Why are you out here? (1)

"Why should I have to hang out with you, disrupting my precious training time?"

Mu Gung, still harboring resentment from their last sparring match, glared at Mu-Jin and Mu-Yul with an uncharacteristically angry face for his age. In response to his pettiness, Mu-Jin also glared at Mu Gung with a fierce expression.

"Hey, aren't you the Sahyung? Your junior is in this state, and your training is more important? Huh?"

"...Aren't you also a junior?"

Mu Gung retorted with a look of disbelief, to which Mu-Jin responded with a blatant smirk.

"Sure, if you want to be the Sahyung who beats up juniors, I can call you that. Mu Gung Sahyung."

Annoyed by the condescending tone, Mu Gung's fists trembled with rage.

"That was because I was caught off guard last time!"

"Oh, sure. Of course."

"Iiik!!"

Unable to hold back his anger any longer, Mu Gung lunged at Mu-Jin. He believed that he lost last time because he was caught off guard, and this time, he was determined to attack with his full strength from the start.

"Tskt."

Naturally, his attack didn't reach Mu-Jin. Even though his punches, as Mu-Yul might say, sounded destructive, Mu-Jin easily evaded them. Then, Mu-Jin moved in close to Mu Gung.

"Hmph!"

Mu Gung tried to lower his stance to block a tackle, but Mu-Jin had anticipated this and instead moved to Mu Gung's side, locking his limbs in a hold.

The tackle had been a feint from the start.

Mu-Jin twisted Mu Gung's body into a strange angle, using a move known in modern martial arts as a Twister.

"Ughhhh."

Mu Gung tried to hold back his tears, determined not to cry again like last time, but the pain from his twisted joints was unbearable.

"Don't you understand why you keep losing?"

Mu-Jin whispered into Mu Gung's ear as he held him down.

"If you tell me why that kid Mu Gyeong ended up like that, I'll tell you why you keep losing. So let's call it a draw. Okay?"

Not wanting to make Mu Gung cry again, Mu-Jin loosened the Twister hold. Mu Gung, breathing heavily, glared at Mu-Jin for a moment but didn't attack again. He was genuinely curious about why he kept losing and considered himself a disciple of the prestigious Shaolin.

"Alright, seems like you've calmed down. Now, can you tell me why Mu Gyeong ended up like that?"

Mu Gung, massaging his aching joints, responded tersely.

"Why? Because he got targeted by the Laymen."

"Targeted by the Laymen?"

"Yeah."

"If it's Laymen, then when you say Laymen,' is it referring to that Lay Disciple?"

"Yeah, those Laymen."

Mu-Jin frowned as he asked again.

"So why did getting targeted by the Laymen leave him in this state? Isn't this the Shaolin Temple?"

"It's about his background."

"Background?"

"His father is a craftsman who works for a security company established by a Lay Disciple."

"..."

"When Beop Seong Sasukjo came to recruit entry-level disciples, he noticed the boy's talent and brought him along. The son of that security company's owner then started bullying him, claiming he was climbing too high for the son of a mere craftsman."

"Are you kidding me? A Shaolin disciple does that kind of thing?"

"They do it because they won't get caught. His father works for the Lay Disciple's security company, so it's not like he can snitch."

The more Mu-Jin heard, the more absurd it seemed.

In the Shaolin Temple, where the teachings of Buddha were paramount, kids around the age of sixth graders were engaging in such behavior, relying on their parents' authority.

Mu-Jin, feeling a surge of annoyance, looked at Mu Gung.

"Fine, let's say Mu Gyeong couldn't help it. But what were you doing? Aren't you one of the top disciples here?"

"Me? What could I do about it?"

Mu Gung's indifferent response, as if it had nothing to do with him, made a vein pop out on Mu-Jin's forehead.

Judging by their conversation and Mu Gung's attitude so far, this guy was a typical model student.

Not a model student in a moral sense, as is common in modern Korea, but a model student in terms of grades.

"Hey!"

Unable to hold back his anger any longer, Mu-Jin finally swung and hit Mu Gung on the back of his head. If this were just an ordinary school, that would be one thing, but this was a Shaolin Temple teaching 'Buddhism'. The thought of someone aspiring to be a true disciple of Shaolin with such an attitude was infuriating.

"And you call yourself a disciple of Shaolin? Huh? What happened to your morning recitations of the scriptures?"

While Mu-Jin also found the scripture classes utterly useless, that wasn't important right now. And despite getting hit on the back of his head by Mu-Jin, Mu Gung, perhaps feeling a slight sting somewhere, added a feeble excuse while avoiding eye contact.

"But I can't retaliate. If I did, his father might get kicked out of the security company."

"Even if you don't retaliate, you're still supposed to be the strongest one here, aren't you? You just have to watch out for him."

"But there are three of them. Even one of them is troublesome, let alone facing three."

