Chapter 69

#69 <The Great Fortune of Protection (4)>

***

After keeping an eye on the suspicious rock for several days, the shadow did not reappear.

Worried that his mother might get anxious, Jin-hyeok quietly shared the story of that night only with his father and Hong Ki-jun.

“We should call the military and sweep this place clean!”

Son Kwang-yeon was furious. With his wife out of sight, it seemed like the perfect time to unleash his rage. Jin-hyeok, holding his throbbing head, wondered if his father was the one going through puberty. Hong Ki-jun stepped in to calm him down.

“Hmm. Without evidence, we could be accused of making a false report. It’s better to hold back.”

“I agree, but I’m still uneasy.”

“Those kinds of people move in secret, so it’s better to pass the information to the intelligence agencies and let them handle it. I’ll contact someone I know.”

“Alright.”

Seeing Jin-hyeok back down so easily, Hong Ki-jun breathed a sigh of relief.

The people he had secretly planted almost got mistaken for spies.

‘That wasn’t De Vogue.’

Hong Ki-jun recalled his actions from a few days ago and vowed never to repeat them.

*

A few days earlier.

Hong Ki-jun, out for a solitary walk, clicked his tongue in frustration. He occasionally stopped to check if Son Kwang-yeon’s house was visible.

The uneven terrain made it hard to see at a glance, as if the vast wilderness was hiding its true form. The dense forest was pitch black even in broad daylight.

Yet, Son Kwang-yeon’s house stood on a high ground, making it a good vantage point. The large area, not being flat, was dotted with small forests rising like ancient tombs, surrounding the village like guardians.

‘How am I supposed to know where they’re working from?’

He checked the traffic routes leading into the village, the waterways, and even the thick trees on the back mountain, but couldn’t find the person he was looking for.

He had even subtly asked Son Kwang-yeon, who said there were no suspicious figures in the village except for people occasionally checking the land.

‘They must be professionals, staying out of sight.’

He had strictly instructed them not to expose themselves, but he couldn’t even spot the cars they might be using.

Perhaps they were observing from a place hard to see with the naked eye, using telescopes.

Hong Ki-jun had planned to meet the people he had assigned to watch Son Kwang-yeon, deliver their payment, and encourage them.

They had written the report observing Son Jin-hyeok punishing the fat real estate guy. Surely, they must have been stationed where the house was visible, but he couldn’t find them.

‘Ah, I should have made an appointment first.’

Though they had never met in person, they would know Hong Ki-jun’s face.

So, they must be watching him now, wandering around like this.

Hong Ki-jun took out a thick yellow envelope and held it high. He then turned around once, making eye contact with all directions.

Confident that the message was clear, he hid the envelope under a nearby rock and turned to leave. Even if they didn’t see him, it wouldn’t be a problem. He could just call them when he got home.

‘Team Leader Yang will be happy when he reads the note.’

He thought it would be good to confide in his friend as well.

He felt guilty for keeping secrets and thought it wasn’t fair to the security team. They were told to keep their eyes open 24/7, no matter the weather, and even the toughest agents would find it hard to endure.

‘Keeping it all to myself is giving me a headache.’

He had promised not to let his family know, and it was also his friend’s request.

That’s why he told Jin-hyeok about his mother’s situation but not his father’s past.

‘I should tell him before we move to Seoul.’

Arriving at the yard, he looked around again.

There seemed to be plenty of space to build a house at a distance.

‘The project name should be ‘From the Shadows to the Light’.’

He chuckled and busily jotted down notes in his notebook. Hong Ki-jun, who could turn even the smallest idea into a business plan, didn’t want to forget the inspiration that had struck him.

「4 security teams, 12 members, establish a security company, form a VIP team.」

After finishing the note, he tore out the page and took out a neatly folded parchment from his pocket.

The parchment was filled with tiny, black characters. He placed the torn paper on top and folded it again. This was how he kept important information, feeling at ease.

People considered Hong Ki-jun a great management genius. But no one knew that without this parchment, he could do nothing.

“Where have you been? Just got back?”

“Huh? Just went for a walk to digest.”

Startled by the voice from behind, Hong Ki-jun turned around.

Yoo Se-ra was stepping out of the front door, holding the hands of two children.

Pretending to be calm, Hong Ki-jun asked, “Are you going for a walk too? It’s hot, you should rest inside-.”

