The next morning.

Yongcheon woke up, disheveled as usual.

The first thing he did was to check beside him...

"Huh?"

It was empty.

The straw mat that should have felt bulky in his hand was empty.

"Cheo, Cheonyeong?"

Startled, Yongcheon's eyes shot open and he looked around.

He wasn't by the bonfire, nor where the children usually peed.

"Where the hell did this kid go?"

At Yongcheon's frantic search, a light sleeper among the children woke up, grimaced, and said.

"That bastard, he ran towards the mountain."

"What? To the mountain?"

"Yeah. I woke up to pee at dawn and saw him running."

"Th, that..."

At the child's words, Yongcheon's mind went blank.

Running?

What kind of nonsense is that?

It was a taboo act for the vagrant children who shouldn't carelessly empty their stomachs.

The only time they ran was when they were being chased by a dog.

If a kid who knew that fact ran...

He's crazy.

He must be really crazy.

That Makgae son of a bitch.

Yongcheon glared at the deeply sleeping Makgae.

But that wasn't important right now.

He had to find Cheonyeong.

What if the crazy kid, not knowing his own stamina, ran around and collapsed from hunger?

Moreover, the mountain he ran to was a place people didn't frequent because there were no paths...

"Why didn't you stop him when you saw him!"

"Why should I stop him?"

"What?"

"He was running on his own, and I'd just get hungry trying to stop him."

"You damn bastard! If anything happens to Cheonyeong, I'll never let you go!"

Yongcheon shouted and ran towards the mountain.

"Hey! Where are you going? If the boss catches you... haa, that crazy bastard has too much energy. Ah, I don't know. If the boss scolds them, it's their own loss."

As Yongcheon, who didn't even pretend to listen, disappeared, the child shook his head and went back to sleep.

Meanwhile, Yongcheon, drenched in sweat, reached the mountainside.

"Cheonyeong! Cheonyeong!"

Even though he knew that shouting like that would quickly empty his stomach, Yongcheon shouted at the top of his lungs.

But all that came back was a faint, fading echo.

He was suddenly scared.

What if the already frail kid had already collapsed somewhere and lost consciousness?

Yongcheon began to wander the mountain, calling Cheonyeong's name without rest.

When his throat was hoarse and his body was losing strength.

"Hey!"

"...?"

At the voice from behind, Yongcheon whipped his head around.

Cheonyeong was there.

Chewing on a blade of grass in his mouth.

"Cheonyeong! You bastard!"

"...?"

"I was so worried!"

At those words, Cheonyeong let out a small laugh.

Worrying is your fate, you bastard...

But, thinking of Yongcheon who must have run around everywhere after realizing he was gone, he felt a little sorry.

His clothes were drenched in sweat, and his voice was so hoarse.

"If you're here, come this way."

"What?"

"You must be hungry, right? From running all this time."

"Well... no, that's not it! You bastard! Why the hell did you run from dawn!"

"I'll explain, so come this way first."

As Cheonyeong disappeared into the forest, Yongcheon, his face contorted, followed him with a huff.

This damn kid.

There's a limit to how much you can worry someone.

When Yongcheon, who followed him with stomping footsteps, pushed through the forest and found a small clearing.

"Huh?"

A bizarre scene was unfolding.

Cheonyeong... was squatting and eating grass.

"Come here, eat."

"Huh?"

Eat?

What? Grass?

Are you a goat? Are you a rabbit?

"It's okay. It's edible. It would be better to blanch it and make it into a seasoned vegetable, but eating it raw isn't bad either. It's bitter at first, but it gets sweet if you chew it for a long time."

At those words, Yongcheon was greatly shocked.

He was fine yesterday, so he didn't think much of it and let it go...

He was complacent.

After being beaten like that...

Yesterday, a kid who said he was full after drinking stream water all day, today runs from dawn and even eats grass...

And he says the grass is sweet?

"Ah, Cheonyeong."

He was sorry. For his own inadequacy in not taking better care of his crazy friend.

