The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 262

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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 262
Namgung Myeong, the Thunder Saint Sword King.
One of the Five Heavenly Kings and Lord of the Clan of one of the Five Great Houses.
When naming the strongest swordmasters known in the Central Plains, he was invariably among them, and from childhood, he had been called a genius by all.
The man was a sharp-featured figure in his middle years, distinguished by his deep white hair.
His appearance made it clear exactly who Socheongeom and Naelyong resembled.
He was known to possess a cold, serene temperament and was considered a rational man difficult to deal with.
“…How dare you… dare to disrespect the Namgung!”
His current demeanor appeared somewhat at odds with such rumors.
A flushed face. A grimace twisted with anger.
Even the fury contained in his voice. By any measure, Namgung Myeong’s appearance was far from rational.
Though his sudden arrival drew everyone’s attention, Namgung Myeong paid no mind and advanced with heavy footsteps.
As he slowly approached Cheon Rijin-an,
“Sword King! Please stop!”
The martial artists inside hurried forward to block the Sword King’s path.
“You cannot proceed further. Please leave.”
“Negotiations are underway. You cannot cause such disturbance here.”
“What did you…?”
At those words, Namgung Myeong’s eyes flashed with lightning.
Rumble—!!
“Ugh!?”
“Gasp!!”
Thunder energy erupted from his body, resonating through the space. An overwhelming aura. The previously calm air inside was violently shaken.
‘Wow….’
I swallowed hard. The oppressive pressure of an absolute master. Facing it directly made the gap seem insurmountable.
“You dare block my path…?”
Enraged by the fact that someone had dared to obstruct him, the Sword King unleashed even greater pressure,
and the martial artists who had stood in his way were sent reeling.
“I am Namgung Myeong, Sword King and Lord of the Namgung Clan. Yet you block me during negotiations—do you think this is right!?”
With a roar, the martial artists finally collapsed.
“Interesting.”
Dojol and Baekwang, standing before him, observed the situation with intrigue. They showed no inclination to interfere, even if it meant death.
As the martial artists fell and the Sword King prepared to advance once more,
“Come any closer, and there will be no turning back.”
Cheon Rijin-an spoke in a calm voice.
Still.
The Sword King halted in place upon hearing those words, his sharp eyes gleaming as he faced Jegal Jin.
“No turning back? Ha, Cheon Rijin-an. Is this the will of the Alliance?”
Creak.
A harsh sound emanated from his tightly clenched jaw.
“I heard that the Jeong Hoe Guan was being convened, so why was the Namgung Clan excluded? Are you declaring enmity with our house?”
“That’s not it. The Martial Arts Alliance would never declare enmity with the Namgung Clan.”
“Then…!”
“Wait.”
Before Namgung Myeong could continue, Cheon Rijin-an cut him off.
“It’s possible that the Namgung Clan itself might be attempting to declare enmity with the Martial Arts Alliance, so verification was necessary.”
“Wh…? What did you say?”
It wasn’t the Alliance declaring enmity with Namgung.
The Namgung Clan was attempting to declare enmity with the Martial Arts Alliance.
At those words, Namgung Myeong’s brow furrowed.
“Isn’t that right? Surely you, as the Lord of the Clan, are not unaware of what your son has done this time?”
“…”
Socheongeom. At the mention of that man, Namgung Myeong’s eyes wavered.
“Socheongeom is currently imprisoned due to showing connections with the Demonic Sect. The investigation hasn’t even been properly concluded, yet you claim it makes no sense to summon you to this conference—surely you understand this?”
“…My son would never do such a thing. This is all a false accusation.”
“Ha.”
At Namgung Myeong’s words, Jegal Jin exhaled a sigh. The martial artists tensed at that soft breath.
Just one sigh, yet it carried such weight.
“Given the circumstances, I have no intention of entertaining such absurd excuses…?”
“Absurd…? What could my son possibly lack that he would throw himself into the Demonic Sect! If this isn’t a false accusation, then what is?”
“Perhaps that’s true. But isn’t that merely a delusion?”
Jegal Jin’s expression hardened completely. It was an expression filled with contempt.
“How could we believe such a thing?”
“…”
“Belief is what the investigation seeks, and the fact that you could walk into this place under such circumstances is merely a courtesy. I doubt you would have been able to face me at all if not for your name and your clan’s reputation.”
