Four Ounces Deflects a Thousand Pounds (7)
Four Ounces Deflects a Thousand Pounds (7)
Hong Ye wanted Docheol.
But there was a problem.
Docheol had not yet properly completed his Taijiquan training, and as his teacher, she could not suddenly confess her feelings. As a direct disciple of the Taiji Sect, the mission Hong Ye had received from the Grandmaster was to teach Docheol, not to seduce him.
As a woman, she longed to bare her heart to him this very moment, but as his teacher, it was something she could not permit herself to do. What currently sustained Docheol's position was the support of the Zhuge Family and his sense of responsibility as the sect leader of the Crimson Ring Sect.
If Hong Ye abandoned her duty and crossed the line with Docheol first, that relationship would only race toward ruin, becoming neither one thing nor the other.
Yet, on the other hand, she was anxious that Docheol might simply leave as soon as he finished his Taijiquan training. Once he achieved mastery, it seemed he would depart the sect before she could even convey her feelings — because Docheol had the Crimson Ring Sect. And furthermore, according to what she had heard, he already had a wife waiting for him there.
Hong Ye did not care in the slightest if she became the second wife.
But the one thing she could not bear was sending him away without ever being able to convey these feelings.
On one hand, she wished for Docheol to quickly become proficient in the basics of Taijiquan, and on the other hand, she wished for him to remain at the sect for as long as possible.
To her, things like her dignity as a direct disciple of the Taiji Sect or the elders' ridicule no longer held any value whatsoever.
Docheol was what mattered most.
******
They say patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
Hong Ye, whom I had been working so hard to topple all this time, was gradually losing her composure as time passed — her expression crumbling, her face flushing red, becoming acutely aware that she was a woman. Her eyes were brimming with affection, and whenever she looked at me, she could not keep her body still, as if restless.
The complacent disciples of the Taiji Sect could no longer open their mouths about the relationship between me and Hong Ye. This was thanks to her being liberated from the slander and pressure surrounding her, and from the weight of being a direct disciple. Spitting words at an opponent you cannot sway with words only serves to reveal your own ugliness.
Those who studied letters and debated the Dao chose to face their own inner selves in the most worldly and vulgar way, and to avoid each other in shame.
And now I stood before Hong Ye.
"Then, I will review what I have learned so far. Great Hero, please perform the forms from beginning to end."
My plan was perfect.
Now that I had reached the basic principles of Taijiquan, I would show her how much I had grown and simply confess my feelings. She, who already harbored feelings for me, would be unable to refuse.
Then I would explain the situation — that I had to deal with Venerable Geumbok in Shaanxi Province — return to Shaanxi, and throw myself full-force into smashing Venerable Geumbok to pieces. And once I had crushed Venerable Geumbok, I would come back to Sichuan, pick up Hong Ye, and bring her to the Crimson Ring Sect.
"Then, I shall begin."
I showed a confident smile. When Hong Ye's eyes met mine, she quickly rolled her pupils and averted her gaze. She, who taught that one must look into the opponent's eyes during sparring, could not meet my eyes.
I laughed at her adorable appearance, and Hong Ye, catching my smile, asked.
"Wh-why are you laughing?"
"I laughed because you are beautiful, young lady."
"Ah, th-that...."
Hong Ye's ears flushed bright red. She was still unaccustomed to compliments. I never grew tired of watching her like that.
"Qu-quickly, please begin."
"Understood. However...."
I took my stance. It was aimed not at empty space, but toward her. Hong Ye seemed slightly flustered as I settled into the basic Taijiquan stance facing her. I changed my expression to one of seriousness, looked straight at her, and said.
"I have gained some insight through my training thus far. I would be grateful if you would spar with me once."
*******
"I have gained some insight through my training thus far. I would be grateful if you would spar with me once."
Hearing those words, Hong Ye's heart pounded. Because what Docheol was saying with such confidence before her eyes right now was clear. Didn't it mean he had grasped the basics of Taijiquan and wanted to demonstrate it? Hong Ye did not dismiss Docheol. No matter how roguish a man he was, he was serious about martial arts and always seemed to have realized something, often showing movements that truly appeared to have found their mark.
What mattered to her now was what came next.
What if Docheol truly succeeded? If he had grasped the basics of Taijiquan, what should Hong Ye do next? Should she simply end it with words of congratulations?
