Sparkling Treasures and a Sage's Gift
Click, clack. The lock sparkled with an iridescent gleam.
"No, why today of all days, why won't it, just—!"
Park Young-sook's hands trembled violently from her pounding heart as she fumbled desperately with the lock. Of all days, it had to act up now. The old lock sometimes slipped on the key, sure, but a few clicks and it would always snick! shut. Not today, though. It refused to cooperate.
"I need to hurry and go..."
Park Young-sook paused in her efforts. Wait. Did I turn off the gas stove valve? The faucet? I was washing veggies while watching the stream earlier... I think I did, but... Did I check the cheonggukjang, make sure the lid was on tight before putting it in the fridge?
One nagging thought led to another, and finally—
"Argh, forget it!"
Park Young-sook yanked out the key, flung the door open again, and rushed back inside. Gas valve: off. Faucet: tight. Cheonggukjang tub: safely in the fridge. Satisfied, she stepped back out.
Swoosh.
"!!!"
A sudden shadow fell over her face. Park Young-sook nearly screamed on reflex but stopped short.
"Ah, sorry about that."
She recognized the sheepish, awkward smile on the shadowed figure's face. It was someone she'd recently grown close to, someone who had helped her out.
"Gak Il-sik? What brings you here?"
"I'm sorry. I came without warning because it was urgent."
Gak Il-sik bowed deeply and got straight to the point.
"I'm not one for beating around the bush, so I'll be direct. I heard about your family situation from Hyun-jun. Ah, he seemed really worried after watching the stream and reached out, so please don't scold him too much..."
"From Hyun-jun?"
"Yes. He said you're worried about your ex-husband."
"...Aigoo. Grown-up problems shouldn't burden the kids..."
Park Young-sook bit her lower lip, looking troubled, then spoke up.
"He must have contacted you thinking the ex might show up and cause a scene once he hears about Bin-i's find."
"Exactly. Even normal folks lose it over gold. And since he already stormed the hospital before, the odds of him pulling something again are high."
"So you're here today because...?"
"To act as bodyguard and protector—basically, to help out. From my experience, just having a guy my size nearby keeps most people at bay. Those types are all bark and no bite against someone who can actually fight back. 'The law is far, but the fist is close,' right? Haha..."
"Ah, yes! Spot on. That jerk would probably turn tail the second he sees you. Total coward against the strong."
Park Young-sook smiled back at Gak Il-sik, who flexed his fist with an embarrassed grin, then bowed her head slightly.
"From Bin-i's thing last time to this... I keep owing you."
"I enjoy it. My little brother does too—he was dancing around saying he scored another great story. Ah, but where were you headed?"
"Bin-i's coming, so I was going to meet her—"
"Mooom!"
The shout from behind made both Park Young-sook and Gak Il-sik whip around.
"Mooom! I'm heeeere! Hi, Uncle Il-sik!!"
"Aigoo! Miss! Let's, huff, go together!"
Rumble rumble. Kang Seol-bin came sprinting at full speed, trailed by the fishing boat captain from the stream, who pushed a cart loaded with a cooler for dear life.
"Mom! The stream was insane! For real! Whoa! Viewers exploded! Total hit! Massive hit!!!"
Huff, huff... "Aigoo, miss, you gotta, carry your own..."
Thud! The captain halted the cart in front of the shop, gasping for breath. Kang Seol-bin explained with an "oh right."
"Captain gave me a ride! I was super freaked on the boat at first, but once I calmed down, I got way more level-headed? Like, adrenaline rush fades and your brain goes ice-cold clear? And the captain took great care of me—no worries there. Oh, someone tried sneaking off with a gold ring but got caught, and the captain almost yeeted him into the sea—then the guy tries swallowing it whole! Thought it'd be his if he did, I guess? Ridiculous. But then nothing's there and whoosh, he slips, crashes down. The ring flies—I snag it! Whew, if it'd hit the water... Oh, and President Nam called! From the maritime cultural heritage research institute? They're coming to check it out! Looks like the cod barfed up an artifact. So, uh, can I borrow Hwang's place tonight, even late? Like last time with viewers, but just upstairs!"
