Chapter 142

Chapter 142

Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva (2)

Inwangsan.

A rocky mountain of altitude 338.2m spanning Jongno-gu and Seodaemun-gu of Seoul Special City.

‘From old times a mountain counted as a spiritual place.’

A mountain more famous toward history and culture rather than hiking or terrain.

Inwangsa Seonbawi was an important relic deciding the rise and fall between Buddhism and Confucianism in early Joseon, the center of the sharp conflict between Monk Muhak and Jeong Do-jeon.

Also treated as the holy land of taekkyeon as the place taekkyeon practitioners trained until the end in the late Joseon.

‘Looking into, heard their house serves the white tiger for generations?’

Based on looking south from the main hall of Gyeongbokgung, could count left blue dragon, right white tiger, south vermilion bird, north black tortoise.

Among them Inwangsan was the mountain in charge of the right white tiger.

“Eh? Driver, said Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva? Inwangsan is that direction?”

“Ah, because serving the Inwangsan guardian deity called Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva, the mansion is in Samcheong-dong.”

“Samcheong-dong?”

“A quite famous place. Seems the Young Master not heard yet.”

Don’t even believe superstition, what do I do particularly knowing a famous shaman house?

But if saying Samcheong-dong one shaman house suddenly floated up.

‘Eh, no way······ wouldn’t be?’

I shook the head and shook off idle thoughts.

The driver smiled broadly meeting eyes with me through the rearview mirror.

“Samcheong-dong is the number 1 place of Republic of Korea politics. Close from the Blue House too, military unit also located nearby, army security command also near so thick figures come looking a lot.”

Samcheong-dong of this era was also counted as one of the notable rich villages.

While I briefly immersed in old thoughts the car leisurely entered the Samcheong-dong alley.

“This somehow today seems not even one parking spot will come out? Full.”

The parking lot was wide enough for about 50 cars to park, but full of lined luxury sedans and jeeps.

The driver clicked the tongue while turning the steering wheel.

“I know the faces waiting in the parking lot a bit, today many prominent figures seem to have come.”

Grandmother’s eyes sparkled.

“Prominent great person? Saw anyone know?”

“Military cadre jeeps also so, National Assembly member aides and prime minister side drivers, Constitutional Court, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Armed Forces Seoul Hospital, Board of Audit and Inspection people also occasionally visible.”

“Hmph, came in groups early with the intention of lining up in advance? No wonder reservation hard as picking stars in the sky.”

Grandmother grumbled.

‘Thought no way. Really here.’

Why doesn’t the anxious premonition miss.

This place was a place I also well knew.

Because it was the Inwangsan White-Haired Witch’s house.

‘Inwangsan White-Haired Witch and Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva. Somehow Inwangsan attached the same in front of the nickname.’

Old memories of the past surged in like a tide.

‘There was a time turning around saying won’t even pee toward Inwangsan.’

That also all became old matters long ago.

Eh, no?

Now my age is eight, should say quite a far future.

No. Originally if not making such a connection from the beginning enough?

Then a matter I don’t know.

Screech.

“Jeong-hyeok, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

I followed grandmother and got off the car and walked along the alley.

Before long a pebble wall like a castle wall reaching as much as 11 meters came out.

A streetlight a bit different from my memory was attached, but the huge sacred tree visible even above the wall was the same as before.

‘Surprise. What ghosts gathered so densely?’

At a glance more than even our Hannam-dong house.

Ghosts many enough to be overwhelmed were stuck to the stone wall or floating in the air.

All with sorrowfully sobbing expressions.

‘Didn’t know. Was here like this even in the past?’

[Probably. Because a shaman house.]

The underworld messenger who appeared with a slide before long was looking in the same direction with me with hands behind the back.

‘Somehow. Every time coming the spine chilled.’

[No place to complain besides the shaman, so ghosts with many grudges gathered and so.]

‘This okay?’

[What?]

‘Even just our Hannam-dong house, heard people tormented by ghost pressure died unnaturally, family ruined and fell out.’

[No way a ghost den and a shaman house the same.]

The underworld messenger pointed at one place with a finger.

