The basket was full of Green Leaf Purple Stem Herb.
He had also dug up a fair amount of Purple Red Herb, and even a Wind Orchid that might be a Dragon Herb, so he might be able to get his hands on some money.
With such expectations, Jeok Yorap headed to the nearest city with Cho Myung.
Even though it was close, it wasn't a distance that could be covered in half an hour or an hour.
It was a place that took nearly four hours to walk to, even with only one or two short breaks.
Still, the expectation of getting some money made the journey enjoyable.
"That old man is very trustworthy, so he won't cheat us. Once we get the money, like I said, let's buy clothes and shoes, and with the rest, let's buy something delicious to eat."
"Okay."
"You rascal, you look brighter than yesterday, which is good, but you're smiling so much it makes me a little worried. Are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm just in a good mood."
Cho Myung was really in a good mood.
Strangely enough, since this morning, he hadn't felt that the world was a scary place. The only tension he had felt was just before opening the door of the log cabin.
"Yes, let's live with a smile like that. As I said, if you live with a smile, even bad luck can't approach you."
"Okay."
Cho Myung answered with a cheerful face.
As soon as they arrived in the city, Jeok Yorap went straight to the herb wholesaler with Cho Myung.
It was a place run by an old man named Yogarap, and although it wasn't large, he was very trustworthy because he never cheated the herbalists.
"Hey! I haven't seen your face in a while, I thought you'd been eaten by a beast, but I guess not?"
The goat-bearded old man greeted Jeok Yorap warmly.
At first glance, the goat-bearded old man, who gave off a cunning impression as if he enjoyed cheating people, was Yogarap.
Compared to Jeok Yorap, who was just over fifty, Yogarap, who was approaching seventy, had more and deeper wrinkles on his face.
"Still, I made a living from hunting, so it wouldn't do to be eaten by a beast."
"They say six out of ten hunters get eaten by beasts, you're boasting. Anyway, it's good that you're alive. Is that Green Leaf Herb? It looks like quite a lot."
"Yes. Thanks to my hard work, I found some Green Leaf Purple Stem Herb and Purple Red Herb."
"Purple Red Herb too?"
"Yes. Here."
When Jeok Yorap held out the basket, Yogarap took it and spread out the herbs inside with a familiar hand.
"Huh? This looks like a Dragon Herb."
"It looked that way to my eyes too, so I came running to you, sir. I thought I'd get cheated if I went anywhere else."
"This is a Dragon Herb. It's a bit of a shame it's not a top-grade product, but how about five silver taels? At that price, I think I can make about one silver tael myself."
A hint of disappointment appeared on Jeok Yorap's face. It was clear that he had been expecting quite a bit. But he quickly smoothed his expression and nodded.
"I'll take whatever you give me, sir."
"I'll give you six silver taels for the Green Leaf Herb and Purple Red Herb."
"You'll give me one silver tael for the Green Leaf Herb and Purple Red Herb?"
"These look to be of good quality."
"Thank you."
"I'm making a profit too, so there's no need to thank me so much. By the way, I haven't seen this child's face before."
Yogarap asked, glancing at Cho Myung.
Jeok Yorap gave the answer he had prepared in advance.
"Ah, he's a child a friend of mine left in my care for a while."
"Is that so? He looks clever."
"As expected, you can tell at a glance, old man. This kid is quite clever. Especially his nose, it's a real treasure. This kid's nose found all these herbs, you know."
Jeok Yorap said proudly.
At that, Yogarap turned away and clicked his tongue.
"Tsk, tsk, we meet after a long time and you're already telling tall tales. Forget it, have a cup of tea before you go."
"You'll know if it's a tall tale or not next time you see me. Please show me some Lingering Vine Herb, Stone Spirit Moss, and Jade Fragrance Herb."
Jeok Yorap quickly followed up.
"Why those?"
"I'm going to have my Myung smell them so we can focus on digging those up."
"Stop with the tall tales, I'll show you, so just teach him well as an herbalist."
"Yes, yes. Just show them to me."
