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| CHAPTER 322 |
Pyo-wol looked interested at Doeon-san's confident words.
"We fulfilled Tang's vision?"
"Yes!"
"But the city where Tang was is more than four hundred li away from here. Are you sure you fulfilled his vision?"
"Fortunately, our master is Tang's direct descendant, so we were able to fulfill his vision."
"Is that so?"
"Yes! Since our master said it himself, it must be certain."
"Then, was this item also made according to Tangmun's vision?"
"Yes! It was made using the method that Jangju told us."
Do Yeonsan nodded his head.
Pyo Wol looked closely at Do Yeonsan's face.
Although he was in his late teens, his eyes seemed overly melancholic. Especially in his sunken eyes, there was even a hint of madness.
Do Yeonsan's appearance reminded Pyo Wol of Tang Soo-chu.
He had the same feeling when he first saw Tang Soo-chu.
The madness of geniuses who were deeply immersed in a field naturally manifested itself.
Pyo Wol asked Do Yeonsan, "Can I see more of the item you made?"
"Yes!"
Do Yeonsan brought out several items.
There were swords, daggers, and even a variety of different types of blades. However, none of them could compare to the awl that Pyo Wol was holding.
As a rule, the smaller the object, the more attention to detail and concentration it requires. Therefore, most craftsmen found it more difficult to make small objects. But Do Yeonsan was different.
When making small and lightweight objects, Do Yeonsan seemed to increase his concentration.
The method of making the awl also seemed different from Tangmun's vision.
Pyo Wol was not familiar with the art of blacksmithing, but having spent time with Tang Soo-chu, he knew what kind of quality products could be produced when Tangmun's vision was used.
The weapons made by the workshop using Tangmun's vision fell short of Pyo Wol's standards. They were similar, but somehow they lacked a little something.
On the other hand, the awl made by Do Yeonsan was different.
With this level of skill, it was not inferior to what Tang Soo-chu could produce.
"I will buy the awl."
"Really? There are much better items than this..."
"This is the only one that meets my standards."
"Oh!"
Upon hearing Pyowol's words, Do Yeonsan's expression showed a grateful look.
He felt as though his efforts were being rewarded.
It had been over four years since he started working at Cheolsan Workshop. During that time, he learned how to work with iron as taught by the artisans there.
Although the artisans taught him the vision of Tangmun as a guiding principle for working with iron, Do Yeonsan was not impressed.
As he became more proficient in working with iron, he began to doubt the rumors he had heard about Tangmun's vision. The quality of the goods made from the vision were said to be the best in the world.
However, the goods made from the vision taught at Cheolsan Workshop were only slightly better than ordinary goods, and were not overwhelming.
But since the owner and artisans of the workshop said so, he couldn't reveal his true thoughts.
Around Tae-ho, it was hard to find a workshop as well-treated as Cheolsan Workshop. Perhaps other workshops would not accept him even if he went looking for work there.
Cheolsan Workshop was the most powerful force in the Taeho area, to which they belonged. Their influence was regarded as much stronger than that of any other faction.
Such a Cheolsan Workshop could not allow a craftsman who learned their vision to join another workshop.
No faction tolerates the leakage of its vision to the outside, even if it is a poor one.
If Doe Yeonsan tried to leave Cheolsan Workshop forcibly, they would surely take his life or render him unable to live or die.
Knowing this fact, Doe Yeonsan hid his doubts and devoted himself only to working with iron.
Weapons such as swords and knives, which many warriors use, had set specifications and strengths that had to be adhered to, regardless of Doe Yeonsan's skill level, to meet Cheolsan Workshop's standards.
On the other hand, small items such as awls were different. They were rare items made even in the workshop, so there were no established standards to follow.
Thanks to that, Doe Yeonsan was able to demonstrate his skills to the fullest.
The awl that Pyo Wol was holding was one of those things.
"How much is it?"
"Uh, it's three silver coins, sir."
Doe Yeonsan answered in a trembling voice.
Pyo Wol gladly paid the silver coins.
