Chapter 21

Ch. 21

King of Fist, He's in the Middle of True Education 1

"He will come out soon. Would you like a cup of tea?"

In response to the maid's question, the men from the Gu Family who were staying in the main hall shook their heads. Even if they ate, they planned to go outside to take care of business.

Gu Yangming urged.

"Tea is fine, so tell him to come out quickly."

When he showed an urging attitude after visiting without prior notice, Shin So-baek frowned and turned his head away.

At that moment, the Twin Treasure Brothers suddenly entered the main hall, and Yuk Myeongbo spoke to the three people in a stiff tone.

"The Great Young Master requests your presence at the annex. There is a spacious area where you can conduct a match."

The three people rose from their seats and watched the Twin Treasure Brothers closely.

They were men whose bodies showed traces of external martial arts training everywhere. How could these be the appearances of martial artists belonging to a merchant group? The three people looked at each other once and then followed the Twin Treasure Brothers to the annex.

As soon as the three people arrived at the annex, their eyes widened.

While the spaciousness of the place was impressive, what stood out was the large screens set up to prevent interference with training.

The Twin Treasure Brothers asked from outside the screens.

"Great Young Master, we have brought the martial artists from the Gu Family."

"You wait outside."

"Yes."

Gu Yangming spoke as if irritated.

"How grandiose indeed."

When the three people pushed aside the curtain that served as a makeshift entrance and went inside, a man whose entire body glistened with sweat turned around. Since there had been no notice of their coming, naturally it was Dan Wooseong who had been devoted to training.

Dan Wooseong felt uncomfortable looking at the three people.

From the King of Fist's perspective, they were junior rookies.

Only after seeing his opponents did he realize his situation was strange. These people would never regard the Galaxy Merchant Group's Great Young Master as their senior.

Dan Wooseong looked at the three people as if frozen for a moment. The words 'I am the King of Fist' briefly lingered in his mouth.

For Dan Wooseong, the title King of Fist was more important than the names of his past and present lives. While looking forward to the day when everyone would call him King of Fist again without him having to state his name, he offered a greeting.

"You must have had a hard journey coming from afar."

Dan Wooseong's changed atmosphere was definitely domineering. Though his tone seemed stiff at first glance, it had a natural quality that prevented the three people from criticizing his manner of speaking. In any case, settling things with skill was more important on this day. Gu Yangming introduced himself first.

"I am Gu Yangming of the Gu Family."

"I am Gu Yangyun."

"I am Shin So-baek."

Dan Wooseong nodded. Just from their speech patterns, he could tell what kind of personalities the three people had.

A man with arrogance, a man who could cunningly conceal himself, and a man with a somewhat forthright atmosphere. Regardless of their skills, from Dan Wooseong's perspective, Shin So-baek caught his eye the most.

Dan Wooseong said.

"Please decide the match format, Gu Family."

Since his attitude showed he didn't care how they proceeded, Gu Yangming immediately replied.

"We will compete in the order introduced. One-on-one, regardless of victory or defeat, we will conduct three matches and then report the results to the main family. If you are injured, we will give you time to recover, whether it takes several days. It seems Gu Yanghu's retainers said unnecessary things, but don't worry about that. Today's three matches will be the last."

The Gu Family was also a force with pride. Dan Wooseong also showed a somewhat surprised expression.

Gu Yangyun smiled slightly and continued his brother's words.

"Uncle Gu Yanghu was someone who caused many financial problems. Even when bad news first reached the main family, it wasn't very surprising. He was someone who caused trouble every time there was an internal investigation. Since the match was legitimate, there's no reason to take issue with it. However, we will show you our martial arts through a match before leaving."

It was an appropriate expression, so it was a satisfying answer. Dan Wooseong nodded and looked at Shin So-baek.

Shin So-baek grinned and said.

"I apologize for visiting without notice. But let's rest a bit first. It seems the Great Young Master should drink a cup of cool water and steady his breathing."

