“One-Stroke Scribe! The author who sent me Eastern Lands, Western Soil, please show yourself!”
A woman cried out pitifully in the middle of the street, like a newlywed bride who had lost hold of her husband’s hand in a crowded market.
Her identity was none other than Chu Yongwol of the Hundred Books Merchant Guild—or rather, the Hundred Books Old Bookshop.
Watching her, Yanghwi raised the corners of his lips.
‘She passes the first test.’
As Jeong Inhwa had said before, popular tales were not the kind of writing that could make someone a fortune.
And yet, the fact that she was showing such desperation meant she understood the value of the novel Yanghwi had written and was confident she could turn that value into profit.
‘So she really is the same person who stood out as a merchant in my previous life.’
While Yanghwi was thinking that, Steward Han Seogeon stepped in front of Chu Yongwol.
“Who exactly are you, miss, that you cause such a commotion the moment you arrive at our manor?”
Only then did Chu Yongwol come back to her senses.
“I am Chu Yongwol of the Hundred Books Old Bookshop in Nanchang. I received a letter from Baek Family Manor and rushed here.”
Chu Yongwol clasped her hands together and bowed with the utmost courtesy.
“First, I apologize for my rudeness. I was so eager that I forgot even the most basic etiquette.”
Because Chu Yongwol had arrived early in the morning, Baek Muryang had been teaching the three Baek siblings at the training ground.
“I understand. Do not concern yourself with it.”
Unlike Baek Muryang, who readily forgave her rudeness, Steward Han, who had come outside because of the disturbance, asked for a more detailed explanation.
“Very well, Miss Chu. What exactly is the matter? And what was that ‘One-Stroke Scribe’ you were shouting about?”
Chu Yongwol’s gaze swept over the surroundings before settling on Steward Han.
“I apologize once again. The person who wrote the letter told me that there was a matter requiring secrecy and wished to discuss it privately.”
“……Is that so?”
Steward Han looked slightly displeased, but Yanghwi felt satisfied once again.
‘She passes the second test.’
Yanghwi had never written anything about secrecy being required.
The fact that Chu Yongwol had immediately shouted for One-Stroke Scribe the moment she arrived at Baek Family Manor proved it.
‘She assumed everyone would know because it was written in the letter, but after seeing the atmosphere here, she realized that wasn’t the case.’
Being quick-witted meant having a mind that constantly analyzed situations.
That meant making fewer mistakes and having a greater chance of coming up with schemes that led to success.
“Father.”
“Yes, Hwi. It was you.”
It was only a short call, but Baek Muryang immediately understood.
At that moment, Steward Han’s face lit up.
“Again, Young Master?”
“You say ‘again’ as if I caused some trouble. But yes. It is me again.”
The corners of Steward Han’s mouth naturally rose.
The reason was simple.
“How much is it worth this time?”
Steward Han was the one who managed both the internal and external affairs of the family and kept the household running. Naturally, after Baek Muryang had told him where the money he distributed to the retainers a few days ago had come from, he already knew.
And because of that, Steward Han had become Yanghwi’s absolute supporter.
‘How difficult had it been to manage the household with such meager income all this time!’
But the boy had brought back no less than two thousand five hundred silver pieces!
A child had earned half a year’s worth of Baek Family Manor’s income all by himself!
A steward’s loyalty was simple. As long as someone gave them money, they would even trust and follow the worst fiend of the Demonic Cult.
Naturally, to Steward Han, Yanghwi had become someone he cherished beyond measure.
“At least ten thousand pieces of gold.”
After hearing Yanghwi whisper that, Steward Han’s eyes widened.
He immediately pushed Yanghwi toward Chu Yongwol.
“Ahem. Young Master Hwi, please take Miss Chu with you.”
His words were dignified, but without Baek Muryang noticing, Steward Han secretly gestured toward Yanghwi.
The meaning was clear.
Get as much out of her as possible.
‘Steward Han…… you really have suffered a lot.’
Who would have thought that such a dignified man who valued etiquette would make a gesture like a gambler?
Though, if he heard that it was not ten thousand silver pieces but ten thousand gold pieces, he might actually faint.
