The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 373

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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 373
Hair turned white as snow. Within it, a wrinkled face and eyes of blue.
An old man whose appearance suggested the opening of the Wol-an, with a cold and sharp impression that caught my eye.
I knew this person. The one before me.
‘Elder Lee.’
One of the seven elders of the Cheongwol Sect, known as the Second Elder.
‘Baek Yeon.’
Elder Baek Yeon.
His epithet was.
‘The Moonless Old Swordsman.’
That’s certainly who he was. Watching Baek Yeon, I narrowed my eyes.
‘It’s that old man.’
A special aura caught by the Wol Seon-geom’s perception. All members of the Cheongwol Sect possessed its characteristic blue aura, yet each had their own distinct signature.
The shape formed by the flow of aura. Some were rough, some faster, and some.
‘Serene.’
A tranquility like a deep lake. Those like Wol Seon-geom possessed such an aura, and Baek Yeon, this old man.
‘Cold.’
He carried a distinctly cold aura. I stared at his energy. It was the same aura I’d encountered in the Secret Chamber.
Then.
‘Damn.’
I shifted my gaze. Perhaps from staring too long, Baek Yeon looked at me. I quickly turned away and racked my brain.
‘It’s him.’
Observing the aura, I was certain. Could such an identical aura exist elsewhere? I was convinced it couldn’t.
[So it’s him, then.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke, watching Baek Yeon. Hearing that, I nodded.
[Baek Yeon, hm.]
Yoo Cheon-gil narrowed his eyes, staring at Baek Yeon.
[That man knew the location of the Secret Chamber and came here? How is that possible?]
He reacted with clear bewilderment, but.
‘…Actually, it’s not that strange, is it?’
From my perspective, it was impressive they’d remained hidden this long. And for good reason.
‘With so many entrances scattered everywhere, how did they avoid discovery?’
There were too many entrances to the Secret Chamber. Not just one, but multiple exits as well. With such numbers, the risk of discovery was naturally high.
‘If anything, they lasted quite long.’
That was the truth. They’d endured for a long time. That’s how it seemed to me.
‘The real question is.’
What purpose did this Baek Yeon, who found the Secret Chamber, have?
‘It doesn’t feel like Patcheon Gung.’
I sensed no such aura, so he wasn’t an agent of Patcheon Gung. Remarkably, none of them carried Patcheon Gung’s aura.
‘…Hm.’
First, I completely averted my gaze.
Then Wol Seon-geom posed a question.
-Do you understand?
“Yes.”
That’s right.
-No… At least, I cannot perceive it.
At my response, Wol Seon-geom gave a small nod. In that moment.
“Then, how do you wish to verify it?”
One of the Elders, Baek Yeon whom I’d been observing, speaks up.
“You mentioned Hwasan Sect while discussing the danger of a traitor? I understand. That’s possible. Then, you must have a way to verify the traitor right now, yes?”
“Well.”
Wol Seon-geom narrows his eyes.
“There’s not no way.”
“…!”
The Elders flinch at those words.
Such a method existed? Or was he testing them? To my eye, it seemed more like the latter.
If Wol Seon-geom mentioned a method, I’d probably do the same. Thinking such thoughts while watching him.
“There’s not no way, I’m curious. But then.”
Baek Yeon adds, looking at Wol Seon-geom.
“Setting that aside, Moonju himself cannot be ruled out as a possible traitor, can he?”
-!!
At Baek Yeon’s words, the surroundings stir. Expressions of shock fill the air. Did he really dare speak such words to Moonju?
“Ha.”
Wol Seon-geom exhales softly, and seeing this, Yoo Cheon-gil also reacted.
[Tsk tsk tsk.]
Yoo Cheon-gil, chuckling quietly, sweeps his gaze across the Elders and speaks.
[Not quite right.]
‘…Insane bastard.’
Looking at an Elder and saying not quite right. Could there be words more sinister and crude than that? It was truly such an inhuman thing to say.
Kuuuuuu–!!!
“…Ugh…”
Killing intent suddenly descended upon me, and every hair on my body reacted. My spine tingled. My body stiffened rigid as I stared at the upper seat.
It was Wol Seon-geom. He was emanating a distant fighting spirit and murderous aura.
