Chapter 34: A Commoner's Potential (1)

“Does that even make sense?”

In the Hwarang Guild headquarters, nestled on Gwanak Mountain, Matthew barked into his smartphone. The headquarters, built from a restored temple lost during the Great Change, housed the Guild Leader’s office on its eastern wing.

“You’re telling me you still haven’t gotten a single lead? Is that even possible? It’s been five days since you captured that bastard. How can you still know nothing?”

His booming voice echoed through the converted hermitage that served as the Guild Leader’s office.

“My apologies, Guild Leader,” came the reply. “We’re interrogating him as thoroughly as possible…”

“Hey, Officer Joo Minseok.”

“Yes, sir?”

“If you keep fumbling around, I’ll personally come interrogate him myself soon.”

“We’ll do our best for now.”

Matthew hung up the phone in exasperation. Still sitting cross-legged on the floor, he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Incompetent bastards,” he muttered.

He hadn’t expected much to begin with.

As suspected, Alliance Headquarters had uncovered nothing about the mastermind behind the Promotion Examination manipulation.

The individual who summoned the Lich was a clerk from the Hunter Examination Management Division, responsible for dungeon restoration. Or rather, an Awakened who had infiltrated Headquarters a year ago under a false identity.

This alone revealed the sheer incompetence of Alliance Headquarters. For a whole year, an outsider with a fabricated identity had operated within their ranks—and no one had noticed?

And the truly absurd part was this:

What infuriated Matthew most was that these idiots were actually buying this guy’s bullshit claim that he’d acted alone, simply because they harbored resentment toward the mega-guilds.

An individual infiltrating Alliance Headquarters, spending a year preparing, and then manipulating the Promotion Examination? And even swapping out the boss for a Lich, a creature that could only be summoned with a rare Artifact?

Bullshit.

“Fucking idiots,” Matthew muttered under his breath.

No wonder he couldn’t help but curse.

Of course there was a mastermind behind this.

But who? Why? And what were they after?

“Ah, goddamn it,” he cursed again.

As Matthew’s thoughts deepened, he rubbed his chin and spat out another curse. He was hopeless at this kind of scheming. These petty power struggles were just child’s play.

Matthew’s philosophy, and the Group Motto of Guild Hwarang, was simple:

Kick down anyone who stands in your way. Smash anyone who interferes with your fists. If you have a complaint, settle it with your body, not your head.

When it came to headache-inducing strategic maneuvering, Matthew knew his limits. Experts like Seo Yeon-hwa of Cheongyeon and Che Yerim of Shinwa were far ahead of him in that regard.

Therefore, Matthew decided to entrust the investigation of this “mastermind” to Cheongyeon for the time being.

If they made no progress…

He could always head down to the Alliance Headquarters’ detention facility and beat the truth out of the guy himself.

Vvvvrrr…

Just then, his smartphone rang.

Matthew glanced at the caller ID, smirked, and answered.

“Cheongyeon Guild Leader, you must be just as impatient as I am.”

“Hmm?”

Seo Yeon-hwa’s clear voice came through the receiver, but it wasn’t the answer Matthew had been expecting.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“The Alliance Headquarters’ investigation. It’s been days, and they still haven’t turned up anything.”

“Ah, that.”

Ah, that?

Matthew’s caterpillar-like eyebrows shot upward.

What’s going on?

It sounded like she was casually dismissing the matter, as if saying, “Oh, right, that old thing.”

What could possibly be more important right now than uncovering the mastermind behind this?

As if reading his thoughts, Yeon-hwa continued, “Anyway, I wanted to let you know…”

“Let me know?”

“Yeah. Hunter Taejun asked for your contact information earlier, so I gave it to him. I figured I should warn you in case he calls and you ignore the number because you don’t recognize it.”

Matthew’s eyes widened.

“Hunter Lee Taejun has my number?”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“Why else would he contact me?” Matthew muttered, quickly grasping the situation. “Ah, it seems it’s my turn this time.”

Five days prior, he had promised Taejun that he would grant him any single request.

“Someone sounds oddly excited,” Seo Yeon-hwa teased.

“Excited? Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not a child,” Matthew retorted, though he couldn’t suppress the upward curve of his lips.

Lee Taejun.

Their initial encounter hadn’t left a favorable impression, given the circumstances. But now, after learning the full story and reviewing the action camera footage from the Demon Sealing Cave’s boss room, Matthew found himself thinking, This guy is exactly the kind of person I want on my team.

Taejun’s unwavering composure under pressure, his swift decision-making, and his leadership in guiding the group were all impressive. And if he could take down a Lich single-handedly, his individual combat skills must be extraordinary.

Even putting aside all other considerations, Matthew held Taejun in high regard for one simple reason:

He didn’t flinch, even when I was right in front of him.

Their first encounter in the Demon Sealing Cave had been tense. Matthew had pressured Taejun with the intent to crush him instantly, yet Taejun hadn’t cowered in the slightest. Instead, he had calmly turned the situation to his advantage, leveraging Matthew’s suspicion against him.

His courage alone proves he’s the real deal.

Therefore, Matthew welcomed any opportunity to connect with Taejun.

