Chapter 26: The Fist King, Growing Men
The Fist King, Growing Men
Episode 26: The Fist King, Growing Men
Had the Supreme Elixir been consumed by the Fist King's original body, the backlash wouldn't have been this overwhelming. Fortunately, the century-old Polygonum Root that Goo Woong had brought earlier proved effective.
The medicinal effects of the Supreme Elixir spread through Dan Woo-sung's body, almost as if mocking him—piercing his meridians, clearing blockages, and dissolving impurities.
The elixir was violent, and Dan Woo-sung's response was equally fierce.
As the spiritual essence of the Supreme Elixir rampaged through his body, the Fist King chased after it, determined to seize control.
Every clash between the elixir and the Fist King erupted into a fierce battle.
Pure power versus the Fist King's martial prowess.
But the battlefield—his own body—was cramped.
Breathing techniques alone couldn't withstand this scorching conflict.
Surprisingly, Dan Woo-sung opened his eyes, unfolded his legs, and stood up. Maintaining the Five-Star Power of the White Lightning Ten Stages, his entire body radiated heat like a shimmering mirage.
His hair disheveled from the heat, he stepped out of the room, prompting the Double Report Brothers to ask with concern:
"Brother, are you alright?"
Dan Woo-sung, his face flushed, replied:
"It's hot."
"Huh?"
It wasn't hot at all. The evening breeze was cool.
Dan Woo-sung waved them off.
"I'll cool down and return. Don't wait for me."
"Understood."
The twins watched him intently.
After taking a few slow steps, Dan Woo-sung—unable to suppress the surging energy within him—suddenly burst forward with the Swift Lightning Step, dashing like an arrow.
In an instant, he reached the courtyard wall, then propelled himself upward with the Leap of the Lightning Path. Wrapped in white lightning, his silhouette shot into the sky like an arrow fired from the Silver River Merchant Group, vanishing from the twins' sight.
The Double Report Brothers exchanged stunned glances. Yook Myung-bo spoke first.
"Is he... okay?"
Yook Jin-bo replied, "Better to guard the estate. Let's wait outside."
They walked toward the outer perimeter, prepared to endure the cold wind until Dan Woo-sung returned.
Meanwhile, Dan Woo-sung deliberately raced toward the desolate Ganeung Plains.
The heat was unbearable—so much so that he wished for a torrential downpour. He pushed his body to its limits, suppressing the elixir's backlash while expelling the rapidly accumulating Extreme Yang energy to ease the strain on his dantian.
As a result, his Lightfoot Technique grew faster and faster.
Each time he failed to perfectly control his strength, his footsteps left deep cracks in the ground.
Had he tried to tame the Supreme Elixir's power at home, his residence—and possibly even the annex—would have collapsed. He would've gone completely berserk.
Upon reaching the center of the darkened plains, Dan Woo-sung circled like a madman, accelerating before gradually slowing his pace and regulating his breathing.
The lightning energy of the White Lightning Ten Stages raged across his body. Disgusted by the relentless sweat, he tore off his upper garment and flung it aside, then wrapped his arms in crackling lightning.
Fzzzt—!
The white lightning coiled around his arms was sharper than before. Gathering his energy, he clenched his fists and raised one hand skyward, prepared to release any discord between his original energy and the newly absorbed power into the heavens.
But Dan Woo-sung, standing firm, methodically subdued the turmoil within. Channeling his internal energy, he embraced the Supreme Elixir's power and forced it into his dantian.
The rapid growth—achieved by forsaking the harmony of time—came with agonizing backlash.
Gritting his teeth, Dan Woo-sung glared at the sky.
Suddenly, he recalled the mightiest faction he had ever known and the humiliation of defeat worse than death. The pain in his body faded as if washed away.
The dark night sky gazed down upon the Fist King.
Yet even after experiencing death once, the Fist King felt no fear.
His mind was filled only with thoughts of domination and submission.
As the storm within him subsided, Dan Woo-sung lowered his arm and examined his hand.
Next, he tested the White Lightning Ten Stages.
The transition from the Fifth to the Sixth Stage was seamless.
Expelling his energy to unleash the Seventh Stage, his hand became like a miniature sky—small bolts of lightning flickering in and out of existence.
Focusing his mind, he wrapped his hand in the signature technique of the White Lightning Ten Stages—White Lightning. His entire hand turned white as the Supreme Elixir's effects instantly reached the Eighth Stage.
Exhaling deeply, he knelt to steady his breathing.
For a while, the only sound in the empty plains was his ragged breath.
He had no intention of attempting the Ninth Stage. His body's refinement still lagged behind the White Lightning Ten Stages—a natural consequence of rapid growth. In times like these, restraint was true mastery.
Calming his body and mind, Dan Woo-sung muttered:
"...Today, this much growth is enough."
Despite fully absorbing the Supreme Elixir's power into his dantian, he still had energy to spare.
It was a meticulous, cold-blooded approach.
Dan Woo-sung returned to the Silver River Merchant Group bare-chested.
His aura was so fierce that no one dared approach him casually. His hair was wild, his eyebrows bristled upward, and his torso—honed through external training—bore sculpted contours like carved marble.
Rumors of the Grand Prince's transformation had already spread...
As Dan Woo-sung walked the night streets for the first time in a while, passersby instinctively widened their distance.
