NTH 96

Of course, his spiritual power would not be disrupted just because he skipped an hour or two of training. It was just that the fact that Meoru had learned about his lifespan was deeply unsettling. He was worried whether Meoru, who would charge headfirst into fire and water for anything concerning Sonyeong’s well-being, would really go through the next ritual quietly.

Upon arriving at the cave, Meoru threw a few more logs onto the bonfire to keep it burning longer. Sonyeong, watching him, spoke.

“You know that the fifth ritual is coming up soon, right?”

“I’m not going to do it. I’m going to disappear on the morning of the new moon so no one can find me, and then I’ll come back after sunrise the next day.”

“If you promise to be quiet during the last two remaining rituals, I will do everything you want.”

Meoru’s movements stopped abruptly. He came closer and looked down at Sonyeong intently.

“You’ll do everything?”

“Yes.”

“Anything?”

“Yes.”

“What if I ask you to marry me?”

“I will.”

“What if I ask you to run away far away and live with me?”

“I will do that too.”

“You’re agreeing so readily, it’s highly suspicious. Then what if I ask you to suck my member with your mouth?”

Sonyeong’s face contorted instantly. Unable to find a place to rest his eyes, he fidgeted, not hiding his flustered state, and barely managed to part his lips.

“Th-that, well, I think I need to mentally prepare myself before I can answer that.”

Meoru burst out laughing.

“Ahaha! I’m joking, joking.”

“Pardon…?”

“As if I would ask you, the most beautiful person in the world, to do such an outrageous thing with your mouth. Even when I share my affection with you, I’m afraid I’ll be struck by lightning for a lowly creature like me daring to covet someone so precious.”

Sonyeong’s dark eyes sparkled as he reached out his arms. He cupped Meoru’s cheeks with both hands.

“You are not lowly at all. You are a very precious person.”

“But…”

“No matter when, where, or what you do, do not forget. You are a fine man, physically strong and firm in your convictions. You were born of low status and have suffered all sorts of hardships, yet you have not lost your bright and sound mind. There are far fewer people like that than you might think.”

“Sonyeong…”

“Above all else, you are the first person to whom this ‘I’ has ever opened my heart.”

Meoru immediately pulled Sonyeong into an embrace and murmured.

“If you’re just saying sweet things because of the two remaining rituals, then stop.”

“Do I seem like that kind of person to you?”

“That’s not it, but you’re saying such rapturous things, so unlike you, that I feel like my ears are going to melt. You said your lifespan has shortened, surely you’re not going to die tomorrow or something, are you?”

“Would you like that?”

“No. I’d follow you in death.”

“Do not worry. A lifespan does not shorten by ten or twenty years at a time like the Grand Tutor described it.”

“Anyway, do I just have to be quiet like I have been during the rituals and not run away? If I do, will you really quit being a Gukbok, marry me, and leave for somewhere far away?”

“Yes. I will.”

“Alright. I can’t stand it anymore. I want to hold you right now.”

Laying Sonyeong down on the straw mat and kissing him, Meoru untied his waist cord.

He now had a vague idea of what he had to do in a few days.

The moonless day of the new moon arrived. It was also the night the fifth ritual was scheduled.

Meoru bathed and purified himself as usual, then went to the kitchen. He knew that Sangdol, who worked in the kitchen, always decocted and served the evening tonics around this time.

When he opened the door and went in, Sangdol was just twisting the ends of a cloth pouch to squeeze out the herbal medicine. Seeing Meoru, he said.

“Huh? It’s Meoru. What brings you here at this hour?”

“I was feeling so hungry, I was wondering if there was any scorched rice.”

“You’re a step too late. I used up all the scorched rice earlier to make scorched rice tea. Do you want some of that instead?”

“Scorched rice tea sounds great. Thank you.”

Sangdol filled a bowl with the savory scorched rice tea and handed it to Meoru. Meoru, leaning against the unlit stove and drinking the tea, asked Sangdol.

“Is that medicine for the higher-ups again? Don’t you get tired of this every day, Mister?”

“Well, this is my job.”

“But why is this one darker in color than the others?”

Meoru asked, pointing to the rightmost of the herbal medicines arranged on three small trays. Sangdol, glancing at it, answered without thinking.

“That one is for His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness’s medicine has two or three extra ingredients.”

“Wow, so they give him more expensive and better medicine because he’s royalty?”

“That’s not it, you punk. His Highness’s anxiety gets particularly worse on the nights of the full moon and the new moon, so he can’t sleep properly. That’s why we use medicine that helps him sleep well.”

“Aha, is that so? Even high-ranking people have their own share of troubles. I have to go that way right now anyway, so I’ll take Sonyeong’s and His Highness the Crown Prince’s on my way. You just go to the old Grand Tutor geezer, Mister.”

“You will? I’d be grateful if you did.”

Sangdol covered the herbal medicine bowls with lids and handed them to Meoru. Meoru left the kitchen, holding the two small trays, one in each hand.

