We all fell silent. Yuna Ji quietly recalled something, and then, all of a sudden, a green light appeared on her body. Her Ghost Aura was rapidly recovering. She smiled, resting her chin on her hand, and looked at us.
"I finally understand now, why the nine of them left me. There was a time when they all had hope for me, but without realizing it, I had given up hope myself. So they became disappointed in me. Perhaps the other me is the same way."
It was that monster Yuna Ji. Although she blocked a fatal blow for Yuna Ji at the most dangerous moment, that monster no longer exists, and Yuna Ji’s nine closest friends have also left. I still remember what happened that day—I desperately hoped they would stay, because I thought Yuna Ji needed them. But they said they were tired and didn’t want to go on.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to go on. The hope in Yuna Ji’s heart had been shattered, so the nine generals who had crossed millennia with her also lost hope in their hearts. That’s why they chose to leave.
Drip, drip. I stared blankly at Yuna Ji. She looked like a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl, and she began to cry, covering one eye with her hand, sobbing softly as tears rolled down her face. Redmond said nothing, still lost in thought.
I could feel it—Yuna Ji’s Ghost Aura was rapidly recovering, swelling at an incredible rate.
"And you, Redmond, those hopes you once had—they’re long gone, aren’t they?"
Redmond let out a sound of surprise, then nodded, his expression unusually grave.
"In the era I lived in, times of prosperity and chaos coexisted. Unfortunately, someone like me—a mere ruffian—never had grand ambitions. All I wanted was to live a peaceful life with my brothers. Whether war raged outside or famine struck, as long as we could drink and eat meat happily each day, nothing else mattered to us."
Redmond was born into a wealthy family, a privileged heir from a young age, arrogant and domineering. Not only was his father rich, but his uncles were all respected local officials and scholars.
As the youngest in his family, Redmond was naturally cherished and spoiled. He was born into wealth, cradled with gold from the very start. Yet beneath the prosperity, dark currents surged.
No one noticed that this nation, which valued culture over martial prowess, was slowly destroying itself. Foreign enemies had long set their sights on this rich, tender land, launching small-scale invasions along the borders.
Each time, the emperor responded by yielding—offering money, goods, and women in hopes of appeasement. Meanwhile, the princes in court schemed against each other, all vying for the throne.
In this environment, someone like Redmond—a privileged heir—became notorious in the area. He was not only arrogant and domineering, but also violent by nature. Many feared him, yet excessive indulgence had made him utterly lawless.
Because of a certain event, the young Redmond was utterly shocked and began to realize that everything he’d done was shaped by his family’s influence. He started to wake up.
But fate seemed unwilling to give Redmond a chance to change. As famine broke out across the land, starving people rose in rebellion, and the once peaceful world was thrown into chaos. War became a merciless grinder, crushing everything in its path.
By the time Redmond came to his senses, he and his family were constantly on the run, relying on old connections to find shelter. But relationships built on money proved to be fragile.
In the end, like most refugees fleeing war and famine, Redmond and his family were turned away, left to endure the harsh elements.
One by one, his family members died in the disaster that swept the land. Redmond felt he couldn’t go on, so he chose the path of the rebels—leading raids against wealthy households and passing military detachments.
Redmond had always liked fighting, and he had some skill with his hands—skills that ended up saving his life. Soon, he became a famous leader, roaming the borders and leading his men in repeated raids. The name "Redmane King" quickly spread far and wide.
Many people wanted to join this mountain king, but Redmond didn’t accept just anyone. Too many followers would be impossible to manage, and he loved the freedom of this life.
He didn’t want to impose anything on others, nor did he intend to seize the world like other rebel leaders. The foreign invaders’ iron hooves were relentless, and those who had suffered enough from war no longer wanted to fight. Everywhere, leaders disagreed with one another.
A nation like this had no future, left to be invaded again and again. The armies were repeatedly defeated, and even the most capable generals died—often for internal reasons.
In such chaotic times, Redmond felt that his mountain stronghold was his only sanctuary. Everything was good there—each day was happy, and whatever they lacked, they took from passing armies or wealthy families.
But soon, the imperial court rallied, deciding to first crush domestic rebellion before resisting foreign invaders. Naturally, Redmond’s stronghold became a prime target. What might have been tolerated in chaos was now a prize for the restored army.
