Hyun Kwang (2)

Hyun Kwang (2)

"Senior Brother Hyun Kwang… was once called the greatest prodigy under the heavens."

"The greatest prodigy under the heavens…?"

Mu-Jin's voice carried a hint of curiosity. He had sensed during the entrance evaluation that Hyun Kwang was an extraordinary individual. What puzzled him was how such a person had become so frail.

"Indeed. Senior Brother Hyun Kwang was the second-generation disciple in the 'Hyun' lineage. By the age of thirty-two, he had already surpassed the level of the 'Gong' lineage masters."

Hyun Seong added to Hyun Chun's explanation.

"The 'Gong' lineage masters at that time predicted that Senior Brother Hyun Kwang would become the greatest martial artist under the heavens if given just ten more years."

"…How could such a person end up like this? Did he injure himself by overexerting during training?"

Both old monks shook their heads in response to Mu-Jin's question.

"He was not someone who would suffer from excessive ambition. He was not only knowledgeable in martial arts but also deeply versed in Buddhist teachings."

"Senior Brother's condition resulted from the invasion of the Demonic Sect."

"The Demonic Sect!?"

"Indeed. Thirty years ago, when our 'Hyun' lineage was the second-generation disciples, the Demonic Sect invaded Central Plains. Shaolin, with our vow to save all beings, also joined the war to stop them."

"Then, was he injured in that war?"

Once again, the two monks shook their heads.

"War is an unpredictable place. The senior monks who wanted to entrust the next generation of Shaolin to Senior Brother Hyun Kwang prevented him from joining the war."

"Instead, the 'Gong' lineage masters and the first-generation 'Geum' lineage disciples went to war."

"And, that decision turned out to be the beginning of our misfortune…."

"The Demonic Sect took advantage of our main forces being away and sent a special unit to attack Shaolin."

"Ah…"

"However, at that time, Senior Brother Hyun Kwang had already reached a level where he was called one of the top ten martial artists under the heavens. The Demonic Sect's special unit could not harm him."

Mu-Jin was left puzzled by Hyun Chun's final statement. If Hyun Kwang was so formidable, how did he end up in his current state? This question was soon answered by Hyun Chun and Hyun Seong.

"But… the problem was us. At that time, the second-generation and third-generation disciples, including our 'Hyun' lineage and the 'Hyu' lineage, were not capable of handling the Demonic Sect's special unit."

"And Senior Brother Hyun Kwang prioritized protecting his disciples over defeating the enemy."

"Every time Senior Brother put his body on the line to save his disciples, he accumulated more injuries…."

The faces of the two monks, recalling those times, were etched with deep regret. They wished that if they had died instead, Hyun Kwang might have remained unharmed. If that had been the case, Shaolin's reputation might have been even greater today.

Shaolin, still a prestigious sect, no longer claimed supremacy. Hyun Chun, as the current abbot, bore a lifelong regret of not having perished in Hyun Kwang's place. Originally, it was Hyun Kwang who should have held the position of abbot in the 'Hyun' lineage.

Having heard the story about Hyun Kwang, Mu-Jin fell into thought. It wasn't the greatness of Hyun Kwang's story that moved him. Rather, he pondered something else.

"So… you're saying Grandmaster Hyun Kwang is in his current state because of injuries sustained thirty years ago?"

"That is correct."

"Hmm… then I think I might be able to help."

"!!!"

Mu-Jin thought he could probably provide some assistance. After all, the situation seemed strikingly similar to what Choi Kang-Hyuk had experienced—being forced to retire due to deteriorating injuries.

Hyun Chun's face showed a hint of anger at Mu-Jin's unexpected statement.

"Even with the acupuncture techniques of those called divine doctors, the effects were temporary. We could not heal him even with Shaolin's Great Elixir. And you claim you can heal him?"

Despite the abbot's angry tone, Mu-Jin responded calmly.

"First, I cannot restore Grandmaster Hyun Kwang's internal energy or fully heal him like in the past. But I might be able to treat him to the extent that he can move around."

