Chapter 52
“Yunnan?”
“Yes. Yunnan is famous for its tea, but it also has a big medicinal market. It’s also the place where news about rare medicine spreads the fastest.”
“I’ve even heard there are some great items in the black market. If you know what to look for, you might find something amazing.”
“Hmm… I’ll keep that in mind.”
Just then, a servant came and took Go Taehong and Wonho away. Sowol, who had been waving goodbye, slowly lowered her hand.
‘Yunnan? Not a bad idea.’
In the list of medicinal items she had made based on the original story, some were said to come from Yunnan.
‘But… the information I know is too general. I need more details.’
In the novel, it only said that “some herbs were found in a certain place.” But if that place is as big as a city, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.
‘And while things like that “Thousand-Year Ginseng” are important, I also need other kinds of medicine too.’
So going to Yunnan to gather herbs and collect information on rumors spreading across the land seemed like a good idea.
“Uncle, are we going to Yunnan now?”
Dok Go-ryong looked at her without answering. Sowol suddenly felt nervous and quickly shouted,
“W-Why?! You said you’d take me with you! Did you change your mind?!”
She thought maybe what he told Tang Cheon-yu earlier was a lie. But then she heard a soft chuckle from above her head.
“I’m not going back on my word. I promised, so I’ll take you.”
Sowol let out a breath of relief and patted her chest.
‘Still… I never know when he might change his mind. I’ll hold in the pain as long as I can. If it gets too bad… then maybe I’ll tell him.’
“But first, let’s make a promise.”
While thinking to herself, Sowol looked up.
“What is it?”
“Don’t hide it if you’re in pain.”
Sowol’s shoulders flinched.
“If you lie and say you’re fine just because you’re scared I’ll leave you behind…”
Dok Go-ryong clenched his fist and looked down at her seriously.
“I’ll scold you hard. Understand?”
She imagined how painful it would be if that fist hit her and rubbed her head nervously.
“O-Okay! I’ll tell you for sure!”
‘Whew, Uncle’s like a mind reader.’
Realizing she couldn’t lie to him, Sowol scratched the back of her head and smiled awkwardly.
“We’re really going…?”
“Yep! I’m going on a trip with Uncle! Bye! I had fun!”
Sowol happily got ready to leave, but Tang Jinmyeong was on the verge of tears.
He had hoped he could stay with the sick Sowol for a few more years. But she was suddenly leaving after just a few days. It felt more than sad—it hurt.
“I… I…”
As their eyes met, Tang Jinmyeong burst into tears.
“I want to go with Sowol too!”
Waaaah!
Sowol panicked at the sudden crying.
Just as Jinmyeong ran toward her—
“Where do you think you’re going, little one?”
“Waaah! I wanna go with Sowol!”
Tang Pae picked him up by the back of the neck. Jinmyeong struggled and cried harder, but he couldn’t escape.
“I’ll take care of Jinmyeong, don’t worry. I put some medicine in your bag—take one when you need it, okay?”
“I don’t wanna! Sowol, don’t gooo!”
Without even time to say a proper goodbye, Tang Pae disappeared inside with Jinmyeong. His crying echoed through the closed gate.
“…Why is he like that?”
“How would I know? Did you say goodbye to everyone else?”
“Yep! I said goodbye to the bandit uncles, the pretty Yeoyeon unni, and even the house leader gave me pocket money this morning!”
“You got pocket money?”
Sowol suddenly remembered that Tang Cheon-yu told her to keep it a secret.
“J-Just a little? Not a lot!”
“…Then I guess you said goodbye to everyone?”
Sowol sighed in relief when Dok Go-ryong didn’t ask more.
“Oh! I forgot one person!”
“Who?”
“That uncle!”
“There are a lot of uncles… Oh, you mean Tang Jinak?”
“Yeah! I saw him last time with the house leader, but not since then. Did you see him, Uncle?”
Dok Go-ryong thought for a moment and then shook his head.
“Hm… I want to say goodbye. Maybe he doesn’t know we’re leaving?”
