The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 287

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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 287
On a night when the moon hung brilliantly in the sky.
“Sigh.”
I dragged my weary body outside.
Sneaking out of the Hwasan Sect was no trivial matter.
[Go left from there.]
[Increase your speed just a little.]
Fortunately, I possessed a way to evade those making their rounds and patrols.
The old men of the Celestial Demon. I used their eyes to find the gaps in their watch.
And through those gaps, I managed to slip my body out of the Hwasan Sect.
Once outside the Hwasan Sect, I could see Mount Tae and the descending stairs.
I did not take the stairs, instead using the mountain range on the other side.
After climbing for a brief moment, I saw someone waiting for me there.
“…Have you arrived?”
“Goodness, what a struggle.”
Sochul Daeju.
He had been waiting for me.
I smiled at him and spoke.
“Well then, shall we go somewhere, my disciple?”
“…”
At the word “disciple,” Sochul Daeju’s expression twisted into something bitter. It was only for an instant, but I saw it clearly—though I chose not to point it out.
‘I should let this one slide today.’
There’s a limit to how many times one can overlook such things, and doing so at a time like this felt excessive.
Today was a day when I genuinely needed him.

* * *
I descended the mountain into Hwain County. The path down was treacherous, but the training I’d accumulated over time proved worthwhile—it wasn’t nearly as difficult as it could have been.
Hwain County, which I’d descended into, maintained remarkably vibrant colors despite the hour.
‘This is what a true city looks like.’
Hanan wasn’t lacking compared to this, but considering the incidents during the festival period there, Hwain County seemed somewhat more splendid in its brilliance.
Was Shushan always like this? I found myself staring with curiosity.
[That’s not quite it.]
Seongheon, the Saengryeong following behind me, offered an explanation.
[A festival is scheduled to begin soon, which is why the atmosphere is particularly bright.]
‘A festival?’
As I wondered what festival he meant, Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me in a flat tone.
[It appears they’re holding the Plum Blossom Festival.]
The Plum Blossom Festival. At those words, my eyes widened slightly.
‘Ah, the Plum Blossom Festival…’
I’d heard of it before. It referred to the festival where they selected the Plum Blossom Sword Master.
So they held it around this time.
‘It’s different from Sowoldae.’
In terms of reputation, Sowoldae was no less renowned, but they didn’t hold festivals like this when selecting their masters, whereas—
‘Hwasan holds it on a grand scale.’
The Hwasan Sect, I’d heard, opened the selection of the Plum Blossom Sword Master among their disciples as if it were a festival.
Like a martial arts tournament, perhaps?
[Isn’t it good for many people to directly witness who will be the new protectors of Shushan?]
Allowing people to see with their own eyes the birth of a Plum Blossom Sword Master.
That seemed to be their intention.
Because of this, Hwain County regarded the Plum Blossom Festival, where they selected the Plum Blossom Sword Master, as a grand celebration.
‘So that’s why it’s maintained so brightly.’
As the time drew near, the atmosphere of the county seemed to be heating up.
And so.
‘Is that why?’
I surveyed my surroundings with narrowed eyes.
‘The reason I can see them—all of them.’
A covert and repulsive aura.
Not in great numbers, but noticeable as I passed through.
‘Patcheon Gung.’
The same sinister presence I’d sensed from those I’d seen in Hanan was emanating from various places here.
‘Tch.’
I rolled my eyes. The problem was that they were far more visible than I’d anticipated.
‘What should I do?’
How best could I dig into this?
This was the purpose of my coming to Hwain County today. Now that I knew the Patcheon-gung thugs were here, I wanted to at least ascertain their movements.
I need to see beyond the surface and truly understand what’s happening.
The fact that they’re gathered like this.
And that a festival will be held soon.
Just like in Hanan, Patcheon-gung appears during the festival period—this point required careful examination.
I had to scrutinize this closely.
Unless I wanted to step in filth myself.
While observing my surroundings with that thought in mind.
“Over there.”
“Hmm?”
Sochul Daeju, who had been quietly following me, cautiously addressed me.
“Master. What brings you down here at this hour?”
“Ah, I have some business to attend to.”
