Episode 43. I Don’t Think You’re a Good Woman
Sky-Gazing Pavilion.
Dobaek Cheon Il-Hae sat in his grand robes, his brow deeply furrowed.
"Yong Jo-woon, that kid... He really does lack experience in Murim."
Seated to Cheon Il-Hae’s left was Gu Ja-ang.
It was the Sky-Gazing Pavilion’s Yi Mok who had thrown a stone at the window to warn Yong Jo-woon during the assassin’s ambush.
The Sky-Gazing Pavilion needed to pit Yong Jo-woon and the Clear Water Sect against each other. That’s why they paid a hefty sum to the Sea Mist Sect to commission an assassination.
Of course, they did it under the Clear Water Sect’s na.
But unexpectedly, the Sea Mist Sect sent a Special-grade Assassin. Yong Jo-woon nearly died.
Yi Mok’s quick thinking—throwing a stone fragnt—saved him, but the assassin got away.
"I think we overestimated his abilities."
Cheon Il-Hae scowled, having lost a fortune.
"Not at all. He tracked the assassin all the way to Xiangyang. He just lost the trail there. The assassin was wounded, so he’ll be caught soon enough."
"Regardless, Pyeong Ingang did well. Reward him. He was injured, wasn’t he?"
Pyeong Ingang, Cheon Il-Hae’s trusted aide, was the one who saved Yong Jo-woon. He’d tried to block the fleeing assassin and ended up with a dagger in his side.
"As expected of a Special-grade Assassin from the Sea Mist Sect. Even while wounded and on the run, he managed to take down Pyeong Ingang."
Pyeong Ingang was considered a First-class Master in the Sky-Gazing Pavilion. He was sent specifically to watch Yong Jo-woon, but even he couldn’t stop the assassin’s flying dagger.
"Still, I didn’t expect the Clear Water Sect to act so shalessly. Maybe I shouldn’t have changed the plan. It might have been better to keep our contract with Red Blood Mountain."
They’d canceled their commission with Red Blood Mountain, losing their deposit and souring the relationship. Hiring the Sea Mist Sect to assassinate Yong Jo-woon had cost even more.
If only they’d stuck with Red Blood Mountain from the start...
Cheon Il-Hae couldn’t help but regret it.
Gu Ja-ang, who had suggested canceling the Red Blood Mountain contract and using Yong Jo-woon instead, felt a pang of guilt and spoke up.
"If you consider the final paynt, this is still cheaper. Besides... I doubt Red Blood Mountain could have killed Hwa Cheon-gang. They’re a notch below the Sea Mist Sect."
Cheon Il-Hae only nodded, but his displeasure was obvious.
In the past, he would have strangled Gu Ja-ang with those big hands of his. But with age, he’d realized killing subordinates recklessly only caused trouble, so he held back.
Still, he couldn’t help but breathe heavily with frustration.
When Yong Jo-woon appeared, he thought he’d have the Clear Water Sect in his grasp right away. But now, who knew when this fight would end?
If Hwa Cheon-baek managed to open his Conception and Governing Vessels, they’d be like a dog staring up at the roof after losing the chicken.
No, it might even jeopardize the future of the Sky-Gazing Pavilion.
"Don’t worry. That kid may be naïve, but he’s perfect as a pawn for this sche. He’ll definitely draw Hwa Cheon-gang out."
Cheon Il-Hae rubbed his brow with his fingers.
"It cost a fortune to hire the five Daoist Experts from the Dosan Forest, too. If this fails, it’ll be a heavy blow. More importantly, Seongwang House won’t trust us anymore."
"Actually... there’s sothing I need to tell you."
Gu Ja-ang lowered his voice.
"The guy claiming to be Seongwang House’s strategist has opened a Calligraphy and Painting Shop called Hundred Flowers Pavilion on Calligraphy Street."
"Hundred Flowers Pavilion?"
"They only sell reproductions, but it’s doing quite well. Even the Prefect has visited."
"The Prefect went to the shop?"
Cheon Il-Hae’s brow furrowed.
Both the Sky-Gazing Pavilion and the Clear Water Sect were desperate to win over the Prefect. Not long ago, he’d received intelligence that Hwa Cheon-Woon had t the Prefect in secret.
