The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 35
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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 035
“….”
My body went rigid as I stared at the woman seated before me.
Those unsettling azure eyes I’d seen before.
Undeniably beautiful, yet the kind of woman whose gaze I had no desire to meet for long.
‘Wol Mu-hui.’
One of the Seven Heroes, hailed as a genius among geniuses—Cheon Hye-yeon, Wol Mu-hui.
Cheon Euijin, her brother and the sect leader’s child, was staring directly at me.
Cheon Euijin’s eyes had widened in apparent shock, fixed upon me with an intense gaze.
Cheon Hye-yeon, meanwhile, observed me with unmistakable interest.
And.
‘Insane.’
The most shocked person among them was me.
‘What are these two doing here?’
I couldn’t comprehend why the Cheon siblings had suddenly appeared. The situation made no sense.
As I stared at them with a dazed expression, Cheonhye-in spoke to me.
“Do you enjoy working your way up from the bottom?”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m just curious why you’d deliberately start with the Junior Disciples.”
“What do you mean by that….”
I stopped mid-sentence and glanced around. Only then did I notice.
The peers who had entered with me were staring at me with eyes wide as saucers.
But rather than their reactions, my attention fixed on what they were wearing.
‘…It’s the same?’
Looking more carefully at the Junior Disciples, they were all wearing the exact same robes as mine.
Only then did I understand why this situation had unfolded.
I’d asked for clean clothes to change into, and what I received happened to be the Junior Disciples’ robes?
Because of that, someone ahead had mistaken me and brought me along?
After grasping the situation, I narrowed my eyes.
Meanwhile, Cheonhye-in simply watched me before suddenly laughing.
“Then what is it?”
Last time she spoke informally, but now she’s using formal speech again.
Then Cheon Euijin, as if realizing the situation, tried to hurriedly interject.
“No, Branch….”
“Be quiet. Your sister is speaking.”
“….”
At Cheonhye-in’s soft warning, he immediately sealed his lips shut.
“If you’re trying to put on a performance, I can help you. Would you like that?”
“Help me with what, exactly?”
For now, I asked.
“Anything at all.”
Cheonhye-in maintained her smile at those words, but I found that smile genuinely unsettling.
Sigh.
I exhaled softly and spoke.
“That’s not it. Things just ended up this way somehow, but I really just wanted to have a meal.”
“A meal? You mean to eat…”
Cheonhye-in tilted her head. Her expression was somewhat puzzled.
“Why eat here instead of in your quarters?”
“….”
That’s what I was wondering too.
From her reaction, it seemed meals were supposed to be brought to the quarters, but how did things end up like this? I was genuinely curious about that myself—
‘…Wait.’
I stopped mid-thought and stroked my chin.
Could it be…
‘Is this also someone’s intention?’
Giving me clothes for a Senior Disciple instead of guest attire.
Not bringing meals to the quarters.
Were these all deliberate actions? Had someone orchestrated this entire situation?
Such thoughts suddenly occurred to me.
‘But it’s vague.’
There were some ambiguous pieces that didn’t quite fit together.
In any case…
“Since something seems off about this situation, I should apologize first.”
Honestly, it didn’t feel like my fault, but I figured I should apologize quickly and make my escape.
Staying any longer seemed like it would only lead to trouble. So I immediately tried to stand and leave.
“Don’t go. You said you came to eat, didn’t you?”
Cheonhye-in grabbed my hand as she spoke.
“Since things have turned out this way, let’s eat together?”
Her action drew reactions from those around us.
They seemed startled by Cheonhye-in’s behavior. Seeing that, I hesitated for a moment.
‘Should I pull away and leave?’
I deliberated for an instant before reaching a decision.
Thump.
I sat down in the chair. That was my answer, and Cheonhye-in laughed at my action.
* * *
“Today is the day the new Three Senior Disciples arrive.”
I stuffed food into my mouth while listening to her chatter.
To be honest, the food was delicious. Compared to the Anhui Branch, it was like comparing heaven and earth.
“On days like this, the Junior Disciples from Cheongwol Gate usually come by to get a look at the new recruits’ faces, and it just happened to be today.”
“I see.”
I answered halfheartedly. My stomach was already filling up.
Just as I was about to swallow another bite of food.
“My, you don’t find that strange?”
Cheonhye-in spoke to me. Only then did I look at her.
“Find what strange?”
“That the Three Senior Disciples are unusually old, or why my sister and I are among the Junior Disciples. Things like that.”
“Ah.”
I wondered what she meant, but it turned out to be pointless gossip. So I swallowed another bite of food.
