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Chapter Text

Jin Woo was bored. Aside from exercising he didn't have much to do in the hospital after beating he Rasaka. And he still had three more days.

He did hear some hunter's talking about an app that matched you with people out in the world for sort of pen pal thing. He could practice his English using it. If his power keeps growing until he's like an S rank he might need it communicate with other hunters.

So he downloaded it onto his phone and was faced with first hurdle. Nickname. He couldn't sign with his real name. Whomever he got paired with would laugh at him.

.... As he thought about it he looked around the room. Then an idea struck.

[Rasaka's Fang] created a chat room.

He was alone for a moment before.

[Blade God] joined the chat room.

What an edgy and pretentious name. It sounded like something China's number one would use. Liu Zhigang was known for his blades. But there was no way he'd be on some live chat / pen pal app.

'Wow someone from Asia uses this thing!!!' Blade God started the chat. Maybe just a Liu fan? That sounded more possible.

'More on probably later,' Sung wrote back. He already had to stretch his English.

'If we're both Asian then I might know your language,' Blade God was a fast typer.

'You know Korean?' Korea wasn't that small so Sung felt comfortable sharing that.

'You bet. Got some family in Seoul.'

Blade God wasn't lying. He wrote as fast in Korean as he did in English.

'What you up to at this early hour? No work?'

'Hospital. Dungeon accident,' many hunters landed in hospitals. Just not from E rank gates but Sung didn't have to say that part.

'So we're both hunters,' Blade God didn't give him time to recover.

'I don't really want to share my rank though.'

'No need to, am not interested in that, just in chat. And... well, my username is quite telling on its own about my identity now that I think about😑...' Blade God wrote.

'Can I guess? I'll take that Ur on this app to my grave,' Sung dared ask. Just to calm his curiosity.

'Go for it,' Blade God wrote after an uncharacteristically long pause.

'You can say no if you want.'

'No, my boyfriend is sleeping next to me, was checking on him. Shoot it.'

'Liu Zhigang?'

'Be more confident my Korean friend. That's a hole in one.'

So it was China's number one hunter. China's number one who happened to be hanging out with his sleeping boyfriend. And open to telling it to some random on the internet.

'What if I was a reporter?'

'If you were you wouldn't be in a dungeon getting hurt'

'fair but I could have lied about that'

'who would dare smear second strongest on the world, and I could be lying too'

'fair'
'must be nice to be this strong' Sung wrote against himself.

'there are both good and bad things about it'
'can't leave china without government agreeing'

'that must suck, with family abroad and all'

'i manage, and if I ever need to leave badly my boyfriend can work his paperwork magic. Can I at least know my new best friends name?'

'isn't Thomas Andre your bestie?'

'hes annoying outside fighting'

Sung chuckled. Well, not like it would likely matter to Liu. And if it did it wasn't too late.

'Sung Jin Woo, E rank'

He was not telling second strongest being in the world how weak he was for an E rank. And he didn't feel that bothered. Well. Liu sonfar seemed like he just wanted to chat. And it wouldn't be that bad if he decided he didn't want to waste his time on Jin Woo.

'and you got hurt hospital bad? move to china bud, we have better systems for E ranks'

'so long as no more double dungeon appear ill be fine'

The news of the Double Dungeon already spread around the world.

'congrats on surviving then'
'boyfriends waking up, you got to tell me more about this double dungeon next time'

Liu wanted to continue chatting with some E rank from Korea? He must have been damn bored.

'i have to go exercise anyway' Sung wrote. He still had his daily task to do.

'👍👍👍' So boyfriend was awake. Sung shook his head. He became chat pals with China's national hero. And so far survived.



'out of hospital' Jin Woo let Blade God or Liu Zhigang know the moment he was free.

'yay freedom✨🌟✨' Liu apparently wasn't busy.

Over the last few days they occasionally wrote. Liu would send him photos of China's countryside. Apparently he'd just go to any gate that got detected too late no matter the rank.

'did your exercise yet?'

