"I plan to go somewhere for a few days."
"What?"
"... The practical exam is just ten days away, you know?"
Akyunho and Myungiloo, who were having breakfast with me, looked at me in surprise.
Akyunho, chewing his food, exclaimed, "Hyung! Didn't you receive the warning sent to the prospective instructors who passed the interview at the Cheongryong Academy? You should stay put, not stir up trouble..."
Why is he suddenly nagging like this? After flicking away the rice grains flying towards me with my chopsticks, I firmly placed my bowl on the table and said, "It won't take long. It's related to my preparation for the practical exam."
I decided to go to the Rogue Market with Bokmanchun.
I wanted to confirm the elixir he mentioned and meet a skilled, tight-lipped healer.
However, the journey to the Rogue Market would take a whole day on horseback, meaning it would take three days just to go and come back.
Naturally, I couldn't tell the two of them the full details, so I had to give a vague explanation.
"So when are you going?"
"Since we've finished eating, how about a cup of tea?"
"You're saying that now?"
"It was a sudden decision."
I poured tea into Akyunho's cup, who looked a bit disappointed, and smiled.
"If anything happens, let me know."
"Got it. Go meet many pretty ladies by yourself."
Akyunho sighed deeply and gulped down the tea I poured for him.
...
That must be quite hot.
"Ah, ah, hot, hot!"
"Tsk tsk. How old are you to be so clumsy?"
"W-water! Cold water!"
"Here you go."
"Thanks... cough! This is hot water!"
After finishing breakfast, which was no different from usual, I quickly packed my things and got ready to leave.
"Hyung Baek. Just a moment before you go."
Myungiloo, who had been quietly lost in thought during breakfast, handed me a small book.
"What is this?"
"It's a list of students currently in the dormitory who are taking external martial arts classes."
"... Why this?"
The book was small but quite thick.
It seemed freshly completed, as the smell of ink still lingered.
"I've summarized the characteristics and personalities of each student's martial arts. You could say it's a sort of genealogy. It will help during your demonstration lecture."
"Myung, is it really okay for you to do this for me?"
I asked, tilting my head.
Although he seemed friendly, I knew Myungiloo had a very practical nature.
He had approached Akyunho and me because Akyunho was from the Shandong family.
'Is he hoping for favors because my maternal grandfather is the student supervisor?'
Understanding the meaning behind my gaze, Myungiloo smiled and nodded.
"If the senior Ma Geun-ryeom I saw that day is the same, I don't think he would pass you just because you're his grandson."
"... That's true. Then why are you giving this to me?"
Myungiloo seemed to search for words for a moment before saying, "I just... really hope you pass the exam."
"Why?"
"You told the prospective instructors gathered at the inn that day, to be ashamed of themselves. You questioned whether they were qualified to teach."
I remembered.
It was just a few days ago.
I had spoken out because the instructors who were struggling to teach their students seemed pathetic.
"That wasn't directed at you, Myung."
Myungiloo nodded with a gentle smile.
"I know. But I felt embarrassed. I didn't have the courage to slap a student or call the student supervisor. But you, Hyung, you could do that."
"Well, that's because the student supervisor is my grandfather."
"Even if the student supervisor weren't your grandfather... I believe you would have done something."
"That makes me feel like you're seeing me too positively."
I shrugged lightly.
Myungiloo looked at me with serious eyes.
"If a situation like yesterday's arises again, I won't have the courage to act. But I believe you will do something. So please pass the exam. If something like that happens again..."
I laughed in disbelief.
"You want me to take the lead and fight against injustice?"
"I could secretly help you from the side."
Myungiloo scratched his short hair and smiled awkwardly.
It was the first time I felt he was genuinely smiling.
I tucked the book he gave me into my arms.
Thanks to him, I wouldn't feel bored on the way to the Rogue Market.
"You're seeing me too positively. Just don't be disappointed later. Anyway, I'll make good use of this."
"Feel free to speak comfortably in the future. I'm one year younger."
"Alright. I got it, Ilwoo."
I left the inn, escorted by my two younger brothers.
"See you both in a few days."
"Have a safe trip."
"Take care."
As I opened the inn door and stepped outside, I heard the voices of the two behind me.
"But Myung, what about me? I don't have a book!"
"Huh? Akyung, since we have the same major..."
"What? Are you saying you're not giving me one? And why are you speaking formally to me? I'm one year younger!"
"Is it okay to do that... But you're from the Shandong family..."
"What's wrong with that? Come on, speak comfortably and give me a genealogy too."
"..."
Leaving their voices behind, I walked lightly to meet Bokmanchun.
Two days later.
"This is the place."
With my face half-covered by a black cloth, Bokmanchun and I entered the Rogue Market.
Initially, the Rogue Market was a place to buy and sell the martial prowess of rogues, but over time, it transformed into a black market where anything that could make money was traded.
A place where you could find anything as long as you had money.
Due to the many illegal transactions, the market opened irregularly in places out of the watchful eyes of the authorities.
'Lucky me.' If it weren't for Bokmanchun's connections from his long time as a rogue, I would have had a hard time getting in touch with the Rogue Market.
"Sir, this way."
I followed Bokmanchun up the hillside where the Rogue Market was held.
Dim torches flickered here and there, and there were tents set up and stalls lined up.
The Rogue Market sold all sorts of goods.
"Really good stuff, but I can't explain it! There's nothing better than this for a man! Selling Gangjikhwan!"
