Junu reminded himself again that this god was stronger than he could even fathom. And he had a short temper. Junu had to tread lightly here.
“I am hoping that because enough time has passed, and I’ve reflected on my past, that you might be lenient with me,” Junu said.
“I will consider it. I hear I have something you want.” The sansin dismounted so gracefully, it was almost like he floated to the ground. The tiger bent, its head lowering in a bow before it loped back into the forest.
“I’ve brought the fox spirit, as you asked,” Junu said. “In return, your shaman said I can ask for my bangmangi back.”
“I see,” the sansin said.
When he didn’t continue, Junu cleared his throat. It seemed the sansin wasn’t looking to make conversation. “But we also have an ailing friend. The one that the fox spirit possesses.”
Sinhye stiffened beside Junu. This was it. If he did this, there would be no going back.
“And why should that be a concern to me?” the sansin asked.
He swallowed to wet his suddenly dry throat. He was used to bluffing and talking his way in and out of things, but this felt completely different. The last time he’d met this god, he’d been incapacitated with a single flick of the sansin’s wrist. If Junu wasn’t careful, would he end up with his soul trapped for a millennium like Sinhye? Maybe the punishment would be fitting after how he’d squandered his existence. But he couldn’t lose courage now.
“She has bonded to this body, but it is not hers to take. I ask that you save the life of my friend. I have brought all the tools I was told you require to cut her from this vessel.”
The sansin let out a low rumbling laugh that seemed to shake the trees around them. “The soul you wish to sever is immortal; to do that, you need to sacrifice another immortal soul.”
“Exactly,” Junu said, stepping forward on shaky legs. He really hoped this plan worked. “I have an immortal soul. Sacrifice me.”
57
SOMIN WONDERED, NOT for the first time or even the tenth time, if this plan was bound to fail. Well, it seemed likely as she made her way quietly through the thick foliage. But it’s all they had. So she’d have to at least try.
Somin and Miyoung had parted ways down the path, thinking they’d make less noise if they weren’t together. Plus, it was smarter for them to attack separately. They didn’t have the strength to go up against a sansin, so they’d use their smarts.
Miyoung had fought her on this, saying she’d be better suited to initiate a sneak attack. But it had to be Somin. It was something Sinhye had said, actually. That Somin wasn’t involved in this world. That she didn’t belong here. And if she didn’t belong, then no one would be looking for her. She could more effectively attack from behind while Miyoung persuaded Junu to help her attack from the front in a pincer move.
Somin prayed again this would work as she heard voices. Someone spoke in a voice so low she could only make out its timbre, not the words. But the one that replied was Junu. She was close.
58
“YOU WOULD SACRIFICE yourself for this human?” the sansin asked, his eyes moving between Jihoon and Junu.
“Baesin,” Sinhye said under her breath. “This was your plan all along. You never planned to kill him at all, you coward.”
Junu ignored her.
“I would, but I ask first that you return my staff, for I am the only one who can wield it and we must retrieve a fox bead in order to fix a tear between the world of the living and the world Between.”
“Ah, so you know the source of this tear between the worlds,” the sansin said. “I have felt it.”
“Then you know how dire it is and that we must fix it immediately.”
“Why would I care about such things? The spirits cannot touch me here on my mountain.”
Junu paused a moment, surprised by the response, but he was nothing if not quick with his mind. “But the humans who pray to you will be affected, and soon they will stop coming. Aren’t there so few left already?”
Junu held his breath waiting for a reply. This was a gamble; it could just as easily offend the sansin as motivate him.
“Fine, I will return your bangmangi.” The sansin held out his hand.