¹Won-il one day said to Sangjenim, “My father operates a fishing business.²Last year, storms caused him heavy losses, but if you would prevent destructive storms this year to ensure bountiful fishing, all will be well for him.” For many days, Won-il sincerely entreated Sangjenim to aid his father.

³Sangjenim eventually said, “I cannot ignore your concern for your father.⁴Preventing destructive storms is not difficult. I will grant your wish on condition that your father pledges to the spirits of heaven and earth that he will bring me one thousand nyang after he has reaped a fine profit. I will one day have use for the money.”

⁵Won-il and his father cheerfully gave their solemn pledge, and that year there were no destructive storms. Won-il’s father had the largest haul of fish on the Chilsan Sea and earned a princely sum of money as a result.

⁶A time later, Sangjenim sent someone bearing a message, “Deliver to me the one thousand nyang you promised,” but Won-il’s father refused to do so, breaking his promise to Sangjenim.

⁷Sangjenim declared to Won-il, “This is the act of deceiving a noble human. In my work, everything is devised with the spirits and no deed is ever performed for personal ends.⁸When the wrath of the spirits has been incurred, what undertaking can endure? From this time forth, your father will completely fail at fishing.”

⁹Indeed, Won-il’s father was never again able to catch even a single fish, and he was eventually forced to abandon fishing.