The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 232

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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 232
“I concede.”
“….”
Baekcheon-in raised both hands and spoke the words. Uttered quietly yet distinctly, they pierced through the air and spread outward.
-….
Silence swept across the arena. Only seconds passed—surely no more than that—yet it felt far heavier and longer. As no response came and only the wind whispered through, the moment stretched.
-What?
-He conceded? He forfeited?
-Suddenly? What does this sudden declaration even mean?
-Don’t lie to us!
The audience erupted in delayed reaction. Baekcheon-in, who had been fighting well, suddenly declared defeat. The crowd’s response grew heated and intense.
The match hadn’t even been properly decided yet, and they were in the thick of fierce combat.
Moreover, his opponent was Geombong.
Baekcheon-in, who had not been losing ground against Geombong—called the First Disciple—was now surrendering.
Just as his hidden strength had been revealed and everyone’s attention was fixed upon him.
He suddenly declared defeat.
-Pick up your sword again!
-Don’t give up!
The audience members, expressing their disappointment as anger, grew endlessly.
One might even hear jeers mixed among their cries.
‘What?’
Watching this, I too could not comprehend it.
‘Why would he suddenly forfeit?’
Had his strength been exhausted? No, that didn’t seem to be the case. Baekcheon-in’s breathing remained steady.
He showed no signs of weakness or fatigue.
Yet despite declaring a forfeit, neither the others nor I could properly understand his reasoning.
‘What’s happening?’
He had been fighting well. In fact, the intensity was only increasing.
How fierce could this battle have become?
And was Baekcheon-in truly such a genius that he wouldn’t lose even against Yoo Yeon?
As such thoughts crossed my mind.
‘Why?’
Why had he forfeited?
No matter how much I pondered it, understanding eluded me.
“You said you forfeit?”
“That’s correct.”
At the Referee’s question as he approached, Baekcheon-in sheathed his sword and raised both hands into the air.
“I forfeit.”
“Your reason?”
“I’m exhausted. I have no strength left to continue fighting. I heard she’s called the First Disciple… and I’ve come to realize I simply cannot defeat her.”
“….”
The Referee didn’t seem particularly convinced either. And Yoo Yeon’s reaction to hearing this was equally troubling.
“….”
‘She’s angry.’
Her furrowed brow and slightly creased forehead spoke volumes.
I could read her emotions clearly from her expression. This was the first time I’d seen Yoo Yeon react so openly.
It was startling to see someone who always maintained such composure display such raw emotion.
‘She knows it too.’
That her opponent could have done more, could have continued but simply conceded.
Everyone watching understood this, and there was no way Yoo Yeon didn’t.
However.
‘What?’
I noticed Baekcheon-in’s expression shift the moment he saw Yoo Yeon’s reaction.
Just for an instant, irritation flickered across his face. As if.
‘He wanted to continue.’
It seemed he had no intention of ending the match either.
Baekcheon-in turned away in that fleeting moment, but the expression he’d worn was unmistakably that of someone with unfinished business.
‘What is this.’
What was it? What could possibly be the reason?
Why had Baekcheon-in conceded?
Unable to comprehend it, I simply stared at the arena.
“I have confirmed it.”
Once I had spoken the words myself, the outcome was sealed.
“Baekcheon-in of the Seo’an Baek Clan. Defeated. Yoo Yeon of the Hwasan Sect. Victorious.”
Baekcheon-in had conceded.
And with that, Geombong had claimed victory.
It was undoubtedly the most unsatisfying victory since this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering had begun.
Yet the match had ended.

* * *
After the martial competition ended, dissatisfaction still echoed from the audience.
This spoke volumes about how much they regretted Baekcheon-in’s surrender.
The emergence of a new prodigy.
The Disciples, who had been hiding their strength while enduring mockery as the “Miracle Sword.”
There were many questions about why they had concealed their power, but ultimately, people didn’t care.
Nothing could generate excitement quite like the emergence of a hidden prodigy.
So the regret was only amplified.
It was fine that a prodigy had appeared, but they had completely dampened the fervor that had been built up.
‘But.’
