The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 281

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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 281
[So I am indeed visible to you.]
“….”
I narrowed my eyes upon hearing those words. What is this situation? I found myself speechless as I gazed at Seongheon hovering before me.
‘…A ghost?’
A ghost. One could tell from the translucent form and the aura it emanated.
Seongheon was now a ghost.
‘He died?’
Seongheon, who had been alive until just moments ago, was dead? My eyes trembled.
I quickly cleared my mind. I needed the capacity to comprehend the situation.
[Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle.]
Seongheon laughed, seeing my surprise.
From that, I understood.
‘He is not dead.’
Seongheon was not dead. This was—
‘A saengryeong.’
A saengryeong.
The form of a spirit that appears in those who have not died but have brushed against death’s threshold.
I could sense that he retained vitality.
A spirit that retains vitality is a saengryeong.
This meant—
‘Seongheon has not died.’
Only his soul had separated from his body.
After understanding this much, I spoke to him.
“…Jang Moonin.”
[Oh, so you finally respond.]
“How did this come to pass?”
I nearly cried out in shock at his sudden appearance as a saengryeong.
[Fascinating, is it not? I find it so myself.]
“No….”
[Lately, when I fall asleep, this happens quite often. I never imagined there would be someone who could see me.]
[Tsk.]
Someone reacted to Seongheon’s words. It was Yoo Cheon-gil, standing beside me with arms crossed and a furrowed expression.
[Of all the strange things. If you’re going to die, die properly. What is this ambiguous state?]
[Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle….]
Seongheon laughed at Yoo Cheon-gil’s words. The two had already been conversing.
[I wondered how you managed to save your disciple. I never expected you to employ such a method.]
[A method? More like having your nose pierced through.]
[You certainly are fortunate, even in death.]
[Fortune be damned. Does this look fortunate to you?]
Even at Yoo Cheon-gil’s blunt remark, Seongheon could only laugh.
[It’s luck. Regardless of what happens, you’ve managed to leave your mark.]
[What nonsense—]
“…Please, both of you, pause your conversation for a moment. This is more important.”
I cut short the idle chatter and questioned Seongheon.
“…Jang Moonin, you frequently fall into this state, is that correct?”
[Yes. Whenever I fall asleep, I become like this.]
“How long has this been happening?”
[Well… about a year now, I’d say?]
“…A year.”
I bit the tip of my finger and sank into thought. A year, then.
‘A year since his saengryeong began emerging when he fell asleep.’
I focused on this timeline.
‘A saengryeong escapes when one exists between life and death.’
That it had persisted for an entire year meant his body had been in poor condition for that long.
‘I thought he was a living corpse.’
I never imagined it would reach the point of becoming a saengryeong. Too many unexpected things were unfolding.
[Still, you’re fortunate. I never thought you could actually see me.]
“Ordinarily, one wouldn’t call such a thing fortunate…”
To me, it was more like a curse, so calling it luck felt wrong. Perhaps from Seongheon’s perspective, it seemed fortunate.
In any case.
‘I’ve been exposed.’
That was the problem. The fact that I could see ghosts. That Jang Moonin had discovered it.
That was what troubled me.
‘What do I do?’
Dokjon was already dead, so being exposed to him meant nothing.
‘Seongheon is different.’
Seongheon was different. Not only was he a saengryeong, but…
‘Ordinarily, a saengryeong should be a vegetative body.’
Alive in body but absent in mind.
Most saengryeong were supposed to be that way. Yet Seongheon said he became a saengryeong only when he fell asleep.
This meant.
‘A person who could awaken.’
He was someone still living.
‘This is troublesome.’
If this continued, my secret would be exposed. Moreover, my relationship with Yoo Cheon-gil would also be revealed.
‘What do I do?’
How should I handle this? As I felt considerable distress about it.
[Kkeul kkeul kkeul.]
Seongheon’s laughter reached my ears.
[Don’t worry.]
“…What?”
[I understand what you’re concerned about. But you needn’t trouble yourself over it.]
“What do you mean…?”
As I struggled to comprehend, Seongheon continued with a faint smile playing at his lips.
“Huh?”
Hearing that, I had to open my eyes wide.

