The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 139

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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 139
If you seek information, go to the Beggars’ Guild.
This is a well-known saying throughout the Central Plains.
Beggars exist everywhere, and because they are everywhere, they hear much.
Most of those beggars belonged to the Beggars’ Guild, and the information they gathered accumulated steadily within it.
Thus, it was no exaggeration to say that if you wanted to know something, you could find the answer by visiting the Beggars’ Guild and asking.
The only problem was that you didn’t obtain information—you had to buy it.
For those who lived day by day on alms, the Beggars’ Guild’s information prices were exceptionally steep.
Unless it was something you truly desperately wanted to hear, using the Beggars’ Guild was relatively rare.
Then, where was the second place where information flowed most abundantly, if not the Beggars’ Guild?
Ask this question, and without fail, everyone’s lips would move in unison with the same answer.
That place was the tavern.
“Mr. Jang, have you heard that rumor?”
“What rumor?”
“About the Little Sword Saint. The Little Sword Saint.”
It was only natural that tongues loosened once alcohol entered the mouth.
It was equally natural that words traveled from one mouth to another.
Where these two converged was the tavern, so it was perhaps inevitable that abundant information circulated here.
And in such circumstances, there was currently the hottest topic of conversation in this tavern.
“The Little Sword Saint? Who is that?”
It concerned none other than the Little Sword Saint.
At Mr. Jang’s words, the expression of the man who had been speaking animatedly became tinged with shock.
“What, Mr. Jang? Even if you’re slow with news, surely not. How can a merchant claim ignorance about the Little Sword Saint? That’s why you got duped like a fool last time too.”
“…Save the painful remarks for later. Just explain it properly.”
“The Sword Saint’s Predecessor caused quite a stir for a while.”
“Ah.”
Mr. Jang nodded upon hearing the explanation. Indeed, that was right.
Quite some time had passed since the previous Alliance Master, the Sword Saint, had passed away.
During that time, there had been a brief commotion when the Sword Saint’s Predecessor suddenly appeared.
“What was it they said? That he defeated the Little Sword Blade?”
“The Little Sword Blade? They said he killed even Sanchen Gwiin.”
The Sword Saint’s Predecessor had been living as a low-ranking member of the Martial Arts Alliance while concealing his identity.
There he discovered Sanchen Gwiin, a master of the demonic sects who had become enemies with the Nangong Clan.
Unable to help it, he revealed his hidden identity and rescued his comrades from the demonic sect’s villains.
After that, in a martial contest with the Little Sword Blade, he defeated him with a single strike, or so they said…
“Isn’t the Little Sword Blade a genius close to being at the Seven Heavens? To defeat someone like that… I thought it remarkable. But what connection does that have with the Little Sword Saint? Huh?”
Mr. Jang, who had been speaking, let out a hollow breath as if he had realized something.
“Is the Little Sword Saint the Sword Saint’s Predecessor?”
“…Mr. Jang, you’re always slow to catch on. That’s why your business is always—”
“Ah, spare me the unnecessary remarks.”
“That’s right. The Socheongeom is indeed that person.”
“…Heh heh.”
Mr. Jang let out a hearty laugh.
“I heard he hasn’t even reached his twenties yet, and already he has an epithet.”
He’d only revealed himself less than a year ago.
They said he was a young man who hadn’t yet reached his twenties.
And yet.
“Socheongeom….”
Such a name had been attached to this young man—one that seemed somewhat excessive.
No matter that he was Geomseong’s Predecessor, wasn’t the name far too weighty?
While Mr. Jang was thinking such thoughts.
“Not premature at all. It’s a name that was bound to shine brilliantly.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you know what Socheongeom has accomplished?”
“…How would I know?”
I just heard the epithet now, so how could I know that.
“Haven’t you heard what happened in Sichuan recently?”
“Sichuan? …Did something else happen with the Dang Clan? Why? Did another supreme-grade weapon emerge from the Iron Forge?”
Whenever a supreme-grade weapon appeared from the Iron Forge, the world would stir with excitement, so I wondered if that was the case this time.
“No, that’s not it. The Dang Clan was attacked this time.”
“What?”
What madman would attack one of the Five Great Clans?
Mr. Jang reacted with startled surprise.
“And because of that, Dokuou was even in danger, they say.”
“…My. That Dokuou of all people.”
The Dang Clan was attacked, and on top of that, Dokuou was in danger?
It was truly unbelievable.
If one of the Five Kings of the Realm was in danger, what kind of attack could it have been?
As he swallowed involuntarily at this incomprehensible story.
“But do you know who stopped it?”
The man spoke to Mr. Jang with an intrigued expression.
“It was Socheongeom.”
“What?”
“Socheongeom defeated all those who attacked the Dang Clan and rescued Dokuou, they say.”
“Ha! What kind of nonsense is that?”
Mr. Jang frowned in disbelief. Seeing this, the man clicked his tongue and spoke.