“I’m just asking hypothetically,” Matthew said, clearing his throat with a dry cough. “Hunter Taejun, are you still unaffiliated?”

Pfft.

A snort of laughter came through the receiver. Matthew’s temple throbbed, but he took a deep breath to regain his composure.

Well, it was a pretty obvious question.

“Yeah, I’m independent.”

“So, you didn’t want to join Cheongyeon.”

“Not really my style.”

“Hmm.”

Matthew grinned, baring his fangs.

“I suppose you wouldn’t tell me what they offered anyway. So, you’re not interested in joining Cheongyeon at all.”

“Nope. Doesn’t seem like it’s for me.”

“Alright then. I’ll have them wait for your call.”

Just before he hung up, Seo Yeon-hwa spoke in a meaningful tone:

“Don’t get your hopes up too high.”

“Huh?”

“Hunter Taejun… he’s not exactly conventional.”

“What do you mean?”

“Whatever you’re expecting, he won’t act the way you think he will.”

Click.

With those words, the call ended abruptly.

Matthew frowned at his smartphone.

“I don’t know what she’s talking about.”

Taejun wasn’t just an ordinary person.

That much was clear from their first encounter.

Still, Seo Yeon-hwa’s words stung.

She’s warning me to be careful because he’s not “ordinary”? What does she think I am?

He was the Guild Leader of Hwarang, one of South Korea’s top three guilds, and the country’s fifth-ranked S-Rank Hunter.

He was the inheritor of the Soaring Dragon Divine Fist, one of the mana-based martial arts capable of single-handedly subduing calamity-class monsters, alongside:

• Kim Yooshin’s Extreme Spear Chain Eight Forms, ranked first.
• Che Soohyun’s Shadowless Divine Sword, ranked second.

Moreover, he possessed a rare physique, often hailed as one of the world’s greatest martial talents.

No matter how outrageous Taejun’s demands might be, or how unpredictable his actions, Matthew refused to be deeply shaken.

That’s right. Nothing Taejun could do would unsettle him enough to make Seo Yeon-hwa react so strongly.

Buzz.

Suddenly, Matthew’s smartphone vibrated. He eagerly checked the screen, a pleased expression on his face.

It was unmistakably Taejun.

But then—

Buzz.

The vibration stopped after just two pulses.

In other words…

”…A text message?”

Not a call.

A text.

Taejun had sent him only two messages.

“No way! He’s making first contact with a text instead of a call?”

Matthew was incredulous, but his body betrayed his mind.

Even as he grumbled, he immediately picked up his phone to read the message.

“Hello, Hwarang Commander. This is Lee Taejun. I’m contacting you to relay my request.”

Matthew scoffed inwardly.

Heh.

The brief, straightforward greeting and the formal phrasing of “relay my request” struck him as odd.

Matthew’s caterpillar-like eyebrows twitched.

But immediately after reading the second message, his lips curled into a smile, as if his earlier displeasure had vanished.

Just as I expected.

Lee Taejun’s second message:

“I’ve always been deeply interested in your martial arts skills, Commander. At the risk of being presumptuous, I would like to ask you for a favor this time.”

“Call me whenever you’re free, and I’ll demonstrate all the techniques of the Soaring Dragon Divine Fist for you.”

“Hahaha, that’s right.”

The Soaring Dragon Divine Fist was a Mana-based martial art renowned for its unparalleled destructive power, ranking among the world’s finest. It was no surprise that Taejun showed interest.

The moment Matthew read the message, he knew this could be his chance to land a big fish. This was an opportunity.

By personally showcasing the Soaring Dragon Divine Fist’s brilliance and uniqueness, he hoped to recruit Taejun into the Hwarang and ultimately take him on as his own disciple.

Matthew’s face beamed with delight as he tapped away on his smartphone.

Two days after delivering my “request” to Matthew, I found myself deep within Gwanak Mountain, near the Hwarang Guild’s headquarters.

“Phew, this should be far enough,” I muttered, checking my surroundings one last time. Then, I peeled off the Demon’s Jam Jam Infimask, a human skin mask I had torn from the Star-Shaped Demon Ball.

“I thought I was going to suffocate in that thing,” I gasped, relieved to be rid of it.

The mask completely altered my facial features, transforming my appearance into something unrecognizable. It was undoubtedly a rare item, not even found at Parsley Market.

During my subway ride here, no one had recognized me. It was effective enough to deceive ordinary people, guild scouts, and even most Hunters.

The downside was that Hunters with skills to detect stealth or see through illusions might notice the deception. Plus, the mask’s full-face design made it incredibly uncomfortable to wear.

“Taegoon-nim is practically a celebrity now! I guess this kind of attention is normal for someone in the entertainment industry.”

“I never thought I’d sympathize with the struggles of celebrities.”

Well, I certainly didn’t intend to broadcast my movements to the world. And I definitely didn’t want to deal with reporters swarming like flies or Guild scouts buzzing around.

It seemed I’d be relying on this Jam Jam Infinity Mask for the foreseeable future.

