Chapter 42: The Price Of The Tiger Skin (1)

Neung Ji-pyeong’s injuries were not so severe.

He was, after all, a martial artist who had reached the threshold of the Peak. His arms and shoulders had been scratched, but considering the fearsome claws of the Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger, he was lucky.

However, the situation was different for two of the Biyeon Squad members.

One had his abdomen severely torn open. Fortunately, his intestines hadn’t spilled out, but it was a situation where, if he didn’t press on his abdomen tightly, they might have. Another had his left wrist bitten off; without proper hemostasis, he could die.

Complicating matters, the carriage was completely wrecked. They weren’t even in a state to be moved by horse.

In that respect, was it heavenly assistance? Or maybe the good deed of saving the young hunter and his lover, who almost fell victim to the tiger ghost, had come back around as a butterfly effect.

Hunter Gwak, who had turned his back on the Tiger Killer Gang, appeared with his group.

They had discovered the corpses of the two tigers that had attacked them earlier.

As they had been preparing for a tiger hunt, they had tools and medical supplies, including cut wound ointment.

Fortunately, the two Biyeon Squad members were able to receive first aid and acquire a carriage to ride.

Now that the urgent crisis was over, it was time to inspect their gains.

Neung Ji-pyeong asked Hunter Gwak.

“How is it?”

“Truly… It’s the first time in my life seeing such an incredible creature. A twin-headed tiger.”

Yi-gang, who was standing next to them, chimed in, “It’s not an ordinary tiger, but a yokai, no, a spirit beast, a spirit beast!”

“The Great Tiger is originally a spirit beast.”

“If it weren’t for Squad Leader Neung and us, we wouldn’t have been able to catch it.”

Hunter Gwak nodded seriously.

“That’s right. It was an obvious outcome for Kang Myung-ho and the Tiger Killer Gang’s hunters. They didn’t know what they were dealing with, thinking they could catch such a creature with just over a dozen men.”

Neung Ji-pyeong approached Hunter Gwak and the corpse of the Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger.

“Then this creature’s skin must be a valuable item.”

“That’s… sniff.”

Hunter Gwak unwittingly pinched his nose.

Neung Ji-pyeong blushed, and Yi-gang awkwardly laughed. Although they had washed it with water, there was still a pungent smell in front of Neung Ji-pyeong.

Yi-gang quickly changed the subject.

“Ah, that must be the case, Squad Leader Neung. Isn’t it? The fur is also fine and silvery.”

“Ahem, if you’ll excuse me, it’s more ashen than silvery… But of course, it’s valuable. It’s none other than the skin of a twin-headed tiger.”

Tiger skins were originally sold at a high price.

The hunters helped with the disassembly of the tiger skin. If only Yi-gang and his group had been there, they wouldn’t have known how to skin it and would have had to leave the precious tiger skin behind, so this was an unexpected gain.

It might even become a lucrative side income.

Yi-gang quietly awaited Hunter Gwak’s sentiments.

“Well, if we want to sell the tiger skin, we’d have to go to the city. If you try to sell it just in Shanyang County, you won’t get what it’s truly worth.”

“Hmm, and if we sell it in the city?”

“The first criterion is how few injuries the skin has, and the second is the size of the tiger. It ranges from at least 10 nyang to as much as 70 nyang. You could get at least 200 nyang for the skins of four ordinary ones combined.”

Yi-gang’s eyes widened.

“You don’t mean in gold?”

“Oh? I meant in silver.”

“Ah, right, of course.”

The look in Hunter Gwak’s eyes changed as he regarded Yi-gang.

There seemed to be a bit of admiration mixed in there. The reason was obvious.

“Really, you must be the child of a remarkable family.”

“Do I appear so?”

“Heh, indeed, you do.”

He must have been surprised by Yi-gang’s sense of money.

However, Yi-gang was no naive fool unaware of the ways of the world.

While 200 nyang in silver was not a significant amount compared to the wealth of the Baek Clan, it was still a considerable sum. At least, it would be useful for Yi-gang personally.

