Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Going to the Market (1)
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The next morning.
I headed to the training grounds as usual to begin my morning practice.
Ah, of course, morning practice was no longer just for me and my Eon family younger brothers.
Since I had proposed it and received approval from Instructor No Sam, our dormitory supervisor, and Gyeong-ryong hyung, the student council president, morning practice had now become part of the daily routine for all Azure Bamboo Hall students.
"Azure Dragon. Excluding Yang Geum-pyo and the other five still laid up in the infirmary, no one else is absent."
"Azure Peak. Aside from Ye Hae-su who's out on dispatch training with the Murim Alliance, no absences."
"Good. Then let's start with the Five Animals exercise. Guidance Department Leader."
"Yes, Young Master Eon. Beginning now! Azure Pillar! Five Animals exercise, start!"
Standing on the platform, leading the animal-mimic gymnastics while overlooking the 160-odd Azure Bamboo Hall students, I could tell exactly why each one was participating at this hour.
'The first-years.'
In other words, my peers were all new to life at the Righteous Martial Academy, so they followed along silently, figuring it was just what they were supposed to do.
'Gyeong-ryong hyung, and Silver Little Sis.'
Some were proclaiming their determination to overcome the bottom ranks with their whole bodies, or burning with resolve to transfer out of Azure Bamboo Hall—participating with genuine enthusiasm from the heart.
And finally, there were those who seemed reluctant, wondering why they had to do this at all.
"I'm graduating the day after tomorrow. Do I really have to do animal poses? I'd be better off sleeping soundly at this hour."
"Ugh, yeah. It's not like doing animal poses well gets you better grades or recommendations to the Murim Alliance or any clans."
Setting aside the first two groups.
As I eyed the final group of malcontents, a click of the tongue came from Master's voice at my waist.
-From that Jin family punk to you, everyone's doing it without exception. Yet these fools complain the most, with limbs trembling from poor muscle training in the animal poses and flexibility so lacking the lines of the Five Animals exercise look messy.
'Well, sloth that's become habit over years can't be washed away in a few days. The important thing is they're showing up despite the grumbling.'
With that, I recalled the saying you can't fill your belly with one sip.
'Still, some measures seem necessary.'
But on the other hand, I wondered if supplementary classes (physics) were already needed.
A rotten tangerine or apple in a box will quickly bruise and rot the ones around it.
If Azure Bamboo Hall was one box of tangerines or apples, those seniors were the bruised ones among them.
'The blood of Yang Geum-pyo still hasn't cooled on my fist.'
In any case, I'd judged that appropriate measures were needed, and just as my body tensed to move—
Jeong-hyeon headed toward the group that seemed to need those measures and launched into a speech.
"The Doctrine of the Mean states: Do not neglect even the small and trivial; give your all, and it becomes sincerity. When that sincerity shines brightly, it moves others, and that movement brings change."
"...Huh? Guidance leader? Did you hear that?"
"Yes, I heard clearly. A person who gives utmost sincerity even in small matters can change themselves and the world. Vice President Eon Yong-un leads by example, practicing it silently. How can you seniors, seeing a junior's sincerity, harbor such disheartening thoughts—not just harbor them, but voice them aloud?"
"...I misspoke."
"Yes, you did. Because you lacked sincerity, such words slipped out. Even your current leg bends aren't your best. You can bend more. Bend deeper."
"L-like this?"
"More. More, more, more."
"Hnghheeeek!"
"Do it while following along. Next, utmost effort in the curve, the curve brings sincerity."
"N-next, utmost... in the curve... brings sincerity."
"Give your all even in small things."
"G-give... your all... even in small thiiiings."
Hm.
Whoever appointed the guidance department leader did a great job.
She gets things done.
Well, anyway.
The morning practice that began that way concluded with jogging followed by meditation and breath regulation.
"Everyone seems to have settled their qi and blood. That concludes today's morning practice. Enjoy your breakfast, and note there will be a light skills check at the hour of the goat. Unless you've filed for day leave or overnight permission, please attend without fail. Good work, everyone."
"Good work!"
As training ended, Yin Xia Lian approached, fixing her sweat-dampened hair, and spoke to me with one hand covering her mouth.
"You said you were heading out right after yesterday's practice. Skipping breakfast too?"
"That's the plan. But why cover your mouth when you talk?"
"B-because of the bad breath."
"Doesn't matter. If you're training hard, a little bad breath is natural."
"It matters to me! Anyway, take this."
With that, Yin Xia Lian handed over a rolled-up parchment and a key.
I could unroll the parchment to see, but with her right there, asking directly was faster.
"What's this?"
"Yesterday I only gave you the voucher, but this is a map first off."
Unfurling the map as she explained, atop it was the name Old River Medicine Spirit Market, marked with various shops, an auction house, and a single point below labeled with an An (Peace).
"Oh, thanks. I figured I'd scout it out once there, but with a map, it'll be much easier. But what's this spot marked 'An'?"
"The Old River District's medicine market is north of the Yangtze, so we don't have a branch there yet, but it's a place we're eyeing for expansion, so I've prepared a safe house."
Then the key must be for that safe house's lock.
"The safe house should have stuff for disguises or travel necessities, right?"
"Yes. Clothes and this and that. If you're hiding your identity for the auction, use it. Check the drawer in the inner quarters for silver coins or pouches for small expenses."
