Episode 60. Not Here—Because of the Owl
Thinking about the two hundred thousand nyang, Cheon Il-hae felt his anger rising again.
‘The Seongwang House needs us anyway, so what more are they trying to squeeze out of us…?’
But if things went wrong, they might end up handing over shares in the association worth another two hundred thousand nyang.
Right now, at this very moment… what irritated him even more than losing money was Gu Ja-ang, whose beard was trembling with indignation over his wounded pride.
It’s not even his own money, is it?
‘He should be saying, “I’ll get the money back.” Gu Ja-ang…’
But Gu Ja-ang’s answer was wrong.
‘First, let’s make it official with Seongwang House…’
The moment he saw Gu Ja-ang hesitating, Cheon Il-hae made up his mind.
‘I’ll have to get rid of him after this job is done.’
A cold glint flashed in Cheon Il-hae’s eyes.
Gu Ja-ang, who had been babbling just to get out of the situation, saw that look.
‘!’
He was instantly at a loss for words.
Gu Ja-ang had known Cheon Il-hae for a long time. He knew his temperament well enough to guess what he was thinking.
At least nine times out of ten, he could read him. From that look just now, he realized Cheon Il-hae had decided to discard him once he was no longer useful.
Gu Ja-ang’s hand trembled inside his sleeve. If he was lucky, maybe he’d get some recognition for his years of hard work and be allowed to retire quietly—but he could just as easily end up like a hunting dog boiled alive.
The Heavenly Observation Pavilion’s methods for disposing of corpses flashed through his mind.
There was no guarantee he wouldn’t end up as fish food in the Xiang River.
Cheon Il-hae was relentless when it came to money. He spent freely, but always made sure to recover even more.
The shares in the North Hyun Pier Labor Association, worth two hundred thousand nyang, were far more valuable than Gu Ja-ang’s life. Long-standing relationships meant nothing to him.
Gu Ja-ang clenched his teeth, imagining his own corpse floating down the Xiang River.
‘If things go south, I have to strike first.’
At that moment, a guard came to report that Cheon Seok-san had arrived.
Cheon Il-hae frowned.
“Seok-san is here?”
Cheon Seok-san was his sixth cousin.
Eight years ago, after causing trouble, he’d come seeking refuge, so Cheon Il-hae hid him in the Jong Family. Since then, he hadn’t sought him out.
Occasionally, Cheon Seok-san would discreetly hint that he wanted to work for the Heavenly Observation Pavilion, but as long as his grudge with the Fist King remained unresolved, Cheon Il-hae couldn’t take him in.
Besides, Cheon Il-hae’s philosophy was never to share power, not even with family. So, he’d kept him at arm’s length.
“Advisor Gu, you’re dismissed.”
As Cheon Seok-san entered, Cheon Il-hae sent Gu Ja-ang out.
Gu Ja-ang’s heart sank even further. It was rare for someone to be dismissed when a visitor arrived.
He realized Cheon Il-hae had made up his mind.
‘I can’t just back down.’
Gu Ja-ang steeled himself.
*
Cheon Il-hae, not realizing what he’d just done, looked at his sixth cousin with a haughty expression and asked,
“So, what brings you here?”
“The head of the Jong Family gave me a task… and it seems to involve you as well, brother.”
“What is it?”
“I was told to deal with a young man named Pung Un-saeng, so I’ve been looking into him. Turns out, one of his followers has been coming and going from the Heavenly Observation Pavilion.”
“Hmmm…”
Would they really ask a master like Cheon Seok-san just to rough someone up? More likely, they wanted him dead.
“The head of the Jong Family finally lost his temper and decided to act. All because his son got a scar on his throat… So? Did he tell you to kill him?”
Cheon Seok-san nodded.
Cheon Il-hae thought for a moment. He had a bad feeling he’d lose the second bet as well.
If that happened, he’d have to hand over the North Hyun Pier Labor Association shares…
But if the recipient disappeared, wouldn’t the deal be void?
And if someone else took care of it for him…
Perfect.
