“Please take this manual.”
“Secret Maneuver Footwork?”
I stared blankly at the manual Jega Hyeon-sang handed me. The book smelled of fresh ink, as neat and clean as if it were new. It looked like it hadn’t been written long ago.
“Where did you get this manual?”
“It isn’t a proper manual. I extracted the core elements of a stepping technique suitable for Great Hero Wi and compiled it into this booklet.”
“Extracted the core? Is this something I can actually use?”
Martial arts aren’t something where you can simply extract the core and learn them, are they?
If that were the case, learning martial arts would be much easier now. If that were possible, this person would already have surpassed my level.
Was it because I unconsciously gave a doubtful look? Jega Hyeon-sang said with a proud expression.
“Who am I? I am of the Jega family. I can boast that I have an outstanding intellect. I investigated the Martial Alliance archives to find a stepping method suitable for Great Hero Wi, but since you don’t use the Central Plains’ internal energy techniques, learning their stepping methods or lightness techniques would be difficult.”
“Hmm…”
It wasn’t a wrong statement.
As he said, I couldn’t directly use the Central Plains’ stepping techniques or lightness techniques, which were often linked to internal energy techniques. Given that I only had the meditation methods of the Western Regions, there were many difficulties in using them.
“Therefore, I’ve reached one conclusion. Martial arts have principles, and martial arts are based on those principles. So, I compiled a book containing the principle of the stepping method most suitable for Great Hero Wi.”
“Principle?”
“Have you heard of the ‘Arrow Leap’?”
“Arrow Leap… No, I don’t know it.”
“Ah! Arrow Leap! I know it!”
Hye-ryeong, sitting on a rock behind me, exclaimed. She seemed to know about it and started explaining the concept of Arrow Leap.
“Arrow Leap is a stepping method where you move forward as fast as an arrow! It’s similar to what you usually use, Uncle!”
“Hmm.”
“As Hye-ryeong put it, the Arrow Leap refers to a stepping method where you leap forward using the spring force from bending your body, similar to how an arrow flies off the string. Though used in many martial arts, it’s a concept mainly applied in boxing techniques.”
“Even if you explain it that way, it’s hard to get a sense of what it feels like.”
“Let me show you briefly…”
Jega Hyeon-sang took a few steps back, spread his legs, slightly bent his back leg, then pushed off with great agility and covered a distance of ten steps in the blink of an eye.
“It feels like this. I’ve only learned the very basics of Six Harmonies Boxing, so I can’t execute it correctly, but I believe you understand what the stepping method is.”
“Swift (疾) like an arrow (箭), leaping (歩)…”
This seemed like the Central Plains version of the technique where I explosively release energy from the tip of my foot to accelerate momentarily.
As it solely relies on physical movement, the feel of it was quite different.
“It’s not a difficult stepping method to learn, and it’s easy to adapt. It’s better for Great Hero Wi to practice this. You’re not looking for graceful stepping methods, are you?”
“You’re right.”
“Just learning this will help you develop new stepping methods in the future.”
“Develop stepping methods?”
“Shouldn’t you develop stepping methods that match the martial arts of the Western Regions?”
Jega Hyeon-sang was correct. Since the direction of using energy is different, using the Central Plains’ style of stepping methods would be challenging. After all, they don’t rely on infusing muscles with energy over here; they refine their mana flow to the extreme to do all sorts of things.
It’s hard to say which is superior, but what matters is that this is a stepping method that I can master without much strain.
Although it seemed more akin to a martial technique’s stepping method rather than a full-fledged martial art’s stepping method.
“I believe this will suffice for Great Hero Wi. You can advance your lightness techniques by incorporating the principles of the Arrow Leap, so focus on internalizing the concept of Arrow Leap for now.”
“Thank you.”
“Never. This is also an investment.”
“Will the returns on this investment be worthwhile?”
“That depends on Great Hero Wi. I’ll leave since I have some matters to attend to. I hope you achieve great success on this journey.”
Jega Hyeon-sang walked lightly back into the Martial Alliance as if his job was done. I put away the manual titled Secret Maneuver Footwork and turned around to look at the seemingly endless official road.
“Long road…”
“The Central Plains is vast. This is merely a fragment of it.”
What do you mean by that, Mok-kyeong?
