Mastering the Leap Step
The earnest training with the Poison King, Tang Ho-chang, began just like that. Unlike the first day, which had focused on testing basic stamina and reflexes, we started learning the eight forms of the Tang Family Fist one by one in earnest from the second day onward.
The very first form I learned was Butterfly Flies Bee Stings, the one Tang Ho-chang had demonstrated as his opening example.
"The core of Butterfly Flies Bee Stings is stabbing forward in a single breath while the enemy is off guard, convinced you're still outside their range. The technique that makes this possible is a special footwork called Leap Step."
"Leap Step?"
"I'll show you."
Tang Ho-chang straightened his posture as he spoke, then lightly lifted his right leg. He stamped down on the ground.
THUD!
At the same moment, his body shot forward like a released spring.
"!"
I watched with my eyes wide in shock. In the blink of an eye, he'd closed nearly two meters with a single stomp. Tang Ho-chang grinned.
"This is Leap Step. Even if the enemy's weapon is a spear, this technique lets you slip into their guard in an instant."
"How on earth did you do that?"
Hearing my question, Tang Ho-chang explained the principle behind Leap Step.
"The key is shifting your center of gravity."
"Shifting your center of gravity?"
"What did I do in the preparation movement before using Leap Step?"
"You lifted your right leg slightly."
"Then, in that position, which leg do you think I was actually putting strength into?"
Normally the correct answer would be the opposite, but I twisted it once more and simply answered what I saw.
"...Your right leg?"
"That would be the common-sense answer. But in reality, the leg I was putting strength into was my left—the one planted on the ground."
As he spoke, Tang Ho-chang once again assumed the same stance.
"Come closer and observe carefully."
"Ah, yes!"
Unlike before, I moved in close and watched him take the preparation posture for Leap Step. That's when I finally noticed it. Because my eyes had been drawn to the slightly raised right foot, I hadn't seen that the calf muscle of his left leg—the one supporting his entire body weight—was actually tensed and contracted.
"From the outside, Leap Step looks like you're simply taking two steps forward. In truth, including that initial stationary motion, you're taking three steps total. That creates the explosive propulsion needed to burst into the enemy's space in a single moment."
"It reminds me of the Archery God’s Bullet Shadow technique."
"It's a little different from that... but never mind. To an outsider, they probably all look similar."
Hearing my impressed remark, Tang Ho-chang moved on to the next step.
"Anyway, once you learn Leap Step, you'll be able to cover short distances in the blink of an eye. And the first form of the Tang Family Fist, Butterfly Flies Bee Stings, is the martial art that utilizes exactly that."
"I see."
"Now you try it."
Tang Ho-chang lowered the right foot he'd been holding up. I followed his movements based on the explanation I'd just heard.
First, lift the right foot while keeping the center of gravity on the left leg behind it...
The key was shifting the center of gravity, right?
In other words, instantly move the center of gravity forward and use that momentum to slide forward once more?
I understood the principle of Leap Step so quickly that it surprised even me. But understanding it with the head and understanding it with the body were two entirely different things.
"Huh? Whoa—"
CRASH!
The preparation movement was fine, but the moment I stamped down hard with my raised right foot and tried to surge forward, my legs tangled and I tumbled face-first.
"Hahaha! Just as expected for a first attempt!"
Tang Ho-chang burst into cheerful laughter at the sight. It seemed he'd already predicted I'd trip over my own feet.
"...Why did I fall?"
The theory had been perfect. I'd thought Leap Step was about instantly sending the center of gravity from the back foot forward and using that momentum to slide ahead. But the moment the center of gravity shifted, a single leg couldn't handle the inertia. My body pitched forward helplessly and I fell.
After listening to my explanation, Tang Ho-chang confirmed that my reasoning was correct in theory.
"However, you were so focused on moving your legs that you neglected your upper body. That's why you fell."
He demonstrated the movement once more. Only then did I realize what he was trying to say. Despite the drastic shift in his center of gravity, Tang Ho-chang's upper body hadn't moved a single inch while performing Leap Step.
"If you don't firmly anchor your upper body as the central axis, the balance of your center of gravity will collapse and you'll tumble forward. You must keep that in mind when executing Leap Step."
