The Principles of the Acupoint Martial Arts Scripture

The basic principles of the Acupoint Martial Arts Scripture are rooted in the martial logic of Moving Flowers to Graft Trees.

While conventional external martial arts accumulate and explode power in muscles and bones, the Acupoint Martial Arts Scripture follows a slightly different path. It doesn't target where power gathers, but where it flows and diverges. In other words, it penetrates the intersection points where power changes direction.

The moment a person exerts force, their muscles contract, joints lock, and the flow of qi and blood concentrates in a specific direction.

At this time, the acupoints become far more sensitive than usual.

The Acupoint Martial Arts Scripture describes this as follows:

‘The moment force is exerted, the acupoints open themselves.’

Simply put, the more force an opponent uses, the deeper the acupoint strike takes effect.

The martial logic of Moving Flowers to Graft Trees means taking the opponent’s exerted force and transplanting it elsewhere to create an entirely different outcome.

Therefore, Arrest Techniques was something Songtan was all too familiar with, in a way. “Huh…”

Inspector Kim Yeongtae, who had fallen to the floor, slowly raised his head. His expression showed he hadn’t quite grasped what had just happened. The other Trainees were no different.

“W-what?”

“Just now… what did I see?”

His wrist had merely been grabbed, yet the Instructor’s massive body had spun once in the air. How was one supposed to make sense of this? “The Instructor… must have gone easy on him.”

The heavy atmosphere lightened slightly at someone’s remark.

“That’s right! He probably didn’t want us to get punished with night training.” “But the Instructor is amazing too. He could’ve just let it go, but he made such a show of it…” “Did he do it on purpose to boost our morale?”

“Even so, wasn’t that a bit much? It wasn’t just a Windmill Throw; he practically did a Somersault…”

“I’m amazed he can even do that. He’s over forty; how can he be so agile?”

The frozen atmosphere soon turned into praise for the Instructor’s mercy and consideration.

No one seemed to think Songtan had actually subdued the Instructor.

The size difference was too great, and no matter how strong someone was, that person couldn’t just spin a person like a Paper Doll in the air.

At least, not according to common sense.

“Whoa! Instructor, you’re the best!”

“Thank you! We’ll work even harder from now on!”

At the Trainees’ cheers, Kim Yeongtae slowly got to his feet, unable to hide his bewildered expression.

His gaze fell upon the slender trainee in front of him.

*Songtan… was that his name?*

It was a unique name, instantly etched into his memory.

But that was all. He was an utterly ordinary Trainee who had never shown any particular ambition or remarkable qualities.

Yet, he had been thrown so disgracefully, like a Paper Doll fluttering in the wind. Even during his days as a Judo Athlete competing in the National Sports Festival, he had never once been sprawled out like that.

*What in the world was that…?*

It was definitely not a fluke or luck. His opponent had almost perfectly exploited his own strength. He didn’t know what technique had been used, or how.

“You… have you learned any kind of martial art?” “No, I just did some light weight training.”

“Is that so…?”

Judging by his physique, he certainly didn’t look like someone who had undergone professional training. That made it even stranger. It was something that couldn’t have happened unless he himself was going crazy.

But it was also awkward to press further. Especially in front of the Trainees who were cheering, believing he had gone easy on Songtan.

“Ahem, Trainee Songtan of the 310th Class… well done. You have a talent for Arrest Techniques.”

“Thank you. But… what about your promise…?”

Kim Yeongtae nodded readily.

“There will be no Night Training today. And as promised, Trainee Songtan will be granted Special Overnight Leave.”

The Trainees clenched their fists.

“Nice!”

“Damn, but I’m jealous. Overnight leave, seriously.”

“If I’d been called last, I could’ve gotten overnight leave too… such a waste.”

“Isn’t life all about luck and the *Timing Factor* anyway? I’m just happy to have avoided Night Training.”

So, despite a slight ‘incident,’ the first Arrest Techniques class ended with results satisfactory to everyone.

***

The Dormitory lights had dimmed one level, in accordance with Lights Out Time. Under the faint indirect lighting, four people sat in a circle, a pile of snacks between them.

“Alright, cheers.”

The four clinked their canned drinks together, then each grabbed a handful of snacks and tossed them into their mouths.

Crunch- crunch-

“Anyway, Tan. What exactly happened earlier?” At Daeyun’s question, the gazes of the other two also turned to Songtan, the room’s mood maker.

“I just did what I was taught, and the Instructor just… spun around, you know?”

This was Songtan’s nonchalant reply.

“See? I knew it. I had a feeling.” “But did that guy major in Acting back in the day? His bewildered expression looked completely real.” “Anyway, thanks to our Youngest Member, we saved our precious evening time, so let’s all toast to that.”

“Let’s do it! Cheers!”

“If only this were real beer.”

After that, it was a continuous stream of trivial chatter. Amidst it all, Songtan mostly listened.

“After I messed up two businesses, my dad told me, 'If I didn’t get a job this time, he’d disown me.' But his eyes… they didn’t look like he was kidding. So I got scared as hell and quickly started preparing for the Police Exam.”

Lee Seung-ho, the oldest in the room, recounted his life story.

“But why the police, of all things? You must have had other options.”At Jeong Daeyun’s question, Lee Seung-ho replied nonchalantly.

“Did I have qualifications? Did I have anything? I didn’t have the nerve to even try for a large corporation. But since I was a physical education student, I figured I was physically fit enough for a job that involved using my body.”

Lee Jangwon, the second oldest, also nodded in agreement.

