Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Around noon the following day.

Those who had enjoyed a heavy drinking session the previous night woke one by one, ate something to settle their stomachs, and gathered in the streets.

That was because today was the day of the opening ceremony that would announce the beginning of the first Martial Arts Tournament held since the establishment of the Zhengmu League.

Countless people gathered around the enormous sparring stage where the main competition of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering would be held several days later.

And right on time, a broad, powerfully built man climbed onto the sparring stage.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. Though I am unworthy, I am Choi Kanghyuk, currently serving as Leader of the Zhengmu League.”

It was Mujin, who had descended from Shaolin and returned to secular life, and therefore now used his real yet not truly real name instead of his Buddhist name.

“I know that some among you may be wondering why our League has chosen to hold a Martial Arts Tournament at a time such as this. Just as those people fear, the martial world has been swept up in countless wars over the past five years and forced to endure bitter times. But that is precisely why we have opened a Martial Arts Tournament at a time such as this. We wish only to cast off even a little of the resentment accumulated over the past five years and to hope that the next ten years may be even slightly more peaceful.”

“Waaaaaaah!”

Mujin’s shout, carried by natural energy as though riding upon the wind, spread so powerfully that it could be heard even far away where the sparring stage could not be seen.

After first discussing the reason and purpose behind holding the Martial Arts Tournament, Mujin once again spoke about the things he had explained to the veteran martial artists the previous night.

He told them what benefits would be given to the Flying Dragon Unit and expressed his hope that the news delivered today would spread throughout the martial world and offer them even a little comfort.

“Because they spent several years only on the battlefield, when you speak with them, they may sometimes talk about nothing but the war. But they are people who went to the battlefield in order to protect us and our families, so I ask only that you understand and accept them with generous hearts!”

He also offered words asking for understanding from the many martial artists who had not participated in the war.

“It is said that all within the four seas are fellow travelers, so I hope all of you will mingle together, soothe the resentment and souls left behind by the past ten years, enjoy yourselves to your hearts’ content, and return home!”

“Waaaaaaah!!”

At Mujin’s final shout, an enormous cheer erupted loudly enough to shake the sparring stage.

***

After Mujin announced the beginning of the Martial Arts Tournament, the events began in earnest.

Around Dongting Lake, merchants who had come for the Martial Arts Tournament opened an enormous number of street stalls and began selling various foods and goods.

And since the main competition of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering had not yet begun, new events were continuously held atop the sparring stage.

Experts who had made something of a name for themselves in the martial world climbed onto the stage and demonstrated their martial arts, offering instruction to others, while people also mingled by holding official sparring matches separate from the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.

While such a lively atmosphere was in full swing.

Around fifteen people gathered in a hall located in the deepest part of the Zhengmu League.

“It is a pleasure that you have come all this way.”

Mujin greeted them with a cupped-fist salute.

Those gathered here had come to the Martial Arts Tournament as representatives of great families and sects.

In some cases, the leader himself had come, such as Tang Paejin, Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, while in others, an elder-level figure had come, such as Hyegyeol, Outer Hall Master of Shaolin.

“The reason this League Leader has called all of you here separately is because there is an important subject for discussion.”

After saying so, Mujin took his seat, and Zhuge Muhuan, who had been waiting in advance, stepped forward and continued the explanation.

“Some of you may already have noticed, but the reason this meeting was prepared is that the imperial family’s northern expedition has ended.”

“Hmm.......”

“As expected.”

Some reacted as though they had anticipated it, while others appeared to wonder what it had to do with them.

Of course, those who wondered what it had to do with them were also divided into two groups.

There were those like the Nangong Family, who would walk their own path no matter what the imperial family did, and those like the Huangbo Family, who simply wore stupid expressions because they had no thoughts at all.

After examining those faces, Zhuge Muhuan continued.

“As all of you know, the imperial family does not look kindly upon our existence. They regard us as lawless ruffians.”

“We are aware.”

“What do you think is the greatest reason they do not interfere with us?”

