sampah

“See that?”

“Yes, hyung!”

“Look! That vast land! This will all be our land!”

“Huhuhu”

Loud laughter ensued.

“There are no officials who will bother us here, and nobody else will come between our goals either. Now and here, we can do our very best!”

“Of course, hyung!”

“Hahahah! Before this year is done… Everyone will know the name of our Occlude Tiger Village! Come on! Let’s go! In the future, we will create history!”

“Yes, brother!”

Shimmering passion.

And hot ambition…

*Tak! * “Kuak!”

The bandit grabbed his head.

“This makes me think differently. Does it feel comfortable now?”

“No! Not at all! Disciple! You must think we have gone crazy!”

“It isn’t that! I just think your mind is drifting elsewhere.”

“No! Not at all!”

Tears welled up in Bangyo’s eyes.

‘I just want to go to my hometown and live by working on some land.’

‘What? Rule the world?’

‘I might as well just freeze to death. Right, death would sound better.’

“Pull like a cow! Like a cow!”

“Yes, disciple! Like a cow! Moooo!”

Sad tears welled up in Bangyo’s eyes.

“Kuak.”

A sharp cry of pain and an immediate groan escaped from his mouth.

After being captured by Chung Myung, their routine was simple. From morning to dawn, they would literally just pull the carriage like they were horses. In the evenings, when the group paused their journey, the bandits would help the others prepare for camp and were given a short break later.

“Chief. It is too hard.”

“Uh. I really feel like I am going to die.”

“I’d rather just die.”

Tears welled up in the eyes of Bangyo as he heard his subordinates.

‘Why did I get caught by these men….’

They were bandits.

They were the most notorious bandit group at the border of Sichuan. However, Bangyo, the head of the bandits, had desperately realized that the world was wide and that there were real ‘reapers’ out there.

“…the youngest is still lost?”

“…it doesn’t seem like he will turn sane any moment.”

Bangyo closed his eyes tightly as he looked at their youngest member, who now had his eyes wide open with saliva dripping down the corner of his mouth.

“…he will spend the rest of his time like that?”

“Probably…”

“Kuak.”

Being the youngest meant having courage. However, the youngest one, Gongso, had gone against Chung Myung, and the cost of that mistake was too great.

Seeing Gongso, who was arguing with the others, Chung Myung smiled and said.

“Haha. The calf is talking.”

And it seemed like Bangyo would never forget those words.

As he said that, Chung Myung moved from the carriage and hit the man on the head like before. Since then, Gongso hadn’t spoken.

For the rest of his life, he would probably be the same unable to do anything else.

After Gongso turned out like that, no one dared to say anything more, even though their feet were swollen and limbs were broken.

Furthermore…

The real trouble wasn’t theirs.

Thud!

Thud!

“Ughhh….”

“…”

Bangyo looked at the disciples of Mount Hua, who were collapsing from exhaustion with tired faces. He couldn’t even dare to think about how difficult it must have been for their clothes to turn into rags with just one training.

At that moment, one figure entered Bangyo’s view.

“If you practice, you need to increase your stamina! Why is there no difference in your stamina? You are all worthless!”

Bangyo’s gaze lowered to the floor and saw Jo Gul twitching.

“…”

The first time he saw this man, he had thought he would be a good fit if he joined the bandits.

But now, Jo Gul was being hit by a younger man called Chung Myung.

‘What? Take over the central plains?’

As he recalled his hyung’s words in the past, his blood boiled.

‘The Central Plains?’

‘THE CENTRAL PLAINS??’

‘That disgusting bastard!’

By what means could they even enter there anymore? They had gotten their asses handed to them before they could even properly take a step in!

At that moment, Chung Myung turned his head.

“Oh? You seem to have some energy in you?”

The bandits all bowed their heads.

“Tch tch. Look at them acting like babies.”

Chung Myung clicked his tongue and walked somewhere. When he disappeared from their sight, the disciples of Mount Hua, who had fallen on the floor, struggled to get up.

Jo Gul’s body was shaking.

“What is that bastard doing!”

“…even ghosts have something they are scared of.”

“Ugh!”

Jo Gul sighed as he tried to get Yoon Jong up.

“Sahyung. Get yourself together.”

“W-where am I?”

“No… forget it, just sleep.”

In the meantime, Jo Gul took care of sahyungs.

Baek Cheon sighed and spoke.

