Chapter 32: The Fist King Visits the Pleasure House
The Fist King Visits the Pleasure House
Chapter 32: The Fist King Visits the Pleasure House
"We lost track of Poison Fox."
A man reported at the door, but instead of a reply, only the moans of a woman echoed from inside. The reporting man furrowed his brow and spoke curtly.
"...I'll come back later."
As he turned to leave, the leader of the Jeokye Union spoke from within.
"Come in and speak."
The voice from inside the room was deep—unnaturally so. The man replied,
"Understood. Then I'll enter."
After a brief pause, he opened the door and knelt immediately upon entering, keeping his gaze fixed on the floor.
Jeokye's voice, still entangled with the courtesan, reached him.
"Speak. Why did you lose him?"
It was impossible to tell whether the man had emotions or not. Even while rolling around with the courtesan, his voice remained utterly devoid of feeling.
The reporting man stared at the creaking bed frame beneath him and answered.
"We almost had him, but Poison Fox's friend intervened. One of ours charged at him and got knocked unconscious—still hasn't woken up. We recorded his appearance—"
The movements above the bed grew rougher, and the woman suddenly let out a scream rather than a moan—so violent it seemed she might die right then and there. The reporting man, unconsciously clenching his jaw, paused briefly.
Jeokye responded.
"Recorded it and?"
"After investigating based on the description, we confirmed it was the Grand Prince of the Silver River Merchant Group."
"So you're getting beaten up by a merchant's heir?"
As the woman's screams grew louder, the man closed his eyes and replied.
"My apologies. The men said his martial arts were formidable..."
A wooden pillow flew and struck the man's head. With a sharp thwack, he clutched his forehead.
"My apologies."
Trapped in an impossible situation, he glanced at his hand—blood was smeared across it, his forehead split open.
Jeokye spoke.
"The Silver River Merchant Group—weren't they paying tribute to the Guyang Clan?"
"Yes, that's what I heard as well."
"Question Mad Leopard in detail and have the men stand by. Whether the Guyang Clan protects them or not, that 'Grand Prince' needs to die. And find Poison Fox too."
"Understood."
The man pressed a hand to his bleeding forehead and left the room. Just a year ago, he had been the third-in-command of the Black Path Faction, thriving in the underworld. Now, this was the treatment he received.
Everything now revolved around Jeokye.
Jeokye had lost his parents to the leader of the Yukwan Mountain Fortress in his youth. After vanishing for nearly a decade, he returned and massacred the entire fortress.
Since then, the leaders and second-in-commands of the Jangshan Faction, the Old Leopard Gang, the Flood Dragon Gang, and the Hongnak Fortress had all met gruesome deaths at his hands—none of them had any prior grudge against him.
They had simply stood in the way of his expansion.
Rumors claimed he had trained under a master of the dark sects, and indeed, his methods were brutal.
He preferred tearing his opponents apart limb by limb.
After establishing himself in Yukwan's entertainment district, every merchant group, escort bureau, and battlefield—even the pleasure houses, inns, and the underground auction houses secretly run by Poison Fox—paid him tribute.
The man knew Jeokye wouldn't stop at controlling just the entertainment district. His name was already spreading through the underworld.
But the Silver River Merchant Group wasn't some small-time operation confined to a single district—they were a colossal merchant empire spanning multiple cities. Charging in recklessly wasn't an option.
The man sought out Mad Leopard, the former third-in-command of the Old Leopard Gang.
"The leader is curious about the Silver River Merchant Group and the Guyang Clan."
As Mad Leopard stood, the man tapped his palm as if warning him to be careful.
"He's busy with a courtesan right now. Tell me."
Mad Leopard glanced at the man's forehead and spoke coldly.
"The Silver River Merchant Group is now a land without an owner. Just strike. There's been talk about them for a while now."
"Did the Guyang Clan withdraw?"
"They definitely did."
"Who told you?"
