Yin energy gathered around Seo Jeong-won. Sensing that something was off, Dojin stepped closer to Iri.
“Uh… this won’t turn into an Evil God or something, right?”
“There’s no need to worry. She’s not even a fully formed vengeful spirit yet. And Seo Jeong-won isn’t angry—she’s grieving. There’s a very clear difference.”
Anger and resentment give rise to Evil Gods. But Seo Jeong-won wasn’t filled with rage—she was simply sorrowful about being wronged.
—I’m so unfairly treated……. Immortal Iri. I’m so sad…. I’m so, so sad……. I didn’t want to die like that. There were so many things I still wanted to do…….
Seo Jeong-won covered her face with both hands and sobbed. A Bokbaebari that had been standing some distance away shuffled over and awkwardly patted her. At that, Seo Jeong-won broke down even harder.
“Seo Jeong-won. You were exhausted when you became a vengeful spirit, but you’ve accumulated quite a lot of virtue. You’ll be given a chance to train in the Underworld. Then, in your next life, you’ll be able to live doing what you want.”
—I don’t want a next life……. What about my parents?
“If you wish, becoming your parents’ guardian spirit would be a good option.”
—Ah…….
Seo Jeong-won, who had done nothing but cry, finally lifted her head. A glimmer of hope settled into her bloodshot eyes.
—A guardian spirit… how can I become one?
“First, you have to go up to the Underworld, receive training, and pass an exam. There’s a written portion and a practical one. You studied for the civil service exam for three years and managed to avoid the grim reapers’ eyes for twelve years—you’re sharp. I’m sure you’ll pass.”
—Ahh…….
Seo Jeong-won let out a long sigh.
—So my studying wasn’t meaningless after all…….
Her voice carried a swirl of complicated emotions.
After closing her eyes and taking several deep breaths to steel herself, Seo Jeong-won opened them again.
Dojin was standing in front of her. The retrieval of Seo Jeong-won’s soul had been assigned to Dojin rather than Iri.
It was a small provocation—’The vengeful spirit you couldn’t find was discovered and guided to ascension by my disciple.’
“I’m starting.”
—Yes…….
Dojin drew the curio ‘Pear Blossom Silver Dagger’ from its sheath. It was a silver dagger with pear blossoms engraved on a blade about the length of a palm. When stabbed with it, wandering spirits and lesser ghosts ascend, while vengeful spirits are erased.
Ascension was also possible through Taoist arts, but Dojin’s skills were still insufficient, so he had to rely on a curio. After tossing the silver dagger into the air, Dojin spread his hands. The dagger stopped midair, no longer falling. He then hurled it toward Seo Jeong-won.
Centered around the dagger piercing her chest, yin and yang energies roared into motion. Seo Jeong-won’s form turned into currents of wind, swept into a vortex that grew large enough to engulf an entire goshiwon building before rapidly shrinking down into a fist-sized orb.
Using his spiritual power, Dojin controlled the silver dagger and carved letters onto the surface of the orb.
[Kim Dojin]
It was a mark indicating that this soul’s guidance in the human realm had been completed, and that Kim Dojin had verified it.
When Dojin withdrew the dagger, the soul rose from below to above, as naturally as water falling from high to low—no, as if that was how it was always meant to be. It continued ascending until it finally vanished from sight.
Dojin squinted and looked up before speaking.
“So this is why a soul going to the Underworld is called ascension.”
“That’s right.”
“Was I… good?”
“Yes. For your first retrieval, you did very well.”
Up until now, Dojin had only dealt with exorcisms, but he was now capable of retrieving souls as well. Without genuine compassion for the soul, its weight would increase, preventing it from rising and causing it to fall instead. Even though Dojin had complained outwardly about how annoying it was and suggested exorcism, his heart had never truly been indifferent.
A guardian spirit cannot stray beyond a certain distance from the one it protects, so unless Seo Jeong-won happened to encounter her parents by chance while passing by, they would never meet again.
As master and disciple gazed up at the sky, offering a brief prayer for his peaceful rest, a voice cut in.
“This is no time for that.”
The Bokbaebari slid forward.
“Now is the time for you to find my home!”
***
Finding the Bokbaebari’s home turned out to be surprisingly easy. They had a cheat item—a curio called the ‘Deadlock Necklace’.
Dojin recalled that this curio, returned by the Fire Cat, was fortunately still inside the ‘Mouth Door’.
“The most pressing problem right now is finding this Bokbaebari’s home. Give us good directions, got it?”
Speaking to the curio as if it were a living creature, Dojin hung it around his neck. Instantly, a massive arrow appeared in front of him.
“Ooooh…….”
“What do you see?”