So he nodded readily.
“It’s got nothing to do with me.”
“I’ll take care of it, then.”
Cheon Seok-san nodded and started to rise, but something flashed through Cheon Il-hae’s mind.
Wait, if the mediator dies, the Three-way Martial Arts Duel could be called off.
That would be a problem… If Hwa Cheon-gang from the Clear Water Sect accepts the duel, I might lose the bet, but I’ll get a chance to attack the Clear Water Sect.
That’s why I agreed, even prepared to give up the North Hyun Pier Labor Association shares.
Cheon Il-hae frowned in thought, then smacked his forehead.
‘I can just have him killed after the Three-way Martial Arts Duel!’
I must be getting rusty, to take this long to think of something so simple.
At times like this, maybe Gu Ja-ang is still useful…
Muttering to himself, Cheon Il-hae said to Cheon Seok-san,
“Wait about ten days.”
“Excuse me?”
Everything would be over in ten days anyway.
“On second thought, it might be somewhat related…”
Cheon Il-hae cleared his throat and continued.
“Here’s what we’ll do. In about ten days, I’ll have a one-on-one duel with Hwa Cheon-gang of the Clear Water Sect. That day, the guy you’re after will show up to mediate the duel. How about you take care of him then?”
“That works.”
Cheon Seok-san nodded obediently.
Seeing this, Cheon Il-hae smirked.
‘He’s gotten much more docile after all his troubles.’
The Cheon family has always had hot-blooded youngsters who couldn’t tell up from down.
Maybe it’s in the blood—his ancestors were like that, he was like that, and so was this guy.
Crippling the Fist King’s disciple… That was sheer madness.
Most who acted like that died young, so there weren’t many close relatives left. Though only sixth cousins, they were the closest by blood.
But today, he seemed much tamer. Maybe years of virtual house arrest in the Jong Family had changed his temperament.
‘Well, I’ve mellowed with age too.’
Not that Cheon Il-hae realized people still called him ten times more violent than most.
“It’s been eight years—does the Fist King still chase you?”
“I think he’s finally forgotten…”
Cheon Seok-san looked at Cheon Il-hae with a glimmer of hope.
‘If I take control of Xiangyang, I’ll need more hands… I’ll need someone trustworthy.’
If he got rid of Gu Ja-ang, he’d need someone to act as his right hand.
Cheon Il-hae spoke kindly.
“You’re not getting any younger, and it pains me to see you living off others… How about helping me out?”
He could always disguise his identity… as long as he didn’t reveal his martial arts.
Cheon Seok-san immediately bowed deeply.
“Thank you, brother.”
As Cheon Seok-san left the Heavenly Observation Pavilion, someone watched him from afar, hidden.
It was Jong Bi.
*
Jong Bi was an active assassin.
Out of habit, he scanned his surroundings. Especially since Won Seung had been attacked.
So, naturally, while checking the area around the house, he spotted Cheon Seok-san hiding in the same tree where Yong Jo-woon had been.
Jong Bi calmly took the Three-way Martial Arts Duel Agreement that Won Seung had given him and left, knowing Cheon Seok-san was following.
After meeting Cheon Il-hae and getting his signature, Jong Bi steeled himself.
It wasn’t likely, but…
‘That guy might try to make an example out of me.’
He walked down the main street, a poisoned dagger hidden on him, but sensed no one following.
When he glanced back, he saw Cheon Seok-san heading back into the Heavenly Observation Pavilion.
‘?’
Jong Bi stopped and hid where he could see the pavilion’s main gate, waiting for a long time.
Cheon Seok-san didn’t come out for half a shichen.
Then he disappeared somewhere.
Jong Bi hurried back to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, where he found a sketch of Cheon Seok-san’s face that Won Seung had drawn on the table.
“So, this guy was here?”
“This guy? You know him?”
Ohgu, who had been racking his brains trying to track down the One Fist Splits Mountain at Won Seung’s request, perked up.
“He followed me around everywhere.”
“What do you mean?”
Won Seung came in, asking.
