my theory is that the demi-wyrm was supposedly due to ascend to the heavens again decades ago, but the clan (chief elder) prevented it from doing so because they wanted to keep taking advantage of it. maybe this plan even started long before cheongdo was born, with his grandma somehow involved, ultimately resulting in his mother's death, which the elders then covered up with this curse bs. i also have a feeling that cheongdo's grandma was actually trying to free the demi-wyrm 20 years ago when she took cheongdo. the grandmother's role is one of the most intriguing parts of this whole mystery to me and i can only make guesses at this point.
so now, the demi-wyrm is using cheongdo as a vessel (though i wonder if this was orchestrated by the chief elder through the prime shaman, his grandma..... AND could this also be what his grandma was referring to when she talked about her regrets?). the demi-wyrm could also be what's giving cheongdo the ability to continue absorbing such massive amounts of misfortune and negative energy throughout these years. this would explain why the elders are so obsessed with keeping him alive and on such a short leash. they need him as their protective talisman, but he may also be the very thing keeping the demi-wyrm contained. either way he's an indispensable asset to the clan, both spiritually and financially.
at this point, i think the elders are continuing to exploit the demi-wyrm through their corrupt rituals, ridding the clan and their big-shot clients of misfortune and redirecting it to cheongdo. the suppression rituals could be what's keeping the demi-wyrm weakened and under control, allowing the elders to continue exploiting it. but this whole arrangement feels like a ticking time bomb because surely cheongdo's mortal body can only take so much before something gives way? i mean he's alr amassed so much negative energy it's spilling out of him wc i think is why the elders also keep him isolated
the village girls' stories about cheongdo's childhood also make more sense under this theory. they talk about how he'd make things up, randomly scream and push people, and "play victim" all the time. if the rituals or the demi-wyrm were causing malevolent forces or the vengeful spirits of the sacrifices to linger around the poor little cheongdo, then maybe his behavior wasn't as random as they thought. given that he comes from the shamanic lineage and might have a strong affinity for spirits, perhaps he could feel their overwhelming presence or even see them, causing him to act out in ways the people around him couldn't understand. and instead of recognizing what he might have been experiencing, they just branded him the family's weird cursed kid ( ｡ • ᴖ • ｡)
I get the feeling they're trying to harness the divine energy for something like immortality. That's why they're desperately trying to find the demi-wyrm.
my theory is that the demi-wyrm was supposedly due to ascend to the heavens again decades ago, but the clan (chief elder) prevented it from doing so because they wanted to keep taking advantage of it. maybe this plan even started long before cheongdo was born, with his grandma somehow involved, ultimately resulting in his mother's death, which the elders then covered up with this curse bs. i also have a feeling that cheongdo's grandma was actually trying to free the demi-wyrm 20 years ago when she took cheongdo. the grandmother's role is one of the most intriguing parts of this whole mystery to me and i can only make guesses at this point.
so now, the demi-wyrm is using cheongdo as a vessel (though i wonder if this was orchestrated by the chief elder through the prime shaman, his grandma..... AND could this also be what his grandma was referring to when she talked about her regrets?). the demi-wyrm could also be what's giving cheongdo the ability to continue absorbing such massive amounts of misfortune and negative energy throughout these years. this would explain why the elders are so obsessed with keeping him alive and on such a short leash. they need him as their protective talisman, but he may also be the very thing keeping the demi-wyrm contained. either way he's an indispensable asset to the clan, both spiritually and financially.
at this point, i think the elders are continuing to exploit the demi-wyrm through their corrupt rituals, ridding the clan and their big-shot clients of misfortune and redirecting it to cheongdo. the suppression rituals could be what's keeping the demi-wyrm weakened and under control, allowing the elders to continue exploiting it. but this whole arrangement feels like a ticking time bomb because surely cheongdo's mortal body can only take so much before something gives way? i mean he's alr amassed so much negative energy it's spilling out of him wc i think is why the elders also keep him isolated
the village girls' stories about cheongdo's childhood also make more sense under this theory. they talk about how he'd make things up, randomly scream and push people, and "play victim" all the time. if the rituals or the demi-wyrm were causing malevolent forces or the vengeful spirits of the sacrifices to linger around the poor little cheongdo, then maybe his behavior wasn't as random as they thought. given that he comes from the shamanic lineage and might have a strong affinity for spirits, perhaps he could feel their overwhelming presence or even see them, causing him to act out in ways the people around him couldn't understand. and instead of recognizing what he might have been experiencing, they just branded him the family's weird cursed kid ( ｡ • ᴖ • ｡)
oh and ofc cheongdo doesn't know bec he's convinced he's cursed
I get the feeling they're trying to harness the divine energy for something like immortality. That's why they're desperately trying to find the demi-wyrm.