NOVEL WEB Chapter 25
The term “Jeoong” refers to a doll made of straw. Its origin is said to come from the story of Cheoyong, the protagonist of the Silla era. Due to the nature of the tale, the straw dolls used in Korea possess powers of protection, warding off evil spirits and the Pestilence God.
“Adding the Cheoyong dance increases the effectiveness; truly wonderful. Even if the space is narrow, if you wish with all your heart, how can a strategy not emerge?”
Inside the dark, vertical cave, the flickering torch and Jeoong continuously cast bizarre shadows. Although the wind barely blew, the torch danced as if caught in a typhoon, while the Jeoong, remaining still, seemed to roam around the cave as if it were moving.
Its figure was akin to a dance.
The immobile Jeoong sent its soul into the shadows, dancing wildly as if arms stretched out haphazardly, moving chaotically in all directions, legs rigidly bending as it zigzagged about; its image was reminiscent of a priest communicating with the gods.
“Ah, how does one fare? Ah, how does one fare? Ah, how does one fare?”
“Cheoyong, they say that in this life, one should not speak to the dead. In this life, one should not speak. In this life, one should not speak.”
With that, Jinseong’s Cheoyong song filled the air, and simultaneously, a tape recorder placed in the center of the straw doll played another Cheoyong song, mingling with the sounds of instruments.
Inside the cave, it had indeed transformed into a tiny stage, with Jeoong becoming a playful being alive with music.
“Who speaks of that? Who speaks of that? Not a needle, not a thread. Who speaks of Cheoyong? Pestilence God, Pestilence God, who speaks of Cheoyong?”
And so, on the other side of that dancing shadow, bound to become Cheoyong’s enemy and a representation of opposition, something awaited.
The human dangling above a cluster of uncollected bone fragments was that very something.
Once a trained warrior, its muscles had seemingly vanished, replaced by nothing but flab, as it dangled like an ancient saint, wedged against the damp, foul-smelling cave wall in a cross shape, blood dripping profusely.
The oddity was that its upper body was wrapped in a sack, leaving only the lower body exposed. The lower body trembled violently, perhaps due to pain, shaking as if spasming.
From that human’s mouth, a faint sound emerged.
“Release me….”
Whether the effort to move its tongue was too strenuous or if it was suffocating within the tightly wrapped sack, it was unclear. However, that voice was fainter than an ant’s cry and weaker than a droplet falling from the stalactites, merely a distant plea echoing in the cave.
But perhaps that desperate wish reached someone?
The tape recorder embedded in Jeoong’s chest stopped functioning, and Jinseong’s mouth, which had endlessly recited Cheoyong, was also sealed shut. The wildly dancing torch returned to its original purpose, burning steadily as everything resumed its place.
“Om Mahā Su Svāhā.”
Jinseong quietly chanted a mantra towards Jeoong, then walked towards the warrior bound against the wall.
Soft steps.
With each step, bones scattered across the floor crunched underfoot, but he paid it no mind. For an ordinary person, disturbing the remains might provoke anger from the evil spirits and ghosts, potentially causing them to unleash thoughts and curses. But for Jinseong, it was no more impactful than a mosquito bite.
In fact, the unfulfilled thoughts and curses would return upon them, doubling their impact.
Kki—ack!
Jinseong’s power, the protective power held within Jeoong, and the amplified curse all worked to keep him safe from the evil spirits and ghosts. However, upon realizing the futility of their actions, those who had lingered in this vertical cave, simmering in their wrath, had long since lost the capacity for even minimal thought, rushing towards the flames like moths drawn to a light.
Kkiak!
The more souls burst forth, the stronger the power of the spell was imbued into the silver coin lodged in Jeoong’s head. The tarnish built up on the coin over the years began to flake away, and although the cave was illuminated only by the torch, it seemed to shine with a growing radiance.
At last, when Jinseong stepped upon most of the bone fragments and reached the hanging warrior, the coin glimmered brightly enough to illuminate a portion of the cave, as if it had become a small moon.
