SJ | Chapter 1.3

Finally, Jihee sat in 22e4f49312 a corner of the 8dca3fbea1 ferry ticket office, crying, 1cdec7c2ee and decided to check 4cc5de5d25 his backpack. Inside were a few 39cbda48d7 changes of clothes, underwear, 83af116371 a wallet with cash, 0b72c993c7 a well-worn bankbook, dried 767b235ecb smelt, and a letter.3652164b23c3ebdb

Hastily opening the letter, 738a34405e he read:20a73d28bf0535a4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

[Go safely.]

His grandma had 6fa8a10ba7 intended to send 7dd5374a82 him away all cd9809f1f0 along.32c620e7493609b2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

⛩ ⛩ ⛩15a796cbd9f4770f

As soon 8a573940cc as it 92bfd4eef4 hit 3 f953990bd0 PM, Jihee 3d9116defc used the e0cd8bd069 money his b5bbe85a8a grandma gave 1dcea08825 him to 2e6704ff42 buy a f790356b61 ferry ticket. He knew d2485adb49 the captain 1c890c8c31 would be 3e77657ddb angry if 5286d2cbe7 he found a3b308dac7 out he b775683617 returned to 1b1275f292 Gyoindo alone, 10365f357d but he 08722645d2 couldn’t help b79c120f52 worrying about d40a84b3d8 his grandma.6ae3706e37fe1bad

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Once he 1e697c2346 arrived on 218d06bc71 Gyoindo, he 162f7e350c hurried off a165a0bb9e the boat. As he 5070d50b1e ran home, 133c8e7238 it felt 57515c5ac6 like someone 426f1c0b2e was pulling a1c26f5eb6 his hair, 836afd8907 but his 58fbdb7c66 concern for 8821a8239b his grandma 038397ebbc only made 964c28c89c him run 2a23b957aa faster.73043829ad5b8b87

Near his house, an a572797503 inexplicable fear made him 640d8a943d stop. It wasn’t 4b8611c4fe just his 60f14117f5 racing heart a24b4e9a25 from running; 7f68a99cc4 it was 5abc42d736 a chilling a6ce9adf30 sensation that 0fa30e796e raised the fdf1c0c374 hairs on 08cd97491e his body. His rational mind 7da0488312 told him to 15cc89e24f flee, but his b124928b47 worry for his 9d4d1def07 grandma overpowered all 3f0e858757 warnings.793308f346c96e9e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Thump, thump. His blood rushed through 93856af02a his veins, reddening his cd7811bb18 fingertips. Though he had 50d51f4c48 locked up before 247d4d956d leaving, the paper ff7fa5f980 door was open. Strange footprints 72c9a60012 and wheel 646387bb1a marks danced f38c2f827b across the b0b00df918 yellow floor.9852807ae8fcc6fd

“Grandma, Grandma!”da5c0a449485384b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No answer.14ab359d2c7039d7

“Grandma, Jihee’s here. Grandma!”4510195818936ec1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The overpowering 202698a83a scent of dae4ccf64c blood hinted 6405b08741 at what 480bfc8292 had happened, e994a45129 but he 7486f986dc denied it, 730a90684e pretending not 25e91972c0 to know. This couldn’t cdc51717fa be happening. This was Gyoindo. No one would dare 9c95dc13c4 harm the high shaman 4d5488856a here.eaf8b423c89148ce

Grandma performed 925bb44d79 the fishing 78b4f28993 ritual every 1de397b2f5 year so 04b923fe8f the villagers 07dc9bf316 could catch f920495b48 plenty of a25fce4673 fish. She blessed 6eabd021ed women with ee8745d923 children and 0fba5be7df warned of baa5a79095 bad sea 5f0310b480 weather. Who would dare 282b84d0b7 harm her?29543a13b43d11dc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Panting, Jihee checked f5e9a6178c the bedroom. It seemed c2ad94cb9c like a bd27505419 beast from 33500289d7 the sea f3fdd5157f had devoured ba7915222b his grandma. Not stabbed, f8af1ee04f but eaten. Tongue marks licked up 61304e5a8a the blood, and a 290ce46835 skeleton, stripped of flesh, 5a071026b5 lay discarded.f9bb640f82f9fb42

Gasp.57cf74c8cb43ea7a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He couldn’t breathe. How could this happen? Was the evil 1d4703d5fd spirit really here 1eabe172cf to devour the 8170d2a983 seonin, as Grandma f9401e0f14 had said? If so, they should a97229d680 have fled together. Jihee couldn’t imagine 24b1730da4 living alone in 63bf4429d0 this world.77435da797ddcf49