“Is it not because they fear us joining together as one?”

Zhuge Muhuan paused briefly at the stupid remark from the elder who had come from the Huangbo Family, then continued his explanation.

“......That is also part of it, but fundamentally, it is because of the issue of foreign powers. At the very least, we are people of the same Central Plains, but beginning with the mounted tribes of the north and Liaodong, and extending to the Japanese pirates in the south and the barbarians of the Southern Barbarians, from the imperial family’s perspective, there are many enemies they must deal with before us.”

After finishing his explanation using the map hanging on the wall, Zhuge Muhuan painted over the words [Mounted Tribes] written in the northern region with his brush.

“But now, the problem in the north has disappeared.”

“.......”

At the same time, silence descended upon the meeting hall.

Even those slow to understand had finally begun to grasp the situation.

Zhuge Muhuan’s cold voice cut through the chilling silence.

“The imperial family now has three choices remaining. First, they end the war here and turn their attention to domestic affairs. Second, they °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° subjugate the remaining nuisances, the Japanese pirates and the barbarians of the Southern Barbarians. And the final third choice is.”

With his brush, Zhuge Muhuan marked the major forces drawn on the map. The Zhengmu League, Shaolin, Wudang, the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Nangong Family. In other words, the strongholds of the forces to which those gathered here belonged.

“Under the pretext of restoring order within the realm, they lead the northern army and purge the martial artists.”

***

The meeting continued for several shichen, but no particularly special result emerged.

They merely reached a principled conclusion.

If they moved first, they would have no justification and would only be branded traitors, so they would watch the imperial family’s movements and share information.

And both Mujin and Zhuge Muhuan had pushed for this meeting despite knowing that such a vague and obvious conclusion would emerge.

There were two main reasons for that.

One was to prevent the perception that the Zhengmu League acted arbitrarily and used other sects and families however it pleased.

In other words, they had prepared the meeting so that, through discussion like this, everyone would feel as though they had reached the decision together.

Even though they already knew such an obvious conclusion would emerge.

It could be called an operation intended to prevent internal strife if the imperial family attacked.

And the second reason was.

“How did it appear to the Chief Strategist?”

“Hmm....... As expected, the Hebei Peng Family was certainly somewhat suspicious.”

It was to identify those who had already sided with the imperial family.

Rather than moving in secret, they openly summoned elders and leaders of the major forces and shared information.

Their purpose was to monitor the flow of that information and determine who attempted to establish ties with the imperial family.

And in the case of the Hebei Peng Family, they were people who had already been expected to side with the imperial family.

To begin with, the Peng Family was located in Hebei, which geographically bordered Beijing.

Perhaps because of that position, there were also several people from the Peng Family who had voluntarily entered military service.

Unlike those who had joined the Flying Dragon Unit during this war, they had done so of their own accord.

“The Zhuge Family is also somewhat suspicious. Since they also have ties with scholars in Beijing, would it not be easy for them to make contact with the imperial family? Of course, unlike the Peng Family, they have shown no obvious signs, so I cannot be certain.”

“Because they have shown no obvious signs, you also cannot set aside your suspicions.”

“That is correct.”

“Hmm.”

Mujin wondered whether Zhuge Jinxi would truly make such a decision, but he did not bother voicing the thought.

If he appeared to trust someone merely because he was close to them, that Zhuge Muhuan, who viewed people as numbers, would obviously treat him like an idiot.

‘There is no harm in preparing for the worst, so for now, I should let it pass.’

After organizing his thoughts, Mujin brought up another force.

“Is the Huangbo Family not also fairly close to Beijing?”

“They are not as suspicious as the Peng Family, but I find the Huangbo Family more suspicious than the Zhuge Family. Those idiots already have a precedent, do they not?”

“Well, that is true.”

Recalling how the Huangbo Family had nearly been used by Shincheon, Mujin gave a bitter smile.

‘It seems that with the Huangbo Family, the concern is not that they might betray us, but that they might be used.’

