Chapter 8: The Fist King, Spanking is the Cure
The Fist King, Spanking is the Cure
Episode 8: The Fist King, Spanking is the Cure
Equal pain was inflicted upon each other's shoulders with their own strength.
By the unwritten rule that whoever screamed first lost, Lee Ja-eon had already been defeated. Yet the two stood gripping each other's shoulders like affectionate brothers.
It was a heartwarming sight.
The moment they reunited, they had placed hands on each other's shoulders and were staring intently at each other's faces from close range.
Lee Ja-eon barely suppressed a groan before tightening his grip on the Grand Prince's shoulder even harder. Losing to this bastard was unbearably frustrating.
Dan Woo-sung's voice flowed smoothly once more.
"Drawing your sword against family is unacceptable. And to think you personally injured our second brother... No matter how much trouble I caused, I never once saw Father collapse like this."
Lee Ja-eon clenched his teeth, stifling the scream threatening to burst from his lips.
"Ah—!"
His entire body trembled violently as he tore his right hand from the Grand Prince's shoulder and swung a fist toward Dan Woo-sung's face. Humiliated by his loss in the contest of grip strength, he figured he could at least knock the Grand Prince unconscious with a punch.
Thud—
Dan Woo-sung caught Lee Ja-eon's flying fist with his left hand and sighed.
"Your temper, honestly..."
To Dan Woo-sung, he looked like nothing more than a brat, and a smirk tugged at his lips. Then, with a flick of his right hand, he infused a surge of lightning energy—White Lightning Ten Stages—into Lee Ja-eon.
"Kkh—Hrk—!"
The scream Lee Ja-eon had been holding back finally wriggled free from his lips. His entire body trembled violently as Dan Woo-sung's right hand pressed down, forcing him to his knees.
Dan Woo-sung looked down at him.
Some things had to be made crystal clear for convenience. Besides, it was better to settle matters without killing anyone.
With an impassive expression, Dan Woo-sung continued channeling lightning energy until drool seeped from the corners of Lee Ja-eon's lips. Only when Lee Ja-eon was half-conscious, his body shuddering uncontrollably, did Dan Woo-sung withdraw the energy and speak.
"Third Brother."
Lee Ja-eon remained silent, as if struck by lightning. Dan Woo-sung slapped his cheek sharply—Whack!—as if to snap him out of it.
"Ja-eon... Hey."
Even Dan Woo-sung was inwardly startled. Lee Ja-eon's internal energy was weaker than expected, and he might have passed out entirely. The human body had its quirks—sometimes, a good slap was the best medicine.
"Brat, wake up."
Smack!
Lee Ja-eon's head jerked to the side again. He shook it violently before finally regaining his senses, gasping for air.
"Huff!"
Dan Woo-sung crouched down, gripping Lee Ja-eon's chin and examining his face before raising his right hand again as if to strike.
"Get your—"
Lee Ja-eon hastily replied.
"I'm awake."
Truly, spanking was the cure.
Dan Woo-sung lowered his hand.
"Good. I thought you were dead. The third son of the Silver River Merchant Group, who trains harder than anyone, shouldn't die so pathetically."
Lee Ja-eon panted heavily as he stared at his eldest brother.
Was this really the same brother who had tormented him relentlessly as a child? Of course, it had all been done behind the adults' backs—a past known only between the brothers.
Dan Woo-sung also let out a sigh.
Fragments of the Grand Prince's memories flickered through his mind, making it easy to understand their relationship. Suddenly irritated, Dan Woo-sung slapped Lee Ja-eon again.
Thwack!
This time, emotion fueled the strike, and twin streams of blood trickled from Lee Ja-eon's nose.
Dan Woo-sung spoke to the bleeding man.
"Let's consider the past settled with this. Third Brother, answer me quickly if you don't want another beating."
"Understood."
"And raise your speech level. Am I your friend?"
Lee Ja-eon wiped his nose and replied.
"...Y-Yes, understood."
Lee Ja-eon knew that with this gap in strength, he could die. Emotions surged within him.
After training so hard, being beaten by the brother he had always looked down on was infuriating.
But his "hard work" was only by his own standards—compared to Dan Woo-sung, who had roamed the vast martial world, it was nothing. A fledgling pup barking at a tiger.
Dan Woo-sung already knew that Gongson Myeong had been recommended by Guyang Hoo, but he pressed for confirmation.
"Who brought Gongson Myeong here?"
"Brought him? What do you mean?"
Dan Woo-sung studied Lee Ja-eon's expression.
"Who hired him? Was there someone who introduced him?"
Lee Ja-eon answered without much thought.
"Gongson Myeong was introduced by Escort Leader Guyang Hoo. I heard he was recommended for his skill."
Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"Are you sure? If you're lying, don't expect any brotherly affection from me."
"It's the truth. Second Brother would know too."
"Did Guyang Hoo approach you two?"
"No, nothing like that."
"Good. I'll keep that in mind."
Suddenly uneasy, Lee Ja-eon asked,
"Why? Did something happen at the estate?"
"What about the personal guards? They're not part of the Escort Team—did you hire them?"
Lee Ja-eon hesitated before answering.
"Ah, they're guest warriors from the Guyang Clan, recommended by Guyang Hoo..."
Mid-sentence, Dan Woo-sung slapped Lee Ja-eon again. Though lighter than before, the sharp smack! echoed.