“I’m telling you it’s true. Because of that, the Dang Clan treats Socheongeom as their benefactor and even gave him several swords, they say.”
“What kind of ridiculous….”
“Moreover, Dok-ryong, the Dang Clan Head’s child and one of the Seven Swords, treats him as his benefactor and travels alongside him constantly. They say his devotion is so extreme that anyone seeing them would mistake him for a servant—”
Clang—!
While the man was continuing to speak, a loud noise erupted from the back of the tavern.
“What was that?”
Everyone’s gaze in the tavern turned toward the sound.
It seemed someone had shattered a cup that had been on a table.
It didn’t appear to have been dropped; judging by how the cup broke and the moisture on the hand, it looked as though he had crushed it while holding it.
People confirmed the trembling young man, and
“Gasp…!”
“That… that…!”
Several recognized the young man and trembled visibly. Among them was the man who had just been speaking.
“…Brother Baek. What’s wrong?”
Mr. Jang, unable to comprehend the situation, asked the man.
“…Dok…”
Baek stammered as he spoke to Mr. Jang.
“Dok-ryong… It’s Dok-ryong.”
“Huh?”
At those words, Mr. Jang also looked toward the young man.
The young man wore robes of green silk with white patterns woven throughout, and possessed strikingly sharp and piercing features.
And the emblem embedded upon his chest.
Upon seeing it, Mr. Jang also froze.
“…Oh.”
This was something no one in the Central Plains could fail to recognize.
It was the very symbol of the Dang Clan they had just been discussing.
“It’s Dok-ryong.”
“Dok-ryong, you say…?”
“One of the Seven Prodigies is here…?”
The Seven Prodigies—a term for seven unparalleled geniuses in all the realm.
Monsters who might carry forward the peace the Sword Saint would one day achieve, they were called by this name.
One of the Seven Prodigies produced by the Dang Clan, renowned for their mastery of poison arts.
Dok-ryong’s appearance rendered the tavern utterly silent.
Yet there was a problem.
“The fact that Dok-ryong is here means…”
“Could it be?”
This atmosphere arose not merely from Dok-ryong’s appearance, but from the possibility of another figure who might be found in his vicinity.
The rumors certainly suggested it.
A young man who had earned the Dang Clan’s gratitude and was treated as their benefactor.
Dok-ryong, who revered him, had even embarked on a distant journey to follow him, attending to him like a servant at his side.
The fact that Dok-ryong was here meant…
“The Protagonist has returned as well?”
“Who is that…? Who is the Protagonist?”
“Has he returned to Hanan?”
The most famous rising star in the Central Plains right now.
It was the possibility that Bangseong-yeon, the Protagonist, might be present.
Because of this, everyone’s gaze turned toward the table where Dok-ryong sat.
At that moment.
“Here—!”
Someone sitting at the table suddenly raised their hand.
“The bill! Quickly!”
It was a remarkably handsome young man with quite an urgent expression.

* * *
On a day when the sun rose brilliantly. A county in Hanam.
I walked along the street with a considerably displeased expression.
“Damn it.”
I spoke harshly and glanced to my side.
Dang Cheon-il, the fierce-looking man who received my gaze, flinched and avoided my eyes.
“You couldn’t hold back for one moment and broke a cup? And you didn’t even finish your meal?”
“…I apologize…”
“That’s why I told you to wear different clothes.”
“…”
Dang Cheon-il lowered his head with a thoroughly contorted face.
“Look at you—can’t you fix your expression?”
“…”
“Because of you, I couldn’t even finish my meal, and your eyes…”
Sigh.
I exhaled a sigh in the middle of speaking.
‘This is infuriating…’
A sigh escaped naturally. Dang Cheon-il was one thing, but the situation made me feel even worse.
‘How did things turn out like this?’
Things had become quite strange. The moment I arrived at Hanam County, the cascade of changes left my mind utterly hazy.
“Hehehehe.”
I heard laughter from beside me. Following the sound, I turned my head to see Muyong Youngsoon, wearing a face veil, quietly laughing.
“…Is something funny?”
“Yes. Isn’t it funny to you, Master?”
Muyong Youngsoon spoke while walking with her characteristic light, graceful gait.
“The whole world is talking about you, Master. Doesn’t that make you feel good?”
“Do I look like I’m in a good mood right now?”
“No, you don’t.”
Saying so, Muyong Youngsoon poked my brow with her finger.
“Stop wrinkling that handsome forehead. It won’t change anything anyway.”
“…”
I brushed away Muyong Youngsoon’s hand with the back of my palm.
“…Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue briefly. She was half right.
This wouldn’t change anything.
‘I thought it would just be a passing rumor.’
I assumed the talk of Socheongeom and such would only be famous in Sichuan.
‘I never expected it to spread this far.’
When I arrived in Hanan, I realized that wasn’t the case.
Just as Muyong Youngsoon said, the entire world was talking about me.
Even at the tavern I’d headed to in order to fill my belly, it was the same.
‘I was so shocked when my name came up.’
