Hyun Kwang (3)

Electric stimulation therapy device. No, Hyun Gong frowned and asked, "Are you saying that channeling thunder energy into Senior Brother Hyun Kwang can truly heal him? Such a small amount of energy won't be enough to burn away the impurities in his meridians."

"The energy isn't meant to be sent into his meridians, Disciplinary Head," Mu-Jin replied. Everyone in the room, including Hyun Gong, looked puzzled.

But Mu-Jin, undeterred, clasped his extended right arm with his left hand and explained, "The energy needs to be channeled into the muscles beneath the skin. The goal is to stimulate the muscles with the thunder energy."

"Into the muscles?" 

"Yes. Sending very faint electrical currents into the muscles can promote muscle metabolism, improve blood circulation, and increase muscle contraction strength and muscle fiber size."

Mu-Jin explained the benefits of electrical stimulation therapy in terms that the people of this world could understand. The reason Mu-Jin knew this was simple. He had worked as a fitness trainer and held a national license as a physical therapist and a private certification as a rehabilitation masseur.

Back when he had been forcibly discharged from the military and had to rehabilitate his ruined body, the high cost of physical therapy, rehabilitation, and Pilates had driven him to study these fields to save money. Over time, as he delved into various exercises to heal his body, he became a fitness trainer and learned nutrition as well.

Especially, his knowledge of physical therapy and manual therapy, along with rehabilitation massage, had been immensely helpful in his career as a fitness trainer. 

In his early days as a trainer, after each hour-long PT session, he would offer pressure point massages as a complimentary service. Using techniques from rehabilitation massage, he would relieve the muscles exercised that day, which proved very effective. This led many of his clients to sign up for more PT sessions. 

Moreover, with his physical therapist license and rehabilitation massage certification, he had worked as a 'rehabilitation specialist trainer' at a large fitness center. When he first opened his gym, he performed rehabilitation tasks himself to save on labor costs.

"Heh, thinking about those days when I attended night college for a physical therapist license... I was really young then," he mused. For the nationally recognized physical therapist license, one needed to graduate from a physical therapy program. While he had already self-studied the theory through books and the internet, he still had to attend night college while working as a trainer to get the license.

Although he wasn't an expert in creating or understanding the inner workings of electrical stimulation devices, he knew how to use them and understood their effects. However, that was Mu-Jin's perspective.

"Are you saying that sending electrical currents into the muscles can have such benefits?" Hyun Gong looked at Mu-Jin with deep skepticism.

"Too weak a stimulus won't be effective, while too strong a stimulus could be harmful. Therefore, we need to provide appropriate stimulation for the patient, which is why I proposed five different levels. If you truly can't trust my method, I will give up on the treatment."

As Mu-Jin spoke confidently to the skeptical onlookers, their expressions varied. Hyun Seong, who already fully supported Mu-Jin, looked full of faith. Hyun Chun had a desperate look as if grasping at straws, Hye Dam remained stoic as ever, and Hyun Gong had a dubious expression.

"Ahem. How long do you think this treatment will take to show results?" Hyun Gong asked, seeming to make up his mind.

"I need to examine Senior Brother Hyun Kwang's condition directly to be sure, but we should see some improvement after about a month," Mu-Jin replied.

Hyun Gong nodded as if making a decision. "Then for one month, we will follow your instructions. But if there's no improvement after that time, you will be held accountable for disrespecting the masters. Understood?"

Hyun Gong warned Mu-Jin sternly, fitting his role as the Disciplinary Head. But Mu-Jin responded nonchalantly, "In that case, we need to improve the precision of the Thunder God Palm, don't we?"

Mu-Jin calmly accepted the warning and extended his right arm again. "Please try again. Use the Thunder God Palm to channel thunder energy precisely into the muscle areas I indicate."

"Hmph, that's not difficult," Hyun Gong replied.

