Chapter 223

Initially, it escaped his notice.

The Leader of the Sect maintained his customary stride.

The distance of his steps, the gentle sway of his arms, the steady cadence of his feet meeting the earth.

Not a single detail appeared altered.

And yet.

The moving file of people was forced into a hurried jog.

It was impossible to pinpoint exactly when the shift occurred.

Much like a river current accelerating without sound, the ground swallowed by each solitary stride of the Leader of the Sect was steadily expanding.

He was undeniably walking, but those trailing in his wake had no choice but to run to maintain their position.

This was no ordinary traversal.

It was an advanced martial discipline disguised as a simple walk.

Seok Gyeong felt his own legs quicken against his will.

The burden of the supplies meant for two individuals pressed heavily against his spine with every impact.

The calm breathing he had maintained through his nose had abandoned him, forcing him to gasp through his open mouth.

A frantic cry erupted from the front ranks.

“Sect, Sect Leader! The pace is too…”

No answer came.

The Leader of the Sect never turned his head.

Nor did he diminish his speed in the slightest.

Seok Gyeong kept his eyes locked onto the Leader of the Sect’s lower limbs even as he hurried forward.

A laborer who carries cargo relies entirely on his feet to survive.

Discerning which surfaces are treacherous and which are solid, and knowing precisely how to adjust his balance to prevent a spill.

Interpreting the mechanics of a stride was the one capability Seok Gyeong possessed above all others.

Because of this experience, he discerned the truth.

The Leader of the Sect’s lower limbs followed a distinct methodology.

The left foot initiated the momentum, driving off the dirt.

Subsequently, the right foot swung forward, its toes angling slightly inward upon landing.

The exact instant that angled toe planted, his center of mass surged forward, transferring that accumulated momentum directly into the succeeding stride.

It was a brilliant design where one motion automatically birthed the next.

Seok Gyeong possessed no knowledge of martial disciplines.

He could not name the specific technique or identify its lineage.

Even so, seven winters of earning his bread on the road provided him with an answer.

This acceleration was not born of sheer physical muscle.

The inherent geometry of the movement itself was generating the velocity.

● ● ●

The cohesion of the file began to disintegrate.

The freshly recruited disciples were sprinting with every ounce of their remaining energy.

They pushed forward, arms swinging wildly and jaws clenched tight.

Yet, that was merely desperate running born of panic, completely detached from the refined mechanics of the Leader of the Sect’s movement.

A man collapsed.

His joints failed him first, sending his face directly into the soil.

Seok Gyeong instinctively began to extend a hand to assist, but the Instructor had already arrived at the spot.

The young boy took hold of the fallen recruit’s arm to pull him upright, offering words of encouragement.

“Stand up. This is not the place to falter.”

The recruit merely shook his head in exhaustion.

His lungs were burning too intensely to permit any articulation.

The Instructor’s tone turned grave.

“You are permitted to remain behind.”

He paused briefly.

“However, the file will not halt its advance.”

Another recruit stumbled and fell.

Then another followed.

The Instructor darted back and forth along the line, offering aid to those who succumbed to exhaustion.

His own skin was flushed from the intense exertion.

His voice had grown hoarse and strained.

In that very moment.

The Instructor’s own feet ground to a halt.

The young boy’s gaze locked onto the vanguard of the line.

He was watching the Leader of the Sect’s lower limbs.

The exact same mechanics that Seok Gyeong had been analyzing.

A sudden flash of understanding washed over the young boy’s features.

His eyes grew wide, his lips parted, and then.

“Halt!”

The Instructor bellowed.

The moving line dissolved into utter disarray.

Recruits who had been sprinting slammed into one another, losing their balance and wavering.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Sect continued ahead, unbothered, retaining his exact pace.

“Cease your sprinting,”

The Instructor’s command resonated across the open terrain.

“Direct your attention to his lower limbs. Observe the Leader of the Sect’s mechanics.”

“……?”

“Sprinting blindly will only exhaust you to the point of collapse. Set your focus and analyze his stride.”

The Instructor dashed to the absolute front of the line, taking up a position directly behind the Leader of the Sect.

From there, he began to mirror the exact movements of the Leader of the Sect’s feet.

The young boy’s lower limbs adopted the identical cadence of the figure ahead.

