He said that, but he wouldn’t buy any high-end luxury items.
Even stationery sets, if they’re too expensive, their price inflates due to their decorative value rather than their functionality as writing instruments.
And if it’s way too pricey, you’d just end up saving it like a rare consumable in an RPG game, without actually using it.
We went about purchasing stationery that was luxuriously appropriate enough to look good and be practically useful, one by one.
Not stationery friends but stationery treasures.
“Uh? What’s this?!”
While I was contemplating whether to call the items I bought today ‘stationery treasures’ instead of ‘stationery friends,’ I noticed something familiar out of the corner of my eye.
“You must be from Joseon to recognize it right away! It’s a Joseon yellow weasel hair brush!”
The stationery shopkeeper saw where my astonished gaze was directed, immediately realized, and smiled.
“Indeed, it is a Joseon yellow weasel hair brush.”
What I grabbed in surprise was a yellow weasel brush. Made from the fur of a Joseon weasel, it was treated as a luxury item both in Joseon and the Central Plains.
It’s a brush familiar to former delinquent Kang Yoon-ho, not the modern-day Kang Yoon-ho. It was the brush I used to gnaw on when I got bored instead of studying Confucianism.
Of course, after that nonsense, delinquent Kang Yoon-ho’s father broke a leg with a stick.
A Joseon yellow weasel brush. It’s not even near a coastal city; Sichuan Province is really far from Joseon, so this is interesting.
It’s like going to a foreign mountainous area and seeing a girl watching K-pop videos on an old phone, bringing a smile to my face.
“Is it good?”
Seeing the delight on my face as I gazed at the yellow weasel brush, Hwa-rin asked the shopkeeper.
“As your girlfriend here knows well, this brush is made from the top-grade fur of Joseon’s weasels, and it is presented to the royal family.”
“Really? Yoon-ho! I’ll buy this as a gift with my own money. How much is it?”
The price of the yellow weasel brush that the shopkeeper mentioned was enough to make you turn on your heels immediately after checking the price tag of nice clothes at a department store.
Delinquent Kang Yoon-ho, breaking luxury fountain pens because he didn’t want to study instead of using regular pencils.
“Hwa-rin, it’s okay.”
I turned my head to convey my refusal.
It’s from Joseon, but I understand her desire to buy it as a gift with her own money, it’s just too expensive. Hwa-rin, I know your financial situation well, there’s really no need for that.
“It’s my heart. Mr. Shopkeeper, please wrap it beautifully.”
“Of course! I’ll even wrap it in a special Joseon box for you!”
Despite my refusal, Hwa-rin purchased the yellow weasel brush and handed it to me in a luxurious lacquer box.
It’s burdensome because it’s expensive, but it’s my first gift filled with affection from a girl, making it hard to suppress the corners of my mouth.
—————–
“Let’s walk around the store and buy some items.”
Was the first shopping satisfactory? Hwa-rin’s expression showed the face of a thirsty girl ready for shopping.
“If we get too much, it’ll be hard to carry when we return. Let’s play here and shop in Yichang.”
“…I’m buying stuff for the first time without my saekpyo clothes. Are you really going to do that?”
“Got it. Let’s go!”
Though I made a little resistance, it melted away at Hwa-rin’s slightly disappointed expression. Saekpyo is a cheat key. Yes, every first experience is precious.
“Hehe. I just wanted to buy more stuff for you, so don’t be too unhappy. Let’s go!”
Hwa-rin seemed pleased that her wishes were understood as she immediately smiled and grabbed my sleeve.
We began wandering the busiest market in Sichuan’s Chengdu, and Hwa-rin started selecting the items that caught her eye.
“Is this a Joseon hat? Yoon-ho, try it on!”
“Isn’t there a black gourd at the Dasogak?”
“Yours is made from bamboo, but this one’s made from horsehair, which is fancier. They’ve got new Joseon clothing here. Let’s try it all on, Mr. Shopkeeper!”
“Please follow me.”
I sighed quietly since what I was currently wearing was sufficient, and then I was led by the shopkeeper to change into Joseon clothing.
Wearing clean clothing, adorned with a stylish hat made from horsehair, and holding a fan, I looked like the perfect black-haired Joseon man once dressed up.
“Hwa-rin, how do I look? Am I okay?”
I wore it while also having gone around before, but back then, I looked like a wandering Joseon artist battered by the harsh winds of the world, whereas this time, I resembled a young master heading out for a day.
“…”
“Hwa-rin?”
Why the shocked face?
“Uh? Uh, Yoon-ho, you really look just like a Joseon person.”
“Yes, yes. I am a Joseon person.”
“Hehe. Okay then, Mr. Shopkeeper. I’ll take all of this. Let’s check out the next store.”
Is this not the end of it? Hwa-rin seemed ready to wipe out everything in the Chengdu market, carefully purchasing my clothing and items to use in Yichang.
