by Kat Cho
Junu recognized it as a natural altar, the type used for ceremonies where offerings were made to the sansin. When he was a boy, he used to participate in them himself, bringing wine and meat to offer to their local god.
The shaman pulled something from her sleeve. A yellow paper with red writing. A bujeok. She approached Sinhye, who bared her teeth in a growl.
“Don’t come closer if you want to keep your hands,” she warned.
But the shaman did not hesitate; she reached out and pressed the bujeok to Sinhye’s chest. The letters seemed to glow a moment as it stuck to her.
Sinhye grunted, twisting and turning like she was held in place by chains.
“You bound her? To what?”
“To me,” the shaman said. “My master approaches.”
She turned to face the north.
Junu did as well, and soon he made out the outline of a man in the forest beyond. He had the look of a man approaching the century mark, but Junu knew better than to underestimate him because of that. He was a god; his physical form was in no way an indicator of his power. He had a long white beard and was robed in a traditional hanbok more common two hundred years ago. Silk and satin sewn together to form a robe-like top that mostly hid white pants. But despite rubbing against low shrubs, no dirt or leaves stuck to the pristine material.
He rode on the back of a giant orange tiger. Junu wondered if it was the same tiger he’d met all those centuries ago.
“My master has decided to grant you an audience,” the shaman announced.
Junu stepped forward and folded in a ninety-degree bow. “I’ve come to accept your deal.”
“You are brave to return to this place.” The sansin’s voice reverberated, like it was echoing through a canyon instead of spoken out of the lips of a frail old man.
Junu reminded himself again that this god was stronger than he could even fathom. And he had a short temper. Junu had to tread lightly here.
“I am hoping that because enough time has passed, and I’ve reflected on my past, that you might be lenient with me,” Junu said.
“I will consider it. I hear I have something you want.” The sansin dismounted so gracefully, it was almost like he floated to the ground. The tiger bent, its head lowering in a bow before it loped back into the forest.
“I’ve brought the fox spirit, as you asked,” Junu said. “In return, your shaman said I can ask for my bangmangi back.”
“I see,” the sansin said.
When he didn’t continue, Junu cleared his throat. It seemed the sansin wasn’t looking to make conversation. “But we also have an ailing friend. The one that the fox spirit possesses.”
Sinhye stiffened beside Junu. This was it. If he did this, there would be no going back.
“And why should that be a concern to me?” the sansin asked.
He swallowed to wet his suddenly dry throat. He was used to bluffing and talking his way in and out of things, but this felt completely different. The last time he’d met this god, he’d been incapacitated with a single flick of the sansin’s wrist. If Junu wasn’t careful, would he end up with his soul trapped for a millennium like Sinhye? Maybe the punishment would be fitting after how he’d squandered his existence. But he couldn’t lose courage now.
“She has bonded to this body, but it is not hers to take. I ask that you save the life of my friend. I have brought all the tools I was told you require to cut her from this vessel.”
The sansin let out a low rumbling laugh that seemed to shake the trees around them. “The soul you wish to sever is immortal; to do that, you need to sacrifice another immortal soul.”
“Exactly,” Junu said, stepping forward on shaky legs. He really hoped this plan worked. “I have an immortal soul. Sacrifice me.”
57
SOMIN WONDERED, NOT for the first time or even the tenth time, if this plan was bound to fail. Well, it seemed likely as she made her way quietly through the thick foliage. But it’s all they had. So she’d have to at least try.
Somin and Miyoung had parted ways down the path, thinking they’d make less noise if they weren’t together. Plus, it was smarter for them to attack separately. They didn’t have the strength to go up against a sansin, so they’d use their smarts.
Miyoung had fought her on this, saying she’d be better suited to initiate a sneak attack. But it had to be Somin. It was something Sinhye had said, actually. That Somin wasn’t involved in this world. That she didn’t belong here. And if she didn’t belong, then no one would be looking for her. She could more effectively attack from behind while Miyoung persuaded Junu to help her attack from the front in a pincer move.
