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“Your family?”

Now the woman turned to face him, and at that angle, with that look in her eyes, he knew why she seemed familiar. “You’re descended from that shaman. The one who turned me.”

“She was my ancestor. And my family has faithfully served that sansin for centuries.”

“Then why are you here? That sansin is not a fan of mine.”

“I’m just delivering a message. You met my emo the last time you went to visit our mountain. She’ll wait for you by the cave tomorrow. If you still seek your bangmangi, then she will take you to have an audience with the sansin. But in return, he wants the fox spirit.”

“There’s a bit of a problem,” Junu said. “That fox spirit iscurrently possessing my friend. If I give her to you, I want her removed from his body first.”

“If she is possessing a human, then she should be expelled soon enough,” the shaman said.

Junu shook his head. “No, he’s an ideal vessel for her.”

The shaman hummed in concern. “How long has she been possessing him?”

“For almost three days.”

“So you must sever her bond to the body,” the shaman said. “There is a way if you’re willing to pay the price.”

“What price?” Junu asked.

“It requires a sacrifice.”

“Like a life for a life?” Junu asked, wondering if he could do it, if he could bring himself to kill again, even if it meant saving Jihoon.

“No, not that simple. The soul you wish to sever from her vessel is immortal, so the soul you must sacrifice has to be immortal, too.”

“Immortal,” Junu repeated slowly.

“Yes, to cut the immortal spirit out of your friend, another immortal spirit must cut its ties to the world of the living. An even trade.”

“Even trade,” Junu murmured. And he knew exactly how to pay back his debt to Miyoung. How to save Jihoon. How to make sure Somin didn’t lose her best friend.

He had to die.

49

JUNU WAS QUIETwhen he returned. Using a back door that no one knew about but him to avoid any unwanted questions as he made his way to the bedroom door surrounded by bujeoks. When he opened it, he wasn’t surprised to see Sinhye sitting on the edge of the bed as if she’d been waiting for him.

“Hello, lover.” Sinhye flashed a sharp smile.

“We need to talk,” Junu said, closing the door behind him and flicking the lock.

“Of course.” She patted the bed beside him. But instead Junu sat in the armchair across the room.

“I have a deal for you.”

“Ah, I was wondering when we’d get to this part.”

“Fine, if you don’t want to hear the deal, I can go.” Junu started to leave, but Sinhye stood up quickly.

“You might as well tell me,” she said.

He heard curiosity in her voice and knew he’d piqued her interest. “I’ll help you get revenge. I’ll help you kill the sansin.”

Now Sinhye’s eyes hardened. She became completely still, like she was waiting for the trap. “And what makes you think I want that?”