The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 165

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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 165
Rumble—!
The carriage lurched forward rapidly down the road. The well-trained black horse moved tirelessly through the rough forest path, enduring the coachman’s brutal handling without complaint.
The carriage swayed and jolted in every direction.
Yet the coachman maintained a serene expression throughout. He seemed entirely accustomed to such rough travel.
Within the carriage, the young man also sat unmoved, simply breathing in steady rhythm.
His frame was so massive that even the large carriage appeared cramped.
Peng Dojun, a direct bloodline member of the Peng Clan, opened his eyes that had been closed and gazed down at his own palms.
“….”
His palms glistened with sweat.
Observing this, he lifted the corners of his mouth that had been downturned.
“…Excellent.”
Crack. He clenched his open fist tightly.
“Very excellent.”
Peng Dojun smiled, recalling the man he had just met.
He had impressed him greatly.
“I thought it was merely idle rumor.”
The finest of this age and the Heavenly Supreme.
A successor to the Sword Saint who had ascended to the pinnacle after concluding the Zheng Ma Great War had appeared.
He had defeated the Namgung Clan’s Socheongeom and saved the Dang Clan in Sichuan, earning his reputation.
When Peng Dojun first heard such tales, he felt little excitement.
After all, rumors from the Central Plains were clearly unreliable, and he trusted nothing save his own instincts.
So they said he surpassed the Seven Greats, that he would become the next Heavenly Supreme.
He had never believed such absurd talk.
Originally, he would not have bothered to meet him at all.
‘But his name caught my attention.’
Socheongeom.
His name was the issue.
‘Bangseong-yeon.’
A bastard born of the Yaoling Bangseong family.
There was much speculation about how he became the Sword Saint’s successor, but that was not what mattered.
‘That man is Bangseong-yeon.’
The fact that his name was Bangseong-yeon—this was the sole matter Peng Dojun deemed significant.
‘Her betrothed.’
The man of the woman he desired and sought to obtain.
For Peng Dojun, only that held any importance.
That conversation from that day still lingered in Peng Dojun’s mind.
‘I have no interest in you.’
‘Why not? There will never be another man like me in the Central Plains again.’
It would be no exaggeration to say he lived by confidence alone. Peng Dojun had been the same that day.
“I want you. Become my woman. Then you’ll gain the world.”
He would reach the pinnacle of the world, standing at its apex.
He had no doubt that the woman by his side would naturally obtain that world as well.
So he spoke with such confidence.
“Ha.”
The woman merely laughed at Peng Dojun’s words.
Even with scorn.
Whether the woman didn’t believe Peng Dojun’s words or simply had no interest, she spoke with a mocking smile.
“I’m not particularly interested in the world. And frankly, I absolutely despise ignorant people like you.”
“Strange words indeed.”
Though he heard himself called ignorant, he simply brushed past such a thing.
He was not ignorant, after all.
“If you don’t want the world, what do you want?”
“Well, I don’t think I have any obligation to tell you that. And more importantly.”
The woman swept her hair back with her delicate fingers.
Beautiful. Peng Dojun found himself thinking such a thing without realizing it.
“I already have someone. We’re betrothed.”
“Ha.”
Hearing this, Peng Wujin laughed.
“Don’t lie. Do you think I wouldn’t know you’ve already broken the engagement?”
“Broken the engagement?”
Peng Dojun flinched. The woman’s eyes had turned sharp.
“I never did.”
“What?”
“Even if I had, it wouldn’t matter. Nothing changes because of that.”
“What do you mean——”
“You asked me what I want if not the world, didn’t you?”
The woman still smiled, but he realized that smile had subtly transformed.
It was no longer a mocking smile.
“I suppose it is somewhat similar.”
Just a smile.
A smile that fully revealed emotions she had never shown to the outside world.
Absurdly, Peng Dojun fell for her in that moment.
“That person is my world. It’s not something you could ever give me.”
“….”
As Peng Dojun recalled all these memories, the smile vanished from his face.
And not long after, Peng Dojun came to know that she was searching for someone.
“Bangseong-yeon.”
Her former betrothed.
