IBM 26

Interest (3)

“Child. How about this ahjussi taking you as a disciple?”

Dan Pil-hu, the Vice-Chief of the Changcheon Martial Arts Academy, took a liking to Mumu.

To have trained his body to that extent without even learning martial arts was truly a remarkable feat.

Although he was already at a late age to learn internal energy or other martial arts, a body trained like that had plenty of room to overcome those shortcomings and grow quickly.

‘Others might not be able to do it, but if I, Dan Pil-hu, teach him, it would be a different story.’

He had wealth and personal connections.

With those, he was confident he could fill all of Mumu’s deficiencies.

‘If I do that, this child will become an opportunity for me.’

Dan Pil-hu was the Vice-Chief of the Changcheon Martial Arts Academy.

However, this was only because his career experience was recognized.

Unlike the Six Stars of the Azure Sky, who were auditors and High-Ranking Masters recognized for their martial prowess, he had been invited to the Changcheon Martial Arts Academy because of his career, which included serving as the Head Auditor of the Martial Association.

This was for the purpose of establishing the dormitory rules and internal framework of the newly founded organization.

In fact, he had contributed greatly to this.

But that was all.

[Why? I laid the foundation of this place. Yet why is the Position of Academy Head being given to someone other than me?]

He had wanted to become the Head of the Academy desperately.

Thus, he laid the groundwork to make it not just the best martial arts academy, but the best Righteous Faction organization.

And yet, the position he received in return was only that of Vice-Chief.

The reason was simple.

It was because of the achievements made during the first year, when the academy’s system had not yet been properly established.

The current Head of the Academy, the Heavy Sword Great Hero Do Jeong-myeong, had produced outstanding talents like the Green Silk Sword Hero Oh Yun and the Little Sword Saint Geum Seo-il, who were praised as the top rising stars of their generation.

[Use your outstanding management ability to assist the Head of the Academy.]

The Southern Blade Imperial Uncle, one of the founders, had said that.

But Dan Pil-hu realized that his discernment for talent and his own talent as a master were not recognized in the slightest.

As time passed, this only made him more resentful.

He too was a martial artist, and he was confident that if he became the Head of the Academy, he could make the reputation of the Changcheon Martial Arts Academy even greater.

‘With this child, it’s possible.’

He possessed a top-tier physique despite not having learned martial arts.

Such conditions were extremely rare.

Normally, only martial arts students who had passed the middle of their second year and held top ranks would be qualified to choose a personal master.

But he knew that if he didn’t claim Mumu beforehand, the child might be snatched away by other masters.

That was why he was making such an unconventional offer.

Vice-Chief Dan Pil-hu said with a smile.

“Child. A chance like this doesn’t come easily.”

At those words, Mumu tilted his head in confusion.

It was already the fourth time.

Someone had asked him if he wanted to become their disciple.

‘Why are they doing this?’

Officer Jang, and Jin-hyeok’s two masters, had all told him to become their disciple.

He couldn’t understand why they were all acting like this.

Besides, he didn’t understand why someone he wasn’t even interested in would benevolently say they would take him as a disciple, instead of simply asking, ‘Do you want to learn?’

Seeing Mumu’s displeased reaction, which was clearly visible on his face, Dan Pil-hu spoke.

“Ahhh. My introduction was late. This ahjussi is called Dan Pil-hu, the Vice-Chief in charge of the Changcheon Martial Arts Academy.”

“Vice-Chief?”

“Yes. The Vice-Chief.”

“Ah! My greetings are late. Hello!”

Mumu, having learned his identity, bowed his head deeply and greeted him.

‘Right. Yes.’

Yes, that must have been what was missing.

Shouldn’t he at least know who I am before showing interest?

A person of the Vice-Chief’s stature said he would take him as a disciple, so he should consider it a great honor…

‘This guy?’

Something felt strange.

After greeting him politely, Mumu wasn’t looking at him anymore.

Instead, he was staring at Kang Seo-ryong, who had collapsed on the ground.

As if his business wasn’t over yet.

How could his reaction be so brief?

‘Surely this guy doesn’t know who I am?’

Vice-Chief Dan Pil-hu furrowed his brows.

Even if he wasn’t as famous as the Head of the Academy, the Heavy Sword Great Hero Do Jeong-myeong, the Six Stars of the Azure Sky, or a few other renowned masters, he too was a martial artist who had once made quite a name for himself in the Murim.

