Chapter 51 - Episode 50: The Temptation of Beauty

If the intimate family dinner on the night after the fight was a warm reward for the warrior and his loved ones, then the following evening's celebration was something else entirely—a coronation of a new king.The venue was still the Sky Villa suite at the MGM Grand Hotel, yet tonight it looked unrecognizable. A professional team had transformed it from a post-fight crash pad into a glittering palace of light and glass. Gone were yesterday's beer bottles and boisterous shouting. In their place, elegant jazz music drifted like smoke through the air. Under the shimmering glow of crystal chandeliers, waiters glided between guests in crisp uniforms, balancing trays laden with premium champagne, caviar canapés, and tiny desserts sculpted like jewels.Security was at its tightest. Tall, silent guards in dark suits lined the hallway outside, checking names against a sleek digital list. Only those bearing a gilded invitation—each personally issued by Isabella—could pass the threshold into the heart of this lavish gathering. Las Vegas had seen countless parties, but this one held a different kind of electricity.Yogan wore a perfectly tailored black Tom Ford suit. A makeup artist had skillfully softened the scar above his eyebrow, but even concealed, it added a note of danger, a thread of history woven into his otherwise smooth, handsome face. Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, a glass of soda in his hand, he gazed at the sleepless city below, its neon veins pulsing like a living organism.He knew that from this night on, he was no longer just a temporary visitor, a foreigner passing through. He was one of the players at the top of the city's pyramid."Champion, congratulations!"The familiar voice boomed before Yogan even turned. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson—broad as a wall and dressed in a cream-white suit that barely contained his muscles—strode across the room and wrapped him in a bear hug."Last night's fight was incredible!" Johnson laughed, holding him at arm's length. "That liver shot… brother, even I would've been unconscious for half a day! Your composure and strength reminded me of my peak moments in the ring.""Thank you, Dwayne," Yogan replied with a polite smile."Don't say that, brother!" Johnson gave him a firm shoulder-pat. "Hollywood needs strong heroes like you. If you're interested in the big screen, my door is always open."The weight of that promise would have made any athlete's pulse quicken. For Yogan, it was simply another offer to file away in his mind.An elegant man in a burgundy velvet suit approached next—none other than Leonardo DiCaprio, one of Hollywood's biggest superstars."Yogan, congratulations." He raised his glass. "I've watched every one of your fights. You're not just a fighter; you're an artist. Every move you make, every decision inside the Octagon is filled with wisdom and beauty. Maintaining your composure under such intense pressure is… mesmerizing."More guests arrived in a glittering cascade, each important enough to land on a newspaper's front page. NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa glided into the suite. Kobe's eyes, sharp as an eagle's, locked onto Yogan's."Champion," he said with a small smile, "welcome to the world of winners. I saw your performance in the fourth round—your focus and relentlessness in finding opportunities even in desperate situations reminded me of myself. Remember that feeling. Never lose your thirst for victory."Then came a surprise: Silicon Valley tech giant and Tesla founder Elon Musk. Without the slightest preamble, he went straight to the point."Yogan, your tactical execution is comparable to the most precise algorithms. I'm very interested in your biological data and training patterns. Perhaps we could discuss how technology might further strengthen you."Business, technology, sports, cinema—Yogan had become the magnetic center of them all. Yet what drew these people wasn't just his championship belt. It was the vast Chinese market behind him and the singular charisma he embodied: a blend of Eastern mystery and Western power.And, of course, fame and fortune inevitably brought admiration from the most beautiful women in the room.Scarlett, the popular actress known for her sex appeal and for starring in blockbuster superhero movies, drifted toward Yogan like a scene from a perfume commercial. She wore a deep V-neck black evening dress, her glass of champagne catching the chandelier's sparkle. In her eyes burned open admiration and something bolder—flirtation as direct as a punch."Yogan," she said in a husky, magnetic voice, "I've never seen such a captivating Oriental man. Your eyes are… abysmal, hypnotic. If you have time, I'd love to invite you to privately discuss my new film script. There's a role written specifically for you."As she spoke, her body leaned in just enough to blur the boundary between invitation and temptation. With a deft motion, she slipped a napkin into Yogan's suit pocket, a phone number and hotel room written on it in looping ink.Before Yogan could respond, another figure appeared—Kendall, a supermodel with tens of millions of followers on Instagram. She walked right up to him, tilting her head in a way that was both playful and challenging."Champion," she said in an almost mocking tone, "they all call you the 'Silent Hunter.' I'm curious—are you equally aggressive in other areas as you are in the Octagon?"She licked her pink lips, eyes glittering. "My hotel room is just downstairs. If you want to prove it, you can come by anytime."The blatant seduction made Luke Rockhold, standing nearby, widen his eyes. He shot Yogan a wink, as if to say, Brother, you've become a god.Despite all this, Yogan maintained a gentle but distant calm. He smiled, clinked glasses, and spoke graciously, yet inside he was the still eye of a storm. He knew exactly where this admiration came from—the invisible golden belt around his waist. Lose that, and the tide of compliments would retreat overnight.If he had been in his own country, he reflected, he might have been met with curses and insults instead. The same crowd that adored him now would turn its back just as quickly.So he basked in the glow but never let it burn him.The party rolled on until midnight. Laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses filled the suite like a warm sea. But gradually the guests dispersed, luxury cars waiting below to ferry them to casinos and penthouses. When the last of them had gone, only AKA's core team and Yogan's family remained.Coach Javier looked at his tired but still excited disciples and nodded with satisfaction."Okay, guys," he said, "the party's over. No matter how bright the lights of Las Vegas are, it's not our home."He turned to Yogan, his voice serious, carrying an undercurrent of expectation."Yogan, you are now the provisional champion. But remember—the word 'provisional' itself is a disgrace. There is a real king waiting for you in Brazil: José Aldo. He is your true target. Until you defeat him and remove the word 'temporary' from your title, all this celebration is just a pre-show."DC Cormier came over and patted Yogan hard on the shoulder. "Brother, get some rest, spend time with your family. But remember, AKA gym will always be your support. When you're ready, we'll come back and start the next journey!"Yogan nodded firmly.The glitz of Las Vegas—like brilliant fireworks—was beautiful but fleeting. What truly kept him going was the sweat-slick floor of the gym, the warm presence of his family, and the unquenchable fire in his heart, a heart that yearned to fight forever.---