The awl was worth that much.
"I hardly spent anything on the materials. With three silver coins, I can make whatever I want."
Doe Yeonsan clenched his fists.
No one knew that he sold the awl to Pyo Wol for only three silver coins. When he made a deposit, all the remaining money was his.
"Thank you."
Doe Yeonsan bowed his head to thank Pyo Wol.
Pyowol discovered a small pattern drawn on a band that tied up a bunch of umochim. It was a unique pattern in which two circles intersected each other.
"What is this pattern?"
"That... is my mark."
"Mark?"
"When I become famous later on, I will put this mark on all of my things."
Doyeonsan blushed as he answered.
Famous craftsmen like Kangho sometimes leave unique marks or symbols to prove that they made the item.
Doyeonsan also made his own mark, following in the footsteps of those craftsmen.
"Really?"
"Hehe! My little brother likes this pattern. That's why I engraved the same pattern on his necklace."
"That's cool."
"Hehe! I don't know if it's cool, but my brother likes it."
Doyeonsan scratched his head.
"One last question."
"Yes! What is it?"
"What is the name of the owner of Cheolsan workshop?"
"The owner's name is the same as the workshop's name. It's Tang Cheolsan Daehyeop. He's a direct descendant of the Tangmun family."
"Direct descendant of Tangmun? I see."
Pyowol nodded his head.
Doyeonsan looked at Pyowol with a puzzled expression.
There was no one who did not know Tang Cheolsan's status in the area.
Starting from his surname 'Tang', he boasted about being a direct descendant of Tangmun himself.
In the castles around Sacheon or in the vicinity of the area, Tangmun was a synonym for terror, but here, thousands of li away, he was treated as a mystical figure.
It was the good aspects that stood out because they never had a direct clash with Tangmun. The Tang Cheolsan household took advantage of this and established themselves here. They boasted about being descendants of Tangmun and took control of the nearby commercial district.
There was no one in the Taeho region who didn't know this fact.
"This person is from outside," Doyeonsan quickly realized that Pyowol was from outside the area. But he didn't think it was strange.
Taeho's scenery was well known throughout the country, and people from all over came to see it.
Then, suddenly, a fierce voice was heard from inside.
"Hey, you beggar!"
Doyeonsan quickly answered, crouching his shoulders.
"Yes!"
"What are you doing here, you brat? Where's my sword? I told you to polish it."
A man in his mid-twenties walked out of the workshop confidently. He had eyes that slanted upwards and thin lips that resembled a swallow's tail.
Slap!
The man slapped DoYeonsan's cheek. DoYeonsan staggered, his lips burst and blood flowed, and his cheek swelled up instantly.
"Where's my sword, you brat?"
"I put it on the left shelf in my room."
"Why did you put it there? I told you to bring it to me."
"You told me to put it there at that time..."
"You little liar! Are you saying I lied?"
"No, I must have been mistaken."
Doyeonsan quickly raised his head.
"I brought in a beggar, fed him, and taught him skills, but he can't handle a single task properly..."
"I will work harder, sir!"
"Forget it, you brat! Get out of the way!"
The man hit Doyeonsan's shoulder and went back inside without even looking at the guest, Pyo Wol, who behaved as he pleased, was truly a worthless person.
Swish!
Doyeonsan wiped the blood from his mouth only after he completely disappeared. His sleeves were stained with red blood.
He was still dizzy from the shock, but he tried hard to smile.
"I apologize for showing the guest an unpleasant sight."
"Seems like he's a person of high status."
"He's Cheolsan Jangwon's chief owner, Young Master Tang Ik"
"Chief owner? Is he the son of the owner?"
"Yes! He behaves as he pleases, but he's not a bad person."
Doyeonsan tried hard to defend him, but contrary to his words, his eyes shone coldly.
Pyowol came out of the Cheolsan workshop and returned to the guesthouse.
In the streets where darkness had descended, one by one, red lanterns were illuminating the way. The shops that were open during the day were now closed, and the taverns and guesthouses were taking their place.
