October 25, 1420 AD. The 18th year of Yongle in Ming, the 2nd year of Sejong in Joseon, and the 27th year of Oei in Japan.

Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, Ming Dynasty. In the bustling city filled with traders, a small apothecary was located just one alley away from the main street.

Wolyeongdang. An apothecary neatly decorated with dark wood and light purple silk ornaments. Silver decorations and a small incense burner were placed among the orderly herb cabinets. It was a space where the owner's clean taste was fully revealed, with not a single item out of place.

A basket was unpacked in front of the counter. A petite woman with her dark hair neatly tied back took out herbs one by one. Poria cocos, Ganoderma, a few fragrant pine mushrooms, a root of Fleeceflower, and a small root of wild ginseng.

Although the herbs were dug directly from the mountains, the dirt and fine roots were neatly trimmed. Her white and delicate fingertips, hard to believe they belonged to a woman who traveled rough mountain paths, placed the last herb in order.

Wol Yeong-hwa examined the herbs in silence. She checked the condition of each one with her slender fingers and placed them on a small scale. After checking the wild ginseng last, the scale weight stopped. Wol Yeong-hwa counted out Yongle Tongbao coins. 250 mun. The coins clinked heavily inside the money pouch.