Forest of Illusion

In search of the sacred red stone, Bai Lu and his brothers have experienced various things. In fact, Bai Lu, who has been in the Joseon Dynasty for 1 month, has experienced unexpected things. Like fighting ghosts that he thought were very strange and mythical creatures that were just a fairy tale, it turned out to be true.

Choi Bai Lu had to fight with all of them just to protect himself from the attacks of his enemies. His responsibilities in this world are so heavy. However, he had to do it just to survive.

However, despite all that, there are several things he learned in this Joseon Dynasty. He made many friends who he thought were extraordinary. Protect each other, do not discriminate against each other, and unite to eradicate the injustice that occurs in this world.

The impossible can become possible. Those are the things that he learned. During her 23 years of living in modern times, Bai Lu had no relatives or friends who truly accepted her for who she was.

Always feeling lonely, helpless and underestimated, Bai Lu was always alone and survived only to dedicate her life to her beloved mother.

"Yuram~shii, aren't you sleeping?"

Kang Taeshin came over to Bai Lu who was sitting alone in front of the campfire.

"I couldn't sleep. You yourself, why aren't you sleeping?"

"Just in case there are enemies attacking us at night like this," he answered as he picked up some firewood, then sat down beside Bai Lu, "you know, sometimes I wonder if I could survive for thousands of years without any enemies attacking?

"I would love to live in peace, gather with my family, and let go of all the feelings of resentment that have been in my heart all these years."

Bai Lu looked at Kang Taeshin's face who was looking at the bonfire in front of him. Seeing the expression on Taeshin's face, he was even more certain that the man sitting beside him was keeping an unusual secret from him.

"Lucky to be you, Han Yuram"

"Lucky? Lucky why?" Bai Lu looked confused.

"You have two brothers who love you so much and are always there to protect you. You won't feel lonely as long as you have them around. Am I right?"

Taeshin stared at Bai Lu's face until the two of them exchanged a long look that was deep and meaningful.

"Now, you already have us. Me, Ling Fei, Lee Gon, Yeongwan, and Asahi. We will all be your family, Taeshin~shiii. And, you also have us who will always protect you from enemy attacks."

"Protect me?" she said looking surprised.

"Aren't we family? It's a family's duty to protect its own, isn't it?"

Kang Taeshin was stunned. He tried to digest what Bai Lu had told him. As it turned out, he had been right all along, Han Yuram was just an innocent girl who was different from the other female warriors he knew.

"When are you going to test my skills? I'm really looking forward to that day," Taeshin said, trying to change the subject.

"Later, when things start to get better. Lately, I've been so tired. My ribs feel like they're going to break from fighting every day. You know what? Fighting is a very tiring thing," he said innocently.

Hearing what Bai Lu said with all his complaints, Kang Taeshin laughed widely.

"You are indeed a very unique creature."

"Never mind, let's go to bed."

"You go first."

Since he was getting sleepy, Bai Lu decided to sleep first. As for Taeshin, he seemed to be thinking about something as he stared at the scratches on his left palm, with eyes that looked disappointed and sad.

In the morning, Bai Lu and his other friends continued their journey to the place where a shaman named Ogumsha was. After almost four hours of walking, the sun was already above their heads. The stifling heat made them take a short break, while eating some fruits that they picked from some wild trees in the vicinity.

"Hey, look!!! The gold coin is signaling again. It's glowing so brightly!" exclaimed Ling Fei upon seeing the gold coin he was holding, giving off such a bright light.

"What does this light mean?"

Asahi seemed to be thinking. Bai Lu, meanwhile, was looking around the forest, which she found very strange.

"Don't you guys feel strange?" asked Bai Lu while looking at every corner of the forest that didn't seem to have many trees surrounding them.

"What's wrong, Yuram?" Ling Fei asked as he followed where Bai Lu's eyes were looking.

"This forest is very strange. There aren't many trees growing, but the fruits available on those few tall trees are so plentiful. The color of the leaves is also strange, like blood red."

After hearing what Bai Lu said, his companions immediately went around and looked at the surroundings with probing eyes.

"Yes, that's right. What Yuram said is right. The color of the leaves is like the color of blood," Lee Gon said while picking a few leaves and smelling the aroma, "like the scent of the divine eye flower," Lee Gon added.

"Wait, aren't we lost?" asked Asahi as he looked at his friends' faces one after another.

"It's an illusory forest, Asahi."

Kang Taeshin looked up at the sky and saw that there was indeed something strange up there.

"Illusionary forest, how do you know that?" Asahi asked back.

"Look up," Taeshin told him as he pointed up, causing his friends to look up at the sky as well.

"I don't see anything," Yeongwan said, to which Asahi, Ling Fei, and Lee Gon nodded.

"There's a dividing line up there. Are we really trapped in an illusory forest, Taeshin~shii?" asked Bai Lu who was the only one who could see what Taeshin saw.

"You can see it, Yuram~ah?" asked Ling Fei looking confused.

Bai Lu nodded his head. A few meters above their heads was indeed a line stretching straight. It was like a dividing line, separating the illusory world from the real world.

"How is this? Are we really trapped in this illusionary forest?" asked Yeongwan who was getting worried.

"Can we get out of this illusionary forest, Taeshin~shii?" asked Bai Lu again.

"I'm not sure, Yuram~shii. In my opinion, this would be a bad omen. I have a feeling that we're going to experience something big here."

Hearing what Taeshin said, Bai Lu began to feel scared and worried if she and her other friends would be trapped for so long in this illusory forest.

What should I do? Can I get out of this illusionary forest? Han Yuram, give me a hint! Bai Lu thought.