The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 316

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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 316
‘What is this?’
The Giant standing beside Yoo Yeon. I tilted my head as I looked at him.
“One moment.”
I had Sochul Daeju wait to the side, then approached the Giant.
Was he someone I knew? If so, it would be better not to approach him.
“…!”
My body stiffened as I looked at the Giant.
‘…That man.’
I could see it. The enormous instrument visible behind his back.
A level that operated on a different plane from ordinary beings. It was comparable to what I felt when observing Gwima.
‘What is this?’
What exactly was this man? With an aura of this magnitude, he was absolutely no ordinary being.
My vigilance sharpened.
[I know.]
I understand as well.
Yoo Cheon-gil must have sensed something too, as he spoke to me. I nodded.
“So that’s what you’re saying-”
I heard their conversation. I pushed through it and approached.
“Hey.”
Yoo Yeon immediately responds to my voice. She looked at me and her expression changed.
“Oh. What is it? Do you know him?”
The Giant responds with a grin, and I notice his yellowed teeth.
“Who might you be?”
As I asked, the Giant scratched the back of his head.
“Nothing remarkable about me. I was just asking this young lady something.”
“Asking? About what?”
“Ah. I got lost, you see. I was looking for a certain inn… but this isn’t it. So I asked for directions… This is quite something. The young lady doesn’t talk much, does she?”
“….”
Yoo Yeon looks at me. Seeing this, I spoke.
“She can’t speak.”
“Eh? Ah, is that so? I see… So? I’m terribly sorry… I wish you’d told me sooner.”
“…How would she have told you?”
“Ah. You have a point there. My apologies.”
Hahaha.
The Giant laughed. As he did, the aura behind him rippled.
“…Which place are you looking for? I can direct you instead.”
“Ah. The place I’m looking for….”
The Giant tells me. Hearing this, I furrowed my brow. The location he described was none other than the inn where the Patcheon-gung Thugs had been.
“…That place won’t be accessible to ordinary people right now. Why are you looking for that place?”
“Hm? Is that so? Has something happened…?”
His expression was deceptively innocent.
“Recently, heterodox sect members attempted to infiltrate and cause trouble there. Now, after suppression, the Hwasan Sect manages it.”
“Ah…. My goodness! Heterodox sects, you say. That must have been quite serious…. Well then, this puts me in a bind as well?”
“Did you have some purpose there?”
“Not exactly a purpose. I was somewhat acquainted with the innkeeper there…. I never expected it would be connected to those heterodox sect bastards. Thank you for telling me.”
“….”
“Then there’s no need to go. Mm.”
The Giant nods repeatedly.
“I nearly wasted the trip. In any case, I’m grateful for the information.”
As he speaks, a massive hand extends toward me.
“I am called Hwangso-gong.”
“…I am Cheo-u-yeong.”
I used an alias. There seemed no reason to reveal my true name.
“Oh. Cheo-u-yeong. The name sounds as impressive as it appears. Hahahaha.”
We exchanged a handshake. Just a handshake, nothing more. I felt nothing beyond that.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
The man called Hwangso-gong begins to walk away.
Then.
“Ah, that’s right.”
He pauses briefly and turns back.
“I mention this out of gratitude for the information.”
“What is it?”
“It would be better to avoid such meddling if possible. As you know, the world is quite unsettled these days.”
“….”
“Especially for someone who looks as frightening as I do.”
“I appreciate the advice.”
“Think nothing of it. Then I shall go.”
Hwangso-gong attempts to move forward again. I turn my gaze from him and glance briefly at Yoo Yeon.
But then.
“It was a pleasure meeting you.”
He greets me once more. In that instant.
-Wol-hyeop.
“…!”
Hwangso-gong sends me a transmission. At the name I hear, I look back at him. Though I turn my gaze, Hwangso-gong has already long since vanished.
“…Damn it.”