I would definitely need to rent a large carriage for our return trip to the Dasogak.
——
“Where should we go next?”
After a long pilgrimage through stores, I noticed there were no more shops in sight and asked Hwa-rin.
“……”
Hwa-rin looked at me with no words, as if she couldn’t think of a place.
A date course imagined by someone pure, like me, usually consists of a movie theater, a cafe, and a meal, you know?
We’ve already seen a circus and eaten street food, so should we find a tea shop?
“Let’s see… a tea house…”
“Yoon-ho. There’s a place I want to go with you.”
While I was looking for a tea house, Hwa-rin tugged at my sleeve, her face slightly flushed with excitement.
“Where to?”
“……Well, first let’s go to that inn.”
Hwa-rin hesitated slightly before pointing at the inn.
Why an inn? We’ve already eaten. While wandering, I’ve had street food, too.
Could it be?
No way?
Is it the ‘Oppa, let’s take a break here’ situation?!
An inn serves both meals and lodging. Right now, is Hwa-rin focused more on the lodging part rather than the meal?
Right. The guard unit told me not to come home late, so maybe she wants to create a moment to remember during the day instead.
Hwa-rin led me to the inn, then began to look around diligently.
No way! Is the facility nice? Is the bed nice?
Yeah, definitely.
“This might not be the place…”
Hwa-rin muttered with suspicion. Anywhere is fine, Hwa-rin.
Hwa-rin could hesitate due to a lack of courage. Perhaps she might just order food and leave. I definitely need to clarify things at such moments.
With a face as innocent as a church brother with no bad intentions, I looked at Hwa-rin and opened my mouth.
“Hwa-rin. Should we rest here and then go?”
Good. It was natural. But Hwa-rin’s response was an unexpected answer.
“Let’s rest on the carriage.”
This girl is really something else. The bookstore owner jumped straight to “independent reader,” trying to take the lead at once.
Hwa-rin, you were supposed to start with normal experiences. If you want to be bold, there should be proper stimulation later…
“I found it! This way!”
“Ah! You’ve come! We’ve been waiting. Shall I guide you to your next destination?”
Contrary to my expectations, what Hwa-rin was looking for was the carriage driver waiting at the inn.
——————
Wu Hou Shrine.
Leaving behind my disappointment, Hwa-rin and I arrived at a shrine dedicated to Zhuge Liang, boasting a history of over a thousand years.
Specifically, it’s the Han Shao Yan Miao (Han Zhao Lie Temple) Wu Hou Shrine. Unique among shrines, it holds both Liu Bei, the emperor of Shu Han, and Zhuge Liang, the prime minister, at the same time.
Since Zhuge Liang is much more popular than Liu Bei, it doesn’t particularly matter if it’s called Wu Hou Shrine.
“Why did we come to Wu Hou Shrine?”
“Yoon-ho, you like stories from the Three Kingdoms, right?”
“I do, indeed.”
Did we come here because of me? I’ve liked the Three Kingdoms since childhood. I’ve enjoyed it through novels, games, and even grand productions, but who would’ve thought we’d visit Wu Hou Shrine?
“Let’s look around together.”
The Wu Hou Shrine I entered with Hwa-rin was impressively large. Indeed, one must recognize the love the Sichuan people have for Shu Han.
“It’s difficult for the Wu Hou Shrine, which boasts its historical significance, to be in Sichuan while the Zhuge family is in Hubei Province.”
The Zhuge family resides in Hubei Province with Yichang in it. Meanwhile, the Wu Hou Shrine, with its over a thousand years of history, is located in Chengdu, the home of the Sichuan Tang Family.
People who know the Three Kingdoms but not much about martial arts often wonder why Zhuge Liang was the Prime Minister of Shu Han, while the Zhuge family is located in Hubei Province.
The reason is that Liu Bei met Zhuge Liang in the territory of Jingzhou, which today is Hubei Province.
Even if the Andong Kim clan is thriving in Hanyang, their hometown is in Andong; similarly, the Zhuge clan family is in Hubei Province, which is why the Zhuge family has settled there.
“That’s why the Zhuge family doesn’t particularly like the Sichuan Tang Family. The Sichuan Tang Family is hesitant about the fact that the Zhuge family is honored in Sichuan Province.”
The relationships among martial arts families are quite complicated.
As we chatted away, we passed by a memorial written by the great general Yue Fei of the Southern Song Dynasty, and eventually arrived at the pavilion housing Zhuge Liang’s memorial tablet.
“There are many people.”
I noticed people murmuring prayers in front of Zhuge Liang’s memorial tablet.
“Let’s do it, too.”
Hwa-rin, you’re a member of the Sichuan Tang Family, a rival of the Zhuge family—do you think your wish will be granted?
Without significant concern, Hwa-rin pulled me to the memorial tablet and began to murmur with her eyes closed.
“Please let Yoon-ho’s writing go well in the future. Even if he looks a bit pathetic at times, he’s more precious than anyone. So…”
Hwa-rin, I can hear everything. This is embarrassing.