Tiger statues placed at 1-meter intervals on the pebble wall.

[As long as that guy is holding firm and guarding there, ghosts not permitted won’t even attach feet inside this house.]

Indeed as the underworld messenger said.

Ghosts only circled around the house endlessly, couldn’t cross the castle wall.

Ting! Ting-ti-ting! Ting!

Every time trying to charge inside bounced off an invisible wall and fell out.

‘Then what is that?’

The person I pointed was a famous National Assembly member who just entered inside the main gate.

‘The ghost attached to that person’s shoulder enters the house well?’

[Wandering miscellaneous ghosts and grudges attached to people different again.]

Grudge?

[If can’t even enter the shaman house, how would the shaman know and detach the grudge?]

Ah, so?

Didn’t know.

What do I know if should have believed something called superstition.

[Tsk tsk, what such money and power. Truly did many dirty acts.]

The underworld messenger put hands behind the back.

[Heaven’s net vast and sparse but not missing. Not knowing all this will return as karma later. The heavenly punishment to receive in the next life also quite heavy.]

Flutter!

The underworld messenger shook the robe hem and stepped forward with big strides.

[Let’s enter.]

The underworld messenger crossed the main gate intact without even bouncing.

A bit different words from earlier?

‘You not even a grudge enter easily? Seems received permission in advance?’

[Permission? Is there a place this messenger can’t go encompassing this world and the underworld?]

The underworld messenger smiled confidently.

Just then grandmother who finished the conversation with the main gate gatekeeper held out a hand.

“Jeong-hyeok, let’s enter.”

“Yes.”

I held grandmother’s hand and crossed the shaman house threshold.

‘Really famous figures gathered a lot.’

Second-term National Assembly member, third-term National Assembly member’s wife, chaebol family madam of course even a uniformed military general visible.

Many too.

“Really capable. How matching exactly as soon as sitting in the seat?”

“Heard the domestic best shaman who even fortune-tells national luck. The offering money not regrettable.”

“I not even took out one word yet chased out. That won’t work, if don’t want family ruined don’t even look. Was going to invest big this time but folded.”

“From next year for 3 years straight the country will turn upside down, so move the Gwangju main house even one hour faster what meaning······. Difficult. Many to organize.”

Political and business world famous figures gathered and whispered.

‘All these people came to the shaman house to see fortune?’

Heard that if only presidential election and general election ahead lines don’t break in front of capable fortune-telling houses.

Just then an unexpected figure was coming down the shaman house veranda.

‘No, even the central intelligence director came?’

As a figure within five fingers among Republic of Korea power holders appeared, people who discovered him flocked over.

‘Looking now that person waiting for him to come out and not returning and sticking here.’

So the parking lot full no seats!

The central intelligence director was instantly surrounded by people and not even hair visible.

“Aigo, didn’t know would see the central intelligence director here. This also a connection, shall we drink even a cup of tea?”

“Was thinking of contacting soon anyway. Sent the aide to the bank to prepare thick sincerity, shall we smoke one cigarette together for a moment?”

“Ruling party member Baek Young-tae. There is a secret meeting at Cheongwongak tonight, if the central intelligence director only joins will know as glory and serve extremely.”

All rubbed palms like flies.

“What curious the central intelligence director came up to here?”

“As expected because of presidential election and general election? Or because of national important matter?”

“Came to ask His Excellency’s future instead with a patriotic heart perhaps?”

“Then I also have the intention of adding one hand with thick loyalty. Hehehe.”

The central intelligence director lightly raised a hand without answering this or that.

With only that the people surrounding him and chattering noisily closed mouths at once.

“Next time.”

As the central intelligence director turned his body, the people surrounding him split left and right like the Red Sea.

Among them madams with airs full.

Thanks to that the field of view pierced straight up to here.

Madams recognized grandmother and slightly raised hands acknowledging.

But grandmother confirmed the wristwatch with an indifferent expression.

“Until our turn still about 30 minutes left so······.”

Then the underworld messenger put hands behind the back with one hand, and shook the sleeve with the other hand and shouted largely.

[Come here!]

