Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Chapter 56:

Weight Reduction (2)

“Seol-hwa is currently under probation, Mu-jin Dongja.”

“I heard that she is still attending lessons during her probation, Sangdanju Sijunim.”

“Hahaha. Learning treatment methods is also education, so it doesn’t matter.”

The Sangdanju, who had burst into a pleasant laugh, wore a serious expression and asked again.

“Are you really thinking of teaching Mu-jin Dongja’s treatment methods and exercises to my daughter?”

“I am on the path of saving sentient beings. There is no reason to withhold knowledge about treatment methods, which is not even martial arts.”

“Hahahahaha.”

At Mu-jin’s answer, the Sangdanju laughed with a peculiar expression and asked one more question, as if testing Mu-jin.

It was not a question of whether he dared to target his daughter. Mu-jin also knew this and explained his reasoning.

Why the Sangdanju had kept silent about this matter until now.

“Since Seol-hwa Sijunim is your daughter, there is no risk of the technique being leaked even if she learns it.”

“Hahahaha!!”

As if very pleased with Mu-jin’s answer, Ryu Ji-gwang burst into hearty laughter and clapped his hands.

There were two main reasons why Ryu Ji-gwang had kept silent about this issue despite being aware of it.

First, the medical technique belonged to Shaolin, and specifically, it was Mu-jin’s unique method.

Therefore, he couldn’t easily ask Mu-jin to pass it on and waited for Mu-jin to bring it up first.

The other reason was the potential leakage of the technique.

If Mu-jin taught his treatment methods to a woman, and the clinic became highly successful,

If that woman ran away in the middle of the night, they would lose the greatest advantage of ‘monopoly.’

One might think that no woman would dare to run away from the world-renowned Cheonryu Sangdan, but conversely, it meant that there were four other trading companies as powerful as Cheonryu Sangdan.

Under the premise that they would protect her, it was something that could happen.

However, since Mu-jin himself stated that he would teach his technique to Seol-hwa, his relative and a woman, Ryu Ji-gwang felt as if two of his itchy spots had been scratched at the same time.

“We should call my daughter and discuss this matter together.”

“I would be grateful if you could do so.”

When Mu-jin bowed to show his respect, Ryu Ji-gwang called for Chief Officer Yang, who was waiting at the entrance.

“Bring Seol-hwa here.”

“I will follow your command.”

Chief Officer Yang, who responded to Ryu Ji-gwang’s order with a fist salute, left the Danjujeon. And a moment later,

“Father. It is I, Seol-hwa.”

“Come in.”

With a small sliding sound, Ryu Seol-hwa entered the Danjujeon.

Compared to the last time, she seemed even more intimidated.

She hadn’t expected Mu-jin to be in the Danjujeon, so when she sneaked a glance and met his eyes, she quickly looked down again.

“……”

For a moment, there was a hint of pity in Sangdanju Ryu Ji-gwang’s eyes as he watched his daughter.

Of course, being a seasoned merchant, Ryu Ji-gwang quickly concealed his expression. It was not the face to show in front of a guest.

“Raise your head, Seol-hwa.”

“Yes, Father.”

With a timid voice, Ryu Seol-hwa raised her head and looked uncomfortably at the table between Mu-jin and Sangdanju Ryu Ji-gwang.

After watching his daughter for a moment, Ryu Ji-gwang spoke in a calm tone.

“Do you not resent this father who has ordered you to stay in your room?”

“N-No, Father.”

With a voice as quiet as an ant, she answered, and Ryu Ji-gwang added.

“You have visited the Musculoskeletal Treatment Clinic a few times, so you should know what Mu-jin Dongja here is doing, correct?”

“Y-Yes, I do.”

She answered, feeling ashamed because she had realized that her visits to the clinic had been manipulated by Hong So-hee.

But surprisingly, her father did not bring up the subject to scold her.

“Then you should know what kind of treatment is being done there. Therefore, I am entrusting you with a task.”

“A-Are you speaking to me?”

“Yes. After learning the treatment methods and exercises from Mu-jin Dongja here, you will be responsible for treating women.”

“B-But I am currently under probation, so how can I…?”

As she timidly lowered her head again like a frightened turtle, Ryu Ji-gwang forced himself to maintain his composure and spoke.

“Even during probation, you are receiving education. You will not start working immediately. During the probation period, you will receive ‘education’ from Mu-jin Dongja. And this task was proposed by Mu-jin Dongja himself.”

When Ryu Ji-gwang pointed to Mu-jin, Ryu Seol-hwa looked at Mu-jin with a bewildered expression.

“Why would you… entrust me with such a task…?”

“I believed that Ryu Seol-hwa Sijunim would be capable of doing it.”

It was a flattering remark meant to encourage her.