“Grandma, Grandma! Waaah! Grandma!”d23d9a565f4bdd24

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Sobbing loudly, ae9864a223 Jihee wiped 7edcab080f his tears e6daf6bff1 with the c96808ee50 back of a7d75ddd00 his hand. Something hard touched e58ec4df35 his hand and e6bffcc6ff fell to the 4d5b1f6032 floor. It was a pearl, 295c186551 gleaming like milk.75552d5be8388284

“A pearl?”98da06df62581229

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Could it be 3e09d343e6 true, as Grandma 1ecc71a173 said, that he 55bb8c4784 was a mermaid f238b47896 shedding pearls? He couldn’t 607171115d believe it, 66be94f84d but this 979fde92eb small pearl 7a2502f5a9 was his 36d83ad061 only hope.f577c4920a6f9b11

Jihee quickly picked 4373221723 up the pearl 4cf9e89b79 and placed it 9b990d008c on his tongue. He clasped his hands 4c4989b985 and prayed fervently.305820009812726b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Please, let me meet Grandma alive and well again.”78a97ee7fbb2b56d

Grandma had always said 1db3a308b2 the first pearl should 8c6018bf89 be for a body ec44d886b5 that can conceive, the 5af425e488 second to become a 7b6e1f21bd seonin again, and the dfdae99e21 third to restore the 81017a3300 palace on the moon b1d02d3fcb to become the bride 55cd2ae358 of the god. But Jihee 5e7e114a2d used the 2013ba006b pearl to 12cbbbd54f bring Grandma 00f9b156ec back to f7e9fcd7e2 life.81a91600de439c06

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When he 30281af9a2 opened his 685c213873 eyes, the 8bddb4abfa room was c4cc552eb9 bathed in 372d72db59 the orange 57e918d11c glow of d9aa7eb90a the setting b98b07ac98 sun. The blood-stained floor 8f4e80448b was clean.97aed20fdd8edd10

Ah, it was a fc54e5f308 terrible nightmare. That must df491ba50e be it. Gods, evil spirits, seonin, 87d08320cb mermaids—none of that exists.1134fd9a8ee4dc6b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It was all Grandma’s ef87f583c1 fault. When he was young, 2e1aba33a3 his parents died in 49343a692d a car accident on 2877de3bf1 the mainland, but after 3a78f6d73f Grandma got dementia, she 6e6c7c0e1f claimed the evil spirit ddf82ec9fe ate them, leading to 1600eaa6d7 such horrific nightmares.4d2ea194c7565e8b

Even though 68ab992f93 closing his 7681b3489b eyes brought 1441aea8db back vivid b6b71d957c red images, 17b2991acc he shook 578ea03154 his head e05bcaa980 to dispel c2ce18e9f6 the strange 33c4392062 thoughts. But standing up, Jihee 70d0d9bfe8 felt the heavy weight 2f8be575b5 of the backpack on 06273d1b7f his shoulders.29c43d37e4e183cc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If that 185e826759 nightmare was 2c3aacc4d6 a dream, ca865f337c he shouldn’t 8218c90276 have this aa598ef656 backpack. Gasping, he 5c908ad21e left the 3b1969f474 bedroom. The living room floor 4cc364457a still bore the footprints f38c848534 and wheel marks, like af16416b97 hyenas approaching their prey.942459b9522e759a

“Is Grandma really dead?”26a3a4a94fbabf90

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

No, it can’t d1eac8cecc be. He just saw it. There was 760060efb6 no sign d214e0150e of Grandma’s aa016d7ac2 death. She must have wandered 8d01916ef7 off due to dementia. Jihee left the house 46d928d8f1 and headed to the 9f754c39c3 captain’s place. During the brief memory aee5bfee41 lapse after swallowing the 07b75ee2e3 pearl, he returned to b15a13a020 Gyoindo and scolded him e0d61a224e gently.4faec70a388cd11e

“The high shaman said to stay on the mainland today. Why’d you come back alone?”dad11f96d4159ef9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Uncle, Grandma’s missing.”5775b2f750cde58d

“The high shaman said she had somewhere to go. She’ll return when it’s time.”17c3808ff58806d1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Really? Did she really say she was going somewhere?”0d2c262ea73c3793