“Let’s clean up and then get some sleep.”

“We need to understand the training we did today a little more.”

“Will you be fine?”

“I can sleep in the carriage during the day, so it is fine. I am sorry but not sorry for the bandits at the same time.”

“Um. They must have heard it.”

Mount Hua’s disciples looked at the bandits.

Bangyo, who received their gaze, closed his eyes tightly without realizing it.

‘Even dogs wouldn’t have to go through this.’

The disciples of Mount Hua were moving away as they talked amongst themselves. The bandits watched it and sighed.

“Hyung.”

“What?”

“If we get out of this alive, let’s not go to the Central Plains.”

“…let’s make sure we never make a mistake again.”

Even now, those who are younger and stronger than them are fighting and training to the point of coughing blood, so how could they have a chance?

‘Are the Central Plains full of such monsters?’

The actions and strength of the disciples of Mount Hua were giving birth to a misunderstanding.

“Kuaak!”

“Acck.”

“Kuaaak.”

The man-drawn carriage went down the road without stopping. Anyone who saw it would turn their heads and look at it.

“What, why are people pulling the carriage? Why are the horses following them?”

“Huh. I think I’ve seen everything in this life now.”

“Looks like a merchant carriage from Sichuan?”

Bangyo closed his eyes. The more they crossed the border of Yunnan, the more they ran into people. And the people who saw them would be curious.

‘Is this so funny?’

Bangyo felt tears in his eyes. In the past, people would tremble and back away from them, but now they gathered towards them to see the strange sight. He couldn’t help but feel angry.

And, of course.

Tack!

Chung Myung… he was constantly hitting them.

“Kuak!”

Bangyo’s eyes went wide as the sword with its sheath still on flew into his face.

“How dare this cow think of acting as a human?”

“….ugh.”

“Tch. I have become so kind. In the old days, I would have shredded you the moment I saw you.”

The problem was that it didn’t sound like a joke.

Baek Cheon, who was sitting behind Chung Myung in the carriage, suddenly said.

“Now we are completely inside Yunnan.”

“Hmm.”

Chung Myung nodded his head.

“There are so many mountains here.”

The first thing the people who came to Yunnan would see was barren land.

“All I see are mountains and fields; I don’t understand why the officials don’t care about it.”

Baek Cheon rolled his eyes.

“We haven’t seen the Nanman Beast Palace guards yet.”

“Even if the entire Shaolin sect comes, they cannot protect Yunnan.”

Baek Cheon nodded. Ever since he heard that Yunnan was ruled by the Nanman Beast palace, he had thought that the guards of the Nanman Beast Palace would be there checking people.

But when one thought about it further, it wasn’t likely for the palace in the depths of Yunnan to send guards to protect their territory in this far-off border.

Kwak Gyung, who was listening to them, spoke.

“They manage it directly from the Kunming side, where the tea trade happens. Other than that, there are occasional patrols, but not too often.”

“Then aren’t we being too alert for no reason?”

“We have to be.”

Kwak Gyung lowered his voice.

“The Nanman Beast Palace has influence in Yunnan that exceeds that of the Tang family in Sichuan. In other words, anyone you meet now could be an informant of the Nanman Beast Palace…”

Baek Cheon frowned as he heard it.

To think everyone here could possibly be the eyes and ears of the Nanman Beast Palace made caution grow within him.

“The people’s attitude doesn’t look that good, right?”

Chung Myung added to Baek Cheon’s words.

‘No, it wasn’t that… everyone was staring at them. Their clothes looked shabby, their bodies were exposed, and they could even see their bones.’

“Originally, Yunnan’s yield wasn’t very good. Basically, there isn’t much land to farm. Do you remember seeing any rice fields on our way here?”

“Uhh.”

“There isn’t much farmland, so there aren’t many places to farm. But the recent drought situation has made things even worse.”

Kwak Gyung shook his head.

“In the past, the money that was earned from the trade in Yunnan helped the residents make a living… but now it is banned. And if what they farm doesn’t go well, everyone will starve to death.”

Baek Cheon titled his head at that.

“Wasn’t the business supposed to be going well?”

“Actually, the westerners don’t enjoy tea that much. There are no other places than the Central Plains that need so much tea. Besides, the type of tea which the westerners want isn’t the one we get from Yunnan.”

Baek Cheon nodded his head as if he understood.