Somin prayed again this would work as she heard voices. Someone spoke in a voice so low she could only make out its timbre, not the words. But the one that replied was Junu. She was close.
58
“YOU WOULD SACRIFICE yourself for this human?” the sansin asked, his eyes moving between Jihoon and Junu.
“Baesin,” Sinhye said under her breath. “This was your plan all along. You never planned to kill him at all, you coward.”
Junu ignored her.
“I would, but I ask first that you return my staff, for I am the only one who can wield it and we must retrieve a fox bead in order to fix a tear between the world of the living and the world Between.”
“Ah, so you know the source of this tear between the worlds,” the sansin said. “I have felt it.”
“Then you know how dire it is and that we must fix it immediately.”
“Why would I care about such things? The spirits cannot touch me here on my mountain.”
Junu paused a moment, surprised by the response, but he was nothing if not quick with his mind. “But the humans who pray to you will be affected, and soon they will stop coming. Aren’t there so few left already?”
Junu held his breath waiting for a reply. This was a gamble; it could just as easily offend the sansin as motivate him.
“Fine, I will return your bangmangi.” The sansin held out his hand.
Junu stepped forward, not daring to look at Sinhye as he left her side.
The old man no longer looked so frail this close. Perhaps it was the aura around him that Junu could feel, like cold waves. It was power and strength so thick that it felt suffocating. This god was old, and the older a god was, the more powerful he was.
“Tell me,” the sansin murmured softly so only Junu could hear. “Why should I trust one who has been willing to betray the woman he loves? Twice.”
Junu wasn’t expecting this line of questioning. “I’m not sure if I could call it love,” he answered honestly. “Not anymore.”
“So it wasn’t love that stole from me what I coveted? She chose you over me because of a trivial dalliance?” The sansin’s voice rose to a booming roar.
“We did love each other once. But things change with time. One as ancient as you should understand.” Junu bowed his head to show deference and to hide the fear in his eyes. After centuries of negotiating, he knew that a show of fear often lost you the deal.
“Perhaps you are right about that,” the sansin said, his voice calm again. “But you would do well to remember that I am the god of this mountain. My word is law here.”
“Of course,” Junu said.
“I give this back because its magic cannot hurt me. So do not think you can betray me and use it against me.” The sansin flicked his wrist and a staff appeared. It beckoned Junu, a soft song on the wind, like a siren’s voice calling to wayward sailors.
He reached out, his fingers itching to take hold. This all seemed too easy, he thought. He almost expected the god to pull back, to say that there was another price to pay. But he was allowed to take hold of the staff.
“Now, summon your bead and I will free your friend. But I warn you, if you change your mind, then I will take your life anyway and leave
your friend to suffer as I take my prize,” the sansin said, his greedy eyes shifting to Sinhye.
Junu gripped the staff with both hands and closed his eyes. He pictured Miyoung in his mind. Pictured her yeowu guseul. The shining bead that was like a large pearl. Small but powerful. He could feel a pull, a connection through space. He could feel the wind pulse around him, like magic sat heavy on it. His pulse lifted. The air sizzled. He could practically reach out and grab the bead. He almost held out his hand, when it faded.
“It did not work,” the sansin said.
“I don’t think I can find it by myself,” Junu murmured, then cursed under his breath. “I’m reaching beyond this world, so I need help getting to it. If you could just give me some time . . .”
“I am tired of waiting,” the sansin said. “If you cannot find the bead, then we will move on. This is the part I am looking forward to, because it is the part where you die.”
“No,” Miyoung said as she stepped out of the forest. “No one dies today.” Then her eyes shifted to the sansin. “Except you.”
59
JUNU STARED AT Miyoung in shock. “What is this?” the sansin roared.
Miyoung took off, aiming for the sansin. But the god intercepted her and flung her away.
