### **Chapter 3: A Goddess in Trouble**
**Scene 1: The Goon Encounter**
The forest was silent except for the occasional rustling of leaves. Eun Kyung walked through the thick underbrush, her golden robes flowing with each step as the morning sun broke through the trees. Her feet barely touched the ground as she moved with ethereal grace, completely unaware of the dangers lurking in the shadows.
A few yards ahead, a group of rugged men were gathered around a campfire, laughing raucously and drinking from flasks. Their conversation stopped abruptly as they noticed the golden figure approaching them.
**Goon Leader** (eyes widening): *"What... what is this?"*
He rubbed his eyes, half-drunk, convinced he was seeing things. But there she was—an elegant woman, dressed in glimmering robes, walking straight toward them.
**Goon 1** (grinning mischievously): *"Well, well, what do we have here? A lost princess wandering in the woods?"
Eun Kyung stopped in her tracks, her head tilting slightly in curiosity. She studied them as if they were peculiar animals.
**Eun Kyung** (calmly): *"Princess? No. I am Eun Kyung, a goddess from Heaven."*
The goons exchanged amused glances, trying to stifle their laughter.
**Goon 2** (mocking): *"A goddess, huh? Sure, and I'm the king of this forest. What are you really doing here, miss?"*
**Eun Kyung** (seriously): *"I am from Heaven."*
The goons erupted into laughter, the sound echoing through the trees.
**Goon Leader** (laughing loudly): *"Heaven? Yeah, right! Did you fall out of the sky or something?"
**Eun Kyung**: *"I was sent to Earth by my father. He punished me for disobedience and turned me into a statue for many years. A mortal touched the statue and awakened me."*
The goons burst into laughter, doubling over and clutching their stomachs.
**Goon 3** (wiping tears from his eyes): *"Statues! Goddesses! Oh, this is rich! Lady, are you auditioning for a movie or something?"*
**Goon 1** (snickering): *"Alright, alright. Let's humor her. So, where's your palace, 'Your Highness'?"*
Eun Kyung blinked innocently.
**Eun Kyung**: *"I lived in the Celestial Palace in Heaven, surrounded by clouds and stars. But now, I have no home on this Earth."*
The goons exchanged another round of laughter, one of them almost falling over from the effort.
**Goon 2** (grinning): *"No home, huh? Don't worry, missy. We can find you a... cozy little place to stay."*
The goons, intrigued by her odd demeanor, decided to press further.
**Goon 3**: *"So, goddess, tell us... How did you come down from Heaven? Did you take a golden escalator?"*
Eun Kyung frowned slightly, confused by their tone.
**Eun Kyung**: *"No, I was banished. My father used his divine powers to send me here. It was... unpleasant."*
**Goon 1** (mocking): *"Oh no, unpleasant? Did you land on a cloud cushion?"*
Eun Kyung shook her head solemnly.
**Eun Kyung**: *"No, I was trapped in a golden statue and left to stand in silence for years. It was a form of punishment."*
The goons laughed even louder, slapping their thighs.
**Goon 2**: *"A statue! What next? Did pigeons sit on you too?"*
Eun Kyung's face brightened at the question.
**Eun Kyung**: *"Yes, many birds rested on me. They were quite pleasant company. Far more respectful than some mortals I have encountered."*
Her earnest response only made the goons laugh harder. They found her strange answers endlessly amusing, though it was clear they were growing bolder with their intentions.
**Goon 3** (smirking): *"Maybe she's an angel? Can we get a wish granted or something?"*
Eun Kyung blinked, clearly unsure of how to respond to their mocking. Her innocent expression only seemed to fuel their amusement.
**Eun Kyung** (confused): *"I do not understand. What is so funny?"*
The leader took a step closer, his intentions now turning darker as he looked her up and down.
**Goon Leader** (slyly): *"Well, if you're really from Heaven, maybe you're here to give us a little... 'reward.'"*
**Goon 1** (grinning): *"Yeah, how about a little something for the trouble?"*
Eun Kyung remained unfazed, her eyes growing colder.
**Eun Kyung**: *"I am not here to reward you. I am here on my own purpose. Please, do not come closer."*
The goons laughed again, now circling her like predators. The mood had shifted, and it was clear they were no longer just curious—they were preparing to make their move.
**Goon 2** (reaching out): *"Come on, sweetheart, don't be shy. We just want to have a little fun."*
Eun Kyung's eyes narrowed, her divine aura shimmering faintly. She took a small step back, but they followed her. She didn't know what their intentions were, but something in her gut told her that things were about to get ugly.
---
**Scene 2: The Awakening and Realization**
Back at the truck, Yong slowly regained consciousness. His head was pounding, and the groggy, hazy feeling of too much alcohol still lingered. He groaned and sat up, rubbing his eyes, only to freeze when he noticed the statue was gone.
