Chapter 14

The several loud booms that erupted in the main hall caused some commotion outside as well. However, due to Han Yeop’s orders, the escort guards and the guests of the Gu Yang clan waited with uncomfortable expressions.

Dan Woo-sung, confirming the contempt in Gu Yang-hu’s expression, asked.

“Did you bring those riffraff outside?”

Gu Yanghou retorted.

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m just wondering if we might need a mutual witness. If you want to cut off my arm and leave unscathed, that is.”

If even one person dies, the notary must declare it a legitimate duel. While a neutral figure typically serves as notary, from Dan Woosung’s perspective, it was actually preferable for Gu Yang’s retainers to act as notaries.

And as Dan Woosung said, if the Grand Prince suffered a brutal defeat, the escort of the Eunhwa Trading Guild wouldn’t stand idly by, even if he was the guild leader. After all, Gu Yang-hu was an outsider.

Gu Yanghou let out a cold laugh.

“Your Highness, you speak as if you could kill me. It makes me wonder whether you’re truly a complete fool or a man who actually knows how to use his head.”

Dan Woosung retorted.

“Don’t go around labeling the world as either this or that. Can’t you see I’m a complete mess but still pretty sharp? Anyway…”

When Dan Woo-sung deliberately trailed off, Gu Yang-hu nodded.

‘Right. You won’t be satisfied with just one arm. With a notary present, what else could you possibly want?’

Gu Yang-hu swung his sword toward the main hall door as if he’d taken the bait Dan Woo-seong had thrown out.

With a loud thud, the main hall doors swung wide open. Gu Yanghu declared,

“The bodyguards and the Gu Yang clan’s retainers, stand as witnesses. The eldest prince has also agreed.”

The escort unit and the Gu family retainers swarmed in, then took positions behind Duke Gu and Dan Woo-sung as if dividing their camp.

Mok In-seop spoke.

“Your Highness, be cautious.”

Gu Yanghou asked.

“Well, is that it?”

Dan Woo-sung replied curtly.

“Life or death.”

“Indeed.”

Dan Woo-sung’s expression was impassive.

The man was the root cause of Lee Jin-eon’s death, had forced brothers to draw swords against each other, and had even plotted to swallow up the merchant guild. He was the kind of man who would scheme and slander wherever he went. Whether the Gu Yang family stood behind him or some even greater power, Dan Woo-sung had no intention of sparing him.

What he learned in the preliminary skirmish was the sword’s speed and the depth of its inner power.

That was sufficient information for Danwooseong. The sequence and conclusion tailored to various situations played out automatically in his mind.

The two men, who had been glaring at each other, silently clashed once more.

Amidst the rapid exchange of sword and fist winds, Gu Yanghu occupied the center of the hall, while Dan Wooseong moved in a circle around him. There were times when the sword brushed dangerously close to Dan Wooseong’s body, and times when he dodged the thrusting blade with remarkably skilled movements.

Each time, Gu Yang-hu was inwardly startled.

‘So this bastard’s primary strength is actually his fists.’

It wasn’t that his swordplay was terrifying; rather, his responses were as varied as if he’d faced countless swordsmen. Even Gu Yanghu, who possessed considerable experience, witnessed countless new countermeasures for the first time.

He’d deflect the blade’s edge with his bare hands or strike at the wrist with a palm strike before the sword could even swing.

Only then did Gu Yanghou realize Dan Wuseong’s movements were consistently as natural as flowing water, and he found himself breaking out in a cold sweat. Feeling anxious, Gu Yanghou found himself swinging his sword faster and faster. He wasn’t seeing the whole picture of the duel; it felt like he was prematurely drawing on his internal energy.

Meanwhile, Danwooseong’s eyes tracked the sword’s trajectory, coldly reading the psychological state embedded within it.

‘You’re anxious. Gu Yang-hu, now it’s time for you to unleash your most confident technique.’

Dan Wooseong waited for Gu Yanghu’s insidious technique. After all, one’s character and sword technique inevitably influence each other. After exchanging a dozen hair-trigger attacks and defenses, Gu Yanghu made his decisive move.

Gu Yanghou aimed for Dan Woo-sung’s right shoulder, then attacked his face with the left-hand’s long reach. He planned to split his withdrawn sword into three illusory forms before finally thrusting at Dan Woo-sung’s abdomen.

The attack unfolded as planned.

Danwooseong swiftly drew his shoulder back to evade the single strike.

He countered the force of the strike aimed at his face with a fist, nullifying it…

Gu Yanghuo abruptly stepped forward, thrusting his sword forward, seeking a decisive conclusion. But the sword neither advanced nor split its tip into three.

As Gu Yang-hu stepped forward, Dan Woo-sung closed the distance and seized his wrist. Instantly, he crushed the wrist bones and injected his inner energy.

It was a moment that starkly revealed the difference in their levels of psychological understanding. Before the sword even hit the floor, Dan Wooseong struck Gu Yanghu’s instep with his left foot like a thunderbolt. Of course, it was actually a Thunder Kick.

Crack…!

Gu Yanghu barely stifled a groan. But his lower body immediately froze. The thunder energy surged from his toes, through his calves, and up to his thighs.

Only then did the sword roll across the floor…

Dan Woosung drove his left fist upward into Gu Yanghu’s abdomen. With a thud, Gu Yanghu’s body shot into the air. Dan Woosung pressed down on him with his right hand, driving his knee into the space below Gu Yanghu’s waist.

Thud! Crack!

Gu Yanghu’s entire body, his vertebrae crushed, arched like a bow before slumping limp. The moment he fell from Dan Woosung’s knee, he collapsed onto the floor, white foam gathering at his mouth.

