It was Hyul 49, 1st of the 5th Moon. The sun was nearly set and the moon was about to rise as I was casually heading to Yunsil’s tavern for her special baozi and of course, my favourite ginger tea. I don’t know for how long this has been my ritual whenever my woodchopping day ends in the northern grove. Usually it’s just the locals dropping by the tavern, people whose faces I’ve become familiar with, but that day was quite different. A band of people, I don’t know whether they’re bards or street performers, each with gaudy outfits having a big feast as I walked through the entrance door.
Well, Yunsil had never had these kind of eccentric guests for quite some times. So I thought, that day would be worth it for having some new faces around town and especially if they would present a little of their shows to accompany my lonely little dinner. And yeah, when I was taking my first sip of my ginger tea, they suddenly stood up and asked for permission to play one of their performances. Everyone were excited, and not long after, cheering and the sound of merry clapping hands embraced the whole not to big dining room.
Since I realized that these travellers are not from nearby, I expected them to play something which this kingdom probably haven’t seen before and it was true, a ballad called “Vanish” had just confirmed my assumption. With a bit of humors, jokes and even some tensions, cleverly they played the rhythm and caught all audiences’ attention and perhaps emotion. The main story of the ballad was telling about a ghost stealing a treasure and then vanished. As usual, in the end of an art show and no matter I felt whether entertained or not, I gave an applause to express my appreciation. But.., when they bowed their head down after the show and said that the ballad is inspired by a true story, I stopped clapping and suddenly stunned, plus with a question in my head “Is that really true”?.
So, after having my meal done, I approached the group which sitting just across my table. First, I praised their performance and actually, these guys are pretty warm and hospitable. They called themselves “Nine Raconteurs” although there were actually just eight of them and they offered me to sit down on one table and then we had a pretty nice little chat. I asked what does inspire that great ballad and whose experience was it really. They chuckled and then a white beard guy sitting beside me who plays zither told me in low voice, “It was our own experience, you won’t believe it ” then the laughed as he swigging his third bottle of wine. Subsequently, a man with a neat brown, whom I suggest to be their leader took out something from his leather bag. It was a book and he warned me even this book would see, more like fictional rather than a fact, that I must believe it, moreover he said the book contained the information of exact location of that lost “treasure” stolen by the ghost. Then, he generously gave the book to me and what made me starting to believe them was when one lady in the group accidentally showing a tattoo of her right arm stating that they were used to be pirates or perhaps still they are.
When the day was getting late, and the white beard guy collapsed by his ninth bottle of wine, I thought it was time to bid the group a friendly farewell. So I decided to go back to my home at West Kunsan. It is indeed a quite far way to Nagnang, so during the road I decided to read the book the Nine Raconteurs just gave me. The book titled “The Thief”, it was kinda creepy outside with its dark colored cover and worn out shape. especially reading it in the middle of a night. But know what, as I finish reading its first chapter, who would expect this fifteen chapters book turned out to be quite witty and fun with strong adventurous feeling along with its story. Two chapters and a half unnoticeably accompanied me reaching the door of my little home.
I spent two whole days as I was taking my day off from my woodcutting routine to scrupulously read all the chapters. However, I couldn’t find any reliable information regarding the whereabout of the treasure, which was mentioned in the “Vanish” ballad and also in the sophisticated seventh chapter of the book, as “Stolen Treasure”. The only script in the chapter I could emphasize as an essential clue was, “..the gold lies here beneath the darkest woods..”. I never heard anything pertaining darkest woods, but since the Nine Raconteurs insisted the book has a valuable source of the location of the treasure. So I guessed, it is only them who can satisfy my curiosity.
The next morning, I was rushing to Yunsil’s hoping they were still there. Unfortunately, they were gone, but seemed like they would know that I’d be coming, therefore they entrusted a letter to Yunsil for me to read. As I looked inside, the letter was only contained a folded piece of paper which was apparently a map. And what a beautiful map indeed, drawn on the soft silk-alike sheep by careful strokes and scratches, also charming selection of colours but still, I didn’t know where on earth is this place could be.
The only person I have in mind capable in answering such riddle is that old Buyan librarian Lake. Playing with books for the rest of his life and having a secret entrace to a cavern behind his library shows him as an expert in the subject related to secret places and stuffs. Soon, I thanked Yunsil and quickly moving to visit aging yet classy Buya library where Lake resides. I saw the library door was open and from outside, a whistling sound was clearly heard as he was cleaning a bookshelf with his bright blue duster. He seemed a bit surprise to see my coming, rarely to see someone’s visit in the recent days maybe. I greeted him as I walked in and he was so welcome, invited me to come in, and asked if there is anything he can help with. I offered him the map which I just got and questioned him whether he knows anything called “darkest woods”. He gently carved a little smile on his face and he asked me if I really wanted to know the fact about it. When I slightly nodded to him, he seemed so much excited and just couldn’t wait to explain the whole mysteries running around my head. After a clear and thoroughly explanation, I learned that darkest woods is a name of a forest of the southern continent. It was long forgotten with hundreds even thousands of roaming evil spirits. Lake gave me details I would need to reach the forest which can be accessed only by boat through the south of Nagnang.
