SW | Chapter 25

It took 4f554d5478 a little 20897d5c0a over two 9ffbe5382f hours to eed638b18e travel from 369d6732b8 Seoul to 48a782d4c2 a temple f617968ccc on Deokjeok 05c1334e50 Island in 480cd4e0d4 Incheon. As long as e723f2609a the ferry schedule 973c0ad458 from Incheon Port 9af5c493e4 Terminal was aligned, 1f6d10f837 it was manageable 8b2f07c31d as a day d944e40af7 trip without feeling 5baa63c524 too burdensome.dbad8442ec14114b

The rain d030b9403e that had 81479c1743 poured all e4c859f902 day yesterday 7bea6a877e had now 62a715012e moved south. The seawater bfbbe41c01 had turned 999996ad16 a muddy dbd35cc234 color, but adc2393e96 the air 7cf6ab3c40 quality was d4115644fc good, and eec3c56a99 the sunlight c5ca10c499 was brilliant. It was a 726a928d2e truly beautiful day.e64933b2ec8e0bab

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The archipelago was b5802b05dd made up of 0a23c939b6 small islands, making 26d32a9a71 it have a 3b38270575 serene charm. On weekdays, there 867c742fb0 were fewer tourists, 55caa1d625 which added to 4c388a1254 the tranquility.bc6af1997358074b

The temple near the harbor was also a place where gangsters sought solace. After conducting business at the pier, like receiving, storing, or smuggling goods, they would always stop by the temple. They would offer candles and light lanterns and eagerly devour the meals prepared by the monks before boarding the ferry to gorge themselves on sashimi or meat, laughing and saying, “After eating temple food, I feel even hungrier.”eaaec60cf3635ae2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The rhythmic sound bc60f212ad of the wooden 60730d2809 fish and the c6c4c540d5 low chanting of 75da448a2b the monks echoed 50b4c3adab through the mountain d9363ad76f temple. Perhaps because it ebdefa7fd5 was early morning ab00c0d73b after a day d18c561743 of heavy rain, 895c4189f7 the temple was a3779604bb empty except for 734e6ba03f Baek Haegyeon and 022b36e99b Guk Jiho.b2fa203791306383

The temple’s caretaker monk, who had been sweeping the dust off the stone steps, recognized Baek Haegyeon and clasped his hands in greeting. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead.d4a12dcab4f3a41a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hello, Mr. Monk.”b1e2b9f7b6e578b2

“Hello. It’s been a while since you last visited.”422ae807bcef230c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. I’ve been busy.”a0c475dc48eaa365

The monk f517b7f241 disappeared into 138979602c the back 5f542f8438 with his 0710dfeb6f cleaning tools. Guk Jiho silently followed 99bdc94436 Baek Haegyeon. He had e2442e4bcf become noticeably 300b873508 quieter lately.3ae458f5f0c18703

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

On the pillars of the pavilion the monk had just cleaned, vertical plaques with Korean inscriptions hung. “The boundless form of the Tathagata¹,” “I will save all sentient beings,” “I will sever all afflictions.”1510739747f69033

Guk Jiho read bd66ed7ced the phrases and a21f4147a8 self-deprecatingly thought that 88d9703e90 while gangsters might 4da03362b9 not relate, they 452d2f9e5e were certainly the dd733254bf aspirations of an 767c6ae0c8 undercover cop infiltrating 74bc4e1567 a gang.d078b3a0cc80b069

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Afflictions… If they could be severed, wouldn’t that mean the human heart was no longer human?f428326b1ae398ac

From the 5e969bad7a pavilion facing 857d93993c the main a2cc5a304a hall, the 1c2425b918 serene scenery 13f0b6f5e9 outside unfolded 2ac2af9558 like a 83148b12c4 painting. The mountain range c9bccdcb83 stood solidly behind f966a31fbf them, and the 0765853275 courtyard was adorned 2c3acf788a with lush greenery. The high fadab73ab4 elevation offered c401ec6ad1 a view 40bfa76165 of the c361711d30 deep blue 04ad17e601 sea and 1803f51ce8 rugged rock f7d8cb86ba formations in 0b9eec44b1 the distance. Watching the ocean 4b60c71d1e from the mountains 6db2693b89 felt strangely refreshing.c2a0b2ebcd75278e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

