Chapter 16

Ch. 16

King of Fist, Fought Like His Previous Life

Dan Wooseong wasn't the type of man to just wait around for elixirs. Training in fist techniques was a kind of addiction for him.

Countless sects either emphasized the mastery of weapons, or fell into the trap of prioritizing inner qi above all else, claiming that steadily accumulating inner qi was the shortcut to becoming a master.

The path of the fist was completely different from these approaches.

Dan Wooseong's method involved training techniques that focused on the 'body' itself more than any other sect.

The separate building was therefore a place for reconstructing Dan Wooseong's body. Though there were already high walls around it, since there were many servants and guards coming and going, they erected additional high screens around the separate building.

Because of this, only the Twin Treasure brothers could occasionally watch Dan Wooseong train.

But even that was only possible when they had spare time.

The Twin Treasure brothers were also drenched in sweat all over their bodies, enduring to maintain the postures Dan Wooseong demanded. Though these were movements that might have been done in third-rate sects, Dan Wooseong didn't take such movements lightly.

When fighting desperately, there comes a moment when inner qi runs out.

After that, you have to fight with your body - this was Dan Wooseong's philosophy.

Fortunately, the Twin Treasure brothers already possessed superior bodies and natural strength, so they steadily learned external arts under Dan Wooseong's guidance.

The Twin Treasure brothers hadn't known that external arts training could be this difficult.

They struggled desperately to strengthen their muscles and endurance while maintaining rigid postures, as if they had been struck by Ice Technique or pressure point attacks. Being brothers made them even more stubborn.

The one who collapsed first would be the loser.

Since Dan Wooseong, who imposed this training, was also training painfully himself, the Twin Treasure brothers' mindset became even more resolute.

Training at sunrise, eating and resting, three-way sparring, Black Dog Rebound Technique training, eating and resting, lectures on combat, learning about psychological warfare in duels and precautions in offensive and defensive battles - after all this, the three would eat again.

The three ate like madmen.

Since the diet was what Dan Wooseong required, the Galaxy Merchant Group's most senior cook personally prepared it.

Only after dark were the Twin Treasure brothers given free time, and Dan Wooseong devoted himself alone to Qi Cultivation.

Even from the Twin Treasure brothers' perspective, the Galaxy Merchant Group's Great Young Master was a ruthless man.

But these repetitive days didn't last even a full fortnight.

"Young Master, a friend named Zhou Zi-liang has come to see you."

At the servant's words, Dan Wooseong, who had been sitting alone in meditation in his room, opened his eyes and replied while putting on his upper garment.

"In the main hall?"

"Yes."

"If I'm late, tell the Twin Treasure brothers to eat their late-night meal together."

"Understood."

When Dan Wooseong went out to the main hall, he saw the Failed Scholar Zhou Zi-liang, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, drinking tea.

Zhou Zi-liang smiled upon seeing Dan Wooseong.

"Great Young Master, have you been well?"

Dan Wooseong sat down across from Zhou Zi-liang and smiled faintly.

"What wind brought you all the way here?"

"I came because I have something urgent to discuss. And to see your face too."

"Dinner?"

"I'm fine."

After briefly observing Zhou Zi-liang's complexion and eyes, Dan Wooseong asked:

"You seem to have cut back on drinking?"

Zhou Zi-liang replied with an embarrassed expression.

"Ah, drinking? Well, drinking... I've had maybe one or two drinks since eating with you guys. I haven't really had occasions to drink lately. The other ragamuffins have been quiet too."

Dan Wooseong grinned and nodded.

"No wonder your complexion looks better than before."

"It's nothing special. You know the Elegant Poetry Pavilion manor?"

Dan Wooseong searched his memory and nodded.

"I know it. A resting place for scholars in a scenic location."

"Do you know what kind of people are there now?"

"Well, I wouldn't know that. I've been holed up at home too."

"The Laughing Immortal Sect has moved in there in force."

"Wasn't that a place where you scholars came and went?"

