— Chapter 11열하나: A Strange Guide

YangYang! YangYang! YangYang! YangYang! YangYang! Where are you, you fucking hot-headed idiot? YangYang!

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In the distance I could hear several voices, which seemed somewhat distant, I don't know how much time had passed since I entered the heart of the forest, fighting against the undergrowth that seemed to have an identity of its own, holding me tightly and preventing me from walking.

My face must surely be marked with small cuts, caused by some branches and bushes that were in my way. The voices became more recognizable, I could distinguish Haesuk's silhouette in the distance, I got up quickly and ran towards him, at last they had found me, however he did not see me, I could not even touch him, it was as if he was a ghost.

I tried again to get his attention, but it was as if I wasn't there, I couldn't understand him.

— Haesuk! I'm here —I passed my hand in front of his face again, but it seemed that he really couldn't see me— idiot, why don't you realize? Haesuk!

— This side of the forest is scary —commented Haesuk looking around— Surely YangYang must have been around here.

— How can you be so sure about that? I mean...young master Lee doesn't look like someone so brave—commented Leader Bahk.

It seems that another of the Gojoseon Bahk Clan Leader's hobbies is also talking behind others' backs, Haesuk just laughed in response leaving me confused and offended at the same time, now the only thing I need to do is to find out how I can contact them.

— Leader Bahk, I think you all have the wrong image of YangYang and I really can't blame you —Haesuk said mockingly— I know he is too impulsive, somewhat distracted and sometimes he is an idiot.

Thanks Haesuk you didn't have to defend me so much, when I get out of wherever I'm from, I'll personally take care of you.

— And what's the point of everything you said, I think it's better to find a way to find the two missing people anyway —said leader Kim somewhat annoyed.

— All I can say is that you shouldn't underestimate YangYang —replied Haesuk— there are things that even our uncles don't know, for now we are in the right place.

— Right place? What exactly do you mean? —said the leader Rhee quickly.

— When we got here, I thought it was tiredness playing tricks on me, but YangYang is right here —Haesuk suddenly confessed.

I knew Haesuk had noticed my presence, it was almost impossible for him to have missed it, but if he could sense me it means I am in that right place....

— Can someone tell me what exactly is going on here? —Leader Jeong interjected for the first time.

— Ever since young Master Lee left in the direction of the forest, General Lee, Empress Yi and even you have been saying very strange things —said Leader Kim somewhat irritated.

— In the last 7 years very strange things have happened that we have been dealing with on our own, the structural changes that you could observe as well as on the island and the pier, is only a small part of everything we have been through —explained Haesuk— in this small part of the vast forest, create a barrier that divides our world with the Ghost Realm, surely Yang Yang must have accidentally fallen there.

Everything was silent... if I fell into the ancient barrier that means they are in the Sigag forest, damn it I must get out of here.

— How is it possible? The Phantom Realm is very difficult to locate, besides creating a kind of barrier like that...it takes a lot of energy, yet you were so young —asked Leader Rhee confused.

— I can't explain everything right now, we just need to get YangYang out of there and then we can find Nara Noona —commented Haesuk quickly.

When I reached the forest something was moving fast through the treetops and I could not see clearly, without giving me time it attacked my horse and circled around me trying to confuse me. I drew my sword to protect myself from whatever it was attacking, but my sword went through it as if it was some kind of fog, the same one I saw when the puppets attacked.

I backed up a bit and ran straight towards a tree, grotesquely impacting with it, if Haesuk manages to establish a link with this tree, which has been stained with my blood, I will surely be able to get out of here.

How could I have missed it though, well if I think about it now, this place was very different 7 years ago, it stands to reason that I didn't recognize it.

— Does anyone have a dagger? —asked Haesuk suddenly.

— Why a dagger? wouldn't it be better to use a sword? —questioned the Bahk leader.

— A sword would damage the forest spirit, otherwise YangYang would have already used Huangdi —he answered obviously.

— Wow so it must be a first class weapon, not everyone gets a sophisticated name like that —commented leader Jeong somewhat mockingly— but I think this belongs to him, doesn't it?

He extended my dagger, I had forgotten that I had left it as a guarantee to have a duel, but it never took place.

Haesuk took it and recited some familiar words, I took a few steps back when he made an indentation big enough for me to get through.