Zhuge Muhuan’s treatment of stupid people was truly merciless.

***

While the major figures of the orthodox martial world were holding their meeting.

The preliminary rounds of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering were in full swing at another location within the Zhengmu League, the training grounds.

Within that chaotic melting pot, where some were taking the preliminary examination, some were tasting the bitterness of elimination, and others were enjoying the joy of passing the preliminaries.

Three warrior monks appeared.

Gonghwan, the foremost disciple of the Gong generation, Shaolin’s third-generation disciples, and the disciple of the runaway Mugung. Gongcheon, the disciple of Muyul, the Strange Monk who had now become one of the Two Shaolin Victors. And finally, Gongun, the disciple of Mukyeong, the Dark Monk.

At the appearance of the three warrior monks, every gaze in the training grounds turned toward them.

More precisely, toward Gonghwan, who was walking at the very front.

“That must be Gonghwan, the one called the most likely candidate to win.”

“I heard he was born with the Solar Body?”

“I heard Shaolin has tremendous expectations for him.”

The foremost disciple of the Gong generation and an extraordinary genius born with the Solar Body.

Naturally, rumors about Gonghwan had already spread throughout the Central Plains.

Of course, not every gaze directed at him was favorable.

Some burned with competitive spirit, while others revealed malicious emotions born from jealousy.

“To send a fellow without even a master as their representative.”

“He must be mad with hunger for fame. It seems even Shaolin has become far too tainted by the secular world.”

Amid the commotion, they were whispering quietly among themselves in their own way, but a few words still reached the ears of the Shaolin warrior monks.

“Damn it.”

Gongun, Mukyeong’s foul-mouthed disciple, muttered a curse to himself, then spoke to Gonghwan, who was walking ahead.

“Senior Brother. Are you just going to endure that?”

“What are you speaking of?”

“What those bastards are saying. If even I heard them, there is no way you missed it, Senior Brother.”

“Enough. I need only prove myself through skill. How could one who calls himself a monk be swayed by such frivolous words?”

At the calm reply of his Senior Brother, Gongun, who was not even the person involved, pounded his chest again and again as though the frustration would drive him mad.

‘Good grief. This old man trapped in a child’s body.’

They were words he could not bring himself to say directly to his Senior Brother’s face.

In truth, Gonghwan was treated as Senior Brother only because he had entered Shaolin earlier and possessed a higher realm. In actual age, Gongun was one year older.

From Gongun’s perspective, Gonghwan was a pitiful fellow who had been forced to grow up far too quickly.

From a young age, he had borne all the expectations of the elders of his sect, and in the midst of that, his master had run away from Shaolin.

To endure while also carrying the burden of his master’s lack of virtue, he had been forced to remain dignified and become an example to others.

The sight of him trying from such a young age to leave no flaw for others to seize upon seemed pitiful even to Gongun.

Of course, if Gongun’s master Mukyeong had heard those inner thoughts, he would have clicked his tongue.

‘You are the same sort of old man trapped in a child’s body. I cannot understand who you think you are pitying.’

Mukyeong would have said that while smacking Gongun on the head.

Since continuing to speak with Gonghwan felt as though it would make his insides turn over, Gongun turned his head and looked at Gongcheon.

“Cheon.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”

“What about you? Do you not want to teach those bastards a lesson?”

“Teach them a lesson?”

At the sight of Gongcheon asking back with an innocent expression, as though he did not understand what Gongun meant, Gongun let out a sigh.

‘This is why I did not want to become a monk.’

One fellow was a rigid old man trapped in a child’s body, and the other was hopelessly innocent.

‘It might actually be better to stay with Master.’

For a moment, he recalled Mukyeong, who seemed somehow slightly broken for a monk.

Gongun shuddered.

‘No matter what, staying with Master is out of the question. Absolutely.’

Thanks to being beaten steadily over the past five years, Gongun felt chills run through his body merely from thinking about Mukyeong.