The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 189

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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 189
“…What?”
Seo-pyeong’s face contorted upon hearing my words. The way that bastard twisted his features was truly terrifying.
He had handsome features, yet I couldn’t help but wonder why he used them so grotesquely.
I smiled at the contorted Seo-pyeong and spoke.
“Oops. My mistake.”
As I grinned and spoke, Seo-pyeong clenched his teeth.
Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t lacking in perception, so he seemed well aware that my words were false.
That’s right—this wasn’t a mistake.
“I let slip what I truly thought without realizing it. My apologies, Master.”
“You bastard…!”
Seo-pyeong clenched his teeth and flared up. In that moment, I felt a subtle shift in the air.
Seo-pyeong’s hand moved to his waist. Was he about to draw his blade? I focused my eyes intently.
“Aha, why are you two already at it on such a fine day?”
A pale hand shot out and seized Seo-pyeong’s shoulder. It was Naelyong’s hand.
He appeared and dragged Seo-pyeong away.
Creak.
Others appeared before me as well, blocking Seo-pyeong’s path.
It was Do-hyeong and Cheon Euijin.
With the two of them blocking the way and Naelyong joining in, Seo-pyeong glared.
Then he brushed away Naelyong’s hand.
“You have quite a few protectors. But I wonder if they’ll be able to help you on the Dueling Arena.”
He spoke with a sneer and walked away. He headed toward where the other Shaman sect candidates were gathered.
“Well, well….”
Watching Seo-pyeong disappear, Naelyong raised his hand in a gesture.
“I hope I didn’t interfere.”
Naelyong chuckled and spoke, so I laughed awkwardly as well. I wanted to say it wasn’t like that and thank him, but.
“You did interfere.”
A rough voice cut in before I could speak.
Looking over, it was Heuk Taedo.
“Ah, what a shame. I thought something interesting was about to happen. How disappointing.”
Heuk Taedo clicked his tongue, clearly disappointed that Seo-pyeong hadn’t drawn his blade.
“I really wanted to see that idiot get humiliated.”
Heuk Taedo’s eyes were fixed on Seo-pyeong’s back.
His gaze made it clear he believed Seo-pyeong would have lost.
“Wouldn’t you agree?”
He looked at me, seeking agreement.
I didn’t give much of a response to his words, but unconcerned by my silence, Heuk Taedo continued speaking to me.
“I felt it before too, but he’s got more of a temper than he looks. Kuhkuh.”
Thump, thump. His large hand patted my shoulder. It hurt quite a bit.
“But still, why would you reveal your power so blatantly here?”
‘Hmm?’
Upon hearing Heuk Taedo’s words, I tilted my head. Reveal my power? What did he mean by that?
I looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“You hid it so well in the mountains—”
‘Ah.’
Only after hearing his gaze and words could I grasp what he meant.
‘…It’s because of the old man.’
Whether due to the influence of Cheonmu Jiche or not, Heuk Taedo could sense Yoo Cheon-gil to some degree, and what he was saying must have referred to that.
That I had hidden it well in the mountains.
‘Yoo Cheon-gil wasn’t present during the preliminaries.’
That was when Yoo Cheon-gil had sulked and disappeared somewhere.
Now he had returned. Because of that, Heuk Taedo was saying I was emanating something.
“I thought I’d be able to sense at least a little, but that friend Naelyong always lacks perception.”
“Ahahaha.”
At Heuk Taedo’s words, Naelyong laughed awkwardly.
Seeing that, I spoke with a sigh.
“No, thank you for your help. I was finding it a bit bothersome too.”
Of all things, I had to be entangled with that man from the start of the main tournament. It had become somewhat troublesome.
‘Still.’
On the other hand, I wasn’t particularly worried.
Rather, if it’s Seo-pyeong—
‘There’s not much to fear.’
He seemed like he would be easy to deal with.
That was my current thought.

* * *
By the time all the main tournament matchups had been announced.
The disciples waited in the hushed atmosphere that had settled over the arena.
Perhaps because everyone was tense, the conversations that had been audible moments before had ceased entirely.
Only the subtle undercurrent of competitive spirit kept brushing against my consciousness.
Each person prepared for the duel in their own way. Everyone did.
And watching them, I did the same.
I closed my eyes and thought for a long while.
Repeating again and again.
As I performed so many repetitions in the darkness.
[Ah-hae-ya.]
Yoo Cheon-gil called out to me.
Since there were people around, I didn’t respond aloud. I simply opened my eyes quietly and looked at Yoo Cheon-gil.
[Are you nervous?]
