Chapter 4

Feng and his friends ran as hard as they could, along the path that was getting thinner between the towering, blackened trees. The haunted forest they pass through has become the site of various scary stories often told by villagers. The night wind whispered, carrying voices that sounded like the whispers of invisible creatures lurking among the shadows.

They knew that they had to get out of the forest before night fell. Their every step was accompanied by an increasingly tense feeling of fear, as if something was following them from behind. Amidst the darkness, Feng's eyes caught a faint glint between the trees. He didn't dare turn his head, afraid that what he might see would make him stop.

After hours of fighting against fatigue and fear, they finally saw lights from a distance. The light was like a lighthouse in a dark sea, giving hope that was almost lost. With the remaining strength they had, they accelerated their steps, hoping to quickly get out of this seemingly never-ending nightmare.

Their footsteps became heavier, but their determination became stronger. When they finally reached the edge of the forest, relief began to flow, but it didn't completely dispel the fear that still hung in the air. With short breaths, Feng and his friends managed to get out of the forest and arrived back at the settlement in the hills. They stopped for a moment, looking behind them, making sure that whatever was stalking them had left behind in the forest.

Their faces looked pale, fatigue clearly etched.

Each of them looked at the other, sharing their feelings of relief and trauma without needing words. They know that even though they have returned to their settlement, the image of the haunted forest will always haunt them in nightmares.

However, that night, they were grateful to be alive. They have successfully passed the terrible test, but deep inside, they know that the forest still holds even more sinister secrets, waiting for anyone who dares to enter again.

Due to exhaustion, Feng and his friends finally fell asleep. In his sleep, Feng dreams of meeting Yen Liao, the woman he loved who had died. Yen Liao seemed to have left a message for Feng to fight back against Jimin Yu who had seized the fields belonging to the people of Goangnam village.

In his sleep, Feng had a dream. In the dream, he was standing in the middle of a wide, bright grassland. In the distance, he saw a very familiar figure, Yen Liao, the woman he loved who had died several years ago. Yen Liao walked up to him with a gentle smile that always warmed Feng's heart. But this time, there was something different on his face, there was pain and urgency radiating from his eyes.

“Feng,” Yen Liao's voice sounded like the whisper of the wind, gentle but filled with meaning, “you should get up. You have to fight against Jimin Yu. He has seized fields belonging to the people of Goangnam village. They are suffering, and only you can lead them to fight.”

Feng tried to approach Yen Liao, wanting to touch him and feel the warmth he always missed, but Yen Liao moved away. “Don't forget, Feng, this is your duty. Protect our village, protect the people you love. I trust you."

Feng woke up drenched in cold sweat. His breath was short, and his heart was pounding. The dream about Yen Liao still felt so real, as if he had really just talked to her. Around him, Wugi and his friends started to wake up, looking at Feng with worried eyes.

"Feng, what happened? You look like you saw a ghost," Wugi said, trying to calm Feng down.

Feng wiped the sweat from his forehead and tried to calm himself down. "I dreamed," he answered, his voice still shaking. "I dreamed of meeting Yen Liao."

His friends were silent for a moment, understanding how deep Feng's love for Yen Liao was, even though he had died several years ago. "What did he say?" asked one of his friends curiously.

Feng took a deep breath, trying to remember every detail of his dream. "He gave me a message. He said we had to fight Jimin Yu. He had seized the fields belonging to the people of Goangnam village, and they were suffering because of it. Yen Liao believes that we can lead the resistance to regain their rights."

Wugi looked at Feng with eyes full of confidence. "If Yen Liao said that, then we have to do it. We can't let this injustice continue to happen."

Feng's other friends nodded in agreement. Although still tired and traumatized by their experience in the haunted forest, they feel a new passion ignite within them. They knew that this was a call to action, an opportunity to right wrongs and fight back against the oppression they had watched helplessly.

“Okay,” Feng said in a firmer voice. "We will return to the village and gather everyone. We will plan this resistance well. We will show Jimin Yu that we will not remain silent when he takes away our rights."

With new determination, Feng and his friends prepared to return to Goangnam village. They know that the road ahead is fraught with danger, but with passion and unity, they believe that they can change the fate of their village. Yen Liao's message was not just a dream; it was a call to action, and they were ready to answer it.

***

On a quiet and dark night, under the pale light of a full moon, Jimin Yu sat in the main hall of his simple but dignified house. Around him, several of his subordinates, including the wise and experienced Uncle Wu, sat in tense silence. They all know that a big threat is lurking in their village.

"We can't let Yen Liao enter Sowan village," Jimin Yu said firmly.

"His awakening as a vampire has brought terror to many neighboring villages. He threatens my safety as well. We must act quickly."

Uncle Wu nodded slowly, his face full of worried wrinkles. "I once heard about an ancient ritual that could prevent creatures like Yen Liao from entering our village," he said. "However, this ritual requires preparation and ingredients that are not easy to obtain."

Jimin Yu looked at Uncle Wu expectantly. "What do we need, Uncle Wu? We will do anything to protect this village."

Uncle Wu took a deep breath and began to explain. "We need five main ingredients: holy water from a mountain spring, leaves from a ginkgo tree that grows in the eastern forest, sea salt that has been blessed by a monk, fire from a holy candle, and the blood of a direct descendant of the first family that founded this village."

Jimin Yu pondered for a moment, then said, "I will lead a team to get holy water and ginkgo leaves. I'll entrust you to take care of the rest." His subordinates nodded vigorously, ready to carry out their duties.

The following days were filled with intense activity. Jimin Yu and his team climb a mountain to get holy water, a journey filled with dangers and obstacles. They also managed to collect ginkgo leaves from the eastern forest, even though they had to face wild animals guarding the trees.

Meanwhile, Uncle Wu and several of his subordinates went to a nearby temple to get sea salt that had been blessed by a monk. They also arranged a meeting with the village chief to obtain the sacred candle kept at the village altar.

On the fifth night, all the ingredients had been collected. Uncle Wu leads the ritual in the center of the village, with all the residents gathered in a circle filled with hope. Calmly and respectfully, he mixed the ingredients together and began chanting an ancient incantation.

The moonlight grew brighter as the ritual progressed. Slowly, a protective aura formed around Sowan village, shimmering like an invisible shield. Everyone feels the positive energy flowing, bringing calm and a sense of security.

When dawn arrived, Jimin Yu stood at the edge of the village, looking into the distance. He knew that challenges still lay ahead of them, but for now, Sowan village was safe from Yen Liao's threat.

“Uncle Wu, thank you for your wisdom,” said Jimin Yu, patting Uncle Wu on the shoulder appreciatively.

Uncle Wu smiled wisely.

"This is the result of our joint efforts, Jimin. As long as we are united, nothing can destroy us."

With new determination and strong unity, Sowan village is ready to face any threats that may come in the future. Yen Liao's rise may be a tough test, but they have proven that with cooperation and courage, they can overcome anything.

Even though they had carried out the protection ritual with all their efforts and faith, Sowan village was again shaken by the presence of Yen Liao again. That night, screams of panic broke the silence of the night as the villagers were startled by a mysterious attack.

*****