The Difference in Talent
After sorting out the situation, Kang Hyun stepped out of the apartment.
Do Jeong-hyeok followed, still unable to believe it.
Is this really reality?
The sight of the great Spear Ghost Gye Mu-jin floundering before the professor remained vividly etched in his mind.
The money had been a shock as well.
A full ten billion won.
No matter how comfortably he had grown up, as her son he knew full well how precious that sum was to his mother.
The professor had taken that fortune with a single word and pressed it into her hands.
— Professor, can't you persuade my mother without hurting her? If you do, I'll follow whatever you say from now on.
The professor had kept his promise.
In fact, he had gone beyond it.
With ten billion, far from being hurt, wouldn't Mom actually be overjoyed?
"……Professor."
His throat tightened, making the words hard to get out, but he forced them through.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you……!"
It wasn't just the money.
He was also grateful that he could now use his fists without fretting over anyone's opinion.
"Enough."
Kang Hyun didn't feel the least bit sorry about the money.
Compared to the hardships the kid would face from now on, it was a bargain.
To forge the Vajra Body into an Indestructible Diamond Body, he would have to put him through living hell hundreds of times.
If he thought of it as an advance on life insurance, ten billion was actually cheap.
"I'll listen carefully to everything you say from now on, Professor."
"Good. Just keep that promise."
That'll be the hardest part, you know.
As Do Jeong-hyeok straightened from his bow, Gye Mu-jin approached from behind.
"Hyung-nim."
His voice was still careful.
"Allow me to greet you properly once more. I am Gye Mu-jin."
Watching the scene, Do Jeong-hyeok still couldn't understand.
Just what was the professor's true identity that Gye Mu-jin would go this far?
"Formal greetings? What are we to each other?"
"You are my benefactor, Hyung-nim."
"Benefactor, my ass. Don't go living with some pointless debt in your heart."
Kang Hyun replied indifferently.
"A debt only exists if there's someone to collect it. I have nothing to collect from you."
At those words, Gye Mu-jin's gaze grew even deeper.
Normally, once you became someone's benefactor, you expected something in return.
But Black was different.
He had returned ten billion to Do Jeong-hyeok's mother with no conditions, and told him not to repay any debt.
And yet he took five hundred billion from that Chul-woong bastard!
Coming at it this way only drew him in more.
It was like being captivated by Black's character.
Before, he had respected him for his strength; now he simply thought of him as a cool person.
Gye Mu-jin turned his head to look at Do Jeong-hyeok.
"Jeong-hyeok."
"Yes, Hunter-nim."
"I'm sorry to you. It's not that I taught you wrong, but that I couldn't look the other way when you so badly wanted to use your fists…… as someone who claimed to be your master, that's a big failing on my part."
Do Jeong-hyeok waved his hands in fluster.
"Ah, no! Without you, Hunter-nim, how could I have ever taken first place in the Murim Tournament? Just for everything you've taught me until now, I'm truly grateful!"
"I'm glad to hear you say that."
Gye Mu-jin chuckled and added,
"Even if you quit the spear, let's grab a meal together on weekends sometimes. I want to watch how far you go with your fists too."
This was a disciple Black himself was taking in and cherishing.
To maintain a good relationship with Kang Hyun, it was best to leave a clean connection with Do Jeong-hyeok without any lingering resentment.
"Then I'll be taking my leave."
After finishing his greetings with Do Jeong-hyeok, Gye Mu-jin bowed deeply once more toward Kang Hyun.
"Alright, go on."
"Ah, Hyung-nim. If I may."
Gye Mu-jin carefully added,
"Later on, with that Chul-woong guy…… could we maybe grab a meal together?"
"If the opportunity arises."
Kang Hyun didn't dislike Gye Mu-jin.
He was a hunter who, alongside Ma Chul-woong, had risked his life to take the lead during the Leviathan incident.
When Asura's subordinates descended later, there was a high chance he would make an excellent bulwark.
Moreover, from what he had seen today, his personality was clean with no grudges.
He was quick on the uptake, could coolly admit his own mistakes, and had the guts to spit out money already in his belly without complaint.
