Traditions of Daoshu says, when you are using a knife, the step backwards is only used when you are losing. It is taught first, and used only when you have to. Much like the knife, actually.<br/>Stepping back, Li went against one tradition to uphold another. Sparing a life when killing is no longer necessary is well-regarded by Heavens, humans praise people who extol such virtues, and the great spirits of their ancestors make the Earth more benevolent to them.<br/>So Li stepped back, assuming his guard, and even his enemy was surprised.<br/><br/>"Surrender now, and I will let you live today! You are a fool, but you have spirit, and your men are loyal to you, which means you are good to them! If you decline again, mercy is too precious to offer it many times, so I will have your soul for breakfast!"<br/><br/>He wasn't joking with the last line, it was just his way to say "kill you with a knife". There was a reason why his dagger skills were called Li Kuaize! The perfect mastery of the Li Kuaize style meant that the master could "eat the souls" of as many ordinary men as there are rice grains in a dish, and be over with it in the time it takes to eat a rice bowl!<br/>Li didn't know anyone who has achieved perfect mastery, and sometimes he wondered if he wanted to meet one, ever. The answer invariably was, "not unless I have already achieved perfect mastery, too!"<br/><br/><br/>OOC: Yin-Yang Balance 9 on the talking, whatever the skills... >:)