He himself had tried every connection to et the Prefect, but was always turned down.
"How’s the eting with the Prefect going?"
"It’s in progress. You’ll be able to et him soon."
"Hurry it up. The Seongwang is like water from afar—it can’t put out the fire at your feet. But the Prefect is different. He’s the water jar right next to us."
The Prefect held military power in Xiangyang. If the Sky-Gazing Pavilion and the Clear Water Sect went to war and civilians got hurt, the Prefect could use the army to suppress them. In that case, whichever side he favored could decide the outco.
"Understood. I’ll make sure it happens. And... what about trying to win that guy over?"
"That guy? The one claiming to be Seongwang House’s strategist? Are you sure he’s really a strategist?"
Cheon Il-Hae couldn’t believe Seongwang House would have such a young strategist.
If he really was Seongwang House’s strategist, the Clear Water Sect would have treated him like royalty. But rumor had it they’d just stashed him in a guesthouse and treated him coldly before sending him off.
"He’s still young, so calling him a strategist might be a stretch, but he is from Seongwang House. Jo Bang-un confird his identification tag. Why do you think the Prefect approached soone from Seongwang House?"
"Then... does that an the Prefect is joining hands with the Seongwang?"
"It’s a possibility we can’t ignore."
Cheon Il-Hae’s brow finally relaxed. Attacking the Clear Water Sect was the Seongwang’s will.
If the Prefect joined the Seongwang’s camp, it would be natural for him to support the Sky-Gazing Pavilion...
"Hmm. Go et that kid. No, I’ll go myself. Where is he?"
* * *
Won Seung approached the woman rolled up in the blanket. She was lying face down, her back exposed.
Won Seung slipped his hand under the blanket, lifted her shirt, and applied Wound dicine. Then he stuck in a Paralyzing Needle and removed the Blood-letting Needle.
Leaving a needle in one spot too long can cause side effects, so you have to alternate them. He’d stuck in seven needles and was about to remove the Blood-letting Needle when he paused.
‘She’s a master. Better safe than sorry.’
He stuck two more Paralyzing Needles in and then removed the Blood-letting Needle.
The mont he did, the woman’s eyes snapped open.
"Whoa! Waking up the mont I pull it out?"
Normally, she should have stayed asleep at least until she’d had a cup of tea...
"Who are you? What are you doing to ?"
"Oh, you can talk?"
If you’re hit with a Paralyzing Needle, you shouldn’t even be able to speak. Won Seung checked the spots where he’d placed the needles. All nine were in the right places.
"Strange. How can you talk?"
"Hurry up and undo the paralysis!"
Won Seung noticed the woman’s lips weren’t moving. Now that he thought about it, her voice sounded odd. It wasn’t coming from her vocal cords.
‘Ventriloquism, huh.’
Her body was paralyzed, so her abdon shouldn’t move, and with her ridians blocked, she shouldn’t be able to use internal energy. Quite the skill.
"If you don’t release right now, I’ll kill you."
A dangerous glint flashed in the woman’s eyes.
"Hey, get a grip. Right now, I’m the one who could kill you if I wanted."
Won Seung picked up a long needle and waved it in front of her eyes.
"I saved you and even treated your wounds. And now you’re threatening to kill because I won’t let you go? I don’t think you’re a good woman."
"...?"
"You tried to kill the Descendant of the Yong Clan, didn’t you? He’s outside right now, hiding in a tree, staring in here like an owl. So if you want to live, stay quiet."
The woman’s eyes flickered.
"If they bring proof you’re here and ask for you, I’ll have no choice but to hand you over. You’re the one who tried to kill him first, after all. And he’s a formidable master—you should know, since you took his blade last night."
At Won Seung’s words, the woman recalled the events of the previous night.
It had been in the bag.
When Hwa Cheon-gang kept avoiding a fight, Yong Jo-woon had grown overconfident without realizing it.
He hadn’t even bothered to drive away the watchers.
She decided to use that arrogance. She used the Sea Mist Sect’s secret technique, Naless Fragrance—a sleeping incense with no scent or symptoms.
She slipped past the watchers and just had to stab with her dagger... but a stone fragnt ca flying out of nowhere and ruined everything.
She’d nearly died instead. Truly, the Unmatched Sect lived up to its na. Yong Jo-woon’s lightning-fast counterattack had left her wounded.