**Yong** (shouting): *"What the hell?! The statue!"*
He stood up quickly, his mind racing. He looked around the truck, under the tarp, behind the trees, but it was nowhere to be found. His heart pounded in his chest as panic set in.
**Yong** (shouting): *"Joo Hyun! Wake up!"*
Yong turned to his friend, who was still lying face-down on the ground, snoring. In desperation, he grabbed a nearby water bottle and poured it all over Joo Hyun's face.
**Joo Hyun** (spluttering): *"What... What the hell, man?! What did I do?"*
**Yong** (furious): *"The statue's gone! It's not here! How could you let this happen?!"*
Joo Hyun blinked rapidly, still trying to make sense of the situation. He scrambled to his feet, looking around frantically.
**Joo Hyun** (confused): *"No way... We left it right here. It's gotta be somewhere nearby."*
They both searched for what felt like hours, looking under every rock and tree. But the statue was nowhere to be found. Yong fell to his knees, his hands buried in his hair.
**Yong** (crying out): *"What are we going to do? That businessman's going to kill us if we don't find it! We're dead!"*
Suddenly, a soft voice spoke from behind them.
**Eun Kyung** (calmly): *"You are not going to die."*
Yong and Joo Hyun whipped around to see the same glowing woman they had seen the night before, standing a few feet away from them with her arms crossed.
**Yong** (wide-eyed): *"You! How did you—What's going on?!"*
Eun Kyung nodded, a serene smile gracing her lips.
**Eun Kyung**: *"I can help you find what you have lost."*
Joo Hyun blinked, still confused but also trying to make sense of the situation.
**Joo Hyun** (grinning nervously): *"Uh... Are you... Are you a real goddess?"*
Eun Kyung simply nodded again, her expression unwavering.
**Eun Kyung**: *"Yes, I am. And we will find your statue. But first, you must calm yourselves."*
---
**Scene 3: Yong's Timely Arrival**
Eun Kyung led them deeper into the forest, her presence calm and almost ethereal as she moved ahead of the two men. They walked for a while, following her into the dense underbrush, when suddenly, they heard voices—a group of men laughing.
**Yong** (whispering): *"We're getting closer..."*
Eun Kyung motioned for them to stay quiet. She walked ahead, her robes rustling gently as she approached the men. Yong and Joo Hyun followed cautiously behind her.
When they broke through the trees, they saw the group of goons who had been surrounding her earlier. They were still laughing and chatting, not noticing the trio's approach.
**Goon Leader** (laughing): *"I told you, she's gonna make us rich!"*
As the goons inched closer to Eun Kyung, their intentions clear, a sharp voice cut through the tension.Yong stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
**Yong** (shouting): *"Hey! Back off! What do you think you're doing?"*
The goons turned to see Yong jogging toward them, his face a mix of exasperation and irritation.
**Goon 3** (mocking): *"Look who's here! The knight in shining armor!"*
Yong ignored the taunt and stepped protectively in front of Eun Kyung.
**Yong** (gritting his teeth, to the goons):*"Alright, that's enough.*"You've been warned. Leave her alone before I make you regret it."*
The goons sneered, clearly unimpressed by Yong's warning.
**Goon 1**: *"Oh, tough guy, huh? What are you gonna do? Call the cops?"*
**Yong** (smirking): *"Nah, too much paperwork. I'll just handle you myself."*
Without waiting for an answer, Yong rushed at the leader, throwing a wild punch. The goon dodged, but it was clear that Yong wasn't backing down. Meanwhile, Joo Hyun, in his usual clumsy fashion, tripped over a branch and accidentally shoved one of the goons into a pile of leaves.
**Joo Hyun** (groaning): *"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to..."*
Goon 2 charged at Yong with a broken bottle, but Yong ducked and grabbed a nearby stick, smacking him lightly on the head.
**Yong**: *"Really? A bottle? You couldn't find anything more creative?"*
Goon 3 tried to tackle Yong but tripped over a tree root, landing face-first in the dirt. Yong looked down at him and shook his head.
**Yong**: *"Gravity's not your friend tonight, huh?"*
The goons were thrown off by the chaotic nature of the attack. As Yong and Joo Hyun continued their awkward battle, Eun Kyung stood aside, her arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with mild amusement.
**Eun Kyung**: *"Mortals are strange."*
After a few more awkward moves, Yong landed a punch on the leader, sending him sprawling into a nearby bush. The rest of the goons hesitated, clearly realizing they were outmatched by the strange and unpredictable duo.
**Goon Leader** (groaning): *"Alright, alright! We're done!"*
Yong and Joo Hyun exchanged glances, breathing heavily but victorious.
**Yong** (sighing): *"This is getting ridiculous."*
Eun Kyung approached the goons, her golden robes glowing even brighter in the sunlight. She looked down at the defeated men with a calm expression.
