The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 196

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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 196
Bang Cheon-ho, the Lustful Swordsman.
A man well past the age of forty, and the Lord of the Clan of Yoryeongbangga.
Though his epithet is rather unsavory, he is nonetheless a martial artist befitting a clan lord.
Yet his realm is not particularly high. At best, perhaps second-rate? I suspect that’s about right.
Despite having lived his entire life as a martial artist, it’s a remarkably low standard.
It wasn’t a matter of talent either. He simply picked up a sword and nothing more. It meant he lived without making any real effort.
A life far removed from cultivation. And yet, a man who made no effort as a clan lord either.
Neither a good father nor a good husband.
If one were to evaluate Bang Cheon-ho as a person, all hundred out of a hundred would say the same thing when they saw him.
-The dregs of humanity.
That’s what they’d say.
There’s no better way to describe him. In fact, among the members of Yoryeongbangga, whose past lords had such harsh evaluations.
Bang Cheon-ho was regarded as nearly the greatest scoundrel.
Even the reason why the Younger Master, his eldest son, fails to garner attention despite causing trouble is rooted in Bang Cheon-ho.
Because the incidents he caused pale in comparison to those the Younger Master caused in his youth.
That such a man became the clan lord meant the family’s ruin was an inevitable consequence.
Yet heaven possessed such deep consideration that it granted even this man one insanely outstanding talent.
Not merely given, but a talent that nearly reached the pinnacle.
And that was.
‘His face.’
Bang Cheon-ho’s face.
Regrettably, the reason the ruined clan even maintains its facade.
Is also why he survives despite his contemptible nature and conduct.
Overwhelmingly.
And dominatingly handsome features.
As if to prove that a fine face alone allows one to live comfortably for a lifetime.
Bang Cheon-ho had lived thus far on nothing but an absurdly handsome face.
Someone once said.
That light radiates from Bang Cheon-ho’s face.
When he smiles, the heavens split apart.
When he speaks a single word, all the women in the world draw near.
If there existed something called the Heavenly Supreme of Beauty rather than the Heavenly Supreme itself.
It would not be some other woman, but Bang Cheon-ho who would claim that epithet.
Such absurd flattery, there’s none more insane than this.
‘…It’s not entirely wrong.’
Even when I, his son, evaluate him objectively, it’s not entirely wrong.
Bang Cheon-ho truly was that handsome.
The fact that his face remains unblemished despite causing so much trouble with women was proof of that.
There was a time in the past when a problem erupted properly and he received a beating.
Even in such circumstances, he wouldn’t waste that handsome face—he’d only beat the body, so there were times he’d been struck until bruises covered everywhere except his face.
That was the kind of man he was.
A man who had lived his entire life relying on that single face, and would continue to do so.
Bang Cheon-ho was indeed such a man.
But the problem was.
‘…Why is this man here?’
Why was Bang Cheon-ho standing before me?
He was supposed to remain within Yoryeongbangga, wasting away inside those walls.
“…What on earth are you doing here?”
Why in Hannam.
And at Jegal Jin’s residence, no less.
As I contorted my face while staring at that insufferably handsome visage.
[…Hah.]
Yoo Cheon-gil let out an exclamation upon seeing Bang Cheon-ho.
[Certainly… you really are strikingly handsome.]
His reaction was on an entirely different level from the occasional comments about me being a handsome fellow.
Admiration.
The kind of admiration that flows out when witnessing something overwhelmingly superior.
Everyone who saw Bang Cheon-ho—my father—for the first time reacted that way.
Humans naturally don’t even feel jealousy when confronted with an overwhelming disparity.
Bang Cheon-ho possessed such a face.
“Oh, my son.”
He smiled upon seeing me.
That bright, radiant smile made him look barely past twenty, age notwithstanding.
Considering that man’s level, it was only right to call it an absurdly youthful appearance.
“…What is this. What exactly is happening?”
Was this a dream? I wished it were a dream.
…My father is here?
I couldn’t imagine a worse nightmare than this.
“Come in and sit.”
Jegal Jin spoke to me. I had to glance at him in shock.
‘His expression is…’
The look of someone ready to kill on the spot.
It was on an entirely different level from the malice I’d felt when he looked at me.
Genuine resentment dwelled there.