No particular reason I have to keep him close, but no reason to drive him off either.
"Thank you! I'll be waiting for your call!"
As Gye Mu-jin disappeared with light steps, Do Jeong-hyeok couldn't hold back and asked,
"Professor, just what is your true identity?"
"What about it."
"……How can you be Gye Mu-jin's benefactor?"
"Must be someone even more amazing than that great person your mom was talking about."
"No, that's not what I mean……!"
"Shut it."
Kang Hyun cut him off firmly and stared straight at Do Jeong-hyeok.
"From now on, you are my second disciple."
"……!"
Do Jeong-hyeok's shoulders twitched.
He had heard the rumors too.
That the five students Kang Hyun taught weren't true disciples.
That only Baek Yu-yeon, who reported to the professor's office, was the real disciple.
"But from now on, treat Baek Yu-yeon with the utmost respect as your senior. Act up and you'll die by my hand."
"Ah, understood."
"And starting tomorrow, join the dawn training. Be at the grounds behind the new building by six."
The next day, at dawn.
The five were already gathered early, warming up by practicing their respective martial arts.
Training started at six, but no student ever arrived right on time.
They came a full hour early to loosen up.
In effect, this was the time they looked forward to most.
Whoosh!
Yoon Hyun-jong, practicing dual swords with two wooden blades in hand,
"Huh?"
was the first to spot the uninvited guest.
"Do Jeong-hyeok?"
The top of the 21st batch, who had beaten Han Tae-ho, had come to the training grounds.
"What is it."
Kwak Do-jin stepped forward, brushing sweat-soaked bangs aside.
"What brings you here? Lose your way or something?"
His tone was sharp.
Wasn't this the guy who had beaten Han Tae-ho and put them through emotional hell?
"No. I've come to learn from the professor as well."
"What?"
Kwak Do-jin's face twisted.
"Hey, there's a line of kids who want to learn from the professor. What, you think being top of the 21st gets you special entry here too?"
"The professor gave his permission."
"What?"
The other students were surprised at that.
The professor?
"That's right."
It was then that a familiar voice cut through the darkness.
As always, Kang Hyun with a whiskey bottle in one hand.
"Professor!"
"You've arrived!"
The five bowed in unison.
Do Jeong-hyeok hurriedly lowered his head as well.
A strange atmosphere hung, but Kang Hyun paid it no mind.
"Introduce yourselves. Starting today, this guy joins the dawn training too."
"Huh?"
"And he's my second disciple after Baek Yu-yeon."
The students might feel left out, but Kang Hyun didn't hide it.
Better to reveal what needed revealing quickly.
Sure enough.
Each wore an expression of injustice.
Tsk tsk.
Showing your feelings like that won't do.
"Because he beat Han Tae-ho?"
In the end, Kwak Do-jin couldn't hold back and asked.
"As if."
Glug.
Kang Hyun downed a few mouthfuls of whiskey.
"What's so special about beating Han Tae-ho. It's just because he has talent. Why, feel wronged?"
"……."
The students couldn't answer.
"You feel it's unfair, I bet. Fine, then how about this?"
Kang Hyun pointed at Do Jeong-hyeok with the whiskey bottle he held.
"Do Jeong-hyeok may be the top of his year, but today is his first day learning from me. Moreover, as of today he's abandoning the spear he mainly used and will learn fists from the very beginning. Also, unlike you lot, I won't teach him any internal arts. Only external arts."
"……!"
In truth, they weren't surprised by the part about using fists.
But the part about mainly teaching external arts greatly shocked them all.
Hunters had to cultivate internal energy.
Only with internal energy could you project sword aura and generate destructive power.
Whereas?
External arts were an outdated concept.
A method of training the body to its absolute limits!
A crude training method used only before the world changed.
Even in Murim, the perception was similar.
Internal arts were valued more highly than external.
But?
To properly master the martial arts of the Iron Mountain Old Monster that maximized the Vajra Body constitution, one had to learn external arts.
External arts taken to the extreme were no less formidable than internal.
"Listen carefully, all of you."