Junu dove forward, grabbing the sansin in a headlock. But the sansin pulled free, swinging out at Junu, who dodged and grabbed ahold of the god’s arm.
Before the sansin could buck again, Somin came flying out of the forest. She latched herself on to the sansin’s back, beating at his head with her fists. It distracted the god enough that Junu was able to solidify his hold.
“What are you doing here?” Junu shouted.
“I’m saving your ungrateful ass,” Somin said.
Junu almost lost his grip. She had really come here for him?
Miyoung had recovered by then and appeared beside Junu. “Hold him still,” she said.
He wanted to give a pithy retort, but he was too out of breath from holding the sansin in place. So he just watched, sweat stinging his eyes, as Miyoung pressed her palm to the sansin’s chest.
“Junu!” Sinhye shouted behind him. He turned to see the shaman holding a knife to her throat. Sinhye was still frozen in place by the bujeok, unable to fight back. In that moment of distraction, the sansin grabbed Junu’s shoulder. Before he could pull free, Junu felt his flesh tighten, first along his arm, then racing down his torso and to his toes. It was like he was being stretched by an invisible force.
He screamed as agony burst along his limbs like sparklers.
The sansin lifted his fists to slam onto Junu. A final killing blow.
But before he could, the air shifted. It thickened. Waves of heat started to waft around them.
The sansin stopped mid-swing. And his hand loosened. Junu fell to the dirt, his muscles burning.
Miyoung stood above him, so focused on the sansin that her eyes looked dark as midnight. Sweat beaded on her brow from the effort.
The air sparked with energy. Then the sansin let out a roar as vapors sifted from his chest, waving around Miyoung’s outstretched arm, writhing around her like snakes made of smoke.
She was taking his gi.
“Wait,” Junu shouted. “His energy is too strong. It will overwhelm you!”
“Just help Jihoon,” Miyoung called, her voice strained as she focused on her hold of the sansin.
He threw himself at the shaman, twisting her arm so the knife fell from her hand. But Junu, still weakened from the sansin’s attack, overbalanced and they tumbled to the ground. Sinhye screamed as she also fell.
Junu rolled away from the shaman and crawled toward Sinhye to pull the bujeok off. But the shaman grabbed him by the hair, yanking his head back.
Stars exploded behind his eyes as he pulled away. He felt the rip of his hair in the shaman’s unyielding grip.
Behind him, the sansin let out an echoing yell that shook the trees so hard panicked birds took flight, peppering the sky.
“Junu! Get this damn thing off me,” Sinhye said through gritted teeth.
Junu reached her just as a roar sounded behind him.
He spun around in time to see a flash of orange emerge from the forest. Claws and teeth leapt toward him. And he flattened himself on the ground beside Sinhye. The tiger went sailing over them, its claws barely missing Junu’s nose.
Clambering to his feet, Junu turned to face the giant cat.
The shaman screamed and lunged at Junu, and he was caught off guard, with all of his focus on the tiger. He grabbed the shaman’s hands, barely stopping her nails from gouging out his eyes. He heard the low growl of the tiger behind him and spun around, hauling the shaman with him. The tiger leapt in that moment. Its teeth biting into the shaman’s shoulder instead of Junu’s throat.
She screamed as she went down under the weight of the tiger, and Junu wheeled out of the way. He turned away from the attack, unable to stomach the sight.
“Bring her to me,” Miyoung shouted, holding her hand out toward Sinhye.
Junu didn’t understand at first, but when he saw the wave of energy transferring between the sansin and Miyoung, he finally realized they meant to sacrifice the sansin’s soul to sever Sinhye’s hold on Jihoon. They meant to save him without sacrificing Junu.
Now that Miyoung had a solid hold of the sansin, Somin leapt down from his back and raced toward Sinhye, picking up the shaman’s discarded knife.
“Come on,” she shouted. But Junu could just stare at her.
