Bab 112: Footwork [part 3]
**The Traditional Approach**
The courtyard was shrouded in darkness, perfectly reflecting my state of mind.
As the torchlight flickered, casting long and distorted shadows, the failure of the mental image continued to weigh heavily on my thoughts.
Every attempt to grasp that ideal flow, to feel the river coursing within me, had dissolved into frustration.
Yet, I couldn't stop. I mustn't.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the mental image of the river from my mind.
I decided to return to the fundamentals, to follow the traditional path the governess had indicated.
I no longer tried to visualize, but instead, I focused on feeling each movement in my body, letting them become a part of me.
Each step now was deliberate, precise, the result of concentrated effort.
I felt the cold ground beneath my feet, the resistance of the earth, the way my muscles tensed and relaxed with every motion.
There wasn't yet the fluidity I had desired, that perfect connection between mind and body, but I felt I was advancing, one step at a time.
**Slow Progress**
The frustration gradually eased, replaced by a methodical calm.
Every movement was a small progress, each gesture a brick laid in the construction of a new skill.
My mind emptied of the thoughts that had crowded it before, focusing only on the present moment, the next step, the rhythm I had to maintain.
The governess watched me silently, her scrutinizing gaze fixed on me.
I could feel her constant evaluation, the way she measured every step I took, every hesitation.
But there was no longer disapproval in her eyes, only cold observation, as if she were weighing my determination and adaptability.
"Focus on the movements, Schadet," her voice cut through the silence, firm but with a hint of encouragement.
"Each step must become a part of you, without forcing it. Only when your feet know what to do without your mind telling them, can you think of returning to the river."
Her words were a guide, a signal that I had chosen the right path. I felt a new determination grow within me, a flame that burned silently but steadily.
**Darkness and Progress**
As the night wore on, the courtyard grew colder, but I didn't notice.
I was immersed in my training, in movements that were becoming more familiar, more natural.
The fluidity I had tried to force with my mind began to emerge, not as a mental image, but as a physical, real sensation.
The River Footwork hadn't eluded me, not forever.
I knew I had to continue down this path, step by step, until my body learned on its own what my mind wasn't yet ready to visualize.
Every movement, every step, brought me closer to the mastery I sought, to the ability to flow like the water itself.
The night, dark and cold, was no longer an obstacle, but an environment that allowed me to grow, to strengthen my resolve.
Every challenge, every failure, was an opportunity to learn, to evolve.
And as the sky became completely covered with black clouds, with no trace of light left, I continued to move, to seek that perfection that I knew would only come with time and perseverance.
**The Consecration of Progress**
As time passed and the night deepened, my training transformed from a simple physical exercise into something much deeper.
Every step I took, every movement I repeated, began to reveal the hidden secrets of the River Footwork.
The technique that initially seemed to elude me slowly started to unveil its true essence.
The cold of the ground beneath my feet was now a distant memory; my body moved with a naturalness I had never experienced before.
I finally felt the fluidity the governess had described, that ability to adapt to every situation, to react with precision without ever breaking the flow of movements.
The River Footwork was becoming a part of me, not just a technique to execute, but an integral part of my being.
**The Revelation of Fluidity**
However, as my training continued and my understanding of the technique deepened, a new awareness began to emerge.
Despite the improved fluidity, there was still something I couldn't fully grasp.
It was a subtle feeling, almost imperceptible, but it grew more present with each movement.
Each time I executed a sequence, I felt a break in the flow, a void I couldn't explain.
No matter how hard I tried to ignore it, that feeling persisted, as if the River Footwork was not yet complete, as if something was missing to make it truly fluid.
**The Intuition of the Missing Movements**
It was during one of the last exercises of the night that intuition struck me.
As I moved through the courtyard, replicating the offensive and defensive movements the governess had taught me, I realized there were moments when the flow briefly broke.
It wasn't an obvious mistake, but a subtle lack of continuity, as if there was a transition yet to be discovered between one movement and the next.
I felt a familiar frustration resurface, but this time, instead of letting it take over, I used it to fuel my focus. Instead of forcing the movements, I let my body react more naturally, trying to find a solution to the emerging problem.
That's when the insight came to me.
As I moved laterally, the flow broke again, but this time I didn't stop.
I allowed my body to adapt, to find a new path.
It was a spontaneous movement, something I hadn't been taught, but which seemed the natural next step in the sequence.
I felt a sort of release, as if a piece of the puzzle had finally fallen into place.
I continued to explore this new movement, integrating it into the River Footwork.
Each time I executed it, the flow became smoother, more continuous, as if the river I was trying to emulate had found a new path, one more direct and unobstructed.
**The Discovery of a New Flow**
As I incorporated this new movement, my understanding of the River Footwork expanded.
It wasn't just an addition; it was a transformation.
The technique I had learned was evolving, adapting to me, just as I was adapting to it.
I began to notice that other movements could also be improved, made more fluid and natural with small adjustments that seemed to emerge on their own as I trained.
This discovery filled me with new energy, with a renewed determination.
I realized that the River Footwork was not a static technique but something alive, something that could grow and adapt to whoever practiced it.
I was still far from mastering it completely, but I felt I was on the right path, advancing towards a deeper, more personal understanding.
**A New Vision of the River Footwork**
When I finally stopped, my body was exhausted, but my mind was clearer than ever.
I knew I had made significant progress, that I had discovered something that would make my training even more effective.
The feeling that movements were missing was no longer a frustration but a challenge to be met, an opportunity to explore new possibilities.
As the night wind blew through the courtyard stones, I realized that the road ahead was still long, but I wasn't afraid.
On the contrary, I was excited by the idea of continuing to discover and perfect the River Footwork, of making it my own in a way that no one else could.
And so, with one last glance at the shadows stretching across the courtyard, I decided that my training wouldn't stop here.
I had much to learn, much to discover, and I knew that the River Footwork, with all its secrets, would accompany me along the entire journey.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone