The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 8

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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 008
Sanchen Gwiin.
He was known to be past forty years old, though detailed information about him remained scarce.
It was remarkable that so little was known about someone his age, yet that was the reality.
The reason he had gained notoriety only recently stemmed from an incident involving the Namgung Clan.
For reasons unknown, he had killed a martial artist of the Namgung family during an operation.
I heard that for the past six months since then, Sanchen Gwiin had been fleeing to evade the Namgung Clan’s pursuit to capture and execute him.
Black hair and a towering frame of seven feet.
A martial artist bearing scars from blade techniques.
His appearance matched Sanchen Gwiin’s description.
“Hmm.”
A man’s voice echoed softly through the dungeon.
At that sound, goosebumps erupted across my skin.
I glanced sideways.
Someone had died.
A senior who was always belittling me, the same one who had given me grief just last night.
‘He’s dead.’
His throat had been severed. It happened in an instant.
Gulp.
I swallowed hard.
“Haaah….”
Sanchen Gwiin exhaled quietly.
Even that small gesture caused my body to react involuntarily.
“How did this happen…. This… this wasn’t part of the plan….”
Sanchen Gwiin spoke with a languid expression, and as he did, he took a step forward.
Thud-!
The moment his foot moved.
Clang-! Shing-!
All the disciples drew their blades.
“Are you Sanchen Gwiin?”
At the Leader’s trembling voice, the man broke into a grin.
His yellowed teeth and squinting eyes revealed in that smile were chilling to behold.
“Then, who do I look like to you? Yes, I am the Sanchen Gwiin you speak of.”
“Everyone, prepare for ba-!”
At Sanchen Gwiin’s confirmation, the Leader was about to take his stance when.
Shing–!! The same sound as before rang out.
Crash-!
“Ugh!”
Blood dripped from Yoo Hyeong-in’s mouth immediately after.
He had raised his blade to block in front of the Leader.
Did Sanchen Gwiin attack, and I managed to block it?
I didn’t even see it.
In a word, that means I’m screwed.
‘…A master whose attacks are invisible.’
If I had been the one receiving that attack, I would have had my throat slashed like Dongbaek-u just now.
“So the Martial Alliance’s lapdog already noticed this place. That changes things a bit… How did you even find out?”
Sanchen Gwiin remained composed despite facing our superior numbers.
“Well, it doesn’t matter… I was going to clean this up anyway.”
Shhh.
He spoke those words while gripping his stance.
“Huff… huff.”
Yoo Hyeong-in was breathing heavily right after blocking the attack.
At the same time, he stepped forward and took the lead position.
“Leader. You need to go back and call for reinforcements.”
“What…?”
“If you don’t, we’ll all die…!”
“Ah, understood.”
“Bang Disciple! You too, hurry…!”
Just as Yoo Hyeong-in spoke harshly and the Leader answered with a trembling voice, about to say something to me—
“Heh. Did you think I’d let you leave like that?”
“…!”
Whoooosh—!
Sanchen Gwiin hurled himself forward, charging straight at us.
Yoo Hyeong-in hastily swung his blade to block his stance. But. Crash—!
“Ugh!”
Unable to fully block the attack, his body was driven backward by the impact.
That created an opening.
Sanchen Gwiin charged straight through, heading directly for the Leader.
“Eek!”
The Leader hastily drew his blade to defend, but he couldn’t block the incoming strike the way Yoo Hyeong-in could.
“Cough!”
Crash—! He barely avoided being cut down. But he was sent flying far more violently than Yoo Hyeong-in, slamming hard into the dungeon wall.
“Cough!!”
The Leader collapsed, spitting blood.
Sanchen Gwiin’s gaze turned toward me once more.
“Let’s finish this quickly. It’ll be troublesome if things get any louder.”
That chilling gaze fixed upon me.
‘Damn it….’
I had to move fast.
Boom—!
“…!!”
Before I could even think, a blade pierced my vision. I couldn’t react, let alone think.
“Ugh!”
Surprisingly, it was Yeon Socheon who blocked the attack aimed at me.
He was straining with all his might to hold back Sanchen Gwiin.
“What… are you doing…!”
Yeon Socheon spoke to me in an urgent voice.
“Hurry…! Join forces! This isn’t the time to hide…!”
His tone was desperate.
Hearing that, I understood.
He still believed I was hiding something.
“Hmm?”