'push up, sit ups and squats, I'll do the run on my way home,' Liu was shockingly interested in his work out routine. 'why you so interested? not like it can make you any stronger'

'i used to train martial arts before this whole gate business, still like to exercise'

That wasn't too shocking. From what he saw on internet Liu was really good with his blades. And moved with extreme confidence and experience.

'any tips?' Sung asked, mostly as a joke.

'dont pull a muscle, it hurts like a bitch'

'dont think I have any to pull'

'how?'

'i was a student before gates, no physical training'

Liu was quiet for a while befor sending him a link. A martial arts tutorial. Very basic one.

'most what's on internet is bs, this is decent'

'thanks, off to to my run'

'👍👍👍' For a hunter of his level he was shockingly nice to Sung.

Couple hours later Sung received a blurry photo of a fat cat from Liu.

"What got you so smiley?" Jin Ah asked, trying to peer at his phone.

"I made an internet friend while in hospital," Sung shrugged and showed her just the picture.

"Where is he from?"

"China, I think, good with Korean though. We practice English together," Sung shrugged.



The next day he killed for the first time.

'have you ever killed anyone?' Sung asked. They moved to a more secure service with their chats.

'yes, out if necessity. what happened?'

'someone tried to kill me, inside a gate, boss got them though' Sung mixed truth and fiction.

'that sucks. you okay?'

'no serious injuries. Chief of our monitoring division is hot' he confessed to move his mind off what system made him do.

'Woo Jin Chul? met him couple times when visiting Korea. too polite for me but you got good taste,'

'not like he'd be interested'

'shoot for the stars bud, I'll be rooting for you'
'also, might be in Korea soon, aunt's sick, bf is working his magic'

'fingers crossed she recovers and you can see her'

'we could meet if you're not scared, my bf kid of doesn't believe you exist'

'im not sure you should be seen with some E rank'

'it won't be an official visit so no media should bother me, but up to you, it's me here who's famous'

Sung thought about it. He was curious about what kind of presence Liu had. And the difference between their power.

'Seoul?'

'yyoup'

'will see if I have time, might be called to a gate, joys of being a low rank'


Liu's trip to Korea was a bust. An A rank gate broke in some remote corner of China and he had to spend a whole week hunting spiders. But apparently he had his boyfriend with him. He never confirmed it but based on that Sung suspected mystery boyfriend was also a hunter.

'how was association assigned gate?'

'terrible, had to raid with prisoners'
'association agent turned out to be psycho and killed them and tried to kill everyone else'
'got to see chief Woo though'

'in China it would be just agent and prisoners'
'how it end?'

'me and two others barely beat him, had B rank healer and C rank mage skilled with sword'

'knowing how to fight and awakening powers not compatible with your experience sucks. happened to a friens of mine'

It was like Liu felt Sung wasn't too thrilled about people dying. Switch it topic was appreciated.

'the mystery boyfriend?'

'we learned martial arts together. he ended up a mage' Liu wrote but didn't confirm who it was about.

'this guy is apparently training one of our S ranks'

'must be impressive'
'and how was your man? still hot?'

'hotter, seems he got some sleep'
'hows your man doing?'

'annoyed people call Goto second strongest in Asia'

So Liu's boyfriend was also a hunter and a high ranked one. Sung would have researched Chinese hunters. But the information on anyone but lower ranks was restricted. They sure liked to protect their hunter's privacy.

'people are more familiar with Goto than Chinese hunters other than you, though if you say Goto's that far back then I'll trust you,

'Goto should focus on Japan instead of trying to pick a fight with me'

'true'
'apparently some American S rank wants my head'

'want me to demand Thomas keep his thugs away from Asia?'

'I'll manage'

'oke, offer stands though😎'

'focus on ur man'

'hes working 🥲🥲🥲 thought he promised to buy me an A rank gate as compensation😍'

Sung chuckled. Of course Liu would be excited to get a gate as a gift.

'you plan to clear it alone?'

