Shadowstep

Just as Zhang Ling struck out, he felt as if he had hit a layer of cotton—soft and powerless. Then he saw Zhang Jingqian make a circling gesture with his hand; it seemed effortless, yet with a gentle push, Zhang Ling was sent flying several meters away.

Landing hard on the ground, Zhang Ling rubbed his backside. Had this happened three months ago, he would have been bedridden for half a month. He groaned as he stood up slowly and asked in bewilderment, “How come this Coiling Finger Softness also seems to use force against force?”

With his hands behind his back, Zhang Jingqian smiled and explained, “Actually, this Coiling Finger Softness not only borrows from the original sword technique, but I’ve also incorporated some basic moves from Wudang Tai Chi. So, you can think of it as learning two martial arts at once. I’ve merged the two, which saves you time in training.”

Zhang Ling asked, “Then why are you teaching me this kind of martial art?”

“That’s a good question,” Zhang Jingqian shrugged. “You began too late. Though you progress quickly, you lack the years of combat experience others have. What I’ve combined into Coiling Finger Softness isn’t just a martial art—it’s a technique. This way, you can make up for the gap between you and others.”

Hearing this, Zhang Ling finally understood the difference between himself and others.

Zhang Jingqian took out a blade of grass and handed it to Zhang Ling. “Eat this.”

“What is it?”

“Green Lotus Grass,” Zhang Jingqian explained again. “When people first learn martial arts, their focus on the forms is poor; it often takes a long time to learn. Green Lotus Grass can clear the mind, making it easier to memorize moves, and unlike some elixirs, it doesn’t have side effects.”

After Zhang Ling ate the Green Lotus Grass, Zhang Jingqian began to demonstrate the Coiling Finger Softness. His movements were slow yet rhythmic, and Zhang Ling found he could clearly remember every detail.

Within just two hours, Zhang Ling had memorized the entire set of techniques.

Then Zhang Jingqian asked him to perform it once, commenting, “Hmm, you’ve memorized the moves, but the essence of Coiling Finger Softness lies in flexibility and adaptability. You’ll have to discover for yourself when and how to use each move.”

Though Zhang Ling could feel his body had improved considerably from the training, he was puzzled as to why, after only two hours, he already felt exhausted.

“Do you feel your stamina is depleted quickly?” Zhang Jingqian asked.

Zhang Ling nodded; he felt drained, his legs barely steady beneath him.

“No matter what martial art it is, those that use inner strength will rapidly consume it; even those that don’t require inner strength still use up a lot of physical energy. That’s why, in a fight, unless one is certain of victory, it’s rare to use those powerful techniques that also heavily drain inner strength,” Zhang Jingqian explained.

Before Zhang Ling could reply, Zhang Jingqian continued, “Since you’re feeling weak, it’s the perfect time to learn lightness skill.”

Just as Zhang Ling was about to ask which lightness skill, Zhang Jingqian vanished before his eyes. Frantically searching, Zhang Ling found no sign of him. Then, in the blink of an eye, Zhang Jingqian reappeared in front of him.

“This lightness skill is called Shadow Phantom,” said Zhang Jingqian, folding his hands behind his back and lightly leaping away. A string of afterimages remained in his place, and he vanished in an instant, only to reappear with another light step. “Among all lightness skills in the world, Shadow Phantom ranks easily in the top ten. When stepping, it leaves a trail of afterimages to confuse the opponent’s judgment. At its highest level, one comes and goes without a trace. However, true masters can still discern your trajectory, so if you ever meet one, just remember these four words: ‘Run like the wind.’”

Zhang Ling was speechless. “Brother, could you be any more obvious with your insults?”

Zhang Jingqian coughed, interrupting the awkwardness, then extended his hand. “Come, give me your hands.”

Puzzled, Zhang Ling did as told, and Zhang Jingqian grasped his hands. Immediately, Zhang Ling felt a surge of energy flow into his body. “Is this inner strength?”

Zhang Jingqian nodded. “Don’t resist.”

Zhang Ling relaxed, feeling a warm current circulate within him, making his body feel light. Then, without conscious effort, his body began to move, as if skimming over water, leaving a series of afterimages in his wake. Clearly, Zhang Jingqian was guiding his movements with inner strength, and only because he didn’t resist could it be done.

After a moment, Zhang Ling’s movements slowed and finally stopped.

“How does it feel?” Zhang Jingqian asked.

Zhang Ling thought for a moment, then replied, “It feels…like nothing at all.”

“Exactly,” Zhang Jingqian smiled. “Lightness skill is different from other martial arts. It’s like cultivating inner strength for the first time—there’s no experience to draw upon. Other martial arts, even if learned for the first time, can be quickly grasped through life experience. Mastering lightness skill, however, is often a matter of chance.”

Sure enough, when Zhang Ling tried on his own, he couldn’t do it at all.

Seeing this, Zhang Jingqian handed him a book, the cover bearing the words “Shadow Phantom.”

Zhang Ling took it and flipped through. To his surprise, it wasn’t as esoteric as he’d imagined, and he quickly read it through and practiced once as described.

“How is it?” Zhang Jingqian inquired.

Zhang Ling replied, “It doesn’t seem that hard to understand, but I just can’t do what the book describes.”

“That’s typical of top-tier martial arts. It’s very hard to master just by reading. That’s why we’re not afraid of books being lost and others learning the techniques. Even a genius would take several years to master it, and an ordinary person might never succeed. That’s why such skills are usually taught orally, from master to disciple,” Zhang Jingqian explained.

“I see,” Zhang Ling nodded in sudden understanding.

Zhang Jingqian let out a long breath. “All right, let’s continue!”

He once again infused Zhang Ling’s body with inner strength, repeating the practice over and over.

After an hour, Zhang Ling was utterly exhausted. Though he didn’t move by himself, he had to devote some effort to resisting the foreign inner strength. Since everyone’s inner strength is unique, it can’t be absorbed by others, and over time, this leads to fatigue.

Collapsed on the ground, Zhang Ling had made no progress in mastering Shadow Phantom.

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Jingqian said, “Both Coiling Finger Softness and Shadow Phantom require flexibility and adaptability. But if you only train by yourself, progress will be slow. It’s best to spar with someone of equal strength—only then can you master both more quickly.”

“But where am I supposed to find such a person?” Zhang Ling asked.

Zhang Jingqian just shook his head. The two exchanged glances and fell silent, the sound of the stream beside them suddenly crystal clear.