*The morning sun's rays wake Sungjin from his sleep*
"I can't stay here"
*Sungjin starts to get up from the bed with some difficulty because of his broken arm, when he manages to sit up in bed the door to the hospital room opens, and entering through it is Carnation*
Carnation: I'm glad you're up, I brought your breakfast! *Carnation swings a bag with some food*
Sungjin: Carnation, remember what we talked about yesterday, I want to start, as soon as possible. *Sungjin speaks with conviction*
Carnation: Let's take it easy, eat first. *Carnation hands the bag to Sungjin who starts to eat*
Carnation: I'll explain a few things to you, I'll need to go on a business trip to Incheon to take care of something, I should be away for about two weeks- *Carnation is interrupted*
Sungjin: And who will train me!? *Sungjin speaks with his mouth full*
Carnation: If you let me finish, I'll explain it to you. I remember that in one of your training sessions with Hyun-woo, you almost managed to replicate one of his moves. You failed, but you almost succeeded. Based on that, I contacted an old friend who offered to teach you a technique that was lost after the Golden Age. *Carnation informs Sungjin*
Sungjin: Lost technique? I like it! *Sungjin gets excited about the news*
Carnation: But, be aware that she's as tough as a dictator. Your training will be much harder from now on. Fortunately, your body has reached a point, thanks to me, where it won't split in half with the training. *Carnation boasts about Sungjin's body's evolution*
Carnation: I think I already know the answer, but I'll ask, are you sure you want to continue with this training? *Carnation leans forward and asks seriously*
*Sungjin thinks for a while*
Sungjin: Carnation, I'm not doing this just for revenge... I'm tired of being weak and waking up in a hospital bed after hitting an obstacle. I'm going to become strong enough to get through obstacles like a bullet goes through a sheet of paper! *Sungjin speaks confidently, which makes Carnation feel proud and hopeful*
Carnation: Alright, let's go then! *Carnation leaves the hospital with Sungjin to his car, and soon after they head to a place a little far from the city center*
--- Meanwhile, in an office at Gwanak High School ---
*The photo sent by Hyun-woo is displayed by a projector on the wall*
- *A man reads the message out loud* "You have started a battle that you cannot win. This was the first warning. Keep going and you will know the true hell -Na Hyun-woo." Hyun-woo finally showed his face, but what would a student from a rival school have to do with the Penitentiary? *An older man of about 40 years old, wearing a fine and tidy suit, asks some of the Council representatives at that school*
Kai: Sir, during this week Hyun-woo invaded our school and beat up two newbies, supposedly to defend a certain friend. *Itoshi Kai tries to explain a little of what happened*
- Okay, and what did you do about it? *The man asks seriously and curiously*
Kai: At that moment we didn't do anything-
- A rival student invades my school, beats up two students, and you're not able to do anything?! *The man says with some anger*
Kai: Sir Baek, the student Hyun-woo defended is called Shin Sungjin. *The name said by Kai seems to make the man happy*
Teacher Baek: Shin? Interesting, but it still doesn't explain what this has to do with WooTay.
Kai: We sent WooTay to give a warning to this Shin Sungjin, he sent the boy to the hospital with a broken arm, that must have been the reason for this message. *The teacher looks confused*
Teacher Baek: Didn't you think of a possible answer? *The teacher asks hoping to hear that they already had a plan*
Kai: Actually, we didn't imagine that Na Hyun-woo would get involved.
Teacher Baek: Well, your ignorance made me lose a strong player under our command, I won't punish you because of the credit you gained during your years at this school, but they're over now, the next mistake will be the last. *The teacher speaks without raising his voice, but his words frighten the representatives in the room*
Professor Baek: From now on, I will take the reins regarding this Shin boy. We cannot let this genetic inheritance develop. You can go! *The teacher sits in his chair and releases the representatives*
--- Cravo and Sungjin arrive at their destination ---
Sungjin: Is this really going to be the special place for my training? *Sungjin says as he looks at the facade of an abandoned laundry, with wooden boards on the windows and a door with bars*
Cravo: The place will not interfere with the teachings, just trust in the process. *Cravo approaches the door and knocks four times*
*After a few moments, the door opens, revealing a beautiful woman with tied hair, wearing basic training pants and a simple shirt*
Sungjin: You're the woman I saw at my grandfather's wake and also during my training. *Sungjin makes a comparison in his mind between the well-dressed woman at the wake and her current self*
Carnation: This is Hae-won, your new teacher! *Carnation introduces the woman to Sungjin*
Hae-won: He's worse than what was said on the phone. *The woman says as the two enter the establishment*
Carnation: At least he's alive! *Carnation laughs at Sungjin who has a look of 'I'm right here'*
Hae-won: I believe Carnation explained to you a little about what I'm going to teach you. *Hae-won says as she points for Sungjin to take off his shoes*
Sungjin: A little. *Sungjin has difficulty performing this technique due to his broken arm*
Hae-won: First, very few people were able to master this technique, so it was lost over time, but in addition to the time, the cost of learning and mastering this technique also prevented many from continuing their training. *Without pausing, Hae-won continues his explanation*
Hae-won: The technique I'm going to teach you is called "Technique Stealing." I'm going to guide you until you're able to steal and take over other people's moves by seeing, feeling, and analyzing them. *Hae-won goes to the center of the room*
Hae-won: To begin with, you need to understand that stealing is completely different from copying a video from YouTube and trying to perform the moves. Stealing is much more related to understanding and learning the move in question than just repeating it. *Sungjin pays attention to every detail of the explanation*
Sungjin: And how do I do that?
