The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 309

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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 309
The Celestial Demon remains within my body.
After realizing this, my course of action was straightforward.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Ah, yes. I apologize for the wait.”
I continue the investigation. That was all I could do for now.
I glance upward. Yoo Cheon-gil’s expression is visibly tense.
-…What did you…?
His reaction upon hearing that the Celestial Demon dwells within me.
-…That man was inside the Divine Sword?
I recall those words.
The conversation wasn’t long. Apart from the shocking revelation, I hadn’t spoken extensively with Yoo Cheon-gil.
Moreover.
‘The Old Man’s reaction.’
Yoo Cheon-gil’s response was also something that caught my attention.
‘Why wasn’t he surprised that the Celestial Demon remained at all.’
He was only startled that the Celestial Demon had been contained within the Divine Sword. Nothing beyond that.
Which means.
‘It’s as if the Celestial Demon’s persistence isn’t strange at all.’
It felt as though the Celestial Demon’s existence as a spirit was perfectly natural.
-Do not trust Yoo Cheon-gil.
“…”
I recall what the Celestial Demon once told me. I already knew that the Old Man harbored many secrets.
‘Not to trust him?’
The Celestial Demon had hinted at his own existence.
‘It’s simple enough.’
It’s fine. That doesn’t mean I trust Yoo Cheon-gil.
No matter how much he aids me or grants me opportunities.
‘I don’t believe in ghosts.’
I have never believed in ghosts.
Never.

* * *
The investigation team’s composition remained the same as yesterday. Three Plum Blossom Sword Masters including Yeo Hyeok, several direct disciples, Maehua Daeju, Sochul Daeju, and myself.
Though the number of selected personnel was identical, our task today differed from yesterday’s forest reconnaissance.
‘We’re conducting a sweep of the district.’
Searching within the district to locate Patcheon Gung’s operatives. That was what we needed to accomplish today.
“Daeju.”
I approached Maehua Daeju and inquired.
“What is it?”
“What became of the location we discovered yesterday?”
“Ah—”
At my question about the cave, the Daeju nodded slightly and answered me.
“We’re conducting an investigation, but nothing substantial has emerged thus far.”
“…I see?”
His words made me reconsider.
‘Judging by his response.’
He seemed unaware of what I’d done at the cave last night.
It didn’t feel like he was pretending ignorance. If so—
‘Gwima must have cleaned it up.’
It appeared Gwima had dealt with the mess I’d left behind. The excavated earth, specifically.
“You mean no particular traces were discovered?”
“Not yet.”
“Hmm.”
Though it could certainly be a lie, I judged it wasn’t entirely so.
“By the way, Wol-hyeop.”
“Yes.”
This time Maehua Daeju posed a question to me.
“Is there a particular reason you insisted on investigating the district itself rather than the forest?”
He seemed curious about why we were surveying the district proper instead of conducting a forest search.
“Ah, that’s quite simple.”
Upon hearing the question, I delivered the answer I’d prepared in advance.
-I received information, you see.
-Information?
The moment I switched to sound transmission, Maehua Daeju’s expression grew grave.
Or perhaps concerned.
-Information regarding operatives active within the district.
-…!
-We intend to locate and apprehend them.
At my words about capturing Patcheon Gung’s agents in the district, creases formed between Maehua Daeju’s brows.
-You’ve identified their identities?
-Yes. More precisely, I’ve heard of identities that were already ascertained.
A double agent. I spat out the same words I’d used before, and once again, Maehua Daeju’s expression twisted.
-Is that information you can trust…?
-Who knows.
I answered vaguely.
-Still, we ought to trust it, shouldn’t we? It’s information they risked their lives to deliver.
-….
Maehua Daeju said nothing. He seemed uncertain how to respond.
Seeing this, I took another step forward.
‘…I need to keep pushing, bit by bit.’
What I’m aiming for in this matter is simple.
To amplify his desperation.
I’m cornering Maehua Daeju, backing him into a dead end.
A cornered old demon will resort to desperate measures.
That’s what I was waiting for.

