Meanwhile, there were those who were growing increasingly anxious.
“What are we supposed to do about this?”
Around the round table sat a group of elders, all with graying hair. Each movement made their black robes flutter, and the blue tiger embroidery on the right chest seemed to writhe as if alive—the Cheongho, the blue tiger guardian spirit of Bonryeong.
These five were the elders’ council, the highest decision-makers in Bonryeong apart from its head, Kim Ja-myung.
Though a generational shift had occurred as usual, it was still unfair to call them mere old men relegated to the back rooms. Their achievements were remarkable.
They had proudly survived under the pressure from Incheon (Cheonjiharang), considered the root of the sorcerers, and Busan (Haeshin), favored by the sea god, and had established Bonryeong as a powerhouse. Their attachment to Bonryeong was deep, and the brash young generation was easily controlled by these seasoned veterans... but still.
One among them expressed genuine concern.
“This is nonsense! It’s already been a month!”
One slammed his fist on the table in indignation. Another elder on his left raised his voice in agreement.
“Yes, that’s right! We can’t be so relaxed when Cheonjiharang could at any moment whimsically take the exorcist Gi Jae-eon away. That simply cannot happen. Absolutely not!”
“A chance to monopolize the valuable exorcist Gi Jae-on doesn’t come often! We must milk it as much as possible. Even Busan’s Haeshin couldn’t get him; this is a golden opportunity!”
“But isn’t he still not fully freed from the curse? Even Mr. Kim Young couldn’t perform the haejusa rituals…”
“Pfft! You?!”
A thunderous rebuke flew at the worried speaker.
“What curse! Have you already forgotten the miracle that covered the sky that day?”
Others nodded in agreement, the chamber growing noisy. Praise for Gi Jae-eon filled the room.
Then, quietly listening, someone spoke up with a “But…”
“They say he hasn’t come out of his room at all; what can we do…”
The room fell instantly silent.
The speaker’s displeased expression showed he wasn’t pleased with himself either.
Yet his point was correct—something had to be said.
It had been a month since Gi Jae-eon arrived at Bonryeong.
And he had been holed up in his room the entire time.
The elders’ plan to raise Bonryeong’s standards through Gi Jae-eon was failing miserably day by day.
They exchanged glances, awkwardly fiddling with their neat beards and lapels.
“What good is skill if he’s so rude and disrespectful?”
“But skill covers a lot.”
Ahem—was someone tone-deaf? Someone cleared their throat and muttered a curse.
Indeed. Though Kim Joo-won and the others had to watch their backs because of Cheonjiharang and the Gi family’s influence, anyone bearing the [Exchange Association] title should at least show the appropriate attitude.
‘Staying locked up in the room all month is just too much.’
One elder sighed, wrinkles crinkling around his eyes.
“If only we could just give Kim Joo-won a good beating like that. Tsk tsk!”
But that was only wishful thinking—they couldn’t treat Gi Jae-eon like they did Kim Joo-won.
Because… it was Gi Jae-eon.
With the backing of Cheonjiharang and the Gi family, anyone who touched him recklessly would face disaster. Another incident now might sever the very root of Bonryeong.
“Hmmm, this cannot continue!”
When everyone fell silent, the eldest and wisest elder suddenly stood and shouted. His resolute determination lit up the others’ eyes. The group clustered eagerly, awaiting his next words.
“Come on! Speak up quickly!”
Like baby birds waiting for their mother’s food, the others gazed with bright eyes. The elder’s booming voice rang out again.
“Let’s beg!”
“...”
“...”
Hic!
“Pardon?”
The elder who spoke pouted at the cold reactions, making a walnut-shaped chin.
“What? Did you not hear me? I said let’s beg! Go to his door and plead! Please, just come out.”
Then, he kicked one skinny leg up onto a chair like a toothpick, smiling slyly with a round cheek. His lips curled into a smirk.
“Old folks hobbling on aching knees, coming one after another to plead, and he still won’t come out? What kind of bastard is that?”
Chuckling, the elder gave a thumbs-up. “Really, it’ll work. We’ve long abandoned dignity.” Confident, he persuaded the others.
It might be a little petty… but what of it? Wisdom sometimes loses grace.
“Now, let’s go!”
To them, Bonryeong and the future talents it fostered were more important than pride.
Surprisingly, their method worked directly on Gi Jae-eon. When they knocked loudly like relatives, smiling cheerfully and without reserve, the tightly closed door gave way with a creak. Truly a Confucian country.
Thus began the greetings starting with “Our Jae-eon! Is it livable? ^^” lasting one to two hours, ending with a conversation akin to a tough corporate interview.
Gi Jae-eon, utterly drained, finally agreed to join the upcoming “village purification pilgrimage” next week. The elders, thrilled to have coaxed him out, smiled broadly.
However, one fact the elders didn’t know was that Gi Jae-eon came out after a full month not because of them.
More precisely, it was because of Kim Joo-won and the “paying his share” he mentioned.
He neither paid nor helped clean… he just silently consumed the food, and that weighed heavily on Kim Joo-won. Although it was only one meal a day.
Still, it bothered him quite a bit.
‘It’s not like they’re asking me to exorcise, just a simple purification…’
Could it be possible? Gi Jae-eon swallowed dryly. His tightly clasped hands trembled pitifully.
“Intersection side is done!”
“Ugh, I’m drained. I want to go rest soon.”
The work that began at 10 a.m. continued until 6 p.m. Everyone stretched, loosening stiff bodies. Someone shouted to finish quickly before the afternoon rain, and scattered “Yeah, okay—fighting!” replies came.
“Haahh—so sleepy.”
They all looked exhausted.
Some rotated their shoulders, others yawned deeply.
Even though their work was simply purifying bad energy, it still drained their spiritual energy, and fatigue inevitably accumulated.
Except for one.
“Only this area left…”
As someone spoke, all eyes naturally gathered at one spot.
There was Gi Jae-eon.
Wearing an oversized black hoodie and loose sweatpants, his pale face stood in the corner, chewing his lips. He flinched and trembled as eyes fell on him, then avoided their gaze. He looked gloomy, like a cow being led to slaughter.
One of the kids sighed as if he’d expected this.
“Ugh.”
The mood turned awkward. Others shrugged and looked away. They began dividing the area among themselves.
“You take that, I’ll take this. Alright, good work, guys. Let’s hurry up and go!”
The kids quickly dispersed.
Gi Jae-eon remained alone, invisible. No one spoke to him.
No invitations to join, no concerns about his pale face.
It was inevitable. To them, Gi Jae-eon was no longer the “respected genius.” He was simply a “rude outsider.”
“If that’s how you’re gonna be, why’d you even come?”
One kid grumbled. No one doubted who the sharp criticism was aimed at. Nearby, Lee Kyunghak pushed his glasses up and said,
“Huh? Didn’t you know? The elders came down and personally asked him to come.”
“What?”
Several kids stopped working, eyes wide, approaching with surprised faces. Was that true? Everyone gawked with open mouths. Was it really such a big deal? Lee Kyunghak chuckled and nodded.
“Yeah, all five of them.”