Moreover, Yi-gang wanted to take good care of Neung Ji-pyeong and especially the injured warriors of the Biyeon Squad.

“So, what about that Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger?”

“I wouldn’t dare to say precisely, but…”

The Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger was of utmost importance.

“Such a thing is worthy of being presented to the Imperial court. Although its appearance is somewhat ferocious, what the nobles prefer… uh-hum. It’s the rarity, isn’t it? And with so few injuries.”

Surprisingly, the condition of the Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger’s skin was among the best. It was thanks to the creature’s regenerative abilities.

“The wound on its back is fatal. One head is half-cut, and there’s a stab wound on the flank, oh? There are holes in its forehead.”

“Those holes are… well, yes.”

“Still, such minor wounds are of no concern. By the way, haven’t you seen that there are instances where Great Tigers have internal elixirs within them?”

“That… let’s skip it. So, how valuable is it?”

The internal elixirs. They certainly existed.

In the wooden box that had contained the Purple Spirit Phantom Herb, there now lay the orbs from the Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger. And there were two of them.

First, he would purify them in the Azure Forest, give one to Jin Ri-yeon, and Yi-gang would consume the remaining one.

The items used for the possession, including the Purple Spirit Phantom Herb, were nothing but trinkets compared to the value of these internal elixirs.

“Just one of these would be worth at least 300 nyang. It seems best to sell this to the county magistrate.”

“Excellent. But, the county magistrate?”

“Actually, the Tiger Killer Gang received a request from the county magistrate of Shanyang County. It was a request to catch the tiger.”

“Requesting the hunters personally for the sake of the people. What a commendable administrator.”

“It’s not like that… In truth, it’s a double request. The newly appointed county magistrate seems to want to present the tiger skin to those above him. He received the request fee saying he needed the skin of a Great Tiger. That Kang Myung-ho took money from the villagers of Zhangjia Village as well.”

“He’s quite greedy.”

“Yes, he is.”

Anyway, this tremendous tiger skin was sure to fetch more than expected.

Yi-gang looked at the Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger, now reduced to only its skin, with a contented face.

Then, Hunter Gwak carefully brought something up, “But that county magistrate is too ferocious and reveals his greed…”

“Hmm?”

“That thick-skinned guy, Kang Myung-ho, must have had a hard time. He’s originally from a family with a background in the capital. He’s furiously gathering bribes, saying he wants to get out of his position as the county magistrate of Shanyang County.”

That was what Hunter Gwak said.

The greedy county magistrate would find this and that fault with the Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger’s skin and try to beat down the price.

Though he’s just the county magistrate of a small county, having a background and being an official could prove troublesome, they said.

Yi-gang’s response to this was simple.

“Hah.”

He merely scoffed.

Hunter Gwak, who had lived his whole life in the mountains, couldn’t fully understand that laugh.

In the great realm of the Great Ming, those who wished to climb the ranks of officialdom were countless.

The desire to walk the roads of the Forbidden City and catch the eye of His Majesty the Emperor, to discuss state affairs, might well be a fitting ambition for any youth with aspirations.

But how many geniuses worthy of the Emperor’s attention can there be in the vast Central Plains?

Even if one managed to penetrate the difficult provincial examinations and become a Juren, the number of official posts was limited.

Jang Chum-kyung, who became the county magistrate of Shanyang County as an upper-rank 7 official, was objectively lucky in this regard.

Passing the provincial examination was a tremendous achievement in itself, but his rapid appointment to an official post at a young age was largely due to his family’s influence. Personally, he was not at all grateful, however.

While diligently writing a letter, the tip of his brush split.

Jang Chum-kyung, whose handwriting was praised as that of a master calligrapher, was annoyed.

“Ah, damn it.”

He spat on the brush, a habit not new to him, his tongue black with ink.

He then worked the brush vigorously again, completing the letter with all his might.

“Hmm, good.”

Naturally, Jang Chum-kyung was not diligent in his duties as the county magistrate.

