Chapter 151 First Battle
Martial Arts begin with the feet.
While Internal Energy forms the foundation of Martial Arts, the journey of Martial Arts truly begins with one’s steps. Those unfamiliar with the deeper aspects of Martial Arts often mistake a sect’s ultimate techniques as merely weapon-based skills like Sword Arts or Blade Arts. However, sects have always guarded their Footwork with extreme secrecy, second only to their Internal Energy Cultivation Methods.
To have one’s steps taken away is akin to surrendering one’s sword domain. Unless facing an opponent who has achieved Adamant Invincibility, any individual with a physical physique that can be cut or struck, feeling the impact, will find more than half the battle decided by Footwork alone.
That was why, the moment Namgung-woo approached with Infinite Steps, Dokgo Pil countered with Wiadokbo.
A Footwork that crushes with sheer force, met by a Footwork that disrupts that force and steals balance.
Namgung-woo had already succeeded in several frontal assaults against Dokgo Bin.
However, Dokgo Pil’s Wiadokbo was markedly different from Dokgo Bin’s. Unlike Dokgo Bin’s Wiadokbo, which merely disoriented one’s sense of direction, Dokgo Pil’s steps made it impossible to even perceive that one’s sense of direction was askew.
Yet, Azure Serenity Eyes etched an absolute coordinate system into Namgung-woo’s mind. Even if they lost their sense of direction, the next step they needed to take, as seen through their eyes, remained unchanged.
