The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 168

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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 168
Maehua Geombong.
I first learned information about her from Muyong Youngsoon and Dok-ryong, naturally.
The moment I casually brought up the topic of Mount Hua.
Their reactions were unusual, and that’s what caught my attention first.
‘What did they say again?’
When I asked about their reaction, I still remembered what I heard back then.
‘A monster lives on Mount Hua.’
How strange that statement was.
Mount Hua, the center of Taoism and home to the Celestial Demon hero Maehua Ilgeom, still has a sect leader there—how could a monster live there?
I let it pass despite finding the statement quite odd.
And when I obtained the second piece of information, I could understand.
The reason why she was called a monster.
This could be seen not from her title, but from her nickname.
‘The First Post-Heavenly Prodigy.’
The most outstanding existence among the post-Heavenly prodigies that spread throughout the Central Plains.
Moreover, in a time when there exists a genius among geniuses called the Seven Prodigies.
The fact that she earned the title ‘First’ among them was nothing short of extraordinary.
Beyond ‘First Post-Heavenly Prodigy,’ there were quite a few other epithets attached to her.
-The last and youngest of the Seven Prodigies.
-A new chapter in Mount Hua’s history.
-Genius slayer.
-Mount Hua’s monster.
-The First Post-Heavenly Prodigy.
And.
-The future Heavenly Supreme.
The final epithet adorning this overwhelming list of titles.
Heavenly Supreme.
The previous Heavenly Supreme is the Sword Saint Yoo Cheon-gil.
Yet despite this, she bears the epithet of being material to become the future Heavenly Supreme.
Even Cheonhye-in, a Seven Prodigy of the Cheongwol Sect and lauded as the greatest genius since Yoo Cheon-gil, never received such a title.
‘And… there was much information despite there being none.’
The information from the intelligence network that Wol Seon-geom obtained for me.
It was filled with stories about the Seven Prodigies.
Thanks to requesting deep information that couldn’t normally be obtained.
‘Yet still.’
Yet still, there wasn’t much content about this woman named Yoo Yeon.
At most, physical descriptions.
A woman with a mole on the bridge of her nose and an almost expressionless face.
And.
‘She cannot speak.’
I had heard that this woman was congenitally unable to utter a word.
Yet seeing her in person, I find myself equally speechless.
‘Damn, she’s beautiful.’
She is undeniably beautiful.
Her eyes slope downward slightly, giving her a somewhat vacant expression.
But the mole on the bridge of her nose and those pitch-black eyes possess an almost otherworldly allure.
I have grown accustomed to beautiful women like Muyong Youngsoon, yet this is something else entirely.
And beyond that.
‘What is this atmosphere?’
Maehua Geombong. The moment she appeared behind Heuk Taedo, the atmosphere within the inn grew suddenly frigid.
Look around now—can you not see how silent everything has become?
And within that silence lay an unmistakable dread.
‘They fear her.’
Every martial artist in this place trembled before this small, delicate woman.
I wonder what the reason could be.
‘…If I think about it, it must be that.’
The Yongbong Conference held several years ago.
It was the martial tournament where Geombong participated for the first time, and she claimed victory there.
She was merely fifteen years old.
From that day forward, she became the last of the Seven Legends and received the epithet Geombong.
The problem, however, was this.
‘She did not merely win.’
Half of her opponents fell to a single strike.
Heuk Taedo and Mudang Unryong, who stood among the Seven Legends at that time, could not even brush her sleeve before suffering defeat.
Overwhelming skill.
A gap so fierce it could not be called the same tier, leaving all who witnessed it in shock.
Thus the epithet ‘Genius Slayer’ was born.
For anyone.
‘To face her is to embrace despair.’
A talent gap that reaches heaven itself.
Before such a sky, even those who pierce the Heavenly Martial Realm must kneel.
‘What did they call it? Probably….’
I heard that such an overwhelming victory had not occurred since Yoo Cheon-gil.
Recalling all of this, I gazed upon Maehua Geombong.
“….”
She entered the inn with an expressionless face and surveyed her surroundings.
Leisurely, and slowly.
As her gaze swept across the inn, it came to rest upon locations where the Seven Legends happened to be standing.
[Hahahaha…. This is absurd….]
Yoo Cheon-gil continued to burst into laughter upon seeing Maehua Geombong.
[What in the world is that?]
Even Yoo Cheon-gil, supreme across all lands, couldn’t comprehend it.
