The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 298
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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 298
The Celestial Demon.
The root of all evil that sparked the Righteous-Demonic War, an absolute wickedness so forbidden that even its mention is prohibited in this age.
One could call him the master of sin merely for harboring the will to dominate the Central Plains.
Yet he possessed the power to realize that ambition.
Beneath the heavens and beneath the earth.
Born to reign supreme, he was the very being called a deity within the Demonic Cult—a place where power itself is the world.
He would place all things beneath himself.
Not only did he possess such arrogant aspirations, but he also wielded the strength to achieve them.
The blood calamity descended.
The Eight Demon Kings who served under the Celestial Demon.
From them as the catalyst, countless demons invaded the Central Plains.
Those who remembered that day called the war of that era the Age of Blood.
The demons were formidable, and the Celestial Demon was terrifying.
With a single gesture, he could split mountains and shatter the heavens—they said he could not be called human.
A being that created hell and stained an era with blood.
Those who lived through that time said merely recalling it would cause them to lose their minds.
That is why.
One cannot speak carelessly of the Demonic Cult and the Celestial Demon anywhere.
The fact that the Demonic Cult has been revived in this age shakes the entire Central Plains.
It is all because of the Celestial Demon.
Beyond the Demonic Cult’s revival, the fear that perhaps he too has been resurrected.
Beyond the emergence of Gwima and the Demon King, whom we believed to be dead.
The worry that the Celestial Demon himself might have returned as well.
This is an era without Yoo Cheon-gil.
An era where the symbol of peace has vanished. Thus, everyone is anxious, believing that if the Celestial Demon appears, there will be no hope.
Such was the perception people held of the Celestial Demon’s existence.
Knowing this, the Martial Arts Alliance made a hundred efforts to erase all traces of the Demonic Cult, and the result is this present age.
‘The seed of the Celestial Demon…?’
Yoo Yeon is the daughter of the Celestial Demon, that living embodiment of evil?
‘What kind of insane nonsense is this?’
I don’t know what reaction I should show.
“…The…bloodline of the Celestial Demon was alive?”
[Who knows.]
Seongheon gives me an ambiguous answer to my question.
“…What kind of answer is that? You just said something before.”
He provides a clue in his previous words, then gives an evasive answer? It’s absurd.
Unable to comprehend this, I try to press Seongheon further.
[Will you be alright even if you hear it?]
Seongheon asks me.
[This answer might become a curse upon you.]
“….”
I hesitate at those words.
[Do not burden yourself with it.]
It’s absurd. I just heard what he said moments ago, and now he speaks as though he’s concerned for me.
“I cannot help but be troubled by such words now, after everything.”
My hardened expression did not hide the bitterness in my voice.
I understood Seongheon’s intentions completely.
“You’re more petty than I thought.”
[….]
My unfiltered words strike at Seongheon. Though they are discourteous and disrespectful, he does not respond.
This is not because he, being a Saengryeong, can do nothing.
[I am sorry.]
It is because he himself feels ashamed.
That apology was his answer.
“Why not simply ask me to bear it? Why not ask for my help? Then at least I could have refused more easily.”
Do not burden yourself with it.
Forget it, for it will become a curse.
How hollow those words are. He speaks with the intention of making me worry, yet tells me not to.
“If you care so much about your disciple, why not struggle to live? Do not leave it to a stranger like me. Have you forgotten?”
I look at Seongheon with clear eyes and speak.
“The request the Jang Moonin made to me.”
The day I first met Seongheon as a Saengryeong.
He asked something of me.
“To kill him.”
To bring about his death.
Not to assist in physical death.
‘The resolution of circumstances.’
Not death in the current situation, but a state where there would be no further complications.
As a Saengryeong, he knew everything.
‘That Maehua Daeju became a traitor.’
That there were traitors within Hwasan.
He knew it all.
So he made his request.
‘To resolve the shaken Hwasan.’
To help him depart without lingering attachment. If I did so.
“You would tell me of an opportunity to enter the hidden records of Hwasan and a way to save Shin Chang.”
Hearing that, I accepted. I wanted to resolve the situation.
It was not only about saving Shin Chang.
‘I must survive as well.’
A collision of energies. That became the problem, leaving me with a body that could die at any moment without surprise.
Seongheon, who examined my body immediately, said this was something medicine could not resolve.
But.
“Your true intention was different, was it not?”
Saengryeong Seongheon spoke differently.
Even if medicine could not do it.
