Chapter 13

“Young Master, since when have you started meddling in the merchant guild’s affairs? This is utterly ridiculous.”

Gu Yanghou had a slender build, narrow eyes, and pale skin, giving him a less than appealing appearance. But the martial world was not a place where battles were won by looks or aura; it was a place where life and death were decided solely by skill. Regardless, Gu Yanghou was a figure feared by the entire Galaxy Merchant Guild.

When Gu Yanghu deliberately took the seat opposite Dan Wuxing, Dan Wuxing made the first move.

“Let’s end the general meeting here. Everyone, you may leave. I have matters to discuss with the Head of the Escort Corps. Hua Yan, you should report to your father first.”

Dan Wuseong did not wish for those unfamiliar with martial arts to be harmed in this place.

When Lee Hwa-eon rose with the executives, only Han Yeop, the deputy commander of the escort unit, Dan Woo-sung, and Gu Yang-hu remained at the general meeting.

Dan Woo-sung asked.

“Deputy Commander…”

Han Yeop replied.

“I would prefer to remain here.”

Gu Yanghou chuckled softly. He knew Han Yeop wished to stay out of concern for the Crown Prince, but readily agreed.

“Stay here.”

But Dan Woo-sung declined with a peculiar remark.

“The Deputy Head has heavy responsibilities; it would be best for him to leave. There might still be rats lurking within the merchant guild who could harm our ailing father…”

Han Yeop’s eyes widened as he rose from his seat. Only then did he realize what was more important. He gave Dan Woo-sung a slight nod, as if warning him to be careful, and said.

“Understood. Then please continue your conversation.”

“Make sure no one comes near until the conversation is over.”

“I will convey that.”

Gu Yang-hu was utterly dumbfounded when the Crown Prince sent out Han Yeop, who could be considered the strongest master in the merchant guild besides himself.

‘What on earth is this guy’s confidence based on…’

Gu Yanghu asked, as if genuinely curious.

“Very well. Your Highness, I’d like to hear the reason you intend to dismiss me.”

Dan Woo-seong yawned lazily in front of Gu Yang-hu, as if he hadn’t gotten enough sleep.

Gu Yanghou was a fairly strong man, and Dan Woo-seong was in the process of imprinting the martial arts he had mastered in his previous life onto his new body.

But what does that matter?

A martial arts master is a martial arts master.

He was prepared to fight with whatever internal energy he had, lacking or not.

Dan Woo-sung, who had been yawning, glanced around and then made a request to Gu Yang-hu.

“Guardian Commander.”

“Speak.”

“Is there anyone around us right now?”

He was asking him to check for eavesdroppers, given his superior martial arts skills. Gu Yanghou scanned the area, then looked back at Dan Wooseong.

“At least not in this vicinity.”

Dan Woo-sung replied.

“Well, that’s good. I have a theory I’d like to share. It might just be the delusions of a young master from the Galaxy Trading Company with little experience in the martial world, so if you could point out any flaws, I’d be grateful.”

Gu Yanghou folded his arms and nodded, as if to say, “Go ahead.”

“I’m listening.”

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

“It’s a methodology for outsiders to seize control of a trading company.”

Gu Yanghou narrowed his eyes.

‘This bastard…’

“First off, it was fortunate the official heir was a complete mess.”

Dan Woo-sung pointed at himself as he spoke.

“Like me.”

Gu Yang-hu nodded.

“I agree on that point.”

The good-for-nothing has already left for his convalescence. So he’s out of the picture for now. In the meantime, plant your agents here and there, and stir up conflict between the second and third sons. Once swords start drawing, feelings will run high. Then you gauge which of the second or third sons will be more obedient. Then I’ll offer to take one of them as my disciple. Since I’m a swordsman of some renown, the young masters will have no reason to refuse. Especially since their feelings are already hurt. Around this time, external forces will start demanding money from the merchant guild. Whether they get the money or not doesn’t matter. The guild leader is down, and just the pressure is enough.”

Gu Yanghu said.

“Hey, Prince…”

Listen further. The monthly stipend of this so-called Guard Captain isn’t exactly meager, but according to my good-for-nothing friends, he frequents the most expensive brothels like clockwork. Where could he be getting the money? Come to think of it, he probably isn’t paying for these visits himself. Could it be that he’s receiving hospitality and entertainment from outside merchants? As you know, our Eunhwa Trading Company never compromises on quality. Even if someone wants to work with us, we can’t push inferior goods through. But what if the man destined to become the successor’s mentor starts hinting at favors? The desperate bastard will be the first to say, ‘Please look after me,’ buy him good liquor, and even hook him up with pretty courtesans. If they could just push their goods through, it’d be a profitable deal. Anyway, there are too many bastards with no business ethics. And then, when their disciple becomes the head of the trading company someday…

Danwooseong tapped the table and said.

“This is practically like running the merchant guild. I’ll wield even more influence than the guild master. I’d say this is a pretty sweet life.”

Dan Woo-sung shook his head and laughed.

Gu Yang-hu laughed along with him.

“Hahahahaha!”

“But…”

Dan Wooseong watched Gu Yanghu burst into laughter, then spoke in a subdued tone, piercing the moment like a dagger.

“Gongsun Ming is dead.”

Gu Yanghou’s laughter abruptly stopped, as if by magic.

Dan Woo-sung smiled.

“Fate has begun to change.”

After laughing heartily, Duke Gu Yang was about to dismiss the Crown Prince’s story as the delusions of a madman. Stopping his laughter, Duke Gu Yang forced himself to regain a composed expression and asked.