[What exactly did that Plum Blossom pick up and raise?]
Picked up and raised—the phrasing was certainly odd, but setting that aside.
‘Is it really that shocking?’
For him to react so strongly just from looking.
[When I saw that young pup from the Peng Clan, my mouth watered too, but this is on a different level entirely. Truly a shame.]
Tsk, tsk, tsk. The sound of his tongue clicking continued.
[If our fool had done even half as well, I wouldn’t have to concern myself with this.]
“…?”
Hearing that, I glared at Yoo Cheon-gil.
Surely he wasn’t referring to me as the fool just now? If he was, this old man truly had no conscience.
[What are you looking at, fool? Keep your eyes ahead.]
“….”
As if my glare meant nothing, Yoo Cheon-gil responded shamelessly.
Infuriating.
I furrowed my brow and looked back at Maehua Geombong—
“…Wow, insane—!”
I cried out and stumbled backward. When I looked again, Maehua Geombong was suddenly right in front of my face.
Startled, I retreated further back.
“What, what is it?”
“….”
To my words, Geombong simply stared at me quietly.
“What is it?”
Even when I asked again, there was no answer.
What? Why won’t she—
‘Oh.’
Right, she can’t speak. Remembering that, I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
I closed my mouth and gazed at her quietly.
She stared at me with an expressionless gaze, then slowly moved her hand.
Her slender, pale fingers pointed to none other than her own robe.
“Hmm?”
Why was she pointing at that? I narrowed my eyes and looked closer.
What is it?
It was a robe that appeared quite valuable. A long robe wrapped in white fur. Wearing something like that would surely keep one warm through winter.
[Huh?]
Seeing it, Yoo Cheon-gil exclaimed in surprise.
[Hehe, that….]
He seemed to recognize the item.
“Wait, you know that thing you left with Hwasan, right?”
That thing left with Hwasan? Ah.
Upon hearing Yoo Cheon-gil’s words, I immediately recalled it. That’s right. Such a thing did exist.
The item symbolizing me that Yoo Cheon-gil mentioned, the one he originally intended to give me.
However.
‘Because I wagered with Hwasan and exchanged it, there was a black fur cloak instead.’
In the vault, there was only a cloak made of black fur.
‘Could that be it?’
If so, then the cloak Geombong was currently wearing was precisely what Yoo Cheon-gil had been searching for.
Which meant.
‘He brought it to give it to me?’
I looked at him with such a question, but Geombong merely continued pointing at her cloak.
As if simply telling me to take it.
“….”
Though it was peculiar, since she was offering it, there was no reason to refuse, so I quietly reached out my hand.
Just as my extended hand was about to touch the cloak.
“Wait.”
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke.
“Step back.”
“…!”
The moment I heard his words, I stopped my approaching hand and withdrew my body backward.
In that instant.
Whoosh.
A sound brushed past my ear, and a fragrance grazed the tip of my nose.
‘A floral scent?’
Despite the pleasant aroma, what had transpired was vicious.
A wind had blown. From where? Rolling my eyes to look.
‘What?’
Geombong had drawn her sword at some point.
Moreover, it appeared she had already executed a slash.
Surely not.
‘Did she cut me?’
Had she drawn her sword to cut me down?
If I hadn’t stepped back and had continued forward, would I have been slashed?
‘What?’
I hadn’t even seen Geombong draw her sword.
Setting that aside, she tried to cut me? Suddenly?
Before I could even swallow my shock at this absurd situation.
Clang—!
Whoosh—!
Cheon Euijin and Do-hyeong, who stood beside me, simultaneously drew their blades.
They launched their strikes instantly, and the sword light flew straight toward Geombong.
Two flashes of brilliance cut through the air, yet even then, Geombong’s eyes remained serene.
Just as the blades were about to pierce her—
Thwack—!!
“…!”
“Gasp!?”
Two swords flew through the empty air.
Do-hyeong and Cheon Euijin’s blades had been torn from their hands and were spinning skyward.
What in the world had just happened?
[Remarkable.]
I couldn’t even comprehend it, yet Yoo Cheon-gil was already lavishing praise with eyes gleaming with fascination.
[Where on earth did such raw talent come from….]
This old man seemed oblivious that now was hardly the time for admiration.
Clang.
The swords that had soared through the air crashed to the ground.
Do-hyeong and Cheon Euijin stared at Geombong with expressions of utter shock.
Immediately after.
