Prologue
The decade-long war between righteousness and evil finally ended in victory for the righteous factions. It was said that the clandestine efforts of the Ghost Sword Squad, the Justice Alliance's secret organization, had been decisive in this outcome.
Yet for some reason, the Justice Alliance pinned the false charge of colluding with the demonic cult on the Ghost Sword Squad and hunted them down.
The classic case of "kill the dog once the hare is caught" had begun.
The experts of the Ghost Sword Squad fell one by one in their hideouts, inns, and on the roads. But not all the hounds sat idly by to accept their master's blade.
A single lantern flickered precariously, illuminating the interior of a small mountain cave. A man sat alone before it, sipping from a cup of liquor. He spoke toward the darkness outside the cave.
"Stop scouting and come in already."
From the empty darkness, a figure emerged and entered the cave. It was a young, beautiful woman wearing a veil and carrying a sword at her waist.
She walked in as casually as if it were her own home, pulled out a crudely carved wooden chair, and sat down.
"You found me well enough."
"A hidden yet accessible spot—nicely chosen."
Her clear voice belonged to Wi Jiyak, the Jade Flower Beauty Sword of the Justice Alliance, enforcer leader and daughter of the alliance head.
"Took some effort. As they say, stretch your legs only when you're sure it's your deathbed."
"Your bed to lie in, you mean."
"Is that right? Ever since your underlings stabbed me in the back three days ago, my mind's been wandering. Must be from all the blood loss."
"Mad Ghost senior—or should I say captain?"
"The Ghost Sword Squad's gone, so I'm no captain anymore. Call me whatever's comfortable. Anyway, am I the last hound?"
"Probably."
"Got time for one drink?"
"Shall I pour?"
"Nah."
"I'll pour anyway."
She picked up the bottle, he the cup. Clear liquor filled it for a moment.
Gwanggwi smacked his lips at the sight and downed it in one gulp. The potent fiery liquor burned like fire down his throat.
"A real man drinks hwaju. Aside from the hangover hell the next day, that is. Not that I need to worry about hangovers anymore, huh? Haha."
"Another?"
"No thanks. You're busy as enforcer leader. Let's get on with it."
Gwanggwi thumped his chest. A signal he was ready for the blade. Pus-laced blood oozed from the opened wound.
Seeing this, Wi Jiyak smiled and said,
"Even if you're leaving, you have to leave the treasure behind."
"What treasure?"
"Don't play dumb. I'm the Jade Flower Beauty Sword."
"You mean the Heavenly Thunder?"
Heavenly Thunder was an item banned by the imperial court. The Justice Alliance had used it at the war's end. If word got out?
The involved families—no, the entire righteous faction—could be branded rebels. It was the Justice Alliance's Achilles' heel.
"I don't want to torture you before killing you."
"Harsh!"
With that, Gwanggwi reached into his bosom. Wi Jiyak narrowed her eyes tensely, gripping her sword hilt. Ignoring her, Gwanggwi placed the item from his bosom on the table with a thunk.
A fingernail-sized red scale gleamed faintly under the lantern. Wi Jiyak's eyes widened like saucers.
"Dragon Scale!"
"That what you're after?"
The Dragon Scale was one of the Seven Great Murim Treasures. Legend held it contained the secret of the mythical Yongrin Sword Art.
No one truly believed it was a real dragon's scale, but martial artists went mad for manuals and treasures. Gwanggwi had obtained it at the war's climax.
By chance. If he kept silent, no one would know its whereabouts. For today's plan, he'd leaked a hint.
Sure enough, the Justice Alliance's main force bit the bait. Gwanggwi held up his palm to halt Wi Jiyak, who leaned forward entranced.
"Stop right there, enforcer leader."
"Planning to take it to the grave?"
"If I hand it over, will you spare me?"
"If it's real, I'll throw in enough silver to live on forever."
She unfolded a small note. Gwanggwi smirked inwardly upon seeing it. It was a promissory note for 100,000 nyang of silver from the Myeonggeum Battlefield Bank.
Real, no doubt. But they wouldn't pay. It meant they'd kill him here for sure.
"This fake?"
"Lived a life of being fooled?"
"The Justice Alliance and you fooled me plenty."
"So what do you want?"
"Light another lantern first."
He lit a twig and added it to the lantern. The cave brightened. Casually, he tossed the burning twig behind Wi Jiyak.
"I'll check the note. You check the scale. Stay there—no closer."
As she focused on the scale, Gwanggwi glanced sidelong at the faint spark on the floor behind her.
His expression blank, Gwanggwi said,
"We toss at the same time. One, two, three!"
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
Infused with inner power, the Dragon Scale and note swapped places.
Gwanggwi said,
"Note's real."
"Rough surface, that color... Dragon Scale's real too."
"Deal done?"
"Of course."
Shing!
Wi Jiyak sprang up, drawing her sword. Gwanggwi shook his head at her sudden move.
"Fooled again?"
"Tactics. Like always in our fights."
"Good word, tactics. But you overlooked one thing, leader. My nickname's Mad Ghost. I like it, now that I think about it."
"Everyone knows you're crazy."
"And you still came alone into the tiger's den?"
"Alone's no issue, but a hundred warriors already surround this place. Right now, you're the tiger? No—the trapped one."
"You're definitely dense. Not getting it. Heh heh."
"What do you mean?"
"Odd, isn't it? Even wounded, my stealth is second to none in the Central Plains. How'd your enforcers find my hideout?"
"...!"
Wi Jiyak's brow twitched in shock.
As she hesitated, Gwanggwi lunged, snatching the Dragon Scale.
Retreating, he calmly said,
"This'll be my fare to the afterlife."
He pocketed the note in one hand, gripped the scale in the other. Wi Jiyak swiftly re-gripped her sword.
Without hesitation, Gwanggwi swallowed the Dragon Scale. Wi Jiyak's eyes trembled. No one expected him to ingest one of the Seven Great Treasures.
With that, Gwanggwi lunged at her like an embrace. Wary of his sudden move, Wi Jiyak instinctively backpedaled several steps.
"Where you running? Come here."
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Let's go together."
"You mad bastard! Everyone, in here!"
At her shout, warriors outside swarmed like locusts to flame. Then—a deafening roar shook heaven and earth.
BOOM!
The cave filled with light brighter than the sun. Unable to withstand the immense blast, countless silhouettes appeared and vanished in an instant.
That was the last sight Gwanggwi beheld in this life. No doubt, everyone inside—including him and Wi Jiyak—perished.
The alliance head himself would have been ideal, but Gwanggwi deemed this enough. Wi Jiyak was his favorite daughter.
In his final moments, he thought of his subordinates, dying lonely somewhere.
'Sorry. And thank you.'
Time to tour the nine hells? Gwanggwi boldly shouted inwardly and closed his eyes.
Then, a strange book appeared before him.
Even with eyes shut, he saw the words. The book spun, scattering its contents. Finally, only the cover remained.
Yongrin Sword Art
The Yongrin Sword Art every martial artist coveted. Apparently, the legend was true: blood unlocked the Dragon Scale's secret.
No one knew it had to be one's own blood. Even if they did, none would sacrifice their life for it.
'What use is the Yongrin Sword Art now?'
Facing the nine hells, Gwanggwi chuckled inwardly. Then, strange text appeared in his vision.
Acquired partial knowledge of the Yongrin Sword Art.
Acquired Dragon Eye. You can now view the formulas of the Yongrin Sword Art.
Your martial arts will be reset due to changes in time and body.
'What the hell is this?'