Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: If You Go to the Market (2)
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Having passed through the main gate of the Righteous Martial Academy, we hurried on our way.
'A bit late to the party.'
I knew the Bloodsilk Myriadpoison Spider would be up for sale around this time, but I had no idea exactly when the deal would go down.
'In the original story, the auction where they got the Bloodsilk Myriadpoison Spider happened in the late afternoon.'
But that was at the medicinal herb market a full year from now, by the story's timeline.
'Right now's the point where Dang Ok-gi was broke and couldn't buy it even though it was available.'
So the right move was to get there as fast as possible and poke around.
'Dang Ok-gi said she bolted out of the Fragrant Orchid Pavilion the second curfew lifted.'
She hadn't taken a liking to the place in the original story either, so she'd acted the same way.
That put us about one mealtime behind her original schedule.
To make up that lost time, I broke into a flat-out sprint.
'They sure are keeping up.'
Dang Ok-gi, one of the top late-generation talents in all of Sichuan—the guy readers called the "protagonist generation"—trailed me with ease.
'The surprise is Ha-seong.'
I'd figured Dang Ok-gi would handle it no problem, and if Ha-seong started lagging too much, I'd slow down.
He was huffing and puffing with foam at the corners of his mouth, but he wasn't dropping back completely.
'Makes sense. He's toughened up his weak basics training under me. And as a diligent training scholarship recipient, he gulped down that spirit pill. He has to keep up at least this much.'
This pace couldn't last forever without him collapsing, but luckily we reached Luha District before his eyes rolled back in his head.
"...Hm. Looks like this is the place."
But maps from this era lacked fine details, so while I could roughly pinpoint the medicinal herb market district, the safehouse location was tricky.
Safehouses were typically built incorporating array formations, and this one was cleverly hidden among the civilian homes right next to the market.
As I puzzled over the map for a moment, Dang Ok-gi peeked over with her head.
"Whatcha looking for? Isn't the herb market over that hill?"
"Safehouse."
"Safehouse?"
"Yeah, you remember Eun Sojeo?"
"Gah. Ack. Khurk. Ptoo!"
"Ha-seong's big sis."
"Of course I remember! You think I'm a goldfish or something?! That's Ha-seong's sister over there huffing and puffing!"
"She told me to use it. Said everything we need is already prepped here, so no need to buy separate. Gotta start with this place."
"If you've got money and people, you're set, right? Need something else?"
"I'll explain inside."
Brushing off Dang Ok-gi's curiosity, I called out to Ha-seong right away.
"Ha-seong."
"Yes?!"
"Catch your breath and come look at this map. Technically, you're Silver Radiance blood too."
"Technically? I am Silver Radiance blood!"
I cracked my neck at the grumbling kid.
He came running like his tail was on fire and took the map from me.
"Looks like this house to me, but we don't wanna barge into the wrong place. Give it one last check."
"Mm. Spot on, like always. That's the house. Wow, but Sis didn't even annotate the map. Figured you'd figure it out yourself, Brother Yong-un? Or you did, but man, you're impressive—and she's something else too."
We unlocked the door to the modest civilian home we'd found and stepped inside.
Right away, we spotted a back door—one you don't often see in a house this size.
'No front courtyard, so no backyard either. That must be the door to the real safehouse.'
It was a U-shaped layout.
And sure enough.
Another door led to a spacious safehouse complete with a small garden and well.
I drew water from the well to wash my face and gave Ha-seong his orders.
"Ha-seong. Eun Sojeo said the disguise and transformation stuff is around here somewhere. Find it."
"Can't I eat first? Ran here on an empty stomach like a dog. Feels like my gut's glued to my spine."
"No time."
"...Yes, sir."
That was when.
As I shot down Ha-seong's whining about food amid our rush.
A tongue-click came from the sword at my waist, followed by Master's voice.
-What a greedy exploiter. Poor kid drew the short straw with an evil boss like you—no, evil righteous brother. Even oxen get fed before work... Come to think of it, I told you to take him in. If he'd flunked the entrance exam, at least he'd eat regular at the outer dorms. Sorry, Eon family kid...
'......'
Come to think, I hadn't fed him either.
I was starving too, so I couldn't fully agree with Master. But Ha-seong had pushed his limits twice over just to keep up with us.
To boost his spirits, I spoke up.
"We'll eat at the market. Tons of good stuff for sale there. What're they gonna have in a place like this? Jerky at best?"
"Oh. You buying?"
"I'll buy. For you, Miss Dang."
"M-Me?"
-At least cover that much, you!
Master, what kinda talk is that?
And Dang Ok-gi, why the wide eyes?
"I bought you Red Flame and pomegranate seeds, Eun family lent us the safehouse, and I even brought a porter like this guy. Least you can do is spring for food, Dang Ok-gi."
"R-Right. My treat."
The room dedicated to disguise and transformation tools was fully stocked. Ha-seong just watched me pick out clothes like it was normal, but Dang Ok-gi had questions.
"The 'necessary items' from before are disguise tools? But why disguise?"
"Better safe than sorry. You never know. Red Flame and pomegranate seeds aren't cheap—someone might get greedy."
"You've been saying Red Flame, but it's Red Jade. Red Jade and pomegranate seeds."
"Anyway. If trouble brews, better to settle it with skill or slip away without outing ourselves as academy cadets."
Her brows furrowed briefly at that.
"Makes sense?"
But they smoothed out quick enough.
"Especially thinking about your dorm's reputation. Get dragged into random crap, and you'll rack up demerits."
