Since Master Baek Wei finally established his position, I didn’t get to properly greet the subordinates that I hadn’t met in a long time.
I just sent them back in a rough manner.
Some came to say goodbye and I just gestured to send them off. Whether they knew my true intentions or not I wasn’t sure.
On the other hand Master Baek Wei was watching me with a relaxed attitude.
Master Baek Wei’s disciples were completely rigid as if they were afraid that their breathing would pose a hassle to others. This made Baek Wei seem that much more amazing. In the end the Sect moved to the Sword Demon’s place. That’s because when Master Baek Wei and I face each other it will be no different from another mini war.
As I approach the man who was observing me this entire time he welcomes me with a smile.
“Sect Leader you are such a busy person.”
Only then did Baek Wei get up dusting off his ass. He speaks to his disciples.
“I will walk with Sect Leader for a while.”
I walk alongside him.
What is this man thinking? There is no killing intent.
He is a man who can walk up to a beast without showing any intention to kill and slash them down unexpectedly. However the wild beast caught in that way would have to run to the death like his disciples.
As expected the guy points ahead and speaks without hesitation.
“Have you ever taken a walk with light footwork?”
It was neither a threat nor a scheme to pull me in. It was just a simple suggestion but it felt like there was underlying meaning behind his words so I followed along.
I sigh and answer.
“Let’s start.”
It didn’t feel like he simply wanted to walk utilizing footwork but rather it felt like I was being tested by a footwork instructor…
When he begins I have no choice but to follow.
I have no idea where he is going. Even though he didn’t warm up Master Baek Wei is swift.
Have I already caught up to him? Or is this just a simple warmup for him?
If this is his way of confrontation then I can’t lose. I catch up with Master Baek Wei while recalling the training I learned in the previous life. However the second I would catch up to him Master Baek Wei would increase his speed.
Eventually it came down to me running while having to manage my internal qi. After managing to catch up to him three times he changed his form by slightly leaning his upper body forward while placing his arms behind him.
And that increased his speed.
Just like in the previous life I can’t keep up at all.
What type of light arts is this?
I prided myself on being swift with my footwork but in the end I can’t catch up to the man and the distance only widens.
This is not a matter of the depth of our qi.
It surely is a matter of footwork and not light footwork. He is a man who has deeply recognized the truth behind the martial arts. I can’t catch up to him despite being the craziest man so I’m stuck in a helpless situation.
Master Baek Wei who had widened the gap comes back and slows down.
I take a breath and keep a distance from Master Baek Wei. It’s a situation where I have to mentally prepare my mind and body because he could attack at any moment.
Master Baek Wei speaks in a calm tone.
“Sect Leader you didn’t train at all.”
“Can one achieve this speed without training? You are as fast as if you were flying on a tortoise shell. It is such great footwork.”
Master Baek Wei smiles.
“You are a beginner when it comes to it. Let us walk.”
I walk with him in an unfamiliar neighborhood. After all this it wouldn’t be strange to see the sea right about now. We traveled a far distance in a short time frame. I tell him
“If my footwork is bad suggest a different method of battle.”
He responds like what I said was absurd.
“… I see. Sect Leader. Is there a name for someone who asks another to teach them something in such a roundabout manner with such a shameless attitude?”
“Look here master. There aren’t many people in Kangho who will be able to absorb everything you try to teach them. Are there any among the disciples who are faster than me? The Butcher was a little faster but not faster than me.”
“Come to think of it the Butcher was killed by your hands.”
“Why? You want revenge?”
Master Baek Wei laughs at me
“You sound so insane. The Butcher was human shit which is difficult to salvage.”
Only then did I recall the events of the previous life. When I claimed that he murdered his disciples and threw their heads at the Murim Alliance Leader it wasn’t an overstatement. And so it’s not strange for him to be speaking about his own people like this.
And he continues
“Still your skills are good. It would have been nice if I could have witnessed the fight with the young lord’s people.”
“You wanted to paint while watching us fight?”
“If I think it is worth it then yes. If not I would’ve just watched till the end and did nothing. Word spreads. And your footwork isn’t so good. It is clear that you hold talent but you haven’t studied martial arts. Don’t overestimate your talent. The process is slow. All this time you must have thought you were pretty good right?”
“Hmm.”
This was clearly said to mock me.
I think back to him when he was running. I had never seen it so close in my previous life. Also the martial art of mine is quite different from now and in the past. For a while I gaze at him.
His form while running swiftly was impressionable. He had bent his upper body forward with his arms pointed backwards. The word axis comes to mind at the image of his form.
Could it be the depth of understanding that this man had? His own idea of it?
Actually taking into consideration my current skill level it is right that I have to run faster than I am now.
Could it be that the form I was utilizing while running wasn’t optimizing my strengths? I look at Master Baek Wei and seriously ponder the thought regardless of what he’s saying.
“… master let us do it again. Start.”
Baek Wei answers a bit surprised.
“Sect Leader have you caught onto something?”
“Shut up and start.”
He laughs with a snort and vanishes in an instant. I take a deep breath and follow him.
I look back to see if I had fallen too behind during the time I took to try to understand the concept. Running with external qi versus running with internal qi are completely different. If one runs while using internal qi…
It doesn’t matter if one throws away their stride. That is because people with a strong internal qi can cover a very long distance in just one leap.
In the first place footwork is the study of the body in a lightened state. If one dives into the details it is the same reason it’s also known as “light” footwork. So I already had a foundation of understanding to build upon. To use light footwork swiftly one has to have better footwork.
