Descent from the Mountain (3)
Descending from the Mountain (3)
Leaving the mountain gate and going down Songshan for quite a while.
"Oh~!"
Beyond the bushes, Dengfeng County began to appear in the distance.
It was a city filled with houses that seemed straight out of a martial arts movie.
'Am I finally stepping into the real martial arts world!'
Crossing the mountain, meeting the Green Forest Sect.
Enjoying poetry and wine at a guesthouse, getting caught up in a random dispute, and saving a beautiful woman who was hiding her face with a veil.
Dealing with the backers of those ruffians, who were initially dismissed as mere local hoodlums, and gradually getting closer to the mastermind behind it all.
Into such a martial arts world!
"Hahaha. Do you like it so much, Mu-Jin?"
There was no chance of such an adventure happening.
Immediately around him were ten Shaolin disciples.
* * *
Upon arriving in Dengfeng County, Ryu Ji-Gwang led the Shaolin disciples to the manor prepared for opening a clinic.
"To split the facilities into two, we purchased two nearby manors."
Upon arriving at the spacious manor, Ryu Ji-Gwang gave a brief explanation.
As he said, the clinic with the sign [Muscle and Bone Treatment Clinic] consisted of two manors.
One was simply large and clean, while the other was a dazzling place adorned with gold decorations from the entrance.
At a glance, the large and clean place seemed to be a free facility, while the dazzling place appeared to be a high-end specialized treatment facility.
"We plan to conduct free treatments in the pavilion on the left. There is a warehouse for storing medical tools next to it, and a place for you to rest has been prepared beside it. Also, during times without treatment, you can train or pray here."
At Ryu Ji-Gwang's explanation, Hye Min, the vice leader of the Hammer Registry Hall and the onsite manager of this project, nodded in approval.
While Mu-Jin was essentially the person in charge of treatments, it wasn't feasible to entrust all tasks to Mu-Jin, who was still a young monk and one of the third-generation disciples.
In fact, it was extremely rare for the third-generation disciples to leave the mountain gate.
Currently, most of the Shaolin disciples here were second-generation disciples, with Hye Min, the vice leader of the Hammer Registry Hall and a first-generation disciple, as the leader. Mu-Jin, a third-generation disciple, was the treatment expert accompanying them.
"We plan to start the main treatments from tomorrow, so for today, please inspect the facilities and equipment. I have business with the merchant group, so Manager Yang will assist you from here."
"Nice to meet you. I am Yang Jin-Pyung, the external manager of the Heavenly Flow Merchant Group."
Afterwards, Ryu Ji-Gwang returned to the Heavenly Flow Merchant Group, and Mu-Jin and the Shaolin disciples toured the two facilities guided by Yang Jin-Pyung.
"Hahaha. There are so many tools!"
"Starting today, we can finally use these tools properly."
The five second-generation disciples, selected from the Outer Hall and Hammer Registry Hall, spoke cheerfully.
For the past month, they had been learning Pilates and Muscle Stretching Techniques from Mu-Jin to prepare for their dispatch here.
However, the only Pilates equipment available at Shaolin were those made for treating Hyun Kwang.
Therefore, the second-generation disciples had observed and learned the exercises while Mu-Jin and Beob Gun treated Hyun Kwang, Yeon Ga-hee, and Ryu Ji-Gwang. During Mu-Jin's training time with Hyu Dam, they practiced what they learned from Beob Gun.
As a result, the second-generation disciples showed great interest in the abundance of tools available at the free facility.
"Mu-Jin, can you help us check our postures?"
While the second-generation disciples were confirming the usage of the tools with Mu-Jin's help.
Sssrrr.
With a soft friction sound, a plump girl and a woman who looked like an attendant entered.
As Mu-Jin and the Shaolin disciples looked at the two with curious expressions, Manager Yang stepped forward and asked the girl.
"Young lady, what brings you here?"
From that single greeting from Manager Yang, Mu-Jin could infer who the girl was.
Being addressed as 'young lady' by Manager Yang indicated she was the daughter of Ryu Ji-Gwang, the merchant group leader, and as far as Mu-Jin knew, Ryu Ji-Gwang had only one youngest daughter.
