The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 292

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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 292
“….”
After meeting Seongheon’s gaze for a moment, I pushed Yoo Yeon away from my arms upon seeing his furrowed brow.
Thump—!
Yoo Yeon tumbled across the floor helplessly, driven back by my strength.
She glared at me as if to ask why I’d pushed her, but I ignored even that look. Seongheon’s eyes were far too piercing for me to concern myself with Yoo Yeon’s gaze.
“You appear to be in quite good health.”
“No, sir. I’m actually in considerable pain.”
My head and various parts of my body felt like they were being prodded.
Though it could simply be a sensation.
‘The actual pain doesn’t seem all that severe, to be honest.’
I brushed my back lightly with my hand—the side where Gwima had struck me.
Sting—!
There was pain, certainly, but not enough to cry out.
“Don’t touch it. The wound isn’t deep, but it’s not something to be handled either.”
“…Ah, yes.”
“Yoo Yeon.”
At Seongheon’s call, Yoo Yeon looked up at him from the floor.
“Step outside for a moment.”
“….”
“I have matters to discuss with this child. Leave us briefly.”
Yoo Yeon made no complaint. She carefully exited as Seongheon instructed.
She did glance back at me once in the process, but only briefly before leaving entirely.
Now only Seongheon and I remained in the room.
[Well, I’m here too.]
Setting aside the spirit Yoo Cheon-gil for the moment.
After meeting Seongheon’s gaze briefly, he approached me.
“Give me your arm.”
I immediately extended my right hand. He naturally brought his fingers to my wrist.
Whoooosh—!
I felt energy flowing through my body.
“Fortunately, the treatment appears to have gone well. Your energy is stable, and while some toxin remains, it’s at a level that will heal naturally.”
I watched Seongheon quietly as he explained my condition.
“The external wounds weren’t aimed at vital points, and the bones weren’t damaged, so there should be no aftereffects. For a martial artist, that’s fortunate.”
“…I see.”
I nodded. Simultaneously, I spoke to him.
“Why did you save me?”
“….”
“Weren’t you intent on not getting involved?”
I knew he had wanted to conceal that he was Physician Uiseon.
When I was a Saengryeong, I wouldn’t have known, but I thought that without my memories now, he wouldn’t have stepped forward.
I couldn’t understand why he had intervened.
“You seem convinced that I saved you.”
“Even looking at things now, I can tell.”
He had already taken my pulse and explained the progression of the poison in my body—asking me to pretend ignorance would be far too cruel.
“…Child, who do you think I am?”
“I’m not sure.”
How should I describe it?
“The Jang Moonin of Hwasan. A war hero. The Celestial Demon of martial artists….”
Too many things came to mind. So I simply said them all.
“And, Physician Uiseon. That is how I understand it.”
“….”
At my final mention, Seongheon smiled bitterly.
“Who told you?”
“I heard it from the Scholar, but even without that, my Mentor told me before leaving.”
“That Cheon-gil? Ha. He’s a friend with a loose tongue, but he’s not one to speak lightly.”
[…Loose tongue? That bastard…?]
It was a statement that carried subtle trust.
“It doesn’t matter whether you believe it or not.”
Whether Yoo Cheon-gil said it or not was ultimately irrelevant.
That wasn’t what mattered here.
“What matters is that you are Physician Uiseon, Jang Moonin.”
“….”
“I know you were reluctant to reveal this. I also know you deliberately avoided it. That’s why I’m puzzled.”
I shifted slightly, revealing my upper body. The bandaged form became visible.
“Why did you save me? There must be many physicians….”
“They couldn’t have saved you.”
Seongheon chuckled and spoke.
“Removing poison without an antidote is something ordinary physicians cannot do. Only a martial artist who has reached a certain level can manage it, and they must possess considerable knowledge on the subject.”
“…There was no antidote?”
“It doesn’t grow in this region. It’s something that takes time to obtain… and it just so happened that we had run out when this incident occurred.”
“So you saved me because of that?”
Because there was no other way.
If I were simply left alone, I would die, so he stepped forward.
As I thought this.
“No.”
Seongheon denied those words.
“Even without a method, I wonder if I would have stepped forward. Since I’ve resolved not to save people anymore, I likely wouldn’t have.”
“….”
His tone was resolute. He had resolved not to save anyone anymore.
‘Hmm.’