'I'm strong enough for it. but I might ask of he wants to do it together'

'and people say romance is dead'

'exactly, nothing more romantic than clearing a gate together💞'

'who needs flowers when you have A rank gates'


With he job change quest and Jin Ah's schools parent teacher meetings he totally missed Liu letting him know he'd be in Korea. Until he went to message him that he'd be unavailable for a few hours inside a gate.


'I'll land late anyway. No worries, we can meet up tomorrow👍' Liu send and yawned. He needed to find a nice souvenir for Jia for getting him a permission to spend a whole week in Korea to take care of his aunt's assets.

She never married and had no children. She was probably only family that helped Liu and his parents when times were tough. He regretted not being able to visit sooner.

At the airport he was greeted by not who he was expecting. "I was expecting chief Woo," he noted while looking for which gate Sung entered.

White Tiger's gate? Interesting.

"Chief is occupied with a different S rank hunter who arrived earlier. We had no idea it would be you arriving Mr Liu," the man explained stiffly while leading him quickly to a car. Well the fact that Liu was in Korea was a secret.

"Chief can take over tomorrow. Today I want to surprise a friend," Liu grinned, relaxing in the back of Korean Association's car.

He visited many countries, but Korea's Association had best rides. As the car moved slowly through the packed despite late hour streets of Seoul he looked around.

He wasn't in Seoul without a strictly planned schedule in a long time. The city was beautiful. He'd have to get Jia a good souvenir to thank him for all the paperwork he did to get Liu a permission to leave China for private matters.

Liu might have been seen as a wild beast hard to control but he liked rules. He wanted to avoid breaking rules unless necessary.

"We've arrived," the association employee said soon.

"That was a nice and smooth, good job," Liu smiled and left the car with a yawn.

He instantly had to jump into action. Two S ranks were ready to throw hands with his best friend's crush in between them. That wouldn't do.

"I apologise for interfering but I'll need Chief Woo to take me few places tomorrow," Liu said with a smile. Easily blocking the attack of the two S ranks before they even could think about holding back.

"Liu Zhigang?" Chief Woo seemed unable to believe his eyes. "What...."

"A friend if mine is inside this red thing. I was planning to wait in the car for him to leave bit this violence was uncalled for." Liu hummed as he stuck his hands back in his pockets.

"A friend?" Baek Yoon Ho, if he remembered the name correctly, asked.

Liu nodded. "Sung Jin Woo, I have no clue why he's here," he shrugged. "You're one of Andre's, right? I'm here kind of in secret to deal with a personal matter. I'd be sad if my stay got ruined by someone attacking my friend. It causing issues while I'm here. Thomas would hate it if a bad stay made me not want to leave China for a while, no?" he shot Hwang Dong Soo a murderous glare. He only knew his name because Thomas was so proud to steal a strong hunter from Asia.

"No, I just stopped by on way to deal with my own matters," Hwang huffed, glaring at the gate. "Sensed the common and came to check it out. I think I'll move on," he muttered and motioned the agent who arrived with Liu to the car he and Chief Woo must have arrived in. "He's dead anyway," Liu heard him mutter to himself.

Liu watched the car leave happy with himself. Jia shouldn't mind this even if he found out.

"Mister Liu, I apologise for not greeting you personally at the airport," Chief Woo jumped to being professional.

"It's a sudden visit so I don't mind," he waved it off.

White Tiger guild didn't seem interested in talking to him. More busy discussing who entered the gate. Or just scared. Not that it mattered to him that much.

So Sung knew one of their recruiters. Did he fail to tell Liu he reawakened? Or was it so recent he was still processing it himself and didn't want to share? Either way Liu was happy.

"And what would be the goal of his visit?" Chief Woo asked, staying glued by Liu's side.

"My aunt passed, she lived in Korea most of her life. It fell to me to take care of her affairs. Only one in the family who speaks Korean. And since I'm in Seoul I decided to meet my newest friend in person," Liu explained cheerfully. "I could use some coffee," he yawned. "Would you mind getting someone bring us some? Anything's fine by me so long as it has caffeine. It's not an issue if I stay?" Liu chatted as if his E rank friend - their relationship being weird on it's own - was on a picnic and not inside red gate. Turning to Baek with the last question as Jin Chul organised coffee be delivered for a National Rank hunter.

