As True as a Dream

“…qi (起)”. 

It’s used both as

“to fly”

and

“to revive.”

Qi to revive, to make whatever it is authentic. It was a sign of both.

 “How about it, are you still sure it’s the real thing?” 

Hae-Joo looked at Yi Ho with a puzzled expression.

 

The painting she believed to be authentic was one of Yangbu’s greatest masterpieces.

 

Hae-Joo pursed her lips and barely managed to spit out the words.

 

How did she know that the painting was a fake?

 “How…” 

He simply unfolded the scroll and looked at it.

 “Didn’t you say before that you would take the responsibility if the painting wasn’t authentic?” 

Hae-Joo was stunned that she had been deceived by her father.

 “You also said that you would repay the life debt you owe me when we reach Gyeongseong.” 

The accusation in his voice made her stiffen.

 

But she recovered and nodded.

 

He was the only person on the train willing to help her in this desperate situation.

 

She was genuinely touched and grateful for his kindness.

 

No matter how shameless, selfish, and greedy she was, she wasn’t so low as to keep her mouth shut and pretend she didn’t know grace.

 “Okay. So what do I do now? I don’t like it when people manipulate and cheat me.” 

Hae-Joo swallowed hard.

 

How many times had she experienced this man’s bad temper?

 

Her heart pounded like it was about to burst through her breastbone.

 

She wasn’t going to let him get away with this.

 

Yi Ho’s intense gaze was like he was trying to figure out how to strip her down to the bone so he could eat her.

 

Should she give him a hint now? Would she take responsibility and pay her debt if she could?

 

While she was thinking, Yi Ho broke the long silence.

 “What are you going to do?” “I’ll do whatever I can afford.” 

Hae-Joo was so eager to please him that she said what she had been thinking.

 

Yi Ho raised the corner of his mouth.

 “What if I ask you for money?” 

Money?

 

Hae-Joo flinched for a moment, but then nodded humbly.

 

It hurt, but money was the most practical and reasonable way to settle such a debt.

 “I’ll pay for it.” “What if I beat you?” “I’ll take it.” “What if I tell you you’ll be a servant?” “I will become an ox and a horse and work to death.” 

Hae Joo replied, and Yi Ho looked at her and asked bluntly,

“What would you rather do?” 

I know it’s unlikely, but I really think he’s going to ask me to die.

 “Could you die?” 

‘You’re kidding, right?’

 “Really?” 

Yi Ho’s lips curled into a smile as she watched his face, unsure of what to say.

 “To be honest, I don’t want to die. You know how much I value this insignificant life, don’t you?” “To return the favor, you must give me what you value most.” “Actually, what I value most is not my life, but…” 

Hae-Joo started to say something else but stopped when she made eye contact with Yi Ho.

 

This man knew her very well from the few times they had come into contact.

 

No matter what she said, he would think it was all bullshit.

 

She sighed in relief.

 

How could she have gotten so involved with this man and become a debtor?

 

For twelve years, every month…

 

As she continued to think about it, she looked up from her thoughts.

 “How about this?” 

Yi Ho looked at her as if to say.

 “How about I be Mr. Ban’s cow and horse for the next twelve years? I’m more useful than I look. I drive well, I’m dexterous, I have a quick eye, I can bend when I bend and straighten when I straighten, and I’m strong, not to mention hardworking.” “He has a habit of painting his face with gold.”

Hongo interrupted.

 “I do it because I deserve it.” 

Hae-Joo laughed in spite of Yi Ho’s sarcasm.

 “What do you think?” 

*** 

 “What do you think?” 

Yi Ho looked at Hae-Joo, who smiled at him in a way that matched his sarcasm.

 

If you owe your life, shouldn’t you be a cow and a horse for the rest of your life?

 

But it’s only twelve years. Twelve years she owed Song Yue.

 

That’s exactly how long.

 

But what he doesn’t want is for Hae-Joo to be a cow and a horse, circling around him for 12 years.

 

There’s another reason why he waited so quietly, even though he knew she would bring him a fake.

 

Yi Ho rejected Hae-Joo’s insidious proposal with a swift rebuff.

 “You don’t have to do that.” “Oh, you’re really going to miss out on a worker as good as me?” “Yes.” 

