The Visit of the White Dragon Unit (4)
You return what you receive.
Is that not an eternal truth?
They corrected postures without a word, yet the light taps were anything but gentle.
Ga Gyeongpil took charge of memorization.
Verses flowed from the mouths of those standing before him.
If even a single syllable slipped, a stone flew.
There was no hesitation.
Tak. Tak.
The sharp sound of foreheads being struck echoed.
If a shoulder lifted, the stone struck the shoulder.
If a knee slackened, the knee was hit.
He chose precisely the places where pain and irritation rose first.
He targeted the points that disrupted concentration.
Faces twisted among those struck on the brow.
Discontent flared in their eyes.
Yet their expressions quickly arranged themselves into composure.
The stones did not stop.
If disorder continued, another flew.
Slightly larger. Slightly heavier.
As the surroundings settled, training regained its rhythm.
Lee Hui walked quietly over and sat beside Soun.
They faced the same direction.
Once, such a seat would have been unthinkable.
Hierarchy had come first.
Distance had existed.
Now it was different.
Ability, achievement, martial strength—he had seen them all.
Lee Hui acknowledged Soun.
Not in words, but in posture.
Sitting side by side, height and rank dissolved.
They stood at the same vantage point, watching the same scene.
Recognition dissolves boundaries.
It is the starting point of standing together.
"What do you intend?"
"What are you referring to?"
"All of it. Them. And you."
Soun steadied his breath before answering.
"I think I must take them to the battlefield first, so they may learn what loyalty to the nation truly means.
Otherwise, they will wander like rogues, measuring strength in trivial rivalries.
They need real combat."
He looked over the clearing briefly.
"I have little interest in the jianghu.
It is filled with narrow minds, with those who lead only with strength.
When I look at those who call themselves chivalrous, I do not see the concept of loyalty.
Even the reason they cultivate strength is unclear.
To me, martial arts exist to defend the nation or to complete oneself.
But among them, I do not see the root—the reason for their martial path.
Even those famed as masters who roam the jianghu are not different.
They are full of swagger, lacking in learned decorum, coarse in manner."
He paused, then added:
"I have seen and heard much while staying at the inn.
General Jin and Aunt urged me to travel the jianghu, but I have not yet decided.
If you would show me the direction, I will follow."
Lee Hui let out a low breath at Soun's earnest reply.
"If only I knew the answer myself.
I am a soldier. My thinking is simple.
How to block the barbarians. How to stabilize the nation. That is all.
And you would have me take these boys?"
Soun lifted his head.
"Not immediately.
Though they look like this, each of them has some skill.
They belong to sects, carry names of their own.
To layer inner force over external skill and carry qi into the blade—that is what they boast of in the jianghu.
They call it unity of sword and self.
It is an excessive name.
I want those who wish it to learn the original purpose of martial arts.
That is to protect the nation and its people.
That, to me, is what it means to serve in war."
Lee Hui shook his head.
Among the Northern Expedition Army, none was closer to the martial world than Lee Hui.
And yet he was skeptical of this entire group.
"No matter how skilled in martial arts, without discipline there is no collective combat.
That is why they are called a rabble.
A hundred trained soldiers can defeat dozens of skilled wanderers for that reason alone.
Do you think this will change that?"
His voice carried doubt.
He believed they had neither reason nor likelihood to enlist.
Soun nodded.
"I intend to make it so."
The words were brief.
There was no hesitation.
It was difficult to deny that pure resolve in his eyes.
Lee Hui gave a short laugh.
"You little fool.
Very well. I will come from time to time to help. Take care of these boys.
I will leave ten men here. Send them back in the evening; I will send them again at dawn.
Use them well.
They must enter when the city gates open and leave before they close.
I am going."
"Thank you."
"When the cold wind comes, we will march back to Haran.
Ga Teukrip still lives. He will return.
We should have finished him then.
He threw his subordinates into death and slipped away himself."
Lee Hui's voice was low but firm.
Soun answered at once.
"I will help as well."
Lee Hui looked at him.
"This time, we can shatter them.
I have matters at the palace and will go ahead.
Come by.
When these boys begin to take shape, let us match them against the White Dragon Unit.
With real blades."
He finished and turned away.
Retracing the path he had come, taking only Ga Gyeongpil with him.
The rest of the White Dragon Unit remained behind,
standing as instructors to aid Soun.
Tension settled once more over the clearing.