Path of the lone wanderer

It was warm and cozy inside the small wooden cabin where the family of four lived. The warmth didn't come from the flimsy structure of the cabin but from the bond they shared. Laughter and smiles filled the air, even on nights when they went to bed without a proper meal. They understood that the true shield against the winter's cold wasn't the walls of their home but the happiness that enveloped them. However, they knew this protective dome of joy might fade when the snow melted, though they could still sense it lingering, watching and waiting to steal the warmth of life from someone in their sleep.

They lived at the foot of the Green Mountain in the east, a territory under the care of a monastery. Hearing this, others might assume they were followers of Buddha, but that wasn't the case. No one remembered when the temple was built, but over time, people began to seek the monks' protection, offering their services in return. Most of the villagers were herb gatherers, collecting plants that grew where the mountain's peak touched the clouds, allowing the vegetation to absorb the ki, the energy of heaven and earth. Such plants were of little use to an ordinary person unable to control ki, let alone consume it, but they were invaluable to martial artists who ventured into the murim.

For little Jun, a 12-year-old boy, this place was heaven. He stirred in his bed inside the cabin, fighting the comforting warmth that tried to hold him down. His sister's hand, as always, was shaking him awake.

"Come on, wake up! Father is getting ready, and we're having breakfast with Merchant Kim."

But Jun didn't want to wake up. With each shake, he buried his face deeper into his blanket, trying to avoid his sister.

"Ugh," she sighed, hands on her hips as she looked at her younger brother, unsure of what to do next.

"You've grown older, but I can't say the same for your brain. Do you really want to act like this on my last day here? Anyway, I'm going to help Mother."

Jun flinched at her words and peeked out, but she was already gone. He sighed and reluctantly got out of bed.

Today was the last day the family would be together. That evening, his 16-year-old sister Yuze was going to be married. Jun didn't know how to feel about it. Should he be happy for her, or upset that their family was about to become smaller? But he knew that overthinking it would only give him a headache.

There was no changing it. Yuze was going to marry Merchant Kim's son. Merchant Kim was a nomadic trader from the far north who visited them once a year during winter, bringing the profits from their herbs and furs, along with supplies for spring planting or animal fodder. Despite the simplicity of their lives, they managed. But now, this marriage meant that Jun would only see his sister once a year—if she joined the merchant on his trips. They had never seen any of the merchant's wives during his visits, so she would likely stay in the north, and Jun might never see her again. The thought drove him crazy.

But there was nothing he could do about it. Jun sighed and dressed in his heavy clothes, preparing to join his father for breakfast with Merchant Kim.

---

"I heard there's been some trouble near the borders of the western woods," Jun's father said as he took a bite of food. They were seated around a wooden table, having breakfast.

"Mostly bandits," the merchant replied, "Life seems to get scarier by the hour."

"I've heard the Venomous Snakes gang has been active in the eastern parts, targeting traveling merchants."

"Oh, Brother Kim, don't jinx yourself by saying things like that!"

"Haha, don't worry, Brother Hu. I've got my mighty guard with me. Have you forgotten that Shen was once a soldier in the Emperor's army?"

The merchant laughed as he patted the back of the man sitting beside him. Shen, in his mid-thirties, had a thick beard, sunken eyes, and a face etched with the marks of war. His strong, imposing presence made one feel as though a knife was pressed against their neck.

Despite the merchant's jokes, Shen remained silent, focused on his meal.

"Oh, Brother, how fortunate you are!" Jun's father, a man in his late twenties with a sturdy build and a constant smile that reached his eyes before his lips, remarked. He took a sip of his drink.

"Looks like I've been worrying over nothing!"

"Don't say that, Brother! Honestly, there have been problems in the neighboring villages. There have been raids, and the tactics don't look like those of bandits. They've been targeting residents, not travelers."

"Huh? Really?" Jun's father's face showed signs of concern.

"Don't worry, Brother! You live under the protection of the monks. I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to make enemies of the Murim warriors."

"You're right, Brother. But where is our groom?" Jun's father asked with a laugh.

Merchant Kim's son, Kang, was eighteen, tall, and well-built, with a sharp look of intelligence on his youthful face.

"He's still asleep, Brother. He likes to rest whenever we stop. But I must say, Brother, your way of life is quite different from my boy's!" the merchant joked.

"Really?"

"Of course, Brother! It's a beautiful way of life!" the merchant said, and both men laughed together.

"Well, I suppose we should be going now."

"Don't let me keep you any longer. Goodbye, Brother!"

"Hoho, don't worry, Brother. I'll see you at the party tonight!"

Jun's father announced that they would begin their journey up the mountain to search for herbs, with Jun following close behind.

---

"Congratulations, Hu."

"Thank you."

"Our little girl has grown up so fast."

"May we see your daughter as a bride soon!"

These were the kind of phrases exchanged between Jun's father and the other villagers as they made their way to Green Mountain. It grated on Jun's nerves, something his father noticed but chose not to address.

They were now deep in the forest of Green Mountain, though it was more like the White Mountain, with snow reaching up to a grown man's knees. This made the task of herb gathering especially difficult in winter. The cold condensed the ki energy close to the ground, freezing it in a way that rendered it unusable. The air felt heavy, like a hundred stones pressing down on a small child, making it dangerous to attempt gathering ki in such conditions. The high altitude only added to the difficulty, making it hard to breathe. For a martial artist, accumulating energy in such circumstances could cause a fatal imbalance in their internal system. But these harsh conditions also allowed herbs to absorb tremendous energy, giving them new properties that added immense value—if handled correctly.

In such conditions, herb gatherers needed to find the densest, most sheltered spots in the snow-covered forest. Then, they had to carefully shovel the heavy snow to uncover the herbs below. It was a difficult and exhausting task, requiring great effort and patience. But the villagers were used to such hardships, enduring long journeys and grueling work that ordinary people could not withstand. They also possessed the knowledge to differentiate between herbs—some were deadly, some medicinal, and others were used in pills for martial artists.

"Here!" Jun's father called out. "Let's start by clearing the snow."

They each took out a small, spoon-like tool and began to carefully remove the snow. Despite its cotton-like appearance, the snow here was harsh, requiring great effort to shovel. They couldn't use larger tools, as they might damage the delicate winter herbs below.

"You know I'm here if you want to talk," his father said.

"And what good would that do?" Jun replied.

"You know that's just how life is. There's nothing we can do, but if you're upset, at least talk about it."

"And then what? Will you stop the wedding? It's pointless."

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it. This is for your sister's sake. Let's not make her last day with us difficult for her. At least promise me that."

"I don't know," Jun mumbled.

An hour passed before they finally found what they were looking for. Jun's father took a metal tool from his bag and carefully extracted the herb from the ground. Jun placed some snow in a cloth to cradle the herb, then set it on a bed of snow.

"We found one, and that's good!" It was around midday, signaling that it was time to head back. The ceremony was supposed to take place at sunset, so Jun and his father needed to return to the village to help with the preparations.

But Jun had a different idea.

"I think I want to stay here for a little while."