Flying on Grass = Stepping on Grass!

The morning light pierced through the thin mist.

The frost on the bluestone ground in the backyard of the cloth shop in the south of the city had not yet melted.

Just as Su Yang sheathed his sword, he saw Li Xingyun standing to the side, his eyes no longer filled with the innocent confusion of a child, but with a heavy, stubbornness beyond his years. The blood from the herb garden had clearly burned a different shape in his heart.

"Uncle Su."

Li Xingyun's voice was not loud, but every word was clear: "I...I want to learn martial arts...Can you teach me? I...I want revenge!"

After he finished speaking, he pursed his pale lips, the flame in his eyes burning fiercely.

Su Yang remained silent for a moment.

He understood that look in his eyes. The roots nurtured by blood feuds would either grow into towering trees or rot in the mud.

"I can teach you."

He spoke, his voice like a blade scraping against cold iron: "But start with the hardest. Your body is too frail to withstand the force of the blade. First, run, thirty laps every day, until your breathing is smooth, your legs feel heavy, and your muscles and bones are stretched. After you finish running, I'll teach you stance training."

"yes!"

Without hesitation, Li Xingyun took off his slightly oversized outer garment, turned around, and rushed out.

In the first few laps, it was just brute force, and the footwork was messy.

But starting from the fifth lap, things changed dramatically.

Li Xingyun's breathing became long and deep, and his steps even formed a rhythm.

What caught Su Yang's attention even more was his movement—his body leaned forward while running, his arms swung in a coordinated manner, and especially the moment his toes touched the ground, it was as light as a "touch" rather than a heavy "step," as if the ground beneath his feet was not hard bluestone, but a springy meadow.

This is not a running posture that an ordinary child could produce!

Su Yang instantly remembered that Li Xingyun's grandfather, Li Jingshan, was also a guard in the Huang family in his early years. He was quite outstanding with his solid hard skills and agile movements. Later, he was injured and went to work as the manager of the medicine garden.

Is it...

Li Xingyun ran more and more steadily, and that unique sense of rhythm became more and more obvious.

When turning, the toes quickly twist and brush, and the body smoothly glides through the corner with the help of the momentum, almost without any hesitation. This is no longer running, but subconsciously using some basic body technique - conserving energy, maintaining balance, and improving agility.

Fifteen minutes later.

Li Xingyun was drenched in sweat, and he dragged his weak legs to finish the last lap before staggering to a stop, supporting himself on his knees with his hands, his chest heaving violently.

"Nebula, you ran well."

Su Yang stepped forward, his gaze sharp: "Especially when turning, you were very stable, unlike others. How did it feel after the run?"

Li Xingyun wiped his sweat, panting as he shook his head: "No... I'm not tired, Uncle Su. Running like this... seems less strenuous than usual."

"Saves effort?"

Su Yang's eyes flashed.

Li Xingyun tilted her head and thought for a moment, then unconsciously tapped her foot lightly on the ground: "It's just... when your foot lands, you can't stomp down with a 'thud.' Grandpa said that's slow and hurts your knees. You have to... be quick, be light, like..."

He tried to find a metaphor, and his eyes lit up: "It's like lightly touching the tip of a blade of grass with your toe. Before the grass even bends down, your foot is already up and moving forward. Grandpa said that running like this is light, fast, and not tiring."

"Just a touch on the tip of a blade of grass?!"

Su Yang's heart skipped a beat!

This metaphor is profound and points directly to the core principles of "lightness, agility, and speed" in light-body skills!

It seems that Li Jingshan has already passed on a skill of lightness to his grandson in the most simple way!

He crouched down, looked Li Xingyun in the eye, and said in a low, solemn voice, "Xingyun, remember this. The method your grandfather taught you is very good. This isn't just ordinary running; it's a real skill that can save your life in critical moments."

Li Xingyun seemed to understand but not quite, yet he involuntarily straightened his back.

"Your grandfather taught you the skill of 'touch a blade of grass' so that you could protect yourself."

Su Yang pressed down on his thin shoulder, his gaze as firm as iron: "But now, he's gone, killed by bad guys. If you want revenge, you need to hone your skills even more, until it becomes second nature—only then will you have a chance to catch up with those bad guys and get justice for your grandfather!"

Li Xingyun's eyes instantly reddened, her teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound, and her small hands clenched into fists.

His breathing was heavy, and the sadness and confusion in his eyes were replaced by an almost burning determination. He nodded heavily, with all his might: "I will definitely practice! Practice every day!"