"There's a guy named Sung Ki-chan who runs a crew in Yanghwa Street—he knows the details."
Sung Ki-chan was the man who had been beaten by Dan Woo-sung in the streets earlier. Mad Leopard continued.
"We can gather forces and strike, but the leader will have to go himself."
"Why?"
"Rumors are already spreading that he's the strongest man in the Yanghwa area. I didn't know he was Poison Fox's friend. Who knew catching one Poison Fox would escalate like this?"
"Why is the leader so fixated on Poison Fox?"
"Are you asking because you don't know?"
"I don't."
"Maybe ruthless men recognize something in each other."
Jeokye himself had spent ten years in hiding for revenge before returning. He understood better than anyone how dangerous men like Poison Fox could be. There was no reason to leave someone like that alive.
All because he had stopped Poison Fox once.
The Silver River Merchant Group, now drawing the attention of the Jeokye Union, carried on with their daily lives as usual.
Upon his return, Dan Woo-sung immediately dumped all miscellaneous tasks onto Chief Administrator Lee Hwa-eon and focused solely on training. The day after his return, after instructing the Double Report Brothers until evening, Poison Fox suddenly crossed his mind.
Given Poison Fox's personality, he was likely holed up somewhere right now, swinging the Black Iron Umbrella until his arms went numb.
Ten thousand repetitions were no easy feat—especially since the Black Iron Umbrella's weight was incomparable to a wooden sword.
Which was why Dan Woo-sung naturally thought of the Jeokye Union.
"I'm going out for a drink."
At his words, Yook Jin-bo asked,
"Understood, Brother. Will you be late?"
If Poison Fox Cheol Myung-ho was going to swing the umbrella ten thousand times, he couldn't afford interference from the Jeokye Union. A promise was a promise. And besides, Dan Woo-sung had already warned the Jeokye Union—if they didn't leave Poison Fox alone, he would come for them himself.
Dan Woo-sung asked,
"I'm planning to visit the Jeokye Union. Where are they based?"
"Do you know Yukwan's entertainment district?"
"I do."
"These days, whether it's inns or pleasure houses, everyone pays tribute to the Jeokye Union. They control the entire area, so you can ask anyone—they'll know."
Yook Myung-bo added what he knew.
"Boatmen, traveling merchants—even nearby escort bureaus and merchant groups—all pay tribute."
Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"They've grown quite large, then?"
"They've absorbed all the minor factions and underworld groups that operated in Yukwan."
"So that's why they're called the 'Union'?"
"Yes, they've absorbed multiple factions. They even managed to extort tribute from Poison Fox."
Dan Woo-sung smirked.
"When I met him yesterday, he said they took everything—his entire auction house."
The Double Report Brothers exchanged glances and nodded.
"That sounds like them."
"Jeokye is that kind of man."
Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"Got it. Since I've met him before, if my identity gets out, the merchant group might get dragged into trouble. All the more reason to go."
The brothers asked,
"Brother, should we come with you?"
Dan Woo-sung shook his head.
"Stand guard until I return."
"Understood."
As Dan Woo-sung left his quarters, he ran into Lee Hwa-eon walking toward him from the opposite direction.
"Brother, where are you going?"
"Out for a drink. By the way, have you decided on a name for the merchant alliance?"
"I was thinking of 'Merchant Alliance.' What do you think?"
Dan Woo-sung shook his head.
"'Alliance' feels off. Just call it the 'Merchant Council.'"
"Why does 'Alliance' suddenly bother you?"
"Eh, just a feeling."
As he headed toward the gate, he asked,
"Who's taking the role of council leader?"
Lee Hwa-eon grinned.
"You are."
"Why me?"
"You said it yourself—for now, it has no real form. You proposed it, and both the elder of the Taihu Merchant Group and Father agreed—they said you should take the role."
Dan Woo-sung turned away.
"I only plan to focus on training."
Lee Hwa-eon nodded.
"I'll handle the work. Just take the title for now."