"That's what I mean... all the gatherings have been canceled. I was frustrated and looked around here and there, and it seems even the Laughing Immortal Sect's sect leader has come. What Sima Ge said last time came to mind. There are rumors about establishing a branch, and they apparently had business with your merchant group too. I don't know what the story is, but I thought you should know. I briefly met Sima Ge on the road and had a chat, and he said it would be good to let you know."

Dan Wooseong smiled and said:

"Our ragamuffin scholar has brought good information."

"Ah, is it helpful information? I was wondering if I was just being a busybody."

"It's helpful news."

Dan Wooseong knew that the Great Young Master had often slipped spending money to the Failed Scholar, so he asked casually:

"How much should I buy this information for? It seems like high-grade information that even the Lower Gates don't know."

At Dan Wooseong's words, Zhou Zi-liang replied:

"Maybe I should establish a Scholar's Gate too. Bookworms like me are amazingly good at gossiping about news and information like this. It's all because studying gets boring. When you start running your mouth, all worldly affairs get discussed."

Dan Wooseong shook his head.

"Not Scholar's Gate. It looks too pretentious."

"Then?"

"Let's go with Failed Scholar's Gate."

"Ah, shit... wait a minute, Failed Scholar's Gate isn't bad either?"

Dan Wooseong clasped his hands and said:

"Leader of the Failed Scholar's Gate, thanks for the information. I'll pay you back later... I'll buy you a drink sometime."

Zhou Zi-liang also clasped his hands messily and replied:

"Is that what the Galaxy Merchant Group's Great Young Master should say? I'm joking. I don't need spending money. If I have money, it just makes me think of drinking. These days my mind has settled, so living has become easier too... cutting back on drinking makes my body feel better too. I don't even think about that seductive Hong Seol."

Hong Seol was the courtesan Zhou Zi-liang liked. Dan Wooseong spoke as if surprised.

"Has our ragamuffin scholar come to his senses too?"

"I'm still not fully recovered because it's disappointing. Anyway, I've delivered the message, so I'm going. I talked with the kids the other time, and we won't be the first to bother you. Instead, if you get frustrated while training, you contact us first. You know us - we have plenty of time, lack alcohol, and miss women."

"Got it."

When Dan Wooseong followed him out as if to see him off, Zhou Zi-liang didn't stop him. As the two headed toward the main gate, Zhou Zi-liang asked as if he had just remembered:

"Oh, right. What will you do about the Laughing Immortal Sect?"

"Well, should I kill them all?"

When Dan Wooseong casually said something frightening, Zhou Zi-liang stopped walking.

"Friend, I don't want to see your name on the Martial World Public Enemy list."

Dan Wooseong patted Zhou Zi-liang's shoulder and said:

"I'll handle it myself. Go on."

Zhou Zi-liang turned around at the gate and looked at Dan Wooseong, formally clasping his hands in proper etiquette.

"Great Young Master, then. I wish you martial fortune."

Dan Wooseong also showed proper etiquette.

"May the Leader of the Failed Scholar's Gate also take care."

Zhou Zi-liang grinned, turned around, and left the Galaxy Merchant Group. After walking for a while, Zhou Zi-liang suddenly stopped and recalled the conversation he'd had with his friend.

"Failed Scholar's Gate..."

He still didn't know what work he should do, how to gather information, or whether this could become a money-making venture... He generally knew nothing. Only the words "Failed Scholar's Gate" kept circling in his mouth.

.

.

.

As soon as Zhou Zi-liang left, Dan Wooseong looked around the guard unit's weapon storage. He passed the place where weapons were maintained, examined where weapons were displayed, then took out cloth used for bandages and wrapped it from his wrists to his palms as he walked around.

The Laughing Immortal Sect's presence near the Galaxy Merchant Group had an obvious intention. They must have heard news about Gu Yanghu. If they intended to demand money or make threats, the Laughing Immortal Sect's sect leader wouldn't have entered the Elegant Poetry Pavilion manor but would have visited the Galaxy Merchant Group directly. Of course, Dan Wooseong didn't know specifically what they were plotting either.

