Learning Martial Arts #2
The next day, I woke up early in the morning and got ready to head out.
"Man, I'm finally doing something straight out of a wuxia novel!"
It was a bit late in coming, but what can you do? I hadn't had the setup to learn martial arts from the start. Hell, martial arts cost money to learn in the first place. I'd finally scraped together the cash for it, so now it was time to dive in. Damn, it really felt like I'd stepped into a murim world for real.
"Heh heh heh."
Just thinking about investing in myself had me grinning like an idiot. Yeah. Starting today, I'd pour money into martial arts. Get strong, and yokai hunts would be a breeze. More hunts meant bigger bucks. Big bucks meant tasty meals every damn day and crashing in better inns. My life's comfort level was about to skyrocket. But that was just a side perk.
Survival.
Above all, survival. In this murim world, cut off from modern Earth, I'd need martial arts to stick around long-term. How long could a powerless commoner stand on his own two feet? That thought lit a fire under me—a burning sense of mission to learn martial arts no matter what. My heart was ablaze. Yeah, martial arts. From today on, that's all I had. I was Kim Geun-hyeok, murim man!
Peak? Hell, once I started training, I'd hit Transcendent or even Fire Transformation and ascend to immortality. Back then, I'd been a historical drama extra dreaming of acting stardom, but screw that. Time to change everything. Change it all. Except the wife. You come to murim and don't learn martial arts? No way in hell. Starting today, I was a murim warrior!
"Errand boy!"
I bounded down to the first floor and hollered for him.
"Yes, sir!"
"One order of dumplings and a bowl of thin noodles!"
"Thirty copper coins."
"Here... oh, and."
I slipped him an extra coin and asked, "Any good spots nearby to learn martial arts?"
To learn martial arts, you gotta find a place that teaches it. Usually sects or dojos. I knew the big names—Nine Great Sects, Five Great Families. Huashan, Wudang, all that jazz. But those were out of reach. Famous sects were like secret elite academies; you needed talent, connections, and cash to get in. Not for a scrub like me. But murim had more than just those. Every neighborhood had its own training spots. That's where I'd go.
Was I gonna join some prestigious sect for ultimate techniques? Nah, it'd be basic stuff for now. And that was plenty.
"Planning to learn martial arts, sir?"
"Got interested. No cash for fancy sects, though. Somewhere ordinary would be great."
"Hmm... How about Baekgeom Martial Hall? Pretty well-known around here."
"Baekgeom Martial Hall?"
He gave me the rundown. It was a small dojo teaching basic martial arts—think local taekwondo gym.
"Perfect! That's exactly what I'm after. I'll check it out!"
"Sounds good."
This was getting me pumped. Still, no clue if it'd live up to the hype. No work today anyway, so I'd scout it out. Like it? Sign up and train. Hate it? Bounce and find another.
"Dumplings and noodles are up!"
"Mm."
Might be some rough stuff ahead, so fill the tank. Not the bulkiest meal, but it'd do. Craved meat, but who knew how much training cost? Purse was fat for now, but investments loomed. Gotta save.
"Grrraah!"
I scarfed it down like always and stepped out of the inn. Off to Baekgeom Martial Hall!
* * *
On the way, I picked up some intel. Baekgeom Martial Hall had a solid rep in the neighborhood—must mean results. No fake reviews here like back home. Word of mouth was gold.
"Building looks decent-sized."
The front gate was pretty grand. Eyeballing the walls, the grounds seemed spacious. Yeah, a dojo needed that vibe.
Thud thud thud.
I knocked, waited three seconds, and the gate swung open.
"Anyone home?"
"Haaah!"
"Hup!"
Stepped in, and aggressive yells hit me right away.
"Ooh."
Trainees, shirts off, drilling forms in unison. Reminded me of taekwondo days—weird dudes kicking wildly and yelling, sensei splitting kids' legs. Solid crowd this early? Good sign.
"What brings you here?"
"Oh."
A guy in crisp dobok approached. Instructor type.
"Here for enrollment consult. You the instructor?"
"Ah! This way!"
I followed him inside. Layout: central training ground, main building up front. Total military base feel.
We hit the first floor of the hall.
"Have a seat."
I sat. He'd handle the consult?
"Saw those trainees drilling? That was the instructor."
"Guy had some impressive muscles."
"That's Hong Sa-hyeok, the one who'll teach you martial arts."
"Hong Sa-hyeok! You don't say...!"
First time hearing the name, but I faked shock. He grinned.
"You know him. The famed Hongmyeon Geomgaek. My father, too."
"Hongmyeon Geomgaek!"
Family-run dojo, huh? More details: master's son was one instructor, this guy another, kids helping out.
"Master's at Peak, instructors First-rate."
"No wonder Baekgeom's got the rep!"
"Haha, yep."
I nodded along, impressed. Didn't know exact rank diffs yet—every story's different. If I was Third-rate, no beating First-rate. Peak masters wrecked house. Worth it?
"Instructors seem top-notch. Before enrolling, details: what arts, how much, costs?"
Hear it all first.
"Smart man."
He explained.
"No experience or low skill? Beginner class."
"Beginner class!"
"Four sessions a week. Two-hour blocks morning or evening. Those trainees outside? Beginners building foundations."
Two hours x four = eight weekly. Gym-level grind. Tough, but doable. Mornings for night shifts, evenings for days. Beginner-friendly schedule.
Lots of folks—my classmates?
"You look sturdy... Trained before?"
"Kept fit for health, but no formal martial arts."
Basics from beginner class it was.
"Got it. Beginner fee: 200 copper a week."
"Two hundred!"
Insane for group classes! Martial arts ain't cheap!
"Shocking, huh? But four arts taught—not bad."
"Four?!"
"Yep. Basics: Mabo Segeun-gyeong for external strength, Yukhap Kwon fist art. Won-gi Sim-beop easy heart method, Samjae Geom-beop sword basics."
"Ooh...!"
Jackpot! Lame-ass names, but mine now? Heart pounding. Basics could still slaughter yokai if mastered.
"Sign me up! Tell me about 'em!"
"Pay upfront."
"Here!"
Handed over the coins—and whoosh, his eyes sharpened.
"Use respect from now on. I'm the instructor."
This prick? Fair point.
"Got it. Name's Geun-hyeok. What do I call you?"
"Senior Brother. I'm Hong Min-gi."
Senior Brother? Fine, master's son. Not a sect, just dojo signup, but this ain't Earth. Teacher's a master, student's bound. Different culture—adapt.
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
"Good. You'll train under First-rate Hong Sa-hyeok."
"Yes!"
His dad.
"Structure: Beginners build balance, muscles with externals, then heart method for inner energy."
"Ooh...!"
Strengthen body, accept qi? Pro-level.
"You're fit, so quick progress. Heart method, then Yukhap Kwon for movement, Samjae Geom-beop for sword basics. Clear?"
"Yes!"
"First day, I'll cover basics. Tomorrow, join group at your time."
Training ground drill. No-shows on you—no refunds.
"C'mon. Full arts overview."
"Yes!"
Followed Senior Brother to the field. Excitement off the charts. What if I had genius talent and skyrocketed to Transcendent or Fire Transformation? Insane world...!
Welcome to murim!