“In the end, it means that breaking the trade is not helping Yunnan.”

“Is it just Yunnan? Sichuan is also having trouble. The merchant groups of Sichuan that used to be on par with the ones of the Central Plains are now unable to use their resources effectively. And fortunately, the people here don’t eat tea, so they won’t starve from it.”

“Um.”

Baek Cheon felt complicated.

“We will arrive at Kunming soon. If we can get there without problems, our mission has been accomplished.”

Baek Cheon bowed to Kwak Gyung.

“Thank you again.”

“Your gratitude will be accepted after we drop you safely.”

Kwak Gyung smiled. Even so, as the journey continued, the disciples of Mount Hua began to get tensed.

All they could see were rough roads, barren land, and starved people.

“Ahhhhh!”

“Ahhhhhh!”

And thanks to the human-drawn carriage, the party was able to arrive three times faster than expected.

“There is Kunming.”

Chung Myung frowned as he looked at the old fortress wall.

“Looks more like a village than a fort town.”

“In Yunnan, the concept of high fortress walls do not exist because of the scarcity of food and land to live in.”

“Aha.”

Chung Myung nodded his head.

“Well, thank you. Thank you for bringing us.”

“Not at all.”

Mount Hua’s disciples said their goodbyes to the merchant group.

Chung Myung turned and mumbled.

“Now the problem is these people.”

As soon as their eyes met his, the bandits flinched and bowed their heads.

‘Make a kind face! Kind face!’

‘Make the most pitiful face!’

Chung Myung looked at Baek Cheon, and Baek Chen answered.

“Isn’t it better to release them?”

“Uh? Release them?”

“Yes. It is true that they committed a crime, but they did suffer while coming here… and they seem to be reflecting on their actions, so release them.”

Chung Myung nodded.

“Ugh. Showing mercy. This is why I like sasuk.”

“…don’t spew weird stuff.”

Chung Myung smiled brightly and turned to the bandits.

“I will release them.”

“Thank you! Thank you so very much!”

“I will live a decent life! Hehehe!”

“We will never try to rob again.”

Chung Myung smiled.

“But did you know?”

“… Uh?”

“That I always do the opposite of what I am asked to do?”

“…”

In an instant, Chung Myung’s hands moved.

Tatata!

His hand smashed apart the dantians of the bandits.

“Kuak!”

“Ack!”

The bandits who were hit on their lower abdomen collapsed to the floor. Chung Myung smiled as he looked at them.

“I will release you. Have a good time here. There is no way you can get back to working on your martial arts unless you wait for me to come back.”

“…”

“Or you can run away and live as normal people. Do what you want.”

Chung Myung turned back and walked to Kunming without another thought.

Yoon Jong followed him.

“Why are you holding on to them?”

“Who will pull the carriage on our way back?”

“…”

“Actions speak louder than words.”

“…”

Chung Myung shrugged his shoulders.

“And on the way home, we need to rob the things those bastards have robbed. I think they might have saved up a good amount of money.”

It was then that Yoon Jong vowed to never get caught by Chung Myung.

“Everyone keep this in mind. We are not the disciples of Mount Hua. We are just merchants under the Peace Merchant group, and we came to buy the purple wood grass.”

“That’s obvious.”

“You must not do anything that might reveal that we are the disciples of Mount Hua. This is a paramount secret.”

“Did everyone hear that?”

“So, no matter what happens, think repeatedly before you act!”

“Yes. Think!”

In the end, Baek Cheon shouted at Chung Myung who kept repeating himself.

“You, you brat! I am talking about you, not the others!”

Chung Myung’s eyes widened.

“Me?”

“Right! You are the one who needs to hear this the most among us! Other than you who else creates accidents for us?”

“Tch. Sasuk, have you always held such prejudice?”

“…stop speaking.”

Baek Cheon took a deep breathe.

‘I feel so anxious.’

They did manage to get here somehow, but he felt like his legs were giving out at the thought of entering Kunming.

‘But I cannot let him go alone.’

If he was someone who listened to reason maybe he would say something, but it was unreasonable for Chung Myung to listen to other people.

“Yu samae.”

“Yes, sahyung.”

“Stay close to Chung Myung and keep an eye on him so that he doesn’t cause an accident.”

“Yes!”

Yu Yiseol’s eyes went to Chung Myung. Seeing that, he opened his mouth with a face of dissatisfaction.

