Chapter 26: In the Jianghu, One's Body is Not One's Own (15)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 26: In the Jianghu, One's Body is Not One's Own (15)
The day after Yeon So-wol returned from dealing with Mad Dog, Lee Yu-baek began teaching him footwork.
“From now on, we’ll focus on mastering the Willow Leaf Step. I have a feeling you’ll be doing a whole lot of running very soon.”
If qinggong was the art of lightening the body, footwork was the art of treading the earth.
“Only when footwork is added to qinggong can a martial artist truly fight and compete.”
After saying this, Lee Yu-baek fell silent for a moment.
“...Of course, that’s only when your opponent is at a similar level. If there’s a massive gap in qinggong proficiency, you can overwhelm them without any footwork at all, just as you did. That’s why qinggong is considered the root and footwork the branch.”
Qinggong was the root. Footwork, the branches.
“But no matter how important the root is, isn’t it the branches that ultimately bear fruit? You’ll have to risk your life training in the Willow Leaf Step as well.”
Despite Lee Yu-baek’s ominous words, the training for the Willow Leaf Step thankfully came with no horrifying side effects like one’s body melting, rotting, or evaporating.
There were, of course, a few minor issues. Since it involved using True Qi that transcended human limits to stomp the ground and shift one’s weight, a single misapplication of force could cause one’s feet and knees to twist backward. In a worst-case scenario, one’s spine might simply fold in half...
Well, it’s kind of like riding a motorcycle. No, wait. This might even be better. Since I’m using my own body, it’s that much easier to control.
A human being, moving with the power and speed of a motorcycle using nothing but their bare body—and the risk of injury was only comparable to a high-speed accident?
That’s practically no risk at all.
Yeon So-wol was extremely satisfied with this safe and reasonable training regimen.
I just have to weave qinggong into the footwork while managing my state of Refinement. That’s all I need to watch out for. Simple.
It was a way of thinking that would have made the Yeon So-wol who had first fallen into this world faint in terror, but now, he found nothing strange about it.
“As expected. With your excellent Comprehension and Qi Sense, you’re picking up the Willow Leaf Step quickly.”
After three days, Yeon So-wol had mastered the fundamental movements and principles of the technique.
Lee Yu-baek nodded. “However, the important part of footwork isn’t just learning the forms. It’s about using them at the right time and place in a real fight. Dodging, lunging, chasing, and being chased. Therefore, you need training that is as close to a real battle as possible.”
Yeon So-wol tensed. Again...? Is he going to beat me again?
“Unfortunately, I can’t help you. Mu-hyeok, Je-hun, and Mo Cheong are all going to be busy—thanks to the good news you brought me, that is.”
News? Ah. The news that the Golden Powder Gang’s leader, Seo Mu-ryang, might be colluding with the Mount Cheonro Bandits?
It was the information Cho-ran of the Cheongun Pavilion had given him as a gift. There was also the news that the Chief Daoist of Yanggwang would be taking a boat trip on the Jipseong River on the eighth of the fourth lunar month, but...
My father wouldn’t be busy because of something like that.
In any case, Yeon So-wol felt a small spark of relief. Does that mean I won’t get beaten up?
Even though his martial arts improved by leaps and bounds every time he was thrashed, there was no way he could actually enjoy it. Yeon So-wol felt a subtle sense of joy.
“So, about that. Go have a round with Resentful Dog.”
“...”
“Your answer?”
“...Are you referring to Jeon Tae-gwang, the youngest disciple of the Severing Sword Sect Leader?”
“Yes.”
“...You mean for me to hone my Willow Leaf Step in a real fight.”
“That’s right. Now that you’ve properly awakened your Qi Sense and know how to guard your mind, you should be able to put up a fight if you use the Willow Leaf Step correctly. Fight him every day until I say you’re done.”
“Will I win?”
“What are you talking about?” Lee Yu-baek looked at him as if he were being absurd. “You’ll lose. You’re going to get beaten to a pulp.”
“...”
“But don’t you dare lose. If you do, you’d better be prepared. I can’t have my disciples getting beaten up, let alone my own son.”
“...Yes. Of course.”
Yeon So-wol knew by now that pointing out such contradictions was meaningless. As Yeon So-wol lowered his head, feigning subservience, Lee Yu-baek abruptly thrust a booklet at him.
“What’s this...?”
