The Price of 231-Year Ginseng Liquor
Over two hundred years old wild ginseng liquor. Even the creatures fed the herbs that my refined spirits brought me so far were precious, but none had consumed herbs quite like this.
[You'll have to see it with your own eyes to believe it.]
Ah, bringing that here would be... tough for me...
[I'll lend a hand.]
Gongjeong-ryeong nodded eagerly when I glanced its way. Seeing its enthusiasm fired up like this, it seemed Su-jeong and Pung-jeong's exploits had spurred it on nicely. Good.
"Help. Give. Me. Know. Well."
Then I looked at the death spirit, which flinched before nodding.
"Go. See. Bring. Back?"
[If possible.]
"Then. I. Go. Too."
And so Gongjeong-ryeong, Hwa-jeong, and the death spirit zipped off, returning after about thirty minutes. Empty-handed.
Let's see. If they'd been trying to fool me, Gongjeong-ryeong and Hwa-jeong would've bolted the moment they spotted the ginseng liquor. But they went along together, so it must've been there.
But now it's gone?
[Hmm?]
I gave the death spirit a meaningful look, and it let out a squeak, waving its hands frantically.
It's there! It is! It's where I left it! But that jar is too heavy to bring—
"Saw. It. Buried. In. Ground. Jar. Ginseng. Liquor. 231. Years. Good. Herb."
Gongjeong-ryeong backed up the death spirit's words, with Hwa-jeong nodding beside it.
Oho... 231 years old. My mouth was already watering. Eating that should let me astral project in one go, right? Finally free from this heavy body that can barely twitch its fingers, able to scout the surroundings lightly.
Th-that mountain spirit, sir. You believe me now, right? So, could I... tell my story... and get your help...?
The death spirit muttered anxiously. Of course. For that kind of reward, I could handle consultation and resolution. Unless it was something ridiculously troublesome.
[Sure. Speak.]
A-ah! Thank you! Thank you!
The death spirit bowed repeatedly, then opened up again, shedding reddish tears profusely.
* * *
The death spirit introduced itself as 'Jo Mal-ja' and, choking back sobs, spilled its entire arduous life story before getting to why it needed my help.
It was a long, gloomy tale. Normally, I'd cut it short and demand the main point, but I didn't.
Part of it was satisfaction with the over-200-year ginseng liquor reward ahead, but mainly, letting it vent like this would lower the chances of it turning into a resentful spirit. No desire to deal with extra hassle.
To sum up Jo Mal-ja's own words, she called herself a 'goddamned unlucky wretch.'
Orphaned young by illness and accident, branded a child-eater by relatives. Her brother adopted out to a childless elder household, while she, the unlucky girl, bounced between relatives eating side-eye scraps, never attending school, straight to the factory. Every penny earned snatched away.
Tired of starvation abuse and stolen wages, craving someone to lean on, she married a man introduced as diligent, sturdy, and handsome. But he was a flashy gambling bum. Expecting a hefty dowry from her decent relative-hosting home, he beat her bloody upon learning the truth. Bruises never faded...
And so on. Typical trashy drama fare.
The sad truth? In that era, plenty lived like Jo Mal-ja—or worse. That's why they say dramas can't match reality.
Even my family had its tales... Oh, right. Time to check on that bastard father. He might crawl back later.
Anyway. Fleeing with her daughter, Jo Mal-ja scraped money fiercely, bought land, tilled fields, built a home. Daughter married, bore a cute granddaughter... Thought she'd finally live peacefully on her own land. But no—the land became a development zone, fetching billions in compensation.
Relatives and their spawn, sniffing money like ghosts, demanded 'repayment for raising her.' She swung a club yelling to fuck off, but to soothe her distraught mother's heart, she joined daughter and son-in-law on a trip. Accident struck. Son-in-law and she died; daughter left vegetative, eyes blinking blankly.
Unable to leave daughter and infant granddaughter, she lingered in this world. But those worse-than-enemies relatives threaten them now. 'Know your dad's still alive?' 'We'll drag him here if needed.' 'Old enough to kill two easily.'
Daughter weeps silently; granddaughter cries in terror.
The money I brought from the factory covered my keep and more. Never ate full anyway. Plus, I half-raised those relatives' kids now bitching. Repayment? I deserve it! And dragging that bastard here... what about my daughter and granddaughter... that fucker still alive...
Jo Mal-ja burst into wrenching sobs again.
Aigoo. Aigoo. They say parentless kids birth parentless kids... Shouldn't have dragged them on that trip...