“Can you tell me why the innocent Gongsun Ming died, Your Highness?”

Dan Wuseong replied.

“He wasn’t entirely without sin. He harbored murderous intent.”

“The evidence?”

Dan Woosung glared at Gu Yanghu as he retorted.

“There is no evidence.”

Gyu Yang-hu failed to control his expression for the second time. He had expected Dan Woo-sung to say there was some kind of evidence.

As Gu Yanghou stared, speechless, Dan Wooseong asked.

“Why? Is it a relationship where the head of the escort unit must avenge him? Were they acquainted?”

Gu Yanghu said in a cold tone.

“Just because you’re the eldest son of the Eunha Trading Guild, do you think you’re free from the world’s debts and grudges?”

“I don’t wish to be free from them. If there’s a favor, repay it; if there’s a grudge, repay that too. That’s the life I desire. By the way, the head of the escort who couldn’t care less about protecting my father goes out to the Golden Flower Pavilion every night… Tsk tsk… If you want to take over a major trading house, you should try a bit harder. You’re no Zhuge Kongming, after all.”

It sounded like he was saying, “Why did that fool try tricks that were bound to be exposed?”

Gu Yanghu’s face flushed redder and redder, as if climbing stairs. It had been so long since he’d heard such blatant mockery that it only made it more absurd.

Dan Woo-sung sneered like this, but when Gu Yang-hu didn’t retaliate, he waved his hand dismissively as if possessed by a spoiled prince and said.

“Got it? Now get the hell out. You’re fired.”

In that instant, as if his reason snapped, Gu Yang-hu lunged from his seat.

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

The palm and fist collided, producing a deafening roar.

Kwaaang!

Simultaneously, a loud crack echoed as the table where the two men sat shattered from the shockwave. Both men were flung backward from their seats and scrambled to their feet. They had been straining to maintain their balance, tensing their lower bodies to avoid falling from their chairs in an awkward position.

Gu Yanghou, his right hand apparently tingling, clenched and unclenched his fist while glaring at the Crown Prince.

“Thunder Qi?”

The sensation that had surged up to his right wrist was unmistakably thunder energy.

However, since the Daegongja’s sect wasn’t the only one that wielded thunder energy, it was impossible to identify his sect.

Only one thing was certain.

Martial arts are at least the domain of ‘prestigious families’ or ‘renowned orthodox sects’. There was no other reason. To elevate one’s level, one needs both a master capable of teaching and elixirs. It was not a martial art that any mediocre sect could casually dabble in.

As the battle approached, Gu Yanghu spoke as if he had grown even calmer.

“Congratulations, young master. It seems you’ve joined a fine sect.”

In stark contrast to his congratulatory words, he drew his sword with a sharp slash.

“But since you dared mock me and even killed the innocent Gongsun Ming, you must pay for your crimes. I’ll accept the dismissal. But I intend to sever one of your arms before leaving. Consider your worthless life a token of gratitude for the brief time I spent here.”

Dan Woo-sung retorted.

“Oh, thank you. You little bastard.”

Gu Yanghou frowned and said.

“Your Highness, show some respect and bring the weapons first. What kind of behavior is this toward a junior of such low standing?”

He was quite steeped in the ways of the righteous path. Even amidst all that, he insisted on upholding the martial world’s traditional ‘etiquette’.

Dan Woo-sung retorted.

“I have no weapons. Even if I had them, I wouldn’t use them on someone like you—someone pushed out of the clan, crawling into a merchant guild like this to prepare for old age.”

While Dan Woosung spoke, Gu Yanghu thrust his sword at him from a considerable distance. As the sharp sword wind, condensed by his inner energy, poured forth, Dan Woosung dodged it with a flick of his head.

The sword wind flew with a sound like the wind screaming, crashing into the main hall’s wall and smashing it to pieces while knocking down several ornaments.

Dan Woo-sung remarked as if lamenting the loss of the ornaments.

“Guess I’ll have to file a claim for damages.”

The moment he finished speaking, Dan Woo-sung thrust out a rising fist strike with his bare hand, just as Gu Yang-hu had done, then twisted his fist mid-air.

Whoosh!

The fist wind flew toward Gu Yang-hu’s face…

Dan Woosung moved with a five-step back technique that seemed to push off the ground. After confirming Gu Yanghu’s reaction, he twisted his body with the five-step forward technique.

The sword passed.

Sssshhh!

Gu Yanghu, having spotted an opening, was raising his sword vertically once more. At that instant, Dan Wuseong’s movements abruptly accelerated.

Transference Lightness Skill.

While ‘transfer’ simply meant shifting position, as a martial art technique, it naturally required immense ‘speed’.

Gu Yang-hu’s sword pursued Dan Woo-sung, closing in. Dan Woo-sung, maintaining a precarious gap, launched a fist strike at Gu Yang-hu’s armpit, as if targeting a blind spot.

As the sword narrowly grazed past Dan Woosung’s shoulder… Thud! With a sound, Gu Yanghu barely blocked the fist wind with his left arm.

This time too, the brain energy seeped in, causing a slight ache, but Gu Yanghou didn’t worry much. Narrowing his eyes, he sneered.

“Heh heh, not bad for what you’ve trained in such a short time. But you’re no Kwonwangdo… Truly arrogant.”

Dan Wuseong, who had been glaring at Gu Yanghou, blinked and cleared his throat once.

“Hmm…”

Dan Wooseong had no real reply. He called his father father and his younger brother younger brother, but he couldn’t suddenly declare himself the Kwonwang now. That was a claim to be made with strength, when he became the Kwonwang again later.

ⓒ Eugene Sung

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