“What do you all think of me? Do I look like someone who is going to cause trouble?”

“Yes.”

“You always do that.”

“It isn’t that weird to think that way.”

“…”

Chung Myung twisted his body in injustice, but his sahyungs didn’t blink an eye.

‘At least Yu samae is a bit more careful at controlling him.’

However, this isn’t the fundamental solution. Baek Cheon didn’t think for a moment Yu Yiseol could stop him, but he had to do something to at least slow him down.

‘The best way to get to Kunming is to move faster and get hold of the information we need before Chung Myung creates trouble.’

Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong and Jo Gul looked at each other. As if they were all having the same thoughts, they had determined faces.

“Let’s go!”

“Yes!”

The disciples of Mount Hua confidently entered the gates of Kunming. There were no guards at the gate and no other form of security either.

In the slightly weird atmosphere, Baek Cheon passed through the gate.

“…what is this?”

“Why is it like this?”

Even inside the gate everyone frowned at the unexpected sight.

“…has a plague struck the place?”

“I don’t think so…?”

To put it bluntly… there was a huge lack of life.

There were hardly any signs of people on the road in front of them. Very rarely, they could see people leaning on the wall and breathing heavily.

“…this looks serious?”

Baek Cheon looked around.

A city like this should have been full of life. Money should have been moving around in such a huge place and so should people… it couldn’ts be this quiet.

But right now, Kunming seemed like a totally dead city.

“Umm.”

Even Chung Myung couldn’t hide his disappointment.

At the same time, Yoon Jong who was looking at this said,

“The place didn’t look good when we entered but I thought Kunming would be different… this looks even worse than on the outside.”

“…I know.”

Baek Cheon quietly nodded his head and Jo Gul added.

“I heard that the situation in Yunnan is getting more worse with every passing day since they quit the trade union, but I hadn’t expected it to be this bad.”

“Is that the only reason? It is said that there is a drought here as well, so that probably has had a stronger effect.”

“Yes, that could be one of the reasons too.”

Chung Myung scratched his head.

“Anyway, that isn’t important, so start with gathering the information.”

“Uh, yes.”

Baek Cheon nodded.

“Let’s split up and inquire about it and then we’ll rendezvous here at dusk.”

“Yes, sasuk.”

“Be careful.”

As the sahyungs moved to do their respective tasks, Chung Myung looked ahead with a smile.

“Okay, now I need to ask about the whereabouts of the purple wood grass!”

His will was overflowing and burning. If there was a problem, it was just one.

“…but whom and how should I ask?”

“…”

Yu Yiseol looked at Chung Myung.

“Ugh,”

Chung Myung clasped his hands.

“This is Yunnan.”

Chung Myung had no knowledge of Yunnan or tea. This place is different from the Central Plains.

Regardless of whether it was for better or worse, it felt different to him.

“I need to meet influential people.”

Chung Myung smiled. However, there was someone who didn’t like his appearance which clearly screamed that he was taking this lightly.

“Purple wood grass.”

“…”

Yu Yiseol looked at Chung Myung.

Her intention was clear in her brief words and gaze.

‘_Now, some people are dying down there wandering in the sun to get information, but the youngest one is stuck, not sure where to go and is probably thinking of heading to a tea house.’_

That was what it said.

But who is Chung Myung? Someone on whom such things don’t work.

“Then, I will go?”

“…”

“I’ll look around then? Can I even do anything here?”

There was conflict on her face. She couldn’t let this man go.

‘Never let Chung Myung cause trouble.’

‘But this place has nothing.’

These two thoughts were colliding in her mind.

Yu Yiseol, who titled on a more important side, stared at Chung Myung as she made up her mind.

“I will have a cup of tea as well.”

“…”

Something felt off.

Chung Myung smiled. And looked at the tea house in Kunming.

‘This looks ruined beyond help.’

The city looked like it lacked life. From what he knew Kunming as supposed to be the Chengdu of this place. This city was supposed to be the center of Yunnan.

And if this place was barren, it meant that the entirety of Yunnan was like this. Chung Myung frowned.

‘It is like seeing Mount Hua in the past.’

Once, that too was a place of life and vitality. And Yunnan was the same… it was bustling with life until the Demonic Sect had attacked and caused its collapse. And due to the wrong handling, its former glory couldn’t be brought back.