Kang Seol-bin rattled it all off, hands flailing wildly. Park Young-sook and Gak Il-sik exchanged glances—She's not calm at all. Needs to chill.
"Miss, er, Ms. Kang Seol-bin, I see you're... well, after a find like that, can't just let you wander alone. That's why I parked the boat and came myself."
The captain, breath steadying, chimed in.
"C-Can we, uh, open this inside? Gotta verify, right?"
"B-But Captain, are you okay?"
"Huh?"
"With stuff like this popping up, no fishing there for a while, right? Excavations and all, like Gyeongju."
"Ah! That Gyeongju thing where they pray nothing turns up every time they dig to sell land?"
The captain beamed at Park Young-sook's question.
"No way! Plenty of fishing spots elsewhere! The real gold is—now I'm famous! Streamer Coronodon! Kang Seol-bin rode my boat! Reservations will be through the roof! Think about it—golden cod from my boat! Golden cod—named it on the spot, but perfect, right? Sailors are superstitious as hell. So no worries about my business! On the way here, phone's blowing up—anyway, let's head in. No one's around now, but gold turns heads. Like that guy earlier, fighting for one ring... Regular customer, not usually like that. Or maybe gold brings out the true self... Tsk tsk. Situations reveal character, huh."
The captain spilled words as fast as Kang Seol-bin. He's hyped too, Park Young-sook and Gak Il-sik exchanged looks again.
"Come on! Inside!"
As the captain mimed pushing the cart, everyone filed into the shop.
"Huaaah..."
Door securely shut, Kang Seol-bin suddenly wobbled, grabbed a chair, and collapsed into it.
"Finally... Mom's shop... Familiar place... Haaah..."
"There there. You were scared, huh? Want something to drink?"
"I... I want rice. Haven't eaten a bite. Stomach's all knotted. Feels like I'd choke it down. Just hot rice with any soup..."
"Aigoo! Nothing since dawn? It's afternoon now!"
Park Young-sook fired up the stove again, set a pot, and returned to find—
"Everyone here? Opening it...!"
The captain cracked the cooler.
"—!"
"Ooh."
Piled high with ice to keep the cod fresh lay the fish mingled with gold trinkets: rings, earrings, coins...
"Aigoo, my god."
Park Young-sook covered her mouth, murmuring. Even on screen it'd shocked her senseless; in person, her heart thundered harder. Jewelers displayed gold aplenty, but this felt different. From her daughter's catch, ancient and wondrous.
Like that docu I saw—treasure ships drive people mad, possessed-like.
Memories flooded: divers laughing about heart attacks over a single coin; folks bankrupted chasing shipwreck fantasies.
Be careful. Gotta be.
Yet she stared mesmerized until snapping back.
"Wait. Bin-i. President Nam? And the sashimi place again?"
"Meeting him, the institute section chief, and staff tonight."
"Already? Rest up, tomorrow morning at least—"
"They insisted today, but I'd be staring at the ceiling all night anyway."
"Ah. Right."
Who could sleep with this at home?
"So people coming tonight, meeting at the sashimi shop?"
"Yeah. Can we reserve?"
"The group—"
"Three! Nam, chief, staff."
Park Young-sook pondered, then spoke.
"What if we do it here instead?"
"...Oh?"
It was a fairy-tale village. Thatched and tiled roofs nestled behind wooden fences, chimney smoke curling lazily. A cow lowed faintly in the distance. In one yard, chicks peeped after hens, a rooster strutting proudly behind. And everywhere, presences—watching eyes, curious and grateful.
Spirits caught in the trunk's spirit trap, no doubt.
"Benefactor. Please, come in."
A child appeared and bowed deeply with graceful composure. It was a stark contrast to before—her hair now grown to her shoulders in neat braids instead of being cut short, her clothes properly fitted instead of hanging loosely like rags. Her cheeks were rosy, her body filled out, and her smile was genuine. Healthy. Happy. A truly comforting sight.
