Merchant

That afternoon. I asked a monk from the Guest Hall named Jong O, whom I’d gotten fairly close to, about that monk. “Ah, you mean Monk Ji Sang.” “So his Dharma name is Ji Sang. Would it be all right if I asked what kind of person he is?” “He’s one generation below me. He…

Winter Wind… Master once told me that was another name for the Snow Wind Palace. Did Venerable Abbot mean he knew I belonged to the Snow Wind Palace when he said that to me? But the question still lingered. Because that was all he said. At first, I wondered if I’d misheard him, but there…

I was so startled that I immediately spun around. “…” Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am was still standing there in the exact same posture, staring at Venerable Blood Staff Star Monk. A violent storm of Qi was raging through his body. Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am had reached a moment of enlightenment too. No, seriously, what was…

At my words, they tilted their heads and asked back, “Rumor?” “What rumor are you talking about?” “I’m surprised you’re this out of the loop… Aren’t people like you usually the first to hear every rumor going around?” “I said, what rumor are you talking about?” The longer I dragged it out, the more impatient…

We set out for Shaolin Temple once more and soon reached the Yellow River. Since this stretch of the Yellow River formed the border between Hebei and Shandong and lay in the lower reaches, it looked far wider than when we’d crossed it back in Gansu. But none of us were worried. We already knew…

Before I knew it, it was the fifteenth day of the Eighth Month, when the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the biggest holidays of the year, happened. The heat was still hanging on, but it also meant summer would start losing its grip soon. I’ll need to make sure I’m well prepared for the cold again…

I hid my fluster and said, “N– no, Your Highness! How could a mere merchant like me possibly receive an apology from you?” “This is my apology, yes, but it is also one Father wished to convey.” “…” That only made it more bewildering. You could search the entire Empire and still find only a…

After hearing the report, the Emperor looked momentarily at a loss for words, then let out a short laugh. “That bastard catches on way too damn fast. That’s exactly why I can’t help putting him to work.” “What do you mean by that?” “Looks like the brat figured out I was testing him.” The Crown…

We made it safely to my mother’s family home. My grandparents and uncle warmly welcomed us back. “Reporting in. The Raging Wind Squad’s full headcount is twenty. Every one of us returned safely.” I smiled and added, “I made it back in one piece.” “Good, good! Thank heavens you’re safe! Thank heavens!” Grandfather even teared…

That thought suddenly crossed my mind, but there was no way I could let it show in front of Gwon Jik. “I see. What a remarkable treasure. No wonder it was something His Majesty would bestow.” “Exactly.” By the time that conversation ended, our break was over. We headed back to our respective spots and…