There shouldn’t be anyone who didn’t know of Dan Pil-hu, the Flash Blade Shadow Guest.

At this, Dan Pil-hu asked directly.

“Child. By any chance, do you not know me?”

“Yes? You said you are the Vice-Chief?”

“Have you never heard of the martial title Flash Blade Shadow Guest?”

“No.”

“………”

Mumu’s expression truly looked like he didn’t know.

‘Haa……’

Still, as a new student of the Changcheon Martial Arts Academy, shouldn’t he at least know who the Vice-Chief was?

This guy wasn’t just ignorant of martial arts. He truly knew nothing about the Murim.

It was too ambiguous to even say he had lost face.

He had met countless applicants and academy students, but this was the first time he had met a child like this.

Just then, Mumu spoke.

“Instead of becoming your disciple, give that guy to me.”

‘Look at this guy.’

One of Dan Pil-hu’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

Even in this situation, his only interest was still focused on Kang Seo-ryong.

Dan Pil-hu said with a faint smile.

“If I give you this guy, what do you intend to do?”

“He tried to kill my family, Jin-hyeok, so I have to do the same to him.”

He was quite honest.

Normally, in this situation, he should have been watching the Vice-Chief’s expression.

But here he was, openly talking about taking revenge right in front of a high esteemed elder of the academy.

‘An interesting child.’

Normally, if someone said such a thing, he would have immediately scolded them.

Saying they were showing the makings of a heretic.

But strangely, this child named Mumu didn’t seem malicious at all, even when saying such things.

His voice and eyes were filled with purity.

Children who lived in the Murim were endlessly cunning by this age, but he was far from that type.

Dan Pil-hu spoke to Mumu as if he were in a difficult position.

“So you’re going to kill him? That’s a problem.”

“Why? He did wrong.”

“Even so, this is a martial arts academy of the Righteous Faction that values the path of chivalry. No matter how wrong he was, you can’t just kill people recklessly. If you do that, you’ll become the same as this guy.”

“What if that guy had tried to kill the Vice-Chief’s family?”

“………”

At that question, Dan Pil-hu was momentarily at a loss for words.

This child had a knack for catching people off guard and making them flustered.

Dan Pil-hu, who had been staring at Mumu, finally spoke.

“…….Interesting. Very interesting. Alright. I’ll tell you honestly. If this Vice-Chief were you, I probably would have made him pay the price quietly, so no one would know.”

This was an answer that should never have come from the Vice-Chief of the Changcheon Martial Arts Academy.

But this child was different from the others.

That was why he thought it would be better to make him face reality in a different way.

“So no one would know?”

“If you were even a little smart, you’d know that causing trouble here will not help your future academy life.”

“………”

“But if you go around openly declaring revenge like you are now, the issue will only grow bigger. Even if you’re not the one in the wrong.”

“So that’s why you’d make him pay the price so no one would know?”

At Mumu’s words, Dan Pil-hu gave a cynical smile.

“That is the wisdom needed to live in this world. If no one knows, who is going to make an issue out of it?”

At his words, Mumu closed his mouth.

He really did seem to be quite a naive child.

Since Dan Pil-hu had casually spoken words far from the path of chivalry, he probably looked extraordinary to Mumu.

But if he was going to take him as a disciple, being cunning was better than being naive.

No matter how talented someone was, if they couldn’t handle the aftermath of their actions, they were completely useless.

Dan Pil-hu changed his expression to a gentle one and said.

“Hahahaha. It seems I’ve said something too heavy. Forget what I just said. Inside this academy, it’s best to follow the rules as much as possible.”

Tap!

Dan Pil-hu pointed at the fallen Kang Seo-ryong with the tip of his foot and said.

“This Vice-Chief also saw this child causing trouble before the entrance ceremony was even held, so he will pay the price dearly. He will probably face expulsion.”

“Expulsion?”

“Yes. If that happens, you won’t have to worry about future trouble from him for a while. Are you satisfied with this?”

At his words, Mumu made a sullen face, but then nodded his head.

He couldn’t risk causing problems with completing his studies at the academy by forcibly taking revenge for what had happened to Jin-hyeok, just as this ahjussi said.

“Good boy. Shall we return to our earlier conversation?”

“Which one?”

“Becoming this Vice-Chief’s disciple.”

