episode_0398

***

Bangja and I, who were returning home after failing at Daegwa, talked about various things to relieve the boredom while walking.

Most of the time I heard it and Bangja made fun of his mouth, but I thought it wouldn’t be a problem if I called him Choksae or Babbler instead of Bangja.

I was also able to obtain fragmentary information about myself. Looking at it all together, it appears that he was born and raised in a family of upright spirit, which is rare.

The most difficult thing after deciding to live my original life is having to do something that goes against my personality.

There is nothing more embarrassing than being placed in an environment that destroys one’s character. Whenever I was in that situation, I felt like I was going out in clothes that didn’t fit my body.

In that sense, being born to parents with integrity is a good thing.

“Good start.”

“I feel relieved to see you in good spirits!”

The person who misunderstood my words smiled brightly.

While we were crossing the mountain talking about various things, my mind caught hold of the Zhangyi people I had seen on the mountain. I asked Bangja why he jumps at the mere mention of the name of the Zhangyi people.

I don’t know if it was because I said that his memory was not complete due to the shock of being bitten by a tiger, or if I gave him another chance when he was still itchy after talking like that, but Bangja spoke passionately about the Zhangyi people.

The story about Jang Yi was nothing but an ugly story.

“In the year of Imjin, 80% of the Japanese pirates who entered Joseon were submerged in the sea, right?”

Bangja said, waving his arms and making his way.

As we climbed the mountain, the trees became denser and unfamiliar flowers appeared.

“Of course, Chungmugong…”

Hoping that the history of this era was the same as what I knew, I agreed with Bangja’s words.

“It is said that Chungmugong, who received the protection of the god of war, completely defeated the Japanese pirates with his mysterious technique, Beonsum, but still, several Japanese ships landed and marched toward Hanyang.”

Wait, what about the first breath and the other?

Despite my questions, Bangja didn’t stop talking.

“Which way would the Japanese, who had lost their supplies, travel? The only choice for the Japanese who were chased by the soldiers was to hide in the mountains. But for some reason, that place was the territory of the Zhangyi people.”

“Was there no exchange with the Zhangyi people before that?”

“It was only known that there was a group of people called the Zhang people and that they lived hidden away in the mountains, but their viciousness was not known. Great… I also heard it from word of mouth, but I would say that the Japanese were treated so harshly that it was pitiful.”

“What happened to the Zhang family?”

“It is said that most of them were killed on that mountain. The government army found a few surviving Japanese, but it is said that they were not in their right mind.”

“You were out of your mind?”

” According to the surviving Japanese, ghosts suddenly began to appear and they all swung their swords at their colleagues as if possessed by something. ”

“What… Are you saying that the Zhangyi people use witchcraft?”

“Shamans can also kill people through exorcism, so wouldn’t it be possible for the Jang-i tribe as well? Isn’t there something holding you back, so you go and live in the mountains? Wow, maybe those long ears can be a clue.”

Bangja made a fuss as if he had made the discovery of the century.

Afterwards, the end of the Japanese that Bangja spoke about was closer to a ghost story than history.

It is said that there was a man who pulled out his own sword and shoved it into his mouth, while there were also samurai who committed seppuku with a sober mind.

It is said that an artificial stream created by the blood of headless corpses and torn limbs dyed the mountain red, but the only evidence to prove this is eyewitness accounts, so I do not think it is very reliable.

“Master. There is a story that this mountain was the place where the Japanese were cut off.”

Bangja, who whispered to me as if he had finally woken up, trembled and adjusted his clothes.

It was quite funny to see them talking so loudly and being so scared.

“Um.”

“Hmm? Why are you doing that?”

“I know that the Zhang people shoot bows, but in what you said, there is no story about a Japanese who died after being hit by an arrow.”

“Isn’t that because the other deaths were so bizarre that they weren’t mentioned? I remember a corpse that was grotesquely twisted and twisted more than a corpse that was hit by an arrow.”

“I see.”

I felt something strong. And I was certain of one thing.

I thought that maybe, if I wanted to end this world safely, I shouldn’t get involved with the Zhangyi people.

If I return to my hometown and live my life according to my parents’ orders, wouldn’t I be taking over the life of the owner of my body?

“Ugh… Just go over the hill… You will soon reach the village.”

Was it because I walked to relieve boredom? I was able to climb the mountain faster than I thought.

The way down was more difficult than the way up.

This was because the dense green walls were tightly blocking the road.

“The road is not very good.”

I wasn’t talking about remembering modern hiking trails. I brought this up because there was a clear difference in the level of overgrowth compared to the road I walked earlier.

“That’s right.”

Bangja took a couple of steps forward and started cutting down the overhanging branches and grass with a wooden stick.

Green obstacles bowed their heads to Bangja’s beatings and opened the way.

I followed Bangja.

“Ah, come on!”

Bangja, who was stabbed by a sharp leaf, trembled.

“Be careful.”

It had a floral scent that I had never smelled before.

“I wonder if there is a tavern.”

As I lowered my head and spoke, Bangja scratched his neck and agreed with what I said.

***

Contrary to my wish, I could not stay at the tavern. However, there was a couple who offered to give us their room, so we were able to stay there for one night.

It felt strange to receive favors without anything in return, so I took some coins out of my carry-on bag and gave them them.

While the couple was preparing meals, my husband and I were able to get some time to put down our bags and massage our swollen feet.

Bangja scratched his body as if he had been stung by an insect.

Her husband was a woodcutter who made a living by digging up mountain herbs and selling them, and unlike his rough face, he spoke softly and used refined words.

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

I didn’t even expect meat side dishes. When I expressed my gratitude for the delicious dinner, he waved his hand.

“Please speak comfortably. I’ll be better.”

The dark-faced woodcutter looked embarrassed.

The meal was great. Perhaps because it was a thatched house adjacent to the mountain, I felt like I was eating in a Korean restaurant with traditional interior design.

While I was eating, the smell of flowers became stronger. It was the smell I smelled as I crossed the hill.

What kind of flower is this? I was curious about the name.

“Ah… I write….”

Bangja, who was making soup, made a groaning sound.

What was so uncomfortable was that he irritated himself throughout the meal.

“What makes you uncomfortable?”

“Strangely, I feel a bit itchy. I wonder if I have a fever… I feel like I have a fever…”

Bangja said those words and walked backwards. The chopsticks he was holding rolled awkwardly on the floor.

It happened in the blink of an eye.