SWOOSH—
Planting his feet, Fang Han recalled the first form from the manual, "Wind Rises from the Green Willow." He slowly lifted his foot and tried to circulate his Inner Qi along the new pathways.
For the first few steps, his movements were stiff. The Inner Qi flowed unevenly through the unfamiliar meridians, occasionally threatening to go awry, and his footwork felt heavy and clumsy.
This was where his Sixteenfold Stepping Talent showed its power. Insights into the essence of the step technique flooded his mind, allowing him to quickly identify his mistakes and adjust the coordination between his Inner Qi and his steps.
The entire day passed in this manner.
By the time the sun began to set in the west, Fang Han had only managed to familiarize himself with the twelve forms of the step technique. He was still a considerable distance from reaching the Entry Level.
He rubbed his sore ankles, but there was no sign of discouragement on his face.