“A disciple?”

“A privilege like this isn’t given to just anyone. If you become this Vice-Chief’s disciple, I will make sure you graduate within the top three.”

“Top three?”

“Yes. You know what that means, don’t you?”

Graduating from the Changcheon Martial Arts Academy as the top scorer, second scorer, or third scorer brought immense honor and wealth.

You could even become a government official of the Imperial Palace.

That was why everyone wanted to achieve such a position.

‘How about it? Isn’t that tempting?’

Anyone would be tempted by such an offer.

Even a pure-hearted boy who hadn’t yet been tainted by the world.

Just then, Mumu opened his mouth.

“Top three…… Ahjus… no, if I become the Vice-Chief’s disciple, can I get into the top three?”

‘He’s hooked.’

Of course.

Dan Pil-hu thought there was no way Mumu wouldn’t fall for this offer.

Vice-Chief Dan Pil-hu said with a satisfied smile.

“I told you a chance like this doesn’t come easily, right? Originally, you cannot choose a personal master until you’ve entered the main academy, reached the middle of your second year, and received high grades. But this Vice-Chief is making this offer because I value your talent highly.”

In short, it meant he should consider it a great honor.

At those words, Mumu tilted his head in confusion and said.

“Then isn’t that against the rules?”

“Fufufu, it means I’m accepting you even while considering that. This Vice-Chief will take all responsibility, so don’t worry about anything and…”

“Ayy. If it’s like that, it’s fine.”

“Yes. I’ll… What?”

At Mumu’s words, Dan Pil-hu, who had been trying to show off his generosity, scowled.

After all that effort to entice him, he says it’s fine?

“My father told me I shouldn’t become a nuisance to others. I don’t think I should create a situation where the Vice-Chief has to take responsibility because of me.”

Mumu always kept Yu Yeop-gyeong’s teachings in mind.

At those words, Vice-Chief Dan Pil-hu was so dumbfounded that he let out a dry cough.

“Cough, cough. Didn’t I tell you that’s not for you to worry about? You only need to focus on receiving this Vice-Chief’s teachings…”

“There’s that reason, but there’s one other reason too.”

“A reason?”

“I already have a school.”

“What?”

That was the first he’d heard of it.

What school could a guy who hadn’t even properly learned martial arts possibly have?

But there was no way the supervisors would have spoken nonsense.

“I heard you trained on your own, so what school could you possibly belong to?”

At that question, Mumu answered with a bright smile.

“The Muscle Training Style.”

“……….”

For a moment, Dan Pil-hu snorted.

The best he could come up with was the Muscle Training Style.

Refusing to become his disciple was already absurd enough, but making such an excuse was infuriating.

‘Haa……’

Dan Pil-hu debated whether he should continue playing along or simply scold the boy.

If Mumu had been a cunning fellow using tricks, he would have already gotten angry and demanded to know how he dared reject such a great opportunity.

But after speaking with him, he realized the child was truly endlessly naive.

‘…….It’s probably better to placate him.’

It was difficult to find such a good blank slate within the Changcheon Martial Arts Academy.

Dan Pil-hu made his expression as gentle as possible and said.

“The Muscle Training Style… It’s a school I’ve never heard of before. Can you tell me who you studied under?”

“There is no master in the Muscle Training Style. I myself am the master and the disciple.”

“……….”

In the end, wasn’t that just saying he trained by himself?

At Mumu’s answer, Dan Pil-hu’s patience gradually approached its limit.

There was a limit to how pure someone could be.

This was simply too much.

But since the goal was right before his eyes, he decided to endure a little longer.

“Child. As a fellow martial artist, I think it’s amazing and commendable that you’ve reached this level through only muscle training. But there is a limit to that alone.”

“A limit?”

“Why do you think martial artists learn internal energy and ways to effectively suppress or kill opponents? It’s all to become stronger.”

“Muscle training also…”

“Enough with the jokes. Simply training the physical body does not grant enlightenment.”

Swoosh!

Dan Pil-hu extended his hand and then slashed it toward a small tree.

A sharp energy sliced through the air, and the tree was immediately cut apart.

Slice!

Mumu stared in amazement as the tree tilted and fell.

“How did you do that?”

At that question, Dan Pil-hu shrugged his shoulders and replied.

“This is something called Blade Ki. When you train your internal energy and your enlightenment in the path of the blade deepens, you can materialize its sharp energy like this.”