I wasn’t sure what had happened, but it seemed there was some circumstance at play.
So be it.
“Are you saying you broke that resolve and saved me?”
After making such a resolve, what was the reason for saving me?
Seongheon laughed at my question.
He smiled with a bittersweet and somehow tender expression.
“Small Spring wished for it.”
“…What?”
“That child was like winter every year. Yet in that brief moment, spring came—how could I ignore it?”
“….”
[What nonsense is he spouting?]
Yoo Cheon-gil articulated my thoughts perfectly.
What does that even mean? I understand it’s meant to be poetic, but I can’t make sense of it.
‘…We don’t match.’
That style of conversation simply didn’t suit me. I’d have to interpret it myself.
“…I see.”
So I gave up trying to interpret it. Either way, he saved my life, so that’s what matters.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to regain my senses.”
I expressed my gratitude for being saved.
‘…I can’t ask about Shin Chang now.’
Having received his kindness, it would be difficult to press further.
Of course, even if that weren’t the case.
‘It would be impossible anyway with Shin Chang.’
I had learned Seongheon’s circumstances from the Saengryeong’s perspective.
I knew better than anyone that I couldn’t go to Hanam to save Shin Chang.
Then.
“Child.”
“Yes, Jang Moonin.”
Seongheon called to me and spoke.
“I ask first—does your physical condition factor into the reason you sought me out?”
“….”
My eyes widened. It seemed he had noticed my condition.
Or perhaps he had known from the moment he first saw me.
“About half of it is included.”
“How did you end up in such a state?”
“…That’s what I’d like to know.”
My qi had increased explosively.
As a result, my realm had risen, but I was now carrying a bomb that could detonate at any moment.
That’s why I sought out Physician Uiseon.
“To prevent misunderstanding, let me be clear—I cannot resolve the issues with your body.”
“…!”
Seongheon spoke to me with a hardened expression.
“…Even the Heavenly Supreme cannot?”
“Your body’s condition cannot be approached through medicine.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you understand that human meridians are delicate and fragile structures?”
“I have some understanding of it.”
“As a martial artist’s realm advances, the physical body strengthens, and that strengthened body contains vast amounts of inner energy. The more inner energy one possesses, the greater power one can draw forth, but…”
Seongheon paused to choose his words carefully before continuing.
“Ultimately, it is the meridians that contain and circulate this inner energy, and while they do strengthen alongside the martial artist’s growth, their limits are unmistakable.”
It seemed he was saying that meridians, unlike other parts of the body, were different.
“Do you know why a martial artist cultivates only one supreme technique within their body?”
“…Because if one contains two or more, the vital energy becomes twisted?”
“Correct. When different inner energies collide, the vital energy becomes twisted. The weak meridians cannot withstand such collision—that is why no martial artist, no matter how strong, cultivates two or more supreme techniques….”
Tap—!
“…!”
Seongheon suddenly grasped my wrist.
“Jang Moonin?”
“How can you possibly do this? You must also be aware of the abnormality in your body.”
“….”
I could not answer. What Seongheon was saying was surely…
‘That I have both Bangga’s supreme technique and Cheongwol Sect’s supreme technique within my body.’
That which I myself knew and had fainted from.
It seemed he was referring to that.
“How is it…”
Seongheon said to me,
“That you contain three types of energy within your body?”
“What?”
I had to wear a stunned expression at those words.
“…Three? Did you say three?”
Three?
Not two, but three?
What was this now? I spoke out with a thoroughly bewildered expression, and this time Seongheon looked puzzled.
“…You did not know?”
“…Yes. This is the first I have heard of it.”
Three—this was something I had never known.
“Three types of energy currently coexist within your body. Had you been anyone else, your flesh would have been torn to shreds long ago, yet somehow you maintain your physical form—it is truly a mystery.”
“….”
“This lies beyond the realm of medicine. Setting aside the vast inner energy contained within your body, this matter is simply a powder keg waiting to ignite.”
“…You’re saying treatment is impossible?”
“I’m not even sure if I can call it treatment. This is my first time encountering such a case.”
“Heh heh….”
Cold sweat dripped down my face at the words that this lay beyond the realm of medicine.
Three separate qi forces.
‘…One is Bangga’s inner cultivation, and another is Cheongwol Sect’s inner cultivation….’
What about the third one?
