Who Are You? (2)
Im Yeon-jeong felt her heart pounding as she looked down at the child.
She hadn’t expected the subject of the ritual to be a child.
“About the same age as my Geun,” she sighed.
Cheon So-seon walked up beside her, joining her in gazing at the children.
“Yes, these children are the ones for the ritual.”
“What kind of children are they?”
“I can’t tell you.”
She had expected that answer. She had only asked on the off chance.
“This child has two souls within. One of those souls will be transferred to that other child.”
It was common in the soul transfer ritual for two souls to inhabit one body.
Killing one soul and implanting another was too difficult, so the method of having two souls in one body was often used.
This was what troubled Im Yeon-jeong.
Usually, after the soul transfer, the child who originally had two souls would die. The process itself was so arduous and challenging.
Cheon So-seon picked up a booklet from the side.
“Just follow this.”
Jeong-so, who was nearby, perked up, completely absorbed in learning the contents.
“It will take about twelve hours. Let’s start the ritual in an hour.”
After Cheon So-seon left, Jeong-so hurried over.
“Let me see that book.”
Im Yeon-jeong handed the booklet to Jeong-so. She wanted to say, “You learn it all and handle it yourself,” but she couldn’t.
Jeong-so exclaimed in admiration from the first page.
“Oh! Look at this! Starting the ritual this way?”
Im Yeon-jeong pretended not to hear and moved back to the children.
Watching the two sleeping children made her heart ache. One would die as soon as the ritual ended, and the other would die in the next ritual.
Jeong-so, engrossed in the booklet, spoke to her.
“At least it’s fortunate.”
“What is?”
“That they’re children.”
“What? How is that fortunate?”
“Isn’t it? I feel more at ease with children.”
It was clear he didn’t mean it in a good way.
So Im Yeon-jeong didn’t respond. She wanted to slap him and ask what nonsense he was spouting, but she couldn’t afford to make Jeong-so a problem at this dangerous moment. She needed to bring him to her side.
“Let’s do our best.”
“Yes, let’s!”
Jeong-so still couldn’t tear his eyes away from the booklet.
There was an hour left before the ritual began.
“I’m going to rest a bit.”
“I’ll stay here.”
Leaving Jeong-so, whose eyes were bloodshot from trying to memorize every word, Im Yeon-jeong stepped outside the temple.
Outside, martial artists were everywhere. Cheon So-seon hadn’t left, and with him was Lee Seon.
The three of them, with their incredible martial skills, were joined by Baek Seok and Il-ho.
Im Yeon-jeong felt uneasy. No matter how skilled the Byeok-ri-dan was, she doubted they could handle these people.
‘Even he would find it hard to save those children.’
She sighed, looking up at the sky, and naturally thought of her son.
Had he been rescued by now? Or was he still in danger?
Worrying about her son’s safety in this situation made her feel guilty towards the children inside the temple.
Ahead, she saw Il-ho and Chil-ho by the wall.
Im Yeon-jeong approached Chil-ho and spoke.
“Can I see you for a moment?”
“Yes.”
As they were about to step outside, Cheon So-seon spoke to her.
“Where are you going?”
“Just to get some fresh air.”
“You mustn’t leave the temple grounds.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Im Yeon-jeong walked towards the back garden, with Chil-ho following her.
They communicated in whispers.
-Has he arrived?
-Yes, he must be here.
-The ritual starts in an hour. We need to get outside to inform him.
-Like before, he’ll find us. Just do as they say until then.
-Okay.
-The problem is the temple where the ritual is held. Even he will find it hard to get close.
-I’ll try to step out for air whenever I can. Let’s exchange messages then.
-Yes, please come out once more before the ritual starts.
-I will.
Of course, there was a chance she might not be able to step out at all. Things in the martial world rarely went as planned.
From now on, she had to act and move with caution. This mission required perfect timing. If they couldn’t communicate, they would have to trust each other and make their own decisions.
Im Yeon-jeong stopped in front of a young flower blooming under the garden wall.
-The subjects of the ritual are children.
-Children?
-Yes.
Chil-ho was furious, though he didn’t know why children were subjected to the soul transfer ritual. Given his experience with the organization, his anger was justified.
-They’re the worst.
Im Yeon-jeong nodded silently at Chil-ho’s words.
The image of the children lying on the bed kept haunting her.
Perhaps that’s why her heart kept racing.
I was observing the temple from a hidden spot far away.
From the manor, Jin and I had taken turns watching the place, carefully monitoring their movements. As soon as they left the manor, I followed them here.
Once the ritual began in earnest, I planned to infiltrate the temple.
I was fully prepared.
In the worst-case scenario, I would cut down everyone and rescue the two women.
The best outcome would be if she completed the ritual safely, and I could follow Cheon So-seon to uncover the mastermind behind this.
This was a rare opportunity.
I checked my equipment.
On my wrist was a bracelet made from Namhae Fisherman’s fishing line. I had daggers for emergencies, and I carried both internal and external medicine.
My internal energy was fully charged, and the Suramyeongwang Sword at my waist was ready to be drawn.