In the midst of Mu Gung's feeble excuses, mixed with strange stories, Mu-Jin frowned and asked, "What's that supposed to mean? Three of them?"

"I told you, didn't I? Mu Tae's father is a Lay Disciple of the security company. There are two other Lay Disciple families who are close to that security company's owner. They were deliberately sent here at the same time."

"...So even one of them feels overwhelmed? But according to this guy, you're supposed to be the strongest?"

With Mu-Jin pointing at Mu-Yul, he asked.

Apparently, Mu-Yul had mentioned it before. Among the disciples currently training together, Mu Gung's talent was considered the best.

"According to Master Mu-Yul, that might be the case. Those guys. They're not taking their training seriously."

"They're not taking their training seriously?"

"Yeah. They're from families of Lay Disciples here at the Shaolin Temple."

"Ah..."

With Mu Gung's brief explanation, Mu-Jin immediately understood the situation. If they were from Lay Disciple families, their martial arts would naturally be based on Shaolin's martial arts. Therefore, those guys must have already mastered techniques like the revolving fist or the flame of wisdom.

It seemed like no matter where you went, people were the same. Essentially, they had already learned to some extent the martial arts they were supposed to learn.

Of course, there might be those who considered reviewing what they had learned as part of their efforts.

"If that's the case, those guys probably didn't engage in such behavior."

Having deduced that much, Mu-Jin could also understand why there were so many kids like them who had learned the flame of wisdom in just a day.

"Are you from a Lay Disciple family too?"

"No. Although I am from a martial family, we are not Lay Disciples of Shaolin. So I study Shaolin's martial arts and strive to become a true disciple."

"Hmm. Then when those guys learn the martial arts they haven't learned yet, will they work hard then?"

"They probably won't."

"Why? If it's something they haven't learned yet?"

"They don't intend to become true disciples anyway. They have to continue their family lineage, and those guys who used to live comfortably at home wouldn't want to suffer here unnecessarily. When the time comes for their parents to send them to become true disciples, they'll automatically drop out as Lay Disciples."

"...So harassing that Mu Gyeong kid, in fact, is a kind of time filling for them."

"That could be one reason."

The more Mu-Jin listened, the more amazing the story became. And whether it was unfair to be hit from behind by Mu Gung or not, Mu Gung added another feeble excuse.

"I didn't like seeing those guys bullying him either. They're bothering someone from a prestigious family at the Shaolin Temple. If I could have fought all three of them and won, I would have stepped up sooner."

"So? You didn't step up because you were afraid of losing?"

"T-That's right! I don't like losing!"

In response to Mu-Jin's persistent questioning, Mu Gung shouted again with a childlike expression.

"Tsk. What am I expecting from a kid."

Finally realizing that his opponent was just a big guy but still a kid, Mu-Jin lightly clicked his tongue.

Seeing Mu-Jin's expression, Mu Gung backed off and let out a groan.

"And one person thinks they can win! Those reckless guys always come in groups of three, so we couldn't touch them!"

"Yeah, yeah. If anyone knows Mu-Gung's skills, it's me. Darn."

"Hey!"

"At a time when Mu-Jin, who had grown tired of arguing with the stubborn Mu Yul and Mu Gung the endless squabbles, was reluctant to engage in a futile struggle."

"Ugh."

Groaning, Mu-Gyeong, who had collapsed on the floor, regained consciousness.

Naturally, the attention of Mu-Jin, Mu-Gung, and Mu-Yul turned towards him.

"Uh, huh?"

As soon as he opened his eyes and saw the three of them staring at him, Mu-Gyeong instinctively flinched. It was an ingrained defense mechanism developed over the past two months of experiences.

Seeing his pitiful state, Mu-Jin sighed and approached Mu-Gyeong calmly. Following behind him, Mu-Yul and Mu-Gung, who seemed to hesitate for a moment, joined in with an expression of inevitability.

As Mu-Jin approached Mu-Gyeong, he lightly clicked his tongue and addressed him.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to hit you."

"Uh, okay."

Despite nodding in understanding, Mu-Gyeong's body, surrounded by the three, trembled with fear.

In a way, Mu-Jin spoke with as gentle a tone as possible, considering the pitiful sight before him.

"And I've heard the situation from Mu-Gung here."

Pointing with his chin towards Mu-Gung, Mu-Jin continued as Mu-Gyeong looked at Mu-Gung with a bewildered expression.

Waiting for Mu-Gyeong to gather his thoughts, Mu-Jin spoke again when Mu-Gyeong turned to look at him.

"So, I've been thinking. There's a pretty simple solution, you know?"

"A... solution?"

"Yeah. Wanna hear it?"

"...."

As Mu-Gyeong hesitated, cautiously nodding his head, Mu-Jin spoke with an indifferent attitude.

