The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 226

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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 226
“What do you mean by that?”
Cheon Rijin-an spoke with a hardened expression. He clearly did not comprehend the meaning of my words.
“The Sword Saint’s will? Are you suggesting he still lives?”
“No, sir. My mentor departed this world long ago.”
By now, he should have long since turned to dust and vanished from this earth.
Over a decade had passed since Yoo Cheon-gil’s death.
It was only natural that Cheon Rijin-an could not comprehend why I would suddenly invoke Yoo Cheon-gil’s will.
However.
“Nevertheless, this is indeed the Sword Saint’s will.”
“Explain yourself. What do you mean?”
“The meaning is simple.”
I took a sip of the tea placed before me, as though my throat burned with thirst.
“My mentor’s death is connected to the Demonic Cult.”
“…!”
At my words, Cheon Rijin-an’s eyes widened.
“…That is….”
I observed his reaction carefully, turning thoughts over in my mind.
‘Indeed.’
What lay beneath that reaction? Was it merely shock and distrust?
I had to examine his response with utmost precision.
Because.
‘One can never be certain.’
Who could say whether Cheon Rijin-an was involved in Yoo Cheon-gil’s death?
Facing various circumstances, I had repeatedly returned to this very question.
‘What I am certain of.’
Regardless of anything else.
‘Patcheon Gung is involved.’
That man I met in Sichuan—he had said there was a connection between the master of Patcheon Gung and the Sword Saint’s death.
‘Now that the Demonic Cult has appeared in this situation.’
Could there not be some thread binding these elements together? With such thoughts, I spoke to Cheon Rijin-an.
‘He may have known.’
The possibility that Cheon Rijin-an possessed knowledge of the situation.
Or.
‘The possibility that he is connected to that death itself.’
Cheon Rijin-an had been closest to the Sword Saint. It would not be strange if he were involved in Yoo Cheon-gil’s death.
‘A bond of friendship? That provides no reason to dismiss suspicion.’
Nothing makes suspicion easier to evade than personal affection.
Yet from bitter experience, I knew all too well how meaningless such bonds could be.
[Sigh.]
Yoo Cheon-gil let out an exasperated sigh.
[Now he’s using it shamelessly. Desecrating the dead has limits, you bastard.]
Of course, I didn’t even listen with half an ear. Who was the one who told me to use it?
‘What else am I supposed to do?’
I was hardly an ordinary man—I was once called the greatest under heaven.
To uncover the truth behind such a man’s death, I had to employ every trick in my arsenal.
As I was using Yoo Cheon-gil to gauge Cheon Rijin-an’s reaction.
“…What are you saying now? That the Demonic Cult is connected to the Sword Saint’s death?”
Bang.
Cheon Rijin-an struck the table forcefully and drew closer to me.
“Yes, sir.”
I nodded without hesitation.
“In the words my mentor left behind, there were mentions of the Demonic Cult and anxieties about resurrection.”
Of course, no such thing existed.
[Madman.]
I could hear Yoo Cheon-gil’s praise as I lied so naturally.
“The Demonic Cult will resurrect someday. It is because he could not end it himself. Hani, in place of one already approaching death, you must stop the Demonic Cult. That is what my mentor entrusted to me.”
“…This is absurd. That he would leave such a thing in Yeolyeong. It makes no sense. That madman would never do such a thing.”
[Madman? This twig of a man speaks harshly. What are you doing? Speak quickly.]
“I also think so, but.”
[Rotten bastard?]
“What can I do when that is the truth?”
“There is no evidence.”
“Yes. There is no evidence. He ordered me to burn all letters, so I burned every last one without exception.”
I adapted what I had said to Wol Seon-geom.
“Therefore, I have been conducting my own investigation these past days. From the moment I left Yeolyeong for Anhui.”
“There was a report that you showed no particular activity during that period.”
As expected. Cheon Rijin-an had been investigating me as well.
