The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 372

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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 372
An old man emerged slowly, hands clasped behind his back.
I furrowed my brow upon seeing Paewang Mukyeokseong.
‘…What is this?’
Why was he suddenly watching me? Tension surged through my body. His abrupt appearance made it all the worse.
And of all times.
‘Right as I was leaving the secret chamber.’
I thought I’d safely exited the chamber, but the moment I stepped out, I ran straight into Paewang. How could I not be startled?
“…Is something the matter, sir?”
I asked cautiously.
At my words, Paewang smiled faintly and approached me.
“I never imagined I’d be discovered. Rather, I’m the one who should ask—how did you know?”
“…”
I hesitated for a moment, searching for words. I couldn’t afford to drag this out.
“I sensed it.”
It was a vague answer, but there was no clearer way to deflect without raising suspicion.
“You sensed it?”
“Yes.”
“Me?”
At that response, Paewang’s eyes showed genuine bewilderment.
“That wouldn’t be easy, would it?”
“No, it wasn’t easy. But somehow, I managed to sense it.”
There was no point in adding more or offering explanations. It would only amplify his suspicions.
So I kept my answer as brief as possible.
“Ha.”
Paewang finally let out a laugh.
“…You’re an interesting one. The more I see you, the more you resemble the Sword Saint.”
“Pardon?”
[What did he just say?]
Both Yoo Cheon-gil and I furrowed our brows simultaneously.
“With all due respect, I’m far superior.”
[What the hell? This bastard…?]
I couldn’t help myself.
But he was right to provoke me. I may not be confident about many things, but my face is one area where I take pride.
Genetics had contributed enormously.
After all, I was born as the son of a man who made his living off his appearance. In this regard, I was overwhelmingly superior.
I had no intention of being compared to this crude, frightening-looking old man.
I spoke with clear disdain, and this time Paewang seemed taken aback.
“…Is it really so offensive?”
“I’m afraid so, sir.”
“…How resolute of you.”
I had to be. And I would remain so in the future.
“In any case… did you have business with me, sir?”
Setting aside my discomfort, I wanted to know why Paewang had sought me out.
At my question, Paewang’s smile faded as he spoke.
“Not exactly business. I just happened to be passing by, so I followed you on a whim.”
“…That doesn’t quite add up, does it?”
Passing by was one thing, but secretly following someone was another matter entirely. His words made no sense.
“…So you simply followed me?”
“That’s right.”
He said it with remarkable confidence. No matter how I looked at it, this man seemed genuinely strange.
As I thought this, my gaze drifted to his arm.
The same arm he had twisted when he apologized to me last time.
‘He’s wrapped it in bandages.’
It appeared he had treated it, as bandages were wound around it.
As I stared intently at his arm, Paewang spoke to me.
“But it’s strange. I sensed no presence at all, yet you suddenly appeared.”
“….”
Hearing that, I flinched. He seemed to be referring to the moment I emerged from Bigho.
‘Was suppressing my presence the problem?’
I had withdrawn my energy as soon as I came out, but it seemed Paewang had sensed something at that moment.
“I wonder if there’s any need to suppress your presence like that.”
At his questioning tone, I answered awkwardly.
“Ah, I’ve been doing some training.”
“Training?”
“Yes. I was practicing the technique of suppressing one’s presence….”
“Deliberately?”
“Yes. Deliberately.”
“Hmm.”
Paewang nodded.
“Right, that makes sense then. I thought you’d emerged from some secret place.”
“Haha. That couldn’t be.”
After hearing his words, I became certain of something.
‘That man suspects me.’
He seemed to be doubting me. And moreover.
‘Does he know about Bigho?’
Wondering if that might be the case, I glanced at Yoo Cheon-gil.
[I have no memory of telling him about it.]
Yoo Cheon-gil told me he had never informed Paewang about Bigho.
“Anyway, I apologize for taking your time. Still, since you’re the disciple of an old friend, I found myself curious about you.”
“…No, that’s not it. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now. Perhaps we’ll meet again later.”
“Very well.”
I bowed respectfully, then turned and walked away.
‘This doesn’t feel right.’
I couldn’t pinpoint the reason, but something about this left me deeply unsettled. It gnawed at my nerves.

* * *
After Bangseong-yeon departed, the Paewang stood alone, watching the direction the young man had gone.
“Hmm.”
He nodded slowly, clasping his hands behind his back. He recalled the conversation they had just shared.
‘A peculiar one, indeed.’
He was wary of the Paewang, yet not particularly fearful. There was something about him that stood in stark contrast to the other whelps.
Was it merely because he possessed those blue eyes? No, that wasn’t it either.
‘His vessel is remarkably expansive.’
He would become great. That must be why the Sword Saint chose him.
‘Or perhaps.’
He had already become great. His cultivation realm was unusually elevated for one in the later stages of discipleship.
‘But that aside.’
The Sword Saint’s disciple and all that.
The Paewang acknowledged the boy was intriguing, but he didn’t dwell on such matters.
His expression shifted. His face became utterly cold and impassive.
‘What matters is whether that child possesses it or not.’
The Paewang needed to determine whether that child held the object he sought.
‘It must be somewhere in this place.’
The item the Sword Saint had taken—the thing he desperately needed—surely existed somewhere within the Cheongwol Sect. He had to find it.
‘Does he know?’
The Paewang believed that young man, the Sword Saint’s Predecessor, would possess that information.
“Hmm.”
The Paewang’s feet began to move.
It would have been simple to capture and interrogate him right then.
‘But not yet.’
The probability that Wol Seon-geom would make a move was high.
If that man was also watching the boy, he couldn’t act rashly.
‘The Cheongwol Sect itself holds no great fear for me.’
But the one who sat at its apex was different.
The Cheongwol Munchu has always been a monster. The Sword Saint was no exception, nor were the Munchus who came after.
‘There’s no need to provoke a monster.’
The Paewang forced down the corners of his mouth that kept rising.
His true desire was to face that monster and test himself against him.
‘For now, I endure.’
Since I had come with a purpose, there was no need to act carelessly.
‘I have plenty of time.’
Slowly.
I intended to verify things slowly once more.
-I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first. We shall meet again later.
Paewang spoke, recalling the words that man had uttered before departing.
“Yes, let us meet again soon.”
It seemed I would see him again before long.

