The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 136

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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 136
If Dokuou had been more perceptive, he might have noticed my unease earlier, but it turned out to be justified.
‘So then, is this blackmail?’
Teach Dang Cheon-il the Ten Thousand Flowers in Bloom technique over the next six months.
If you do, I won’t mention anything about my secret.
The conversation had likely been structured with that very meaning.
“I give you my word.”
Dokuou spoke.
“I swear that this old man will never be disrespectful to you, nor will I take any inappropriate action.”
“….”
“Furthermore, during the six months you show mercy, if the Dang Clan’s strength is needed for whatever you must accomplish, I will do my utmost to provide it, no matter what it may be.”
My eyes widened at those words.
That was essentially saying the Dang Clan would become my backing for at least the next six months.
Not just monopoly or priority over Cheogang.
It meant the Dang Clan itself would become my power.
‘…This is genuinely impressive.’
Admiration escaped me unbidden.
This was admiration for Dokuou’s eloquence and the way he orchestrated situations.
‘The essence is blackmail, yet he’s expressing it as a transaction so skillfully.’
If you don’t comply, I can bury you using your secret.
That’s the true nature of this conversation, and yet.
‘He wrapped it so flawlessly that you can’t even sense it.’
Dokuou buried that essence deep while wrapping the surface in elegant packaging.
As if he desperately needed my strength and had knelt before me.
‘To be precise.’
He’s completely controlling the situation so I feel that way.
He made Dok-ryong, with whom relations were poor, bow his head and attach himself to me.
While providing the backing I claimed to desperately need.
‘He adds coercion to ensure the work gets done properly.’
He makes sure I’m acutely aware that we each hold the other’s leash.
Dokuou was wielding all of this as a stratagem.
The corners of my mouth lifted of their own accord.
[Huh? Is this guy insane…? Why is he suddenly laughing?]
As I try to suppress the sudden laughter, Yoo Cheon-gil looks at me with a strange expression.
Laughter escapes me despite myself.
‘It’s been a while.’
It’s been ages since I’ve encountered someone who wields strategy this well, so I can’t help but laugh.
I felt regret.
‘I should have done this properly from the start.’
I regretted not giving my all, hiding behind the excuse of doing things moderately.
This old man was certainly worth the effort.
However.
‘Still, it’s a shame.’
For now, I needed to focus on the conversation before me.
“If I fail to properly teach the Young Master over these six months, what happens then?”
While six months wasn’t exactly a short period, if I couldn’t properly teach Dang Cheon-il the Ten Thousand Flowers and Rain technique, what would become of it?
To this question, Dokuou replied.
“Should that occur, it would mean the Young Master’s talent was insufficient, so I would not fault the Bang Disciple.”
“That’s an odd thing to say. There’s also the possibility that I didn’t teach properly.”
“Do you think that’s the case?”
At Dokuou’s words, I closed my mouth for a moment.
After a very brief moment of consideration, I gave my answer.
“Well then, I’ll do my best to teach properly. In exchange, I’d like to set some conditions.”
“Conditions?”
“Yes. I have my own time and duties as well, so we need to establish a set number of sessions and duration.”
“…I see.”
“Wouldn’t that also be more reassuring from your position as Patriarch?”
“Are you saying I can take it that you’re accepting this task?”
“Well….”
At those words, I nodded and spoke.
“Let’s discuss the details first.”
Thus began a lengthy conversation with Dokuou.

* * *
It happened the night before.
‘Master whatever technique you must over the next six months.’
Dokuou spoke thus to Dang Cheon-il, who had been summoned abruptly.
He was to attach himself to Bangseong-yeon and learn the Ten Thousand Flowers Rain technique that he wielded.
Naturally, Dang Cheon-il protested against such an absurd demand in the dead of night.
To spend six months clinging to that wretch, bowing his head and learning martial arts from him—it was unthinkable.
Unable to accept it under any circumstances, he attempted to defy even the Lord of the Clan himself with his anger.
‘There is no refusal.’
‘…Lord…!’
Dokuou was resolute. As Dang Cheon-il tried to burst forth with even greater fury at the words that he had no right to refuse—
‘Second Young Master.’