“It’s one of those books made by busybodies with nothing better to do. You can learn about the martial artists who made a name for themselves in Guangdong. Read it and study.”
“What should I study?”
“How to pick a fight.”
“...”
“As I said, the closer the training is to a real fight, the better the results. You need to provoke him properly so he’ll charge at you like you’re his parents’ murderer. That book is full of all sorts of stories, so you should find plenty of material to help you learn how to push buttons. I’ll be checking on your progress later, so do it right.”
Lee Yu-baek patted Yeon So-wol’s shoulder and walked past him.
“Hoo...” Yeon So-wol let out a deep sigh. “This isn’t easy.”
The world of martial artists, of thugs...
Yeon So-wol thought of Resentful Dog. Just a few days ago, he had killed the man's friend, Mad Dog.
“And now he wants me to be the one to start a fight. And to do it in a way that makes him see me as his parents’ killer.”
As a former model student from Earth, Yeon So-wol’s heart felt heavy. Mad Dog was a serial killer who tried to kill me first, so I can let that slide. But Resentful Dog didn’t seem to be that kind of person... As a human being, was it really okay to do this?
“Hoo...”
He sighed once more and opened the book he’d been given. His textbook for learning how to pick a fight: the Jianghu Roster.
「There are people in this world who burst forth like an awl. People who break down fences, flee their homes, and tear their clothes to emerge. The place they go, the place where they gather and live, is called the Jianghu.」
He skimmed past the preface and turned to the first page.
*
He was given the moniker of the Cross-dressing Official because he was an official who dressed like a woman.
He was originally a promising military official who had placed first in the military examination, but he could not overcome his habit of dressing in women's silks. One day, he appeared at the military barracks wearing makeup, a skirt, and even a wig, much to the embarrassment of his superiors and subordinates.
Even after being severely reprimanded, he did not change and was eventually dismissed from his post. Chu Jin-hyeok harbored a deep grudge for this. Thus, whenever he encountered another official while wandering the Jianghu, he would ask:
“Is it reasonable to dismiss a military official for cross-dressing?”
If he was not satisfied with the answer, he would restrain them, forcibly dress them as a woman, and throw them into a government office, shouting:
“This man has also cross-dressed, so dismiss him!”
*
...What?
Yeon So-wol thought to himself, Why is this... actually fun?
*
“Did you see it the other day? Those Three Dogs bastards were made to look like complete fools.”
“I saw it, I saw it.”
“Hah. He really showed them they were on a different level.”
“Mad Dog died that day, right? You don’t think Young Master Yeon did that too?”
“Nah. No matter how good he is, how could he beat thirteen Black Path members by himself? Mad Dog must have been acting up and ran into some renowned expert he didn’t recognize.”
“That must be it...?”
On the streets of Xinxing County, Yeon So-wol had become the primary topic of conversation. Everyone felt a thrilling sense of satisfaction at the memory of Yeon So-wol’s lofty bearing as he trampled and mocked the nuisances known as the Three Dogs of Xinxing.
Of course, whenever the crowd agrees, there is always a contrarian.
“Running away because you’re scared to fight back... you’re all dressing it up so nicely, aren’t you?”
“His qinggong might be decent, but since when do we praise a martial artist for being good at running away? Honestly. A martial artist is supposed to be good at fighting.”
“That’s true.”
“And another thing. No matter what, Resentful Dog lost his friend. Didn’t you see him standing vigil at the funeral for three days straight? How can you say things like that after seeing him? Are you even human?”
“Right, right. I don’t like Resentful Dog either, but that was heartbreaking. It made me think their friendship was real.”
“...What’s with you guys? Are you the Three Dogs’ fathers or something?”
“What? Then what are you? A spy from Annam?”
“What?!”
Arguments broke out, and collars were grabbed. Yeon So-wol’s name grew hotter by the day.
That was why, when Yeon So-wol suddenly appeared and sat down in front of Resentful Dog, who was drinking tea alone, everyone in the vicinity held their breath.
“...What do you want?” Resentful Dog’s eyes were bloodshot.
Yeon So-wol politely lifted the teapot and poured tea into Resentful Dog’s cup.
“Senior, you must be truly heartbroken.”
“What?”
“I’m talking about Mad Dog. I heard that since he had no real family to speak of, you personally handled the funeral and stood vigil for three whole days. I offer my deepest condolences.”
“...”