Jong Bi slipped out of the living room, signaling with his eyes.
“Not here. The owl’s watching.”
There was a tree outside the window.
A little later.
In a gloomy room in the newly renovated house next door, Won Seung, Jong Bi, and Ohgu gathered.
A sketch of Cheon Seok-san’s face lay before them.
“This guy’s nickname is One Fist Splits Mountain. His name is Cheon Seok-san. And he’s connected to the Heavenly Observation Pavilion… Who’s the Pavilion Master?”
“Cheon Il-hae! Same family name. They could be related!”
Won Seung and Jong Bi both looked at Ohgu.
He’d worked at the Heavenly Observation Pavilion—surely he’d seen him?
Ohgu waved his hands in confusion.
“They say he’s been in hiding for eight years. I only joined the Pavilion six years ago. We never crossed paths. If I’d seen him, I’d have recognized him from the sketch already.”
“Anyway, Cheon Il-hae’s been hiding him all this time.”
At Jong Bi’s speculation, Won Seung spoke.
“But why would the Pavilion Master target me?”
“Because you’re pushing for the Three-way Martial Arts Duel.”
Jong Bi started to answer, then added, as if something was missing,
“Because he doesn’t think he can win if the duel goes ahead?”
‘No, that’s not it.’
Won Seung shook his head inwardly.
‘Cheon Il-hae, acting all magnanimous… Was the North Hyun Pier Labor Association share really that precious to you?’
He’d get two hundred thousand nyang’s worth of shares if he won the Three-way Martial Arts Duel bet.
Cheon Il-hae just didn’t want to give that up.
In fact, the assassin was sent by the Jong Family. It was a misunderstanding, but since Cheon Il-hae also wanted Won Seung dead, the result was the same.
Won Seung said,
“From today, I’m not stepping outside at all. You two will have to handle everything.”
I’ll stick right next to Yong Jo-woon.
*
The next day, as promised, Cheon Il-hae officially proposed the Three-way Martial Arts Duel to the Clear Water Sect.
Hwa Cheon-gang of the Clear Water Sect immediately accepted, and Yong Jo-woon agreed as well.
Ten days later, the Clear Water Sect, the Descendant of the Yong Clan, and the Heavenly Observation Pavilion would all duel at once!
Xiangyang was ablaze with excitement.
After months of endless scheming and maneuvering, the prospect of a decisive showdown had everyone cheering.
Bets on the outcome were already being placed everywhere.
*
Won Seung was busier than ever.
Well, his mind was busy writing letters and making plans—Jong Bi and Ohgu ran around carrying them out.
The match format was set by the Three-way Martial Arts Duel Agreement, but there were still plenty of details to work out.
Especially since the Clear Water Sect and the Heavenly Observation Pavilion clashed on every issue.
The first point of contention was the venue.
Both the Pavilion and the Sect wanted the duel to be held in the plaza in front of their own headquarters.
Yong Jo-woon didn’t care where it was, but neither faction would yield.
In the end, Won Seung mediated, and they settled on the banks of the Xiang River—right on the border between the Clear Water Sect and the Heavenly Observation Pavilion.
Next came the selection of witnesses.
Both sides tried to stack the panel with local notables who supported them.
“Why are we even fighting over this? The witnesses aren’t the ones dueling!”
Frustrated, Won Seung suggested they each pick five official supporters as witnesses.
There was even a minor scuffle over spectators.
The Heavenly Observation Pavilion insisted on a closed-door duel with no audience, fearing that a fierce fight could lead to unnecessary casualties—or worse, that someone might use the crowd as cover for foul play.
On the other hand, the Clear Water Sect, having endured endless criticism, demanded at least a thousand spectators for transparency.
Once again, Won Seung mediated. In the end, they compromised: three hundred spectators would be pre-approved and have their identities checked, and they would watch from thirty paces away.
With every issue, the two sides clashed, forcing Won Seung to rack his brain and Jong Bi to wear out the thresholds of both the Pavilion and the Sect.
And so, day by day, the day of the decisive battle drew closer.