"Okay." Su Yang stood up. "Let's rest for a bit, then continue practicing!"

"Yes, Uncle Su!"

Li Xingyun's voice was hoarse but resolute.

.........

After resting for a while, Li Xingyun walked back to the center of the courtyard, took a deep breath, and resumed his running posture.

This time, he ran slower, but with more "force"—not brute force, but by focusing all his attention on the feeling of "touch the tip of the grass" that Su Yang had pointed out.

While practicing his swordsmanship, Su Yang observed the thin but stubborn figure.

A quarter of an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

【Grasshopper (Beginner 0/100)】

[Martial arts technique "Grass-Flying" detected. 10 simplification points can be used to simplify. Simplify?]

Suddenly, he felt his mental panel flashing.

"Um?"

"Grasshopper? It's on the panel?"

Upon seeing the words "Flying on Grass" on the panel, Su Yang's eyes widened in surprise.

He didn't expect it.

That morning, he practiced his swordsmanship while supervising Li Xingyun's lap running practice. He didn't take the initiative to learn, but because he watched it many times, the operating logic of this light-body technique gradually pieced together a clear outline like a jigsaw puzzle under his constant attention.

It unexpectedly appeared on the panel!

"simplify!"

He did not hesitate; his mind was made up.

[You consumed 10 simplification points to simplify Grass-Walking... Simplifying... Simplification successful! Grass-Walking = Stepping on Grass]

The panel flashed again.

"Simplified to 'stepping on grass'?"

Su Yang was slightly taken aback, then understood, and a smile appeared on his lips.

This simplified result couldn't be more accurate or direct!

Grass... there's some right here in the yard!

Su Yang's gaze fell on the corner of the small courtyard outside the side room.

Although it was late autumn, there were still a few clumps of tenacious wild grasses peeking out from between the bluestone slabs, lush and green.

He carried his ring-pommel straight sword, walked to the corner of the wall, looked at the few clumps of grass that were no taller than his ankles, raised his right foot, and stepped on the weeds.

[Grasshopper skill level +1!]

【Grasshopper (Beginner 1/100)】

The panel notification arrived as expected!

"It actually works!"

Su Yang looked at the panel and saw that the Grasshopper skill had increased by 1 point, and his eyes showed surprise.

He withdrew his foot and stepped on the grass again in the same way.

[Grasshopper skill level +1!]

This process is repeated, alternating between left and right.

The few clumps of grass in the corner became the most natural and suitable tool for him to practice "flying on grass".

[Grasshopper skill level +1!]

……

【Grasshopper (Beginner 1/200)】

About fifteen minutes later, the [Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication] panel in Su Yang's mind flashed, and a clear and agile flow of information, accompanied by a slight tingling sensation in his body, instantly poured in!

This information was surprisingly about the cultivation techniques for flying on grass and some basic introductory experience.

The core power generation technique involves how to generate energy and lightness, and how to unleash the most appropriate and efficient elastic force through the exquisite coordination of the ankle, calf muscles, and tendons at the moment the toes touch the ground, thus sending the body lightly forward.

At the same time, Su Yang felt a warm, tingling sensation coming from his feet, especially the front of his feet and ankles, as if a subtle flow of energy was circulating and strengthening his meridians.

The muscles in the legs seem to have memorized a more efficient and energy-saving force exertion pattern.

He instinctively jumped slightly.

It wasn't a forceful push off the ground, but rather a very natural and quick tap of the toes in place.

"call!"

My body felt much lighter and quicker than when I exerted the same amount of force before!

Although it wasn't high off the ground, the speed and lightness of its landing were qualitatively different.

More importantly, the effort required throughout the process was significantly reduced.

"This is the beginner level of 'grasshopper'..."

Su Yang's eyes gleamed as he looked at the grass on the ground. An idea struck him: "Why don't I pluck a few blades of grass and put them on the soles of my shoes? Walking in them would allow me to constantly stomp on grass and improve my grass-flying skills!"

Thinking of this, Su Yang immediately took advantage of the other guards' inattention, pulled eight blades of grass from the corner of the wall, went back to his room, stuffed them into the soles of his shoes, put his shoes on, and started walking around.

[Grasshopper skill level +1!]

[Grasshopper skill level +1!]

【……】

Su Yang discovered that as he walked with grass stuffed in the soles of his shoes, every four or five steps, the "Grass Flying" skill would gain a little more proficiency on his mental panel.

"This is so awesome! No wonder it's a simplified panel!"

A look of surprise appeared in Su Yang's eyes, and he kept walking.