Resentful Dog silently stared down at the teacup filling before him.
Clink.
Next to it, Yeon So-wol placed a second cup.
“I’ll pour a cup for Mad Dog as well.”
Yeon So-wol poured the tea. Resentful Dog watched him with a complicated expression.
Drip, drip, drip, drip—
The tea overflowed from the cup, spilling onto the table.
“...You?”
Filling a wine cup to the brim is a sign of love and respect. Filling a teacup to the brim, however, is a silent command for the guest to drink up and get lost.
“Mad Dog. Oh, Mad Dog. It’s a shame when I think of how your senior feels, but I can’t help but think it’s a good thing you died. Your death brings smiles to many faces. It’ll help our immature Senior Resentful Dog come to his senses, too. You died well. You really did. Thanks for dying. Now, be on your way.”
“You... crazy bastard!”
CRASH!
The table collapsed. The teapot and cups shattered as they tumbled to the floor, spilling tea everywhere as Resentful Dog charged.
Yeon So-wol did not run. He simultaneously unleashed Flying Wind Drift and the Willow Leaf Step, deflecting the initial lunge.
“Woooooah!”
The surrounding people scattered in surprise, cheering at the same time.
Resentful Dog was an expert on a completely different level from Mad Dog. Though they were both said to have reached the Breath of Smoke and Clouds, their completeness and fundamentals as martial artists were incomparable.
Resentful Dog was a martial artist who knew how to handle Qi Sense. He hadn't learned it formally like Yeon So-wol, but it was a skill that talented martial artists could unconsciously awaken after long years of cultivation.
If I dodge this way...
As such, Resentful Dog read the spot where Yeon So-wol focused his mind with uncanny precision.
Fwip!
He followed with swift footwork and threw a punch.
THUD!
Yeon So-wol took a fist to the face.
CRACK!
A palm strike slammed into his chest. Yeon So-wol deployed his own Qi Sense, but his responses were always a step too slow. Sometimes it was due to the swift footwork; other times it was due to unpredictable, unconventional movements.
He was hit before he had a chance to block or dodge. And even when he could have blocked, he was deceived and hit anyway. A palm. A fist. A kick. He allowed a continuous barrage of attacks.
So this is why... he said I’d get beaten to a pulp.
Yeon So-wol was astounded. It was a sense of hopelessness he hadn’t felt even when fighting Mad Dog and the other twelve Black Path members. Of course, if he used the power of the Heavenly Killing Star like he did then, this would have been over already... but this was a form of training, a duel to be fought purely with martial arts.
Don’t fall. Just don’t fall.
Yeon So-wol gritted his teeth and endured. His eyes shining, he committed Resentful Dog’s movements to memory.
Right. This is how you use footwork. This is how you fight. It doesn’t end with just reading with Qi Sense. In a state where we both know the other is reading us, we engage in a battle of wits, deceiving and overwhelming the other.
He was beginning to understand what a fight between martial artists truly was.
Thwack! Thud! Crack!
At first, Yeon So-wol was taking a one-sided beating. But as time passed, he began to dodge and block a little more, until finally—
POW!
Yeon So-wol’s fist slammed into Resentful Dog’s jaw.
“Keuk!”
Struck by a fist infused with True Qi capable of splitting a thick wooden plank, Resentful Dog momentarily staggered. Seeing this, Yeon So-wol tilted his head.
“Oh? Are you staggering from just one hit? Ah, I see. Your Fire Phase was a bit... lacking, wasn’t it? I suppose since your bone and muscle Refinement is immature, the impact must be greater for you.”
Yeon So-wol, who had taken far more hits but was still standing strong, grinned. Resentful Dog’s eyes went wide with fury.
“This son of a bitch!”
KWOOONG!
He explosively raised his internal energy, stomped the ground, and charged. The fight that began then did not end even after a full shichen (two hours) had passed.
“Heok... heok... heok...”
“What’s wrong? Running out of breath? Huh? Why don’t you bark like you did before?”
Resentful Dog was triumphant, while Yeon So-wol’s vision was going dark. On Earth, even UFC fighters fought for five minutes and then rested. Even with internal energy, fighting nonstop for two hours left his mind in a complete daze.
The once blazing fire had weakened, and his Fire Phase was hazy. Yet Resentful Dog was still full of vigor, as if proving that his years of martial arts cultivation had not been in vain.
“You’re dead now.”
