Jang Noban's Audacious Gamble
Jang Noban had passed out once before, so he got off with just a stiff neck. But the psychological damage to Baek Su-gyeong was greater than expected. A single book leading someone to import and sell liquor from Hubei that wasn't even available locally? And it was selling like hotcakes! Discounts if you brought the book! He was going mad.
Swallowing a sigh, Baek Su-gyeong quickly composed his expression and said, “One bowl of thin noodles, please. No liquor.”
“Anything else?”
“Some braised meat if you have it.”
“I'll check with the kitchen.”
Sending the waiter off, Baek Su-gyeong sighed. This ripple effect was bigger than he'd imagined. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before Dead Leaf Liquor appeared in taverns across the Central Plains. Was this okay?
He'd have to meet Jang Noban after eating. First, food.
“Thin noodles and braised meat!”
After sending word, the man arrived. Baek Su-gyeong leisurely waited in the annex, sipping tea until Jang Noban showed up. Of course, he didn't stop writing in the meantime.
Dipping his brush in plenty of ink, he jotted down an idea that had come to mind when the door opened. Wiping the ink from the brush and closing the lid, Baek Su-gyeong turned.
“Long time no see, Jang Noban.”
“B-Baek Scholar.”
Jang Noban's face was pale. He must think I came to interrogate him. Someone who could've died from bullying Wudang wouldn't do the same to Jang Noban. Not when Wudang scared him too.
“Do you think I came to grill you, Jang Noban?”
“N-No?”
“That my head's still attached despite the unauthorized use of Wudang's name is thanks to their mercy.”
Baek Su-gyeong set down his cup of cold tea and continued, “So I can't overstep by punishing you.”
“I-Indeed.”
“Still, you could've at least told me before using it. Imagine my shock after three months, seeing my name and book plastered everywhere.”
“My apologies, sir. But those two Taoists from Wudang...”
“Ah.”
Jeongjin and Jeongu—the two brothers. Thanks to them, the bookstore ran smoothly without incidents lately. Jang Noban's errand boy must've been stopped by them.
Wiping sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, Jang Noban said, “You'd secluded yourself for three months without a word. No chance to inform you. Truth be told, the business was on the brink of ruin, so I hoped to lean on your name...”
“I see.”
Jeongnyeong Inn wasn't in the best spot. A bit far from Wuan's bustling streets. For a small regular-customer inn like his, using Baek Su-gyeong's name for one last shot made sense. And it was a smashing success.
Jang Noban bowed his head. “Of course, I used your name and work without permission. I've been anxious waiting for your return.”
“You'd have kept going if I hadn't come?”
“Would you mock me as pathetic?”
Baek Su-gyeong chuckled at Jang Noban's words. “Life's like that—who am I to mock? Even I'd hesitate out of fear. Telling me shows courage, Jang Noban.”
“Ha, haha...”
“I give formal permission now. Silly to say it's official after the fact, but some might nitpick.”
Jang Noban was the owner of the inn Baek Su-gyeong frequented since settling in Wuan three years ago. He hoped the man avoided needless trouble.
“Use my name freely. But since you're trading on it, never cheat guests or skimp on food.”
“Of course not! And we'll rename to Su-gyeong Inn, sending you 10% of sales monthly!”
“No need for...”
Shaking his head, Jang Noban insisted, “It'll ease my mind. The inn grew on your name—let me do this.”
“...If it settles your heart.”
“Thank you, sir! Hey, you out there?!”
“Yes, innkeeper!”
“Prepare a feast for the scholar! Bring food and drink!”
“Yes!”
This unexpectedly tied his ankle. But it resolved decently. Extra income too.
“A feast just for you—enjoy freely, sir!”
The doors of Baekun Seogwan, always opening on time, closed. Where crowds once thronged, a massive sign now declared no visitors—like a door-sized rejection notice. No sight of Jeongjin or Jeongu either.
Even Baek Su-gyeong was absent, but no one complained. His message on the sign remained: resting for about a month before reopening.
