Light Novel: Volume 5 Chapter 1
Manhwa: Chapters 79
The current Jianghu is dominated by ten forces, known as the Ten Supremes.
The leaders of these top ten factions are collectively known as the Ten Great Supreme Masters. They were undoubtedly the top masters of Jianghu, conquerors recognized by the world.
The leader of the Jade Heaven Alliance, Supreme Sword Emperor Ja Hong-cheon.1
The leader of the Nine Dragons Sect, Blood Sea God Sword Kyung Un-cheon.2
The head of the Martial Sword Alliance, Southern Sea Martial Emperor Yu Mun-sang.3
The leader of the Heavenly Guardian Association, Dark Heaven Lone Star Namgung Jin-geom.4
The leader of the Dragon Sky Valley, Rainbow Martial Emperor Muk Jin-myung.5
The leader of the Zealous Justice School, Soul Severing Martial Artist Yeom Jung-ak.6The lord of the Heavenly Heights Stronghold, Nokrim Heavenly Emperor Po Cheon-wol.7
The leader of the Ten Thousand Merchant Union, Merchant King Eun Won-ho.8
The leader of the White Light Sect, World Master Won Gong-yeo.9
And lastly, the unknown master of the Hidden Supremes,10 formed by the now inactive sects including Mount Hua, Shaolin, and Wudang.
These ten individuals were truly the greatest masters under the heavens.
Each of them, with their personal martial prowess and the support of their powerful factions, were perfect warriors lacking nothing.
The Eight Great Martial Artists, unlike the Ten Great Supreme Masters, may not have large forces, but in terms of martial arts alone, these eight absolute masters are in no way inferior to them.
Shadow Soul Assassin Eum Ji-moon.11
Wandering Wind Divine Beggar Lee Se-hong.12
Moon Shadow True Devil Yang Su-cheon.13
Five Yin Demon Hand Jang Hwak.14
Ghost Fairy Yu Sa-hee.15
Ghost Spirit Granny Jeung Wi-hyeon.16
Nine Abyss Demon Lord Buk Ri-seong.17
Invincible Lone Sword Ja Seol-kyeong.18
Eight absolute masters who were to have the backing of a strong force could have immediately threatened the stronghold of the Ten Great Supreme Masters. Among them was Yeom So-so’s master, Ghost Spirit Granny Jeung Wi-hyeon.
Jeung Wi-hyeon was particularly infamous for her cruelty. With her whimsical nature and short fuse, she was the kind of person who would commit murder at any moment if she felt like it.
It was said that the number of masters who died by her hands numbered from tens to hundreds. Rumors even had it that if she had been supported by a force like the Ten Supremes, Jianghu would have faced an unprecedented disaster.
Luckily, no sect or group was willing to tolerate her vile nature, so she wandered the world aimlessly with her disciple.
Yeom So-so was a disciple the Ghost Spirit Granny took in her later years. She inherited the capricious nature of the Ghost Spirit Granny, making her character just as unpredictable.
Yeom So-so asked again,
“Have you ever heard of my master’s nickname?”
“I have.”
“And yet you stand so boldly, with your head up before us. How fearless!”
Yeom So-so licked her red lips, sporting an amused expression. This caused Lee Gwak’s eyebrows to twitch in response.
Suddenly, Yeom So-so burst out laughing.
“Haha! There’s no need for you to look so scared. I’m just kidding.”
She laughed so hard, hopping on her feet as if her stomach ached from it. However, no one in the mercenary market joined in her behavior.
The sight of only Yeom So-so laughing and chattering was almost bizarre. But with Ghost Spirit Granny standing firmly behind her, no one dared to express their dislike.
The Ghost Spirit Granny asked Lee Gwak,
“Your martial arts are quite good, who did you learn them from?”
“I don’t have any master who teaches me.”
“So, you learned it all by yourself?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Hmm!”
Her already dark eyes became even more chilling.
“How strange, very strange!”
The Ghost Spirit Granny tilted her head as she looked at Lee Gwak. The flow of energy she sensed from him somehow irked her.
Considering how he had swiftly subdued the Three Berserk Bloodhounds, his internal energy should have felt extraordinary. But upon facing Lee Gwak directly, his internal energy didn’t appear to be that remarkable.
This disharmony bothered the Ghost Spirit Granny.
She was a person who couldn’t stand not knowing something. She even thought of torturing Lee Gwak to find out the truth. But her intentions were interrupted.