Jeok Yorap bowed with a smiling face and followed Yogarap into the inner quarters with Cho Myung.
Yogarap told the two to wait in the inner quarters and served them tea.
And in addition to the three herbs Jeok Yorap had mentioned, he brought a few more herbs and placed them in front of the two.
"These are the herbs that are relatively easy to find around here. Remember their appearance well and bring back a lot."
Cho Myung, not understanding Yogarap's words, just stared blankly.
At that, Jeok Yorap quickly interjected.
"I'll bring back so many that you'll be shocked, sir. Just you wait. Myung, hurry up and smell them."
"Okay."
Cho Myung inhaled the scent of the herbs deeply and memorized each one.
He was already excited at the thought of living with his grandfather, finding and digging for herbs in the mountains.
But just then, a voice calling for Yogarap was heard from outside.
"Owner! Where's the owner here!"
It was a rather impatient voice.
"Stay here."
"Yes. Please go out quickly. I don't know who it is, but he seems to have quite a temper."
"Why is the world like this, there's never a quiet day. Tsk, tsk!"
Yogarap, clicking his tongue, went outside.
Jeok Yorap, ignoring that, asked Cho Myung if he had remembered the scents of the herbs well.
"Yes. I've memorized them all. I think I can find them."
"Yes, well done."
Jeok Yorap, who had praised him with a pleased smile, told him about the effects of each herb.
As they were talking for a while, Yogarap returned.
But his expression was unusual.
"What is it? Is something wrong?"
Jeok Yorap asked worriedly.
But Yogarap stared intently at Cho Myung and asked instead.
"Is it true?"
"Yes?"
"That this child is your friend's grandson."
"Why do you ask that?"
"The man who just came was a slave catcher. He asked if I had seen a child just this size."
"...!"
Jeok Yorap's face hardened.
Yogarap immediately realized that the child the slave catcher was looking for was Cho Myung, who was right in front of him.
"Tsk, tsk! How are you going to protect him with a face like that?"
"Yes?"
Jeok Yorap was visibly flustered.
Yogarap looked intently at Cho Myung and said as if sighing.
"Damn bastards! Are there no other things to do in the world that they have to kill people and capture them as slaves! They'll be punished by heaven!"
It was because they had no power that they pretended not to see, but people's resentment towards slave hunters was considerable.
Yogarap, who had denounced the slave hunters, seemed to have thought of something and said to Jeok Yorap.
"Wait a moment."
Yogarap went inside and a moment later came out with a set of clothes that a child would wear.
"These are clothes worn by a child who used to work here, have him wear these at least."
The clothes Cho Myung was wearing were not only shabby but also very different from the clothes worn by the children in the vicinity. In a word, it was an eye-catching outfit.
"S-sir?"
"I don't know the circumstances, but we can't let him be captured by slave catchers. Protect him well."
"Yes. Thank you."
"What's there to thank me for, we're just helping each other live. It's been a while, so I'd like to hear your stories, but it seems safer to leave a little earlier. Here, take the silver coins."
Yogarap took out his purse and handed him the silver coins.
"Sir?"
Jeok Yorap stared with wide eyes.
It wasn't six silver coins, but ten.
"There must be eyes that saw you and this child coming here. Isn't this a world where people sell their own children for money? The slave catchers will surely come storming in here. I'm just a powerless old man, so if they just glare at me, I'll have no choice but to tell them about you. So go to a different mountain that I don't know, not the one you're in now."
Jeok Yorap was so moved he couldn't speak.
Yogarap chuckled and patted Jeok Yorap's shoulder.
"If you come alone in about half a year, who will recognize you? At that time, bring a lot of herbs that are worth some money. We'll settle the extra silver coins I'm giving you now then."
"Yes. I will do that."
"Hurry and go."
Yogarap practically pushed him out, so Jeok Yorap could only leave in a hurry, repeatedly leaving his thanks.
As the two disappeared, Yogarap clicked his tongue with a regretful face.
"No one who gets involved with slave catchers has ever had a good end, what will happen to that man... Tsk, tsk!"
