---
"What are you going to do?"
"You're talking about 'lightness skill'..."
Seeing Seo-yoon's serious expression, Dang Yu-hwa crossed her arms and thought for a moment.
"It's not difficult to teach you. Some of the lightness skills I know aren't from the Dang family."
"Really? Then please teach me!"
She extended her hand.
As her pretty hand reached out, Seo-yoon, who had been staring at it, smiled brightly.
"Oh come on. How can a man and a woman hold hands in a place where it's just the two of them?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Give me the money. Money."
"Don't you think there's a problem with being so obsessed with money? Martial arts are a noble pursuit that involves mastering both body and mind. How can one reduce martial arts to something so base as money...?"
Currently, the only amount of gold she had was just five nyang. Seo-yoon, who had wasted fifty nyang on a lottery ticket, spoke with tears welling in her eyes, but Dang Yu-hwa did not withdraw her outstretched hand.
"It's only natural to do something in order to gain something."
"Tch."
"Still, be grateful that I'm teaching you for money. Lightness skills aren't usually taught so easily."
"Why is that?"
"There are plenty of people who want to learn lightness skills just to commit theft. I'm trusting you enough not to conduct a character assessment."
She had a somewhat irritated expression for some reason. Seo-yoon stared at her and asked, "Is there something bothering you?"
"No, there isn't!?"
As Dang Yu-hwa turned her head away sharply, the back of her neck turned slightly red. Seo-yoon was quite adept at reading people's expressions and picking up on their moods. Unless one wore a mask like Dang Yu-ji, it was best not to hide what was obvious.
Seeing Dang Yu-hwa display a cold attitude due to some unplaceable disappointment, Seo-yoon sighed. In situations like this, it was best to comply quietly to avoid any conflict.
"I don't have any money."
"Where did the fifty nyang go?"
"I spent it on this."
When she showed the jade wine, she opened the bottle's cap. A pleasant aroma wafted out. She looked surprised and alternated her gaze between the bottle and Seo-yoon.
"This is jade wine, right? It must be at least five years old! Where did you buy this?"
"I got it from a secret black market known only to those from Hatang."
"Wow... I want to check it out later. Five-year-old jade wine for fifty nyang? You got it for such a good price!"
"What's the regular price?"
"In Sicheon, you'd have to pay at least eighty nyang!"
Winning this from the lottery felt like a stroke of luck. However, Seo-yoon still felt a pang of regret.
When Seo-yoon frowned, Dang Yu-hwa tilted her head in confusion.
"Why?"
"Oh... nothing." *If only this had come from a free lottery... Ugh, Haseo really...*
Seeing Seo-yoon shiver slightly, Dang Yu-hwa chuckled.
"Anyway, pay up. Ten nyang."
"Are you really going to do this knowing I have none?"
"If you don't like it, then just quit."
Dang Yu-hwa turned her head away as if she had nothing to lose, and Seo-yoon sighed again. He then pulled out a five-nyang note and revealed a silk pouch.
"...What is this? Are you mocking me?"
"This is of very good quality."
"No matter how good it is..."
He boldly presented women's underwear—quite revealing ones at that—and she was taken aback.
Examining the underwear she pulled from the pouch, Dang Yu-hwa frowned. "You didn't do anything strange with this, did you?"
"It's brand new; I've never worn it. What do you take me for?"
"Hmm... well. It's a bit lacking, but let's call it even for now."
Dang Yu-hwa tucked the underwear away into her belongings. Seeing her take the five nyang made Seo-yoon feel another pang of regret.
"Let's eat this first. Help me out."
"Yes."
Showing Dang Yu-hwa the jade wine was for this reason. Seo-yoon felt he could trust her quite a bit now. Although they hadn't known each other long, trust isn't determined by how long you've been together.
He had realized that when someone he had known for ten years from Hatang tried to kidnap him and sell him off.
*'I can trust someone like Dang Yu-hwa.'*
As Seo-yoon sat cross-legged and drank the jade wine, Dang Yu-hwa placed her hand on his back.
"Focus your energy. I'll help you."
The vast energy bubbling in his dantian moved according to the Samjae Heart Method. The narrow channels in his body began to widen under the effects of the jade wine.