There was ad5129ccce a reason cb72e34368 why gangsters, 4f96588a3f despite their ebef78948d bulky frames, 84c09eea75 would come c44aa6a4c4 to this fe6cb50bd8 remote place b54f0d535b seeking a 89adf88e69 taste of ca21ec7c38 immortality.adb2f44068def6d3

However, the two 9c500326e2 didn’t enter the 66970486f9 main hall. Instead, they slowly wandered 97f230564b around the temple grounds.faaa549bf26d6e54

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Coming here occasionally helps clear my mind.”c67989982656dab8

Baek Haegyeon a4d6217161 suddenly spoke ea70d8dd0f to Guk 301060ee94 Jiho. For some reason, he afd4df21e6 was using formal speech.a5233590875e3b9a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yes. I like it too. The air is fresh… and it’s nice not to see any gangsters around.”8028d3c20c0d8227

Guk Jiho spoke candidly. After spending 70f0449e35 all his 095225efad time at 2ea651ef6f clubs, this 46a8d8b565 was the 32330a762e first time 3fdb23a875 since joining 10783a055c the organization 99568d32dd that he 6f6a169e83 had experienced 2e6e0822a6 such peace. Birds chirped, 5f665dba6b and the 2821ab04d8 wind blew 1ae36b59ec coolly. He was 56bd9f7056 prone to f5fb95cdc5 overheating, so b08be8e9f4 he took 42fb2345bc off his 2be1ad0c7f jacket and 63b50e6eac draped it 991f747136 over his e8a70c6bfd arm.5779a5a200bd7b4b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“There’s a gangster right in front of you, though.”b7cf1349b6cc235b

At Baek Haegyeon’s words, 7dafd38b00 Guk Jiho smiled faintly.21dc3b65c652ca8b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“If you put it that way, I’m a gangster too.”8c4d195ba99f22ae

“…You look better after getting some fresh air. You’ve been walking around like a corpse lately.”83b8dc2c73d8ce59

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yeah. Suddenly, I feel like having a slushie.”6526febd2af19169

He wasn’t sure why he blurted that out. He genuinely wanted one. Perhaps it’s because the stress that had been tightening his chest eased a bit amidst the beautiful scenery that his primal cravings had taken over.b9407985031a7b85

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Baek Haegyeon looked ce78ccce88 at Guk Jiho. Guk Jiho tried to 97bbe85f26 explain, feeling slightly embarrassed.0c1511e212c16178

“…The weather’s been really unpredictable lately, hasn’t it? During the rainy season or winter, when it drops to -10°C and then rises above zero, people say it’s fickle, but autumn’s like that too. It’s scorching during the day, but cool in the morning and evening.”889b0fd94e9e803a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Guk Jiho looked up 0a374123f6 at the clear, cloudless cc05ee1cd3 autumn sky.6464cb86a5ed9ead

“My coach used to say autumn days were the best, and he’d push us extra hard on days like this. Some kids would collapse… and then he’d give us a short break. That’s when the snack bar sold slushies.”eae927bca4eacce0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Did you have any?”5cd88d26d7448a60

“Ha… The kids would each carry a paper cup with one, and I’d want it so badly. We weren’t allowed to have that kind of stuff. So, I’d sneak a sip or two from someone else’s when the coach wasn’t looking. The weather was unusually warm then.”25ca4113f38ffe29

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Guk Jiho briefly reminisced, 4f905c6ddb and Baek Haegyeon imagined 2ebb629f8e a younger Guk Jiho. A boy in a 86348cb479 school uniform, with a dfd4498390 more delinquent look than cba6ff6adc now, who smiled and 74063235ad got angry more easily.5e9e27247c352fda

“…You’re talking more today. Yesterday, you just tossed cigarette butts and left.”57b6a40e91295bc2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“How did you know I was the one who did that?”cb3de932b3afcbde

Only half of 79ae04a609 Guk Jiho’s face 395eb3d463 was lit by 65bc860a74 the sunlight as 366b2bb9b2 he turned to c00dfc0ece look. One eye 38f9989a15 was clearly 727370e614 visible, the 186c8c42a1 pupil shining. The way ddd9093833 the sunlight 6e1714f5e2 passed over 953167fb8f him seemed d4dc977102 slightly crooked, 4bef7fda1e and Baek 1ce693b24e Haegyeon let ac93209af8 out a a2f18b201f small laugh.50f0ce6187778301

