Chapter 13: The Fist King's Method of Taking Over the Merchant Group
The Fist King's Method of Taking Over the Merchant Group
Episode 13: The Fist King's Method of Taking Over the Merchant Group
"Grand Prince, since when have you been meddling in the affairs of the merchant group? This is truly astonishing."
Guyang Hoo had a slender frame, narrow eyes, and pale skin—hardly the most likable appearance. But the martial world wasn't a place where looks or demeanor determined victory—only strength decided life and death. Regardless, Guyang Hoo was a man feared by the entire Silver River Merchant Group.
As Guyang Hoo deliberately took a seat opposite Dan Woo-sung, the latter struck first.
"Let's conclude the General Assembly here. Everyone, leave. I have matters to discuss with the Escort Team Leader. Hwa-eon, report to Father first."
Dan Woo-sung didn't want those untrained in martial arts to get caught in the crossfire.
Once Lee Hwa-eon and the executives rose to leave, only the deputy leader Han Yeop, Dan Woo-sung, and Guyang Hoo remained in the assembly hall.
Dan Woo-sung asked,
"Deputy Leader, you...?"
Han Yeop replied,
"I'd prefer to stay."
Guyang Hoo chuckled. He knew Han Yeop wanted to remain out of concern for the Grand Prince, but he allowed it without protest.
"Stay if you wish."
Yet Dan Woo-sung refused with an odd remark.
"The Deputy Leader has weighty responsibilities. It would be best if you left. Who knows if there are still rats lurking within the merchant group who might harm my ailing father...?"
Han Yeop's eyes widened as he stood. Only then did he realize what was more important. Nodding slightly at Dan Woo-sung as if to urge caution, he said,
"Understood. Then I'll leave you two to your discussion."
"Ensure no one approaches until our conversation is over."
"I'll see to it."
Guyang Hoo was even more dumbfounded when the Grand Prince dismissed Han Yeop—the strongest fighter in the merchant group after himself.
'Just what kind of confidence does this bastard have...?'
With feigned curiosity, Guyang Hoo asked,
"Well then, Grand Prince. I'd like to hear your reasoning for trying to dismiss me."
Dan Woo-sung yawned lazily in front of him, as if sleep-deprived.
Guyang Hoo was a fairly strong man, and Dan Woo-sung was still in the process of imprinting the martial arts from his past life onto his new body.
But so what?
The Fist King was still the Fist King.
If his internal energy was lacking, he'd fight with what he had.
After his yawn, Dan Woo-sung glanced around before making a request.
"Escort Team Leader."
"Speak."
"Is there truly no one around?"
He was asking Guyang Hoo, with his superior martial senses, to confirm no one was eavesdropping. Guyang Hoo scanned the surroundings before looking back at Dan Woo-sung.
"At the very least, no one is nearby."
Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"Good. There's a theory I've been considering—though it might just be the delusion of a Grand Prince with little experience in the martial world. If there are flaws, I'd appreciate your guidance."
Guyang Hoo crossed his arms and nodded as if to say, Go on.
"I'm listening."
Dan Woo-sung pointed at him and began.
"The methodology for an outsider to take over the merchant group."
Guyang Hoo's narrow eyes twitched.
'This bastard...'
"First, it must have been fortunate that the official heir was a worthless piece of trash."
Dan Woo-sung pointed at himself.
"Like me."
Guyang Hoo nodded.
"I can agree with that."
"The trash left for recuperation on his own, so he's out of the picture. Next, you plant your lackeys everywhere and stoke the conflict between the second and third sons. Once blades are drawn, emotions will flare. Then, you gauge which of the two is more compliant. After that, you offer to take one as your disciple. Given your reputation as a swordsman, the young masters would have no reason to refuse—especially with their pride already wounded. Around this time, external forces start demanding money from the merchant group. Whether they actually collect or not doesn't matter—the pressure alone is enough, especially with the merchant lord bedridden."
Guyang Hoo interjected,
"Listen here, Grand Prince—"
"Hear me out. The Escort Team Leader's salary isn't meager, but according to my trashy friends, you've been frequenting the most expensive brothels. Where did the money come from? It occurred to me—you weren't spending your own coin, but rather accepting hospitality and favors from external merchants. As you know, the Silver River Merchant Group doesn't compromise on quality. Those with inferior goods can't get their products in—unless, say, the future master of the heir drops a hint. Desperate merchants would jump at the chance, offering fine liquor and pretty courtesans. After all, if they can push their wares through, it's pure profit. There's no shortage of unscrupulous bastards in this business. And later, once your disciple becomes the merchant lord...?"
Dan Woo-sung rapped the table.
"You'd practically be leeching off the entire group. You'd wield more influence than the merchant lord himself. Sounds like a sweet life, doesn't it?"
He shook his head and laughed.
Guyang Hoo joined in.
"Hahahaha!"
