Whisper Chapter 3

Lee Heewoo felt a bit melancholic as her grandmother’s body, light as a feather, climbed up the stone steps. She worried that, like the wind, her grandmother might just drift away. When they reached the porch, her grandmother gently touched the back of her hand.  

 

“There must be a reason. Let’s keep dinner simple, my sweet Woo. You, come over here.”  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

The summer day was long, and the light remained.  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

Cha Gyeol glanced briefly at the figure of the grandmother entering the room, then turned his head to look at Lee Heewoo, rising to his feet. His tall stature seemed almost to brush against the low eaves of the hanok.  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

Lee Heewoo bit her lip and hesitated, unsure if she should prepare a meal for the man. Even though it was still light outside, once the sun set, the mountains would be engulfed in pitch-black darkness.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“You’re staring too much at my face, kid.”  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

Though the words reached her ears, Lee Heewoo couldn’t quite understand their meaning, her round eyes blinking in confusion. Her mild expression stirred a peculiar cruelty in him. Something so white made him want to sully it—because it looked so easily corrupted.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

Damn it, what am I even thinking, dragging a kid into this mess.

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 

Had he caught something from Jang Pal-yong? Cursing himself, Cha Gyeol strode into the room where the shaman had entered.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

***

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

The shaman, Heo Gwiryeon, watched silently as Cha Gyeol ducked his head to step through the small doorway into the room. In her entire life serving the spirits, she had never encountered someone she couldn’t see—someone shrouded in complete obscurity. She had also never seen anyone enter this room with such indifference and composure. Even though she had anticipated it, she couldn’t help but feel astonished.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

From the way he entered to the graceful motion of sitting on the floor cushion, there wasn’t a single wasted movement.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

Even the gaze he locked on her was unyielding. This was someone born to reign over others.  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

His energy…  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

Heo Gwiryeon quietly shook her head. Why did it have to be someone like this? A sigh escaped her lips.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“How did you know?”  

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

 

The shaman clearly knew. If no one had told him, how else could he have found this place?  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“You must know what I do.”  

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

 

Her sarcastic response elicited nothing more than a cold, unblinking stare from Cha Gyeol. The room itself, an old-fashioned hanok, seemed to defy time. Though she had supposedly retired, it was hard to believe—there was no sign of anything resembling a shrine. The only hint, if any, was the faint scent of incense lingering in the air.  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

“Then you must also know why I’ve come.”  

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 

Should he just knock her unconscious and take her with him? He wanted to get this over with.  

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 

“Why are you seeking out an old woman on the verge of death?”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

Heo Gwiryeon’s snow-white eyebrows furrowed in displeasure, deepening the wrinkles on her brow. She had declared that she no longer gave divinations, and yet greed always found a way. It was her karma.  

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

 

“Whatever the reason is, I have one condition.”

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

At her words, Cha Gyeol ran his tongue over the inside of his cheek. He wondered if he had been acting too much like a person—he could very well destroy this house and drag her out if he wanted.  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

“No matter how detached you are from the world, this isn’t acceptable, elder.”  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“I don’t intend to explain myself.”  

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

 

You wouldn’t believe it anyway. Her calm voice carried stubborn resolve. Heo Gwiryeon’s gaze bore into Cha Gyeol, who filled the small room with an almost mountainous presence. This was someone she was destined to meet—no matter how many lifetimes she lived, their paths would inevitably cross.  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

“What if I refuse to comply?”  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

“…”  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

As Heo Gwiryeon looked at the white light surrounding Cha Gyeol, she let out another sigh. It didn’t suit him at all—this inexplicable purity. Nothing of this world could cling to him.  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

From birth, Heewoo had been able to see spirits, though fortunately, she wasn’t imbued with divine energy. However, if Heo Gwiryeon were to teach her, she could inherit the lineage of shamans. Just as Heo Gwiryeon’s mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother had.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

The life of serving spirits was an arduous one. Though born as a human, she could not live like one, and though she owned her body and mind, she couldn’t live as she pleased.  

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 

She wanted to end this cycle in her generation. To prevent it from being passed down to Heewoo, she had fought fiercely against the raging spirits, suppressing them to the best of her ability. But even that had failed, leaving her to be toyed with by the spirits.  

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 

“There’s a quicker path—you don’t need to take the long way around. The terms aren’t unfavorable for you, so you’d best accept.”  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

Her body, aged and frail, resembled a withered tree.  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

“Elder.”  

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 

“Please, I’m requesting you.”

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

Cha Gyeol’s lips clamped shut. The shaman’s gaze was definitely not ordinary. He wondered if all shamans were like this, but having never encountered one before, he couldn’t be certain.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“What is it?”  

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

 

Was it the place? Or the person he was dealing with? Something about the situation was unsettling. The sudden desire to go home and down a strong drink flared up inside him.  

