When General Im Kyong-up was young he lived in the town of Tallai. In
those days he loved the chase, and constantly practised riding
and hunting. Once he went off on an excursion to track the deer
in Wol-lak Mountains. He carried only a sword, and made the chase
on foot. In his pursuit of the animal he went as far as Tai-paik
Mountain. There night overtook him, and the way was hidden in the
darkness. There were yawning chasms and great horns and cliffs on
all sides. While he was in a state of perplexity he met a woodman,
and asked him where the road was and how he ought to go. The woodman
directed him to a cliff opposite, "where," said he, "there is a
house." Im heard this and crossed over to the farther ridge. On
approaching more nearly he found a great tiled mansion standing alone
without a single house about it. He went in by the main gateway, but
found all quiet and dark and no one in sight. It was a vacant house,
evidently deserted. After travelling all day in the hills Im was full
of fears and creepy feelings. So he viewed the place with mistrust,
fearing that there might be hill goblins in it or tree devils,
but a moment later some one opened the room door and shouted out,
"Do you sleep here? Have you had something to eat?"
Im looked and discovered that it was the same person that had directed
him on his way. He said in reply, "I have not eaten anything and am
hungry." So the man opened the wall box and brought him out wine and
meat. He, being exceedingly hungry, ate all. Then they sat down to
talk together, and after a little the woodman got up, opened the box
once more, and took from it a great sword. Im asked, "What is this
you have; do you intend to kill me?"
The woodman laughed and said, "No, no, but to-night there is something
on hand worth the seeing. Will you come with me and not be afraid?"