The Fist King Chews on Elixirs

Episode 19: The Fist King Chews on Elixirs

Goo Bon-hyun, who had been leading the West Wind Escort Agency with all his passion and sincerity, handed a letter to his son.

"Read this."

Goo Woong, curious about its contents, unfolded the letter. It was from the head of the Silver River Merchant Group—his friend's father.

The message was brief.

"Hmm, I've finished reading."

"What's going on here? According to the messenger, it seems the Silver River Merchant Group intends to refuse the Guyang Clan's protection from now on. Though it's not explicitly stated in the letter, it appears the Grand Prince got into a martial duel and ended up killing Guyang Hoo."

Goo Woong was startled.

"Is that so? He's gotten incredibly strong."

"They say the Grand Prince has changed."

"Yes. When we met recently after a long time, we drank four cups of liquor and then parted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ways. He said he'd dedicate himself solely to martial training from now on."

Goo Bon-hyun stroked his chin in surprise. The mystery of why his son, who had been sneaking out every night, had suddenly started staying home was finally solved. It seemed the catalyst was none other than the Grand Prince of the Silver River Merchant Group.

Goo Woong asked,

"By any chance, do we have any decent elixirs in the agency?"

"We do."

Goo Woong grinned.

"And you're not giving them to me?"

"Of course I'd give them to you—if you were serious about martial training."

"So that's a no."

"No. The elixirs are yours—if you commit to training."

"Like I'd start martial arts now."

"Then let's send them."

Goo Woong rubbed his forehead. He had never learned martial arts and had no intention of starting now. Though he felt a twinge of regret, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't see himself ever taking it up. After studying his father's expression, he spoke again.

"Father."

"Yes?"

"I'll deliver them myself. I don't know how expensive these elixirs are, but they can't cost more than all the liquor my friend has bought me over the years."

Goo Bon-hyun handed over the agency's seal.

"Delivering them yourself is the right call. They're in the high-value lost-and-found storage."

"Ah, so they were lost?"

Goo Bon-hyun's expression turned stern.

"Lost by a martial artist. Those who tried to steal them and those who resisted the theft—all ended up dead. But since someone might still claim ownership, we've kept them hidden all this time."

"And if someone does come?"

"Then we'll handle it discreetly without revealing their whereabouts. But that won't happen. Fifteen years have passed—far beyond the storage period set by our trade laws."

"Then I'll deliver them with peace of mind."

Goo Bon-hyun grasped his son's hand.

"Son."

"Yes?"

"We're merchants. Just like Merchant Group Leader Lee Seong-min—and just like you. When you give something, you must receive something in return. I'm not saying you should demand money. But since we're giving away something rare and valuable... think carefully about what you'd like from the Silver River Merchant Group before you go. Remember—it doesn't have to be money."

Goo Woong studied his father's serious expression before nodding.

"I understand. But for something like this, it's better to give without expecting anything in return. What kind of friend demands payment for a gift? Let's just say it's because we're friends. Isn't that enough?"

Goo Bon-hyun crossed his arms and stared blankly at his son, as if he'd just been punched, before replying.

"Hmm. That'll do."

"They say it's century-old Polygonum Root. Honestly, I wouldn't know the difference even if I saw it. How can you tell it's a hundred years old...?"

Goo Woong arrived at the Silver River Merchant Group right after lunch and handed Dan Woo-sung a box containing the century-old Polygonum Root his father had secretly stored away.

Dan Woo-sung asked,

"Should I open it?"

Goo Woong gestured for him to do so himself. Dan Woo-sung lifted the lid.

Inside was a considerable amount of century-old Polygonum Root. Even ordinary Polygonum Root was a highly effective medicinal herb mentioned in the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon. But this was clearly no ordinary batch. Dan Woo-sung examined it closely.

"This must be expensive. Though I doubt it's truly century-old."

"Then?"

"Three to four hundred? Maybe four to five?"

"Did you go herb-hunting on Mount Jiuhua or something?"

"Not just one root—this is enough for five or six. That's a lot."

Consuming the entire box would provide effects surpassing even two millennium-old Polygonum Roots.

Dan Woo-sung closed the lid and asked,

"Why did you bring this all of a sudden?"

He had no idea—this was his father and second brother's doing. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Goo Woong chuckled.

"You think I came to trick you? I brought it for you. Seems your father's been sending letters everywhere asking for elixirs. Didn't you know?"

"Hmm, no."

Dan Woo-sung had only asked Lee Hwa-eon to procure elixirs for him. He hadn't expected ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his father to get involved—let alone Goo Woong personally delivering such a precious gift. The ways of the world were truly unpredictable.

Just as Dan Woo-sung was about to speak, Goo Woong stood up.

"I'm off. Storing this stuff wasn't cheap either. Something about needing cool air and whatnot—I forgot the details. Just eat it quickly."

"What? You're leaving already? What about the payment? Wait—"

Goo Woong strode away briskly, as if fleeing, and tossed back a casual reply.

"This Goo Woong has pressing matters to attend to."

"You lunatic—you don't even have anything to do!"

Goo Woong turned back.

"Ah, right."

"What now?"

"If someone messes with our agency, you'll help, right?"

"Who's messing with you?"

