The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 498
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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 498
It was shortly after returning to the Bangseong Clan. I had packed everything. I even stopped by the academy in the meantime.
The children inside were sad that I was leaving, but what could be done? I needed to get back quickly anyway.
“Is all the luggage packed?”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Luggage was stacked onto the carriage. As I mentioned, there wasn’t much. Our household was so poor there was nothing to take with me.
“…If Young Master leaves again…the Bangseong Clan will become chaotic once more.”
“Isn’t it usually the opposite?”
When many people leave, shouldn’t it become quiet? It was a ridiculous statement.
Of course.
‘I understand the reason, though.’
The reason was obvious.
“Ahhhhh! Brother…!! You’re leaving already!!”
Bang’s second son—a reckless fool already causing a drunken commotion. He would be the problem. The Chongwan’s gaze toward him held shallow contempt.
Yet he was still blood family. And the way he looked at the Younger Master with that contempt—what was that about?
It made no sense.
“Ahhh! Don’t go…!!”
“….”
I could almost understand it. No, I already did understand. I suppressed a sigh and brushed off my pants.
“Ugh!”
My older brother, clinging to my pant leg, stumbled backward. What was I supposed to do?
‘Where does our family’s future lie?’
Nowhere. How could there be one? It was plainly hopeless. I exhaled a sigh and moved forward.
“I’ve packed everything that needs packing.”
“…Please do take care of your health as well.”
“I’ll do my best.”
It would probably be the hardest thing to manage. But I had to try. I smiled.
The Chongwan smiled back at me. Seeing that, I spoke.
“When Father returns, please give him my regards.”
“Understood.”
Whether I liked it or not, he was my father.
I didn’t know what he was doing, but I needed to send word.
“Will you be leaving now?”
“Yes. I’ll depart immediately.”
Ideally, I should have left as soon as I received the letter, but there were some matters to handle.
‘Regarding the Heretic Leader—’
I needed to investigate using information provided by Haowen. Whether or not he was the Pacheon Gungju, now that I knew a Heretic Leader existed in Patcheon Gung, I had to understand the situation.
‘And when I go to Hanan—’
I also needed to learn what I should do regarding the Demonic Sect delegation. As I was thinking this and about to board the carriage.
“You’re leaving?”
A floral fragrance drifts from behind me. I turn around.
It’s Muyong Youngsoon. She stands there with her arms crossed, watching me.
“…Oh. I should go. I was about to leave.”
Something feels decidedly awkward. Looking at her, I find myself with nothing particular to say.
Then it happens.
“Fine. Go well.”
“Huh…?”
Muyong Youngsoon speaks with an unbothered expression.
“You said you were leaving.”
“Yeah, I am leaving, but…”
I’m not entertaining any ridiculous thoughts about wishing she’d stop me.
I’m simply surprised that she came at all.
“Hey.”
“Hmm?”
Muyong Youngsoon calls out to me.
“Stop using formal speech with me.”
“…”
What is this announcement? I’ve already stopped doing that. What more could she mean?
“…Yeah, okay.”
“Go.”
“…”
Did she come just to say that? How absurd. I let out a quiet laugh and board the carriage. Then—thud! Muyong Youngsoon approaches and grabs the carriage door.
Huh?
“Why.”
“Not you.”
Muyong Youngsoon looks not at me, but at Yoo Yeon sitting beside me. Yoo Yeon turns her head with a blank expression.
Perhaps sensing the gaze, Yoo Yeon and Muyong Youngsoon’s eyes meet.
Several seconds pass like that.
“Hmph.”
Muyong Youngsoon turns her head away sharply.
“…?”
Yoo Yeon tilts her head, puzzled by it.
“What was that?”
Gungwi inside the carriage responds drowsily. Right, this grandmother is riding with us too.
Muyong Youngsoon distances herself and turns back toward where Chongwan is.
Watching her go, I check our surroundings. It seems everyone who needed to board has done so.
“Let’s depart…”
Our brief stay in Yeolyeong comes to an end, and the carriage departs as planned.
As we leave, I glance back at Muyong Youngsoon. Our eyes meet through the window.
She breaks into a grin. What is that smile? The feeling is peculiar.
Her hand moved with a gentle flutter, as if offering me a farewell gesture.
I hesitated, uncertain whether to acknowledge it.
But in the end, I waved back.
And with that, the carriage departed from Yeolyeong.
* * *
After the carriages had left, with only a handful of people remaining, Muyong Youngsoon stared fixedly at the departing vehicles.
She watched them grow distant, then released a long sigh.
“Fool.”
What was she to do with such an idiot? For all his brilliance in other matters, he was remarkably deficient in this regard.
“What can I do about it.”
Muyong Youngsoon sensed dimly that this was her fate. As she contemplated this—
“Oh, my dear brother is leaving! Leaving!”
“….”
Bang Yoo-seong, the Younger Master of the Bang Clan, wailed dramatically. The stench of alcohol wafted from him, causing Muyong Youngsoon to discreetly increase the distance between them.
“Younger Master… please, compose yourself. Younger Master, that man…”
“…Did Chongwan just call him a man?”
“A misunderstanding, sir.”
It was chaos. Muyong Youngsoon exhaled quietly.
“But our Moryong Sojeo is right here! Where exactly is he going? Oh, this is unbearable!”
“…Bang Disciple. Please, I beg you, calm yourself.”
Muyong Youngsoon stepped forward to soothe him. It was a title she hadn’t used in ages. She seemed to recall calling him that often in childhood.