Well, I would have done the same, so I didn’t bother pointing it out.
“If it appeared that way, then I did well. How fortunate.”
I rephrased it as an intentional act.
“…Even so….”
Cheon Rijin-an continued to probe the strange parts of my story endlessly, attempting to continue.
“Strategist. That’s not what matters, is it?”
I cut off his words. Prolonging this conversation would only disadvantage me.
Now I had to use what I possessed to steer things in a favorable direction.
“What matters is that you yourself already harbor doubts, don’t you?”
“….”
Cheon Rijin-an fell silent.
Right. He too must be sensing something strange about Yoo Cheon-gil’s death.
‘If he weren’t connected to this incident, that would be one thing.’
I was certain of this. The reason was simple.
“Why don’t you say it plainly instead of denying it? It must have been the Strategist who watched over my mentor’s final moments.”
“…!”
When Yoo Cheon-gil died, it was the Strategist Cheon Rijin-an who handled and processed the matter.
The one who witnessed the Sword Saint’s final moments more closely than anyone else.
What he had revealed regarding the Sword Saint’s death was nothing other than death from chronic illness.
Yet such a person, instead of flatly denying what I was saying.
‘Why would he ask how I came to think that?’
The reason for such words was obvious.
“The Strategist also knows something, don’t you.”
“….”
Cheon Rijin-an also knew that Yoo Cheon-gil’s death was not merely from chronic illness.
‘Only, whether it was caused by the Demonic Cult or Patcheon Gung, or something else entirely—that much remains unclear.’
Regardless, I could tell that Cheon Rijin-an himself harbored doubts about this matter.
‘Then I should shake this loose.’
I would mix falsehood with fact to destabilize the situation.
It had always been the most crucial principle when handling such matters.
Now was the time to observe Cheon Rijin-an’s reaction.
‘Will it work.’
Indeed, what would his reaction be. In my assessment.
‘It will work.’
Just as I was growing confident.
“…So then, what do you mean the Baek family is in danger?”
‘Perfect.’
Cheon Rijin-an gave me the reaction I desired.
‘He didn’t deny it.’
He failed to deny the situation.
That was exactly what I wanted.
“According to my investigation, that appears to be the case.”
“Investigation? You’re saying you yourself investigated that the Baek family is in danger?”
“No, not by myself. The scope was rather extensive, so I couldn’t manage it alone.”
“Then. Someone else is involved?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Aha ha….”
I laughed upon hearing that question.
I laughed briefly, then composed myself and gazed at Cheon Rijin-an.
“How could I possibly reveal that to you.”
“….”
“Among my suspicions is you as well, Strategist.”
“Ha.”
Upon hearing this, Cheon Rijin-an exhaled sharply.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
I could sense his indignation at being placed under suspicion.
“Come now. You’re no different, Strategist.”
“….”
He stood in the same position as I did.
I already knew this.
“….”
“….”
Silence settled between us.
It was Cheon Rijin-an who finally spoke.
“I cannot easily believe your words.”
This was an answer I had anticipated.
“Moreover, I cannot fathom your intention in mentioning the Demonic Sect and deliberately sending a letter to the Alliance without revealing your identity.”
“….”
The intention behind sending that letter to the Alliance without identifying myself.
It seemed Cheon Rijin-an had already grasped that this was something I had orchestrated.
“Ordinarily, I would have you imprisoned and interrogated, but I shall ask first. What is it you wish to accomplish?”
It was a reasonably fair approach. As always.
‘There’s nothing more exhausting than a battle of wits with clever people.’
Physical combat only demands bodily endurance, but this sort of thing requires so much mental exertion that I feel drained by day’s end.
“There is one thing I wish to convey.”
The teacup was already empty. I wanted to show that my throat was parched, but truthfully, it was burning.
“Imprisonment and interrogation are both acceptable, but shall we discuss this again after your current investigation concludes?”
