Chapter 33

## Chapter 33. Ronin Market

“I’m planning to go somewhere for a few days.”

“Huh?”

“……The practical exam is only ten days away, you know?”

Akyunho and Mingriwu, who were eating breakfast with me, looked surprised and stared at me.

Akyunho, with rice grains still in his mouth, said fiercely.

“Brother! Didn’t you receive the warning letter from the Blue Dragon Academy telling the prospective lecturers to stay put until the practical exam?”

Why is this guy suddenly nagging so much?

I deflected all the rice grains flying at me with my chopsticks and slammed the table, saying,

“It won’t take long. It’s also related to my practical exam preparation.”

I decided to go to the Ronin Market with Bokmanchun.

I wanted to personally verify the medicinal herb Bokmanchun found and meet a capable and discreet night market vendor.

However, the distance to the Ronin Market was such that even on horseback, it would take a full day to get there, so the round trip would take at least four days.

Naturally, I couldn’t tell the two of them the full details, so I had to make up an excuse.

“So, when are you going?”

“I’ve finished eating, so how about a cup of tea?”

“You’re telling us this now?”

“I just decided.”

I smiled and poured tea into Akyunho’s cup, which he was holding with a slightly disappointed look.

“If anything happens, let me know.”

“Got it. Meet plenty of pretty ladies while you’re out.”

Akyunho sighed deeply and gulped down the tea I poured for him.

……That’s pretty hot, isn’t it?

“Aaah, ah, ho, hot!”

“Tsk tsk. How old are you, and still so clumsy?”

“W, water! Cold water!”

“Here you go.”

“Thanks…… Gah! This is hot water!”

After finishing our usual breakfast, I packed a small bag and got ready to leave.

“Brother Bai. Before you go, wait a moment.”

Mingriwu, who had been quietly lost in thought during breakfast, handed me a small book.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a list of students who are taking the external skills class in the dormitory.”

“……Why are you giving me this?”

The book was small but quite thick.

It seemed to have been completed recently, as the ink smell still lingered.

“I’ve summarized the characteristics of each student’s martial arts and their personalities. It should help you when you give the demonstration lecture.”

“Brother Ming, do you really have to do this much for me?”

I tilted my head and asked.

Although he seemed kind, I knew Mingriwu was very pragmatic.

He probably approached Akyunho and me because Akyunho was from the Shandong Yeg family.

‘Is this because my maternal grandfather is the dormitory supervisor…… hoping I’ll be treated well in the future?’

Seeming to understand my gaze, Mingriwu smiled and nodded.

“I don’t think the senior I saw that day would pass someone just because they’re his grandchild.”

“……That’s true. Then why are you giving me this?”

Mingriwu seemed to be searching for words for a moment before he said,

“I just…… I hope Brother Bai passes the exam.”

“Why?”

“You remember what you said to the prospective lecturers gathered at the inn that day. That they should be ashamed and that they don’t deserve to teach.”

I remembered. It was just a few days ago.

I had said it because the lecturers, who were struggling to teach the students, looked so pitiful.

“That wasn’t directed at you……”

Mingriwu smiled softly and nodded.

“I know. But I was ashamed. I didn’t have the courage to slap a student or call for a bailiff or the dormitory supervisor. But Brother Bai, you can do that.”

“Because my maternal grandfather is the dormitory supervisor.”

“Even if your maternal grandfather wasn’t the dormitory supervisor…… I believe Brother Bai would have done something.”

“You’re making me sound too good, and it’s making me uncomfortable.”

I shrugged lightly.

Mingriwu looked at me seriously and said,

“If the same situation happened again, I don’t think I’d have the courage to act. But I believe Brother Bai would do something. So please pass the exam. For the next time……”

I laughed, feeling a bit exasperated.

“Are you telling me to lead the charge and fight against injustice?”

“I can help you secretly from the side.”

Mingriwu scratched his short hair and smiled awkwardly.

It felt like the first time I saw him genuinely smile.

I put the book Mingriwu gave me in my pocket.

Thanks to this, my trip to the Ronin Market wouldn’t be boring.

“You’re making me sound too good. Don’t be disappointed later. Anyway, I’ll use this well.”

“Please speak more casually from now on. I’m a year younger.”

“Alright. Got it, Riwo.”

I left the inn with the farewells of my two younger brothers.

“See you both in a few days.”

“Safe travels.”

“Safe journey.”

As I opened the inn door and stepped outside, I heard their voices from behind.

“But Brother Ming, what about me? I don’t have a book?”

“Huh? Brother Ak is in the same major as me, so……”

“What? Are you being unfair and not giving me one? And why are you speaking formally to me? I’m a year younger, so speak casually!”

“Well, even if I do…… you’re from the Shandong Yeg family……”

“What’s the problem with that? From now on, speak casually and give me a book too.”

“……”

Leaving their voices behind, I walked lightly to meet Bokmanchun.

* * *

Two days later.

“This is the place.”

Bokmanchun and I, with our faces half-covered by black veils, entered the Ronin Market.

The early Ronin Market was a place where ronins bought and sold their martial prowess, but over time, it transformed into a black market where anything that could make money was traded.

A place where you could get anything for money.

There were many illegal transactions, so the market was held irregularly in places where the authorities couldn’t reach.

‘I was lucky.’

If it weren’t for Bokmanchun’s extensive network from his long time as a ronin, it would have been quite difficult to get in touch with the Ronin Market.

“Master. This way.”

I followed Bokmanchun to the middle of the hill where the Ronin Market was set up.

Faint torches were lit here and there, and tents and stalls were set up.

At the Ronin Market, all kinds of goods were sold.

“Really, it’s indescribably good! There’s nothing better for a man! Selling Gangjeok Pills!”