“Yes, Master. There’s an arrow pointing the way. I think we just follow it.”
“Let’s go.”
Since only Dojin, the one wearing the necklace, could see the arrow, he took the lead.
Passing straight arrows, right arrows, and left arrows, they walked another three blocks before arriving at a severely rundown villa. Furniture had been discarded in front of the building, and the entrance glass was shattered. It was obvious no one lived there anymore.
“Ahh! This is it! This is my home! Immortal Iri and his disciple are truly remarkable. I’ll spread good word about you to the Bokbaebari living nearby!”
Adeung the Bokbaebari bounced up and down in delight.
A banner reading [Reconstruction Approved] hung on the building’s outer wall, though no start date or duration was listed. Dojin pressed his fingers to his forehead.
“Hey. Bokbaebari live alongside humans, right?”
“That is correct.”
“But no humans live here.”
“How did you know? Everyone moved out together, like they’d all agreed. But doesn’t moving out mean someone will move in? That’s why I’m waiting for humans to come and make the place lively again!”
“…What are you eating in the meantime?”
“When I’m really hungry or bored, I wander around places full of humans like today, then come back home. I just went too far today and got lost, but I’m so glad I met Immortal Iri and Kim Dojin!”
A heavy, stifling feeling settled in Dojin’s chest.
Why were Bokbaebari always this foolish? He thought of Noryang—the one who had dared to steal a curio to extend human lifespans… only to remain pure and guileless to the very end before ascending to the underworld.
“Master, what should we do? If we leave him like this, he’ll starve to death.”
Dojin asked while ruffling his hair. The neatly slicked-back strands were completely messed up, but he seemed unaware of it.
“Should we find him a new home?”
“A new home? No need. This is my home. If I stay here, humans will move in. I’ll welcome them.”
“Hey, you idiot. Even if it’s short, it’ll take years. You’re going to wander around begging all that time?”
The young Bokbaebari, who had only lived thirty years, stared at him wide-eyed.
“Y-Years? That long?”
“Yes. Don’t you see that banner? It could take even longer. Or what—do you just want to starve to death?”
“N-No. I want to live a long time with humans.”
“Then you have to move. Either to another building, or to a whole different neighborhood.”
Dojin looked at Iri, naturally assuming his master already had a place in mind. But Iri looked back as if to ask why he was being stared at.
It’s a test!
Jumping to his own conclusion, Dojin started thinking hard.
A place suitable for a Bokbaebari that had only lived thirty years. A place with many adult Bokbaebari who could take good care of a child. This building was old and rundown, so something cleaner and more welcoming would be better. And if possible, a place with good humans living there too…….
“…….”
Something sparked and flashed through Dojin’s mind. When his eyes met Iri’s, Iri smiled and nodded. Gaining confidence, Dojin grabbed the Bokbaebari’s short wrist.
“I’ve got a good place. Let’s go.”
“What kind of place?”
“A clean apartment complex. Follow me.”
He planned to introduce this young Bokbaebari to a home once occupied by an old Bokbaebari.
***
From a distance, Dojin watched the Bokbaebari greet the residents of the apartment complex. He thought Adeung would be the youngest, but there were Bokbaebari far younger than him—children born in this very apartment.
Kkiwoong.
Kkiwoong stood proudly on Dojin’s shoulder as he watched, then returned to Dojin’s palm. No matter how roughly Dojin handled or teased him, Kkiwoong always clung to him like this. Of course, Kkiwoong’s favorite bed was still Iri’s arms.
And Dojin was no different—he liked Iri’s arms just as much. As Iri watched the Bokbaebari with a satisfied smile, Dojin subtly leaned his shoulder against him.
“It’s already four o’clock. It feels like we did an insane amount of stuff.”
“It really does.”
It wasn’t just a feeling—they really had done a lot.
Saving a person possessed by a vengeful spirit. Guiding one wandering vengeful spirit to ascension. Finding a new home for a displaced Wia.
It was a firsthand lesson that an outdoor date with Immortal Iri was never smooth sailing.
“Now let’s go watch a movie and then do a one-day class, Master!”
“Okay.”
There was still time left in the day, so Dojin refused to give up. Iri, too, hoped at least the remainder of his disciple’s plans would work out.
However……
“Immortal Iri!”
“It’s Immortal Iri!”
“What luck, Immortal Iri! We’ve lost our jujube fruits—please find them for us!”
“We’ll starve at this rate! Please find our jujube pouch!”
On their way back to the parked car, a swarm of tiny yokai rushed them all at once. Dojin’s face crumpled in despair, while Iri smiled awkwardly.
An outdoor date with Immortal Iri—whose existence was recognized by all Wia—was truly a difficult endeavor.
