Episode 44. Let Me Solve the Pavilion Master's Dilemma
Cheon Il-hae was a rough man. He liked the way the young man treated his elders with respect without being obsequious.
“Then why did you pretend to be a strategist?”
Gu Ja-ang asked. His voice was endlessly gentle, but his eyes were sinister.
“There were some circumstances. The Clear Water Sect was oppressing people, so I decided to teach them a lesson.”
Won Seung explained how he ended up being misunderstood by the Clear Water Sect after running into the Descendant of the Yong Clan while eating noodles.
When Gu Ja-ang realized this matched what he’d heard from Jo Bang-un, his gaze softened a little.
“What’s your relationship with the Governor?”
“I doubt the Governor would appreciate me talking about it everywhere.”
Won Seung replied firmly.
It was true. The Governor hadn’t been fond of Won Seung.
Using the Governor as an excuse, Gu Ja-ang couldn’t press further.
“I heard the Governor frequents this Calligraphy and Painting Shop.”
“He’s visited before. He has a deep appreciation for art.”
Won Seung saw through Gu Ja-ang’s intentions. Whether it was the Clear Water Sect or the Heavenly Observation Pavilion, it was advantageous to have ties to the Governor of Xiangyang.
‘So, the Heavenly Observation Pavilion’s move against the Clear Water Sect was supposed to be coordinated with the Seongwang House? Or maybe that connection isn’t as solid as I thought?’
Maybe the rumor that the Seongwang House was backing the Heavenly Observation Pavilion was something Gu Ja-ang himself had spread. People naturally flock to power, so if the Seongwang House was their patron, everyone would support the Heavenly Observation Pavilion.
Won Seung realized he had a chance to make a fortune.
‘Time to sell some paintings.’
Suddenly, Won Seung let out a heavy sigh.
“What’s the matter?”
“When the Governor was here, he really liked that painting… I just remembered the look in his eyes as he admired it.”
Won Seung pointed to the “Duryunsan Waterfall in Full Bloom,” and Gu Ja-ang tilted his head.
“Then why didn’t he take it?”
“He said he couldn’t bring himself to spend money on art when there were poor people struggling to survive.”
“……?”
Gu Ja-ang searched his memory. Was the Governor of Xiangyang really the type to care so much about the people?
“As you know, there are plenty of people who barely eat one meal a day. If the Governor spent a fortune on a painting, what would people say?”
“If you felt so bad, why didn’t you just gift him the painting?”
“I’m only selling on consignment. I can’t just give things away as I please. These paintings… actually came from the capital.”
“……?”
Gu Ja-ang’s mind started racing.
A man from the Seongwang House running a Calligraphy and Painting Shop to gather money?
Something didn’t add up… Was this the Governor’s doing?
“Ahem. How much is that painting, anyway?”
Won Seung held up two fingers.
“Two thousand nyang?”
“If it were only that much, I’d just give it to him and cover the loss myself.”
“Hmm. Twenty thousand nyang?”
“The Governor wouldn’t hesitate over twenty thousand.”
“What! Then… two hundred thousand nyang? For a mere copy, not even an original? That’s absurd!”
Won Seung’s expression turned serious.
“If you took that painting and the receipt to the Seongwang House later, what do you think would happen?”
“!”
A sudden realization nearly made Gu Ja-ang slap his knee.
Rumors of the Governor’s rebellion were spreading. This kid was probably the one gathering funds for the Governor’s plot, using the paintings as a front.
And since he was young, no one would suspect him.
‘Brilliant. What a natural way to raise funds.’
As he looked at the paintings, he noticed numbers attached to them.
“That one says seven hundred nyang, doesn’t it?”
Won Seung smiled.
“I can’t exactly write seven hundred thousand nyang on the tag, can I?”
“Gasp!”
Gu Ja-ang involuntarily sucked in his breath. Compared to that, two hundred thousand nyang was a bargain.
