The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS - Chapter 9 - 8 The Real Shadow Market

The person who was locked away inside the thorn-covered tower was not a princess, but a witch who employed the powers of darkness.

A brave young hero came searching for the tower in order to kill the witch.

– Light would force the darkness to recede, and grant it eternal rest

The witch wished.

That things would end with, ‘and the hero lived happily ever after killing the witch,’ like in the fairy tales.

And so, she had devised everything to happen in accordance to her wishes.

But the boy, who had grown up in but no time at all, would make the unfamiliar face of man’s from time to time.

“You want me to kill you? ……Do you really think I’ll let you go?”

Reality was very different from the fairy tales.

“The people don’t know of the precious treasure locked away in the tower.

I won’t let anyone else have this god given treasure, this crown of god surrounded by thorns that no one else could recognize.”

The hero gave the witch a slow and deep kiss.

“I am the true victor, and no one else.”

In humanity’s final war against the Demon Lord, the strongest heroes fell—not by the enemy’s hand, but by their own, twisted into madness by a cruel illusion. Betrayal. Bloodshed. Despair… and then, silence.Only one person remained: Riley—the weakest warrior of them all. Powerless. Ignored. Forgotten.But he saw through the Demon Lord’s deception. The tyrant was on the brink of death—so weak even a fly could’ve finished him off.And Riley did just that, drawing every last ounce of strength to bite off the demon’s head.Victory? Not quite. A final, desperate strike from the Demon Lord pierced him from behind, killing him instantly.But fate wasn’t done with him yet.Riley awoke ten years in the past—when the online game [Apocalypse] was launched. Before demons descended. Before monsters overran the world.And this time, he wasn’t starting from nothing. He had a decade of experience—and a second chance.Even more shocking, he didn’t awaken his old D-rank Strength Boost talent. This time, he received something far more terrifying: an SSS-Rank Gluttony talent!He could now devour anything—monsters, items, talents, even traits—and gain their power.Ding![You have devoured: Iron Fang Wolf][Acquired: +4 Strength, +2 Agility, Skill: Bite (F-rank)][You have devoured: Goblin ShamanAcquired: +8 Intelligence, Skill: Mana Bolt (E-rank), Talent: Minor Spellcasting Efficiency][You have devoured: Flaming Salamander Drake][Acquired: +22 Endurance, Trait: Dragon’s Resilience, Skill: Flame Breath (C-rank)]Now, there is no demon, no god, no monster who will stand in his way. He will devour everything—and save the world.But the power of Gluttony was a double edged sword. If he wasn’t careful… he could be the one getting consumed.

Zhou Shiguang realized that everything she owns stemmed from a misunderstanding. That day an incident occurred and changed her fate. Now, she has nothing. Facing continuous harassment from her adoptive parents and Zhou family’s true heiress, Shiguang feels like she’s at a dead end.

In her desperation, she clings to Meng Yungui, the third heir of the Meng family. But this heir is definitely not an easy man to please. He may be rich and powerful but he’s got an awful personality. And yet Shiguang decides to persevere. She walks on thin ice with Meng family and every step must be taken with caution.

During this time, her career as an aspiring actress also begins to grow rapidly. From extras to lead roles, her experiences slowly extinguish her innocence and kindness, hardening her heart. And seeing this change makes Yungui gradually fall for her…

- Description from Novelupdates

Su-jin is a high school student whose life is filled with loneliness. Weighed down by school bullying, personal struggles, and isolation, she finds herself growing weary of everything. At that moment, a mysterious shadow enters her life—a man she only sees in her dreams, through his face remains hidden. Surprisingly, his influence extends beyond her dreams, shaping her into a stronger, braver, and happiest person.As time passes, Su-jin finds herself drawn to him, yet his presence brings more than just emotions—it leads her to extraordinary friendships and unexpected adventures.Among them is Yeong-ae, a skilled spy who enrolls in Su-jin's school to investigate the mysterious death of a girl named Ha-na. And then there is Jung-hee, a young detective who begins working as an undercover high school student on a major case. Along the way, she unexpectedly meets Su-jin, which gradually develops into a deep friendship.Day by day, Su-jin's life becomes like an adventure book; each page of which becomes an unfolding adventure filled with excitement, romance, secrets, challenges, and discoveries. But in the midst of this mystery, will she ever find the invisible man who stole her heart?