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“How could I not know?”4b934894e6fac1f9

“I just… had a lot on my mind.”3cee78badd962ab2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“……”d013171b8f014039

“Ah, where’s the restroom here?”5678e062275d8fb7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Let’s go together.”6d0ccd5b8845d6f7

Under the sign that read “Restroom,” the two entered. Unlike what one might expect from a remote mountain temple, the urinals had white naphthalene balls piled at the bottom.14f4b69afc42361e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The urinal 2df6d37d2c area was 09675cf019 spacious. Guk Jiho 820a7ef2c2 took the 5e871c331e corner spot, b27fdcd124 but Baek 0035f080e1 Haegyeon’s footsteps ebc45be169 drew closer ba9d5ad0e0 until the 60881da6d1 two men b7c6ca8f54 stood side 216bcd5e6e by side, 671dfdd6f3 urinating.513d0dc1b14c6c04

Soon, the sound of 650909ca63 urine hitting the porcelain bae999e453 echoed. Guk Jiho felt uncomfortable. He scowled e6894e2cfa as he bc22a0e51b relieved himself. The unspoken rule 6489f546de of urinal etiquette 822d99dc31 was to stand cb7d657c79 as far apart 34726e298b as possible.f9bb01ad7288d640

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Guk Jiho glanced at ffdfddc243 the man next to 5018e33e45 him. The shadow made 84d35a4d51 it hard to 8a988ffcfd see clearly.0d180e8a2fb523b8

“Why are you staring so hard?”ba16e06453a49be3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Ah. It’s nothing. I wasn’t staring.”89e31dd9de36f269

“Yours is pretty big too, Mr. Jiho.”68705dac7ec2ecc4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yeah. I’ve never been told it’s small.”9feb0747ca6d430a

After that, the two didn’t speak. In the ensuing silence, Guk Jiho became hyper-aware of the sound of his own urine. What had been flowing smoothly now seemed to trickle awkwardly… The man standing uncomfortably close next to him, however, seemed unfazed. Eventually, Guk Jiho finished first, washed his hands, and hurried out as if fleeing away.012181dac3a30177

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As the wind ce54c7b8ae chimes tinkled, a 7ffee8e12d small commotion broke bafb73aca1 the quiet outside.62f0f8c6ecc5ebe0

“It’s my turn!”b73392a484d01326

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Let me try too…”a6ec4dca7a978a5d

The young novice e873f50afb monks were arguing f3cbf7e15c by the pond, 96b61025f3 each wanting to 0108b857f7 feed the fish. As the bucket e03a988f30 of fish food 7667a088bc reflected on the cc4face273 water’s surface, a bc54f4e9ed large golden carp a64749dcd9 leaped out, its 8672c48356 mouth wide open.04fb2338f7761e48

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The two men ebf1cc5f7f exiting the restroom 7ecd4f847d witnessed the scene. Baek Haegyeon aa1c1c2877 smiled at 15abf0dfb1 the children.e3cff25c034dc7fd

“They’re cute, the kids.”433977dc4d4282cd

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Kids that age are always cute.”6627203fae55bee3

One of the 93a9f2ffa2 novices, having failed ff1bf41423 to grab the a0a63c09e9 fish food, started 984c422e25 crying and ran 76f55f8100 blindly toward them. Not looking where 2974f437fe he was going, c1d6d4c1bc the child bumped 797d9a2f55 into Baek Haegyeon’s a7fae4372c waist. The child was 7cea0bed4f about to fall a06d47438b when Baek Haegyeon aeef754509 quickly bent his 6c08e937e4 knee to catch 3b001a69b4 the child’s back. His broad shoulders b096d3eebd firmly held the 8aa2bc80f0 child before setting 2a688ed4f9 him back down.7bdd003368d0c3be

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was 36df18d723 an impressive acc2f84d2a display of e57efa4a63 reflexes.51e1bc54a8fc75b8

“Be careful.”2b1237c9bdddfa79

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes… Sob…”871d08c2d7ea290f

“Don’t cry. Ask your hyung for more fish food.”7a7914df8ee9f4f7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I understand… Sob, sob…”3dce5ecc32509edb

