[S1] 4- "Way t0 RepaƳ"

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The three of them bustled about busily for Taeyeon's sake. By noon, Jungguk naturally cooked up the remaining half of the wild pheasant.

Earlier, he had made soup to nourish Taeyeon, but this time, with more people around and Gomo Lee helping out, they prepared a stir-fried chicken dish.

Having honed her cooking skills over decades, Gomo Lee's dish was, unsurprisingly, far tastier than what Jungguk could make— rich in flavor and leaving a lingering fragrance.

Lunch was served like this, and just in time, as two helpers had arrived. They even volunteered to stay and keep watch. After some thought, Jungguk decided to head to the market himself.

He took a small pouch of broken silver and borrowed a cart from someone at the village entrance, driving it toward the market.

The road led him through the base of the mountain. The cart moved leisurely along, and with no one in sight, Jungguk took the opportunity to observe his surroundings. This area seemed habitable, and if the barren land nearby could be cultivated, it might prove useful someday.

However, this place was only worth a glance.

Passing merchants wouldn't venture deep into the mountains, and any roadside houses were easy to spot. For Taeyeon, it wasn't safe--if bandits or other unsavory characters happened to pass through, Taeyeon wouldn't be able to defend himself.

Pushing these thoughts aside, Jungguk caught sight of a flock of ducks swimming in the river under the bridge ahead. Clearly, someone was raising them here. He stared at them for a moment, pondering whether to buy a few. But the idea was soon dismissed. It wasn't practical to buy so much all at once-managing them would be too much to handle. It was just a passing thought anyway; whether he could afford to raise them was another matter entirely. After traveling for over an hour, he finally arrived at the nearest market.

At noon, after lunch, the market wasn't as lively as it was during the bustling morning hours. The streets were sparsely populated, which worked to Jungguk's advantage. He went straight to a poultry shop, found the owner, and selected a hen that was neither too fat nor too thin, along with three chicks, before leaving.

After purchasing the chickens, his next stop was naturally a clothing store. Wealthier people would usually buy premium fabrics and take them to a tailor for custom-made garments. But for people

like him, with little money to spare, buying ready-made clothes was the only option. The clothes were made from the cheapest fabrics.

Since they were for Taeyeon, and one set wouldn't be enough for changing and washing.

Jungguk carefully picked out three sets. One was slightly thicker to provide warmth during colder weather, while the others were made from lighter fabrics suitable for summer.

After buying these two necessities, his pouch of silver was reduced to just a few scattered coins. He decided not to spend any more and prepared to return home with the cart.

Just as he was about to climb aboard, his gaze fell on a small pharmacy nearby. Raising his head for a closer look, he noticed a large notice posted by the shop owner. It read: 'Seeking Hwang Wol-ryeong', a rare medicinal herb that grows on cliffs or rocky edges.

The herb was not only precious but also difficult to find. Its retrieval was dangerous, making it unattainable for ordinary folk hoping to strike it rịch.

However, the name struck a chord that was familiar to Jungguk.

He recalled that after he was rescued, when his body was overwhelmed with cold energy that refused to dissipate and his fever wouldn't subside, Yeon Saeng(his adoptive Abeoji) had used this very herb, grinding it into a medicinal paste to cure him. The primary effect of Hwang Wol-ryeong was to expel internal cold and restore vitality and blood circulation. Its efficacy was said to be twice that of Yeong-ji mushrooms, with immediate results!

Yeon Saeng had occasionally brought back one or two pieces of Hwang Wol-ryeong ,from the outside, which he turned into dried medicine. Perhaps there were still plenty of these herbs in the mountains near Wang-ga Village! An audacious idea formed in Jungguk's mind. He turned back, knocked on the pharmacy's door, and, when the owner invited him in, went straight to the point:

"I'm from Wang-ga Village, in the mountains nearby. There are still Hwang Wol-ryeong herbs growing in the mountains there. If I can bring some back, how much silver will you pay for them?"

Though his question was direct, the pharmacy owner was in urgent need of Hwang Wol-ryeong. His superiors had been pressing him relentlessly, and the reward for anyone who could supply a large quantity of the herb was as high as one hundred taels of silver. Given the herb's rarity and value, the owner's eyes lit up as he replied: "If it's just one stalk, it won't fetch much. But... if you can bring back half a jin(500 grams) or even a full jin, I can pay at least ten taels of silver."

Jungguk nodded thoughtfully and agreed.

The pharmacy owner observed the young man before him-handsome and refined, yet clearly lacking money-and couldn't help but ask curiously: "Are you really planning to look for it? Aren't you afraid of the danger? You're still so young. Why not pursue academic honors instead?"

Achieving wealth and status through official examinations seemed a much safer and more promising path than wandering along treacherous cliffs.

Jungguk sighed, hesitating before saying: "It's not that I don't want to. It's just that I have a.." He paused briefly and then explained: "..have a hyeong. During the imperial examination, he was framed by a spoiled noble and died in prison. My Abeoji lost faith in such things. Rather than yearning for a life of luxury, he taught me that it's better to live honestly and steadily."

Hearing this, the pharmacy owner sighed as well, seeming to understand.

Not wanting to dwell further on the topic, Jungguk thanked the owner and prepared to leave. Just as he was stepping out, the owner called him back, saying: "Let me give you something. This has detailed drawings of the herb so you don't pick the wrong one by mistake."

It was a thin, ancient booklet, no more than four or five pages, but it contained detailed sketches of various medicinal herbs. Judging by the illustrations, these were plants typically found on cliffs. Jungguk accepted it with a nod of gratitude. 'Thank you.'

