Chapter 22: The Fist King, Because He Is a Martial Artist
The Fist King, Because He Is a Martial Artist
Episode 22: The Fist King, Because He Is a Martial Artist
Guyang Myeong's face was as pale as a sheet of paper as he walked out.
His palm techniques and swordplay had been completely read by the Grand Prince. His internal energy had been overpowered, and his speed had been outmatched. What infuriated him the most was that the Grand Prince hadn't even fought with his full strength—instead, he had calmly observed Guyang Myeong's techniques as if merely spectating the martial arts of the Guyang Clan.
That was why the duel had dragged on. Had the Grand Prince fought seriously from the start, it wouldn't have lasted this long.
Guyang Myeong wasn't just wounded in pride—his heart had taken a heavy blow.
When Guyang Woon approached, Guyang Myeong waved him off as if unwilling to speak.
But Guyang Woon deliberately grabbed his brother's shoulders with both hands and infused a small amount of internal energy into him.
"Brother, pull yourself together."
He tightened his grip on Guyang Myeong's shoulders. Guyang Myeong frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Guyang Woon replied,
"You're pale. That was dangerous."
Had they left Guyang Myeong as he was, even without external injuries, his energy might have become so tangled that he would have coughed up blood. Finally regaining his senses, Guyang Myeong spoke to his younger brother.
"From the start, fight with everything you have. There's no need to hold back."
Guyang Woon nodded.
"That's my intention. You should sit here and focus on your breathing."
He was afraid his brother might fall into Qi Deviation. Fortunately, Guyang Myeong didn't stubbornly resist and sat down. After lightly patting his brother's back, Guyang Woon stepped into the dueling area.
Dan Woo-sung bowed slightly.
"Young Master Guyang."
Guyang Woon silently returned the courtesy, then immediately drew his straight sword from his waist.
Dan Woo-sung was enjoying the duel. After all, compared to solitary training, occasional duels were necessary to truly gauge one's martial progress.
"Here I come."
Guyang Woon spoke briefly, then launched a bold first strike—unlike his brother. Outwardly, his tone was gentler and his expression more amiable, but the moment he drew his sword, he swung it with the intent to decide life and death.
When it came to battle, his temperament was incomparably more aggressive than his brother's. Only then did Dan Woo-sung realize that Guyang Woon was truly a man suited for the sword.
Since Guyang Woon fought fiercely, Dan Woo-sung responded in kind.
Every time the blade traced its arc through the air, Dan Woo-sung dodged and retaliated with either a palm strike or a fist. It was psychological warfare—forcing his opponent into uncomfortable movements. By mixing in palm force, his strikes sent out fist winds or blade-like lightning energy that rained down on Guyang Woon's torso.
In an instant, the surrounding screens began to tear, fluttering wildly in the wind like shredded paper.
Mid-battle, Dan Woo-sung stomped down with Lightning Foot, a technique he had frequently used in his prime.
BOOM—
As the shockwave rippled forward, Guyang Woon, who had been charging in, flinched and hastily retreated, leaping backward to widen the distance. Having been focused on countering fist winds, the sudden shift in attack method caught him off guard.
Dan Woo-sung watched Guyang Woon soar into the air, then wrapped his fist in lightning energy.
Thunder's Roar.
Though the technique was of the fifth tier, he only infused it with third-tier energy.
A technique worthy of its name.
Dan Woo-sung's simple straight punch stopped abruptly at a certain point in the air—then, in an instant, a massive white lightning fist shot diagonally toward Guyang Woon with a deafening tremor.
To the spectators outside the screens—
Guyang Woon soared into the air, followed by a colossal fist bursting diagonally from within the screens.
Guyang Woon twisted his blade to present its broad side, then slashed downward with all his might.
CRACK—BOOM!
With a sound like a drum splitting apart, Guyang Woon blocked Thunder's Roar—but his body was sent flying in a curved trajectory.
At the same time, Shin So-baek, who had been nearby, sprang up like a coiled spring and barely managed to catch Guyang Woon before he could crash into the ground, steadying him.
Shin So-baek examined him.
"Hey, Young Master Guyang."
When there was no response, he gently tapped the pressure points on Guyang Woon's chest—Zhongwan, Zhongting, and Tiandu—then lightly slapped his cheek.
"Ghk—!"
Guyang Woon, who had momentarily blacked out, gasped as he regained consciousness. When he looked up, Shin So-baek and Guyang Myeong were staring down at him with concern.
Guyang Woon instinctively checked his body. There were no injuries—he had simply been knocked unconscious by the bizarre shockwave and deafening noise.
"Haah..."
The Guyang brothers sighed simultaneously. This was already their second defeat.
Guyang Myeong, deeply wounded in pride, spoke to Shin So-baek in a sullen tone.
"Let's just call it a loss for today and go back."
If they suffered a third defeat, the clan would surely erupt in chaos. Since both he and Guyang Woon had been humiliated, Shin So-baek likely wouldn't fare much better. At Guyang Myeong's words, Shin So-baek's eyebrows twitched upward.
He replied,
"If I let this opportunity slip, I wouldn't be a martial artist. The Grand Prince is an exceptional fist master—as someone who trains in palm techniques, I must test myself against him at least once. Victory or defeat is just the outcome. Martial progress comes from the journey itself. And given his skill, the fact that neither of you is seriously injured means the Grand Prince was considerate. I'll be back. Rest."
His tone was cold, as if he wanted them to truly hear his words, before he strode toward the screens.
