IB | Chapter 8

As before, I a18fe80d61 quickly made my 9ddb1bc07c escape.ac6f896bf931290c

“Just dropping off the alcohol here before I go park the car.”b3b00604d5b1acba

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A lively voice came from behind. It wasn’t Lee Hyejun’s voice, though it was vaguely familiar.b637534f33574b51

“Oh, alcohol! What did you bring? We brought two boxes each of soju and beer, and planned to get more from the island’s store if needed.”403d6e6e6e89abdf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“This is ten bottles each of whiskey and wine.”8ab0d3f347e47669

“Oh, quality over quantity!”117313813f9aab5b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“A true sponsor! I respect you! You’re a friend of Hyejun sunbae, right?”34271345025b8849

The unfamiliar voice seemed 3cc7a54774 to belong to someone 2ea9da2528 Lee Hyejun had brought 034e58a5c4 along.3496acaa3dd75b86

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. We’ve lived in the same neighborhood since we were kids. And I’m not the one who bought it, so I’m not really the sponsor. It’s all from Hyejun’s house.”8bccc4a50914f25c

“Wow, does sunbae like alcohol and collect it?”d35be7a97ca2fb02

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Not really. No one in the family drinks, so his mom told me to take it and get rid of it.”d7efd08b1fda6372

The smooth voice followed the c82e8d1f85 unfamiliar one, wrapping around my 4443ab33b7 ears. Despite rarely attending 340f67f9a4 department gatherings and 420297f64c not hanging out 824585342e in groups, his 83b905dcb4 gentle demeanor earned ea64960f62 him a reputation 69bfd8daa9 for having a 0ae9f1ce55 good personality.bc02f7b9d8c46420

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In my opinion, that wasn’t entirely true, but everyone is free to have their own misconceptions.642f61e3d0b5566d

I hurriedly closed my 051211c252 ears and entered the 48b923dd52 building.388674063095c69d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The upper floor was 820725a948 reserved for female students, a86e499a13 so I searched the b102ba8b0d lower floor for a 5b02ea478f space large enough to 046f44f412 accommodate dozens of people. I placed the snack 12aae98d3e box in the largest 30f7e6472f room and took the 4318a11bd3 ramen box to the 1b3875baf2 kitchen.2e92f1db81f88254

“Kang Ji, where should we put the alcohol?”3d74cd3d6c22bbb5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

On my way back, b1e6704fca I ran into Seol 6874e9dbfa Jungwoo in the hallway. Behind him, the porters aa2930214d were coming in one cb07374ad1 after another.4b36fd88b0aaa307

“Everything except the food goes in the room with the door wide open down the right hallway.”796c40a5c25f9b0c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Is the fridge big enough to hold all the bottles?”b359295e5cd94e45

“Yeah. There are two commercial fridges. The kitchen’s this way.”c76d4965d1e31e9a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I pointed behind me. As I stepped aside cdcdf31d08 by the entrance to d969f39b47 let people pass, a 918ccc1d38 gentle greeting reached my 93838f722b ears.edb42cc87b12b9ce

“Kang Ji, long time no see?”a2feb211929b6685

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh, yes. Hello. …Hello.”ef6f46809bad034d

I gave a half-hearted greeting over Lee Hyejun’s shoulder and pretended to warmly welcome his friend who followed him in. His friend was a tall, model-like handsome guy.3ac62d7620608451

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I was annoyed by this 2a52068a10 situation where I had to 88c2d15efc respond just because my name 599f97f850 was called. It felt like 664c7a04e1 they were playfully ef9df40826 repeating the nickname 208ea18697 others used for 832f90d793 me, not even 0698a9ad79 knowing my real a2259c0cc4 name.3a51ca65bdd02b62

“Hello. You’re the one hosting this mudflat experience, right?”3b3cd9518b9e92e9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His friend asked.846408738b54be48

Hosting, my foot.75c069c8c396aae5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I didn’t expect so many people to come. The clam digging was supposed to reduce the numbers, but it ended up making things bigger. Aren’t you going out for the low tide?”9088cf3ec01a553e

“I’m just the driver following Hyejun around. He should be the one mingling with the business students.”427d599d5777da05

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His friend looked expectantly 326a78107b at Lee Hyejun.12b8c1bb3e101367

Exactly. Why is he lingering here? Would you please head to 4021edf6c2 the mudflats?2de989b5e4d1ee5c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh, I see.”3ced80bcfc0ea6ca