Even with things as they were, the crux of the situation remained unchanged.
-So the Miracle Sword is.
-In reality….
The entire world was talking about the Miracle Sword.
All eyes and conversations were now focused on Baekcheon-in.
A being who had newly appeared and could stand against the one called a monster—Geombong.
The events that had unfolded intertwined and gathered, drawing attention.
Such was Baekcheon-in’s current state.
“That was one strange fellow.”
Heuk Taedo, who had been watching with me, spoke.
“More interesting than he looked.”
His words, spoken while constantly scratching his ear, were oddly filled with interest, yet there was also a peculiar feeling to them.
“But it’s unpleasant, you see.”
That was probably the reason.
“I clearly want to fight him… but I don’t want to fight. Is it not fun? Well, it’s not that either. Don’t you think?”
He spoke as if he himself didn’t understand. Even as I listened to his words, I was looking elsewhere.
“I’m not sure myself.”
I gave a vague response to Heuk Taedo’s words when someone approached.
It was Yoo Yeon.
“Oh! Geombong. You’re back.”
Heuk Taedo also noticed Geombong and waved his hand.
Yoo Yeon glanced at Heuk Taedo, then turned her gaze back to me.
Yoo Yeon drew closer. When the distance between us became about three steps, I spoke.
“Are you alright?”
“….”
Yoo Yeon nodded her head. She said she was fine, but her expression was still not particularly good.
“Yes. You did well.”
That was all I could say seeing her like that. There wasn’t really an opportunity to comfort her, and besides, she had won in the end.
“….”
Yoo Yeon seemed satisfied with this much, simply continuing to nod her head.
“Fine? There’s nothing fine about it. It ended so boringly—how could anything be fine about that?”
It was Heuk Taedo who showed the stronger reaction.
“He could have shown so much more, yet he dares to disrespect a person like this.”
His furrowed brow revealed his own discomfort.
Disrespect—it seemed Heuk Taedo perceived Baekcheon-in as having dismissed Geombong.
Regardless of the reason, those watching may have felt the same way.
Choosing to give up when a martial artist could continue is a personal decision, but.
‘They felt it was disrespect toward their opponent.’
I couldn’t understand it, but that’s how it appeared to them.
That must be why Yoo Yeon didn’t look pleased either.
‘And.’
Perhaps that’s why.
‘That old man doesn’t look happy either.’
The figure now suspended in mid-air, his face hardened.
Yoo Cheon-gil’s condition didn’t look good either.
“….”
What was he thinking? Yoo Cheon-gil stared at Baekcheon-in with dimmed blue eyes.
The light that normally shone so brilliantly had faded, darkened somewhat.
Within a sensation like a night sky meeting a deep sea, Yoo Cheon-gil was lost in thought.
‘Did he see something?’
Yoo Cheon-gil had seen something I missed in that moment.
That’s why the old man’s reaction was so unusual.
Watching him, anxiety welled up inside me.
Usually when that man made such a face,
‘Something was about to explode.’
Without fail, something always went wrong.
‘What nonsense is about to happen now.’
As I swallowed dryly amid this helpless anxiety,
“Next match participants, prepare yourselves.”
The referee spoke.
“Mm.”
Heuk Taedo responded. The man grinned wickedly as he looked at me.
“Tomorrow it is. I’ll be waiting with anticipation.”
“….”
Before I could even answer, he uttered those words with gleaming eyes and led his massive frame up onto the arena.
This match was Heuk Taedo’s turn.
Whether fortunately or not, his opponent wasn’t me.
The problem was.
‘…Of all people, my senior.’
Heuk Taedo’s opponent was none other than Do-hyeong.
Do-hyeong stood on the opposite side of Heuk Taedo, ascending the martial arena as well.
With the blue eyes characteristic of Wol-an, Do-hyeong climbed onto the stage.
Our eyes met from a distance. Do-hyeong nodded at me in greeting.
Seeing that, I waved my hand slightly and pondered.
‘How will this turn out.’
Do-hyeong was formidable. At least from what I knew, he was stronger than Dang Cheon-il, which meant Do-hyeong possessed strength at the Seven Heavens level.
