Chapter 57: The Fist King, The Beauty's Identity
The Fist King, The Beauty's Identity
Chapter 57: The Fist King, The Beauty's Identity
As Dan Woo-sung returned to the Silver River Merchant Group, a crowd rushed out to welcome the Grand Prince.
They had been waiting anxiously for him. After delivering the news that the Guyang Clan's leader had been imprisoned in the Murim Alliance's Thunder Prison and exchanging greetings with the martial artists who had protected the merchant group in his stead, Chief Administrator Lee Hwa-eon suddenly dropped an unexpected piece of news.
"Brother, just yesterday, a certain beauty arrived with her entourage."
"A beauty? Who?"
"She called herself Baek Yak. The winner of the Murim Alliance's Phoenix Tournament."
Dan Woo-sung, who had been about to head inside to report his return to his father, stopped in his tracks.
"Baek Yak? She came here?"
"Yes. She seemed puzzled as to why she had arrived first. It appears she came directly from the Murim Alliance to our merchant group."
"Ah, I stopped by Mount Jiuhua on the way back. Wanted to check on The Youngest. Anyway, got it."
"How is The Youngest?"
"Better than before. I'll go greet Father first."
Hwa-eon chuckled softly in response.
"Go ahead."
"Why are you laughing like that?"
"No reason."
Hwa-eon watched his brother's retreating back before teasingly adding,
"She was exceptionally beautiful, you know?"
Dan Woo-sung had no retort. He exhaled a small sigh and went to meet Lee Sung-min.
'Why the hell did she come? I told her we'd spar later.'
Against his will, Baek Yak's face and figure surfaced in his mind.
'Troublesome. Very troublesome.'
The two reunited in the guest reception hall.
While Dan Woo-sung stared at her intently, Baek Yak's already large eyes widened further as she glanced around the room. Even the most ordinary decorations seemed novel to her, and her expression was one of childlike wonder. Setting down her teacup, she spoke.
"You're wealthy, I see. By the way, were you surprised?"
"More surprised by your current attire than your visit."
"My attire?"
Instead of the outfit she had worn when they first met, Baek Yak was clad in a pristine white martial arts uniform—a style Dan Woo-sung had never seen before. Judging by how well it fit her, it seemed she carried it with her regularly.
Dan Woo-sung had clearly stated they would spar later. Yet, Baek Yak's attire suggested she was ready to fight now.
She smiled.
"No need to pay it any mind. It's just what I usually wear."
"Hard not to pay it mind when it's not everyday clothing."
"Clothes are fine as long as they're comfortable. What does the style matter?"
Dan Woo-sung, at a loss for words, took a sip of tea. Baek Yak then asked,
"Grand Prince, let's save martial arts for later. How about an arm wrestle first?"
Dan Woo-sung nearly choked on his tea.
"Suddenly? Arm wrestling?"
Baek Yak planted her elbow on the table with a thud.
"Pure physical strength only. Internal energy would make it meaningless."
Dan Woo-sung gave her a look of sheer disbelief before nodding.
'Fine. One arm wrestle, then she can go.'
He had initially thought her a spoiled young lady, but her competitive spirit wasn't unappealing. Besides, calling her "spoiled" hardly fit when her physique was so impeccably refined.
Extending his hand, he said,
"Alright, let's do it."
Their hands clasped. As Baek Yak rolled up her right sleeve with her left hand, her forearm—translucent in its fairness—was revealed.
Dan Woo-sung pushed up his own sleeve, exposing a sun-bronzed forearm.
Baek Yak declared,
"I'll take the first move."
Assuming she meant she would exert force first, Dan Woo-sung nodded. The moment her lips pressed into a firm line, she strained to push his arm down.
Dan Woo-sung's eyes widened.
She was strong.
But his arm didn't budge. After all, Dan Woo-sung was a man obsessed with physical prowess. Still, veins bulged along his forearm and the back of his hand as he resisted.
Baek Yak's expression grew increasingly serious, her pale face flushing as if she had drunk wine. Her competitive spirit was formidable. Dan Woo-sung couldn't hold back—not when she was giving her all. Watching her cheeks turn the shade of red petals, he suddenly flipped her arm down.
Thud!
Baek Yak frowned, withdrew her hand, rolled her shoulder, and rubbed her wrist.
Dan Woo-sung asked,
"You alright?"
She pouted.
"Yes."
It sounded anything but alright. Crossing his arms, Dan Woo-sung studied her. Had it been anyone else, they wouldn't have stood a chance—there wasn't a man in the entire Silver River Merchant Group who could have beaten her in arm wrestling.
After staring at the ceiling for a moment, Baek Yak turned to him.
"Strikes excluded. I'd like to spar using Forbidden Hand Combat and grappling. Whoever's shoulders touch the ground loses."
Her challenge was bold. Dan Woo-sung silently studied her face for a long moment.
Though not a test of martial superiority, grappling was his specialty. In the martial world, finding an opponent skilled enough to spar in this discipline was rare, so he was pleased. But his hesitation came from the fact that his opponent was a woman. Grappling was inherently rough—inevitably, their bodies would collide if he pinned her down.
Yet, judging by her expression, refusal wasn't an option.
"You sure? Grappling alone can get rough."
Baek Yak tapped her shoulder with her left hand.
"This uniform is for martial training."
"Then let's go. There's a separate training area. This is a guest hall."
"Lead the way."
Dan Woo-sung guided the uniform-clad young lady to the training grounds where he practiced with the Double Report Brothers.
The two faced each other.
Baek Yak placed her hands on her shoulders.