I was physically prepared, and now the outcome depended on my mindset and skills.
I sat quietly, calming my mind.
The people gathered at the temple were no ordinary opponents. Even Cheon So-seon, when I had two cycles of internal energy, was my equal. Now, with three cycles, I felt more confident, but there was no guarantee of victory, as I didn’t know his techniques.
Moreover, there were two elderly figures whose presence was as formidable as the Sword Emperor or the Fist King.
Not to mention, the others seemed to possess considerable skills.
Individually, they might be weaker than me, but together, they were much stronger. This was no easy fight. It was the toughest situation I had faced.
If Galsaryang were here, he might not have allowed this fight.
With my eyes closed, I caressed the handle of the Suramyeongwang Sword. It calmed me. In my past life, I had faced several difficult battles. Back then, I fought to save the martial world, but now, I was fighting to save two children and two women.
The targets of my rescue were different, but my heart was the same. In fact, my resolve now was even more desperate and earnest.
I realized that the urgency of a person’s heart isn’t about the magnitude of the task but about how deeply they emotionally connect with it.
Just then, Jin arrived at my hiding spot. He handed me an urgent message.
“A message from the Black Panther Unit.”
I was shocked as I read it. Jin, noticing my reaction, asked anxiously.
“What is it?”
I looked at the temple with a grave expression.
“Her son is there.”
Jin, who knew the situation, was equally shocked.
“Could he be the subject of the ritual?”
“Yes.”
“Oh no! How could this happen?”
We were silent for a moment. Being the subject of the ritual meant his life was in grave danger.
“What will you do?”
Jin asked cautiously, and I looked at the temple with deep determination.
“We’ll change the plan. We’ll go in and save everyone.”
The problem was the child. I didn’t know what situation he was in.
As the ritual was about to begin, the temple was heavily guarded.
Cheon So-seon and Lee Seon stood right in front of the temple door. With no other entrances or windows, blocking this door meant there was no way into the temple. They had sealed off any potential entry points in advance.
They planned to stay there for the entire twelve hours of the ritual.
Baek Seok, Il-ho, and Chil-ho patrolled the perimeter, ready for any intruders.
Chil-ho was on guard, patrolling the wall.
‘He must have followed us, right?’
He worried that there might have been a mistake and that they were unaware of their presence here.
But he quickly dismissed such worries. The Byeok-ri-dan had never disappointed him before. This time would be no different.
As she reached the back garden, the awaited message from Byeok-ri-dan arrived.
-It’s me. Just listen to what I say.
Chil-ho walked slowly, as if nothing was amiss, feeling a surge of relief. He had been worried just moments ago, so the message was even more welcome.
-Go to Im Yeon-jeong and relay my message. Find out two things: the expected duration of the ritual and what will happen to the two subjects.
Byeok-ri-dan’s message was urgent. Something must have gone wrong.
-I’ll wait here. No matter how long it takes, find out slowly.
Chil-ho quickened his pace.
Just before the ritual began, Im Yeon-jeong opened the temple door and stepped outside. She had promised to meet Chil-ho before the ritual started.
She took a deep breath, as if to steady her nerves, and stepped forward.
After offering a polite nod to those standing by the door, she stretched and walked out into the courtyard. Neither Cheon Soseon nor Lee Seon, who were stationed outside, said a word to her.
They had no intention of disturbing her before such an important ritual. It was only natural for her to feel a bit tense.
She loosened up with some light exercises and chatted casually with Chilho. Their interaction was so natural that no one found it odd.
Cheon Soseon spoke to her.
“The ritual will begin soon. You should head inside.”
“Yes.”
“Do your best.”
“I will.”
Im Yeonjeong obediently entered the temple.
Chilho resumed his patrol along the wall, heading towards the rear garden.
“Did you find out anything?”
Byeok Lidan was hidden in a tree far beyond the wall.
The distance was too great for Chilho to send his voice transmission that far. Anticipating her concern, Byeok Lidan’s voice reached her.
“Don’t worry, just speak. I’ll hear you.”
Though it was beyond the usual range, opening a path for sound to travel further was a skill only true masters possessed.
“The ritual will take twelve hours.”
“A full day, then.”
Byeok Lidan heard her clearly.
Now, Chilho sent his message without worry.
“They said a child has two souls within. They’re planning to transfer one of those souls to another child.”
Byeok Lidan understood. The child was Im Yeonjeong’s son. According to the records, the child had been sent away a year ago.
Byeok Lidan asked in a low voice, the most crucial question of the day.
“What happens to the child after the soul is transferred? Can they return to their original self?”
Chilho replied somberly.
“They said it’s unlikely. Most die from the side effects of the ritual.”
A moment of silence passed. In that silence, Chilho sensed something unusual. It was a tension that went beyond mere concern for the child involved in the ritual.
Chilho relayed what Im Yeonjeong had told him.
“Do you know who the soul within the child is?”
It was at that moment.
Someone spoke from behind her.
“What are you doing?”
Startled, she turned to find Ilho standing there.
“Is someone over there?”
Ilho’s gaze followed hers to the tree she had been watching.