Geombong, as if nothing had occurred, turned to look at me once more.
Our eyes met.
With a metallic click, Geombong sheathed her blade back into the scabbard at her waist.
The atmosphere was bleak and silent.
That was the mood that now pervaded everything.
In that moment.
“하하하하하하하하—!!!”
The crude laughter that erupted belonged to Heuk Taedo.
“Hahaha. Well, well, well.”
He approached with a hearty laugh, clearly delighted by something.
“Ah, this. This is fun, isn’t it? What’s going on? Geombong. Your greeting was quite violent, wasn’t it?”
He lumbered forward and reached out with his massive hand to touch her shoulder from behind.
But.
“…Oh, my.”
Geombong simply gazed at Heuk Taedo, and at that look, he startled and withdrew his hand.
“If you dislike it, just say so. Why would you try to cut a person? I understand now.”
Heuk Taedo sensed something in Geombong’s eyes and hastily stepped back.
“I’m just curious. It’s rare for you to respond so sharply, isn’t it?”
Tsk tsk tsk. Heuk Taedo chuckled.
“What could your reaction mean…. Does it mean you find this that interesting? Or perhaps, is it a warning?”
‘Hmm, this is troublesome.’
Listening to Heuk Taedo’s words, an uneasy feeling crept over me. I felt the sudden urge to silence that massive mouth of his.
“The one with the greatest potential is not the Protagonist, but myself. Is that what you’re warning about?”
But before I could think further, the massive man opened his mouth.
That bastard?
I stiffened in shock. As expected.
“What? The Protagonist?”
“The Protagonist, you say?”
“Then that weakling-looking fellow is the Protagonist?”
“…No, isn’t it that manly-looking guy next to him?”
Every martial artist’s gaze in the inn fixed upon me.
Many had assumed it was Do-hyeong instead of me, but upon hearing Heuk Taedo’s words just now, they seemed to have realized the truth.
“If he’s the Protagonist, then that Sword Saint’s….”
“Even the Seven Pillars cannot approach?”
“He doesn’t look it, but he possesses such power?”
“Even the Seven Pillars cannot reach him? That doesn’t make sense. There’s Geombong right there in front.”
The murmuring grew louder.
Of all people, it was Geombong who had provoked me earlier.
An abnormal existence who had defeated all of the Seven Pillars.
The fact that she and I stood together.
That alone would draw attention, but Heuk Taedo’s words had raised the temperature further.
“Did the Protagonist really surpass the Seven Pillars?”
“You’d have to fight to know. In the end, rumors are just….”
“Then, what about Geombong’s reaction right now….”
Everyone was watching us with questioning expressions.
‘This is becoming troublesome.’
This was not good. Attention was bound to be drawn anyway, but not like this.
‘Now I’m entangled with both Geombong and the entire Seven Pillars.’
The exaggeration in my rumors had already grown beyond imagination.
And Heuk Taedo’s nonsense had only made the problem worse.
Moreover.
‘That bastard did it on purpose.’
I could tell from Heuk Taedo’s laughter.
That fool deliberately spoke to create this situation.
‘Cunning for someone so massive.’
I thought he was just a stupid pervert, but he actually knows how to use his head?
‘Tsk.’
I clicked my tongue and frowned.
“….”
Geombong, who had been quietly watching me, suddenly turned her back.
The Sword Saint’s robe she wore fluttered. Then.
Tap. Tap.
I walked out of the Inn without another word.
“Hey now. You’re not going to eat? You must be hungry?”
Heuk Taedo called after Geombong, though he knew no answer would come.
“Hmm. How dull. Waitress! I’ll have an order!!”
He’d made a complete mess of things, yet he casually strolled over to a table and sat down as if nothing had happened.
And not just any table, either.
“…Why are you sitting here?”
Heuk Taedo had suddenly planted himself right beside me.
I tried to speak, looking at him.
“Huh? Why? What’s the problem?”
“What do you mean what’s the problem…? That’s hardly an explanation.”
“We’ve met twice now, so we’re friends. Friends eat together, don’t they? Come on, sit. Oh, by the way, why are all the tables here smashed to pieces? Waitress!!! Bring food and another table!!”
“…”
His audacious demeanor left me utterly speechless.
My head throbbed as if it might split open.
The stares pouring down on us, and somehow everything felt ruined from day one.
‘Ah…this is real.’
I wanted to abandon everything and go home.
That thought consumed me relentlessly.

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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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