Left foot plants, right foot swings, the toe angles inward, the center of mass transitions forward.

It lacked speed initially.

It was vastly slower when contrasted with the Leader of the Sect.

Nevertheless, the velocity generated by the young boy’s structured stride was unmistakably far beyond what mere muscular strength could ever produce.

“This is an authentic footwork methodology. The foundational stride of our Hero Sect… correct? The elemental movement?”

Even though no confirmation came from Kim Rae-won, the young boy persisted in shouting instructions while maintaining his pace.

His breath was short and shallow.

Yet his words remained perfectly discernible.

“The very instant your left foot strikes the earth! Direct all your inner force to the exact center of your sole! That point is designated as the Yongcheon!”

Seok Gyeong had never encountered the term Yongcheon in his life.

Even so, the phrase ‘the center of the sole’ made perfect sense to him.

“From that position, direct it four inches above the inner bone of your ankle! To the Sam-eumgyo! Guide it through that gateway and draw it upward to a point two inches beneath your navel! Imagine you are drawing water from a well!”

The Instructor yelled, utilizing his own physique as a visual guide.

While maintaining his run, he struck the inner side of his ankle joint and pressed his open palm firmly against his lower abdomen.

“The Qihae! That is the vast ocean where inner force congregates!”

Seok Gyeong was entirely ignorant of the names or pathways of the Meridians.

Even so, he could easily identify the physical locations the young boy was indicating.

The center of the foot.

The area above the inner ankle.

The region beneath the navel.

“Now, transition to the right foot!”

The Instructor barked out once more.

“Guide it from beneath the navel down to the outer flank of your thigh! The precise location your middle finger contacts when you close your hand and drop your arm to your side! The Pungsi!”

Without breaking his stride, the young boy formed a fist with his right hand and struck the outer side of his thigh.

That exact structural point.

“From there, drive it down behind the outer ankle bone! To the Kunlun! Push off with immense power! Execute it firmly!”

A mental map began to form within Seok Gyeong’s thoughts.

It lacked absolute precision.

Even so, a laborer’s physique was far more responsive to physical action than to abstract terminology.

As his left foot met the ground, he intentionally directed his inner reservoir—an amount as minuscule as a flea’s eye, gathered from a Qi Circulation technique he had covertly overheard during his time at the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion—toward the absolute center of his sole with as much focus as he could muster.

He then visualized that sensation ascending past his ankle joint, settling right beneath his navel.

The effort yielded nothing.

Which was entirely expected.

His store of inner force was practically nonexistent.

And yet.

The moment he propelled himself forward with his right foot.

As he visualized the energy transferring from his stomach down to the outer flank of his thigh, and from his thigh to his outer ankle bone.

Minutely.

By the slimmest margin.

He perceived a sensation of weightlessness in his foot.

He could not determine with certainty if the physical weight had truly lessened, or if his mind was playing tricks on him due to intense focus.

What remained undeniable was that he had successfully claimed one additional stride.

An exercise of this nature could not yet be classified as true martial arts.

It was merely the stubborn effort of a common laborer.

Just one more step forward.

The existence of a cargo carrier was entirely defined by that single, extra step.

But if those individual steps were to gather over time… could that not transform into a genuine martial discipline?

A quiet conviction began to take root within him.

This was true despite the fact that a mere twenty-four hours had passed since he aligned himself with this organization known as the Hero’s Sect.

● ● ●

The sun commenced its descent below the horizon.

The Leader of the Sect reduced his velocity by a microscopic fraction.

It was a fleeting shift.

Yet, simply by gaining the ability to draw one deeper breath into lungs that felt entirely on the verge of rupturing, Seok Gyeong recognized the truth.

The figure ahead had slowed down.

He had adjusted his speed specifically for their benefit.

A leader who possessed absolute awareness of exactly how far the rear guard had drifted without ever needing to cast his eyes backward.

Forcing them to the absolute precipice of their endurance, yet choosing not to break their spirits completely.

Seok Gyeong lacked the mental clarity to ponder whether such an approach was born of malice or benevolence.

He recognized only a single truth.

That man’s progression possessed a definitive intent.

Just as the sun vanished entirely behind the distant peaks.

“We shall make camp here.”