Mu-Jin pointed to a spot in the middle of his forearm muscle with his left index finger, and Hyun Gong grasped the area with his palms. As expected of a master, Hyun Gong channeled the thunder energy with the same intensity as before, precisely into the muscle Mu-Jin indicated.

But for some reason, Mu-Jin frowned.

"What are you doing, Disciplinary Head?" Mu-Jin asked with a disappointed expression.

"It's effective only if you channel the energy into the same area with the same intensity for about one period."

"Not just once, but continuously?"

"Yes."

Upon hearing Mu-Jin's response, Hyun Gong once again unraveled his internal energy into a thin thread, using the minimal amount of power to perform the Thunder God Palm. As he channeled the electric current into Mu-Jin's arm, sweat began to bead on Hyun Gong's forehead. 

Using only a tiny amount of energy didn't drain his reserves, but maintaining a consistent flow of such a minute amount required considerable concentration. Nevertheless, Hyun Gong, a master of the Thunder God Palm with decades of practice, succeeded in sustaining the same level of power for one period.

"You truly are the Disciplinary Head!"

Mu-Jin gave him a thumbs-up. "This level is sufficient. Now, we need to establish levels one, three, four, and five. Level one should be about seventy percent of this intensity, while level three should add thirty percent more to the current power, and so on."

Though sweat trickled down his forehead, Hyun Gong hid his amusement. 'Hah. This might actually be beneficial for my training.' Even managing a small amount of internal energy continuously required significant mental strength. Adjusting this fine energy into multiple stages could be even more challenging.

Realizing he might integrate this into his training, Hyun Gong resolved to teach this new method to Hye-Chun and Beop-Gang. As Hyun Gong contemplated this new training method, Mu-Jin turned to look at Hye-Dam.

"While the Disciplinary Head practices, let me explain your role, Master Hye-Dam."

"Hm."

Hye-Dam nodded slightly and stepped forward. Suddenly, he aimed a powerful blow, infused with extreme yang energy, at Mu-Jin's forearm, causing Mu-Jin to exclaim in shock.

"What are you doing!?"

"??"

"Master Hye-Dam, you don't need to touch my arm directly."

Having narrowly avoided a severe burn, Mu-Jin hurriedly explained Hye-Dam's role. "Master Hye-Dam, you don't need to minimize your power like the Disciplinary Head. Just let the extreme yang energy linger around your palm, like the sun in the sky."

Following Mu-Jin's instructions, Hye-Dam gathered his internal energy and performed the Tathagata Palm, causing a reddish energy to emanate from his palm. "Keep it from dispersing, but let it stay near your palm!"

Unlike usual, Hye-Dam had to keep the energy concentrated around his palm, creating a small sun-like glow. Mu-Jin moved his forearm around this glowing palm, searching for the optimal distance where the heat felt gentle.

"This is perfect."

Mu-Jin nodded in satisfaction, finding the right distance where the warmth was just right. Hye-Dam's role was akin to an infrared lamp or an infrared therapy device.

"Master Hye-Dam, please maintain this state for one period, just like the Disciplinary Head."

Mu-Jin explained Hye-Dam's role and the benefits of infrared therapy, anticipating questions. "By applying this heat to the skin, it relaxes muscles and promotes blood circulation. Moreover, the light from the sun can penetrate the skin, providing disinfection and sterilization effects to muscles and joints."

Knowing this world had no concept of 'infrared,' Mu-Jin simplified his explanation. "So, creating a hot, sun-like light and focusing it on the treatment area can yield significant benefits."

Hye-Dam, focused on his internal energy, responded with a simple "Hm." Concentrating the Tathagata Palm's energy without releasing it was not difficult for him. However, maintaining it for one period proved challenging, just like for Hyun Gong. 

After one period, sweat also began to pour down Hye-Dam's forehead, mirroring Hyun Gong's earlier state.

* * *

Having confirmed the states of the 'electric stimulation device' Hyun Gong and the 'infrared therapy device' Hye-Dam, Mu-Jin soon returned to Hall of Arhat. Meanwhile, the four monks left in the Abbot's office continued their discussion.