I nodded at his explanation and attempted Leap Step once more. The result—
"Did... did I do it?"
I succeeded far more easily than expected. Tang Ho-chang, watching from the side, let out an impressed "Ho—" and said,
"You really do have talent. Succeeding in Leap Step after only two tries. Still, there's too much tension in your body. Only when you can perform the entire sequence as naturally as breathing can you truly call it Leap Step."
"...Yes!"
"Now that you've learned Leap Step, I'll teach you its application—Butterfly Flies Bee Stings."
Tang Ho-chang raised his right fist until it was level with the ground.
"You just heard that the key to Leap Step is shifting the center of gravity, correct? Butterfly Flies Bee Stings works on the same principle."
Leap Step was a special footwork that could close short distances instantly. Since it only required two steps, it was perfect for surprise attacks.
"First, the rear leg supports the body's full weight. Second, the front leg provides propulsion. Third, you drive the forward-shifted center of gravity directly into your fist to pierce the enemy. That is Butterfly Flies Bee Stings."
BANG!!
To Tang Ho-chang it was nothing more than a light strike through empty air, but the sound of bursting air showed just how terrifying its power was.
"Well? Think you can do it?"
"...I'll try."
I took the preparation stance for Leap Step once more.
"Hoo—"
I took a small breath to steady myself, then perfectly reproduced the sequence Tang Ho-chang had shown me.
One step. Two steps. Three steps.
Only three steps were needed for the attack. If Shaolin had its Hundred Step Divine Fist, perhaps this could be called the Three Step Divine Fist.
BANG!!
Just like Tang Ho-chang's fist moments ago, a fierce sound rang out from my own hand—one so powerful I could hardly believe it came from me.
"Ohh."
I didn't fully understand what I'd just done, but the completely different sound alone told me how much power was behind it. So this was why people obsessed over martial arts.
As I stared at my own fist in fascination, Tang Ho-chang cleared his throat with a loud "Ahem!"
"Succeeding in Butterfly Flies Bee Stings after only one or two tries is impressive. However, to use the technique whenever you wish, repetition and mastery are essential. Let's start with a light one hundred repetitions today."
"One hundred times?"
"What? Don't want to?"
"No, it's not that... but won't it take too much time to do all one hundred?"
It's almost lunchtime.
"When you read a book, do you set a fixed time and read only until then?"
"Yes."
"Then change that habit starting today. It doesn't matter how long martial arts training takes."
And just so you know, I won't be giving you any food until you finish all one hundred.
"!"
The unexpected threat hit me like fire under my feet. I hurriedly threw myself into practicing Butterfly Flies Bee Stings.
Tang Ho-chang was inwardly shocked by Chilbok's monstrous talent.
So my granddaughter Rin does have a good eye after all.
People often said those with sharp minds possessed outstanding enlightenment. The boy before him was exactly that type. While he was still a little clumsy at handling his body, what compensated for it was his ghost-like comprehension and exceptional observational power.
Even with Leap Step alone, it had taken Tang Ho-chang an entire week to understand the principle with his body when he first learned it. Yet this Chilbok had not only copied it after one or two tries—he had even succeeded in its advanced application, the Butterfly Flies Bee Stings form, on his first attempt.
His powers of observation must be truly outstanding.
Observational power is one of the most important strengths a martial artist can possess.
Of the five senses, humans relied on vision the most. Simply having good eyes already granted an advantage over ordinary martial artists and made it easier to spot weaknesses in an opponent's techniques.
If he weren't Rin's lover, I would have married him to Soso and made him the Tang Clan's son-in-law.
Tang Ho-chang clicked his tongue in genuine regret, then suddenly froze. He was startled to realize that the boy he had initially disapproved of had somehow come to occupy such thoughts in his mind.
Does that Chilbok boy possess some kind of charm that draws people to him?
If so, he was an extremely tempting talent. After all, a person's favor couldn't be earned through looks or talent alone. Even Tang Ho-chang himself—the man known as the Poison King—was treated like a cranky old bastard whenever he left the clan.
Using the full transmission of the Tang Family Fist as an excuse to adopt him as my son-in-law might not be such a bad idea...
And so, in a place where Chilbok could not see, someone's scheme began to take root.