Fortunately Mount Hua had the blessing of Chung Myung. If Chung Myung hadn’t been revived for some unknown reason, what would be the difference between Mount Hua and this place?

“Tch.”

Chung Myung lightly clicked his tongue.

‘Yunnan is Yunnan. Mount Hua is Mount Hua.’

It wasn’t that he didn’t have sympathy for the situation, but Chung Myung simply wasn’t someone who would care about this.

But what he had to pay attention to now was…

“Owner!”

“Yes! Yes!”

The owner of the tea house, who was staring to the side, ran towards Chung Myung as he heard the call.

“Yes! What do you want?”

“Give me something to bite on first.”

“Yes! Sure! What kind?”

“Please bring me anything you can give. And a kettle of cold tea.”

“Yes! Yes! I will bring it right away!”

The owner was excited as he turned around to get the tea. And Chung Myung said,

“And.”

“Yes!”

The owner quickly turned his body and quickly adjusted his form into a light bow.

Recently in Kunming, money wasn’t going around, so the operation of the tea house was terrible. In the midst of that, a man had come in and asked for tea… since a precious customer who would pay had arrived, how could he not lower his body?

“It is about the tea leaves. Have you ever heard of purple wood grass?”

“Hm. Purple wood grass?”

“Yes.”

The owner titled his head.

“Well. I’ve made tea with all the tea leaves that come and go, but I haven’t heard of that.’

“Then, do you know whether it is a herb?”

“A herb… Medicine…”

The owner nodded.

“There is a person who is a medical practitioner.”

“Ah, yes? Where is that person?”

“Ah. Sir! Why bother going there? I will call them here.”

“…will that be alright?”

“Hahaha. Of course. But… it will take some time for them to come…”

Seeing how the man was speaking, Chung Myung smiled and took out a silver coin from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

“Are the dishes going to come soon?’

“Yes!”

The owner took the silver coin and went back quickly.

“The tea will be brought right away! Please wait just a little bit. I will call the person right away!”

“…ah, yes.”

Chung Myung smiled at the intense reaction of the owner.

As the owner ran to the kitchen, Yu Yiseol had a strange expression.

“You were thinking of this from the start?”

“Wandering around here to get things? What will we get?”

Chung Myung smiled bitterly.

“The problems of this town need to be left to the people of this town. If they are good people they will answer if we ask them, but could that be comparable to an answer when money comes into the picture?”

Yu Yiseol nodded.

“Smart.”

“…”

“It doesn’t fit you.”

“Just drink the tea.”

Chung Myung sipped his tea. And Yu Yiseol looked at him with new eyes.

This was one of the biggest misconceptions people had about Chung Myung. People always thought that he was someone who always used his fists regardless of the situation and had no thoughts.

‘He just looks like this.’

After watching Chung Myung, Yu Yiseol was convinced that he wasn’t like that.

If someone looked at him calmly and without prejudice, Chung Myung was the most astout disciple of Mount Hua. Even what seems like random things he jumped onto, are things he does after huge thoughts and contemplation.

‘And that is why we’ve come this far.’

“You won’t drink?”

At Chung Myung’s question, Yu Yiseol grabbed her teacup.

In any case, it was true that she felt sorry for her sahyungs who were out in the sun, so she drank the tea very slowly.

Jo Gul sighed.

They had been asking around about the purple wood grass, but no one seemed to know much about it. Someone should have known about it in Kunming, but it was strange that there was little information on it here.

‘Should we have asked more questions in Sichuan itself?’

Since it is said the grass grows in Yunnan, they thought the information on it could only be gotten here. But it didn’t seem like it.

All they were left with was regret. But they simply had insufficient information to move on with their objective.

“But the information is…”

Jo Gul frowned.

In retrospect, he knew that the situation in Kunming wasn’t good the moment he came here. Most of the shops they had come across had their doors closed and people seemed to be starving on the road. Sometimes they would grab the hem of the clothes and beg him.

No proper information could be obtained in such a situation and environment.

‘We need to find another…’

It was then.

“Uh?”

Jo Gul titled his head.

“Sahyung?”

He saw Yoon Jong standing in front of him.

This wasn’t surprising. Despite Kunming being huge it was natural to walk into each other several times since this was their first time here. What was strange wasn’t the encounter but the state of Yoon Jong.

There were small children all around him.

Jo Gul titled his head and approached him.

“Sahyung? What are you doing?”

