“Moo‑cheol hyung, if you do that he’ll really die!”
Inside the gym, a voice filled with screams echoed.
At that voice, Kim Mu‑cheol, who had an anaconda choke on someone, lifted his head.
Bang, bang bang!
The man whose neck was trapped in his arm pounded the floor wildly.
“Gasp!”
The moment Kim Mu‑cheol released the choke, the man sucked in a rough breath.
Looking down at the man whose face had flushed red, Kim Mu‑cheol straightened the knee he’d been bending.
“Next.”
“Hyung! Are you planning to kill all the guys?”
“Next.”
“Ah, please. Hyung!”
At the man’s earnest voice, Kim Mu‑cheol turned his head.
His expressionless face showed that the plea wasn’t getting through at all.
“No one else?”
“Hyung, I know you’re working hard because the shoot’s coming up, but you still need to take it easy. Can’t you see the guys collapsed on the floor?”
“…….”
Kim Mu‑cheol turned his head and looked around.
Several people were sprawled across the gym floor.
Every one of them had offered themselves just to be Kim Mu‑cheol’s partner.
“……No grit. Not a shred of grit.”
“You punk, what do you mean ‘no grit’? Don’t you understand the concept of going easy?”
Feeling a tap on his shoulder from behind, Kim Mu‑cheol turned.
“Hyung, you’re here?”
“Yeah, I came as soon as work was over. And in that short time you half‑killed the kids.”
“Killed who? It’s just because they slack off on training.”
“Hey. You punk. Mu‑cheol, don’t you know moderation? The kids aren’t all like you.”
“This isn’t my fault, Jae‑in hyung. It’s because you let them slack off too much.”
At Kim Mu‑cheol’s words, Jeong Jae‑in let out a deep sigh.
An instructor at Seoul Action School and an action director, Jeong Jae‑in had known the action actor Kim Mu‑cheol for nearly ten years.
So Kim Mu‑cheol knew every word Jae‑in said came from the heart.
‘He’s fine in every way, but being too thick‑headed is the problem.’
Kim Mu‑cheol was a sixteen‑year veteran action actor who lived by his own philosophy: “practice like it’s real.”
That philosophy itself wasn’t bad, but the problem was that he forced that mindset on others.
“You know Ye‑chan worries a lot because of you, right? On this shoot, please don’t cause any trouble.”
“I’ll see how it goes.”
Answering lightly, Kim Mu‑cheol grabbed a towel and wiped off his sweat.
Jeong Jae‑in stared at him.
The answer was so breezy he had no idea what to say.
“What, what?”
“……Could you, just once, give a positive answer?”
“Why all of a sudden? It’s not like you’ve only seen me twice.”
“It’s because I’ve seen you more than twice that I’m like this.”
Jeong Jae‑in’s face twisted as he glared.
Maybe even Kim Mu‑cheol couldn’t stand that gaze, because he turned his head away.
“Mu‑cheol.”
“Ah, fine. So stop already.”
“…….”
“And hey, it’s unfair if you pin it all on me. How am I supposed to fix it when the other actor can’t keep up?”
There was nothing to say to that.
Knowing how high Kim Mu‑cheol’s standards were, Jeong Jae‑in could only sigh.
“Hyung, I want things to pass quietly too. But what can I do? The moment I crank up the intensity, everyone acts like they’re dying. I’m frustrated too.”
“Yeah, must be frustrating.”
“Right? Ah, I hope someone decent comes in this time. Kids these days just have no grit.”
Sure, Kim Mu‑cheol must be frustrated.
There weren’t many actors who could match him.
I can understand that feeling a bit, but still—
“Finished working out?”
“Huh? Well, more or less? Why?”
“If you’re done, head home.”
Kim Mu‑cheol, who’d been nodding, froze.
“Something on today?”
“What would be on? I’ll rest once you’re gone.”
“When have you ever lost rest because of me? What is it?”
“What, what. Nothing. Mind your business.”
Kim Mu‑cheol didn’t look like he planned to believe him.
He stared at Jeong Jae‑in, reading his expression.
“Stop staring.”
“So there is something. What is it that makes you push me out?”
“……Nothing big. Someone Ye‑chan sent is dropping by to train today. You don’t need to care.”
“If Director Choi sent him, I should at least take a look. We might be working together.”
“Fine, do what you want. But keep quiet. Don’t make trouble.”
Watching Kim Mu‑cheol nod, Jeong Jae‑in rubbed his forehead.
It’ll be fine… right?
Jeong Jae‑in stole a glance at Kim Mu‑cheol and sighed.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ urges you to hurry inside.]
The Gods of Acting pushed Han Seong‑tae, who was just staring at the Action School building.