Kang Hyun's eyes gleamed sharply.
"When this semester's final exams are over, if any one of you beats that Do Jeong-hyeok in a spar."
Gulp.
Someone swallowed dryly.
"That one, I'll accept as my true disciple on the spot."
"Really?"
Sparks flew in Cha Yu-sik's eyes.
He recalled what Kang Hyun had said before.
— When the day comes that you can breathe and move freely in the killing intent I unleash, as if it were nothing. Then I'll consider accepting you as disciples once.
That vague condition!
Before achieving that, all he had to do was beat Do Jeong-hyeok!
He was about even with Han Tae-ho.
As the top of the 19th batch, Cha Yu-sik was more than ready to challenge.
Jealousy had already turned into competitive spirit.
"Professor."
Cha Yu-sik raised his hand.
"May I ask one thing?"
"Speak."
"If he's your disciple, does Do Jeong-hyeok also receive instruction outside of dawn training?"
"I suppose so?"
"Then that puts us at a disadvantage. We only receive guidance during dawn training hours!"
At the logical and bold question, Kang Hyun let out a snort of laughter.
Yeah, if you have complaints, say them like that.
Don't stew on them inside until you explode.
"Cheeky brat."
"Sorry."
"Fine. Until the final exams are over."
"……."
"You five may knock on my office door anytime. If something's blocking you, come find me whenever."
Joy bloomed on the faces of the five.
The first lesson began.
After lightly correcting the postures of the five who were training, Kang Hyun stood before the thoroughly tense Do Jeong-hyeok.
"You know how to do a horse stance, right? Bend your knees. Until your thighs are parallel to the ground."
"Yes."
"Keep your back ramrod straight, gaze forward."
It was the basic posture he had first made the five do in the past.
Tsk tsk.
They clicked their tongues inwardly as they side-eyed him.
So he's going to go through this hell the same way.
Suffer through it. Hard at first, but it'll get doable later.
Let's see how long he lasts. In ten minutes his legs'll be shaking, I bet?
But.
Their expectations began to be spectacularly off the mark.
When thirty minutes had passed.
Oh?
Kwak Do-jin's wooden sword paused for a moment.
Do Jeong-hyeok's legs weren't so much as twitching.
What, did he drive iron rods into the ground? Why's he so stable?
When one hour had passed.
Yoon Hyun-jong furrowed his brow.
Still fine? From here on even I start struggling.
Seo Hae-in openly stared at Do Jeong-hyeok.
It was creepy.
His breathing was still fine and he wasn't even sweating.
Normally, an hour of horse stance should feel like all the moisture in your body is draining out.
When two hours had passed.
What the hell is with that guy.
Is he a real monster?
Still not shaking his legs?
Even Cha Yu-sik gulped dryly.
He had kept glancing over while training, but Do Jeong-hyeok's posture hadn't collapsed even once.
There wasn't even a change in his expression.
And finally, when three hours had passed and class ended.
Everyone was astonished.
He's a real hardcase.
They said he walked the elite path, and it's no joke.
Do Jeong-hyeok was still in that exact posture.
Kang Hyun smiled.
"Time's up. Get up now."
"I can keep going."
"I know you're not tired at all, so get up."
"Yes."
Kang Hyun knew.
This was a characteristic of the Vajra Body.
A physique where the density of bones and muscles was nearly like metal.
With simple static movements like this, he didn't even lose stamina.
To put it in perspective, it was the same as telling an ordinary person to keep their arm bent and stay still for three hours.
It might be boring, but there was no pain of muscles tearing.
It wasn't even exercise for him.
So why make him do it?
Kang Hyun cherished those five students too.
That was why he wanted to show them.
In this world, there exist mutants who from birth far surpass geniuses who put in effort. Want to catch up to monsters like this? Then you'll have to grind your bones even harder.
If anyone was going to despair from seeing this, better they give up early.
If he taught them everything only for them to collapse later, it would be a waste of time for both sides.
"Good. Do Jeong-hyeok, you move straight on to the next stage."
No student argued with that.
But everyone could feel that the situation was flowing in a strange direction.