"Both shoulders must touch the ground to lose. And no internal energy."
Her seriousness made Dan Woo-sung nod impassively.
"Let's begin."
"Here I come."
Baek Yak lunged.
Her right hand, initially aiming for his collar, shifted direction mid-motion, seizing his forearm instead while her right foot swept toward his legs. Instantly grasping the nature of the bout, Dan Woo-sung deflected her grip, grabbed her collar, and yanked her forward.
Their faces drew close.
Staring into her large eyes, he asked,
"Is this how you do it?"
"Yes."
A soft fragrance—whether from her body or her uniform—wafted toward him, making his brow twitch.
Baek struck the inside of his forearm, breaking free and creating distance again. She charged once more, deflecting his arm with Forbidden Hand Combat before twisting his wrist with practiced ease.
Dan Woo-sung spun midair.
Freeing his wrist mid-turn, he retaliated with the same technique.
This time, Baek Yak's body soared upward, one leg hooking around his neck.
Naturally tilting his head, Dan Woo-sung grabbed her calf and lifted her effortlessly.
Baek Yak blinked.
"Huh?"
Dan Woo-sung looked up at her.
"This doesn't count, right? I could just slam you into the ground like this."
She replied,
"Give me a pass this time."
"Fine."
He carefully set her down.
Baek Yak asked,
"Do you understand now? The back-and-forth—"
"I get it. A battle of destabilizing the opponent's balance."
"Exactly."
Their synergy wasn't perfect yet.
Dan Woo-sung's movements weren't about subduing—they were purely lethal. More combat than art. In contrast, Baek Yak's techniques leaned toward finesse rather than killing intent.
They faced off again, closing the distance.
After six or seven failed attempts, Baek Yak suddenly rushed into his arms as if embracing him, seized his collar, and twisted for a throw.
The position was... awkward.
Because she had thrust her hips forward.
"Ah!"
Dan Woo-sung jerked his own hips back.
It wasn't the technique that startled him—it was the posture. He flipped midair, but unwilling to let his shoulders touch the ground, he kicked off the floor, twisted mid-ascent, and seized Baek Yak's hand again.
She calmly broke free and stepped back, pointing at him.
"You used internal energy in that evasion just now."
Dan Woo-sung jolted.
"Huh? Yeah, I did."
Baek Yak wagged a finger.
"I'll let it slide since you went easy on me earlier. For fairness..."
"Deal."
The two rarest fools in the world locked into another life-and-death struggle. Dan Woo-sung began focusing more on technique, while Baek Yak grew increasingly dynamic.
Strangely, their synergy improved.
The Double Report Brothers listened impassively to the sounds behind the partition before furrowing their brows. Over an hour had passed. The rustling of fabric, the thuds of bodies hitting the ground, occasional shouts—it was relentless.
During a brief lull, Yook Jin-bo cautiously asked,
"Brother, shall we eat separately? Or will you join us?"
Dan Woo-sung replied,
"Separately."
"Understood."
Baek Yak, unfazed, cut in.
"I'm really hungry right now."
Dan Woo-sung corrected himself.
"Let's eat together."
The twins responded in unison.
"Understood."
Shortly after, as lavish dishes were laid out, Baek Yak swallowed hard, bowed slightly, and said,
"Thank you for the meal."
As Dan Woo-sung, the twins, and Baek Yak began eating, an extravagant feast—prepared to celebrate the Grand Prince's return—kept arriving. The twins, who had deliberately eaten only in the communal dining hall lately, couldn't have been happier to see meat-heavy dishes after so long.
Dan Woo-sung felt the same.
He had eaten lightly to return quickly, and sparring with Baek Yak had left him ravenous.
They ate like starved beasts.
But Baek Yak's appetite was no joke either. Faced with three gluttons, she stuffed her cheeks like a squirrel preparing for winter, eating as if engaged in battle.
Watching the rare beauty with her cheeks puffed full, even the usually stoic twins stared in amazement. Yook Myung-bo remarked, sounding impressed,
"You eat with such gusto."
Baek Yak, mouth too full to reply, nodded vigorously and gestured for them to keep eating.
Dan Woo-sung said,
"Miss Baek, take your time. We have plenty of servants—more food can be prepared. No need to rush..."
She nodded while chewing.
Message received.
Clearly, her bloodline wasn't purely Central Plains. She carried herself like someone unfamiliar with traditional etiquette—rare was the young lady who ate so freely in another's home.
Once the war-like meal ended, only Dan Woo-sung and Baek Yak remained. Pouring her a drink, he said,
"Miss Baek, dried persimmon punch."
Baek Yak stared at it before taking a sip—then downed it in one go.
Without a word, she gave a thumbs-up. Her behavior was so unfeminine it could've passed for a man's, clashing starkly with her beautiful face.
After observing her all this while, Dan Woo-sung asked,
"Is Baek your surname? Or is Baek Yak just your given name?"
"Baek is my surname."
He crossed his arms. Even his heart was pounding now.
"Don't tell me... among your ancestors, there was one called the Heavenly Demon?"
Baek Yak raised a single finger.
"Not just any Heavenly Demon—the Primordial Heavenly Demon. It's ancient history, but yes, that's what I've heard. Since you asked, I can't not answer. I've heard people in the Central Plains carry prejudices, so I've been cautious."
Dan Woo-sung straightened, staring at her in genuine shock.
Baek Yak was a descendant of Baek Mujin, the Primordial Heavenly Demon—renowned across eras as the most overwhelmingly powerful of all the "Strongest Under Heaven."