My face contorts. Wol-hyeop. My expression crumples at the words he spoke.
“He knew all along?”
The alias proved meaningless.
‘Where did he go?’
I looked at Yoo Cheon-gil with intent.
He turned his head to gaze westward.
West.
[Do not pursue him. He is not someone you can capture. Besides, Sochul Daeju has already moved. Wait.]
At those words, I looked toward where Sochul Daeju had been standing. He was already gone, having disappeared in pursuit of Hwangso-gong.
‘Do you know who this person is?’
[I do not. At least not among those I know.]
How did he know about me? This question was not worth dwelling on.
[Did you really think you could hide your identity while possessing those eyes?]
Wol-an. Was the problem that I revealed a false name while bearing these eyes? Even so.
‘It seems he knew from the very beginning anyway.’
Hwangso-gong appeared to have recognized me the moment he saw me.
There was even a possibility that the name Hwangso-gong itself was false.
“What is he?”
What could that man be? Something felt off. A sense of foreboding emanated from him, different from that of Gwima.
Then.
Tug.
Yoo Yeon grasped my collar.
“…Ah.”
Only then did I come to my senses.
“Right. Why are you here?”
Yoo Yeon pointed at something with her hand. It was a small inn.
“Here? What business do you have here?”
Tap, tap. To the second question, she pointed to her chest. To the emblem of the Hwasan Sect marked there.
Seeing that, I understood.
“A mission?”
She nodded.
Yoo Yeon nodded. Was this a mission from the Plum Blossom Sword Master?
To come to this small inn?
“An investigation? Or reconnaissance.”
She held up one finger. It seemed to be the first option. An investigation?
‘An investigation concerning this small inn….’
That meant.
“You’re investigating all the inns in the area?”
Yoo Yeon nodded. It seemed they had launched a large-scale investigation. Since a problem had occurred at one inn, they were likely turning over every establishment and merchant house connected to it.
It was the simplest method with the highest accuracy.
The problem was.
“You’re doing this alone?”
“….”
The fact that Yoo Yeon had undertaken this investigation alone was absurd. What kind of investigation would they assign to someone who cannot speak?
‘Do all the Plum Blossom Sword Masters work like this?’
Or was this something assigned only to Yoo Yeon?
I had no idea.
This was something I’d need to ask Maehua Daeju about later.
“Anyway, that’s settled. I had business here myself, as it happens.”
There were things I needed to investigate. I was about to enter with Yoo Yeon.
But then.
[…Hmm.]
Yoo Cheon-gil exhaled softly.
What was he doing?
[Too late.]
Hearing his words, I opened the door.
Creeeeak—!
The inn door swung open, and the interior came into view. The moment I saw it, my nose wrinkled.
“…Damn.”
The inside was a mess. Well, the inn itself was intact, but that wasn’t the problem.
“…Are they all dead?”
The interior was filled with corpses.
Bodies slashed and battered everywhere.
“What is this.”
How did this happen? The moment I took in the scene, Hwangso-gong came to mind.
‘Surely not.’
That man had been in front of the inn. I immediately questioned Yoo Yeon.
“Hey. Do you know where that man came from earlier….”
I stopped mid-question.
“….”
Yoo Yeon’s eyes were fixed on the corpses before her.
Her expression was blank, her mouth hanging open, her gaze locked in place.
Blood flowing. Bodies collapsed.
Something was wrong with Yoo Yeon’s state.
“Hey…?”
What was wrong with her?
Had she suddenly been overwhelmed? I was puzzled when.
[Cover her eyes quickly—!]
“…!”
Yoo Cheon-gil shouted. At his cry, I immediately covered Yoo Yeon’s eyes with both hands.
“…!”
Yoo Yeon stiffened at my touch.
Her trembling body gradually calmed. Then, Yoo Yeon raised her hand and grasped my wrist, the one covering her eyes.
“…Are you alright?”
“….”