Ten thousand gold pieces.
Even the Five Great Clans could not easily handle such an enormous fortune.
But the potential value of what Yanghwi planned to accomplish today was worth even more.
“Miss Chu.”
Yanghwi called out to Chu Yongwol and gave her a formal fist-and-palm salute.
Chu Yongwol’s eyes flashed with surprise.
“Who are you, Young Master?”
“I am Yanghwi of the Baek Family. I know where the person you are looking for is, so please follow me.”
Chu Yongwol once again quickly examined her surroundings. The strange light in her eyes grew even stronger.
‘A child has stepped forward, yet the Clan Head and Steward remain silent. This child is no ordinary child.’
“Thank you for your consideration, Young Master.”
Yanghwi led Chu Yongwol to his room and tightly closed the door so that no sound could escape.
“Young Master? Didn’t you say you knew where One-Stroke Scribe was? But it is only the two of us here.”
Chu Yongwol pretended to look puzzled, but Yanghwi knew she had already figured out the truth.
After gauging the atmosphere, she had not mentioned One-Stroke Scribe even once, yet just now she had referred to the author by name.
“It is empty, therefore there is no hesitation.”
Those words were a line from Eastern Lands, Western Soil, the novel Yanghwi had sent her.
It was part of the conversation between the protagonist and his master, Ililrihaeng, when they spoke openly by quoting the phrase No man stands above another, and no man stands below another.
Chu Yongwol’s face stiffened in shock.
Yet she still did not let go of the slightest suspicion.
“I know part of Eastern Lands, Western Soil. However, I cannot tell whether Young Master is truly One-Stroke Scribe or merely a representative. Therefore, would you please prove it to me?”
She was asking him to prove that he himself was One-Stroke Scribe.
That was not difficult.
Yanghwi took out a prepared blank manuscript and picked up his brush and ink.
It took him only two hours to write the entirety of the third story onto the blank pages.
“The title is…… The Sword That Crosses Ten Thousand Miles. Please read it, Miss.”
Chu Yongwol carefully accepted the manuscript and began reading.
Before long, her body started trembling.
When she turned over the final page, she let out a deep breath.
“So this is why you are called One-Stroke Scribe?”
Writing an entire book in a single sitting was truly worthy of the name One-Stroke Scribe.
And if the contents contained both profound insight and entertainment, it was even more astonishing.
“So this is the kind of marvel that cannot be believed even when seen with one’s own eyes. How could someone as young as Young Master achieve something like this……”
“No matter how vast the world is, there have always been geniuses capable of astonishing it.”
In truth, it was thanks to the memories of his previous life, but Yanghwi answered with shameless confidence.
Seeing Yanghwi like that, Chu Yongwol sighed once again.
“Are you calling yourself a peerless genius? Yet I cannot say such arrogance is undeserved. Let me ask you. Why did Young Master send me a letter?”
Now the real beginning would start.
“Isn’t it obvious? To sell books and make money.”
“Are you aware that popular tales such as novels are usually not spread in book form, but are instead told through storytellers?”
“Of course.”
“To sell books, you must hire craftsmen to carve thousands upon thousands of characters into woodblocks. Then you must print them on expensive paper and bind them into books.”
In other words, it cost a great deal of money to produce them.
“Even if you sell popular tales as books, people will likely prefer hearing the stories from storytellers who have already read them.”
She was right.
Selling popular tales as books was clearly not a profitable business. The limitations were obvious, and it could not be considered a desirable commercial venture.
However.
‘The One-Stroke Scribe of my previous life shattered every one of those limitations. With nothing but the entertainment value of his own stories.’
That was also why Chu Yongwol had rushed to Baek Family Manor first thing in the morning.
Because she had recognized the value of the novel.
Because she had seen that it could make money.
Her negative remarks right now were simply the preparation of a merchant before negotiations.
“If you think that way, then why did you come?”
“……It piqued my interest. It has been a very long time since I encountered a story this entertaining.”
‘She is trying to push back one more time. I have no intention of losing this, Miss Chu.’
“So you simply wished to meet the author. Then you have achieved your goal. Will you be leaving now?”
