Chapter 5
The next day, I received twenty nyangs of copper coins from the village chief and set off for Gwanjung, with hopes of securing a spot in the Blue Dragon Martial Hall. Geum Man-jae looked at me with a questioning gaze, as did the village head’s wife, his concubines, and their children—all eyed me with a mix of curiosity and disdain. With a semblance of composure, I embarked on my journey.
“Heh, it’s better than before. Back then, I showed up at the courier agency without a single penny to my name.”
While the village chief never asked, thanks to my past as a courier for a courier agency, it meant I was familiar with the quickest route to Gwanjung. In total, it would take about a fortnight by foot, and there was the risk of running into bandits along the way. But if I hitched a ride with a courier group, the risks would be minimized. The most reputable courier service in the vicinity was the ‘Three Pine Courier Agency.
Before, I had worked for about fifty years in ‘Plum Flower Courier Agency’, an agency of similar stature to Three Pine Courier Agency. Although the two were competitors, couriers tended not to get along very well, so we had a love-hate relationship. I heard that Three Pine had a number of skilled couriers, so joining them on one of their routes should make for a relatively comfortable journey.
By the time I covered half a day’s distance and reached the city, dusk was settling. Knowing that the city’s nighttime could be treacherous, with rogues and thieves roaming around, I quickly sought refuge in a temporary inn. These establishments, overseen by the military police, provided travelers with short-term shelter. Although these inns only permitted one-night stay, they were relatively a safe place from the risk of theft.
Inside the temporary inn, two or three travelers were already inside, huddled together wordlessly, preparing for sleep. A musty, stale odor filled the air from the aged bedding. I briefly admired the moon, organized my personal items, and lay down to rest.
The next morning, I headed to Three Pine Courier Agency. The entrance was bustling with activity as couriers and laborers prepped for their respective journeys.
Approaching a middle-aged courier, I initiated a conversation.
“I’d like to join the convoy; would that be possible?”