“… Ah! J-Jo Gul?”

Yoon Jong looked back with an awkward expression.

“Why are you with the kid… uh?”

Jo Gul narrowed his eyes.

Yoon Jong’s hand held a bag of grain along with a few dumplings.

“…sahyung?”

“I know… I know that this isn’t the time for this, that we need to get information. But… ha…”

Yoon Jong looked at the children with a humble face. When he gave the children dumplings, the children would drool and eat them eagerly.

“Me too!”

“Me too!”

“My younger sibling is starving too! Just give me one more!”

Yoon Jong bit his lip.

“I will buy you more when this runs out, so calm down. Don’t rush in and get hurt!”

He handed out dumplings with one hand and gently pushed apart the kids who were bumping into each other.

All the children who were looking weak now had a little hope in their eyes. And when the dumplings in his hand were gone, the children looked at Yoon Jong in shock.

“Eat it first, take care of your family. I will buy food and then come back here soon!”

The children nodded their heads and walked away without saying thanks.

Jo Gul who watched the scene and frowned.

“…they should be thankful if they were helped.”

Yoon Jong turned to him with a slightly stiff expression.

“There is no room for it.”

“…Uh?”

“Things like morals work only when one has everything. How can a child who is on the verge of collapsing from hunger remember to thank their benefactor? They might have younger siblings at home or parents who have collapsed. Don’t blame them!”

“…Yes, sahyung. I am sorry.”

At the sight of Yoon Jong who looked angry, Jo Gul felt scared. Although they had been together for so long, it was Jo Gul’s first time seeing him this angry.

“By any chance…”

It was then.

“Aaack! No! It isn’t that!”

“How dare you steal something! Come here! I am going to teach you a lesson!”

“I didn’t steal it! ack! Aack! It hurts!”

The faces of Yoon Jong and Jo Gul went stiff.

The two hurried to where they heard the screams come from.

“You! How dare you steal something! Take it out right now!”

“No! Someone gave it to me earlier! I didn’t steal it!”

“How dare this bastard lie! Who will hand out food to others in Kunming? Won’t you let go of it?”

The merchant was beating up a child for a single dumpling.

“Come! Give it to me! Won’t you give it even if your hands are cut off!”

In the end, he pulled out the dumpling tied to his waist. It was the moment when he held the child’s hand and lifted it up.

“What are you doing!”

Yoon Jong, who heard the child screaming, ran towards the place quickly. He grabbed the hand of the merchant who was beating the child.

“What is this…!”

The merchant who was angry at the unexpected interruption, quickly closed his mouth as he felt an unstoppable force tightening his hand. In an instant, his tone softened.

“Ah, no it isn’t like I’m harassing him for no reason… this child stole the dumpling…”

“Stole? I gave it to him a while ago!”

“…you mean you gave it to him?”

Yoon Jong’s eyes went wild.

“Shouting at a child without realizing the situation! What kind of person are you!?”

“Aigoo! I am sorry. Sorry! W-we didn’t… Kunming doesn’t have any food that can be shared with others, so I thought he stole it.”

Yoon Jong’s face went stiff.

“But no matter what. Trying to cut off a child’s hand for stealing something. How can a person be like that!”

“Ugh! I was just trying to scare him!”

Yoon Jong, who had been staring at the merchant for a long time, let go of the hand he was holding on to and asked in a serious tone.

“Why don’t the people here help others?”

The merchant caressed his hand in tears and looked at the man.

“H-How could I give someone else something to eat? We have nothing to eat here ourselves.”

“Hmm.”

“Everyone here is starving to death. Didn’t you see it on the way?”

Yoon Jong sighed.

“I understand the situation, but it is wrong to recklessly hurt the child!”

“S-Sorry!”

He spoke firmly and turned his gaze to the child who was on his butt.

“Are you fine?”

“… I, I am fine, but…”

His lips were cracked, his hand seemed gashed, but the child didn’t care. He only looked at his hands. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at the dumpling which had been crushed by the force of the altercation with mud all over it.

“I wanted to give it to my sibling…”

Yoon Jong smiled sadly and tapped the child’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I will buy new dumplings again.”

“R-really?”

“Then.”

Seeing the scene, Jo Gul nodded his head.

‘As expected of our great sahyung.’

Even in this situation you looked at the most disadvantaged person. Jo Gul felt embarrassed for not seeing this and being too focused on the purple wood grass.