“Stop right there!”
“How dare you commit murder inside the fortress!”
A group entered the mercenary market and quickly surrounded the Ghost Spirit Granny. They were martial artists from the Jade Heaven Alliance, stationed within the fortress. They had heard that a murder had been committed in the mercenary market and so they rushed to the scene.
“Tsk!”
Ghost Spirit Granny Jeung Wi-hyeon clicked her tongue and glared at them.
The Jade Heaven Alliance martial artists pointed their weapons at her and Yeom So-so. Among them, a middle-aged martial artist stepped forward.
The sharp-looking middle-aged martial artist was none other than Shark Sword Cho Han-sul,19 the man in charge of the security of the fortress. Known for his formidable martial arts and ruthless nature, he was a figure of fear within the fortress.
Cho Han-sul looked at the Ghost Spirit Granny and said,
“Don’t you know that murder within the fortress is strictly prohibited?”
“Of course, I know that.”
“And yet you committed a murder?”
Cho Han-sul’s gaze sharpened. The Ghost Spirit Granny’s response was akin to defying the Jade Heaven Alliance and his authority.
Normally, Cho Han-sul would have commanded his men to subdue her by now. But he couldn’t do that at the moment, sensing the unusual aura emanating from the Ghost Spirit Granny.
“Please reveal your identity.”
“My name is Jeung Wi-hyeon, child!”
“Jeung Wi-hyeon? The Ghost Spirit Granny Jeung Wi-hyeon herself?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm!”
Cho Han-sul murmured thoughtfully.
If she indeed was the Ghost Spirit Granny, she was too significant a figure.
The Ghost Spirit Granny was on par with Ja Hong-cheon, the leader of the Jade Heaven Alliance. It was impossible to unilaterally impose the laws of the Jade Heaven Alliance on her.
Especially at a time of war with the Celestial Demon Union, making an enemy of the Ghost Spirit Granny would lead to endless repercussions. Such a worst-case scenario had to be avoided.
As if reading Cho Han-sul’s mind, the Ghost Spirit Granny grinned, revealing her yellowed teeth.
“Do you still wish to punish me?”
“My apologies. We were unaware that Ghost Spirit Granny had entered the fortress. May I ask the purpose of your visit?”
“I was told that the man I am looking for is in this neighborhood, so I came in to gather some information.”
“May we know who it is?”
“Why should I tell you that?”
“You never know, we may have information about the person you’re looking for. The Jade Heaven Alliance is always ready to cooperate with the Ghost Spirit Granny.”
“I thought only your eyes were sharp, but your tongue is quite sharp as well.”
“Thank you.”
“Lunatic Pugilist! I am looking for the Lunatic Pugilist.”
“Hmm!”
Cho Han-sul murmured thoughtfully again upon hearing her response. He understood why she might be looking for the Lunatic Pugilist.
‘Still haunted by that day’s defeat?’
Almost everyone in Jianghu knew about the Ghost Spirit Granny’s crushing defeat at the hands of the Lunatic Pugilist.
Because it was such a famous and shocking event.
“Do you mean to say the Lunatic Pugilist is nearby?”
“There were reports of him being seen around here.”
A sinister madness flickered in Ghost Spirit Granny’s eyes.
Though much time had passed since her defeat to the Lunatic Pugilist, she still couldn’t forget the humiliation of that day.
It was the first defeat she had experienced in her life and a disgraceful memory. Even now, she still shudders at the thought of it. That’s why she roamed the world, searching for the Lunatic Pugilist.
Her nightmares would only cease with his death.
Cho Han-sul nodded.
“If the Lunatic Pugilist is indeed nearby, we can find him for you.”
“What will be the cost?”
“How dare we ask the Ghost Spirit Granny for a price? We only wish for you to rest comfortably during your stay in the fortress.”
Though he said it indirectly, he was essentially asking her to refrain from killing while in the fortress.
“If you truly find the Lunatic Pugilist, I will gladly follow the rules of the Jade Heaven Alliance.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be staying at the West Wind Guest House. Should you find information about the Lunatic Pugilist, come there.”
“The West Wind Guest House? Understood. We will leave now, please rest at ease.”
After bowing to the Ghost Spirit Granny, Cho Han-sul and his men left.
A satisfied smile appeared on Ghost Spirit Granny’s face. She had achieved what she wanted.