After completing three rounds of Soju Cheon as before and just when the effects were about to wear off, Seo-yoon felt an immense energy surging through his back.
Dang Yu-hwa was guiding him through the effects he couldn't fully harness on his own with just the Samjae Heart Method.
Thanks to that, after managing two more rounds of Soju Cheon and exhaling deeply, Dang Yu-hwa slowly withdrew her hand.
"Phew. You did well. At this point, you've absorbed all the effects of the jade wine."
"Hmm..."
He checked the energy stored in his dantian. It had indeed increased compared to before. However, the size of his dantian itself had not grown as much as he expected.
"...It seems my energy hasn't increased that much...?"
The increase was only about ten years' worth. He could have gained around thirteen years' worth on his own; why was this happening?
Seeing his puzzled expression, Dang Yu-hwa smiled brightly.
"While it's good to gather energy, it's also important to refine your channels."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. The effects you missed and any residual good energy left in your channels were all used up in refining them. You might not know this yet, but even if you use the same energy level when using top-tier martial arts like Samyangsu, your power will increase."
"Sigh..."
Still disappointing though. If she had guided him properly, he thought he might have gained around twenty years' worth of energy.
Noticing his disappointment, Dang Yu-hwa poked his forehead with her finger playfully.
"If you want to master top-tier martial arts, managing your body is also important. You're not planning on stopping here, are you?"
As she spoke softly while drenched in sweat like him, Seo-yoon closed his eyes and focused on circulating his energy again.
It was indeed much easier than before with Soju Cheon.
"This is why they say lineage matters..."
"Exactly! If you don't understand martial arts well enough, you might think accumulating energy alone is sufficient. But that's meaningless without harmony between strength, channel width, and depth of energy."
*Remember that.*
Just having someone like Dang Yu-hwa beside him while consuming elixirs brought about such significant results. If he had done it alone, he might have just focused on gathering energy without any real progress.
"Thank you."
"What for? Don't worry; I won't charge for this."
After giving Seo-yoon's shoulder a light pat, Dang Yu-hwa looked at her wet clothes and took out two silver nyang from her pocket before placing them in his hand.
"I think I need another bath now; go buy me some clothes. No need for underwear..."
"Yes."
Since she hadn't planned on staying overnight, she hadn't prepared any extra clothes or underwear either. Following her request while still damp and covered in dust himself, Seo-yoon headed outside.
After being introduced by the innkeeper to a clothing store nearby, he returned with a set of martial attire.
When he placed the clothes in their room and went to wash himself at the well, Dang Yu-hwa had also returned from her bath by then.
"Wow~ Seeing you like this makes you look quite beautiful too."
As she dried her damp hair with a towel at that moment, Dang Yu-hwa scoffed at Seo-yoon's flattery.
"Don't flatter me too much; I still have my pride intact."
"Haha! That wasn't my intention at all."
*Caught.*
"You now have thirty years' worth of energy—it's great that you've gained enough power to use certain lightness techniques that require such energy."
"What technique is that?"
"It's called Chuhyanglang (출행랑). It combines footwork as well; while its name might sound strange since it's from Taoist martial arts lineage, it's definitely useful if you learn it."
"Oh... How do I train for it?"
Dang Yu-hwa smiled sweetly at him as she replied.
"You can look forward to it; it's very easy and enjoyable!"
---
Seo-yoon frowned as he tried pulling the cart without using any energy—it felt unbearable.
"Move properly! Chuhyanglang was created by observing how wolves move; right now your movements resemble those of a mule rather than a wolf!"
"But how am I supposed to walk like this? Just turn around and start over!"
"If you want to return quickly to Jiuhyun then do it right!"
Dang Yu-hwa swung a long rope while sitting on the cart beside him. Dust flew up right next to Seo-yoon's feet.
"Gah..."
"The basics of lightness skills involve using your energy to lighten your body and move quickly. But for that purpose alone—your foot movements are equally important!"
His arms were bound and chains were wrapped around his legs too; even worse were heavy leg weights strapped onto him as well!
Having to pull this cart without using any energy felt worse than during Chae Ji-soo's training!