Just as Resentful Dog approached the exhausted Yeon So-wol to finish him off—
KWOOOOOONG!
A massive pressure shook his Qi Sense. With a speed that left no time to react, a heavy iron spear flew through the air and embedded itself in the ground. It landed precisely between Yeon So-wol and Resentful Dog, blocking the path.
And then, Fwosh!
A man in red robes fluttered down from above, landing lightly atop the spear.
“...!”
Yeon So-wol and Resentful Dog were equally stunned. What kind of Fire Phase is that...?!
To leap to a high place, throw a spear with the speed of light, then glide down to land lightly on top of it? You’d have to control the recoil from throwing the spear, pull your body forward again, and glide with enough precision to land on the spear’s tip... Yeon So-wol couldn’t even begin to imagine how delicate a Fire Phase that would require.
The man standing elegantly on the spear wore an iron-plated cuirass over his red silk robes and a white military hat with a wide, upturned brim. A long red tassel hanging from the top fluttered in the wind.
“You ruffians of the Jianghu,” he said. “Know when to stop. Honestly. What kind of fight lasts for a whole shichen? Do you think I should have to make a personal appearance because of you? You may be martial artists with nothing better to do, but do you have any idea how much work I have?”
Yeon So-wol realized. A military official!
The character for Guan (官) in the word Guanli (official) was not a title given to just anyone. Li (吏) referred to local functionaries whose positions were hereditary or chosen at the county magistrate’s discretion; they held no official rank.
Guan (官), on the other hand, were those who received their appointments from the central government. They were the ones who passed the provincial civil service examinations, then the metropolitan examinations in the capital, and finally the palace examination before the emperor himself. Because their titles were bestowed directly by the emperor, their prestige and pride pierced the heavens.
The man before him was a Wuguan (武官), a military official. An official who had passed the military examination through martial arts.
‘If martial artists and military officials were to clash on an open field, for every three military officials that die, thirteen martial artists would fall.’
Yeon So-wol suddenly recalled what Mo Cheong had told him. The military official, who looked to be in his early twenties at most, spoke in an infinitely annoyed tone.
“I am Junior Rank 9, the esteemed Jang Wi-san, County Inspector of Xinxing. You must be Yeon So-wol. And you, Jeon Tae-gwang, I presume?”
Without waiting for an answer, he tossed a rolled-up scroll into the chests of both Yeon So-wol and Jeon Tae-gwang.
“The eighth of the fourth lunar month. A Confinement Order is in effect. You are to deliver these to Lee Yu-baek and Shin Ja-eon, respectively. I have clearly delivered them to you, so don’t try to claim you didn’t know later.”
Yeon So-wol felt a surge of anger. That bastard... saying my father’s name so casually...
Resentful Dog felt a similar surge of anger and glared up at Jang Wi-san. But Jang Wi-san paid them no mind.
“This Confinement Order is no ordinary matter, so take it to heart. I may be smiling now, but on that day...”
Suddenly, he leaped off the spear. Grabbing the iron spear with one hand, he swung it lightly, carving characters into the ground that seemed to writhe like dragons and snakes. At the sight of his light movements and the flow of his powerful True Qi, Yeon So-wol felt slightly intimidated.
After carving the characters, Jang Wi-san scoffed and shouldered his spear. “Deliver them properly. And disperse.”
“...Tch.”
Resentful Dog was the first to turn away in annoyance. Yeon So-wol watched his retreating back with a sense of relief. I didn’t lose...
Before leaving, he took one last look at the characters carved into the ground.
一敗塗地 (Ilpaedoji)
A crushing defeat, smeared into the ground.
After a glance, Yeon So-wol turned and headed for the Pungryu Martial Arts Hall. When he’d seen them in historical dramas or books on Earth, he’d thought they were all just pushovers.
A Junior Rank 9 official is terrifying. Truly terrifying.
However, terrifying was terrifying. What was more important to Yeon So-wol was Lee Yu-baek’s strict order. The order to fight Resentful Dog to his heart’s content and master the Willow Leaf Step.
What did he care what some Junior Rank 9 official said? Yeon So-wol was more afraid of Lee Yu-baek.
Today was a draw... Now, how should I provoke him next time?
He had to hurry home and open the Jianghu Roster.
But... this whole picking a fight thing. It’s actually quite...
The steps of Yeon So-wol, the model student from Earth, felt strangely light.