It was strange that his name hadn’t become known until now, given his caliber.
‘But can he actually face Heuk Taedo.’
The opponent was none other than Heuk Taedo.
No matter how much of a prodigy Do-hyeong was, could he truly stand against Heuk Taedo.
I was curious about it, and also worried.
‘Tsk.’
I confirmed no one was nearby. Then I lifted my gaze toward Yoo Cheon-gil and asked.
“Old Man.”
[….]
There was no response. I called again.
“Old Man. Old Man.”
[…Mm.]
After calling a few more times, Yoo Cheon-gil finally responded.
“About this match. Do you think the senior can win….”
[Listen here.]
“Yes?”
Just as I was about to press for clarification, Yoo Cheon-gil cut me off.
[Go back to the inn immediately.]
“…Yes?”
He brought up something out of nowhere. Go back to the inn? What kind of nonsense was this?
“What the hell is that supposed to….”
[Go back and retrieve the Divine Sword. I have a feeling we might need it.]
“…Yes?”
Retrieve the Divine Sword I had tucked away in the drawer.
Setting that aside.
‘We might need it, he says?’
My brow furrowed deeply at those words.

* * *
While the martial tournament was in full swing.
Splash.
Someone descended into the cold, damp basement. An old man with a massive frame.
It was Shin Chang, the League Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance.
With an expressionless face, he descended the stairs and passed through a corridor.
A long stretch of dark space.
He walked through a space filled with iron bars until he reached a particular location.
A secluded corner. A small space.
Inside, a young man sat huddled on the ground.
“Namgung Seong of the Namgung Clan.”
Shin Chang spoke, looking at the young man.
At the call, Namgung Seong slowly lifted his head.
“….”
Shin Chang’s eyes narrowed slightly as their gazes met.
The young man’s appearance was utterly devastated.
His complexion had lost all color, and his eyes held no light whatsoever.
It was as though a corpse had been animated and forced to move.
Witnessing this, Shin Chang clenched his open hand into a tight fist.
It was a familiar sight.
One he had seen countless times during the Great Martial Tournament.
Tragic and revolting forms.
A state he had hoped never to witness again stood before his eyes.
“I will ask you.”
“….”
Shin Chang questioned Namgung Seong.
“Who reduced you to this state?”
“….”
His voice carried conviction.
A certainty that the young man had not done this to himself.
A resolute belief that he had been reduced to this condition by another’s hand.
Yet.
“…The Heavenly… Supreme… is being… resurrected….”
Since his imprisonment, Namgung Seong had repeated only the same words.
“….”
Just as Shin Chang’s eyes were about to dim.
“League Leader.”
A man appeared from across the passage, rushing forward.
It was Maeng-won, who had been interrogating Namgung Seong.
“…I have sent word to the Namgung Clan. The Strategist is currently meeting with Naelyong. If contact is established, we anticipate the Sword King will arrive in person.”
“….”
Lord of the Namgung Clan. The Sword King.
If his own child had come to this state, he would surely arrive in Hannam himself.
Since this matter was entangled with the Demonic Cult, the Namgung family would have to respond with considerable force.
“What of the information?”
“…We have nothing yet. We haven’t been able to conduct a proper interrogation. If you would only grant permission….”
“Not yet.”
“…Understood.”
Shin Chang cut off what Maeng-won was about to say—that he would extract answers through torture if necessary.
This was not something mere torture could resolve.
It was something Shin Chang understood better than anyone.
‘….’
How could this have happened?
As Shin Chang’s eyes grew intense.
“Ah, and furthermore….”
Maeng-won, who had been relaying the message, withdrew something from his robes.
“The Strategist says that the investigation has been confirmed. He ordered a report to be submitted.”
“….”
Shin Chang took the letter and examined it.
In that moment.
Crack.
A harsh sound escaped from Shin Chang’s lips.
The letter was none other than a confirmation regarding the Baek family, from whom information had been received.
Upon seeing this, Shin Chang’s eyes blazed with intensity.
“Heaven… Heaven… is being reborn….”
Namgung Seong repeated the same words endlessly.
While staring only at the empty ceiling.

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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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