The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 435

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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 435
Crack—!
A black spectral form shoots forth.
Curse arrows. Confirming they were being fired at Cheonri Jinan, I threw myself forward without hesitation.
I stretched out my hand, seized the incoming arrow mid-flight, and crushed it.
“…Hm?”
Cheonri Jinan regards me with bewilderment at that action.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah, my apologies. An insect was passing by just now.”
I tucked my trembling hand away. Had I lost my mind?
‘Firing curse arrows here?’
It was madness. No matter how inconspicuous the spectral form made it, to scatter curses in broad daylight?
‘Is this Gungwi’s doing?’
Could it be her work? The circumstances suggest it, though I cannot be certain.
‘Who else would attempt something like this?’
There was no clearer evidence than this. At this point in time, who else could fire curse arrows but Gungwi?
‘But she shouldn’t be in a state capable of this right now.’
I had fired something at Gungwi last night. She would certainly be affected by it. Under such influence, she should be unable to perform anything related to spectral energy for some time.
‘I deliberately fired it to avoid her soul.’
I had only touched her body, not her soul, yet she fires curse arrows?
‘And at that—’
A considerable quantity. The amount suggests the one who fired them would also be significantly affected.
‘At this level, her soul would suffer strain.’
More than strain—karma would accumulate. To fire something like this in broad daylight? I narrow my eyes.
My tingling hand had already recovered. However, it seemed it would affect my spectral energy. Since I cannot address it immediately, I simply push it to the back of my mind.
‘She said she hadn’t used any disguise this time.’
I wonder if this was her target.
‘But on the other hand…’
Is Gungwi the type to aim for something like this? Though I haven’t known her long, she didn’t seem like that sort of person.
‘Even if it’s not Gungwi, it’s still a problem.’
It’s strange either way. I never thought she was someone who would act so hastily.
‘Tsk…’
I click my tongue softly internally.
The Young Master had already stepped outside. The conference ended with my expression twisted into a scowl.
How was I supposed to figure this out? Despite such troublesome questions arising—
I was able to find the culprit faster than expected.

