Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Chapter 49:

They had been descending Mount Song for quite some time, leaving the mountain gate behind.

“Oh~!”

Through the foliage, the small town of Deungbong-hyeon began to appear.

It was a city filled with houses reminiscent of those seen in martial arts films.

‘Am I finally stepping into the real martial world?’

Crossing mountains and encountering the Green Forest Path.

Enjoying the arts at a guesthouse, then getting caught in a quarrel and rescuing a veiled beauty.

Dealing with the local thugs, whom he thought were just street punks, and then uncovering and handling their backers, gradually approaching the real mastermind.

Into such a martial arts story!

But such an event wasn’t about to happen.

Surrounding him were ten Shaolin disciples, making such an encounter improbable.

Upon arriving at Deungbong-hyeon, Ryu Ji-gwang led the Shaolin disciples to the manor prepared to open a clinic.

“To divide the facilities into two, we have purchased two nearby manors.”

Upon reaching the spacious manor, Ryu Ji-gwang provided a brief explanation.

As he said, the clinic bearing the sign [Musculoskeletal Treatment Clinic] was composed of two manors.

One was simply large and clean, while the other was extravagantly decorated with gold ornaments hanging from the entrance.

The large, clean place was evidently a free facility, and the lavish place seemed to be a premium specialized treatment facility.

“We plan to conduct free treatments in the hall on the left. There is also a warehouse for storing medical tools next to it, and a resting area for you all has been prepared beside it. Additionally, during times without treatments, you can practice or offer prayers.”

In response to Ryu Ji-gwang’s explanation, Hye-min, the deputy head of Chubodang, who could be considered the field supervisor for this project, nodded in agreement.

Mu-jin was fundamentally the one responsible for the treatments, but they couldn’t leave all the work to him, who was still a novice monk and a third-class disciple.

In fact, it was very rare for third-class disciples to leave the mountain gate at all.

Most of the Shaolin disciples present here were second-class disciples, with Hye-min, the deputy head of Chubodang, being the first-class disciple responsible. Mu-jin, a third-class disciple and treatment expert, was also with them.

“Since the proper treatments are scheduled to start tomorrow, for today, please check the facilities and equipment. I have business with the trading group, so Chief Officer Yang will assist with the guidance.”

“Nice to meet you. I am Yang Jin-pyeong, the external chief officer of Cheonryu Sangdan.”

After that, Ryu Ji-gwang returned to Cheonryu Sangdan, and Mu-jin, along with the Shaolin disciples, toured the two facilities under Yang Jin-pyeong’s guidance.

“Hahaha. There are so many tools!”

“Starting today, we can properly use these tools.”

Five second-class disciples selected from the External Affairs and Chubodang chuckled cheerfully as they spoke.

They were the ones who had learned about Pilates and Close-Range Spear Technique from Mu-jin over the past month in preparation for being dispatched here.

However, the only Pilates equipment currently available at Shaolin was made for Hyun-gwang’s treatment.

Therefore, the second-class disciples observed Mu-jin and Beob-geon as they treated Hyun-gwang, Yeon Ga-hee, and Ryu Ji-gwang. They learned the exercises through these observation sessions. Later, while Mu-jin was training with Hye-dam, they practiced the exercises they learned with Beob-geon, mastering Pilates and Close-Range Spear Technique.

As a result, the second-class disciples showed interest in the equipment available in large quantities at the free facility.

“Mu-jin, could you check my posture?”

While the second-class disciples were reviewing the use of the equipment with Mu-jin’s help, a soft scraping sound was heard. A plump girl and a woman who looked like her attendant entered the room.

When Mu-jin and the Shaolin disciples looked at them curiously, Chief Officer Yang approached the girl first and asked,

“Young lady, what brings you here?”

From that greeting alone, Mu-jin could deduce who the girl was. For Chief Officer Yang to address her as ‘young lady’ meant she was the daughter of Sangdanju Ryu Ji-gwang. To Mu-jin’s knowledge, Ryu Ji-gwang had only one youngest daughter.

While the current Sangdanju Ryu Ji-gwang did not appear directly in the novel, his daughter did.

