Ballad of the Mountain Fox

제 26 장: The Wrong Note

It had been a week since ceramics master Seok Ji Hoon's arrival, and the thief who had robbed him was yet to be found. Gong Il Woo had been stewing ever since Jimin had told him the news of the potter's arrival, and he was becoming increasingly certain in the strategy he had planned out with the help of his servant, Kang Dae. Yes, the plan would work, and he would get his revenge for his public humiliation at the hands of a certain young nobleman.

He was just missing a key ingredient.

"Is there still no sign of him?" Il Woo snapped irritably as his servant stepped through the doorway of the nobleman's room. He had been asking the same question for the past seven days, always with the same answer-Kang Dae would throw himself to the floor and beg for his master's patience. But why would Park Young Min spend so long traveling away from his home? Il Woo couldn't understand it, and he hadn't been able to get much useful information out of Jimin's cryptic responses and her maid's occasional slip-ups of information.

Yet, today there was a change. Instead of going about his usual routine of sniveling and groveling upon having no information on the subject, the servant actually gave a smile.

"Park Young Min has been spotted coming back into town," Kang Dae informed his master. "It seems that his mountain pilgrimage is at an end."

"Finally!" Il Woo jumped to his feet. "There's no time-we must hurry!"

Kang Dae bowed. "Of course, young master," he said solemnly.

"You know what to do. Arrange for the ceramics master to meet me in the town square, and make sure Jimin is present."

"Yes, sir."

"And make sure the magistrate is there, and tell him to bring his guards!"

Il Woo started pacing the room as soon as the servant had left to do his bidding. He mentally reviewed his plans for a final time, checking for any possible flaws. But there were none, he was sure of it.

Time seemed to pass at an intolerably slow pace before Kang Dae returned with the news that Seok Ji Hoon had agreed to meet with Il Woo just outside the parchment store in the marketplace. Word had also been sent to Jimin's maid that there was a terrific sale at the neighboring fabric shop-an event that the young noblewoman would indubitably hate to miss.

Il Woo picked up his gat and secured its smooth black strap firmly under his chin. He took a deep breath and focused on staying calm-something he did not do very often.

At least the walk to the marketplace was not long, Il Woo reasoned to himself as he headed to the arranged meeting place, his servant a shadow at his side. Now that the nobleman's plans were very nearly at fruition, he wondered how he had managed such patience for an entire week as he waited for his rival's return. In fact, Il Woo congratulated himself on keeping his temper-he had only thrown a teapot at a kitchen maid once that past week!

The young nobleman and his servant arrived at the parchment store before the ceramics master, which pleased Il Woo-he would be able to see Seok Ji Hoon approaching from a distance, and perhaps strike a nonchalant pose in the meantime.

Il Woo tried leaning against one of the wooden posts in front of the store, but his shoulder slipped and he stumbled backwards to keep his balance. Wisely, Kang Dae made no indication that he had noticed, and so Il Woo cleared his throat and smoothed out his hanbok. Perhaps, he decided, it would be better to just cross his arms, instead.

It was an unbearable fifteen-minute wait before Seok Ji Hoon finally came into view at the far end of the street. When they were within speaking distance, Il Woo gave a bow-perhaps not an entirely respectful one-and began to speak.