Chapter 31: Whispers Between Chamber

“Hey, what kind of thought…”

I reached out my hand towards White Fluff, who was revealing its true form and looking around before running towards me. 

Then, White Fluff transformed into a doll and flew into my hand.

I snatched White Fluff and asked Lee Geon,

“Is there anything related to numbers here?”

“Could you be referring to the order of the spirit chambers?”

“Spirit chambers?”

“Each spirit chamber in Jongmyo Shrine houses the spirit tablets of the king and queen. The order of the spirit chambers is determined starting from the first, Great King Taejo. It seems like the seventh spirit chamber might be related.”

“We should go there.”

“Yes, I will guide you.”

{Was it a king of the Jeon dynasty again this time?}

With his tattered clothes and even holding a broom, I initially thought he was a groundskeeper.

But after hearing him speak, he seemed like the eminent statesman Hwang Hee, who remained in office until he was almost ninety years old.

I think I saw in a children’s biography that King Sejong repeatedly rejected his requests to resign due to his old age.

He remained even after death to deliver the royal command. 

Was it really a punishment? Or was it because he firmly believed he would do well?

{I am a punishment, though.}

White Fluff chimed into my thoughts.

If it was a punishment, was White Fluff also hoping this time would pass quickly, like that person?

“Have you heard when they’re restoring the Japsang here?”

As I crossed the courtyard, which had become even darker than before, and headed up to the main hall, I asked Kim Woojin about something that came to mind.

Words might not be able to dispel the darkness, but they could break the silence.

“The main hall is currently under repair. So, they plan to unveil it along with the restoration of the Japsang.”

The magnificent scale, which was impressive even from the outside, was still felt inside.

Along one side of the long corridor were the doors to the spirit chambers, and along the other side, red pillars were lined up at regular intervals.

It felt like soldiers in red uniforms standing in formation, giving it the dignity befitting a place that guards the afterlife of the king.

“The first chamber is over there.”

As I walked following Lee Geon’s guidance, I had the feeling that I had seen this scene somewhere before.

Did I see it in a historical drama? 

Well, it’s grand enough to be in one.

When we reached the first spirit chamber, Lee Geon explained that it was the spirit chamber of Great King Taejo. 

And we moved one space to the side.

Finally, we reached the seventh spirit chamber.

I stood between the seventh and eighth spirit chambers and carefully examined the gap between them from top to bottom to see if there was anything there.

Of course, I didn’t have high expectations. 

If it was something visible to the naked eye, someone who had passed by this place would have already taken it.

“It wouldn’t be visible to the human eye, would it?”

I said, turning to look at Lee Geon and Jang Hawoon.

As if understanding my intention, Lee Geon replied,

“We will go inside and take a look.”

Lee Geon and Jang Hawoon each passed through the doors of the seventh and eighth spirit chambers and went inside.

I placed my hands on the doors of the two spirit chambers, wondering if any thoughts remained like silk threads.

But there was no reaction.

Could they have disappeared during the repairs?

“White Fluff, is there anything?”

“No, I don’t feel anything.”

“Brother, there’s nothing here.”

“It’s the same here.”

Lee Geon and Jang Hawoon came out empty-handed, and I felt lost. 

Where do I find 7 and a half?

I held White Fluff up high.

“Tell me if you feel any spiritual power.”

I needed a spiritual power-seeking radar.

So, I held White Fluff up high and went back and forth between chambers 7 and 8. 

Then, a faint light emanated from Kim Woojin’s scabbard, who was standing next to me.

“Mr. Kim Woojin, your sword.”

I warned Kim Woojin and at the same time summoned the Four Tiger Sword and held it in my hand. 

As the Four Tiger Sword in my hand emitted light, the darkness receded and the surroundings brightened.

I should have taken out the sword sooner.

“I see it.”

At the same time as Lee Geon shouted, a talisman flew into the air. And it stopped in mid-air before long.

“I caught it.”

Already?

Using the sword as a flashlight, I approached and saw a shadow stopped with the talisman attached to its body.

Kim Woojin’s sword, which had approached, made a humming sound and emitted light.

“It’s a demon. It doesn’t seem to be that old.”

Perhaps because I had only seen evil spirits possessing people’s bodies, I found the shadow-like form of the evil spirit strangely fascinating.

“Is it capable of possessing people?”

“If it were to possess someone, it would be at the first stage.”

“It seems that these minor spirits easily enter because the Japsang is damaged.”

I should restore the Japsang quickly after all.

At the same time, I was so curious about the shadow-like form that I approached a little closer.

It should be okay since I put a talisman on it.

“Please don’t get too close.”

Even up close, it really looked like a shadow. 

A dark but transparent shadow.

No wonder it looks exactly like a shadow when it’s attached to a person’s body. 

I wonder how different the power is from the evil spirit that destroyed the Japsang.

“It seems that a minor spirit wandering nearby was drawn to your spiritual power, Master.”

White Fluff’s words made me realize that evil spirits really were coming to find me. 

I felt relieved and heavy-hearted at the same time.

I should avoid people to avoid causing harm to those around me.

“If we restore the Japsang, will these kinds of evil spirits not enter?”

“We will be able to block what can be called evil spirits. Just by giving it the name Japsang, it gains power.”

Ah, I’ve heard this story from White Fluff before. 

That’s why he said the evil spirit destroyed the Japsang.

As Jang Hawoon swung his sword at the evil spirit stopped by the talisman, the evil spirit split in half and disappeared as if it were evaporating.

But, this evil spirit can’t be what King Sejong left behind. 