Guyang Myeong and Guyang Woon exchanged glances but had nothing to say.
They knew better than anyone that the Grand Prince had gone easy on them.
Shin So-baek first clasped his fists in salute, then asked,
"Since the Grand Prince seems concerned about injuries, I must admit my fighting spirit isn't fully ignited. Moreover, judging by how you handled Young Master Guyang, your internal energy seems deeper than mine."
"You flatter me."
Dan Woo-sung studied Shin So-baek closely. The man clearly had more to say.
"Your Excellency, you also train in external martial arts, correct?"
"I do."
"If it's acceptable, how about we duel using only external techniques?"
Shin So-baek's proposal was a challenge between men.
Essentially, since he suspected Dan Woo-sung's internal energy surpassed his, he wanted to test the superiority of their palm and fist techniques without relying on it.
Dan Woo-sung accepted simply.
"Very well."
"No regrets?"
Dan Woo-sung smiled faintly.
"We each walk our own path—this is merely part of the journey."
No amount of training or duels would mark the end of their martial paths, so he considered this just another step. It was also a response to Shin So-baek's earlier words to the Guyang brothers.
But who truly stood to benefit from a battle without internal energy?
It was the kind of fight Dan Woo-sung preferred most.
Unaware of what he had just walked into, Shin So-baek approached. Without internal energy, this duel would be close-quarters combat from start to finish—a contest of palm techniques, forbidden hand combat, fist and leg techniques, and body skills.
Shin So-baek extended his palm, blade facing upward, as if giving Dan Woo-sung time to prepare—then struck first.
Dan Woo-sung suppressed his energy and countered. He liked this man. And because he liked him, he had an obligation to fight him properly.
A man like this would gain more from defeat than most. His temperament and mindset seemed superior to the Guyang brothers, so he deserved the Fist King's special treatment.
WHAM—CRACK—THUD!
Palms and fists collided, wrists twisted against wrists. Shin So-baek feinted with a right palm, aimed for the abdomen with a left strike, then suddenly thrust out a left kick like a hidden blade.
The wind howled sharply.
Dan Woo-sung twisted his body, caught the kick, and hurled Shin So-baek aside—using the man's own momentum to send him flying. It was a moment where a finishing blow could have landed, leaving Shin So-baek puzzled.
'Does he want to keep fighting?'
Shin So-baek flipped midair, landed, then studied Dan Woo-sung's expression before charging again.
Dan Woo-sung nodded as if encouraging him. Shin So-baek's attacks grew fiercer. When Dan Woo-sung spotted an opening in his stance, he swept Shin So-baek's legs with a left kick.
THUD!
Shin So-baek staggered—then, like a scythe, swung his right leg in an arc aimed at Dan Woo-sung's head.
Dan Woo-sung deflected it with his right hand, but Shin So-baek, now airborne, crossed his legs and unleashed a flurry of seven or eight rapid strikes.
BAM-BAM-BAM!
Without internal energy, blocking wasn't too difficult for Dan Woo-sung. As Shin So-baek descended, he lightly pushed off the ground, spun, and executed a bizarre technique—Whirling Mountain Palm—like a crashing tidal wave infused with centrifugal force.
Dan Woo-sung grabbed Shin So-baek's left arm, redirecting the force and trajectory of the Whirling Mountain Palm.
CRACK—
As Shin So-baek's arm was wrenched behind his back, he lashed out with his right leg—his only remaining attack route.
At the same time, Dan Woo-sung deflected the kick with his knee, seized Shin So-baek's right arm, twisted it behind his back, and lifted him into the air.
With both arms immobilized, Shin So-baek was helpless.
If Dan Woo-sung drove him into the ground with a knee strike now, his spine could shatter.
Instead, Dan Woo-sung threw him at a controlled speed, as if telling him to regain his balance. Shin So-baek twisted midair and barely landed on his feet. Attacking further would only prove he was no longer human.
Shin So-baek stood and saluted.
"Your Excellency, that was a valuable experience. I realized just how lacking I am. I'll train harder and challenge you again someday. I witnessed all three duels and confirm that the Guyang Clan lost all three."
Dan Woo-sung returned the salute impassively. Normally, the host would offer dinner, but Shin So-baek's expression suggested that wasn't an option. He maintained his composure with sheer willpower.
As Shin So-baek turned to leave, he paused and looked back.
"Ah, Your Excellency."
"Speak."
"With skills like yours, have you considered joining the Murim Alliance? Recently, even outsiders can become members. You're more than qualified."
"I'll think about it."
"Then, until next time."
Shin So-baek walked out with a complicated expression and said to the Guyang brothers,
"Let's go. We lost."
The three had nothing more to say. If there had been a mouse hole, they would have hidden in it until sunset before returning. As they headed for the gate, Dan Woo-sung quietly followed.
He trailed them silently until they reached the entrance, then called out.
"Young Masters Guyang, Young Master Shin."
When they turned nervously, Dan Woo-sung bowed respectfully.
"It was a good duel. Take care."
It was just a simple farewell. The three hastily returned the courtesy. Only Guyang Woon managed to reply.
"Please go back inside. We'll return now."
Dan Woo-sung gestured for them to leave first. Only then did the three finally depart from the Silver River Merchant Group.
Dan Woo-sung watched them go. Though their expressions had changed since their first meeting, one thing remained the same—they were martial artists who saw defeat as shame.
Dan Woo-sung had shown them respect because they were martial artists.
The same man who would slap the cheek of someone who deliberately bumped into him on the street was also the one who never lost courtesy toward those he defeated.