Chapter 4: Chapter 4

I first heard of the Millennium Snow Ginseng when I had just entered my early 30s. I figure that was about 20 years before I would die. Back then, I was steadily building my career as a bounty hunter and lived day-to-day; those were my most peaceful and leisurely times.

The first person to discover the Millennium Snow Ginseng was the young head of the prestigious Danmok Clan, Danmok Seo. A young martial artist, Danmok Seo loved exploring mountains and hills. It was during one of these excursions that he discovered a peculiar place in Huangshan. Despite being a mountain area, the location was said to never melt its ice throughout the year. There, Danmok Seo collected the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.

That’s when the problems began.

Danmok Seo wasn’t alone when he discovered the Millennium Snow Ginseng; he was accompanied by the exceptionally talented martial artist O-ryong1 from the Righteous Faction. O-ryong noticed the ginseng Danmok Seo had found and soon started fighting to take possession of it. A deadly struggle ensued, involving various martial arts clans from around Huangshan, causing a month-long disturbance.

In the end, the Millennium Snow Ginseng became the property of the leader of the Righteous Sky Alliance, putting an end to the chaos. I’m not privy to the details because, at the time, I was just a low-ranking courier struggling to make ends meet.

‘But one thing is certain. The Millennium Snow Ginseng exists in Huangshan, and I can find it before anyone else does.’

To find and consume the Millennium Snow Ginseng before anyone else!

Could there be a more certain and compelling fate in this world?

The legendary elixir, the Millennium Snow Ginseng, is said to increase one’s internal energy by two cycles in a single gulp and guarantees eternal youth. Given the fact that even the highest-level martial artists from top-tier sects rarely achieve such levels of internal energy after decades of practice, the ginseng was unquestionably worth risking one’s life for.

Of course, simply consuming the elixir wouldn’t make me an expert martial artist overnight. Adequate martial arts skills are necessary. However, if I could get the Millennium Snow Ginseng, becoming an expert would only be a matter of time, and I couldn’t help but be impatient.

‘Huangshan is far away. I’ll need a substantial amount of money and stamina.’

The distance to Huangshan was about a fortnight’s journey by horse. As a teenager, I would be at high risk of starving or collapsing before reaching there. And even if I managed to arrive, it would be impossible to comb through the entire mountain range to locate the ginseng.

There was only one answer. I needed to save enough money. Only then could I afford a horse and ensure that I wouldn’t starve while searching for the elixir in Huangshan. Reflecting on my experiences as a courier, I began to estimate the amount I’d need.

The figure came out to be exactly ten pieces of silver. It was a substantial amount. The thought of how to acquire such an amount was vexing, mainly because it would take nearly half a year of work as a low-ranking courier.

I need to save money, but I have no idea how to go about it. What should I do in a situation like this?

‘No, let’s think about this slowly.’

Historically, Danmok Seo discovered the Millennium Snow Ginseng at least 20 years from now. That means if I could locate it by then, I’d have a good chance of monopolizing it. Realizing that my haste stemmed from wanting to escape this wretched life as a servant in a village, I let out a bitter laugh.

“Sigh…”

Truth be told, I’m still in a state of shock. Why did I survive being shot in the chest with an arrow and return to the past? Although I’m quickly adapting to reality and making plans, I still have no idea what happened to me.

There is one thing that’s certain.

I need ‘power.’ And I also need money.

Only then will I be able to figure out the reason behind my regression.

Living from day to day like when I was a low-ranking courier is something I can’t afford to do anymore.

I went to the cowshed to finish cleaning up the cow dung. It took me about an hour, and after I was done, I washed myself in the stream and lay down to rest. Although I was hungry after the labor, the village chief wasn’t likely to feed me, so I closed my eyes.

‘Going straight for the Millennium Ginseng is a stretch. I need to convince the village chief first.’

Convincing the village chief meant negotiating a way to escape this life of servitude in his household.

As I was waiting, the sun began to set. The village chief’s son, Geum Man-jae, sauntered in from the “hakseuk,” a study hall for the children of local nobles preparing for the civil service exams. While hakseuk was famous for having exceptional tutors, I knew Geum Man-jae was only pretending to study there while actually wasting his days away. Even at a young age, the fact that he was already familiar with the taste of alcohol made me worry for his future.

Seeing Geum Man-jae’s gruff face, I got straight to the point.

“Young Master, I have something to discuss with the elder. Do you know where he is?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Since I was forbidden from leaving the vicinity of the barn, I had no choice but to ask him.

“Huh? Did you finish the work I gave you?”

“Yes. I’ve cleaned up the barn.”

After briefly inspecting the barn, Geum Man-jae nodded.

“He should be in the detached house. Don’t bother me.”

He curtly responded and went to his room to lie down. Seeing Geum Man-jae, I didn’t feel angry, perhaps because I knew he’d end up a good-for-nothing, wasting his family’s wealth, just like his father. Ignoring him, I headed to the detached house where the village chief was.

As it happened, the village chief was leisurely walking in the yard of the detached house. As soon as I saw him, I greeted him.

“Elder, I have something to discuss.”

“Hm?”

The village chief had a goatee and looked cunning, a middle-aged man with a narrow gaze. He squinted his narrow eyes and snickered.

“What is it, Cow Dung?”

I clenched my teeth.

That’s right.