The notorious and ruthless second-in-command of the Cheonryu Sangdan, willing to do anything for profit, known as Golden Rakshasa, Ryu Seol-hwa.

And just before this ruthless villainess, with an uncharacteristically timid expression, could respond, her attendant stepped forward and answered for her.

“Chief Officer Yang, the young lady is the blood relative and only daughter of Sangdanju. As long as there is no order from Sangdanju prohibiting her, there is no place the young lady cannot go.”

The attendant, who had responded haughtily to Chief Officer Yang, turned back and spoke kindly to Ryu Seol-hwa.

“Young lady, you are the daughter of the Cheonryu Sangdan, one of the top five trading groups in the world. There is no one in the world who can disregard you. Please be confident.”

“Th-thank you, Sister Hong.”

“I appreciate that you call me sister, but others might not view it favorably. Please be mindful, young lady.”

Listening to their conversation, Mu-jin’s eyes gleamed.

“Sister Hong?”

There was only one person that Golden Rakshasa Ryu Seol-hwa would call Sister Hong.

Hong So-hee, who was the most loyal and ruthless enforcer of Ryu Seol-hwa’s commands.

Naturally, a smile appeared on Mu-jin’s face.

Mu-jin had a specific reason for actively involving himself in the medical business. It was to approach Cheonryu Sangdan and investigate its connection with the hidden mastermind.

And now, Ryu Seol-hwa and Hong So-hee, unlike Ryu Ji-gwang, were characters who had appeared directly in the novel.

‘If I can just get close to those two, it might make it easier to find a link to the hidden mastermind.’

The only problem was figuring out how to approach those two.

While Mu-jin was contemplating this issue for a moment,

“Ho, Ho Hong…”

“Please feel free to call me So-hee, Young Lady.”

“So, So-hee. Could we, could we leave now?”

Ryu Seol-hwa, feeling uncomfortable, spoke quietly to Hong So-hee.

It seemed she felt uneasy with Mu-jin and the Shaolin disciples all looking at her.

“If the Young Lady feels uncomfortable, let’s go back. Chief Officer Yang, we will be leaving now.”

In the end, So-hee spoke on her behalf and left the hall with Ryu Seol-hwa.

It was a rather anticlimactic first encounter, considering they had met a villain from the novel.

Meanwhile, as Mu-jin pondered how to approach Ryu Seol-hwa and Hong So-hee,

“Did you hear about it?”

“If you say ‘about it,’ how would I know what you mean? My friend.”

“No, I mean that story! The monks of Shaolin are supposedly opening a clinic!”

“What nonsense is that? Are the Shaolin monks here to make money?”

Responding as if it were absurd, the friend made a show of pounding his chest in frustration.

“My friend! They are Shaolin monks! Naturally, they said they would provide free treatment.”

“Free of charge!? I must go there immediately!”

“Wait, my friend! Listen to the whole story!”

As the friend hastily tried to stand, the middle-aged man who was telling the story quickly grabbed his arm.

“The clinic opens tomorrow. And it’s not an ordinary clinic.”

“Not an ordinary clinic, you say?”

“What was it…musculoskeletal? Ah! Musculoskeletal Treatment Clinic! It’s not a place that treats things like internal diseases or colds; it treats muscles and bones.”

“Muscles and bones… you mean like a bone-setting clinic?”

As the friend made a disappointed face, the middle-aged man added an explanation.

“They say it’s not a bone-setting clinic. It’s for things like backaches, sore legs, you know? It treats body aches.”

“Hmm. They must be doing acupuncture or moxibustion.”

Hearing the explanation, the friend nodded. Typically, when one had body aches or soreness, they would receive acupuncture or moxibustion.

The effect was usually short-lived, lasting only a few days, so it was often considered a waste of money. However, if it was free, the story was different.

Naturally, the middle-aged man began to take an interest in the clinic that Shaolin was opening, and such conversations were sporadically occurring in marketplaces and inns throughout Deungbong-hyeon.

* * *

The next morning.

“Is it true that we can receive treatment from the Shaolin monks here?”

Some residents of Deungbong-hyeon, who had heard the rumors, visited the Musculoskeletal Treatment Clinic.

“Yes, but the treatment area varies by date and time. Could you please tell us where you are experiencing pain?”