“The Central Plains is such a harsh and terrifying place… and yet we must send our Bangseong-yeon there…”
The Central Plains was indeed harsh and terrifying. But from Muyong Youngsoon’s perspective, Bangseong-yeon was someone who adapted better than anyone. She had no worries whatsoever.
“Oh… I cannot bear to be parted from Bangseong-yeon…”
Did he really dote on his youngest sibling so much? His sister, Bang Seo-jin, didn’t seem to care nearly as much.
“But Moryong Sojeo is right here…”
He was merely repeating himself. Her presence here would hardly benefit Bangseong-yeon. He was the sort who ran away regardless—what difference did it make now?
‘And besides.’
It was meaningless anyway. Muyong Youngsoon recalled the true reason for her earlier thoughts and checked the letter in her bosom.
It was a letter sent from the Alliance, addressed to her.
The sender was none other than Cheon Rijin-an.
The Scholar of the Alliance and one of its heroes had personally written and sent this letter.
And its contents were simple.
‘The Gathering Hall.’
The Gathering Hall to be held by the Alliance. She was being asked to attend. It was said that Disciples from both the Demonic Sect and the Alliance would gather there.
“How convenient.”
Muyong Youngsoon nodded to herself. He kept running away, growing more distant. What was she to do about it?
‘I will go myself.’
She would go to him. This time, she would make certain he could not escape.
With such resolve, Muyong Youngsoon rose to leave.
“I should be going now.”
“Already? At least have a meal before you go.”
“No, thank you.”
Her refusal was firm. Without Bangseong-yeon, there was no reason for her to remain here.
Her cold footsteps echoed crisply as she exited the residence.
“What a shame…”
Bang Yoo-seong, who had been lying on the floor whining, smacked his lips.
Then he slowly propped himself up.
“Chongwan.”
“Yes, Younger Master.”
“So you’ve stopped hiding now?”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
Chongwan laughed, and Bang Yoo-seong joined in.
But the smile soon faded from his face.
“Chongwan.”
“Yes.”
The atmosphere shifted. Bang Yoo-seong’s eyes gleamed with a chilling light.
“When will Father arrive?”
“Approximately half a month from now.”
“Is that so?”
He rose to his feet. His eyes glinted with an icy sharpness, and Chongwan’s expression grew heavy. The very air seemed to thicken.
“I’m thinking of finding those who dared touch my brother—”
“I shall prepare. What of Haowen?”
“Leave that alone. If we touch them, my brother will feel slighted. Besides.”
He hummed softly.
“The Heavenly Supreme will be watching as well. We must handle this without incident.”
“Understood.”
“Good.”
Bangseong-yeon had vanished, and now there was work to be done. There was the matter of Amjeon as well, but Bang Yoo-seong paid it no mind.
“Wait—perhaps I should cut back on drinking.”
It was time to gradually reduce what he drank every day.
Bang Yoo-seong moved his hand, straightening his disheveled clothes before stepping forward. One step. As his foot touched the ground, his form vanished.
As if he had never existed at all.
* * *
Departing from Yeolyeong toward Hanan, the carriage moved without pause until nightfall, when we began to make camp.
That’s when I stepped into the forest and began wielding my blade.
Whoooosh—!!
Drawing forth the resonance of my sword, I swung the divine blade without cessation. The traces left in the empty air made me acutely aware of how much faster my speed had become.
The blade infused with Gwangwol Seomgyeong continued to move and move again.
‘I’m not reaching it.’
It was difficult to reach where I desired. Only sporadically did it seem I touched the divine blade union, but I couldn’t maintain it.
Was this telling me something more was needed?
[That’s because you’re impatient.]
The Celestial Demon interjected.
“Impatience, you say?”
[Yes. You know it hasn’t fully become yours yet. The problem arises precisely because you’re trying so desperately to reach it.]
“…Hmm.”
She was right. It still wasn’t mine. When the Celestial Demon had used my body, I’d been chasing after that divine blade union she’d demonstrated then.
But it wasn’t working. Just a simple downward strike—why couldn’t I replicate that remarkable technique she’d shown?
‘Is impatience truly the only problem?’
The movements and breathing were fine. The internal energy I was using matched the exact ratio the Celestial Demon had employed then.
‘This is difficult.’
I sheathed my blade at my waist with a metallic click. Could it be a matter of realm?
‘It’s only been a few months since reaching the Transcendent Peak.’
There wasn’t enough time to ascend higher from here. Many still believed the Transcendent Peak was the ultimate limit.
‘A realm beyond this?’
I couldn’t even imagine it. I’d faced so many monsters and crossed blades with absolute masters.
‘How much further?’
How could I reach that place? I was completely lost.
[I just said impatience was the problem. Aren’t you listening?]
The Celestial Demon let out a hollow laugh.
Hearing that, I scratched my cheek. She was right. She’d told me not to be impatient.
“My apologies.”
[Fine, then.]
[Yes. That’s fine, that’s fine.]
I ignored the short blade woman who’d subtly interjected. I loosened my body. I still had several more days of travel before reaching Hanan.
If I trained my blade more during that time, I’d gain something. As I was thinking this—
“Heavenly Supreme.”
“….”
Gwima appeared. Ah, this time I was less startled. Yes, by now I expected him to show up.
“What is it?”
Steadying my breathing, I regarded him calmly. With his head bowed to the ground, he spoke to me.
“There is a strange presence in the vicinity.”
“The surroundings?”
“Yes. From what I can see.”
Gwima lifted his head slightly and spoke.
“They appear to be Nokrim Dao disciples.”
“….”
Nokrim.
At those words, my eyes narrowed.
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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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