"Ugh. Fair. Got it. Pass me that indigo outer robe next to the black changpao you're holding. My favorite color."
"?"
"What? Can't wear what I like?"
"No silk."
"...? Why? You're picking silk."
"Think about it. To afford Red Flame—or Red Jade—and pomegranate seeds at our age? We're going rich heir."
"True..."
"Would a rich heir come here alone? Gotta have at least one guard and a servant."
"Got it, but why you the rich heir? I could pull it off."
She had a point.
Dang Ok-gi was a daughter of the prestigious Sichuan Tang family, after all.
Except for the one thing she was overlooking.
I fanned out that overlooked fact like a hand of cards.
And right on cue, Ha-seong chimed in.
"In the merchant world, whoever's got the money is big brother, big sister, whatever—the top dog."
"Kyaaah!"
That ended Dang Ok-gi's protests.
She huffed off from the silk pile, not thrilled but compliant, and challenged Ha-seong to "Stone Buddha, Forward Throw, Cloth"—rock-paper-scissors.
"Stone Buddha, forward throw, cloth!"
"Stone Buddha, forward throw, cloth!"
"!"
"?!"
"Yes!"
And lost.
Maid role: hers.
"Y-You went late! Eun Ha-seong went late!"
Refusing to accept defeat, she demanded a rematch, but I shook my head firmly.
"...Too bad, Miss Ok-gi."
We each disguised and transformed to fit our roles.
True masters of disguise could perfectly mimic anyone, but we just needed to hide our cadet status—simple stuff.
Sharpen my features, blur theirs. Done.
"Whoa, Brother. Always thought martial robes suited you, but cleaned up like this? Total young master vibes. Must be those good looks."
"Flattery gets you nowhere, Ha-seong."
"Not flattery. Right, Miss Dang?"
"Sure is... No! Whatever! Why do I get the worst role?!"
"Just accept it, Dang Ok-gi. If you'd fronted the cash, I'd be serving you as young miss. And you suggested stone-buddha first."
"Hmph."
"Oh, wait—we forgot names. All this disguise for nothing. Dang Ok-gi, Eon Yong-un? Total giveaway. Ha-seong."
"Yes, Brother."
"You're second son at home, second role here. Second heavenly stem 'Eul,' second earthly branch 'Chuk.' Eul-chuk."
"Yes, sir!"
"Dang Ok-gi, something like Dang... How about Dan-dan?"
"Sounds good."
"Loosen that gritted jaw. Think Red Jade and pomegranate seeds."
"You've both been on about Red Jade and pomegranate seeds. Not fruit, not herbs or elixirs. Spirit beast, right? Sounds super cute and pretty from the name."
That was when.
As Ha-seong veered off-track mid-convo, trying to correct his misunderstanding.
Dang Ok-gi, stuck in maid mode with a sour face, smirked like the thought alone amused her and spoke up.
"Super pretty. Eyes sparkle red like real rubies or pomegranate gems, back fur pale plum blossom shade, long slender legs crimson. Gorgeous."
"...? An animal like that? Red pretty eyes... rabbit?"
Dang Ok-gi was off in dreamland meeting her imaginary Bloodsilk Myriadpoison Spider, while Ha-seong totally missed the mark.
But if I clued him in it was a spider, he'd flip out in front of Dang Ok-gi, who'd just calmed down with "gross" this and that.
I played dumb.
-Same sight, different dreams. Or same fur, different dreams.
Whatever.
In our new getups, we left the safehouse and entered the medicinal herb market.
First stop: the auction house on the map.
Where crowds go, crowds come out to check the commotion.
I left "Dan-dan" Dang Ok-gi and "Eul-chuk" Ha-seong in a nearby market alley, away from the auction house, then wandered around like a sightseeing young master who'd taken a wrong turn and sidled up to the doorman.
And asked about the Bloodsilk Myriadpoison Spider listing.
"Heard you have a live Bloodsilk Myriadpoison Spider in the auction. That true?"
If not, rumor had it one at next week's Ten Phrases Herb Market—no need to linger.
Grab the golden sore salve and bounce.
That's why the auction house first.
"Can't say if it's listed or not, young master."
The doorman shut me down.
'Not "no," but "can't say"?'
Nothing's impossible in the marketplace.
If someone's saying no, can't, impossible—it just means you haven't paid enough.
I slipped three silver taels from my pouch into the doorman's hand discreetly.
"Heh, now you're putting me in a spot, young master."
"What's the trouble? Just a rich passerby appreciating your hard work standing all day without bending a knee. A little something for tea later. I'll be off now."
"Ahem. Uh-hum. So I can wipe my mouth clean?"
"Doesn't matter to me. Just..."
"Just?"
"You might mutter to yourself about some weird new item that came in today. Real curious critter."
"!"
"Then a rich young master wandering solo without his servants might clumsily drop a couple more silver taels."
"Heh-hum. Hrm. Come to think, saw two bright-red-legged spiders earlier—like they eat corpses. Stuff like spirit medicines or beasts? Probably trades heavy after you hour?!"
-That silver-tongued peddler's got nothing on you. No wonder your less-furry classmates can't compete!
I smirked at Master's praise-or-insult-I-couldn't-tell as I twisted my lips up.
Anyway, confirmed.
"Lucky day," they say—but not for me, apparently.
Item's here, money's here, know the rough price, got a plan to dominate the auction.
Just pick up the stashed Bloodsilk Myriadpoison Spiders at you hour.
'That Bloodsilk Myriadpoison Spider's coming back to me as a Myriadpoison Pill soon enough.'
Sniff.
Man, just thinking about it makes my mouth water.