Baekun Seogwan Temporary Closure
Resting for about one month.
Will reopen then.
— Baek Su-gyeong
Of course, reactions to Wudang Sword Hero's month-long hiatus were fierce.
It was chaos. Regardless of hiatus backlash, Baek Su-gyeong was sailing down the Yangtze, lingering near Hong Lake.
“So this is Yunmeng Daze.”
Noting his impressions of Hong Lake's scenic beauty in a blank book, Baek Su-gyeong nodded contentedly. From ancient texts, he'd learned the area was once a vast royal hunting ground. The massive lake for Chu kings fragmented into smaller ones, most landfilling over, leaving Hong Lake.
“A true wonder.”
Was this a lake? He'd known from modern knowledge China had such large freshwater lakes, but seeing it shocked him. Vast as the sea—one of the Central Plains' great lakes. Seeing it firsthand lifted his spirits.
“You look pleased, Pavilion Master.”
“Savoring rare freedom. Do you know how grueling daily serialization pressure is?”
“But you earn well, so isn't it fine?”
Baek Su-gyeong smirked at So Ssaang-a's words. “Sadly, you need breaks like this to wander and spark inspiration. Stuck in a room yields nothing new.”
“Always thought so—you're quite eloquent.”
“Learned at the escort bureau.”
Smirking, Baek Su-gyeong gazed at Hong Lake. A blue expanse wrapped in green lotus leaves. A red-lacquered skiff glided atop. Laden with tourists including So Ssaang-a and Baek Su-gyeong, it sliced a crimson line through the lotus sea worthy of the name lotus pond.
“I asked to meet here because of bad news.”
“Bad... Illegal copies circulating, I bet.”
“!”
At So Ssaang-a's shocked expression, Baek Su-gyeong laughed. “H-How?”
“Popularity breeds piracy. Especially with shortages from high demand.”
“True, but...”
“I'm no merchant, but I have that much sense.”
Gazing at the lake's surface, Baek Su-gyeong said, “Human greed is hard to gauge. Once it starts, they cross lines despite knowing better, pushing too far. Without ability, it brings harm and disaster.”
Pausing artfully, he turned to So Ssaang-a. “Hope you avoid needless greed, Little Leader. Learn contentment now.”
“Ugh.”
“Don't expand rashly. Reaching everywhere before solid foundations crumbles even the grandest tower.”
“You knew?”
Nodding, Baek Su-gyeong drew his brush. Despite focusing on Wudang Sword Hero and the bookstore, he always tracked So Ssaang-a's news. The once-declining Gyeongun Merchant Group boomed volcano-like from exclusive Wudang Sword Hero supply and promotion—rumors he'd heard dozens, hundreds of times.
Many bookstores had exclusive copying contracts with them, mostly for his work.
“So curb the greed, Little Leader. The full moon wanes inevitably.”
A full moon fades to new crescent. Even Gyeongun's fiery rise could falter from one mistake.
“I'll engrave your golden words, Pavilion Master.”
“Leave illegal copies to Gyeongun... But if it's tough, tell me. I'll borrow Wudang's power if needed.”
“Yes.”
Writing a passage on Hong Lake's beauty, Baek Su-gyeong added, “Show no mercy to those scum. Dog guillotine's best.”
“D-Dog guillotine?”
“Pirates won't touch gambling? Better off chopping.”
Central Plains style—modern would've been lawsuits ruining lives. Here, no such mercy.
Closing the book and pocketing the brush, Baek Su-gyeong said, “Gyeongun thrives on my book's exclusivity. Piracy hits you too.”
“...Right.”
Gyeongun was recovering momentum. Disruption to Wudang Sword Hero supply—its main fund source—would hurt. Other ventures aside, it was the lifeline.
So Ssaang-a's face hardened. “Pavilion Master.”
“Speak.”
“Could you... write a couplet for our door?”
She's fired up. Makes sense—family rebuilding, facing crisis again.
Baek Su-gyeong nodded readily. “As author, I'll lend a hand.”
“I'll resolve it for sure!”