The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 282

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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 282
The conversation was brief, and there was nothing particularly profound about it.
It consisted merely of Jang Moonin’s regret about the Dragon Phoenix Gathering and his gratitude for bringing his disciple back.
The other remarks exchanged between us were equally unremarkable.
Ordinary.
Politely simple.
Devoid of substance.
Witnessing this, I became certain once more.
‘He’s drawing a clear line.’
Seongheon is drawing a line with us.
No, not with us—with me.
‘Whatever you’ve brought, I have no intention of becoming involved.’
Whether it concerns Physician Uiseon or anything else, he’s making it clear he won’t interfere.
The way he blocks any opportunity for me to speak is proof of that.
“I do hope you rest well before departing. I wish I could offer you better hospitality, but Hwasan currently faces matters I cannot discuss, and so I must apologize for my inability to assist.”
He even adds justification. Hwasan itself has unspeakable affairs, so he cannot offer help.
What more could I do in response to that?
“I’m grateful for your consideration.”
That was the best I could manage.
With those words, the conversation ended.

* * *
By the time we stepped outside, it was roughly noon.
The sun hung high in the sky, and there was no pressing business scheduled for the afternoon.
“What do we do now?”
Cheonhye-in asked me.
“…I’m not sure?”
“Don’t you have something in mind?”
“What’s there to think about? The main purpose is already accomplished.”
Bringing Yoo Yeon to Hwasan.
That was the pretext. Since only I, Sochul Daeju, and the Sword Emperor knew about the matter concerning Physician Uiseon within our group, the others only knew this much.
“But it’s not finished yet.”
“…”
Cheonhye-in spoke to me firmly.
“Just looking at the group we’ve assembled, I can tell this isn’t an ordinary matter. There’s no way Sochul Daeju would accompany a simple escort mission.”
I had no answer. It was indeed like covering my eyes and pretending not to see.
“I simply didn’t ask him because Moonju didn’t say anything. Why? Should I dig deeper?”
“It’ll become troublesome, so please refrain.”
“If you want me to, I will. So there is a way, then?”
“…No, what are you even talking about? How am I supposed to know if there’s a way or not?”
“I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me. But I had a feeling you might have a way.”
“….”
What was this unpleasant faith? She looked at the world coldly, yet spoke with unwavering conviction.
I was at a loss for words.
Tsk.
I clicked my tongue briefly and spoke to her.
The amusing part was.
“Yes. It’s not that I have nothing at all.”
Her faith was oddly justified—there really was a method.
However.
“…It just seems like it would be rather troublesome.”
It wasn’t exactly a method I preferred.

