The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 126

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

The Heavenly Supreme Has Died – Episode 126
After concluding my conversation with Dokuou, I made my way to the Sichuan prefecture I had visited before.
When I had gone down previously, an incident had occurred with Muyong Youngsoon, preventing me from completing my business properly.
This time, I intended to finish what I had started.
[You mean that matter from last time?]
I nodded at Yoo Cheon-gil’s words.
I didn’t speak aloud. A Dang Clan Martial Artist was following behind, ostensibly to guide me but truly to keep watch.
‘This is annoying as hell.’
I understood the circumstances, but I couldn’t shake the discomfort.
‘I’ll just receive what I need and head back quickly.’
With that resolve, I would finish my business and leave immediately.
With this in mind, I proceeded slowly toward my destination.
My destination was the Martial Arts Alliance’s Sichuan Branch, located in the largest prefecture in this region.
It was the same place I had intended to visit before.
The reason was a letter.
I had planned to send one as well.
But I also needed to receive one in return.
‘Who could it be?’
Who had sent me a letter? It had been a mystery last time, but this time I would find out.
As I arrived at the Martial Arts Alliance, a massive building came into view, and the tall banner of the Martial Arts Alliance fluttered above.
A familiar emblem. I couldn’t possibly not recognize it—the symbol of the place where I had crawled around like a dog for a year.
“Halt.”
As I approached the gate, a martial artist who appeared to be a gatekeeper stopped me.
“State your purpose and iden—… tity.”
The martial artist stopped mid-sentence, apparently recognizing the Tang Clan members who had followed behind me.
Or perhaps he had recognized me by the Cheongwol Sect robes I was wearing.
The former was more likely. This was Sichuan, after all, territory dominated by the Dang Clan.
“My purpose is to confirm an arrived letter, and my identity is Bangseong-yeon of the Cheongwol Sect.”
“…!”
The martial artist’s eyes widened at my words.
“…The Little Sword Saint…?”
Damn it.
I had to suppress a curse at his startled utterance.
‘Good grief, this rumor won’t die.’
How far had it spread? The fact that this martial artist knew meant my story had circulated throughout the Sichuan Branch.
I managed my expression and spoke to the martial artist.
“…Yes, that’s me.”
“…Ah….”
Upon my confirmation, the martial artist quickly bowed respectfully, clasping his fist.
“This humble warrior of the Alliance greets the Little Moon of the Cheongwol Sect….”
I couldn’t help but feel a jolt of surprise at the sight.
‘Right.’
I had forgotten a crucial fact—I was the Sowoldae, wasn’t I?
‘That’s correct.’
The Cheongwol Sect could be considered a direct subordinate faction of the Martial Arts Alliance.
And regarding the standing that Sowoldae held within it.
‘A position even the Branch Leader could not achieve.’
Since Sowoldae was the seat reserved for those who would one day represent the Cheongwol Sect—or those who already had—among its martial artists.
It was natural for any martial artist of the Martial Arts Alliance to react this way upon seeing me.
‘Yet it feels strange.’
Being treated with such courtesy felt subtly uncomfortable.
I had never experienced anything like this before.
So I remained silent, unable to say much.
“…I shall inform the Branch immediately. Would you be able to wait a moment?”
The martial artist spoke with urgent eyes.
“…Ah, yes. Take your time.”
“I’ll prepare everything at once.”
The moment I gave my consent, he vanished like an arrow shot from a bow.
This seemed like a good sign.
‘Do I not need proper identity verification?’
They simply believed me after I spoke—what was the meaning of this?
‘Is this the influence of those behind me?’
The Dang Clan members who had followed behind surely had some effect on this.
With the Dang Clan present, they would never have entertained the thought that I was lying.
‘Well.’
Either way, it was good that things were proceeding smoothly. As I waited with that thought.
Not long after, the martial artist who had entered earlier reappeared.
“Please, come this way.”
I followed him into the Sichuan Branch of the Martial Arts Alliance.

