novelraw Chapter 1 : Chapter 1
Chapter 1 : Chapter 1
Chapter 1. Possessed by a Ghost?
Na Hyeon-seung, who had been waiting anxiously outside the room, brightened up when he heard the baby’s cry.
Having many children was a blessing. He already had a son and a daughter, but he was overjoyed to have another child.
Moreover, it was a son. His wife, who had endured the pains of labor, was also safe. This was a joyous occasion for the family.
Na Hyeon-seung rewarded the midwife and gave a small bonus to the household servants as well.
Even though they were not wealthy, he had to spend money when the occasion called for it.
“Master. A monk has arrived and is asking to see you.”
Na Hyeon-seung was puzzled by the servant's words.
Who could it be? There was no one he expected to visit.
And a monk, no less?
In any case, Na Hyeon-seung decided to meet him.
“Show him to the guest parlor.”
A moment later, the old monk who followed the servant appeared extraordinary at a glance.
Despite wearing faded, old monk robes, his eyes were piercing and his posture was so straight that an unintentional sense of pressure was felt from him.
He was clearly a high priest who had practiced as a Buddhist for a long time. The young monk who came with him was also upright and careful in his conduct.
“This poor monk is Beom Yo, practicing at Seowon Temple.”
Na Hyeon-seung had heard of Seowon Temple. It was a place where a high priest of great spiritual power resided, so not only the local prestigious families and high-ranking officials but even the Yeonnam Prince's Manor—which ruled the three southern provinces—often visited to burn incense and pay their respects.
“So you are Great Master Beom Yo. I have heard much of your fame. But what brings you to such a humble place?”
“I was passing by and stopped after learning that there was a joyous event in your house. Congratulations on the birth of your son.”
How did he know a son was born?
Did a servant tell him?
That must be it. Probably.
However, the servant who had guided the monk was startled and his eyes widened. He had not uttered a single word.
“The boy must be blessed. Seeing as a renowned Great Master has visited like this on the day he was born. Haha!”
“It seems so. I intended to just pass by, but my heart was stirred, so I ended up coming here.”
Great Master Beom Yo said with a nod.
“If that is the case, please give him a word of blessing that might help the child’s future.”
“The child carries the will of heaven and will become a great figure in the future. However, it is a pity that he will not be able to live out his full natural lifespan because of it.”
“What... what does that mean? Are you saying the child will die young?”
A startled Na Hyeon-seung asked. If someone else had said such a thing, he would have cursed and kicked them out. But Great Master Beom Yo was a high priest of great fame and enlightenment.
“I have said what needed to be said, so I shall take my leave.”
Wait, where did he think he was going after saying something like that?
Na Hyeon-seung hurriedly held him back.
“Oh, Great Master. How can you leave like this? Please tell me a way to extend my son's life. I will reward you handsomely. I beg of you, Great Master.”
“Hmm....”
Great Master Beom Yo pondered for a moment before speaking.
“There is no way right now. Within five years, there will be a change in the child. Bring him to Seowon Temple at that time.”
“Thank you. Thank you, Great Master. I will not forget and will surely visit you.”
Na Hyeon-seung tried to offer a reward, but Great Master Beom Yo waved his hand and left just like that.
Na Hyeon-seung, who had been standing blankly, soon came to his senses and went to his wife, Lady Jeong, to tell her what had just happened.
“Was his Buddhist name Beom Yo?”
“That is correct.”
“I have heard of him. They say his enlightenment is so deep that he can foresee the future, which is why high officials and prestigious families visit him. Such a person would not have said something baseless.”
“I think so too. He did not look like the kind of person who would say such things out of a selfish desire for alms.”
“You said five years, right? I understand. I will watch him closely, and if there is anything unusual, I will let you know immediately. Let us go to Seowon Temple then.”
“Let us do that.”
Lady Jeong looked down at the baby in her arms. The sight of him sleeping soundly was adorable.
“My Lord. Have you thought of a name for the child?”
“Since Great Master Beom Yo said what he did, let us call him Jin-an. What do you think?”
Na Hyeon-seung decided on that name in the hope that his son would live a peaceful and pleasant life.
Lady Jeong also liked the name.
“It is a good name.”
***
Whether it was thanks to his name or because the two of them poured their attention into him, the child grew up strong without any major issues. The eldest son, Na Jin-mook, and the daughter, Na Yeon, also took good care of their youngest brother.