Before he could even begin to unfasten his burdens, Seok Gyeong’s lower limbs gave out entirely.

The heavy cargo meant for two individuals slid free from his shoulders, tumbling onto the blades of grass.

All vitality had vanished from his legs.

His hands shook uncontrollably as well.

He surveyed his immediate surroundings.

Among the twenty fresh recruits, not a single soul remained standing upright.

However, a distinct transformation had occurred compared to their earlier failures.

Several individuals were silently moving their lips even as they lay ruined on the ground.

The sole of the foot, the ankle joint, and the space beneath the navel.

They were mentally reciting the exact path the Instructor had broadcasted during the march.

It was not isolated to a single person.

A multitude of them were practicing.

The Instructor moved deliberately among the fallen ranks.

Offering refreshment to one, evaluating the posture of another’s feet, and then advancing to the next.

Perspiration poured freely down the young boy’s visage.

His voice had worn down to a raspy whisper.

One could visibly see his own lower limbs trembling from the strain.

Even so, he refused to abandon his task.

He persisted until he reached the twentieth individual.

At long last, the Instructor halted directly before Seok Gyeong.

“Are you holding up?”

Seok Gyeong offered a brief nod.

“The mnemonic phrases, you attempted to implement them, did you not?”

“……I managed to identify the physical areas. However, I experienced no tangible sensation.”

“That is perfectly fine.”

The Instructor offered a gentle, tired smile.

He maintained that expression even though the sweat still glistened on his skin.

“Every individual experiences the exact same outcome initially. Even if your senses fail to detect it, your physical form retains the memory. The inner force can be accumulated at a later time. Securing the pathway is the primary objective.”

Seok Gyeong silently studied the youth.

Securing the pathway is the primary objective.

Was this a philosophy instilled in him by a master?

Regardless of its origin, it was remarkable that a child of thirteen or fourteen winters could articulate such wisdom.

And it bred a pang of longing within him. A quiet wish that he, too, had been granted someone to guide his development from such a tender age—that specific brand of yearning.

“Is the Instructor managing well?”

The young boy’s feet went still.

A brief silence followed.

“Naturally.”

Seok Gyeong recognized the statement as a falsehood.

He could plainly see the trembling in the child’s lower limbs.

He could hear the hoarseness catching in his throat.

In spite of that, the spine he presented as he turned away remained perfectly erect.

If the vanguard individual collapses, those trailing behind will inevitably fall as well.

He was a youth who grasped that heavy reality even at his tender age.

● ● ●

Dong Bongsu leaned his back against a nearby trunk, quietly evaluating the state of the line.

‘Remarkable, someone actually perceived the design. Two individuals, in fact.’

The absolute foundation of any Lightness Skill.

The most rudimentary footwork system, recognized as the Spirit Step.

A foundational concept centered on recycling the kinetic force of a preceding step into the forward momentum of the subsequent stride.

With an adequate supply of inner force, a practitioner would appear to skim effortlessly across the terrain, yet even in the complete absence of such energy, merely replicating the physical geometry yielded far greater efficiency than standard running.

The intended strategy had been straightforward.

Incorporate the foundational patterns of the Spirit Step directly into the walking speed.

Those attempting to keep pace would initially perceive nothing more than an immense velocity.

However, any individual possessing a natural eye for martial disciplines would eventually discern the recurring design in the footprints, and anyone initiated in the fundamental arts would comprehend that a specific footwork technique was being deployed.

That particular outcome fell precisely within his calculations.

But the active dissemination of the mnemonic verses was an entirely unpredicted variable.

Hoae had independently identified the mechanics of the stride and, relying on his own volition, chose to broadcast the principles to the uninitiated recruits.

Furthermore, he had eschewed merely screaming the names of the pathways, opting instead to physically indicate every relevant structural point on the physique.

All while maintaining a full run.

While navigating a state of extreme personal physical depletion.

Displaying concern for the welfare of others when pushed to one’s own absolute boundary is not a characteristic of physical conditioning.

It is an expression of pure volition.

Volition by itself cannot force exhausted muscles to contract, but in the complete absence of volition, even the healthiest muscles will cease to function.

As anticipated, his utility extended far beyond the role of a simple Instructor.

