Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Chapter 145:

The Poison for the Tang Clan, the Medicine for the Tang Clan

Protein supplements. The item that bodybuilders always have on hand.

However, there were many debates about whether protein supplements were ‘essential’ for building muscle.

Unless one used steroids, there was a limit to the amount of protein the human body could absorb at once.

In other words, if one could consume the maximum amount of protein possible through meals with chicken breast, egg whites, and beef, protein supplements were not significantly necessary.

Choi Kang-hyuk, a fitness trainer and the owner of a large fitness center, was well aware of this fact as he had studied various exercises, rehabilitation therapy, and even sports science and nutrition, beyond just fitness.

In modern times, he did use protein supplements but did not heavily rely on them since he had not used steroids.

However, the story was different here.

“I can’t even consume half of the maximum absorbable protein most days.”

The problem arose when traveling between regions or searching for something in the mountains where it was difficult to find food.

The lack of protein intake caused his muscles to tremble with the fear of daily muscle loss.

But if the Sichuan Tang Clan could produce protein supplements for him!

“I could carry them as an emergency supply and take them whenever I couldn’t eat meat!”

It would be a panacea to protect the muscles he had nurtured with such care.

To create this precious panacea, Mu-jin began to speak.

“First of all, protein is one of the components that make up the human body. Particularly, human muscles are made of this protein. Therefore, to supplement or build muscle, one needs to consume a similar type of protein.”

“So, what are these similar types of protein?”

“The most representative source is animal meat. Like humans, the muscles and flesh of animals are also made of protein.”

Those from the Sichuan Tang Clan nodded at Mu-jin’s explanation.

It was already common knowledge that animal meat could supplement the human body.

However, Tang-gak looked at Mu-jin with a rather peculiar expression.

Though it was a secret within the clan, Tang-gak knew that Mu-jin was a disciple of Shaolin.

Yet, here was a Shaolin disciple speaking about eating meat.

“As expected, he doesn’t fit in with Shaolin. Heh heh.”

To achieve great accomplishments, one must be obsessed with a particular field.

Tang-gak, realizing that despite his young age, Mu-jin shared the same drive for excellence, started to see him as a kindred spirit.

“Additionally, egg whites and milk from cows also contain this protein.”

While Tang-gak felt a sense of camaraderie as a fellow maniac, Mu-jin continued his explanation.

“Hmm. It makes sense that eggs, being an animal’s offspring, contain it, but milk as well?”

“Yes. The protein supplement I mentioned is made from milk. It is processed into a powder, making it easy to carry and consistently consume, thereby protecting and growing muscles.”

The most representative protein supplement was whey protein, made from milk.

Specifically, it was made by processing the whey left after curds were extracted during the cheese-making process.

Depending on the processing involved, names like WPC, WPI, and WPH were given.

“Even for the Tang Clan, a primitive whey protein supplement would be the limit.”

In this era, processes like ion exchange or hydrolysis were impossible.

And even if they were possible, it was problematic.

Though Mu-jin had studied nutrition and knew the types of protein supplements, he did not have detailed knowledge of ion exchange or hydrolysis processes.

He was a fitness trainer, not a protein supplement factory researcher.

“Have you ever heard of ‘yurak,’ a dairy product consumed by Westerners or northern nomads?”

Thus, Mu-jin intended to ask them to produce the most primitive whey protein supplement.

In other words, by processing milk to make cheese.

After obtaining the whey by separating out the curds, the request was to sterilize, dry, and concentrate the whey.

The whey protein produced this way would still contain various components like lactose and milk fat, in addition to protein.

While modern whey protein has over 90% protein content, with the technology in this world, achieving just over 50% would be a great success.

“But still, it’s better than nothing. Besides, food is scarce here anyway.”

Unless someone had lactose intolerance, a little lactose or milk fat wouldn’t be an issue.

Tang-gak looked at Mu-jin with a curious expression after hearing his explanation.

“Where did you gain such knowledge?”

No matter how he thought about it, this wasn’t something Mu-jin could have learned at Shaolin.

If Shaolin had such knowledge, Mu-jin wouldn’t need to come to the Tang Clan for help.

In response to Tang-gak’s question, Mu-jin gave a truthful yet misleading answer.

“This is a secret technique passed down only in my family.”

“Your family, you say?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm? If you have a family, why share such knowledge with us? Wouldn’t it be better to have your family make it?”

“There is no one left in my family besides me.”

Though he was from a noble background, his family was exterminated by the Demonic Alliance, a fact known to Shaolin about Mu-jin’s personal history.

* * *

For the next few days, Mu-jin continued to spend similar time at the Tang Clan.

In the mornings, he built tolerance to various poisons given by Tang-gak along with his companions, and in the afternoons, he visited the Tang Clan’s workshop to experiment with whey protein production.

“Mu-jin.”

“What?”

“She’s here again.”

“…Just pretend you don’t see her, and you guys do the same.”

Part of this routine involved avoiding Tang So-mi, who persistently tried to approach him.

Mu-yul, who alternated his gaze between the hiding Tang So-mi and the studiously ignoring Mu-jin, tilted his head in curiosity.

“Hmm. Interesting.”

“What’s interesting?”

“It’s interesting that Lady Tang is chasing after Mu-jin.”

Mu-gung and Mu-gyeong reacted to Mu-yul’s question, thinking he didn’t understand a woman’s feelings.

But they slightly misunderstood Mu-yul’s thinking.

“No, it’s interesting why Mu-jin isn’t hitting her despite her being annoying.”

“Ook! Ook!!”

Even Ling-ling, who was on Mu-yul’s head, barked in agreement, making Mu-gung and Mu-gyeong nod in understanding.