"Not at all," Baek forced out. Followed by condolences in the name of his whole guild.

"Coffee should be here soon," Jin Chul let him know after expressing Association's condolences and willingness to assist with anything he'd need during his stay.

"You can ask me things, I just won't answer if I don't like the question. Sung said good things about you," Liu chuckled while pulling up a bench. A bench that was bolted to the concrete. "Sorry about that."

"It's no problem," Chief Woo assured.

"Best friend," a cheerful voice was the first thing that greeted Sung when he left the red gate. Seething that he couldn't add the elven leader to his army. A smiling Liu Zhigang was waving at him from a bench. A stiffer than usually Woo Jin Chul by his side. Both holding take out coffee cups.

"I thought you'd prefer to rest after the flight," Sung chuckled as they shook hands.

"Friend let me borrow his private plane so it wasn't that bad," Liu shrugged. "Besides, I wanted to suprise you. I barley recognise you, you need to update your license photo," he shook his head. Glancing at wide eyes girl next to Sung.

"My sister's friend, I was showing her how a proper raid looks like, it did go longer than I planned," Sung scrated the back of his head

"We can drop you both off, right Chief Woo?" Liu grinned turning to Jin Chul.

"It's not an issue in the slightest," he said. Like he could refuse a national rank hunter.

"Ah, I just remembered I have few raids to do tomorrow," Sung grimaced as he and Liu sat in the back seat with Song Yi in the passenger seat with Chief Woo driving to her place first.

"And I have while bunch of stuff to attend to do with my Aunt's passing, we can meet up after."

Jin Chuck would rather they didn't. How was he to focus on Liu with Sung around? Whatever causes his sudden growth spurt hit him like a truck.

Chapter Text

Jin Chul was never this confused. Sung Jin Woo, considered the weakest E rank hunter in Korea if not the world was casually chatting with the second strongest human alive. He wouldn't believe it if just read about it in a report.

But here he was listening to them talk about working out. Comparing how fast they can run ten kilometres. Was hunter Sung really just an E rank? 

Well, since he was friends with Liu any questioning was out the question. He might take it as an offense. As friendly he seemed with Sung around, Liu was a fickle and dangerous individual. Maybe even worse than Thomas Andre.

As shown by his smile vanishing when both E ranks were dropped off. Remaining silent, typing on his phone until they reached his hotel.

"You should have list of errands I have to run in your mail, Chief Woo," Liu's smile was partially back. "I apologise for the inconvenience that my presence likely causes."

"It's my job to help international hunters when they have business in Korea," Jin Chul said. He was proud his voice didn't shake.

Maybe this visit wouldn't be that bad?

It was bad. When he arrived at the hotel he was told Liu already left. On his own. 

He could try contacting the National hunter directly. But that sounded too far. So he texted hunter Sung.

'Exercising, be there in fifteen' Sung let him know. It didn't calm Jin Chul in the slightest. He didn't need to explain to the media why some random E rank was exercising with Liu Zhigang.

To their credit Liu was pretty solidly disguised. Hat. Sunglasses and a long, light, fashionable coat. Jin Chul recognised hunter Sung faster than Liu. Hair tied differently than usual.

Shock didn't end there. Beofore moving on with his day Liu insisted they drop off Sung at the site of his first raid of the day. 

First. Of the day. As an E rank.

Jin Chul didn't pry, just silently squeezed the steering wheel as the two treated just casually waltzing into gates as simple fun.

There was no way Sung Jin Woo was an E rank. 
Also. Was Liu really planning to expose Jin Chul to as much of hunter Sung's newly found power and attractiveness as possible?

Judging by the fact that he found himself in Sung's kitchen. Forced to sit with Sung's younger sister as the two cooked. He absolutely did. 

Both Liu and Sung forewent their jackets while cooking, leaving their arms exposed. If Jin Chul didn't know hunter Jia Xiaoli, China's second strongest, was Liu's unofficial partner he'd dare call him handsome. As things were he was left with hunter Sung's arms to admire.

