The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 144
—————
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 144
“…What are you two doing?”
At my words, those outside the door flinched.
Both had similar appearances, though if I had to describe them, one looked coldly austere and the other looked frigidly distant.
Yes.
They were simply similar, just with different words to describe them.
‘…That’s not the important part.’
What mattered now.
“This is my home, you know?”
The problem was that they were fighting on my veranda.
“…What are you two doing here at the crack of dawn?”
As I spoke while rubbing my sleepy eyes, Cheonhye-in was the first to rise.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“…Yes. It has been quite some time.”
Cheonhye-in’s face remained unchanged. Setting aside her beauty, she was still proud and aloof, a woman whose characteristic arrogance suited her perfectly.
Wol Muhui. A top-tier martial artist of the Sevenfold Realm, whom I hadn’t seen in months.
“Hmm.”
Cheonhye-in greeted me while eyeing me sideways. Her deep blue eyes scanned me from head to toe.
“Something seems different about you?”
She quickly reached her conclusion and spoke.
Hearing that, I had to furrow my brow slightly.
‘Sharp woman.’
Had she sensed that my realm had changed?
Wol Seon-geom is one of the absolute masters, so that’s understandable.
‘…Cheonhye-in noticed it too?’
The fact that Cheonhye-in perceived this was quite remarkable.
Even for someone of the Sevenfold Realm, this was pushing it.
‘…I’ll admit she looks strong.’
Now that I’d reached the pinnacle, the difference between us was unmistakable when I looked at Cheonhye-in.
‘She’s impressive.’
My eyes narrowed.
I already knew she was an exceptional martial artist.
‘How is there not a single opening?’
Even standing still, I couldn’t detect any flaw in her stance.
The rhythm of her breathing, the subtle movement of her fingertips.
Even the gaze directed at me.
‘This is….’
Her eyes look at me, but they’re not only looking at me.
Cheonhye-in’s eyes are observing my every movement.
I could sense it instinctively.
At that moment.
[Tsk, tsk, tsk.]
Yoo Cheon-gil, who had appeared without warning, let out a low chuckle.
[How about it? You can’t see the countless things hidden in that slender frame, can you?]
“….”
I had no choice but to acknowledge it.
‘This isn’t easy.’
The vast potential that Cheonhye-in possessed was certainly enough for Yoo Cheon-gil to call her a prodigy.
No, rather, I found myself wondering if calling her merely a prodigy was even appropriate.
Which is to say.
‘It’s only natural that she noticed my changes?’
If she possessed something to that degree, wouldn’t that be possible as well?
Just as such thoughts were crossing my mind.
“Certainly….”
Cheonhye-in moved toward me. And then.
“You seem a bit more….”
She extended her fingertips toward my hair.
“Handsome-”
Snap-!
Muyong Youngsoon, standing in front of me, seized her wrist with a fierce glint in her eyes.
“…My.”
At that action, Cheonhye-in narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at Muyong Youngsoon.
“What exactly are you doing? Moryong Sojeo?”
“I wonder.”
At Cheonhye-in’s words, Muyong Youngsoon smiled.
“I suspect you know better than anyone, Cheon Sojeo?”
Crunch.
“…Mmm….”
Cheonhye-in’s hand, gripped by Muyong Youngsoon, trembled.
It was a sign that she was applying considerable force.
“A grown woman shouldn’t touch a man like that without permission. It’s unbecoming.”
Twitch. At Muyong Youngsoon’s words, Cheonhye-in’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“That’s a fair point. My apologies, Bang Disciple?”
“…No….”
“Since you’ve apologized, why don’t you leave? It’s rather rude for an uninvited guest to linger.”
Before I could even speak, Muyong Youngsoon cut in.
But hearing that, Cheonhye-in let out a soft laugh.
“Does that apply to you as well, Moryong Sojeo? It doesn’t seem like you’re in a different position. Moreover, if we’re being fair about it.”
Cheonhye-in spoke while gesturing to her clothing, pointing to the emblem that proved her affiliation with Sowoldae.
“I am clearly a member of the same organization. As for you, Moryong Sojeo, you’re a ‘guest’ who came to visit the Cheonwol Gate on business, or so I’ve heard. If we’re talking about rudeness… I wonder who the uninvited guest really is.”
“….”
*Crunch-!*
‘Ugh…. She’s gripping quite hard, isn’t she?’
A rough sound escaped from Muyong Youngsoon’s lips.
“It seems you don’t quite understand, but Bang Disciple and I are not merely acquaintances, you know?”
“My. Is that so? Ah yes- that’s right. Since we’ve broken off our engagement, it is rather special.”
“…haha….”
Upon hearing those words, Muyong Youngsoon let out a low laugh.
Oh, this isn’t good.
‘That…. She really seems furious?’
Sure enough, the corners of Muyong Youngsoon’s eyes trembled.
“Th….”
