The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 157
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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 157
Late at night.
The sky was unusually overcast, clouds obscuring the moon and stars.
Beneath the tangled night sky, in the most renowned shaman house in Hannam—the Misa Spirit House—a woman gripped the wall, her head bowed low.
“우우욱—!!”
She retched repeatedly, her body wracked with apparent agony.
Her trembling back and the pupils of her eyes, quivering as if seized by an earthquake, revealed just how dire her condition had become.
Her name was Misa Seonnyeo.
Currently the most renowned shaman in Hannam.
The cause of her affliction lay with the spirit she served.
“Young mistress… young mistress… please… why?”
She spoke in a hoarse voice, gazing into empty air.
There.
[Ugh—… uuuugh–!!]
The Spirit she served hovered with a terrified expression, covering its face.
[으으으으—!!!]
The spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from it directly affected Misa Seonnyeo, who served the Spirit.
Her bones resonated, her muscles contracted and released in succession.
Her possessed body convulsed with the Spirit’s every emotion.
“Ugh…!!”
What was happening? The Spirit’s emotional fluctuations were common enough, nothing to be alarmed about.
‘This is…’
This had never occurred before.
Since receiving the possession and beginning to serve the Spirit, never had there been such violent backlash.
As a result, she had to stop reading fortunes and close the doors.
‘What on earth is this…?’
Searching for the cause, Misa Seonnyeo recalled what had happened during the day.
When tracing the source, there was only one thing that came to mind.
‘…It was them.’
The two visitors who had come here during the day.
A woman wearing a veil and a young man who was not.
Recalling them, Misa Seonnyeo ground her teeth.
‘…It was definitely them.’
There lay the reason the Spirit had become so terrified.
‘The woman was from the Muyong Clan, wasn’t she…?’
She had heard the woman was from the Muyong Clan, among those great Five Great Clans.
Given the power to breach her reservations and enter, she was certainly a direct bloodline member of the clan.
As for the other one.
He was a young man with an exceptionally handsome face. The problem was.
‘Those blue eyes.’
The Young Man’s eyes were tinted a deep blue.
The Woman understood well what those eyes signified.
‘In this place, blue eyes mean….’
An awakened disciple of Wol-an. Or.
‘A member of the Cheonwol Sect.’
The sect of the hero who saved the world and the Heavenly Supreme of all ages.
It was highly likely he was a member of the Cheonwol Sect.
‘…Why on earth.’
Why did the Spirit grow frightened of such a person?
Misa Seonnyeo could not comprehend it.
Ever since meeting that Young Man, the Spirit’s condition had become like this.
Not only did it refuse to heed her words, but it convulsed all day long.
[Krrrrgh-!]
“Huff.”
The backlash from those convulsions came solely upon her.
Such was the karma of one who received a spirit.
Wracked with excruciating pain, Misa Seonnyeo could do nothing.
Which made it all the more puzzling.
‘…What is he harboring?’
What exactly was that Young Man concealing?
The Spirit grew frightened upon seeing the Young Man.
It even sensed that something was being done to it. Yet.
‘…I could not see it.’
It remained invisible to Misa Seonnyeo.
An existence invisible even to a Shaman who harbored a spirit.
‘…The rank is far too high.’
Even by the measure of spirits, the disparity transcended dimensions.
A superior spirit whose very observation was forbidden by its exalted station.
Or.
‘A superior demon.’
If not a spirit, then a demon—and regardless of which, an entity that could not be carelessly approached or observed.
Yet.
‘Why would such a superior spirit….’
Be beside such a Young Man?
‘From his reaction, it seemed the Young Man could not perceive it?’
Whatever reaction the Spirit displayed, the Woman and Young Man seemed unaware.
Which meant they possessed no spiritual energy. Furthermore.
‘I could not see it with my own eyes either.’
She sensed no spiritual energy from either of them.
In such cases, it was possible to conceal spiritual energy even if one possessed it. But.
‘…That’s absurd.’
It was truly an impossible situation.
‘There’s no way something like that could happen.’
It was something determined by one’s soul from birth.
Spirit energy was fundamentally different from the qi that martial artists wielded, and deliberately controlling and concealing it was impossible.
Or rather, it wasn’t that it was impossible.