Looking at the three people, Dan Wooseong thought they actually looked more thirsty. Probably because they thought they had entered enemy territory, they hadn't drunk tea or water. He asked the three people as if testing them.

"The dried persimmon punch is quite delicious - would you like to have some together?"

Shin So-baek stared at Dan Wooseong for a moment before answering first.

"Let's do that. I happen to be thirsty too."

Dan Wooseong called toward outside the screens.

"Jin-bo."

"Yes."

After hearing thumping sounds from outside, Yuk Jinbo appeared carrying a tray with several cups and a large teapot containing dried persimmon punch. When the large man did what a maid should do, the guests stared with wide eyes.

'Was he a servant?'

It was difficult for them to understand the Twin Treasure Brothers' mindset.

Dan Wooseong said.

"Myeong-bo, come in too. Let's drink together."

Of course, the Great Young Master's mindset was also unfamiliar. He meant to share with his servants. In reality, Dan Wooseong had never thought of the Twin Treasure Brothers as servants, so it was just a small misunderstanding by the three people raised in great families.

When Yuk Jinbo distributed the cups, even the Gu brothers, who hadn't said they would drink, received cups.

Dan Wooseong personally poured the dried persimmon punch into each man's cup. The five men holding cups filled with dried persimmon punch all looked only at Dan Wooseong. The Twin Treasure Brothers would only drink when Dan Wooseong told them to, while the remaining Gu brothers were still worried there might be poison.

But there couldn't be poison.

Dan Wooseong said.

"You must have had a hard journey coming from afar."

When Dan Wooseong coolly drained his dried persimmon punch, Shin So-baek also gulped his down at once. Then the Twin Treasure Brothers and Gu brothers drank side by side.

The dried persimmon punch was so refreshingly cool that even the men from the Gu Family were amazed, and the taste was fantastic.

Shin So-baek smiled and said.

"Excellent."

Dan Wooseong nodded.

"Let's begin."

Shin So-baek spoke as if taking the initiative.

"Since watching might affect the match, I will wait outside."

Without asking the Gu brothers' opinion, Shin So-baek went outside the screens. Then the Twin Treasure Brothers also left silently. Gu Yangyun made eye contact with his brother and said.

"Brother, then."

Gu Yangming, who was secretly tense, waved his hand while trying hard to feign a relaxed attitude.

Gu Yangming looked at the Galaxy Merchant Group's Great Young Master with fresh eyes. Why did he feel like he was facing a man who had lived roughly in the martial world rather than a merchant group's Great Young Master? At least he didn't look like someone who had beaten Gu Yanghu by luck.

With only the two of them remaining, Dan Wooseong slightly increased the distance and extended one hand toward Gu Yangming.

"Are you ready?"

Gu Yangming was about to say he would use palm techniques but stopped. His opponent looked strong. He planned to respond with palm techniques first, then draw his sword even mid-fight if necessary. In any case, winning and returning was more important. The fact that no one could see because of the screens was also reassuring.

"I'm ready."

At Gu Yangming's words, Dan Wooseong tilted his head and asked.

"By the way, aren't you going to draw your sword?"

He omitted saying 'you'll regret it.'

Gu Yangming replied with a strange expression.

"I'll handle it myself."

His goal was to fight three times and win three times, but Gu Yangming was already getting nervous.

Dan Wooseong looked at Gu Yangming, who never launched the first attack, and sneered inwardly.

'That damn pride... I'll go.'

Dan Wooseong closed the distance with Enlightenment Body Technique and threw a straight punch with an ordinary trajectory. It appeared to be an ignorant attack but was very fast. As the fist extended, the sound of cutting through wind was heard.

Gu Yangming was startled and responded with both palms.

.

.

.

A light 'crack!' sound burst from inside the screens, then Gu Yangming, extending both palms, was pushed outside the screens with a 'screech' sound.

Gu Yangming had his left hand overlapped behind his right hand, and his posture was a low horse stance as if he had blocked with all his might.

More than that, his facial expression was a sight to behold.

'What?'