That young boy…

He is fundamentally premium material.

The early sprout of what will become a monumental tree, scaling to heights that defy easy measurement, though the precise trajectory and nature of its eventual maturity remain to be seen.

His attention shifted across the clearing once more.

Yan Bilyeong remained positioned within the darkness cast by a tree, his weapon resting peacefully across his knees.

His eyelids were lowered, yet there was no chance he had succumbed to slumber.

Beside him stood Myo Jinheo, his fan drawn shut, intently observing the condition of the assembled recruits.

Neither individual exhibited the slightest hint of weariness from the day’s demanding progression.

Which was only natural.

To martial experts of their exceptional caliber, a pace of this nature amounted to nothing more than a casual afternoon walk.

‘Yet those two are not merely keeping their focus on my movements.’

Yan Bilyeong was undoubtedly radiating his perception of inner energy even in that passive state, while Myo Jinheo was likely analyzing the psychological and physical responses of the recruits.

Both figures were actively deciphering the inner mechanics of how the Hero’s Sect conducted its affairs.

Excellent.

Permit them their observations.

The more they scrutinize the process, the deeper they will find themselves ensnared.

And then there was Seok Gyeong.

This particular individual represented a genuine surprise.

He possessed virtually no training in martial disciplines.

His reservoir of inner force was similarly non-existent.

It was highly probable he lacked even a basic understanding of what constituted a footwork technique.

Despite those deficiencies, he successfully isolated a defined methodology from a simple ‘walk’.

He had commenced his scrutiny of the mechanics long before Hoae ever voiced the instructions.

With a soft sound, he summoned the Status Window into view.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

◈ Seok Gyeong

▸ Position: Guild Member

▸ Combat Level: Low-Beginner Rank

▸ Trust: [Faintly Favorable]

▸ Status: [Determined], [Fatigued]

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Nothing out of the ordinary appeared.

No unique talents were listed.

No perceptual passive traits were present either.

Regardless, he had successfully deciphered the movements of the feet.

Dong Bongsu placed absolute confidence in his own perceptive faculties.

This individual undeniably harbored a latent capacity that the mechanical architecture of the system was incapable of identifying.

A laborer tasked with conveying heavy burdens relies entirely on his lower limbs to sustain his existence.

He interprets the variations of the ground, mirrors the precise placements of whoever precedes him, and modifies his equilibrium through microscopic alterations in his posture.

This does not constitute a martial art; it is a fundamental mechanism of survival.

Yet, that exact mechanism of survival had been adapted to decode the underlying geometry of an advanced footwork system.

One could see him attempting to direct nothing but his pure focus along the path of the verses, working with almost zero actual inner force.

However, focus is the fundamental implement that initially carves out the channel for energy to flow.

Inner force naturally migrates along the trajectory established by focus.

If the focus blazes the trail, the energy will inevitably follow in due course.

The mere reality that he attempted to replicate the physical geometry, the reality that he attempted to execute the mnemonic path.

When those two efforts align, it resembles the very first channels of a waterway beginning to form within an unblemished container.

‘The barren container has initiated the process of filling itself through sheer effort.’

Furthermore, he refused to discard the heavy supplies.

Sustaining a load intended for two separate people, while simultaneously attempting to integrate the mechanics of the stride, he maintained his position within the file until the final halt.

He is either an absolute simpleton or an extraordinary prospect, but…

He recalled the specific intensity in those eyes he had observed during the previous day’s assessments.

The expression of a man who ground his teeth together, confessing his absolute helplessness when his younger kin was forcibly taken away.

He is under no circumstances a simpleton.

That display represents an unyielding resolve to never again revert to a state of utter helplessness.

An individual who executes actions that appear entirely counterproductive from a standpoint of pure efficiency.

Such a person can be challenging to manage due to their inherent volatility, yet he clearly possesses distinct worth.

A worth that justifies careful cultivation.

With a soft sound, he dismissed the Status Window.

════════════════

【Guild】 Threshold of Growth

├─ Progress: 12% → 15%

├─ Remaining: 6 days 18 hours

└─ Condition Update: Average Combat Level Low-Beginner Rank → High-Beginner Rank

════════════════

‘A shift of three percent.’

