Chapter 15

Ch. 15

Seizing the King of Fist 2

Lee Ja-eon, who had been grumbling, was startled like a thief caught red-handed while passing through the inner courtyard.

"Oh, what a surprise."

'Why is hyung coming out from there?'

Lee Ja-eon met eyes with Dan Wooseong with a bewildered expression.

Dan Wooseong gestured with his hand.

"Come here. If you're going to review the fight, you should do it properly. Try mimicking it with your sword. You were following Gu Yanghu's last technique quite well."

Lee Ja-eon looked up at the distant sky.

'Wow, he was watching that too.'

When Lee Ja-eon half-heartedly held up his sword and carelessly stabbed at the shoulder, Dan Wooseong said.

"Oh, you stabbed weakly and carelessly just like him. I immediately knew it was a feint."

Lee Ja-eon's expression changed.

Hearing his elder brother's words, he withdrew his sword and extended his left palm just as Gu Yanghu had done.

Dan Wooseong responded with his fist while saying.

"Since I had been gauging the power of his palm force from before, I waited for the follow-up attack. I expected he would deploy his secret technique on the third move, so I planned to block it in advance."

Lee Ja-eon silently nodded and aimed his sword at his elder brother's chest.

Dan Wooseong stepped forward and grabbed Lee Ja-eon's wrist while saying.

"Normally, if one's reaction is quick, they would have aimed for mutual destruction with a palm force duel here. Since each person had one hand free."

"That's right."

"But Gu Yanghu panicked and drew up his inner qi. He instinctively tried to protect his right arm that wielded the sword. He feared his swordsman life would end. In that split second, I prepared for possible deception or counterattack by launching an attack with my left foot, while my left hand was ready for a counter. But it was already over. The next was my fist, and it didn't matter how I finished the rest."

The fact that this judgment was made in an instant was proof of his strength.

Lee Ja-eon's eyes widened involuntarily as he nodded.

"Mm, I see."

The psychological warfare of the actual combat exchange had more depth than his own review. Then, wondering why he would kindly teach him such things, Lee Ja-eon looked at him, and Dan Wooseong smacked him on the head.

With a thud, Lee Ja-eon rubbed his head.

"Why are you hitting me again?"

"Oh, because you're a ragamuffin."

Having nothing to say, Lee Ja-eon scratched his head and lowered his gaze.

"Ah, I misspoke. I'll be careful."

When Dan Wooseong raised his hand as if to hit him again, Lee Ja-eon's head reflexively dodged slightly to the side as he said.

"Take care, hyung-nim. You were magnificent today."

As Dan Wooseong walked away as if nothing had happened, Lee Ja-eon glared at him sideways. Somehow, it was rather strange that his elder brother didn't seem to greatly hate him. In the midst of this, thinking about it, his brother was starting to feel truly frightening, making his feelings complicated.

.

.

.

The day after the Gu Yanghu incident occurred.

Lee Seongmin, the Leader of the Galaxy Merchant Group, who had risen from his sickbed after a long time, was silently listening to his second son's words.

The story of his eldest son's life and death duel with Gu Yanghu and even the schemes Gu Yanghu had been plotting... Although Lee Seongmin had already suspected that his eldest son had returned after learning martial arts, it was undoubtedly surprising news.

Lee Seongmin asked.

"So you want to purchase the most precious elixir in the martial world?"

Lee Hwa-eon nodded.

"Yes. Somehow it feels like the merchant group's fate depends on elder brother. We need to avoid the big wave called the Gu Family first."

This shrewd merchant spoke as if to make a wager.

"Mm... Would our fate really change with just one elixir? Making money and protecting money sometimes require bold investments. I won't think of this as an expense. Considering the expenses that had been going to the Gu Family, the gifts we were going to give to the Laughing Immortal Sect, and even the monthly stipends for those retainers, it's not really an excessive expense."

"That's right."

"Let's think of it as our Galaxy Merchant Group seriously committing to properly nurturing one martial artist. Moreover, that martial artist is fortunately my son and your brother. There's no need to hesitate."

Lee Hwa-eon looked at his father with a somewhat surprised expression. He had only spoken carefully because he thought they would be purchasing quite expensive elixirs, but his father was thinking completely differently.