Sanchen Gwiin observed Yeon Socheon quietly, then suddenly raised the corners of his mouth.
“Ah, I see. So you’re that one. Hea….”
As he continued speaking, Yoo Hyeong-in charged in and unleashed a blade. It was an ambush.
However, Sanchen Gwiin employed a movement technique and evaded the attack.
As a result, his position shifted as well.
Sanchen Gwiin ended up blocking the dungeon entrance.
“Unexpected. To think there would be two first-rate masters… Could it be you?”
Sanchen Gwiin gestured with his chin toward Yoo Hyeong-in.
“Are you the one I’m looking for?”
“…What do you mean?”
Yoo Hyeong-in furrowed his brow as he spoke.
At that response, Sanchen Gwiin tilted his head.
“No… judging by the feel of that trash, that’s not it….”
The Leader, collapsed and embedded in the wall.
He was speaking while looking at him.
And now his gaze turned toward me.
“That one is even more trash.”
“….”
I furrowed my brow at the sudden assessment.
“So it has to be you… Hmm.”
Words spoken as if in confusion.
What on earth was he talking about?
Just as doubt began to form, Yeon Socheon spoke to him in a tense voice.
“…Did you do all of this? These corpses?”
“Hmm?”
Corpses of Namgung Clan members piled thick on the ground.
Looking at them, Yeon Socheon continued.
“What happened here? Why are the Namgung Clan’s warriors…?”
“That’s because… this is the place they were searching for. And.”
Crack—!
Sanchen Gwiin loosened his body slightly as he added to his words for Yeon Socheon.
“What you’re searching for is also here.”
“…!”
Yeon Socheon’s eyes widened at Sanchen Gwiin’s words.
So the Namgung Clan member came here searching for something, and the author killed them all?
And what Yeon Socheon was searching for is here too?
‘What is it?’
What could he possibly be searching for?
What was he looking for that made Yeon Socheon react like that?
Strong questions arose, but there was no time to ponder them.
“Are your questions answered?”
Sanchen Gwiin had nothing more to say and rushed in roughly once more.
“Then it’s time to die.”
Whoooosh—! Wind erupted as the blade moved.
The speed was far too fast.
Clang—! Yoo Hyeong-in blocked the sword again.
This time he wasn’t pushed back like before.
As Yoo Hyeong-in held the defense, Yeon Socheon joined in and rushed forward.
Each time he swung his blade, afterimages lingered in the air.
Sword energy.
So that was sword energy.
That meant Yeon Socheon was a first-rate martial artist?
‘I can’t see it….’
Once the battle began, I couldn’t follow it properly.
It was too fast to even watch.
Clang—! Bang—! Screech—! Boom—!
In the darkness, only the sounds and sparks erupting appeared in succession.
As the offensive continued for a while.
Crash—!
“Ugh!”
With a loud sound, Yeon Socheon flew back and barely landed.
I widened my eyes watching that.
His pristine martial robes were in tatters, and his body bore wounds in several places.
Drip.
Yeon Socheon wiped away the blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.
Then he looked at me.
“What are you doing…?”
“…What?”
“Why aren’t you stepping in right now…!”
“No, Yeon Disciple, it’s not that….”
Faced with that resentful accusation, I had to clamp my mouth shut.
I lack the strength to intervene.
That’s what I wanted to say.
And I wanted to point out that this misunderstanding was your own fault. But I couldn’t say that either.
However, my lips wouldn’t open. Because it was Yeon Socheon who was fighting right now.
When I said nothing, he immediately contorted his face.
“…Ugh.”
Clang—! Bang—!
Ahead, Sanchen Gwiin and Yoo Hyeong-in were still clashing.
Even in this one-on-one situation, Yeon Socheon was being pushed back, so Yoo Hyeong-in’s condition couldn’t be good.
The man watching that carefully opened his mouth.
His expression showed he’d rather die than speak.
“…Pung Yeon. Please help me.”
It was a call for someone.
Then.
Thud.
Someone emerged from the darkness.
A figure dressed in black martial robes with their face completely covered.
The battle unfolding ahead came to a halt at this figure’s appearance.
“Yes. Young Master. I accept your command.”
From the voice, I judged him to be male.
He walked calmly toward Sanchen Gwiin and Yoo Hyeong-in.
“…Who is that…?”
I spoke out in sudden confusion, and Yeon Socheon immediately continued.
“You should have already known, but… he is my bodyguard.”
