[CYM] 40 – Land of the Traitors

“Let’s go home, young master.”

            For some reason, Beodeul felt uneasy. The crowd’s attention was converging, and as she locked eyes with the child, the young master turned to her with a smile.

            “Beodeul, can you see it too?”

            “See what?”

            His lips cracked into a grin.

            “What that child is trembling at, can you see it too?”

            Muttering incomprehensibly, the young master burst into laughter, drawing the attention of those around. Beodeul felt an urgent need to snap him out of it.

            As people began to point and stare, she had already grabbed the young master and fled.

            It was all because of the spirit clinging to him, its tenacity drawing the baby bodhisattva’s notice.

            The night is late, so please go inside quickly. Forget about what happened earlier. It’s because all sorts of trivial spirits follow the young master around.”

            Worried that something might happen to the young master, Beodeul accompanied him to the main gate. The young master did not stop chuckling and bouncing his shoulders like a young boy until then; she was becoming concerned about his state of mind.

            “That little bodhisattva turns out to be useful.”

            “What?”

            “Her energy is useful, I mean.”

            “Young master, do you, by chance, have a fever?”

            The cold wind will surely bring his senses back to Amitābha. She touched his white forehead with concern. Fortunately, there was no fever, and his bright eyes still sparkled with laughter.

            The young master, holding the hand she had placed on his forehead, cheerfully said, “It would be nice if every day were like today.”

            “Don’t try to be sly. I will be busy again starting tomorrow.”

            It seemed he was impressed by the events of the day.

            “I’ll pay for the lanterns.”

            “That’s alright. Consider it a gift.”

            “Why? You need the money.”

            “It wasn’t given with that intention.”

            “But I want to give it.”

            The young master, knowing that she lived humbly in a poor village, did not have malice in his eyes. He was not offering money out of pity or contempt but was genuinely asking if she needed it.

            “Do you pay back gifts received on your birthday with money?”

            “I wouldn’t know, having never received one.”

            “Even if you’ve never received one, it’s natural... never mind that, just in case, hang this in your room.”

            She looked around and pulled out a talisman from her possession.

            “As you must now realise, that little bodhisattva sees spirits. She can ward off evil spirits and the like. It seems you fainted upon seeing a malevolent spirit that was following you, but hanging the talisman should help.”

            “Okay.”

            He nodded slightly. Then, as if he had something to say, he looked at her and lowered his eyelashes subtly. A gust of wind blew, causing the shadows on his eyelashes to tremble like stars.

            “It was a first.”

            “What do you mean?”

            He did not reply. She roughly understood the meaning, but there were so many things that had happened today that she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was the first for him.

            “Then, have a good rest.”

            After saying goodbye, she ran down the street bathed in moonlight. Since she couldn’t hear the sound of the door closing, it seemed he was watching her until she left.

            She had thought little of the lantern festival, but it seemed coming was the right choice. Even though the day ended somewhat disappointingly due to her concern for the little bodhisattva, she was content if he enjoyed himself. And she took a memory from the Lantern Festival with her. She hoped to dream sweet dreams that night.

            She walked slowly on the path home, catching her breath. The sound of a crow flapping its wings viciously collided with the dark night sky. Just beyond the bustling market, any sign of people vanished as if washed away.

            Then, suddenly, her steps halted. Her eyes were drawn to a crumbling mud wall, and to the huge poster attached to it.

            [Is Milguk the land of the people or a nest for evil spirits? There is a rightful reason for the current turmoil in the nation. Peace will come to this land only when the rotten roots are weeded out, and we must crack down on the descendants of the traitor who brought a century of disaster upon us.]

            Beodeul hastily examined the room, wondering who could have left such a thing. The lingering warmth of the lantern festival had not yet faded before cold sweat trickled down her spine.

            The poster referred to the descendants of the traitor Punglim. It was clear who was being targeted. The poster announced a reward for capturing the descendants of Hong Unyeong and delivering them to the authorities.

            The people of Milguk shared a common belief that if they offered up a descendant of Hong Unyeong to the rampaging evil spirits, they would be spared from calamity.