It didn't matter if he didn't know.

Dan Wooseong planned to go first.

As he walked around, Dan Wooseong changed into black martial clothes from the guard unit storage, then hung a short iron club used by the guard unit at his waist.

It was night watch attire.

Then he wrapped cloth used like a scarf in winter around his neck and tied a light knot. He arranged it so that if he pulled it up to his nose and tightened the knot, it would become a face mask.

Leaving the weapon storage, Dan Wooseong said to a passing servant:

"I'm going out for a bit."

The servant smiled brightly and replied:

"Have a safe trip, Young Master."

As he left the merchant group, the night air was refreshing. Dan Wooseong felt no particular emotional disturbance. He thought it was similar and natural that insects swarmed toward light and insects gathered when they smelled money.

The Elegant Poetry Pavilion manor was located near the Blue South River in a scenic location where you could play in the water in summer and ice fish in winter. Since it was mainly a place where scholars gathered to have fun, the surroundings were rather quiet.

As soon as Dan Wooseong left the commercial district, he ran using Lightness Technique. Though it was incomparably faster than when climbing up and down Nine Flower Mountain, it was a speed that didn't satisfy Dan Wooseong when he thought of his prime. Still, as he concentrated on running as if checking his body's condition, his chest felt refreshed.

When Dan Wooseong saw the lights of the Elegant Poetry Pavilion manor, he gradually slowed down, then walked while loosening his body. He stopped at an appropriate distance and loosened his muscles as if doing exercises, then finally looked down at his hands.

White Lightning Ten-Stage Art.

He knew the theory up to Ten Stages, but his power level was Three Stages. Even reaching Three Stages had been at an amazingly fast pace. As he clenched and opened his fists while injecting power into both hands, white lightning qi symbolizing White Lightning gathered in both hands like assembled fireflies.

Dan Wooseong stared at the manor's main gate and thought:

Should he launch a surprise attack, climb the roof to find the sect leader first, or call his opponents out from outside...

After briefly pondering, Dan Wooseong suddenly smiled.

'Today, like my previous life.'

As he walked with both arms spread wide left and right, cracking sounds rang from both arms. Dan Wooseong pulled the black cloth around his neck up to his nose, tied a knot, then recklessly kicked and blew away the main gate of the Elegant Poetry Pavilion manor.

CRASH!

The Laughing Immortal Sect martial artists inside the manor looked toward the gate in shock. They seemed to have been having quite a grand dinner party, with various dishes filling a long table and empty wine jars already placed on the floor.

"What are you, you bastard!"

This outcry erupted as soon as they realized only one person had smashed through the manor gate and entered. The numbers were quite large though. Even by rough estimate, there were over thirty people.

As Dan Wooseong walked sideways without speaking, looking for where the sect leader was, one man approached with a dumbfounded expression and asked:

"What? Are you attacking? Alone?"

Dan Wooseong tilted his head and asked:

"Where did the scholars go, and why are you here?"

When Dan Wooseong asked about scholars, the man who had relaxed from tension immediately spoke with an annoyed expression:

"Crazy bastard...hup!"

The man who couldn't finish his words clutched his abdomen. Dan Wooseong had instantly closed the short distance and thrust his right hand in. As Dan Wooseong twisted and grabbed the man's neck, he asked with a hopeful heart:

"If you draw your swords, this guy dies first."

Before the words even finished, weapons were drawn from here and there with swishing sounds. Dan Wooseong simply broke the man's neck with his left hand's grip strength and said:

"No camaraderie at all. Rather than righteous warriors, you're closer to Sima Weido."

As the man with the broken neck collapsed to the floor with a thud, Yeom Ji-sang came out from inside, adjusting the waist area of his pants.

"Why is it so noisy? Who is that guy?"

"Brother Gung is dead."

Yeom Ji-sang stared intently at Dan Wooseong's eyes and replied:

"Kill him. He's a master."

Yeom Ji-sang, as if he had been playing with a courtesan brought in from outside until just now, adjusted his waist area once more and glared at Dan Wooseong.

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