Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Chapter 82:

Jade Vajra Technique (2)

In truth, Mu-jin, who had been wary of his muscles becoming hypertrophied, had been focusing on maintaining his current condition rather than building up his body for several months.

Specifically, he increased the number of repetitions without increasing the weight, thereby enhancing muscle endurance instead of muscle strength.

However, even this practice, though less than increasing muscle strength, still resulted in his muscles growing slightly. Eventually, Mu-jin reached a point where he could no longer arbitrarily increase the number of repetitions.

Therefore, if he could only compress his muscles by combining the Jade Maiden Technique with the Iron Skin technique…

‘There would be no need to learn unnecessarily complex key points!’

Mu-jin still preferred to rely on his body rather than his head.

Hyun-gwang, who read Mu-jin’s thoughts, quietly admired him inwardly.

“Hohoho. I didn’t expect Mu-jin to come up with such a method. Amitabha.”

‘This method seems to suit Mu-jin better at the moment.’

Having organized his thoughts to that point, Hyun-gwang took the two books Mu-jin handed him and began to examine them.

How long had Hyun-gwang been reading the key points and training methods of the two books?

As he looked into Mu-jin’s eyes, which sparkled with anticipation, Hyun-gwang opened his mouth.

“With just these two martial arts, it seems it won’t be possible to achieve the capability you desire, Mu-jin.”

“……Is that so.”

Just as Mu-jin’s anticipation was about to turn into disappointment, Hyun-gwang added more words.

“But don’t worry. It seems entirely possible if we add a few more things. I shall visit the Sutra Repository today.”

“Thank you, Grandfather!”

As Hyun-gwang stood up, Mu-jin expressed his gratitude with a bow.

If Hyun-gwang said he could make it, he could make it. Mu-jin had no doubt about Hyun-gwang’s words.

* * *

A few days later.

Having spent time going back and forth to the Sutra Repository, or flipping through the books he had brought from there, Hyun-gwang handed a book to Mu-jin.

[Jade Vajra Technique]

“With the key points of the Iron Skin technique, which strengthens the skin, and the Jade Maiden Technique, which increases skin elasticity, it is possible to compress the muscles. However, this only torments the muscles instead of compressing them. Moreover, forcibly compressed muscles could damage the bones. Therefore, by adding techniques that support the bones and external techniques that nourish the muscles, I have created a martial art that compresses the muscles while preserving the bones and maintaining the muscles’ original strength.”

“Thank you! As expected of you, Grandfather!”

As Mu-jin exclaimed with an expression of deep emotion, Hyun-gwang smiled contentedly and added an explanation.

“Originally, techniques like the Bone-Supporting Technique and external techniques that nourish muscles and bones require constant infusion of inner energy. However, since the Iron Skin technique and the Jade Maiden Technique have key points for absorbing energy through the skin, I have combined them. Therefore, if you train diligently in this, you won’t need to expend inner energy to maintain compressed muscles. However, it is not perfect.”

Was there a side effect? Mu-jin looked at Hyun-gwang with such a concern, and Hyun-gwang spoke with a stern expression.

“The efficacy of this Jade Vajra Technique is merely to strengthen and compress the bones and muscles. No matter how much you train in this, it won’t make you stronger. Only if you continue to grow muscles to the point where you can compress them with this Jade Vajra Technique will it be useful.”

At Hyun-gwang’s warning, Mu-jin let out a sigh of relief instead.

Mu-jin had been managing and building muscles for ten years. That was his specialty.

“You don’t need to worry about that. I will enhance my skills with the Jade Vajra Technique that my grandfather created.”

As if to confirm Mu-jin’s confidence, Hyun-gwang smiled warmly and explained the essential points of the Jade Vajra Technique to Mu-jin.

‘It’s similar to Iron Skin in terms of training methods, but the essential points are much more complex.’

Iron Skin. In fact, it was like a double-edged sword to Mu-jin.

The original reason Mu-jin decided to learn Iron Skin was due to the expectation that he might reach a state where he could breathe through his skin.

It was a second-best option chosen because he wasn’t confident in mastering the complicated ascension mind techniques.

However, with the Small and Great Restoration Pills, Mu-jin already had an internal energy far surpassing his peers. Though it wasn’t an ascension martial art, he had reached a level where active cultivation with the Great Vehicle Mind Technique was possible.

In other words, the need to breathe through the skin had significantly diminished.