“…Yes.”
“I said sit.”
“Yes. Forgive my intrusion.”
The atmosphere didn’t permit refusal, so I carefully entered and took my seat.
The moment I sat down, my father placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Ahahaha. Well, well. It’s been quite a while, hasn’t it? Has it been a year and a half since we last met? You’ve grown so much in that time, haven’t you? You’ve gotten quite tall.”
“…I haven’t grown at all, actually.”
“…Oh, is that so?”
My father laughs awkwardly.
In truth, I hadn’t grown even slightly since leaving Yoryeongbangga.
This part was genuinely frustrating. If I was going to resemble my father anyway, I should have inherited his height as well.
‘This man is even tall.’
It was truly infuriating.
“…What are you really doing here?”
“What do you mean, what am I doing here? I came to see my son. What else would it be?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Nonsense. I’d never heard such utter drivel.
“If you were coming to see me, you should have gone somewhere else. Why did you come all the way to Hannam?”
There’s clearly distance between Yeolyeong and here. He came all the way to Hannam to see me? The timing doesn’t add up.
Especially.
‘If he came after hearing that I was participating in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, it makes even less sense.’
If that were the case, the timing would be even worse, which meant his claim about coming to see me was a blatant lie.
I brought this up.
“Well, well….”
My father smacked his lips slightly before speaking.
“You’re still sharp as ever. That’s right, they say you’re the future of Yoryeongbangga? Hahahaha.”
“Please stop saying such strange things….”
As I spoke while suppressing my irritation, my father patted my back repeatedly.
“I happened to have business in Hannam, so I was on my way here. Then I heard some rumors, you see.”
“Rumors?”
“That you’re participating in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. Ah, how could a father possibly endure this?”
“….”
“My son participating in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering! The Dragon Phoenix Gathering! How could I not come? I searched hard to get here. How is it? Doesn’t it feel good?”
Good, my foot.
‘Ah… this is infuriating.’
Did he have to hear the rumors on the way here of all times?
“Father-in-law, look at this. Our son is this intelligent. I’ve raised your grandson splendidly, haven’t I?”
Oh, my goodness.
Before I could even gather my thoughts, my father’s nonsense made my head spin.
From the way he addressed Jegal Jin to everything that followed, it was all ridiculous.
“…Father-in-law?”
As expected, Jegal Jin’s eyebrows shot up sharply.
“When did I ever permit such a disgusting form of address?”
“Ah, no, of course. I understand… Then… would it be… Father?”
“You damned fool….”
“Please calm yourself, Elder…!”
I hastily interject before any more nonsense can spill forth.
Yet Father’s words do not cease.
“Child, why do you speak so? If our son were to gain your favor, he would be no different from family. There is truly nothing wrong with this….”
“Ha!!”
Crash—!!
At Father’s words, Jegal Jin brings his thin, small fist down upon the table with a bang.
“I wanted to see what kind of drivel would spill from that wretched mouth, but to hear such utter nonsense…?”
“Nonsense? My father also believes this to be a good thing. Our second son is truly a genius. Even in the Jegal Clan, he will surely accomplish….”
“Get out.”
Jegal Jin’s voice cuts through with intensity.
“So you can spout nonsense even before your own son. You haven’t changed at all.”
“My goodness.”
“…You should be grateful I haven’t severed your neck. What?”
‘This is…’
We’re done for.
“There’s no need to hear more. Leave.”
“…Oh dear….”
Father smacks his lips at Jegal Jin’s outburst and rises to his feet.
“Perhaps it’s your age. You’ve grown quite hot-tempered in the time we haven’t seen each other. Shall I bring some herbal medicine tomorrow…?”
“Should I kill you to finally silence that useless tongue?”
“We shall take our leave. Come, son.”
“….”
Why does he never die?
That is the only thought that crosses my mind as I watch Father.
While marveling at Jegal Jin’s patience, I carefully rise to my feet and follow him.
“Ah, but still.”
Bang Cheon-ho speaks to Jegal Jin with a smile.
“I trust you will not forget what I have said.”
“….”
“I shall depart now. I will return later to pay my respects again.”
“…If you return, I will truly kill you then.”
At Jegal Jin’s barbed words, Father flinches and exits the room.
