He Taichong

He Taichong (simplified: 何太冲, traditional: 何太沖, pinyin: Hé Tàichōng, jyutping: ho4 taai3 cung1), known as the Iron Qin Gentleman (铁琴先生), was the leader of the Kunlun School. Despite possessing impressive martial arts abilities, exceptional light movement skills, and masterful sword techniques, he was known for his weak-willed nature and fear of his wife Ban Shuxian, who had helped him attain the leadership position. He participated in the Six Schools expedition to Bright Peak and was ultimately killed by the Three Elders of the Bodhidharma Hall while attempting to steal the Dragon-slaying Sabre from Xie Xun.

Biography

Becoming school leader

He Taichong’s master Bailuzi (白鹿子) died in battle against a Ming Order master before naming a successor. This led to a power struggle among the disciples, with multiple candidates competing for the leadership position. Ban Shuxian, who was two years older than He Taichong and had entered the school earlier, was a skilled martial artist whose abilities were comparable to his. She was attracted to He Taichong’s handsome appearance and dashing personality, and she actively supported him in the leadership contest.

With Ban Shuxian’s support, He Taichong’s faction gained significant strength, while other disciples, each pursuing their own interests, were unable to compete. Eventually, He Taichong was selected as the new leader of the Kunlun School. In gratitude for her assistance, he married Ban Shuxian, though as they aged, Ban Shuxian appeared significantly older than He Taichong, leading him to seek companionship elsewhere.

Multiple concubines

Using the excuse that he had no children to carry on the family line, He Taichong began taking concubines, eventually accumulating five. His favorite was Wugu (五姑), the fifth concubine. However, his actions led to increasing tension with Ban Shuxian, and each new concubine increased his fear of his wife.

When Wugu fell seriously ill, displaying strange symptoms that local doctors could not cure, He Taichong was deeply concerned. However, it was later revealed that Ban Shuxian had been secretly poisoning Wugu over an extended period, causing her blood to become toxic. This attracted venomous snakes known as gold-silver blood snakes (金银血蛇), which thrived on the toxins, creating the appearance of a mysterious illness.

Encounter with Zhang Wuji

When a young Zhang Wuji arrived at the Kunlun School’s headquarters, he claimed to be able to cure Wugu’s condition. Through careful observation and investigation, Zhang Wuji discovered that Wugu was being poisoned and successfully treated her, saving her life.

However, despite Zhang Wuji’s kindness in saving his favorite concubine, He Taichong’s weak character and fear of Ban Shuxian led him to turn against Zhang Wuji when Ban Shuxian confronted him. To protect himself and avoid his wife’s wrath, He Taichong attacked both Wugu and Zhang Wuji, demonstrating his willingness to harm those who had helped him in order to preserve his own safety. This incident revealed his fundamentally self-serving and ungrateful nature.

Six Schools expedition to Bright Peak

He Taichong led the Kunlun School in joining the Six Schools expedition to Bright Peak (光明顶), participating in the coordinated attack on the Ming Order headquarters. During the battle at Bright Peak, He Taichong and Ban Shuxian joined forces with the Huashan School’s high and short elders (高矮二老) to use the Positive and Negative Two Yi Sabre and Sword Technique (正反两仪刀剑法), a combined technique that created a formidable formation to attack Zhang Wuji.

Despite their combined efforts, Zhang Wuji was able to counter their techniques, demonstrating his superior martial arts abilities and understanding of the formation’s principles.

Imprisonment at Wan’an Temple

After the Six Schools expedition, as the various schools were descending from Bright Peak, they were ambushed by Yuan Dynasty forces led by Zhao Min. All members of the Six Schools were captured and imprisoned at Wan’an Temple, where they were forced to consume the Ten Fragrances Soft Tendon Powder (十香软筋散), which disabled their internal energy.

During their imprisonment, the prisoners were forced to fight against Yuan Dynasty martial artists. Despite having lost his internal energy, He Taichong demonstrated remarkable skill and courage. Using only his sword technique’s precision and changes, he defeated two Yuan Dynasty fighters: Mohebasi (摩诃巴思) and Wenwo’er (温卧儿). He eventually lost to Heilinbofu (黑林钵夫), but refused to surrender to the Yuan Dynasty.

For his refusal to submit, He Taichong had three fingers cut off, yet he remained resolute and did not make a sound, showing that despite his personal weaknesses, he maintained the dignity of a martial arts master when facing matters of principle. He and the other prisoners were later rescued by Zhang Wuji and the Ming Order.

Death at Slaying Lion Heroes Assembly

He Taichong’s final appearance came at the Slaying Lion Heroes Assembly (屠狮大会), where Xie Xun was being held prisoner by the Shaolin Order. Driven by greed and the desire to obtain the Dragon-slaying Sabre (屠龙刀), He Taichong and Ban Shuxian attempted to break through the Diamond Vajra Array (金刚伏魔圈) of the Three Elders of the Bodhidharma Hall to capture Xie Xun and steal the sabre.