Just as she was about to burst and release her anger.
“…Young Master. You were coughing….”
Someone from behind them stepped into my quarters and spoke.
The figure was Dok-ryong Dang Cheon-il.
He appeared with a weary expression, then froze upon seeing the unfolding situation.
“…What…?”
What in the world was this situation?
Dang Cheon-il rolled his eyes, struggling to comprehend.
Witnessing this, I exhaled a sigh.
‘He certainly arrived quickly.’
Since I had asked him to wake me this morning, Dang Cheon-il must have come to rouse me.
But what good was it if he woke later than I did?
‘Tsk.’
Normally, I would have scolded him.
“Good timing.”
“Yes…?”
But right now, it was actually fortunate.
“As you can see, I understand these two ladies have business with me… but unfortunately, I have a prior engagement.”
As I gestured toward Dang Cheon-il, both women’s eyes turned to him.
“No…. That.”
As Dang Cheon-il tried to speak, questioning what I meant by a prior engagement, I shot him a look that could kill.
“….”
Receiving my gaze, Dang Cheon-il sealed his lips shut.
Fortunately, his perception seemed sharp.
“So. You two should come back later.”
I pointed with my hand toward Cheonhye-in.
“Later?”
Upon hearing my words, Cheonhye-in narrowed her eyes.
“Yes. Later.”
“What about Moryong Sojeo?”
“Her… I thought I might have some business to attend to.”
“…!”
Leave Muyong Youngsoon here. You go.
At those words, Cheonhye-in’s brow finally furrowed.
“Ha… We haven’t seen each other in so long, yet you’re being cold?”
“We’re not exactly in a position to be considerate of each other, are we?”
Cold, my foot.
“Since you have business with me, we can meet separately later. Right now my mind is still muddled from just waking up.”
“….”
I rephrased my demand for her to leave, and Cheonhye-in stared at me as if glaring daggers.
‘Wow.’
Her eyes were sharp. Though normally we got along with smiles, it wasn’t quite like this.
‘She really is Wol Seon-geom’s daughter, isn’t she.’
When she truly glared, her eyes held a terrifyingly murderous light.
Brief as it was.
“What a shame.”
As she spoke, Cheonhye-in’s expression instantly returned to normal, as if what came before had been an illusion.
“It was rather important business too… But there’s nothing to be done.”
Without lingering regret, Cheonhye-in turned to leave.
The moment she disappeared from my quarters, I could finally release the sigh I’d been holding back.
“Phew….”
What was she even here for?
‘Even after months, she’s still awkward.’
I’d seen her before leaving for Sichuan, and it was genuinely difficult then.
Even after all this time, nothing had changed.
I was grateful to have sent her off.
And so.
“What brings you here?”
I asked Muyong Youngsoon, who had remained quietly.
Yet Muyong Youngsoon looked at me with a somewhat unexpected expression.
“…What’s with that look?”
“…Why did you tell me to stay?”
“Pardon?”
“That damn… No, why did you tell me to stay and send away Cheon Sojeo?”
“Why? I told you. I have business.”
“….”
Hearing my words, Muyong Youngsoon narrowed her eyes.
“Was that really true?”
“Then it must be a fake?”
I wanted to send both of them away anyway, but the reason I kept Muyong Youngsoon was straightforward.
“There’s something I need to ask.”
There was something I needed to ask her.
Well, to be precise.
“It doesn’t matter which one I ask, but she seems like the better choice.”
Whether Cheonhye-in or Muyong Youngsoon.
Either would work, but between Cheonhye-in—that terrifying woman—and Muyong Youngsoon, the latter seemed preferable.
“That means….”
Muyong Youngsoon, having heard my explanation, spoke while looking at me.
“You’re saying I’m far better than Cheon Sojeo?”
“…I didn’t say it quite like that-”
“Fine. I’ll help. So, what did you want to ask?”
“Wait, what do you mean help? Help with what…?”
What was she to be helping with?
What did she even mean by helping in the first place?
It was absurd, but I decided to let it pass for now.
“Before you ask, I asked first. Why did you come?”
“I forgot.”
“What?”
“I forgot.”
“What are you talking about? You said you came to ask something, and now you forgot?”
“People can forget things. Does everyone think like you?”
“No….”
Not everyone was like me, but Muyong Youngsoon certainly wasn’t.
She was clever and cunning enough that there’s no way she’d forget something like that.
I wanted to argue against such nonsense, but my mood wasn’t particularly good at the moment, so I held back.
‘Is it because of the dream? My chest feels unsettled.’
I couldn’t even remember what I’d dreamed.
Though I couldn’t recall it, as was usually the case, it must have been a nightmare.
So I gave up arguing and decided to just ask what I needed to know.
“…Moryong Sojeo.”
“Yes, ask me anything-”
“Do you know anything about the Hwasan Sect?”
“….”
“…Moryong Sojeo?”
