Chapter 13

Ch. 13

King of Fist, You're Fired 2

"Great Young Master, since when did you start meddling in the merchant group's affairs? This is truly astounding."

Gu Yanghu had a slender build with narrow eyes and pale skin, giving him an unlikeable impression. However, the martial world was not a place where one's fate was decided by appearance or atmosphere, but solely by skill where life and death were determined. In any case, Gu Yanghu was a figure the entire Galaxy Merchant Group feared.

When Gu Yanghu deliberately sat across from Dan Wooseong, Dan Wooseong made the first move.

"Let's end the general meeting here. Everyone, please leave. I have something to discuss with the Guard Brigade Leader. Hwa-eon should go report to father first."

Dan Wooseong didn't want those without martial arts to get hurt in this place.

When Lee Hwa-eon stood up along with the executives, only Deputy Guard Leader Hanyeop, Dan Wooseong, and Gu Yanghu remained at the meeting.

Dan Wooseong asked.

"Deputy Leader..."

Hanyeop replied.

"I would like to remain here."

Gu Yanghu chuckled. He knew Hanyeop wanted to stay out of concern for the Great Young Master, but readily agreed.

"Stay here."

However, Dan Wooseong declined with a subtle remark.

"The Deputy Leader has heavy responsibilities, so it would be proper for you to leave. Just in case there are rat-like groups remaining within the merchant group who might harm our ailing father..."

Hanyeop's eyes widened as he stood up from his seat. Only then did he realize what was more important. Hanyeop nodded slightly at Dan Wooseong as if telling him to be careful and said.

"I understand. Then you two gentlemen may have your conversation."

"Please ensure no one comes near until our discussion is finished."

"I will relay that message."

Gu Yanghu was even more astounded when the Great Young Master sent away even Hanyeop, who could be considered the strongest master in the merchant group aside from himself.

'What kind of confidence does this bastard have...'

Gu Yanghu asked as if curious.

"Well then. Great Young Master, let me hear the reason why you want to dismiss me."

Dan Wooseong yawned languidly in front of Gu Yanghu as if he was sleep-deprived.

Gu Yanghu was quite a strong man, and Dan Wooseong was in the process of imprinting the martial arts he had learned in his previous life onto his new body.

But so what?

The King of Fist was the King of Fist.

He was prepared to fight with whatever inner qi he had, even if it was insufficient.

After yawning, Dan Wooseong looked around and then asked Gu Yanghu.

"Guard Brigade Leader."

"Speak."

"Is there no one around us right now?"

It was a request for him to check if there were any eavesdroppers, since his martial arts were excellent. Gu Yanghu looked around and then gazed back at Dan Wooseong.

"At least there's no one in this vicinity."

Dan Wooseong replied.

"Good. I have a theory I'm speculating about, so listen once. Since it might be the delusion of a Galaxy Merchant Group Great Young Master with shallow martial world experience, I'd be grateful if you could enlighten me on any flawed parts."

Gu Yanghu crossed his arms and nodded as if telling him to speak.

"I'm listening."

Dan Wooseong pointed at Gu Yanghu with his finger and began his story.

"The methodology for an outsider to take over a merchant group."

Gu Yanghu raised his narrow eyes.

'This bastard...'

"First, it would have been fortunate that the official successor was a ragamuffin."

Dan Wooseong pointed at himself with his finger as he spoke.

"Like me."

Gu Yanghu nodded.

"I agree with that point."

"The ragamuffin went off to recuperate on his own. So he's excluded for now. In the meantime, you plant pawns here and there and incite the fight between the second and third sons. If a blade fight breaks out, feelings would be greatly hurt. Next, you gauge which of the second or third son would be more obedient. Then you make a proposal to one of them to take him as your disciple. Since you're a swordsman of considerable reputation, the young masters would have no reason to refuse. Especially since feelings were already hurt. Around this time, outside forces keep demanding money from the merchant group. It's fine whether you get the money or not. The merchant group leader has collapsed, so just applying pressure is enough."

Gu Yanghu said.

"Listen, Great Young Master..."

"Hear me out more. Though the monthly salary of someone called Guard Brigade Leader isn't small, according to my ragamuffin friends, you frequently visit the most expensive taverns. Where did the money come from? When I thought about it, I wondered if you weren't going to taverns with your own money, but receiving entertainment and hospitality from outside merchants. As you know, our Galaxy Merchant Group has no compromise when it comes to quality. Even those who want to do business with us can't push their goods through if the quality is poor. But what if the person who will become the successor's master subtly hints at a favor? The one in need would come forward first saying they'll rely on your help in the future, buy good liquor, and provide pretty courtesans too. If they can just push their goods through, it would be profitable business. Anyway, there are many bastards without commercial ethics. Then later, when the disciple becomes the merchant group leader..."

Dan Wooseong tapped the table and said.

"This would be practically getting the merchant group for free. You'd wield even greater influence than the merchant group leader. I think this would be quite a sweet life."

Dan Wooseong shook his head and laughed.

Then Gu Yanghu laughed along.

"Hahahahaha!"

"But..."

Dan Wooseong watched Gu Yanghu burst into laughter, then spoke in a sunken tone as if striking at a gap.

"Gongson Myeong died by my hand."

Like a lie, Gu Yanghu's laughter stopped abruptly.

Dan Wooseong smiled.

"Fate began to change."

Gu Yanghu had intended to dismiss the Great Young Master's story as the delusion of a madman after laughing heartily. Gu Yanghu, who had stopped laughing, returned to a deliberately calm expression and asked.