‘…Only someone of that person’s caliber could manage it.’
It was a conviction that no one else could reach that level.
Deliberately controlling spirit energy was something only the person I served could accomplish.
“Cough.”
Misa Seonnyeo let out a dry cough and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
No blood came out, but her insides were shaken—something was wrong.
Her swollen hands were also a problem.
‘…Those wretched creatures.’
The moment the Spirit spoke in terror and I tried to drive the young man away with my words.
The woman beside me transformed into a demon and lunged at me.
It was brutally vicious.
The eerie tone left Misa Seonnyeo’s courage shaken for the first time in ages.
‘…What do I do about this?’
As a result, I had to close the door.
It seemed I wouldn’t be able to complete my work until the Spirit returned to normal.
This would create problems.
‘My plans are derailed.’
The work I needed to accomplish here would be delayed.
Misa Seonnyeo dragged her weakened body toward the desk.
She needed to send word.
Especially about that young man.
‘…There’s something there.’
Something of such high rank that even I cannot perceive it.
Whether it be a ghost or a god, I cannot say.
But something profound must be shrouding that young man.
Furthermore.
‘If the young man himself doesn’t know about it.’
I judged it would be an excellent opportunity for that person.
With trembling fingertips, Misa Seonnyeo began writing her message.
The first line was.
[To the Great Gungwi.]
It began with those words.
* * *
Morning had arrived.
I rubbed my weary eyes and pushed myself up from the bed.
Dawn had passed, and it was now fully morning.
By then, I washed up, changed into fresh clothes, and stepped outside.
When I woke, the bed beside mine was already empty.
It meant Do-hyeong had already gone off to train.
‘…That man is relentless, I’ll give him that.’
How could he move without skipping a single day?
I had tried to match his pace, but I had never once woken before him.
I clicked my tongue in disappointment.
I walked forward, greeting the morning breeze.
Then, I heard commotion coming from the entrance of the Cheonwol Gate.
I glanced over and saw a carriage being prepared for departure.
It was a grand and luxurious carriage. The banner hanging from it revealed who its owner was.
‘A carriage from the Moyong Clan.’
The Moyong—one of the Five Great Clans.
Their carriage was preparing to depart.
It was obvious who would be riding in it.
I stared at the carriage with an indifferent expression.
[Won’t you go see her off?]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me.
“Her?”
I asked as if confused, and Yoo Cheon-gil replied with a calm face.
[Didn’t you say the young girl was leaving?]
“Yes. She’s probably leaving now.”
[But you don’t need to go see her off?]
“…Hmm.”
I scratched my cheek and looked at the carriage. Muyong Youngsoon was nowhere to be seen nearby.
She was probably already inside the carriage.
“It’s fine.”
I decided not to go out of my way.
“Besides, I already said my farewells yesterday.”
If there was anything to say, I had said it all yesterday. There was no need to do more today.
[Is that so?]
“Yes.”
[Hmm….]
Yoo Cheon-gil’s expression suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced, but I paid it no mind.
‘There’s no point in seeing her off anyway.’
What would be the purpose of a farewell? I had done everything there was to do yesterday, so it no longer mattered.
‘I already said so.’
Muyong Youngsoon said she’d leave early in the morning, and I told her I wouldn’t come to see her off. She nodded at my words as if she’d expected as much.
That should have been the end of it.
Then.
[Why would such a fellow bother to stand here watching with me?]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke, and I furrowed my brow in response.
“Bother? I simply woke up early and came out.”
[I suppose that’s true.]
“…No, I’m serious.”
I just happened to wake up in the morning, yet Yoo Cheon-gil smirked and looked at me.
This old man… seriously? He’s getting on my nerves.
I don’t know what he’s thinking, but it’s quite irritating.
It wouldn’t change anything anyway. I gazed quietly at the carriage and tried to move away.
There was no point in standing here watching.
I didn’t agree with Yoo Cheon-gil’s words, but I did wonder what I was doing myself.
‘Let me go train instead.’
It was morning training time. Any later and I’d be wasting time.
Just as I was about to take a step.
*Click.*
“Huh?”
[Hmm?]
Something shot out from inside the carriage.
A snow-white hand extended through the opened window. I wondered why it suddenly appeared like that.