However, Mu-jin’s words naturally reminded Ryu Seol-hwa of the letter she had received a few days ago.

‘That’s right. Come to think of it, it was the boy from the clinic who delivered that letter!’

The tangled thoughts in her mind suddenly unraveled.

Why Mu-jin was helping her all of a sudden. Why Mu-jin had chased Hong So-hee through the streets and then caught her as a spy.

‘Ah! The person who sent that letter was Mu-jin Dongja!’

With that realization, Ryu Seol-hwa’s plump cheeks quickly turned red.

It was the first time a man had pursued her so actively.

Naturally, Mu-jin’s image came to her mind.

His caring demeanor at the clinic, looking after the elderly. Being praised as the Buddha-Handed Novice by the patients. And even the glimpses of his firm muscles occasionally seen through his monk robes during treatment.

Of course, the fact that he was a ‘novice monk’ was a significant problem.

‘What should I do~!!’

The term ‘forbidden love’ had a peculiar magic that made an adolescent girl’s heart beat wildly.

Her face flushed, she tried to calm herself by asking a question.

“Can I really do it?”

“I will help you succeed. Don’t worry. Won’t you join me in saving sentient beings? Amitabha.”

However, when Mu-jin confidently said she could trust him, Ryu Seol-hwa’s already blushing face turned so red it seemed about to burst.

‘He means we’ll be together, right!? He’s asking to be together forever!?’

As her imagination reached its peak, she yelled out to stop her thoughts from spiraling.

“Then I’ll give it a try!”

Seeing his once-timid daughter now brimming with confidence, Ryu Ji-gwang nodded with satisfaction.

‘I never expected Seol-hwa to be so proactive! This is all thanks to Mu-jin Dongja!’

Though it was indeed thanks to Mu-jin, the feeling was somehow different.

* * *

The next day.

As promised the previous night, Ryu Seol-hwa visited the clinic early in the morning.

“Welcome, Sijunim Seol-hwa. It’s been a while. Grandmother!”

She had come with her grandmother, Yeon Ga-hee, who was also Ryu Ji-gwang’s mother.

Ryu Seol-hwa found it hard to hide her surprise at how comfortably Mu-jin interacted with Yeon Ga-hee.

“Our Mu-jin Dongja has been so busy that he kept visiting the Shaolin Temple.”

“Haha, weren’t you actually there to see Grandfather Hyun-gwang?”

“Oh ho ho ho. I can’t deny that.”

Even Yeon Ga-hee treated Mu-jin as if he were her grandson, doubling Seol-hwa’s astonishment.

Of course, Yeon Ga-hee hadn’t come here just to surprise her granddaughter.

“Ho ho ho. I’ve heard from Sangdanju. While treating this old lady’s body, you plan to teach my granddaughter the treatment methods?”

Yeon Ga-hee’s purpose in coming was to assist in Ryu Seol-hwa’s education. Advanced facilities offered various treatments, including close-range spear techniques, rehabilitation exercises (like Pilates), manual therapy, and acupressure.

Teaching these methods required direct contact. The problem was that Mu-jin couldn’t touch Ryu Seol-hwa’s body directly.

Therefore, Yeon Ga-hee had been chosen as the person on whom Mu-jin would demonstrate while Seol-hwa practiced.

“Yes, grandmother!”

Mu-jin replied in such a familiar tone that anyone could have mistaken him for Ryu Seol-hwa’s real grandson. He continued his conversation with Yeon Ga-hee while guiding her to the bed.

As always, he massaged Yeon Ga-hee’s body and performed manual therapy. While doing so, he explained the procedures to Ryu Seol-hwa, and after Mu-jin finished his demonstration, Ryu Seol-hwa would follow his lead and practice.

“Hehe, Seol-hwa. There’s no need to be so tense. I’m fine.”

“Yes… grandmother.”

Perhaps it was because they had assumed the roles of patient and doctor, or maybe because they had become the practitioner and the subject of practice.

Or perhaps it was simply because a bond was slowly forming between a grandmother and her granddaughter who hadn’t had much chance to talk before.

As the practice session continued, their conversation flowed naturally.

“Hehe, our Seol-hwa is so admirable. She even helps with such difficult tasks to support the Sangdanju.”

At her grandmother’s words, Ryu Seol-hwa barely stopped herself from turning back toward Mu-jin and responded.

“Oh, it’s because father instructed me to…”

“Even if it was the Sangdanju’s instruction, you were the one who decided to take on the task. That alone is commendable.”

Whenever silence threatened to fall over their conversation, Mu-jin would fill the gap.

“It’s okay to press a bit harder on the quadratus lumborum with your left hand, Seol-hwa. But be gentler on grandmother’s leg with your right hand. Then slowly push it to the left.”