“So, then…”
“In the end, it’s only seven thousand silver coins, or seven hundred in gold. Who knows when I’ll manage to sell them all.”
Won Seung sighed.
Gu Ja-ang cursed inwardly.
‘You brat, seven thousand silver coins is enough to feed generations! And you call that “only”?’
Cheon Il-hae, who had been listening, cocked his head and asked,
“That painting is seventy thousand nyang? Seems a bit steep.”
Gu Ja-ang turned to Won Seung.
“Could you step outside for a moment?”
“Of course.”
Won Seung stepped around the partition into the sitting room and removed a small scroll from the wall. Behind it was a hole covered with a stopper.
When Won Seung pulled out the stopper, he could hear the conversation inside the shop.
Gu Ja-ang was explaining the situation to Cheon Il-hae.
He even heard Cheon Il-hae muttering to himself, as if confirming what he’d heard.
“So… this Calligraphy and Painting Shop is a front to gather funds for the Governor’s uprising. Is that it?”
“There are probably a few such places across the country. This kid seems to be here to suck up the money from around Xiangyang.”
“Honestly, royalty are a headache. They think the people’s money is their own.”
“In my opinion, if we buy that painting and give it to the Governor, we’ll earn the favor of both the Governor and the Seongwang House.”
“Hmm…”
Even Cheon Il-hae’s low hum was audible.
‘Got them. They’ve taken the bait.’
Won Seung plugged the hole and covered it with the scroll. Now all he had to do was wait.
Sitting in the living room, he looked out the window and spotted Yong Jo-woon hiding among the branches. His Stealth Technique clearly wasn’t very good.
Poor owl… Is he even eating properly, skulking around like that?
Then a thought struck him.
‘Hmm. If I play this right, I might be able to tie them all together.’
Just then, Gu Ja-ang’s voice called out.
“Come in.”
Won Seung returned to the shop.
“Seems you have something important to say.”
“I’ll buy that painting. You said two hundred thousand nyang, right?”
“That’s the starting price.”
“What do you mean?”
Won Seung walked to the display and wrote “two hundred nyang” on a slip of paper, sticking it next to the “Duryunsan Waterfall in Full Bloom.”
“If no one offers a higher price within three days, the painting is yours. If someone does, you can bid higher. The auction ends in ten days.”
“What? Is this an auction?”
“It’s a modified auction system.”
“That’s outrageous. If someone outbids me, I’ll have wasted my time.”
Gu Ja-ang protested.
“I’m afraid there are unavoidable circumstances. I hope you’ll understand.”
“Come now, what Young Master Pung is doing isn’t so different from our business. Can’t you make an exception?”
‘Huh? What’s he talking about?’
Won Seung was taken aback, but kept a straight face.
“That’s why we need to stick to the rules.”
Gu Ja-ang frowned deeply, then played his trump card.
“Just let it go. I’ll explain the situation to Chief Yu later.”
‘Chief Yu?’
When Won Seung blinked, Gu Ja-ang clarified.
“I mean Yu Bulgwan, the Chief of the Seongwang House. You don’t know him?”
Gu Ja-ang’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. Suddenly, a memory flashed through Won Seung’s mind.
‘He means Steward Yu. So he’s become Chief in the meantime.’
He remembered that when he was young and visiting the Seongwang House with So Chu, the steward who looked after them was named Yu Bulgwan. With his narrow eyes and perpetual smile, Yu Bulgwan always gave off an unsettling vibe.
“This has nothing to do with Chief Yu.”
“I heard Chief Yu has taken on an important role.”
“The Governor doesn’t value strategists. He’s both a brave general and a wise one—why would he listen to anyone else? Chief Yu is just an errand boy.”
Won Seung flatly denied the connection, thinking to himself,
‘So your connection was Yu Bulgwan.’
As Won Seung remained firm, Cheon Il-hae scowled and slammed his fist on the table.