Yoo Cheon-gil asked with a smile.
I shook my head at his words.
Nervous? Not particularly.
I didn’t feel that way at all. Unnecessary tension was as unhelpful as anything could be.
What I was doing now was simply part of my preparation.
The duel with Seo-pyeong that lay ahead. I was preparing for that.
In my hand was a single letter.
It contained information about Seo-pyeong.
As I was examining it and trying to organize my thoughts once more.
“We will now begin the first main tournament match. Competitors, please prepare yourselves!”
Maeng-won appeared and made the announcement. At his voice, four people among those gathered rose to their feet.
The atmosphere grew even more tense. It meant the main tournament of the Yongbong Conference was truly beginning.
Several people followed behind those walking slowly. I was among them.
I could see Shin Chang had ascended the dueling arena and was speaking.
Moreover.
‘Wow… how many people are there?’
The spectator stands surrounding the dueling arena were packed full of people.
Unlike the preliminaries, the main tournament matches would have spectators, or so I’d heard.
‘But there are far more than I expected…’
The number was quite extraordinary.
I wondered how so many people had gathered.
Then.
와아아아아아아아아—!!
The crowd erupted in cheers, and Shin Chang, who had been standing above, descended. It seemed the League Leader’s speech had been hastily concluded.
Which meant.
‘It’s beginning.’
The Naelyong Geombong Association’s martial tournament was beginning, and as if to prove it.
“We shall now commence the main rounds of the Naelyong Geombong Association’s martial arts competition.”
A League official’s voice rang out from the dueling arena. Immediately, a tremendous roar erupted from the spectator stands.
우아아아아아아아아아—!!!!
The vibration was so intense the very ground seemed to tremble.
‘Ugh.’
I inwardly grimaced at that distant fervor. I truly despised occasions like this. My energy was being drained away, and.
‘Where there are many people, there are many ghosts.’
The spiritual energy I sensed scattered throughout the spectator stands made me shudder.
Did ghosts consider themselves mere spectacles to be observed?
Well, I suppose I could see them. I could see them, certainly.
‘But I have no desire to see them.’
How irritating.
I suppressed the sigh threatening to escape.
Instead, I fixed my gaze upon the dueling arena.
Those preparing to compete were already ascending one by one.
Once all had taken their places, there were four.
Too few to fill both of the spacious dueling arenas completely.
The empty space was particularly noticeable.
Though only on one arena.
The left dueling arena, occupied by two disciples whose names I could barely recall.
These tense-looking individuals faced one another.
Yet the spectators showed no interest in that side, their eyes fixed entirely upon the right arena.
It was inevitable.
The one who had ascended there was far too renowned a figure.
“Geombong.”
“…Ah, Geombong from the very start? An excellent beginning.”
“I heard she was young, and indeed she appears so.”
The two who had ascended the right dueling arena.
One was an extremely nervous disciple. His name was….
‘Someone from the Shaman sect…? Seo Jong perhaps?’
Not someone particularly memorable, but he seemed to be a disciple of the Shaman sect like Seo-pyeong.
And on the opposite side stood Geombong herself.
Maehua Geombong.
The First Disciple.
The woman known to be the strongest among all disciples.
From the moment she appeared, everyone’s eyes turned toward Yoo Yeon.
“She’s lovely indeed. I can scarcely imagine how beautiful she’ll become as time passes.”
“Is she merely beautiful? What of her skill? Geombong did not win the last Naelyong Geombong Association tournament, did she?”
“…I heard she was still young then, but wasn’t that several years ago?”
“Quite impressive. A great star has appeared in Hwasan, hasn’t it?”
“Indeed. Perhaps the next Heavenly Supreme will be that young lady.”
Heavenly Supreme. That lofty, distant title—the talent to even be mentioned in the same breath as it.
Among the current Seven Greats, there was no one to compare with her, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, she was expected to claim the pinnacle of the martial world.
‘Hmm.’
Heavenly Supreme?
Recalling that word, I gazed at Yoo Cheon-gil.
The Old Man’s eyes gleamed with interest as well, clearly drawn to Geombong.
His gaze burned brighter than ever before.
The anticipation in his eyes was unmistakable.
As everyone’s attention fixed upon the duel arena at that moment.
“We shall now commence the main tournament.”
The referee in the middle raised his hand slightly.
“Prepare yourselves.”
Shing—!
Shing.
At the referee’s words, both combatants drew their blades.
“Seo Jong of the Shaman Sect versus Yoo Yeon of Hwasan Sect.”
Amid the tense atmosphere.
“Begin the duel.”
Boom—!
