Dan Woosung had no choice but to accept the situation that had unfolded.
Of course, the question of why kept clinging to him like a shadow.
Why did death lead to reincarnation, and why had he become not a warrior of the Jianghu, but the First Young Master of a merchant group?
It was incomprehensible—something he could neither understand nor trace back to any cause.
The events surrounding his death still filled him with a rage that made his teeth grind, but the fact that he had reincarnated into someone he'd never even met before felt absurd beyond belief.
The only fortunate thing was that Dan Woosung had entered Lee Jin-Eon's body while retaining his own consciousness and memories.
Only then did he begin to objectively assess the body that once belonged to someone else.
To put it simply—it was the body of a sick person.
The room reeked of medicinal decoctions, mixed with the musty stench that often clung to the sick.
'A man with a terminal illness dared to sleep with women...?'
To a martial artist, it was incomprehensible.
Calming his mind, Dan Woosung resumed reading the letters carefully.
Most inquired after the First Young Master Lee Jin-Eon's health and recent condition, but some also contained complaints about his younger brothers.
Other letters were filled with talk of alcohol, brothels, and the names of women. After reading several of them, he came to a conclusion:
They weren't waiting for Lee Jin-Eon's return—they were waiting for the return of the money he could spend.
'Bastards, surrounded on all sides.'
It wasn't hard to understand why.
As the First Young Master of the Eunha Merchant Group, he must have squandered fortunes at drinking tables.
There was nothing else worth reading in the letters.
Meanwhile, Dan Woosung became increasingly aware of the problems with Lee Jin-Eon's body.
It was truly a mess.
He was a drunk, a womanizer, and his martial training was half-baked at best.
Even while reading, he'd felt dizzy multiple times—this body was a total disaster.
Dan Woosung staggered awkwardly across the spacious room as if learning to walk, then stopped at the door.
A servant girl waiting outside opened it for him.
When Dan Woosung, pale-faced, stepped through the doorway, she instinctively supported him.
"Young Master, where are you—?"
Just then, a rather stout Physician with stark white hair came briskly walking down the corridor.
"Young Master, are you all right…..?"
The servant girl supporting him looked tense, as if her life would end if Lee Jin-Eon collapsed. But the approaching Physician's expression told a different story.
He wasn't worried—he was surprised.
'How are you up?'
That was the atmosphere.
Dan Woosung stared at the Physician, trying to understand the expression. The man quickly bowed his head and avoided his gaze.
Dan Woosung looked around.
No guards were present. The people in this safe house seemed to be only servant girls and the white-haired Physician. Instinctively, he was checking whether any martial expert posed a threat to him—but aside from the Physician, there wasn't even a man in sight.
In a calm, sunken voice, Dan Woosung said,
"I stepped out for some air. I'm fine—everyone leave."
"Yes, sir."
When the servant girls hesitated, he added,
"I'm fine. I'm going back to bed. Don't wake me."
"Yes, please rest well."
Even as he spoke, Dan Woosung couldn't get used to the sound of his own voice. He patted the hand of the servant girl who had been supporting him as if to say he was fine, then re-entered the room alone.
He sat on the bedding, lost in thought.
The look on the Physician's face boiled his insides. A mix of unease and suspicion gripped him. He decided that once he recovered, he'd investigate thoroughly.
A Physician making that kind of face...
There may have been no obvious martial threats nearby, but a Physician was a different story. He wanted to grab him by the hair and interrogate him right away, but in his current health, he'd probably die before finishing the questioning.
Dan Woosung took several deep breaths and closed his eyes.
From the perspective of the Fist King, he began to silently observe this problematic body.
.
.
.
It wasn't poisonous.
He diagnosed himself, carefully pressing on muscles and his abdomen with his hands.
The biggest issues lay with the stomach and intestines—but it wasn't a terminal condition. For a body that felt this exhausted, it made more sense to assume Lee Jin-Eon had simply neglected his health on purpose.
It was alcohol-soaked.
Devoid of energy.
And judging from the lingering scent of women's perfume and the weakened state of his lower body, he had indulged far too frequently in sex compared to his physical health.
Dan Woosung concluded it was tantamount to assisted suicide.
A man like that needs to be beaten regularly, he thought. But who would dare lay hands on the First Young Master of the Eunha Merchant Group?
Regardless of who his father was, sending him to this safe house for rest was probably the best course of action anyone could take.