As night fell, more people came out into the streets.
The soju called Saekhyang was right next door.
Taeho Street was also famous for Saekhyang, no less than soju.
Eating fresh fish dishes made in Taeho and enjoying alcohol with gisaengs (Korean female entertainers) was a mandatory route that every hedonist must go through.
Today, there were hedonists lining up in front of the taverns in Taeho Street.
"Hehehe! Let's go to Donghae Ilru today. I heard a new gisaeng came there, and she's so amazing."
"Donghae Ilru? I'd rather go to Seochangru. That place can be called Taeho's best tavern."
People who were somewhat drunk were shouting about which tavern they knew was the best.
Those people were the ones who were aimlessly wandering around the streets.
A city where people get drunk on alcohol and women.
That was exactly where they were.
Among them, the one who walked soberly without being drunk seemed to be the only Pyowol.
Pyowol headed straight to the lodging he had reserved without glancing elsewhere.
The name of the lodging he had reserved was Taehojeilgwan.
It was a lodging that many drunken guests loved because they could see the beautiful scenery of Lake Taeho through the window.
Taehojeilgwan was also bustling with drunken guests.
There was no empty seat on the first floor.
"Should I share a table?"
While he was thinking that, Jeomsoui approached him with a cheerful smile.
"Have you been here before?"
Jeomsoui knew that Pyowol had reserved a room here because he had an excellent memory. No, even if his memory wasn't that great, it was impossible not to remember a man with such a striking appearance.
Pyowol was that noticeable.
"If you're looking for a seat because there's no empty space, you can come up to this floor."
"Is there a seat available on this floor?"
"This floor only accommodates reserved guests, but it's an exception for those who stay at our hotel. You could say it's a kind of benefit."
"Good to hear. Then I'll go up to this floor."
"Oh, by the way! There's an important gathering of guests on this floor today, so please try not to draw attention that way."
"What kind of gathering is it?"
"It's a meeting of young elites in this area. I don't even know why they gather. Hehe!"
Jinsoyi smiled as if she could imagine it all in her head.
Even though there was a lot of hustle and bustle going on in the hotel right now, Jinsoyi also had ambitions of learning martial arts and being recognized by people someday. So the meeting of the famous elites in the area was a precious sight for her.
Opinions were different for Pyowol, who was unimpressed by it all. If they were famous elites in Kangho, he had already met them to the point of being sick of it. He had no expectations of them.
Suddenly, Jinsoyi clapped her hands and said something.
"Oh, by the way! If you want to have a meal on this floor, you have to try our hotel's high-end cuisine. Since we have fewer guests, we have to adjust the unit price."
"I understand. Just bring me some suitable food."
"What about drinks?"
"I'm fine without them."
"Then I think the braised carp we caught today would be appropriate. I'll order it from the kitchen, so please go up first."
Jin-soi ran to the kitchen with a satisfied smile.
With such an energetic and lively personality, it seemed that Jin-soi would be successful in any job, not just this one.
Pyo-wol went up to the hotel's floor.
He saw that several tables were attached together by the best window with a great view. It seemed that they were set up for a gathering that would take place today.
Pyo-wol took a seat in the farthest corner from where the gathering would be held.
There were a few other people on this floor besides Pyo-wol.
They briefly glanced at Pyowol before sitting in a place unrelated to the gathering, and soon lost interest.
Like a dot on the map, they too seemed to have come here to observe the gathering of the scribes today, which meant that the gathering of the scribes was a major concern here.
Pyowol sat and looked at the scenery of the street.
The sight of people staggering and walking under the red light seemed somewhat unfamiliar. She couldn't imagine what it would feel like to live freely like that while being drunk.
And then, it happened.
"It feels good to be back on the land after a long time. Is it true that the alcohol here is that good?"
"You won't be disappointed. Among all the alcohol I've had, this place was by far the best."
"Hehe! If you're guaranteeing it, then I'm sure it's good. I'm looking forward to it."
With a noisy sound, the two of them came up to this floor.
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