A member of the Peng Clan bloodline, years past the broken engagement.
I wondered why such a woman would chase after such a man.
‘That bastard was the Protagonist.’
Crack.
The carriage trembled from Peng Dojun’s aura.
“Young Master, the carriage will break if you continue.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
At the coachman’s words, Peng Dojun immediately withdrew his energy.
‘Hmm.’
Leaning against the backrest, I recalled that man.
“This has become troublesome.”
Quite troublesome indeed.
“I wish he had merely been a fool.”
Now that I’ve met him directly, I understand.
“He appeals to me.”
Peng Dojun found that man appealing.
That impossible presence.
“How is this even possible?”
A profound obscurity beyond comprehension.
When Peng Dojun faced Bangseong-yeon, he truly could do nothing.
Even more so.
‘He directed it only at me.’
Competitive pressure, a supreme force pressing down upon the body.
All of it concentrated solely upon me without scattering to the surroundings—such precise control.
“Sigh.”
Peng Dojun, whose instincts were sharp, felt that aura and thought.
‘I would lose.’
If such an aura truly emanated from the power he possessed, then should I draw my blade to face him, I would be defeated.
Moreover, what of his movements?
‘Flawless.’
Even in his mere approach, no opening was apparent.
Every small motion carried the scent of blood.
‘I heard he hadn’t yet reached adulthood.’
What trials must one endure for the stench of blood to seep into one’s very footsteps?
“Huu….”
Peng Dojun clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly as he spoke.
“I want to fight.”
I wanted to fight that man.
I was curious about the man she harbored, and if he proved unremarkable, I would have eliminated him on the spot.
But meeting him ignited my competitive spirit.
“…Was I told to maintain propriety?”
Even if I had drawn my sword right then and there, I might have lost.
The arrogance of refusing to draw because the circumstances weren’t right.
I liked that conceit—the way he looked down on me as far beneath him, treating me as insignificant.
‘If he possesses such power, I must acknowledge it.’
Because he had such strength, he could afford such thoughts. That’s why Peng Dojun laughed.
“…This is truly troublesome.”
I never thought I’d feel this way again.
It was the first time since that monster from Mount Hua.
“Hahaha.”
Peng Dojun laughed with his eyes closed.
This Dragon-Phoenix Gathering would be quite entertaining.
That’s what he thought.

* * *
“Achoo!”
I covered my nose at the sudden sneeze. What was that? Was someone cursing me?
I wiped away a bit of mucus and surveyed my surroundings.
I’d noticed it for a while now—the atmosphere was remarkably quiet.
It had been like this ever since the carriage resumed its journey.
Do-hyeong was gazing out the window as before, but the atmosphere felt strange.
Cheonhye-in was emanating a palpable killing intent that seeped out gradually.
Cheon Euijin couldn’t even speak, watching Cheonhye-in’s mood carefully in this tense atmosphere.
‘What a mess.’
The atmosphere in this carriage was absolutely suffocating. That’s what I thought.
If I traced the cause, it was naturally that bastard from the Peng Clan.
‘…That perverted fool.’
Just thinking about him made me sick. I’d never encountered anyone like that before.
‘A Heavenly Martial Physique, they said.’
Certainly, his body was impressive. Setting aside the perverted part, his physique was clearly exceptional.
I’d only heard rumors about the Heavenly Martial Physique, but seeing it in person made it far more real.
A body specialized for becoming a martial artist. Combined with the talent inherited from his predecessors.
‘Born with a silver spoon.’
Isn’t that what they mean by being born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth?
Thinking about it made my chest ache.
[His body is certainly desirable.]
As if knowing my thoughts, Yoo Cheon-gil nodded and spoke.
[If I’m being honest, his physique surpasses even mine in my prime.]
‘Oh?’
That was quite a compliment. Not from anyone else, but from Yoo Cheon-gil himself saying his body was better than his own.
[Of course, I would have still won regardless.]
“….”
Was I really thinking about that in the midst of all this?
What kind of competition was this anyway? It was getting absurd.
[But listen here.]
At the sound of my name, I turned to look at Yoo Cheon-gil.