Dan Wooseong rose unharmed and looked down at Gu Yanghu. The contest had ended in an instant, leaving Gu Yanghu lying there without even grasping the cause of his defeat.

“Senior!”

Gu Yang’s retainers rushed over, surrounding him to check if he was alive. But only his choked-off cry spoke to the outcome of the duel.

A man whipped his head around and glared at Dan Wooseong.

Dan Wooseong looked at the man and said.

“Are you begging to die, staring at me like that? You lot know better than anyone what Gu Yanghou intended to do to our trading company. If you have any conscience left, take the corpse and leave when I spare you.”

After reporting to his father and returning, Yi Hwa-eon gazed at the carnage in the main hall with a haggard expression.

‘Oh my…’

As the Gu Yang clan’s retainers carried the lifeless body of Gu Yanghou out, one man remained and addressed Dan Woo-seong.

“Your Highness, I confirm there was no irregularity or issue whatsoever in this martial contest. As the official witness, I shall report this.”

“You seem to have more to say. Go ahead.”

“Even if the Gu Yang Clan continues to challenge you to duels under the guise of revenge, you will have no way to avoid them. I wish you luck in battle.”

The entire Eunha Trading Guild fell silent at these words, which bordered on threats.

Once all outsiders had departed, those gathered turned their gaze entirely toward Danwooseong. Han Yeop had also stepped out briefly to receive a report from Mok Inseop on the unfolding situation.

Dan Woosung glanced around the room and noticed that all the men from Eunhwasangdan had gathered around him. The atmosphere was charged. They seemed to be waiting for him to say something. Some among them were hoping he would say something like, “My martial arts are superior, so don’t worry.”

There was none of that.

The Galaxy Guild already has a King of Power.

Dan Woosung declared.

“The Galaxy Guild is mine.”

The members of the Eunha Trading Company stared blankly at Dan Wooseong at his abrupt, out-of-the-blue declaration. Dan Wooseong continued.

It belongs to my father, and to the countless laborers who carry heavy burdens. It belongs to the servants who always look apologetic even though they’ve done nothing wrong. It belongs to the guards who rise to stand watch even in the cold dawn. It belongs to my uncle, who lived more diligently than anyone else because of the kindness my grandfather showed him…

Danwooseong nodded.

“So even if our trading house piles up money like mountains, there’s no money for scum like Gu Yanghou. This incident is the Gu Yang family’s shame, not my mistake. If anyone raises objections, I alone will bear the responsibility, not the Galaxy Trading House. That’s why I handled it alone. So now, everyone, relax your expressions.”

Only then did the people smile.

Out of nowhere, Mok In-seop began clapping first, and those swept up in the mood joined in.

Lee Hwa-eon joined in the applause, but the youngest, Lee Ja-eon, who had been peeking around to watch, was the only one not clapping. He was swallowing curses inside.

‘If only I had gone to Guwhasan, I would be the one getting that applause. Damn it.’

Lee Ja-eon glared at his eldest brother with anger in his eyes. Then, catching Dan Woo-seong’s gaze, he half-heartedly clapped a few times before quietly lowering his hands.

Dan Wooseong called his younger brother over to where everyone was gathered.

“Chief.”

“Yes.”

“In that spirit, buy me just one elixir.”

“Huh? A potion? What kind…”

Danwooseong smiled slyly as he spoke.

“Of course, it’s the finest elixir available in this martial world.”

The merchants looked at Yi Hwa-eon with smiles. Their expressions clearly hoped for the chief merchant’s approval.

Li Huayan chuckled heartily. Truthfully, there was no need for his eldest brother to uphold his prestige in such a setting. His eldest brother possessed considerable personal wealth, and the atmosphere already demanded the purchase regardless of any request.

With a rare bright expression, Yi Hwa-eon replied to Dan Woo-sung.

“Since it’s for you, Brother, our Eunhwasang Trading Company will procure the finest elixir. May you grow strong quickly so that at the next martial contest, no matter who you face, you can defeat them decisively.”

“Hahahaha…”

As people burst into laughter, Yi Hwa-eon also smiled. It wasn’t just talk. In truth, the fate of the Eunha Trading Company now depended on his eldest brother’s martial arts prowess.

Lee Hwa-eon looked at his eldest brother and said.

“Brother, not just me, but the entire guild will support you. Get stronger quickly.”

Dan Woo-seong looked at Lee Hwa-eon and nodded.

“That’s exactly what I want.”

As people dispersed to attend to their respective tasks, Lee Ja-eon was left standing alone, his face now twisted in fury.

Lee Ja-eon was replaying the final scene where Gu Yang-hu and his eldest brother clashed.

He was almost in a trance.

At that moment, Gu Yanghu thrust his sword—so it was a feint after all. A palm strike! But that too was a feint. Two feints, the third must have been the real one? Thwack! Die! At that instant, the bastard reacted… as if he’d anticipated it, closing the distance in a flash, wrenching his wrist, and kicking out with a thud!

Lee Ja-eon was mimicking Dan Woo-sung’s movements, gesticulating wildly like a madman. Even amidst this, he displayed quite sharp analytical skills, which was rather impressive in its own way.

Lee Ja-eon raised his fist and made a whoosh sound with his mouth.

“Just punch the abdomen hard once, then snap the waist clean off!”

Lee Ja-eon tilted his head slightly and said.

“Ah, this is what you call a perfect victory. Haa…”

Only then did Lee Ja-eon realize he’d just done something crazy. He glanced around. Fortunately, no one was there.

Lee Ja-eon sighed and headed back to his quarters.

“Aren’t you buying me any elixirs? Is this discrimination? Damn bastards…”

ⓒ Yoo Jin-seong

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