* * *
“…What in the world is this situation?”
Right after the conference ended, Shin Chang told me to come find him in about half an hour. Since I had that time free, I moved to meet someone I needed to see—but this is what I found.
“What is the meaning of this?”
I asked the old man before me about the spectacle unfolding. He was a one-armed swordsman—the Sword Emperor. He regarded me with calm eyes at my question.
“I caught a bug.”
“…”
The way he said it so matter-of-factly sounded familiar. A bug? Really?
For a bug, though…
“Isn’t it rather large?”
Exceptionally so, in fact.
“Ugh…”
Prostrate before the Sword Emperor was something—an old man of unremarkable stature with age spots covering his face. My brow furrowed at the sight of him.
The “bug” the Sword Emperor had caught. I knew exactly who it was.
Suppressing a sigh, I asked him.
“What are you doing here?”
The old man was none other than.
“The Death King.”
One of the Five Kings of the Heavenly Realm, and the one known to be the most bizarre. It was the Death King.
“…Ugh…”
The Death King, writhing as if in pain, looked at me. His eyes held an inexplicable sense of grievance.
“How is it…that you are here?”
How the Sword Emperor came to be in Meng was abundantly clear as a question. It was strange that someone reported missing would suddenly appear here, but at that moment, the Sword Emperor spoke to me.
“I have someone to teach.”
“…Someone to teach?”
I was taken aback by those words. I never expected him to say something so blunt.
“Surely you’re not saying you’re raising that wretch?”
“Perhaps.”
What do you mean perhaps when you’ve already said it all? I stared at the Sword Emperor with an absurd expression. No, wait—is that even the important thing right now?
“Death King. What exactly are you doing here?”
“…”
The Death King didn’t answer my question. I glared at him at that.
‘Hah.’
I could tell immediately upon seeing him.
“It was you, wasn’t it? The one who fired that flesh.”
“…What are you talking about?”
He was trying to deny it. I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
“Hide what you can hide. I wondered how you could be fine after firing something like that. But clearly, you’re not fine at all.”
The moment I saw the Death King, I knew. Right—there’s no way someone could be fine firing something like that in broad daylight. His body was already in considerable disarray.
As soon as I saw the commander, I understood. Right, there’s no way he could be fine after firing like that in broad daylight. His body was already in quite a disheveled state.
Exhaustion had accumulated in my soul, causing it to waver noticeably, and the heavy karmic retribution had taken its toll on my body as well. That’s why I was lying prostrate like this now.
In that state, moving my body would have been difficult.
‘But of all people, why did the Sword Emperor have to capture me.’
I never expected to meet the Sword Emperor here. I certainly didn’t know he was being held captive either.
“This is the interior of Meng. You know better than anyone what happens when you wander around like that—so why are you doing this?”
“…Ugh.”
The Death King bit his lip. His reaction seemed quite aggrieved.
“This is all because of you, isn’t it?”
“…Why me?”
“Exactly….”
The Death King, who had been speaking, glanced at the Sword Emperor. He was gauging the situation. Just as I wondered what he was being cautious about.
Crunch—!
“…!!”
The Sword Emperor suddenly stepped on the Death King’s ankle. At that action, the Death King let out a silent scream.
He seemed to be in such pain that no sound escaped him. When I widened my eyes in shock at his sudden move.
“Your presence here—does it mean she is also here?”
“…Ugh….”
“You should be confined to the North Sea, yet you’re here now. I’m asking if that’s the case.”
Gungwi. The Sword Emperor was curious about her whereabouts. No, it felt like more than mere curiosity.
‘…Something.’
It was as if he would kill her the moment he found her. Both the Celestial Demon and the Sword Emperor—why did they both seem so desperate to devour Gungwi whenever they saw her?
“That’s right. I don’t need your answer. The fact that you’ve descended from that detestable mountain is answer enough.”
“…Sword… Emperor.”
“First, I suppose I do need an answer. If you don’t respond within three counts, I’ll sever your ankle. You have four chances.”
Four chances while severing one ankle. In other words.
‘…Both ankles and both wrists, then.’
It was a chilling warning—if he didn’t speak, everything would be cut off.
“One.”
The moment the Sword Emperor spoke.
“…I cannot betray my Mentor.”
The Death King cried out with an aged voice, his resolve firm.
“Two—”
“How could I possibly speak of my Mentor’s presence in this place…! I will never do such a thing.”
“….”
“….”
I was left speechless by his display. His loyalty ran deeper than I had thought.
“…She is here.”
The moment the Sword Emperor heard that, he withdrew his foot. Then.
“We’ll train later. I have something to do now.”
“What? No, wait….”
She left those words behind and vanished before my eyes.
She’s leaving me alone with this man?
“….”
I survey the situation with a dazed expression. The Death King was still groaning, but at least he looked better than before.
“…Phew…. Huff….”
“…Are you alright? Why does someone your age insist on carrying on like this?”
As I speak to the Death King, he coughs heavily and responds.
“…You bastard….”
Hostility flares in his eyes, different from before.
“What in the world did you do to my Mentor?”
“What do you mean?”
I attempt to deflect first. But.
“Ever since he went to meet you and returned, something has been wrong with him. What exactly did you do?”
Something wrong with him. Hearing that, I can only shrug. There’s no point in deflecting when the truth is already evident.
“What did I do? He started the trouble first, so I simply reciprocated.”
“Reciprocated…?”
“Yes. Who told him to come in spirit form anyway? People of his caliber should know better. If you’re going to seek someone out like that, you’re asking to be disciplined.”
“That’s absurd…!”
The Death King bristles at my words.
“My Mentor suffered at your hands simply because he came in spirit form? That’s ridiculous.”
“But that’s exactly what happened.”
“…That can’t be.”
Why won’t he believe me? Well, disbelief is understandable, but does he really need to doubt so thoroughly? The evidence is right before him.
“I acknowledge your excellence. Even I would covet your talent, so I recognize your superior ability. But does that mean you could actually pressure my Mentor?”
“…Ah. That.”
A memory from childhood suddenly flashes through my mind.
‘Become my disciple.’
Those were the Death King’s first words upon seeing me. It happened precisely when I needed to use spirit energy, around the time an incident involving Youngsoon erupted.
My response at that moment was this.
“It was the same back then.”
I didn’t bother hiding it at the time.
I saw no reason to.
Thus, the answer I gave the Death King was.
“Why should I?”
I said it with a smile. This wasn’t merely a refusal to become his disciple.
Rather.
“It seems you never understood that meaning.”
Even now, after all this time, he appears not to have grasped what I meant then. The true meaning of my words was this.
“Why should I become merely your disciple?”
“…!”
“Nothing to do, so you’re my only option? That’s absurd.”
If we were speaking of martial prowess, perhaps. But the Death King’s mention of a disciple was rooted in shamanic practices that wielded spiritual energy.
So why would I go down that path?
“At best, you’re bound to minor deities and can’t even control that much.”
I lowered my stance and gazed at the Death King. More precisely, at the Deity dwelling within his body.
“You bow and prostrate before a Deity, unable even to govern yourself as you’re dragged along—and you would teach me?”
I couldn’t comprehend such words. Neither my Grandmother, who hoped I wouldn’t walk this path, nor Baek Manager, who taught me, were the type to bow their heads to Deities.
At best, allies. At worst, tools. Those too incompetent to do otherwise, merely dragged about—what wisdom could they possibly impart?
“It’s foolish.”
“…You bastard…!”
“That’s enough.”
I extended my hand, pressing it against the Death King’s forehead. The moment my fingertip made contact, his body trembled slightly.
It seemed the Sword Emperor had left a pressure point. That made things easier.
“Death King. Why did you shoot arrows at Cheonri Jinan?”
“…”
No answer. So? It didn’t matter.
“The Sword Emperor spoke of four chances, but unfortunately, I’m not fond of simply carving and breaking flesh like that.”
And I disliked giving many chances either.
Click.
I loosened the restraint. Then.
Whoooooosh–!!
“…!!!”
A chilling, frigid spiritual energy burrowed into the Death King’s body.
“You have one chance. Please answer quickly.”
Two hands and two feet.
But only one soul.
I could only hope the Death King chose swiftly.
It wouldn’t take long to obliterate a soul.

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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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