"What did you all think?" asked Hyun-Chun, the Abbot.

Hyun-Gong replied, "We'll need to observe the treatment for a month to see if it truly helps Senior Brother. However, regardless of the treatment's success, it will be highly beneficial for Hye-Dam and me."

The three others nodded in agreement at Hyun-Gong's response.

"I never imagined we would use the Thunder God Palm and the Tathagata Palm in such a manner."

"Indeed. It's a skill we should definitely teach to our young disciples learning the Thunder God Palm and Tathagata Palm."

"This method applies not only to the Thunder God Palm and Tathagata Palm but also to most of our Shaolin martial arts that involve handling extreme yang energy."

Shaolin martial arts generally harness yang (陽) energy, especially the intense power of fire (火) and metal (金). Internal energy naturally influences one's temperament. One of the well-accepted notions in the martial world is that those who master martial arts involving extreme yang energy or fire tend to have explosive tempers.

This issue was not absent in Shaolin either. Thus, they combined fire with metal energy to control it. They used metal energy to wrap and regulate the intense fire energy.

In essence, they were suppressing an explosive temperament and anger with iron-like patience. Because of this, many Shaolin disciples were unusually rigid and stubborn, not quite like monks. Constantly suppressing their rising anger had made them overly stern.

Conversely, if fire energy outweighed metal energy, they might end up like Hye-Gwan in the Demon Subjugation Squad or become rogue monks pursued by the Disciplinary Office.

Achieving a perfect balance between the two energies was crucial but not easy, even for highly trained monks with decades of experience.

"We always thought of this as part of the ascetic practices left by our predecessors, but who knew there was such a solution. Amitabha."

"We may have been too rigid in our thinking. Amitabha."

The goal of Buddhists is enlightenment, which involves shedding all worldly desires and vexations. The Shaolin monks viewed the characteristics of their martial arts as part of their ascetic practices.

However, Mu-Jin's treatment methods had enlightened the four monks to a new direction. They realized they didn't have to suppress their fire energy by endlessly reciting Buddhist scriptures. Instead, they could train their martial arts in specific ways, such as repeatedly using minimal internal energy at the same power level or concentrating raised energy in their palms without releasing it.

By practicing the use of martial arts and internal energy in these ways, they could simultaneously cultivate patience.

"For the treatment of Senior Brother tomorrow, I think I should return to my quarters and practice. We must be thorough since it involves treating Senior Brother's body."

"I'll do the same, Abbot."

Hyun-Gong and Hye-Dam stood up as they spoke.

"Once we have a better grasp, we should teach this training method to our disciples and their disciples."

"Do so. This method could be highly beneficial, even beyond the Thunder God Palm and Tathagata Palm."

"Understood, Abbot."

Bowing to Abbot Hyun-Chun, Hyun-Gong and Hye-Dam left the Abbot's office. Although it wasn't Mu-Jin's intention, Shaolin was on its way to mass-producing practitioners akin to electric stimulation devices and infrared therapy devices.

* * *

The next day.

"Abbot, what brings you here...?"

Hyun-Gwang, resting in his quarters, looked puzzled at the visitors. It was expected for Mu-Jin, who was to become his disciple's disciple, to visit. But why had Abbot Hyun-Chun and Hall of Arhat Chief Hyun-Sung come along?

Hyun-Chun answered on their behalf. "This child might be able to help heal you, Senior Brother."

"What do you mean...?"

Mu-Jin, whom he had chosen as Beop-Gun's disciple, was suddenly said to be treating him. What was this about? As Hyun-Gwang wondered, Hyun-Sung and Hyun-Chun recounted the events in Hall of Arhat and Mu-Jin's explanation from the previous night.

"Then, may I begin the stimulation?"

Immediately after finishing the explanation, Mujin stepped forward and asked. It was time to start the treatment now that the preparations were complete.