***
Jeok Yorap hurried back to the log cabin.
After packing cooking utensils, blankets, and dried jerky, there were two large bundles of luggage.
"This is a problem. I can't carry all this by myself, what should I do?"
Jeok Yorap was worrying.
"Where are you going?"
Cho Myung asked.
Cho Myung couldn't understand the conversation Jeok Yorap had with Yogarap.
It was because the two did not use the Han language when they talked.
"Ah, I didn't tell you. The slave hunters are looking for a child similar to you. So I thought this place wasn't safe either, so I'm thinking of moving to a completely different mountain. But even though I only packed what I needed, there's so much luggage."
Jeok Yorap didn't ask why the slave hunters were chasing him.
It was because Cho Myung was afraid just thinking about it.
Sure enough, at Jeok Yorap's words, Cho Myung's face hardened rapidly.
At least he didn't tremble with fear like before.
"Don't worry. If we decide to go deep into the mountains, even decent hunters won't be able to find us."
"Okay."
"By the way, what should I throw away?"
Jeok Yorap was frowning and worrying.
"I'll help you."
Cho Myung offered to carry the luggage.
"Don't. With your strength...!"
Jeok Yorap stopped talking and his eyes widened in surprise.
It was because Cho Myung had lifted a bundle of luggage that was quite heavy even for him to lift.
"Grandfather, this is light. I'll carry it."
"Y-yes."
The surprised Jeok Yorap wondered if he was really getting old, then shook his head.
'No, this kid is something amazing. Maybe he's really a child sent from heaven!'
A child sent from heaven!
There was no doubt.
Even those fearsome beasts had tucked their tails.
And he had also flown in from somewhere.
Jeok Yorap, who had come to think of Cho Myung in that way, even came to think that protecting Cho Myung might be the heavenly mandate given to him.
'Good. I will definitely protect Myung!'
Jeok Yorap made that promise and left the log cabin with Cho Myung.
Leaving one large bundle of luggage to Cho Myung.
They moved busily in a hurry, but the sun began to set in just half an hour. It was because they had been to the city, which was two hours away.
"Let's spend the night nearby and leave early in the morning."
"Okay."
Yogarap crossed the mountain ridge and moved south, then made a bed inside a small cave.
"Making a fire at night is like announcing that we're here, so let's just have jerky for dinner."
"I'm fine. I like jerky very much too."
Jeok Yorap took out the jerky and shared it with Cho Myung.
Jeok Yorap, who was in his early fifties, had weak teeth, so he had to chew for a long time.
On the other hand, Cho Myung finished eating quickly and was just staring outside the cave.
"Want more?"
"No. I can eat little."
"You have to eat a lot to grow up quickly."
Jeok Yorap handed him more jerky.
"I'm fine..."
Cho Myung hesitated.
Jeok Yorap grabbed Cho Myung's hand and forced it on him.
"Eat a lot. You can even eat this grandfather's share, so eat and eat and keep eating. That's how you'll grow tall and your bones will get strong."
"Grandfather..."
"Later, this grandfather will teach you how to handle a bow, so you can punish the guys who bother you with that."
"Yes."
Cho Myung said in a low voice.
His eyes were fixed on Jeok Yorap.
He felt that Jeok Yorap was like a real grandfather, so he couldn't take his eyes off him.
"A beast might come because of the smell of jerky, so eat up quickly."
"Okay."
Jeok Yorap patted the head of Cho Myung, who was bringing the jerky to his mouth, and then got up.
He spread the leather he had laid on his bed on a dry spot inside the cave and then spread a blanket on top of it.
It was narrow for two people to sleep, but since Cho Myung was still young, it seemed they could lie down together somehow.
"If you're done eating, lie down first. Grandfather will go and see if anyone is following us."
"Okay."
Jeok Yorap left Cho Myung and went outside the cave.
Jeok Yorap, who sat down in a low posture at the entrance, began to listen to the sounds around him to see if there were any signs of people.
He was starting to use his hunting skills for the first time in a long time.
The sound of the wind and the sound of the night birds.
