THE CURSED ONE - THE BOY WHO CHALLENGE DESTINY

Difficult Mission - 2

Black clouds are seen clumping above the Wangdu forest sky, even though some of the clouds still look white, but the signs of rain are starting to be felt. Hyung Jae and Jin were already in the Wangdu forest area, the cold wind and the dark atmosphere this afternoon did not stop the two people from getting to their destination, Jin's mother's grave inside Wangdu Forest.

"Big Brother, is the grave still far from here?" Jin asked because he couldn't wait to get to his mother's grave.

"Soon enough we will arrived, only a thousand steps again and we will get there. as far as I remember, the sign is a large Banyan tree, I buried your mother under the thick leaves of that big tree." Hyung Jae explained to Jin.

Jin is silent when he listening to Hyung Jae's answer, actually, he also doesn't know what he will feel when he sees his mother's grave, even his mother's face he can't remember it anymore although he desperatedly want to remember it even just a blitz of memory.

"We almost there, can you see a big tree right there, that's where your mother's grave is, Jin." Hyung Jae said while pointing his finger at the big tree about 100 steps in front of them. Jin and Hyung Jae finally arrive at their destination, Jin's mother's grave.

"Come down, Jin, behind this tree is your mother's final rested place," Hyung Jae asked Jin to immediately get off the horse to see his mother's grave which was behind the tree. "I apologize to you because I couldn't bury your mother better than this, I did not have much time and equipment at that time." Hyung Jae appologizing to Jin becauaw he didn't buried Jin's mother properly.

Jin stands in front of a small mound which is his mother's grave, there is only a stone as a headstone, Jin doesn't know what he should feel right now.

"It's okay, Big Brother, you already did what you can, I believe my mother was very thankful for your kindness from the afterlife," Jin replied.

"I also did not have time to ask what your mother's name was, she just gave me the necklace that you are wearing now before he dies," Hyung Jae told what happened when he met Jin's mother, "Can you remember something about your mother or your past? " Hyung Jae continues with a question to Jin.

"I don't know, Big Brother, I don't know what to feel right now, I can't remember anything about my past or my mother, not even her face." Jin answered, the look on his face filled with sadness.

Not being able to remember anything about the past is the thing that Hyung Jae doesn't want to happen in his life, only because of imagining if he doesn't remember his origins, his masters, his family or his village makes Hyung Jae feel sad, more or less he can understand the sadness that Jin feels. "No need to be sad, Jin, now you still have your life, that's enough to make you to always look forward," Hyung Jae tried to comfort Jin in his way. "Remember this location, someday you can come here by yourself. For now, let's find the nearest town to stay in, it will soon be dark and it's very dangerous to be in a big forest like this."

"Okay, Big Brother." Jin nods as a sign of agreement, he touches his mother's grave and promising to her if he won't waste her sacrifice and tries to live as long as possible and as well as possible. 

"Jin, come fast, we need to get into the nearesf town before dark." Hyung Jae who is already on a horse asking Jin to get on, their destination is En city, the closest city to this forest. The distance between this forest and the city of En is only about 10000 steps, not too far go, Hyung Jae estimates that they can arrive in En city before nightfall.

There were not many incidents during their trip to En city, only a large expanse of community plantations could be seen on the side of the road, some of which were filled with corn, others were planted with rice which is the main food in this land. They arrived at En city right before the night arrives, just as expected by Hyung Jae and now they have to find a place to stay for the night.

Hyung Jae and Jin immediately report to the guards of En City who come from the Tiger Claw sect, a large sect that is rumoured to be able to compete with the 4 biggest sects that rule this land. They enter En city easily thanks to Hyung Jae's master plaque which makes all bureaucratic matters easier.

The city of En is the largest trading city in the western region, traders from various other big cities are competing to have a business in this city of En because it is very profitable to build relationships in this city. This to some extent affects the lives of city residents, and also affects the cost of living here. Even though the city of En was not as big as the imperial city, the cost of living here was comparable to that of the imperial city.