[So, those words that bastard spoke—they’re bothering you, aren’t they?]
“….”
Hearing him speak, I furrowed my brow. I’d already been thinking about it.
‘Moryong Sojeo, he said.’
That she was his.
That he would never hand her over. Peng Dojun had clearly said as much.
There was no question about who this Moryong Sojeo was.
‘Muyong Youngsoon.’
The Moyong Clan had only one blood relative of Baekwang.
His only daughter, Muyong Youngsoon. There was no one else, so the Moryong Sojeo that bastard spoke of had to be her.
But then.
‘Why?’
Why had he mentioned Muyong Youngsoon there?
That was what puzzled me.
‘There must be some connection between them.’
There was something between the two of them.
That’s why he’d said such a thing. I’d never heard it from Muyong Youngsoon, but otherwise it made no sense.
And also.
‘Is that why he sought me out?’
The reason that bastard had sought me out also made sense when connected to that.
‘My participation in the Yongbong Conference is supposed to be secret.’
But where in the world was there a perfect secret?
With the intelligence network of the Five Great Clans, they could have learned that much.
‘…They would have also learned that I was once betrothed to the Moyong Clan.’
I didn’t know which came first.
Had he sought me out knowing that?
‘…Hmm.’
I scratched my cheek.
‘Is there something between the Peng Clan and the Moyong Clan?’
Betrothals between the Five Great Clans happened often enough.
The Moyong Clan having only one daughter could pose a slight problem.
But if the other party was the Peng Clan, it wouldn’t be a bad arrangement.
“….”
Tap, tap. I drummed my fingers against the window frame.
[Tsk, tsk. It’s bothering you, isn’t it?]
I clicked my tongue quietly at Yoo Cheon-gil’s words.
‘As if I’m concerned about that.’
I’m not concerned at all. If anything bothered me, it was only the possibility that his actions might bring trouble to me.
‘That bastard’s life is his own.’
There was nothing I could do to intervene or not intervene.
My only worry was whether Peng Dojun would become a nuisance.
[You fool. It’s written all over your face. You’re definitely concerned.]
“….”
Yoo Cheon-gil continued to tease me, so I simply closed my eyes.
In that state, I thought.
‘So his name is Peng Dojun?’
That bastard had said it himself.
That he was such a remarkable man, one would never forget his name after hearing it once.
Absurdly enough, he was right.
‘Already annoyed by him.’
That uncouth pervert’s name had embedded itself in my mind.
Irritatingly so.

* * *
As evening gradually approached.
히이이잉—!!!
The carriage that had been traveling for some time finally came to a stop.
“We’ve arrived!!”
At Chudong’s words, I lifted my stiffened body and stepped outside.
The moment I exited the carriage, a cold breeze brushed against the tip of my nose, and I wrapped my clothes around myself, enduring the increasingly chilly weather.
[You still haven’t mastered it?]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke as if disappointed by my appearance.
The technique of controlling temperature through inner energy—something he’d mentioned since our time in Sacheon.
The fact that I hadn’t mastered it was why he was saying this.
‘…I forgot about it.’
I felt wronged. When would I have had time to learn such a skill?
I was too busy rolling around all day—when was I supposed to learn such a technique?
‘Damn it.’
It was cold. I’d need to master it before winter passed.
“Haa.”
A faint mist poured from my exhaled breath.
It was proof that winter had arrived.
As the mist rose into the empty air, I shifted my gaze.
Then I saw our destination in the distance.
‘…There it is.’
I couldn’t help but gasp at the sight.
Towering walls rose high, encircling the entire city, and despite the night having fallen, an eerie luminescence emanated from within.
Across the massive banner unfurled upon the ramparts, the emblem of the organization that represented this place was emblazoned in bold prominence.
The Martial Arts Alliance.
Seeing it, I swallowed hard.
‘So I’ve finally arrived here.’
The Martial Arts Alliance, called the pillar of the orthodox sects.
The place where both the Alliance’s headquarters and the Shaolin Temple of the Gupaibang were located.
‘The main branch of Hannam.’
I had finally arrived at that place.

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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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