"Send letters to the business branch managers in various places, my old friends, and the great merchants I respect. Tell them we're seeking large quantities of high-quality elixirs. Exaggerate a bit too. Say it's unavoidable to overcome the crisis facing our merchant group. If our merchant group falls, they'll suffer losses too, so they'll seriously consider it. Make it clear that we're requesting this for mutual benefit."

"Understood."

Lee Seongmin's voice was gaining strength as if he had completely risen from his sickbed.

"You should separately collect detailed information about elixirs being traded in sects and families. Consult closely with your brother on this and pour money into it. Bringing in Gu Yanghu as guard brigade leader was my mistake, so I'll leave this matter entirely to you two."

Lee Hwa-eon bowed his head.

"No, father. What do you mean mistake? The result was just bad."

"Second son, if the result is bad, everything is bad. This point is the same for merchants and martial artists. It was indeed my mistake."

"Yes."

Then suddenly Lee Seongmin tilted his head and asked.

"This morning, the third son suddenly asked for forgiveness about fighting with you. My sons are suddenly changing, so I'm all bewildered. I wondered if it was the third son's turn this time."

Lee Hwa-eon barely held back a smile as he replied.

"Is that so? Indeed, he suddenly apologized to me too."

Lee Seongmin nodded and said.

"Well... he probably got beaten up a bit by the eldest. They weren't on good terms. He seems to have gotten slapped around. Look, his cheek is still slightly swollen."

Lee Hwa-eon nodded.

"Considering the old days, it's fortunate it ended with just that much."

Lee Seongmin stroked his chin and asked.

"By the way, what do we have at our Gu Hwa Mountain villa? The third son casually asked about it. Since he wasn't even sick, he asked if he couldn't rest there for a while, so I refused for now."

"Oh my, father. Sending him to the villa is also an expense. Would that guy go alone? You did well. For now, it's better to concentrate all non-business expenses on elder brother alone."

Lee Seongmin nodded. Somehow the second son seemed to be in a better mood than usual, which was curious. Come to think of it, all three sons seemed to have changed.

"Right. You handle that yourself."

Thus Jianghu Hero's futile attempt was simply thwarted. Lee Seongmin asked about what he was most curious about.

"The eldest isn't going out to drink, which makes me anxious. Has he definitely changed?"

"Since having drinks with Sima Ge, Zhou Zi-liang, and Qiu Xiong hyung-nim, he quit drinking. He seems to only train. By the way, the maids are often startled because hyung practices with big men in the separate quarters."

"How so?"

"After hyung finishes his personal training, he beats up those two men terribly. I was worried and asked about it, and he said it's a unique martial art so the training method is naturally like this. Especially those two men seemed surprisingly steadfast."

This is how it appeared to Lee Hwa-eon's eyes. Lee Seongmin nodded.

"The affairs of the martial world are unknowable. To think getting beaten is training..."

As Lee Seongmin walked back to his bedding, Lee Hwa-eon supported his father.

A muttering like a soliloquy flowed from Lee Seongmin's mouth.

"It's fine. Rather, it turned out well. I've only made money my whole life, but somehow it feels like I won't be bored anymore."

When Lee Hwa-eon remained silent, wondering what his father meant, Lee Seongmin lay down on the bedding and looked at the ceiling while saying.

"Let me think about how to spend money."

This old merchant made a stubborn expression again.

The martial world was unsatisfactory. Lee Seongmin had tried to get along amicably whenever possible. However, his thoughts had changed now. Since his son had departed for the martial world, when he thought about supporting him to dominate that martial world, his heart felt completely refreshed.

His eldest son would fight with martial arts, and his father intended to fight with money. When his child and family were entangled in martial world affairs, how could he hope for comfort? Lee Seongmin also planned to actively recover his body damaged by the fire disease.

.

.

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The news that Gu Yanghu had died reached the Laughing Immortal Sect before the Gu Family.

"He's dead?"

"Yes."

"This is difficult to understand."

Yeom Ji-sang, the sect leader of the Laughing Immortal Sect receiving the report, stroked his long beard. Yeom Ji-sang had his lip corners turned up, so he always appeared to be smiling.

Yeom Ji-sang asked.