Dan Woo-sung sounded ready to smash someone immediately. Goo Woong burst out laughing.

"Who'd dare? Just asking. Later!"

As he left the Silver River Merchant Group, Goo Woong pondered. Somehow, the atmosphere there felt drastically different from before—more positive, somehow. Strangely, it seemed his friend, once labeled a troublemaker alongside him, was at the center of that change.

Walking with his usual stoic expression, Goo Woong suddenly smiled and headed home.

For someone without a shred of internal energy, consuming century-old Polygonum Root was best done by grinding it into powder and mixing it with water or liquor. Even then, it should be taken in small doses over a long period for safety. A weak body couldn't properly handle the raw power of such an elixir.

No wonder martial artists usually practiced energy circulation techniques after consuming elixirs—whether the elixir carried yang or yin properties, proper control was essential.

For Dan Woo-sung, however, this wasn't something to be shared or consumed gradually.

He immediately took it to his room and, resigning himself to skipping dinner, began chewing it raw.

Sitting cross-legged on his bedding, each bite sent waves of fiery heat radiating through his body, as if a furnace had been lit inside him. Mid-chew, the Double Report Brothers, puzzled by his absence from the training grounds, came to check on him.

"Brother, are you here?"

Dan Woo-sung replied between chews.

"I think I'll just focus on energy circulation today. You two train without me—if anyone comes looking for me, stop them. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'll come out on my own by evening."

"Understood. We'll train nearby."

The twins stationed themselves outside his quarters like guards and began their own practice. Meanwhile, Dan Woo-sung steadily chewed and swallowed the entire box of Polygonum Root—a quantity equivalent to two full meals.

The taste was bitter, the scent nonexistent.

Much like martial arts itself.

Just as training was grueling and unglamorous—nothing but relentless repetition.

As the heat intensified and his throat tightened, he sipped small amounts of water to suppress it.

Given that this wasn't just century-old but borderline millennium-grade Polygonum Root, its spiritual energy was potent. He couldn't help but wonder how much it would elevate his White Lightning Ten Stages. Even reaching the fourth stage in one leap would be a windfall—if it exceeded expectations and pushed him to the fifth, this elixir would easily be worth over a million nyang.

Goo Woong had given him quite the expensive gift.

Of course, reaching the fifth stage required more than just the elixir's power—the practitioner's skill in energy circulation mattered just as much.

After finishing every last root, Dan Woo-sung took a deep breath. Then, moving swiftly, he crossed his legs in full lotus position and focused his mind.

Amusingly, one thought crossed his mind:

More than the elixir's value, the fact that my troublemaker friend gave it to me is what's making me nervous.

'I'll absorb every last ounce of its energy.'

He began the White Lightning Ten Stages energy circulation technique, transferring the elixir's spiritual essence into his Extreme Yang internal energy.

His resolve was firm.

The goal: the fifth stage.

If the elixir's power only took him to the fourth, he'd dedicate himself solely to energy circulation until he broke through.

The opportunity was here—now was the time to push forward.

"It seems Goo Woong-hyung brought him an elixir during the day."

Chief Administrator Lee Hwa-eon reported to his father. Lee Seong-min smiled.

"That was quick. And your brother?"

"Locked himself in his room and hasn't come out. The Double Report Brothers he brought are keeping everyone away."

"To receive Goo Bon-hyun's gift before I die—the sun must be rising in the west."

Lee Hwa-eon asked,

"What should we do?"

They were merchants. Having received something, they naturally thought of reciprocating. Lee Seong-min pondered.

"He won't need money. And since they're already our trading partners, they're not lacking in business."

"Yes."

"Then there's nothing to give. Nothing at all."

"Huh?"

"If something major happens, we can send the entire escort team or ask your brother for help... What else could we give? We'll just have to be grateful. As long as we don't forget."

"Understood. I'll inform the escort team."

After a moment of thought, Lee Seong-min added,

"Speaking of messenger hawks used by martial artists—they're different from ordinary ones, aren't they? Find out how they're used and where to buy them. Establish a direct line of communication with the West Wind Escort Agency using martial-world hawks. If you're too busy, have the third son handle it."

"Will he? He doesn't listen to me."

It was a request to leverage their father's authority. Lee Seong-min replied,

"He will. Emphasize that it's 'martial-world business.'"

Lee Hwa-eon immediately understood.

"Ah, got it."

For a moment, father and son stared blankly at each other before bursting into laughter simultaneously. They both knew all too well how much of a martial-world fanatic their youngest was.

"Third brother, I have a task for you. An important one."

Lee Ja-eon, who had been sheathing his sword with his usual look of worldly annoyance, turned to his second brother. Before he could speak, Lee Hwa-eon preempted him.

"It's related to the martial world."

Lee Ja-eon narrowed his eyes and replied in a low voice.

"What is it?"

Lee Hwa-eon maintained a grave expression as he continued calmly.

"We intend to establish an emergency communication network with the West Wind Escort Agency from now on. As you know, our Silver River Merchant Group has become entangled in martial-world affairs. So here's the thing..."

Seeing Lee Ja-eon listening with unwavering seriousness, Lee Hwa-eon poured all his effort into keeping his own expression equally solemn.