Chapter 43. You Don't Seem Like a Good Woman
Gwancheonbang.
Cheon Il-hae, seated in the seat of honor, scowled deeply, his brows furrowed tight.
"Yong Jo-un, that fool... He truly lacks experience in the jianghu."
Gu Ja-ang sat to Cheon Il-hae's left.
When Yong Jo-un had faced the assassin's ambush, it was Gwancheonbang's scout who had thrown a stone through the window as a warning.
Gwancheonbang needed to pit Yong Jo-un against Cheongsu Gate at any cost. To that end, they had shelled out a fortune to commission Haeyeonmun for the hit.
Of course, they had invoked Cheongsu Gate's name to do it.
But unexpectedly, Haeyeonmun had sent one of their elite assassins. Yong Jo-un had nearly died.
The scout had shone, hurling a stone shard to save him. Yet they had let the assassin slip away.
"We seem to have overestimated that one's skills."
Cheon Il-hae grimaced, having wasted a fortune.
"No, sir. He tracked the assassin straight to Sangyang without fail. We merely lost the trail here. With the assassin wounded, we'll catch them soon enough."
"In any case, reward Pyeong In-gang for his merits. He took a wound too, didn't he?"
Pyeong In-gang was Cheon Il-hae's trusted aide and the scout who had saved Yong Jo-un. In blocking the fleeing assassin to buy time, a dagger had pierced his side.
"A true elite of Haeyeonmun. Even wounded and on the run, they took down Pyeong In-gang."
Pyeong In-gang was counted among Gwancheonbang's first-rate experts. They'd sent him specially to watch Yong Jo-un, yet he couldn't block the assassin's dagger.
"Who would've thought Cheongsu Gate would act so brazenly. Maybe we've thrown our plans into disarray for nothing. We should've stuck with our contract with Jeokhyeolsan."
Canceling the commission with Jeokhyeolsan had cost them the advance payment and soured relations. Commissioning Haeyeonmun to kill Yong Jo-un had also drained their coffers.
If they'd just kept the original deal with Jeokhyeolsan...
Cheon Il-hae sighed with regret.
Gu Ja-ang, who had suggested canceling Jeokhyeolsan and using Yong Jo-un instead, felt a twinge of guilt and spoke up.
"Considering the balance due, this worked out cheaper. Besides... there was doubt whether Jeokhyeolsan could even take out Hwa Cheon-gang. They're clearly inferior to Haeyeonmun."
Cheon Il-hae nodded silently, but his dissatisfaction was plain.
In his younger days, he would've already crushed Gu Ja-ang's throat with those massive hands. Age had taught him that killing subordinates recklessly caused problems, so he held back.
But he couldn't stop the heavy snorts of pent-up rage.
When Yong Jo-un had appeared, it seemed Cheongsu Gate would fall into their grasp at once. Now, who knew when this war would end?
If Hwa Cheon-baek opened his Conception and Governor vessels in the meantime, they'd be like dogs chasing chickens, staring helplessly at the roof.
Worse, Gwancheonbang's future wouldn't be assured.
"Don't worry. That fool may be naive, but he's perfect as a pawn in this grand scheme. He'll definitely draw out Hwa Cheon-gang."
Cheon Il-hae rubbed his furrowed brow with his fingers.
"Hiring the five brigands of Dosanrim cost a fortune too. Failure here would hurt badly. Above all, Seongwangbu would lose faith in us."
"That reminds me... I have something to report."
Gu Ja-ang lowered his voice.
"The one claiming to be Seongwangbu's strategist... He's opened a painting shop called Baekhwa Pavilion on the calligraphy street."
"Baekhwa Pavilion?"
"They only sell forgeries, but it's doing well. Even the Taesu visited."
"The Taesu went to a painting shop?"
Cheon Il-hae scowled again.
Both Gwancheonbang and Cheongsu Gate were vying to win over the Taesu. He'd recently received intelligence that Hwa Cheon-un had secretly met the Taesu.