"Fine."
"Have a safe trip."
Dan Woo-sung waved dismissively as if shooing him off.
The moment Dan Woo-sung stepped into Yukwan's entertainment district, he approached a group of rough-looking men lounging conspicuously and asked,
"I'm here to see Jeokye."
The men's faces twisted in disbelief. No one here dared to call Jeokye by his name alone—most referred to him as 'Leader.' They scrutinized Dan Woo-sung from head to toe. The fact that he carried no sword made it even stranger.
After exchanging glances, one of them answered.
"He's at the Onjeong Pavilion."
Dan Woo-sung gazed at the street illuminated by dazzling colored lanterns and asked,
"That way?"
"Yeah."
As Dan Woo-sung strode leisurely toward the pleasure house, the men muttered among themselves.
"Who the hell talks like that? No respect at all."
A companion retorted,
"Say that to his face. He's right there—go on, catch up and tell him."
"You think I'd do that?"
Another man frowned.
"That guy... I feel like I've seen him somewhere..."
Dan Woo-sung stared up at the Onjeong Pavilion's sign before stepping inside without any resistance.
His attire was plain, and he carried no sword or weapons. Moreover, even those who had seen his description wouldn't believe the Grand Prince of the Silver River Merchant Group would visit such a place alone. Here, everyone feared Jeokye.
For Dan Woo-sung, it had been a long time since he last visited a pleasure house.
Most pleasure houses had waiting areas partitioned into several sections. A young woman approached and asked,
"Young master, it's my first time seeing you. I'm the attendant here. Would you like me to explain how things work?"
"No need. I heard Jeokye is here."
The woman's eyes widened, and she clasped her hands together.
"Ah, the Leader? I'll send someone to escort you immediately. Did you arrange a meeting in advance?"
Dan Woo-sung grabbed her wrist.
"No. Is Jeokye upstairs? Just tell me that. Is he here?"
"Y-Yes, he is."
Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"Then, what's your name?"
"Jeonghwa."
"Jeonghwa, make sure everyone clears out while I go up."
"It won't be easy to go up..."
"It's fine."
Dan Woo-sung stared at Jeonghwa for a moment before leaving the waiting area and ascending the stairs. Up to the third floor, not a single man tried to stop him.
When he reached the base of the fourth-floor stairs, a man peeked out and asked,
"Guest, why are you coming up alone?"
Normally, an attendant would accompany guests, so the question wasn't unusual.
Dan Woo-sung continued climbing as he replied,
"I came alone, so I'll go up alone."
"Turn back. This isn't a place you can wander freely."
Dan Woo-sung silently climbed the rest of the steps and stared at the man. The man scrutinized him and realized—one more word, and he'd be struck. Sharp enough to sense danger, he pressed his lips shut and stepped aside.
As Dan Woo-sung passed, he remarked,
"Quick on the uptake."
He turned down the hallway and climbed the stairs to the fifth floor. The fourth floor was for honored guests, and the fifth was the highest level—guarded by armed martial artists stationed at the top of the stairs.
Dan Woo-sung glanced upward, then listened to the commotion outside the pleasure house. Jeokye's men seemed to be gathering—things were getting noisy.
A man waiting on the fifth floor spoke in a tone dripping with casual disrespect.
"Get lost."
Dan Woo-sung didn't reply—he simply kept climbing. The waiting man lunged forward, aiming a kick at Dan Woo-sung's chest.
With his left hand, Dan Woo-sung effortlessly deflected the kick, grabbed the man by the collar, and hurled him backward.
CRASH—
The man smashed through the wall of the Onjeong Pavilion and plummeted to the ground below. The impact was like a signal flare—doors along the fifth-floor hallway burst open, and Jeokye's bodyguards drew their swords.
Dan Woo-sung stood in the hallway, surveying them calmly.
Then, from the room at the end of the hall, a deep, resonant voice echoed.
"Let the guest in."
It was Jeokye's voice.