The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 312

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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 312
The investigation of the county concluded with shocking revelations.
An entire inn had served as a garrison for the Patcheon Gung faction, and everyone inside was a heterodox practitioner.
The fact that this was occurring in Shaanxi, where the Hwasan Sect held sway, left everyone reeling.
Moreover, it was not a newly established inn.
The innkeeper was born in Hwain County and had spent his entire life there, opening the inn with support from a merchant guild.
Most of those inside were couriers from the postal service operating in Hwain County.
The revelation that such people had become agents of Patcheon Gung carried enormous implications.
‘It meant everyone involved would need to be investigated.’
What had gathered in a single inn?
The merchant guild that supported it would be implicated.
The postal service, presumed to be heterodox, would also become problematic.
Moreover, those they had attacked were martial artists of Hwasan, and beyond that, the Cheongwol Sect in Hanan.
They said it was Wol-hyeop, the most promising disciple in the current Central Plains.
Once entangled with such a figure, there was no way to brush this aside lightly.
The Hwasan elders’ resistance stemmed from the same concern.
“Jang Moonin, you must summon the postal master and the merchant guild leader at once.”
“Summon? Does that even make sense now? We should be dragging them in, and you speak of summoning? What if they flee?”
“Third Elder, but there are rules and regulations. We cannot simply disregard them and proceed like this—”
The conference room grew chaotic, each voice rising as they engaged in what masqueraded as discussion.
“They had already infiltrated deep into the county itself. As Wol-hyeop said, there is sufficient possibility that Hwasan has agents within it.”
“Sufficient? That word is laughable. At this point, certainty would not be surprising.”
“…But still, certainty is too much. We should have faith in our disciples.”
“Master, does the word ‘faith’ even apply in this situation? How can you be so calm about this… Ah, wait.”
The Old Man’s eyes narrowed.
“…What is that look? Senior Brother, are you suspecting me right now?”
“In a situation like this, anyone could be suspected.”
“What do you—!”
The Old Man who had been accused shot to his feet, his expression visibly enraged.
At that moment.
“Enough!”
A shout carrying the weight of plum blossoms burst forth in the conference room.
The thick pressure caused everyone’s bodies to stiffen.
“That is enough.”
“Jang Moonin…”
“This is not the time for us to quarrel amongst ourselves.”
Seongheon, who appeared utterly exhausted, spoke to the elders while suppressing a sigh.
“What of the one we captured…”
“We are conducting an interrogation, but…”
“We are not obtaining proper answers, it seems.”
“…That is correct.”
The man who had attacked Wol-hyeop during the investigation. We captured him and began interrogation, but….
“He continues to claim he cannot remember anything.”
He has no memory of that time. He insists it was not his doing. He merely repeats such excuses.
“Clearly he is making excuses. How could he possibly have no recollection?”
“This means interrogation alone will not suffice. Would it not be better to employ other methods?”
“…Other methods? Are you suggesting we resort to torture?”
“If necessary, should we not do so?”
“Master. We are not an evil sect. Torture…! What madness is this.”
Hwasan is a righteous sect. And yet, someone from the Gupaibang—the orthodox faction within the Martial Arts Alliance—proposes torture.
The elders voice their opposition to such absurdity.
“However, we have already confirmed that a conspiracy exists. We cannot retreat now, can we?”
“…That is also true.”
“Given the circumstances, to concern ourselves with morality at this juncture….”
There were those who held the opposing view. If Hwasan remained idle, the sect would be in danger. They could not simply stand by.
“What kind of talk is that—!”
“Then what do you propose—!”
The voices that had quieted rose once more. As they voiced their opinions, the atmosphere grew heated.
At this rate, there would be no end to it.
Seongheon, having reached such a conclusion, moved his hand.
CRASH——!!!!
The table shook violently as energy rippled outward.
The thunderous sound brought silence once more to the noisy chamber.
Only then did Seongheon speak.
“…Where is Wol-hyeop now?”
From Seongheon’s perspective, it seemed.
“He is necessary.”
Wol-hyeop appeared to be what Hwasan needed at this moment.
***
“You called for me.”
Upon hearing the summons, I made my way directly to the conference room.
“I apologize for calling you in such haste when you must be exhausted.”
“Not at all. What brings this about?”
“It concerns what happened earlier today.”
“Ah, I see.”
I didn’t even feign surprise. I had already anticipated this would be the reason for the summons.
“I hear you’ve been conducting interrogations. How has that progressed?”
Seongheon asked. I responded with indifference to his question.
“I haven’t obtained any particularly useful information.”
He claims to have no memory. He knows nothing of the matter. He begs for forgiveness.
Those same words repeated dozens, hundreds of times over.
That’s why I’ve been racking my brain.
‘What could it be.’
There were more than a few peculiarities.
Not least the sudden disappearance of his aura.
‘His eyes seemed genuine.’
Perhaps because his aura vanished, the man’s words felt strangely sincere.
And therein lay the problem.
‘What did he do.’
The disappearance of the Patcheon Gung aura. That was the mystery.
‘He’s different from the others.’
The other conspirators severed their life force and took their own lives the moment they were captured.
The one who ambushed me did not.
His aura simply vanished, and he acted as though he understood nothing of the situation.
‘What could it be.’
If it wasn’t an act.
‘The possibility that he regained his senses as his aura disappeared.’
It could be one aspect of brainwashing.
That possibility had taken root in my mind.
‘This is getting complicated.’
Needlessly, more possibilities had multiplied. Damn it all.
“Wol-hyeop.”