“…Business, you say?”
“Must I explain everything to my disciple?”
“…”
Veins bulged across Sochul Daeju’s brow.
It was meant as a jest, but I seemed to have misspoken slightly.
I cleared my throat and quickly added more.
“Ahem. It’s nothing else. There are things to verify… and besides, I might need my disciple’s assistance.”
“You mean me, sir.”
“Wasn’t your original purpose to guard me?”
“Ah.”
“…What’s with that reaction?”
Sochul Daeju’s expression shifted, as if he’d just remembered something he’d forgotten.
This man… surely he hadn’t forgotten?
I was going to lose my mind.
Whether it was a trait of Cheongwol Sect or not, both Yoo Cheon-gil and this man kept forgetting important things.
Had they become addicted to Wol Cheon or something?
To forget even the fact that he came to protect me.
It was utterly absurd.
“…It’s fine that you remember now.”
“…Hehe. Well, this is embarrassing.”
He responded awkwardly, but.
Clang.
“…!”
Sochul Daeju suddenly placed his hand on his waist. The moment he merely grasped his sword hilt, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
“Then, are you saying there may come a moment when I’ll need to draw my blade?”
Not only the atmosphere, but his voice had changed as well.
“…I hope not. But one can never be too careful.”
“What is the reason for going to such a place?”
“…Hmm.”
I paused, considering how to explain. Something felt dangerous about this, and I sensed he wouldn’t let me go if I gave the wrong answer.
Fortunately, I had prepared an excuse for situations like this.
“Moonju’s orders.”
“….”
Sochul Daeju fell silent.
The orders of Moonju Wol Seon-geom—that was enough to seal his lips.
“So. Just help me verify something for a moment. That’s all.”
“…Understood.”
Sochul Daeju nodded, apparently satisfied with my explanation.
Seeing his response, I was about to scan my surroundings again when—
-then.
I froze.
Sochul Daeju sent me a transmission.
-What should we do about the one following us?
‘Someone’s been following us?’
There was someone? My eyes widened.
Then.
[Since that bastard would have noticed anyway, I didn’t mention it.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me.
[It’s that one.]
‘That one?’
Who was he referring to…. Ah.
I understood.
-Bring him here.
I immediately requested it of Sochul Daeju.
Whoosh—!
Sochul Daeju’s form vanished. In a brief moment, he disappeared, only to reappear just as quickly.
When he returned—
Crash—!
“Gasp!”
He was not alone. The figure he brought matched my expectation exactly.
“Yeo Hyeok.”
It was Yeo Hyeok.
“Ah…. Wol-hyeop.”
At my call, Yeo Hyeok hesitated. His expression showed he hadn’t expected to be caught.
What was this about?
I didn’t ask. It was obvious enough.
‘Was he trying to verify something?’
He wanted to confirm me. Perhaps that’s why he followed.
‘That’s possible.’
He had suddenly arrived at Hwasan claiming to investigate a problem, so I wouldn’t have simply trusted everything Yeo Hyeok said.
He must have wanted to verify me in this manner.
What puzzled me was one thing.
‘It doesn’t seem like he was chasing me from Hwasan.’
If he had been following me from there, Yoo Cheon-gil would have pointed it out.
But the fact that he didn’t mean.
‘He’s been tailing me since Hwaeumhyeon.’
From the moment I descended from Hwasan and arrived in Hwaeumhyeon.
It made more sense that he had been following me since then.
Which meant.
“It seems the Master was searching for something as well.”
“…That is….”
Yeo Hyeok had business in Hwaeumhyeon alone.
That was the correct interpretation.
Yeo Hyeok, caught in his own contradiction, rolled his eyes.
This man seemed terrible at lying.
“…I apologize.”
Unable to come up with any other excuse, Yeo Hyeok offered me an apology.
“I followed you because I saw Wol-hyeop moving about in the night and wondered what you were doing.”
He was honest. A brief apology without any other excuses.
“…I overstepped.”
“Mm.”
Even if Sochul Daeju hadn’t been the traitor, Yoo Cheon-gil would have pointed this out anyway.
‘If it’s like this.’
