Hard? So What?

The next day, during the afternoon martial arts class.

Inside the Martial Arts Hall, the students practiced their punches and kicks. After Lin Ye finished his basic Stake Training and a few rounds of adaptive practice with the Mountain-Suppressing Fist, he began working on the basic footwork of the Lost Track Steps he had learned from the official website.

The Lost Track Steps emphasized alternating between the real and the illusory, with every step containing two variations: a "solid step" and a "feinting step." Since he had only just begun practicing, his movements were rather clumsy. His strange footwork drew quite a few eyes as he practiced inside the hall.

Lin Ye, however, was completely unaware. Relying on the extreme control over his muscles granted by his Great Success Grade fist technique and Stake Training, he was painstakingly feeling his way toward the secrets of the Lost Track Steps.

Not far away, Zheng Huai was making his rounds and instructing the other students. When his gaze swept over Lin Ye, he paused slightly.

"He's started practicing footwork?"

Zheng Huai glanced over and understood. On the one hand, he figured Lin Ye would eventually use the D-Grade Martial Art borrowing privilege included in the Key Cultivation Program. On the other, Lin Ye's Rolling Stone Fist had already reached Great Success, so shoring up his weakness in movement before the High School Entrance Exam was a wise move.

But when he took a closer look at the somewhat awkward patterns of Lin Ye's steps, his brow twitched.

"That footwork... unpredictable, with evasions and sudden advances. Could it be the Lost Track Steps?"

Zheng Huai had taught for many years. He might not have known every D-Grade Martial Art in the school's arsenal inside and out, but he could identify most of them without much trouble.

The Lost Track Steps were considered one of the most difficult D-Grade movement techniques in the school's arsenal. They demanded an exceptional sense of space, mental strength, precise control of Blood Qi, and a natural feel for rhythm. Many martial artists in the early stages of the Blood-Qi Realm made painfully slow progress with them.

"Why did that kid pick this one?"

Zheng Huai couldn't help feeling bemused, almost unable to keep a straight face. He had started to walk over and warn Lin Ye about how difficult the technique was, but then stopped.

He suddenly remembered that the Key Cultivation Program only allowed students to borrow one D-Grade Martial Art. If he went over now, told Lin Ye the Lost Track Steps were too difficult, and advised him not to practice them, he would only add to Lin Ye's pressure. It wouldn't help in the slightest.

"Oh, well. Since he picked it, let him take it on himself. With his temperament and the progress he's made so far, he might be able to chew through this tough bone after all. At most... I can find a chance later to offer him a few pointers on general principles of movement under the pretext of discussing the subject."

Watching Lin Ye concentrate as he felt his way through the technique, clumsy but earnest, Zheng Huai sighed inwardly. He thought he ought to find an opportunity to help him, though movement techniques weren't his forte. And the Lost Track Steps were the most difficult of the D-Grade Martial Arts, so all he could offer were a few simple pointers.

There wasn't much else he could do.

That evening, after dinner, Lin Ye went to an empty lot beside the Martial Arts Pavilion and continued puzzling over the Lost Track Steps.

Compared to that afternoon, his steps seemed a touch smoother. He had a deeper grasp of that feeling of "alternating between the real and the illusory."

After another clumsy run-through, the panel appeared.

[Lost Track Steps · Entry (1/300)]

He'd finally reached Entry.

Lin Ye slowly let out a breath. In an instant, a wealth of insights about the Lost Track Steps surged into his mind, deepening his understanding. His steps had to move in sync with his breathing; the body's tremors could also be used to gauge space; and he needed to keep track of his position in real time, among other things.

But when he looked at the panel, he suddenly realized that the Lost Track Steps were more difficult than basic martial arts like the Rolling Stone Fist. Reaching Entry required 300 points of proficiency, and the later stages would likely require even more.

Just then, a familiar figure passed by. Class monitor Li Weiwei had just finished dinner and was planning to take a stroll to help her food settle when she spotted Lin Ye puzzling over his footwork in the lot.

"Lin Ye, are you practicing a new footwork technique? Is that...?"

Li Weiwei came from a martial arts family, so her eye was naturally sharp. The Lost Track Steps also had distinctive features, and after watching for a few moments, she began to suspect what it was.

At her question, Lin Ye stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow. "The Lost Track Steps."

"It really is the Lost Track Steps?!"

