Humans communicated in many ways beyond speech. It could be the way they move their bodies, the way their eyes moved or the way they breathed. Humans were able to unconsciously able to understand many things from such tiny movements of another person.
The human heart was reflected in everything a person did.
Rei had grasped a part of the understanding of the human heart. The realization settled completely in her brain.
"A human..." The word escaped her lips.
"What?" Hong Tao stopped for half a breath.
Rei raised her sword, her expression remained calm but something within her had changed.
She understood now. Hong Tao had looked inward and found the mountain within himself. He had accepted his body, and his nature. Through that acceptance, he had touched the Dao.
Rei on the other hand, had looked outward. She had spent her entire life observing people and manipulating them to survive. She had always treated that understanding as nothing more than a means to protect herself.
But now she finally understood what she had been looking at all along, the hearts of people. The countless emotions and desires that guided their actions. The invisible threads connecting one person to another.
Her sword trembled from the realization.
"Koko..." High above the arena, Karn’s eyes narrowed.
He stared at Rei. A faint smile appeared beneath his beard.
"That little girl, she’s found it." The air around Rei began to change. It wasn’t as oppressive as Hong Tao’s Dao. There was no overwhelming power. Instead, it was almost invisible. But to someone like Karn who could see another’s Dantian and Qi, it was unmistakable.
Rei looked at Hong Tao. As she stared, the giant stared back instinctively.
Suddenly, Rei found herself in a white space. As she looked around nothing but white welcomed her. Until, far in the view was a figure on the ground.
"What is this?" Rei spoke. She walked towards the figure as there was nowhere else to go.
As she got closer she realized what the figure was. It was a child that seemed to be twice the average size of its age.
Rei realized, she was seeing Hong Tao.
A lonely child who had once been afraid of his own strength. A boy who had wanted nothing more than a friend.
The child was sitting down with his head down playing with a toy all alone. As the child looked up, a big smile could be seen as his enormous hands carefully held a small wooden toy.
It was nothing special. A crude little figure carved from a piece of wood, with uneven limbs and a crooked smile. One of its arms had already been broken and crudely tied back together with a thin piece of string.
"Look!" The child held it out toward her proudly.
"I made him myself!" The child smiled even wider.
Rei stared at the toy, then at the child. There was no fear in his eyes. Only happiness, a simple, innocent happiness.
"Do you like him?" Rei remained silent.
"He doesn’t break anymore." The child tilted his head.
As the little Hong Tao spoke, Rei’s heart trembled. She bent down and held the toy that Hong Tao had made.
"Yes, I do like him." A little smile appeared on her face.
Hong Tao smile widened.
"Come sit down, lets play!" The child said as a soft cushion appeared under Rei.
Rei obliged and sat down.
Moments passed in a blink of an eye and the white area disappeared leaving the arena before her eyes. The time that had passed was less than three seconds.
Hong Tao’s face had tears running down his face.
He didn’t understand why he was crying. His heart wasn’t filled with frustration. It was warm. For some reason, it felt as though someone had finally recognized him.
Hong Tao wiped his eyes with his enormous hand.
"Why am I crying now? I should be happy." A confused expression appeared on his face.
Rei looked at him quietly. A faint smile appeared on her face.
"You are happy." She spoke.
"Huh?"
"You are crying because you’re happy."
"Is that how it works?" Hong Tao blinked.
"I think so." Rei nodded.
Hong Tao stared at her for a moment before his expression suddenly brightened.
"Then that’s good! HAHAHA! I’m happy!" He laughed.
His laughter echoed throughout the arena. The surrounding disciples stared at the strange scene in confusion. Just moments ago, the two had been engaged in a fierce battle. Now one was crying while the other was smiling.
Neither of them seemed to care.
"Can we keep playing?" Hong Tao wiped his face again before looking at Rei.
"Of course." Rei raised her sword.
"Good!" Hong Tao’s eyes lit up.
BOOM!
His massive body charged forward once more. Rei moved at the same time as their figures collided.
CLANG!
Hong Tao’s fist smashed against her sword. The force sent Rei sliding several meters backward.
She steadied herself after noticing her arms trembling.
’He’s still stronger.’ Even after comprehending Human Path, she couldn’t change that fact. Hong Tao possessed overwhelming physical strength.
His Mountain Dao made him even more difficult to deal with. If they continued exchanging blows directly, she would eventually lose.
Rei’s eyes narrowed as Hong Tao charged again.
This time, Rei deliberately retreated. Hong Tao followed just as she expected. His eyes remained fixed on her. His feet unconsciously adjusted to match her movements.
He didn’t want to give her an opportunity to escape. No. More like, he didn’t want her to leave.
Rei suddenly stopped as Hong Tao’s fist approached. She shifted her body slightly as the fist passed beside her.
Rei retreated again and he followed. A strange pattern of a cat and mouse game began to form.
Eventually, Rei suddenly sheathed her sword and Hong Tao stopped.
"What are you doing?"
"Come catch me." Rei looked at him.
Hong Tao’s eyes widened. Then a huge grin appeared on his face.
"Okay!" He charged.
Rei turned and ran. The spectators stared in disbelief.
"She’s running?"
"Is she afraid of Hong Tao?"
"What is she doing?"
Even the elders on the elevated platforms were confused.
"Koko..." Only Karn stroked his beard as his eyes narrowed.
"Wait for me!" Hong Tao’s footsteps shook the arena.
Rei glanced over her shoulder. She smiled. He was coming, exactly as she knew he would. The distance between them gradually narrowed until Rei suddenly slowed.
Hong Tao’s eyes lit up as he accelerated.
’There!’ Rei’s eyes flashed. She had seen it.
The moment his opponent seemed within reach, Hong Tao would always extend his body farther than necessary. He wasn’t trying to strike. He was trying to catch her. Because somewhere in his heart, this wasn’t a battle anymore.
Rei suddenly turned and Hong Tao reached out. His enormous hand swept toward her but Rei ducked underneath it.
She grabbed his wrist. Then she stepped forward and used his momentum.
"Eh?" Hong Tao’s eyes widened.
Rei twisted and Hong Tao’s enormous body stumbled forward. His foot landed near the boundary. Rei released his wrist and stepped away.
Hong Tao immediately tried to regain his balance but it was too late. Hong Tao immediately descended. Just like before how Hong Tao had used his momentum to save himself. This time, Rei had used his momentum to throw him out of the arena.
His eyes met hers and for a brief moment, Rei smiled and Hong Tao grinned.
--------------
The Inner Sect disciple who saw the whole affair immediately yelled loudly as the golden formation above them flashed.
"The winner is Elder Karn’s Disciple Rei!!" He spoke as he took out his formation plaque that transmitting the winner to the logistics hall.
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