‘A bodyguard?’
“Since Pung Yeon is here, I understand why you won’t step in. It’s unavoidable, isn’t it.”
No, I didn’t even know he existed…? I didn’t realize a bodyguard was even—
‘Wait.’
A bodyguard?
The moment I heard those words, my head went cold.
This man called Pung Yeon was slowly approaching Yoo Hyeong-in and Sanchen Gwiin.
He was reinforcement.
Which also meant he had been circling the area without Sanchen Gwiin noticing.
A powerful master. Could someone like that suppress even Sanchen Gwiin?
If he’s capable of guarding someone of Yeon Socheon’s caliber, he must be an extraordinary powerhouse.
Then at least we can survive this.
‘But something….’
Something felt off as I observed the situation.
Unease welled up inside me.
My mind raced rapidly.
‘Yeon Socheon’s purpose. Escort. Namgung Clan. Sanchen Gwiin. Dungeon.’
Words that seemed utterly unrelated began weaving together of their own accord, connecting to one another.
“….”
And thus.
Thud—!
I reached the conclusion.
The man named Pung Yeon, who had nearly closed the distance—the moment I saw it, I spoke.
“Senior! Dodge! That person…!”
Yoo Hyeong-in turned his head at my cry.
Squelch—!
“Gack…!?”
But Pung Yeon had already struck with his blade.
The sword was not aimed at Sanchen Gwiin, but at Yoo Hyeong-in.
“…Pung Yeon!?”
Yeon Socheon cried out in shock at the sight.
“Ugh… cough.”
Yoo Hyeong-in, pierced through the abdomen, collapsed and spat blood.
Pung Yeon withdrew his embedded blade and immediately kicked Yoo Hyeong-in away.
Crash—!
Yoo Hyeong-in flew helplessly, tumbling across the ground.
“Senior…!”
I rushed toward him immediately.
“Senior! Stay with me!”
“…Ugh …cough!”
I pressed my hand directly onto Yoo Hyeong-in’s wound.
Too much blood was pouring out. I had to stop it first.
“Senior…!”
No response came. Only blood continued to flow.
Scrape.
“I am quite curious.”
I felt the blade touch the back of my neck.
“How did you know?”
Pung Yeon’s voice came from behind me.
“Pung Yeon! What is the meaning of this sudden act…!”
Yeon Socheon spoke with a shocked expression.
Whoosh—!
“Ugh!”
Before I could even hear his response, Sanchen Gwiin lunged at Yeon Socheon.
The battle continued.
“I’m genuinely curious, sir. How did you know?”
“….”
That Pung Yeon would attack Yoo Hyeong-in.
And how I knew he would betray us.
Cold sweat dripped down my face at that question.
Should I explain? I couldn’t afford to deliberate for long.
For now, I needed to buy time, no matter what.
“…Sanchen Gwiin said it himself, didn’t he?”
As I spoke, my mind raced. I had to find a way out of this situation.
“All the information was in his words.”
“Hmm?”
Pung Yeon looked puzzled, but in reality, every answer could be gleaned from Sanchen Gwiin’s words.
‘This wasn’t part of the plan.’
Those were the words Sanchen Gwiin spoke when he saw us.
A plan.
His presence here meant something—a plan of some kind.
‘The story is a bit different. How did he know?’
His next words.
This meant he’d heard information from someone, and “different” meant the information he’d received had changed.
Which meant he hadn’t heard about us long ago.
Furthermore.
‘Unexpected. There are two first-class masters? Could it be you?’
His surprise at two meant he’d expected one to exist.
The fact that he’d seen others besides Yeon Socheon meant he already had information about him.
At the same time, his confusion about who the others were meant he had limited concrete information.
And finally.
‘What you’re searching for is here too.’
He’d said this to Yeon Socheon with absolute certainty.
That meant he knew what Yeon Socheon was searching for here.
From Yeon Socheon’s reaction, I could confirm he was actually right.
So, let me organize this.
‘Sanchen Gwiin knew about the Martial Alliance’s plan to some degree.’
But not completely, which meant he didn’t meet with his information source frequently.
Also, he had to be inside the sect.
Moreover.
He was aware of the activity areas of important figures.
He knew about Yeon Socheon’s information while having relatively little about us.
‘It would be strange if it were the opposite. If he could pinpoint Yeon Socheon like that, his information source must be deeply connected to him.’
In other words.