* * *
Chirp—! Chirp chirp!
At the sound of birds calling, I cracked my eyes open. Dawn had broken.
Light filtered through the cracks. I stirred and pushed myself up with a rustling sound.
“Sigh….”
[You’re awake.]
“…Yes.”
I rubbed my eyes as I rose. I didn’t know the exact time, but it was clearly morning.
My joints creaked as I stood and changed into fresh clothes.
Knock knock.
A sound came from outside.
-Have you risen, sir?
It was a man’s voice.
“Ah, yes. I’m awake.”
-May I intrude for a moment?
“Please, come in.”
The door opened almost before I’d finished speaking. The figure who entered was a young man about my age.
“I am Taeyong, one of the Three Disciples of Hwasan. I’ve been assigned to serve you during your stay with us.”
“…Ah, yes. Thank you for your service.”
He’d come to attend to a guest. As a Third Disciple, he would indeed be around my age.
“Your companions have gathered, I hear. Shall I show you to them now?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
I followed Taeyong’s guidance. We headed toward a dining hall near the quarters.
“Ah, Bang Disciple.”
Cheon Euijin and Dok-ryong greeted me upon spotting my arrival.
Do-hyeong appeared to have already finished his meal, while Cheonhye-in sat without even glancing my way, quietly eating her rice.
“You all woke quite early.”
“The sun is already high in the sky—you’re the one who slept far too late.”
“….”
I lightly ignored Cheonhye-in’s sharp remark.
‘Good grief.’
Looking at the spread before me, I suppressed a hollow laugh.
‘No meat.’
Perhaps because it was a Taoist temple, the rice bowl was filled only with vegetables. I had no idea whether the Hwasan Sect abstained from meat—I’d never bothered to check.
“Hmm.”
I picked up my spoon with an awkward smile.
Just as I was about to take my first bite of breakfast.
“The Sect Leader has requested a brief conversation regarding the schedule ahead. Would that be acceptable?”
“…Ah, understood. I’ll head there shortly.”
I nodded at Taeyong’s words.
Now that I thought about it.
‘We didn’t have a banquet yesterday.’
Hwasan had suggested meeting in the evening, but it must have been cancelled after that.
I’d heard the reason was due to circumstances.
-It seems my condition has become a problem again.
Based on what the Saengryeong who had been Jang Moonin said, that didn’t seem to be the reason.
‘Hmm.’
My head felt muddled. I simply ate my rice hastily.
Still, the food went down easily enough.

* * *
Afterward, I led my group toward a different location from where we’d been yesterday.
Not the small quarters of the Sect Leader, but a building twice as large.
It appeared to be a discussion hall.
“Welcome, please come in.”
“We greet the Sect Leader of Hwasan.”
“Daeju, it’s been a long time.”
“I hope you have been well.”
Sochul Daeju, who hadn’t appeared during breakfast, stepped forward to greet him. Though I was nominally in charge, this felt right.
“You should rest more often. You work far too hard.”
“Not at all. It is simply my duty.”
“That is admirable to see.”
Sochul Daeju offered a shallow smile at the Sect Leader’s words.
“You must have endured great hardship on your long journey. Ideally, I should have welcomed you warmly yesterday, but this old man had pressing matters. I apologize for my neglect.”
Jang Moonin lowered his head.
“Please, Sect Leader, do not do such a thing….”
“It was a necessary matter, so think nothing of it. I merely ask for your understanding.”
Everyone faltered at his gentle, measured demeanor.
Even in brief gestures, an ineffable weight was evident.
Light, yet not light at all.
Such was the impression of the Maehwa Ilgeom.
“Ideally, I would have the other elders come forth to receive such an honored guest… but Hwasan’s circumstances are not entirely favorable at present.”
“Is something the matter?”
I asked the question.
“Aha. I’ve encountered a few troublesome matters in my sect, you see.”
Maehwa Ilgeom brushed past the question with a laugh. It felt like a signal not to press further.
‘Hmm.’
Watching that, I nodded my head.
“In any case, I’m grateful that you’ve brought our disciple back safely. I heard word of it. They say there was a great calamity in Hanam.”
“That’s correct.”
“A truly lamentable affair. I wish I could offer assistance, but as an old man, there’s nothing I can do—and that troubles me greatly.”
“….”
Hearing his words, I reflected inwardly.
‘He’s drawing the line again.’
Seongheon had drawn the line once more.
There’s nothing he can do. He cannot offer help—it was the same in the past.
‘Now it’s not much different.’
So it meant: don’t trouble me with this.
‘Hmm.’
Just like yesterday, this wasn’t going to be easy.
Here, I was seeing beyond what was visible.
‘Is it true?’
Watching Seongheon’s reaction before me, I recalled the conversation from yesterday.
-Don’t worry.
That’s what Seongheon had said when I discovered I could see ghosts.
-I understand what you’re concerned about. But you needn’t be troubled.
The old man spoke to me.
-When I awaken, I will have no memory of this conversation we’ve shared.
-What?
-I will forget everything that happened in this state. I’ll think of it as a dream—a very faint and shallow dream.
-…Is that so?
He said he remembered nothing of his time as a Saengryeong.
Whether that was true, I still didn’t know.
Looking at Seongheon, who seemed to have no knowledge of yesterday’s events, I recalled the conversation that followed.
-Child Hani.
Seongheon had, at that moment.
-I know my help is needed. Hani.
-Will you not grant me this request?
He had proposed a deal to me.
A deal he wouldn’t remember now.