— Are you sure he will be able to get out? it looks like just a line, you can barely put a finger through it —mentioned the leader Rhee.

— What is behind the barrier is not his body, it is only his spirit, so to bring him intact is the necessary measure, his body must be unconscious near here —replied Haesuk.

Well, that explains why I feel lighter than usual, I walked and closed my eyes as I went through little by little, my heart felt somewhat oppressed, I felt somewhat mellow due to the tree sap, although it wasn't even in my body.

When I came out completely, it was like suddenly waking up from a dream, my body felt strangely heavy and a sharp prick in my heart made me squirm.

—YangYangYang! You piece of idiot, don't ever scare me like that again, okay? —Haesuk exclaimed, helping me back on my feet.

— Were you able to find Noona? —I asked quickly, but those present immediately shook their heads —Haesuk, we must go...we don't know how she is, besides this forest is....

— The Sigag forest, I know —I answered— we have to go, if we let the time go on, it will have been too late.

— Can someone tell me what the hell is going on here, the barrea, the Sigag forest, disappearances, what's going on with this place? —asked the Bahk leader in desperation.

— There is no time, the only thing I can say is that we cannot stay in this place any longer —I answered forcibly.

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The path was silent, the only thing that could be heard were the spirits of the forest and our footsteps through the dry leaves. noona, where are you? did you eat well? did you keep warm?

Thousands of questions came to my mind, I should have known something was wrong, did your date go wrong? I don't even know how you got out, I could have protected you.

Everything seemed the same, I could not identify which way to go, my body was not giving in, although for them a day had passed, for me it had been like three days...three days, without drinking or eating. Although it was not something I cared about at this moment, I need to find her...I need to know that she is well.

— What's on your mind? —asked Haesuk suddenly.

— In noona, I remember that she hates closed spaces —I answered— still she always goes and stays in the watchtowers, even when we were kids we always hid in the cabinet of Samchum's office.

— So that's where they hid, I could never find them! —Haesuk exclaimed.

Haesuk continued talking, but I stopped listening to him when I noticed a familiar silhouette, Noona?

— Noona! —I suddenly exclaimed— Haesuk, can you see it too?

— What the hell are you talking about? There's no way she's here —he replied— You're seeing things that aren't there again.

— You think I can't recognize her, again you want to make me look like a lunatic —I confessed somewhat irritated.

— Again? What does that mean YangYang —said Leader Rhee somewhat confused.

— You don't have to take into account what he says, tiredness makes him say and see things —explained Haesuk— the last time he was like that, he said he saw our father hanging around the square.

I ignored Haesuk's words and ran with the strength I had left to where Noona was.

However she disappeared, but again she reappeared a few meters away from me, I kept going, but when I thought I had her she seemed to vanish. Little by little the trees were diminishing, the grass was much more alive... flowers, it seemed like a dream, it could not be compared with the gloomy side I had been in.

I kept running, but again the beautiful colors and all that tranquility I had experienced disappeared completely, yet I kept chasing whatever it was that was leading me.

I was sure it was her, but after several unsuccessful attempts to catch her, I realized it wasn't really her, however I seemed to know where to find her.

I stopped for a second to rest, but noticed that there was a strange crimson trail running straight ahead.

— Finally you stop, have you lost your mind? —Haesuk's exhausted voice reached my ears.

— shh...don't make noise...I think we've arrived —I muttered, slowing my steps.

I walked stealthily, with Haesuk and the leaders following behind me, I searched in all directions and visualized a hut that looked like it had been abandoned, but a few meters up in a big tree, Noona was tied up, her beautiful dress I had seen her in was stained with blood.

Ignoring everything I had done a few steps back, I immediately ran to free her from that place.

— Noona! react, it's me YangYang, I finally found you —I spoke in a hurry while I cut the rope with my sword— please open your eyes.

I took her gently in my arms, her face was beaten and her body was cold, I checked her pulse, my heart stopped for a moment...I thought I was going to lose her...I took off my top and covered her so she wouldn't be cold anymore.

— We have to leave right away, whoever did this to her will be back soon and I'm afraid we don't have the strength to fight —said Leader Bahk.

Hang in there Noona, just wait a little while and you will be really safe...I won't let them hurt you again.

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—SunniePark97