If he had left something with spiritual power, these evil spirits would have already visited.

I hurried to the front of chamber 7.

I went to the front of chamber 8, then stood between chambers 7 and 8, in front of the semi-circular pillar, and touched here and there. 

But there was no reaction.

Could it have disappeared along with the damaged Japsang? 

Then, could it have fallen into the hands of the evil spirit that damaged the Japsang?

There were too many possibilities for what could have happened to what was left behind. 

The evil spirit that damaged the Japsang, passing minor spirits, people in charge of the ancestral rites, and they said they recently did repairs too.

“Is this not it?”

“I don’t know. I wonder if the evil spirit took it when the Japsang disappeared.”

I answered Kim Woojin’s question and looked up at the ceiling. 

It was so dark that I couldn’t see anything, so I held up the Four Tiger Sword and examined it, relying on its light.

But there was nothing.

As I lowered the sword in disappointment, the Four Tiger Sword sent a signal, as if its light repeatedly strengthened and weakened.

– Whoong

And the sword was swung towards the pillar on its own.

“Uh, White Fluff!”

“I’m not the one moving it, Master.”

The moment the sword touched the pillar, tens of thousands of thoughts passed through my mind.

What happens if I destroy cultural heritage? 

They said the repairs were finished and it was open to the public, so will they have to repair it again?

Was this a national treasure or a treasure? 

Since this sword doesn’t have a blade, wouldn’t it just end with a slight scratch?

Can I cover up the scratch if it gets scratched? 

But why is the Four Tiger Sword suddenly doing this?

Unlike my complicated thoughts, the sword pierced the pillar in an instant.

But I didn’t feel anything. 

I clearly had the sword in my hand, and the sword was about a hand span into the pillar, but there was no solid feeling.

“Master, spiritual power is leaking from where the sword entered.”

So, I did stab something even though I couldn’t see it.

With a sense of helplessness and the thought that nothing could be done, I pulled on the sword to pull it out. 

But the sword was drawn further down.

Why is this sword doing this?

When the sword stopped moving on its own, a faint light leaked out along the path of the sword.

Ah, is this 7 and a half?

I put my hand into the light. 

My hand went in without resistance.

“Young lord, it’s dangerous. I’ll take a look.”

At Jang Hawoon’s words, I asked in surprise.

“Can you see this?”

The thoughts I had met so far had blocked people and ghosts, as well as White Fluff.

“I can see it too.”

Kim Woojin said, approaching the pillar.

Jang Hawoon grabbed the gap I had created with both hands and widened it.

*    *    *

Kim Woojin and I were sweating profusely. 

Even Jang Hawoon, was panting.

All three of us were gasping for breath as we gripped our swords and slashed, stabbed, and swung in the same direction.

“It’s already been an hour. Brother, please put down your sword. I’m worried that your energy will be depleted.”

Lee Geon, who had been sprawled on the floor, sat up and said. 

Lee Geon’s sword was moving on its own in the air.

Honestly, I wanted to let go of the sword since a while ago.

I did learn swordsmanship at an action school. 

But that was for show for filming, so I only had to pay attention to the movements and lines as if choreographing.

But now it was so different from action for filming.

The movements of the sword were so fast and violent that I tried to move my body along with the sword, and muscles I hadn’t used were screaming.

I wanted to give up, but considering the sincerity with which they left this behind, even through the thoughts of a subject, I couldn’t.

Still, it’s hard.

“No…. I received power… all at once in Hwaseong Fortress… Why is it…”

I barely managed to say, struggling to breathe while swinging the sword, but White Fluff’s carefree voice returned.

“It seems that the method of receiving power is different for each spiritual power. By the way, who is that person?”

As soon as we entered through the gap in the pillar, the swords we were holding began to move on their own.

I let go of the possessed-like sword and looked around to see a person wielding a sword alone.

The person wearing very old armor, with dust and bloodstains mixed together, was holding a shield and sword and repeating the actions of stabbing, cutting, striking, and swinging.

And for some reason, our swords followed his sword.

It seemed like I had to grab the sword and follow the movements, so I grabbed the sword in the air.

About two hours had passed.

My arms had lost all sensation, and sweat was pouring down my body like rain.

Only White Fluff, who had been excluded from the beginning, was revealing its true form and watching the person wielding the sword.

“Judging by the attire, it seems to be a person from quite a long time ago.”

“That’s right. It’s not the attire of Joseon.”

Lee Geon agreed with White Fluff’s words.

Then, could he be a warrior from the Goryeo Dynasty? Who is a famous Goryeo warrior? The best swordsman of Goryeo?

Anyway, how long do I have to do this?

“Can you… ask who… he is?”

I said with difficulty to White Fluff, who was standing idly by, but White Fluff shook its head.

“He’s not someone you can have a conversation with. That seems to be a part of a memory.”

“A memory?”

“That person is currently fighting surrounded by countless enemies. It was probably the most brilliant moment in his life. It seems that he brought that memory into this space.”

And it seemed like White Fluff said something more, but I couldn’t hear it well. 

The sensation in my whole body was being numbed.

Whose memory is it that’s wielding my sword with such powerful force?

“Master.”

When I came to my senses at White Fluff’s call, I was standing outside the pillar.

“Huh?”

“It’s… over.”

Jang Hawoon collapsed to the ground.

Only then did I stop the arm that was still wielding the sword.

Thud

I, as well as Kim Woojin, collapsed to the ground as if falling.

“Master, the sun is rising.”

The darkness was disappearing.