Yiruogekang (以柔克剛).
Softness can skillfully subdue hardness.
William’s eyes scanned Grandmaster Taeheo several times as he greeted him in a seemingly relaxed posture, much like someone performing gymnastics.
“Though it seems he’s taking a casual stance, I can’t find any openings.”
A sparring match with the venerable elder who had reached profound heights in his martial path.
Victory was impossible.
However, this was merely a friendly bout.
Thus, William cleared his mind with the cold wind blowing atop Heavenly Master Peak and began to slowly close the distance.
The sight of a martial artist walking normally.
It wasn’t an everyday occurrence in the Jianghu. Considering the footwork most martial artists utilized, even for just three steps, William’s slow approach without using any special stepping techniques appeared unnatural.
But to Grandmaster Taeheo, it was fascinating.
“Don’t you know any footwork?”
“Unfortunately, I haven’t learned any footwork that complements Tai Chi.”
“Interesting.”
The distance between the two gradually diminished. Even for Taeheo, this slow-paced beginning was a first, and it sparked interest in his eyes.
‘Let’s see just how much you’ve learned.’
Eventually, the distance shortened.
When the gap narrowed to the point where only three steps separated them, William realized,
“I’ve entered within Grandmaster Taeheo’s range.”
Now they were within arm’s reach. Recalling the Tai Chi techniques, William extended his hand with deliberate, steady speed.
It was like watching the unhurried movement of a graceful dance.
Taeheo, as if assisting in the attack, pulled William’s wrist inward with one hand and firmly pressed his shoulder with the other.
A clean subjugation.
William marveled at Grandmaster Taeheo’s ability to naturally overcome him and spoke.
“I didn’t even notice your counter.”
“There is a flow to all things. We call this the Way. Though we strive to live in harmony with the Way, it’s not an easy thing to accomplish in this harsh world.”
“That’s correct.”
William’s hand attacked Taeheo’s wrist once more. It was probably because many Tai Chi techniques aim to control the arm.
Once again, his move was effortlessly deflected by Taeheo’s gentle gestures.
Pulling, then being pushed back.
Taeheo’s movements were neither fast nor flashy, yet William only realized he was blocked after a long pause.
‘The disparity in our realms is beyond comprehension.’
Just as a frog in a well cannot fathom the vast ocean, William found it difficult to follow Grandmaster Taeheo’s movements, which seemed naturally fluid from the start.
“The flow moves towards harmony, for harmony is merely the culmination of the flow. You must remember this fact.”
“Flow as a culmination.”
There wasn’t a word that William could take lightly, yet each was difficult to fully grasp.
As Taeheo spoke, William mulled over his words and stretched out his arm once more, aiming for the elbow. The technique came from Tai Chi, attempting to seize and throw the arm.
However, Taeheo’s light flick of his hand pulled William’s arm inward, destabilizing his stance.
“I just pulled your hand and knocked you off balance. What do you think about that?”
“I felt ‘Goyubulgeup’ (過猶不及).”
“Why do you think that?”
“Didn’t Elder pull apart the harmonious flow with just a light gesture? By extension, my technique turned out to be an excessive movement.”
“A sharp one,” thought Taeheo. “If only he were younger, he’d be a great disciple to raise.”
Though William was approaching middle age, seeing how well he absorbed teachings awakened a desire to mentor within Taeheo, for he too was a martial artist at heart.
“You’re right. If harmony breaks, no martial art can ever reach its full potential. You must remember this. Your level is perilously unstable.”
While speaking, their hands moved like the strings of a gayageum being plucked, chaotic yet deliberate.
Pulling and pushing, back and forth.
The movement, closer to childlike hand-games than a serious engagement.
Despite this, they both looked at each other intently and did not stop.
“It’s perilous, but I must press forward.”
It was a matter William needed to resolve on his own, yet he had interfered and twisted fate. For the sake of a happier future, he had no choice but to advance.
If he didn’t step up, countless people would inevitably fall into despair.
“Therefore, you must harmonize. Your disharmony is greater than you think. To break through, you must realign the disrupted harmony.”
“How should I proceed?”
“Lessen your killing intent.”
“How should I go about that?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected critique, William carefully inquired. Taeheo answered promptly after the question.
“That is not something I can explain and thus resolve. I can only advise you not to take the killing of others lightly.”
“I do not take killing lightly.”
“Do you truly think that?”
“…”
William closed his eyes.
For to question oneself is no different from looking deeply into one’s inner self.
Taeheo took a small step back, his hands behind his back as he watched William. Somewhere behind Taeheo, a white tiger lay lazily, still attentive to William.
“Did I take killing for granted?”
From the moment he was possessed, rigorous training began. Thrown into the battlefield without preparation, he struggled to survive.
As he finally turned back, a mountain of corpses greeted him.
‘Those are the people I killed.’
How many lives had he taken just to survive?
And how many more would he have to kill to live on?
‘Had I grown numb to killing?’
Looking back, he gained a new insight. William averted his gaze from the pile of bodies and looked at his past self, the knight.
His armored figure riding and charging across the battlefield.
He saw himself swing his lance, shaking it off as if removing mere dust, and effortlessly piercing approaching enemies.
It was the routine of battle.
‘How many have I killed? I can’t even guess.’
When was the last time I felt guilt about killing?
A year ago?
Six months ago?
When was the first time I killed someone?
It was on his first day as an ordinary soldier in the battlefield.
Gradually, he recalled that memory.
The cacophony of screams from all around. The clashing of weapons. The cries of the doomed echoing on all sides.
In the chaotic abyss, he was just a scared young soldier. Trembling, he plunged his spear into the heart of another trembling soldier.
‘What was I thinking back then?’
Did I feel disgust?
Or sorrow?
Or…
“What’s taking you so long?”
“Leader?”
A voice growing fainter, almost indistinguishable. William looked at his leader, who always had a pipe in his mouth.
The thick grey smoke rising from the leader’s pipe was what William had seen the most of after becoming his disciple.
“I’ve just realized that I’ve become numb to killing.”
“We slaughter as a trade. Sometimes, killing so many makes the victims’ humanity invisible. Many knights struggle within the gap between ideals and reality, eventually succumbing to the latter. William. Think about our comrades who have passed.”
James.
William’s comrade.
How did he die?
“He couldn’t withstand the war, deteriorating until he took his own life.”
“Gabriel lost his mind when he realized he’d killed a boy about the same age as his younger brother.”
“Patrick, overwhelmed by fear, eventually abandoned his comrades and fled.”
“No matter how much we train, knights on the battlefield are just as human as anyone else. But you were different.”
A natural warrior.
That’s what the Saracen general who captured William had called him.
William recalled that phrase again.
“I’m still unsure.”
“You need to know. It’s the knight’s duty. Only by knowing can you understand the weight of the beliefs we bear.”
“Is belief the code of chivalry?”
The code of knighthood, drilled into him tirelessly.
William’s question made the leader nod.
“Yes. The code of chivalry. Isn’t that why we recite it every morning?”
“Because we’re knights.”
“No.”
The leader firmly rejected the answer.
“Then why do we recite the code of chivalry if we’re knights?”
If we recite it not because we’re knights, then why do knights recite the code?
“We recite it to remember that we’re human. The battlefield knights charge into is nothing less than Hell. The recitation reminds us to remain human and not become demons.”
Never forget that we’re human.
“Stand tall as a human…”
William repeated the words endlessly in his mind.
“I understand their meaning.”
“Guard your heart more than anything else. The source of life lies not in externals but in oneself.”
The fading voice of the leader.
Slowly, William opened his eyes.