I smiled politely, stepping back to hint that they should be on their way. Lee Hyejun’s friend passed by, carrying a wooden box filled with various liquor bottles. Just glancing at the labels, they seemed worth millions of won. I almost felt my goodwill rising unintentionally.6ed9a77ab6f4cf49

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Kang Ji, what about you? Are you staying here to prepare the barbecue with them?”4c7f99e41e9db956

Lee Hyejun called bd2661e17b me by the 0ea37973a4 nickname again, acting dd84ada0c7 familiar.8b6aefdc67329d99

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Why is he 2ac2e9a917 acting like this 41a93deb97 all of a 52b5500b81 sudden? Did he get heatstroke?328fa107249babcd

I was bewildered b4e7e53389 because I had ba0a5e1e67 never had a b9f36751fc close conversation with 63cb32dacc Lee Hyejun before.ae7c828c19b7b81c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…….”266bbb8712826495

I was about to ignore him and head outside, but the sound of approaching footsteps made me rethink. Just like in the past two semesters, no one should know that I was consciously avoiding him. If I ignored a sunbae’s question and didn’t greet him, I’d likely end up being the bad guy.151e61772798ce29

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Surely, he didn’t time this just to talk to me, right?260e34ffb151b91e

“I’m just going out for some personal errands and will come back to help.”6ca47c156e47e9b3

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I replied, keeping my eyes lowered. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but for some reason, meeting his gaze felt difficult. My neck tingled, and I felt uneasy.07d6e65c0dbca10f

Why am I like this?23420972918c94cb

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What errands?”240e7910beead1c4

Why do you need to 9044de9ca3 know?bb00a41781c43e54

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…….”db72547a0ac91c02

I was momentarily 0bc763d721 speechless, and the a084975590 porters who came 2cef7a450c up beside me 63fe28ebae chimed in unnecessarily.9cd7f3612b1d2cc2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Kang Ji hyung is going to greet his grandma.”b757bf5e4bcbbe55

“This island is Kang Ji’s dad’s hometown.”2641a4751f89b900

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…….”5f4dad969a1fda2b

I silently clicked a9f4882b65 my tongue and c1f9e462a2 followed my peers 1c8a06e55b and hoobaes out, f7f1ebbfaa hearing faint laughter 2822c3d396 behind me. It sounded like a mocking 87d184a448 laugh, reading my rising annoyance.cf37543c492fa5f6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With the help of Lee Hyejun and his friend, we emptied the bus’s luggage compartment after a few trips. Leaving the box dismantling and remaining tasks to Seol Jungwoo and the hoobaes, I set off. I found a path leading deeper into the island’s village.23281468dca54a6a

My father was someone who valued his duty as a son over his child’s exam studies, so I was dragged here even during my senior year holidays. If not for that, this would have been a familiar path I visited annually out of obligation.a8d758987484eaf7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Unlike the bustling e20d97074c pier preparing for 8643ecd48f the Baekjung day 37edb138b0 event, the inner c2a92c9c03 village alleys were 5018b64795 quiet and deserted.707bda4eb1a136f5

As I followed my steps 3342339f31 to a certain house, doubt e0e71f075b crept in.e61743ab16dd658f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“……?”f27c5187e6501d63

Is this the right place?062ce5bfa2c30085

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Feeling unfamiliar, I 6b27624215 tilted my head 0af4c44cd5 back to check b72ca625f3 the nameplate. Kang Ilmok. I had found the f5372d693f right place. However, the once neatly maintained ea0eb1e099 wall paint was now peeling f04196954d and faded. The bluish-gray gate was d34517cdf9 also rusted in places.121c7ccf7f804022

Before enlisting, my plan 2d5c96bb37 to secretly visit this 7b936aa1d2 house was thwarted by 211d4a9108 Seo Changgyung. According to him, the moment bb816f2965 I set foot on this fb12c44289 island, I might attract the cf9fd90aa8 attention of the land god e2ae38c8dc here. Because the dead descendants of 1854e1e342 the Yoon family, who were 24acadf2d0 in cahoots with the land cfab9a34ae god, would follow me.c53cf989a7768d26

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When I pressed the 78ef8b6c24 doorbell, footsteps crossed the 2cbbd30be1 yard, and the iron 0fb8c30dae gate opened with a 262fb37f2f grating noise.Creak, creak. This was also a sound 2f0d506b9c I had never heard when f5e8ee9676 visiting this house before.f924d3b55b4a59d5