The traitor possessed detailed knowledge about Yeon Socheon, and moreover.
In this case, since even Daeju didn’t know this information, only the Branch leader who brought him in would know.
‘If the Branch leader were the traitor, they would need to know far more information.’
So I excluded the Branch leader,
and who remained after that?
“Someone deeply connected to Yeon Socheon and knowledgeable about internal Sect affairs. Yet someone who couldn’t send information too frequently and only sent vague hints….”
Vague clues that accumulated and piled up.
“…It only became certain when you appeared.”
“Ah….”
Pung Yeon exhales in admiration at my words.
“But that’s not certainty, is it?”
That’s true.
It wasn’t certainty.
It was merely a convenient prediction. I’m aware of that myself, but….
“Still, there’s no harm in being cautious.”
Even without certainty, if there was even a slight risk factor, it was right to be vigilant.
“…hahaha….”
Pung Yeon laughs upon hearing my response.
“Well… this is something.”
Killing intent wraps around his laughter.
Cold sweat flows endlessly down my jawline.
The blade at my throat cuts into my flesh.
Blood trickles down from there.
Then.
“This won’t do.”
Whoosh—! Slash—!
“Ugh!”
I roll across the ground from the pain erupting in my back.
The blade slices straight across my back.
“…Ugh… Argh….”
The wounded back throbs with maddening pain.
It burns as if fevered, and I can’t even form words from the agony.
Trembling, I curl up on the ground, and Pung Yeon nods while looking down at me.
“Bang Disciple turned out to be far more troublesome than expected. I’m glad to have found out beforehand.”
Flick—! Pung Yeon shakes the blood from his blade.
“I wasn’t certain either… but seeing this now, it’s become clear.”
His downward gaze carries mockery.
“Bang Disciple. You’re weak, aren’t you?”
“….”
I stifled a cry of pain and glared at Pung Yeon.
“You’re weak. Extremely weak at that….”
Hearing those words, I had to furrow my brow deeply.
“…Damn it all. …Why is everyone spouting nonsense….”
When did I ever claim to be strong?
These fools created their own delusions, and now they’re making a mess of everything.
‘Sigh… Life really….’
This situation is truly pathetic.
I should never have gotten entangled in such meaningless affairs. But these wretched martial artists didn’t understand that.
That’s why this disaster has unfolded.
“Haah… Huff….”
I’m gasping for breath. The wound burns like hell.
Fortunately, it seems I wasn’t hit in any vital spots. Pung Yeon probably dodged deliberately.
“…So that time was just coincidence then… No, that can’t be right. That aura was definitely….”
Pung Yeon, who had been muttering incomprehensibly, shook his head slightly and spoke to me.
“Never mind. If you’re not worth my attention anyway, then it doesn’t matter.”
As interest vanished from his eyes, only contempt remained.
Shwip—!
Thunk—!
“Ahhhhh!”
A short blade pierced my thigh.
I couldn’t hold back and finally let out a scream.
“Stay right there. I have urgent matters to attend to. It would be even better if you died alongside that vermin over there.”
After speaking, Pung Yeon turned and walked away.
Toward where Yeon Socheon was.
“Ugh….”
He’s leaving me here unable to escape?
“…Rot in hell.”
This situation is absolutely miserable.
I sensed something was wrong from this morning, but things have twisted far beyond that.
Am I really going to die like this?
‘Die like this? In such a pathetic state?’
I cannot die after finally recovering memories of my past life.
I sought to live a different life than before, but I cannot perish in this manner.
‘Is there… any way out?’
I keep trying to think of something, but nothing comes to mind.
The situation was that dire.
Yoo Hyeong-in wasn’t dead yet, but he was on the brink, and Yeon Socheon’s condition was the same.
Of the disciples who came with me, all were dead except the Leader.
‘What about support…?’
I bit my lip.
How could I provide support when I didn’t even know where the dungeon was?
At this rate, it wouldn’t be strange if it took several days.
Was hope truly this absent?
The moment I thought this while watching Pung Yeon approach Yeon Socheon.
[Nyolorong~]
“…!!”
At the sound that reached my ears, I had to flinch violently.
I barely managed not to cry out.
I looked to my side.
“Huh…?”
Surprisingly, there was a familiar face there.
The figure who defecated on me last night and disappeared… or rather, the ghost.
[Good to see you, young one.]
An old man with a massive frame and blue eyes.
He was looking at me.

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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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