“??”

The people who came to the clinic looked puzzled at the mention of different treatment areas at different times. They had never heard of such a treatment system before.

“First, this morning from 9 AM to 11 AM and 11 AM to 1 PM, leg treatments are scheduled. In the afternoon from 3 PM to 5 PM and 5 PM to 7 PM, treatments for the pelvis and lower back will take place. Tomorrow, in the morning, treatments for the upper back will be conducted, and in the afternoon, it will be for the arms and shoulders. Please come according to the area of your pain.”

“There is a schedule posted here! If anyone has trouble reading the notice, I can assist you!”

The confusion among the villagers was managed by those dispatched from Cheonryu Sangdan. They had guides and physicians at the entrance to diagnose and confirm the areas of pain for the visitors.

Eventually, only those with issues in their leg muscles, knees, or ankles were allowed to enter the clinic.

“Alright! For today, please take a seat comfortably.”

Welcoming those who entered the clinic were the monks dressed in Shaolin’s characteristic red robes. Among them, the novice monk Mu-jin, who had just turned fourteen, greeted them at the forefront.

Mu-jin, who was temporarily helping out since it wasn’t yet time for the specialized treatment facility’s appointments, led the way.

Under Mu-jin’s guidance, the Shaolin disciples began treating the patients who visited the clinic.

Since it was the first day and the patients were mostly elderly, the treatments mainly involved using foam rollers to relieve muscle tension and exercises to stretch the muscles using Close-Range Spear Technique.

As Mu-jin had anticipated, the bodies of the villagers, who had never properly stretched in their lives, were as stiff as wooden planks.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch.”

“Ughhhhh.”

“Your muscles are tense. If you keep rolling your leg on the foam roller, your muscles and fascia will loosen.”

Mu-jin continued to explain as he moved around the treatment room, checking postures.

For patients with more severe conditions who struggled with even basic movements, Mu-jin approached them directly to perform acupressure or manual therapy.

“Grandfather, hold on a moment. I’ll massage this area a bit. Please don’t overdo it.”

“Grandmother, please stay for a while after the exercise. It seems your condition is quite serious, and you may need additional treatment. Master Uncle! This person needs heat therapy and thunder energy treatment on their thighs.”

Thus, Mu-jin, along with the second-class disciples assisting with the exercises and the physicians observing, proceeded with heat therapy and thunder energy treatment for a few severe patients.

“Thank you, little monk.”

“It feels really refreshing. Haha.”

The elderly patients, who had initially been skeptical of the strange exercises, bowed their heads with warm smiles. Despite their initial doubts and the unexpected pain during the so-called treatment, their bodies felt significantly lighter after the half-hour-long session.

“It’s nothing! It’s our duty to help!”

“Hahaha. I hope you recover soon. Amitabha.”

Mu-jin and all the Shaolin disciples beamed with satisfaction at the grateful smiles of the patients. Mu-jin, due to his past experiences, enjoyed helping the elderly with their ailments, and the Shaolin disciples found joy in the act of aiding others.

That evening, rumors about the Shaolin monks providing free treatments at the clinic spread even more thoroughly throughout Deungbong-hyeon.

“Did you visit there today?”

“Are you talking about the clinic run by the Shaolin monks?”

“What else would I be talking about?”

“I was busy with work today, so I couldn’t go. Did you go?”

“Oh, you must go! It’s an amazing place.”

The old man, who exaggerated the treatment methods and effects by about three times, concluded with a clap.

“By the way! There’s a young novice monk there.”

“A novice monk?”

“He’s about thirteen or fourteen? He has a good build from training, but his face is youthful, so he looks about that age. And guess what? Whenever he touches you, the pain just… vanishes.”

“Is that some sort of martial art from Shaolin?”

“If that were the case, wouldn’t the older monks be even better? When that novice monk touches you, it hurts a lot at first, but once he’s done, the pain vanishes, leaving only a refreshing sensation!”

“Oh. So he has miraculous hands?”

“Absolutely! He must have been born with the hands of the Buddha!”

Among the commoners of Deungbong-hyeon, the young novice monk started being referred to as “Buddha-Handed Novice”