I smiled slightly to myself.
This worked out better.
“This is convenient timing.”
“Pardon?”
“Come with me.”
“…Where…?”
“You wanted to verify something, didn’t you? I do as well.”
I needed to confirm something about myself.
And I needed to verify something about this place.
So our interests aligned perfectly.
“So come along.”
“…Eh?”
“That’s alright, isn’t it, Sochul Daeju?”
“….”
Because Yeo Hyeok was present, I changed my tone and asked. Sochul Daeju, hearing my question, stared at me quietly.
Then I nodded.
“…It’s fine… I’m fine.”
“Let’s go.”
I helped Yeo Hyeok to his feet.
“W-where exactly are we going…?”
“Ah, I’m going to find that out starting now.”
“Pardon?”
“Hmm…?”
My words caused subtle reactions from both Yeo Hyeok and Sochul Daeju.

* * *
About half an hour had passed. For me, Yeo Hyeok, and Sochul Daeju.
It had been the same amount of time since the three of us began moving.
Yet we still hadn’t ventured beyond the compound, merely observing our surroundings.
Every corner.
We circled and circled again.
Sometimes we retraced the same paths, other times we moved with intervals between our steps.
As the repetitive movements began to wear on me slightly.
“Wol-hyeop… What exactly are you searching for?”
Yeo Hyeok, unable to contain himself any longer, posed the question to me.
I found it tedious as well.
Still, I owed him an answer, so I spoke while looking at Yeo Hyeok.
“Ah, I’m not searching. I’m waiting.”
“Waiting?”
“Yes.”
“For what…”
“I’m currently laying bait. A response should come soon.”
As I spoke, I surveyed the surroundings.
After observing for a brief moment.
‘It seems to have worked?’
Sensing the difference, I let out a soft chuckle.
They moved.
‘Now is the time.’
The Patcheon-gung thugs who had been subtly visible around us.
They were no longer visible.
Given how few of them I could see now, it seemed the moment had come.
That man I’d been watching since earlier—he moved as well.
The instant he stirred, I gestured with my chin toward Yoo Cheon-gil.
[…Tsk. This cunning bastard.]
Yoo Cheon-gil’s reaction was displeased, but he moved nonetheless.
Yoo Cheon-gil followed the Patcheon-gung thugs without hesitation.
‘Perfect.’
I grasped the situation and nodded with satisfaction.
“Wol-hyeop…?”
Yeo Hyeok still seemed unable to comprehend, his voice tinged with confusion.
“Master.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go. They’ve finally made their move.”
“…What on earth are you talking about?”
“The Patcheon-gung thugs.”
“…!?”
“Let’s go.”
“Wait, hold on. What do you mean—”
Yeo Hyeok asked for further explanation.
But I didn’t listen and moved forward.
‘This way.’
I just needed to follow the direction Yoo Cheon-gil indicated.
The reason I had circled the same area and moved so conspicuously was simple.
‘They already know we’re here.’
They would be aware of our presence and on guard.
Since we had appeared so suddenly in Hwayeom County.
But what if those guards suddenly began firing in all directions, searching for something?
That would seem odd.
Then they would grow suspicious.
‘Perhaps we’ve discovered something about them.’
Such thoughts would cross their minds.
And if suspicion of danger arose—
‘They’ll withdraw their forces.’
They would pull back the forces stationed in Hwayeom County.
Then.
‘Where will those withdrawn forces go?’
They would gather quietly somewhere.
And the crucial part was discovering that somewhere.
‘I just need to follow those who disappear.’
If I followed the Patcheon-gung agents who vanished now, somewhere would reveal itself.
This entire operation was designed for that purpose.
“Wait…!”
Yeo Hyeok, flustered, continued to stammer. He seemed anxious about simply following along.
So I spoke to him.
“This is information from my sources. So please, trust me and come along.”
“…An intelligence agency?”
At my words, Yeo Hyeok paused.
“An intelligence agency…?”
Sochul Daeju quietly furrowed his brow.
Watching them, I smiled.
“Yes, an intelligence agency.”
It was precious information revealed by none other than the Heavenly Supreme himself.

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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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