However, in the year he turned four, the child, who had woken up after a good sleep, suddenly burst into tears upon seeing Lady Jeong.
“What is wrong, our little one? You must have had a nightmare.”
Lady Jeong hugged and soothed the child, but he did not stop crying easily.
He held onto her collar so tightly with those small hands and cried so sorrowfully that Lady Jeong’s eyes also turned red.
At that moment, unfortunately, Na Jin-mook and Na Yeon came to see their youngest brother. Then the child, who had barely calmed down, started crying again. A flustered Na Jin-mook was restless, and Na Yeon also burst into tears.
Since the children were acting that way, Lady Jeong was frantic.
Just then, Lady Jeong’s personal maid, Im Yeo, arrived. As she soothed them, Na Yeon soon stopped crying, but the youngest cried for a long time before losing consciousness and going limp.
“Call a physician. Quickly!”
As the startled Lady Jeong shouted, Im Yeo rushed out and brought a physician.
“He only became weak because he cried too much, so you do not need to worry.”
Only then did Lady Jeong breathe a sigh of relief.
At dusk, Na Hyeon-seung returned home after finishing work. He heard what happened during the day from his wife and checked on the youngest, feeling worried.
The sight of him sleeping soundly was cute, but it was heartbreaking to see his eyes so swollen.
“Children are sometimes startled by small things. It must have been a nightmare, so do not worry.”
Lady Jeong also thought that was the case. However, the child's state was very strange after he regained consciousness the next day.
The child, who used to babble and ask cute questions about so many things in a lispy voice, suddenly became silent.
Furthermore, whenever he stared intently with his pitch-black eyes, his gaze was so deep and unlike a child's that it was suffocating.
In addition to that, he often let out sighs as if the ground were collapsing.
She had raised two children already, but this was her first time seeing such a case. Lady Jeong was anxious with worry, but Na Hyeon-seung laughed it off, saying the child was just a bit unusual.
As time passed and Lady Jeong gradually became accustomed to it, she let it be, but another incident occurred before a month had even passed.
“Sister-in-law.”
The one approaching while looking at her with eyes full of lust was Gang Myeon-uk, a distant relative whose relation to Na Hyeon-seung was so remote that one would wonder if they even shared the same blood.
He had saved Na Hyeon-seung's life on two occasions. To repay that debt, Na Hyeon-seung spent a considerable amount of money to pay off all the massive debts he owed.
The family had tried to stop him, but he did not listen. Instead, he protected Gang Myeon-uk and fought so severely with his family that he ended up cutting ties with them.
Afterward, Na Hyeon-seung treated Gang Myeon-uk like his own elder brother and followed him. He even took care of him before his own wife and children.
But he was not a good person. He took advantage of Na Hyeon-seung's kindness to gain no small amount of profit, and recently, he had even harbored dark intentions toward Lady Jeong.
Today as well, he had come to see Lady Jeong while Na Hyeon-seung was away.
“My Lord is not here right now.”
“I know. I just stopped by while passing through.”
As Gang Myeon-uk spoke, he suddenly grabbed Lady Jeong's arm and put his hand around her shoulder. It looked like he was supporting her, but his touch was lewd.
“Be careful. You almost fell.”
Why would a person who was standing perfectly fine fall?
He always revealed his dark intentions in this manner. That was why it was awkward to tell Na Hyeon-seung. Even if she told him, he probably would not believe her anyway.
“Do not do this.”
Lady Jeong tried to shake off his hand. However, she was careful in her movements because she was holding the youngest in her arms.
It was a mistake to send away her maid, Im Yeo, to put the child to sleep. If she had known Gang Myeon-uk would come, she would never have done so.
“I am fine now. Please let go.”
“I have no other intentions. I was just worried that the child might fall.”
To Lady Jeong, those words sounded like a threat that he would drop the child if she did not stay still.
“You....”
Lady Jeong felt humiliated and angry, and she unintentionally gripped the child tighter. At that moment, Na Jin-an opened his eyes.
The child immediately guessed the situation upon seeing Gang Myeon-uk standing closely with his arm around his mother's shoulder. Coincidentally, his face, full of lust, was nearby.
SLAP!
Na Jin-an was only four years old, but because he struck with all his might, Gang Myeon-uk's cheek stung. Moreover, he never expected to be hit like that, so he stood there blankly, unable to do anything.
“I heard that if kindness continues, people think it is a right! How can a man like you harbor dark intentions toward my mother! You are a man worse than a dog, who knows no gratitude!”