Dokuou released a sharp aura, crushing Dang Cheon-il beneath it.
‘I indulge your willfulness for one reason alone—because you are my son. Furthermore.’
Crack-crack-crack–!!
Dang Cheon-il endured the pain of his bones being crushed, suppressing his groans.
‘You yourself renounced the position of Second Patriarch and declared you would not interfere with the First Young Master’s standing. Therefore, I have refrained from blaming you, as you well know.’
Click.
Dokuou’s hand, which had been releasing that aura, moved. A drawer opened, and a letter slipped out.
It floated freely into the air—Dokuou had lifted it using his mastery of the void.
The letter moved slowly before unfolding before Dang Cheon-il’s eyes.
Still unable to move, Dang Cheon-il could only examine the letter with his eyes.
‘…!’
Upon reading the letter, Dang Cheon-il’s body convulsed violently.
‘Ugh…!! Why…!’
‘There is no further reason to indulge your willfulness.’
‘…L…Lord…!’
‘Until now, I have granted your wishes. According to our agreement, I have allowed you to maintain your position as Seventh and your reputation, permitting that child to live as he desires. But.’
The unfolded letter folded itself and returned to Dokuou.
‘Your shameful conduct has ruined even that. Now there is no need for such consideration.’
‘…That is…!’
‘Do you intend to make excuses for your defeat? Second Young Master.’
‘…’
At Dokuou’s words, Dang Cheon-il fell silent.
What excuse could exist for defeat? Searching for one, he found nothing to say.
He had been utterly defeated by Bangseong-yeon, after all.
‘…’
Dokuou, observing the silent Dang Cheon-il, briefly averted his gaze.
‘However, seeing that the child has produced proper results, I shall overlook the matter concerning Cheogang.’
‘…!’
At my words, Dang Cheon-il’s expression shifted in surprise.
‘One thing, that is all. Nothing will change because of it. Especially not the contents of this letter.’
‘…Lord of the Clan… that is….’
‘Then carry it out properly.’
Dokuou spoke and looked at Dang Cheon-il once more.
‘If you do not, I will proceed with the matter as written in this letter. Young Master. You cannot be unaware of this.’
Ssssshhhhh….
The overwhelming pressure that had been pouring forth diminished and faded, and Dang Cheon-il’s body regained its freedom.
Yet Dang Cheon-il did not move at all.
‘Understand that this is the final leniency I have granted you despite your obstinacy.’
‘….’
‘If you harbor resentment or are unwilling, speak now. The Young Patriarch may have much to attend to, but since this concerns Sega itself, informing him would also….’
‘I will do it….’
Dang Cheon-il spoke to Dokuou with his fists clenched.
‘…Six months. I will accomplish it by any means necessary within that time.’
I will see it done, whatever it takes.
Watching Dang Cheon-il speak with fervent determination burning in his eyes, Dokuou soon nodded.
‘Leave now.’
‘Yes.’
Dang Cheon-il immediately turned away.
Bloodshot veins stood prominent in his eyes alongside his rage, yet he endured even that.
Six months. A deadline had been set for something he must accomplish by any means.
Crack—!
Stone crumbles beneath Dang Cheon-il’s feet.
Before the Sovereign’s Residence, Dang Cheon-il vented his fury with a grotesquely contorted face.
“…Damn bastard.”
Crack—! Bang—!
He curses and stamps the ground repeatedly.
This was the only way to soothe his shattered pride.
“Damn it…!”
That cunning expression I saw this morning still haunts me.
The moment I lowered my head after seeking him out, Bangseong-yeon grinned as if he had understood everything.
I despised that expression.
‘As if.’
Those eyes and that smirk that suggested he comprehended it all.
Seeing that arrogant gaze, I wanted to crush it immediately.
‘…Damn dog of a man.’
Bang—! I stamp the ground again, though with less force than before.
“Hahhhhh….”
I exhale a heavy sigh. The martial contest with Bangseong-yeon suddenly comes to mind.
At first, I picked a fight with him because he was said to be the Sword Saint’s successor.
After that, I found other reasons to challenge him.