With that, Mu-Jin turned to Hyun Seong, the head of the Hall of Arhats.

"As the head knows, Master Beob Gang also had trouble with his knee."

"You mean the method you used on Beob Gang could work on Senior Brother?"

"What do you mean, head of the Hall of Arhats?"

In response to Hyun Chun's question, Hyun Seong explained the events that had occurred in the Hall of Arhats. He intended to spread Mu-Jin's training method throughout Shaolin after Mu-Jin proved its effectiveness in the entrance evaluation.

Mu-Jin treated Beob Gang's knee and used his training method to significantly improve the external martial arts skills of the new disciples.

"Is that truly the case?"

"The results of today's entrance examination speak for themselves, Abbot."

"Huh…"

A training method that could develop muscles and bones—if true, it could significantly advance Shaolin's level. There was no martial artist who didn't desire to develop their muscles and bones. Countless sects and clans had sought ways to develop them in their desired manner.

They experimented with unknown techniques, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and even gruesome, brute-force methods of forcing a child's bones into shape. However, none of these attempts yielded the desired results and often resulted in severe side effects.

Mu-Jin's method was different. It didn't provide immediate changes like the methods that had appeared in martial arts history, requiring consistent personal effort instead. Over time and with effort, it could 'stably' change one's muscles and bones. The results from today's entrance examination proved its credibility.

But the immediate concern was not advancing Shaolin with this training method.

"Are you saying that this method can truly treat Senior Brother Hyun Kwang's body?"

Abbot Hyun Chun's question, asked with a half-believing expression, was answered calmly by Mu-Jin.

"Senior Brother Beob Gang's knee was in a much better state. My training method alone won't be enough to treat Hyun Kwang. Therefore, a few conditions are necessary."

"What are these conditions? Shaolin will do anything if it means healing Senior Brother."

This was Hyun Chun's sincere desire. Even if it didn't restore Hyun Kwang's internal energy, even if it only allowed him to move again, Hyun Chun was willing to sacrifice anything for the hero who saved Shaolin.

If Mu-Jin asked for the Great Elixir, he would provide it. If his sacrifice was needed, he would willingly cut off an arm, like the second patriarch of Shaolin, Hyu Ga.

However, Mu-Jin's conditions were quite unexpected.

"Does Shaolin have any martial arts that use extreme yang energy or techniques that harness thunder energy?"

Naturally, Hyun Chun and Hyun Seong were puzzled by this.

* * *

After about fifteen minutes, two monks arrived at the Abbot's office. One was a middle-aged monk with a build as imposing as a statue of one of the Four Heavenly Kings, and the other was an elderly monk with a stern face.

"Welcome, Disciplinary Head, Disciple Hyu-Dam."

The imposing man was Hyu-Dam, who had taken Mu-Gung as his disciple, and the stern-faced old monk was Hyun Gong, head of the Disciplinary Court.

After welcoming them, Abbot Hyun Chun addressed Mu-Jin.

"The Disciplinary Head practices 'Thunder God Palm,' one of our seventy-two supreme techniques that uses thunder energy."

Thunder God Palm.

This martial art was modeled after Indra (known as Jeseokcheon in Buddhism), one of the Hindu trinity gods who wields lightning. Its strength and destructive power were among the highest in Shaolin martial arts.

Hyun Gong, the Disciplinary Head, had mastered this technique to the extreme and was responsible for punishing Shaolin disciples who committed crimes.

'Hmm? If he's the Disciplinary Head, he must be Grandmaster Beob Gang's teacher's teacher.'

Mu-Jin remembered hearing that Beob Gang, a promising candidate for the elder position, had a master in the Disciplinary Court, and that his master's master was the Disciplinary Head.

While Mu-Jin recalled this, Hyun Chun briefly introduced Hyu-Dam.

"And this is Hyu-Dam, leader of the One Hundred and Eight Arhats, who practices 'Tathagata Palm,' which uses extreme yang energy."

