The Oath Ceremony
Jeongmi rose and called the three women over. All three approached, offering me the sight of their lovely bodies. Looking between them and me in turn, Jeongmi said,
"From now on, we are the Jisin's women. We must never be jealous of one another or harbor hatred, and we must always face the Jisin with bright spirits. And until the Jisin gives special permission, none of us may ever have relations with another man. Our bodies no longer belong to us."
It was a somewhat ridiculous speech, but the three women nodded with utter seriousness. Jeongmi turned back to me.
"And Jisin, please take care that none of us is left out or neglected."
When I returned after dinner, the women were whispering among themselves. Then, under Jeongmi's lead, they began bustling this way and that. I wondered what they were up to but decided simply to watch. They lined candles along the walls of the house and hung those strange paintings that had once hung in Yunchae's house. I had no idea when they had brought them over.
Once the preparations were finished, the women each appeared wearing robes similar to the one I had on. With everything ready, they nearly extinguished every light in the house, plunging it into deep darkness. The people who had been chatting and laughing a moment before composed solemn expressions and knelt in a single row on the floor of the room. Jeongmi approached me and said,
"We're going to hold a ceremony to receive the bodyguards' oaths of loyalty and appoint them as the Jisin's personal guards. I discussed it with Miryeong, and we've decided to call them the Cheongisa."
I nearly snorted with laughter. What was this, some medieval knighthood out of a game...? A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, and Jeongmi's expression turned stern.
"I'll handle the ceremony myself. All you need to do, Jisin, is fasten these around their necks."
Jeongmi held out the leather chokers. Looking closely, I saw that each choker bore one of the two men's names; the chains I had seen earlier were not attached. I nodded and took the chokers. I would go along with whatever they wanted, of course, but I wondered whether those tough-looking men would actually submit to such a farcical rite. I worried the whole atmosphere might turn awkward.
When everything was ready, Jeongmi went outside. I sat in the chair that had been prepared at one side of the room. The women arranged themselves on the floor beside me, facing the same direction. All of them had their heads deeply bowed; not even the sound of breathing could be heard. Silence settled over the room, and a strange tension took hold. Even I felt myself growing quietly tense.
A short while later the door sounded and Jeongmi entered. Behind her came the two men in black suits. Heads bowed, they stepped into the house with extreme care. They stopped just inside the door while Jeongmi approached me, sat on the floor, and bowed her head.
"We will now begin the oath ceremony for the two Cheongisa."
Jeongmi turned her head slightly toward the two men.
"In the pure form in which you were born, without pretense or concealment, to embrace Cheonsiman-gyo—please remove every garment that is a symbol of the secular world."
I swallowed hard. Until now the women had always entered naked when they came to see me, but what about these sturdy men? Well... there had been Mr. Mo Juhyeon, of course, but these two felt different from ordinary middle-aged neighborhood uncles.
Contrary to my worries, the moment Jeongmi finished speaking the two men began stripping with an almost eager rustle of fabric. With controlled, efficient movements they removed every outer garment and even their underwear. Their bodies were darkly tanned and densely muscled; thick pubic hair and slack cocks were fully exposed. Still with heads bowed, they walked with confident strides up to where Jeongmi stood. Jeongmi rose, walked to my side, and stood beside my chair.
"Now, come forward one by one and swear your oath to the Jisin."
The slightly older of the two, Ju Yeonggi, stepped forward first. He prostrated himself at my feet as if performing a deep bow and spoke.
"I swear to devote my body and mind to the Jisin and to remain loyal until the day I die."
In that deep, thick voice Ju Yeonggi pressed his lips to my foot. Startled, I glanced at Jeongmi; she gave the faintest shake of her head—a signal to stay still. A moment later she caught my eye and touched her own neck, indicating the choker. I rose from the chair and fastened the choker around Ju Yeonggi's neck. He pressed his forehead to the floor.
"Thank you."
It was unexpected. I could hardly believe a rough-looking man would present himself to me like this. When I sat back down in an awkward posture, Jeongmi walked over from a side table carrying the chain I had seen earlier. She wasn't seriously going to use that as a leash, was she? Don't... please don't. I looked at her with that expression, but she didn't meet my eyes.
"You have now been acknowledged by the Jisin as a Cheongisa."
In a cold voice Jeongmi addressed Yeonggi, who still had his head to the floor.
"You may now freely enter and leave the sanctuary. Here there is not only the Jisin but also the Jiseonnyeo who attend him at close quarters, dwelling in their natural state. Of course a Cheongisa would never do such a thing—but you must not defile this sacred place with worldly desire."
Yeonggi lifted his head a fraction, then pressed it back to the floor.
"That will never happen."
Jeongmi's voice grew even colder.
"We all trust the Cheongisa, but human desire has a way of making a man forget his vows. Therefore we have prepared a token so that you yourself will never forget the resolve you hold at this moment. Rise."
Yeonggi stood. His head remained bowed. Jeongmi stepped in front of him and hooked one end of the chain to the choker at his neck. Ah... so it was exactly what I thought. Don't do this... I was screaming inwardly. Jeongmi spoke softly.
"This sacred object around your neck is a grace the Jisin himself has bestowed upon you. Wear it in that spirit and use it to master your carnal desires."
She took the other end of the chain. There was a somewhat larger ring different from the one at the neck. Kneeling on the floor, Jeongmi took Yeonggi's entire cock in her hand and fastened the ring. She didn't place it around the shaft alone but looped it behind both the cock and the balls—exactly like the so-called cock rings one saw in Western porn.
When Jeongmi stood, Yeonggi prostrated himself once more with his forehead to the floor. Returning to my side, she said,
"Next Cheongisa..."
Yeonggi rose and stepped backward. The man named Park Gwangsu came forward and likewise pressed his forehead to the floor. I fastened the choker Jeongmi offered around his neck as well, and she approached again with the chain. I expected her to fasten the ring to this man's cock too, but Yunchae suddenly stood and stepped forward. I stared at her in wide-eyed surprise, yet she never looked my way.
Yunchae took hold of Gwangsu's cock as he rose to his feet. Gwangsu flinched, but I could see him squeeze his eyes shut. Jeongmi walked over and handed Yunchae the chain; Yunchae fastened it between Gwangsu's neck and his cock. Then Yunchae stepped back, and Gwangsu retreated as well. Around the necks of the two powerfully built men were the leather chokers, and from each choker a slender chain ran down to the cock—exactly the image of masochistic men one saw only in porn. In a voice grown even sharper, Jeongmi addressed them.
"The Cheongisa may enter this place freely, but when you do so you must not be clothed as you are now. Nor may even the slightest impure thought cause you to become erect."
The two men answered in deep, low voices.
"Yes."
Jeongmi's tone softened a little.
"But if the Jisin grants permission, that is the exception. Understood?"
"Yes."
The two men then made a deep bow toward me and headed for the entrance. They dressed in the entryway and went outside. Once they were gone the women beside me rose, removed their robes, extinguished and cleared away the candles, and turned on the lights. I sat there somewhat dazed. When the women finished tidying up, a knock sounded at the door. Jeongmi and Miryeong hurried out and returned each carrying a large tray. On the trays were traditional liquor and a few side dishes. Minhwa spoke.
"This traditional liquor is excellent. I brought some from home. I also asked the restaurant lady for a few side dishes. Since today was the day of the ceremony, we planned to share it all together afterward."