OMS 13

“You said you were sick, but your face looks better?”

At Madam Song’s words, Park Dong-sik tried his best to look ill. If he’d met her in the neighborhood, he would’ve just thought she was a rich lady passing by, but now she was his mother-in-law. Well, not his, but Lee Hee-soo’s mother-in-law.

Throughout the car ride, she didn’t say a word to Park Dong-sik. Her chauffeur drove, and they were the only three in the car. It was surprising they didn’t bring any guards. Perhaps this was that confidential.

The car left Seoul and entered a quiet countryside. After winding up a mountain road, they came upon a temple. Though small, the Sugwang Temple seemed well-equipped.

Fierce-looking statues guarded the entrance, and inside were a large stone pagoda and Buddha statue. The grounds were neatly filled with gravel.

“Oh my, you must be tired from the long journey, Madam.”

The middle-aged man had unkempt facial hair and long tied-back hair—unusual for a monk. While Park Dong-sik was observing him indifferently, the man stared back with snake-like eyes. Though innocent, that gaze made him shrink back instinctively. But the more he looked at the man’s face, the more familiar it seemed. Where had he seen him before?

“Please come inside. Ah, daughter-in-law, please join us.”

Inside, teacups were arranged on a small table. After brewing and pouring tea, he smiled kindly at Park Dong-sik.

“I hear you nearly had a serious incident recently.”

“…”

“Madam was so worried. I asked to see you briefly. Are you sleeping well? How’s your appetite?”

Park Dong-sik answered, “I’m eating and sleeping well.”

“No strange dreams?”

“Not really. I rarely dream anyway.”

“I see…Your memory remains the same?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t remember meeting me before?”

“Well…”

“We held your father’s memorial service here. You cried a lot that day.”

“Of course, I did. My father died. I couldn’t exactly laugh.”

“True. I stated the obvious.”

The spiritual expert watched Park Dong-sik while sipping his tea. Though aware of his gaze, Park Dong-sik pretended not to notice and looked around the room. The furnishings were modest, except for a striking folding screen. Below it was the same artist’s seal he’d seen at home.

Hadn’t he heard those paintings were worth billions? He’d thought monks were supposed to renounce worldly desires, yet here was a billion-won painting in this humble room…He wondered if the pagoda, Buddha statue, and this painting were all funded by Madam Song’s pocket.

“I’d like to speak with Madam alone for a moment. Would you mind enjoying the scenery outside?”

Park Dong-sik nodded his head and got up. As he closed the door behind him, he heard murmuring. Curious if they were talking about him, he pressed his ear to the door.

[Something’s wrong with Jun-han. He used to avoid his wife completely, but recently he’s been taking her side. He’s never done that before. I think he might be under some spell. To be honest, after she fell in the water, she’s completely different. Looking at her gives me chills, like she’s become a different person entirely—]

“Ahem.”

The chauffeur nearby cleared his throat loudly. A signal to back off. Taking the hint, Park Dong-sik put on his shoes and descended from the porch. The gravel crunched with each step. He walked around the large pagoda to the end of the courtyard.

What was that about? Kim Jun-han had changed? Taking his side? When? Could it be that he helped arrange the comfortable dining situation in the separate quarters? If true, he wasn’t as bad a person as he seemed.

But why would that devil mother-in-law dislike her son getting close to me? Well, don’t all mothers-in-law hate their daughters-in-law being close to their sons? If she hates it so much, she should just arrange for a divorce. With proper compensation, of course.

While wandering around, Park Dong-sik entered the nearby temple hall. A large Buddha statue was surrounded by lit candles. After gazing at its face, he bowed. There was an offering box similar to the donation boxes at funeral homes.

Park Dong-sik took out his wallet—the one Kim Yoon-ah had given him, containing several cards and cash. After putting in some money, he bowed to the Buddha statue. Though he didn’t know the proper form or method, his heart was sincere.

Please, let me return to my original form. His life might have been like a gutter, but it had its own happiness. Though materially abundant now, he felt imprisoned. As he finished multiple bows, he sensed someone behind him. Park Dong-sik raised an eyebrow. The supposed spiritual expert was holding a long branch.

What’s that? Firewood?

Before he could satisfy his curiosity, the expert swung the branch and struck Park Dong-sik’s back.

“What the fuck?!”

He nearly grabbed the so-called expert by the collar.

The expert’s eyes widened, and Madam Song’s jaw dropped beside him.