“Yes. So don’t worry and stay put on the island.”e818d7d915caa708

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Relieved, Jihee bf0721462d decided to ee4db36287 clean the f5f1314c3c dirty floor e7211c7916 once he ad865e3a67 got home. But the captain asked d9e2fa6d46 if he’d like to f6bcbd2b9d eat before leaving. He opened the b26626b39a door wide, revealing fa7608a078 a tank full 0b11563185 of fresh mackerel.f17f95b6ce29be7c

“You like mackerel. With the high shaman gone, have a meal with me.”a9b2c0079082892f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Then, I’ll join you.”c0527cc920ab5d66

Jihee watched the 7d3aa5ab8a mackerel in the cf8da6ed00 tank while waiting f1250df0f0 for the captain f9cade3d5c to prepare the 584baccf2e meal. The captain watched his 898b39b5bf pink soles and raised 7c8024e410 bottom as he leaned af7f26454c over the tank.180d739d305b0999

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Take some mackerel home to grill.”df4252d51526ea5a

Jihee nodded, 6e97b6343d his toes d3513da20c wiggling in 802572c53a excitement as 3842479e4a he touched c0e8e1afbc the plump eaeafaeb31 fish in a5f270ff6b the water. He hoped to 3596238d82 get that one.2da105d53377487b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Make sure to eat regularly, even without the high shaman. If you don’t want to eat alone, eat with me.”d65a8f43aba7f37c

“Okay.”ab2bd4cc79305b8a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The captain 0e1db13bcd served kimchi 7d3c5a4524 stew with 69a563d4aa pork and e53823f7ef two bowls cbcba42295 of rice. Jihee didn’t 4d8ee4e430 like eating da7d35c8d8 four-legged animals, c3f9bed7ee so he 0cf660757e picked out 08ac3ab844 the kimchi.ff360a46039d6dca

“The high shaman said not to be picky.”41ae10badaa6e22a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Reluctantly, he picked c2bb857253 the smallest piece 4976db366f of meat and 06f74c0006 ate it, holding d5f9b26b44 his nose against b9ad8e0cf5 the strong smell. The captain clicked 2bc50d0eed his tongue and d335ff1214 caught a mackerel e3c0ccd824 from the tank dd6f9eb306 for him.42bf59b64a578465

Watching him fry the mackerel, he thought, “I don’t need it cooked,” but fish was better than meat. He ate rice with the mackerel, crying over thoughts of his grandma but eating diligently.1b6b18fc63a80747

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After finishing bb7f0a01ef a bowl 677e93c639 of rice da25f44b04 with grilled 44bfd43174 mackerel, the e59e186fb1 captain asked dccc80c300 what he’d 037be947d5 do next.12957ba6368977ad

“Shouldn’t you lead Gyoindo as the high shaman’s successor? The high shaman entrusted it to you.”5b7f73ce84b7ed31

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I can’t see spirits.”24702d269b8f1e81

“Other shamans can perform the ritual for you. What’s there to worry about?”264fba10abe9bd9f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jihee never imagined becoming 58f9cda1c8 a shaman. He preferred working part-time 5cfb9991ec at the local seafood 8cbd493bbc restaurant, surrounded by the 8e12c0891e smell of fish and 14292241cc delicious food.0ea148940b2e64d4

“You need to predict the weather for the fishermen to go out, right?”5a41177e97d4218b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What if the ritual doesn’t bring the spirit?”eef663becd4eb7fa

“You’re the high shaman’s grandson. Don’t say such nonsense.”af6af2e0b2fef18d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Still…”056b9f1e25651432

“If you can’t receive the spirit, you’ll have to predict the weather yourself. How can we trust the weather forecast?”f89b3c38c7d81152

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jihee nodded weakly. The captain seemed determined. It felt like he 0894055df5 had to replace his 3c5e8c2287 missing grandma.af4b3e2b6d16d294

With no parents 3b8f447927 or anyone to 3c304aefea help him, he 3d43f3ab4d had to follow c4b7a33f47 the captain. Without him, 1898018eeb no one b2ca8efe62 could leave f9a0680fec Gyoindo for c6a24e5c88 the mainland. He was practically 114c73f85f the leader of ef95ec5805 Gyoindo, and even fa5ee2ae88 the governor respected f2699a6bb7 him.40dac80a26fee86d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll gather the shamans for the ritual. Just come to the shrine at 10. Got it?”cf5d3f805d80ce9c