“……”
Chu Yongwol could not bring herself to answer yes.
Seeing her hesitation, Yanghwi smiled.
“People who understand each other should not waste time measuring one another and pulling at strings, Miss.”
Chu Yongwol suddenly thought to herself.
People who understand each other? Is that really something a boy who has not even reached ten years old should say?
“……Young Master truly is unusual in every way for someone your age.”
“Thank you for the compliment. From here on, let us speak frankly.”
“Very well. I will be direct. I wish to turn Young Master’s stories into books and sell them through our Hundred Books Old Bookshop.”
“Good.”
Seeing Yanghwi accept immediately, Chu Yongwol was momentarily taken aback.
Until now, he had acted like an experienced old fox, yet he accepted the deal without hesitation.
“I never intended to sign a contract with anyone other than the Hundred Books Old Bookshop. The letter I sent was also only sent to you, Miss.”
Chu Yongwol maintained a calm expression, but Yanghwi could read the emotions in her face.
Pride.
And satisfaction.
‘She is still young. Still, this is impressive enough. If possible, I hope she passes the final test as well.’
Yanghwi stared at Chu Yongwol.
And a moment later, he felt pleased inwardly.
“Forty percent of the profits. That is the best condition our Hundred Books Old Bookshop can offer.”
“Pass.”
“What?”
“Nothing. I was just about to say that sounds good, but the words slipped out.”
The reason he had immediately accepted the deal and told her he had only sent the letter to the Hundred Books Old Bookshop.
It meant he had other options and had no intention of haggling over conditions.
Chu Yongwol successfully understood his intention.
“Forty percent of the profits. Good.”
After writing the detailed conditions into the contract, Yanghwi asked one more question.
“Now that we have signed the contract, may I ask how you intend to sell the books?”
“We plan to display the three novels in the most visible location of the Hundred Books Old Bookshop.”
“A conventional method.”
“Do you have a better one in mind, Young Master?”
Of course he did.
More accurately, it was not something he had thought of himself. It was the method One-Stroke Scribe had used in his previous life to sell his own books.
“You said you would use woodblock printing, so if the books sell well, you will print additional batches. Am I correct?”
“That is right. Producing a large quantity all at once would require too much initial capital.”
“If it were me, I would do this. I would leave a mark indicating the order in which each printing was made. First edition, second edition, and so on.”
As someone intelligent, Chu Yongwol immediately understood.
“Assigning value through rarity. A good method!”
“Furthermore, I intend to sign only ten copies from each printing.”
Holding brush and ink, Yanghwi wrote eight characters in one stroke.
The name of the author: One-Stroke Scribe.
Yanghwi’s handwriting was so elegant that it was impossible to believe it belonged to an eight-year-old child.
“The signed copies will only be given to the first ten customers of each printing.”
“……Young Master.”
“Yes?”
“Have you ever considered becoming a member of the Hundred Books Old Bookshop?”
Chu Yongwol was genuinely amazed by Yanghwi’s business sense.
By assigning meaning and value to a small number of products, he increased the value of all products.
He stimulated people’s desire to collect.
What that meant was—
“You are not trying to sell books containing stories. You are trying to create and sell intangible value through them.”
Sell an extraordinary story in book form.
Then make everyone under heaven desire to own that book.
Make simply hearing the story from a storyteller no longer satisfying.
Would this not allow them to earn even more money?
“An excellent idea. Then, then…… we should decorate the books with golden thread and make them luxurious. So that the increased value becomes even greater.”
“We should raise the price as well. That will increase our profits too.”
“We could even make sales membership-based…… No, that method cannot be used immediately. But if we did that, the initial capital required would be far greater…… However…… however……”
Chu Yongwol continued muttering to herself as she formed plans.
Watching her, Yanghwi smiled with satisfaction.
“Miss Chu. I would like to make one more contract.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“If you pursue a higher level of quality, the burden on the Hundred Books Old Bookshop will only increase. I wish to share that burden. I will invest four thousand silver pieces into the Hundred Books Old Bookshop.”
“What?!”
Chu Yongwol’s eyes widened as far as they could go.