Before becoming a courier, I never had a proper name. The village chief and his family always referred to me as ‘Cow Dung,’ taking it for granted that they could belittle and control me. After pausing for a moment, I spoke with gritted teeth.

“Elder, I am not ‘Cow Dung.’ My name is Baek Woong2.”

Ever since I became a courier and gained my independence, I had lived with the name my parents had given me. The village chief was taken aback by my assertive response.

“Hmph! Don’t you know it’s a term of endearment? Such a foolish lad… tsk tsk.”

He scoffed and looked at me with disdain. I was the one who felt truly uncomfortable. I was sure he knew my real name but had deliberately never used it during the years I served as a mere servant in his house.

Before his displeasure escalated, I spoke.

“I would like to take a test at a martial arts school (mugwan). May I go into town tomorrow?”

“What?”

The village chief looked flabbergasted.

“Are you out of your mind?”

A test at a martial arts school?

The “Mugwan” was a martial arts academy that taught martial arts. The institution’s aim here was to collect a significant amount of tuition to teach martial arts and, at the same time, produce excellent warriors, and evolve into a major faction within the martial world. This village wasn’t far from downtown, and there were over ten Mugwans nearby.

To join a Mugwan, you usually needed a lot of money. The people who operated these academies were first-rate masters in the Murim, or they came from old, powerful clans or one of the “Five Great Houses.” Charging exorbitant fees for martial arts training was the norm. For a commoner or a poor person, learning martial arts was usually out of reach.

However, there was one way to receive martial arts training without paying much money.

It was by passing the entrance exam and proving your martial prowess.

While the martial academies  masters were indeed profit-oriented, their ultimate goal was to find exceptional disciples and expand their faction. If your talent was undeniable, they would invest in you, even if you couldn’t afford the tuition.

I spoke quietly, “Why can’t it be done?”

“What talents do you have to knock on the doors of a Mugwan?” the village chief chuckled, seemingly finding the idea amusing. Tell me which Mugwan you’d like to take an exam at. It’ll be fun, so I might let you go.”

“It’s Gwanjung’s3 Blue Dragon Martial Hall.”

“…!!”

The village chief’s narrow eyes widened slightly, appearing to be taken aback.

“Cow Dung. Do you even know what Blue Dragon Martial Hall is?”

He called me “cow dung” again, but I ignored it.

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a martial arts academy established by Lee Gwang, a former royal army instructor. It’s the largest and most famous martial arts academy in the whole of Gwanjung.”

Lee Gwang was considered a peak-level martial artist throughout the Gwanjung region. He was proficient in swordsmanship, spear techniques, and fist fighting, earning him the nickname of “Threefold Expert”4. There were many martial artists who admired his skills and character.

“You know well!”

The village chief’s face contorted like an aggressive catfish. He jutted  a finger and jabbed it against my forehead aggressively.

“You, a mere dung-sweeper, dare to say you’ll take an exam there? Even the top-rate warriors can’t get in there easily. And you say you’ll take an exam?”

“…”

“If you become the laughing stock,I, who took you in for your parents, will be insulted. Stop daydreaming and go to sleep.”

I grabbed the village chief’s arm.

Squeeze!

“Ah, ah, ack!!”

The village chief let out a scream due to the sudden pressure on his arm. I hadn’t gripped hard enough to break it, but it must have left a bruise. As I let go, he stuttered, looking flustered.

“You, you, how dare you defy the person who raised you…”

“Watch closely. I possess this kind of power.”

I went over to a nearby tree and grasped a sturdy branch. With a burst of strength,I snapped the branch, as thick as an adult man’s arm, in one go. This was a feat even a robust adult male would struggle with, causing the village chief’s eyes to widen in surprise. No matter how poor my Three Talents Heart Method was, with nearly half a century of training, I could unleash this level of power.

I grinned and spoke.

“If I, Baek Woong, join the Blue Dragon Martial Hall, wouldn’t that not only free you, the village chief, from any inconvenience, but also raise your reputation? Even if I fail, I won’t bring shame to you, so isn’t it worth a try?”

“……”

The village chief seemed to mull it over, stroking his goatee a few times. Finally, he nodded with a reluctant expression.

“Alright, fine. But if you join the Blue Dragon Martial Hall as a disciple, you must repay the money I spent on raising you.”

“What?”

What is he talking about?

When I looked at the village chief as if I had misheard, he spoke calmly.

Even if I fail, I won’t bring shame to you, so isn’t it worth a try?”

“Sigh… How much are you talking about?”

“Fifty silver nyang should suffice.”

Something inside me boiled up. This man, who had me sleep in the barn, work for him, and barely fed me, dared to ask for fifty silver nyang for two years of expenses? I realized I could never get along with this person.

However, I decided to hold back. Suppressing my seething anger, I laughed.

“Ha ha! I’ll go first thing tomorrow.”

Just you wait.

Once I gain power, I will definitely kill you and your money-grubbing son, Geum Man-jae.

While I was harboring such malicious thoughts internally, I pretended to be purely delighted.

I could have drawn my sword and killed them right now, but the desire to find a new path in my new life was stronger.

오룡, 五龍 (or Wu Long): Five Dragons[↩]

白雄, White Heroic/Valor[↩]

Guanzhong[↩]

三絶 in Hanja. I’ve taken liberties here with Lee Gwang’s nickname. Let me know if you have any other suggestions.[↩]