While Ryu Ji-Gwang himself did not appear directly in the novel, his daughter was prominently featured.
A ruthless second-in-command of the Heavenly Flow Merchant Group who would stop at nothing to make money.
Known by the name Golden Rakshasa, Ryu Seol-Hwa.
And this ruthless villainess was about to speak with a timid expression uncharacteristic of a villain, when the attendant behind her stepped forward and answered on her behalf.
"Manager Yang, the young lady is the only daughter and blood relative of the merchant group leader. As long as there is no direct prohibition from the leader, there is no place off-limits to her."
The attendant, who responded haughtily to Manager Yang, then turned kindly to Ryu Seol-Hwa.
"Young lady, you are the young lady of the Heavenly Flow Merchant Group, one of the top five merchant groups in the world. No one in the world can disregard you. Be confident."
"Th-thank you, Sister Hong."
"I appreciate your kind heart in calling me sister, but it may not look proper to others. I ask for your discretion, young lady."
Listening to their conversation, Mu-Jin's eyes sparkled.
"Sister Hong, you say?"
There was only one person who Ryu Seol-Hwa, the Golden Rakshasa, would call Sister Hong.
Her right-hand woman, who handled Ryu Seol-Hwa's ruthless orders, Hong So-Hee.
Naturally, a smile appeared on Mu-Jin's face.
Why had Mu-Jin actively involved himself in the clinic project? It was to approach the Heavenly Flow Merchant Group and uncover their connection to the mastermind.
And now, Ryu Seol-Hwa and Hong So-Hee, who had directly appeared in the novel unlike Ryu Ji-Gwang, were here.
'If I can get close to those two, it might be easier to find the link to the mastermind.'
The only problem was figuring out how to approach them.
While Mu-Jin was pondering over this issue,
"Ho, Sister Hong."
"Please call me So-Hee comfortably, young lady."
"So-So-Hee, c-could we leave now?"
Ryu Seol-Hwa, feeling uncomfortable, whispered to Hong So-Hee.
She seemed uneasy under the gaze of Mu-Jin and the other Shaolin disciples.
"If the young lady feels uncomfortable, let's leave. Manager Yang, we will take our leave now."
In the end, the attendant spoke on her behalf and left the pavilion with Ryu Seol-Hwa.
It was an unexpectedly anticlimactic first encounter with the novel's villain.
* * *
Meanwhile, as Mu-Jin was contemplating how to approach Ryu Seol-Hwa and Hong So-Hee,
"Have you heard the news?"
"What news are you talking about? How would I know what news you're referring to, my friend?"
"I'm talking about the news! The Shaolin monks are opening a clinic!"
"...Why would monks open a clinic? Have the Shaolin monks come to make money?"
The friend replied as if it was preposterous, and the middle-aged man patted his chest in frustration.
"My friend! These are the Shaolin monks! Of course, they are offering free treatment."
"Free treatment!? I need to check this out immediately!"
"Wait, my friend! Listen to the end!"
When his friend tried to get up quickly, the middle-aged man grabbed his arm.
"The clinic opens tomorrow. And it's not an ordinary clinic."
"Not an ordinary clinic?"
"What was it... Muscle? Ah! A Muscle and Bone Treatment Clinic! It's not for internal diseases or colds, but for treating muscles and bones."
"For muscles and bones... like a bone-setting clinic?"
His friend looked disappointed, so the middle-aged man elaborated.
"It's not a bone-setting clinic. You know, when your back feels stiff, or your legs ache? They say it treats those kinds of body aches."
"Hmm. Sounds like they offer acupuncture or moxibustion."
His friend nodded. Usually, when the body felt stiff or ached, people would get acupuncture or moxibustion.
While the effects lasted only a few days and were often considered a waste of money, it would be different if it were free.
Naturally, the middle-aged man became interested in the Shaolin clinic, and similar conversations were circulating in the streets and inns of Dengfeng County.
* * *
The next morning.
"Is it true that we can receive treatment from the Shaolin monks here?"