Ah, did I swallow too much? My throat felt blocked.
I barely managed to wash it down with the water from my cup.
“Phew…”
After wiping my lips with the back of my hand, I spoke to Cheonhye-in.
“What is there to find strange about?”
“Most people would find it strange.”
Cheonhye-in was still smiling. Quite irritatingly, at that.
“But it seems you don’t.”
“That’s right. I don’t.”
“Why not?”
“Must I explain my reasons?”
“Well, that’s fine then. It’s fun getting to know you better, isn’t it?”
Now I see. This confirms it even more.
‘She’s completely insane.’
More eccentric than I thought. The more she spoke, the more apparent it became.
‘If I had my way, I’d leave right now…’
I’d already eaten and filled my stomach. I could just leave as is, but I didn’t.
‘Not yet.’
Not yet. There was still something I needed to learn from Cheonhye-in.
So I had to humor her a bit longer.
“Whether it’s strange or not, it’s already a well-known fact, so there was no need to mention it specifically.”
“Hmm.”
As I began speaking, Cheonhye-in showed interest.
Even that interest was ambiguous—whether it was genuine or not. There was that distinctive feeling unique to people who were infuriatingly difficult to read emotionally.
“I already knew that Cheongwol Gate puts disciples through a long training process before selecting them.”
Unlike most sects, which take disciples into the Three Senior Disciples at a very young age to teach them martial arts.
To be called a “disciple” of Cheongwol Gate, one had to properly master the Cheongwol Heart Technique.
When Cheonhye-in earlier referred to them as the new Three Senior Disciples, it meant they met those conditions.
Furthermore.
“The reason those individuals hold positions among the Junior Disciples is simply because they are the Gate Master’s disciples, is it not?”
The current Gate Master, Wol Seon-geom, was technically a First Generation Disciple.
So it was hardly strange that Cheonhye-in and Cheon Euijin, who were both his children and disciples, held positions among the Junior Disciples.
If I had to point out what was truly odd here….
‘It would be how a First Generation Disciple ascended to the Gate Master’s seat.’
But that too was a pointless question.
Comparing Cheongwol Gate to other martial sects was itself an unusual thing to do.
‘At Cheongwol Gate, the strongest martial artist of each generation becomes the Gate Master.’
The strongest martial artist who had opened the Wol Eye—that was the condition to become Cheongwol Gate’s Gate Master.
Which meant.
‘Wol Seon-geom is the strongest in the current Cheongwol Gate.’
That was what it signified.
At least, that was my understanding.
‘Now that I mention it, that old man’s laughter does bother me a bit.’
When I brought this up, the previous Gate Master Yoo Cheon-gil simply laughed heartily. When I asked if he was denying it, he said it was half right and half wrong.
‘What kind of ridiculous answer is that?’
It made no sense.
In any case, Wol Seon-geom became Gate Master while holding the status of First Generation Disciple.
And Cheonhye-in, his disciple, naturally remained among the Junior Disciples.
“You’ve been studying hard, I see?”
Pleased with my answer, Cheonhye-in broke into a smile.
I lowered my gaze. She hadn’t eaten a single bite of food.
“Of course. One must study.”
I too lifted the corners of my mouth as I spoke.
“After all, it’s a place I’ll have to lead someday. Shouldn’t I learn about it beforehand?”
“…!”
Whoosh.
With those words, the already quiet restaurant became deathly silent.
The faint clinking of chopsticks, the breathing of the patrons—nothing could be heard.
It seemed everyone understood the meaning behind my words.
“My goodness.”
Cheonhye-in broke the silence with her response.
“I didn’t see you that way… You’re a bit more ambitious than I expected.”
Swiftly, Cheonhye-in moved her hand as she spoke. Before long, she picked up her chopsticks and grasped a piece of food.
She pushed it straight into her beautiful lips.
Crunch.
The firm texture of the food made a sound that echoed through the restaurant. Given how quiet it had been, it was all the more pronounced.
After finishing his meal, he looked at me and added another comment.
“Are you confident?”
He was still smiling, but something peculiar flickered across his eyes.
It was unsettling. I narrowed my eyes at the sight.
‘No matter how I look at it, something’s off.’
What is he?
Wol Seon-geom is strange too, but compared to Cheon Euijin, he’s an entirely different breed of person.
How could siblings be so fundamentally different?
And yet.
‘Where have I felt this sensation before?’
When I look at Cheonhye-in, there’s a feeling that I’ve definitely encountered this impression somewhere…
‘Ah.’