Of course, he had benefited greatly from Iron Skin until now.

‘To be honest, it was more like a tool for fighting weak opponents.’

The weapons wielded by ordinary people could not injure Mu-jin’s body. However, when faced with a weapon wielded by someone using internal energy, he would still get scratches.

If a weapon was imbued with internal power, it could pierce through Mu-jin’s Iron Skin, and something like sword energy or saber energy would cut through it like paper.

After the martial arts tournament, Mu-jin’s opponents were all masters who had reached the state of emitting internal energy. Just as he was considering quitting Iron Skin training, he began to learn the Jade Vajra Technique.

Of course, the core principles of various martial arts had been extracted to create it, making it the most complex martial art Mu-jin had learned so far.

‘At least it’s not a martial art that needs to be used during fights.’

The training method was simple, so it wasn’t a big problem.

Though the essential points were complex, it was just a matter of stimulating the skin while following the essential points to infuse the skin with the natural energy.

It felt like an advanced version of Iron Skin.

‘I should thank Master Uncle Beob Gang.’

Even though he had considered Iron Skin as a double-edged sword, he was now grateful to Beob Gang, who had recommended it.

* * *

By the time Mu-jin had completely mastered the essential points of the Jade Vajra Technique, winter arrived at Mount Song.

However, the cold could not hinder Mu-jin’s training.

Every dawn. Waking up around 5 a.m., Mu-jin started with Close-Range Spear Technique to warm up lightly before diving into serious muscle training.

“Hehehe.”

Having spent several months merely maintaining his physique, Mu-jin was delighted at the prospect of building muscle again.

He wondered if this was how Sun Wukong felt when he was freed from the Five Elements Mountain.

“Keuh. This texture. This weight!”

Moreover, new iron weights had been brought into Hyeon-gwang’s pavilion.

While Hyeon-gwang was practicing the Jade Vajra Technique, Mu-jin, who had returned from Deungbong-hyeon, had requested Ryu Seol-hwa to specially make them.

Indeed, it seemed it wasn’t too difficult to order such tools from the lady of the Cheonryu Sangdan.

In fact, it was possible thanks to Ryu Ji-gwang’s wholehearted support, who was willing to help with anything to entice Mu-jin.

‘I’m glad I taught her the Jade Maiden Technique!’

Mu-jin believed it was solely because of the Jade Maiden Technique.

On a cold winter day, Mu-jin began squatting with around 150 geun (90kg) to warm up his body lightly. He repeatedly added much heavier plates to the newly acquired, much sturdier steel bar, continuing his exercise.

Starting with the Close-Range Spear Technique, he tormented his muscles with much heavier weights for a full sijin.

After finishing his morning meal, he practiced the Jade Vajra Technique.

Sitting down, he stimulated various parts of his skin with his palms or a wooden stick, absorbing natural energy according to the essential points.

Of course, a miraculous compression of muscles in just one day didn’t occur, but Mu-jin found the process immensely enjoyable.

After practicing the Jade Vajra Technique for about a sijin, he commenced serious martial arts training.

He refined techniques and movements, recalling sparring sessions with Jegal Jin-hee and duels with the bodyguards, intensifying his Qi expulsion training.

Afterward, he ate his lunch and then meditated in a cross-legged position, utilizing his internal energy technique.

It was a time to reflect on awkward parts of his martial arts execution throughout the day or recall the sensations felt when expelling Qi.

After digesting his lunch through meditation, he resumed his martial arts training, recalling what he had realized during meditation.

Following dinner, he spent time on rehabilitation therapy to take care of Hyeon-gwang’s body.

Although Hyeon-gwang had recovered to the point of being able to move on his own, consistent care was essential due to his age.

“Grandfather, are you feeling better today?”

“Hahaha. Thanks to you, there’s no pain anymore.”

Well, it might also be because he simply enjoyed taking care of his grandfather and conversing with him.

During rehabilitation therapy, he also had casual conversations with Hyeon-gwang and received advice on the frustrations he felt during his training earlier that day.

After about a sijin of therapy, he ended the day with another sijin of physical training.

A rigorous training schedule packed into sijin intervals: lifting hundreds of geun worth of iron weights continuously for two sijins, and martial arts training for another two sijins.

Except for Hyeon-gwang’s rehabilitation therapy and meditation, Mu-jin engaged in eight hours of exercise each day—a truly murderous training regimen.

