The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 125

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Heavenly Supreme Has Died – Episode 125
Silence settled over the room.
Dokjon stared at me with a frown, while I gazed back at him with an impassive expression.
As that chilling silence continued to linger.
[하하하하하하하—!!!]
Yoo Cheon-gil laughed with delight. It was a noise only I could hear.
[This brat. I wondered what he was scheming, but look at this adorable move.]
Yoo Cheon-gil kept laughing at me as if this were entirely unexpected. His laughter was deeply uncomfortable, but I had to ignore it for now.
Thus a moment passed.
“Bang Disciple.”
Dokjon called to me softly.
“Yes, Lord of the Clan.”
“What you just said.”
Dokjon’s cold gaze turned fully upon me.
“It sounds as though you’re saying you need power for the Bang Disciple’s position. Is that correct?”
At those words, I lifted the corners of my mouth. As expected, this man was quick to read situations.
Or rather, it wasn’t just quick—it was skillful. Not only as a martial artist, but his abilities as a clan lord were considerable.
He was on an entirely different level from the Bang Clan Head. Ah, I really wish I could change fathers.
I pushed away such foolish thoughts and answered Dokjon.
“That’s correct, Lord of the Clan. I do need some power.”
The Dang Clan. The priority trading rights with Cheogang, the most important position within it. Along with exclusive trading rights regarding lower-tier martial weapons.
This meant, ultimately, a direct trading and cooperative relationship with the Dang Clan.
No other family or sect had ever achieved such a thing.
Of course not. Would Cheogang ever enter exclusive trading with someone just because they asked?
There was no need for such arrangements—those seeking them were already abundant.
Right now, there were countless people who came searching for months just to purchase a single weapon from Cheogang.
In such circumstances, Cheogang would enter exclusive trading with me?
‘That’s impossible.’
I was certain Dokjon would refuse this.
‘No matter how much of a prodigy I am, this isn’t it.’
Even if Mancheonhwau was the greatest symbol of the Dang Clan, Cheogang—a place with similar prestige and symbolism—could not be given away so easily.
But then.
Why would I propose this knowing full well it was impossible?
The reason was simple.
“Going forward, I need to become something of a minor sect leader. As you know, I don’t have many backing forces.”
I explained my situation more clearly, and furthermore.
“If it doesn’t suit you, I’m open to different conditions here.”
In any negotiation, the key is to demand the highest price first, then gradually lower it.
Exclusive trading with Cheogang was the foundation for this strategy.
[I thought you had no particular thoughts, but look at this clever move you’re pulling.]
Yoo Cheon-gil seems delighted by my actions, laughing continuously.
Damn old man. Does he not care at all that I’ve just used him?
‘Perhaps what matters to him is simply whether I become the Cheonwol Munchu or not.’
Just as my mood was souring at his cheerful demeanor.
[Haha. But listen, boy.]
Yoo Cheon-gil regards me with a peculiar gaze and speaks.
[Your thinking isn’t bad, but there’s one problem.]
A problem? What is he referring to?
[It seems you don’t recognize your own worth.]
‘Hmm?’
Worth? What does he mean?
I try to rack my brain to understand his meaning.
Dokuou hears my words and opens his mouth again, looking at me.
“I cannot comprehend this.”
“What point are you referring to?”
“I understand the need for a supporting force, but I question whether Bang Disciple truly requires such a thing.”
“…What?”
What is he saying now? I regard him with a puzzled expression.
“Only those lacking in power need backing, and Bang Disciple has no such need, it seems.”
“That’s—”
Ah.
I stop mid-sentence, finally understanding what Yoo Cheon-gil and Dokuou meant.
The worth Yoo Cheon-gil spoke of.
I had just grasped it.
‘The heir of the Sword Saint. And.’
I killed a master far beyond the peak in place of Dokuou, captured Dok-ryong, one of the Seven Extremes, this morning.
Because of that incident.
‘I gained the epithet of the Young Sword Saint.’
To anyone’s eyes, I was a young prodigy with outstanding power.
Perhaps in Dokuou’s view, I appeared as a talent to lead the next Cheonwol Sect?
That seemed to be why he questioned why I needed power for such a lowly position.
‘Tch.’
I cool my mind. At least I realized this in time. I needed to shift my perspective.
“More power is always better, is it not? And such an arrangement wouldn’t be entirely unfavorable for the Dang Clan either, I believe.”
“Not unfavorable, you say? And why is that?”
“If this deal works out well, the Dang Clan would gain me as a card to play.”
“….”
[Oh….]
Upon hearing my words, Yoo Cheon-gil laughs with intense delight.
[Now that’s a response I quite like.]
My expression showed that I was quite pleased with myself.
Dokuou’s brow furrowed as he heard my words.
“…How arrogant.”
Obtaining me would be a great advantage to the Dang Clan.
To speak such words before the Dang Clan, called one of the Five Great Houses, was truly presumptuous.
But it didn’t matter.
“It is not arrogance.”
Had Yoo Cheon-gil not said something to me?
‘Consider my value.’
That was advice. I nearly let it slip past unheeded, but it was genuine counsel.
My current value—more precisely, the value Dokuou sees in me.
It was crucial to leverage that.
“It is not arrogance?”
“Yes. Arrogance is merely the bluster of those without qualification, but I am different.”
“….”
Dokuou said nothing.
His demeanor suggested I should continue.
So I did.
“I will become the Heavenly Supreme.”
“…!”
“It will not take long, I suspect.”
I dared to speak of becoming the Heavenly Supreme before the Five Kings of All Under Heaven.
Dokuou’s eyes widened at those words.
[HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!]
The moment I spoke, Yoo Cheon-gil burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Tears even welled in his eyes—he found it genuinely hilarious.
[Haha!! Haha… Haha!!! That you would say it yourself… Hahahaha!!]
Stop laughing, you mad old man.
I was already enduring the embarrassment, and this wasn’t helping.
I pressed on, barely managing to ignore him.
“If at that time the Dang Clan and I were to have a transactional relationship, would it truly benefit me? Or would it benefit the Dang Clan?”
“….”
“This is an opportunity I am offering you. A chance to stand at my side.”
And in doing so, I would also obtain the Ten Thousand Flower Rain. Wouldn’t that be advantageous? That was the meaning behind my words.
“…Heh.”
Dokuou finally let out a hollow laugh.
“…An opportunity? You speak of an opportunity to the Dang Clan, rulers of All Under Heaven?”
This is terrifying. I wonder if I’m about to die.
“It is an opportunity. How could it be anything else?”
This required pushing forward. It was already too late to stop.
Listen, recall it.
‘What I can show in this place.’
Standing with noble pride even before the Dang Clan Head and the Dang Clan.
Calm and arrogant, as if I were graciously extending my hand to you.
I lower my gaze. I even controlled my breathing.
What is the gaze of a strong looking down? There is no need to ponder.
Is he not right beside me?
The one called the apex of the world and the strongest of all ages.
I merely needed to imitate him.
“…!”
Dokuou’s eyes shift.
[Heh heh.]
Yoo Cheon-gil reacts to the changed bearing and gaze.
[What’s with that disrespectful look…? I feel like hitting him.]
Yoo Cheon-gil grimaces, not knowing whom I’m imitating.
Seeing that, it seemed I was imitating well.
“Surely before long, the Dang Clan Head will also realize. That this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“….”
At my quietly spoken words, Dokuou narrowed his eyes.
I hid my tension behind my back and awaited Dokuou’s response.
One misstep and I might die here.
While such fear gripped me.
Strangely, as I looked into Dokuou’s eyes, an inexplicable certainty was rising within me.
For some reason, it was so.
As I held my silence with such thoughts.
Dokuou spoke to me, mingling his breath with mine.
“It seems I need time to ponder this for a moment. Would that be acceptable?”
Hearing those words, I laughed.
“By all means.”
It worked.

* * *
Left alone in the clan head’s chamber, Dokuou recalled the events of moments before with sunken eyes.
That young man who had brazenly declared to the Dang Clan that he would lend them his hand.
‘…How absurd.’
How could such a thing be possible?
Perhaps it was because he possessed talent, and carried the name of the Sword Saint’s successor along with the backing of the Cheonwol Sect?
That could be it, but Dokuou did not believe so.
“Cunning.”
Far too cunning. Though he displayed arrogance, something brimming beneath it had stirred Dokuou’s sensibilities.
It was not arrogance.
It was conviction.
Not arrogance for the sake of arrogance.
But the conviction that he had the right to be arrogant.
‘This is beyond comprehension.’
How was such a thing possible?
To Dokuou’s mind, Bangseong-yeon was truly anomalous.
How many geniuses had he witnessed over the years?
Countless ones he had observed and met. Yet Bangseong-yeon could certainly be called the most peculiar among them.
And for good reason.
‘He does not feel like a genius.’
He lacked that distinctive aura.
While Dokuou acknowledged his cunning, setting that aside, his presence felt ordinary compared to the current generation’s geniuses like Chilgeol.
Thus, when first meeting him, Dokuou had indeed questioned whether he was truly the Sword Saint’s successor, and whether he had truly defeated Socheongeom.
Yet that doubt dissipated quickly.
‘Because he defeated Mahyeok-chang.’
An existence that could never be defeated at the late-stage level.
It was strange that the man still lived at all. But setting that aside, the fact that Bangseong-yeon had slain him was truly remarkable.
And he had witnessed it directly.
Thus, when Dokuou heard that morning that his own son had been defeated by Bangseong-yeon, he was not surprised.
“…Heavenly Supreme?”
Words that martial artists of the Central Plains dare not speak aloud, he uttered without hesitation.
“Ha.”
Then, recalling Bangseong-yeon, Dokuou laughed.
How many years had it been since he last laughed aloud?
He could not say.
Was it his boldness that amused him? No.
Dokuou opened his palm to examine it. There, perspiration had formed most faintly.
This was surely due to the sight Bangseong-yeon had shown at the end.
‘The Dang Clan Head will surely realize it before long. That this was the opportunity of a lifetime.’
With those brilliant blue eyes wide open.
Looking down at himself with the corners of his mouth lifted in a smile.
In that moment, Dokuou overlapped that image with someone else.
Someone who no longer existed.
The Old Man who was truly called the Heavenly Supreme of all ages.
To the young Dokuou who had observed him from a distance, his father Dokjon had once said something.
“That creature is a monster. Never even consider the possibility of becoming his enemy.”
Even Dokjon, called the greatest being in the history of the Dang Clan, had assessed him as a monster and offered this warning.
“Furthermore, if possible, strive to become his ally. Monsters cannot be controlled, but fortunately, such beings do not bite the hand that feeds them.”
“Remember this without fail.”
“….”
Recalling those words spoken with such emphasis.
Dokuou suddenly drew out a letter.
“An ally, he says.”
Turning that word over in his mind, Dokuou thought.
It was not entirely appealing.
But there was something even better than being an ally.
Recalling that, Dokuou began writing characters upon the letter.
To the Bang Clan Head.
The first words of the letter began thus.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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