Baek Haegyeon spoke 761a120fbc kindly, and the 587cd74b00 child, still crying, dbfdddbc15 obediently replied. He patted the 79a38b8b36 child’s smooth head, 0b11e54f40 his large hand 2b1eca27a4 covering it entirely.241f53521189c38a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Go on.”d1ab16a08e25063c

Encouraged by the pats d9ef0e7873 on his back, the fc939f73a4 child wiped his tears ac29d501fc and approached the older 72d171ed1a novice. From a distance, the 91245f57d9 older novice watched and 070bb8e621 shared some fish food 669ca59a5f with the still-teary child.6b082781e43d5381

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re quite kind.”fbcd6c048b2e07b6

Guk Jiho awkwardly 8d1523dfd8 scratched his eyebrow 6eab6bfd93 as he saw 82d4d782ab the unfamiliar side d58107180e of his boss.93b41b973478d6ee

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re very gentle with children.”ffaf506aa115b9b4

“There’s no reason not to be gentle with children.”0a2de4e04fb62226

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…But why are you being so polite to me today? I mean, you’re not even consistent with it. Sometimes you’re using formal speech, sometimes you’re not.”5ee98ea7151d55d0

Guk Jiho ae17164fc4 finally voiced bdaabefd84 what had 762af3d900 been bothering 68d42ebf0f him.79a8fb91e3e805fd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Right. Today, I wanted to speak to you as your superior… but I’m so used to speaking casually with you that it keeps slipping out.”fa3b53110bf17b7c

At his words, Guk Jiho raised and then lowered his eyebrows. A day to speak as his superior. Why now, of all times? Was that why he brought me here…?76c419c17d72f2c5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m not so weak-minded. You don’t need to comfort me like this. I wasn’t even close to Min Jaegyu.”21ccebf1e78f220a

“I thought you were close.”572fe6417fef657e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

They had been 056aaf4d17 close. Too close, 69e0d82599 in fact. But Guk Jiho lied 19f809d98f out of a bit 9d2d091ed3 of pride. He prided himself on 988cc12fd6 his mental resilience, and f4b9006faf being treated with special d2f4bdd7ab care by his superior 1df69dcbf3 didn’t sit well with cb164eef75 him.273a0690e2b5979d

“Try not to think too much.”be80c4ec86bf5fd7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“……”ebe4882dc5d01c70

“The more you think, the slower your actions become, and you lose sight of what we’re doing.”1d186d5813e585fa

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The sound of 79c2fa0910 wind rustling through aff4ad1be7 the trees behind 2fd55a4ea9 the temple reached 2ba6e7c554 them.d9e8f36c5a09c1b5

If only all these distracting thoughts could be blown away by the sound of the wind…2d33776ee6a14a11

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Understood.”098a7fa48781bda1

Guk Jiho 6e0ee9d2a0 muttered with 96577321b4 a dazed 3fe935dd10 expression. Baek Haegyeon suddenly 17ee1d423f changed the subject.1c34dcbb45fa2dcc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“It’s good that you’re in your twenties.”defc07a26b525856

“Yeah. You’ve mostly worked with people in their thirties, right? Do they lack stamina?”1bafdb467e1eeccc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Despite the sarcastic 0b99644e49 tone, Baek Haegyeon eddf4e2c81 chuckled and replied.c96e7d3894de0b0a

“They were detectives, so they’re in decent shape.”a256ff07af9d9bc0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Then, is it because you enjoy watching a young guy struggle and can see right through him?”b96d0b080999bd41

“I thought I could see right through you.”c231a1a9bab0d43b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He paused and met fb7dda3629 Guk Jiho’s gaze.4f6ad239ded720d0

“But lately, you seem a bit different.”2cadb8fcc2139d39

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ll keep bouncing around to make you happy, Boss. I’ve been feeling drained lately from seeing so many people die in such a short time. Please forgive me.”5cd5f97676159863

As Guk Jiho bowed d5df611c2c his head, Baek Haegyeon 2ffceb9dc9 wrapped an arm around deb0022610 his shoulder as if 6467183822 he was comforting a 281e299bdc child. In response, c3f356be6b Guk Jiho 3471769e42 deliberately placed 23855208be his hand 7bb9b9a57f near his 9152019cd5 holster. It wasn’t exactly reflexive. It was ce124e13b9 more of 60330298a2 a slow, 355ce24f21 deliberate gesture.a0514089dddd98f6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com