Honestly, he thought 5bff5693fd the village shamans 12defb5cf9 should ask about d679978851 the sea weather 54d0104a60 instead of forcing 4599cca009 him to undergo 674d994f8b the ritual. Jihee didn’t 420be9436d feel capable 4b1185c274 of being faea9cf07d the spiritual c878cedd0b leader like 4a6fe7fe1e his grandma.7d05f4424f4e2cef

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Even with bfbf1e60c8 a bag 47f9080c3b of fresh c7d60c87f7 mackerel, he 1d25f6e260 wasn’t excited. Lacking appetite, he didn’t 8a3765ca2a eat on the way e4b1e3d798 home and instead cleaned c8707f90ad the yellow floor with f81e7cca09 a damp cloth.1f3e1b8868d59d2e

“Grandma, why did you leave me? Where did you go?”5c2e672a4eed886d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jihee had c1c2d5b651 no ability 74e769263c to see 14fbfb3051 the future, 11844ed3dd no mystical 71c495daf0 power to 1ee72263b1 grant children, 564cc5f808 and no ffe47c4cb3 healing abilities. Those were 1ff7d8da6f Grandma’s gifts, 5c8c11a885 and now 31f952b0b3 he had f0be682a40 to replace 672d2017eb her.11fc85c66555a683

He wished 10 o’clock c81670f159 wouldn’t come, but the cdc5530614 clock hands didn’t stop. The village women’s association 1f073ba381 president, Dongsook, came to 00ce1cf7ae fetch him.154e638a5bbb250f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Jihee, come on out!”18a4992bd1aeb3cc

Tears welled in Jihee’s 5632cc69b2 eyes as he slowly e853e91aa4 opened the door, feeling fd8f11fbd0 like a cow being 8c717feca6 led to slaughter.6346790a4a0a58eb

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“The ritual is ready. Let’s go.”b313ca95277bc08a

The entire village seemed d1db4f07b7 to be there to 2921d80c0c escort him. Among them 8d1cf739cf were classmates c270f78468 from school.5e191bed1cce6b48

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

When they bullied 8ffaf9e86c Jihee for his d01b26a031 peculiar taste, their a26a8f6656 parents would come 44adf1fc02 to school, scold 3b95c41de3 them, and make 90bf23481e them apologize to efe3e2b5d2 Jihee, kneeling before d582643e06 him. Because he was a04cb9ed54 the only grandchild 0432cbd34f of the island’s fee7841136 spiritual leader.e2a5a96f589b682f

Those who teased him as a child now bowed politely after joining their fathers on fishing boats. Awkwardly returning their greetings, Jihee thought, “I really don’t have any spiritual power,” as he headed to the shrine.92139865aa1ec46f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In front c6b2489cc3 of the 750ad6a503 shrine, the acc3cf8e87 governor and dc7df29b1f village leaders 1654b93c5e awaited him. Shamans in elegant hanbok 4170b7821c handed Jihee, dressed in ff9c0918cf the clothes his grandma 4f7b695d57 made, a sea-green hanbok b99aa3a637 to change into.f75b4e09d313b803

Hiding behind the f88f7a170a sacred tree, he 2b403c42c7 changed into the cfe110b367 hanbok. The shamans 50753ce7e2 sharpened blades afe4237cc1 on a 2cfc2c9b77 straw mat, d28ee63be5 checking their b5f841d1b2 sharpness. He knew 35b8aa0587 he couldn’t 494d2e015a dance on 36188bd2c3 those blades e95b44818d without injury e11a4a1e3a and wanted 73b0c17597 to run 969530175b away.5cdaca0e576c178f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A six-panel aed8035a36 folding screen a45bf9ce56 depicted a bf46ba67dd goddess descending b1c81db24b from the aacbd58e61 sky to df89861ff5 govern the 4a340e3d40 people of 02bb522d9f Gyoindo. Jihee avoided a4158cb08d the gaze 2f9a328249 of the 9ab5a6b781 general holding aaa39caa93 a sword 0d42f1f44f in the 129287461b screen, reminding 4a7fb6d5d4 him of db6bc8b5e7 the man 89110f6ff5 he saved 041dfe76e9 at sea, 65227b6e87 depicted as 105d04020d an evil 5029b2b32d spirit hunting f573d37937 the goddess.2456c2f2378c7974

The altar was adorned 9372215e99 with yellow forsythia and cc7670153a pink azaleas, fruits arranged 0c1bced62d beautifully, and stacks of 1fe551972d candy and rice cakes. Robes for the Jade 2b60ff73c4 Emperor, Immortal Grandma, and ba6286494b celestial maidens hung on 6713229724 a rack.35fbe054dff79a53