"If we don't arrive in Jiuhyun by today then you'll be pulling all night!"
"Ugh..."
"You need to hurry! Don't forget we need food too! Compared to how weak Chuhyanglang's training methods are now—I remember back when I used to climb mountains carrying huge boulders on my back! This is way easier and more enjoyable than that—right?"
Seo-yoon grumbled but resumed moving again despite everything.
Pulling without any energy felt challenging but surprisingly not as painful as expected.
"You're glad you refined your channels beforehand?"
"Yes."
Seo-yoon felt grateful towards Dang Yu-hwa for that one thing alone.
Though his dantian had grown slightly larger due its refinement—the increase in strength allowed him to manage tasks like these easily enough!
Seeing how effortlessly she handled pulling along behind their cart made him nod approvingly.
"I should've sold off my horse instead..."
Due to its branding mark stamped onto it—he regretted not being able sell off his horse earlier!
Just then another cart pulled by an ox approached from another road.
A large man lay sprawled across its bed while another hefty man around Seo-yoon's age drove it along.
"Hello there!"
"Ah! Hello!"
The man whipping his ox flinched slightly upon seeing Seo-yoon's face.
When Seo-yoon acknowledged him back—the man lying down rose up slowly.
Dressed in worn black robes with an impressive sword resting beside him—the middle-aged man scrutinized both Seo-yoon and Dang Yu-hwa intently.
"Hey there young lad! What're ya up ta? Are ya perhaps some kind'a criminal?"
"No! Nothing like that—I'm currently training for lightness skills."
"Oh… Training like that? From yer gait—it looks like Chuhyanglang?"
"Yes! Not only does it build physical strength but also teaches footwork."
"Isn't yer walkin' off?"
"Ugh…"
With just a light swing of rope—he corrected Seo-yoon's posture which made him chuckle heartily.
"Hahaha! You look young yet already have yourself an apprentice?"
"Apprentice? More like… close comrades for now."
"For comrades—you teach 'em real well! I'm impressed!"
"....Master?"
"Apprentice! What are ya doing?"
"…Yes?"
The man driving the ox flinched visibly at those words.
Trying hard not listen—the middle-aged man picked up an enormous sword resting nearby.
With swift strikes—he lightly tapped against young man's head causing him grimace painfully!
"No Master! No matter what ya say!"
"You should be practicing Suijingo instead! Haha! Looks like my young comrade learned something good from ya—thanks!"
"Not at all."
With a bright smile—Dang Yu-hwa returned his gaze while making young man scowl further downwards.
After untying ox behind their cart—he tied them both together securely.
Then when grabbing hold onto their own carts—the middle-aged man swung around effortlessly wielding his great sword!
"Bloodletting too!?"
"That fine young lad over there is doing fine without any power either! Muyeong ah! Muyeong ah! You can't lose either!"
Feeling competitive over trivial matters seemed pointless!
The youth called Muyeong glared resentfully towards Dang Yu-hwa instead!
"Get going!"
Seo-yoon watched Muyeong feeling pity towards him!
His expression resembled one who had bitten into dung!
Naturally—two carts lined up side by side within broad street!
Dang Yu-hwa smiled gently towards Muyeong again!
"It seems yer teaching yer apprentice quite well—and they follow along nicely."
"Of course apprentices shouldn't kill nor save each other—but honestly speaking… This lad here isn't half bad compared ta what I've seen so far."
As he grumbled about Muyeong—Seo-yoon felt genuine sympathy towards him!
He seemed similar enough compared Ji-soo!
"This girl here goes by name Tang Yuhua from Tang Clan; judging by appearance alone—I can tell she's no ordinary person either… May I ask yer name sir?"
Dang Yuhua jumped down off cart immediately after hearing question!
While performing graceful bow—the middle-aged man revealed large sword proudly!
"Ahem! Oh dear me! My treasured weapon 'Dragon Form Sword' has collected dust!?
"Dragon Form Sword… Is that so?"
Upon hearing mention—it caught Tang Yuhua's attention causing middle-aged man chuckle softly!
"I hadn't planned on revealing myself but… Heh heh… Yes indeed—I am known among three masters: Dojon Jwasumbak!"