Other than that, there was no sound at all.
Jeok Yorap moved slowly back the way he had come. Since it was already completely dark, he focused on his hearing rather than his eyes.
After going back the way he had come for about half an hour, he saw his log cabin in the distance.
Instantly, Jeok Yorap's eyes widened.
It was because he saw a light in the log cabin where he was no longer there.
Jeok Yorap watched for about an hour.
There were no torches around. He could only tell that someone had lit a fire inside the log cabin.
Whether they were the ones chasing them or not, they didn't seem to have any intention of moving under the cover of the dark night.
'Well, it wouldn't be easy to move in such a dark night.'
It was a moonless night.
The pitch-black darkness was swallowing the whole world.
If they were the ones looking for Cho Myung, it could be said to be a stroke of luck.
Jeok Yorap looked around once and then moved in a completely different direction from the cave.
He made a new trail to confuse them, in case they were the ones chasing Cho Myung.
Jeok Yorap had lived as a hunter in the vicinity for over twenty years, so even the darkness couldn't hinder his mountain climbing.
After making a new trail for about half an hour, he went around and went to the cave, and Cho Myung was waiting with a stiff face.
It was fine when he was with Jeok Yorap, but when he was left alone for a long time, fear seemed to have washed over him.
"I saw a light at the house."
"...?"
Cho Myung, who had been happy, looked at him with a puzzled face.
Jeok Yorap explained while organizing the luggage.
"It might be the ones looking for you, so we have to move now."
In fact, Jeok Yorap was full of questions.
Were the person or group who lit the fire at the house really slave hunters?
If they were slave hunters, they were definitely chasing Cho Myung, but what was the reason they were chasing him so persistently?
Could it be because of the strange things Cho Myung had shown?
He had many questions, but he didn't ask.
It was because Cho Myung was afraid, and also because they had to move as far away as possible now.
Jeok Yorap, who had finished organizing the luggage, placed one bundle in front of Cho Myung.
"Shall we go now?"
"Yes."
Cho Myung answered with an anxious face.
He seemed to be afraid.
Jeok Yorap placed his hand on Cho Myung's shoulder.
"Grandfather is a hunter. There is no corner of this mountain that I don't know. If I put my mind to it, no one can find me in this mountain. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"If you understand, then let's go bravely."
"Yes."
"Good. Let's go now."
Jeok Yorap patted Cho Myung's head and led the way into the darkness.
"When you're being chased, you should leave as few traces as possible."
Jeok Yorap was accurately finding the direction he wanted to go even in the darkness.
He moved carefully so that the branches that got in the way would not be bent or broken.
But that was by no means an easy task.
Above all, the two large bundles of luggage were a big problem.
"This won't do. We have to live first, so let's throw away the luggage."
Jeok Yorap stopped moving and squatted down in front of Cho Myung.
"Wait here for a moment. Even if we throw away the luggage, let's confuse the ones who are chasing us."
Cho Myung just nodded.
He hated being alone, but he thought he had to do as Jeok Yorap told him.
Jeok Yorap left Cho Myung and moved on with the two bundles of luggage on his back.
Cho Myung, who was left alone, stood without even blinking until Jeok Yorap disappeared from his sight.
The surroundings were pitch black, but to Cho Myung, it was as if a full moon had risen, and he could see quite far.
It was one of the changes that had occurred as Cho Myung's body accepted the Immortal Demonic Aura.
The young Cho Myung had no idea what changes were happening to his body.
He didn’t have the mental bandwidth to pay attention to his body.
He just wanted to live with Jeok Yorap.
He hoped that nothing would happen and that they could live peacefully just by digging for herbs.
Cho Myung, standing alone in the darkness, waited and waited for Jeok Yorap with just that thought. Fortunately, this time, Jeok Yorap returned before fear washed over him.
"Let's go. Now that we don't have any luggage, let's pick up the pace."
"Okay."
Cho Myung, who was happy that Jeok Yorap had returned, answered bravely.
The two quickly disappeared into the darkness.
(End of Chapter)