Snow...spark...silk...and dark
It just needs these four to bring magic
Park Da Som is a laid-back girl who hates studying and love stealing glances at a university student working as a part-time library in her hometown. But a seemingly innocent wish...
An old woman with her hair tied in bun was walking up and down the room with her hands on her waist. She was talking to herself, "But what is the need of going there this late at night?" A wolf howled somewhere and the hooting of owls had already created a sinister atmosphere.
A tall man in aqua blue hanbok and wearing a hat came into the room and held the woman by her shoulders and says with a smile, "Eonmoni(Mother), I am the only one in this village who has knowledge of medicines. Think about Pil Gu's mother. I am twenty years old yet you always worry about me. And Pil Gu is just five. And with Father not alive, it's my responsibility to cure Pil Gu."
Park Eun Jeok
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The old woman again implored: "Eun Jeok. Wolves and nocturnal animals are howling outside. And today I received a letter in your name with red ink. Please understand... There's a rumour of people catching glimpse of fox eyes near graveyard. And these mysterious deaths."
"Eonmoni, If I don't leave now, Pil Gu will die. And, don't worry, a Gumiho is not brave enough to mess with my Eonmoni."
Saying this, Eon Jeok patted his mother's hair, and crossed the threshold with quick steps.
"Come back soon, my Eon Jeok. Eonmoni is waiting for you."
Five hours have passed. Pil Gu was finally safe after Eon Jeok's sure handed efforts. Dawn was near and Eon Jeok was exhausted to the bone. The sky was dark like an endless well as the stars were pulled back into the darkness and the light of moon was also weak like an ailing old woman. Suddenly he heard a female voice singing but he could not make the words out. The voice was coming from the river. Her song felt like as if the river herself was serenading the morning sun to wake up. Eon Jeok went towards from where the voice came from. He caught a glimpse of a red hanbok sweeping the snowy ground.
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"Stop!"
The woman turned back. Eun Jeok could not speak for a while. She had the solemn beauty of a plum blossom. Her face was soft like spring sky, and her hair were in a thick braid. The only thing that didn't match with her doe-like countenance were her eyes sharp like slices of mango.
"Who are you?" Eun Jeok asked.
"My name is Sung Jong," she replied without looking up.
"What are you doing near the river at this hour?" The rumours of strange creatures were already widespread in the village and even without any supernatural threat, night at Joseon was already risky because of warring clansman, dacoits and thieves.
Tears sprang up in her eyes.
"Hush...Hush," panic set inside Eun Jeok's heart. He didn't know what to do. He had never talked with a woman except her mother or the mothers, sisters or wives of the sick persons whom he treated. He could only say, "Please don't cry."
"My father was going to sell me to those traders for Qing as their kept woman," Sung Jong burst into tears and embraced the shocked and enraged Eun Jeok at the same time.