**Eun Kyung**: *"Go. Leave this place."*
Meanwhile, Goon 1 managed to recover and grabbed Yong from behind, but Eun Kyung stepped forward, her serene expression replaced by a flash of annoyance. She tapped Goon 1 on the shoulder.
**Eun Kyung**: *"Do not touch him."*
When he turned, she flicked her wrist, and a tiny spark of divine energy sent him flying into a pile of leaves. Yong looked at her, wide-eyed.
**Yong**: *"What was that?"*
**Eun Kyung** (calmly): *"A small warning. I could do more if they persist."*
The goons, seeing the divine aura surrounding her, didn't hesitate. They scrambled to their feet and ran off into the woods, not daring to look back.
---
**Scene 4: The Plan**
As the three of them made their way out of the woods, Joo Hyun kept glancing at Eun Kyung, his eyes widened with a mix of awe and greed. Her golden robes shimmered in the sunlight, the glimmering fabric reflecting the rays in a way that made it almost impossible to ignore. Eun Kyung walked ahead with an air of serenity, completely unaware of the thoughts brewing in the two men behind her.
Joo Hyun, who had been watching the whole scene from a safe distance, finally approached, his eyes wide with disbelief.
**Joo Hyun**: *"Whoa. That was... something. Remind me not to mess with either of you."*
Then his gaze fell on Eun Kyung, her radiant robes glinting faintly in the moonlight. His face lit up with excitement.
**Joo Hyun**: *"Wait a second. She's wearing *real* gold, isn't she? Yong, do you know how much money we could make if we..."*(leaning in conspiratorially) *"...'borrowed' her for a while?"*
Eun Kyung raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
**Eun Kyung**: *"Borrowed me? Explain."*
Yong groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.
**Yong**: *"He's just joking. Aren't you, Joo Hyun?"*
**Joo Hyun** (grinning sheepishly): *"Of course! Joking! Ha-ha... Unless you're interested?"*
Eun Kyung sighed, turning away as Joo Hyun tried to come up with a plausible excuse for his ridiculous idea. Yong grabbed him by the ear and dragged him along.
Yong looked at Eun Kyung, still processing the bizarre events of the past few hours. The idea of kidnapping her seemed ridiculous, but Joo Hyun's excitement was contagious, even if he didn't fully agree with the plan.
**Yong** (frowning): *"What? Kidnap her? Are you out of your mind?"*
**Joo Hyun** (grinning, lowering his voice): *"Come on, man. We're not going to hurt her, we just... *borrow* her for a little while. Look at her! She's probably got more gold than we could ever dream of. Imagine how much money her family has if she's dressed like that. We could demand a huge ransom!"*
Yong shook his head, feeling conflicted. Part of him felt uneasy about the idea, but another part couldn't deny the tempting thought of the wealth they could gain.
**Yong**(hesitant): "But... what if she's more powerful than we think? What if she's not just some rich girl, but... actually some kind of immortal being?"
**Joo Hyun** (laughing): *"Come on, dude! She's no different from us. She's just got a fancy outfit and a few glowing things. I mean, we saw her glow last night, but that doesn't mean she's untouchable, right? Besides, I've got the perfect plan. We'll grab her, keep her for a bit, then make that call to her 'family.' Boom. Easy money."*
Yong couldn't help but laugh at Joo Hyun's overconfidence. It was one of the things he'd come to expect from his friend—always eager to jump into things headfirst without thinking of the consequences.
**Yong** (chuckling nervously): *"So what's your brilliant plan, then? Just walk up and tell her we're kidnapping her?"*
**Joo Hyun** (grinning widely): *"Exactly. We'll say something like 'We've got your daughter, now pay up.' We'll make it sound serious. If her family's really as rich as we think, they'll pay anything to get her back."*
Yong thought about it for a moment, the temptation gnawing at him. He looked back at Eun Kyung, who was still walking ahead with her ethereal grace, completely oblivious to their conversation. Her calm demeanor and golden appearance made her seem almost untouchable, but that didn't change the fact that Joo Hyun was right—they had a chance to make a life-changing amount of money.
**Yong** (muttering to himself): *"What have I gotten myself into..."*
Joo Hyun's eyes gleamed as he saw that his friend was starting to waver.
**Joo Hyun** (nodding enthusiastically): *"Exactly, man! We've come this far, so why stop now? We've got the perfect opportunity. We'll just follow her, find a good spot to grab her, and then it's smooth sailing from there."*
**Eun Kyung** (softly): *"What are you two planning?"*
Yong and Joo Hyun froze, caught off guard by her sudden question. They both stammered, but it was Joo Hyun who recovered first, putting on a wide grin.
**Joo Hyun** (laughing nervously): *"Planning? Nah, we were just... uh... Talking.
**Yong**: *"We're going home before you get us into more trouble."*
The three made their way out of the forest, leaving the goons nursing their bruises and plotting their next move in vain.
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