But when I run next to him I can’t move as fast as him. Rather it’s because the distance to advance one step is so incredibly far. As a result I don’t run recklessly as I did before.
The word axis pops into my mind once more.
If I try to imitate his form the power needed to move ahead while utilizing my internal qi overpowers my body so I end up rising a lot into the air.
What I find strange is this.
Master Baek Wei is always fast even though he doesn’t run constantly like that. It’s as if he alternates between lightening his body and making it heavy. In short I come to the conclusion that his martial art technique isn’t one that involves just simply footwork.
Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to label him as a man who runs with the appearance of using footwork but in actuality it’s lightness footwork? I call out to him without another thought.
“Master Master Master Baek Wei!”
When I shout out loud he who was ahead waits and moves back.
“Sect Leader you seem to have figured out something but did your speed get slower?”
I reply in a sullen tone.
“I just slowed down because I was hungry.”
“You’re saying that you’re already hungry after eating so much earlier?”
“So?”
I purposely enter the main street and enter a shabby restaurant for noodles and he follows.
“Figured something out?”
Sitting at a table I say
“I only use light footwork. Master uses lightness footwork and there is no way for me to catch up right now.”
Only then did his expression brighten.
“Ah I managed to figure it out. But lightness footwork?”
Master Baek Wei nods.
“Well in summary I guess it can be put that way.”
After ordering two bowls of noodles I glare at Baek Wei with a puzzled look.
‘Is this bastard treating me like some ant to stamp on? Fucking moron.’
I empty the bowl of noodles but I wasn’t happy so I stopped to order another. Come to think of it if I had to fight with him again it would be uncomfortable to run on a full stomach.
“Ah damn it I can’t even eat noodles without worrying about it. But I get angry because just one bowl isn’t enough. That temper of mine really is something.”
The owner of the place who had heard me cautiously says
“Have more.”
“Ah it is fine.”
I deliberately point at Master Baek Wei and then ask the noodle shop owner
“What do you think of this person?”
To which he looks at Master Baek Wei and smiles.
“He gives a good impression and is handsome to look at and he seems to be educated.”
I nod.
“You have amazing insight.”
I was worried that he would harm the owner so I glared at him. After drinking the soup he suddenly crosses his arms and says to the man.
“Owner add a little more salt the next time. It is too bland.”
The owner slightly bows his head.
“I understand.”
After I pay for the noodles I walk out with him and I look to greet the owner goodbye.
“Later when he comes to eat noodles by himself add a little more salt. Because that one is insane.”
The owner looks surprised at my comment.
“I understand.”
Master Baek Wei sighs.
“I can hear everything; did you really have to say that?”
I look at the owner and nod.
“Look at that. Now do you get it? Be sure to add some salt.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
“I am fine. Water noodles are meant to be eaten like this. Owner I had a good meal.”
“Yes then please.”
As soon as I come out I applaud while checking the signboard of the noodle shop.
“This is a wonderful noodle restaurant. Maybe it is delicious because we ran too hard. I feel nice.”
Master Baek Wei says with a smile.
“Sect Leader do you think that I would mindlessly kill people? Let go of such worries.”
With my hands behind my back I answer
“Master how can I know your heart? I don’t know what goes on inside people’s heads. Do you know it is impossible to know someone’s true thoughts?”
“This is all bullshit.”
“It is unknowable because people’s hearts change. And about the lightness footwork… it needs some work”
“What?”
“It seems stronger in its own way but the name I gave it feels off. It is right to give the technique a proper name.”
Master Baek Wei stops talking and looks at me.
“Like.”
I look at him with my hands behind my back.
“That posture with the hands on the back isn’t suitable for running. In terms of form it seems like one is climbing a ladder and not moving on the ground. You don’t really need to be in that position to move horizontally. Instead once you get used to it you will be able to climb the cliff in the same form. In other words it is a posture that looks like climbing an imaginary staircase. Just the word Ladder gets added.”
Master Baek Wei asks with a serious expression.
“Next?”
“Taking a closer look it might look like a climbing ladder but from a distance it looks like divine steps of moving amongst the clouds.”
“Ladder Cloud Divine Steps? Ladder Cloud Arts.”
I ponder the name.
“Both of them feel a bit lacking. I was simply following along with lightness footsteps because that’s what you called it. Your steps are too much for me. Any thoughts on the names suggested?”
He nods as if it wasn’t too difficult and then comes up with a name.
“Ladder Cloud Step.”
The character step means like a footstep or being suspended in the air and could also imply that Low-Down Sect Leader is following. So it was master Baek Wei who found the right word.
I nod my head with a calm look.
“Ladder Cloud Step… I cannot think of a better name.”
Master Baek Wei asks looking surprised
“Ah you understood the meaning?”
“Almost everything. Your technique is part of a man who has a hard time finding an opponent. Congratulations on being named as such. Is there better footwork than this in Kangho? It will be interesting to find out.”
Master Baek Wei says
“How about making one then Sect Leader?”
I shake my head.
“My skills aren’t good enough. Being strong and being able to create martial arts which don’t exist are two different things. I will think about it but not now.”
For a while I walk with my hands behind my back.
The man didn’t tell me to run as if he was in deep thought too. I remain silent for a while leaving him alone.
In my thoughts…
His footwork is so outstanding that it can rarely be matched in Kangho but the fact that the technique didn’t even have a name is what is giving me goosebumps.
To sum it up it seems that this person didn’t have anyone with whom he could exchange such a high-level martial art with.