After telling me to ask anything, Muyong Youngsoon suddenly went rigid like stone.
That wasn’t all.
“…Why are you like that?”
Thud—!
“Ugh!”
A cry of pain suddenly erupted from beside me, and when I glanced over, Dang Cheon-il was crouched down, clutching at his pinky toe.
“Grrgh…. Ack….”
“What’s wrong with him now?”
What was this sudden display about? I regarded him with a puzzled expression.
[He startled at your words and stubbed his toe on the corner.]
Yoo Cheon-gil explained.
‘Startled at my words?’
What had I said to frighten him?
I hadn’t said anything particularly alarming.
Even upon reflection, that remained true.
Then.
“…The Hwasan Sect?”
Muyong Youngsoon spoke with a distinctly displeased expression.
“…Why?”
“It’s not particularly important. I was just wondering if you knew anything, since there’s something I wanted to look into.”
“….”
“What is it?”
Muyong Youngsoon’s reaction was peculiar at my inquiry about the Hwasan Sect, and Dang Cheon-il’s behavior was especially ridiculous.
“Ah, just stay still for a moment!”
I shouted at him for flinching so much, and only then did Dang Cheon-il finally manage to still his body.
What was wrong with this bastard?
Tsk! I clicked my tongue and turned my gaze back to Muyong Youngsoon.
“Monsters.”
Muyong Youngsoon spoke to me.
“Pardon?”
Monsters?
What did she mean?
“…The Hwasan Sect, you see…”
Her voice carried something.
“…is a den of monsters.”
For some reason, she appeared to be suppressing fear.
* * *
Chirp-! Chirp chirp-!
Sunlight piercing through the window cracks mingled with the quiet, and the birdsong ringing out harmonized with the surrounding space, making it feel even more peaceful.
Whirrrr-!
Thud-!
As if amplifying that atmosphere further, a water wheel outside continued its steady rotation.
Within a sight that brought comfort merely by looking at it.
Upon a quilt laid out in a well-maintained dwelling.
An Old Man opened eyes that had been closed.
“…Hmm….”
The wrinkled Old Man opened his eyes and raised his body.
His expression seemed to carry a hint of longing.
“Kekeke….”
The Old Man spoke while releasing a weathered laugh.
“I had that fellow’s dream again after so long….”
Whose dream had he seen? The Old Man recalled the dream and let out a soft laugh.
“Keke…. Did that dead bastard drop by for a moment? Though knowing his nature, he wouldn’t have done such a thing.”
Certainty gleamed in the Old Man’s eyes.
“That stubborn fool. If he was going to die anyway, he should have given what he had to give before leaving.”
The Old Man, who had continued speaking, suddenly covered his mouth with his hand.
“Cough-! Cough-!”
Then he coughed roughly.
When the Old Man, who had been coughing for a while, examined the hand covering his mouth, blood was smeared all over his wrinkled palm.
Upon seeing this, the Old Man looked to the side and spoke.
“It’s fine. You don’t need to move.”
The Old Man said so.
Remarkably, at those words, the Figure beside him stopped moving.
“Don’t tell the elders. They’ll obviously make a fuss about it.”
“….”
The Figure did not answer the Old Man’s words.
The Old Man seemed unconcerned by the silence.
Instead of speaking, the Figure handed over the letter he was holding to the Old Man.
Receiving it, the Old Man looked at the letter and smiled at the corners of his eyes.
“I see. I thought it was about time. Kekeke….”
The letter bore a seal stamped in pale blue.
This was the official seal proving it came from the Martial Arts Alliance.
“…The Dragon Phoenix Assembly. Do you not wish to go?”
At the Old Man’s question, the one before him shook his head.
“You don’t want to go? Why? Last time you went out and had quite an enjoyable time, didn’t you?”
“….”
“If you’re worried about this old man, then don’t be. Wouldn’t that only make things more sorrowful?”
“….”
“Don’t worry and go. Especially….”
The Old Man folded the letter he had been holding and handed it back to the figure.
Just as the figure reached to take the letter again.
“There’s a chance that child might appear at this Dragon Phoenix Assembly.”
“….”
That child.
The figure’s fingertips stiffened upon hearing those words.
Seeing this, the Old Man continued speaking.
“Shin Chang. That friend would have certainly made arrangements. He seems rigid, but he’s surprisingly cunning when it comes to such matters.”
“….”
“So, you’ll surely be able to see him. Didn’t you say you were curious about it?”
The figure’s gaze lifted from the letter toward the Old Man’s face.
“Protagonist.”
“….”
“That child, the predecessor of the Yoo clan. Aren’t you curious about him?”
“….”
“If you’re curious, then go see him. Furthermore.”
The Old Man smiled widely.
And.
“Go and firmly demonstrate that you are Hwasan’s future and the Heavenly Supreme of the next generation.”
The figure who saw that smile.
The eyes of Hwasan’s monster gleamed brilliantly.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————