“A single drop can knock down a tiger for just……”

“Wife who ran away with another man, I’ll catch her for you. Why don’t we start with a consultation?”

Bargaining was happening all over the market, and rough men with many scars on their faces and bodies were loitering around.

Thud.

“What? Can’t you open your eyes properly?”

“Are you talking to me now?”

Occasionally, ronins would bump into each other, leading to fistfights.

When a fight broke out, an open space would immediately form, and other ronins would gather around, whistling.

Betting on who would win was a common sight.

“Haha. There are many rough guys, so the atmosphere is like this. But don’t worry; knife fights rarely happen. Otherwise, everyone here would become enemies.”

Bokmanchun, despite his awkward scratching of his head, kept a watchful eye on the surroundings.

Bokmanchun, with his intimidating presence, made most ronins avoid us.

“Hehe. Master, you have nothing to fear.”

‘You’re the scariest one here.’

I chuckled at Bokmanchun’s overprotective guard.

The smell of sweat and old blood from the ronins made me feel strangely at ease, as if I had returned home.

Moreover, there were many ronins who had trained in external skills, which was interesting to observe, given that I would be teaching external skills in a few days.

“Tsk. That guy won’t last long. He’s been using drugs to enhance his body.”

“……Master, can you read physiognomy?”

“Somewhat.”

We crossed the Ronin Market, chatting about various things.

There was one item I needed to buy here.

And one person I needed to meet.

With a clear purpose, there was no reason to stop along the way.

“This is the place.”

We stopped in front of an old tent.

Bokmanchun lifted the tent flap and went in first.

Inside the tent, a one-armed man in his forties was drinking. As soon as he saw Bokmanchun, he jumped up.

“Who’s this! Brother Bok!”

“Hahaha! Brother Jang! It’s been a long time!”

The two men embraced each other like brothers who hadn’t seen each other in decades.

“I heard you settled in Nanchang. Look at you, living with a fox-like wife and a rabbit-like child has really made you look sharp!”

“Don’t even mention it. My wife is a headache, and raising a child is so expensive. I’m really struggling these days.”

“Haha, this guy is just whining. But the person behind you……?”

“Oh, this is someone I’ve newly taken under my wing. Master. He’s an old friend I used to know well.”

“My name is Huchun.”

Only then could I greet the one-armed man.

The one-armed man brought a wooden box from among the items in the tent and showed it to me.

“Hehe. Actually, many people wanted to buy it, but this friend insisted on reserving it, so I set it aside for him.”

I ignored his obvious lie and placed my hand on the wooden box.

“Can I open it?”

“Since it requires careful handling…… I’ll open it for you.”

The one-armed man slowly opened the box, and soon a rich fragrance filled the tent.

Inside, entangled purple roots grew abundantly, with seven branches, and each branch had seven leaves.

It was the Qi Zhi Jiu Ye Cao (Seven-Branch Nine-Leaf Grass), a highly yang-rich medicinal herb.

‘It’s genuine. And a pretty high-quality one at that.’

I recognized the Qi Zhi Jiu Ye Cao at first glance.

While the Jiu Ye Cao itself wasn’t hard to find, a high-quality Qi Zhi Jiu Ye Cao was something you could only get with good luck.

“Did you find it yourself?”

“Hehe. I didn’t find it myself, but I’m selling it on behalf of someone and taking a commission. The connections I made while being a ronin come in handy at times like this.”

As expected, the price was quite high.

“What’s the price?”

“Hmm. Since you’re someone Brother Bok is bringing, I’ll give you a big discount…… if you can give me this much……”

The one-armed man enthusiastically worked the abacus on the table and showed me the price.

However, Bokmanchun’s expression changed immediately upon seeing the amount.

“Hey! Brother Jang, are you really going to do this to me?”

“Come on. I’m already giving it to you at the lowest price out of respect for Brother Bok. I don’t make much profit either.”

“Who do you think I am? I’ve been in this business for a while, and it’s disappointing to see you mark up the price like this.”

“Listen, Brother Bok. Don’t get so excited, and hear me out……”

I watched in silent admiration as the two men haggled over the price.

‘Even a heated sword discussion wouldn’t be as intense as this.’

I wasn’t someone who could be easily fooled, but I couldn’t match the seasoned middle-aged merchants.

A moment later.

The one-armed man finally sighed and said with a reluctant look.

“Damn. With Brother Bok, there’s nothing left for me to eat. Is this price okay?”

We received the Qi Zhi Jiu Ye Cao at a price nearly half of what the one-armed man initially asked for.

Bokmanchun smiled and patted the one-armed man’s shoulder.

“Whining. If you find a good medicinal herb next time, let me know.”

“……I’ll think about it.”

“Come on, don’t be like that. I’ll treat you to a big drink next time. Okay?”

“Damn. You’re annoying, so just go!”

Bokmanchun winked and blinked at the one-armed man, then slung the box over his shoulder.

However, as soon as we stepped out of the tent, Bokmanchun’s expression hardened.

He whispered to me so only I could hear.

“I’ve met this guy a few times before. He’s a real snake.”

You’re more like a snake……

I was impressed by Bokmanchun’s sudden change in attitude and said,

“No wonder he didn’t give in on the price.”

“I wanted to haggle more, but he has a lot of connections here, so I let it go. After all, Master will need to come back here to buy medicinal herbs again, right?”

“I’m learning a lot from you today, Bok Guard, or rather, Bok Chief.”

“Hehe. Please trust me with anything in the future.”

The word ‘Chief’ made Bokmanchun’s mouth stretch from ear to ear.

He pounded his chest and said,

“Alright, let’s go meet the night market vendor now.”

I followed Bokmanchun, whose shoulders were now raised, to meet the night market vendor.