Chapter 30: The Fist King Receives a Gift
The Fist King Receives a Gift
Episode 30: The Fist King Receives a Gift
As Dan Woo-seong and Moo Yong-bin conversed, the sound of rain began to patter. Thunder followed, and soon, thick raindrops drummed against the roof and eaves.
When Dan Woo-seong glanced outside, Moo Yong-bin spoke.
"If you're not leaving immediately, why not share a meal?"
Having marched relentlessly with only one meal a day, the suggestion wasn't unwelcome.
Dan Woo-seong replied,
"I eat a lot."
Moo Yong-bin burst into laughter at the bold request for more food and answered,
"I'll prepare plenty."
After instructing his attendants to set the meal, the two men locked eyes again.
Dan Woo-seong asked,
"Have there been any rumors about your father clashing with the Demonic Path?"
Moo Yong-bin responded,
"Not the Black Path, but the Demonic Path...? I've heard they've been silent for over twenty years. If they had resurfaced, things wouldn't be this quiet. It's also strange that they'd target only my father. Our family hasn't suffered any losses."
Dan Woo-seong nodded.
There had been no personal grudge against the Fist King either. The fight hadn't stemmed from hatred—it felt more like they were seekers of strength.
Moo Yong-bin tilted his head slightly, then regarded Dan Woo-seong with a somewhat grave expression.
"I heard the Sword God entered closed-door training half a year ago. It's odd—why would a master of Heaven Beyond Heaven need further refinement? Regardless, there's been no word since."
Dan Woo-seong, too, had secluded himself in Anga and the Silver River Merchant Group, focusing solely on training. Hearing the latest news from the head of the Moo Yong family was more valuable than bringing Guyang Saeng back. After all, detailed information about the martial world's top masters was hard to come by near the merchant group.
Dan Woo-seong pressed for more.
"Tell me about the other top masters."
Moo Yong-bin answered,
"I saw the Sword Emperor in good health not long ago."
The Sword Emperor was the head of the Namgung family and the leader of the Emperor's Council. He was also known by the somewhat cringe-worthy title, "First Among the Great Families."
"Actually, when Guyang Saeng accused us of laughing at him, it was the Sword Emperor who laughed the loudest. The rest of us just wore awkward expressions because the atmosphere was too stiff. Guyang Saeng must have been offended, but the Sword Emperor doesn't care about such things. He has a tendency to utterly ignore those he dislikes."
Dan Woo-seong nodded. That sounded like the Sword Emperor.
Moo Yong-bin continued,
"The Sword King has no fixed residence. He occasionally crashes at his juniors' homes, stays for a few days, then vanishes. Tracking his whereabouts is impossible. The last time he visited, my father was already missing—he acknowledged it and left without another word."
Now, even Moo Yong-bin's expression darkened.
"The Sword King has semi-retired. He trains disciples, but he's declared that anyone who wants his title must come to him. He insists on passing it down through martial duels. As for the Fist King..."
Dan Woo-seong's face stiffened.
Moo Yong-bin went on,
"Given his notoriously rough temperament—even my father, a senior in the martial world, found him intimidating—I have no idea what he's up to. Maybe wandering the land looking for disciples? Or perhaps smashing some Black Path remnants in some remote mountains. He's not an easy man to befriend."
Moo Yong-bin's words were true.
The Fist King should have taken disciples by now.
Though that had become a distant dream after this unexpected rebirth.
Hearing his own story like this left Dan Woo-seong with an indescribably complicated feeling. The pouring rain and roaring thunder only amplified it.
As attendants laid out the food, Moo Yong-bin remarked,
"I hope it suits your taste."
Dan Woo-seong ate while casually asking,
"What's the Fist King's personality like that makes him so hard to befriend?"
Was he trying to reflect on himself?
Truthfully, he was curious—people often have blind spots about themselves.
Moo Yong-bin chuckled at the question.
"He'd often beat up arrogant juniors from the White Path, humiliate seniors from the Black Path, and slaughter anyone from the Heretic Path on sight. He's struck Murim Alliance members for acting high and mighty, and more than a few young masters from the great families have felt his slap. Since you, Grand Prince, seem interested in the martial world, it'd be wise to tread carefully."
"Hmm..."
Dan Woo-seong felt like a fishbone was stuck in his throat—though none of the side dishes had any. Moo Yong-bin was convinced the Fist King was still alive, which made sense given the remote mountain battle.
Moo Yong-bin continued,
"...On the other hand, he was clear in word and deed. He kept his promises and boldly challenged other Emperors and seniors like the Sword Emperor. Listening to those stories, he seemed like a born martial artist. But from what I've heard, he lived a rather lonely life."
Dan Woo-seong clicked his tongue.
Well, it wasn't that lonely.
As they talked, Dan Woo-seong gathered information and organized his thoughts.
