Chapter 60: This Place Won't Do Because of the Owl
Thinking of the two hundred thousand nyang made Cheon Il-hae's anger surge again.
'Seong Wang needs us anyway—what more does he think he can squeeze out of us...'
But if things went wrong, he might end up handing over guild shares worth that same two hundred thousand nyang.
Right now, though, more than the lost money, it was Gu Ja-ang—shaking with wounded pride, his beard quivering—that grated on him most.
It's not your money, after all, is it?
'You should be saying you'll get the money back, Gu Ja-ang...'
But Gu Ja-ang's response was all wrong.
'For now, we'll formally report it to Seongwangbu...'
The moment he saw that hemming and hawing, Cheon Il-hae made up his mind.
'After this big affair's done, I'll have to cut him loose.'
A cold glint flashed in Cheon Il-hae's eyes.
Gu Ja-ang, scrambling to dodge the blame with this excuse and that, caught the look.
'!'
He forgot what he was about to say.
He'd known Cheon Il-hae for years, knew his temperament inside out—no way he couldn't read his mind.
He could guess nine out of ten times right. That glance just now—he'd seen Cheon Il-hae resolve to discard him like a worn-out shoe.
Gu Ja-ang's hand trembled inside his sleeve. All his hard work might earn him a pittance of recognition before retirement at best—or at worst, he'd end up boiled alive like a hunting dog past its prime.
Gwangeonbang's methods of body disposal flashed through his mind.
Nothing said he couldn't become fish food in the Sang River himself.
Cheon Il-hae was viciously greedy with money. He spent lavishly, but only if he could claw back more.
Gwangeonbang's shares in the North Wharf Service Guild—worth two hundred thousand nyang—were far more valuable than Gu Ja-ang's life. Long years of service? Not even a consideration.
Gu Ja-ang ground his teeth, imagining his corpse bobbing in the Sang River.
'If things go south, I need to strike first.'
Just then, a warrior came in to report that Cheon Seok-san had arrived.
Cheon Il-hae furrowed his brow.
"Seok-san is here?"
Cheon Seok-san was his paternal cousin, once removed.
Eight years ago, after causing a major incident, he'd come crawling; they'd hidden him under the clan name. But Cheon Il-hae hadn't seen him since.
Cheon Seok-san would occasionally show up quietly, hinting he wanted work at Gwangeonbang, but with his grudge against Kwon-wang unresolved, Cheon Il-hae couldn't take him in.
Besides, power wasn't something you shared even with blood kin—that was Cheon Il-hae's creed. So he'd treated him like a stray dog.
"Gu Ja-ang, you should step out."
As Cheon Seok-san entered, Cheon Il-hae dismissed Gu Ja-ang.
Gu Ja-ang's spirits plummeted. It was rare for Cheon Il-hae to send him away when someone called.
He realized Cheon Il-hae had hardened his heart.
'I can't just back down.'
Gu Ja-ang steeled himself ruthlessly.
Cheon Il-hae eyed his clueless cousin with haughty disdain and asked what brought him.
"So, what's this about?"
"Actually, the clan head sent me on a job... and it seems connected to you, brother."
"What is it?"
"He told me to deal with some young punk named Pung Woo-saeng, so I've been looking into him. Turns out his underlings have been coming and going from Gwangeonbang."
"Hmm..."
Cheon Il-hae scowled.
Would the clan head really task a master like Cheon Seok-san with just "teaching him a lesson"? It meant kill him.
"The clan head couldn't hold his temper and went and did it. A scar on the kid's throat—what's the big deal? So? He ordered a kill?"
Cheon Seok-san nodded.
Cheon Il-hae pondered briefly. He had a bad feeling he'd lose the second wager too.
Then he'd have to fork over the North Wharf Service Guild shares...
But if the recipient died, wouldn't it be void?
And if someone else handled it for him...
Perfect.
So he shook his head readily.
"Has nothing to do with me."
"Got it. I'll handle it."
Cheon Seok-san nodded and rose to leave when something flashed through Cheon Il-hae's mind.
Wait—no. If the matchmaker died, the tripartite duel might fall apart.
That would be trouble... If Hwa Cheon-gang accepted the duel, he'd lose the bet but gain a shot at crushing Cheongsu Gate.
That's why he'd agreed, even bracing to lose the shares.
Cheon Il-hae scowled, thought it over, then smacked his forehead.
'Just kill him after the duel goes ahead?'
I've gone rusty. Overthinking something this simple.
Maybe he did need Gu Ja-ang after all...
Cheon Il-hae grumbled inwardly and told Cheon Seok-san,
"Wait about ten days."
"Pardon?"
It'd all be over in ten days anyway.
"On second thought, there might be a slight connection..."
Cheon Il-hae cleared his throat awkwardly and said,
"Here's the deal. In about ten days, I'll have a decisive duel with Cheongsu Gate's Hwa Cheon-gang. He'll come out to arrange it that day—why not handle him then?"
"Sure."
Cheon Seok-san nodded obediently.
Seeing that, Cheon Il-hae smirked.
'The kid's been through hell—tamed him good.'
The Cheon clan had a history of wild young bloods who couldn't tell heaven from earth.
Must be in the blood—ancestors too, himself included, and this one.
Crippling Kwon-wang's disciple? Mad as a hatter.
That recklessness sent most off to the next world early, leaving few kin. Closest living relative, blood-wise.