That’s when it happened.

“Honey, honey, AHHH-!”

Bang-.

Son Kwang-yeon’s urgent voice and the sound of a firecracker exploding came from inside the house.

Hong Ki-jun’s eyes widened.

“What was that?”

“The sound of Kwang-yeon oppa’s fortune coming true.”

Yoo Se-ra shrugged.

*

‘What on earth did that mean?’

Hong Ki-jun never figured out the meaning behind the firecracker sound.

***

Another sweltering summer day dawned.

There weren’t many houses with fences or walls.

Even if there were, they existed mostly to block harsh winter winds and typhoons. Gates were rarely locked, so anyone could easily step into a neighbor’s front yard or porch.

It was a neighborhood where the postman was invited to join for a meal during lunchtime, given fresh utensils, and served warm rice. Neighbors would come in without hesitation, rummaging through sacks on the porch, and once inside, they’d share stories of life and lend a hand before leaving.

Even if a deer or a wildcat wandered into the yard, it was just part of life. People were always welcome.

An old man who lived in the next village, running a small dairy farm while his family stayed in town, boasted about playing Go-Stop with a goblin and becoming sworn brothers. One day, the goblin lost all its money and left after pulling out its horn, which the old man then paraded around the village. It was hard to believe such a goblin existed, but it showed how welcoming the village was to strangers.

Something unimaginable in Seoul. Son Kwang-yeon, who disliked leeches but loved people, appreciated this aspect of rural life and didn’t put up fences or gates. The modern house had a sturdy steel front door, so a gate wasn’t necessary anyway.

“Whew, it’s hot-!”

Cheon Gil-ryong set out on the road.

Wearing a straw hat to block the scorching sun, he puffed on his pipe as he walked along the winding bus route.

‘That kid’s shadow was dark.’

The boy’s aura had kept him awake for several nights. As someone sensitive to spirits, it was a blow to his pride.

Most fortune-tellers sit comfortably, reading faces and analyzing fortunes. Some show spiritual abilities, but they often lose their powers by seeking comfort. Cheon Gil-ryong was different, a man of many talents. His abilities, inherited from his older brother, made him exceptional.

‘If my brother were alive, he’d have figured it out immediately.’

His brother, Cheon Gi-ryung, possessed the ‘Spiritual Eye.’ He would gather troublesome spirits near his house to prevent them from harming people or shout at vengeful ghosts wandering the underworld. He could even recognize divine beings or those about to die. His spiritual power was so strong that he could hear the last words of the recently deceased and relay them to the bereaved.

The spirits now living in Cheon Gil-ryong’s bamboo grove were placed there by his brother. Most were kind, mischievous, and timid. Ironically, some underworld messengers refused to return to the afterlife, preferring the human world.

‘If even spirits and underworld messengers are hiding, there must be something about that kid.’

Cheon Gil-ryong didn’t have the innate Spiritual Eye, but he had strong spiritual energy and wisdom passed down from his brother.

When Son Jin-hyeok visited a few days ago, he was too flustered to observe closely due to the intimidating aura the boy emitted.

‘I need to check the house.’

He wanted to know what was in that house that changed the village’s energy.

There might be a powerful spirit or even a deity. If it were something like the Heavenly Emperor, even his spiritual power wouldn’t be able to detect it.

‘Well… if a deity is there, I’d better run like hell.’

Not that he had much to lose, but it’s better not to encounter such beings. Though he didn’t see any spirits on the boy who visited recently, his body had trembled uncontrollably.

He quickly reached Jin-hyeok’s house after a long walk. With his mugwort cane, he looked like a Taoist using mystical steps.

“Hello, sir.”

Son Kwang-yeon, who loved people, was delighted. It wasn’t often he saw the old man from the inner village. It had been 15 years since he last saw him when building the house.

But it wasn’t the same person.

Unaware of the truth, Son Kwang-yeon marveled in silence.

He had heard the old man was over 90, but he looked so vigorous. His light, fluid steps made him seem like an ancient warrior. He was even taller than Son Kwang-yeon, giving off the aura of a mountain spirit.

“Yes, yes.”

Cheon Gil-ryong happily acknowledged Son Kwang-yeon’s greeting and stood in the yard, surveying the house.