At the referee’s signal, Seo Jong charged forward.
Swift.
‘…Ah.’
Indeed, having passed through the preliminary rounds, the disciples’ movements were fast and precise—a sight to behold.
Whoosh.
The Shaman Sect’s sword technique flowed from Seo Jong’s hands.
Heavy yet fluid swordplay.
They say it embodies the principles of the Tai Chi.
The Shaman Sect was renowned for their particularly soft and refined blade work.
“Hah!”
Yet the attacks were far from lacking in power.
The fact that the Shaman Sect was one of the Gupaibang proved this.
As Seo Jong’s blade added force to the flowing river.
A sharp momentum was infused within it.
Cloud Amusement Yang Sword.
The signature technique of the Shaman Sect poured down upon Geombong.
An unwavering, steadfast sword energy.
A clear, solid blade technique descended with weight.
Thud.
Crash—!!
Seo Jong’s blade swept across the floor without touching Geombong.
She evaded his strike with merely a single step.
“Tch!”
Seo Jong, having cut through empty air, immediately pursued Yoo Yeon.
I watched it unfold silently.
[He’s impatient.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke, and I found myself in agreement.
Impatient. That’s what Seo Jong’s blade was.
But the greater problem here was.
‘It shows.’
The desperation in his swordwork was far too apparent.
Even if he were genuinely desperate, it’s another matter entirely for his opponent to perceive it.
“Hah! Hup!”
He continued his blade dance with force infused into each movement.
Still, as a disciple of a prestigious sect, despite his impatience, his swordwork held no wasted motion.
Well-trained footwork and a disciplined blade.
On the surface, there was nothing amiss.
Whoosh, whoosh whoosh—!!!
Yet ultimately, a blade that doesn’t connect is meaningless.
Seo Jong’s technique never touched Geombong.
She evaded every single one of his strikes with fluid, graceful footwork.
‘…Good heavens.’
I found myself exhaling sharply as I watched her.
She was clearly moving.
‘Yet she hasn’t left her spot?’
Circling and circling, she never departed from her original position.
That was Geombong’s positioning.
Was this intentional? Even unintentional, it would be absurd, but if deliberate, it’s nothing short of remarkable.
Worthy of being called the finest of disciples.
As I entertained such thoughts.
[Look at the young girl’s expression, boy.]
At Yoo Cheon-gil’s words, I turned my gaze to Yoo Yeon’s face.
[Doesn’t she look bored?]
“….”
Yoo Yeon’s face was filled with boredom.
More than that.
‘She’s taking it all in.’
Her eyes tracked Seo Jong’s blade.
No, she wasn’t even following it.
‘Where is he going first?’
My eyes were already tracking the path Seo Jong’s blade would take.
It meant every trajectory was being read.
“Ugh!”
Seo Jong, aware of this, desperately moved his sword.
One.
[Your refusal to yield is commendable, yet regrettably, our levels differ.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke while yawning.
Our levels differed.
It was the first praise I’d ever heard from Yoo Cheon-gil.
‘Is that all?’
Was Geombong’s worth merely that much?
The moment I widened my eyes in slight surprise.
Clang—!!
With a sharp sound, the blade flew skyward.
Clatter.
The sword that had been spinning through the air fell to the ground.
Thud.
Seo Jong’s knees buckled as well.
He collapsed to the floor as if losing consciousness.
‘What?’
What happened? I didn’t see it.
Squinting my eyes in frustration at missing it.
[The young girl flicked away his blade and struck his jaw. He couldn’t even react.]
“….”
The duel ended while I was lost in thought.
The referee looked at Seo Jong and nodded, then shouted.
“Yoo Yeon of the Hwasan Sect. Victory.”
Cheers erupted immediately after.
An overwhelming victory.
It was one of the things the spectators loved most.
Leaving the enthusiastic crowd behind, Yoo Yeon moved to descend from the dueling arena.
Yoo Yeon only bowed her head without saying anything else.
Of course. She couldn’t speak in the first place, after all.
I stared intently at that woman.
[What is it? Are you interested?]
How could I be?
I ignored Yoo Cheon-gil’s words.
The reason I was watching Yoo Yeon was something else entirely.
‘This is strange.’
It was truly a peculiar matter. From the moment I caught a fleeting thought of Yoo Yeon, something had been nagging at me.
Yoo Yeon being so formidable? That was certainly remarkable, but that was beside the point.
She knows me.
If she is someone I know.
‘…Why can’t she speak?’
Yoo Yeon knows how to speak.
At least, she did when I knew her.
She spoke well.
And she enjoyed it.

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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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