‘What is this?’
Chills ran through me. Could a human emit such an aura? It felt on a different level from the supreme masters I’d encountered thus far.
‘…This.’
Is this the Moonju of Cheongwol Sect? My startled body couldn’t even respond properly when.
Thud.
The emanating killing intent vanished in an instant.
“That’s a fair point.”
Wol Seon-geom shifts his demeanor. He reclaims his killing intent before speaking to the elders.
“I understand your concerns, and I too acknowledge they may be difficult to accept.”
“…then.”
“Then draw your sword.”
“What?”
Baek Yeon’s eyes widen at those words.
“Regardless of your doubts, I am the Moonju of Cheongwol Sect. If you cannot accept my judgment….”
A brilliant blue aura begins to swirl around Wol Seon-geom’s shoulders.
“Draw your sword.”
If you’re dissatisfied, defeat me and become Moonju yourself.
That was what he meant.
[Hahahaha–!!]
Yoo Cheon-gil bursts into laughter at the sight.
[Yes, that’s exactly right.]
His expression was one of satisfaction.
[Rules must be upheld.]
Among Cheongwol Sect’s few rules, this was the most absolute.
‘The strongest becomes Moonju.’
And the Moonju’s word becomes law.
Such was the law established in Cheongwol Sect.
If one disliked this law….
‘Then defeat the Moonju.’
Either become Moonju yourself or leave Cheongwol Sect. It was remarkably simple and straightforward.
“….”
At those words, Baek Yeon falls silent. Observing the old man, Wol Seon-geom shifts his gaze. It was to his waist.
“Will you not draw it?”
The sword wrapped at his waist.
As he spoke while looking at it, Baek Yeon’s expression contorts.
“…Are you telling me to draw my sword here?”
“What is the problem? The moon rises everywhere regardless of place. Surely you know well that it is not bound by time or location.”
‘Hmm.’
I thought it was exactly the sort of thing Yoo Cheon-gil would say.
The moon rises everywhere. It is not constrained by time or place.
Something about those words resonates with me. As I’m pondering this.
“Huh?”
Something brushes past my consciousness.
The moment I felt it, I rose to my feet.
‘…The moon and time?’
My eyes widen. I feel as though I’m grasping something.
My heart trembles. Heat surges through my body. Where is my sword? At my waist. Without thinking, my hand moves toward the hilt. It felt as though I needed to draw it immediately.
“Bang Disciple.”
“…Yes.”
I snapped back to attention at Wol Seon-geom’s call.
“What are you doing?”
“….”
I glanced around. My sudden movement had drawn the gaze of every person in the room—the Elders and everyone else.
Embarrassed by the sudden attention, I spoke awkwardly.
“…My apologies.”
I withdrew my hand that had been reaching toward the hilt and sat back down.
Perhaps sensing the broken atmosphere, Wol Seon-geom turned to Baek Yeon and spoke.
“Elder Lee.”
“…What is it?”
“If you won’t draw your blade, I suggest we end this here. Do you agree?”
His tone implied that if Baek Yeon didn’t agree, he would draw his sword immediately. Though Baek Yeon’s brow furrowed at those words.
“…Very well.”
He ultimately backed down without further argument. Only then did Wol Seon-geom’s expression shift, and he rose to his feet.
Creak.
Wol Seon-geom walked out without another word.
“Bang Disciple, follow me.”
At his command, I immediately stood up.
“Excuse me.”
I bowed respectfully and followed him.

* * *
I followed Wol Seon-geom to his room.
With just the two of us present as before, Wol Seon-geom took his seat and spoke to me.
“You truly didn’t see it.”
He was asking if I hadn’t seen Patcheon Gung’s spy. Hearing that, I responded.
“No, I didn’t see it….”
“I see.”
Wol Seon-geom’s reaction was indifferent. It felt as though whether it existed or not made no difference to him.
“Then tell me. How do you confirm it?”
“…I simply sense it.”
“You sense it?”
“Yes. It’s truly that simple.”
It seemed like an anomaly born from the convergence of Wol Seon-geom’s power and my perception. According to Yoo Cheon-gil, such things wouldn’t be visible even if one opened the Wol-an.