*Swish, swish.*
The white hand showed its back toward me and waved gently.
Anyone could see it was a greeting.
And there was no need to say who it was directed toward.
[Hahahaha.]
Yoo Cheon-gil burst into loud laughter upon seeing this.
[You’re quite perceptive.]
“…”
I clicked my tongue softly in my mind.
“…Seriously.”
She clearly said she wouldn’t come this morning.
Did she anticipate that I’d be watching?
This is absurd.
“She really is terrifying.”
I don’t understand why she becomes more frightening every time I see her.
I sighed and finally headed toward the Training Hall.
I didn’t watch Muyong Youngsoon’s carriage depart.
There was no need to look back, and besides, it was obvious I would see her again soon enough.
‘…Because of the Yongbong Gathering.’
I had never attended it since birth.
But Muyong Youngsoon, given her family status and position, would absolutely have to attend.
And since she knew that well, she was leaving without hesitation.
[Hey, brat.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke as I walked away.
“Yes.”
[Lower the corners of your mouth. It’s unsightly.]
“….”
At those words, I immediately checked my mouth with my hand. But it wasn’t actually raised at all.
[I was joking. Kekekeke! You actually checked!]
“….”
Damn it.
[하하하하하하하—!!!]
I twisted my expression at his relentless laughter.
This was truly a bad way to start the morning.
* * *
I arrived at the Training Hall.
I surveyed my surroundings. The place I had come to was markedly different from the Training Hall I usually frequented.
It was damp and humid.
Just as I was frowning at the unpleasant atmosphere.
[This place is always so unpleasant to look at, no matter when you come.]
Yoo Cheon-gil, feeling the same way as me, clicked his tongue in disapproval.
That’s right. As I said, this place was different from an ordinary Training Hall.
Even its name wasn’t Training Hall.
Wol Ryeong Pavilion.
This was where I now stood, and this place was.
‘A seclusion chamber.’
A space created within the Cheonwol Sect for seclusion.
“Tsk.”
I scratched my nose and smacked my lips.
“…Should I not do this?”
Looking at the situation, regret washed over me.
The reason I was here was obvious.
“…I think I agreed to this on a whim.”
Why else would I be in a seclusion chamber? I came here to seclude myself.
I had asked Wol Seon-geom to let me use the seclusion chamber.
And Wol Seon-geom had agreed without hesitation.
The justification was sufficient.
‘I want to train in preparation for the upcoming Dragon Phoenix Gathering.’
That was my reasoning.
Since Shin Chang had mentioned me directly, and I held the position of representative of the Cheonwol Sect,
Wol Seon-geom didn’t find it particularly strange and granted me permission.
“Ah…”
But did I really have to do this?
“…Do I really have to be cooped up there for a whole month?”
[Why. Are you scared?]
“If I say I’m scared, can I skip it? I’m absolutely terrified.”
[Then you’ll just have to do it while being scared.]
“Damn it.”
I exhaled a long sigh. With only two months remaining until the Dragon Phoenix Gathering,
considering the distance to the Martial Arts Alliance, I had roughly a month and a half of free time.
In that gap, Yoo Cheon-gil made me a proposal.
To attempt a month-long closed-door seclusion.
‘Closed-door seclusion.’
I’d heard it was a name both familiar and feared among martial artists.
They said it was something essential to do in order to grow stronger.
‘I never thought I’d end up doing it.’
I accepted the proposal.
The reason was simple.
‘Because this old man suggested it.’
It wasn’t a command to do it, but rather a suggestion to give it a try.
There was meaning in this distinction.
‘If he’d commanded me, it would probably be quite difficult, so he made it a suggestion instead.’
The fact that he suggested it despite knowing how grueling it would be
‘meant I stood to gain much from this endeavor.’
It meant that if I could endure it, I could obtain something significant.
And.
‘…it seems like something I should do at least once for what lies ahead.’
With the Dragon Phoenix Gathering right around the corner,
and especially now that I had to participate in it,
‘…it would be good to do it.’
I thought it would be better than wasting a month doing nothing.
“Huh.”
I adjusted the divine sword hanging at my waist.
“Let’s go.”
Steeling my resolve, I took a step toward the Moon Spirit Pavilion.
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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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