“…I shall take my leave as well.”
I bow my head as soon as I arrive and must leave once more.

* * *
I left Jegal Jin’s residence immediately upon arriving.
In terms of time, it seemed I hadn’t even had a chance to take a sip of tea.
Moreover, my mind was completely scattered.
It was strange to suddenly see my father at this hour.
The current situation was no different.
“…What on earth is going on?”
I asked, pouring my confusion into the question.
Bang Cheon-ho, who had been walking ahead, turned to look at me.
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“What were you just doing in there?”
“What do you mean? I was just having a pleasant conversation with your grandfather.”
….
Pleasant? Where?
As I opened my mouth in disbelief, Bang Cheon-ho laughed.
“Well, your grandfather is quite healthy for his age, isn’t he?”
I frowned at those words. Right, I should have asked about that too.
“…Why didn’t you tell me that my grandfather is Jegal Jin?”
I had been so shocked to learn that my maternal grandfather was the Lord of the Jegal Clan.
When I pressed him about finding this out so late, my father nodded and replied.
“You never asked. If you were curious, you should have asked.”
“What am I supposed to do with this madman?”
It was an infuriating response.
“…No, well… ah, sigh.”
I stopped mid-sentence and let out a sigh. It had been so long since I’d seen him that I’d forgotten a crucial fact.
I shouldn’t have long conversations with my father.
My patience wears thin.
“…Why did you really come to Hannam?”
“I told you already. I have some business to attend to.”
“That’s what I’m asking. What business could you possibly have in Hannam?”
When I pressed further, my father’s face twisted.
“Look, I have business, so I came. Why are you prying so much? If you’re curious, just ask the Younger Master-”
“I won’t ask.”
“…Quick on the uptake.”
He clicked his tongue as if disappointed, then my father walked away.
“I really did come for business. I’m the Lord of the Clan too, you know. I can have matters to attend to.”
“You, who thinks about women’s names all day long, having business? It’s another woman problem, isn’t it?”
“…Ahem.”
Exactly. This man came here because of another woman.
‘Good grief.’
Perhaps because I hadn’t held any expectations, I found myself thinking it was fortunate instead.
If it had been something else, I would have been worried instead.
‘…No, surely not.’
As I recalled this, the letter I had received from my brother just before came to mind.
His final words to be careful.
Could he have been referring to this?
‘Be careful because you’ll be able to meet Father?’
Thinking it that way provided sufficient justification.
Though it was already too late to be careful.
“…Anyway, that’s how it turned out.”
“Anyway? What do you mean anyway….”
“I’ve seen your face, so that’s enough. The important thing is we’ll talk again tomorrow. Your father is quite busy at night, you see. Shall I go?”
“Huh? No.”
Perhaps unwilling to hear nagging, Father suddenly left a few words and dashed away.
He’s just leaving like that?
“Wait…!”
Before I could even grab him, he vanished into the distance.
“I’m going to lose my mind. Sigh.”
My insides churned just as much as when facing that infuriating man.
Since arriving in Hannam, it felt like only cursed things kept happening.

* * *
At the moment the moon was gradually moving toward the center of the sky.
On a night that seemed unusually clear, an old man sat leaning against a tree beneath the forest.
The thin, small old man was missing one arm.
Breathing so quietly that one might mistake him for dead if not careful.
No one would ever expect such a frail old man to be strong.
Whoosh.
The moment the old man opened his eyes, his presence transformed entirely.
The old man was a figure who had reached the pinnacle of the sword.
Eui Yang-yeon, the Sword Emperor.
That was the old man’s true identity.
A murderous aura coiled around his entire body.
The Sword Emperor exhaled a cold breath and sat quietly, gazing toward something.
From that direction, someone was slowly approaching.
“Ah, my apologies. I’m not late, am I?”
A handsome man whose bright smile was particularly striking.
The Sword Emperor said nothing upon seeing him.
He simply stared at the man’s face with sharp, piercing eyes.
As if the Sword Emperor’s gaze held no fear, the man drew closer and gazed down at the Sword Emperor.
Our gazes met.
As the moonlight shifted, the man’s handsome face came into view.
“It has been a long time, Sword Emperor.”
The man’s identity was none other than Bang Cheon-ho.

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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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