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 

Heo Gwiryeon’s gaze darkened. Her eyes, swirling with complex emotions, bore into Cha Gyeol as she let out a deep sigh. Just as he was about to lose the last shred of his patience, her lips finally parted.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“…Lee Heewoo. That’s the name of the child outside.”  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

Lee Heewoo. Cha Gyeol repeated the name in his mind, thinking it suited her.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“My granddaughter. I want you to take care of her.”  

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 

Cha Gyeol’s eyebrows shot up. His narrowed eyes, lined with a cold triple sclera, emitted a chilling aura.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

Had this shaman gone crazy? Otherwise, she wouldn’t be making such outrageous requests as a condition.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“Keep her by your side.”  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

“Goddammit, what the hell…”  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

A curse escaped his lips. The shaman’s expression didn’t falter in the slightest as she remained composed, her gaze fixed on Cha Gyeol. For once, he was rendered speechless.  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

“What am I supposed to do with her if I keep her by my side?”  

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

 

Heo Gwiryeon didn’t answer. Instead, she turned, opened the bottom drawer of a small cabinet, and pulled something out.  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

Cha Gyeol’s eyes lowered to the bankbook and the seal inside the plastic pouch that were slid in front of him.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

He felt the urge to smoke.  

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

 

“She’s a child who’s easy to scam. You should hold on to this.”  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“And you’re entrusting this ‘easy-to-scam’ child to a complete stranger? Why?”  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

He pulled out his cigarette pack and rolled it between his fingers. Was she not even a little afraid that he might do something bad?  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“You won’t believe me anyway.”  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“Whether I believe you or not is my choice. But you should at least explain.”  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

Cutting off her words, Cha Gyeol raised the corners of his lips. If she wasn’t crazy, there had to be a reason for her to make such an absurd request, giving a child and a bankbook together. He was curious what kind of goddamn special reason could justify this.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“When I leave this place, I won’t be able to come back.”  

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

 

She didn’t have much time left. While she had no issue with dying, she needed to separate Heewoo from her.  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

The man tied to Heewoo would ultimately protect her, Heo Gwiryeon believed. Though she disliked the idea of entrusting Heewoo to the dangerous man in front of her, she knew there was no other way.  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

“Those who seek me might end up learning about Heewoo.”  

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 

Whenever guests arrived, she would send Heewoo to a small valley behind the house that the girl loved, ensuring she couldn’t be found nearby.  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

As Heo Gwiryeon stared at the closed window in contemplation, she spoke again.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

“Do you know what a hereditary shaman is?”  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

Rumble.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

A sound like distant thunder echoed, followed by the roar of pouring rain. The dimly lit room grew quieter, the only sound now the rain pounding against the roof.  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

***

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

The flickering candlelight illuminated the dark room. The downpour outside was loud, and the damp air settled heavily, making even Cha Gyeol’s body feel sluggish.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

Lying on his back with his arm serving as a pillow, he stared at the blurred ceiling and muttered under his breath, “Goddammit.”  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

The humid scent of rain mixed with the smell of the room’s owner clung to him. As he tried to recall the familiar scent, he realized it was a popular baby product from brand J. Clicking his tongue, he shook his head. He himself had used it until the early years of elementary school, but the idea of a twenty-year-old woman using baby products felt absurd.  

Visit Lily on the Valley to read full chapter without gibberish

 

“Damn it, nothing here is normal.”  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

His low voice, coarse as the damp air, was filled with irritation. What was he doing lying here? The absurdity of it all made him grind his teeth in frustration.  

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 

A place without even electricity. He recalled Lee Heewoo lighting a thick candle with ease.  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

When she carefully handed him a blanket and pillow, he had stared at her indifferently. Flustered by his gaze, she had stammered, “Uh, I washed it yesterday, so it’s clean, c-clean.” Her eyes darted nervously until they met his directly, at which point she bolted from the room.  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

Cha Gyeol’s gaze wandered slowly across the cramped room. Like the shaman’s room, this one wasn’t much different. Aside from a small cabinet and a table, there wasn’t much. On the table were a few books and half-melted candles. Even a monk’s quarters at a temple might be better equipped than this.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

Turning his head toward the closed door, Cha Gyeol heard the faint sound of the shaman’s door closing with a small creak.  

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 

“Do you know what a hereditary shaman is?”  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

From the words alone, he could guess roughly what it meant. Yet Cha Gyeol’s gaze had demanded a more detailed explanation from the shaman.  

For the best reading experience, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 

She had muttered something strange about seeing a path, which made him wonder if her supposed spiritual ability was real.  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com

 

“Heewoo doesn’t have any spiritual energy.”  

Read the complete chapter at Lily on the Valley without random text

 

Perhaps sensing his thoughts, the shaman had spoken with firm conviction.  

Support us by visiting our official site at lilyonthevalley.com