He often filled the silence with explanations meant to educate Ryu Seol-hwa.

And just when the atmosphere started to feel harmonious…

“I wondered who Seol-hwa resembled to be so beautiful, and it turns out she takes after her grandmother! Haha.”

“Oh hohoho. Our Mu-jin novice has a keen eye for people. Isn’t that right, Seol-hwa?”

Mu-jin made the comment to boost her self-esteem, complimenting both Yeon Ga-hee and her together.

But maybe the effect was too strong.

Her face turned beet red as if she had high blood pressure, and she was too flustered to say anything.

‘Hmm… I should probably avoid complimenting her appearance for a while. She seems extremely embarrassed.’

Mu-jin hadn’t anticipated that she would be so mortified that she couldn’t speak, even though he had included her grandmother in the compliment to make her feel good.

Watching Mu-jin and Ryu Seol-hwa’s reactions, Yeon Ga-hee suddenly laughed with a peculiar expression.

“It seems our Seol-hwa is a bit startled, Mu-jin novice.”

“I apologize. I didn’t mean it that way, Seol-hwa.”

“N-no, it’s not that!”

Suddenly, she shouted loudly, leading to an awkward silence.

“Hohohoho.”

‘I should compliment her appearance after she loses some weight.’

‘Oh no! What if he thinks I’m a weird woman and gets disappointed?’

With Yeon Ga-hee’s laughter in the background, the two of them had completely different thoughts.

* * *

Right after treating Yeon Ga-hee with Ryu Seol-hwa, Mu-jin headed to the entrance of the clinic with them.

Ryu Seol-hwa decided to accompany them to observe the treatment process and also to check on the elderly patients at the entrance.

“Oh my, Buddha-Handed Novice!”

As Mu-jin stepped out to the entrance, the elderly people, who were always gathered there, greeted him warmly.

However, since more than twenty days had passed since Mu-jin had been called Buddha-Handed Novice, there had been a slight change in the scenery in front of the clinic.

“Isn’t he really cute?”

“His face is cute, but what about his body? Look at those arms! My brother does woodwork, but compared to this novice, he’s just a twig!”

Not only the patients, but also those who had heard rumors about the Buddha-Handed Novice began to come out to see him.

Thanks to the grandmothers and grandfathers who constantly praised Mu-jin, a considerable number of curious young women also gathered.

Mu-jin glanced at these women from the corner of his eye but tried hard not to show any interest.

‘Damn it. If it weren’t for my master uncles.’

This was because other Shaolin disciples were with him.

Meanwhile, Ryu Seol-hwa, who had also come to the entrance with Mu-jin, heard the women talking about Mu-jin.

Although she didn’t like the conversations targeting Mu-jin, she felt a strange emotion seeing Mu-jin focusing solely on the treatment without giving those women a single glance.

“Hohoho. It seems our Mu-jin Novice is quite popular in Deungbong-hyeon.”

“Th-that’s right, grandmother.”

Startled by the sudden comment from the grandmother, she answered, while glaring fiercely at the women from Deungbong-hyeon.

“There are so many women who like Mu-jin Novice. You’ll have to work hard to catch his interest.”

“Y-you mean those women, right?”

“Hohoho.”

Yeon Ga-hee just laughed at Ryu Seol-hwa’s startled question.

As a fellow woman and a grandmother, Yeon Ga-hee had already noticed Ryu Seol-hwa’s feelings.

Despite it being a forbidden love, Yeon Ga-hee had no intention of stopping her granddaughter.

Just like many noble families, she was also married into the Cheonryu Sangdan through an arranged marriage.

The former head of the Sangdan, her husband and Ryu Ji-gwang’s father, was an even more severe workaholic than Ryu Ji-gwang.

Having lived as the wife of such a man for decades, Yeon Ga-hee thought it wouldn’t be bad for Ryu Seol-hwa to experience such love in her youth.

Though it was a forbidden love, it would become a memory over time.

Perhaps influenced by Yeon Ga-hee’s encouragement, Ryu Seol-hwa looked at the women of Deungbong-hyeon with a different perspective.

She lowered her head and looked at her own arms, legs, and stomach.

‘There are so many women slimmer and prettier than me….’

The spy who had tried to use her, Hong So-hee, had said that men are simple and get attracted to a woman’s appearance.

Although Hong So-hee had tried to use her, Ryu Seol-hwa thought at least that statement was true.

It takes a long time to know someone’s inner self, and it’s only natural to be interested in either abilities or appearance.

But her abilities were actually her father’s abilities, and as a woman, she wished people would be interested in her appearance rather than her background.

‘I need to lose weight!’

To do so, it seemed she needed to put in a lot of effort, just as her grandmother had said.