Chapter 45
"Cheongmu, why do we gather herbs?"
Kwak Yeon asked as they climbed the mountain path.
"To sell them, of course."
"You sell herbs?"
"Master said our palace has no money. The scraps we get from Jasogung can’t even cover our meals. We’ve got broken tiles to replace, too."
"So you've been doing this every year?"
"Of course. From spring to late autumn, non-stop!"
The state of the palace made more sense now. When he first arrived, everything had been in disarray. It wasn’t neglect, but the fact that their time was being consumed gathering herbs instead.
Ah.
Three Spirits Palace was in worse shape than it seemed.
Instead of training disciples, they were being used as herbal gatherers.
Kwak Yeon had at least assumed that, as a Daoist Attendant, he’d be allowed to study the sacred scriptures.