He'd pulled every string to meet the Taesu himself, only to be rebuffed repeatedly.
"How's the meeting with the Taesu coming?"
"We're working on it. You should be able to see him soon."
"Hurry it up. Seongwang is distant water that can't quench the fire on our feet. But the Taesu is different—he's the water jar right beside us."
The Taesu held military authority in Sangyang. If Gwancheonbang and Cheongsu Gate went to full war and civilian casualties mounted, he might deploy troops to suppress them. The outcome could hinge on whose side he favored.
"Understood. I'll make it happen. And... why not try reeling in that strategist?"
"That one? The supposed Seongwangbu strategist? Are we sure he's really one?"
Cheon Il-hae couldn't believe Seongwangbu had such a young advisor.
Moreover, if he truly was from Seongwangbu, Cheongsu Gate would've treated him like royalty. Instead, rumors said they'd stuck him in a rundown inn and given him the cold shoulder before sending him off.
"He's young, so calling him a strategist might be a stretch, but he is from Seongwangbu. Jo Bang-un verified the identity token. Why else would the Taesu approach someone from Seongwangbu?"
"Then... does that mean the Taesu has allied with Seongwang?"
"We can't rule it out."
Cheon Il-hae's brow smoothed. His strike on Cheongsu Gate was at Seongwang's behest.
If the Taesu joined Seongwang's camp, supporting Gwancheonbang would follow naturally...
"Hm. Arrange a meeting with him. No—I'll go myself. Where is it?"
Won Seung approached the woman rolled up in the blankets. She lay face-down, her back to the ceiling.
He slipped his hand under the covers, lifted her top, and applied the golden sore salve inside. Then he removed the paralyzing needles and inserted fresh bloodletting needles.
Leaving needles in one spot too long caused side effects, so they had to be rotated. As he prepared to remove the bloodletting needles after placing the seven major ones, a thought struck him.
This woman's a master. Better safe than sorry.
He added two more paralyzing needles and then pulled the bloodletting ones.
The moment he did, her eyes snapped open.
"Gah! Awake the instant I pull them?"
She should've stayed out at least long enough for a cup of tea...
"Who are you? What are you doing to me?"
"Huh, you can even talk?"
Paralyzing needles should've silenced her too. Wondering if he'd placed them wrong, Won Seung checked the spots. All nine were perfect.
"Weird. How can you speak?"
"Hurry and release the paralysis!"
Won Seung noticed her lips weren't moving. And her voice sounded off—not from her vocal cords.
Ventriloquism, huh.
With her body paralyzed, her abdomen couldn't move, and blocked meridians prevented inner energy use. It was a bizarre skill.
"Untie me now, or I'll kill you."
Ferocity gleamed in her eyes.
"Hey, get a grip. Right now, the one who could kill you on a whim is me."
Won Seung dangled a long needle before her eyes.
"I saved your life and treated you. But you're threatening to kill me if I don't release you? You don't seem like a good woman."
"...?"
"You tried to kill a descendant of the Yong family, right? He's out there now, hiding in the tree branches like an owl, big eyes wide open, watching this place. So if you want to live, stay quiet."
Her pupils quivered.
"Bring proof he's here, and I'll hand you over. You struck first for my life. Plus, he's supposed to be an incredible master. You felt his sword, so you know."
At Won Seung's words, she recalled last night's events.
It had been a done deal.
With Hwa Cheon-gang dodging the duel, Yong Jo-un had grown overconfident without realizing it.
He hadn't even shaken off his watchers.
She'd exploited that arrogance, deploying Haeyeonmun's secret Mumu Fragrance—a sleeping incense with no scent or symptoms.
She'd slipped past the scouts' eyes, and one downward thrust of her dagger would've finished it... but a stone shard flew from nowhere, ruining everything.
