Crack, crack-crack.
Han Seong-tae’s joints screamed.
“Ugh…”
He stretched, arms and legs fully extended.
The feeling of tight muscles and stiff joints loosening was wonderfully refreshing.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says your flexibility is far too lacking and tells you to split your legs farther.]
“Hrrgh!”
Following the deity’s words, Han Seong-tae pushed his legs out, groaning like a scream.
He wished he had trained flexibility long ago.
‘When I was young, I never knew I’d need it.’
Regretting now was too late, so he moved instead of brooding.
He had already wasted enough regret in his previous life.
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ says when it comes to flexibility, he must not be left out and wants to share his know-how with you.]
Watching the stream of messages, Han Seong-tae raised his upper body.
Then came the view of the gym.
“Guh…”
“Gasp… gasp…”
“I’m gonna die.”
Stuntmen lay rolling on the floor.
All of them had trained from morning until night.
‘Maybe I overdid it.’
They had practiced with him.
Smiling at the sight, Han Seong-tae rose to his feet.
“Heading out now?”
Kim Dae-hyeon came over, rotating his shoulders, as Han Seong-tae picked up the jacket he’d taken off after stretching.
“Yes. Are you leaving too, hyung?”
“I’ve got to look after the guys. I’m the oldest, can’t just leave them like this.”
“Ah…”
Pointing to the stuntmen sprawled on the floor, Kim Dae-hyeon smiled awkwardly.
Han Seong-tae’s training was not unrelated to their collapse.
“Take care. You’ll be here tomorrow, right?”
“Of course. Not long till shooting.”
“Knew you’d say that. Get home safe.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Nodding, Han Seong-tae left the gym.
After washing up, two familiar faces approached.
“Going home?”
“Yes, senior.”
Kim Mu-cheol and Ma Seok-dong were walking together.
Though Mu-cheol stood a solid 183 cm, next to Seok-dong he looked small.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says those muscles, so different from his, are truly covetable.]
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ brightens, saying it feels like looking at a bear.]
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ questions whether he is even East Asian.]
The Gods poured out admiring messages at the sight of Ma Seok-dong. His physique really was that impressive.
“Seong-tae, we met earlier, right?”
“Yes, senior.”
“Would’ve been nice to match action with me too. Too bad we didn’t. You’ll be here tomorrow?”
He was smiling, yet somehow—
Han Seong-tae felt as if he were being ordered not to miss it.
‘Every time I see him, the pressure is insane.’
He had once glimpsed Ma Seok-dong from afar in his past life; that intimidation was the same now—perhaps greater, with the bulk he’d added for War of Villains, like standing before a bear.
“I’ll definitely be here tomorrow, senior.”
“Then see you. Get home safe.”
“Yes, senior. See you tomorrow!”
Bowing deeply as Mu-cheol and Seok-dong passed, he heard them chuckle while walking off.
So many things different from the previous life, starting with Seok-dong’s interest—
“Phew…”
He laughed softly as he watched their backs.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ wonders what it would feel like to fight a bear.]
‘He’s a man, not a bear.’
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ laments that if he had met him in his own time they could have filmed splendid action.]
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ muses that a big frame like that must be fun to style.]
[‘One Who Made Laughter From Tragedy’ says he looks forward to what action you can do tomorrow.]
Han Seong-tae, too, eagerly awaited tomorrow. What would action with Ma Seok-dong feel like?
‘Not sure I’ll sleep tonight.’
Gripping his bag strap tight, he headed off.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ urges you to get up—the day has dawned.]
6 a.m.
The sun had not yet risen, but the deity’s message woke him.
Brrr!
Moments later, the phone alarm he’d set rang.
“…”
Sitting up, Han Seong-tae stared blankly into space.
Having slept less than an hour, his body felt heavy.
The urge to lie back down was strong, yet he fought it and rose.
“Let’s go.”
After a quick wash he dressed and left home.
The walk to Action School was nearly two hours, but—
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says it’s the perfect distance to warm up the body.]
[‘One Who Defined His Era’ shakes his head, disliking such strain so early.]
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ blinks, saying this hardly seems moderate.]
Laughing at the messages, he began a slow run.
Walking would take two hours; running nonstop, he could arrive within one.
All the Gods but one clicked their tongues: Han Seong-tae took on hardships as if nothing.
More than an hour later—
“You ran again, didn’t you?”
Seeing him drenched, Kim Dae-hyeon let out a hollow laugh. He knew the distance: too far to run. Han could have taken a bus, yet he ran in the name of warming up.
“Relentless, really. Aren’t you tired?”
“It’s hard, but the effect is certain.”
“Wow… seriously. Make sure you make it big. If you don’t succeed, who will?”
Shrugging, Han entered the gym with him and saw stuntmen already stretching. Not yet eight, so not everyone had arrived.
“Hyung, want to do a light warm-up with me?”
“…Didn’t you warm up on the way?”
“Running heated me up. You still have to stretch, right?”
“I’ll handle mine myself.”
Ignoring Dae-hyeon’s fierce nod, he dragged him along. Training with someone helped more than alone.
“I prefer solo practice!”
Dae-hyeon’s cry filled the gym.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ blinks at you.]
[‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ notes your training volume and frowns.]
[‘One Who Made Laughter From Tragedy’ wonders if a human can really move this much.]
As Han trained, the gods’ messages floated before him, reacting oddly.
“Doesn’t he ever get tired?”
“Even for youth, this is too much—shouldn’t we stop him?”
“Crazy. Do you need that workload to catch Director Choi’s eye? If so, count me out.”
Not only the gods; others clicked their tongues.
Over thirteen hours had passed since he entered Action School. Subtracting meal breaks, he had trained twelve hours straight.
People who first praised his diligence now worried.
‘Seems normal to me…’
Their reaction puzzled him—this amount of practice felt natural. Ten-plus hours daily, sleeping barely two—his life had always been so.
[‘Founder of Jeet Kune Do’ says he has never seen anyone as relentless as you.]
If even the Founder said so, perhaps he did train more than most.
‘But isn’t this level necessary to succeed?’
Despite their concern, he kept going; once you stop, rest feels too sweet.
“Gasp… gasp…”
Even while breathing as if his heart would burst, he moved. Only when it was time to head home did he end practice.
“Seong-tae.”
“Yes… senior.”
“I’m curious. Why do you push yourself that hard?”
“Why do I…?”
Why effort? The question made him pause—he had never thought about it. Effort was simply natural; he had never once lived without it.
“I haven’t watched you long, but even so, you seem a bit excessive.”
“Hmm…”
What to answer? He began because he felt keenly his lack of talent: without effort he couldn’t live as an actor.
“I… love acting.”
“…”
“Enough to give my whole life without regret. Right now, that’s my entire reason for effort.”
What more reason was needed?
Hearing this, Kim Mu-cheol fell silent, thinking—then spoke briefly.
“Amazing.”
“You’re far more amazing, senior.”
“Moderate your humility. Too much and it’s annoying.”
Joking, Mu-cheol made Han laugh.
“Since shooting’s near, keep practicing, but rest when you should. One key to acting is stamina management—you can’t burn out before filming starts.”
“I’ll keep that in mind!”
Bowing, Han felt Mu-cheol pat his shoulder.
Though brief, Mu-cheol looked deeply thoughtful.
“See you on set.”
“Yes, senior. Get home safe.”
Watching his back depart, Han Seong-tae stood quietly.
Time passed, and the filming day approached.
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