“That’s hardly a statement worthy of trust.”
“I suppose not.”
But what could I do? This was the answer.
Finding no other explanation forthcoming, I remained silent.
“Could it be that this ‘sensing’ you speak of is related to what you inherited from the previous Moonju?”
“….”
Wol Seon-geom mentioned Yoo Cheon-gil as he spoke. The moment I heard it, I knew he was right.
“…That’s correct.”
I answered as though I’d been waiting for this question.
[…Shameless bastard.]
Yoo Cheon-gil’s eyes flashed with disapproval, but I ignored him completely.
“My mentor has continuously pursued the existence known as Patcheon Gung.”
It was a method I’d used before on Jegal Jin as well. Continuing to employ it seemed like a reasonable choice.
“In doing so, he embedded changes into the martial techniques he left behind.”
“Are you saying that’s this sense you speak of?”
“Yes. It’s the ability to track and perceive the specific energy signature possessed by Patcheon Gung’s martial artists.”
“….”
Wol Seon-geom stared at me intently. His eyes held an expression I couldn’t quite read—whether suspicion or something else entirely.
Then.
“I see.”
With those brief words, Wol Seon-geom nodded.
Was that truly all?
“…Do you have no further questions?”
“Didn’t you say it was power left behind by the Sword Saint? What else would be necessary?”
“…Nothing else.”
Could selling out Yoo Cheon-gil really work this well? Given Wol Seon-geom’s conduct thus far, it was surprising.
‘For now.’
Since he was letting it slide, I figured I should do the same.
“So you’re saying that, at least from your perspective, none of the Elders strike you as out of place?”
“That is correct, for now.”
“I see. You may go.”
“…Understood.”
After bowing respectfully to Wol Seon-geom, I turned to leave.
“Wait—”
He called out, stopping me in my tracks.
“Yes?”
I turned back to face Wol Seon-geom.
“There will be some troublesome matters ahead.”
“Troublesome matters?”
“Indeed.”
Wol Seon-geom rested his chin in his hand as he spoke.
“Be wary of Elder Lee.”
“…!”
The unexpected words made me stiffen momentarily. I hadn’t anticipated him bringing up Baek Yeon.
‘Elder Lee.’
Did Wol Seon-geom know something about that man as well? A moment of tension gripped me.
“You’ll handle it well enough on your own, I’m sure.”
Wol Seon-geom withdrew his gaze from me as he spoke.
“…”
I swallowed dryly and bowed my head to him.
“…I apologize for the intrusion.”
With that, I left the room.

* * *
The moment I stepped out of my quarters, I wrapped my forehead in my palm.
“…Tsk.”
Troubling details kept surfacing, making everything feel far from simple.
“What is it.”
What about Baek Yeon, and what was Wol Seon-geom’s reaction?
It seemed certain that I needed to be cautious of Baek Yeon, at least.
‘Wol Seon-geom also appears to be exercising caution regarding Baek Yeon.’
There was something about Baek Yeon. But then.
‘If that’s the case.’
The fact that he was being cautious meant, in other words….
‘Could Wol Seon-geom also possess information about Patcheon?’
It was certainly possible when you thought about it.
No, perhaps it was likely.
‘He might very well know.’
Even if he didn’t know the way there a second time, he might still know of Patcheon itself.
If that were true, then there was more I needed to understand. Because.
‘He’s also on my list of suspects.’
Wol Seon-geom. He too was one of the suspects in the assassination of Yoo Cheon-gil as I saw it.
“….”
I crumpled my face and gently caressed my blade.
‘Another entity to be wary of has been added.’
Baek Yeon, whom Wol Seon-geom had warned me about.
And Wol Seon-geom himself, whom I’d already been cautious of from the start.
Tap, tap. I drummed my fingers against the pommel and began walking.
My destination was the Training Hall.
The reason was simple.
‘…I should try it.’
An insight I’d gleaned from what Wol Seon-geom told me, even amidst this chaos and urgency.
I thought I understood why I couldn’t connect the fifth sword path.
Remarkably, resolving the sword path mattered more to me now than any other question.
I wanted to wield my blade soon.
It was an emotion I’d never felt before in my life.

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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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