"It's simple. Everything that's happened to you. You just need to report all the things those brats did to your father, threatening him and all, to the head of the security company."

At the simple solution suggested by Mu-Jin, Mu-Gyeong's face turned gloomy. It's not like he hadn't thought of that.

"Are you kidding me? Then those guys won't leave my father alone."

"That's simple too. If you can become a true disciple, then all the problems will be solved."

"???"

Still unable to understand, not only Mu-Gyeong but also Mu-Yul and Mu-Gung had faces of incomprehension.

"Sigh."

This is how kids are.

It was the same in modern Korea. During middle and high school, most of the kids who suffered from bullying or ostracism couldn't report it for fear of retaliation.

And afterwards, they become increasingly narrow-minded, trapped in negative thoughts like, 'My future is bleak anyway.'

They didn't realize that by talking to a teacher first, and then to parents, or even to the authorities, most of the problems could be resolved.

Of course, it didn't mean those kids were necessarily foolish. In reality, there were many cases where reporting didn't solve the problem.

For example, when schools or teachers wanted to cover up the issue of bullying to avoid getting involved. Or when the parents of the aggressor were powerful figures.

But.

"'Beop Gwang's private chambers. We'll see if what you say is really true.' That's what the old man said. This is Shaolin, and Shaolin is not a place to abandon disciples. So there's nothing to be afraid of."

"Think about it. Those Lay Disciples dared to threaten a Shaolin true disciple and his father. Ugh, it's horrifying just to think about it."

Mu-Jin shivered as if feeling goosebumps, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

"Or could it be that they're afraid they won't become true disciples?"

"W-Well...."

Perhaps due to the harassment he had endured, Mu-Gyeong, whose self-esteem had plummeted, couldn't muster a response.

Seeing the distressed look of the child who had lost his confidence after enduring two months of one-sided beatings, Mu-Jin sighed inwardly.

And Mu-Jin decided to stimulate the child a little, rather than trying to comfort him.

"Are you afraid you won't succeed? Do you want your father to keep working under Beop Gwang like this?"

"!!!"

Until now, Mu-Gyeong had thought that if he just endured being beaten, it would all be over. Now he realized that this wasn't the end.

"Do you understand now? There's only one solution anyway. You becoming a true disciple. It's not about whether you can or can't, it's about whether you must."

Under Mu-Jin's intense gaze, Mu-Gyeong involuntarily turned his head away.

Mu-Gyeong had no confidence. He had been beaten unilaterally for two months, so he had just taken it.

Instead of images of achieving something, other scenes were etched in Mu-Gyeong's mind.

Failing to become a true disciple.

"If I fail, Father will have to keep working under Mu-Tae...."

As a result, the image of his father suffering harassment from Mu-Tae, who had become a Lay Disciple after failing, haunted him.

Driven by this horrific fantasy, Mu-Gyeong raised his head.

"Fine, I'll try, I'll try!"

Seemingly pleased with this response, Mu-Jin clapped his hands and spoke cheerfully.

"Good. Then let's talk about the second solution I mentioned earlier. In addition to self-defense, you need to repay them for what they've done to you. Right? You have to give back at least as much as you've taken."

"G-Give back as much as I've taken? So, s-surely you don't mean to hit those guys?"

"What nonsense. It's not about hitting them, it's about hitting them together."

"M-Me?"

"No. Us."

Although the scene seemed touching at first, Mu-Gung, who had been listening to the conversation between Mu-Jin and Mu-Gyeong, exclaimed in surprise with a shocked expression.

"Surely I'm not included in that 'us'!?"

"Then surely you don't want to miss out on the chance to save a priest, do you? Didn't you just hear the conversation? Mu-Gyeong is going to become a true disciple of Shaolin, just like you said."

"T-That's...."

Now barely fourteen years old, Mu-Gung, unable to outwit Mu-Jin in an argument, had no choice but to concede.

And to the bewildered Mu-Gung, Mu-Jin drove the point home.

"Or are you scared you'll lose? Huh?"

"Ugh! I've been training hard for the past hundred days, I can beat those guys one-on-one easily!"

"Okay, then. That's settled. Since there are three of them, I'll take one, Mu-Gung will take one, and Mu-Gyeong and Mu-Yul will handle the remaining one."

After summarizing the situation briefly with a clap of his hands, Mu-Jin added with a slightly disappointed

 expression.

"Hmm. If Mu-Yul could feel a little more eager, it would have been easier. We'll have to subdue them quickly with Mu-Gung and me."

"Huh? What are you talking about, Mu-Jin? I can feel the spirit too, you know?"

"Huh?"

At Mu-Yul's response, Mu-Jin asked, puzzled.

"Then why have you been only using defensive techniques until now?"

""Hehehe. I can sense the energy, but I still haven't fully memorized all the moves."

"...."