A gale that started from the sleeve the underworld messenger shook trembled with a roar.

Wind pressure enough for the skin to tingle.

As the underworld messenger gripped the palm in the air and made a motion of pulling,

[Keuheong! Kehehek!]

A tiger scream sound as if the neck choked came from inside the mansion.

Papapapapak!

From over there a transparent white tiger the size of a house began to be dragged at tremendous speed.

While watching with eyes opened round, the tiger flailing front paws seemed like being dragged with the neckline pulled.

Bang! Kwakwakwang!

The white tiger bounced roughly hitting the ground noisily like a basketball.

Kwakwakwakwak!

Then could barely stop burying the head at the underworld messenger’s feet.

At a glance a wreck state.

The moment the white tiger’s eyes that opened wide were fierce enough for the knees to weaken, but as soon as meeting eyes with the underworld messenger transformed into a gentle sheep and immediately tucked the tail and lowered the eyes.

[Keuheong, for what matter did the messenger come up to here?]

[Does this messenger have to report the visit business to you and seek understanding?]

[Th, no way! By any chance came to catch me······ wouldn’t be?]

The white tiger sobbed and prostrated flat.

[Unfair! I just slightly hinted only to the extent heaven’s secret not overturned······.]

[Does this messenger have to listen to your excuses one by one?]

[Ke, keheheung.]

The white tiger trembled like an aspen and glanced at the underworld messenger’s eyes.

The tail tucked between the crotch, the fierce claws disappeared without a trace, but the white and black spotted fur all stood up and trembled.

[Lead the way. Will discuss the business after entering inside.]

[······!]

The white tiger dropped the mouth open with shocked eyes.

Long and thick fangs revealed with a crack, the uvula trembled noisily.

[Em, emergency! Emergency! Keheheheheheheong! Right now not come out and greet the messenger grandly!]

As the white tiger howled like a scream,

Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang!

A gong sound hitting frantically urgently echoed from inside the mansion.

An immediate reaction.

Whoosh!

A woman in her 60s dressed in hanbok opened the paper sliding door.

“Aigoooooo!”

She ran out barefoot with eyebrows fluttering.

Every time jumping hurriedly the shaman bell held in one hand rang noisily clang clang, and the five-direction color flag held in the other hand fluttered.

People gathered in the yard looked back at her surprised.

“Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva running barefoot!”

“As expected because of the central intelligence director?”

“Seems there are words not conveyed yet regarding an important matter where national luck is at stake?”

The central intelligence director looked back with a dazed expression.

But Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva didn’t even look at the central intelligence director and passed with a whoosh and ran over.

“How did such a precious person personally move footsteps up to this humble place!”

Thud!

Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva covered in dirt dust and prostrated on the floor as is and put the forehead on the ground.

Like the white tiger trembling in the same posture beside.

In front of me.

“······!”

Stillness.

Not even whispering words heard.

All alternately looked at the central intelligence director and Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva, and grandmother and my side and didn’t hide the shock.

“Me, messenger please, p, please······.”

[Shut up. Not a matter you can carelessly put in the mouth.]

“Keheok!”

As the underworld messenger coldly shouted, Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva started hiccuping as if breath would stop.

“Co, committed a crime worthy of death! Please release the anger!”

Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva couldn’t even dare raise the head and trembled while prostrated.

Looking at that appearance the political and business world famous figures filling the yard dropped mouths open surprised.

[This messenger has no thought of wasting time. Serve yourself.]

What the underworld messenger pointed was me.

The transparent white tiger the size of a house and Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva raised heads with a pop and looked up at me with eyes as if tearing.

[A precious person this messenger protects.]

[Keuheongeoeok!]

“A precious person has come! Shamans right now spread cotton cloth on the floor! What are the flower boys doing! Not scattering flower petals every step going!”

Inwangsan Fairy Bodhisattva shouted until the neck burst.

“All come running and sound the music and raise five-direction flags on every veranda! Have to greet grandly!”

No, a matter to be so noisy up to this?

The underworld messenger looked back at me with a very proud expression.

The sparkling gaze burdensome to the extent of severe.

[I not raising a thumb?]