"Mister, why is there a national rank hunter in my kitchen?" Jin Ah asked in a conspiratorial whisper, as they watched the two joke about in the kitchen.

"Your brother and hunter Liu are apparently online friends. And hunter Liu insisted we all need to try some authentic Beijing cooking," Jin Chul explained. Leaving out his suspicion of Liu's secret plan.

He'd have to be unconscious to not notice the way hunter Sung glanced at him whenever they met. His eyes seemed unable to stay off Jin Chul for extended periods of time.

He had to admit that whatever the two hunters in the kitchen were doing with the groceries Jin Chul drove them to pick up smelled good. From what he caught they were mixing hunter Liu's Beijing favourites with hunter Sung's favourite Korean dishes.

In the end it was a small feast. 

"Hunter Liu?" Jin Ah asked hesitantly.

"Just Zhigang or Loiu, whichever you're more comfortable with, you're not much younger than my youngest siblings, and you're my best friend's sister," Liu grinned.

"Well then, Zhigang. This is delicious," she said solemnly over her plate of barbequed duck.

"I'm glad to hear my skills didn't diminish, a certain friend of mine insists on hiring private chefs instead of letting me cook. Has money to burn on me he says," Liu huffed shaking his head. 

"A crime," Jin Ah said between bites if duck and accompanying vegetables.
 
When his phone rung Jin Chul hoped chairman would save him from whatever this was. He was wrong.

"Chief Woo? How's hunter Liu doing?" chairman Go asked once Jin Chul picked up the call once outside in the balcony.

"Having dinner with hunter Sung Jin Woo and his younger sister. The two hunters have cooked it together," he reported hoping the next line would be that someone would swap him.

"I'm taking it he's enjoying his time?"

"He and hunter Sung seem to genuinely be friends," Jin Chul admitted.



"Okay so while the cop is out, what the hell?" Jin Ah asked pointing between he two.

"I'm trying to get your brother a date with that cop," Liu said in a conspiratorial whisper. Sung whined.

"Zhigang, no...." Sung complained.

"Zhigang yes," said both Liu and Jin Ah. "You need someone other than dungeons and texting him to do," Jin Ah complained. Liu nodded along.

"I don't, Chief Woo is too professional for it," Jin Woo protested again. 

"Damn. Something cool finally happened in my life and I can't talk to anyone about it," Jin Ah sighed, just to stop her brother from denying his obvious crush. He paid more attention to the cop than cooking.

"So long as no media knows and you give me a good gift idea, I can keep Chinese government off your back," Liu offered with a smirk.

"Not like anyone would believe me," Jin Ah rolled her eyes. Over the course of dinner Liu Zhigang turned out to be a pretty normal dude aside from being a walking, one man army.

Liu's solution was a selfie with both Sung siblings. One he send to himself from Jin Woo's phone to prove he really made a friend.


Rest of Jin Chul's evening was calm. After dinner he drove Liu Zhigang to his hotel. Left someone to keep an eye in case he again left early again and went home to write a report for the chairman. And to maybe have couple strong drinks.

Only thing he was unsure was wether he should include how much Liu was talking about hunter Sung. It almost felt like he was trying to set him and Jin Chul for a date.... 

At the end of the week of chaperoning a National rank hunter between lawyer appointments, souvenir shopping and meeting with Sung Jin Woo, Jin Chul was ready to not see any S ranks for a month. Not that it would be ever possible.

Of course Liu insisted Sung accompanied them to the airport. Apparently hunter Sung would be unavailable for a whole week. Jin Chul made sure to make a mental note of it.

"And really, do redo your license, you look like a kid on your photo," Liu grinned before finally going to Jia Xiaoli's damn private plane he was 'borrowing'.


The selfie with Liu Zhigang was going to be Jin Ah's most praised possession for a long time.

"What got you so happy?" Song Yi asked, aside from Jin Ah she was the only one who knew her brother was friends with Asia's strongest.

"Oopa brought Liu Zhigang over for dinner. And a handsome hunter cop. They cooked and it was delicious," Jin Ah sighed. 