I glanced at Mok-kyeong, who had appeared somewhere. Dressed in her official attire with a small travel pack on her back, Mok-kyeong said with a face that was usually cold but carried a hint of warmth.
“Eun-gong. Miss Hye-ryeong. Sorry for being late.”
“How late are you? We just arrived, so don’t worry about it.”
Then let’s get moving.
I took out the map and traced a line with my finger.
“Our goal is to follow the official road and reach Wudang Mountain within one month. By then, we’ll be in mid-autumn. Then we’ll return to the Martial Alliance before winter starts.”
“That’s quite a tough journey!”
“It’s manageable.”
Though we have some luggage, it’s only about twenty kilograms or so. As martial practitioners, we wouldn’t get tired that easily.
“Let’s go then.”
“Understood.”
“I get it!”
Is this truly the start?
I stepped onto the vast official road of the Central Plains.
—
“We’ll rest in this village.”
“How can there be a village in such remote mountains?”
“It’s likely that villages exist because it’s such a remote area.”
Living in such a place, you wouldn’t usually get taxed unless it’s something extraordinary. Though, it’s not like they’d be living well either. We quietly entered the village through the entrance and walked deeper inside.
Naturally, we drew curious gazes. Even though we wore wide-brimmed hats, it might be the very reason why people were looking at us.
I adjusted the brim of my hat and looked around the village.
Nothing’s happened yet.
Since the original story doesn’t provide the exact timing, we might have to keep waiting for a while. It was an event that occurred sometime after the Dragon Phoenix Meeting, so it should happen soon.
The real problem is how we find an excuse… but I figure we should decide after staying here for the night.
“Let’s stay here for the night.”
“Finally, we can rest!”
Continuing the walk had tired Hye-ryeong, who now grinned in relief. This journey along the official road must have been monotonous and taxing mentally. She was half-asleep while walking for the latter part.
Ideally, we should have bought horses or used lightness techniques to speed up the journey, but unfortunately, my skills in lightness techniques aren’t yet polished enough.
As Jega Hyeon-sang said, the concept isn’t difficult, but I need to get accustomed to it physically before I can use it properly.
“Then, let’s visit the village elder!”
“Sure.”
We headed directly to the most official-looking building in this small village. Each time we approached the building, people would glance at us, then look away, so we continued without showing any reactions.
It’s impossible not to understand the mixed looks of curiosity and suspicion.
“Is there an elder around?”
“Ah, it’s been a long while since we’ve had visitors to this village.”
“We stumbled upon your village while traveling and have come to inquire if we might stay the night.”
“Come in. We can offer a night’s lodging.”
With the old man’s permission, I gently opened the door. Upon opening the door, a strong earthy smell wafted in. Are they making ceramics from the earth here?
I briefly looked at the dark clay-colored ceramics in the corner and then observed the elder whose hair glimmered as he watched us. The elder, with a mole on his right cheek, looked at me, then whispered in surprise.
“Color-eyed Person?”
“Just consider me a martial traveler.”
“How unexpected to shelter a Color-eyed Person. Where did you learn the Central Plains’ language?”
“From a friend.”
“This old man’s home isn’t very spacious, so we only have one room. Would that be acceptable?”
“Yes!”
“…It’s fine.”
“We are very grateful that you’re allowing us to stay.”
Ideally, we would like to stay for a week, but that might be too much to ask right now.
There’s no decent reason provided yet.
“This is your room.”
It was a bit cramped but had enough space for the three of us to sleep. We might bump into each other if we toss and turn, but…
“Since you’ve traveled a long way, I’ll prepare some snacks for you.”
“It’s not necessary. We’ve already eaten along the way…”
“I understand. Then, rest well.”
As the old man disappeared down the corridor, I set down my luggage and leaned against the wall sitting.
“I’ll take the side by the door. You guys decide the rest.”
“I’ll take the middle!”
“Anywhere is fine with me.”
The sleeping arrangements were quickly decided. Let’s sleep now.
I settled down near the door and relaxed my body. As soon as I lay down, the fatigue from walking all day enveloped my eyelids.
“Good night, Uncle.”
“Good night, Eun-gong.”
“Good night to you both…”
I succumbed to the drowsiness without resisting and fell asleep.