Right, there was someone like this nearby all along.
‘She resembles the Old Man.’
The Demon who circles around my surroundings.
Quite similar to Yoo Cheon-gil. Well, not quite as much as the Old Man, but there was a faint similarity in their essence.
It wasn’t that they shared a dirty impression or a dirty temperament, but rather that peculiar quality was the same.
‘A sensation of wanting to avoid entanglement.’
A sense of crisis that getting involved with this person would ruin my entire life.
I was feeling that same thing from Cheonhye-in.
Hiding such discomfort, I spoke.
“Confidence, you say…”
I tilted my head at an appropriate angle. It was an intentional gesture.
“I don’t think that’s particularly necessary…”
I met his gaze with a sidelong glance.
“It doesn’t seem like a difficult task at all, from what I can see.”
“…”
“It appears the Heavenly Supreme needs confidence just to pick up chopsticks?”
Cheonhye-in’s brow furrowed at my words.
My ascension to the position of Munju is no more difficult than you eating with chopsticks.
That was the implication behind my statement.
Then.
“…Ha ha. Well, well.”
Cheonhye-in swept his face with his hand. His hair rippled.
‘His gaze has changed.’
The atmosphere shifted dramatically in that brief moment.
His smile had long since vanished. To be honest, it was terrifying.
[Tsk tsk tsk tsk-!]
Meanwhile, the Old Man was laughing at something he found amusing.
‘How curious.’
I found it genuinely fascinating. The moment my eyes changed, the atmosphere within the restaurant shifted as well.
The Three Senior Disciples were sweating nervously, too busy reading the room. The Junior Disciples frowned, displeased with my words. Having observed that much, I took a breath.
‘This should be enough.’
I had gathered what I needed. From Cheonhye-in’s reactions and demeanor, I had extracted what was necessary, and if I wanted to gain anything more, now was the moment.
Scrape—!
I rose from my chair. Cheon Euijin, who had been standing beside Cheonhye-in, looked at me.
I ignored his gaze for now.
“Since there doesn’t seem to be anything more to discuss, I’ll take my leave. The construction work has been keeping me quite busy, after all.”
Pat, pat. I tapped Cheonhye-in’s shoulder a couple of times with my hand.
“I hope you enjoy your meal.”
Her eyes narrowed fiercely in response. Just as I was about to pass by lightly, that moment came.
Whoosh—!
Someone blocked my path.
My view ahead was completely obscured. It was a person of considerable build.
“Your attitude is excessive.”
Hearing the voice, I lifted my head. I had to lift it quite a bit.
“Who are you?”
“I am Hong Kyeong, a Junior Disciple.”
“Ah, I see.”
I asked with a smile.
“So? What’s your business?”
“…I understand that you are an honored guest to our sect, but even so, your remarks have crossed a line.”
“Mm-hmm.”
I see. That’s understandable. I spoke while looking at Cheonhye-in.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I apologized without hesitation and turned my gaze back to Hong Kyeong.
“Is that settled?”
“…Huh…?”
“I’m leaving.”
I moved to the side to pass by again.
“What are you doing right now——!”
Hong Kyeong, unable to contain himself, grabbed my arm. I had to barely restrain myself internally.
‘Perfect.’
I almost laughed without meaning to. I had to hold that back. I checked my grabbed arm, hardened my expression, and looked at Hong Kyeong.
“No matter if you’re a guest, this is disrespecting the Cheongwol Gate——!”
“I’m not sure about this, but.”
I cut him off.
“Is this really how disciples of this sect typically treat a master’s uncle?”
“…What?”
The moment I mentioned the word “master’s uncle,” Hong Kyeong froze.
Watching that dull expression, I ground my teeth together.
As if I were forcibly restraining my emotions.
Maintaining that composure, I spoke to Hong Kyeong.
“Junior Disciple Hong Kyeong. You should know who my master is, shouldn’t you?”
“…!”
At the mention of master, Hong Kyeong’s expression shifted dramatically.
I had spoken of it earlier.
Cheonhye-in was a Junior Disciple because she was Wol Seon-geom’s disciple.
Well then.
“I am the disciple of Sword Saint Yoo Cheon-gil, the previous Sect Master.”
What could I be, known as the disciple of Sword Saint, who stands four ranks above Wol Seon-geom?
The answer was simple.
“A disciple of Cheongwol Gate must.”line>
When this matter is pressed.
If we’re going to get into it.
“Show proper respect to the elders of this sect.”
I could be considered as a sworn sibling to Wol Seon-geom, the Sect Master.
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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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