"No way. Stop lying. Isn't your brother an E rank? Why would Liu want to even look at him?"

Jin Ah shrugged. "Maybe he just wanted someone normal-is to talk to? Also, I have proof but no word to anyone, he's only stopping Chinese government from coming after me," she smiled triumphantly as she showed them the photo.

There was no way it was anyone but Liu grinning at the camera with smiling Jin Ah and slightly grumpy Jin Woo.

"Wow. Maybe he and your bro are dating?"

"Nah, Liu said he's trying to get my bro date with hunter cop who was driving him. And I'm pretty sure I helped him pick a gift for his actual boyfriend," Jin Ah shook her head.

"He is close with China's second strongest," a Chinese transfer student Jin Ah befriended recently tossed in while looking up something on her phone. 

She soon showed them a picture of Liu leaving a luxury hotel in Beijing, half step behind a bit shorter than him, pale man with blue and crimson hair. "That's Jia Xiaoli. His main hobby is buying A rank gates for Liu, whole China ships them."

The whole group agreed they looked hot as hell together. And that Liu looked like he'd do anything the slightly shorter man asked, asking for nothing in return.

His expression reminded Jin Ah of how her brother looker at mister Woo. Her older brother had a crush. It wasn't just Liu messing around....


A week later Liu was in bed. Jia cuddled up to him still asleep. When Jin Woo announced he's back from his mystery trip. 'I'll get reassessed, might vanish again soon'.

'woo hoo, let me know what they measure you as, we need strong hunters not from Japan around here'

After meeting his friend he was confident Sung Jin Woo wasn't just some E rank. He was reawakened. How fun.


'S rank, but have to wait 3 days,'
'also, fire sucks' 

'oi, my other best friend uses fire'

'his doesn't' Jin Woo corrected. 
'i need higher rank gate on my record'

'for what?' Liu was confused but amused.

'to sell some crap, I need fire resistance for a thing'

Liu scratched his head. Sung Jin Woo had his secrets. But so did Liu, so it was fair.

'cant you wait for Ur rank to be official?'

'I'll be leaving to finish my fire stuff practically right after'
'also I'll be starting a guild'

'good luck. your guild laws confuse me' Liu chuckled earning himself a light kick under the table. Should he maybe listen to this very important meeting he was in?
'if you were in China I'd take you with me to one😉'

Nah, Jia was there. He would summarise it later to him.

'i know, I'll got o A gate as miner'
'records don't show what I was doing in there'

'🤨🤨🤨 it weird'

'ur hair is weird'

'why don't you ask your Chief woo out instead?'

'i want him to keep tolerating my existence?'

'do whatever then but know Ur weird'
'Jia's threatening me with couch'

Sung chuckled. Second strongest in the world but listens to everything his 'friend' tells him to do. What did Jin Ah call it? Ah, yes. Whipped.


'it was fun, gonna do it once more' Sung send while dine with mining. 'btw do I smell weird?' Chatting with Liu taught him few things me might have missed about internet.

'not really?'
'why?'

'someone said I don't stink'

'who just randomly sniffs someone 🤨😑'

'not important, won't be seeing them often'

'Jia says it might have to do with Ur mana, some hunters are sensitive to it'

'thank him for explaining' Sung wrote but there was no response. He likely got busy. With a sigh Jin Woo wondered what he could do with his evening.

Maybe he should listen to Liu and be more bold?

"Chief Woo, are you free?" he asked as soon as the inspector picked up the call. 

"Tonight? I finish in half an hour, why? Is there an issue?"

"Yes. I'm bored, my sister is staying with a friend and Liu is busy with Jia. Want to go out for dinner together, maybe?" he felt his cheeks burn at how awkward that sounded.

The silence was even more awkward. He was thinking how to apologise when he heard a sigh. "Sorry, that was the Chairman chasing me out the office. Sure, we can get dinner," he shockingly accepted.

"Great, I'll pick you up. There's a place near the Association headquarters I wanted to try," Sung couldn't hold back a grin.