Tsk, tsk, tsk. The sharp clicking of a tongue echoed throughout the conference hall.
“Maintain your dignity, Sword King. Right now, you appear utterly contemptible.”
“…You—!”
At Jegal Jin’s words, the Sword King gritted his teeth.
Unable to restrain himself, his hand moved toward his waist to draw his blade.
In that moment.
Clang—! Clang—!
The sound of blades being grasped echoed from all directions.
Dojol and Baekwang also prepared to draw, their blades halfway unsheathed.
Just as the supreme masters were all preparing their responses to the Sword King’s provocation.
Tap.
A single, very soft footstep bloomed in that gap.
‘What?’
A tingling sensation.
Wol-an exerted force of his own volition as the Wol Seon-geom technique was activated.
An endless path of moonlight stretching forth.
At the end of that path, someone had reached the Sword King.
‘…When…?’
A person now stood where there had been no one before.
I heard the sound of landing, but the motion itself differed from the sound.
Clang…. Thud!
“…!”
The Sword King could not draw his blade. The approaching figure gripped the hilt’s end, preventing him from drawing it.
“…You….”
Upon recognizing his opponent, the Sword King’s eyes wavered.
“Namgung Myeong.”
At that cold voice, my entire body shuddered.
Trembling.
I stared at my trembling fingertips with quivering eyes. They were shaking.
“Do not make a foolish choice.”
Wol Seon-geom Cheon Seonghwa.
He stepped forward before Namgung Myeong, blocking his path.
“…You….”
Despite Cheon Seonghwa’s warning, Namgung Myeong attempted to draw his blade, yet he seemed unable to move.
Rumble-!!
Thunder energy repelled once more.
But.
“Mm.”
With a soft breath, Cheon Seonghwa moved his hand.
Then he seized the thunder energy that Namgung Myeong unleashed.
Crackle-!!!
“…!”
“Hah…!”
He tore it apart with his bare hand.
“What…?”
Namgung Myeong flinched upon seeing his own thunder energy torn asunder.
Yet Cheon Seonghwa’s expression remained unchanged.
“Namgung Myeong.”
Whoosh.
Having brushed away the thunder energy with his hand, Cheon Seonghwa gazed upon Namgung Myeong once more.
“This is the Martial Arts Alliance.”
He spoke the most fundamental truth.
“…What does that have to do with anything.”
Even hearing this, Namgung Myeong continued to growl.
Observing such defiance, Cheon Seonghwa spoke.
“Do you wish for the Martial Arts Alliance to become your grave?”
“…!”
‘Oh.’
I inwardly marveled at his words. He had gracefully reworded a threat to kill him if he continued acting out of line.
‘…Graceful? Is that graceful?’
Even as I thought this, I couldn’t quite comprehend it, yet remarkably, Cheon Seonghwa had issued such a warning to Namgung Myeong.
In front of all these people.
He was saying that if things went wrong, he would kill the Sword King.
‘…He’s insane.’
What kind of presence was that? The Sword King wasn’t weak, and he too was called an absolute master.
‘If it’s not a misunderstanding.’
Before Wol Seon-geom, even the Sword King appeared infinitesimally small.
‘…Was the old man right?’
Yoo Cheon-gil had said it once.
If one were to name the only decent individuals in the Cheongwol Sect, it would be only the Moonju and the Sochul Daeju.
Moreover, the current Moonju had become the strongest existence in the Cheongwol Sect.
‘Wol Seon-geom.’
Could reasonably be considered the strongest being in the current Cheongwol Sect.
‘No matter how I look at it.’
Still, the audacity to speak so to the Lord of the Namgung Clan was remarkable.
‘…I thought he was a refined gentleman of the world.’
Yet he possessed such an aggressive side. It was refreshing.
“Are you saying you would kill me?”
“If you wish.”
Rumble.
The thunder energy clashed once more. Namgung Myeong did not yield, extending his own pressure toward Cheon Seonghwa.
Watching this, Cheon Seonghwa grasped the sword at his waist.
A situation where combat could erupt at any moment.
If a fight broke out, where would I flee? If these monsters clashed, it was obvious everything would be destroyed like during the Shin Chang incident.
Shouldn’t I identify an escape route beforehand?