She'd nearly died instead. A true Musanggok master. Yong Jo-un's lightning counterattack had wounded her.
The stone's thrower had even blocked her escape.
She was lucky to have survived.
Realizing Won Seung meant her no harm, her tension eased.
"Fine. I won't hurt you, so release the paralysis."
She couldn't remain helpless.
"The Yong descendant said you're a master too. That you'd kill me to eliminate loose ends."
"No, I won't kill you."
"I can't trust the word of someone who just threatened to kill me. I won't release you until I'm convinced."
Then the door opened, and Jong Bi entered.
"Who're you talking to?"
"Yeah. I'm persuading this woman that turning over a new leaf might be nice. Being an assassin isn't a proper job."
Jong Bi blinked in confusion at the woman, then their eyes met. Those large, dark eyes stared intently, flushing Jong Bi's cheeks.
"Th-that... young master, sh-she's right, I think. Someone as pretty as her being an assassin? Leave that to folks like me... no, wait, assassination isn't something people should do..."
She trailed off, unwilling to fully disparage her own profession.
As Jong Bi stammered, the woman's gaze shifted to Won Seung.
What's with the idiot? her eyes said.
Ignoring it, Won Seung asked Jong Bi, "What's up?"
"A guest arrived."
"Handle it yourself."
"They're asking for the young master."
"Me? Who?"
"Dunno. But they're a master."
"Ugh. Why's Sangyang crawling with masters lately? Can't even breathe."
Won Seung grumbled as he left the room. Jong Bi bowed politely to the woman and followed.
Cheon Il-hae sat at a table in Baekhwa Pavilion's shop, glancing around dismissively.
He knew the paintings were no ordinary fakes, but lacking deep appreciation, he felt little interest.
Gu Ja-ang sat opposite, sipping tea with feigned elegance. His narrow-browed face ruined the refined look.
Won Seung emerged from behind the display wall.
"Customer, I'm Pung Un-saeng. Were you looking for me?"
"Are you the strategist from Huangdo's Seongwangbu?"
The superhuman warrior Cheon Il-hae was overbearing and direct. His piercing gaze seemed to bore into Won Seung's guts.
Won Seung instantly pegged their identities.
With their imposing auras, the great sword propped nearby, and the guards lurking outside, only a blind man wouldn't recognize them.
No wonder Ogu's been missing.
She'd been training in shop consultations and management, but now she was gone—fled at the sight of Gu Ja-ang, no doubt.
"Haha, Lord Cheon of Gwancheonbang. What an honor to meet Sangyang's top master."
"Hm. You know me?"
"I've heard so much, and you match the descriptions perfectly."
"Really? What'd you hear that let you spot me at a glance?"
Cheon Il-hae asked, swelling with pride.
You idiot. Your goons have 'Gwancheon' tattooed on their chests—how could I miss it?
But his words were different.
"Eight-chi tall, tiger shoulders, bear waist, wielding an eighty-catty greatsword like chopsticks—who else but Lord Cheon?"
Flattered, Cheon Il-hae beamed.
Gu Ja-ang's eyes narrowed at the sight. He thought Won Seung's silver tongue was toying with their lord.
Hm. So you're the petty Gu Ja-ang. Subtly looking down on the lord for being uncultured.
As Ogu had described, Gu Ja-ang was suspicious and arrogant.
Gu Ja-ang regarded Won Seung politely.
"Why has Seongwangbu's strategist from Huangdo opened a painting shop in Sangyang's markets?"
"Hahaha. Rumors exaggerate. I do have ties to Seongwang, but strategist? At my age, what do I know to advise?"
He raised a hand in salute to Gu Ja-ang.
"It's elders like you, with your seasoned wisdom, who can truly guide others. Surely you're Gwancheonbang's renowned strategist, Senior Gu?"
"Kuhahaha! What a gem. This young friend's got a honeyed tongue."
Cheon Il-hae roared with laughter.