[So. What resolution do you want?]
I cut off further laments with a question.
Resolution... you say...?
Jo Mal-ja stared, face streaked with panic and tears. Didn't expect full answers from the presumed mountain spirit.
Hm. Shall I provide one? No guarantee of satisfaction.
[Depends on the situation, but killing them is cleanest.]
K-kill?!
[No complications, no loose ends.]
Jo Mal-ja's eyes bulged.
B-but is that okay? For a m-mountain spirit?
[Not your concern.]
A-ah, yes. How could lowly me question a mountain spirit's will.
[Remove the culprits, problem solved. Simple, no?]
Yes, but...
She glanced nervously. Gongjeong-ryeong and Hwa-jeong nodded knowingly, as if expecting this.
What I meant by 'depends'—punishment varies by accumulated good and evil karma. This world has the law of causality. An invisible scale no one cheats—not even Dark Heavenly Realm's Great Immortals.
Everything births from cause. To handle her request my way, check targets' karma. Heinous crimes? Ends bloodless for me. Lesser? A nudge suffices.
I watched her twist her hands in agony, deeming it natural. Even after brutal abuse, begging instant death for them—or all—is tough.
[Not saying slaughter everyone. They'll get fitting punishment for crimes. And my simple advice—]
I paused deliberately.
[Choose what makes your remaining daughter and granddaughter happier.]
Yes... right...
[Hesitate out of aversion to harm, and all suffering falls on them.]
Never!!
Jo Mal-ja clenched fists, shouting fiercely before my words ended. Eyes shut tight, then opened resolute.
Yes. You're right, mountain spirit. For my daughter and granddaughter's happiness...
She prostrated fully.
Those leech relatives, their spawn, that inhuman bastard! Keep them from my daughter and granddaughter forever! Please! Mountain spirit!
[So it shall be.]
Wiping tears with sleeve, she beamed, then hesitated.
Actually, I came crying today 'cause those leeches are coming again, to spew filth at daughter and granddaughter. I'm helpless, heart breaking... Sorry, but... when do you start...?
I nodded to Gongjeong-ryeong and Hwa-jeong.
[Now.]
Quick payment demands quick results.
* * *
"Just a bit more threats, and she'll crack."
"You think so too?"
"Yeah. Wow, that old hag's got some luck."
The plump-faced woman grinned wickedly, and the greasy, bloated-faced man bared huge chili-flecked teeth in a splitting smirk.
"Perfect timing too—need cash for slots. Heh. Time to cash out... easy peasy."
His eyes gleamed with jackpot visions amid fanfare.
"Gonna get full management this round. Spoil my kids with designer too. Can't get ignored without brands these days."
She caressed her Chanel bag, won via homeless stakeout, open runs, elbow jabs, and tripping rivals. Visions of new luxuries danced.
"Hope she pays on our turn. Bigger cut as kin."
"Yeah right. They'll claim prior groundwork. So sync stories? Fudge the amount."
"What if she demands accounts?"
"Separate ones then. Know a guy for that."
"Still talking to the old man?"
"Yup. Pumping him up. 'That runaway bitch lives lavish, fucked plenty, loaded.' Old coot flipped—eyes bulging. 'Just say where, I'll knife her.'"
"Hohoho. Real stabbing would be great. She kills hag-mom, psycho gramps jailed. Easy street for us."
"Hehehehe!"
"Hohohoho!"
Laughing over unearned windfall, the woman jabbed elevator button irritably with sausage fingers.
"Why so slow? Dying here."
"Nursing home. Shitty facilities vs. university hospitals."
Ding! Doors opened. They stepped forward—into empty air.
"?!"
"!!"
Faces frozen in shock, man and woman plummeted silently.
"Checked. Processed. Done."
"Report. Next. Process. Quick."
Gongjeong-ryeong and Hwa-jeong peered at the shattered, unconscious pair, grinning delightedly.
This mission earned more qi from master, advancing their realms. Not yet matching Su-jeong, but bigger than at first meeting.
"Master. Scary. But. Rewards. Clear."
"Next. Check. Fast."
'Check' meant master's 'benchmark'—number of resentful and evil spirits on target. Adjust force: light, medium, heavy.
This pair: medium. Limbs snapped, skulls burst.
Heavy? Far worse.
Though harming humans directly, they'd burst evil spirits before, and master's sweet rewards blinded them to qualms.
"Grow. Strong. Refined. Spirit!"
"Become. Amazing. Refined. Spirit!"
Whooping pumped up, they flew to next target, smashing any obstacle.