The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 145

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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 145
Hwasan is a den of monsters.
Muyong Youngsoon said it like that.
‘…A den of monsters, she says.’
Her words were chilling. Hwasan Sect, one of the Daoist schools, was famous for its vibrant and benevolent members.
‘Calling them monsters seems off, doesn’t it?’
Monsters? Applied to a sect of the Daoist tradition? The word felt utterly out of place.
What was even more absurd.
‘Why did they react like that?’
Both Muyong Youngsoon and Dang Cheon-il had shown the same reaction.
The way they trembled violently at merely hearing the name Hwasan was still vivid in my mind.
Especially Dang Cheon-il, who lost control of himself so badly he stubbed his pinky toe on a corner.
‘What’s going on?’
I couldn’t help but sense something was amiss.
‘What could it be?’
I was curious. What was there that made them so averse to it?
It wasn’t just aversion—there was a subtle undercurrent of fear in their voices.
What were they afraid of?
‘What’s in Hwasan?’
I tried to recall. I’d heard that the sect leader was the Plum Blossom One-Sword, and I knew there were other masters with distinguished titles.
‘Is the Plum Blossom One-Sword the monster they mean?’
In terms of martial prowess, perhaps.
‘…But he wouldn’t be called that, would he?’
Given his gentle, benevolent nature and outstanding reputation, no one in the Central Plains would dare call the Plum Blossom One-Sword a monster.
‘Not that old man either.’
If anyone deserved to be called a monster, it would be Yoo Cheon-gil, that old man—a hundred times over.
[Hm? What are you looking at?]
Yoo Cheon-gil reacted immediately to my gaze.
[Your eyes look strange. Ah, I see. Are you cursing me in your head again?]
His perception was annoyingly sharp.
‘…Not the Plum Blossom One-Sword, and not the masters below him either…. Hmm.’
Who else was there?
I racked my brain, searching my memory.
‘I don’t know much about Hwasan Sect.’
Since I never expected to be involved with them, I’d never studied them—I knew almost nothing.
As I slowly worked through the famous names I could recall.
‘Ah.’
Only when I descended to the very bottom, to the level of a junior disciple, did a figure come to mind.
A being that had once stirred up the Central Plains.
Their epithet was probably….
‘A sword….’
쉬이이이익—!!!
Without thinking, I jerked my head to the side urgently.
Crack——!! The wooden sword grazed my cheek as it swept past. I tensed my lower body in alarm.
Pressure surged through my feet as strength bloomed across my entire frame.
Twisting at the waist, I drew my sword to meet the attack.
Crash——!!!
Clang!
The power-laden wooden sword clashed against my blade. With a twang, I was driven backward.
I had lost in a test of raw strength.
“Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue and tried to regain my stance quickly, but—
Whiiish——!!!
The wooden sword carved in sharply, unwilling to wait.
Light flashed in my eyes. Moonlight Vision activated to perceive every movement.
I rolled my eyes, tracking the wooden sword’s trajectory.
‘Two feints. The real strike comes from the diagonal below.’
I gripped my sword firmly and twisted it slightly.
Clang——!!
The sword arrived at the exact position where I intended to defend, as if waiting for me.
Blocking this with pure strength would obviously result in being twisted back like before.
I angled slightly and redirected the attack along the blade’s flat.
Clang——!!
The opponent’s sword soared skyward, sliding along my blade’s surface.
This was my moment.
Whooom——!! Cheonwol Heart Method surged through my entire body.
I unleashed Wolrang immediately.
A crescent moon unfurled through the air in a semicircle, but—
[Fool.]
Along with Yoo Cheon-gil’s lament, a wooden sword was already descending toward my head.
‘Damn——!’
Whoosh——!!
Just as the wooden sword was about to strike my forehead—
Thud!
The sword stopped mere inches away.
My blade, cradling the moon, had halted just before touching the opponent’s waist.
Given the wooden sword’s distance, I would have collapsed first if it had connected.
“…I lost.”
I clicked my tongue regretfully and withdrew my sword.
Seeing this, my opponent nodded in acknowledgment.
My opponent was Do-hyeong.
“That was a good match.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
I lost again.
I often sparred with Do-hyeong, but I had never won a single bout against him.
‘…This man is truly strong.’
He may be a few years older than me, but even so.
‘I’ve reached my peak as well.’
Do-hyeong’s movements were remarkably precise and clean.
Honest techniques grounded in fundamentals. An unstoppable force emanating from within them.
Since Do-hyeong was also a martial artist of Sowoldae, I knew he had reached his peak.
‘It’s as if I’m always just barely out of reach.’
Every fight with Do-hyeong was a repetition of falling short.
‘He’s strong.’
It was remarkable.