“O Pestilence Ghost, O Pestilence God. O defilement that spreads plague. Here comes Cheoyong. Not for gold or treasures, but I have come to drive you away, O Pestilence God.”
Straw signifies “the multifaceted benefit to humans.”
Then what is beneficial to humans, and what is harmful?
Good and harmful are determined solely by subjective judgment. Establishing such criteria is indeed tricky.
If instead of firewood it blazes forth as if piercing the skies, is that truly beneficial? If it transforms to become a strong rope, is that a benefit? If it decays faster, harming the substrate sooner, is that beneficial?
The notion of “beneficial form” is indeed ambiguous; adept handling could yield great rewards, yet poor management could render it less valuable than a mere stone rolling about.
Jinseong felt he could wield this well; however, this “beneficial form” was a double-edged sword. To shape it into his desired form required refining.
Thus, through this Cheoyong dance, Jinseong molded the “beneficial form” to fulfill his desires.
Straw transforms into humans, gaining weight in its presence.
And atop that, human adversaries emerge.
The Jeoong that embodies Cheoyong dispelled the Pestilence God, altered to become a symbol of repelling evil and inviting fortune. It was one of the most powerful forms that could be created from straw, capable of averting the malevolent and ushering in good fortune.
Moreover, as the straw took on a human shape, it drew closer to humanity, enhancing the power of the spell, and binding the warrior to the wall disguised to mirror the Pestilence God, thus integrating its symbolism.
And the Pestilence God must make a vow to Cheoyong.
Only when one articulates their desires can they be realized, especially before such an overwhelming figure!
“Free me….”
“Indeed, O Pestilence God. Do you wish to extract the stake embedded in your body and flee a thousand miles away?”
“Free me….”
If one desires a wish, there also exists a cost. While the original Cheoyong spells may not have mandated a price, the warrior hanging before him was obliged to pay one.
On the mantle encircling his body, a depiction resided.
The “Y”-shaped drawing signified a barrier meant to disrupt the flow of negative energy, trapping it within an unbreakable circle until the circle could be erased; within, the negative energy could not escape. The person inside that sack assumed the role of the Pestilence God and could not expel the defilement by their own strength.
Thus, what it resulted in was the inescapable sack, from which he could not emerge. Unable to rid the defilement from within, he would be unable to escape the encasing sack, necessitating that he pay the price Jinseong desired.
The warrior’s desired wish was “Free me.”
Not a plea for his life, but a wish to be freed.
What then does that mean…?
“If the price of the wish is not paid, even as eons pass and the end approaches, the soul shall never escape that sack.”
Jinseong spoke, puncturing a hole for an eye in the sack.
* * *
The words of a person might shift in form depending on the occasion.
Speak truth through the reflection in a window.
With all your heart, draw your shape and manifest it,
Reveal everything residing in the deepest recesses of the hippocampus.
* * *
“The price you have paid is indeed well compensated. You may now return to your home, for your long service has come to an end.”
Even with the covering removed, the unresponsive warrior, drooling with vacant eyes, remained motionless as Jinseong spoke.
A bluish mana collected in the warrior’s eyes like a hologram, continuously spilling thick blood that soaked his entire clothing.
“Can’t you respond?”
The warrior merely rolled on the ground, unable to react to Jinseong’s words.
“It has indeed been a long while since I conducted an interrogation without using a parasitic spell. I hope you will forgive my small mistakes.”
With that, Jinseong turned his back to the man.
“Interrogation is truly a difficult task. However, I can at least offer a prayer for your peace. Om Mani Padme Hum. Om Mani Padme Hum. Om Mani Padme Hum.”
Kki-ick.
Thus, Jinseong concealed himself, utilizing teleportation.
What remained in the cave where he vanished were the dwindling flames of the torch,
The scattered shards of bones now reduced to powder,
And.
And….
“Aah…”
A single happy warrior who had had his wish fulfilled.