Her noisy disruption was a tactic to gain the cooperation of the Jade Heaven Alliance.
As the Ghost Spirit Granny turned around, she saw Yeom So-so standing with a dumbfounded expression.
Seeing her, something she had forgotten came to mind.
“Where did that boy go?”
“He disappeared.”
Lee Gwak had stealthily vanished as soon as Cho Han-sul appeared. Even Yeom So-so hadn’t noticed his disappearance only after he was gone.
“Hmm!”
The Ghost Spirit Granny frowned briefly but didn’t seem overly concerned.
Compared to the Lunatic Pugilist she so desperately wanted to find, Lee Gwak’s existence was insignificant.
The Ghost Spirit Granny extended her hand to Yeom So-so.
“Come, let’s go to the West Wind Guest House. I hear the food there is exceptionally good.”
“Yes!”
Yeom So-so gladly took the Ghost Spirit Granny’s hand.
* * *
Lee Gwak quietly walked the streets after slipping out of the mercenary market. He had taken advantage of the moment when Cho Han-sul and his men arrived. He did not want to further entangle himself with the incident so he secretly left.
“Was the Lunatic Pugilist really in this area?”
Lee Gwak recalled the Ghost Spirit Granny’s words just before leaving the mercenary market. A complicated expression crossed his face.
If there was anyone who had greatly influenced his life, it was undoubtedly the Lunatic Pugilist. It was his words that shaped the man he was today.
—Do not turn the wolf inside you into a dog.
His words made Lee Gwak realize he was a wolf, causing a profound influence on the direction of his life.
He never imagined that he would hear his name in such an unexpected place, so far from the front lines of the Jade Heaven Alliance.
“Hoo!”
Lee Gwak sighed.
His mind had become unnecessarily complicated.
Shaking off his thoughts, he returned to the quarters of Squad 13.
“Welcome back, squad leader!”
“You’re late.”
Ki Jinhwi, Seok Yi-cheon, and others were the first to greet him.
“I was delayed a bit on my way back.”
“Is that so? You must be tired. You should get some rest now.”
“That’s exactly what I intend to do.”
Lee Gwak smiled and sat down on the platform.
He was indeed very tired. Not so much physically but mentally.
Lee Gwak lay down on the platform and closed his eyes.
Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind like a rapid slide show.
The day he lost his parents to a plague and left his hometown.
The world was too harsh for a young boy to survive alone. The world was never kind to him, and people looked at the orphan boy with wary eyes.
He managed to stave off hunger by begging for food, and then after enduring countless hardships, he finally managed to reach the Jade Heaven Alliance.
But even after joining the Jade Heaven Alliance, his struggles didn’t end. No matter how hard he tried, his life didn’t improve, and he had to continue living at the bottom.
His unchanging reality brought him despair and frustration as his efforts seemed in vain. It wasn’t until he met a woman that a ray of light shone on him.
Geum Yul-seon.
A woman who was like the light to Lee Gwak.
Her presence allowed him to dream and navigate through the harsh realities.
His days with her were like a dream.
He worked tirelessly to the bone to live in the same house as her. He dreamt of buying a house, saving every penny he could, even if it was just a small amount.
Even though his body was exhausted, his heart was always happy during those times.
He would even sell his soul to go back to those days.
But now, he couldn’t even remember Geum Yul-seon’s face.
She was the woman he had loved so much and so dearly, yet now her face had become so faint in his memory that he couldn’t picture it clearly– it was all blurry.
‘Why?’
Lee Gwak found it strange but he still tried to recall her face.
The black eyes that gazed at him tenderly, the red lips that whispered words of love, and the sweet scent of her body.
Yet, the face he struggled to remember belonged to someone else entirely.
‘Socheon!’
Startled, Lee Gwak opened his eyes with a bewildered expression.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
If there are any errors, whether it be grammatical, spelling, translation, or website-related issues, feel free to let me know. (´◡`) Anyway, thank you for reading!
- Supreme Sword Emperor. Raws: 무극검황(無極劍皇).
- 無極 wújí – everlasting / unbounded
- 劍 jiàn – double-edged sword
- 皇 huáng – emperor
- Blood Sea God Sword. Raws: 혈해신검(血海神劍).
- 血 xuè – blood
- 海神 hǎishén – Emperor of the Sea / Neptune
- 劍 jiàn – double-edged sword
- Southern Sea Martial Emperor. Raws: 남해무제(南海武帝).