‘He said there was a way.’
That I would need to enter seclusion for that.
He would give me the opportunity, asking me to resolve it.
Looking at this alone, I could not miss Seongheon’s intention.
‘He prepares for death.’
A heart wishing for Hwasan to be clean at his end.
But.
“Even within that, there was a hidden meaning.”
I understood what his greatest lingering attachment was within his death.
“Does it trouble you so?”
It was Yoo Yeon’s concern.
In the words she spat as if telling me not to mind, I glimpsed a scheme to pass responsibility to me.
“I apologize, but that is difficult for me.”
I waved my hand.
“I am busy enough managing my own body. Hwasan must embrace the child of the Celestial Demon.”
Yoo Yeon was not some naive young girl. How could I possibly bear a grown woman?
Moreover.
‘…Heavenly Killing Star with the bloodline of the Celestial Demon?’
There were countless matters I should not approach.
Terrifying words.
Conditions I absolutely must not become entangled with.
“I will only do what I have committed to. Do not be greedy for anything beyond this.”
[….]
I spoke firmly.
“If you dislike it, I will not even do this.”
When there was no answer and I mentioned it once more, only then did Seongheon laugh and speak.
[Yes, I understand. I apologize for troubling you.]
“….”
I held back a sigh internally. This feeling of exhaustion.
‘Ugh.’
I have so much to do starting tomorrow, yet I became needlessly unsettled.
I made an effort to calm myself and spoke to Seongheon.
“…That is all. I have things to do starting tomorrow, so I will sleep first.”
Seongheon seemed about to say something, but I ignored him and lay down.
I didn’t want to concern myself with anything.
There was simply too much to worry about, which was precisely why I didn’t.
Fortunately, I slept well enough.
And so I drifted off to sleep.
For the first time in ages, I dreamed.
A dream from the old days.
* * *
If I had to pinpoint the time, it was probably just under ten years ago.
Not long after I’d recovered my memories from my past life.
It must have been when Youngsoon was constantly coming and going from our house as if it were her own.
‘You’re here again?’
I greeted the young girl who had arrived with a listless expression. Despite her tender age, there was an elegant beauty that shone through her delicate features.
At my words, the lovely young girl Muyong Youngsoon let out a snort.
‘I can come if I want. What’s with that reaction?’
‘What do you mean you can come? Do you think this is your house?’
‘Half of it is.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘The rent for this place is paid by the Moyong clan. The Lord of the Clan asked for it, or so I heard.’
‘….’
At Youngsoon’s words, I furrowed my brow.
Ah, that damned man had caused trouble again.
He was truly useless to the world.
‘…This is infuriating.’
‘So I can come in, right?’
‘No, why do you keep coming here when you have such a spacious house? Go to your own home.’
The rent was one thing, but why did she keep coming to this cramped little place?
I really couldn’t understand it.
To my words, Youngsoon replied bluntly.
‘The food here tastes better.’
‘….’
It was nothing short of absurd.
And so Youngsoon went inside ahead of me, and I followed. A worn-out table sat in the small building.
Seeing it, Youngsoon’s expression twisted.
‘…Where did the table you bought last time go?’
‘What? You bought me a table?’
‘Surely you gave it to the Lord of the Clan….’
‘He must have sold it.’
‘….’
How foolish—entrusting a table to Father? I should have known better.
I shook my head in resignation.
It seems she sold off the gifts she’d received in the meantime.
Already irritated by the dining table situation, Muyong Youngsoon’s face crumpled further when she noticed something else.
‘Is he still here?’
She pointed at someone. A boy sitting at the table flinched visibly.
‘Why is he still here.’
‘Why is he still here? He’s a guest in our home. Why are you treating him like that?’
‘What!? He’s a guest but I’m not!?’
‘You have your own home. He doesn’t have anywhere to go.’
‘….’
Youngsoon closed her mouth, finding the logic sound.
Even by her own reasoning, she had nothing to say against it.
At those words, I heard laughter from somewhere.
‘Did you just laugh?’
Muyong Youngsoon’s eyes blazed as she spoke.
At her expression, Hong Daecheon flinched.
‘I… no… that is.’
Seeing her stammer, I stepped in.
‘Hey, why are you picking on Daecheon.’
‘Picking on? She was the one who smirked first!’
‘If you’re going to make noise, get out. If you’re going to eat, sit quietly.’
‘…tch….’
Muyong Youngsoon huffed and sat down.
