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Chapter 5
There are two ways to learn skills.
One is by using skill scrolls obtained as rewards from Gates or the Tower.
The other is by learning the techniques through oral formulas and training after someone else has mastered them.
Over time, those techniques are refined into powerful martial arts.
Such combat arts were the pride of the Ten Great Guilds, and Songgwang Guild was famous for its devastating fist and kicking techniques.
BOOM!
A fierce aura exploded outward, filling the hideout.
It was the presence created by the Heavenly Fist Flame Heart Art, the signature martial art of Chae Mu-sik, the Overlord of Songgwang Guild.
Originally born as a Skill, it had evolved into something akin to the martial arts of old wuxia novels.
The level of mastery was extraordinary.
Judging solely by Chae Seung-jin’s command of the Flame Qi, he undoubtedly possessed talent.
Whoosh!
His fist tore through the air toward Jung Hyun-soo.
He really did train diligently…
His personality was rotten to the core, but at least he had never taken shortcuts in his martial training.
He was already skilled enough to clear Gates as a proper Hunter.
Filled with confidence, Chae Seung-jin shouted,
“Kneel and beg! If you do, I’ll be generous enough to make sure Garam Guild doesn’t suffer because of—”
“…Huh?!”
His eyes widened.
Jung Hyun-soo had suddenly appeared right in front of him.
Instead of dodging or blocking, Hyun-soo had stepped inside his attack.
Just before the fist struck his cheekbone, Hyun-soo lightly redirected it with barely the touch of his fingertips.
Instinctively, Chae Seung-jin threw an uppercut with his left fist.
Whoosh!
It was a sharp, explosive counterattack.
Not bad.
Hyun-soo answered by chopping his elbow downward.
Garam Guild specialized in swordsmanship.
Idiot.
He’s seriously trying to fight me barehanded?
Only recently, Chae Seung-jin had shattered a Stone Golem with a single punch.
The moment he expected a direct clash—
Swish!
Huh…?
Hyun-soo’s elbow suddenly changed direction mid-swing.
That was the flexibility of Hwancheon True Qi.
Having once reached the Tenth Star, changing trajectories was effortless for him, even in his still-untrained body.
His elbow smashed directly into Chae Seung-jin’s cheekbone.
CRACK!
“AAAGH!”
Chae Seung-jin staggered.
The overwhelming aura surrounding his body collapsed instantly.
His face burned as if molten lava had been poured onto it.
His punch missed completely.
Then—
CRUNCH!
“Ghk…!”
A horrifying sound echoed from his shoulder.
“My… my shoulder…?”
His arm twisted into an impossible angle.
His father had drilled flexibility into him since childhood, but this…
This wasn’t something the human body could do willingly.
BAM!
“AAAAAAAH!”
Hyun-soo’s shin slammed into his leg.
Chae Seung-jin rolled across the ground.
He had clearly seen the attack coming…
Yet he hadn’t reacted at all.
His shoulder.
His knee.
Both joints were grotesquely dislocated.
This was the Academy.
Students fought each other all the time…
But nobody expected someone to cripple an opponent so mercilessly.
Normally, once a shoulder was destroyed…
People stopped.
But this wasn’t an ordinary fighter.
This was the future Dark King—
one of the world’s most wanted criminals.
The ruler of the underworld.
He had never shown mercy to those who challenged him.
If I don’t kill…
I’ll be the one who dies.
He knew better than anyone that mercy was rarely repaid with kindness.
“Y-you lunatic! We’re inside the Academy! You destroyed my shoulder and knee?! You’ll be expelled! My father will never forgive Garam Guild!”
As he screamed…
Hyun-soo slowly drew his foot back once more.
Chae Seung-jin’s pupils shrank.
CRACK!
“…!!”
This time he couldn’t even scream.
Hyun-soo’s foot slammed directly into his mouth.
“Ghk! Gghrk!”
His body convulsed.
The murderous look in Hyun-soo’s eyes terrified him more than the pain.
“Weren’t you the one who laid a trap for Garam Guild?”
“So why are you acting surprised?”
Hyun-soo slowly lifted his foot.
Broken front teeth scattered across the floor.
“…Y-you…”
“If you were willing to destroy Garam Guild for your scheme…”
“…then you should’ve prepared for the possibility of failure.”
“What are you going to do now?”
“Oh… maybe I should wake that guy up and ask him instead?”
He spoke calmly.
Almost gently.
But every word carried terrifying intent.
If war with Songgwang Guild was already inevitable…
Then killing Chae Seung-jin here wouldn’t change much.
“Actually…”
“That might be the better choice.”
“We’ve already crossed the point of no return.”
“And isn’t cutting off the enemy commander’s head considered proper etiquette in war?”
Hyun-soo smiled.
Normally, his handsome face would’ve made girls blush.
Right now…
It looked terrifying.
“I never intended to live under the same sky as Songgwang Guild.”
He picked up the chair that Chae Seung-jin always used as the seat of honor.
A memory surfaced.
In his previous life…
Chae Seung-jin had once sat in that very chair while laughing as Hyun-soo desperately pleaded his innocence.
Remembering that humiliation…
Hyun-soo swung the chair down.
CRAAASH!
Everyone watching froze.