“Yes, Jang Moonin.”
I answered Seongheon’s call. I noticed he looked considerably more exhausted than before.
“I hear you provided invaluable assistance in this matter. You even faced danger in the process… I offer you both my gratitude and my apologies.”
“Not at all. It was simply what needed to be done.”
I at least paid lip service to courtesy. It was dangerous, certainly. And I did work diligently.
“I’m told you’re moving with conviction regarding the conspirators. Is that correct?”
“Yes. I’ve been receiving information consistently and moving to verify it.”
“Information? Are you referring to that double agent mentioned in the report?”
“That’s correct.”
Double agent. Several people reacted to those words.
Among them were those bearing the aura of Patcheon Gung, and those who did not.
“…A double agent, you say. I heard he was a disciple of Hwasan.”
“That may or may not be the case.”
“You mean you cannot speak of it?”
“Yes. We work with our lives on the line. I cannot carelessly divulge such matters.”
“…Hmm.”
After all, I cannot speak of a double agent who doesn’t even exist.
‘This is getting difficult to manage.’
It was a useful story to deploy. It built credibility and strengthened my position, but.
‘I’m reaching my limits.’
Pushing and sustaining a single double agent had a predetermined endpoint.
However.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
I wasn’t particularly concerned about that either. Once I obtained what I desired, whether it ended or continued was irrelevant.
“Wol-hyeop.”
“Yes.”
From my perspective.
“There is one request I wish to make of you….”
I believed that through this current incident, I had reached the part I desired. That’s what I thought.
“A request, you say?”
I pretended to ask cautiously. Then Seongheon spoke to me.
“I wish to entrust full authority over the investigation to Wol-hyeop… Would you be willing to move on behalf of Hwasan?”
“Ah.”
Hearing that, I laughed.
“Of course. That is precisely why I came to Shenxi.”
Because I had finally obtained what I wanted.
***
Full authority over the investigation.
Not merely cooperation in the investigation, but I had secured complete investigative authority regarding Patcheon Gung.
After obtaining that, I ran my hand through my hair.
‘…It took quite a while.’
How could they entrust such a significant matter entirely to an outsider? There was resistance from the Elder faction with such arguments, but the outcome remained the same.
The most transparent and influential figure regarding the incident.
The one who nearly suffered the greatest damage during the investigation.
Yet still managed to produce excellent results.
That was how Hwasan Sect viewed me. Based on this, I ultimately obtained full authority.
Truly complete authority.
Not collaboration with Maehua Daeju, but reaching a point where I could even issue orders regarding this matter.
Of course.
‘I did make a contract with Seongheon for that.’
But that was something I could easily overlook.
What mattered was.
‘That I’ve become free to move.’
My injured body was problematic, certainly. But that was acceptable.
Whoosh!
The lit lantern extinguishes.
I settled into my quarters as it was.
Now that I have full authority, I can accelerate my pace.
‘I can now gather the tasks I’ve delegated.’
Since I’ve asked my allies for favors, using these will make my work much easier.
The problem is.
‘Gwima….’
Gwima as an entity. That’s the part that troubles me most.
I couldn’t even grasp how he might emerge.
Seeing that he didn’t touch me at a point where he could have killed me anytime, it seems he must have some intention.
‘The reason is probably.’
That he mistook me for Celestial Demon’s bloodline.
Celestial Demon’s bloodline. That aspect seemed quite important to him.
‘So.’
If it becomes known that I’m not actually the Celestial Demon’s child.
‘His attitude will change instantly.’
I must be cautious and vigilant. It was a misunderstanding caused by the Divine Sword.
The moment this misunderstanding is revealed, Gwima might turn hostile and kill me.
‘Given his level.’
Killing me seemed simple. Moreover.
‘When Gwima was nearby, Yoo Cheon-gil couldn’t possess me.’
It might be a momentary issue, but that’s how it was then.
Both Yoo Cheon-gil and I were taken aback by what happened. Since there was no certainty that the same incident wouldn’t occur again, I had to be even more cautious.
‘Phew….’
I exhaled silently and brought my hand to my chest.
[….]
Yoo Cheon-gil watched me in silence.
I felt his gaze. I ignored it.
My hand pressed against the area where my heart lay.
Creak.
I twisted it slightly, as if turning a lock.
Then.
Giiing-!
The seal shifted like a turning ring. I adjusted it as finely as possible.
Had I opened it any wider, the seal I had placed would have broken completely.
But if I opened it too little, I wouldn’t get what I wanted.
‘…I need to control this with precision.’
I twisted it bit by bit with intense concentration.
Once I had opened it to the desired level,
‘Now.’
I extracted what I had bound inside at the precise moment.
-Gaaaaaahhhhh–!!!
A spirit was torn from my chest.
A grotesque scream echoed.
-Kiiieeeahhhhh!!!!
It was a demon—the demon I had captured and sealed away at the inn earlier.
The moment she burst out, she shrieked.
-Grrr!! This…! This…!
She seemed about to direct her rage at me.
Crack-!
-Ughk!?
I seized the demon and slammed her straight into the ground.
-Gack…grrgh.
“I apologize. It’s been so long that I can’t seem to control my strength properly.”
My veins bulged.
It had been over a decade since I last grasped a ghost with my bare hands.
“You remember what I asked you during the day, don’t you?”
-Grrr…ughh…!!
The demon writhed in agony.
I paid her no mind.
“I sincerely hope you remember well.”
After all.
“Otherwise, things will become far more difficult.”
From this moment forward, I intended to make his suffering several times worse than before.

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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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