"Sob, sob, Cheonyeong. What am I to do? If I had just been a little more..."

"Why are you crying?"

At the sight of Cheonyeong chewing on grass while being annoyed, Yongcheon burst into tears as if a spring had erupted from his eyes.

"Haa, really."

Cheonyeong, who had scratched his head, plucked a handful of grass and stuffed it into Yongcheon's mouth.

"Mmph!"

"Just chew on it first."

"Mmmph!"

"I said just chew on it, will you?"

At Cheonyeong's words, Yongcheon grimaced and barely moved his mouth.

It's bitter.

As bitter as his heart for not being able to take care of his crazy friend... huh?

Why is it sweet?

Even while crying, Yongcheon's chewing speed increased.

It's really sweet.

So why?

"It's called Gaebeolcho."

"Gaebulchu?"

At Yongcheon's mumbled words while chewing on a mouthful of grass, Cheonyeong nodded.

"The root is called Taejasam, and it's used as a medicinal ingredient."

"Really?"

"Yeah, although there's a separate way to take it."

Yongcheon, intoxicated by the sweetness, stopped crying and nodded at Cheonyeong's explanation.

"It's not good to eat only that just because it's sweet. Eat other things too. It will be enough to soothe your hunger."

"...I'll be full? With this kind of grass?"

Yongcheon, who received the grass Cheonyeong held out in his hand, tilted his head.

"What do you mean, this kind of grass?"

"...?"

"Cows only eat grass."

"Ah!"

That was easier to understand than the explanation about its effects.

Yongcheon, who understood at once, nodded, put the grass in his hand into his mouth, and chewed.

But after eating for a while... he really felt full.

If he ate just a little more...

"Eat just enough to get rid of your hunger. You'll really get diarrhea otherwise."

"Re, really?"

"Yeah."

But at the sight of Yongcheon glancing at the grass as if he was disappointed, Cheonyeong shook his head.

This bastard... is really the same.

Both his concern for him and his gluttony where he can't help himself when he sees food.

"By the way, what's up? It's still time to sleep."

"Oh, that... I couldn't see you. Sami said you ran towards the mountain at dawn, so I was worried something might happen."

"You bastard, worrying."

"But what really happened? You've never woken up at dawn before."

"I know, it was hard."

"Huh?"

"Habit is a scary thing."

"..."

Yongcheon, who had been nodding at Cheonyeong's words, stared blankly.

It was a little strange.

"Cheonyeong."

"Yeah?"

"How did you know about the grass you're eating?"

"Well..."

Cheonyeong trailed off.

He couldn't say he was a former assassin, could he?

He would really be called crazy then.

"I told you. I was born in a rich family."

"Huh? So that wasn't nonsense?"

"Who said it was nonsense?"

"All the kids said so."

"They're just saying that because they're jealous."

"Ah... so you were really born in a rich family?"

"Yeah."

"I see, so you learned about the edible grass back then?"

"No way? Is that all I learned? I told you I was called a prodigy since I was young."

"I heard that, but... you were surprisingly stupid..."

"What?"

"No, that's... you didn't even know how to beg. You didn't know how to chase away dogs either."

"Well..."

Because I didn't learn it.

Who would learn such a thing in a rich family?

When you get three hot meals a day...

Only children like Yongcheon, who were born on the streets and have only lived on the streets, learn such things.

No, it would be more accurate to say that they learn it through experience rather than being taught.

In fact, studies like Confucius and Mencius are useless nonsense to the children of the streets.

Because it doesn't help with begging at all.

Just look at himself. He was born a genius and had learned far more books than the scholars preparing for the state examination, but life on the streets was nothing but hardship.

"Anyway, I learned a lot."

"...I see."

At Cheonyeong's words, Yongcheon nodded.

It's a relief that he's a simple minded guy.

Then again, it was always like that.

He never doubted his words.

That's why he had to die in the end.

"Anyway, that's a relief. Now that I know about edible grass, I don't have to beg."

"No, it's hard with just edible grass. I told you you'll get diarrhea."