‘Why isn’t he more well-known despite being this strong?’
Do-hyeong was in his late twenties, after all.
The fact that he had joined Sowoldae at that age alone made it clear he was a genius.
‘At that level, wouldn’t he be stronger than Dang Cheon-il?’
He seemed stronger than Dang Cheon-il, who was around the same age as Do-hyeong.
‘How did he fail to enter the Seven Prodigies?’
The fact that he hadn’t been selected for the Seven Prodigies was puzzling.
‘Could it be because he’s weaker than Cheonhye-in?’
Wol Muhui Cheonhye-in. Perhaps Do-hyeong hadn’t entered the Seven Prodigies because he was weaker than her. If I had to guess, that was the only reason I could think of.
‘Since the Seven Prodigies have already come from Cheongwol Gate.’
If another prodigy were to emerge from Cheongwol Gate, it could stir up talk.
‘There are already whispers that Cheongwol Gate receives preferential treatment.’
It was Yoo Cheon-gil’s sect, after all.
Being like the roots of the Martial Arts Alliance itself, they likely received various benefits compared to other families and sects.
‘Even if that’s not strange in itself, public perception matters.’
Perhaps Do-hyeong remained unknown precisely because caution had to be exercised about such matters.
At least, that’s what I thought.
‘But then again.’
When I really considered it, that didn’t seem quite right either.
Click.
I set down the wooden sword I’d used and simultaneously removed the sand pouches from my hands and feet.
Thud—! Thud——!!
They were impossibly heavy. As the bindings finally came loose, my body felt light again.
Do-hyeong, who had been watching quietly, spoke to me.
“Bangseong-yeon.”
“Yes, Senior.”
“Why did you fight without removing it?”
“Pardon?”
Do-hyeong pointed at my sand pouch with his finger.
“…Ah. I thought it would be more helpful this way.”
“…”
His expression seemed rather dissatisfied.
Did Do-hyeong want me to remove it before sparring? That could be it, but…
“Well, Senior, you didn’t remove yours either.”
Ironically, Do-hyeong was also wearing iron rods on his limbs.
If anything, I thought those would be heavier.
“…”
Unable to counter my point, Do-hyeong let out an awkward cough. It seemed he had forgotten he was wearing them himself.
After observing him for several months, I could tell—this man was more scatterbrained than he appeared.
“…Well then.”
“Yes?”
“Enough about that. Why don’t you use that?”
“That, sir?”
“…”
“Ah… Do you mean the Sword Resonance?”
Do-hyeong nodded. He seemed to be asking why I wasn’t using the Gwangwol Blade Technique.
“…I simply didn’t think it necessary to use it in a sparring match.”
“…”
Do-hyeong’s expression showed clear regret at my words. Did he want to see it?
Or perhaps.
“Are you curious about it?”
“…”
Curious about the Gwangwol Blade Technique.
At those words, Do-hyeong flinched.
It seemed my guess was correct.
‘Hmm…’
I’ve come to understand one thing. All of Sowoldae learn the Cheongwol Sword Dance, and most have opened the Moon Eye.
‘But what they use and what I wield are different.’
As one can see from observing Do-hyeong’s and the other Cheonwol Gate disciples’ swordplay.
The sword techniques I employ differ from what they’ve learned.
Similar yet distinct.
There are subtle differences, and those subtle differences are far more pronounced than they appear.
‘Just looking at Wolrang makes it clear.’
The Cheongwol Sword Dance is inherently delicate and beautiful.
Most of it is graceful and soft swordplay, embodying the rising moon.
‘Mine is different.’
What I wield is rough and sharp.
Not a delicate blade that would shatter at the slightest touch.
‘It’s intense, as if it could destroy anything.’
As though nothing dares stand against the rising moon.
A momentum that seems to shatter everything and ascend.
That was the sword technique Yoo Cheon-gil taught me.
‘I’m the only one who uses it.’
Throughout the entire Cheonwol Sect, it seemed I was the only one employing such a sword technique.
And because of that….
‘The others must find it noteworthy.’
Since they know my sword’s lineage comes from Yoo Cheon-gil, it made sense that the members of Cheonwol Sect often regarded me with curiosity.
“Senior, can’t you use it?”
It was an innocent question.
The Gwangwol Seomgyeong was certainly part of sword forms—first form, second form, and third form. I thought that if Do-hyeong wished, he should be able to use it as well.
“…?”
Do-hyeong stared at me as if wondering what nonsense I was spouting.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
Why was he giving me that look? I gazed back in confusion.
[…You should understand.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me in a troubled voice.
[The third form you use does not exist in the first place.]
‘…What?’
Upon hearing those words, my brow furrowed.
What did that mean?
[The Gwangwol Seomgyeong is something I created myself; it was never part of the original.]