‘How can we do this…’

“Gul.”

Jo Gul answered right away.

“Yes! Sahyung!”

“Money.”

“…Uh?”

Yoon Jong slightly cocked his head and looked at Jo Gul with innocence.

“I spent all my spare money.”

“…”

“Look in your pockets.”

“…”

“Hurry.”

‘Sahyung.’

‘Why is that compassionate sahyung not showing that compassion to me?’

‘Why…’

Snatch.

Not only the money in his pocket, but the money in his sleeves were also gone… even the last emergency fund he had tucked hidden in his socks were robbed!

‘Chung Myung, he learned all these strange things from you!’

‘How could a person be stripped of money with nothing left like this?’

“…sahyung. If you take it all away, what will we eat when we return?”

“What nonsense are you saying? We have sasuk with us, right?”

“…that is true, but we need to have money too….”

“Where will we spend the money? Is there anywhere good to spend money in Yunnan?”

‘No.’

‘There was no such place.’

His words were indeed right. They hadn’t even seen a decent town on their way from Sichuan to here. All they had seen were barren lands and mountains.

“When we head back to Sichuan, you can go home and get more money so that you can spend. You are the son of a rich family, what is with you?”

“B-but…”

Yoon Jong’s head slowly turned back to Jo Gul.

“But?”

“…nothing.”

Seeing the craziness of Chung Myung in Yoon Jong’s eyes, Jo Gul closed his mouth.

‘No, what is with his eyes…’

He knew that if he accidently said something wrong, his head would fly.

‘Everyone is weird!’

Where did the compassionate Yoon Jong go?

Jo Gul felt engulfed in sorrow and sighed.

In the meantime, Yoon Jong bought the dumplings with the money he stole from Jo Gul and gave them to the child.

No matter how much they shared, the number of children that were coming didn’t slow down at all.

“O-One more please.”

“Here.”

“Can I have this? Can we really have this?”

“Have a lot. If you are hungry, come tomorrow too. I will give it to you.”

“…thank you. Thank you very much.”

Yoon Jong bit his lip. He could see their exposed ribs through the rags they wore. As soon as the child grabbed hold of the dumplings, he hurriedly shoved them into his mouth and began to cough.

“What are you doing! Go and get water!”

“Yes!”

Jo Gul ran to the well without a word.

Regardless of whether it was when Chung Myung was beating his sahyungs or when the idiot turned Mount Hua upside down, Yoon Jong would never shout. He would sigh but he would never shout.

When he was angry, he looked completely different from the Yoon Jong who would stop Chung Myung.

‘For now, I’ll just do what I am told!’ Jo Gul’s survival instinct whispered to him.

Jo Gul, who brought water from the well, gave it to the children immediately. They had bought so many dumplings that he couldn’t lift them with both his hands, and yet, they had run out in an instant. Yoon Jong let out a sigh as he looked at the empty cover.

“Ah…”

The children’s eyes seemed to dim a little when they realized that they were out of food. Yoon Jong bit his lip.

Usually, children didn’t remember such stuff. When something happened, they weren’t mature to think about why it had happened.

And if the other children didn’t get dumplings, they would get angry and release this anger onto the ones who had already received it. Rhey wouldn’t care about Yoon Jong’s situation.

However, as if they were used to this kind of thing. They just cried and didn’t seem angry.

And that hurt Yoon Jong even more. He shook his head and looked at Jo Gul.

“Buy more.”

“Sahyung… didn’t you rob me of everything? I have no money left.”

“Do you not have anything else hidden?”

“Didn’t you take away my emergency funds too? Now even we might die from hunger.”

“…is that so?”

Yoon Jong looked at the children with a contorted face. The children were crying with their faces cast down.

“Thank you.”

“It is fine. We are not that hungry.”

Yoon Jong’s forehead wrinkled.

He pulled out his sword along with its sheath and the children who saw that became frightened.

However, Yoon Jong held it to Jo Gul and said.

“Go, sell this and buy some more.”

Jo Gul’s face went stiff.

“Sahyung, this is a plum blossom sword!”

“I have eyes as well.”

“Sahyung! This is a present the sect gave us because we are its warriors! We will be punished! Why are you doing this?”

“Punished?”

“Yes.”

“You mean the Sect Leader will be angry because we sold the sword to feed children?”

“…uh?”