“Look at this, Master! Those eyes! Even with his suspicious moments, he never had such murderous eyes!”

The expert raised the branch again.

“If you’re a ghost, begone! How dare you imitate a human here! Do you not fear Buddha!”

As he shouted and swung the branch, Park Dong-sik quickly dodged, grabbed the expert’s collar, and headbutted him in the face. With a thud and Madam Song’s scream, the expert fell backward with a bloody nose.

Park Dong-sik rubbed his forehead and gritted his teeth tightly.

“Shit. Your head’s hard as rock. Listen here, whatever-you-are. Did you just hit me? Are monks allowed to beat people? Never mind. Come here a second. Haven’t I seen you somewhere? Why do you look so familiar?”

Madam Song’s face turned pale.

“You…how dare you…Oh my goodness! Look at this blood…Master, are you alright?”

The so-called expert staggered to his feet. That was when Park Dong-sik finally remembered his face. About seven years ago, he’d briefly been in prison and seen him there. What was his name? Anyway, he was called a legendary fraudster. He’d been arrested for impersonating a pastor, swindling money from women, and molesting his followers while performing some kind of laying-on-of-hands ritual, which led to his arrest.

Finally recognizing the spiritual expert’s true identity, Park Dong-sik burst out laughing. It was amusing to watch the expert stagger to Madam Song’s side, trying to maintain a dignified expression while wiping his bloody nose.

“Madam Song, it seems your daughter-in-law is possessed by a powerful evil spirit.”

“What should we do, Master? I’m terrified.”

“We’ll need to perform a major ritual…”

“Do whatever it takes. Don’t worry about the cost. But this absolutely cannot get out—”

Park Dong-sik cut her off.

“Ha! Evil spirit, my ass. Who’s the real evil one here? And why are you pretending to be a monk? Weren’t you a pastor? What was your name again? Ah! I remember. Kim Young-deok? Right? The one who claimed to cure cancer with bare hands? This world is really fucked up. First, you get locked up for groping women’s backsides, and now you’re playing monk?”

The monk’s eyes wavered slightly. Madam Song, terrified, urged him on.

“You see how he’s talking nonsense? Can we perform that ritual today? Money is no object. I’m scared to live in the same house with him. So please, Master—”

Park Dong-sik strode forward and grabbed the expert’s collar. Madam Song screamed in shock.

“You really are possessed! How dare you! Let go this instant! Driver Choi! What are you doing? Come quickly and get him off him!”

Ignoring them, Park Dong-sik yanked hard on the expert’s robe. As the monk’s garment began to slip off, the monk pushed Park Dong-sik away. Falling back lightly, Park Dong-sik gritted his teeth. If Park Dong-sik were in his body, he could take down this scrawny bastard with one hit, but Lee Hee-soo’s body was frustratingly weak.

Damn it. Just wait. Starting tomorrow, I’ll exercise four hours a day and eat nothing but protein.
As he aggressively tried to strip off the robe, the driver attempted to pull him away while Madam Song screamed. The temple hall became chaos during the struggle. Despite his small frame, the opponent wasn’t easy to deal with, so Park Dong-sik used technique instead of strength to throw the expert to the floor.

With a crash, the expert fell near the offering box, and Madam Song ran over, pale as a ghost.

“Master!”

Park Dong-sik, panting, charged at the expert.

“Stop this! You’ve gone mad!”

Ignoring Madam Song’s shrieks, he tore off the monk’s robe, revealing a large snake tattoo with its mouth wide open. Shocked, Madam Song froze, and the driver’s eyes widened.

Breathing heavily, Park Dong-sik looked up at Madam Song, while the expert scrambled to cover himself up. Madam Song looked even more shocked than if she’d seen a ghost, glancing back and forth between the expert and Park Dong-sik.

“Did you see that clearly? Now do you know who’s really possessed?”

Madam Song collapsed onto the floor, and the pallid expert knelt before her. “Madam, no! This is—this is just something I did foolishly with friends when I was young and ignorant. Your daughter-in-law must be misunderstanding something. I’m definitely not that kind of person!”

The dazed Madam Song pushed his hands away.

As she staggered to her feet, the driver supported her.

“W-We’ll meet another time…”

Madam Song’s voice sounded on the verge of tears. Watching her leave, the trembling monk glared at Park Dong-sik with murderous eyes.

“Who are you?! You’re not Lee Hee-soo, are you?”

Park Dong-sik openly snorted.

“Well, you’re not a real spiritual expert either, you bastard.”