‘….’
I clenched my fist slightly, then released it.
It was to cool the cold sweat that had accumulated.
‘…So.’
The Gwangwol Seomgyeong sword technique was a martial art Yoo Cheon-gil created?
‘Not a variation like Wolrang or Yawol.’
He created it from scratch?
‘Oh.’
Then now, did I just tease him by asking why he couldn’t use it? Understanding that, Do-hyeong’s expression made sense.
“No…. That’s not it.”
I tried to speak hastily, but no suitable excuse came to mind.
“….”
“….”
Silence passed between us. Feeling awkward, I scratched the back of my head and spoke.
“Next time… if the opportunity arises, I’ll teach you.”
“…!”
Do-hyeong’s eyes widened at my words. His expression, rarely showing such change, clearly carried a faint glimmer of joy.

* * *
After finishing the sparring match with Do-hyeong and washing up, I set out.
It was just past noon.
The sun hung high in the sky, making the day unusually bright.
As I walked, I spoke to Yoo Cheon-gil.
“I already said it, but… is it alright to teach him…?”
Whether it was okay to teach Do-hyeong the Gwangwol Sect Technique.
I was seeking permission regarding what I had just said in our conversation.
[…You’re asking for permission after already committing to it?]
“…No, if it’s not allowed, we can just work around it somehow, can’t we?”
[Mm.]
Yoo Cheon-gil floated up and down, scratching his nose.
[It doesn’t particularly matter.]
His response was more indifferent than I expected. How could he be so casual about whether I taught a martial technique he had created himself?
Perhaps it was because Do-hyeong was a martial artist of the Cheonwol Sect anyway?
I looked at him curiously, but Yoo Cheon-gil’s next words contradicted that assumption.
[He won’t be able to learn it anyway.]
“What?”
What does that mean? He won’t be able to learn it?
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me with an unusually cold expression and tone.
[That fellow cannot learn it. He lacks both the qualification and the talent.]
“…What do you mean by that?”
Do-hyeong seemed to have more than enough talent and qualification, but Yoo Cheon-gil was resolute.
[Listen here. You need to understand just how tremendous the power you’re learning truly is.]
“…I have some understanding of it.”
[Tsk tsk… With your limited talent, you could never reach it. You can only obtain it because this magnificent Yoo Cheon-gil is helping you.]
“…”
He’s right, but it’s incredibly frustrating to hear.
How am I supposed to deal with that enormous ego?
[I won’t stop you from teaching others, but know that it will be futile regardless. Ah.]
As he spoke, Yoo Cheon-gil paused slightly.
[That daughter of Moonju—that young girl might actually be capable.]
He was referring to Cheonhye-in.
Just as before, Yoo Cheon-gil seemed to regard Cheonhye-in quite highly.
[And his son might also be possible. Though it will be difficult for now.]
“Hmm?”
Are you talking about Cheon Euijin if you mean my son?
‘This is unexpected.’
Do-hyeong doesn’t qualify, but Cheonhye-in does.
And apparently Cheon Euijin qualifies as well.
Does this mean Yoo Cheon-gil holds Cheon Euijin’s talent in high regard?
‘For what it’s worth….’
Cheon Euijin certainly possesses exceptional talent.
Being first-rate at that age is remarkable talent indeed. But.
‘If I compare him to Do-hyeong….’
When compared to Do-hyeong, who had clearly reached his peak, the assessment seemed somewhat ambiguous.
After all, Cheon Euijin hadn’t even been accepted into Sowoldae.
‘Yet Yoo Cheon-gil evaluates him that way.’
It seemed to suggest there was something different about him.
[Anyway, you handle that yourself. Shouldn’t you start preparing soon?]
“Ah, yes.”
I regained my focus at Yoo Cheon-gil’s words.
As we conversed while walking, I had already arrived at my destination.
‘I should do this.’
I nodded and steeled my resolve.
I needed to remind myself why I had come here since lunch.
‘It’s time to do this.’
What I had intended to accomplish upon arriving at Cheonwol Gate.
‘Building a solid backing.’
To prepare for the position of Moonju, I needed to gain my own faction.
A figure who would support me to become Moonju.
This was the first place I had sought out to recruit him.

* * *
“…What did you just say?”
A man with blue eyes asked.
At his words, I repeated what I had said.
“I believe I need to become Moonju, and I was wondering if you could help me with that?”
My words, delivered with a smile and calm composure, twisted the man’s expression.
It was a reaction of utter incomprehension.
It was inevitable.
“…You came to tell me that, right now?”
The person I was speaking to was none other than the second-in-command of Cheonwol Gate.
Baek Yucheon, the Sochul Daeju, who had openly declared his hatred for me.

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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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