The Hunt for Ginseng on Mount Cheonggyesan

I stepped out of the gate with a sigh of relief. The sun was beginning to set in the western sky, and a cool evening breeze swept across my face. It had been a busy day, and of course, the lightning wolf earlier had provided a bit of entertainment.

"Not bad. Even with just one punch, the explosion was pretty satisfying," I thought.

As I entered the association building, the busy atmosphere greeted me. Hunters were bustling around, some looking exhausted, while others discussed the missions they had just completed. I walked casually toward the counter, not paying much attention to the glances from a few people who seemed to recognize my face.

"Ah, whatever. Just some sudden fans," I thought.

"Good evening. I'd like to sell the drop items from the gate earlier," I said to the clerk sitting behind the counter, a middle-aged man with thick glasses.

The clerk nodded without much fuss. "Alright, please lay out the items."

I pulled out a few items I had obtained from the lightning wolf. They gleamed under the room's lights, attracting the attention of several people nearby. The clerk examined the items carefully, then looked up at me.

"Is this all?" he asked while continuing his inspection.

"Yup, just from the boss. I left the rest for others. I don't need much," I replied casually.

He nodded, starting to calculate their value while typing something on the computer. I leaned against the counter, waiting patiently and surveying my surroundings. The association was always busy, especially in the late afternoons. The sounds of people talking, cash registers ringing, and mission chatter created a familiar background noise.

However, the atmosphere changed when someone appeared behind me.

"Taemin." The voice was very familiar. I slowly turned around. Sure enough, Hye Rin was standing there with a serious expression.

I sighed softly, feeling a bit lazy. "Oh, it's you again. What's up this time?" I asked, half indifferent.

Hye Rin walked closer, her expression still serious. "I want to talk, but this time, it's serious."

"Yeah, yeah, always serious," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "If it's about the wolf earlier, it's already handled. No need to worry."

She shook her head, her expression unchanged. "It's not about that. I want to invite you to join Crimson Lotus."

I was a bit surprised but quickly masked it with a neutral expression again. "Crimson Lotus, huh? That big guild full of ambitious people? And you think I'd fit in there?" I chuckled.

"More than just fit in," Hye Rin said confidently. "You have incredible abilities, and we can help you develop them even further."

I shrugged. "Hmm, so I'm a big project for you guys, huh? Interesting, but... sorry, I don't like being tied down by guild rules."

"Listen, Taemin," she said, stepping a little closer. "Crimson Lotus isn't just a big guild. We have resources, access to high-level gates, challenging missions. You can't be satisfied just being a solo hunter forever, right? You need a challenge."

I was silent for a moment, thinking. The offer did sound tempting. But on the other hand, I was already comfortable with my freedom. And a big guild? Pfft, that just meant more rules to follow.

"Okay, okay, I'll think about it," I finally said, glancing at the clerk still busy calculating the sales.

"Take your time," Hye Rin softened a little, her face relaxing. "We just don't want to see your potential go to waste. With us, you can get more. Challenges, opportunities..."

I let out a long sigh. "I get what you're saying, but honestly, you're not going to stop until I say 'yes,' are you?"

She gave a small smile. "Maybe."

I raised my hand, surrendering. "Fine, we'll see. But for now, I still enjoy my freedom. I'm not the kind of guy who likes being bossed around. A big guild like Crimson Lotus might be too much hassle for me."

The clerk at the counter finally finished his calculations and handed me the slip. "Here's the total for the items," he said, giving me the paper.

I looked at the amount and smiled, satisfied. "The money's good. Enough for a new apartment, it seems."

I glanced at Hye Rin again. "The point is, I've got other priorities right now. Joining a guild? Hmm... not a priority for the moment. But thanks for the offer."

She looked a bit disappointed but nodded slightly. "If you change your mind, our doors are always open."

I just gave a small smile and waved as she turned to leave. As Hye Rin disappeared into the crowd, I stepped out of the association with mixed feelings.

However, as I walked out, a thought began to form in my head. "Wait a second... why don't I just use them?"