Eventually, we even ended up in a formal duel.
‘…Damn it.’
I lost. Every technique I attempted was pierced through, and I was ultimately defeated by him.
My pride burned. It stung far more than when I lost to that bear-like bastard from the Peng Clan in the past.
‘Why is this happening?’
To my eyes, he was clearly weaker than me, yet the moment the duel began, he displayed an entirely different form.
Full of openings, every attack of mine seemed like it should land effortlessly.
Yet not a single strike connected properly.
‘Those eyes.’
Eyes that gleamed with arrogance, as if he knew everything.
Within them burned an ominous blue light.
Those eyes seemed to have truly grasped my every movement.
He moved before I could even act, and as if he already knew where I would reach, he excelled at evading or blocking my attacks.
Moreover.
‘That sword force was….’
The brilliant sword force that wrapped around his blade.
The moment I saw it, Dang Cheon-il felt a sense of vertigo.
Was he truly the Sword Saint’s successor?
When I first defeated Socheongeom, honestly, I thought there was nothing remarkable about defeating him.
But.
‘…He killed Mahyeok-chang?’
A master far surpassing the peak that Sovereign had personally slain in the past.
It was already strange that he had reappeared after being dead.
‘And that bastard killed him?’
Single-handedly, at that.
Dang Cheon-il couldn’t believe such an absurd claim.
“…Hah.”
But after experiencing it firsthand, even my pride couldn’t deny it was possible.
Once you witnessed that sword force, there was nothing left to disbelieve.
The problem was.
“…I have to learn the Ten Thousand Flowers, One Rain from that bastard?”
Beyond that, Bangseong-yeon—that damned fool—I had to ask him for instruction.
‘How is that even possible?’
The Ten Thousand Flowers, One Rain—the secret technique of the Dang Clan.
It was already strange that Bangseong-yeon was mastering it, and now I had to learn it from him within six months?
It was utterly absurd.
Dang Cheon-il couldn’t comprehend how this had come to pass, yet.
“…Damn it.”
But there was no other way around it.
I had to do it.
By any means necessary, I had to see it through.
Only then.
Could everything I sought to accomplish remain intact.
“…Sigh….”
As Dang Cheon-il steadied his resolve and exhaled a breath while suppressing his emotions.
Creak—!
The door of the Patriarch’s Residence opened, and the one who had been waiting emerged.
A handsome young man with blue eyes, dressed in a blue martial robe.
It was Bangseong-yeon.
“Hmm, hmm.”
He hummed contentedly as he stepped forward, apparently pleased with something.
Then, his eyes met with the waiting Dang Cheon-il.
“Oh! Our Cheon-il. You were waiting for your older brother?”
“….”
Grit.
The bastard spouted utter nonsense the moment he came out.
Older brother? Older brother?
This punk…?
‘I must be at least five years older than this fool.’
I’d heard he hadn’t even reached his twenties yet.
What? Older brother?
At such ridiculous words, Dang Cheon-il’s eyes sharpened for a moment.
“Something in your eye? Your gaze looks pretty sharp.”
“…N-no… No, sir.”
“Right. It shouldn’t be. Hahaha.”
Tap, tap.
Bangseong-yeon repeatedly patted Dang Cheon-il’s shoulder with his hand.
“You weren’t just glaring at your older brother, right? Right?”
“…Y-yes….”
“You need to relax your jaw.”
“…Yes, sir.”
“That’s right.”
Grind, grind, grind.
I seriously considered just throwing it all away right then.
Why not just abandon this and fight him again?
If I challenged him to a fight with these emotions, I would surely win.
With that judgment, just as Dang Cheon-il was about to swing his clenched fist.
“Then go pack your things now.”
“…What?”
I froze at Bangseong-yeon’s words.
Pack my things?
“Yeah, pack your things. What are you doing?”
“…What do you…?”
“What else would it be?”
Bangseong-yeon grinned as he spoke.
“I need to head home now too, so you should go as well.”
“…”
“Pack your things. We’re leaving tomorrow.”
“…”
Twenty-three years old—the age of Dang Cheon-il.
The moment my departure to Hannam was suddenly decided.

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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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