“Oh here! Come! Come and hear the Exclusive tale of the Evil general and his fair consort!"

    The Street was always so busy in the morning time. In this village where all strived for a means of business and survival, everyone was already out early the next morning, doing what they did best all to make a living.

    The storytelling sage stood before his cart of books with interested men and women gathering around him to hear what he had to say. Such people were intrigued by certain tales and there were bound to be people around to listen!

    The man rattled the tale for them, all watched with Great interest and awe! They seemed to be enjoying the tale.

    Asura walked through the street in his usual attire. He was looking around through the street watching as things went as always. Hopefully, he wouldn't be noticed and that was what he hoped for!

    He stopped by the storyteller's company and watched him concluding his story with a climax.

    "If you want to hear the full story, come and buy the second volume!" He announced and before long all had rushed and bought all the books!

    Asura smiled, what a nice way to do business!

    After the books in the cart were sold out and all began leaving, the man happily began packing his stuff in the cart so he would get going. He had certainly done good business today.

    Asura then Walked up to the man who looked at him. "Excuse me Childe ( Young master) How can I help you?" The man asked.

    "Well...you tell stories right?" Asura asked as the man nodded proudly" And you must know a lot of stories, right?"

  "Yes...why?" The man asked.

    "Well...I'd like to know a story"

    "What story?"

    "The story of the Cursed Forest" 

    The man's eyes simply went wild in shock and he looked around cautiously as If he wanted to check if anyone was watching. Then he looked at Asura" You ignorant fool, don't mention that ever again in your life!" The man seemed alarmed.

    Asura was simply confused" Why?"

    "I...I can't tell you anything...Just don't mention it for the sake of your life!" The man was kind enough to drop a reminder as he quickly packed his stuff and took off!

    Asura watched him, Confused" What's that all about?" He wondered.

    Asura didn't give up but tried asking other people but their reactions were all the same. They would all look around panicked. some would leave quickly without a word while some would be nice enough to drop a reminder. And that was never to mention this for his good! He was more confused.

    This all made him feel that this Cursed Forest was something deep and Mysterious. Why would the strange old man refer to it as a place for power and why would everyone be afraid of hearing it?! This simply made him curious for the answer!

    It was night already and Asura had gone to the drinking House where he had taken a seat alone thinking of what next to do. He ordered wine as he thought.

    "Drink! More drinks! I'm not drunk! you all are!"

    He looked up at a drunken man who had staggered his way towards Asura and then sat down before him.

    The drunken man looked at Asura" Oh...You wanna buy me some wine?"

    Asura had wanted to refuse but got an idea" Okey..."

    When his drinks had arrived, he gave them to the man who drank happily.

    "Good, Good wine!" The man praised.

    Asura watched the man drink for a while before he learned to ask "Eh... mister...Can I ask you something?"

    "Sure..go ahead. I'll answer all your questions to repay your wine" The man smiled.

    "Oh...okay. So...Can you tell me anything about the cursed forest?"

    The man stopped drinking and looked at Asura with a serious expression. Asura panicked. Even the drunkard was alarmed about this?

    He was relieved when the man smiled and chuckled" Oh...is that only what you wanna know?"

    "Yes..." Asura nodded, curious.

    The man looked around carefully "I'm not supposed to tell you this...But I'll say anyway. I'll tell you the story of a long long time ago...

    "There were 3 realms... The heavens, the mortal, and the underworld which was regarded as the demon realm. At this time...The 3 realms lived well... Under the supreme rule of the heavens! But then. Suddenly the demons wanted to revolt! They didn't want to be under the heavens because they wanted to be supreme. it was said the demons were so evil. They use bad and dark magic tricks of the devil! And their powers were all bad like they all were. 

    The Heavens then had a plan to eliminate evil from the world and bring in eternal peace and goodness.  So h this... The Heavens unjustly took down the demons! All demons were destroyed and perished! Nothing was found and like that...evil was eliminated forever!

     The heavens made all living things mute of this...No one was to talk about this...Else on dies...And the fact about the Cursed Forest...It was said that when the demons perished, the Forest was possessed by the souls of the devil'...No living thing could go in because all who tried died and were never seen...So the heavens banned it off..." The man laughed and drank up" Who would be stupid enough to walk into his death. This has been many years ago! Kids like you wouldn't even know of the existence of evil!" The man happily drank.

    Asura thought about this "Evil? Devil? demon?" He said to himself trying to solve the puzzle. Could all these give him some powers to fight at least?

    "Oh...I have to go out and pee!" The man said.."I'll be back" The man said walking off staggeringly.

    Asura simply watched him leave while he thought about all the man had said. it was three minutes now and he recalled he didn't know where to find this mountain. He was interested to check it out. Since the old man had said it'd give him powers!

    He looked around and found out the drunkard wasn't back yet! He was confused and wondered where he went.

    Asura decided to go out and check and he left 

    He got outside looking around with both hands on his waist. He wondered where he left and just then he saw something.

    Walking closer he saw a man lying on the floor.. faced on the floor. And when he kicked the man by the stomach to turn him around, he was shocked to see that it was the drunken man.

    Astonished, he bent, placing his hands on his nose, he wasn't breathing!

    Asura quickly got up recalling what the man had said. Anyone who dared speak... would die!

    And then, he heard something pass by...