"Ah, right. Then what should we do?"

"We have to hunt."

"Hunt?"

"Yeah."

"By any chance, do you know how to hunt too?"

"To some extent?"

"Wow! So it was true that you're really smart?"

"I've been telling you all along."

"I thought it was nonsense."

"Tsk."

At Yongcheon's words, Cheonyeong clicked his tongue and grimaced.

"Then teach me too. That hunting method."

"You too?"

"Yeah."

"It'll be hard."

"Wouldn't it be better than begging? I've seen hunters on the streets a few times... they were cool. They sold things like leather and bought food at the inn."

"Heh."

It seems he was secretly envious of such things.

This guy... does he know his own talent?

"Alright. Then can you do as I say from now on?"

"Of course."

"Without giving up?"

"Of course!"

"Then good. I'll teach you from the basics, step by step."

"Yeah!"

Yongcheon answered energetically.

"Then let's go."

"Go? Where?"

"We can't let anyone see."

"Ah! Right! We can't let people just watch and copy that precious hunting method."

Yongcheon smiled and followed Cheonyeong.

Idiot.

But let's just call it a hunting method. Even though its target is people, not beasts.

Cheonyeong headed to the hideout he had spotted the day before with Yongcheon.

"Wow! How did you find a place like this?"

"By chance."

"There's a cave too?"

"Yeah. From now on, we'll train there during the day."

"During the day?"

"Yeah."

"But... Makgae will be angry when he wakes up and sees we're gone. For skipping out on begging."

"Then go."

At Cheonyeong's indifferent words, Yongcheon, who had been worry for a moment, made a quick decision and smiled brightly.

"Tsk, what can I do? How can I leave you alone when you're sick?"

"..."

"I'll just get hit a few times by that Makgae bastard."

Cheonyeong glared at Yongcheon with narrowed eyes.

Who's worrying about whom?

But... don't worry. From now on, you won't have to be afraid of someone like Makgae.

"First, follow this posture."

Cheonyeong demonstrated the posture first.

The horse stance, with both feet shoulder width apart and knees bent as if sitting on an invisible chair.

There is nothing better than this for basic training.

"Like this?"

At Cheonyeong's demonstration, Yongcheon skillfully took the posture.

"Raise your arms too. Like this."

"Yeah!"

"Hold that posture, and watch carefully for anyone coming. Whether it's a beast or a person, if someone comes, shout immediately to let me know, okay?"

"Okay. But how long do I have to do this?"

"Until I tell you to stop."

"Yeah! Okay."

Cheonyeong, who had left Yongcheon outside, immediately went into the cave.

Thanks to Yongcheon coming to find him, there was no need to set up a formation.

Because he would watch carefully.

And the horse stance he had him do would help build his basic stamina.

He realized that Yongcheon, whom he had met again after a long detour, was still the same.

So he had to open the way for him.

Because the talent he possessed was too precious for him to end his life as a vagrant.

"Hoo..."

Cheonyeong, who sat in a meditative posture inside the cave, slowly controlled his breathing.

The posture with both legs crossed was still uncomfortable.

But he would soon get used to it.

"First, I need to check my body's condition."

Cheonyeong slowly closed his eyes and focused his mind on his breathing.

It was impossible to learn the Samyang Divine Art right away.

First, he had to form a core in his body and take care of his blood vessels.

Inhale and exhale.

But, it had to be different from just breathing.

Completely empty the lungs, and slowly inhale.

Inhale ten breaths, hold one, and exhale nine.

Inhale ten again, exhale nine...

"Hoo."

Cheonyeong gradually became more accustomed to breathing and began to observe his body.

"Cheo, Cheonyeong... how long do I have to do this?"

Yongcheon, who was holding the horse stance outside and monitoring the surroundings, called out to Cheonyeong pitifully, sweating like rain.

His legs were cramping, and both his arms were drooping...

"I'm hungry."

A hunger that felt like his stomach was sticking to his back came over him.

(End of Chapter)