Is it really okay for me to be here?
Even with their messages, Han Seong‑tae hesitated.
Choi Ye‑chan had recommended him, but he never imagined it would be Action School.
Who would have predicted that?
Han Seong‑tae had once tried to enter Action School.
But lacking money and talent, he hadn’t been able to pursue it.
“Phew…….”
Maybe it was the memory of that life he’d muddled away.
Standing here hesitating felt pathetic.
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ says if you don’t take a step, you can’t go anywhere.]
[‘One Who Made Laughter From Tragedy’ cheers that you’ll be good at anything.]
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ says doing nothing is worse than failing.]
Han Seong‑tae nodded at the messages.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says you can knock everyone flat.]
He was here to learn—who was he supposed to knock out?
Han Seong‑tae let out a hollow laugh.
Clack.
The entrance to Action School slid open, and the inside came into view.
So this is the Action School Senior Jung Hong‑do founded.
Located in Seoul, Action School was sacred ground to aspiring action actors.
It had been founded by a living giant of Korean action who gave everything to train juniors.
Han Seong‑tae felt amazed to be stepping into such a place.
“Do you have a reservation?”
An employee by the entrance spoke.
“No.”
“Then are you here to make one? I’m so sorry—reservations are online only.”
“Uh, Director Choi Ye‑chan sent me.”
“One moment, please……. Director Choi Ye‑chan?”
At his words the employee, flustered, called somewhere.
The name Choi Ye‑chan carried weight at Seoul Action School.
“The instructor is coming out now. I’m sorry—could you wait a bit?”
“Of course.”
There was no reason he couldn’t.
How much time passed after the employee asked him to wait?
A man appeared.
“Mr. Han Seong‑tae?”
“Yes!”
At the sight of the man addressing him, Han Seong‑tae realized he was nervous.
Jeong Jae‑in.
Son of the living legend Jung Hong‑do, and himself renowned in the action field.
“I heard from Ye‑chan. You came to train, right?”
“Yes, please take good care of me!”
“All right. Shall we go in?”
Chuckling, Jeong Jae‑in walked inside.
Han Seong‑tae followed.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ looks around curiously.]
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ mutters this place seems systematic.]
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ envies that kids these days get to act comfortably.]
“The showers are beside the restroom, and you can put your things in this locker.”
Jeong Jae‑in was very kind as he gave the tour.
Han Seong‑tae looked curiously at each area.
So this is what Seoul Action School is like.
After moving with Jeong Jae‑in awhile,
Han Seong‑tae reached the spot he came for.
“From now on you can train here. Feel free to use any equipment. Just put it back afterward.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“No need to be so stiff. Let’s work well together.”
“Yes! I look forward to it.”
Jeong Jae‑in smiled and patted his shoulder.
“We’ll see each other often. I’ll introduce you to the others.”
“Thank you!”
Besides them, others were also training.
“This is Han Seong‑tae, who’ll share the gym. I mentioned him, right?”
“Ah, so he’s the one…….”
“That’s the guy Director Choi Ye‑chan recommended.”
People whispered.
Being recommended by Choi Ye‑chan, Han Seong‑tae seemed fairly well‑known here.
“I’m curious—may I ask something?”
At someone’s words, Han Seong‑tae nodded.
“What’s your base?”
“My base?”
“Yeah. I’m judo‑based. He’s ssireum; that guy’s boxing……. I wondered about yours, Mr. Seong‑tae.”
“Ah…I guess kickboxing.”
At his answer they all nodded.
They showed strong interest, asking this and that, and responded big to every answer.
“I’m sorry to say this on a first meeting, but if it’s not rude, how about a light spar?”
“A spar?”
Looking sideways at that, Han Seong‑tae saw Jeong Jae‑in had no intention of stopping it.
Far from it—his eyes looked intrigued.
Han Seong‑tae, who disliked fighting, didn’t want to accept, but the atmosphere pushed him.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ grins fiercely, saying physical exchange is sacred.]
If it’s sacred, why grin so fiercely?
Wearing protective gear and gloves, Han Seong‑tae let out a deep sigh.
Why am I doing this here?
He’d only come to exercise, yet somehow he was about to spar with someone he’d just met.
Look at that size.
Seeing the man in front of him loosening up, he stepped back slightly.
The opponent, quite tall, gave off the pressure of standing before a bear.
“Kim Dae‑hyeon, you better know it’ll be embarrassing if you lose.”
“As if Dae‑hyeon would lose.”
So his name’s Kim Dae‑hyeon.
Han Seong‑tae wondered if he could win.
“Please take care of me.”
Hmm. I probably can’t win.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says if you just follow his words you can’t lose.]
With that message, the match began.
Leave a Reply