At his casual affirmation, Hae-Joo’s face stiffened.

 

Yi Ho didn’t seem to mind and continued calmly.

 “You don’t need anything else, just find the real Guishan Dao and that’s all you need to fulfill your responsibility. You don’t need to sacrifice twelve years of your life.” “What?” 

After a moment of stunned silence, Hae-Joo burst out laughing.

 “You want me to find the real Guishan Dao?” 

Yi Ho got up and walked through the middle door to Hae-Joo’s table.

 

He leaned down in front of the table and pressed his hand to the footstool that Hae-Joo had cut with his knife.

 “If my guess is correct, you or your stepfather were the last to see the Guishan Dao, so you should be able to find it.” 

As he spoke, Hae-Joo, who was sitting across from him, looked at him in disbelief.

 “Whenever someone opens their mouth, they’re lying,”

he added.

 “Did you do a background check on me?” 

Hae-Joo seemed to consider his answer and then fell silent in embarrassment.

 

Yi Ho swallowed hard at the ridiculousness of it all and came back to the point.

 “The clue is somewhere in your head. If you can’t think of it, pull out your brain and iron it and then look inside.” 

Hae-Joo’s eyes widened at the eerie words.

 

Fearing that her own skull would split open, she gently wrapped her hand around her head and put some distance between them.

 “Why do you think my father and I were the last people to see Guishan Dao?” “When did your stepfather paint that picture?” “Painted…? I don’t know when my father painted it…” 

As if his question reminded her of something, the dazed Hae-Joo looked down at Guishan Dao’s uncertainty.

 “He didn’t draw this… No, he did. My father drew it…” 

When Hae-joo mumbled as if something didn’t add up, Yi Ho added.

 “The last time the painting was seen was eight years ago on the black market.” “Eight years…? Are you sure it’s been eight years?” 

Hae-Joo, who had been counting on her fingers at his words, asked back, her eyebrows knitted into an eight.

 “From what I’ve been able to find out, I’m sure.” “When exactly is that? What month?” Hae-Joo suddenly asked eagerly. “And where did the Guishan Dao that was sold at that auction go? Did you ever find out who bought it?” “The painting was not sold that day. It disappeared. It was in October.” Knock-knock! 

Just then, someone knocked on the door of the guest room.

 

Everyone turned to look at the door, including Hae-Joo, Yi Ho and Hongo, who had been quietly listening to the story.

 

Soon Hongo was out of the door at a brisk pace and returned a moment later to stand in front of Yi Ho.

 “There’s someone from the Jongno police station, they said they came to your room to inquire about the cause of death of a policeman who died on the day of the last shooting incident, so you’ll have to talk to them in person.” 

Yi Ho saw Hongo’s expression stiffen a bit and asked.

 “Who came?” “This is Inspector Sasaki of the Jongno Police Department, a man who is highly trusted by the new Governor Saito.” 

Inspector Kawamata Sasaki, Governor General Jiro Saito. It was a familiar name that Hongo had heard several times recently.

 

Two months ago, a party was held to welcome Governor General Saito to the Joseon Governorate.

 

The party was attended by all kinds of businessmen, dignitaries, nobles, royalty, and landowners in Jing Province.

 

Song Yue’s master, Yi Ho, was also invited, but he declined, claiming to be unwell.

 

For a time, Song Yue attracted the attention of the governor, but that was all.

 

This was because since the Song Yue Pavilion was founded over twenty years ago, it had never offended any of the powers in Jingshen Province.

 

All that power came from the

“Song Yue Curse”

.

 

It’s a shame that anyone from the clan who touches Song Yue Pavilion will die without knowing English.

 

However, the owner of the pavilion was not easy to contact, as he was only rumored to be a mysterious figure.

 

The problem was that Song Yue was so big that he was said to control some of Gyeongseong’s money.

 

It’s annoying, but you can’t touch him, and he has a lot of money.

 

However, they couldn’t push Song Yue away without a reason.

 

If they did, the barely suppressed rebellion of the Joseon people would not be small.

 

There were several dark battles, but none of them survived.

 

As a result of this experience, no one dared to touch the Song Yue Pavilion.

 

As a result, Song Yue’s position in Gyeongseong was very fragile.

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