However, the Three Elders—Du’e, Dujie, and Dunan—were far superior in martial arts ability. In a brief confrontation, they severely injured He Taichong and Ban Shuxian. Cheng Kun (Yuanzhen), who was present, then finished them off with his sword, killing both He Taichong and his wife. Their bodies were thrown down the mountain, ending the life of the Kunlun School leader.

Personality & traits

Weak-willed and fearful

He Taichong’s most defining characteristic was his weak will and fear of his wife. Despite being the leader of a major martial arts school and possessing impressive martial arts abilities, he was completely dominated by Ban Shuxian. His fear prevented him from standing up for himself or those he cared about, leading him to make cowardly decisions that compromised his integrity.

Self-serving and ungrateful

He Taichong demonstrated a pattern of ingratitude and self-preservation at the expense of others. When Zhang Wuji saved his favorite concubine Wugu, He Taichong’s response was to attack both Wugu and Zhang Wuji when confronted by Ban Shuxian, prioritising his own safety over gratitude or moral principle.

Pride in martial arts

Despite his personal weaknesses, He Taichong maintained pride in his martial arts abilities and the reputation of the Kunlun School. At Wan’an Temple, when facing Yuan Dynasty forces, he refused to surrender, demonstrating that he possessed some sense of dignity and honour when dealing with matters of principle and external threats, even if he failed to maintain such standards in his personal relationships.

Martial arts abilities

Sword techniques

He Taichong was a master of sword techniques, particularly the Two Yi Sword Technique (两仪剑法), which he practiced together with Ban Shuxian. This technique, which had been famous in jianghu for hundreds of years, contained 64 variations based on the principle of taiji transforming into the two yi (阴阳) of positive and negative forces. The technique was characterised by its subtlety and precision, with each move containing multiple hidden variations and lethal attacks.

When he and Ban Shuxian used the Two Yi Sword Technique together, they could coordinate perfectly, creating a formidable combination. They also combined this technique with the Huashan School’s Two Yi Sabre Technique to form the Positive and Negative Two Yi Sabre and Sword Technique, which they used against Zhang Wuji at Bright Peak.

Light movement skills

The Kunlun School was renowned for its exceptional light movement skills (轻功), and He Taichong was a master of these techniques. When traveling, he could carry passengers while moving at high speed, creating the sensation of flying through the air. Zhang Wuji, when carried by He Taichong, was impressed by the Kunlun School’s lightness skills, recognising them as among the best in the martial arts world.

Internal energy and physical strength

He Taichong possessed strong internal energy and physical strength. He could lift heavy objects with a single hand, demonstrating the power of his cultivation. His ability to project internal energy through water, using a water jet to unlock his own acupoints when sealed, showed sophisticated understanding of internal energy manipulation.

Despite these abilities, his internal energy was noted to be somewhat weaker than that of top-tier masters like Yu Lianzhou, Jin Huapopo, or Miejue, though his sword technique’s precision and changes compensated for this to some extent.

Relationships

With Ban Shuxian

He Taichong’s relationship with Ban Shuxian was complex and problematic. While he owed his leadership position to her support, their marriage became increasingly strained as he took multiple concubines. His fear of her prevented him from maintaining healthy boundaries or protecting those he cared about, leading to situations where he would sacrifice others to avoid her anger.

Despite their personal conflicts, they worked together effectively in martial arts, particularly when using the Two Yi Sword Technique in combination. Their partnership ended tragically when they were both killed by the Three Elders while attempting to steal the Dragon-slaying Sabre.

With Zhang Wuji

He Taichong’s relationship with Zhang Wuji demonstrated his fundamentally self-serving nature. When Zhang Wuji saved Wugu’s life, He Taichong was initially grateful. However, when faced with Ban Shuxian’s anger, he immediately turned against Zhang Wuji, attacking him despite the kindness he had received. This incident revealed He Taichong’s lack of moral integrity and his willingness to harm others to protect himself.

Despite this betrayal, Zhang Wuji later rescued He Taichong and the other Six Schools members from Wan’an Temple, demonstrating Zhang Wuji’s moral character in contrast to He Taichong’s ingratitude.

With his concubines

He Taichong’s relationships with his concubines, particularly Wugu, showed his capacity for affection and concern. He was genuinely worried about Wugu’s illness and sought help for her. However, his fear of Ban Shuxian prevented him from protecting them effectively, and he was willing to sacrifice even his favorite concubine to avoid his wife’s anger.

Behind the scenes

Character significance

He Taichong represents a cautionary example of how personal weaknesses can undermine even impressive martial arts abilities. Despite being the leader of a major school and possessing considerable skills, his fear, ingratitude, and self-serving nature prevented him from achieving true greatness or maintaining meaningful relationships.

His character serves as a contrast to other leaders in the novel who, despite their flaws, maintain some sense of honour and principle. His ultimate death while attempting to steal the Dragon-slaying Sabre demonstrates the consequences of greed and moral weakness.

Role in the narrative

He Taichong’s story provides insight into the dynamics of the Kunlun School and illustrates the complexity of relationships within martial arts organisations. His participation in major events like the Six Schools expedition and his imprisonment at Wan’an Temple connect him to the novel’s broader narrative, while his personal story offers a smaller-scale drama about power, fear, and moral compromise.