CHAPTER 67: THE PURCHASE

He might hesitate before placing a bid, but once he did, Bok Taejin never showed any fear.

"It’s true I don’t have that much money on me right now, but my companions do. Just let me find them, and I guarantee I’ll get the money to you."

The person who had just bid two gold and eight silver was that old bachelor.

He raised his fist at Bok Taejin and shouted, "Kid, this ain’t how it’s done! Get lost before I beat the crap outta you!"

The old bachelor was already filled with regret. He’d finally gotten to the point of offering such a high price to buy the little girl, and now someone else had jumped in to mess things up—of course he was furious!

But Bok Taejin refused to back down even a single step.

One of the reasons he’d spoken up so quickly was precisely because of that old bachelor!

Just now, he had overheard some onlookers quietly gossiping.

Apparently, that old bachelor had a younger brother at home, also unmarried.

If the girl were really sold to him, she would end up being the wife of both brothers!

Even being the bride of a single old bachelor was something Bok Taejin couldn’t stomach—let alone two!

No matter what, Bok Taejin was determined to take the girl away today.

If something like this were happening somewhere he couldn’t see, he might have turned a blind eye. But since he had seen it with his own eyes, he had to try and change the outcome.

He had already made up his mind: if things really couldn’t be resolved peacefully today, he would reveal the One Flower Sect Token and declare his identity.

This entire area, in the end, was still under the control of the One Flower Sect. As its sect leader, if he wanted to take a single little girl, who could object?

Bok Taejin completely ignored the old bachelor. Instead, he turned to the little girl’s parents and said sincerely, "I’m from Hwayang Village. My companions are with two carts, waiting for me just over there."

As he spoke, he pointed in the direction where Heo Taehyeon was standing.

Heo Taehyeon was tall, and even though he was quite a distance away and there were many people in between, he could still be spotted at a glance.

The girl’s mother looked over and hesitated, still a little skeptical. "You’re from Hwayang Village? You’re not lying to me?"

Someone nearby chimed in helpfully, "Don’t worry, Aunt Yoon. This young man really is from Hwayang Village. I saw him today when I was buying furs—he was with Im Beomhyeon and Heo Taehyeon."

The girl’s father looked like he still wanted to say something, but her mother had already made up her mind.

"Alright then! Since you’re from Hwayang Village, I believe you. Take my daughter—she’s yours now. As for the money, I’m not worried. Even if you can’t pay right away, you can always send us some furs or meat later to settle the debt."

The old bachelor panicked. He didn’t dare grab the girl’s mother again, so he reached for the girl’s father instead.

"Brother, this isn’t right! I was here first! I was already discussing the price with you, and now you won’t sell to me, even on credit? You’re just going to let someone else take her for one more silver?!"

The girl’s father didn’t look as fierce anymore. He scratched his head and gave a sheepish smile. "There’s nothing I can do about it. He offered more than you. Besides, people from Hwayang Village are trustworthy—we know they’ll pay up eventually. We’re not worried."

The girl’s mother, meanwhile, somewhat reluctantly shoved the little girl’s dirty hand into Bok Taejin’s palm.

She crouched down and said to the girl, "Rumu, Mama sold you to him. Do you remember what I told you earlier?"

The girl nodded. Her eyes were wide and black, but they lacked vitality—there was something vacant in her expression.

"Mom said..."

The little girl’s mother suddenly covered her mouth. "You mustn’t say that outside!"

Only when the little girl shook her head with all her might did she let go.

The little girl grabbed Bok Taejin’s hand with one hand, covered her own mouth with the other, and stared blankly at her mother, refusing to say a single word.

Bok Taejin felt a deep pang of pity.

If this girl hadn’t burned her brain from the fever, who knows how clever she might’ve originally been?

Just as he was about to ask for the girl’s name, her mother stood up, lifted her head, and said in a muffled tone, "I’m entrusting my daughter to you. Her nickname is Rumi, and her full name is Yoon Areum. She’s from Mukheun Village originally."

Bok Taejin was a little stunned.

The woman spoke quickly and had a strong accent.

"What village?"

The woman lowered her head and glared at him.

At that moment, Bok Taejin saw the glimmer of tears in the corners of her eyes.

He was even more confused.

He had assumed, from the way she had shouted out prices trying to sell her daughter, that both parents were the typical kind who favored sons and disregarded their daughters. But now that the deal was settled, why did the woman seem to have suddenly changed?

"Mukheun Village!" Im Beomhyeon, who had somehow found him in the crowd, chimed in unexpectedly after overhearing Bok Taejin’s question.

The woman clearly recognized Im Beomhyeon, and her expression softened slightly.

She pointed at Bok Taejin and nodded toward Im Beomhyeon. "Are you the one coming to pay for him?"

The old bachelor had still been burning with resentment and seemed ready to argue further, but when he saw Im Beomhyeon speaking with Bok Taejin, he quietly slipped away—as if terrified of Im Beomhyeon.

Im Beomhyeon gave Bok Taejin a none-too-gentle smack on the back of the head and said. "Why else would I be here then? You think I came all the way here just to tell you that I’m done with this brat and that next time, if you wants to sell someone, you should bring him and your daughter to town and sell them as a pair?"