* * *
After concluding the conversation, the first thing I did was assess the atmosphere of Hwasan.
“Ah, Wol-hyeop.”
“Greetings.”
To do that, observing Hwasan’s figures was fastest, and the person I chose was the Maehua Sword Master.
Yeo Hyeok, the Maehua Sword Master. We had come together before, and since our familiarity was relatively high, I sought him out.
“You were in the middle of cultivation. My apologies for the interruption.”
“Not at all. I was just finishing up.”
Yeo Hyeok smiled with a sweat-dampened face.
He was a figure with a masculine appearance. Should I say he was similar in type to Do-hyeong?
“But what brings you here…? If it’s about guidance, I’ve left that to the Three Disciples.”
“Ah, I had some questions. It was a bit awkward to ask Taeyong about this matter.”
“I see. Please, speak freely. I’m listening.”
I got straight to the point with Yeo Hyeok, who asked with a smile.
“Is it possible to hear about what’s happening in Hwasan right now?”
He paused.
Yeo Hyeok’s expression hardened upon hearing my question.
“Why do you ask such a thing?”
Wariness crept into his voice. I absorbed the information piece by piece into my mind.
Going straight to the point was a hasty approach, but nothing worked better right now.
“Based on what Jang Moonin said and what I observed from you, I had questions.”
“Questions?”
Without waiting for Yeo Hyeok’s response, I answered.
The first strike was crucial now.
“I suspect it might be connected to Patcheon Gung.”
“…!”
Yeo Hyeok’s pupils trembled. I had struck the mark.
‘Damn it all.’
I’d guessed correctly, but that made things worse. I would have preferred to be wrong.
When this happens.
‘…all the pieces fit perfectly into place.’
Everything I’d theorized aligns. And there’s nothing worse than that.
I always prepare for the worst-case scenario.
And approaching that worst case meant things were equally terrible.
“…that is….”
“If it’s difficult to speak of, you need not say anything.”
I cut off Yeo Hyeok’s words.
If I ask a question and then don’t listen, it’s precisely to draw out the answer.
Rather than continuously pressing, stopping once and offering trust was a far more effective approach.
It’s information you needn’t share. I have no involvement in that matter.
It was also a way of instilling that understanding.
At the same time.
“One thing—I was actually secretly appointed by Hanam to investigate Patcheon Gung. Please understand that my questions serve that purpose.”
“…Pardon? An investigation into Patcheon Gung?”
“Yes.”
I’d received no such assignment. I’d only been told to use my eyes and bring Physician Uiseon back safely.
But what did it matter.
‘If I can use it, I will.’
The safest methods never produce the best results.
So it was best to use everything at my disposal.
Especially when dealing with someone like Yeo Hyeok, whom I’d observed.
“Is it appropriate for you to tell me such things?”
“It’s fine. The Yeo Hyeok I’ve seen is a trustworthy person.”
“…How can you be so certain?”
“Our time together hasn’t been long, but it was enough for me to feel it clearly.”
I turned my thoughts inward, recalling memories.
“The way you lead the group, preparing for danger before anyone else. Your attitude toward your fellow disciples—not domineering, but seeking to stand as equals. And especially, the way you treated the child in Hwain County. That’s when I became certain.”
I continued without pause.
“Ah, this person is a true righteous wanderer of the orthodox sects.”
“….”
Yeo Hyeok flinches at my words.
“You’ll be the vanguard leading the orthodox sects and Hwasan forward.”
“Ahem.”
I let out a dry cough.
Embarrassment showed, but not displeasure.
This is when I should press forward.
“How could I not trust you, when a new hero of the wanderers stands before me?”
[…Really, how can a single tongue be so unreasonable? How can someone be so cunning and slippery?]
Yoo Cheon-gil uttered a contemptuous exclamation.
Thank you for the compliment.
“…No, that’s not it…. If you praise me like that….”
Yeo Hyeok scratched the back of his head awkwardly as he spoke. Watching him, I added my own words.
“In any case… it’s simply because I trusted you as a master of such caliber that I spoke so candidly.”
I pulled back once more.
“As I mentioned, I have no intention of causing you difficulty. If you cannot speak of it, that is perfectly acceptable.”
I handed the choice back to him.
That way, he could feel more at ease in his mind.
‘And yet.’
If I gave it to him completely, it would be far too easy for him to refuse, so I needed to dangle some bait here as well.
“…That matter is rather….”
Just as Yeo Hyeok was about to express his refusal as if he had no choice.
“However, precisely because I trust you as a master, there is one thing I must tell you regarding this.”
“Yes? What is it?”
I approached him. I lowered my voice. No, more than that—I had to use a whisper transmission.
-According to my investigation….
As the whisper transmission reached him, Yeo Hyeok’s eyes widened slightly.
-It appears there is a spy within Hwasan Sect.
“…!”