Or should she speak to Docheol when he departed?
If not that, then should she speak to Docheol the very moment he finished demonstrating the martial arts?
Her head was a tangle of thoughts. But on the other hand, a corner of her chest trembled at the prospect of witnessing someone's achievement.
"Then, please begin."
Hong Ye set aside her complicated inner thoughts and readied her stance.
********
As I extended my hand forward, I thought about the beginning of all things.
Inside the Green Forest prison where I had thrust myself in without a thought, I met Sannyeo, and following her proposal, I destroyed the Crimson Ring Sect. I met Seon-go, who had been confined within the Crimson Ring Sect, and formed a marital bond with her. Because we shattered the Crimson Ring Sect, Venerable Geumbok's pride was wounded.
With the intent of reclaiming one small sect in the countryside, Venerable Geumbok invested his full power against us. But nothing crumbled. The investigation turned to failure, and the Tournament Killer that the Murim Alliance boasted of met his death at my hands. The Murim Alliance, having failed to kill me, stepped back as if they had undergone a proper test.
And cracks began to form in Venerable Geumbok's position.
"Next."
Hong Ye extended her hand. She had deliberately reduced her offensive energy, so I could block it easily. Watching her hand approach slowly, I thought about what happened next.
The Zhuge Family had come to find me and requested an alliance. Thinking I needed growth, I came to Sichuan. Hong Ye, whom I met in Sichuan, had been exchanging secret talks with a direct disciple of the Zhongnan Sect, who was Venerable Geumbok's lackey.
And I turned her heart around. Venerable Geumbok lost everything.
The operation to expand his influence, the operation to stabilize the interior of Shaanxi Province — Venerable Geumbok missed them all.
Where did this matter begin, and how did it flow?
Everything began when I met Sannyeo, and before I knew it, I stood in a position where I could control the current. That day, when I killed two third-rates before her and boldly shouted that I would seize the Crimson Ring Sect — that was when the present flow was decided.
Four ounces deflects a thousand pounds.
To realize the principle of a great force is, in other words, to understand how a small force moves and orchestrates a great force. That a small force can move a great force means, in turn, that a small movement can overturn the world.
'Four ounces deflects a thousand pounds' is not merely a phrase about the method of controlling a great flow with a small force.
It is a phrase for understanding the truth that you can control a great flow with a small force.
Hong Ye's hand flew forward. It was stronger than the energy I had mustered, but not enough to kill me even if it hit. Using almost no internal energy, I received her hand with my left hand. Following the attack flying in a straight line, I stepped backward and pushed her elbow away.
Almost no inner energy was used in this action.
Hong Ye's eyes grew wide.
Along with surprise, a hint of excitement was visible.
Her attack trajectory shot off in a strange direction, and an opening appeared before me.
Her armpit was fully exposed, and the chest bound by her martial robes quivered.
I extended my hand forward for the final form's posture, and Hong Ye tightened her stance for defense.
I thrust my palm toward her unguarded stomach, and Hong Ye lightly snatched my hand.
The hand that had been cutting through empty air just moments ago was now blocking my path for her own defense and counterattack. I saw her elbow before my eyes and Hong Ye steadying her breath.
And my hand, extended with satisfaction, had veered off her stomach and was aiming elsewhere.
But veering off did not mean failure.
Hong Ye's two eyes, wide open.
Her face, flushed with excitement.
All of it told me that the demonstration of the forms, concluded with a single exchange of offense and defense, had been a success.
We shared our breath at a distance of a single inch. When I exhaled, I could see her breath seeping out and mingling with mine, and when I inhaled, a sweet fragrance disoriented my senses.
Like lovers who had just finished lovemaking, we gazed at each other with faces still flushed with excitement.
I looked at her and was about to speak.
"Th-...!"
But then a shadow came lunging at me.
Hong Ye flew toward me,
"Mmph! Mmph!"
grabbing my head and assaulting my lips.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Her hands flailed in the air, and the two of us collapsed onto the training ground.
Since it was a body trained in martial arts, there was no pain even falling onto the hard wooden floor.
A feeling of bewilderment, more than pain, rose up within me first.
I had imagined this before.
But, she is truly doing this?
Truly?
When I stared at Hong Ye with a bewildered expression, her face dyed bright red, she said.
"I... I like you...!"