Chapter 9: The Fist King Bids Farewell
The Fist King Bids Farewell
Episode 9: The Fist King Bids Farewell
While Dan Woo-sung was holed up in his quarters, immersed in mastering the White Lightning Ten Stages and his breathing techniques, the ones who disrupted his training weren't the Soheon Sect or Guyang Hoo—but rather, his own formidable adversaries: the Four Heavenly Kings of Scoundrels.
News of the Grand Prince of the Silver River Merchant Group's return had spread like wildfire. With so many people constantly coming and going from the merchant group, rumors traveled just as fast.
The local troublemakers and drunkards from the upper and lower districts had heard, as had the scholar plagued by chronic stomachaches during exams and the wandering playboy. Even those who had swindled the Grand Prince out of his money—dragging him into gambling dens—had been eagerly awaiting the return of their golden goose.
Among them, the three members of the "Live for Women, Die for Wine" crew were the most genuinely thrilled.
These three—Sa Ma-geuk, Joo Ja-ryang, and Goo Woong—along with Lee Jin-eon, made up the infamous quartet known as the Four Heavenly Kings of Scoundrels. Others called them trash, but among themselves, they proudly referred to their group as the "Live for Wine and Women Four Heavenly Kings."
Their common trait? None of them had anything better to do.
Sa Ma-geuk, despite his considerable martial talent, kept failing the Murim Alliance entrance exams precisely because talent was all he had.
Joo Ja-ryang was eloquent and well-studied, but every time he sat for an exam, his chronic diarrhea and stomach pains ruined his performance.
Goo Woong, heir to the West Wind Escort Agency, spent money almost as freely as Lee Jin-eon—except he had no real responsibilities. His father, having endured hardships in his youth, refused to let his pampered only son take on escort missions just yet.
Compared to the others, they at least had some semblance of conscience—though they still openly coveted and envied the Grand Prince's wealth.
The three of them arrived at the Silver River Merchant Group shoulder-to-shoulder and summoned the Grand Prince. The moon was already high in the sky, casting its glow over the deep night.
...
When Dan Woo-sung appeared at the gates, the trio threw their arms wide open.
"Hey, you bastard! You're alive!"
"Wahahahaha!"
They swarmed around him, locking hands and spinning in a circle as they sang:
"Our Golden Goose Prince has returned!"
"Money to burn, burn, burn—let's go wild!"
"Behold, the Grand Prince of the Silver River Merchant Group, strongest under heaven! Bring out the drinks! Sing us a song! Strip if you must!"
Even Dan Woo-sung, hardened as he was, couldn't help but laugh at the sheer absurdity. These three had always been the kind of friends who spoke their minds without reservation.
That said, they were definitely insane.
Who in their right mind would openly call their friend a "golden goose" or a "money-burning fool"? They were men who had never outgrown the recklessness of their youth.
To Lee Jin-eon, they might have been important friends—but not to Dan Woo-sung.
He hadn't come out to reminisce. He had come to sever ties, whether temporarily or permanently.
Dan Woo-sung studied the faces of these friends who existed only in his borrowed memories before speaking calmly.
"Let's go. To the Silver Pavilion."
The three pointed toward the Silver Pavilion and chorused:
"To drink ourselves stupid—let's gooooo!"
Dan Woo-sung intended tonight's drinks as an offering to the late Grand Prince—a man who, despite his death, had not even received a proper memorial.
The four of them stormed into the Silver Pavilion and crowded around a square table, already rowdy before the drinks even arrived.
Goo Woong, seated beside Dan Woo-sung, poked and prodded at his body.
"What the hell? Since when did you get this hard? Did you just do push-ups the whole time you were gone? Who tortured you into this?"
He had noticed the changes in Lee Jin-eon's body the moment they walked in. Now, he was jabbing a finger into his friend's newly firm chest.
Sa Ma-geuk, who had also sensed something off earlier, studied Dan Woo-sung with curiosity.
'Look at this guy. He actually learned martial arts?'
The energy radiating from him was unmistakable, and Sa Ma-geuk was the most unsettled by it.
When the drinks arrived, Dan Woo-sung personally poured for all four cups.
He still hadn't spoken. The silence was deliberate. Only then did the three realize just how much the Grand Prince had changed. They exchanged glances, blinking in surprise.
Joo Ja-ryang, the chronic exam-failure, was the first to ask:
"Are you really Jin-eon?"
Dan Woo-sung filled his own cup last before answering.
"That guy is dead."
Joo Ja-ryang nodded.
"I see. Good riddance to that trash. Let's drink to that."
The other two burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha—!"
Dan Woo-sung smirked.
The four of them studied each other for a moment before downing their drinks. Joo Ja-ryang, the first to drain his cup, spoke again.
"You've really changed. What happened? Did something go down?"
Dan Woo-sung nodded and picked up the bottle again.
"Something did."
Again, he poured without speaking. The sound of liquor filling the cups echoed softly as their second round was served.
Dan Woo-sung raised his cup wordlessly, and the others followed, their expressions growing increasingly stiff. The Grand Prince's transformation was undeniable now.
With his drink in hand, Dan Woo-sung finally asked:
"I've changed. What about you?"
A simple question, yet it struck a nerve.
The three responded in turn:
"What's there to change?"
"Dunno, man."
"If we changed that easily, would we even be us? Drink first."
Dan Woo-sung kept his words brief because, with every sip, memories of past drinking sessions flashed through his mind.
As he reached for the bottle again, Goo Woong—the lightweight of the group—grabbed his head and groaned.
"Let's take a breather. Why the rush?"
Dan Woo-sung replied flatly:
"Live for Wine and Women—just drink yourself to death, you bastard."
