Wicked Fox (Gumiho #1)(21)

“Do you understand the practices of Taoism?” Junu asked, his voice low and serious. A departure from his previous mischievous taunting. “It’s not just magic like you seem to think. It’s a balance between the ways of heaven and the ways of the earth.”

Miyoung didn’t like the judgment she heard. As if they were foolish children to be chastised. “Do you have this talisman or not?”

He looked back and forth between the girls, considering, calculating.

“I might have it. How much is it worth to you?” Junu’s eyes settled on Miyoung like he knew instinctively who’d be responsible for payment.

“Cost is not an issue; just get it.” She shooed him away with her hand, condescension clear in every flick of her fingers. “I don’t like spending too much time in strange places.”

“Listen, sweetheart, my place is state of the art. My fridge tells me the news, and my stove listens to voice commands.”

“Must make you feel right at home, talking to inanimate objects,” Miyoung scoffed. In her mind, dokkaebi were one of the only things less human than gumiho. At least gumiho were born; dokkaebi were made.

Junu frowned, the first sign she was getting to him.



He stomped out of the kitchen.

“You shouldn’t have upset him. He might not give us the talisman now,” Nara said in a nervous whisper.

“He’ll give it to us. Dokkaebi only care about money.”

Nara chewed at her lip, obviously not as convinced as Miyoung.

“I’ve never heard of one who worked for their cash, though,” Miyoung mused. “What’s his deal?”

Nara glanced nervously toward the hallway, then spoke in a whisper. “Rumor is that Junu lost his goblin staff long ago, so he can’t summon riches like other dokkaebi.”

Miyoung found this fact amusing. Seeing as Junu acted so high and mighty, it was funny he didn’t have the most basic tool that most dokkaebi possessed. She’d never seen a goblin use his staff, but it was a common part of all dokkaebi myths. A club that could magically summon whatever they wanted as long as they knew where it was.

“Anyway,” Nara continued, “he’s pretty industrious, has connections all over the world that can get him anything his clients need, which is lucky for us.”

“What exactly does this talisman do?” Miyoung asked.

“It’s for a ceremony where we seek the power of gui, the five ghosts. We want to transform your yin and yang energy so you’re open to receive.”

“And that will let me reabsorb the bead?” Miyoung asked.

“In theory.”

“Theory?” Miyoung’s voice rose. She didn’t like the idea of putting her faith into a theory.

“It’s all I have,” Nara said, spreading her hands out.

Junu came back holding a manila envelope, not exactly the container Miyoung would expect for a magic so powerful it scared her mother.

“I’d ask what a shaman and a gumiho want with a Taoist talisman, but I really don’t care.”

“Great.” Miyoung reached for the envelope.

Junu whipped it away and wagged an infuriating finger at her. “Uh-uh. Payment first. A million won.”

“A million won?” Miyoung sputtered out.

“Don’t have it? I’ll also take it as a hundred yen, a thousand US dollars, your first-born child. Don’t accept bitcoin yet, but I hear it’s growing in popularity.”

Miyoung ignored his sarcasm and pulled out her wallet reluctantly. It wasn’t that she couldn’t spare the cash—she had plenty—it just felt like the dokkaebi was unfairly inflating the price. From Junu’s self-satisfied smile, she knew her guess was right.

“Fine.” Miyoung slapped the bills on the counter. She put out her hand for the envelope, but Junu held on to it while he counted the cash.

Once satisfied, he held out the talisman. Miyoung resisted the urge to yank it from his hold and instead took it delicately, giving a nod in lieu of a full bow. She hoped the disrespect was clear.

“Good doing business with you. Come back if you need anything else. I hear there’s Western magic that uses eye of newt.”

“Har-har,” Miyoung said, her voice as flat as a fallow field.

“Thank you.” Nara bowed low, her manners too strong for her own good.

“Let’s go.” Miyoung stomped past the shaman and into the entryway. She shoved her feet into her shoes so hard they almost hurt.

Junu sauntered after them as Miyoung opened the front door. It caused a dozen bujeoks plastered around the entrance to flutter. She eyed them. “Do you deal in talismans often?”

Junu gave her a curious look. “It’s a popular item among my clientele. Why?”

“What about dokkaebi?”

“What about us?” Junu asked, his eyes narrowing.

“Do you sell them to dokkaebi?” Miyoung asked, thinking of the hulking beast in the forest. It had to have gotten the bujeok from somewhere.

Junu’s eyes darkened at the question and his lips pursed. “I don’t reveal the identity of my customers. A service you’ll benefit from as well.”

“Come on, Seonbae.” Nara tugged at Miyoung’s sleeve, holding the door open. Miyoung sent Junu one last glare before the door closed between them.