Chapter 143

Chapter 143

“It’s complicated, but I didn’t.”

“She isn’t your daughter, is she?”

“No, you bastard.”

Choi Yeonseung clicked his tongue.

‘I don’t know what Yeonju said or how she said it.’’

Jeong Yeonju Hwang Gyeongryong’s clans were quite close. They had even done raids together a few times. It was through this connection that she met Choi Yeonseung. Hence, it was only natural for Jeong Yeonju to talk a lot about Hwang Gyeongryong. The question was what Jeong Yeonju said about Choi Yeonseung...

[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ says she probably put you in a good light. I guess your relationship was quite hot.]

[The ’Cat of Lava and Magma’ shakes its paws!]

-... Are you excited?

Choi Yeonseung realized that the cat constellation and manipulator constellation had been stirred up. For constellations, who lived such boring lives, sweet and bloody stories like this were very rousing.

‘I don’t think this is helpful...’

-That young mortal isn’t angry at you. She is sad.

-... I guess so.

The goddess of sloth, the oldest one here, was right. Perhaps Han Seha wanted to talk about Jeong Yeonju with Choi Yeonseung. Choi Yeonseung had to know some things about Jeong Yeonju.

‘I panicked and made a mistake. The next time we meet, I’ll try to talk a bit more calmly.’

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ is excitedly asking for more love stories.]

‘If you give me soul stones, I’ll tell you more stories.’

[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ seriously asks if you’re telling the truth.]

‘......’

***

“Are you really going to go hiking?”

“If it’s too difficult, you can refuse to do it and just rest.”

“......”

The two people showed consideration, which was painful.

“I’m completely fine.”

“That’s the spirit. This type of exercise is helpful when you have complicated thoughts.”

Antony was very serious. Many hunters had complicated family problems. Those who gained wealth and power at a young age naturally lived a dissolute life, which often resulted in two or three children. This ultimately got them sued...

Antony didn’t want Choi Yeonseung, whom he acknowledged, to get ruined because of such scandals. It was up to his trusty clanmates to help out in times like these.

‘Heh. I can’t believe I am doing something so out of place.’

‘This bastard looks like he’s thinking about something useless.’

Choi Yeonseung considered hitting Antony, but he doubted it would change the situation.

“Stay focused. This mountain won’t be easy.”

-This place smells like the Abyss.

It was as the goddess said. The foot of Hallasan was reminiscent of the Abyss. Unlike the orderly Earth, it was riddled with all forms of chaos. It still had more order than the Abyss, though.

“Choi Yeonseung. The Gwaneumsa Temple course is probably easier than the Seongpanak trail. Did I say that correctly? Gwaneumsa Temple? Anyway, I think it’s better to take that path.”

A foreigner asking questions while reading a hiking trail guide was a surreal sight. Choi Yeonseung nodded without being flustered. The Seongpanak trail started with the now-closed Seongpanak rest stop and ended at the top. It was a bit long, but the slope was gentle and easy. In comparison, the Gwaneumsa Temple course started from Gwaneumsa Temple. It was a bit steeper and rougher, but it was shorter as well.

Greedy hunters would naturally choose the Gwaneumsa Temple course.

“I think it’s better as well.”

“By the way, is that a plant that grows in South Korea?” Antony asked. In the distance, they could see a mistletoe on the side of the road hissing and attacking its surroundings.

Was there such a plant in South Korea?

“No. That is a mana-contaminated plant.”

“Was he serious when he asked that?”

“Well, Antony doesn’t have much understanding of South Korea...”

“You are going to feed him live octopus after hiking, right?”

“Of course.”

“You aren’t talking about me, are you?” Antony asked anxiously as Illeya and Choi Yeonseung chattered.

“... Maybe I pushed too hard and made him dislike me.”

The bad-tempered Han Seha was already scary. However, she was twice that when sad. Jeong Wonuk desperately soothed her.

“N-No! How can that be? Hunter Choi Yeonseung was probably just confused because he just returned from the Abyss.”

“Really? Well, I guess so. It did seem like he was confused because of the sudden revelation.”

“Yes, that’s it! The next time you go and talk to him, you two will surely understand each other.”

“Please come with me when that time comes, Hunter Jeong Wonuk.”

“... Why???”

Jeong Wonuk raised his tone. Why did he get bad luck after all this effort?

“Well... I’m embarrassed.”

Jeong Wonuk’s goosebumps doubled when Han Seha lowered her voice as if she was ashamed.

‘Is this really happening?’

“Since you already know him, please sit down and talk to him. Compliment me during your conversation.”

“No...”

“I came all the way to Jeju Island to help with the exchange when the Golden Blood Fish asked for me, yet you’re refusing my request?” Han Seha’s voice returned to normal, lowering coldly.

“... I’ll come with you.”

“Thank you!”

Jeong Wonuk thought about getting Choi Yeonseung’s phone number. He had to text Choi Yeonseung and control his mouth first! He didn’t know about Choi Yeonseung, but Han Seha would definitely make fun of him if she found out.

***

“Hey, that person is flying!”

“That’s flying magic.”

Choi Yeonseung shrugged when he saw some people flying toward the mountain.

“I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”

Flying magic was one of the low-circle spells, but it was tremendously difficult to use. While flying up was easy, balancing oneself in midair and flying to any direction was extremely hard. In short, that magic spell was easy to use but difficult to master! Nevertheless, they chose to use it in this unstable location. It wasn’t a very good idea.

Before he could finish speaking, a magical wind had blown and anomalies had begun to appear. The air shook constantly, making the hunters in the air plummet to the ground.

"Aaaaaaack!"

“Tsk tsk.”

Antony clicked his tongue. It was such an ugly sight.

“What country did those hunters come from?”

“They seem to be Chinese.”

“Then let them be.”

“Ah. No. Are they Korean?”

“Antony, you bastard. What’s wrong with your eyes?”

“W-What did I do wrong...?!”

Ignoring Antony, Choi Yeonseung ran out. Among martial arts, some were known as light martial arts. They could lighten one’s body, allowing them to run faster. Increasing one’s light martial arts level would give them the Flying On Grass, a state where they could step and run on blades of grass, or Flying On Water, a state that allowed them to run on water.

Choi Yeonseung’s state was the Void Flying Path, which gave him infinite internal energy to roam freely through space. He couldn’t use it now due to the restrictions on his internal energy, but with his training experience, he found a replacement for it.

Choi Yeonseung kicked up a rock and sliced it into dozens of thin pieces with his sword. The pieces soon scattered. He used the pieces as stepping stones to soar up.

“A-air Steps! Those are Air Steps!”’ Chen Yuwei exclaimed with surprise as he watched from a distance. It wasn’t as great as the Void Flying Path, but the Air Steps skill, which enabled its user to walk in the sky, was one of the peak-class martial arts.

Choi Yeonseung could do that? Choi Yeonseung was technically stepping on rock pieces, but it didn’t matter to the surprised Chen Yuwei.

“T-thank you!”

“No matter how competitive you’re feeling, using flying magic in a place like this is crazy.”

Choi Yeonseung grabbed the hunters one by one in the air and lightly landed. As a result, the hunters were more curious about the skill Choi Yeonseung showed than shocked at almost being seriously injured.

“Is that... Air Steps or something? Someone was shouting it earlier...”

“No. It’s different from Air Steps. Don’t go around saying strange things.”

The Korean hunters nodded in response. However, it didn’t mean much because, in the distance, Chen Yuwei talked to hunters from other countries.

“Don’t you know how great Air Steps is? You idiots. That martial art is said to be at least peak-class...”

“I’m not interested. Get out of the way, Chen Yuwei. I’m going up.”