Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Lightness Skill
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The past two years of life hadn't been bad at all.
It couldn't exactly be called a desperate struggle for survival, since So-hyang was so adept at staying alive.
The land itself was fertile, so farming went well, and there were plenty of animals to hunt.
In the end, it was a life of such abundance that she could even balance her nutrients carefully in her diet.
She got into crafting too—carving wooden spoons and bowls, shaping clay pots and firing them.
Contentment in poverty.
The peace of living amid verdant nature might seem boring at first glance, but it had a profound power to heal the depths of the human heart.
"It's a shame, but I guess I'll have to leave it behind."
But what So-hyang truly desired wasn't this pastoral tranquility—it was ascension.
Cultivating martial arts, honing herself through bloody battles, advancing one step beyond yesterday's self, and another step tomorrow.
There was no end to her longing, so pursuing power until the very moment of death was So-hyang's essence.
"We're planning to head back to the Murim Alliance now... Where do you intend to go, young lady?"
The three rose early in the morning, resealed the Blood Curse, finished packing, and with Namgung Su taking the lead, asked for So-hyang's intentions.
"Hmm. Would it be alright if I tagged along to the Murim Alliance with you all?"
"Pardon? Why...?"
"Yesterday, Elder Wind Path Beggar said you'd give me fitting compensation. Was that just empty words, by any chance?"
"N-no! Not at all!! Please join us!"
Wind Path Beggar frantically insisted with his whole body that he had no intention of skimping on the reward.
"Ahaha, good to hear."
So-hyang suspected Wind Path Beggar might be overly afraid of her, but explaining otherwise seemed pointless, so she let it be.
"Then, let's really get going now!"
-----
Throughout history, horses have been a universal means of transport beloved by all, but martial artists who reach a certain level rarely ride them.
In forests, swamps, mountains, and other treacherous terrains impassable by horse, one must travel on foot.
And fundamentally, a first-rate martial artist or higher could run at speeds comparable to a horse—and sustain that speed far longer.
The training that made this possible was widely known in the world as lightness skill.
The principle of channeling inner power to reduce one's weight to that of a feather, foundational to all martial arts.
"You can't use lightness skill... right?"
"That's right? Since you have no inner power."
So-hyang matched the group's pace using pure physical strength for her footwork.
Clearly, the ground was cratering and thudding under her steps, so she wasn't lightening her body, yet her elastic, nimble propulsion was impressive.
"Lightness skill is pretty amazing, huh. Do you levitate your body with inner power?"
The three found it more astonishing that she kept up without lightness skill.
Sure, there were naturally superhuman physiques called "heroes," but—
Even the pinnacle, the Thousand Strength Body, couldn't produce such marvels.
"And those kinds of constitutions usually come with massive, hulking frames..."
Her limbs were slender and straight, her thin waist lacking even space for muscle.
"Ahaha, thanks."
Leaving behind the compliments about her looks—which she couldn't tell if they were flattery or sincere anymore—So-hyang sank into thought.
"Lightening the body..."
It was definitely a technique beyond So-hyang's common sense.
Their inner power must be a force that defied natural principles.
But if it was a power defying principles, didn't that apply to her own flesh and skills too?
"If I focus only on achieving the result of moving lightly, without fixating on reducing weight..."
She reverse-engineered the phenomenon she'd witnessed.
She couldn't actually reduce her weight, but if she moved as if she had, wasn't the outcome the same?
In a flash, she seized the spark of inspiration.
Intuitively sense the weight pressing down on her body and channel it into the ground.
Essentially a trick for dispersing impact, but refined beyond limits, it twisted principles themselves.
"...What is it, young lady?"
With each step, the noise lessened, the craters shallowed.
After seven more steps, she trod on grass sprouting from the earth without harming a single blade.
Shed the weight crushing her body into the ground; the rebounding force propelled her forward.
"Heavens, Grass Flying Step...!?"
"Grass Flying Step... Flying over the grass. Nice name."
This was her limit for now, but as she familiarized herself with the trick and her body grew stronger—
She could step on snow without leaving prints, walk on water using surface tension, and at the pinnacle, tread atmospheric layers to stride through the air.
"Indeed..."
This was the moment she felt ashamed for arrogantly claiming mastery of the technique.
The mountain So-hyang climbed was inconceivably lofty; what she'd thought was the peak was merely one small summit.
Knowing the path ahead was staggeringly endless might despair others—
But learning and practicing—wasn't that joy itself?
Progress was So-hyang's deepest wish; far from disheartening, it was cause for celebration.
"Ha, haha, hahaha...!"
Her chest swelled, a thrilling ecstasy vibrating her soul—
Ah. Enlightenment was this sweet.
"Y-young lady...! If you run that fast, our inner power won't hold...!"
"Ah."
Caught up in the thrill of her rare enlightenment, So-hyang had unwittingly surged far ahead of the group.
"Sorry about that. I had a small breakthrough, lost control for a moment..."
The three stared at her like she'd grown a second head.
"...Did you just use lightness skill without inner power?"
"Not actually lightening my weight—just moving as if I had. Like imitating lightness skill?"