But then—
Dan Woo-sung watched his laughter before striking with a cold tone.
"Gongson Myeong is dead by my hand."
As if cut by a blade, Guyang Hoo's laughter stopped dead.
Dan Woo-sung smiled.
"Destiny has begun to shift."
Guyang Hoo had been ready to dismiss the Grand Prince's words as the ravings of a madman after laughing it off. But now, forcing composure, he asked,
"And why would the innocent Gongson Myeong die? Grand Prince."
Dan Woo-sung replied,
"He wasn't innocent. He harbored murderous intent."
"Proof?"
Dan Woo-sung glared back.
"There is none."
Guyang Hoo lost control of his expression for the second time. He had expected some form of evidence.
As he stared speechlessly, Dan Woo-sung asked,
"Why? Were you close enough to avenge him? Don't tell me you were acquainted?"
Guyang Hoo's voice turned icy.
"Do you think being the Grand Prince of the Silver River Merchant Group makes you exempt from the grudges of the martial world?"
"I don't seek exemption. If there's kindness, I repay it. If there's hatred, I settle it. That's the life I want. By the way, an Escort Team Leader who neglects his duty to guard my father yet frequents the Golden Flower Pavilion every night? Tsk tsk... If you wanted to devour a great merchant group, you should've worked harder. You're no Zhuge Liang."
The implication was clear—why use such an idiotic scheme if you were going to get caught?
Guyang Hoo's face reddened like a rising tide. It had been so long since he'd been openly mocked that he was stunned.
When Guyang Hoo still didn't attack despite the taunts, Dan Woo-sung waved dismissively, as if fully embodying the insolent Grand Prince.
"If you understand, then get lost. You're fired."
In that instant, Guyang Hoo's rationality snapped.
He slammed his palm down on the table.
At the same time, Dan Woo-sung clenched his fist and countered with a Lightning Fist.
BOOM!
The collision of palm and fist produced a deafening blast.
The table between them splintered under the shockwave. Both men were forced back in their chairs, barely keeping their balance before springing to their feet.
Guyang Hoo flexed his right hand, which tingled unnaturally, and glared.
"Lightning energy?"
The sensation crawling up his wrist was unmistakably lightning-based.
But since multiple sects practiced lightning techniques, he couldn't pinpoint Dan Woo-sung's lineage.
One thing was certain, though—
Lightning arts were typically the domain of great clans or orthodox sects. The reason was simple: mastering them required guidance from renowned masters and rare elixirs. No minor faction could casually dabble in such power.
Strangely, now that battle was imminent, Guyang Hoo grew calmer.
"Congratulations, Grand Prince. It seems you've joined an impressive sect."
His words were polite, but with a shing, he drew his sword.
"However, mocking me and killing the innocent Gongson Myeong demands repayment. I'll accept my dismissal—but I'll be taking one of your arms before I leave. Consider your miserable life spared out of respect for my time here."
Dan Woo-sung smirked.
"Oh, how generous. You little shit."
Guyang Hoo scowled.
"Grand Prince, show some courtesy and fetch a weapon. What kind of senior fights an inexperienced junior barehanded?"
His words revealed his adherence to the martial world's traditions of propriety.
Dan Woo-sung retorted,
"I don't need one. For a washed-up has-been who crawled into a merchant group to secure his retirement, bare hands are more than enough."
Mid-sentence, Guyang Hoo thrust his sword from a distance. A blade of condensed sword energy shot forth, but Dan Woo-sung dodged with a tilt of his head.
The razor-sharp gust howled past, smashing into the hall's decorative wall panels.
Dan Woo-sung tutted.
"I'll have to bill you for the damages."
Without pause, he threw a straight punch, twisting his fist mid-air.
SWISH!
The fist wind shot toward Guyang Hoo's face—
But Dan Woo-sung had already shifted with the Earth-Treading Step, gauging his opponent's reaction before twisting with the Earth-Shifting Body Technique.
The sword missed.
SHING!
Spotting an opening, Guyang Hoo slashed vertically—
Only for Dan Woo-sung's movements to abruptly accelerate.
Instantaneous Movement Technique.
Though the name simply meant "shifting position," as a martial art, it naturally involved blinding speed.
As Guyang Hoo's sword chased him, Dan Woo-sung maintained a hair's breadth distance before suddenly firing a fist wind into his armpit—a blind spot.
The sword barely grazed Dan Woo-sung's shoulder as—
THUD!
Guyang Hoo barely blocked the strike with his forearm.
The lightning energy seeped in, causing a brief sting, but he wasn't overly concerned. Narrowing his eyes, he sneered.
"Heh. Not bad for such short training. But you're no Fist King—just arrogant."
Dan Woo-sung blinked, then coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem..."
He had no real rebuttal. He'd called his father "Father" and his brother "Brother," but now wasn't the time to declare, I am the Fist King. That was a statement for when he reclaimed his title through strength.