From the outset, Cheongmyeongdae was clearly a place designed to test those who had mastered movement techniques. The abundance of floating debris in the lake, the towering cliff that appeared as soon as the path ended…
These were artificial obstacles meant to test the movement technique proficiency of every Nangyang disciple.
“Whatever it takes, I have to climb.” With determination in his eyes, Bu Eunseol began scaling the cliff slowly.
The lower part of the cliff was rugged, allowing him to climb without much difficulty. But as he ascended, the surface grew smoother, making it harder to find holds.
Clatter.
Slipping briefly, a pebble rolled downward. Looking down, he saw the ground far below, dizzyingly distant. He estimated the height to be at least forty jang (about 120 meters). Gritting his teeth, Bu Eunseol looked up. The height he still had to climb appeared to exceed a hundred jang. If he fell from this height, his bones would surely shatter, leading to certain death.
Drip, drip.
Blood began to trickle from his fingertips. Yet Bu Eunseol, with a face as expressionless as forged steel, continued to climb, undeterred. What he feared was not falling from the cliff but failing to master true martial arts.
“Huff.” As the rocks grew smoother, Bu Eunseol instinctively drew upon the Ban-geuk Method.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Each time he released his grip, a strange wind-like sound echoed. He had never learned the Art of Suction. Yet, scaling the perilous cliff with his bare body, he instinctively generated a suction force.
Crack.
At that moment, the edge of the rock he was gripping splintered slightly. His body tilted, and he began to plummet downward.
‘No!’ Falling from this height would leave his body in pieces too shattered to collect. As he fell, Bu Eunseol spotted a crevice between the rocks.
“Hah!” Without hesitation, he summoned the full force of the Ban-geuk Method and thrust his left hand into the crevice.
Crunch. With the sound of bones grinding, his falling body came to a halt.
Scrape. As he forced his hand deeper into the crevice, the skin on his wrist and hand tore, and bright red blood flowed.
‘Thank goodness.’ Fortunately, his bones weren’t broken. But excruciating pain enveloped his entire body, his vision blurred, and blood rose in his throat. Still, Bu Eunseol resumed climbing with an impassive expression.
Thud.
Finally, Bu Eunseol reached the top of the cliff. His body was covered in dust, and blood dripped ceaselessly from his fingertips and through the tears in his shoes.
“Huff, huff…” With each breath, it felt as if his skin were burning.
Pain, agony, torment. While climbing the cliff, Bu Eunseol experienced every form of suffering and anguish a human body could endure. Yet he straightened his shoulders and walked forward. No amount of pain or hardship could make him bend.
“…” As he walked, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
Before him stood a small teahouse in an open area with a sweeping view of the surrounding scenery. It had the plain, weathered appearance of a tavern found in the alleys of Buzhong. Yet, nestled within the beautiful landscape, it seemed to hold something special.
“Cheongmyeongdaru…” The words Cheongmyeongdaru were carved beneath the eaves of the teahouse.
“…?” The presence of such a teahouse deep in the mountains was surprising enough, but as he approached, a rich tea fragrance wafted toward him.
Bu Eunseol felt an intense, unfamiliar thirst.
Creak.
Opening the door like a drunk stumbling into a tavern, he saw a neatly arranged interior. But the place was empty, with only the sound of boiling tea coming from the kitchen.
‘Is no one here?’ After scanning the teahouse, Bu Eunseol turned to leave.
But then,
“Come in.” A clear voice rang out from behind him. Turning around, he saw an old man with neatly combed white hair blinking at him from the kitchen doorway.
‘There was no presence at all…’ Bu Eunseol couldn’t hide his astonishment. Despite having mastered the Beast Way, which allowed him to sense the flow of air, he hadn’t detected the old man’s approach from the kitchen.
“Sit over here.” The old man’s eyes were half-closed, barely visible, his back was hunched, and his steps wobbled slightly.
Yet he approached Bu Eunseol with an effortless grace, pointing to a nearby table. As if entranced, Bu Eunseol followed the old man’s guidance and sat at the table.
“Tch.” Only then did the old man notice Bu Eunseol’s battered state and clicked his tongue. “What in the world did you do to end up like this?”