“I’m similar. I used to work at a trading company, but sitting there just handling documents was stifling me to death. I felt like if I kept doing that, I’d just end my own life, so I quit and went to Noryangjin.”

As they each shared their reasons for becoming police officers, Lee Seung-ho subtly glanced at Songtan. “Youngest Member, why did you become a police officer?” “Exactly. You’re only twenty-two. Couldn’t you have gone to college or done something else before joining the police?” “My point exactly. I don’t think being a police officer is a bad job, but… people’s perception of ‘cop-dogs’ or whatever isn’t great these days, and frankly, the salary isn’t exactly amazing. I was pushed to the edge, so it’s different for me, but for you, it’s a different case. Aren’t you honestly a little disappointed? Or is there some other reason?”

Under everyone’s questioning gazes, Songtan scratched his head awkwardly.

“A reason, huh… There’s no grand reason, I just… wanted to truly uphold justice, I guess?”

“Huh? Justice…?”

The three of them stared at each other with dumbfounded expressions for a moment.

“Puhaha, wow, this guy knows how to make people laugh out of nowhere.”

“So you’re saying you became a police officer because you want to be an Apostle of Justice?”

“Now our Youngest Member finally looks cute, like a Youngest Member should. Until now, he’s been acting like some fifty-year-old Old Soul.”

The three, after a burst of laughter, each patted Songtan on the shoulder, with eyes that seemed to look at a younger sibling who still believed in Santa.

“Still, that’s cool. A Democratic police officer full of a sense of justice.”

“It makes me reflect. I was just thinking about getting assigned somewhere easy and coasting.”

At this, Lee Seung-ho, who had a pessimistic streak, showed a somewhat bitter smile.

“Not to rain on your parade, Youngest Member, but once you’re out in the Field, things won’t always go *As Things Should Be*, like you imagine.”

“Indeed… From what the Senior Officer who gave the special lecture said last time, a lot of messed-up things happen that make you lose faith in humanity. You have to just listen when some crazy jerk curses at you; you have to avoid them even if they charge at you. Even if a lunatic brandishes a knife, you can’t even fire your gun… *Sigh*.”

“I’m already worried. I have a bad temper; I wonder if I can put up with all that.”

“You really have to be careful. There are tons of people who’ll sue you for ‘Excessive Force’ or whatever, even if you just do one Shoulder Throw. Especially you, Youngest Member! Don’t go around hitting people just because your *Youthful Vigor* makes you angry.”

At Lee Seung-ho’s warning, Songtan’s lips curled up slightly.

“Don’t worry about that. Mindlessly throwing punches isn’t really my style…”

No one paid any mind to Songtan’s words, which sounded like a joke at first glance.

***

After completing all his duties on Friday, Songtan left the Central Police Academy the next morning and headed for Chungju Station. He was met with envious glances from his classmates.

“Dad’s going to be so surprised.”

He called every evening, and his voice always carried a longing for his son. That’s why Songtan had pushed himself (a bit too much?) to earn the overnight leave.

Click-

“Thank you. Drive safely.” Songtan, having exited the taxi, immediately entered the station.

The Platform, where people waited for trains, was quieter than expected.

With the flu epidemic nationwide, everyone uniformly wore masks and stared at their phones. If Songtan went out unnecessarily, there was no greater nuisance than catching a cold, so Songtan also pulled up his black mask higher.

The train bound for Jecheon will arrive at Platform 1 shortly.

Sitting on a bench, Songtan, who had been idly staring at the bag on his lap, raised his head and looked at the end of the Railway Track.

Three years ago, when he told his father he would become a police officer. There was definitely an impulse mixed into that decision. The sudden thought of wanting to fulfill his father’s dream, which he had to abandon due to his disability, had surged within him.

But now, his thoughts had changed. He was a Torture Technician, known as the *Blood Interrogator*, who had inflicted horrific pain upon his opponents.

There were orders, there were reasons of his own, and there were plausible justifications.

For justice. To prevent greater sacrifice. To protect the Alliance.

He inflicted torture, repeating such intangible notions of justice to himself.

At the time, he didn’t consider himself human.

He rationalized that it wasn’t he who inflicted pain, but the orders, and that he was merely an Enforcer, committing cruel atrocities without hesitation. Thus, guilt hid behind the word ‘justice,’ and conscience was buried under the rationalization of ‘necessary sacrifice.’

Countless faces of those who had met their end by his hand flashed through his mind. The metallic scent of blood, the ear-splitting screams, the curses filled with malice were still vivid.

Songtan acknowledged that all of it was his karma. That’s why he wanted to become a police officer. No, he *had* to become one.

Of course, he knew well that it wouldn’t erase the suffering of the dead.

Nevertheless, he harbored a desire to establish his own sense of justice, uninfluenced by anyone, something he couldn’t achieve in his Past Life.

As he was lost in deep thought, waiting for the train to Seoul. A person caught Songtan’s eye, drawing his gaze.

A man in a black coat was pushing his way through the crowd of people engrossed in their phones. His stride was unsteady, his shoulders subtly twitched, and his breathing was inexplicably ragged.

To others, he might have looked like a passenger anxious about a delayed train.

*That man… he’s dangerous.*

Bloodshot eyes, unfocused and darting. The thick, creeping killing intent emanating from him was all too familiar.

Songtan’s gaze naturally followed the man. The man stopped briefly upon reaching the end of the platform, scanning his surroundings once more as if measuring something. Then, as if having made a decision, his eyes glinted dangerously.

His hand plunged into his coat, and simultaneously, Songtan’s Body Movement shot forward as if propelled.