Minsu's pulse quickened as she stared at the page. Her parents. Her aunt. And now Hyowon.
"What… does this mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Hyowon was silent, his brows furrowed as he studied the list. His name stood out among the others, yet he had no memory of ever being connected to any of this.
Master Yoo closed the book gently, his wrinkled hands resting on the cover. "It means, child, that your search for answers is no longer just yours. Whether he realizes it or not, Kim Hyowon is part of this, too."
Minsu turned to Hyowon, searching his expression. "Do you remember anything? Anything at all that could explain why your name is here?"
Hyowon exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "No. My parents died when I was young, and I was raised by my uncle. He never spoke about my family's past. If my name is here, then it's something I was never meant to know."
Master Yoo nodded. "And yet, here you are." He glanced at Minsu. "And so is she."
Minsu swallowed. She had spent years believing she was alone in this, that she was the only one left behind. But if Hyowon was somehow connected…
Then maybe she wasn't the only one being hunted.
She turned back to Master Yoo. "Who else is still alive from this list?"
The old man's expression darkened. "Very few."
He picked up a brush and dipped it into ink, marking a small symbol beside a few names. "These people are gone. Some vanished without a trace, others died under mysterious circumstances."
Minsu's stomach twisted. "And the ones still alive?"
Master Yoo hesitated, then pointed to a single name near the bottom of the list.
"Yi Sungho."
Hyowon's eyes widened. "The wandering scholar?"
Minsu frowned. "You know him?"
Hyowon nodded. "I've met him a few times. He never stays in one place for long, but he's known for collecting stories—especially old, forgotten ones."
Minsu's heartbeat quickened. If anyone knew the truth, it would be someone who spent his life gathering lost histories.
She turned back to Master Yoo. "Where can we find him?"
The old man's gaze was heavy. "Last I heard… he was seen near the mountain shrine."
Minsu exchanged a glance with Hyowon. The shrine was deep in the forest, an isolated place rarely visited.
A sense of unease settled over her. Whoever had been watching them before—would they let her get that far?
She exhaled, determination settling in her bones.
They had to try.
The decision was made. They had to find Yi Sungho.
Minsu and Hyowon left Master Yoo's shop with a heavy silence between them. The mountain shrine wasn't far, but it was isolated, surrounded by thick forests. If someone wanted to stop them, that would be the perfect place for an ambush.
As they walked through the village, Minsu's thoughts swirled. Every answer led to another mystery. Her parents' deaths, her aunt's disappearance, Hyowon's unexpected connection—nothing was as it seemed.
Hyowon finally broke the silence. "We should prepare before heading out. The path to the shrine isn't easy."
Minsu nodded. "You seem familiar with it."
"I've been there before," he admitted. "It's a quiet place, almost forgotten. But if Yi Sungho is really there, it means he doesn't want to be found."
They stopped by the market to gather supplies—food, water, and a small lantern in case they were delayed until nightfall. Minsu felt a prickle at the back of her neck, the uneasy feeling of being watched.
She glanced around. The villagers went about their daily business, but something felt off. A man standing near the well, another near the fruit stall—both unfamiliar, both lingering too long.
Minsu whispered to Hyowon, "We need to leave. Now."
He followed her gaze and gave a subtle nod. "Follow me."
They took a longer route, weaving through narrow alleys until they reached the forest path leading to the shrine. The further they walked, the quieter it became. The trees stood tall and dense, their branches filtering the afternoon light into scattered golden beams.
Hyowon kept a steady pace ahead, his posture tense. "If anyone follows, we'll know soon."
Minsu clutched the strap of her bag tightly. She wasn't afraid of the forest. She was afraid of what waited for them at the shrine.
Or worse—who might try to stop them from ever getting there.
The deeper they walked into the forest, the heavier the air became. It was as if the trees themselves were watching, listening. Minsu's ears caught the faint rustle of leaves behind them, but every time she turned, nothing was there.
Hyowon must have sensed it too because he suddenly stopped, lowering his voice. "We're not alone."
Minsu's grip on her bag tightened. "How many?"
He tilted his head slightly, listening. "At least two. Maybe more."
A twig snapped in the distance. Then another.
Minsu's heartbeat quickened. She reached into her bag, fingers brushing against a small knife she had packed just in case.
Hyowon took a slow step forward. "We keep moving. If they wanted to attack, they would've done it by now."
Minsu swallowed hard and nodded. But with every step, the unease grew. The shrine wasn't far now—just beyond the next bend.
Then, a shadow moved.
A figure stepped out onto the path ahead, blocking their way. Another emerged from behind, cutting off their retreat.
Minsu's breath hitched. They were trapped.