“No way. He’s the young master now, so he must just be busy.”
Sowol looked at the tightly shut gates of the Tang family with a bit of sadness.
“Let’s go. We’ve got a long journey.”
“Okay!”
As Dok Go-ryong started walking, Sowol finally followed. They passed the marketplace and soon arrived at the city gate.
“The way to Yunnan is…”
“Wait a minute!”
Just as he was looking at the map, a familiar voice shouted behind them. Both Dok Go-ryong and Sowol stopped.
“Oh? Uncle!”
Tang Jinak ran up to them, sweat on his forehead but smiling brightly.
“You’re just going to leave me behind? I almost missed you!”
Sowol and Dok Go-ryong blinked, confused by his words.
Then Sowol noticed something different—Tang Jinak’s outfit had changed.
He was no longer wearing flashy clothes that screamed “Tang family!” Instead, he wore a simple black traveling robe with a dark green design and a subtle black turtle emblem. And like Dok Go-ryong, he carried a travel bag.
“…What are you doing?”
Dok Go-ryong looked at him with a suspicious face.
Tang Jinak confidently put his hands on his hips.
“I’ve come to join your spiritual medicine journey!”
Sowol and Dok Go-ryong looked even more confused.
“I’ll definitely be helpful!”
Tang Jinak smiled brightly, unaware of how the two felt.
Tap tap—
As their feet hit the ground, the scenery flew by quickly. Two figures dashed through the forest using light footwork.
After about two hours of running, the one in front stopped. The person behind, now sweating, also stopped.
“Phew, are we taking a break now?”
“…”
The man in front narrowed his eyes suspiciously. In his arms was a little girl wearing the same expression.
A smiling man sweating a lot, a grumpy girl, and silence hanging between them.
Finally, Dok Go-ryong spoke first.
“…Are you seriously coming with us?”
“Huh? I already said I’d come. Didn’t you agree?”
“I didn’t say yes.”
Sowol answered in Dok Go-ryong’s place, but Tang Jinak just smiled and waved.
“But you didn’t say no either! So that means yes, right?”
That’s some twisted logic. How could he think “no rejection” equals “yes”?
“Wait, aren’t you the young master? Can you just leave your family like this?”
As far as she knew, there were still power struggles in the Tang family. Should someone that important really be running around outside?
“Sowol…”
Tang Jinak stared at her like he could see through her soul. Sowol wondered if she had said something too mature.
“You’re worried about me?!”
But he grinned so brightly that she realized her concern was useless.
“Agh! That’s not what I meant!”
Frustrated, Sowol wiggled in Dok Go-ryong’s arms, and he finally put her down and took off his bag.
“The kid has a point. Why are you tagging along?”
“Aww, even you, big bro? I’m hurt.”
Though he tried to joke, the suspicious looks didn’t fade, and Tang Jinak scratched his head.
“Do you really hate me coming with you?”
“Yes.”
“You’re acting suspicious.”
The sharp gaze made Tang Jinak flinch. He sighed deeply and dropped his cheerful act.
“I’ll be honest. After everything that happened, I realized how small my world really is.”
Though he’s said to be the most talented in the Tang family, he lacked real-world experience.
“Seeing you, big bro, made me realize how big the world really is! I thought if I stay near you, I might be able to break through my limits!”
“I’m not taking disciples.”
“I’m not asking to be one! Oh, but I’d like to become sworn brothers with you!”
“Ugh—”
Dok Go-ryong looked completely disgusted.
“If we become sworn brothers, you’ll have the young master of the Tang family as your younger brother. Isn’t that great?”
“I’m already tired taking care of my niece. I’m not babysitting a spoiled noble boy too.”
“I’m not spoiled. I’m 21, you know.”
“You’re still a kid.”
“You’re only two years older than me!”
Sowol silently looked up at them.
Tang Jinak tried to convince Dok Go-ryong with a pout, but Dok Go-ryong had built an iron wall of refusal.
‘Uncle… really is a stone wall.’