Another hunt was on the way and my destination was crystal clear. Some basic preparation such as provisions, water, rope, lantern, shovel, moonblade, axe and of course the map were already on my list. Also, a compass would come in handy to lead my way in forest’s darkness. Lastly, I thought with its immense functions, bringing a fair amount of salt would be useful as legends says, ghosts can’t cross a line made of salt. A light waistcoat paired with frozen garb was going to fit me the most to keep my agility and pace at its highest. All were ready in one piece and I was set for the quest.
On the 6th day of the 5th Moon, I reached the peninsula at the coastline of southern Nagnang. I arrived by noon and still had my chance to see some of the fishermen spreading out their net out of the ocean. Without hesitation I approached one of them and ask if I may to rent his wooden boat for an exhange of a decent pieces of gold. Seemed he approved my offer, but before I go, once again I asked the fisherman for the exact direction to the southern forest. Due to his explanation, should I head to the direction of southwest, I wouldn’t miss it.
After four hours sailing, from the sea, the shadow of the forest appeared clearer with a covering thick mist added its dreaful impression. The idea of returning which would cancel these whole adventures honestly had ever crossed in my mind once I step my feet on the forest’s beach not long after. I knew right away, this forest is occupied by some kind of forces which would gladly grant me my worst nightmare. I arrived when the day was getting dark and it just made things worse.
I held my lantern as soon as I entered the forest, I couldn’t feel any presence of lives yet only deaths. The only footpath I walked was flanked by lining giant trees, I felt goosebumps and I just knew well they were all watching me, I knew they were everywhere, those spirits. I sprinkled a little grain of salt along my way and it helped prevent them to come any closer though some of them were trying to reveal their forms. I saw a woman with blur face and long black hair walking slowly approaching me, a man with red eyes and sharp claws at his right hand, and also a sound of a girl’s crying right by my ears. These apparitions were trying to take me along with them, to the eternal darkness, they just love to. However, shortly after, my attention went to a lady in grey dress leaning againts one of those trees. She seemed like been awaiting my coming. She was approaching me and in a second thought, I really assumed she was human, but no, she was a ghost, well I have to admit, a beautiful one indeed. She tried to speak, but I just wasn’t able to hear her, for another try, she spoke some words with all her might but still I barely understood her. I think she said, “help … and you … me”. And With her finger, she gave me a hint to follow her to a direction. I pulled out my map and compass and having them compared with the grey lady ghost destination, surprisingly they exactly matched which then I decided to follow her but still keep my concern over my map.
Holding lantern on my left hand with both map and compass on my right hand, just left me no room to sowing my salt. As I were keeping up with the lady, I felt a legion of spirits following just right behind us. They were pretty close as we went deeper and deeper to the centre of the woods. I saw a small and shallow pond just ahead of us, and unexpectedly the lady in grey pushed me with her force will into the pond and she sacrificed for me by handed over herself to those chasing hungry spirits. I saw those spirits took her into the hole of blackness and ripped her soul apart.
The air of evil suddenly disappeared and for a moment I was paralyzed from what I had been seeing. After I had myself calm, I continued to take a look at the map and was pretty confident the pond I sit on was its marked spot. Luckily my lantern still shone its light, which made me able see in darkness and to chop some firewoods. I put the the woods beside the pond and searched for some fire stones. Finally, the bonfire was set, it hugely provided me lights so I could work for the treasure. After a while digging the soil beneath the pond, I saw a sparkling light from a medium sized-bright golden chest. Although it was a bit heavy yet it was still able to be carried one hand. I managed to pull out the chest out of the pond, tried to open it, but it was locked. Then I decided to lying it there on the ground for a while.
The dawn was coming as I had taken a little rest after this thrilling hunting. Now, I could see more clearly to examine the chest and I startled when I saw a drawing of a tattoo of the lady of the nine racounters I met before on it. I put out the bonfire and I walked back the footpath with carrying the golden chest back to the beach. By my surprised, I saw the nine raconteurs were standing there by my boat as if they had been waiting for me the whole night. They greeted me and the brown whisker man tossed me a key while saying, “You’ll need this”. But before I could ask them anything… they had gone, without a trace. I tried to unlock the chest with the key and actually it fitted well. And how I lost in words when approximately a million coins of gold filled the whole chest. Yet, a tiny little letter was on the pile, and so it says:
“The lady in grey you saw was used to be one of us. Sadly, Greed and lust were overwhelming her while she decided to stole our ancestors treasure and escaped with it. And so we entangled her soul with a curse which cost our lives, that neither we nor she will rest easy until we return the treasure to where it belongs. I think she has done the right thing by helping you bringing back our precious once again. Now, we are deserved and worthy to unite with our ancestors up there. It is your reward, please take it. We know you will make a good use of it. Thank you.”
I couldn’t believe for what I just read, and soon after returning to my home, I went to Yunsil’s tavern in the next day. I asked her whether she saw a group of people entering, performing and feasting in her tavern during the night about a week ago. Then she said, “Ah.. I remember, that was when I saw you talking to yourself, clapping and cheering for no single reason. I thought you were gone mad, young man”. Then I asked her about a letter entrusted to her, she continually said, “You are drunk, young man.. I’ll prepare you some ginger tea and Oh.. The baozis are still hot if you want to have some. Don’t drink too much will ya.”
Well, anyway.. That day was a really great day to once again having some baozis and some hot ginger tea.