If imitating lightness skill let her perform Grass Flying Step, wasn't it just lightness skill?
"Ah... I see."
The three decided to accept reality as is and fell silent.
-----
For the past two years, So-hyang had focused on forging her body and reclaiming her prowess from her past life.
It was fulfilling time, advancing step by step, but essentially repeating her previous existence.
In contrast, these recent days were novel and stimulating.
Things unimaginable in her prior life, or imagined but unrealized.
While traveling, So-hyang immersed herself in solidifying her newfound enlightenment.
First, the art of moving lightly.
Grass Flying Step, lightness skill imitation—for now, she'd call it lightness skill.
Aside from sleep, So-hyang operated lightness skill constantly, testing it in varied conditions.
Could she disperse weight while stationary, not just in motion?
Could she vary it—parts heavy, parts light?
Beyond long-distance travel, could it apply in combat?
Which exact muscles and bones dispersed the weight?
So-hyang didn't accept the enlightenment at face value; she used it as a springboard for new learning.
Disassembling and reassembling components, rationalizing bodily intuition through intellect—a research process.
"G-G-Girl? The blanket isn't sinking?"
"...You're using lightness skill even while asleep?"
Ultimately, she optimized her body for lightness skill, unconsciously maintaining it even in sleep.
Next, intent.
Projecting will outward through her open upper dantian.
Previously, she'd used it to suppress the Blood Curse with flicks or infuse commands into her voice for Fire Dog.
Testing en route:
Snapping distant branches without touch, amplifying strike power, imbuing blades with sharpness.
Like manifesting "earnest desire becomes reality."
Near-omnipotent in versatility.
But drastically weakened against non-spiritual targets.
"Hm, not very practical?"
It required focus time, and the effect was underwhelming given that.
FINE for daily life, but dubious in combat.
"...Yeah, I'll need to research this slowly."
Namgung Su and Tang Hwaryeon, ignorant of sorcery, saw it as mere novelty—
"Wow, what was that?"
"Incredible."
But Wind Path Beggar's eyes bulged in shock.
'...Damn, that's divine power.'
Anyway, the journey proceeded smoothly.
No need to hide from eyes now, so they used roads and inns freely, replacing handmade leather with proper clothes.
"These seem expensive. Okay to wear on a long trip?"
Not flashy, but high-quality fabric.
Considering the era's tech, very pricey.
"No matter the cost, martial robes are for roaming the jianghu. We mustn't fear tearing or dirt."
As expected of prestigious clan heirs, they spent generously but not wastefully—So-hyang approved.
"I'll wear them well. Thank you."
-----
Time passed, and the group entered Yunju County on Hubei’s outskirts.
"Almost there, but let's rest here."
Even using roads and inns, they'd taken shortcuts, passing villages but no proper cities till now.
"This place has famous eats—shouldn't we indulge before moving on?"
Gourmet tour. Plain slacking.
"Senior Wind Path Beggar, we're on alliance business—"
Namgung Su, true to his upright face, resisted delays till mission complete—
"Sounds good. What's it famous for?"
"Peking duck, braised pork. Meats to die for. Eh, Namgung? What?"
So-hyang's agreement silenced him.
"...Nothing. Senior. Meat sounds great."
Fresh from a beating the day they left the mountain, fear made sense then.
But after weeks to Hubei, still cowering? Overkill, thought So-hyang.
She hadn't been violent, even friendly.
Was she that scary?
Spoiled upbringing making him timid?
Actually, So-hyang's otherworldly behavior during travel only amplified their fear.
Barefoot Grass Flying Step all day?
Catching presences beyond qi sense with sound alone?
Most terrifying: her very way of living.
No gesture or breath wasted; each held agonized pursuit of enlightenment.
Not just passionate—desperate, voracious.
Chilling greed.
Not mere superior physique, but alien existence.
Peak expert Namgung Su felt that otherness most acutely.
"How about washing up and eating first? This inn has hot springs too..."
Tang Hwaryeon, inwardly wanting rest, eyed Namgung Su before suggesting.
"Great! Scrub and shine, meet up!"
Wind Path Beggar dragged Namgung Su to the baths; So-hyang followed—
"Young lady. That's the men's bath...?"
—but Tang Hwaryeon grabbed her collar, halting her.
"...Right."
So-hyang had forgotten she was a girl.
The two girls shared an awkward glance before heading to the women's bath.
-----
So-hyang and Hwaryeon soaked naked in the hot spring.
Languid warmth eased fatigue; damp skin flushed pink.
Even counting past-life experiences, among the finest springs—
A beauty with flamboyant golden hair, striking features, and graceful curves stared piercingly at So-hyang.
Sensing the gaze, So-hyang smiled faintly.
"Do you need something from me?"
Her golden eyes gleamed brilliantly. Her pupils seemed vertically slit like a reptile's.
"What a curious twist. To coincidentally meet the child who slew this princess's wastrel kin here."
The empire-ruling dragon bloodline.
Imperial Princess Zhu Yeonhwa's crimson lips curved in a cool smile.
"Your name was So-hyang, wasn't it?"