As I arrived at the pagoda-style entrance of the corporate headquarters and waited for guidance, Manager Mi brought up the chat window.

“What is it this time?”

“I assumed he would.”

“The Hwarang Guild Leader himself promised to grant me any one request.”

“And if I make this kind of request, it leaves room for negotiation, doesn’t it?”

Exactly. Room for him to potentially claim me as his own.

But before I could elaborate to Manager Mi,

“Hunter Taejun.”

A familiar voice called out.

I turned to see Kang Gun running toward me, his face beaming with relief.

“Hunter Kanggun, is your injury fully healed?”

“Yes, it wasn’t as serious as I initially thought. All thanks to you, Hunter Taejun.”

“Not at all. More importantly…”

I lowered my head slightly. “I’m sorry to hear you failed the Promotion Examination.”

Kang Gun was the only member of the 4 Trillion Won team who didn’t obtain a B-rank license.

The public remained unaware of the Promotion Examination’s manipulation.

Before the broadcast cut off, Kang Gun had been summoned by his mentor and disqualified, leaving him no choice but to accept the decision.

Yet Kang Gun shook his head with a smile. “No, it was ultimately my own inadequacy. Now, let me guide you to Master right away.”

I followed Kang Gun through the Hwarang Guild’s headquarters.

Built upon the ruins of an ancient temple destroyed during the Great Change, the headquarters retained the temple’s original architectural style. As we strolled along the meticulously maintained paths, pavilions, towers, and various structures gradually came into view.

“Hunter Taejun, may I ask you something?” Kang Gun ventured cautiously, his voice soft.

“Yes.”

“Are you perhaps seeking guidance from Master?” Kang Gun asked, nodding.

“Guidance?”

“Master is currently in the Dragon Ascension Hall. It’s a training ground he uses for solitary cultivation or to impart the Soaring Dragon Divine Fist to his most exceptional disciples.”

“Ah, I see.”

“In other words, it’s a place where disciples like me, lacking in both experience and skill, wouldn’t even dare to set foot.” Kang Gun’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. “But if Master has instructed me to guide you there, Hunter Taejun…”

He seemed convinced Matthew had taken me on as his personal disciple.

Of course, Kang Gun’s assumption was incorrect.

That’s not my intention at all.

While becoming stronger was undoubtedly my top priority, I had no desire to live a monastic life in a place like this to achieve it.

“It’s similar, but not quite the same,” I replied.

“Ah, I see.”

Kang Gun looked slightly puzzled but asked no further questions.

They walked in silence for about ten minutes until they reached the Dragon Ascension Hall.

“I’ll wait here,” Kang Gun said, turning back.

Matthew continued alone, removing his shoes before passing through the vermilion-painted pillars and opening the door reinforced with special paper.

With a soft creak, the interior of the Dragon Ascension Hall came into view.

It was a vast space, spanning at least 10,000 square feet, with vermilion-painted pillars supporting the high roof.

At the far end of the smoothly polished wooden floor, instead of Buddhist statues or deities, Matthew sat cross-legged in perfect meditation, his eyes closed.

Unlike their previous encounter, he was dressed in black martial robes instead of a suit.

“You’ve arrived,” Matthew said.

“Yes, Guild Leader,” Kang Gun replied.

He slowly approached Matthew, maintaining a respectful distance, and bowed deeply.

“Well then,” he said.

Matthew slowly opened his eyes.

He rose from his seat and spoke.

“Before we begin, let me confirm one more thing.”

“Yes.”

“You want me to demonstrate every technique of the Soaring Dragon Divine Fist, one by one. Is that correct?”

“That is correct.”

”…”

Matthew crossed his arms and stared at me intently.

Then, as if doing me a favor, he said, “Hunter Taejun, Hwarang traditionally only accepts members who have recently graduated from Hunters Den.”

This meant they didn’t accept hunters affiliated with other guilds or those who worked as freelancers.

“However, if…”

Matthew’s piercing gaze locked onto mine.

“…if you wish to join Hwarang, I am seriously considering breaking our established rules to recruit you.”

“I see.”

“Naturally, after that, I would impart to you all the profound secrets of the Soaring Dragon Divine Fist.”

Matthew stared intently, his gaze intense and unnerving.

I smiled faintly. “I’ll give it serious consideration.”

“This isn’t an opportunity everyone gets.”

“I know,” I replied, nodding and maintaining my smile. “But for now, I want to focus without complicated thoughts.”

My tone turned earnest, my eyes burning with the fervor of a true seeker of martial enlightenment. “I want to concentrate solely on the profound intricacies of the Soaring Dragon Divine Fist, as demonstrated by the Guild Leader.”

“Heh heh heh.” Matthew grinned, baring his canines.

“Very well. We’ll discuss it later. Let’s start with the most basic footwork. Etch it into your mind—if you can.”

Thump.

In an instant, crimson mana began to seep from Matthew’s entire body, filling the Dragon Ascension Hall with a heavy atmosphere.

“Yes,” I said, gripping the jet-black crystal hanging around my neck. Seizing the moment Matthew’s gaze shifted, I flicked open its tip with a click.

“I’ll etch it well,” I said with a smile.