"The Great Young Master is that strong? Did he die in one strike perhaps?"

Though it was a light tone unsuitable for a sect leader's status, the man replied as if accustomed to it.

"That's not it. It wasn't very long. Even considering they fought in two rounds, it probably didn't exceed thirty exchanges."

"I'd have to consider that quite strong."

The reason the reporting man knew this in such detail was because he was a retainer of the Gu Family who had watched directly. He was the man who had been conveying Gu Yanghu's letters and words to the Laughing Immortal Sect.

Yeom Ji-sang asked.

"Weapon?"

"He uses fists."

Yeom Ji-sang clicked his tongue.

"Good grief, for a swordsman to lose to such a young fist practitioner, could there be such a shameful thing? The Gu Family will be furious."

The man asked in a somewhat displeased tone.

"Weren't you two friends?"

Yeom Ji-sang looked at the man and replied.

"Why are you asking such a stupid question?"

"Pardon?"

"Your hearing must be poor."

Suddenly when the man looked around, he felt killing intent from here and there. The man knew well that the Laughing Immortal Sect's methods were cruel. The man said to Yeom Ji-sang.

"Ah, I misspoke."

"Right?"

"Yes."

"In the martial world, one must be careful with words. Since you understand, go about your business."

"Mm..."

"Do you have more to say?"

"Perhaps revenge..."

Yeom Ji-sang made an incredulous expression.

"How could I seek revenge over the result of a legitimate match? We're not even on the dark path. How impolite. Go back to the Gu Family and hold a proper funeral for my friend. I can't leave my position, so I'll send disciples depending on the situation."

Though not on the dark path, it was a sect considered righteous in the martial world.

"Understood. Then..."

After the stupid retainer bowed and left, Yeom Ji-sang's disciples gathered around. Yeom Ji-sang rubbed his hands together and said.

"The Galaxy Merchant Group says they won't pay us taxes, and they killed Gu Yanghu like that - how should we accept this?"

Though his tone was consistently light, the disciples replied respectfully.

"It means they don't consider the Laughing Immortal Sect worth their attention."

"Even if it was a legitimate match, the Great Young Master will have difficulty surviving. No matter how much the Gu Family claims to be on the righteous path, how could they let the merchant group's Great Young Master live?"

Yeom Ji-sang said.

"That's unknowable. Devouring the merchant group is more profitable than killing the son. But what about us? We danced to Gu Yanghu's tune but gained nothing. I'm not interested in revenge. I'm just greedy for the Galaxy Merchant Group's money. That old man Lee Seongmin is capable, so rumors say he has more money than we know. That's why Gu Yanghu targeted him too."

The disciples kept their mouths shut at this point. The decision was always made by their master anyway. And the disciples could never predict their master's decisions.

Yeom Ji-sang, who had been pondering, asked this.

"How much would Lee Seongmin pay as ransom for his son? I'm no longer interested in killing and such things. Having lived, money is indeed the best. Before the Gu Family swallows the Galaxy Merchant Group, capturing that son and extorting money seems to be the best choice we can make."

The first disciple cautiously replied.

"He seems quite strong though."

Yeom Ji-sang clicked his tongue.

"You fool, if our Laughing Immortal Sect steps forward, we could kill someone like Gu Yanghu in three or four exchanges, not thirty. With several disciples and even me participating, are you worrying about that young man's skills?"

As Yeom Ji-sang spoke at length, the first disciple suddenly knelt.

"Master, this disciple misspoke."

Yeom Ji-sang replied nonchalantly again.

"Be careful, disciple."

In any case, it meant the entire Laughing Immortal Sect would mobilize. Yeom Ji-sang knocked on his chair as if to focus again and asked.

"So how much do you expect?"

"Still, wouldn't they pay at least one million taels?"

"It's the Galaxy Merchant Group. They'll pay at least two million taels."

As truly enormous sums were mentioned, a pleased smile was already spreading across Yeom Ji-sang's face. Yeom Ji-sang stroked his beard and said.

"Prepare yourselves. Pack equipment thoroughly too. They say even tigers run that hard when catching rabbits."

After the disciples left, Yeom Ji-sang, who suddenly felt bored, picked his nose and muttered.

"The sun is already setting. Should I go to a tavern..."

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