Meoru went straight to where the Crown Prince was staying and handed the tray with the herbal medicine meant for Sonyeong to the Crown Prince’s personal servant. According to what he had overheard before, it was surely made of cheap ingredients with no medicinal effect.

With the Crown Prince’s herbal medicine remaining in his hand, Meoru entered the Crown Prince’s real quarters where the ritual would be held. Sonyeong, who was waiting, greeted Meoru with a faint smile.

“Did you finish your bath well?”

“Yes. Here, Mister Sangdol asked me to bring this to you.”

“Thank you. It’s likely just a useless liquid anyway, so I’ll drink it later.”

“Just drink it now.”

“Why?”

“I happened to be in the kitchen and swapped yours with the old Grand Tutor geezer’s medicine. That geezer would be drinking a decoction of the highest quality herbs, wouldn’t he? I want to see you drink something good for at least one day.”

Sonyeong, smiling as if he found it absurd, picked up the bowl as a favor and gulped down the medicine inside. Meoru watched intently as the medicine went down his throat.

“There, I’ve finished it. Are you satisfied now?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t go to such trouble like this from now on. I’m really fine without drinking any medicine.”

“You have to be healthy if you’re going to marry me and live a long, happy life later. I’m going to sleep now. See you tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

Sonyeong felt that Meoru was in a bit of a hurry, unlike his usual self. However, relieved by the fact that he had come for the ritual without running away, he cast a spell and burned incense to put him to sleep.

After Meoru fell asleep, Sonyeong also extinguished the light and waited for midnight.

For some reason, he was unusually sleepy today. The incense he burned by Meoru’s head was only effective on the person under the spell. The incense had never made Sonyeong feel drowsy before. Perhaps it was because he had been eating less lately due to a poor appetite and his body was fatigued.

Nodding off, Sonyeong unknowingly collapsed beside Meoru and fell into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, Meoru was awakened by the sound of murmuring voices from somewhere.

‘To think we can’t enter the body right in front of us because of this damn shaman.’

‘I was so happy when that annoying old man from before croaked, but his disciple is even worse.’

‘What on earth is this guy? Does it make sense that we lose every time, even when we all attack him together?’

‘For some reason, he’s passed out and sleeping today. What’s gotten into him?’

Meoru realized that these were the wicked things that tormented Sonyeong. He had been prepared for something like this to happen from the moment he planned to switch the medicines to put Sonyeong to sleep. However, with nothing to be seen and only the hushed voices audible, a chill ran down his spine.

He had to find out for certain today. Just how these ghosts ran wild. If he could withstand them with his own strength, then Sonyeong’s life would no longer be cut short.

‘This is a good opportunity. Should we kill this shaman punk while we’re at it?’

‘Let’s rip his body to shreds.’

‘How about gouging out his eyeballs?’

‘Severing his intestines would be good too.’

‘Let’s block his qi channels and twist his veins. I want to see him roll around with his limbs contorted.’

‘If the shaman punk is gone, we can take over the Crown Prince’s body in no time.’

‘Then I’ll take it.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I called dibs on that one twenty years ago.’

The voices grew more and more excited. Just then, a voice, much clearer than the others, emerged.

‘No. You can’t.’

As if cold water had been thrown on a joyous feast, the commotion subsided in an instant.

‘Who are you to say that!’

‘Why not?’

‘Why can’t we?’

‘Why, you ask? Don’t you know we’ll be annihilated if we even go near that guy? If you’re so confident, try it right now. You cowards who can’t even get close because you’re scared.’

‘…’

‘As long as we don’t have physical bodies in this world, we can never harm the shaman punk.’

‘Look at you, acting all high and mighty. Then what are you suggesting we do?’

‘I have a good idea, so you all step back.’

‘Why? Are you planning to take that guy for yourself?’

‘I’ll explain later, so just let me have one shigyeong2). After that, you can interfere or not, do as you please.’

‘Don’t think we’ll stand by if you take the Crown Prince punk for yourself!’

‘How could I possibly do that? Anyone who thinks they can possess this guy’s body in one shigyeong can give it a try. I’m doing this for all of us.’

It seemed an agreement was reached, as the voices murmured and gradually faded away. Meoru steadied his breath and prepared for what was to come. A moment later, that low, chillingly clear voice approached Meoru’s ear and whispered.

‘Hey, you’re awake now, aren’t you? If you can hear my voice, answer me.’

Perhaps because of Sonyeong’s spell, Meoru’s lips were sealed shut, and no words came out. So, he answered in his mind.

‘Wicked ghost, be gone. I’m not weak enough to fall for your tricks.’

‘Don’t be like that, and listen to me. I promise I’ll set you and that shaman free.’

It was so absurd it was almost funny. Meoru retorted to the ghost again in his mind.

‘I’ve heard some strange things in my life, but this takes the cake. What nonsense is this from a ghost who was dying to possess my body all this time.’

‘The other guys might be like that, but not me. I’m different from the guys outside. The fact that you’re a fake, not the Crown Prince, is a fact that only I know.’