I was quietly eating noodles when they started talking about me even there.
However.
‘What? I saved Dokuou and became the Dang Clan’s benefactor?’
The rumor itself had spread in a strangely distorted way.
‘Saved them? That’s nonsense….’
When did I ever save Dokuou and the Dang Clan?
I mean, I did something similar, but it got blown completely out of proportion.
‘This is why rumors are….’
It was the same in my past life, but rumors can’t be trusted. It seemed the same was true in this life.
“This is all because of you.”
“…?”
I spoke irritably to Dang Cheon-il. He then wore a puzzled expression.
“Why would it be because of me…?”
“Because you keep following me around, everything gets exposed. You should at least hide either your clothes or your face!”
“….”
Dok-ryong was already famous for his fierce appearance, and there were often people who recognized Dang Cheon-il along the way.
Especially since he was wearing the Dang Clan’s martial robes—how could anyone not notice?
It was common knowledge that robes bearing the clan symbol could only be worn by direct bloodline members.
“This is maddening.”
How on earth did this spread?
As I furrowed my brow and turned my thoughts over.
[Stop your grumbling and just enjoy it. This was bound to happen soon anyway.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me in an exasperated tone.
[From the moment the rumor of me being your predecessor spread, this was already something I anticipated.]
Yes, I did know.
I had become the Sword Saint’s Predecessor.
From the moment I revealed myself to the Martial Arts Alliance in that state, I had anticipated that my name would eventually spread throughout the Central Plains.
‘That’s true enough, but that’s not the problem, which is why I’m like this.’
That’s not the real issue.
‘Something doesn’t add up.’
The way the rumor spread felt off. That’s what bothered me.
‘It was quiet, so why suddenly now?’
If word of Geomseong’s Predecessor had spread naturally across the land, that would have been fine.
But.
‘Back then, it was so quiet.’
At that time, it was as if someone was actively suppressing the rumors—they barely spread at all.
‘This time, though.’
It spread rapidly, as if someone was deliberately propagating it.
Both instances were artificial.
Which is precisely why I’m suspicious.
‘Who’s behind this?’
Someone moved to suppress my rumors back then, and now they’re spreading them.
The difference being.
‘The one who suppressed it and the one spreading it are likely different people.’
If my suspicions are correct, they’re two different individuals with different intentions.
‘Tch.’
I felt uneasy, as if I’d been drawn into something strange.
The current rumors go like this.
-The Protagonist defeated a master of the heterodox sects and saved the Dang Clan.
-Not only did the Protagonist become the Dang Clan’s benefactor, but Dok-ryong respects him and follows him.
-The reason Dok-ryong follows him is because the Protagonist overwhelmingly defeated him in a martial contest.
-The Protagonist is a heaven-sent martial genius who looks down even upon the Seven Legends of the realm.
And so on.
Flesh was being added to a story that seemed barely thirty percent true.
‘…It’s professional.’
For a lie to become solid, truth must be woven into it.
Truth mixed with falsehood, expanded in volume, then spread as rumor.
This had the distinct scent of expert work.
‘Tch.’
Who could it possibly be?
I was troubled. Not because I had no idea.
‘There are far too many suspects.’
There were simply too many candidates.
Even if I racked my brain to narrow them down, pinpointing the culprit would be difficult.
“Tsk.”
So I clicked my tongue and shifted my thoughts.
This sudden fame I’d acquired.
It didn’t feel particularly good, I’d say.
‘At least… it’s not entirely bad.’
It’s not as though there are only negative aspects to this situation.
‘It’s convenient to use right now.’
Even if it was a lie, it was still a reputation, and it genuinely helped me obtain what I needed.
‘Think of it positively.’
I could do more now.
That’s what I tried to convince myself of.
I glanced around my surroundings. I could feel gazes upon me, subtle but unmistakable. Part of it was due to Dang Cheon-il, but much of it stemmed from the robes I wore.
Cheon Euijin wore the martial robes of the Cheongwol Sect, while Do-hyeong and I wore those of Sowoldae.
Because of that, attention poured down upon us.
It was all the more pronounced since this was a prefecture administered by the Cheongwol Sect.
‘At least we’ve arrived.’
After a journey that was far from brief, I had returned to Hanan, to where the Cheongwol Sect stood.
‘Sigh.’
I caught my breath and gazed from a distance.
A grand and towering structure rose upon the hillside.
The Cheongwol Sect.
I had returned to the place where I had much work to accomplish.
I felt that much had changed since my departure.
Whether in my cultivation realm.
Or in my position.
If things had progressed this far, perhaps the Sect itself had undergone some change regarding me as well.
With that thought in mind, I took my first step forward.
…And that change I had anticipated revealed itself far more swiftly than I had expected.

* * *
“…Go out where, exactly?”
At my bewildered question, Wol Seon-geom spoke again.
“Represent the Cheongwol Sect and participate in the Yongbong Conference.”
“…What kind of insane thing are you saying?”
Calamity had befallen me the moment I returned.

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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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