“You mean I have to wait even after offering two hundred thousand nyang? In Xiangyang? You want Cheon Il-hae to wait?”
Cheon Il-hae’s rough tone startled Won Seung, who thought for a moment and sighed.
“Fine. I can’t ask the overlord of Xiangyang to wait. For this painting, if you pay now, I’ll hand it over immediately. But you mustn’t spread any rumors. If it affects business, I’ll have to report it.”
Won Seung pointed upward with his finger. Cheon Il-hae understood.
“Don’t worry. I won’t say a word.”
Cheon Il-hae pulled out his promissory note book, wrote two hundred thousand nyang, tore it out, and handed it over.
“Take this to the Heavenly Observation Pavilion’s money house. They’ll pay you right away.”
Won Seung clapped his hands, and Jong Bi came running.
“Teacher Song, take this and deposit it at the Capital Treasury.”
Even though they’d never done business with the Capital Treasury before, Jong Bi nodded and left with the note.
Won Seung fetched a case and carefully wrapped the painting.
“This painting will soon be worth more than two hundred thousand nyang.”
He pressed his fists together and bowed his head.
“Since the Pavilion Master visited the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and even bought a painting, let me repay you by solving your dilemma.”
“My dilemma? Are you saying you know what’s troubling me?”
“Of course. I was caught up in it myself—how could I not know?”
Won Seung gripped the folding fan at his waist, straightened his back, and snapped it open. He really looked the part of a strategist.
“If there’s one tiger on a mountain, the other beasts can live in peace. But if there are two tigers growling at each other, how can anyone feel safe?”
Cheon Il-hae and Gu Ja-ang’s eyes narrowed at the same time.
They understood exactly what Won Seung was saying.
“Now, with wolves being called in from outside, the mountain is about to be thrown into chaos. And even if you drive out the rival tiger, there’s no guarantee the mountain will remain yours.”
Cheon Il-hae’s mouth fell open. Won Seung had pinpointed his worries.
He’d had no choice but to invite the masters from the Dosan Forest, but serving them was harder than serving the emperor.
And after destroying the Clear Water Sect, there was no guarantee the Dosan Forest would quietly leave.
“So you really are a strategist. Well, do you have a solution?”
Cheon Il-hae was impressed, while Gu Ja-ang’s brow furrowed slightly.
Won Seung continued.
“I’ll be blunt. The reason Hwa Cheon-gang refuses Yong Jo-woon’s challenge is because of you, Pavilion Master. He doesn’t want to give you the advantage.”
“Of course.”
“So, Pavilion Master, you should be the one to propose it. Suggest a three-way Martial Arts Duel between you, Hwa Cheon-gang, and the Descendant of the Yong Clan.”
“A three-way Martial Arts Duel?”
Cheon Il-hae frowned. Gu Ja-ang also listened intently, then scoffed.
“Is that even possible? A three-way duel?”
“You’re still inexperienced. Who would accept such a duel? If two of them team up, the third is as good as dead.”
Clap!
Won Seung snapped his folding fan shut and slapped his palm.
“That’s where the trick lies.”
“A trick?”
“You make an official proposal to Hwa Cheon-gang. Settle everything on the Martial Arts Stage. Both Hwa Cheon-gang and the Descendant of the Yong Clan will accept.”
“You’re naïve. From Hwa Cheon-gang’s perspective, it’s obvious you and the Descendant of the Yong Clan would join forces. Why would he risk it?”
“Hwa Cheon-gang can’t just sit still. Rumors are already spreading in Xiangyang that he’s a coward. He can’t show his face in public. Who would respect the Clear Water Sect now? For him, it’s better to resolve all grudges at once.”
“……”
“If it works, you’ll be the final winner, Pavilion Master. Hwa Cheon-gang and the Descendant of the Yong Clan are mortal enemies—they’ll fight to the death. You can hang back, watch the fight, and when it’s over, finish off whoever’s left.”
Won Seung drew his hand across his neck in a cutting gesture.