He walked around the yard, puffing smoke from his pipe as if disinfecting the area. He tapped the walls with his mugwort cane.

Son Kwang-yeon didn’t ask why he was there or what he was doing, simply following silently.

Seeing the cane behave calmly, it seemed there were no deities around. Cheon Gil-ryong muttered.

He spoke loudly, as if for Son Kwang-yeon to hear, with his hands respectfully clasped.

“The site has improved greatly. The wind, sunlight, and moonlight all come in well.”

In response, Son Kwang-yeon smiled warmly.

“Thanks to your advice, we rebuilt the house we used to live in, changing its direction.”

“Yes, yes. It’s good for making soybean paste and grilling fish.”

Though I didn’t give that advice, you did well. Cheon Gil-ryong’s lips twitched as he turned his gaze to where Son Kwang-yeon pointed.

In the direction Son Kwang-yeon pointed stood the old house where Jin-hyeok was born and raised. Though rebuilt, its exterior remained the same.

Cheon Gil-ryong nodded and, as if his business was done, turned to leave without hesitation. The house was fine, but he needed to observe the boy again. Since the protagonist wasn’t around, he left with a sense of regret.

Just then, Han Yu-young urgently called out to him.

“Sir, please stay for a meal.”

“A meal? What for-.”

Cheon Gil-ryong, about to decline, stopped when he saw Han Yu-young.

Her eyes were too earnest. Her face looked as if she was holding back tears. The emotion rural women who married far from home showed him wasn’t unfamiliar. In fact, it was quite familiar.

There was a reason Cheon Gil-ryong remained so vigorous at his age. Women often saw him and thought of their fathers left behind in their hometowns, anxious to feed him something. If they got their hands on precious ginseng or medicinal herbs, they would secretly bring them to him and check if his household was running out of food.

So, Cheon Gil-ryong could easily read Han Yu-young’s emotions. Though not as much as his brother Cheon Gi-ryung, he was still a sage among sages.

‘She must be reminded of her father.’

Cheon Gil-ryong closed his eyes briefly.

This woman must have been the youngest of the youngest, growing up showered with her father’s love. How much she must miss him. If her father were alive, he’d be around my age. What’s the harm in sharing a meal?

Cheon Gil-ryong carefully clasped his hands and looked at Han Yu-young as if bowing.

“Can I eat here in the yard?”

“Yes. I’ll prepare it right away.”

Han Yu-young hurriedly wiped the table with a cloth and rushed inside with excited steps. Her eyes were red, and she kept sniffling, but her lips were curved in joy.

Though bewildered by his wife’s unusual behavior, Son Kwang-yeon silently brought out the table.

Under the shade of a zelkova tree, the table was quickly set.

Cheon Gil-ryong examined the food before picking up his spoon.

‘Well-prepared. How long has it been since I had such a feast?’

His wife had made abalone stew just the other day, so it had only been two days.

Before picking up his chopsticks, Cheon Gil-ryong glanced at the table. He had the demeanor of a sage encompassing the world. The hearty pollack soup with tofu, the soybean paste stew with bright yellow mushrooms, grilled fish, and neatly seasoned vegetables satisfied him.

A dish he had never seen before soon followed.

“Here, have this too.”

A little girl with missing front teeth carefully placed a plate on the table.

It was a dish wrapped in egg, something Cheon Gil-ryong had never seen before.

It looked somewhat similar to meat pancakes.

“Ohoho, what’s this?”

“Ham. This is what I like the most.”

For a child to offer her favorite dish, there could be no greater honor. Cheon Gil-ryong smiled warmly at Hong Soo-jung.

He took a big bite of the ham wrapped in egg.

‘Ugh, it’s salty.’

Chewing with all his might for the child watching him with sparkling eyes, he thought she might have given up her favorite dish because she couldn’t chew well without teeth. Anyway, it was still salty. He filled his mouth with rice to balance it and washed it down with a cup of cool barley tea.

“Hahaha, that’s a real rice thief!”

“Right, right. Want another one?”

Another one?

Cold sweat ran down Cheon Gil-ryong’s back.

As the food refused to go down, he patted his chest, and a baby even smaller than the toothless girl approached.

“Grandpa, have another one?”

These are formidable opponents.

‘Ugh, did I come here for nothing?’

He came to check for spirits and ended up feeling like one himself.