- 南 nán, nā – south, southern part
- 海 hǎi – sea, ocean
- 武 wǔ – martial / military
- 帝 dì – emperor
- Dark Heaven Lone Star. Raws: 암천일성(暗天一星).
- 暗 àn – dark / to turn dark / secret
- 天 tiān – sky / day / heaven
- 一 yī – one / single
- 星 xīng – star / heavenly body
- Rainbow Martial Emperor. Raws: 칠채무제(七彩武帝).
- 七彩 qīcǎi – seven colors; a variety of colors / multicolored; rainbow-colored
- 武 wǔ – martial / military
- 帝 dì – emperor
- Soul Severing Martial Artist. Raws: 단혼무객(斷魂武客).
- 斷 duàn – to break / to snap / to cut off / to give up or abstain from sth / to judge / (usu. used in the negative) absolutely / definitely / decidedly
- 魂 hún – soul, spirit, immortal soul
- 武 wǔ – martial / military
- 客 kè – customer / visitor / guest
- Nokrim Heavenly Emperor. Raws: 녹림대제(綠林大帝). In Chinese martial arts novels, the name Nokrim (lit. Green Forest) usually refers to a group of bandits, thieves, or organized gangsters.
- 綠 lǜ, lù – green, chlorine
- 林 lín – forest, grove
- 天 tiān – sky / day / heaven
- 帝 dì – emperor
- Merchant King. Raws: 상왕(商王).
- 商 shāng – commerce / merchant / dealer / to consult
- 王 wáng – king or monarch / best or strongest of its type / grand / great
- World Master. Raws: 세주(世主).
- 世 shì – life / age / generation / era / world / lifetime / epoch / descendant / noble
- 主 – owner / master / host / individual or party concerned / God / Lord / main / to indicate or signify / trump card (in card games)
- Hidden Supremes. Raws: 은패(隱覇).
- 隱 yǐn – secret, hidden, concealed
- 覇 bà – rule by might rather than right
- Shadow Soul Assassin. Raws: 암혼사객(暗魂死客).
- 暗 àn – dark / to turn dark / secret
- 魂 hún – soul / spirit
- 死 sǐ – to die / impassable / uncrossable / inflexible / rigid / extremely / damned
- 客 kè – customer / visitor / guest
- Wandering Wind Divine Beggar. Raws: 표풍신개(飄風神丐).
- 飄風 piāofēng – whirlwind / stormy wind
- 神 shén – god; deity / supernatural; magical; mysterious / spirit; mind; energy / lively; expressive / look; expression / (coll.) awesome; amazing
- 丐 gài – beggar
- Moon Shadow True Devil. Raws: 월영진마(月影眞魔).
- 月 yuè – moon / month
- 影 yǐng – picture image / shadow
- 眞 zhēn – real
- 魔 mó – evil spirit, devil
- Five Yin Demon Hand. Raws: 오음마수(五陰魔手).
- 五 wǔ – five / 5
- 陰 yīn – overcast (weather) / cloudy / shady / Yin (the negative principle of Yin and Yang) / negative (electric.) / feminine / moon / implicit
- 魔 mó – evil spirit, devil
- 手 shǒu – hand
- Ghost Fairy. Raws: 유령선자(幽靈仙子).
- 幽靈 yōulíng – specter / apparition / ghost
- 仙子 xiānzǐ – fairy
- Ghost Spirit Granny. Raws: 귀혼파파(鬼魂婆婆).
- 鬼 guǐ – ghost; spirit of dead; devil
- 魂 hún – soul, spirit
- 婆婆 pópo – husband’s mother / mother-in-law / grandma
- Nine Abyss Demon Lord. Raws: 구유마부(九幽魔夫).
- 九 jiǔ – nine / 9
- 幽 yōu – remote / hidden away / secluded / serene / peaceful / to imprison / in superstition indicates the underworld / ancient district spanning Liaonang and Hebei provinces
- 魔 mó – evil spirit, devil
- 夫 fū – husband / man / manual worker / conscripted laborer (old)
- Invincible Lone Sword. Raws: 무적일검(無敵一劍).
- 無敵 wúdí – unequalled / without rival
- 一 yī – one / single
- 劍 jiàn – double-edged sword
- Raws: 교어검(鮫魚劍).
- 鮫 jiāo – shark
- 魚 yú – fish
- 劍 jiàn – double-edged sword
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