There was no answer, of course. Should I send her outside? After deliberating, I spoke.
“Cover your eyes with my back. If you don’t want to see, then don’t.”
“….”
Yoo Yeon nodded. She looked straight ahead. Yoo Yeon rested her face against my back as I carried her.
With her on my shoulders, I surveyed the inn.
“….”
There was nothing more to search for or do.
‘They’re all dead.’
There were no survivors inside. Not a trace of life could be felt.
‘…That bastard.’
I clenched my teeth. Hwangso-gong. It was him.
‘He’s the one.’
He must have cleaned this place up entirely.

* * *
Thud.
Someone arrived on a misty forest path. A figure with a massive build. It was the Giant Hwangso-gong.
“Hmm.”
Hwangso-gong’s gaze swept back and forth through the thick mist.
As he surveyed his surroundings as if checking his position,
“Whoooosh.”
He drew in a deep breath, then let out a roar.
“나와라라라라라——!!!”
콰아아아아아—!!!
A shockwave erupted from his shout. The mist that had accumulated around him was pushed in all directions, and even the deeply rooted trees trembled.
“아아아아아—!!!”
Just as the ground itself began to shake from his unceasing roar,
Whoooosh-!!
The mist moved. It wasn’t being pushed away—it was literally vibrating.
Hwangso-gong laughed upon seeing this.
“Hahaha.”
He burst into laughter, delighted by something.
As Hwangso-gong continued laughing,
-What are you doing?
A voice came from within the mist. Hwangso-gong’s eyes widened at the irritated tone.
“What am I doing? Saying hello. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.”
As he spoke toward the mist, a human figure appeared at that exact spot.
The mist dissipated, forming a doorway-like shape, and from there emerged Gwima.
“Gwima.”
“It’s been a while.”
Gwima spoke to Hwangso-gong without bothering to hide the irritation plastered across his face.
“Taema.”
At the mention of his alias, Hwangso-gong’s smile stretched so wide it nearly reached his ears.
Snap! Taema covered his mouth with a fan, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Gwima.
“What brings you to this place?”
“Why? Can’t old friends visit each other?”
“Old friends? Us?”
Gwima’s eyes crinkled above the fan in amusement.
Those crescent-shaped eyes held a certain charm, it was true.
“I’m afraid not. I’m quite selective about my friendships.”
The words that left his lips carried no warmth.
“That’s rather hurtful to hear.”
“Enough pleasantries. State your purpose. Your business should be finished by now, shouldn’t it? Is there more?”
“No. I finished long ago. I’m quite efficient at what I do.”
“Then why?”
“It’s not my business. It’s yours that needs attending to.”
“….”
“Your inn has been exposed, hasn’t it?”
Kekeke.
At Taema’s laughter, Gwima’s eye-smile faded.
“I found it curious that you made a mistake, so I came to see for myself.”
“Oh my. So you dragged your heavy feet here just to mock your old friend’s blunder?”
“Mock? And didn’t you just say we weren’t friends?”
“It depends on the circumstances.”
“You’re still amusing. Anyway, it doesn’t matter.”
Crack.
Taema flexed his fingers. A harsh sound erupted from the movement.
“I’ve handled the mess you left behind.”
“Handled?”
“I eliminated the remaining men at the inn.”
“…Taema.”
At those words, Gwima’s expression turned cold.
“You proceeded on your own authority?”
“You were moving too slowly. So I took care of it for you. Aren’t you grateful?”
“…You know I despise others meddling in my affairs above all else.”
“There you go, frightening me again. Oh, and I saw that man too.”
“That man?”
“You know the one.”
Taema spoke with evident amusement, his laughter evident in his tone.
“Wol-hyeop, you say? That man who was Geomseong’s Predecessor.”
“….”
Stillness.
Upon hearing Taema’s words, all expression drained from Gwima’s face.
“…What of him?”
A frigid chill emanated from Gwima as he spoke.

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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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