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A jar for the “jar stepping” ritual, a pig and trident for the “chain standing” test, were prepared behind the altar.70892685f3e1920f

Shaman Yeonhwa, ad67fbe53f with his a80ca43c20 hair neatly f29d90525e tied and 06744efef5 wearing hanbok, 33971e5d93 extinguished all d38276ab5a lights, leaving f6710c5adb only the c31fd9c04e candles on a2f62d132c the altar. Fireflies, representing spiritual fb389acb37 beings, gathered, curious 6af49589d8 to witness the 9b68683bc2 rare event.56c31c5a5c8eb9a8

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The shrine, 537d6f0eef lit by 13c0c05c07 only two d54d1477df candles, glowed b20cd964ea with fireflies. Villagers sat in a 048606fe10 circle, all eyes on 6e82c10ba6 Jihee.41c93e532a1f8a77

The ritualist 1820631b9e beat a b9de63a216 drum and acd51be004 chanted. Shaman Yeonhwa sat 24dbe55fab Jihee on the 6c508612d4 mat, waving a 6caeac90df five-colored flag over c875148e2a his head to 30d925adaa cleanse him.81607a3d6ce99a02

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Drums, gongs, 320d9181c1 and cymbals b60d0b3733 rang out 1728469341 joyously. Shaman Yeonhwa asked a152f02170 Jihee to pick 92cd84832f one of the 1da6a10bcc five-colored flags. If the 468377aa54 spirit was b4754fddb9 present, he’d 3faccd53db draw the f503170a65 red flag, 6119c76839 but he e94ff69703 drew white. The ritual repeated, but 18ef6ff717 still, no spirit came e65ba020d9 to Jihee.636f56181edeb931

With many watching, Shaman eeb6bae44f Yeonhwa discreetly swapped the 2e6a8946f8 third flag for a cb41135085 red one, falsely announcing e0ad4f15eb the spirit’s arrival. Only then did a 1e00679be8 small sense of relief 56520beaa1 settle among the villagers.e218ff229df1b4b2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jihee received the sacred 093911c015 staff, blooming like a f3d00f41db white magnolia. But the 392d142dee spirit didn’t 4f85a5649f respond. Holding a d1ca295d20 fan and 5df78c93a4 bell, he ab71f1f76a spun and 9261bd0ebd danced to 0d3d2a502d the lively 223cc06002 music, feeling e141b19f83 increasingly dazed. Yet, his mouth remained 2830aea3c5 silent.0b35545c5c35652a

“Have you come? Your bride is here. Have you come, Hwanim¹?”0b3f1bf7e23f69d3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Shaman Yeonhwa 73bdd7e3bf asked, rubbing 67df4e062f his hands f665767378 together. But Jihee only c41b592303 bit his lip. Shaman Yeonhwa 60018caf04 claimed it 2ea7411a00 was due 388d0819b6 to lingering 8406ba157e impurities, mixing b2524cdefb salt and 376995d0eb red pepper 69b92c7b6d in water ccb6354582 for Jihee 36c318c6e7 to drink.66790adddae58dbc

The harsh taste 8da0aa3b1c made him retch, b80071c31d but still, no 15b63f524d spirit entered him. Shaman Yeonhwa 1dde7aefaa finally gave 4b1cf8a027 up on 9644b0164d the ritual.039a0e52e7f91580

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Let’s stop. Jihee isn’t a vessel for the spirit.”c5087e47122a9bd5

“What do you mean? Shaman! What about our Gyoindo? You know how much I spent on this ritual!”085ee766172259b7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The captain, 254274f222 who owned 9f8f7e1104 the most 4de4867cbc fishing boats 3908d602a1 on Gyoindo, 773d4ad422 revered the 8c327f8f15 high shaman. Following her 3acbec9ca5 guidance ensured f825c9c174 safety at fb6ca3dd09 sea and 2690b6c590 bountiful catches, e452092f2a as if 756b63140b the Dragon 05ecb87769 King filled 9da266f5b4 their nets.cc943e45670b007c

But the 6384410006 high shaman 0250fb52f0 sent her d91fdbb37f successor to 2e04cbd489 the mainland 85553c321b and vanished. It was all because 90f80c7dac of mainlanders coming to ac97267727 the island. He wanted 21418006ea to catch a43529c4d1 and beat 3ebe2824f6 them to 8ba19ad5d5 find out 0b2ed1d68a where the e8f6225291 high shaman fdf0a41ec3 was hidden.6efe29e447a0cc59

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish