Light body movement.
In simple terms, it’s the martial arts version of moving around.
In the Martial Arts World, light body movement is a martial arts skill used for fast travel, but in martial arts novels, its main use is, in fact, to save time.
It’s said that a journey that would normally take a month on horseback can be done in just a few days with light body movement. Even the fastest marathon runner would opt for cars and planes while traveling.
In this world, speed isn’t as fast as teleportation, and due to the consumption of internal energy and stamina issues, even martial artists prefer to ride horses for long-distance travel. However, it can be said to be the most useful martial art in real life.
“I’d like to learn it if I can.”
With the internal energy I have for five years, I should be able to learn light body movement. I nodded immediately at Im Ha-yeon’s unexpected proposal.
“I can teach you, but…”
Im Ha-yeon hesitated, her expression a bit uneasy. Why propose and then hesitate?
Could it be?
“Is your sect’s martial arts the kind that can only be passed on to a single disciple?”
A martial art that is only taught to a disciple with proper character. If it is such a martial art, she might be reluctant to teach it even if she wants to.
Of course, there’s still room for debate on whether the profession of a thief can hold such character, but I decided not to mention that.
“Ugh… It’s not like that. I can teach it, it’ll be fine—no, it should be fine.”
Im Ha-yeon clenched her hands tightly, as if trying to convince herself.
She doesn’t seem fine at all. Wouldn’t it be a problem if I learned it?
“If you’re hesitant, there’s no need to force it.”
“I said I’d teach you, so I will. Come to the courtyard.”
Having possibly made up her mind, Im Ha-yeon led me to a courtyard that couldn’t be seen from inside the house.
“The name of the martial art I’m going to teach you is Shadowless Body Technique.”
“Shadowless Body Technique? Just the name makes me excited.”
Usually, a martial art that has a name like that can be considered the representative move of a person.
The light body movement of the world’s best thief? Just hearing it sounds impressive.
“It originally had ‘Light Body Technique’ in its name, but that would take too long to learn, so I’ll teach you the light body part first.”
If light body movement is a skill for running fast, then the basic technique is about handling the body during combat.
Since martial arts aren’t perfected overnight, she said she would start with the important parts, so there was no need to refuse.
“Thank you in advance.”
“The essence of the Shadowless Body Technique is to escape without leaving even a shadow behind. To do that, you need to first learn how to lighten your body.”
Im Ha-yeon picked up a thin branch lying around the courtyard and stood it upright before lightly jumping onto it.
If it were me, I would have immediately shouted sorry to the tree. However, Im Ha-yeon stood lightly on the tip of the branch and looked at me.
“Doesn’t the branch bend?”
I wondered if my surprised reaction pleased her. Im Ha-yeon smiled softly and spoke.
“Simply running fast leaves a lot of traces. Then, you get caught. Even if you run on the grass, you must run without leaving traces sufficient to bend the grass blades. That is the essence of the Shadowless Body Technique.”
So it’s true that she can also perform the Grass-Over-Surface Technique.
Thanks to that, I realized an important fact.
“That’s why you’ve been eating late-night snacks without worries lately. ”
She ate at night as if the scale didn’t exist, and now there’s a reason for it.
“Oh, no! Ah!”
“Oh dear…”
As Im Ha-yeon’s calm demeanor broke, the branch, unable to bear her weight, snapped in an instant.
“…Do I look sluggish these days?”
Im Ha-yeon cautiously asked me as if confessing something embarrassing.
If I say the wrong thing, she might never learn the Shadowless Body Technique.
“You look the same as the first time I saw you. No, you do seem a bit more haggard lately because you’ve been worrying a bit.”
I said with a serious expression and no hint of laughter.
“Flattery…” She muttered…
“There are many light body movements, but to run faster than anyone without leaving a trace is what makes the Shadowless Body Technique the best in the world!”
Im Ha-yeon’s voice was filled with pride.
“It’s a martial art optimized for escape.”
“If you deepen your understanding of the Shadowless Body Technique, you’ll be able to freely change the weight and center of your body and do various things. I’ll show you, so throw a stone with all your strength at me.”
Im Ha-yeon pointed at the stones next to me with a confident voice.
“You’ve seen me throw stones. I could hurt myself doing that.”
Isn’t it true that I’m a guy who received training from the top experts in the Tang Family?
“Hmm. Don’t worry and just do it.”
Im Ha-yeon scoffed at me as if I were pitiful.
Underestimating me, are you? I’ll show you!
I gripped a stone and looked at Im Ha-yeon.
Even a lion would use all its strength against a rabbit. A rabbit would be even more on guard facing a lion.
Like a finishing pitcher relying solely on speed, I threw the stones with all my might, aiming at her head like David aiming at Goliath.
“Bandit!!! Fire!
“Hmph!”
“No way!”
Changing direction mid-air!
Im Ha-yeon dodged the stones I threw one after another in the air and jumped back down lightly onto the path she had originally aimed for.
“How was it?”
Im Ha-yeon sounded just as confident as her light body movement skills.
“Is it the ‘Yunlong Great Eight Techniques’ from the Kunlun Sect?”
To move freely in the air like a dragon? It resembles the top tier light body movement technique, doesn’t it?
“Do you know of the far-off Kunlun Sect? That’s right. One of my ancestors had the opportunity to glimpse the secret techniques of the Yunlong Great Eight and incorporated it into the Shadowless Body Technique.”
Kunlun Sect is one of the pillars of the Nine Great Sects & One Alliance.
In martial arts, it often appears that the Demonic Cult will be the first to fall under siege.
That’s infamously referred to as the ‘Toll Gate to the Demonic Cult.’ It’s almost comical how this renowned sect ends up robbed of its most famous martial arts techniques when the Demonic Cult strikes.
It’s like a popular restaurant getting its secret sauce stolen, even though it’s hard to get to.
Of course, that’s good for me. Truly, the best light body movement in the world.
“The heart technique I’ve learned isn’t the same as what Lady Ha-yeon learned. Is it alright if I learn the Shadowless Body Technique?”
Heart techniques are similar to operating systems for computers or mobile phones. No matter how good a martial art is, if the operating system isn’t compatible, it could result in serious physical issues.
“Is it a heart technique from a righteous sect? Not from a faction or the Demonic Cult?”
“That’s right.”
The heart technique used by the Murong Family when So-hee modified it was also one meant to suppress the Heavenly Killing Star’s murderous intent; it was indeed of a righteous origin.
“Then it’s perfectly fine. What great skill could a thief’s heart technique possess? This light body movement was designed to be learned with the heart techniques stolen in the moment.”
It seems the Shadowless Body Technique might be something that works well with any fancy screensavers and karaoke devices.
“So, do we need to get into a master-disciple relationship now?”
“…Do you really want that?”
There was an unspoken hint of disappointment in Im Ha-yeon’s voice.
“If you want it.”
Originally, things like this aren’t taught for free. Martial arts are usually taught in a closed manner, often only to disciples or family members.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m teaching you as a usual favor in return.”
“Then, please treat me well.”
And so, I began to learn the Shadowless Body Technique from Im Ha-yeon.
——————-
Just as I was receiving martial arts teachings from Im Ha-yeon, she had something to learn from me as well.
“How about it?”
Im Ha-yeon looked up at me with a face like a high school student checking her college acceptance results.
“Let’s start over from the beginning.”
She failed.
“Why?”
Im Ha-yeon exclaimed as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Why on earth are you dedicating pages to describe the era and background of the story right at the start?”
“Of course, to start a story, readers need some background knowledge, right?”
“And then, right after the background is done, you introduce characters that have nothing to do with the protagonist and start developing the plot with them. Why?”
“Listen. When it reaches the story’s conclusion, the protagonist’s achievements…”
But she’s not listening.
“And then the protagonist ends up being an ordinary young man living his everyday life to end things. Where else is there a story where a boring protagonist appears after a third of a book?”
“It would be strange to have an incident right from the start.”
“Then why does the medicine appear?”
“Because The Rise of the Tang Family is popular… I tried using the medicine to create an incident once.”
Im Ha-yeon seemed to feel guilty as her voice gradually trailed off.
“Hmm.”
It’s a total mess.
The piece I submitted at the Literary Association wasn’t like this at all.
It seems that my desire to write something I want and the wish to be popular have gotten entirely mixed up, steering in the wrong direction.
“Sigh. This just won’t cut it.”
Im Ha-yeon said, her shoulders slumping as she sensed the impending disaster from my expression.
“Still, the story itself seems interesting.”
Criticism can come from anyone. But that will only lead to giving up.
“Really?”
“A thief’s story is something I’m confident about. The beginning lacks substance, but the structure itself is good.”
“R-really?”
“Of course, aside from the structure, everything else is a mess. If you’re going to succeed, you’ve barely got a shot at it with this setup; you’d have to write dozens of volumes.”
“Ugh… It took me fifteen days!”
It’s quite unfair that her efforts of fifteen days just evaporated in an instant; she mumbled to me with resentment.
“Let’s try to conclude it as if it’s a single volume. If it gains popularity, you can easily extend it with smaller setups in earlier books.”
“I’ll try.”
Im Ha-yeon nodded, perhaps obtaining a glimmer of hope, clutching her precious rough draft.
Having finished Im Ha-yeon’s feedback, it was now time for me to receive feedback in the courtyard.
“Why are you applying internal energy recklessly into your Yongcheon Blood when I said to run fast?”
“That’s the best way to change direction.”
I could throw the Barbarian Punch with this and even do a double jump; I was able to do it all with this!
“You’re going to get caught with just a few steps? If you go full strength from the beginning, you won’t be able to keep running for long.”
“It sounds like there’s a bone in those words.”
Is she throwing my recent writing critique back at me?
“Hmph! By the way, where did you learn that footwork? Though the direction is wrong, I can see elements of ascending martial arts techniques in it.”
“I learned some from my childhood friend.”
Has it already been over a year since I met So-hee? Her expressionless face, though she was emotionally rich, comes to mind.
I wonder if she’s been receiving my letters well. It’d be nice if she replied. Though it was tricky to exchange letters from the Assassin Group, it’s out of my hands now.
Suddenly, I really miss So-hee’s face.
“A girl?”
“Huh?”
“Is it a girl?”
Im Ha-yeon’s voice suddenly turned cold.
“How did you know?”
“…From today onwards, if you recklessly apply internal energy into your Yongcheon Blood, I’ll be the one throwing rocks.”
Im Ha-yeon clutched a stone as if she were staring at my leg like something contemptible.
“No matter what, throwing stones is…”
“We need to get it down quickly!”
It’s true, but the stones she threw seemed so sharp as if they were filled with emotions behind them.
——
“Ha-yeon unnie. Will I really not see your face anymore?”
It’s been ten days since Im Ha-yeon didn’t show up at the tea bookstore, and Ha So-so looked worried as she asked me.
“She’s working hard at the printing house. Once everything calms down, she’ll return.”
“Ha-yeon unnie must be so lonely just staying at home. The shop owner must treat her well.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Really?”
“Gugu!”
Oh, Gugu just arrived. I carefully unfolded the paper tied to Gugu’s leg.
[Bring back kimchi dumplings on your way home.]
I showed Ha So-so the letter from Im Ha-yeon that she sent via carrier pigeon, and we both smiled.
In the afternoon, after lunch had passed, I pondered over the dilemma concerning Im Ha-yeon, which seemed impossible to solve.
It seems those guys from the last time. They likely set off from Wuhan before receiving my letter. They certainly lack patience. They might come again, so stay on guard.
The branch manager of the Hao Mun Yichang Branch sighed and said to me.
If only I could firmly investigate the news related to the hidden information about the umbrella. It seems I can’t see any solutions for now.
“Eek!”
While I was deep in thought, I suddenly heard a scream coming from the first floor.
“What’s happening?”
“Manager! You need to come down to the first floor!”
Upon reaching the first floor, I found a dozen martial artists surrounding the entrance of the tea bookstore and driving people away.
“What the hell is going on!!!”
Could it be that they sent more men after the last failure at the Hao Mun?
This time the martial artists didn’t appear like the town’s Black Knife thugs but looked like they were prepared to draw their swords.
“Are you Kang Yoon-ho, the manager?”
A well-dressed man, looking more like a scholar than a martial artist, approached me slowly.
“Yes, that’s me. Did you come from Wuhan?”
“Yes, we have come from Wuhan.”
Did they not hear about the Sichuan Tang Family from the Hao Mun? Or are they here to show their strength even after acknowledging their opposing position?
I cautiously glanced towards the entrance. It would be difficult to send someone to the Seocheon Post Office. I suppose I must hope for some movement from the Merchant Association.
Let’s talk for now.
“Im Ha-yeon isn’t coming to work at the tea bookstore. To pressure a completely unsuspecting person this way…”
“I don’t know who Im Ha-yeon is, but we are not here because of her.”
The man shook his head, denying my thoughts.
“Didn’t you just say you arrived from Wuhan?”
“Yes, we came from Wuhan.”
Did they not hear about the situation of the tea bookstore from the Hao Mun? Or are they here to push their luck?
The man pulled out a document from his possession and handed it to me. What could it be? I carefully unfolded the document and read it quickly.
“A contract to transfer all the debts of the tea bookstore to the Man Geum Battlefield? What does the contract have to do with this situation?”
Indeed, more adversity on top of adversity.
When life gives you problems, it doesn’t wait for you to solve the current ones before throwing more at you.
All the debts of the tea bookstore, which had been divided among many people, have now been transferred entirely to the Man Geum Battlefield.
The man took back that document, which seemed to be of no issue, and delivered the shocking news with an even worse situation.
“Effective today, the Man Geum Battlefield will place the tea bookstore under seizure due to default.”
