I bet y'all liked the chapter, cuz I loved it...Shit was peak .
Also I hadn't realised the jinrang-vasco connection until I saw some edits.
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"What do you think Taekwondo has—strength, speed, or technique?" Hansu asked, looking at the sweating Apollo.
Apollo glanced up from his exercises. It had been a week since he began training under Hansu. He now lived with Hansu's family, which included Taehun and his mother.
He still remembered how Taehun's mother had made him eat twice his usual capacity—something about needing the proper nutrition to support his intense training. In both his lives, he had never experienced this kind of warmth or hospitality.
Reflecting on Hansu's question, Apollo came to a quiet realization. "It's not the martial art... it's the practitioner."
Hansu nodded proudly. "Exactly. Every martial art carries those qualities—but it's the practitioner's talent that determines how far those qualities go."
Apollo returned the nod but raised a brow. "Why are you telling me this?"
Hansu crouched down to meet him at eye level. "We made a bet about you reaching the wall, didn't we? I still have doubts that a teenager can achieve it... but I've decided to trust you."
His tone grew serious. "To reach 'mastery,' as you called it, one must move forward along their path. Without a path, trying to reach mastery is just suicide."
Apollo listened carefully as Hansu's expression turned grim. "All you've been doing so far is copying my techniques. Until you forge your own path, don't even dream about reaching the wall."
Apollo smirked. Of course, he knew the importance of a path—especially in this world of Lookism.
Johan Seong had found his path and grew monstrously strong from it. Apollo, too, had discovered something during his recent fight with Taesoo Ma—a spark of his own way forward.
Almost like something out of a martial arts novel... Since Taesoo's path was so direct and linear, reaching mastery would be more straightforward for him. Apollo, however, with his ever-shifting path of adaptation, would have to test and explore many different routes to find that same wall.
"Worrying won't get you far, Master. Just teach me everything you can. Leave the rest to me," Apollo said, his black eyes locked on Hansu with quiet determination.
Hansu paused for a moment, gauging the resolve in his student's voice, before steeling his own. "Alright then. Today, I want you to practice the side kick. Two thousand repetitions."
Apollo gave a sharp nod. "Yes, Master."
But before he could move, Hansu raised a finger, halting him.
"Not like that. I brought some equipment." He gestured toward a heavy pile of gear.
A weighted vest—fifty kilograms. Leg weights—thirty kilos each.
Apollo stared at the setup. Hansu's kind smile felt more like that of a slave driver.
'I've already decided, Master,' he thought, pushing away the dread. He took a stance, muscles tensing.
'For Taekwondo, I'll achieve speed mastery.'
Swing.
Boom.
His leg whipped through the air, leaving a faint afterimage behind. It was barely visible, but Hansu caught it.
Using the exact technique Hansu had shown him, Apollo launched into the repetitions—determined to push his muscles to the absolute limit.
"Two, three, four..." Hansu counted, watching intently as Apollo executed every side kick with flawless form.
What Apollo didn't realize, however, was that something subtle had begun. The belief, the philosophy he had copied from Taesoo—was working. His leg moved just a little faster now. Not by much, but enough that Hansu noticed.
Apollo was improving—fast. . . . "Huff... huff..." Apollo panted, finally finishing the last exercise of the day. Not only had Hansu drilled him in the five core techniques of Taekwondo, but also made him run through the city wearing that insane vest.
Apollo deadpanned as he recalled the stares. People looked at him like he was out of his mind.
'Why must I endure this lunatic of a master?' he thought, his soul crushed.
Back at Hansu's house, Taehun ignored him, heading straight to his room. But Taehun's mother, who was busy cooking, turned slightly and smiled warmly. "Apollo, honey! Come quickly, dinner's ready!"
Apollo smiled softly and excused himself to the temporary room. As much as he appreciated their kindness, he knew the time would come when he'd need to find his own place.
He collapsed onto the bed, sighing with bliss. "Now this is heaven." Lying there for a minute or two, he eventually grabbed his phone and dialed Taesoo's number.
Ring...
Ring...
"Hello? Who is this?" an unfamiliar voice answered.
"Taesoo?" Apollo asked, confused. That wasn't his voice. Was Taesoo in danger?
"Ah, you must be Apollo, sir." The young voice replied brightly. "My name's Hudson. Senior Taesoo told me to give you a message if you called."
Apollo's eyes widened. Hudson Ann? The future Sun of Ansan had already arrived on the scene.
He grinned. "Go ahead."
Hudson cleared his throat and mimicked Taesoo's voice in a deeper tone, "I'm heading to the mountains to train. My crew's handling business. Don't worry."
Apollo nodded to himself. "I see... So he's training. I'll talk to him later then. Nice meeting you, Hudson."
"Un," Hudson grunted.
Beep.
'I see… so he's already met him,' Apollo thought. 'Lately I've been surrounded by kids—Taehun, Jack, now Hudson...'
"Apollo! Where are you? Come quick!" Taehun's mother called again. Dinner was ready.
Apollo stepped out of his room and joined Hansu, his wife, and Taehun at the table. A massive portion of rice and curry was already waiting for him.
She was clearly determined to fatten him up.
Conversation flowed easily—about Hansu, his wife's job, Taehun's school… Apollo didn't even realize how much he enjoyed being there.
He was smiling the entire time.
.
.
.
"I was expecting to see my disciple when I came to Busan," Gapryoung Kim said, slowly eating from a dish at the table.
"Instead, I hear about a boy with reverse eyes, unconscious on the shore," he continued, his voice cold. "That's the second time I've seen it happen this year."
Gun Park, only fourteen, raised an eyebrow but stayed silent.
Gapryoung's tone hardened. "Tell me what happened, boy. Why is the child of Shingen like this?"
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The plot has moved once again, Don't worry though more crazy shit about to happen, if you wanna know more, go to my patreon-
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