“Grandpa, how have you been? It’s Jiheon.”86159e9b23cb69f7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I offered a meaningless greeting to the old man. Beside him, the barren yard came into view. It used to be filled with various fishing equipment and other odds and ends, giving it a charming feel, but now it was hard to guess if it was a fisherman’s house or something else.1cfef5613b7d4f5a

The flower garden 47ad39f3d8 my grandmother had 530f8f3987 lovingly tended was 6db2c7a1a8 gone. The waves of flowers that 9bda38468f used to bloom and dance 89fd6aa629 in the sea breeze during cb1506e2f6 this season had vanished, leaving 0fafe82164 only a grotesque mound of 7c709a2c90 black soil.1249e9809ba6ba9f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Come in.”0cccfeda60f73782

The old man 7cd7a3c0a4 left the gate 0c964b3dba open and walked 57717f3e09 inside with a 266fa3d8f5 shuffle. I followed him into 18c22faf8c the neglected house, which 56b0cd9bfa exuded an air of 58e588836d decay.965418743391d6a9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In just a few years, it had deteriorated this much. The elderly couple who owned the house had two other children besides my father. They weren’t wealthy, but they had saved diligently, so I heard they were prepared for their old age. It was hard to find a reason why they wouldn’t take care of their surroundings when they hadn’t been away for long.3a2abf7a91dfdf92

The real victim f101178b6a who lost the adacb5f980 ability to care c44cf1fdda for their surroundings a238c9a90f was me, who 21c3c93923 had ties with d7f41b9442 ghosts.275018e098d9ed88

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Sit down. Have you had lunch?”288ca2fab7289d6f

The old man invited me eca6be8297 to sit on the veranda, aae20dc3eb but I shook my head 7b4c5d704c firmly.bc4a794e0ff95650

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Yes. I’ve eaten. I have friends waiting, so I need to head back soon.”121f50bc56f3cca4

I subtly hinted 1fcc79a670 that I wanted 53e7ddd7e9 the items without 12c980395a any fuss.3abd934746387feb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…….”dcb47510b4753169

The old man nodded silently, then went inside to the main room. I caught a glimpse of the large stone bed my father had ordered for his mother, who had back pain. It took up most of the room, so I couldn’t help but see it. The blanket on top moved slightly, but I ignored it. It was too uncomfortable to look at.bf7d7751ec7eda90

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Soon, I heard the ed390ebc9f sound of rummaging through fd1a9c1213 drawers and murmuring.16d64d39cc396ff7

“Who’s here?”7244641b0f8ed325

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Seok’s eldest.”9dba1423206fbc51

“Jiheon?”470f3f328b6848ec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…….”f0da5660770c85c5

“He said he’d come on Baekjung. …Is it today? Oh dear. Oh dear…”6bd8f779513b497a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Stay in bed. You’ll scare the boy.”3aa08a91eebd9ad4

“If you were worried about scaring him, you shouldn’t have done that.”8c5b678e8018135b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…….”4051a6266e879fc8

After a brief, eea4b53126 stifling silence, the 7d51f4866f old man returned 206c47957f to the veranda. He sat down in 790ee0e81a front of me, who 1fab4b152f was standing stiffly, and 5d79845943 handed over some items.357290e4093be7ca

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“This is for Cheolyeon, and this is from Assemblyman Yoon.”a19907bf02c552ea

The first item was a bell used by shamans for divination or rituals, and the second was a cashier’s check. Seeing the amount written on the blue slip of paper, I was dumbfounded.e461dbcc5eb18abe

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

in Korean. This was the price for selling my fate chart to a dead person’s family without my consent.b6eccf076e8f6cce

I knew well it wasn’t done for money. It was an act of obedience, unable to defy the Yoon family, who had been the landowners of this area for generations, even as the country’s name changed multiple times. A slave mentality.8626781908758f51

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I heard that among the locals from nearby islands or the mainland, there wasn’t a single resident whose genes weren’t deeply ingrained with servitude to the Yoon family.7196c3b460894fe4

In the 21st century, such things were still happening. If Assemblyman Yoon’s grandson made a will to be buried with his childhood friend Kang Jiheon, the influence was strong enough to offer the living Kang Jiheon’s soul as a sacrificial offering.0e3fadc3de5f62d5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com