The Fist King, I Have Arrived

Episode 6: The Fist King, I Have Arrived

"You're going to find this hard to believe."

Mok In-seop, who had returned ahead of Dan Woo-sung, addressed his fellow escorts in their quarters. The men, who had been tidying bedding or attending to their own tasks, responded casually.

"What? Did the Grand Prince get into a brawl in broad daylight at the brothel?"

"Oh, sounds like a good show. You peeked, didn't you, you pervert?"

Mok In-seop sighed.

"Do I look like that kind of guy? Why would I spy on something like that?"

"Then what?"

Mok In-seop grinned.

"What do you think?"

No one seemed particularly curious.

"Man, what a life. Born into a wealthy family, living in luxury without a care in the world. Must be nice. Envious? Aren't you?"

"Damn right I am. Even if he spends his days groping women at brothels, he'll never have to worry about money. Some people are just born lucky. Hard work means nothing. Look at our deputy leader—spent his whole youth serving the Escort Team, and what does he get? Just tossed out like—well, I'll stop there."

They all glanced at Han Yeop, the deputy leader of the Escort Team.

Han Yeop frowned and turned to Mok In-seop.

"How was the Grand Prince's health?"

He was the only one in the Escort Team who genuinely worried about the Grand Prince.

Only then did the escorts turn their full attention to Mok In-seop.

With the expression of someone who knew something amusing, Mok In-seop said,

"Don't think I'm lying. You'll all ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠see for yourselves soon enough."

Now intrigued, the men pressed him.

"Spit it out. What happened?"

"If this isn't worth it, you're dead."

Mok In-seop grinned.

"The Grand Prince has completely changed."

Of course, this was true—Lee Jin-eon had become Dan Woo-sung. One of the men scoffed.

"People change. The Grand Prince is still young; it's not strange for him to change. Better late than never. Maybe he finally grew up at the brothel."

Mok In-seop shook his head.

"No, it's not like that. If it were just that, I wouldn't be surprised. When I saw him after so long, he looked like a full-fledged martial artist. A real one."

"Hmm..."

The escorts exchanged glances before bursting into laughter in unison.

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

"PFFFT—HAHAHA!"

One of them pointed at Mok In-seop.

"That's hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. Our Mok here has a knack for comedy. The Grand Prince, a martial artist? That's as believable as Mok quitting drinking to study literature."

"Or Mok apologizing politely after bumping into someone on the street."

Since it wasn't anything bad, Mok In-seop laughed along.

"Yeah, yeah, I knew you wouldn't believe me. Just don't be shocked when he returns. I swear, every time I met his gaze, I felt intimidated. You'll see."

"You, intimidated by that frail weakling? Does that even make sense? Mad Dog Mok?"

The Escort Team was a world of men.

Though they were martial artists affiliated with the merchant group, their lives were rough. Their work often brought them into contact with rogue martial artists, bandits, and raiders.

Bloodshed was part of their daily lives, so despite being part of a merchant organization, they were far from refined. If anything, they were half-outlaws themselves. Among them, Mok In-seop had earned the nickname "Mad Dog" for getting into fights at every opportunity.

Deputy Leader Han Yeop asked Mok In-seop,

"If he's become a martial artist, that means his health has improved?"

"Yes. He looked perfectly healthy."

"Did he say when he'd return?"

"He didn't specify. Just said he'd be back soon."

Han Yeop nodded solemnly.

"If the Grand Prince has truly changed like that, it's something to celebrate. Here's what we'll do—when he returns, gather all off-duty escorts."

"And then?"

Han Yeop said something that could have been a joke or completely serious.

"We'll properly welcome him back."

The men burst out laughing, but Han Yeop's expression remained stern.

"I'm not joking."

"Seriously?"

"You mean it?"

Han Yeop nodded.

"A man changing for the better is something to celebrate. There's a saying—'to see someone in a new light.' Like Lü Bu in Romance of the Three Kingdoms—"

Mok In-seop interrupted.

"That's Lü Meng, not Lü Bu. The saying comes from—"

Han Yeop crooked a finger at him.

"You. Come here."

Mok In-seop reluctantly lowered his head, and Han Yeop smacked him.

"Where'd you learn to backtalk like that? Who cares if it's Lü Bu or Lü Meng? We're talking about the Grand Prince here."

As Mok In-seop rubbed his head, snickers erupted around them.

Han Yeop continued.

"Anyway, where was I?"

Mok In-seop muttered,

"You got to 'seeing someone in a new light.'"

"Right. The Grand Prince becoming a martial artist is a great thing. He never looked healthy before. Honestly, seeing him always made my heart ache. I regret not beating some sense into him like I do with you lot. But how much must a man suffer to change like that? This isn't a joke—it's the truth. Spread the word to those who aren't here."

Only then did the men respond seriously.

"Understood. We'll pass it on."

Han Yeop looked at Mok In-seop and added meaningfully,

"If our Mad Dog says he's a martial artist, then it must be true. You're an arrogant brat, but you're no liar."

Mok In-seop grinned.

"Exactly. Deputy Leader, you see right through me."

Han Yeop smirked at Mok In-seop's cheeky reply.

A few days later, an escort rushed into the quarters.

"The Grand Prince has arrived."

The martial artists exchanged glances before a senior member spoke.

"Didn't you hear the deputy leader? Everyone, get ready to go out. If we hurry, we can greet him."

"Understood."