When Lin Ye confirmed it, Li Weiwei's clear eyes widened slightly, surprise flashing across her face. "You really borrowed the Lost Track Steps?"

"Yeah. The description made it seem suitable, so I borrowed it."

"Is there a problem?"

Lin Ye nodded. He didn't think there was anything wrong with borrowing the Lost Track Steps.

Li Weiwei parted her lips, then hesitated. She was perceptive and immediately had the same concerns as Zheng Huai. If she came right out and said, "This footwork is very difficult; you might get half the results for twice the effort," she might crush Lin Ye's enthusiasm. It wouldn't befit her position as class monitor, either.

After all, Lin Ye had already started practicing.

Besides, she knew perfectly well what the school's cultivation program offered: students could borrow only one D-Grade Martial Art, with no exchanges.

Seeing Lin Ye look at her, she carefully weighed her words, wondering how to gently caution him without hurting his feelings.

"Lin Ye, what are you two up to?"

"Don't tell me you're chasing after the class monitor?"

A hearty voice cut in. Lin Ye looked over and saw Zhang Zhen.

Zhang Zhen happened to be passing by. Seeing Li Weiwei talking with Lin Ye, he came over, his eyes settling on the two of them.

"Zhang Zhen, what are you talking about?"

Li Weiwei glared at Zhang Zhen. "I was just looking at Lin Ye practicing his footwork. I got curious, so I came over to take a look."

"Footwork, huh?"

Zhang Zhen understood. "Now I remember. I glanced over this afternoon, too. It was pretty distinctive."

"Yeah. The Lost Track Steps."

Lin Ye nodded.

"Oh, the Lost Track Steps... Wait, what did you say? The Lost Track Steps?"

"The footwork you're practicing is the Lost Track Steps?"

Only then did Zhang Zhen register what Lin Ye had said. He looked rather surprised.

"Is there a problem?"

Lin Ye was puzzled. Why had everyone reacted so strangely?

"So it really is."

At that, Zhang Zhen's voice rose a little, edged with disbelief and a hint of delight at the prospect of watching the show. "You've got guts, Lin Ye. Going straight for the difficult stuff? The Lost Track Steps are famous for being hard to master among the D-Grade footwork techniques at our school. They demand an absurdly strong sense of space and mental strength. Lots of people practice them for ages without even reaching Entry, then have no choice but to switch to something else."

"Why did you pick this one?"

Lin Ye paused, surprised to learn there was such a thing.

The Lost Track Steps had been described as difficult, but he hadn't known they were "famous for being hard to master."

When he picked them, he'd only thought about whether they suited his needs. He hadn't considered that, and he hadn't looked into how difficult the technique was to learn.

But he quickly regained his composure.

Difficult?

With the Proficiency Panel, even the hardest technique had a clear progress bar. Entry might require 300 points, but 300 was 300. He could build them up bit by bit. It would just take more time and effort.

He had complete confidence in his own patience and in the reliability of the panel.

"Is that so?"

"I didn't compare them much at the time. I just picked the one that seemed suitable."

Lin Ye's tone was calm, without a hint of uncertainty. "Difficult techniques have their own way of being practiced."

Zhang Zhen was momentarily stumped by Lin Ye's calmness. He remembered wanting to try the technique himself back then, but his elders had stopped him.

They'd been quite clear: he wasn't cut out for the Lost Track Steps.

Damn!

"That's true. Difficult techniques have their own way of being practiced."

"The best technique is the one that suits you."

Li Weiwei gave Lin Ye a small smile. As she shot Zhang Zhen a look to stop him from saying anything more, she spoke warmly, with a note of encouragement. "There's no rushing when it comes to footwork. What matters is getting a feel for the 'intent' behind the movement. If anything's unclear, you can... well, we can all discuss it together."

She had nearly said, "You can ask me," but when she thought of how difficult the Lost Track Steps were, she decided that would be overconfident. So she changed course at the last moment.

"Thanks, class monitor."

Lin Ye nodded to her. Seeing Li Weiwei had spoken, Zhang Zhen didn't press the matter. He pursed his lips and left.

"Mm, good luck."

Li Weiwei nodded, then turned and walked away. The empty lot fell quiet again.

Lin Ye watched them leave, understanding that the Lost Track Steps really were harder than most.

But so what?

He had a cheat!