To them, it was as if one of the Four Heavenly Kings' wrathful statues had come to life and entered the Silver River Merchant Group.
In truth, Dan Woo-sung had become the estate's guardian deity—so the sight wasn't entirely strange. But to him, this was still a time of endurance and preparation.
Lee Ja-eon's head drooped as he struggled against drowsiness.
Whack!
Joo Ja-ryang struck his shoulder with the Crane Feather Fan.
"You brat, if you want to sleep, ask for permission first. Do you think I won't discipline you just because I don't know martial arts? Is that it?"
"No, sir."
"It's broad daylight. You can't even fight off sleep after waking at dawn? If you were in a life-or-death battle, do you think your opponent would let you nap? Or do you look down on scholarly studies?"
"No, sir."
Joo Ja-ryang continued, "Martial arts alone aren't enough. This is your elder brother's order. After lunch, we'll sit like this every day. Do you think I enjoy teaching a blockhead like you? You really don't understand people's hearts."
Lee Ja-eon replied, "Teacher, I don't think that way."
Joo Ja-ryang smacked his head with the fan. This time, Lee Ja-eon couldn't fathom why.
"Confucius once scolded a man for defecating by the roadside. But do you know what he did when he saw someone doing it in the middle of a main road?"
"Uh... scolded him severely?"
Joo Ja-ryang shook his head.
"No. He walked past without a word. The man by the roadside still had some shame, so he could be admonished. But the one in the middle of the road? No shame at all—not worth the effort. Confucius deemed him beyond teaching."
Lee Ja-eon stared blankly.
"Hmm..."
"The reason I hit you is the same. If I stop hitting you, take it as a sign that I've given up on you—like that man on the road."
So... he's going to keep hitting me? Lee Ja-eon looked genuinely startled.
For someone who didn't know martial arts, Joo Ja-ryang was terrifying with words alone. Lee Ja-eon's drowsiness vanished instantly.
"Yes, Teacher. I'll stay alert."
Lee Ja-eon was beginning to fear Scholar Immortal Joo Ja-ryang as much as Sword Saint Sa-bu. He wondered if this was truly a fortunate encounter.
Joo Ja-ryang delivered an even more chilling remark:
"Ja-eon, if it becomes unbearable, you're free to kill me with those fists. After all, your brother, you, and I—none of us are men who contribute much to the world. If you kill me, your brother will kill you. Then, consumed by regret for killing his disciple, he'll take his own life. Useless lives—we might as well become a handful of dirt on Mount Jiuhua."
What made his words terrifying was that he truly believed them. The identity of the "Failed Scholar" ran deep in his heart.
Lee Ja-eon sensed an unspoken pain in his teacher and replied solemnly:
"Teacher, that won't happen. If I misstep, discipline me as you see fit. I'll improve."
Joo Ja-ryang nodded.
"Martial arts grant the power to kill. But the reason people kill isn't the arts—it's the heart. No matter how strong you become under your brother's guidance, never forget this. Misuse that power, and you'll be worse than a beast."
"Understood. I'll remember."
Suspecting a half-hearted reply, Joo Ja-ryang said calmly:
"You're stronger than me. Why haven't you struck me?"
"Because you're my teacher."
"If I weren't, you would?"
"That's..."
"You have an elder brother, right? Are you the youngest at home?"
"Yes."
"Pity. You'd benefit from a younger sibling—one strong enough to hit you. How would you feel if your little brother struck you?"
"I don't know."
"A younger sibling doesn't hit their elder. You don't hit me, your teacher. It's the same principle. Martial arts aren't meant for such depravity. This is why I despise them. Men like you, without proper guidance, become heretics. Your face says: 'No, I'd only hit my brother. I won't harm others.' Do you really believe that? You're the kind to announce you'll defecate in the middle of the road."
Lee Ja-eon's face burned red.
"From now on, I'll just take the hits."
"Wrong. If your elder brother is worthy of respect, treat him as such. Unless he's a heretic, he won't mistreat you. This, again, is a matter of the heart—not who's stronger. Let's stop here. Rest, then train with your brother this afternoon."
As Lee Ja-eon rose, Joo Ja-ryang whacked his head again.
"Whether it's your brother, teacher, or elders—observe propriety when meeting and parting!"
Lee Ja-eon bowed respectfully.
"This disciple takes his leave, Teacher."
Joo Ja-ryang nodded sternly.
"Good. What did you learn today?"
"I'll carve it into my heart."
"Was it worth hearing?"
"It was helpful."
Joo Ja-ryang waved dismissively.
"Go."
"Yes."
As Lee Ja-eon exited the humble wooden hut shared by the Jiuhua Twin Immortals, Joo Ja-ryang flicked open his fan with a displeased expression.
'Still far to go, brat.'
He intended to shake Lee Ja-eon's heart until the boy lost his temper and swung a fist at him. As Joo Ja-ryang said, he might die by Lee Ja-eon's hand.
But so what?
If it ensured that his friend's brother didn't become a man who "defecated in the middle of the road," Joo Ja-ryang would accept the risk.
Right now, Lee Ja-eon wasn't just his friend's brother—he was Joo Ja-ryang's own flawed disciple.
Just because he didn't know martial arts didn't mean he wouldn't stake his life on this.