‘No.’

‘He isn’t that kind of a person.’

Again, he would be angry with Jo Gul for selling the sword, but Yoon Jong would be angry if he didn’t sell it.

“It is needless to mention I am a swordsman. But I am a Taoist before I am a swordsman. I cannot watch children starve in order protect a sword that kills people. Go and bring the food.”

“S-sahyung. But…”

Despite his stubborn words, Jo Gul hesitated, unable to follow through and Yoon Jong shouted.

“Hurry up!”

At that moment, a savior appeared for the sake of helpless Jo Gul.

“What is happening?”

“S-Sasuk!”

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong, who discovered Baek Cheon, bowed. Baek Cheon frowned as he saw the sack in Yoon Jong’s hand and children around him.

“I need to know what is happening here.”

Yoon Jong gulped and calmly spoke.

After a while.

Hearing everything that had transpired, Baek Cheon frowned.

“Yoon Jong.”

“Yes, sasuk.”

Yoon Jong bowed his head.

“I understand your feelings, but even if you drop a few drops of water into dried fields, nothing will change. Do you understand what I mean?”

“… Yes, I do sasuk.”

“Baek Cheon sighed and looked into Yoon Jong’s eyes and said.

“You understand, but you have no intention of changing your mind.”

“I apologize.”

Yoon Jong knew what he was doing. Having good intentions had a time and place. Their purpose here was to inquire about the purple wood grass in Kunming.

However, if he kept doing this kind of work here, people would begin to notice them. Even if Baek Cheon was angry at Yoon Jong, he couldn’t do anything to him in a crowded place.

Baek Cheon nodded his head.

“Okay. Then hurry up.”

“Uh?”

Baek Cheon took out his pouch and gave it to Jo Gul. And Jo Gul who saw it became confused.

“Sasuk?

“There might not be many food shops here. Buy everything you can.”

“W-Will that be fine?”

“The mission is important.”

Baek Cheon continued.

“However, if we turned away from the needy to accomplish our mission, what would the elders say?”

He paused and then said.

“It would be wrong. I wish for the glory of Mount Hua. If we abandon what makes us a disciple of Mount Hua, then why would Mount Hua be any different from other sects?”

Jo Gul nodded his head.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean we have to show kindness without knowing the time and place for it. But it seems like it will not be a problem for now. So, hurry up.”

“Yes?”

You don’t think it will be a problem?

As Jo Gul looked at him, Baek Cheon frowned and whispered.

“Before Chung Myung knows, get it!”

“…I will be right back!”

Jo Gul ran. And the others too looked at each other anxiously to see if Chung Myung was coming.

“We are here!

“Me too!”

“There is still a lot left, so don’t push!”

With a large sack in the centre, Yoon Jong, Jo Gul and Baek Cheon distributed the food. It was obvious that the children would gathered, but somehow word spread, and many more children flocked towards the location.

“Are there so many kids here?”

“Kunming is a huge city. It is just that everyone around who is starving is here.”

“It seems that there isn’t enough grain…”

Baek Cheon let out a low sigh.

“We can only give as much as we have.”

He bit his lip slightly as he watched the hundreds of children flock to him. He wasn’t usually someone who prided himself on being merciful, but seeing the children there, he couldn’t stand it.

From his point of view as the leader of this group of people, he had to blame Yoon Jong for drawing so much unexpected attention onto them. But he also felt grateful for Yoon Jong who was doing something nice.

“Let’s finish this quickly.”

“Yes! Sasuk!”

Yoon Jong distributed dumplings and stroked the childrens’ heads.

“Eat a lot.”

“T-thank you.”

The big eyes looking at him seemed frightened. Even though they are handing out food, the kids couldn’t let their guard down. That could only mean that they had suffered too much.

“Doesn’t it seem like even more people are coming?”

“Now, even the adults seem to be coming…”

Baek Cheon frowned slightly. This was going to draw attention.

‘I’d rather leave the food here…’

But that couldn’t be done.

That would lead to fights and accidents. And it would become a disaster and people might even get killed for food.

Then…

It was then…

“Who is it!”

The three people looked up at the same time.

“…”

Baek Cheon’s face went stiff.

He saw people clad in white robes with half-covered tops and animal skin draped over their shoulders.

‘The Nanman Beast Palace…’

Suddenly, the guards of the Nanman Beast Palace were walking up to them.