Without another glance…
Jung Hyun-soo calmly walked out of the hideout.
A Short While Later
Jung Hyun-ah finally recovered enough to chase after him.
Past the growing crowd of students…
She caught up to her brother.
“Have you completely lost your mind?!”
“I’m not asking you to believe me.”
“But I promise.”
“I’ll clean this mess up perfectly.”
“How can you even say that?!”
“I’m not running away.”
“I have something I need to take care of.”
“I’ll come back afterward.”
Originally…
Only one person knew where the original video was hidden.
Chae Seung-jin.
But now…
Hyun-soo knew as well.
He wasn’t planning to retrieve it himself.
War with Songgwang Guild was inevitable.
Instead…
He intended to use the power of the underworld to strike back.
A simple information trade will be enough.
Destroying Songgwang wasn’t possible yet.
But ruining Chae Seung-jin’s plan certainly was.
Not far from the Academy stood a traditional Korean restaurant.
Hyun-soo walked inside.
“Excuse me, sir. We haven’t opened yet.”
“I’ll have the standard table setting.”
“Braised beef short ribs.”
“No boiled pork.”
“Braised hairtail.”
“Cheonggukjang stew.”
“Stone-pot rice.”
“And finish with cinnamon punch.”
“…Pardon?”
“Are you expecting anyone?”
“The moon feels lonely today.”
“It would be nice if a friend came to listen to its sorrow.”
It was still broad daylight.
Yet the moment he finished speaking…
The employee immediately closed every blind and locked the front door.
Without hesitation…
Hyun-soo sat at the table furthest in the corner.
The employee’s gaze sharpened.
“…Who are you?”
Hyun-soo couldn’t help feeling nostalgic.
He wasn’t someone he’d been close to…
But they had crossed paths many times.
This man—
Kim Chun-sik.
Currently the Korean branch chief of the information guild Blood Lotus.
In the future…
He would become the guild’s leader and one of the greatest information brokers in the underworld.
Seeing him treat Hyun-soo like a complete stranger made the regression feel real.
“You should recognize me just by looking.”
Kim Chun-sik nodded.
“I know you’re the eldest son of Garam Guild.”
“But someone like you…”
“…knowing Blood Lotus’s contact code?”
“So that’s what surprises you?”
Blood Lotus was an underground information guild.
They bought and sold any information forbidden by law.
Even the Hunter Association couldn’t eliminate them.
Information always had a price.
False information carried deadly consequences.
Hyun-soo had deliberately used their secret contact phrase.
“Exactly.”
“…I’m disappointed.”
“Since when has Blood Lotus started asking clients questions like that?”
“Though…”
“I suppose every organization has incompetent employees.”
Kim Chun-sik frowned.
“If you want to know…”
“Find out like an information broker.”
“Pay the price.”
“Or investigate.”
He was openly questioning Kim Chun-sik’s competence.
Naturally…
The man felt offended.
“…You’re not an easy customer.”
“Let’s discuss business.”
“I’m listening.”
Despite his suspicions…
Guild regulations required him to treat anyone using the VIP contact method with respect.
Hyun-soo got straight to the point.
“I’ll sell you Edward Parrington’s current location.”
Kim Chun-sik’s eyes widened.
“…Edward Parrington?”
“Must we play these little mind games?”
“Everyone knows the British royal family is secretly hunting him for stealing one of their lost treasures.”
“That’s…”
Hyun-soo stood up.
“Forget it.”
“I’ll take this information to the Haomen instead.”
Haomen.
Blood Lotus’s greatest rival.
A Chinese information guild modeled after the organizations in martial arts novels.
Kim Chun-sik hurriedly stopped him.
“Now, now… there’s no need for that.”
“What do you want?”
“I want you to retrieve the documents hidden inside Chae Seung-jin’s villa.”
“And release them whenever I ask.”
Kim Chun-sik quickly weighed the deal.
Touching the heir of a Top Ten Guild was dangerous.
But obtaining information leading to Edward Parrington before Haomen did…
That opportunity was priceless.
“He’s currently inside an A-Rank dungeon in the Amazon.”
“A Lich appears there.”
“There’s also a secret passage connected through the thirty-second floor of the Tower.”
“Track him using Dark Mana Detection.”
“You’ll find him.”
“When you confirm it…”
“Handle my request immediately.”
The information was unbelievably detailed.
Almost as though Hyun-soo had seen it firsthand.
It was hard to believe.
But it was valuable enough to verify.
If it turned out to be true after Blood Lotus ignored it…
Haomen would gain an enormous advantage.
Kim Chun-sik finally nodded.
“If your information proves correct…”
“We’ll fulfill our end of the bargain.”
“I look forward to a profitable partnership.”
“And remember.”
“False information always demands payment.”
“I know.”
Blood Lotus was known for honoring its deals.
Satisfied that the original evidence hidden in Chae Seung-jin’s villa would soon be secured…
Hyun-soo left the restaurant.
“Young Master.”
Several large men in suits suddenly surrounded him.
Hyun-soo smiled faintly.
They were familiar faces.
“Garam Guild…”
Hunters from his own guild.
However…
Instead of greeting him warmly, they grabbed him firmly by both arms.
“Please come with us.”
“The Guild Master has ordered us to bring you back.”