“Why are you doing this? Why are you risking your lives for this? It’s too dangerous. You should have just let me—”
“You really think we’d let you sacrifice yourself without a fight? We aren’t willing to lose anyone else we care about. So make yourself useful and help me carry her,” Somin said.
“You’d betray me this way,” Sinhye spit out.
“You don’t belong in this world,” Junu said, lifting her into his arms. But she lashed out, clawing at his face.
Junu screamed as he fell back. He rolled across the dirt and came face-to-face with the shaman. Her skin disfigured by claws and teeth. Her eyes open and unseeing. The bujeok on Sinhye had been binding her to the shaman, but now the shaman was dead. Then where was the tiger?
Junu had stood, calling out for Somin, when he caught the flash of movement.
He turned in time to see the tiger leap forward. Junu dove out of its path, barely gaining his footing again when the tiger changed course, but not toward Junu—toward Somin and Sinhye, who were struggling a meter away.
“Ya!” Junu shouted, throwing a stone that bounced from the tiger’s shoulder. The beast snarled, its eyes turning to Junu. “Come and get me,” he challenged as he took off into the forest. But the tiger was fast, and Junu soon reached a drop-off, the ground becoming too steep to run. If he went any farther, he’d fall. And keep falling.
Junu heard the swift steps of the tiger behind him. And he shifted to face the creature as it bore down on him. He’d only get one chance at this. It took everything in Junu not to dart away. Not to dive out of the tiger’s path too soon. He knew that if he did, then the giant cat would have too much time to course correct.
So he waited as the tiger raced toward him. Fangs bared. Claws sharp. And when all he could see was fur and teeth, he jumped to the side. The tiger sailed past him. Its roar a fading echo as it fell. Junu scrambled toward the edge, glancing over. He could see the tiger tumbling along the steep decline.
“Somin! Hurry!” Miyoung’s voice called. A distant plea.
Junu raced back to them, praying he’d find them in one piece. Praying the sansin hadn’t gotten ahold of them.
Miyoung strained as she fought to hold on to the sansin, who writhed and twisted, trying to break free. He’d begun to chant, an old language that sounded like it came from before the time of the three
kingdoms.
Somin finally reached Miyoung, dragging Jihoon’s limp body behind her.
Miyoung took hold of Jihoon’s hand. And the energy that had been wafting around her like smoke began to circle Jihoon, too. The energy pulled at the lines of his body, making him blur, pulling at him until another shape emerged from his back. A ghostly figure with long hair and pale skin. Sinhye.
“It’s working,” Somin said.
But as Sinhye’s soul was pulled from Jihoon’s body, smoky figures wafted through the forest. Spirits drawn to this place. Attracted to the approaching death.
Junu thought he saw a face he recognized. A white, gaping expression forming on one of the spirits moving through the forest. “Eomma?” he whispered. He almost faltered at the sight of her.
The sun was almost done setting, and the trees were illuminated in oranges and reds. The light seemed to dance. Like flames. Junu felt his skin heat. Felt his body burn.
“Eomma? Are you really here?” he whispered. But she faded away, sifting back into the shadows.
Junu started toward her, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to follow her or chase her away. He felt his entire being burning, and he stumbled, falling onto his hands and knees. The brush under his hands caught fire. Junu jumped up, letting out a yelp of surprise.
Sinhye’s form was almost completely free from Jihoon’s body, but Miyoung glanced over at Junu’s shout and her concentration was momentarily broken. The sansin let out a guttural shout, and the mountain began to shake. The ground beneath them started to crack and break. Trees falling around them as their roots were yanked from the earth.
And Miyoung was flung back, losing her grip on both the sansin and Jihoon as she was slammed into the ground.
“Miyoung,” Somin called a second before the sansin’s hand swiped out at her. She danced back and lifted the knife in her other hand. Teeth bared, she crouched.
“Don’t,” Junu yelled, but it was too late. Somin had launched herself onto the sansin’s back. She brought the knife down in an angry arc and lodged it between the sansin’s shoulders. He let out a bellow.