I smirked slyly. "If I join a big guild like Crimson Lotus, I can use them to my advantage. Access to high-level gates, facilities, important information... yeah, not a bad idea, right?"

"Crimson Lotus thinks they can 'develop my potential,' but really, I can use them for much more than that." I grinned to myself as I leisurely made my way toward my apartment.

After finishing up at the association and selling the drops from the gate, I returned to my apartment feeling somewhat satisfied. But for some reason, something still felt missing. Plenty of money, a comfortable apartment, but there was one thing unfulfilled—the desire for something more than just hunting in gates.

Lying back on the couch, I idly scrolled through the hunter forum. Amidst the sea of irrelevant posts, my eyes landed on one rumor that piqued my interest: "A Thousand-Year-Old Ginseng on Mount Cheonggyesan. Myth or Reality?"

A thousand-year-old ginseng said to be worth billions of won. "Hmm... billions of won, huh?" I sat up straight and read more closely. Just imagine, getting that kind of money from a root! After a brief thought, I made a decision. "Let's give it a shot! I mean, what do I have to lose? If I find it, I can retire early from being a hunter."

Without much hesitation, I started preparing light equipment. "No need for big weapons. I'm just hunting for a root, not monsters." Once everything was ready, I headed to the station early the next morning.

Upon arriving at the foot of Mount Cheonggyesan, I began my hike with light steps. The mountain air was so refreshing, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Seoul. "Even if I don't find the ginseng, at least I'll get some fresh air. That's a win too, right?" I chuckled to myself as I continued climbing.

A few hours into the hike weren't too difficult. The path was well-traveled by hikers, nothing too challenging. "But if there really is a thousand-year-old ginseng, it wouldn't be hanging around in an easy spot." I began straying from the main trail, searching for a more secluded area.

After a while, I reached a quieter area. Not many hikers dared to come here, probably because the ground was getting slippery, and the terrain was becoming steeper. But that was exactly what made this area interesting to me. "If there's treasure, it's gotta be in a place like this."

I kept walking, examining every nook and cranny, roots, and plants around me. Looking for something that stood out. But unfortunately, so far, nothing.

"Ahh, this isn't as easy as in the games," I complained as I squatted near a large tree root, trying to peer closer. "If there's really a ginseng, why doesn't it just pop up with a sign saying, 'Hey, pick me!'?"

But after a few hours with no results, I started to feel frustrated. "Have I gone too far? Or maybe it just doesn't exist?" Still, giving up wasn't an option. I wasn't the type to quit halfway, especially with a huge payday at stake.

Then at one point, just as I was starting to feel tired, I spotted something faintly glowing in the ground, hidden among the tree roots. I quickly approached. "What's this?" I muttered curiously, squatting down to take a closer look. A large root, but there was something different about it—a subtle glow coming from within the soil.

But before I could touch it, footsteps sounded from behind. I turned, and three men dressed in black approached. They carried large bags, their faces showing expressions that... weren't friendly.

"Oh, so I've got competition," I thought. One of them glanced at the root I was inspecting and asked sharply, "Hey, is that ginseng?"

I stood up slowly, smiling casually. "Maybe yes, maybe no. Depends on how you look at it." I responded calmly, not wanting to appear scared or interested. They exchanged glances for a moment, then one of them shrugged and left without saying a word.

"Well, I was hoping for an exciting fight. I was in the mood for a brawl," I muttered, disappointed. After they left, I returned to the root I had seen earlier. But upon closer inspection... "Just an ordinary root. This isn't a thousand-year-old ginseng."

I sighed heavily, "Yet again, just an ordinary root. Does that ginseng even exist?" Despite my frustration, I wasn't ready to give up. I still had enough energy and time, so I decided to keep searching.

The sun began to dip toward the west, casting long shadows on the ground, but I still hadn't found any signs of the thousand-year-old ginseng. "If I give up now, I'll probably have nightmares about these roots," I said as I ventured deeper into the forest.

There was no indication that the ginseng would be easy to find. But one thing was clear: I wasn't going home empty-handed until I was sure I'd checked every corner. "There's billions of won at stake. I'm not heading back until I get this damn root."