He didn't know the name of the group he'd last fought or the man who had stabbed him in the gut. All he remembered was that there were many attackers, all using the same sword style, with only their leader wielding a pitch-black sword—one sharp enough to rival the Sword God's.
Judging by this group's strength...
Fewer than ten in the entire martial world could withstand them.
Moreover, apart from these black-sword wielders, a man in a violet robe had watched from a distance.
Even amid the battle, his presence had been palpable. Had he joined the fray, Dan Woo-seong suspected only the Three Gods and One Saint—revered as Heaven Beyond Heaven—could have endured their combined assault. These four were legends who had eradicated the Demonic Path.
They were the reason the Fist King had never stopped training.
Because he wanted to surpass them and become the strongest under heaven.
A thought struck Dan Woo-seong.
If these shadowy figures weren't connected to the Three Gods and One Saint, they might eventually target them.
It was a deduction mixed with intuition.
If the Three Gods and One Saint fell, it would herald the rise of the Demonic Path's dominion. Twenty years ago, their intervention had reduced the Demonic Path's ambitions to nothing.
Moo Yong-bin, who had finished eating earlier, looked at Dan Woo-seong in surprise.
"Grand Prince, would you like more?"
"No, I'm fine."
The table looked as though it had been ravaged—only empty dishes remained.
Moo Yong-bin asked, somewhat regretfully,
"Grand Prince, though it may be inconvenient as a guest, why not stay the night?"
Dan Woo-seong glanced outside and replied,
"I appreciate the kindness, but I'll leave. The merchant group is unsettled, and I dislike being away. Handle Guyang Saeng well. Also, those three assassins claimed to be from the Gold-Silver Assassin Society—an assassination group. I'd appreciate it if the Emperor's Council investigated. If their hideout or leader is uncovered, I'll lend my strength, however modest. Contact the Silver River Merchant Group."
"Hmm. With rain this heavy, sending off a guest doesn't sit right with me."
Dan Woo-seong smirked.
Moo Yong-bin was a likable junior from the White Path. Even in his days as the Fist King, he wouldn't have slapped this man.
Dan Woo-seong spoke candidly.
"Truthfully, I came prepared to clash with the Moo Yong family. Thanks to your clear-headed handling of the situation, I can return with peace of mind."
He clasped his fists respectfully toward his junior.
"I won't forget your kindness."
Though pleased by the praise, Moo Yong-bin was startled by Dan Woo-seong's confidence in facing his family. Come to think of it, Guyang Saeng was no pushover—how had the Grand Prince dealt with him? His qi was completely concealed, making it impossible to gauge his true strength.
But how could he stop a guest determined to leave?
Moo Yong-bin flicked his fingers and said,
"Fetch the Grand Prince an umbrella."
Smiling, he added,
"It's nothing compared to your merchant group's treasures, but we've been crafting various items for self-sufficiency. It's supposedly a masterpiece, but saying so embarrasses me—just take it as a modest gift."
Dan Woo-seong was surprised. In times of prolonged peace, martial families often whittled away their accumulated wealth—hence scoundrels like Guyang Saeng emerged. The Moo Yong family seemed to have diverse self-sufficiency measures.
An attendant brought out an umbrella that looked exceptionally sturdy and handed it to Dan Woo-seong.
Moo Yong-bin explained,
"The shaft and ribs are made of dark iron."
Dan Woo-seong inspected it and laughed. It was less an umbrella and more a weapon in disguise.
"Why such expensive materials?"
Moo Yong-bin chuckled.
"The pricier it is, the more we can sell it for. It's mainly marketed to martial artists, so we went all out. Consider it a gift."
"I'll put it to good use."
"Take care. Open the gates."
As servants opened the main hall's doors, the sound of rain grew louder. Dan Woo-seong exchanged a final glance with Moo Yong-bin before turning and stepping out. When he unfurled the umbrella, the raindrops struck it with a crisp, lively sound.
Truthfully, Dan Woo-seong had never used an umbrella before.
When it rained, he simply endured it.
Now that he had one, he opened it without hesitation. The horses he'd brought were exhausted and being tended to by Moo Yong family grooms. Taking a carriage would have been cumbersome, so he instructed them to retrieve it later and strode out alone.
At this point, traveling by Lightfoot Technique was faster.
But Dan Woo-seong didn't activate it immediately. The novelty of the umbrella made him pause occasionally to glance up at its underside.
The rain was so heavy that holding it gave a satisfying heft.
He walked for a long time, lost in memories of his past life. Back then, he'd been closer to a wanderer, roaming freely through remote mountains—but now, many faces came to mind.
People he hadn't known in his previous life.
His family and his rascal friends surfaced first, and occasionally, the martial-obsessed youngest, The Youngest, crossed his thoughts amid the rain.
When thunder rumbled in the distance...
Dan Woo-seong looked up at the sky. The relentless downpour and intermittent lightning felt like they were peering into his heart.
As he walked, the rain and thunder seemed to console him.