Today, though, he seemed much meeker. Maybe years under virtual house arrest at the clan had mellowed him.
'Well, I've mellowed with age too.'
Cheon Il-hae, oblivious to rumors he was still ten times more savage than most.
"Eight years already—Kwon-wang still chasing you?"
"Seems like he's forgotten now..."
Cheon Seok-san eyed him with faint hope.
'Once I seize full control of Sangyang, I'll need hands. Someone reliable.'
Once he ditched Gu Ja-ang, he'd need a new right-hand man.
Cheon Il-hae spoke warmly.
"You're not getting any younger, freeloading off others... Breaks my heart, brother. How about helping with my work?"
Identity? Easy to fake. Just keep his martial skills under wraps.
Cheon Seok-san prostrated himself at once.
"Thank you, brother."
As Cheon Seok-san left Gwangeonbang, someone watched from hiding afar.
Jong Bi.
Jong Bi was a working assassin.
Habitually scanned her surroundings. Especially after Won Seung's attack.
So naturally, while checking around the house, she'd spotted Cheon Seok-san hiding in the tree where Yong Jo-un had been.
Jong Bi had calmly taken the tripartite duel writ Won Seung gave her and gone. She knew Cheon Seok-san was tailing her.
After getting Cheon Il-hae's signature and leaving, she'd braced herself.
Not likely, but...
'He might use me as an example.'
She carried a poisoned dagger as she walked the main road, but sensed no pursuit.
Glancing back, she saw him enter Gwangeonbang.
'?'
Jong Bi stopped, hid where she could see the gates, and waited a while.
Cheon Seok-san emerged after about half a shichen.
Then vanished somewhere.
Jong Bi raced back to Baekhwa Pavilion, where Won Seung's sketch of Cheon Seok-san's face lay on the table.
"This guy's been here?"
"This guy? You know him?"
Ogu, already racking his brains on Won Seung's orders to track Ilgwon Pasan's movements, perked up.
"Trailed me like a shadow."
"What're you talking about?"
Won Seung asked as he entered.
Jong Bi slipped out of the parlor with a glance.
"This place won't do because of the owl."
A tree was visible outside the window.
Moments later.
In a dimly lit room next door, freshly renovated, Won Seung, Jong Bi, and Ogu gathered.
Cheon Seok-san's sketch lay before them.
"This bastard's alias is Ilgwon Pasan, real name Cheon Seok-san. Connected to Gwangeonbang... Who's their bangju?"
"Cheon Il-hae! Same clan name. Could be blood kin!"
Won Seung and Jong Bi turned to Ogu in unison.
You worked there—seen him?
Ogu waved his hands in panic.
"He went into hiding eight years ago. I joined Gwangeonbang six years back. No contact since. If I'd seen him, I'd have recognized the sketch right away."
"Anyway, Cheon Il-hae's been sheltering him all this time."
Won Seung agreed with Jong Bi's guess.
"But why's Gwangeonbang's boss targeting me?"
"Pushing the tripartite duel."
Jong Bi paused, sensing it wasn't enough, and added,
"He doesn't think he'll win once it's set?"
'No, that's not it.'
Won Seung shook his head inwardly.
'Cheon Il-hae, acting all bold... That North Wharf Service Guild shares meant that much to you?'
The wager for the tripartite duel: two hundred thousand nyang in North Wharf Service Guild shares.
He didn't want to pay up.
The assassin was from the clan anyway. Misunderstanding or not, Cheon Il-hae wanted Won Seung dead too—same outcome.
Won Seung said,
"From today, I'm not stepping outside. You two handle it."
I'll stick right by Yong Jo-un.
The next day, true to his word, Cheon Il-hae formally proposed the tripartite duel to Cheongsu Gate.
Hwa Cheon-gang accepted immediately, and Yong Jo-un agreed.
In ten days: Cheongsu Gate, Yong family descendant, and Gwangeonbang—in a grand showdown!
Sangyang buzzed with excitement.
Weary of months of tense standoffs, now a single decisive clash to settle it all... Everyone cheered.
Bets on the outcome were already flying everywhere.
Won Seung moved busily.
Or rather, he racked his brains writing letters, while Jong Bi and Ogu ran the errands.
The bracket was set by the tripartite duel writ, but plenty else needed coordinating.
Especially since Cheongsu Gate and Gwangeonbang clashed on every detail.
First up: the duel venue.
Both wanted their own headquarters' plaza.
Yong Jo-un didn't care, but the two wouldn't budge.
Won Seung mediated: the Sang River bank, right on the boundary line between Cheongsu Gate and Gwangeonbang.
Next, squabbles over referees.
Each side tried stacking it with Sangyang merchants friendly to them.
"Come on, referees aren't fighting—why fight over this crap?"
Fed up, Won Seung settled on five official supporters from each side.
Even spectators sparked a minor tussle.
Gwangeonbang pushed for no spectators, a private duel. Fierce combat might cause needless casualties, and they worried about hidden attacks disguised as onlookers.
Cheongsu Gate, battered by rumors, demanded at least a thousand for transparency.
Won Seung mediated again: three hundred pre-vetted spectators, watching from thirty zhang away.
With every issue pitting their demands against each other, Won Seung schemed, and Jong Bi wore paths to both gates.
Meanwhile, the duel day drew nearer, day by day.