Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 057
Chapter Title: Virgin Ghost Yi-hwa and Evil Spirit Emel (1)
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Baekho, the older brother of Mi-hee and Da-hee and known as "Jeong the Young Master of Gyeryong Mountain," had been working as an exorcist since his teens over twenty years ago.
Because he started so young, he hid his real name and assisted his father.
Ten years ago, after both his parents passed away, he began working as a shaman under the Taoist name Jeong the Young Master.
In truth, he wasn't a shaman with divine powers.
Being the brother of Mi-hee and Da-hee, he too possessed the abilities of a talisman exorcist, but he couldn't divine others' fortunes or misfortunes.
About a decade ago, one winter, he encountered the virgin ghost Yi-hwa, who had wandered the living world for five hundred years.
While trying to seal the virgin ghost Yi-hwa, who had been an exceptional shaman in life, he was overpowered by her instead.
In the fierce battle, Baekho's relentless sealing attempts clashed with Yi-hwa's counterattacks until they unexpectedly joined forces, leading Baekho to reinvent himself as a highly profitable shaman.
He relied on the shamanic powers of a spirit.
With the virgin ghost Yi-hwa's help, Baekho had amassed considerable wealth over several years under the sign of "Jeong the Young Master of Gyeryong Mountain."
During that time, countless predictions came true, and his home was always lined with dignitaries from politics and business.
He was introduced in overseas media as one of the top prophets of the early 21st century.
However, a few years ago in winter, a woman he had dated for half a year was revealed to be a gold digger, shocking the public.
In the end, news spread that he couldn't even manage his own life, bringing his glamorous days to a close.
Local broadcasters occasionally visited for his predictions, but none came true.
Before long, no media trusted him as a prophet anymore.
Aware that he lacked true divine insight, he settled quietly in his hometown of Daejeon.
He spent leisurely days giving free fortunes, selecting auspicious moving dates, and praying for business prosperity to those who visited his home.
His second sister Mi-hee had once asked about his predictions.
"Bro, how'd you nail Kim Jong-il's death?"
"Kim Jong-il? His time was up, so I just said it off the cuff. He was old."
"What about the others?"
"Saw 'em on NewTube and blabbed. The media hyped me up too much. How's anyone—human or ghost—supposed to know the future? Best I can do is fortune-telling."
"So the ones you missed were from NewTube too?"
"Yup. That guy who lost the election was the frontrunner on NewTube. Didn't pan out. If I knew the future, I'd be trading stocks, not playing shaman. Even Yi-hwa doesn't know the future."
"Ugh, seriously. Annoying! Then stop watching weird stuff on NewTube!"
"I quit already. Fake news stays away. Now I just watch mukbangs on NewTube. Food's all that lasts anyway."
Though he couldn't see the future, his innate exorcist talents for driving out stray spirits and lifting possessions still drew clients.
It was the day after his youngest sister Da-hee had visited.
"Granny, must've been real urgent, huh? I don't open the shrine on Sundays usually, but you called, so I made an exception. What's up?"
Baekho, who had come to his shrine at the call of his regular supermarket granny, boasted a bit.
Behind him, as always, the virgin ghost Yi-hwa stood smiling brightly.
The supermarket granny couldn't see the virgin ghost Yi-hwa.
She and her late husband had run the supermarket in the neighborhood for decades, and their only son had started a family in Seoul.
Last year, her husband died in a traffic accident after a delivery run, leaving her to manage the store alone.
"Sunday? You go to church or something?"
"Didn't know? I go to Mass. Got a baptismal name too. John the Baptist."
She looked puzzled at his answer.
"The beheaded one? But last year at the lantern festival, didn't you say you had a Buddhist name?"
"Oh, yeah, I got that too. Chadon. Cool, right? From Icha-don."
"The beheaded Icha-don? What're you thinking?"
Baekho emphasized his prophetic prowess; the granny fixated on the beheading.
"You're a mystery sometimes. Anyway, why the visit? Busy as you are."
"Our line of work's like that. No favoritism to any god. Gotta match the time and place for the divine juice to flow. So, what's the issue? Your son's move went smooth last time, right?"
Last month, Baekho had helped her son find a rental in a hurry and picked the moving day.
"The move was fine, but... they say weird things live in that house."
"Weird things? Like what?"
"Ghosts, ghosts. My son and daughter-in-law are parking now. Come by when you have time and hear them out."
"I got time now."
* * *
Behind Baekho's seat stood the virgin ghost Yi-hwa with a grave expression.
Across from Baekho sat the supermarket granny and the young couple.
Behind the young couple sat a ragged-looking man, grinning creepily at them.
Baekho affixed the talismans Da-hee had given him to his filial wand with clear tape and asked,
"So, ghosts in the new place, huh? A whole bunch of 'em?"
Everyone across from him nodded in unison at his question.
"Checks out."
After taping all the talismans, Baekho peered into the filial wand with satisfaction and approached them.