"This dream-like space… you said we could shape it however we wanted, so I tried."
The child beamed.
"A life here with my parents. No hunger. No bullying."
"Nice. It looks great. Are your parents well?"
"Yes. They’re out plowing the fields. They could wish for endless golden crops… but they said harvest without effort doesn’t feel right."
Diligent and grounded—no shortcuts. Admirable values.
I raised my hand and conjured a piece of honey candy, just like before.
Crumple.
"Ah!"
The wrapper rustled as the child’s eyes lit up.
"I still can’t make sweets as good as yours."
Holding it carefully, the child pointed toward the largest tiled house.
"Your entrusted rewards are over there. You can come anytime… But who’s with you?"
Their gaze carried curiosity more than caution. Understandable, given I was here.
「Ah—h-hello?!」
The Earth Spirit nervously stepped forward, clutching the bones.
「They said it would be safe here for my friend! So please… let them stay! Please!」
"I see. It is safe here. But we need our parents’ permission."
The child remained calm. Then, as if on cue, the air rippled—
The parents appeared.
Just like the child, they had changed. Their bodies were fuller, their clothes neat, their faces bright with life.
"Benefactor, welcome. We are living in gratitude."
"We truly don’t know how to repay your kindness…"
They bowed deeply, almost to the point of prostration.
"That’s enough. A greeting is fine."
"But—"
"I said it’s enough."
I waved it off lightly.
The child quickly explained the situation.
"The benefactor wishes for someone to stay here for a while."
"Of course!"
"Our doors are always open!"
They agreed immediately.
「Oh… thank you!」
The Earth Spirit sighed in relief.
"But if they stay, they must work. Do they have any skills?"
The Earth Spirit froze.
「W-Well… my friend is a bit weak…」
"That’s fine. We were weak once too. If they work, they’ll grow stronger."
The father stepped forward kindly.
"There’s no idling here. Everyone contributes. Can they do that?"
He extended his hand.
Smoke rose from the bones, slowly forming a figure.
Unlike before, the manifestation was much clearer—this space was far more stable for spirits.
「Oh! My friend! You’re awake!」
The Earth Spirit cried out in joy.
The figure looked like an immortal sage—refined and otherworldly. But the smoking hole in its forehead ruined the image.
"Uhh…"
It stuffed its long beard into its mouth and chewed.
Definitely not in a stable state.
「Aigoo…」
The Earth Spirit winced.
"It’ll take time, but it will recover."
「Really?」
"Yes. See those spirits over there? They were once in worse condition. But with time, food, and rest… they’ve recovered."
「Ooooh…!」
Tears filled the Earth Spirit’s eyes.
「That’s… that’s so good…」
It bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
「Thank you! Truly! My friend is safe now!」
"Satisfied?"
「Yes! Human! You wanted something from me, right? I can’t leave yet, but take whatever you need!」
The Earth Spirit brought its hands together—and a pile of treasures appeared.
One immediately caught my eye.
A translucent crystal, about the size of a fist, shimmering with iridescent light.
To the untrained eye, it might look like glass. To an expert, an uncut diamond.
But it was neither.
Its value was beyond comparison.
A spirit beast’s inner core.
At least several centuries old.
"Why didn’t you use it?"
「Treasures like this have owners. I didn’t feel like it was meant for me, so I kept it.」
"That’s not the real reason."
「Ugh…」
The Earth Spirit fidgeted, avoiding my gaze.
「…I tried to eat it. But it rejected me. No matter what I did, it wouldn’t stay inside…」
I nodded.
An ancient core, imbued with will. Naturally, it wouldn’t accept just anyone.
I wonder if it’ll accept me…
「You’re strong. You’ll be fine. It feels right.」
The Earth Spirit carefully offered it.
「This is my thanks for helping my friend. Please, take it.」
"With gratitude."
I accepted it without hesitation.
The energy within it was dense—pure, perfectly refined natural qi.
Of course, I’d have to share it with Heavenly Wood… though it would probably take most of it anyway.