Stacks of letters similar to this were piled high on the wooden desk. They were all letters addressed to influential officials in Xi’an Prefecture and the capital, Beijing.

Loaded with flattery, they read, “Are you well? Please, remember this lowly Jang Chum-kyung.”

Jang Chum-kyung truly detested being stuck in Shanyang County.

Even though he had been in office for barely a year, he felt this way. The fact that he might have to squander three more years to transfer elsewhere made it worse.

He had ambitions. He didn’t need to go to the central government; he just wanted to be in a better place. His youth was too precious to waste in such a backwater.

“Now, all I need to write is that I’ll make sure to visit one last time.”

This letter was more important.

It was a letter to the Xi’an Magistrate, the closest to Shanyang County, and also a sure connection to the central government.

Just as he was about to finish the letter—

“Magistrate!”

“Ah!”

Barging in through the door was the chief of records, a lower-rank official.

Startled, Jang Chum-kyung accidentally streaked the letter with ink.

“You idiot!”

“Ou-outside, there came those who brought the skin of the Great Tiger!”

“What?”

Intending to throw the inkstone, Jang Chum-kyung cautiously lowered his hand at the chief of records’s words.

“They’ve brought the tiger skin. They want to sell it to the magistrate, or rather, they want to reveal the truth.”

“Finally!”

The skin of the Great Tiger was specially ordered to be sent as a birthday present for the Xi’an Magistrate. Jang Chum-kyung, forgetting his anger, stood up from his seat.

“Then why the commotion? Just give them a few silver nyang and take it, right?”

“The thing is… these people aren’t the hunters we contacted before. They are completely different individuals…”

“What does it matter as long as they have the item?”

“That’s true. But the item is rather suspicious, and they’re asking for a ludicrous price.”

It was the word “price” that caught Jang Chum-kyung’s attention.

“What? How much are they asking? Didn’t I say I’d be willing to pay no more than 100 nyang for the Great Tiger’s skin?”

“Well… they’re asking for 500 nyang in silver.”

Jang Chum-kyung’s face contorted with contempt.

“What? Those wretched people.”

Truth be told, he never intended to give the full 100 nyang from the start. He planned to find fault with the item and lower the price to below 50 nyang, but they were asking for ten times his maximum limit.

“Those bastards treat the magistrate like they would a dog. Send the officers to beat them up and detain them. I’ll finish writing this letter and then go out.”

“Really? But…”

“Shh.”

When Jang Chum-kyung glared, the chief of records slightly bowed his head and left the room.

When enough time for a cup of tea had passed, a scream erupted from the courtyard of the government office.

Judging by the pain-filled cries and the sounds of satisfying thuds, it seemed the officers were beating the hunters.

“They’re really giving them a lesson.”

Those hunters might have learned some martial arts in their lower-class life, but they were just commoners after all. It was only natural for them to kneel before the authority of the officers and the government office.

Just when he thought it was about time for the chief of records to return, indeed, the chief of records entered the room.

“Magistrate!”

“…What is it.”

But then, he saw the chief of records’ eyes were bruised purple.

“They resisted fiercely…”

“What were the officers doing then!”

“They were the ones beaten up, sir.”

“Ha! I can’t believe there are people who can’t distinguish the heavens and the earth under this vast sky!”

Jang Chum-kyung was furious.

“Arm the officers and send them. No, I’ll go myself. Those insolent brats!”

“It seems they are no ordinary folk.”

“What of it! Aren’t they just hunters who catch beasts at best!”

Jang Chum-kyung stormed down the corridor of the government office. The chief of records followed him, not knowing what to do. The magistrate gestured to all the visible officers, summoning them.

Soon, dozens of officers with drawn swords accompanied Jang Chum-kyung towards the inner court.

As expected, the inner court, which usually dealt with interrogating criminals or receiving complaints from subordinates, was already in an uproar.

Officers, clearly having been beaten, were rolling on the ground, while those who appeared to be the culprits sat boldly in the center of the inner court.

“This is outrageous. Have you gone mad? You dare to resist the officers because you’ve learned some martial arts?”