Upon hearing my words, Yeo Hyeok’s eyes widened. His reaction was different from before. In an instant, his expression hardened rigidly.
“…Wol-hyeop.”
What floated there was unmistakable displeasure.
“I will pretend I did not hear what you just said.”
He created distance between us. The emotional distance seemed to grow proportionally with the physical separation.
“…I find that remark to be quite disrespectful.”
“….”
A spy exists within the same sect. I understood why Yeo Hyeok would be displeased by such words.
‘Just as I thought.’
Yet witnessing his reaction, I could only grow more certain.
“You were already anticipating this, weren’t you?”
“….”
“Whether it was anticipation or mere speculation, you were considering it, were you not?”
Surely Yeo Hyeok had already entertained such thoughts in his mind.
That was why his reaction was so intense.
“I do not understand what you are saying.”
“If I have offended you, I offer my apologies. However, I earnestly ask that you not simply regard my words as disrespectful, but receive them in a different light. If you do not….”
To match the distance he had created.
I too stepped back several paces as I spoke.
“I merely hope you understand that a situation similar to what occurred in Hanan’s main alliance could unfold here.”
“….”
The assault by Patcheon Gung and the Demonic Cult.
At the mention of it, something else flickered across Yeo Hyeok’s expression.
“Thank you for hearing me out.”
I bowed and left without further delay.
There was no point in lingering any longer.
As the distance grew, I felt no sense of Yeo Hyeok pursuing me.
[Ah, I see.]
Only then did Yoo Cheon-gil ask me something.
“Yes.”
[Why didn’t you push further? If you’d pressed harder there, I’m sure he would have broken.]
“That’s likely true.”
Judging by Yeo Hyeok’s reaction, a bit more pressure would have made him speak.
But.
“That wouldn’t have been enough.”
[What do you mean?]
“Choices made by one’s own hand take deepest root and carry the most weight. What comes from my prodding now lacks genuine will.”
I only needed to sway him. Knowing the direction the wind blew, I simply strengthened its force.
“If you tear out the roots by force, he’ll perceive it as coercion and develop resistance.”
Conversely.
“Roots torn out by the wind don’t blame the wind.”
He’ll think his own roots were too weak.
Or perhaps he’ll convince himself he actually wanted to be uprooted all along.
That was my intention.
After hearing this much, Yoo Cheon-gil spoke with a look of distaste.
[…You’re terrifying.]
“Your face is far more frightening, Old Man.”
Who’s calling whom terrifying? A gnarled old man with a face that could scare the world itself.
Crack.
I rolled my neck.
‘Yeo Hyeok is settled well enough.’
Whether he breaks immediately or not remains uncertain, but I’ve given him sufficient reason to waver.
What remains now.
‘…Jang Moonin and Maehua Daeju.’
And a few others besides.
‘Ah, truly….’
Just thinking about it drained my spirit. It’s something I always consider since coming to the Central Plains….
I’d rather exhaust myself with physical action.
“This mental scheming really doesn’t suit me at all….”
I spat out the words laced with irritation, and suddenly my scalp prickled.
Glancing upward, Yoo Cheon-gil was staring at me with an expression like he’d eaten shit.
“What’s with that look?”
[Ah, damn it. Where was he spouting such nonsense while wearing a human mask that I couldn’t help myself.]
“…What are you talking about?”
I simply ignored his incomprehensible words and kept walking.
I needed to move quickly from this moment on.

* * *
I began moving from around noon, and before I knew it, night had fallen.
Time passed so swiftly despite circling through Hwasan only a few times.
By the time lanterns were lit throughout the compound, signaling the lateness of the hour.
Splash.
I stood gazing at the pond located in my quarters, the residence prepared for me.
My face reflected in the water was brimming with exhaustion.
“…Ugh.”
Fatigue crashed over me because of what I’d been doing all day.
As I sat down heavily in my weary state.
[Child.]
The figure I’d been waiting for—or rather, the ghost—appeared.
“…It seems you were resting.”
[Yes.]
It was none other than Seongheon, the sect leader of Hwasan.
[Have you given thought to the request I made?]
He spoke with a smile of greeting.
Hearing that, I answered expressionlessly.
“Yes. I’ve roughly confirmed it, and it appears to be correct.”
The first thing I grasped from wandering through Hwasan all day long.
“Among Hwasan’s members, thirteen are traitors.”
I had identified the number of traitors.
Though not all, I could roughly see those currently staying in Hwasan.
And.
“I will accept the deal.”
Based on this, I intended to listen to what Seongheon had to say.
“I will.”
I spoke to him, the moonlight casting him in translucent pallor.
“Kill the sect leader for you.”
Quietly. Cruelly.

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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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