The initial march of the morning had elevated the metric by two percent, and an additional one percent consolidated during the afternoon hours when the active instruction of the footwork commenced.

This was the direct consequence of the mnemonic verses being distributed through the ranks.

Because the activity extended beyond simple physical exhaustion to encompass the actual implantation of fundamental energy circulation seeds, the mechanics of the system properly logged the event as genuine ‘development’.

At that precise moment, Jeon Rahwa made her approach.

Unfolding her records, she spoke.

“Four individuals completely collapsed today. Granting some comfort, they remain within the physical boundaries of our column, but if we maintain this exact level of severity tomorrow, someone will suffer genuine physical ruin.”

“If they break apart, we possess the means to piece them back together.”

“……Is that truly an appropriate manner to speak regarding human lives?”

“Ah, of course. I forgot they qualified as people.”

Jeon Rahwa delivered a gentle tap to Kim Rae-won’s shoulder utilizing the edge of her record book.

“Did you just strike me?”

“Indeed, I did. You ought to recognize that I exercised considerable restraint from striking you with greater force.”

“You have my gratitude.”

“For what reason?”

“For sparing my life.”

“Pardon?”

“Had you struck me with any additional power, I surely would have perished, would I not?”

“Ha. Ha. Is it your desire that I actually terminate your existence?”

Dong Bongsu offered a mild, pleasant smile.

“Precisely. Take my life. If there exists a soul capable of truly bringing about my demise, it could only ever be you.”

“Ah, naturally, naturally. Simply ensure you survive until I am prepared to execute you, and refrain from perishing in some bizarre location. I beg of you.”

Demise.

The two had already cultivated an intimacy akin to long-standing companions, yet their dynamic remained deliberately suspended, avoiding any deeper emotional proximity.

“Very well. I shall make every effort to remain unharmed until you can personally end me, I suppose.”

“That is quite enough from you. Quite enough.”

Jeon Rahwa released a heavy breath, then flipped to a new leaf within her records before continuing.

“In any event, Hoae shouldered the entirety of the burden today. The demonstration of the stride is one matter, but to actively broadcast the verses as well… you orchestrated that outcome from the beginning, did you not?”

“……”

“Ah, truly? It developed purely by chance?”

“Indeed. It was an entirely random occurrence.”

“Ha. Ha. Such convenient random occurrences seem to manifest with great frequency around you, do they not? And originating from a youth of merely twelve winters, no less.”

“That specific element is what lends amusement to the endeavor.”

Jeon Rahwa directed her gaze toward Hoae’s position for a brief interval.

The young boy was currently resting among the other youths, distributing allocations of water.

His eyelids drooped heavily from total exhaustion, yet his hands refused to cease their activity.

“What parameters will you establish for our velocity on the morrow?”

“Double the speed displayed today.”

“……Are you entirely serious?”

“True development must be thoroughly integrated into the physical form. The individuals who internalized the mnemonic paths today will discern the rhythm with greater celerity tomorrow. Consequently, they will possess the capacity to withstand the pressure even as we continuously elevate the demands.”

“……”

“Seven consecutive days of this regimen, and every foundational geometry will become permanently etched into their physical memory.”

Dong Bongsu turned his head upward toward the darkening vault of heaven.

‘A span of seven days.’

Within those seven days, he was required to transform these individuals into functional humans.

Not elite martial operators, but at the very minimum, individuals capable of preserving their own lives.

The mastery of the blade could wait for a later period.

The accumulation of inner force could likewise be deferred.

First and foremost, they must master the act of running.

Sprint until their bodies give out, then rise from the dirt and resume the sprint.

Once the physical container has been forged through that unrelenting process, he could introduce the actual martial disciplines into the vessel at a later date.

A short distance away, Seok Gyeong remained stretched out upon the grass, methodically manipulating his lower limbs.

Left foot, right foot.

Utilizing his lips, he softly recapitulated the exact pathway the Instructor had shouted across the field.

He maintained his heavy burdens firmly at his side.

‘It appears he intends to transport that cargo again tomorrow.’

The heavy burdens.

And the refined mechanics of the stride.

As anticipated, the situation was developing favorably.

That particular man, Seok Gyeong.

And furthermore.

Dong Bongsu’s gaze naturally drifted back toward Hoae.

‘That youth, as well.’