Hyun Gong and Hyu-Dam looked at Mu-Jin with curiosity, wondering why they were being introduced to this young disciple.

However, their questions were soon answered by Hyun Chun's next words.

"Disciplinary Head and Hyu-Dam, listen well. This child claims to have a method to heal Senior Brother Hyun Kwang."

"Is that true?"

Their reactions were not overly dramatic, but those who knew the usually stern Hyu-Dam and strict Hyun Gong would understand that their current expressions showed great surprise.

Hyun Seong began explaining to Hyun Gong and Hyu Dam what he had previously conveyed to Abbot Hyun Chun.

"And to treat Senior Brother Hyun Kwang, Mu-Jin said we need the martial arts techniques you two have mastered."

"If my martial arts can help Senior Brother Hyun Kwang, I will gladly assist," Hyu Dam replied, though he still harbored some doubts internally.

"So, you are the one who treated Beob Gang's knee," remarked Hyun Gong, Hyun Seong's mentor, in an unusually favorable tone for him. "Tell us what we need to do."

In response, Mu-Jin extended his arm toward Hyun Gong and spoke. "Disciplinary Head, can you use Thunder God Palm on my arm, but at its weakest intensity?"

"What are you talking about?" Hyun Gong was bewildered. Did this young disciple want his arm to be burned by thunder energy? He had assumed they would be clearing blocked meridians with thunder and yang energy.

Despite Hyun Gong's surprise, Mu-Jin continued calmly. "Can you do it? Not to burn or tear my arm, but to use Thunder God Palm with very faint thunder energy."

Hyun Gong furrowed his brow slightly and stepped forward. "How dare a third-generation disciple mock a master."

Hyun Gong placed his palms on Mu-Jin's right arm and channeled his internal energy according to the principles of Thunder God Palm. He used the minimal amount of energy, as Mu-Jin had requested.

Ziiiiing.

Instead of burning or necrotizing, Mu-Jin's arm began to twitch due to the thunder energy coursing through it. Hyun Gong, experienced in moderating his power to subdue wayward disciples without killing them, spoke confidently. "How does it feel?"

"Are you trying to kill Senior Brother Hyun Kwang?!" Mu-Jin quickly withdrew his twitching arm and exclaimed in disbelief. "If you use such strong power, Senior Brother Hyun Kwang, in his weakened state, won't survive. You need to reduce it to less than half of this intensity. If that's not possible, let me know now so I can find another way."

Mu-Jin's seemingly considerate tone came off as a greater challenge to Hyun Gong, who had nearly fifty years of martial arts training. 

"Hmph, I can do it!" Hyun Gong asserted.

"There's no need to strain yourself. This is about ensuring the safety and treatment of Senior Brother Hyun Kwang."

"I said I can do it!" Hyun Gong shouted, then took a deep breath to compose himself and focused inward. He needed to use Thunder God Palm at a much weaker intensity than before. Drawing a very small portion of his vast internal energy, he channeled it as if spinning a very fine thread, circulating it through the meridians according to the technique.

Ziiiiing.

A very faint current of electricity flowed through Mu-Jin's arm as Hyun Gong's palms made contact.

"How is it now?" Hyun Gong asked confidently. Mu-Jin nodded approvingly.

"It's not bad! This intensity, exactly like this, would be perfect."

"This intensity?"

"Yes, Disciplinary Head. If you can consistently produce this level of electric current in five stages, from level one to level five, it will greatly help in treating Senior Brother Hyun Kwang!" Mu-Jin said with a satisfied look, feeling the electric current in his arm.

In this primitive environment, proper physical or rehabilitation therapy was nearly impossible. Beob Gang was relatively young and had some muscle around his knee, so Mu-Jin could manage with basic techniques. 

But Hyun Kwang was a different case. Proper physical therapy equipment was essential for his treatment, yet acquiring such equipment here was out of the question. 

Thus, Mu-Jin had sought out a master who could act as the equipment. The role he envisioned for Hyun Gong was akin to that of a modern physical therapy device—an electrical stimulation machine.