"Should we inform the deputy leader?"

"He's guarding the Merchant Lord right now. He probably won't see him first."

"Right. Let's go."

As the men adjusted their uniforms and gathered their weapons, they muttered among themselves.

"Honestly, if he hadn't caused so much trouble, he'd have been the next Merchant Lord by now..."

"Who knows? The other young masters are fighting among themselves too, so from our perspective..."

They trailed off before finishing the thought—All three of them are scum anyway. But they were undeniably curious about the Grand Prince's sudden return. The idea of someone changing carried a certain ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anticipation.

Dan Woo-sung stood before his home.

So he really was filthy rich.

After sending the servants who had accompanied him from the brothel ahead, he took in the towering gates and walls of the Silver River Merchant Group. The scale of the estate was staggering. Everywhere he looked, fragments of Lee Jin-eon's memories surfaced—as if his childhood were replaying before his eyes.

This place had been Lee Jin-eon's pride. In his memories, there had been a determination to one day manage the merchant group well. It almost felt like Lee Jin-eon was whispering to Dan Woo-sung, Take care of the Silver River Merchant Group for me.

Dan Woo-sung nodded.

Don't worry.

Maintaining such wealth in the martial world must have required immense effort. A portion of their earnings would have been spent on survival—bribes, protection, alliances.

No wonder the Merchant Lord was worn down by stress.

After surveying the estate, Dan Woo-sung finally stepped through the gates. Despite the servants having announced his return, no one came to greet him.

He walked through the vast courtyard toward the main hall, where guests were received, replaying Lee Jin-eon's memories like fleeting illusions.

This was the hall where Lee Jin-eon had played with his brothers—and where they had brawled, pulling each other's hair.

In one corner, he saw the three brothers—Lee Jin-eon, Lee Hwa-eon, and Lee Ja-eon—kneeling after being scolded by their father, hands raised in punishment, faces twisted in frustration.

Then Dan Woo-sung froze.

A younger Lee Jin-eon stood frozen in shock as his father rushed past, carrying his mother on his back.

The vision faded at the sound of a voice.

"Grand Prince, you've returned?"

From deeper inside the hall, Deputy Leader Han Yeop emerged alone.

Han Yeop studied Dan Woo-sung before speaking.

"Congratulations on your healthy return."

Dan Woo-sung met his gaze.

"Deputy Leader, you've been well?"

Han Yeop examined him carefully.

"Yes, thanks to the Merchant Lord's care. I told the Escort Team to greet you, but I ended up arriving first."

No sooner had he spoken than the escorts poured into the hall with loud footsteps.

Han Yeop and Dan Woo-sung stood side by side as the men lined up in formation and spoke in unison.

"We congratulate the Grand Prince on his safe return."

They raised their swords vertically and placed their right hands over them in a martial salute.

Though it was Han Yeop's order, it was still the only welcome he received. Dan Woo-sung smiled faintly.

"Such a grand welcome for a scoundrel. I appreciate it."

The men chuckled at his self-deprecating joke—until Dan Woo-sung clasped his fists in a martial greeting. Their expressions stiffened.

Now they remembered Mok In-seop's words. Moreover, his salute was neither excessive nor lacking—it was perfectly measured.

Han Yeop watched with an odd smile.

"Everyone, return to your duties. I'll escort the Grand Prince."

"Yes, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sir."

As Han Yeop guided Dan Woo-sung to the Merchant Lord's sickbed and the escorts returned to their quarters, they all shared the same thought:

Wow. He really has changed completely.

No lengthy conversation was needed. The aura of a martial artist was unmistakable.

Martial artists recognized their own.

Now they understood why Mok In-seop had been so shocked. This wasn't just a recovery—it was as if an entirely new person had stepped into their midst. And not as an enemy, but as an ally.

Han Yeop stopped before the Merchant Lord's door.

"The Grand Prince has arrived."

A weak voice answered from inside.

"Let him in."

Han Yeop opened the door.

"Grand Prince, go ahead. I'll wait outside."

Dan Woo-sung entered alone. Inside, an elderly man lay on a bed in the spacious room.

Internally, Dan Woo-sung was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stunned. Was this man always so old? Having been an orphan, he had no memories or understanding of what a father should be.

The middle-aged man's face bore the marks of hardship as he looked at Dan Woo-sung and spoke.

"...You're back."

His tone was flat—devoid of resentment or expectation.

Dan Woo-sung—and Lee Jin-eon—answered simultaneously.

"Yes. I've returned."

"Sit."

Dan Woo-sung sat, studying this unfamiliar figure—his father.

"I heard you fell ill from stress."

The old man smiled faintly.

"Seems so. It's nothing new, but my body can't take it like it used to."

Only now did Lee Seong-min get a proper look at his eldest son's face. He reached out and touched Dan Woo-sung's cheek.

"You look better. More at peace. Your expression has changed. Are you really my Jin-eon?"

It was a question only a father could ask.

Dan Woo-sung nodded.

"Yes."

"Good. That's good."

Dan Woo-sung felt something strange.

Perhaps it was because this "father" was far older than he had been in his past life.

This is what aging looks like.

This man's weariness had come early—burdened by the responsibilities of leading a merchant group and the lives depending on him. Dan Woo-sung understood better than anyone the toll such stress took.

And in front of a father, both the scoundrel Lee Jin-eon and the orphan Dan Woo-sung were equally inexperienced.