About Three Years Later
The whispers spread swiftly—one Guide of Yama, the King of the Other World, had appeared at the governor's estate in Berlsan Village, taking with him the restless soul of General Pungpa, who had wandered the mortal realm for decades, unable to find peace. Drawn by the rumors, Gami and her family arrived in Berlsan Village, seeking answers.
Berlsan, once a humble settlement, had flourished over the past three years under the governance of a young boy who had inherited his elder brother's position as Governor. So remarkable was his leadership that the village was soon to be elevated to the status of a county. When the young governor learned that the third princess of the Jin family of Baekje had arrived, he immediately bowed in deep reverence before Gami. But the moment he discovered that the man who had once saved his life was none other than her husband, he dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground in utmost gratitude. He recounted to her how he had met Goi and how Goi had saved him.
After listening intently, Gami requested to hear every detail of what had transpired at the estate that day. The young governor sighed heavily before offering to lead her and her family to a small hermitage nestled in the northern mountains. Upon arriving, he called out to the occupant inside, announcing the presence of guests. Silence greeted him. Sighing once more, he turned to Gami and murmured that if he left, his elder brother would reveal himself. With that, he and his guards retreated beyond a hundred paces from the hermitage.
Puzzled, Gami and her family waited until, at last, the doors creaked open. A monk in his mid-thirties stepped forth and greeted them with quiet composure. Without preamble, he recounted the events of that day at the court, his voice steady and unshaken. Though the tale was extraordinary, Gami maintained her composure—until one particular revelation shattered her restraint.
"Wait… Are you saying that, in a past life, you were the very General Pungpa whom your father executed?" she asked, disbelief flickering across her features.
The middle-aged monk smiled gently, as if soothing her astonishment. His voice was deep yet composed. "That is what I believed at the time."
He sipped his tea before continuing, his gaze lost in the distance. "For the longest time, I felt like I was living in a dream. It was only when my savior exorcised Pungpa's spirit from my body that I finally awoke."
He exhaled deeply before speaking again.
"For thirty years, I vowed to exact the same vengeance upon my father that he had inflicted upon Pungpa's family… but…" He paused, his voice laced with regret.
"Amitabha… But when I finally awoke, I realized—this hatred was never mine. It was Pungpa's."
Gami nodded slowly, absorbing his words.
"So that is why you relinquished your position as governor to your youngest brother and chose the path of a monk."
The monk regarded her with quiet appreciation.
"Even if I had regained my true self, I could not continue to torment my family with my presence."
A child's voice suddenly broke the solemn atmosphere.
"But that's not fair! It wasn't your fault—it was Pungpa's!" Little Dui protested, his innocent eyes wide with indignation.
The monk shook his head slowly and took another sip of tea. "Who among us has the right to blame General Pungpa?" he asked. "My father, upon seeing his subordinate's great military accomplishments, branded him a traitor and had his entire family slaughtered. And as a governor, he carried out unspeakable acts of exploitation across Berlsan."
He lowered his gaze. "In contrast, even while living through my body, Pungpa never lost his honor or dignity. He personally mentored my youngest brother, teaching him to be a just and virtuous leader."
A shadow of shame crossed his features as he confessed, "If I had lived as myself, would I have done better? If I had been raised by my father's twisted morals, could I have avoided becoming just as wicked? I still cannot answer these questions."
"Amitabha… I have yet to sever the attachments of this world. I remain ensnared in worldly suffering, nothing more than a foolish monk rambling to ease his own burdens."
His words lingered in the air, filling the room with a weighty silence. Finally, the deep voice of Zeali shattered the stillness.
"So you're telling me that our Goi drove out an evil spirit that had possessed your body for thirty years with just a sword?"
The monk chuckled softly. "Had I not experienced it myself, I, too, would not have believed it."
Zeali stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Is that even possible? I mean… unless…" His eyes narrowed with suspicion.
The monk regarded him for a long moment before answering. "When someone says there is a mountain ahead, do you believe in the words… or in the reality of the mountain itself?"
Gami, unable to suppress her curiosity, asked, "Then… the sword he used to purify you…?"
Without hesitation, the monk answered, "A radiant bronze gladius that shone with golden light."
A collective gasp filled the room. Dui tugged at Zeali's sleeve. "Uncle Zeali! Where did Brother Goi get that sword?"
Gami smiled, gently ruffling the child's hair. "Oh, my sweet little brother-in-law, is that what you're curious about? That sword was a wedding gift I gave to your brother."
Sui's eyes widened in shock. "Wait—Sister-in-law, you gave it to him yourself?"
Gami nodded, confirming his disbelief. Dui grasped her sleeve with even more excitement. "How did you get such a treasure, Sister-in-law?"
She chuckled and took his small hands in hers. "It was an heirloom of the Jin family, passed down for generations. My father gifted it to me during my coming-of-age ceremony."
Dui's jaw dropped. "Then… does that mean you can exorcise spirits too?"
Gami laughed. "Of course not. Had I known the sword had such power, I would never have given it to my husband."
The monk murmured another Amitabha under his breath before retreating into the kitchen. He returned shortly with a modest array of refreshments, setting them before his guests. As he listened to the voices of those who had come to see him, he felt the weight of his past sins lighten, even if only a little. For the first time in a long while, warmth and laughter filled the small hermitage in the heart of the mountains.