As such thoughts crossed my mind.
“That is enough.”
Jegal Jin interjected and spoke.
At his words, Cheon Seonghwa retreated without hesitation.
“Sword King. You know well that what you are doing is unreasonable. I understand your vision has clouded due to your child’s involvement, yet surely you are aware this benefits neither of us.”
“…Kugh.”
At Jegal Jin’s admonishing words, Namgung Myeong swallowed hard.
“Once the conference concludes, I shall arrange a meeting. For now, please wait. This is the best consideration I can offer.”
“….”
Thud.
Namgung Myeong stomped the ground with tremendous force. The earth shattered, sending debris flying in all directions.
Having fully vented his emotions, Namgung Myeong immediately turned his back and headed for the exit.
Those who had been tense released their breath at his departure.
‘Is the Sword King really someone with such a temperament?’
I filed away information as I observed the Sword King.
He’s far more hot-blooded than I expected. His demeanor is quite distant from the reputation of being a rational individual.
If I had to compare him…
‘…to Socheongeom.’
Is he closer to Socheongeom than to Naelyong? At least based on what he just displayed, that seemed to be the case.
And what was truly surprising…
‘…Wol Seon-geom.’
The presence he exuded.
Despite being an absolute master like the Sword King, he seemed as though he could face him with ease.
‘Just how strong is he?’
How powerful could Wol Seon-geom possibly be?
Holding that question in my mind…
“There was a brief disturbance, but we shall now resume the conference.”
Jegal Jin announced the continuation of the talks, and once again, a lengthy yet seemingly brief conference commenced.
* * *
As time passed and the sky’s color gradually deepened…
Only then did the conference finally conclude.
I had anticipated it wouldn’t end quickly, but it stretched far longer than expected.
As a result, I had to endure tedious hours.
‘…Finally, it’s over.’
Truly, an abundance of discussions had transpired.
How the Alliance should proceed going forward.
How to compensate for the disciples who had lost their lives.
Countless matters concerning the Alliance and its gains and losses were exchanged.
Jegal Jin handled it all alone, bringing the discourse to a close.
From observing this, I realized one thing.
‘…He’s absurdly capable.’
Jegal Jin was far more than merely intelligent.
‘How can he accomplish so much?’
It didn’t end with his quick thinking.
He manipulates those present and adapts to circumstances.
His talent for steering most situations toward his own advantage was exceptional.
‘Yoo Cheon-gil. That old man deserves to be called a monster.’
Setting aside martial prowess, he is formidable as a human being itself.
The aura emanating from that gaunt frame was so overwhelming that even martial artists could scarcely move.
‘…A god of war.’
A figure who became a hero without being a martial artist.
I could glimpse a side of Jegal Jin’s true nature.
As I caught my breath for a moment,
“You’ve worked hard.”
Jegal Jin spoke to me.
“…Pardon? No, I don’t think I’ve done anything difficult.”
Hard work? I simply stood there like a stone monument.
I only let out empty sighs watching Jegal Jin use me whenever he saw fit. There was nothing I actually did.
Meanwhile, Jegal Jin’s expression looked quite exhausted.
‘Well, he faced them alone for several hours straight.’
Since that old man had single-handedly withstood the relentless barrage of attacks, even being this tired was remarkable.
“Is the negotiation over now?”
“There’s follow-up work to do, but the urgent matter is resolved.”
“You must be busy.”
“I have things to discuss with you as well, so I’ll call you later.”
“…I’ll be busy too then.”
“First of all…”
Jegal Jin gestured with his chin.
“Shouldn’t you now obtain what you’re meant to gain here?”
“…”
I chuckled at those words. This man—he truly knew.
‘…Did he trust I’d catch on when he first called me?’
That I would only move if there was something for me to gain in this place.
It seemed Jegal Jin understood that.
“Come.”
“…Yes.”
I moved at Jegal Jin’s words.
We headed to none other than where the martial artists had gathered.
Together with Jegal Jin, I approached where Dojol and Baekwang, along with other masters, had assembled.
As gazes converged and I was about to greet them,
“I failed to introduce you properly earlier.”
Jegal Jin placed a light hand on my shoulder before them and spoke.
“This is my grandson.”
“…What?”
…An unexpected statement had just emerged.

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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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