Good News!
“…”
Jeong Woong-gil sat leaning back in his chair, eyes gently closed, remaining silent for a long while.
Min Siljang, knowing well that this silence meant deep contemplation, stood quietly beside him as always, waiting patiently.
As he waited, Min Siljang replayed the meeting in his mind.
A strange encounter. Suspicious, perhaps. A mix of conflicting impressions.
After contacting the True Truth Cult, they had rejected both the proposal to meet in True Truth Village and the counteroffer to meet nearby. Refusing to meet on the other party’s terms was a basic rule when dealing with untrustworthy people.
So the meeting was held at a neutral location, unrelated to either side.
Min Siljang frowned slightly as he recalled it.
The woman they called their “miss,” elevated like some revered figure. Her skin, visible beneath layers of clothing, was ghostly pale. Even her braided hair shared the same color. A thick veil covered her face, but her red eyes had been clearly visible.
An unusual appearance—clearly enhanced with intention.
Her slow, languid movements made it obvious: she had been carefully trained to appear mysterious.
And yet…
Min Siljang had almost laughed when they introduced her.
No matter how much they tried to act profound, the True Truth Cult was nothing more than a distasteful cult to him.
Even a fortune teller in a smoky tent would have been less irritating.
He hated blind faith—especially when disguised as religion.
If asked why, he could explain. Those ties were long severed.
But…
‘It was strange.’
The woman—the “miss”—had something about her.
The middle-aged man beside her dominated the conversation, talking endlessly with a friendly smile. Min Siljang responded only half-heartedly, observing instead.
The woman showed no interest in the man—but at times, she listened intently.
Not to him.
Her red eyes drifted through empty space, then curved into faint smiles.
Anyone else might have thought her insane.
But Min Siljang didn’t think so.
Then—
Just as the man began speaking more passionately, she suddenly raised her hand to stop him.
And spoke.
“Min Siljang.”
Jeong Woong-gil’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“The second son.”
“No change.”
“Still screaming and destroying everything when awake. Otherwise sedated, sleeping like the dead.”
“Yes.”
“Haa…”
Jeong Woong-gil let out a long sigh.
“And the business? Any hope?”
“There… might be.”
“Might?”
Jeong Woong-gil raised an eyebrow.
“In what way?”
“You know how I see them.”
“Yes. Meaningless nonsense. But this time, we’re desperate enough to grasp anything.”
“And?”
“They introduced their ‘miss.’ Not just her appearance—there was something different.”
“Different… your intuition?”
“Yes.”
That uncanny intuition had brought Min Siljang this far.
“She said the second son is beyond saving.”
“What?”
“And that good news would come soon—for the first son.”
Jeong Woong-gil’s eyes widened.
Bad news first, then hope.
A classic tactic—but still effective.
What if… there really is a way?
“How?”
“She didn’t say. Told us to contact them after results appear.”
“But?”
“When she spoke, the others panicked. They tried to stop her.”
“Panicked?”
“Yes. It didn’t seem planned.”
“Did they react?”
“Not openly. But the man quickly dragged her away.”
Min Siljang smiled faintly.
“And something interesting happened.”
* * *
If someone could see what my Spiritual Eye sees now, they’d either collapse in horror—or be mesmerized.
The adsorbent had split into countless root-like strands, wrapping around the brain.
It pulsed, absorbing and releasing energy, spreading through the body.
From head to toe.
Like roots overtaking flesh.
Unpleasant—but not repulsive.
The glow reached the fingertips and toes, then pulsed rhythmically.
Changes began.
Han Myeong-rye had described his condition: stiffness, drowsiness, hallucinations, aggression.
Now—
"Ah, his eyes—his eyes are changing!"
Han Myeong-rye shouted.
Yes. Before, his eyes screamed madness.
Now—they looked lost.
“Uh…?”
The man blinked slowly.
“…I don’t see anything. I don’t hear anything.”
He means the hallucinations are gone…
“How…?”
Hope flickered in his expression.
Moments passed.
“My god…”
He clenched his fist.
Normal.
Completely normal.
【What do you think?】
"Ah… he’s back! He’s really back!"
【Better?】
"Yes! Just like before! He’s completely clear-headed!"
Trembling, she grabbed his hand.
"Mountain God… will he stay like this?"
【Watch him for a few days.】
"Yes! I won’t leave his side!"
I turned toward the elder.
His condition was similar—but slower.
Dementia required more time.
Then—
「Master!」
Amjeong rushed in.
「Master’s sister is coming! And the man called Il-sik!」
Bin-i… and Gak Il-sik?
I returned to the room.
Creak.
The door opened.
“Nice to meet you. Gak Il-sik.”
“The muscle expert has arrived!”
Bin-i grinned brightly.
“Please take care of him!”
“Of course.”
Gak Il-sik examined the body carefully.
“Good bone structure… potential is there.”
“But right now—”
“Snaps like a twig!”
…Yeah. True.
「 "What?! Master won’t break! We’ll protect him!" 」
「 "Who dares touch our Master? We’ll break them instead!" 」
Amjeong and Hwa-jeong glared fiercely.
“We’ll start with weight gain. Gradually.”
They continued discussing—
「Why are they coming?」
「Shouldn’t they guard the gold?」
Pung-jeong rushed in.
「Master! Good news!」
She dropped several pouches.
A memory surfaced.
Oho…
「Another is coming.」
「Why aren’t you guarding her?」
Then Su-jeong burst in.
「 "Master! Good news! Plan A succeeded! We need medicine soon!" 」
Medicine?
For whom?