“You... you....”
How could such words come out of the mouth of that small child?
Gang Myeon-uk was not the only one surprised. Lady Jeong was also shocked.
Fortunately, Im Yeo, who had been away, returned at that moment. She had heard Na Jin-an shouting as she approached.
“Madam!”
“You are here.”
Only then did Gang Myeon-uk come to his senses and take a step back. Then Im Yeo stood in the way as if to protect Lady Jeong and glared at Gang Myeon-uk.
“How can you be here while the Madam is alone?”
“Hmph! I came because I had some business for a moment.”
“Still, this is not proper etiquette! If you do not leave, I will call for people!”
As Im Yeo shouted fiercely, Gang Myeon-uk felt offended.
How dare a mere slave.
He was about to say something with that thought in mind, but Im Yeo spoke first.
“Is anyone there? Something has happened to the Madam, so where is everyone?”
“Fine. I am going. I am going. Sister-in-law, I will leave for today.”
Gang Myeon-uk hurriedly left the place. He had never shown even the slightest opening until now. If he had, he would not have been able to deceive Na Hyeon-seung like that.
But today, he was flustered because of Na Jin-an and got caught by Im Yeo. Furthermore, because he left as if he were running away, the servants who encountered him found it strange.
As expected, in the evening, Na Hyeon-seung, who had learned of the incident, came to visit.
Gang Myeon-uk was at a loss as to how to make an excuse. But was Na Hyeon-seung not the one to apologize first?
I knew it.
Only then was Gang Myeon-uk relieved.
Actually, anyone could see that Gang Myeon-uk had other intentions in what happened today. The servants also said the same thing in unison.
However, Na Hyeon-seung scolded the servants instead, saying that there was no way Gang Myeon-uk would do such a thing.
Since such things happened more than once or twice, Lady Jeong did not mention Gang Myeon-uk anymore. Na Hyeon-seung was blind when it came to Gang Myeon-uk, to the point where it was frustrating and heart-wrenching.
It was because he had a rigid and innocent personality and trusted people easily. He was like that even though he was a Chief Constable who led constables to catch vicious criminals.
“It seems the child is possessed by a ghost, so why not call a Taoist priest and ask him? I happen to know someone.”
“I will discuss it with my wife.”
“What is there to discuss? Such matters should not be rumored, so make a decision immediately.”
It was strange that Gang Myeon-uk was rushing, but Na Hyeon-seung did not think deeply. He thought he was doing it out of concern for Na Jin-an.
“Still, I must tell her. My wife will surely agree to do so.”
Returning home, Na Hyeon-seung told Lady Jeong about it. Then Lady Jeong's face hardened.
Since such a thing happened today, Gang Myeon-uk must have harbored a grudge given his personality. If he calls a Taoist priest, there is no telling what he might do by making up stories.
Lady Jeong had seen through it accurately. Gang Myeon-uk planned to conspire with the Taoist priest to extort a large amount of money from Na Hyeon-seung and then threaten Lady Jeong using the child as an excuse. He planned to say that if she did not listen, he would send the child to a Taoist temple in a mountain valley.
As Lady Jeong was contemplating, something suddenly came to mind.
“My Lord. Do you remember what Great Master Beom Yo said the day So-an was born?”
So-an was a nickname for Na Jin-an. If someone is relatively young, a "So" or "A" is attached before the last character of the name to call them. Conversely, if they are older, "Dae" or "No" is attached.
“Of course. I remember it well.”
“Then instead of calling a Taoist priest, let us go to Great Master Beom Yo.”
“Hmm....”
Na Hyeon-seung agonized. He felt sorry to go against the suggestion made by his elder brother out of consideration.
Seeing that, Lady Jeong was angry but held it in and said:
“I will send someone to tell the elder brother. Since he is someone who cares for you, he will tell you to do so once he knows the circumstances.”
“That may be true, but....”
“My Lord. If something goes wrong with So-an, it will be too late to regret it. It would be different if we did not know a way, but Great Master Beom Yo already foresaw a day like today and told us to come to him.”
As Lady Jeong pleaded while crying, Na Hyeon-seung's heart softened.
“I understand. Then let us go to Seowon Temple.”
Lady Jeong immediately called a servant to pack their bags and prepare a carriage, fearing that Na Hyeon-seung might change his mind. However, she did not inform Gang Myeon-uk.
Lady Jeong was refined and had an introverted personality, so she was timid, but she could become as tough as needed for the sake of her son.