What should I wish for? An incredible thought unexpectedly popped into my mind.
“Zhuge Liang, come to think of it, you’re a senior in romance.”
Zhuge Liang’s wife, Huang Yueying, is well-known for being a blonde tanning influencer. She can essentially be seen as my senior in romance.
“I hope things go well with Hwa-rin…”
“Yoon-ho! Let’s go!”
As I started to murmur, Hwa-rin tugged at my sleeve and pulled me away.
“Why? I haven’t even started yet.”
“I wished enough for both of us! You don’t have to.”
—————–
As evening fell, we headed to a high-end restaurant in Chengdu.
“Isn’t this place crazy expensive?”
The view of Chengdu can be seen through the windows. A high-rise restaurant with private rooms—it seems overwhelmingly expensive.
Seeing my surprised expression, Hwa-rin opened her arms confidently.
“Who do you think I am? It’s fine since it’s the Sichuan Tang Family’s money.”
So, once one becomes an independent reader, do they get treated differently?
“The flavors in the meals of the central plains like the spicy pork and sweet and sour drops—oh, wait, what’s this?”
As the spread revealed various dishes that would be hard to become accustomed to in this world,
“I made some effort. Yoon-ho, you like traditional Central Plains food, right? If there’s something you want, just order more.”
Hwa-rin seemed pleased with my astonished expression as she shrugged her shoulders.
“Hwa-rin…”
I was moved. I subtly attempted to make physical contact with Hwa-rin, my face reflecting my excitement.
“L-Let’s eat first!”
Ugh.
———————–
“It was a meal quintessential to martial arts.”
I’m satisfied.
“What are you talking about?”
“That exists.”
“Yoon-ho.”
“Yeah?”
“Can you tell me about what happened after I lost consciousness?”
I had no reason to refuse. Shall I move for digestion’s sake?
“As the master storyteller, Kang Yoon-ho. For my precious Hwa-rin of the Sichuan Tang Family, I will be recounting everything that happened until now.”
I took out a collapsible fan from my baggage and struck an exaggerated posture like a storyteller after a long time.
“Hehe. What are you doing?”
In moments like this, you have to play along. Come on, Hwa-rin.
“I won’t be using my donation technique, so I ask for your beautiful smiles and applause.”
“Wooow!”
With Hwa-rin’s applause, I began to recount all that had transpired up to that point.
“I am Cheng Yun, the third disciple of the Mount Wu Sect.”
“Lift the rise of the Tang Family.”
“He’s eating pineapple pizza! No way! Is he truly a direct descendant of the Sichuan Tang Family? This can’t be true!”
From when Hwa-rin lost consciousness, through meeting Cheng Yun, arriving at the Tang Family, all the way to the Elders’ Council—Hwa-rin would express admiration during key moments and send me enthusiastic glances, but eventually, her expression fell dark.
Is she thinking I went through too much hardship? Hwa-rin might feel guilty.
In that case, I need to show her this particular moment.
I am the king of the unemployed tiger, dominating the Tang Family.
“So why did you come here!”
I dramatically pointed at Hwa-rin as she immersed herself in the prior situation of the Elders’ Council.
“I came because I wanted to protect my woman.”
I spoke with the emotions from that moment.
“Wahhhh! That’s insane! That’s really insane!”
Hwa-rin’s face turned beet red as she screamed. I felt embarrassed and shy, but it seemed like she couldn’t help but smile.
“Hahahaha!”
———–
After finishing the story, we sat by the window, overlooking the night view.
“The night scene is beautiful.”
“Right? The term ‘city of lights’ didn’t come from nowhere.”
Carefully, I placed my hand on Hwa-rin’s shoulder and pulled her head toward mine.
“Yoon-ho, today was fun, right?”
“Yeah… Now that worries are gone, let’s go out often when we get to Yichang.”
The night began. The night view of Chengdu, the busiest place in Sichuan Province, was beautiful enough to be etched in my memory.
While they didn’t specify the exact time we should return, it seemed like our time was coming to an end.
“……”
Turning my head, I saw Hwa-rin looking up at me silently. Her lips looked particularly red today.
‘Is this a chance?’
I’d done it once; wouldn’t it be okay to do it again?
I cautiously moved my head forward. I could see Hwa-rin’s trembling eyes. We had a lovely date today, so a kiss to close it off would be nice. There’s no one watching after all.
Contrary to my expectations, Hwa-rin carefully pushed my face away with a guilty look.
Is it the place? Even though we’re a couple, is this world not the right time to try? No, it’s certainly not a bad time right now.
Looking at Hwa-rin, slightly embarrassed, I noticed tiny tears welling up in her eyes.
“Hwa-rin?”
With an expression of indescribable regret, Hwa-rin revealed a shocking truth.
“I’m sorry, Yoon-ho… I can’t go with you.”
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