"One drop can take down a tiger with this poison for just..."
"Got a runaway wife who fled with another man? I can bring her back for you. Come consult first!"
Bargaining was happening all over the market, and rough men with scars on their faces and bodies wandered around the Rogue Market.
Thud.
"What? Can't you open your eyes?"
"Are you talking to me?"
Occasionally, there were scenes of rogues bumping into each other and getting into fights.
When a fight broke out, a clearing would form immediately, and other rogues would surround the area, whistling.
Betting on who would win was a given.
"Haha. With so many rough guys around, the atmosphere is like this. But don't worry, there won't be any knife fights unless it gets really out of hand. If that happens, everyone here will turn against you."
Bokmanchun scratched the back of his head awkwardly while keeping a lookout.
He also had a strong presence, so most rogues didn't dare to approach us.
"Hehe. Sir, there's nothing to be afraid of."
'You look the scariest.'
I couldn't help but smile at Bokmanchun's overly protective demeanor.
The smell of sweat and old blood clung to the bodies of the rogues.
It felt oddly comfortable, as if I had returned to my hometown.
Moreover, many of the rogues had trained their external martial arts, making it interesting to observe their bodies since I would be giving an external martial arts lecture in a few days.
"Tsk. That guy won't last long. He's grown his body with drugs."
"... Sir, can you read faces too?"
"Just roughly."
We chatted about various things as we crossed the Rogue Market.
There was one item I needed to buy and one person I needed to meet.
With a clear destination, there was no need to stop along the way.
"This is the place."
We stopped in front of an old tent.
Bokmanchun lifted the tent flap and entered first.
Inside the tent, a one-armed man in his forties was drinking.
As soon as he saw Bokmanchun, he jumped up.
"Who is this! Bok Hyung!"
"Hahaha! Jang Hyung! It's been a while!"
The two men embraced each other like brothers who hadn't seen each other for decades.
"I heard you settled in Namchang. Look at you, living with a vixen for a wife and a rabbit-like child, you look so prosperous!"
"Don't even mention it. My wife is a handful, and raising a child costs so much money. I'm really struggling these days."
"Haha, you're such a drama queen. But who is the person behind you?"
"Oh, this is the new person I've taken on. Sir, this is a friend I've known for a long time."
"I'm Heocheon."
Only then could I greet the one-armed man.
He brought out a wooden box from among the items inside the tent with his only hand and showed it to me.
"Hehe. Actually, many people wanted this, but this friend insisted on reserving it, so I kept it aside and waited."
I let the obvious lie flow past my ears and placed my hand on the wooden box.
"Can I open it?"
"This one needs careful handling... I'll open it for you."
As the one-armed man slowly opened the box, a rich fragrance spread throughout the tent.
Inside was a tangle of twisted purple roots, with seven branches growing from it.
Each branch had seven leaves.
It was a rare herb called the Seven Branch Nine Leaf Grass, known for its abundant Yang energy.
'This is the real deal.
And it's quite a high-quality one.'
I recognized the Seven Branch Nine Leaf Grass at a glance.
While the grass itself wasn't hard to find, a high-quality one like this could only be obtained with luck.
"Did you find this yourself?"
"Hehe. I didn't find it myself; I just sold it on behalf of someone else and took a commission. The connections I've made while selling come in handy at times like this."
As precious as it was, the price was naturally considerable.
"How much is it?"
"Well, since it's for the person Bok Hyung serves, I'll give you a good discount... If you could give me around this much..."
The one-armed man diligently rolled the abacus with one hand and presented it to me.
However, upon seeing the amount, Bokmanchun's expression changed immediately.
"Oh! Jang Hyung, are you really going to do this to us?"
"Hey, this is the best price I can give you, considering your face. There's hardly anything left for me."
"Do you think I'm a fool? Come on! It's been a while since I left this business, and you're trying to rip me off like this?"
As I watched the two of them bicker over the price, I quietly admired them.
'Even a regular negotiation isn't as intense as this.'
I wasn't someone who could easily be scammed, but I had no way to match the back-and-forth between these two seasoned middle-aged merchants.
A little while later, the one-armed man sighed with a reluctant expression.
"Damn it. When I get caught by Bok Hyung, there's nothing left for me. How about this?"
We received the Seven Branch Nine Leaf Grass at a price nearly half of what the one-armed man initially quoted.
Bokmanchun smiled kindly and patted the one-armed man's shoulder.
"Stop the drama. Contact me again when you have good elixirs next time."
"... Next time, I might have to think about it."
"Come on, don't say that. I'll buy you a drink next time. Okay?"
"Damn it. Just hurry and go!"
Bokmanchun winked at the one-armed man and slung the box over his shoulder.
However, as soon as we stepped outside the tent, Bokmanchun's expression turned serious.
He whispered to me so only I could hear,
"I've met that guy a few times while working before. He's a very cunning fellow."
You're the one who's more cunning...
I admired Bokmanchun's sudden change in demeanor and said, "No wonder he was so ruthless in the negotiations."
"I wanted to give a better price, but he's well-connected here, so I let it slide. That way, when you need elixirs again, he'll be more likely to come back."
"I'm learning a lot from you today, Commander Bok, or should I say, Commander Bokmanchun."
At the mention of "Commander," Bokmanchun's grin stretched from ear to ear.
He patted his chest proudly and said, "Now, let's go meet the healer."
I followed Bokmanchun, whose shoulders were held high, to meet the healer.