* * *
I descended into the county town. The crowds were massive, as I’d seen before, and the vibrant energy emanating from them remained unchanged.
A space maintained as beautifully as any county in Hanam.
As if to prove this was an era of peace, even with the heterodox sects present, the people’s expressions remained bright.
This was the result of the presence of Hwasan Sect, called the sword and guardian of Shenxi.
“Wow!! The wandering heroes!”
“You fool! Show respect to the Daoists!”
As if to prove this, the townspeople gazed upon the appearing Hwasan disciples with nothing but reverent eyes.
“Ah, my lord…!”
An old man stepped forward and approached Maehua Daeju.
“It’s been a long time.”
“It’s an honor to see you again….”
“Business seems to be thriving. That’s fortunate.”
“It’s all thanks to the hard work of you Daoists.”
The street vendors and everyone nearby were busy showering him with praise.
‘They’re impressive.’
As I’d seen before, the presence Hwasan Sect displayed in this county town and the trust the people placed in them was considerable.
Perhaps.
‘It might even surpass how Hanam views the Martial Arts Alliance.’
The Martial Arts Alliance—Hanam’s shield and the center of the orthodox sects.
The way people looked at them was likely less than this.
‘That must be it.’
It would have been different in the past, but now this was the truth.
In Hanam, incidents had already occurred, dealing a blow to the Martial Arts Alliance itself.
‘In Hwain County, Hwasan Sect would be stronger than the Martial Arts Alliance.’
That’s why they show such trust.
‘…Tsk.’
They have no idea what kind of figure stands before them—the Maehua Daeju.
Nor do the disciples behind him.
“Brother!”
“Hm?”
At the voice, I lowered my head.
A young boy, no more than ten years old, was staring up at me.
“You’re Wol-hyeop, aren’t you! Right! I saw you before.”
“Ah.”
I remembered. This brat had been watching me when I arrived at the prefecture before.
“So what of it?”
I chuckled and replied.
“Wow! Did you really defeat the Sword Demon, brother?”
“…You know quite a lot, don’t you?”
I smiled awkwardly at the name Sword Demon. Truth be told, I hadn’t won that fight either.
“That’s amazing. How can I become like you, brother?”
“…I’m not sure.”
He’s asking something difficult to answer. I ended up like this without even realizing it myself.
“Maybe meet a foul-tempered old man?”
“Huh?”
He tilted his head in confusion. I’d been honest, but his expression showed he didn’t understand.
Well, that’s natural. I wasn’t trying to make him understand anyway.
Even if I tried, he couldn’t understand. Who could have known?
‘To think I’d end up like this, possessed by an ancient evil spirit.’
I tried to live as peacefully as anyone could. But once I noticed, my life had twisted like a dog’s hind leg.
I thought it couldn’t twist any further, yet troubles kept piling on.
‘…The Sword Saint and the Celestial Demon…’
Two overwhelming figures entangled with me—one would be enough to burden anyone. I couldn’t even predict what would become of my life.
Then.
“You brat!”
A man appeared urgently and pulled the child away.
Watching him, my eye twitched.
“What are you doing to such honored guests! Apologize at once!”
The man, who appeared to be the father, spoke angrily.
At his words, the child’s eyes welled with tears.
“D-Dad…”
“It’s fine.”
I stopped the father.
“Children can be like that sometimes.”
“…Ah, I’m truly sorry. The child is still so young.”
“Yes. That’s just how it is when they’re young, isn’t it.”
Right, children are always like that when they’re young.
Though at least he’s better than the young boys I saw in my past life. That place was a demon’s den. The children here are rather pure.
“Hey.”
“Yes, yes.”
When I called out to the young boy, he froze.
He seemed to have grown a bit frightened by his father’s reaction.
I looked at the small wooden sword he was carrying and asked.
“Are you learning the sword?”
“Yes, I am!”
The moment I asked about the sword, the fear vanished and the child beamed brightly as he spoke.
“I’m working hard so that when I grow up, I can join the Hwasan Sect too. Then I’ll protect Shenxi as well. Oh! My father is a martial artist too.”
“Is that so?”
I glanced briefly at the child’s father. The man smiled awkwardly at my gaze.
“Aha… I’m just running a small martial school in the neighborhood.”
“….”
His cultivation level didn’t appear particularly high, but he was clearly a martial artist.
Moreover, the child’s thoughts were pure and admirable.
And so.
‘All the more tragic.’
I found the child all the more tragic.
It couldn’t be helped.
Swish.
My eyes turned toward the child’s father. More precisely, toward the space behind him.
‘Patcheon Gung.’
I sensed an aura emanating from the child’s father. Not blatant, but clear enough to be unmistakable.
Damn.
I held back a sigh.
Every time I encounter this, I feel it.
‘This world is truly vicious.’
While the Central Plains held purity on one side, I became aware of just how harsh and cursed this world truly was.
Experiencing something like this made it all the more apparent.
“Come now, let’s go. Don’t disturb these wandering heroes while they’re doing good work!”
“…Okay.”
“We apologize for the intrusion during your important task.”
“Not at all.”
The father approached to take the child away from me.
He wrapped his arms around the child and lifted him up.
In that moment.
Zing.
My father’s eyes changed.
Whoosh—!!
He tried to pull something from his sleeve.
Seeing that, I moved.
Crack—!
“…!”
I blocked him before he could draw the blade from his sleeve, completely sealing his movement.
Fortunately, my cultivation level was not lacking, and knowing his intentions made it easy to respond.
The space fell silent in an instant. From within that silence, I spoke to the man.
“No matter what, there are limits.”
My eyes naturally narrowed. My voice grew cold to match.
I was furious. No matter how the world was.
“You can’t do this in front of a child. Can you?”
“Ugh….”
What he’d tried to pull from his sleeve was a dagger.
I stopped it before it could come into the world.
After that, everything happened in an instant.
“Dad?”
Before the child could react to anything.
Thud—!!
Sochul Daeju appeared and struck the man’s jaw.
The man lost consciousness immediately.
I covered the child’s eyes in that moment.
“Huh?”
Before the child could even sense what was happening.
“Daeju.”
I called to Sochul Daeju. Understanding what my call meant, he flicked his fingers.
A faint aura was contained within his fingertips.
“Hup!”
The child struck by that aura crumpled silently.
I caught him.
“What—!”
Maehua Daeju reacted. His response came somewhat late.
Seeing this, I cursed inwardly.
“Wol-hyeop…!”
Yeo Hyeok grasped the situation.
Seeing that, I shifted my gaze.
‘Thank goodness.’
If I had to call it that.
I’m not entirely sure. But it’s not a relief either. If it were merely that kind of emotion, my insides wouldn’t feel this rotten.
In any case.
‘They’re planning to make their move.’
Those men finally began to stir.
Just as I’d anticipated.

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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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