The one who threw the stone had also blocked her escape.
She was lucky to have survived.
Realizing Won Seung ant her no harm, the woman relaxed.
"Fine. I won’t hurt you, so release the paralysis."
She couldn’t stay helpless like this.
"The Descendant of the Yong Clan said you’re a master too. He said you’d try to kill to tie up loose ends."
"No, I won’t kill you."
"Hard to believe, coming from soone who just threatened to kill . I can’t release the paralysis until I’m sure you an it."
Just then, the door opened and Jong Bi walked in.
"Who are you talking to?"
"Oh, I’m trying to persuade this woman to turn over a new leaf. Being an assassin isn’t a job for anyone."
Jong Bi stared at the woman, dumbfounded. When her big, dark eyes fixed on him, his face turned red.
"Uh... Miss, I think this gentleman is right. Soone as beautiful as you shouldn’t be an assassin. Leave that to people like —no, I an, being an assassin isn’t sothing anyone should do..."
He caught himself, realizing he was insulting his own profession.
As Jong Bi rambled, the woman looked at Won Seung, her eyes saying, ‘Who’s this idiot?’
Ignoring her, Won Seung asked Jong Bi, "What’s up?"
"Oh, there’s a guest."
"You should handle it yourself."
"They asked for you, Young Master."
"For ? Who is it?"
"I don’t know. But he’s a master."
"Hmm. Why are there so many masters in Xiangyang? I can’t even breathe."
Grumbling, Won Seung left the room. Jong Bi bowed awkwardly to the woman and followed him out.
Cheon Il-Hae was sitting at a table in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, glancing around.
He could tell the paintings were extraordinary, but he wasn’t knowledgeable enough to appreciate them.
Across from him, Gu Ja-ang sipped his tea, trying to look refined, but his narrow brow made him seem anything but dignified.
Won Seung erged from behind the counter.
"Welco, I’m Pung Un-saeng. Were you looking for ?"
"Are you the strategist from Seongwang House in the imperial capital?"
Cheon Il-Hae, a true martial artist, was blunt and imposing. His piercing gaze seed to see right through Won Seung.
Won Seung imdiately recognized who they were.
The aura they gave off, the great saber at their side, and the guard warriors lurking outside—if he didn’t realize who they were, he might as well pluck out his own eyes.
‘No wonder Ohgu is nowhere to be seen.’
Lately, he’d had Ohgu handle consultations and managent at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion for practice, but he was nowhere to be found. He must have slipped out as soon as he saw Gu Ja-ang.
"Haha, you must be Cheon Il-Hae, Pavilion Master of the Sky-Gazing Pavilion. It’s an honor to et Xiangyang’s top expert."
"Oh? You know ?"
"I’ve heard a lot about you, and you’re exactly as described."
"Really? What did you hear that made you recognize at a glance?"
Cheon Il-Hae asked, clearly pleased.
‘You idiot. Your n have ‘Sky-Gazing’ written right across their chests. How could I not know?’
But what ca out of his mouth was different.
"Eight feet tall, shoulders like a tiger, waist like a bear, and able to swing an eighty-jin saber like a chopstick—who else could that be but the Pavilion Master?"
Cheon Il-Hae bead at the praise.
Gu Ja-ang’s eyes narrowed. He seed to think the Pavilion Master was being played by Won Seung’s smooth tongue.
‘So you’re the petty Gu Ja-ang. You look down on the Pavilion Master for being a brute, huh?’
Just as Ohgu had said, Gu Ja-ang was suspicious and full of himself.
Gu Ja-ang addressed Won Seung in a asured tone.
"Why did the strategist from Seongwang House open a Calligraphy and Painting Shop in Xiangyang’s marketplace?"
"Hahaha. That’s an exaggeration. I do have so ties to the Seongwang, but strategist? At my age, what do I know about being a strategist?"
He raised his hand respectfully to Gu Ja-ang.
"Soone with your experience, sir, is the one who should be giving advice. Are you perhaps the fad Gu Elder, the wisdom of the Sky-Gazing Pavilion?"
"Ha ha ha! What a character. For soone so young, you sure have a silver tongue."
Cheon Il-Hae laughed heartily.
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