Silver Hundred Taels? I'd Rather Die
Time passed, and when the Bi Cheon Sword Saint's only son, Im Hwa-pyeong, showed no interest in martial arts, he taught the servant Bang Pyeong out of concern for a bodyguard. Bang Pyeong was loyal but lacked any real talent for martial arts.
Then he took in a wandering orphan named Jin Eok-so after the boy lost his parents, recognized his genius, and taught him martial arts. Gi Seung-gyo had a similar backstory.
Even as he instructed the two in martial arts, the Bi Cheon Sword Saint never formally accepted them as disciples. He said they couldn't become his disciples until they defeated the expelled traitor who had betrayed him and stolen his sword manual. He couldn't break the oath he'd sworn to himself, so it was up to them to seize the title on their own.
In his later years, the Bi Cheon Sword Saint learned that Dae Yeon-ui Sword, a hidden master in Huangdo, was the very traitor. But his days were already numbered. Jin Eok-so and Gi Seung-gyo were prodigies, but they couldn't overcome the limits of their internal energy cultivation.
The Bi Cheon Sword Saint wrote long letters and sent Jin Eok-so to the Cheon Mountain Sect and Yunnan Water Secret Gate, while dispatching Gi Seung-gyo to the Jangbaek Sword Sect. All three sects owed him a debt from past martial tournaments and provided the spiritual elixirs as per his instructions when the disciples arrived.
But before they could return, the Bi Cheon Sword Saint passed away, and Mansword Mountain launched a surprise attack.
"You know the rest, big brother."
"Hah... Who would've thought Dae Yeon-ui Sword was such a despicable bastard. But he's the top master in Huangdo—no, practically the best in the world. I don't know how skilled your uncles are, but... Ah, so last time they were gravely injured from clashing with Dae Yeon-ui Sword?"
Im Cho-ye nodded.
"Yeah."
"See? They can't match him."
"No. My uncles said they could beat him once they reach the Eight Stars."
"How? Dae Yeon-ui Sword's been practicing the Bi Sword Sect's ultimate arts for decades. How could they win?"
"The sword manual he stole was an old one passed down through the Bi Sword Sect generations. Grandpa traveled the world, adding his sword insights to perfect the sect's ultimate arts, and my uncles inherited that. So they can break Dae Yeon-ui Sword's outdated techniques."
Oh...
According to Im Cho-ye, the Bi Sword Sect's ultimate arts originally consisted of seventy-two forms. But the once-in-a-generation genius Bi Cheon Sword Saint found them lacking, roamed the world challenging masters in martial duels, incorporated nine more forms, and completed the eighty-one forms.
So the one I have is the eighty-one form Bi Cheon Sword Manual.
Won Seung suddenly had a question.
"Why did Dae Yeon-ui Sword let your uncles live?"
Dae Yeon-ui Sword had crippled their arms but left them just enough strength to survive.
"I don't know. He told them not to leave Huangdo until they could defeat him."
"Hmm... That sounds suspicious."
"I think so too."
They had arrived at the county office before they knew it.
"Go in first. I'll follow right behind."
Im Cho-ye headed to the county office reception. The clerk, glancing at the county magistrate, spoke up.
"The magistrate went to great lengths to recover the funds. Per custom, we'll return nine thousand nine hundred taels out of the ten thousand."
"Custom?"
"The state has been safeguarding the money all this time, so..."
He was about to explain the fees when he spotted Won Seung entering.
The magistrate hurriedly interjected.
"The clerk's mistaken. That custom doesn't apply here."
"Of course."
The clerk, now eyeing Won Seung, promptly handed over a bill of exchange for eleven thousand taels.
On the way back, Im Cho-ye let out a relieved sigh.
"We almost got fleeced out of eleven thousand taels. If you hadn't come, they definitely would've taken it."
"That's Huangdo for you. They'll snatch the money from your pouch in the blink of an eye. Here, let me see it."
Won Seung took the bill, checked it, and handed fifty-five thousand taels' worth to Im Cho-ye.
"Taking half?!"
Im Cho-ye fumed.
"It's not taking. It's for the house."
"House?"
"We can't keep sleeping rough, right? This money won't buy anything decent. I bought the house for eleven thousand taels, so I'm paying fifty-five thousand and using half. You're three people, I'm one—so I've conceded plenty."
"......"
Im Cho-ye thought for a moment before saying,
"Put my name on the house deed."
"Hmm. You've gotten awfully shrewd."
The two went home, retrieved the house deed, and headed to a real estate broker.
The broker added Bang Ye's name to the deed, notarized it, then held out his hand.
"One thousand taels."
"A thousand taels for a few strokes of the brush?!"
Im Cho-ye protested, but the broker replied,
"It's not all for me. You have to file a copy at the county office for it to be official. That covers taxes and fees."
"Ah..."
"At least we got half the house back. Lucky. I'll handle it properly."
Im Cho-ye handed over the thousand taels.
The innocent girl, raised on a remote seaside, was opening her eyes to the world's harsh realities.
"Everything costs money if you move."
"Now you see how well I've treated you? From the stipend at Yeongtap Temple onward... The candy you've eaten alone must be worth dozens of taels of silver."
"Yeah... That's why I like you, big brother."
"As a little sister, right? Remember that. I have a scary girlfriend."
"Where is she?"
"She'll be here soon."
Spring was almost over, so Hwa Yeo-wol really should arrive any day.
"Now that we have a house, let's grill some meat tonight. I'll show you Sangyang-style charcoal grill. You buy the meat."
"Okay."
With fifty-four thousand taels left after the thousand-tael fee, Im Cho-ye nodded readily.