“Yeah, with his personality, he would have beaten her up by now.”

“Haha. Even if it’s Mu-jin, he wouldn’t be so ruthless to hit a woman.”

“Didn’t you see at the Yongbongji Conference? How he attacked Lady Tang?”

“That was a martial contest…”

“That’s not it. According to Master Hye-gwan, he once persistently chased and beat a woman in Nanchang too.”

Mu-gyeong, referring to what he heard from Hye-gwan, refuted the argument of the Cheongsu Dojang.

Hye-gwan shared this story to emulate Mu-jin’s bold and somewhat unscrupulous behavior.

Mu-gyeong, however, didn’t know that the woman persistently beaten back then was Jegal Jin-hee.

“You guys…”

When Mu-jin glared at the four of them, they subtly avoided his gaze.

“Sigh.”

His sigh wasn’t solely because of these four.

Honestly, if possible, he wanted to provide psychological treatment, albeit physical, to the obsessive monk behind him.

“If only this weren’t the Tang Clan…”

He couldn’t beat the precious Tang Clan’s cherished one in the middle of their clan. But this uncomfortable life was almost over.

Ignoring Tang So-mi, he and his companions moved on. Soon, they arrived at the Tang Clan’s workshop.

“Heh heh heh. Welcome.”

As they greeted Tang-gak, who welcomed them, he waved off the formalities dismissively.

“That’s enough. Finally, we’ve made something somewhat useful. Check it out.”

The reason Mu-jin and his companions came to the workshop today was that the prototype of the protein supplement was finally made.

A finely ground pale yellow powder.

Mu-jin cheerfully poured the powder into a bowl, added water, mixed it, and handed a cup to each of the children.

“Here. Try it.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a magic powder.”

“Magic powder?”

The four children, tilting their heads at Mu-jin’s explanation, drank the water mixed with the protein supplement without much thought.

“Ugh.”

They immediately gagged as soon as they tasted it.

“What is this?”

“Is this poison? You should have warned us if it was poison!”

“More importantly, we need to perform Qi Conducting! Qi Conducting, everyone!”

Watching the children’s frantic reactions, Mu-jin had a knowing expression.

“Early protein supplements were notorious for tasting terrible.”

Nowadays, there were flavors like vanilla and chocolate, but old protein supplements were often described as tasting like “soaked cardboard.”

Through the children’s reactions, Mu-jin confirmed just how bad it tasted.

“I’ll only drink this on days when I can’t get protein.”

This was an emergency remedy, not a delicacy.

It was a moment where he felt a newfound respect for bodybuilders from the 60s to the 80s, who built their bodies before chocolate or vanilla-flavored supplements existed.

After observing the children’s painful expressions for a moment, Mu-jin turned to Tang-gak.

“Senior Dark King, has that other item been completed?”

“Ah, you mean that? It’s been prepared and set aside.”

With a smile, Mu-jin headed in the direction indicated by Tang-gak.

If he had eaten something that tasted horrible, he should cleanse his palate.

After finishing their business and leaving the workshop, Mu-jin and his party encountered Tang So-mi, who had been following Mu-jin.

“Heh heh heh. Did you come here out of curiosity?”

Tang-gak asked Tang So-mi, who entered the workshop.

“Is that the item that Master Mu-jin taught you to make?”

Pointing at the pale yellow powder, Tang So-mi inquired, and Tang-gak nodded.

“He said it’s a medicine you mix with water.”

Tang-gak explained as he mixed some powder with water and handed it to Tang So-mi.

With her curiosity piqued, she gladly accepted the drink.

“…Master Mu-jin seems to have deep knowledge of poisons.”

She began to misunderstand, thinking it was related to Mu-jin’s expertise in poisons.

* * *

That evening, the Tang Clan treated Mu-jin and his party to a feast every day, but today’s meal included some unusual dishes.

“Heh heh heh.”

Mu-jin’s eyes lit up as he looked at the food.

Meat coated in a red, oily sauce. On top of it, melted pale yellow, thick cheese.

Yes, they had made cheese using the curds left from whey protein production.

“Ah, this is the taste!”

The combination of spicy food with cheese was truly delightful to the Korean palate.

Though the sticky, gradually building heat from gochujang and gochugaru-based Korean spiciness was different from the sharp, Sichuan-style heat from spices.

“It feels like eating that cheesy spicy chicken from those mukbangs.”

At least for a moment, Mu-jin could recall the flavors of the modern world he had forgotten.

“Here.”

Feeling it would be a shame to eat alone, Mu-jin offered the Sichuan-style dish with cheese to the children.

“Isn’t that the stuff from earlier?”

“Why would you eat that, Mu-jin?”

“Amita Buddha. I’m fine with this. Thank you, Master Mu-jin.”

Having been burned by the similarly colored powder drink earlier, the children refused Mu-jin’s offering with distaste.

* * *

While Mu-jin was savoring the taste of home, back at the Shaolin Temple, the abbot’s office was hosting a private meeting between Abbot Hyun Cheon and the youngest daughter of Cheonryu Sangdan, Ryu Seol-hwa.

“Ahem. So, you say this letter is from Mu-jin?”

“Yes, Abbot.”

“Do you have a separate means of communication with Mu-jin?”

“It’s just a letter sent by Master Mu-jin through our sect’s branch. I don’t know anything more.”

Despite Abbot Hyun Cheon’s probing questions, Ryu Seol-hwa remained calm and skillfully lied.

Having been actively involved in the sect’s affairs for over two years, she was now truly becoming a merchant.

After scrutinizing her for a moment, Abbot Hyun Cheon sighed and opened the letter supposedly from Mu-jin.

As he read through the letter, his expression grew increasingly stern with each line.