And she glared at Hong Daecheon.
‘Eek….’
Frightened by that gaze, Hong Daecheon looked around nervously.
At that, I stroked her hair gently.
‘Don’t worry. Despite how she looks, she’s softer inside than you’d think. She won’t do anything to you.’
‘What!?’
‘I’m waiting. I’ll do something about it.’
Before Muyong Youngsoon could have a fit, I entered the kitchen.
The chef wasn’t here today, so I had to make something myself.
Since I didn’t know how to make much, there was really only one thing I could serve.
‘…Noodles again?’
Youngsoon spoke flatly.
At that, I clicked my tongue.
‘Look at this reaction after I went to the trouble of making it.’
‘…The meat I sent you last time….’
‘…You sent meat?’
‘Yes.’
‘That damned….’
I didn’t even have the strength left to curse. That’s enough. Why say anything more?
I hadn’t even eaten yet, but my appetite had completely vanished.
Meanwhile, I kept hearing slurping sounds from beside me.
Hong Daecheon had her face buried in the bowl, eating thin noodles like a madwoman.
‘…Daecheon.’
‘Huh…?’
At my call, Daecheon lifted her head.
Her bangs were so long I thought they’d get completely soaked in the broth.
‘Is it good?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Good…. Eat plenty. Want to eat mine too?’
‘Can I really?’
‘…Yeah, eat it all.’
‘Thanks.’
She took the bowl and ate everything without hesitation.
I chuckled at the sight and spoke.
‘Yeah, you’re the only one who says my thin noodles are delicious.’
That picky one over there shows every sign of not wanting to eat, yet eats anyway.
But she always enjoyed it whenever I made it for her.
Hearing my words, Hong Daecheon spoke to me as if confused.
‘It really is delicious.’
‘I’m grateful for the kind words alone.’
‘No.’
I tilted my head at her tone. It was an almost unprecedented firmness.
‘It’s the most delicious in the world.’
‘Uh…. Yeah, okay.’
I answered awkwardly to those words.
‘Thank you.’
* * *
“….”
I opened my eyes. Staggering, I pushed myself up from the familiar ceiling.
“…Ugh.”
What was this strange and unsettling dream?
It had been a long time since I had an old memory like this, and of all times.
‘Daecheon. No, was it a dream of Yoo Yeon?’
It was a memory from back then that I had completely forgotten.
“Damn it.”
I sighed deeply and pushed myself up.
A useless dream.
‘Seongheon’s words are the problem.’
I was having this dream because I carelessly touched upon my own emotions.
Without realizing it, I had become preoccupied.
That must be why.
“How irritating.”
I walked out without giving it further thought. Yoo Cheon-gil was nowhere to be seen. It seemed he had stormed out yesterday on his own and never returned.
After finishing my ablutions, I headed somewhere.
I had a destination in mind.
“I am Bangseong-yeon of the Cheongwol Sect.”
Upon reaching my destination and announcing myself, the door opened immediately.
-Come in.
The familiar voice belonged to Maehua Daeju, who was inside.
He greeted me with a somewhat serious expression.
“We meet quite often, Daeju.”
“….”
“Have you resolved all your concerns?”
At my question, Daeju stared at me intently before speaking.
“According to Jang Moonin, you said you wished to conduct a joint operation with me.”
“Ah, yes, that’s correct.”
I maintained my smile.
“From Hwasan, I believed you were the most trustworthy person.”
“….”
“Therefore, in preparation for the possibility that you might refuse, I took the liberty of asking Jang Moonin. If I have offended you, I sincerely apologize.”
“No. I am not offended.”
As we conversed, I observed my surroundings.
I needed to remain vigilant. Without Yoo Cheon-gil at my side, my perception was limited.
As I was assessing the situation thus.
“…My decision is made.”
A welcome sound reached my ears.
“Ah, yes. Then…?”
“I have made my judgment after hearing the proposal from Wol-hyeop and the words spoken by Jang Moonin.”
As if he had made a difficult decision, Daeju spoke to me with gravity.
“…I will accept the proposal. I shall find and eliminate every last one of the Patcheon-gung thugs in Shaanxi, along with my Hwasan Sect.”
At those words, I nodded as if he had made the right choice.
“…You have made the correct decision.”
Yes.
It truly had to be the right choice.
Just as he said….
‘I must eliminate all the Patcheon-gung thugs.’
I needed to eliminate those in Shaanxi and Hwasan.
Including Maehua Daeju 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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