Lee Ja-eon protested indignantly.
"Why hit me again?"
Dan Woo-sung sighed.
"Third Brother, wake up. Are you planning to hand the entire Silver River Merchant Group to the Guyang Clan? Why are their people multiplying in our ranks? We already pay hefty tribute—now we're covering their salaries too? Does that make sense?"
Lee Ja-eon rubbed his cheek, eyes widening. He wasn't a fool—something felt off about this conversation.
He knew his guards had picked a fight over nothing earlier, making this even stranger. Compared to getting beaten until his nose bled, this was far more serious.
With the earlier incident involving the Sosun Sect and Father's worsening condition, the Guyang Clan's indifference was infuriating. Father, a merchant who valued trust above all, despised this kind of treatment.
As Dan Woo-sung stood, Lee Ja-eon hurriedly asked,
"What will you do?"
"If you've been colluding with the Guyang Clan, I won't stop at breaking your limbs. Speak now if you have anything to say—before things escalate."
Delivered without a flicker of emotion, the words made Lee Ja-eon swallow hard.
"Huh? No such thing. Never was, never will be. Why would the Silver River Merchant Group belong to the Guyang Clan? Father built this business. I won't stand by while others take it. I'll kill them all myself—that's why I've been training so hard."
Dan Woo-sung grabbed Lee Ja-eon's head, his gaze icy with murderous intent.
"Little Brother, I hope that's the truth."
Only then did Lee Ja-eon feel fear. His eldest brother seemed to have returned completely deranged.
"Y-Yes..."
"You keep training hard in martial arts. Stay out of everything else. I'll handle the Guyang Clan. Understood?"
"Understood."
Lee Ja-eon stared at his brother.
Just how did he plan to "handle" the Guyang Clan? At least they were part of the orthodox factions—with the martial world watching, they couldn't swallow the Silver River Merchant Group outright. That's why they resorted to such methods.
Whether the Guyang Clan was deeply involved or Guyang Hoo was acting alone out of greed remained to be seen—and dealt with accordingly.
After thoroughly beating his third brother, Dan Woo-sung spoke in a detached tone.
"I'm leaving. Train well. Earlier, when you were chopping wood, your left foot's position was off—your waist couldn't transfer power properly."
"Mm..."
Dan Woo-sung took a few steps before pausing and glancing back at the silent Lee Ja-eon. The latter was too stunned to respond—receiving martial advice from his eldest brother was a shock. He couldn't tell if the Grand Prince had gone mad or if he himself had.
Finally, Lee Ja-eon muttered,
"Ah, understood."
Dan Woo-sung issued a command as naturally as breathing.
"And go apologize to Second Brother. Not just an apology—beg for forgiveness. Got it?"
Lee Ja-eon nodded.
"Yes, I will."
"Once he forgives you, visit Father's sickbed and tell him Hwa-eon has forgiven you. His heart will ease, and he'll recover soon."
"Yes."
As Dan Woo-sung walked away, Lee Ja-eon clutched his face.
It felt like a storm had passed. Being beaten by his brother wasn't the worst part—his words lingered in Lee Ja-eon's heart.
Then, realization dawned on him.
Huh? Wait—
He punched the ground, imagination running wild.
"I should've gone to Mount Jiuhua! He must've met a hidden master there! There's no way that weakling could've—!"
A young man who had idolized the martial world all his life now lost in martial world delusions. Lee Ja-eon punched the innocent ground repeatedly.
"I! I! I! Should've gone!"
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Suddenly, he clutched his fist, grimacing. The regret of a Martial World Fanatic hit him late.
"Ah, damn it... Almost broke my hand."
In the narrow passage leading from the rear garden to the main hall, Lee Ja-eon's guards, who had been waiting, tilted their heads in confusion as the Grand Prince emerged unharmed. They glared at Dan Woo-sung as he approached.
Dan Woo-sung glanced at the guards staring at him before heading toward the main hall's doors. Two of them stepped forward, blocking his path.
Mok In-seop, who had been crouching in the hall, stood and addressed them coldly.
"You two, step aside while you can still speak. What do you think you're doing?"
As outsiders who had injured his fellow escorts, Mok In-seop had no goodwill toward them.
He reached for his sword but froze, eyes widening.
The two men blocking the Grand Prince were suddenly lifted into the air by their throats. Mok In-seop hadn't even seen Dan Woo-sung move.
"Ghk!"
"Kkh!"
Thud! Thud!
The two guards crumpled to the ground, clutching their throats and gagging. The grip had been crushing, but a strange energy also burned around their necks.
When Dan Woo-sung glanced at Mok In-seop, the latter grinned and opened the main hall's doors.
Without sparing a look at the fallen men, Dan Woo-sung remarked,
"These escorts are trash."
Quick-witted, Mok In-seop chuckled.
"What should we do?"
Dan Woo-sung replied in a mocking tone.
"If they're useless, kick them out. I heard they fought with other escorts too. We don't need troublemakers."
"Agreed."
As Dan Woo-sung headed to his quarters, he added,
"They're fired."
Mok In-seop stifled a laugh. Whether the Grand Prince had the authority to dismiss them or not, given how things were unfolding, it seemed the outcome would go his way. The stifling atmosphere in the merchant group was finally clearing.