"May I know why innocent Gongson Myeong had to die? Great Young Master."

Dan Wooseong said.

"He wasn't innocent. He harbored killing intent."

"Evidence?"

Dan Wooseong glared at Gu Yanghu and replied.

"There's no evidence."

Gu Yanghu failed to manage his expression for the second time. He had expected him to mention various evidence.

When Gu Yanghu stared speechlessly, Dan Wooseong asked.

"Why? Are you in a relationship where the Guard Brigade Leader should take revenge? Don't tell me you knew each other?"

Gu Yanghu spoke in a cold tone.

"Do you think that just because you're the Galaxy Merchant Group's Great Young Master, you'd be free from the martial world's grudges and favors?"

"I don't wish to be free from grudges and favors. If there's a favor, I should repay it, and if there's a grudge, I should repay that too. That's the life I want. By the way, the Guard Brigade Leader who ignores father's protection and goes out to Golden Flower Pavilion every night, tsk tsk... If you wanted to devour a big merchant group, you should have worked a bit harder. You're not Zhuge Kongming."

It sounded like asking why a fool used tricks that would be exposed.

Gu Yanghu's face gradually reddened like climbing stairs. It had been so long since he heard such blatant mockery that it was even more absurd.

When Gu Yanghu didn't attack despite Dan Wooseong's sarcasm, he waved his hand dismissively as if possessed by the ragamuffin Great Young Master and said.

"If you understand, now get lost. You're fired."

In an instant, Gu Yanghu, whose reason seemed to snap, struck out with his palm from his seated position.

Simultaneously, Dan Wooseong clenched his fist and countered with Thunder Fist.

When palm and fist collided, a thunderous sound erupted.

Kwaaaang!

At the same time, there was a cracking sound and the table where the two men sat split from the shockwave. The two men, who were pushed straight back from their seated positions, jumped up from their chairs. They each maintained their posture with strength in their lower bodies to avoid falling ungracefully from their chairs, then stood up.

Gu Yanghu seemed to have a tingling right hand as he clenched and opened his fist while glaring at the Great Young Master.

"Lightning Qi?"

The feeling that had risen to his right wrist was definitely lightning qi.

However, since there wasn't only one sect that handled lightning qi, he couldn't identify the Great Young Master's martial lineage.

But one thing was certain.

Lightning qi was martial arts handled by at least 'families' or 'prestigious orthodox sects'. There was no other reason. To raise the level, you needed renowned masters who could provide teaching, and elixirs were also necessary. It wasn't martial arts that mediocre sects could carelessly handle.

As Gu Yanghu faced battle, he spoke as if becoming calmer instead.

"Great Young Master, congratulations. It seems you've entered an excellent martial lineage."

Despite the congratulatory words, he drew his sword with a sling― sound.

"However, since you dared mock me and even killed innocent Gongson Myeong, you must pay the price for that sin. I'll accept the dismissal. But I intend to cut off one of your arms before leaving. I'll consider sparing your worthless life as gratitude for having served here, even briefly."

Dan Wooseong replied.

"Oh my, thank you. You bastard."

Gu Yanghu frowned and said.

"Great Young Master, show some courtesy and bring a weapon first. What kind of behavior is this toward a junior so far below?"

He was quite steeped in the righteous path. Even in this situation, he insisted on the 'etiquette' of the martial world that had been passed down like tradition.

Dan Wooseong replied.

"I don't have a weapon. I won't use one even if I have it against someone who was pushed out of his family and crawled into a merchant group like this to prepare for retirement."

While Dan Wooseong was speaking, Gu Yanghu thrust his sword in a stabbing motion from quite a distance. When sharp sword wind condensed with inner qi poured out, Dan Wooseong dodged with a head movement.

The sword wind that flew with a sound like wind screaming hit the main hall wall and shattered several decorations.

Dan Wooseong spoke as if the decorations were precious.

"I'll have to file for damage compensation too."

As soon as he finished speaking, Dan Wooseong also thrust out an uppercut with his bare hands like Gu Yanghu had done, then twisted his fist in mid-air.

Swish!

As the fist wind flew toward Gu Yanghu's face...

Dan Wooseong moved with Enlightenment Footwork that seemed to push against the ground, confirmed Gu Yanghu's response, then twisted his body with Enlightenment Body Technique.

The sword passed by.

Swish!

Gu Yanghu, who found an opening, was raising his sword vertically again. At that moment, Dan Wooseong's form suddenly accelerated.

Teleportation Light Arts.

Teleportation had the simple meaning of moving position to another place, but since it was martial arts, it was naturally backed by fast 'speed'.

Gu Yanghu's sword followed Dan Wooseong, and Dan Wooseong, who maintained a precarious distance, sent fist wind toward Gu Yanghu's armpit as if aiming for a blind spot.

When the sword barely grazed past Dan Wooseong's shoulder... with a thud! sound, Gu Yanghu barely blocked the fist wind with his left palm.

Though lightning qi seeped in again making it slightly painful, Gu Yanghu wasn't greatly worried. Gu Yanghu narrowed his eyes and spoke mockingly.

"Hehe, quite good for training in such a short time. But since you're not even the King of Fist... truly arrogant."

Dan Wooseong, who had been glaring at Gu Yanghu, blinked and coughed once.

"Hmm..."

Dan Wooseong had nothing particular to say either. He had called his father father and his younger brother younger brother, but he couldn't say "I am the King of Fist" now. Those were words to utter only when he became the King of Fist again through his skills later.

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