Feeling that the day's trip had been quite fruitful, Jungguk climbed back onto the cart and set off for home. As he was about to leave the market, he passed a shop at the far end selling trinkets and ornaments. He had intended to pass it by, but his keen eyesight caught a glimpse of the brightly colored silk ribbons on display.

An idea suddenly flashed through his mind.

He inquired about the price of a strip of white silk. It was inexpensive. Jungguk discussed his requirements with the shopkeeper, had the silk cut to size, and tucked it away in his pouch before leaving.

The journey back was long and winding. Wearing a straw hat, he returned to the courtyard accompanied by the distant, melodious songs echoing through the mountains. By the time he arrived , it seemed Gomo Lee and Seo-young-Ssi had just left not long ago; the house was filled with warmth.

Hearing movement, Taeyeon rose from the bed and asked softly: "Jungguk hyeong, are you back?"

"Mm." Jungguk's voice carried a note of cheer. He first took out the white silk, intending to help him put it on, but he was surprised to find that Taeyeon's face, including his eyes, was no longer in its previous condition.

The marks on his face had almost completely disappeared. Even the areas where dried blood had stuck stubbornly together were now clean, and his complexion had noticeably improved. Jungguk hesitated briefly and thought; 'it must have been Seo-young-Ssi who had helped him.'

"Your eyes seem much better. Did Seo-young-Ssi help you with this? What did she do? I should learn, so I can help you next time." After all, they couldn't keep troubling others, especially since the gender difference might invite unnecessary gossip.

Gomo Lee had already hinted at matchmaking, and if there were too many interactions, others might start rumors. That wouldn't be good for the young lady's reputation. Jungguk genuinely had no plans for marriage at the moment and didn't want anyone else to face unwarranted trouble.

Taeyeon nodded decisively. "It was Miss Lee who helped me. She seemed to use warm water and added something to it. It felt cool and soothing...I stopped feeling any discomfort pretty quickly."

"Then I'll ask her next time about how to prepare it." Jungguk said as he carefully took out the white silk. He said earnestly: "I saw this white silk while shopping today. I remember she mentioned you shouldn't be exposed to light for now. How about I tie it over your eyes as a cover?"

"..AIright." Taeyeon, of course, understood the meaning behind all this. Though powerless to change his current condition, he could only hope for a miracle in the future.

Once the white silk was secured, Taeyeon seemed to become much calmer. If one had to describe it, he resembled an exquisite, motionless piece of jade. He exuded an air of purity— not weak in character, but rather quiet and reserved.

"It seems you'll be able to walk tomorrow. Rest for today." Jungguk said. Realizing it was still early, he added: "I'll go outside and set up an enclosure for a few chickens. Once they grow bigger, we can stew them. As for the hen, if it starts laying eggs, we'll keep it for egg collection later."

In the countryside, some specifically raise roosters alongside hens to produce fertilized eggs, but Jungguk wasn't sure how long he could keep them, so he didn't bother with that for now.

He stood and went outside. Both the front and back courtyards had large open spaces.

However, they were overrun with weeds, as he hadn't planted any vegetables there before. Over time, the weeds had taken over. Grabbing a hoe, Jungguk worked for a long time. His palms, though bearing many new marks from the effort were still remarkably smooth---likely the result of fifteen years of leisure and care.

But now that he was here, all of that was behind him, and it no longer mattered. Because he couldn't remember, he harbored no resentment. Over the years, though, people had occasionally speculated that he might once have been a young master from a wealthy family--how else could his hands have been so well-kept? Sometimes, they pitied him, but to him, they were just passing strangers.

As he worked, Jungguk's long black hair fell forward, cascading like a waterfall and glistening under the sunlight.

Before long, he had cleared the back courtyard completely. The freshly loosened soil was still damp, so he decided to let it dry under the sun before fencing it off. The chickens would be housed in the back courtyard for now. In the front courtyard, he pondered whether to dig a small pond, though the project seemed too ambitious for now and was better left for later.

The wild pheasant from lunch was completely eaten. With little left for dinner, Jungguk made savory porridge with bits of pork and a few scattered shiitake mushrooms. The flavor wasn't exceptional, but with some meat in it, it wasn't bland either.

Recalling Gomo Lee's cooking from earlier, Jungguk felt a bit embarrassed as he said to Taeyeon: "My cooking isn't as good as hers. It's nowhere near as tasty as what she made..."

"No, it's great." Taeyeon said sincerely, clearly enjoying the meal. "I think it tastes wonderful. Besides, you're so kind, Jungguk hyeong. You've done so much for someone like me, a stranger. I don't know how I could ever repay you.."

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[A/n: The festive season is usually a time for joy and celebration, but for me, it's been a bit of a challenge. With relatives dropping by left and right, the topic of my marriage keeps popping up... and up... and up. I mean, I get it, I'm eligible, but honestly, I'm good without the (martial life)drama. My answer's been a clear "NO" from the start, but somehow, they just can't seem to let it go.

What's frustrating is seeing my mom get caught up in their discussions and worries. I feel for her, but I'm not about to compromise my happiness just to ease the pressure. I've decided to endure their taunts for now, mainly because I don't feel like arguing with some of these... let's say, "mature-in-their-own-minds" elders.

But I'm glad you're all eager for the next update! Your enthusiasm is appreciated, and I'm happy to oblige. The rest of the updates will come gradually, so stay tuned! And thanks for sticking around.

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   ω ω ___/৴```•..•°\= this Kitty is cutie*.•right?]

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