The enraged Jang Chum-kyung stepped forward imposingly.

The opponents were a shifty-looking bunch. All were dressed in brown, and two seemed to be injured.

Surprisingly, the one who appeared to be the leader was a boy sitting astride a horse.

Jang Chum-kyung took a deep breath and yelled, “You lowlifes, daring to defy without knowing your place. Kneel down at once…!”

However, he couldn’t finish his tirade.

His widely opened eyes quivered uncontrollably.

As Jang Chum-kyung stood frozen stiff as ice, the officers who were about to strike with their spears also hesitated, merely exchanging looks. They were ready to capture these insolent individuals upon receiving an order but didn’t understand the reason for the delay.

And then there was Neung Ji-pyeong, who had just taken down the officers with his injured body.

The boy who directed him with one hand spoke to the officers, “Please, finish what you were saying, Magistrate.”

His posture was bold as he looked down from his horse, but the magistrate dared not argue.

It wasn’t just because he realized the reason their shifty-looking group wore brown was due to blood and dirt.

Though there was no carriage bearing the insignia of the Baek Clan, the magistrate recognized their identities.

“H-how can this be.”

The man standing with his arms folded was undoubtedly Neung Ji-pyeong, the Squad Leader of the Baek Clan’s Biyeon Squad.

One of the first things Jang Chum-kyung did upon taking office in Shanyang County was to pay his respects to the influential figures of Xi’an Prefecture.

Even if he was an official with power in the region, he was someone who would eventually leave. Therefore, the first place he had shown courtesy was the Baek Clan, known as the top clan of Xi’an.

“Y-you’re Master Neung, aren’t you.”

“It’s been a long time, Magistrate.”

Neung Ji-pyeong casually acknowledged Jang Chum-kyung’s greeting.

“Why are you in such a place without any notice? More importantly…”

The power of the historic Baek Clan naturally extended to the office. They had enough influence to dismiss a magistrate of Shanyang County with a mere flick.

And the fact that the Biyeon Squad and Neung Ji-pyeong were escorting someone meant that the individual was undoubtedly…

“I cannot divulge that because it’s matters of the clan. This is Young Master Baek Yi-gang.”

“Heavens!”

The boy waving at him was the eldest son of the Clan Head Baek Ryu-san.

No matter how unruly the child might have been, his position within the clan was not something Jang Chum-kyung could dare question.

“It’s an honor to meet you! I am Jang Chum-kyung, serving as the magistrate!”

The once-ferocious magistrate bowed deeply, folding his arms in respect, and that too, to a boy young enough to be his nephew.

The officers and administrators gaped in shock.

And Yi-gang, without any awkwardness, dismounted his horse to receive the greeting.

“I am but a humble commoner, Baek Yi-gang.”

“I have misspoken!”

“Well, those who serve the government might make such mistakes.”

Jang Chum-kyung felt as though sweat was streaming down his back.

“You said you were buying this.”

“Ye-yes?”

And then Yi-gang removed the covering from what he had placed on the horse.

“Aaargh!”

Jang Chum-kyung couldn’t count how many times he had been surprised throughout the day.

The skin of a tiger with two heads was just that astonishing.

Yi-gang placed his hand on the trembling shoulders of the county magistrate.

“I heard you intend to send it to the Magistrate of Xi’an. Why would you do that? The Magistrate will likely move to the central government in a few years.”

“That is true, but…”

Jang Chum-kyung rolled his eyes, trying to grasp the situation.

Then, Yi-gang said with a sly smile, “Buy it from me instead. And send it to my father.”

“Excuse me?”

Not the Magistrate, but the Clan Head of the Baek Clan.

Abacus beads rolled around in Jang Chum-kyung’s head. Perhaps, it might be an even better option.

“That seems like a good idea.”

And then, Yi-gang boldly patted the local magistrate’s shoulder.

“But don’t even think about slashing the price.”

“Yes, sir…”

“For 600 nyang.”

The price had gone up by 100 nyang from before.

“…”

However, Jang Chum-kyung simply couldn’t refuse.

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