"This must be your son who just moved in?"
A kind-faced man in his mid-thirties bowed deeply.
"Yes, that's me."
"And this is the daughter-in-law? Right?"
Pointing at the young woman, Baekho asked. She replied softly but politely,
"Yes, I'm the wife. Jun-su's mom."
The young couple had two kids: the older boy was Jun-su, and the younger girl was Jun-hee.
Jun-su was in fifth grade this year, Jun-hee in third.
As Jun-su's mom explained, Baekho pointed behind Jun-su's dad with the filial wand.
"Then what's this guy?"
"Pardon?"
Baekho suddenly smacked the grinning man's head with the filial wand.
Sparks flew from the man's head where it struck.
The man jumped up, but Baekho chased and whacked him relentlessly with the wand.
"Aaaagh! Ack!"
Baekho didn't stop despite the man's horrific screams.
The granny, son, and daughter-in-law couldn't see the man, so they startled at Baekho swinging at empty air and turned around.
They must have heard the screams too.
The wand striking something invisible echoed, sparks bursting in midair.
Baekho battered the man's hands, feet, legs, head—whatever he could hit—driving him into the corner.
Each strike sparked flames on the man's body, accompanied by agonized shrieks.
"Aaaagh! Ack!"
Cornered, Baekho slapped a sealing talisman on the floor.
With the man trapped against the wall by the seal, Baekho bellowed,
"Stray ghost! Think you can just tag along? Asking for a beating!"
Imprisoned by the floor talisman, the man cowered in terror.
Stunned by the flames and Baekho's shout, the granny and couple looked bewildered and frightened, still piecing it together.
Only the virgin ghost Yi-hwa, who had stood gravely behind Baekho, now smiled brightly.
"So, something was up with the house I recommended? My bad. What's the story?"
With the stray ghost cornered, Baekho asked Jun-su's dad.
"Even without your rec, it was moving day crunch time, and that place had the best specs among listings. We'd have picked it anyway. Add a bit to the deposit, and we could buy outright—natural choice."
Jun-su's dad spoke considerately, sparing Baekho guilt.
'No blame, even reassuring me. Deeply understanding and kind-hearted.'
Baekho, uneasy about the house he'd suggested, felt grateful.
Warming to the family, Baekho asked,
"Hasn't been long since the move. What happened to bring you here?"
Jun-su's dad cautiously pointed to the corner.
"Something there? Following me?"
Baekho scratched his head.
"Seems this fool tailed you Jun-sus cluelessly..."
"What'd it look like?"
"Fifties? Male. Skinny, ragged—hobo in life, probably."
Jun-su's dad looked disappointed.
"Not the woman then. She's still after us."
Baekho tilted his head, eyeing him.
Something clicked from the downcast expression.
"I'll grill you later, so behave!"
Baekho sternly warned the cornered stray ghost, then gently urged,
"Take it slow. We'll fill gaps from that one later. Just tell what you know."
* * *
The house we moved into ten days ago is near Daesung University residential area.
The spot you recommended. Said prices would rise...
Ours is the fourth floor of a four-story building...
First floor's a convenience store; second and third have newlyweds, no kids.
Our fourth was originally the owners' place.
They left for their hometown two years ago to retire; been renting it out since.
Empty for two years straight till we moved in.
No monthly renters, so they listed as jeonse; no takers, so on the market.
Cheap price, still vacant two years—perfect for our home-buying break.
Spacious and clean.
Great.
Large living room window southeast, tons of sun; entrance on left side.
Small room left of entrance has southeast window, bright as heck. Made it Jun-hee's room.
Bathroom right of entrance; next, small room for Jun-su.
His gets less sun, kinda damp, but he loved having his own space.
First real home—kids buzzed on move-in day; we figured we'd be too excited for sleep.
But evening hit, bodies went heavy, we crashed.
Ever since moving, evenings make us all drowsy early.
Even fighting anxiety to stay awake, whole family nods off.
I described layout from entrance cuz that's where the unknown darkness is.
* * *
"Darkness?"
Baekho and the virgin ghost Yi-hwa perked up at the mention of darkness by the entrance.
"Yes, darkness. First saw it on move-in dawn."
"Tell us more about it."
"Okay... I was dead asleep, then body felt heavy, dog barking and thumping from somewhere jolted me awake. Got up—no barking, but thumps continued."
Yi-hwa's brow twitched at "thumping."
Stray ghosts came with such noises.
"Thought excited kids bouncing in rooms. Went to living room, lights on... thumps from Jun-hee's room. Heading there, glanced at entrance..."
"Something at the entrance."
Jun-su's dad nodded at Baekho's words.
"No shadows anywhere... but from floor to doorknob, pure darkness."
Shadows darkened Jun-su's dad's face too as he described it.
Baekho subtly glanced back at Yi-hwa's expression.
She looked grim, as if realizing something.