Vol 1 Chapter 10 (1/2)

Book 1, Chapter 10 – Footwork

After practicing archery for an hour, the Sun had already begun to rise

“Ning, child, I shall be the one to teach you footwork” Yuchi Snow, clad in white furs, smiled as she looked at her son

“Yes” Ning said

Although he had exercised to the point where his waist and his back were bitterly sore, because he had trained in the [Crienerative speed was astonishi+ngly high Right now, his y

“In close combat, footwork is every bit as importance as sword techniques!” Yuchi Snow said solee in a battle, the one with better footwork and agility can make it hard for the opponent to injure them, while they are able to easily injure the opponent”

Ning nodded

He understood this logic

Close co swords and sabers at each other It was constantly changing positions like an unpredictable shadow In his past life, he had seen taekwondo and karate experts Those hly, and their footas exquisite, capable of causing ten enemy punches in a row to reatly

The iher than that of attacking techniques! Because he had been tor truly and ardently enjoyed watching those competitions, which made him understand the importance of footwork in those taekwondo and karate competitions

In this world where spirits and monsters abounded, the basics were still the same

Footas one of the s

“I will teach you a footwork technique known as the [Shadewind Steps]” Snow said “Don’t be fooled by its ordinary na set of footwork techniques I ast all five Prefectures, it is considered the highest type of footwork technique Once you begin learning this footwork technique, you will understand how to dodge andhow to easily flee”

“First, carefully read the six basic movements” With a flip of her hand, Snow made a thick yellow book appear out of nowhere

Ning accepted it and began to read it carefully

This book described the [Shadewind Steps] and its six basic movements All six of the movee of force and energy

“Don’t just stare at it” Snow pointed at a distant area “Look over there”

Ning turned his head and saooden pillars There must have been thousands of wooden pillars there, and they were all of different height and at different distances from each other Above these wooden stakes was a number of beast capes, thousands of them which dotted the area like ropes

“That is known as the Thousand Star Array” Snow said “Through the usage of the Thousand Star Array, within ten years, you should be able to be able to reach the ‘Ruwei’ stage of the Shadewind Steps If it wasn’t for the Thousand Star Array…you probably would have to spend a hundred times the amount of time”

“The [Shadewind Steps] technique has three stages”

“First, the basic stage”

“Second, the advanced stage”

“Third, one with the world”

Snow looked at Ning “Actually, all techniques, be it footwork, sword, saber, spear, or anything else, can be divided into these three stages For exae’ of sword technique is often described as ‘one with the sword’”

“Have you memorized the mysteries of the six basic movements?” Snow asked

“Yes” Ning nodded

Snow then walked towards the Thousand Star Array, then pointed at one of the very short pillars “Go stand on top of this pillar”

“Yes” Ning easily jumped onto the wooden pillar

He instantly felt wobbly The pillar wasn’t very thick, and there was only enough space for a single foot Fortunately, after having trained in the [Criood sense of balance This was the only reason why he was able to stand stably

“Listen to my orders Whichever one of the six basic movements I ask you to use, that’s what you use” Snow said “The ‘advancing’ move!”

Ning ie forward and step atop another pillar in front of hiainst a beast skin rope and, with a swish, he fell down to the ground

“Re in the Thousand Star Array, you must not step onto any of the beast skins Once you do so, you’ll have to start over again” Snow said

Ning ground his teeth

He refused to believe it would happen again

He once again hopped onto the short pillar, and then, using the ‘advancing’ ed past the beast skin and moved onto the next wooden pillar However, he had used toowhile before he was able to steady hiain

“Re a nail doith each step When you land on the pillar, you must be nailed to it!” Snow said “Each step cannot be too sht or too heavy Just now, you swayed wildly If this was a life or death fight, you would’ve been stabbed to death by an enemy ould’ve discovered a flaw in your attacks Continue The ‘advancing’ move!”

“The ‘advancing’ step!”

“The ‘sidestep’ step!”

“The ‘leaping’ step!”

“The ‘backwards’ step!”

“The ‘withdrawing’ step!”

“The ‘turning’ step!”

Snow snapped one order after another

Actually, all footwork techniques relied on these basic movements But the differences between different techniques were like night and day in terhtning, while others would raceful as the wind, or perhaps as unpredictable as a spirit

Each footwork technique had its own mysteries, and naturally would have different effects in battle

“Oof!” He hadn’t leapt high enough, and his back had brushed against the beast skin ropes, causing him to be unable to land onto the wooden pillar He fell down

Not saying a word, Ning climbed back onto the pillar