The two bought meat and returned home. While Im Cho-ye fetched her uncles, Won Seung chopped firewood and made charcoal.
That evening.
Im Cho-ye, Jin Eok-so, and Gi Seung-gyo enshrined Bang Pyeong's spirit tablet in the ancestral shrine and performed the rites. Im Cho-ye teared up thinking of her eldest uncle, who had cherished her like his own daughter.
Then the four gathered in the courtyard to grill and eat the meat.
The next day.
When Won Seung arrived at work, Geum Hyeong-cheol called him in.
"No need to come in anymore. Get your affairs in order."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Won Seung bowed and went to the office to pack his things. Jo Wi Yu-seon stood by with a somber expression, watching. Jang Hyo-gan was still undercover at the open-air tavern.
With his bundle packed, Won Seung handed Yu-seon two taels of silver.
"What's this?"
"Have a drink with Jo Wi."
"......"
"I lived too diligently and never shared a drink with you all. That wasn't the way. Life isn't eternal... I regret not looking around, not enjoying it a bit."
Won Seung spoke sadly, and Yu-seon teared up.
"No, Lord Investigator. You were better than any inspector we've had. It was an honor to serve you, even briefly."
Then the door opened, and Mu Gi-an entered. He rolled his eyes at the heavy mood, spotted Won Seung's bundle, and picked it up.
"I'll see you off."
The two headed to the outer stable.
"Such a pity. A fine young man like you meeting an early end."
"You really think so?"
Mu Gi-an sighed.
"Meeting you was the greatest fortune of my life."
"Not me—the connection to the Royal Guard was the fortune."
"Huh?"
Mu Gi-an stared at Won Seung in surprise.
"Now that I've accepted my death, I want the truth. Did you sell my info to the Royal Guard?"
"......"
Mu Gi-an stared blankly for a moment, then bowed his head.
"You knew. I didn't sell you out. I just reported what you were doing. Strictly official matters."
"Who did you report to?"
"Thousand Tiger Jang Hak-ryang."
Hmm. As expected... Won Seung hadn't forgotten Jang Hak-ryang appearing on the day the Mansword Mountain Demon Prince's gang raided and a fierce battle ensued. He'd been the one who took him away.
"Honestly, I'm curious too. Why does the Royal Guard care about you?"
"Go ask them."
Won Seung snapped coldly.
"Did you tell them I'm dying too?"
Mu Gi-an sighed and nodded.
"Once you're gone, they won't need trash like me."
"Study the penal code diligently. Traitor."
"Hey, don't say that. It was hard for me too."
"Did you think being a spy was easy? Don't follow me anymore."
Won Seung snatched the bundle from Mu Gi-an and headed to the stable.
Mu Gi-an stared blankly at Won Seung's retreating figure, then turned away forlornly.
That evening.
As Won Seung practiced sword forms in the rear garden, Im Cho-ye came over.
"Big brother, someone came looking for you."
It was Go Yeong-ju.
They sat in the parlor, and tea was served.
"Congratulations on becoming a censor investigator. And you were poisoned?"
"You make it sound like I drank it willingly. I was dosed."
"East Branch Chief Jang is tearing Huangdo apart like a madman. He'll find the culprit soon. I've never seen him work this hard."
Go Yeong-ju wasn't close to Jang Chun-sam.
"But you look fine."
"Ten days left."
It was the fifth day since the poisoning.
"I looked into it—seems like Sam-o-dan-sim-san poison. We're searching for the antidote."
"Where do you get an antidote for that?"
"Where there's poison, there's a cure. About a hundred taels of silver."
"A hundred taels of silver? I'd rather die."
"Ten Boheoldan pills will do it."
"Hmm. Getting Boheoldan... It'll take time."
He'd given the remaining ones to Im Cho-ye, so he needed to make more.
"Saving lives comes first. I'll secure the antidote."
"Thank you."
Go Yeong-ju left.
Won Seung resumed practice when Im Cho-ye returned.
"Someone left a package outside the gate."
At the gate stood a man who handed over a bundle and left.
"What's this?"
"Don't know. Just told to deliver it."
The man vanished into the alley shadows.
Won Seung went to the parlor and opened the bundle. Inside a large wooden box was a small jade case and a letter.
"...I heard you were poisoned. I don't believe the rumors, but just in case, I'm sending medicine."
— Won Guksa —
No sender's name, but Won Seung knew it was from his father, Won Guksa. It was his handwriting.
Opening the jade case released a clear fragrance, revealing a large pill preserved in oil.
Won Seung gasped at the inscription on the oil paper.
Daehwandan?
He quickly shut the case and glanced around. No one, of course. Gi Seung-gyo and Jin Eok-so, still recovering from injuries, spent evenings in meditation. Im Cho-ye was in her room.
Won Seung jumped up and danced. He had to clamp his mouth to stifle the bursting laughter.
Kuhaha... Worth having such a great father!
The Shaolin treasure Daehwandan could save anyone clinging to life. Rumor had it that a martial artist consuming it gained over thirty years of internal energy. Considering Cheonghyeol Bogyunghwan's ten-year boost, it was truly an astonishing elixir.
Won Seung suddenly stopped dancing. He bowed deeply toward the Won Mansion where his father was, then pocketed the jade case.
Not the time for this.
Won Seung took the jade case to the pharmacy. On the shelf sat five books. After moving in, he'd rebound Dokgoe's five legacy scrolls into proper volumes.
He opened the pharmacology volume and checked. It matched his memory.
"...Of the 108 ingredients said to be in Daehwandan, I've confirmed 105. Find the remaining three, and Daehwandan can be made..."
Let's make the Daehwandan!