Chapter 56
They began exploring Heuksigok in earnest.
There were many items they hadn’t seen in the daytime market, Cheongyakjang. But most of them were ridiculously overpriced, or fakes being sold as real.
Even when they found decent items, sellers would try to scam them with high prices and refused to haggle, so they kept striking out.
Eventually, Dang Jin-ak and Dok Go-ryong, exhausted from bargaining and bluffing, settled at a small food stall tucked away in a corner and ordered a few snacks.
It was a different kind of tiredness compared to when they used lightfoot techniques to cross mountains.
“Uncle, try this! It’s yummy!”
“…You eat more.”
Unlike the two drained uncles, Eun Sowol had somehow recovered her energy and was happily munching on a skewer.
Dok Go-ryong and Dang Jin-ak had taken turns carrying her all day, just in case she got tired.
Which meant—Sowol hadn’t walked a single step the whole time! Being a weak little kid really had its perks.
“Mmm. But seriously, this is really good.”
It was juicy, had no weird smell, and tasted far better than the foraged food she had eaten in the mountains before arriving in Yunnan.
As she was wondering what kind of spices were in it—
“Ah!”
She dropped the last piece of meat from her skewer.
Sowol jumped down from her seat and looked around to find it.
She briefly remembered the “three-second rule,” but then saw something strange—her meat wasn’t on the ground.
No, to be exact, a tiny animal, about the size of her small maple-leaf-shaped hand, was holding the meat and twitching its nose adorably.
Its tiny round face, small ears, long body with short legs, and a tail as big as its body…
Sowol squatted and stared into the animal’s shiny black eyes.
“…A weasel?”
It was too long to be a mouse, and not quite a cat.
Or maybe a marten?
Weasels and martens looked really similar, and with its dark fur, it was hard to tell.
Judging by the size, it was probably still a baby.
Weasel or marten… Do these kinds of animals usually show up in places like this?
She had seen mice, cats, and stray dogs wandering around—but never one like this.
Wait… maybe…
Grrrr…
The little animal fluffed up its fur and tail, growling at her.
“I won’t take it. You can have it.”
Sowol whispered gently and slowly backed away.
The little guy, who had been growling so hard his whiskers trembled, gradually relaxed.
Realizing she wasn’t going to take the meat, it lowered the piece and started chewing happily.
In seconds, the meat was gone, and it licked its lips.
“Wait a bit. Don’t run off, okay?”
Sowol stood up and checked the table for leftover skewers.
Dok Go-ryong and Jin-ak were still slouched in their chairs.
Sowol sneakily grabbed a skewer and went back under the table.
Thankfully, the little animal was still there, staring at her with bright eyes.
When she got a bit closer to offer more meat—
Hiss!
It suddenly hissed, trying to look scary by puffing up its fur and tail.
Hehe, so cute.
Sowol just thought it was adorable.
“Animals aren’t supposed to eat spices, though…”
She carefully peeled off the spiced coating by hand. It looked a little messy afterward, but should be safe enough.
She removed the meat from the skewer and tossed it toward the little guy.
He instantly forgot all his caution and devoured it like he was starving.
He must’ve escaped from somewhere.
In Heuksigok, every few steps there were shops selling spirit beasts. Some even had weasels or martens in cages.
“…How did you end up here?”
Sowol hugged her knees, whispering in a sad voice.
The little animal, not caring whether she understood or not, finished the pile of meat that was bigger than his whole body.
Now full, he licked his fur and sniffed around with his moist nose—then started inching toward Sowol.
Maybe he was warming up to her?
She reached out her hand—
Yip!
He shrieked and bared his tiny but sharp teeth.
Then, he suddenly bit her hand.
His eyes grew wide like saucers, surprised that he had bitten her. Then, awkwardly, he opened his mouth.
Kyu-rrrr…
Tail drooping, the little animal paced nervously in front of her.
I’m fine, though.
His bite was sharp, but she only got a tiny scratch—like a prick from a needle.
Yet the little guy seemed very sorry.
Even though he had growled so fiercely earlier, he started licking her hand.
He stretched his neck awkwardly from a distance to do it, clearly scared but trying to “treat” her.
Sowol couldn’t help but giggle.
“I’m okay. You don’t have to.”
The little guy lifted his head with eyes that now looked a lot less fearful.
He kept sniffing her hand, like he was trying to confirm whether she was a safe person or not.
“Hey, kid, what are you doing?”
Dok Go-ryong’s voice suddenly came from above, and both Sowol and the little animal flinched.
“Ah! Nothing! I just dropped some meat…”
“Don’t eat stuff off the ground.”
“I wasn’t going to!”
Sowol shouted and looked at the little guy.
He was still sitting there with his big round eyes, not moving.
“Don’t get caught by people again, okay? Run away and stay safe.”
She waved her hand.
The little guy hesitated, then slowly scooted backward.
Sowol stood up and sat back in her chair.
Under the table, the little animal sat silently, watching her dangling legs.
Around the same time, Dok Go-ryong and Jin-ak were deep in conversation.
“There are rarer herbs here than in Cheongyakjang, but still not what we’re looking for.”
“I thought we’d at least find one spirit core.”
“Even if we do find one, I bet it’ll cost a fortune—at least a thousand gold. And the sellers are shameless.”
“Maybe we should start asking around for info on cores or elixirs instead…”
They were still fully focused on their mission to find a spiritual medicine. Sowol listened in.
So… that elixir really isn’t here?
In truth, Sowol had come to Yunnan looking for a specific one—
The core of the Yin-Yang Twin-Headed Snake.
In the original story, it was an elixir gained when the righteous protagonist saved someone in danger. It was sold here in Heuksigok.
But the timing doesn’t match…
Back then, the Mad Demon (Dok Go-ryong) was almost forty, and Dang Jin-ak was already the head of the family with kids.
But now? The protagonist hasn’t even shown up yet. And both Uncle Jin-ak and Uncle Dok are in their twenties… They’re way too young!
She had been too focused on getting cured to realize she’d misjudged the timing.
“Sigh…”
Why did nothing ever go smoothly?
It felt like even the heavens were tossing mud in her path.
Sowol let out a long sigh and glared up at the sky in frustration.
CRASH!
Suddenly, there was a loud commotion from behind her.
She instinctively turned around.
“You call this worth five nyang?! This isn’t even worth two!”
A burly man was shouting angrily. Herbs were scattered all around.
In front of him was a peddler sitting on the ground with a small display of goods.
The peddler silently began picking up the herbs.
“I’m sorry, sir. Five nyang is already the lowest I can offer. I know it may seem expensive, but I assure you the quality and effectiveness are real. You’re not getting ripped off.”
“Bah! Whatever! Don’t try to sell this trash anymore! Where do you get off scamming people—!”
The man kicked the peddler’s bundle, sending herbs flying everywhere again.
That’s way too much…
Ruining someone’s stall over a disagreement was one thing, but this level of aggression? He should pay for damages.
Just as the man raised his thick foot to stomp on the crushed herbs—
Smack!
“You thuggish bastard! What’re you picking fights for, just ‘cause your eyes can’t tell the difference between junk and treasure?!”
A boy who looked about ten suddenly appeared and shouted.
He swung a stick hard at the man’s leg.