He was more shocked by the speed than the power. The match could have ended with one punch if he'd been careless. Moreover, the ground had two tracks carved by Gu Yangming's feet.

Then the entire screen on one side, having lost its balance, tilted and fell.

Gu Yangyun approached his brother and said in a small voice.

"Brother, please draw your sword."

"Shut up."

Shin So-baek looked at Gu Yangming steadily as if he had expected this.

Gu Yangming made a gesture of brushing off his hands while uttering words mixed with bravado.

"I'm fine. Not bad."

Gu Yangming went back inside the screens, and the Twin Treasure Brothers were re-erecting the fallen screen poles. They appeared calm as if this was a natural result.

The Great Young Master's voice was heard from inside.

"Nice to see you again."

Gu Yangming retorted.

"Shut up!"

"Hahaha... Come this way. Let's compete in the center."

.

.

.

Gu Yangyun, who was watching, suddenly moved a few steps and plopped down in an appropriate spot. It was a place where he could clearly see the shadows of the Great Young Master and Gu Yangming reflected on the screens.

When Gu Yangyun glowered with arms crossed...

This time the match resumed with Gu Yangming's first attack.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

Whether palm and fist clashed repeatedly, refreshing striking sounds burst out in short, choppy intervals. Along with this, the two people's shadows moved as if dancing. Each time fist and palm collided, light sounds burst forth.

Clang!

Even just watching the shadows, Gu Yangyun could tell. The Great Young Master's body technique was superior to his brother's.

'Damn it, use your sword, I tell you. That stubborn streak of his...'

Gu Yangyun's gaze, which had been boring through the screens, suddenly turned to the Twin Treasure Brothers. Those two stern-looking men were facing away from the screens as if they had no interest in the match. Wondering what was there, when Gu Yangyun turned his head, absurdly there was nothing at all.

'Strange fellows gathered in a strange place.'

This was not an ordinary merchant group. At that moment, when the sound of a sword being drawn was heard, Gu Yangyun's head snapped around.

'He should have drawn it from the start!'

As soon as Gu Yangyun drew his sword, the screens fluttered back and forth from the sword wind. The speed at which the two people were clashing was getting faster and faster. The Great Young Master, who was dodging the sword with body technique, seemed more impressive than his brother who was pouring out attacks. Though Gu Yangyun used a blade, he knew his brother's sword technique better than anyone. Gu Yangyun, who had been following the techniques with his eyes, smiled with satisfaction.

'...Now if he unfolds Wall of Sword Barrier, the next move will be hard to block.'

Gu Yangming, who had spread a qi sword barrier that blocked the opponent's vision by drawing an inverted triangle in the air, thrust his sword into the center of the barrier.

Even looking at the shadow state...

Gu Yangming's sword thrust in a straight line was close to the Great Young Master's body. However, a 'whooom!' sound was heard and the two people suddenly stopped moving.

Gu Yangyun unconsciously stood up.

'What? Is it an internal energy battle?'

Gu Yangyun's mouth opened slightly. It seemed the Galaxy Merchant Group's Great Young Master had caught Gu Yangming's thrust sword with his bare hands. Yet the sword couldn't advance and they were competing in internal energy.

First, Gu Yangming's sword began to tremble, then the vibration continued to Gu Yangming's arm.

The moment the two people drew up their internal energy, the tangled energy waves spread outward like lightning in one burst. The screens hanging on the poles were simultaneously pushed aside with a 'whoosh!' sound, briefly revealing the two people competing.

The sword blade was dyed with the Great Young Master's white lightning qi.

When the screens came down again, converting the two people's figures back to shadows...

Gu Yangming let out a short, suppressed scream and stepped back. Anyone could see he staggered before barely regaining his posture, then was briefly engulfed in breathless silence.

The problem was that Gu Yangming's sword was still caught in the Great Young Master's hand.

The Great Young Master's voice flowed out.

"It was an enjoyable match. Certainly your sword technique was better than your palm technique."

Gu Yangming couldn't make any reply from inside the screens.

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