Some residents of Dengfeng County, having heard the rumors, came to the Muscle and Bone Treatment Clinic.
"Yes. However, the treatment area varies by date and time. Could you tell us what part of your body is troubling you?"
"??"
The people who had come to the clinic were puzzled at the mention of different treatment areas at different times. This was the first time they had heard of such a practice.
"Today, from 9 to 11 AM and 11 AM to 1 PM, we will treat legs. From 3 to 5 PM and 5 to 7 PM, we will treat the pelvis and lower back. Tomorrow, in the morning, we will treat the upper back, and in the afternoon, we will treat arms and shoulders. Please come according to the part of your body that is in pain."
"Here is a schedule posted with the details! If you have trouble reading it, I can assist you!"
The confusion among the people was managed by staff dispatched from the Heavenly Flow Merchant Group. Guides and diagnosticians greeted them at the entrance.
In the end, only those with leg muscle or knee and ankle issues were allowed into the clinic.
"Now, would you please take a seat comfortably?"
Welcoming those who entered the clinic were Shaolin monks in their distinctive crimson robes. At the forefront was Mu-Jin, a young monk just fourteen years old, warmly greeting them.
Mu-Jin was helping here temporarily as there were no reservations yet at the specialized treatment facility.
Led by Mu-Jin, the Shaolin disciples began treating the patients' bodies methodically.
As it was the first day, and many of the patients were elderly, the treatments mainly involved using foam rollers to relax muscles and exercises to stretch muscles using Muscle Stretching Techniques.
As expected, the bodies of commoners who had never experienced stretching were as stiff as logs.
"Ouch, ouch."
"Ugh."
"Your muscles are knotted. By continuously rubbing your legs with this foam roller, your muscles and fascia will loosen up."
Mu-Jin continued his explanations as he moved around the treatment room, checking patients' postures. Occasionally, he approached those who struggled with even basic movements due to severe conditions, providing acupressure or manual therapy.
"Grandfather, just a moment. I'll massage you a bit. Don't overdo it."
"Grandmother, please stay for a while after the exercise. It seems your condition is quite severe, so we need to provide some additional treatment. Master, this person needs thermal and moxibustion treatment on their thighs."
In this manner, Mu-Jin and the second-generation disciples assisting with the exercises, along with observing physicians, provided additional treatments like thermal and moxibustion therapy to the more severe cases.
"Thank you, young monk."
"This feels really refreshing, hahaha."
The elderly patients, who had initially been skeptical of the strange exercises, smiled warmly and bowed their heads. Despite their doubts about this peculiar treatment, which surprisingly didn't involve painful needles or moxibustion, they felt noticeably lighter after the nearly half-hour session.
"No problem! It's something we should naturally do!"
"Hahaha. I wish you a speedy recovery. Amitabha."
Mu-Jin and the Shaolin disciples couldn't help but smile, sharing the joy of helping others. Mu-Jin, due to his past experiences, enjoyed assisting the elderly, while the Shaolin disciples found happiness in the act of helping others.
That evening, word about the free treatments provided by the Shaolin monks began to spread more thoroughly throughout Dengfeng County.
"Have you been there today?"
"Are you talking about the clinic run by the Shaolin monks?"
"What else could I be talking about?"
"I was too busy to go today. Did you go?"
"Ah, don't even get me started. It was amazing."
Exaggerating the clinic's treatment methods and effects by about three times, the old man concluded with a clap.
"Ah! There's a young monk there."
"A young monk?"
"He's probably thirteen or fourteen? He's got a good build from training, but his face is still youthful. Anyway, whenever that young monk touches you, the pain just... vanishes!"
"Is it some sort of martial arts technique from Shaolin?"
"My friend, if that were the case, wouldn't the older monks have even more powerful hands? When that young monk touches you, it hurts a lot at first, but afterward, the pain disappears, and only a refreshing feeling remains!"
"Oh, does he have such miraculous hands?"
"Absolutely! He's definitely born with the hands of a god—no, since he's a monk, the hands of Buddha!"
Among the commoners of Dengfeng County, they began referring to the young monk as "Buddha's Hand Boy" (佛手童子).
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