The sea captain.  Some short time later, a ship docked in the nearby harbor.  The captain and some of his crew came into Towha Dong and made an extraordinary declaration.  They were willing to pay a large sum of money to find a pure maiden who would be sacrificed to the Sea Dragon King during their next voyage.  Even more astounding – indeed, even the captain of the ship could not believe it – was the fact that a maiden came forward and volunteered to be the offering.  It was Shim Chung.

Shim Chung’s life was lowly and humble, but she was not seeking escape from the world’s cares.  No, indeed.  She offered herself because she knew that with this money, her father’s pledge to the monk’s temple could be fulfilled.  She was prepared to sacrifice her very life for the sake of her father’s honor.

The captain accepted her and gave her the money that he had promised.  This Shim Chung took to the monk who had saved her father. She asked that he use the money to buy the promised three hundred bags of rice, and that he pray for her father’s sight to be restored.  Then she rejoined the captain and his crew, and they all left to embark on the sea voyage.

How bitterly the people of the village wept as Shim Chung left. And how bitterly her father cried.  It was more than he could bear.  But his faithful daughter was gone.

On the ship.  Now the life of a sailor was harsh and dangerous.  Many of the men were coarse and lonely, and it was rare that any woman of good character would be on a ship, unless she was a privileged and honored passenger.  So when Shim Chung came aboard, humbly dressed and without any baggage or protector, some of the sailors (who had been drinking in the port) assumed that she had been brought on board for their amusement.

Once the ship had set sail, three of these men sought her out.  They began to chase the virtuous girl about the ship and tried to force themselves upon her.  Hearing the commotion, the captain left his cabin and separated his men from their intended victim.  He roundly scolded the sailors, then explained to them the dreadful reason why Shim Chung was aboard their vessel. She was to be a sacrifice to the Sea Dragon King.  When the seas turned rough, she would give her life for theirs.

The men were shamed and humbled by this news.  From this time on, Shim Chung was treated with the utmost courtesy and even reverence.