* * *
A forest path in Shuanxi. Far from Hwaam County, it lay closer to Jongnam than to Hwasan.
Upon this forest path stood a dwelling. The Old Man made his way toward it.
The moment he reached the structure.
“You’ve arrived?”
The one waiting inside greeted the visitor with a smile.
Upon the worn table, draped with cobwebs, sat fragrant teas that seemed incongruous with their surroundings.
The Old Man, catching sight of the teacups, asked him.
“It seems you had a visitor.”
An empty teacup caught his eye. The warmth of human presence lingered there.
“Ah, I had a companion for conversation. Another guest needed to arrive, so he left in haste.”
Creeeeak.
As they conversed, he pulled out a chair and sat.
“I heard the Sword Demon is dead.”
The Old Man spoke the moment he settled.
“I heard. Foolishly, his neck was severed.”
“No matter how many sealing restrictions were plastered upon him, I cannot fathom how the Sword Demon could fall. And to no less than….”
The Old Man’s eyes gleamed with a chill.
“Such a young boy.”
“Death has always come suddenly like this, has it not? The Sword Demon is no exception. Ah, now that I think of it….”
The Man smiled knowingly as he asked the Old Man.
“Maehua Daeju. I hear you saw that young boy yourself. What was your assessment?”
The Old Man’s true identity was none other than Maehua Daeju Seongpung.
He nodded upon hearing the question.
“Strong. Certainly possessing a power no one his age should have.”
“Oh, high praise indeed.”
“However.”
Seongpung flicked the teacup before him.
Crack—! Clang!
The teacup shattered, spilling across the table.
“He doesn’t seem to possess whatever it takes to kill the Sword Demon.”
The Man’s face hardened as he watched the tea spill downward.
“Ah. That was an expensive teacup….”
At such words, Seongpung rose again.
“The plan proceeds well. So, it would be wise not to entertain reckless schemes.”
“How could I attempt recklessness against the great Maehua Daeju? I’m too frightened. But if you were to do something—”
The Man spoke, looking at Seongpung.
“All of it would be for nothing but Patcheon.”
“….”
“Is that not so for you as well, Daeju?”
*Tsk*
Seongpung didn’t answer, simply turning his back and leaving.
The man watching the old figure let out a soft chuckle.
“Disgusting old codger.”
His words hung in the quiet air. The man merely took another sip from the tea before him.

* * *
Once outside the quarters, Seongpung swept his hair back.
‘How troublesome.’
It was an unexpected complication.
My work was nearly complete.
‘Of all times.’
The emergence of Sowoldae.
And I even saw that Sochul Daeju was involved.
If they were merely rabble, I wouldn’t have cared. But Sochul Daeju changes things.
‘So his name is Wol-hyeop, and it seems Cheonwol Munchu is taking this quite seriously.’
I never expected him to send even Sochul Daeju.
Did he truly see the second coming of Yoo Cheon-gil in that young fool?
‘Absurd.’
Those who have ever laid eyes on Yoo Cheon-gil would know.
‘That boy could never be Yoo Cheon-gil.’
His presence is too faint to become such an incomprehensible monster.
Bangseong-yeon could never be Yoo Cheon-gil.
Sochul Daeju is certainly irritating.
‘That’s all.’
Seongpung made no effort to hide his lowering gaze.
‘It’s already too late.’
Whatever complications arise now cannot change the outcome.
No matter how things unfold.
‘Hwasan will be mine.’
The Hwasan Sect will become my own. If anyone stands in the way of this plan.
‘I’ll simply remove them.’
Erase them from the front.
With that thought, Seongpung walked forward.
His destination, as always, was his Hwasan.

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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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