“I swam across the lake and climbed the cliff.”
“What?” At Bu Eunseol’s calm reply, the old man’s narrow eyes widened. “You swam across Yeonggyoho Lake and climbed Sajaam Cliff with your bare body?” The old man couldn’t hide his incredulity.
“Well, every disciple who joins Nangyang seems to pick up some strange habit.”
“I…” Bu Eunseol started to say he had come to learn movement techniques, but the old man waved his hand.
“Sit first. I’ll bring tea.” He returned to the kitchen.
Watching him, Bu Eunseol was struck with astonishment once more. Though he could hear the sound of leaves falling ten jang away, he couldn’t detect the footsteps of the frail old man walking right in front of him.
“Have some.” In the meantime, the old man had returned from the kitchen and placed a steaming cup of tea on the table.
“Elder.” Without glancing at the tea, Bu Eunseol stood and respectfully clasped his hands. “I am Bu Eunseol, a recent initiate of Nangyang.”
“No wonder your face was unfamiliar.” Nodding as if his curiosity was satisfied, the old man turned back toward the kitchen. “Take your time with the tea.”
“Elder.” Bu Eunseol clasped his hands again. “Please teach me movement techniques.”
“I cannot teach you.”
“Why not?”
“Why? Don’t you know the rules of this sect?” The old man explained calmly. “As a disciple of this sect, you may learn martial arts from any master here.” But he gave a faint smile.
“However, if they choose not to teach, you cannot force them. Do you understand?”
“I understand perfectly.”
“Then that’s settled.” As the old man turned away without hesitation, Bu Eunseol bit his lip.
He realized that this time, his own efforts wouldn’t suffice—he would have to rely on another’s name.
“Elder Blood Vajra sent me.” Bu Eunseol spoke loudly, channeling strength from his core. “Elder Blood Vajra told me to come to this teahouse to learn movement techniques and footwork.”
“Blood Vajra?”
“Yes.” The old man stopped, turning back with a surprised expression.
“He sent you here?”
“Yes.” A puzzled light flickered in the old man’s eyes.
“Why would he…” His voice carried a complex mix of emotions.
It seemed the old man shared a deep history with Blood Vajra. After a long silence, the old man sighed deeply and spoke again.
“Are you also learning inner energy techniques from him?” The word also caused Bu Eunseol’s eyes to waver slightly.
‘So there were others in the past who learned the Ban-geuk Method from Elder Blood Vajra.’
“Yes.”
“Hm.” The old man let out a deep sigh.
Looking at the distant sky through the window, he spoke in a low voice.
“To be honest, I’ve decided not to pass down movement techniques to anyone anymore.”
“Why is that?”
“You really haven’t heard the reason?” The old man’s eyes narrowed as he gazed at the sky. “Because, like Blood Vajra, I’ve driven many disciples of Nangyang to their deaths.”
“To their deaths…” Looking into the old man’s darkened eyes, Bu Eunseol suddenly understood the meaning.
“From the beginning, Dan Cheong said he would send me a prodigy capable of mastering the Ban-geuk Method. It’s been ten years since then.”
Recalling Blood Vajra’s words, Bu Eunseol pieced together the complex circumstances. ‘Elder Blood Vajra wasn’t waiting for ten years—he was teaching Nangyang’s disciples all that time.’
For ten years, Blood Vajra had trained many disciples. But none had succeeded in mastering the Ban-geuk Method, as it brought pain akin to death itself.
“He sent you… so you’ve mastered the Ban-geuk Method?”
“Yes.”
“Remarkable. You’ve only been here for about two months, haven’t you?” The old man looked Bu Eunseol up and down with renewed astonishment. “And you’ve already reached the First Realm of the Ban-geuk Method?”
“I’ve reached the Second Realm.”
“What?” At Bu Eunseol’s apologetic bow, the old man was speechless, swallowing his shock.
He had witnessed countless disciples who, in attempting the Ban-geuk Method, either took their own lives or were left crippled. Even a world-class talent would need over a year to reach the First Realm.
To reach the Second Realm in just two months?
“You’ve reached the Second Realm?”
“Yes.”
