follow Mu-jin’s instructions was limited.
“Master Mu-jin, isn’t this enough arm exercise for now?”
As their arms grew tired, the family members started to falter.
Their muscles, untrained in external energy techniques, were relatively weak compared to other martial artists.
“How about teaching us exercises for other muscles now?”
One practitioner, struggling with a dumbbell, pleaded, and Mu-jin approached with a gentle smile.
“When it becomes difficult, it’s good to help each other. I’ll assist you; try lifting it ten more times.”
Mu-jin placed his hand under the practitioner’s arm holding the dumbbell and applied just enough force to help them lift it.
With each tremor of the arm, Mu-jin slightly increased the support, making it barely possible for the practitioner to lift the weight.
“From now on, you will form pairs and assist each other. We will repeat the six exercises we’ve done so far, four more sets.”
“!?”
“Y-You want us to do it again!?”
Jegal family members, already cramping, asked in shock, and Mu-jin nodded.
“The human body strengthens as it heals from injuries. The pain you feel when lifting weights is the sound of your muscles growing stronger. Don’t be deceived by the pain; enjoy the sensation.”
“…”
“So now, every time you lift a weight, you will shout together, ‘I am happy!’”
Despite feeling deceived, the Jegal family members couldn’t disobey and began chanting ‘I am happy!’ as they lifted the weights.
“Oh! The voice is too soft! Once again! I am happy!”
Mu-jin’s stern voice echoed through the grand training hall like a cheer from a sports team.
“I am!!!”
“Happy!!!”
Their desperate shouts somehow fit well with the cheer.
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