Redmond thought about retreating with his brothers to a safer place, but there was no way out. The army surrounded their stronghold, and days of attacks claimed countless lives before his eyes.
Redmond had no power to change any of it. In the end, they were wiped out—unable to last even a month under the combined assault of the court.
After death, Redmond’s intense resentment quickly turned him into a vengeful ghost. To his surprise, his fallen brothers became restless spirits, gathering together as if waiting for him.
It was as if a new world had opened up. Redmond realized that life didn’t end with death—there was an even broader world waiting for them. He began a decade-long existence as a ghost, and after understanding many things, gathered his brothers once again.
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Gradually, Redmond formed his own faction, but things were much the same as before. This time, it wasn’t just Redmond—there were six other vengeful ghosts like him, all rising through the ghostly path.
He thought life would be easy now, but just like when he was alive, standing out always attracted trouble. The Underworld Court intervened, planning to destroy these seven growing vengeful ghosts in the world of the living.
The world of ghosts was far more brutal than Redmond had imagined. Under siege from the Underworld Court, Redmond and his brothers barely escaped with their lives. At that moment, another dazzling ghost appeared—a female ghost, Yuna Ji.
She presented a certain condition.
"We’re no match for the Underworld Court. If we keep fighting, the casualties will be unbearable. The best option is to surrender—then we might have a chance to escape from the Underworld Court. Otherwise, your men will die with you."
Redmond muttered, glaring fiercely at Yuna Ji. Yuna Ji just tilted her head and grinned.
"Not my problem. I only made a deal with Quentin Kue, that old guy. Besides, we really couldn’t beat the Underworld Court at the time, right? Without those two hundred-plus years in Abyssal Hell, we wouldn’t have become Ghost Sovereigns, would we?"
"Sounds about right, but honestly, you’re such a pain, Yuna Ji."
Redmond grumbled angrily.
After accepting Yuna Ji’s condition, Redmond and Yuna Ji both surrendered. But what Yuna Ji didn’t expect was that the Underworld Court not only refused to let her go, but also sent her and the six vengeful ghosts into Abyssal Hell, condemning them to eternal torment—a place far crueler than hell itself.
Realizing she’d been deceived, Yuna Ji confessed everything. But aside from the anger of the other six, it was all in the past. They couldn’t escape Abyssal Hell, suffering endless torment—unable to live, unable to die.
"Back then, all six of us tried to talk sense into this damn woman. Ha, Yuna Ji, you really went through with it."
Redmond spoke again, while Yuna Ji stuck out her tongue.
"Come on, Redmond, are you even a man? After all these years, why are you still holding a grudge against a woman like me?"
I couldn’t help but recall the scene I saw when I returned to the past—Yuna Ji making her pact with Quentin Kue.
"Maybe it’s been too long. What I’ve forgotten—well, we’re no longer the weaklings who used to be bullied by other powers. Anyone from either world who wants to mess with us now had better think twice about whether they’re up to it."
After finally escaping Abyssal Hell, Redmond returned to the living world to find that many of his brothers had become Blue Wraiths. This was good news for Redmond, and the other six vengeful ghosts had also grown much stronger.
After decades of laying low, the seven vengeful ghosts resurfaced, once again drawing the attention of the Underworld Court. But this time, the Underworld Court was defeated—even the Ten Marshals couldn’t threaten the seven Ghost Sovereigns.
Even the Four Grand Judges were helpless. Powerful Blue Wraiths kept appearing in the living world, as if overnight. The Underworld Court was powerless, and finally acknowledged the seven vengeful ghosts as sovereigns.
The third time around, Redmond learned his lesson. He started building a network in secret, amassing great wealth and constantly bribing various ghost officials. Whenever the Underworld Court stirred, he knew right away. Compared to other Ghost Sovereigns, his ties to the supernatural world were much smoother.
By the modern era, Redmond had accumulated immense wealth. With his loyal followers, he finally hosted the grand Banquet of Ten Thousand Ghosts that he’d never held before, earning the Underworld Court’s recognition. Through it all, it was his brothers who stayed by his side to the end.
"No matter what happens, all I want is to live with them, always."