Goo Woong sighed.
"Ah, damn it... Yeah, you're definitely Jin-eon. Had me worried for a second."
Dan Woo-sung poured again, and the four drank once more. The liquor tasted especially potent tonight. Swept up in the mood, they downed glass after glass without even touching the side dishes—enough to get anyone drunk quickly.
In the strange, heavy atmosphere, the three scoundrels of the "Live for Wine and Women" crew fell silent after their third round.
After a pause, Joo Ja-ryang spoke, his voice a mix of warmth and bitterness.
"You've really changed. Congrats. That's worth celebrating. I don't know what happened, but... it's not a bad thing."
Sa Ma-geuk asked next:
"Who taught you martial arts? Doesn't look like something you picked up on your own."
Dan Woo-sung met their gazes.
"Fate led me to it."
Sa Ma-geuk nodded.
"So the legendary encounters of the martial world do exist. Never thought you'd be the one to stumble into one. Impressive."
It wasn't uncommon for martial artists to keep their masters' identities secret, so they didn't press further. But seeing their friend—who had once cared only for wine and women—now exuding the aura of a trained warrior made the mood even more surreal.
Goo Woong sighed dramatically.
"Damn, feels like our youth just ended. This isn't fun anymore. Knew this day would come eventually. Fuck, it's over. You bastards... Didn't I say we should kidnap this golden goose back home? Now this idiot's gone and grown up. The world's gone mad."
This time, no one laughed. The three exchanged bitter glances.
Dan Woo-sung's demeanor said it all.
It was clear he wouldn't be running with them anymore. The one they'd thought would be the last to mature had changed first—and it hit them harder than they expected.
Dan Woo-sung smiled faintly and asked:
"How are your families doing?"
Only then did they remember to ask about the merchant group's patriarch, who had reportedly collapsed recently.
Dan Woo-sung answered calmly.
"He'll recover soon. He's a tough man."
Sa Ma-geuk, the most informed about martial world affairs, ventured another question:
"Been hearing rumors about the Soheon Sect lately. Some say they're partnering with your merchant group. Doesn't sound like a good match. What's going on?"
Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"There's some truth to it. You can guess why."
Joo Ja-ryang snorted.
"Money, obviously. Damn thieves—worse than us."
Sa Ma-geuk added knowingly:
"Heard they're planning to establish a branch here. With big players like your Silver River Merchant Group around, it's no surprise. Honestly, it's weird no major sects have set up shop here yet. The tribute alone would be lucrative."
Dan Woo-sung smirked. That was new information. His drinking buddies were surprisingly well-informed about the local brothels and taverns.
He decided to probe further.
"Does Escort Captain Guyang Hoo frequent the brothels too?"
Joo Ja-ryang nodded.
"That bastard's in and out all the time. How much is your merchant group paying him? He treats the Golden Blossom Pavilion like his own bedroom. You sure he's not embezzling?"
Dan Woo-sung crossed his arms.
"So while my father was bedridden, instead of patrolling, this 'Escort Captain' was whoring around? And here I thought the deputy captain was handling security... Must be nice living so carefree. I'll have to pay him a visit soon."
Sa Ma-geuk warned:
"Be careful with Guyang Hoo. It's not him you should worry about—it's the Guyang Clan backing him."
"Noted."
Even worthless scoundrels had their own code of loyalty.
Goo Woong stared gloomily at his empty cup.
"Ah, fuck. Thought this was a welcome-back drink, but it's a farewell instead. Let's finish up and go. Lord Goo Woong declares tonight's drinks tasteless."
The three of them each wondered what they were even doing with their lives. Instead of celebrating their friend's return, they felt like he was drifting away—leaving them with a strange, hollow ache.
Ignoring Goo Woong's grumbling, Sa Ma-geuk looked at Dan Woo-sung and asked:
"What's next for you?"
Dan Woo-sung answered plainly.
"I have debts to repay—to my sect. I'll keep preparing while overseeing the merchant group. Beyond getting stronger, nothing else interests me."
Sa Ma-geuk nodded, then took the bottle and poured for everyone this time.
"You made up your mind, yet you still came out to see us. Thanks for that. If you ever need help from us scoundrels, just say the word. We'll pay you back for the drinks someday. One more round, then let's go."
No one objected to ending the night here. A turning point had come—their youth had slipped away, becoming nothing more than a distant memory.
The four raised their freshly filled cups, locked eyes, and drank in silence.
This was truly the end.
...
Outside, the three stood awkwardly for a moment while Dan Woo-sung turned toward the Silver River Merchant Group alone. He glanced back at them.
They each waved, their expressions unreadable.
"Go on."
"Take care of yourself."
"Train hard. Don't get your ass kicked out there."
Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"Farewell, my friends."
As his figure disappeared into the distance, Sa Ma-geuk muttered:
"He didn't come home—he left for the martial world."
Goo Woong stared at the dazzling night streets and sighed.
"Damn, I've never felt so lonely. Let's go, guys."
Joo Ja-ryang eyed a nearby brothel.
"Where? There? The Golden Blossom Pavilion? All three of us?"
Goo Woong smacked the back of his head.
"Go home, you idiot! Study or something, you exam-failing bastard."
Joo Ja-ryang rubbed his head and replied calmly:
"How many times do I have to say it? I don't fail because I don't study. I fail because my stomach acts up during exams."
"Same difference."
"No. It's not."
...
Dan Woo-sung walked alone through the night streets until he reached a familiar district. He turned into an alley—not toward home, but toward a place that had drained countless fortunes from him.
Worse than brothels, worse than liquor.
A den of gambling.