Naturally, repeating such intense training every day would inevitably cause the human body to break down.

Thus, Mu-jin took a day off after four days of this brutal training to recover his overly strained muscles and bones.

For a more perfect rest, on his rest days, Mu-jin would leave Songshan and head to Deungbong-hyeon.

The person who welcomed Mu-jin was none other than Ryu Seol-hwa.

“No Shaolin disciples are allowed in this room without my permission, so you can relax,” she said.

Ryu Seol-hwa blushed at the thought of being alone in a secret space with Mu-jin.

Chomp. Chomp.

Gulp.

“Thank you, Lady Seol-hwa.”

Chomp. Chomp.

Gulp.

Mu-jin, responding courteously, was too busy savoring the feast of delicacies before him.

This was the significant favor that no one else should know about: a nutritious meal filled with meat.

With an apologetic heart to his muscles and bones that he had tormented for four days, Mu-jin devoured the food at an astonishing pace.

“I’ve already ordered lunch and dinner, so feel free to enjoy them as well,” Ryu Seol-hwa said.

To an observer, it might have seemed a bit vulgar how Mu-jin ate, but for some reason, Ryu Seol-hwa thought he ate endearingly and wholesomely.

“Hoo. That was delicious.”

Having finally finished the mountain of delicacies, Mu-jin took a deep breath, prompting Ryu Seol-hwa to subtly ask, “Um… What are your plans for tomorrow?”

Her newfound courage stemmed from the time they spent alone, hoping Mu-jin might spare some time for her.

“Ah. Tomorrow, I plan to focus on my lower body.”

“…Pardon?”

It was too indirect an expression for someone obsessed with training to understand.

* * *

A month passed since Mu-jin had begun his rigorous training in earnest.

“Hoo.”

In the afternoon, as winter settled in and cold winds blew, Mu-jin was calming his breath and reflecting on himself.

The sparring sessions with Jegal Jin-hee that had lasted for fifteen days, and the subsequent solo training Mu-jin had repeatedly engaged in, had finally allowed him to reach a level where he could release his qi or inner force at will.

Thus, Mu-jin pondered how he should proceed.

At first glance, releasing qi might seem the same for everyone, but in reality, it was far from it.

Mu-jin knew this very well because he had witnessed the life-and-death duel between Hye-gwan and the Paedobangju.

‘I need to think about the most suitable way to utilize my qi,’ he thought.

For example, the Plum Blossom Twenty-Four Techniques of the Hwasan Sect, which used sword qi to deceive the opponent’s eyes, or Shaolin’s Flicking Finger Technique, which expelled qi at a tremendous speed.

Qi-emitting martial arts were much more complex and varied than the physical martial arts.

‘Illusions and flexibility are not for me,’ Mu-jin realized.

These styles were completely different from the path he had walked so far. Moreover, the techniques of illusion and flexibility required handling qi in a much more complicated manner, which was definitely not to Mu-jin’s taste.

‘In that case, let’s stick to the method I’ve been using so far,’ he concluded.

A straightforward combat style that maximized the overwhelming strength of his physical body.

He needed to figure out how to utilize his qi to enhance this approach.

As Mu-jin pondered deeply, an idea struck him.

‘Do I really need to use qi as an offensive means?’

He recalled the most challenging opponent he had faced: the bodyguard.

Why had that opponent, whom he had easily overpowered in close combat, been so difficult?

It was due to the speed of the bodyguard’s sword and the sword qi imbued within it.

‘Instead of emitting qi from a distance or using it flamboyantly, let’s use it to protect my body. I will penetrate the enemy’s defenses with a qi barrier and the Jade Vajra Technique’s defensive power.’

After training his body to the extreme with the Jade Vajra Technique, if he could just get close to the opponent…

‘Then, victory will be mine,’ he resolved.

With that thought, Mu-jin raised his internal energy and began to move his body.

Whoosh!

Each time Mu-jin struck the air with the Striking Bone Technique, Geomnamchun Technique, or Golden Locking Hand Technique, a golden glow shimmered at the impact points.

Just like Jegal Jin-hee had demonstrated before, his strikes had become instantaneous without any delay in releasing qi.

However, as if he was not satisfied with that, Mu-jin continued to execute his techniques.

Swish.

At some point, the qi emanating from Mu-jin’s body began to change shape.

The fist qi that had merely emanated like a heat haze near his fists started to move, slowly encircling his fists.

Like a glove.