“I see.” Only then did the old man understand Blood Vajra’s intentions.
‘No wonder he was so proud.’ Recalling a recent visit from the Vice-Sect Leader, Dan Cheong, the old man nodded. The young man before him was not only exceptionally talented but possessed the martial spirit to overcome any trial—a true prodigy.
“Very well. I will teach you movement techniques.” At the old man’s words, Bu Eunseol clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Once you hear my explanation, you might change your mind.”
“I’m all ears.”
“My name is Gowol.” The old man, introducing himself as Gowol, exuded an aura as imposing as Mount Tai. “In the past, I was called Swift Beyond Shadow.” A deep reminiscence flickered in his eyes as he recalled the past.
“I was originally a great thief. Thus, I had to be faster than anyone and evade attacks while executing movement techniques.” Gowol spoke with pride-filled eyes. “The movement technique I will teach you transcends the boundaries of movement and footwork—it’s a martial art of motion called Swift Beyond Shadow, named after my own moniker.”
His eyes gradually lost their light as he continued.
“I’ve long tried to pass down Swift Beyond Shadow to Nangyang’s disciples. But they all failed… and were crippled.” Bu Eunseol couldn’t understand.
Inner energy techniques, which regulate the body’s energy, are delicate and perilous. But to be crippled while learning a movement technique?
“Why did they fail?”
“There are two reasons. First, Swift Beyond Shadow constantly consumes inner energy. Without a solid foundation of inner energy, it can cause internal injuries.” Gowol continued. “But the greater danger is that if you execute Swift Beyond Shadow incorrectly, your legs could be severed.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
“Severed legs from performing a movement technique?” It was incomprehensible.
How could misstepping in a movement or footwork technique lead to such a consequence? What kind of movement technique was this?
“Watch closely.” A demonstration is worth a hundred explanations.
Gowol briefly lifted his body into the air and landed back in place. Bu Eunseol, watching, doubted his own eyes.
‘That’s Swift Beyond Shadow…’ Had he not mastered the Beast Way, he wouldn’t have noticed the subtle footwork. Gowol had merely lifted his body in place, yet in that moment, he shifted directions forty-four times.
A heavy silence filled the teahouse. As the tense air drifted out the window,
“You saw it.” Observing Bu Eunseol’s expression, Gowol spoke with a voice full of pride. “The orthodox sect’s finest movement technique, the Diamond Immovable Technique, can shift directions sixty-four times in place.”
His eyes flashed as he continued.
“But my Swift Beyond Shadow technique can shift directions up to ninety-nine times in place. That’s because it’s a martial art combining movement and footwork.” Had Bu Eunseol been well-versed in movement and footwork, he wouldn’t have believed it.
Movement techniques are an extension of inner energy techniques, rooted in qinggong. Footwork, however, is based on formation techniques.
“Do you understand why performing Swift Beyond Shadow can lead to crippling?”
“You shifted directions repeatedly in place at high speed.”
“And?”
“In such a short time, moving at high speed in the air, a single misstep could cause your legs to collide and break.” As Bu Eunseol explained precisely, Gowol nodded, smacking his lips.
“There are many stable movement techniques in the martial world. Honestly, unless you’re planning to become a thief, there’s no need to learn such a dangerous technique.” Bu Eunseol could understand Gowol’s explanation.
No one would risk losing their legs just to learn a single movement technique.
“Are you planning to become a great thief?”
“No.”
“Then I suggest you learn another movement technique. There are many masters of excellent techniques in this sect.” Bu Eunseol, staring at Gowol, spoke in a resolute voice.
Shaking his head, he declared firmly,
“I will learn your movement technique.” Gowol’s expression was one of utter incomprehension.
“Because of Blood Vajra’s words?” Bu Eunseol replied with unwavering eyes.
“I trust my instincts.”
“Instincts?”
“Yes.” Bu Eunseol had a gut feeling.
The movement technique of Gowol, whose footsteps he couldn’t even detect, was likely the finest in Nangyang.
“Hm.”
Gowol, gazing into Bu Eunseol’s resolute eyes, also felt a certainty.
This boy would be able to learn his technique. He hoped he wasn’t wrong.