I can’t even begin to guess.
“There’s no method I can offer. If the problem were merely the excessive size of the dantian, I might be able to help, but now that I’ve confirmed there are three separate qi forces within, touching it carelessly would only invite greater danger.”
“…Then, you’re saying there’s truly no solution?”
“For now, the best we can do is pray that these strangely docile qi forces don’t suddenly erupt.”
“….”
This is going to drive me mad.
The more I listen to Seongheon’s words, the more hopeless the situation appears.
I glanced sideways, turning my gaze toward Yoo Cheon-gil.
Yoo Cheon-gil remained motionless, his eyes narrowed as though lost in thought.
Three qi forces. Did he sense something from that?
‘Does that old man know something?’
It’s possible. If this is the Yoo Cheon-gil I know, he might very well know something.
He was a man who seemed to know every strange thing in the world.
“…In any case.”
Seongheon spoke and rose to his feet.
“For now, I cannot offer aid to your body. This is my utmost effort, and there is nothing more I can provide.”
His work as a physician had come to an end.
“Once your body recovers somewhat, I shall call for you. For now, take your rest.”
“Jang Moonin-”
“There are matters regarding Gwima and Patcheon Gung that I wish to inquire about.”
“Mm….”
I closed my mouth. Gwima and Patcheon Gung. So Seongheon had learned of it too.
‘Of course he has.’
If I had awakened here, it meant he had heard at least some account of what had transpired.
“Rest now.”
“…Thank you.”
And so Seongheon departed.
“Gulp.”
I swallowed hard, sensing that matters had become complicated.
‘This is troublesome.’
It won’t be easy. If things have come to this….
‘The greatest problem is….’
Gwima had recognized me, and Patcheon Gung had noticed the issue and begun their investigation.
‘If I do that…’
Then they’ll make their move from that side.
Right.
‘The first move those men will make is…’
It’s probably already decided.
The moment I thought of that.
Knock, knock.
A sound came from outside the door.
-Pardon me. Are you here?
“Yes.”
-I’ve brought your meal.
“Ah, thank you.”
The door opened and a disciple of Hwasan entered carrying a bowl of porridge.
“It’s a simple nutritious rice porridge.”
It was pure white porridge. It seemed like the kind designed simply to help the body recover.
“I’ll eat well.”
I took it and looked at the disciple.
I glanced at him and asked.
“Excuse me, instructor.”
“Ah, yes. Would you like me to bring you water?”
“No, that’s not it.”
I asked with a slight smile.
“By any chance, would you know where Instructor Taeyong has gone?”
The Three Disciples who were supposed to be my attendant—I asked about where he had gone and why a different person had appeared.
The disciple responded.
“Ah, the Third Disciple Taeyong had something to attend to, so I came in his place.”
“I see. Understood. Ah, and you are…?”
“I am Tae-myeong, one of Hwasan’s Three Disciples.”
“Ah, I understand. Thank you for bringing this.”
“Yes, then.”
The disciple bowed respectfully to me and withdrew.
“…”
I simply stared at the porridge sitting on the table.
“Hmm.”
Then I set down the spoon I had been holding onto the table.
[You’re not going to eat it?]
“I can’t eat it, I’m afraid.”
[Why? You must be hungry.]
“Aha.”
I let out a quiet laugh.
The Old Man found it absurd.
“You know everything, yet why do you torment me so?”
[What do I know?]
“What do you mean, what? You know perfectly well.”
Tap, tap.
I touched the porridge with the tip of my spoon.
“There’s poison in this, isn’t there?”
The porridge contained poison.
This was both a suspicion and a certainty.
And for good reason.
‘That man Tae-myeong who just appeared.’
He was a spy of Patcheon Gung. The aura he emanated was unmistakable.
‘And there’s that too.’
The first move those men would take as mentioned earlier.
That would be.
‘They’ll soon try to make a move against me.’
Now that things have come to this, they would seize and eliminate the one who appears to be the cause.
That was undoubtedly their most pressing objective now.
‘Ah, what a nuisance.’
I stirred the poisoned porridge while thinking.
What should I do?
What must I do?
“….”
After brief deliberation, the answer came to me.
Three methods came to mind.
Among them, the most viable one. That would be.
“I need to meet with Daeju.”
It seemed I would need to meet with Maehua Daeju Seongpung first.

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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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