The sun rose once again over Jeontu, marking the start of a new day, setting the sky with mesmerizing hues of red and orange overwhelming the dark blue night sky. Mt Keun's forest began to grow peaceful as the night creatures retreating to their cozy nooks, ready to embrace the serenity that accompanied the dawn.
Amidst this tranquil scene, Han Aeng darted through the forest, her footsteps filled with excitement and anticipation.
As Han Aeng weaved through the trees, the gentle rays of sunlight filtered through the lush foliage, casting a warm and inviting glow on the path ahead. The melodious chorus of birdsong filled the air, harmonizing with the rustling of leaves, creating a symphony that lifted Han Aeng's spirits and infused her with a deep sense of joy.
Lost in the beauty of her surroundings, Han Aeng's heart skipped a beat as she spotted a familiar figure making his way towards her. A wide grin spread across her face, radiating pure happiness.
"Insik Harabeoji!"
"Aeng-ah!" The old man greeted her in return, his face lighting up with the purest of smiles.
Insik, despite nearing 70 years of age, carried himself with vitality and vigor. His tall stature and robust frame were a testament to his indomitable spirit. His light brown eyes, often described by Han Aeng as windows to compassion and friendliness, twinkled with a gentle wisdom. A simple smile adorned his face, reflecting the peace and kindness that resided within him.
Han Aeng and Insik had forged a deep friendship over the course of four to five years. Their paths had intertwined at the borders of Nonnan when Han Aeng rescued Insik, and their bond had only grown stronger when Insik decided to settle in Jeontu. Their relationship mirrored that of a loving grandfather and granddaughter, built on a foundation of love, trust, and shared adventures.
"Harabeoji, I missed you so much," Han Aeng confessed, enveloping Insik in a warm bear hug. "But you seemed to forget all about me after your grandson arrived."
Insik chuckled, gently patting her head. "Oh, my silly pumpkin, how could I ever forget you? It was you who disappeared on me. You never came to visit."
Han Aeng withdrew from the hug, feeling both innocence and guilt at the accusation. She had indeed attempted to visit him, but at that time, Han Aeng nearly lost her life.
Frankly, she wasn't sure how to explain her reason for angering a mother bear. Thus she chose to back down and feign ignorance, trying to protect both Insik and herself from unnecessary stress. "Aa, I was waiting for Harabeoji to call for me. I don't know when you two would be home, and it would be rude of me to come in uninvited, don't you think?."
Insik scoffed. "Aigo, as if I haven't walked in to find you devouring all my food!"
"Those are harsh words, Sir." Han Aeng giggled, her laughter filling the air. "Figured I wouldn't miss you two if I came early in the morning."
"Haha, well, little one, bad timing. That boy left to hunt the bear he's been after for a while now."
"Hunting bears, that's nice."
Bear?
The word "bear" echoed in Han Aeng's mind, causing her breath to hitch. She suddenly realized the identity of the archer who had saved her life, and concern washed over her. He'd seen her in such a deplorable state! What if he had revealed her vulnerability to Insik?
Han Aeng wanted to present herself as a perfect to Insik's grandson. Simply so, she could have the upper hand in the internal strife of who was more deserving of Insik's love and affection. Although Insik's grandson was naturally more entitled to the love, Han Aeng aspired to mark her territory by proving her worth to her potentially threatening rival.
Observing Han Aeng's expressions shift from embarrassment to anguish, Insik grew puzzled. Yet, he responded with an understanding smile and tenderly patted her head once more. "You head home first. I'll find my grandson and come to meet you."
"I can't wait for both of you," her voice was so dejected that Insik became worried as he watched Han Aeng mindlessly head to his bamboo residence.
The path leading to Insik's bamboo residence stretched before Han Aeng, and this was not her first time walking this path at this hour.
Even against her best attempt to brush off the unsettling feeling, something was ominous about her surroundings, and it followed her. The sinister feeling, haunting her every step, started to become more unbearable.
Frustrated, Han Aeng came to a halt, listening and observing what was around her in hopes to come to a reasonable explanation.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly as she waited, her senses heightened, straining to catch any sound or movement that might betray the presence of her pursuer.
The wind whispered gently through the leaves, insects hummed their melodic tunes, birds sang their cheerful melodies, and leaves rustled softly. Aside from the faint sound of drawn blades, everything seemed undisturbed.
Oh. She nodded her head in acknowledgment.
"People are following me."
Soon enough, five men dressed in black began to materialize from various hiding spots, confirming her suspicion. Han Aeng couldn't help but feel a mixture of annoyance and boredom. Encounters like these were not new to her, and she knew they would continue to happen.
"What do you want?" Han Aeng's voice held a tone of both nonchalance and demand. "Mister Assassin, will you fail to reply to this feeble girl's question?"
She had encountered situations like this before and knew how to handle herself. While she waited for a response, she discreetly retrieved a few poison darts hidden in her sleeves, preparing for a move from the assassins.
The leader of the assassins watched her with amusement, momentarily entertained by the unexpected turn of events. He had anticipated a more challenging encounter, he certainly did not a young girl wandering alone in such secluded places.
It seems waiting for the little girl here was a smart idea. For a moment I almost doubted our boss.
He snickered at the simplicity of the situation and signaled for another to approach her.
Swift as a striking snake, Han Aeng swiftly stabbed one of the men with a dart, launching another towards the one beside him. The remaining assassins became wary, distancing themselves from Han Aeng. Sure they had underestimated their target, and she had proven herself to put up more of a fight than they initially thought. However, a mere girl couldn't possibly defeat trained assassins like them. She got lucky the first time since she had the element of surprise on her side, but that will not always be the case.
The leader of the assassins whistled, summoning ten more men to join the confrontation. Although the assassins dismissed their boss's warning, they understood the importance of having backup, as they would for any other mission.
If Han Aeng had a slight chance of survival before, her chances of survival dwindled rapidly. There were too many men for Han Aeng to handle by herself. She had nothing but four more poison darts, and that isn't enough to take down thirteen adult men. If she collected the darts back after throwing them and reusing them on the remaining assassins, then perhaps there was a slim chance, but chances were too low for her to succeed. She was outnumbered and clearly at a disadvantage.
Knowing the odds of winning this fight, Han Aeng reluctantly yielded. Falling to her knees, she raised her hands in surrender.
"Alrig-" Before Han Aeng could finish her words, she fell limp and collapsed to the floor "-ht."
......................................................
Does anyone read this?! Gosh that sound depressing 😂😂😂
But I'm curious to what people think about the book.
For the silent readers, people talk to me XD
Total word count : 1035
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When The Cherry Blossom Fades
Tiểu thuyết Lịch sửIf there is one thing people expect out of an alliance, its peace. No one expects conflicts to heighten or wars to break out as a result of a marriage alliance. No one expects buried secret to come to light, or hidden agendas to be exposed. So wha...