'I've entered the body of a hopeless fool.'
But Dan Woosung was not hopeless.
That's why he had been able to rise to the rank of Fist King without family, connections, or money.
He looked into the hand mirror again, staring at the unfamiliar face.
It felt like two souls were confronting each other through the mirror.
At that moment, Dan Woosung asked, and Lee Jin-Eon answered.
.
.
.
'You really were a hopeless bastard, weren't you?'
'And you're any better?'
'Of course I am.'
'What do you plan to do? You might die soon.'
'Not happening. I can recover from this. Not just recover—I'll show you that even with your pathetic body, I can become the Fist King.'
'You really think that's possible?'
'It is. The weak like you only need to watch. Rest now. I'll handle the rest.'
In his past life, Dan Woosung had the rugged face and intense presence of a hardened warrior, while Lee Jin-Eon had the delicate features of a pampered noble.
But now, the Fist King's smile tugged at those gentle features.
It was the moment Lee Jin-Eon's entire demeanor changed.
.
.
.
Whatever was going on with the Eunha Merchant Group, once his martial strength returned, he could coat it in money and become even stronger than before.
Dan Woosung began by initiating the martial technique he knew best—White Lightning Tenfold Technique—focusing on expelling the turbid energy from his body.
If his health had been normal, a single session of breath control for one hour would've been sufficient. But in his current condition, it was more like a resurrection ritual.
The flickering ember of life began to burn again under the martial discipline of the Fist King. Carefully tending to it, he managed to rekindle it. Though faint, a dantian began to form, laying the groundwork for internal energy cultivation.
By the time the sun reached midday, he had completed the initiation.
Dan Woosung exhaled deeply.
"Phew..."
His stomach growled with hunger—which was a good sign. The hangover had faded, and his previously pale complexion now looked more human.
Holding his growling stomach, he walked to the desk.
There was some leftover broth on it. After sniffing it and stirring with his finger to check the contents, he grimaced.
It was Dragon and Phoenix Soup—made by boiling soft-shelled turtle and chicken.
'Damn bastard…'
Dragon and Phoenix Soup was made by boiling tender chicken and soft-shelled turtle. For someone in good health, it had nourishing and rejuvenating effects. However, in Lee Jin-Eon's condition, it was no different from poison.
His body was growing increasingly frail, yet his lower half must have still functioned well enough in bed—that was likely the only part still working properly.
Only then did Dan Woosung recall the Physician's expression. In his eyes, Lee Jin-Eon was truly a pitiful fool. Even if he hadn't fed him poison, the Physician had essentially encouraged a natural death.
At the same time, Dan Woosung felt a sigh rise.
'Don't worry. I'll make sure I kill you with your own hands.'
Dan Woosung suddenly looked at his hands.
Everyone's hands were different.
Some hands were poorly shaped for martial arts. Uneven fists could easily lead to broken fingers or knuckles upon impact.
Fortunately, Lee Jin-Eon's hands weren't like that.
They were simply soft and slender from a life of comfort.
Clenching his fists, Dan Woosung resolved to fully restore his health and then clean up the mess around Lee Jin-Eon.
Until then, it was best to stay quiet.
Suddenly feeling the air in the room was stifling, he threw the window wide open.
The fresh air of Jinhua Mountain swept through, banishing the scent of perfume and the mustiness left behind by illness.
Dan Woosung inhaled deeply, taking it all in.
Though his body was frail and health poor, the confidence on his face had nothing to do with physical condition.
He may have reincarnated into a sick man's body, but he was grateful simply for the second chance at life.
From outside, a servant girl asked,
"Young Master, how should I prepare your meal?"
Dan Woosung answered,
"Come inside and ask."
"Yes, I'll enter."
After listing the dishes she could prepare, Dan Woosung replied,
"No need for all that. From now on, I'll only have rice porridge for breakfast and lunch."
"Rice porridge...? Really?"
The servant girl's eyes widened. Normally, the First Young Master barely ate. When he did, it was binge drinking and feasting. Her surprise was understandable.
Dan Woosung added,
"No dinner either. Just bring a small assortment of fruit. I'll snack on that if I get hungry."
He planned to go nearly fasting for several days.
Pointing to the Dragon and Phoenix Soup on the desk, he said,
"Take that away. No more of that. And instead of wine, just leave warm water on the desk."
"Yes, sir, right away."
The servant girl, eyes still round with surprise, exited the room.