Wandering around as a Righteous Martial Academy student would draw too much attention.
I'd planned to stop at the Single River Top Inn on the way for a disguise anyway, and it seemed Yin Xia Lian had seen through my intentions.
"I'll put it to good use. Anything else needed? I can just buy from the vendors?"
"Hm. Since you're taking Ha Seong, could you pick up some golden sore medicine from the market for the Azure Bamboo Hall infirmary?"
"Running low?"
"We have a little, but thinking ahead, it's getting tight."
"The ledgers I checked showed plenty."
"That Yang Geum-pyo skimped hard. On paper it's there, but actually not. I put in a requisition to administration, but procedures take time. I trust your eye for golden sore medicine and whatever else looks necessary—pick it up while you're at it."
Not a tough request.
Golden sore medicine was powder, not bulky or heavy, and the only must-buy was a pair of blood-sucking venom spiders, so there was room in Ha Seong's load.
"But I'm going incognito to the medicine market. You get what that means?"
"Yes. Can't charge it to Azure Bamboo Hall funds. It'll come from my personal purse."
The only concern was Yin Xia Lian's attitude.
'Yin Xia Lian dipping into her personal funds.'
The original Yin Xia Lian wasn't one to casually tap her own pockets.
When money was needed in the story, she'd appear like a ghost to flash her big-spender cred, but always backed by thorough calculations.
"...Hm? Was it too much to ask?"
"No, the request isn't hard. It's just Thousand Gold Smile Yin Xia Lian of Radiant Prosperity Hall, known for pinching every coin, seems to be treating her purse too lightly."
"Hearing Thousand Gold Smile from your lips is truly embarrassing. But I'm not being loose with my money."
"Really?"
"Yes. This is an investment. Right now, the most undervalued investment in the world is Azure Bamboo Hall. With Young Master Eon there, Azure Bamboo is bound to soar. You'll wrench it onto solid ground even if you have to. So this is investing in Young Master Eon and Azure Bamboo."
After receiving the map and key from Yin Xia Lian, I gave So Ling his final instructions while stretching my shoulders.
"So Ling, after lunch, go floor by floor one last time announcing the skills check to the seniors and my peers."
"Yes! Take care, Eon hyung and Silver sis!"
"You too."
With student council vice president duties done, I quickly changed and headed to the academy's main gate with Ha Seong.
I arrived right on time, with various errands along the way.
"Oh, Lady Tang, we meet often these days? Coming along too?"
"S-Silver young hero. But couldn't we drop the formal speech...? Last time at dinner, I—no, when we said next time let's be casual...?"
"You're close enough with Yong-un hyung to speak casually, but if I did with you, where would that leave the family hierarchy? And you're older."
"Acting all polite. Ha Seong, you used to speak casually even to your own sister, remember? Not just casual, you were ready to get pickled..."
"Ehe. Hyung, come on. That was then, now's now. Like you said, Lady Tang, last time you said let's be casual. This is casual for me. I'll just change 'Lady' to 'sis.' I'll do what's comfy for me, and sis can do what's comfy for you?"
"A-alright. Then I'm really going casual?"
With the title sorting done, Dang Ok-gi puffed up, claiming first out was first served, and opened her mouth.
"Anyway, you two are late?!"
"Doesn't feel like we are. Wait long?"
"...N-not that long?"
"If not long, how can we be late?"
That was when.
The question that naturally popped into my head slipped out.
The guard post martial officer senior at the gate recognized me and greeted.
"The top first-year, right?"
Looking closely, I knew the face, if not the name.
"You're the senior who came out when we reported those Low River Park punks at the inn street last time?"
"Haha, we didn't even exchange names, but good memory. Explains why you're top. Heading out?"
"Too kind. Yes, just sightseeing."
"Have fun. But your friend waited a while? Let's see, I came on shift mid hour of the goat..."
"S-Senior?!"
"Hm? Ah, I rambled pointlessly. Sorry. Got excited. Take care."
"You too, senior."
"Take care!"
That cleared up the mystery.
Mid hour of the goat meant Dang Ok-gi had waited about an hour.
"I usually leave early for appointments, but with this and that to handle, I timed it exact. Next time, factor that in when setting times."
"I left right at curfew lift from Hyangran Hall 'cause someone'd hassle me if I stayed, and didn't want to miss you here."
How long after Dang Ok-gi rattled off her reasons for coming early unasked?
Seeming relaxed now.
She crossed her arms alone and spoke.
"So. Got enough money to buy Pomegranate and Red Jade?"
At Dang Ok-gi's tone, Master's puzzled voice came from my waist.
-Pomegranate? Red Jade? Disciple, weren't those the venom spiders you agreed to buy?
'Yes.'
-...So you named the venom spiders Pomegranate and Red Jade?
'...Seems like it.'
-Birds of a feather, huh. You really attract the weird ones.
'...?'
Well, anyway.
"Already named them?"
"Yeah. So excited I couldn't sleep. If you lied, you're an enemy of the Tang Clan starting today?!"
To Dang Ok-gi, who named the venom spiders Pomegranate and Red Jade and lost sleep over it, I pulled out a stack of thousand-nyang vouchers and fanned them out.
"...?!"
Too much for Dang Ok-gi to keep her arms crossed.