“….”
“The investigation into the Baekcheon clan—you’ve already dispatched people, haven’t you?”
After I warned that the Baekcheon clan would be in danger, Cheon Rijin-an would have already moved.
He would have sent people to the clan, and confirming this should be the priority.
“Just grant me that much time. I still have a martial competition remaining.”
Being locked away in prison until the investigation concluded would be proper.
But on this point alone, I had to push back somehow.
“Still, I am your grandson, am I not? Please, just this once.”
I spoke with what warmth I could muster. Yoo Cheon-gil’s face immediately contorted upon hearing it.
[Good heavens. Surely you didn’t just try to be cute?]
‘….’
But I couldn’t exactly coo or whimper. This was my best effort.
“…Sigh….”
Upon hearing this, Cheon Rijin-an’s face crumpled. Ah, this wasn’t quite right?
It was somewhat of a gamble. I tried it just in case.
‘…Then the next one….’
Just as I was about to execute the pre-arranged plan.
“…As I said before.”
Cheon Rijin-an spoke.
“You’re a man of wasted talent.”
It seemed like success after all.

* * *
“Phew.”
I slipped out of the residence and moved my feet forward.
My legs were trembling completely.
‘I was really scared.’
My heart still felt like it was pounding. That’s what facing Cheon Rijin-an was like for me.
‘Thank goodness it worked out.’
Things went smoothly.
Cheon Rijin-an agreed not to take any special action until the investigation regarding the Baekcheon clan was complete, just as I had said.
However.
‘He’s keeping an eye on me.’
Someone was assigned to watch me in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
“What of your schedule hereafter?”
The man asked. The figure was still the Daeju who had been coming to relay Cheon Rijin-an’s words to me.
“There’s no particular schedule. Perhaps I’ll rest until the next day.”
“Understood.”
“…First, I must ask. You’ll be following me to the inn, won’t you?”
“….”
“Ah, I asked something obvious. My apologies.”
A difficult person to deal with. The kind who answers with their eyes instead of words.
Like Do-hyeong, quiet and emotionless in temperament, but with a heavier atmosphere.
And.
‘He must be strong.’
He’s none other than one called a Daeju of the Martial Arts Alliance.
‘From what I know, the Daeju are….’
Four in total.
Though each holds different responsibilities, they are beings of tremendous martial prowess and renown within the Martial Arts Alliance.
‘So this man is one of them?’
Such a formidable being has been assigned to watch me.
‘I won’t be able to do anything easily.’
A Daeju attached as a watchdog, no less.
‘Tsk.’
When I felt troubled.
[No matter how I look at it, calling it surveillance rather than protection would be more accurate, wouldn’t it?]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke with a peculiar expression.
When I wondered what he meant.
[No matter what, assigning someone of such caliber as a surveillance officer would be a waste of manpower. Protection isn’t much different, though. If I had to choose, that would be better. Tsk tsk. That old man must be getting senile to pull off something so strange.]
‘Protection?’
I shook my head at Yoo Cheon-gil’s words.
Why would Cheon Rijin-an assign protection to me? He wouldn’t even regard me as a true grandson.
‘It’s surveillance.’
Given the circumstances, he simply assigned a formidable person as my surveillance officer.
Walking with that thought.
“Hey! Who’s this!”
Someone called out to me with a bright, cheerful voice.
My body came to an abrupt halt at that voice.
“Seong-yeon! Aha. We keep running into each other here?”
“….”
I turned my head to see Baekcheon-in waving at me.
“….”
I stared at him without a word. Then.
“I watched your match well. It was really incredible, wasn’t it? You truly deserve to be called the Sword Saint.”
Baekcheon-in spoke with a continuous smile.
“Oh, have you eaten? If not, how about we eat together.”
His offer to share a meal.
Hearing that, I relaxed my expression slightly.
“Sounds good. What should we eat.”
I happened to have business with him as well.

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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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