* * *
“Ugh.”
For some reason, a chill ran down my spine, and I brushed my shoulder.
“What is it? Is someone cursing me?”
My nerves were already rattled from meeting Paewang, and now an unsettling feeling crept over me. It was as if someone were glaring at me.
As I brushed my arm and muttered casually, the old man following behind me spoke.
[Did they catch on? I was being so quiet.]
Even now, he chuckled as if wanting to make a joke, and his words irritated me.
Ignoring Yoo Cheon-gil, I arrived at my destination.
It was the space used as the conference hall of the Cheongwol Sect.
The moment I arrived, the disciple standing before me looked at me. I spoke to him.
“The Moonju summoned me. May I enter?”
“…Bangseong-yeon of Sowoldae. Confirmed. You may enter.”
He appeared to be from the same Sowoldae. I hadn’t bothered to remember his name.
Creak.
The door opened, and I stepped inside. People were already gathered within.
“You’ve arrived.”
Wol Seon-geom. He spoke upon seeing me.
“Yes, sir. I hope I am not late?”
“No. Take a seat.”
“Yes.”
I went to an empty seat and sat down. It was positioned at the far end. Once seated, I surveyed the figures present.
‘…These are influential figures.’
Starting with Wol Seon-geom seated in the middle, there was Sochul Daeju. And I could sense the distinct presence of elders.
‘They are the Elders.’
The Elders of the Cheongwol Sect. All of them had opened the Wol-an.
“Now that everyone has arrived, I shall proceed with the discussion.”
Wol Seon-geom, confirming that all attendees had assembled, continued immediately.
“This conference has been convened regarding the matter of Patcheon Gung’s existence at Hwasan and the affairs that occurred in Hannam.”
Hwasan. At that statement, my eyes narrowed slightly. The sudden reason I had been summoned here.
It was precisely because of matters concerning Hwasan and Patcheon Gung.
‘Since I’ve experienced such matters myself.’
That’s why I needed to attend.
“Patcheon Gung.”
“You mean the faction said to be connected with that demonic sect.”
“That’s correct.”
“I heard recently that Maehua Daeju from Hwasan was revealed to be a traitor.”
At those words, all eyes turned toward me. It was a gaze demanding an answer.
“That’s true. Maehua Daeju was indeed a traitor, and afterward, when captured, he took his own life.”
“…I see.”
I kept silent about Amjeon appearing and killing Maehua Daeju.
“Moreover, I hear all the elders classified as traitors also died. They too, by their own hands, it’s said.”
“Traitors within the Nine Sects and One Clan? And a figure of Maehua Daeju’s stature at that. Was there truly reason for him to betray?”
All their eyes reflected incomprehension. They seemed to question why Maehua Daeju would have any need to do such a thing.
“That’s not what matters now.”
Wol Seon-geom cut off the questions and spoke up.
“What matters is that even Hwasan fell prey to this traitor scheme. And that same danger may not spare Cheonwol Sect.”
“…Moonju…!”
The elders bristled at Wol Seon-geom’s words.
“What do you mean by that.”
“Are you saying we too could be traitors?”
“Can you be certain we are not?”
Wol Seon-geom swept his cold gaze across Elder Jin and the others. I could see the old men flinch under that stare.
“It happened even in Hwasan, the most righteous of the Nine Sects and One Clan under heaven. How can you be certain Cheonwol Sect is safe?”
“…That may be true.”
“I cannot be certain. Therefore, we must verify.”
“How do you intend to verify this.”
One of the elders posed the question. At that, Wol Seon-geom glanced at me.
“Well. We must examine this carefully, wouldn’t you say.”
Just as I was wondering why he suddenly looked at me while saying such things.
-I heard from the Scholar.
Wol Seon-geom sent me a transmission.
-That you can identify traitors. Is that true?
“…”
My eyes widened. That I could distinguish those of Patcheon Gung. He must have heard that from Jegal Jin.
‘Ah, so that’s it?’
Only then did I truly understand. The reason I was summoned here.
‘…So I’m to verify?’
I thought I was merely brought to explain as a witness and the person involved in what had transpired.
‘…That man.’
Wol Seon-geom. He intended to use me to determine whether there were any traitors present here.
‘Hah.’
He had laid out the board for me to see everything at once.
While marveling at that meticulous arrangement.
‘Then, where….’
I immediately tried to use Wol-an to sense if there was any aura of Patcheon Gung.
‘There’s nothing?’
At least not here. Unlike the Hwasan Sect, I couldn’t feel the aura of a spy from the Cheongwol Sect.
‘…Is there really nothing?’
Just as I was about to withdraw my aura, thinking there truly was nothing.
‘Huh?’
I caught sight of someone among the Elders and had to stop in my tracks.
Something felt off. Recalling that sensation, I cast Wol Seon-geom’s Path.
Whoooooosh—!!
Light flooded my vision as I stared intently at one figure.
‘…Found it.’
I finally confirmed it.
Not a spy of Patcheon Gung. Simply.
‘That man from before.’
The aura I had sensed in Bigo.
I had found a man with that exact same aura here.

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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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