Hae-won: First exercise, watch!
*Hae-won steps forward and assumes a basic combat stance, but with extreme perfection, and executes a simple sequence of movements, three steps forward, dodge to the left and straight with the left *
Hae-won: Watch again! *She repeats exactly the same movement, without moving a single different muscle*
Hae-won: Now close your eyes. *Sungjin still a little apprehensive follows his master's orders*
*Hae-won repeats the same sequence of movements but now makes the last step a little shorter*
Hae-won: What changed? *Hae-won asks Sungjin who still keeps his eyes closed*
Sungjin: Well... the movements were the same, but... your last step seemed different to me, maybe shorter *Sungjin explains what he noticed, drawing a small, discreet smile from his master*
Hae-won: Not bad, it was a good start! *Hae-won tells Sungjin seriously but with a more friendly look*
Carnation: This is my disciple! *Carnation says sitting in a chair drinking a cup of coffee*
Hae-won: That was the first stage "Active Perception" you can only steal what you know and understand how it exists, for today we will focus on the first stage, observe and memorize all the movements, sleep dreaming about these movements, until they are rooted in your memory. *Sungjin sighs as he wipes the sweat from his forehead. Even without moving, his mind is working at 200%, which is leaving him exhausted. *
*The rest of the day passed with Hae-won repeating the same movement and the same exercise of closing his eyes and knowing what has changed countless times. *
*The next day, when the first rays of sunlight hit the Earth, Sungjin was already in front of the laundry room. Even though he was extremely tired, he continued firm and strong in his goal. When he knocked on the door, Hae-won answered, ready for another day of training. *
Hae-won: Today I'm going to show you a fighting style that I developed myself, a technique that few understand and that fits you perfectly, since you don't have the ability to win with strength alone. *Sungjin looks curious*
Hae-won: I mixed some dance styles with movements from ancient Korean swordsmen, I call it "Gyeolmu" which means 'Dance of Connection', a style where you never face your opponent, but instead get involved in their movements and break them from the inside. *Hae-won goes to the center of the mat and assumes a light and imposing posture*
*Even without any music, Hae-won's body moves at a phenomenal pace, as if she had a beat in her mind, her movements are circular and fluid like the movement of a river, her arms follow a unique rhythm that together with her turns envelops you in a rhythm impossible to follow.*
*She rotates her hips sliding her foot on the mat, simulates a punch with her slightly flexible arm, comes back and takes a side step, finishing with a straight thrust that looked like a scalpel, without the need for strength but with extremely dangerous power.*
Sungjin: Wow! *Sungjin is extremely impressed with the move, he keeps every move in his mind and repeats it countless times*
Hae-won: The secret is in the rhythm! Your eyes will see the moves, but your body will feel the weight and the intention, you will learn to feel this before the move happens, and then steal without having rehearsed, understand? *Sungjin looks at her*
Sungjin: Got it! *Sungjin is grinning from ear to ear with excitement*
Hae-won: Now follow me with your good arm. *Sungjin looks at his broken arm and follows his master's orders, taking a position next to her*
*Sungjin tries to imitate the first steps, he misses the turn, almost trips on the thrust, but after a few tries he manages to follow, still stuck, but at the same pace*
Hae-won: You didn't just try to copy the movements, but rather understand what comes through them, that's rare, and great! *Sungjin smiles*
*Sungjin wipes the sweat from his forehead, sighs and tries again, in one of the final movements he improvises, which makes Hae-won happy*
Hae-won: That was ugly, but right!
Sungjin: This feeling is different from anything I've ever experienced. It felt like my body was in sync with yours, as if we were dancing to the same music, even without any music. *Sungjin is extremely excited and happy with himself*
Hae-won: This is what you're going to learn to master. The rest is repetition, pain, and patience. *Hae-won walks to her bag where she takes a notebook and brings it to Sungjin*
Hae-won: In this notebook are several movements that I created and improved, with drawings and explanations. In this notebook is the entire legacy of my technique and today I pass it on to you. *Hands the notebook to Sungjin, who takes it as if it were an ancient relic*
Hae-won: From now on, I want you to learn every movement in this notebook and plant this notebook in your mind. *Sungjin seriously looks at the notebook as if it were a treasure*
Sungjin: You can be sure that I won't disappoint you! *Sungjin looks at the notebook once more and gives a cheerful smile*
*From atop a nearby building a figure watches the laundromat*
???: So it's you... the Heir!