“That’s amazing.”

“Is it amazing? It’s nothing worth being surprised about. If you become this Vice-Chief’s disciple, you can learn it easily. But with muscle training alone, it’s absolutely impossible.”

He wanted to show Mumu that people didn’t learn martial arts without reason.

If he still insisted on muscle training after being told and shown this much directly, then Dan Pil-hu would have no choice but to conclude he wasn’t merely naive or pure, but simply stupid.

Dan Pil-hu approached Mumu, placed a hand firmly on his shoulder, and said.

“If you receive this Vice-Chief’s teachings, you too can surely reach this state. No, I will make it so you become even stronger than the Head of the Academy.”

He believed his sincerity had now been fully conveyed.

But Mumu tilted his head slightly and said with a puzzled expression.

“Um… I have a question.”

“Ask away.”

“I hope you don’t get upset.”

“Why would I get upset over a single question? Ask anything.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Anything.”

“That’s a relief. I was wondering why you, Vice-Chief, who looks so frail and weak in muscle, keep asking me to become your disciple.”

“……..What?”

For a moment, Dan Pil-hu doubted his own ears.

He wondered what kind of question Mumu would ask, but did the boy just say he looked weak?

He was beyond dumbfounded.

He was speechless.

The more he listened, the more Mumu seemed not merely naive, but an idiot who knew nothing about the ways of the Murim.

“Haa…..”

Dan Pil-hu closed his eyes and pressed a hand against his forehead.

It seemed there was no point in talking anymore.

A guy like this needed to be taught with his body…

R-R-R-Rip!

‘Huh?’

At the strange sound, Dan Pil-hu opened his eyes.

But an unbelievable scene unfolded before him.

Mumu’s arm muscles suddenly swelled, and then his clothes tore apart as his upper body expanded massively.

‘!?’

The enlarged muscles writhed and surged as though they were alive and breathing.

Dan Pil-hu was rendered speechless by the unbelievably developed muscles.

It was to the point where even the body of Ju Gang-in, one of the Six Stars of the Azure Sky who was said to have reached the pinnacle of external arts, felt small in comparison.

‘How did his body suddenly……’

He had never seen such muscles in his entire life.

The muscles were so immense that merely looking at them made him feel suffocated by their intimidation.

Just then, Mumu suddenly drew back his right arm.

As he clenched his fist, his forearm muscles twisted ferociously, and his biceps swelled like a hardened mountain.

“W-What is this guy trying to do now?”

Feeling danger, Dan Pil-hu hurriedly backed away and raised his internal power.

Then he unleashed an ultimate technique imbued with Blade Ki directly at Mumu.

‘Flash Shadow Blade Art’s Fourth Form, Seven Consecutive Flashes!’

But—

Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh!

The consecutively fired Blade Ki scattered like a heat haze the moment they touched Mumu’s chest and instantly fizzled away.

Dan Pil-hu’s eyes widened in shock at the unbelievable sight.

Mumu wasn’t even protecting his body with internal energy.

So how could mere muscles nullify Blade Ki?

“What in the world is…”

Before he could even finish speaking.

Mumu threw a punch toward Dan Pil-hu’s face.

“Huk!”

Whooooooooosh!

It felt as though a storm had exploded before his eyes.

His eyelids and lips were flipped backward by the immense wind pressure.

From behind him came a tremendous roaring sound that battered his eardrums.

“………”

A drop of cold sweat trickled down Dan Pil-hu’s forehead.

He could see Mumu’s fist stopped right beside the right side of his head.

For the first time in his life, he was seized by the fear that his face might be blown apart by a missed strike.

As he swallowed hard, he heard a snapping sound from behind him.

Thud!

At that, Dan Pil-hu slowly turned his head.

‘!!!!!’

The bushes and ground behind him had been overturned.

Beyond them, he could see all the trees spread across a fan-shaped area over ten jangs wide broken apart.

‘……Impossible.’

That wasn’t fist power strengthened by profound internal energy.

Did he create this using only the pressure from a punch?

At that moment, every piece of common sense Dan Pil-hu had ever known shattered completely.

To the speechless Dan Pil-hu, Mumu showed a bright smile that completely didn’t suit his monstrous muscles and said.

“Train your muscles. The Vice-Chief can do it too.”

‘…….This?’