Two figures from the Golden Lion Guild were slowly tracing their steps, climbing the mountain with sharp, cautious eyes. They weren't just regular hikers. Their faces showed determination and vigilance, especially since the rumors about the thousand-year-old ginseng seemed too suspicious.

"This is odd. The rumors about the ginseng spread so quickly, but the source is vague," murmured one of them, a muscular man named Jang Soo. He was one of the elite fighters of Golden Lion, with years of experience in uncovering dangerous plots.

His companion, a woman named Seol Min, adjusted her sunglasses. She was more composed and skilled in tactical analysis. "I agree, too many novice hunters are getting drawn in by these rumors. Some have even gone missing in the past few weeks."

Jang Soo stopped in his tracks, gazing toward the thickening forest ahead of them. "If the information from the association is correct, it's the Black Crescent Cult that's spreading these rumors. They must have sinister intentions."

Seol Min nodded. "Exactly. The Black Crescent Cult is known for their tactics of luring hunters into traps. They'll use any method to weaken the power of hunters in Korea, including spreading vague rumors like this."

They continued their journey, carefully observing their surroundings. Every step they took was calculated, knowing the Black Crescent Cult was crafty and often disguised themselves as ordinary people. So far, there were no signs of them, but the air around them felt increasingly tense.

"How many do you think have fallen into their trap?" Jang Soo asked, glancing at Seol Min.

Seol Min paused, thinking deeply. "It's hard to say. The association has reported at least ten hunters missing since the rumor started spreading. It could be more since not all hunters report their activities to the association."

Jang Soo clenched his fist. "In that case, we need to move quickly. I don't want more people to go missing. If this really is the Black Crescent Cult's doing, we have to stop them before anyone else gets hurt."

They quickened their pace, heading toward the coordinates given by the association. They knew this wasn't just a routine investigation. Something darker was lurking behind these rumors, and they had to be prepared for whatever came their way.

As they continued their ascent, the atmosphere grew quieter. Only the sound of the wind rustling through the trees could be heard, yet their unease grew. Seol Min suddenly stopped, her eyes fixed on something on the ground.

"Jang Soo, look at this," she said, pointing to fresh footprints in the muddy ground.

Jang Soo approached and crouched down, examining them closely. "These must be hunter footprints… but there are too many for just one person. It looks like they were in a group."

Seol Min looked at him seriously. "The Black Crescent Cult often operates in small groups. This could be one of their traps."

Without another word, they both assumed a more cautious stance. Their steps grew more deliberate, knowing a trap could spring at any moment.

Suddenly, the sound of rustling came from the bushes ahead of them. Jang Soo and Seol Min simultaneously drew their weapons, ready for whatever might emerge. From the bushes, a man stumbled out toward them, his face pale, his clothes tattered.

"Help… help me…" he gasped, collapsing at their feet.

Seol Min quickly approached, checking his condition. "What happened? Who attacked you?"

But before the man could answer, a low, eerie laugh echoed from behind the trees around them. "Hahaha… so, you've come."

Jang Soo and Seol Min immediately turned, on high alert. From behind the trees, several figures dressed in black slowly emerged. A sly grin was plastered on their faces. "We've been waiting for you. Golden Lion, right?"

Jang Soo stood up, his eyes narrowing sharply. "Black Crescent Cult. I knew this was all your trap."

The leader of the cult, a tall man with disheveled long hair, shrugged casually. "What can I say? Hunters are too greedy when it comes to rumors we spread. It's the best way to take them out one by one."

Seol Min stood beside Jang Soo, her eyes keenly watching the cultists' movements. "How many hunters have you trapped here?" she asked coldly.

The man laughed again. "Quite a few. And you two are next."

Jang Soo tightened his grip on his weapon. "If you think you can trap us like this, you're gravely mistaken."

Seol Min nodded, ready for the inevitable battle. The Black Crescent Cult hadn't just spread rumors about the thousand-year-old ginseng, they had orchestrated everything to ensure that any hunter drawn to the mountain would never return.