* * *
The moment I stepped into the Martial Arts Alliance, I was surprised to encounter the Branch Leader of the Sichuan Branch.
“I am Baek Dong-yeon, Branch Leader of the Sichuan Branch.”
A benevolent-looking middle-aged man. He introduced himself as the Branch Leader and offered me a respectful bow.
“I am Bangseong-yeon of the Cheongwol Sect. It is an honor to meet the Moving Thousand Sword senior.”
At my words, the Sichuan Branch Leader’s eyes widened. He clearly hadn’t expected me to know who he was.
‘Good thing I memorized it.’
Just in case, I had made an effort to remember the notable figures of the branch. Among them, the Branch Leader was naturally the most famous.
‘Moving Thousand Sword Baek Dong-yeon.’
He was someone who had been active in the Sichuan Branch all along, and was said to be a renowned master who had distinguished himself in the war.
‘I never expected him to come meet me in person.’
To have such a master come out barefoot to see me was truly moving.
I was beginning to understand just how much prestige the Cheongwol Sect, and especially the Sowoldae, truly possessed.
“I pay my respects to the Little Moon of Sowoldae. I heard from my subordinates that you had business with the Alliance, but….”
“Ah, yes. I heard that a letter addressed to me was entrusted to the Alliance.”
The moment he heard my words, the Branch Leader turned around. The martial artist who caught his gaze moved quickly.
“I will have them confirm and bring it immediately. It shouldn’t take long, but… would you perhaps accept a cup of tea? I would be honored to offer you some.”
I laughed slightly, as if a bit troubled.
“I apologize. I don’t have much time. There are also people waiting for me.”
As I spoke, I glanced at the Dang Clan members who had come with me. Seeing this, the Branch Leader’s eyes widened and he nodded.
This man had grasped the situation just by looking. Perhaps because he had risen to the position of Branch Leader, his perception was sharp.
“What a pity. To meet the hope of the Central Plains who will shine brightest in the future, yet have no opportunity for conversation. I sincerely hope that when you visit next time, we might share a more leisurely moment together.”
“Your words alone are gratitude enough. I too deeply regret not being able to converse with you, Branch Leader.”
[Regret my ass. Coat your lips with honey before speaking.]
Of course I wasn’t sorry. Why would I want to be detained and listen to more talk?
‘The stares are killing me right now.’
I could feel the gazes of people from all directions. The martial artists of the Alliance were looking at me with curiosity.
It felt exactly like being a monkey in a zoo.
Meanwhile, the Branch Leader seemed eager to say something more to me.
Moreover, he made no attempt to hide it—his emotions were clearly visible in his eyes.
This was becoming unbearably awkward.
Just as I was pondering what to do.
“Branch Leader.”
The martial artist who had gone to check returned. In his hand was a single letter.
The Branch Leader seemed displeased that his subordinate had returned so quickly, giving him a slight glare.
But there was nothing he could say in front of me.
The Branch Leader picked up the letter and carefully handed it to me.
“This appears to be the letter that arrived for the Bang Disciple….”
The Branch Leader, smiling faintly as he was about to give me the letter, suddenly paused.
He seemed to have noticed something as he looked at the letter.
‘What is this?’
Why was he reacting that way?
I stared at the Branch Leader with a puzzled expression.
[Hm?]
Yoo Cheon-gil, who had been quiet until now, suddenly responded. He was also looking at the letter.
[This… it’s a letter sent from Gaebangjoo.]
‘Gaebangjoo?’
Upon hearing the name, I narrowed my eyes. Gaebangjoo was one of the Nine Great Sects and Clans, a place in the Central Plains that supposedly possessed all manner of rumors and information.
The problem was.
‘There’s nothing particularly problematic about it?’
This wasn’t really a matter of great significance. Gaebangjoo was a place that gathered and sold information.
On top of that, they also handled the sending and management of letters.
They were even fast and accurate.
The part about beggars delivering them was somewhat unsettling, but in terms of accuracy, they were well-regarded.
‘Now that I think about it.’
Only then did I examine the seal drawn on the letter.
‘It is Gaebangjoo’s emblem.’
I saw this emblem every day when I worked at the Martial Arts Alliance.
The emblems of the Nine Great Sects and Clans all possessed unique characteristics, so they were impossible not to recognize.
However.
‘Something seems different?’
Looking closely, something was different.
The color was slightly darker, and subtle differences were visible here and there.
Even the golden lines mixed in faintly looked somewhat different from what I knew.
What was that?
As I stared at the emblem with a questioning gaze.
[It’s the Gaebangjoo’s seal.]
Yoo Cheon-gil noticed my confusion and offered an explanation.
Only then was my confusion resolved.
‘I see. The Gaebangjoo’s se…’
Wait?
“…What did you…? Gaebangjoo!?”
“Yes?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. I sometimes have episodes. Please don’t mind it.”
“…Episodes, you say?”
I let out a startled cry without thinking.
The Branch Leader reacted to my outburst, so I hastily offered an explanation. Once I mentioned episodes, his reaction became even stranger, but now wasn’t the time to worry about that.
‘Gaebangjoo, you say…?’
Was the Gaebangjoo that Yoo Cheon-gil mentioned the one I knew?
‘…The Gaebangjoo?’
The one who stands at the very pinnacle of the Beggars’ Sect.
The leader of all beggars, and a figure known to be ignorant of nothing that transpires across the Central Plains.
The Gaebangjoo.
Woo A-seok, the Striking Staff.
‘…Is this really that person’s seal?’
There is no one in the Central Plains who would not know of this figure.
So the famous Gaebangjoo sent me a letter?
Why?
Judging from Yoo Cheon-gil’s reaction and the Branch Leader’s expression, it seemed genuine.
Though I couldn’t help but wonder if it might be a forgery.
‘What madman would dare impersonate the Gaebangjoo’s seal?’
Even the heretical sects wouldn’t touch this, regardless of what else they might do.
The moment someone forged the Gaebangjoo’s seal, all the beggars would move.
Still, it was highly likely not a forgery.
‘…Then why?’
So why did the Gaebangjoo send me a letter? In any case, I accepted the letter from the Branch Leader.
‘What could it be?’
What on earth could it be? I couldn’t understand it at all.
‘Should I even open this…?’
A dangerous smell wafted from it, but could I really open it? If I opened it here, there would be no turning back.
What should I do? After wavering in contemplation, I finally unfolded the letter.
Crack.
As the letter unfolded, the contents came into view.
“…Huh?”
Upon seeing what was written inside, I froze in place.
There wasn’t much content. Just a few lines at most.
The message was sparse and small compared to the size of the letter, but upon confirming the contents and the sender’s name, my body stiffened involuntarily.
[Little brother. How have you been? You seem to be doing well.]
[I suddenly missed you, so I’m coming to see you. There’s the Yongbong Gathering coming up soon anyway.]
[Come there.]
[Oh. I’m telling you in advance. If you tell Father, I’ll kill you, got it?]
Just four lines.
Four lines filled with absurd content. Anyone reading it would wonder what it meant.
I would have been no different if I only looked at the content.
But the sender’s name, scrawled roughly at the end of the letter as if to prove their identity, made my expression crumble.
The person who sent this letter was, surprisingly.
[Bang Seo-jin.]
“…”
My one and only sister.
That sister who had noticed our household falling apart long ago and fled alone.

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