The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 138

I set off on the road from Sichuan to Henan.

Though I left, I never met the Poison King face-to-face during the departure.

Some people went to see the Poison King separately, which seemed indicative of some issue arising.

Nonetheless, the letter and the substitute courtesy from the young family head meant I didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable.

‘Since I got what I came for, anyway.’

I had already received the rewards I was promised in our prior dealings.

I also secretly secured the Great Rejuvenation Pill.

‘Excellent.’

My hands were full. Things that hadn’t been there at departure were now well-packed.

That fact alone made me judge the situation as favorable.

The problem was,

‘It concerns the incidents experienced.’

The matters I faced in Sichuan, including the Broken Heaven Palace and Yu Chun-gil, were problematic.

“I did send a report ahead, though…”

I had already sent a letter about this matter to the Blue Moon Sect.

It was likely to arrive either now or within a few days.

‘Hmm.’

So what should be done then?

‘First, I must begin laying the groundwork.’

I needed to look into what needed to be checked within the Blue Moon Sect and begin recruiting people on my side.

If I intended to properly engage in the Young sect leader succession battle, this was a necessary step.

‘It is indeed what I lack.’

All I had was the reputation of being the Sword Saint’s successor.

While it was quite valuable, it was slightly ambiguous.

Yet, right now, ‘Things have improved, somewhat.’

The situation had changed. Though it had only been half a year, I had the Tang family behind me, and if not for that…

‘I’ve also gathered a handful through commissions.’

This particular matter would bring enormous benefits to the Blue Moon Sect.

Judging by the position, I felt I would gain considerably.

‘If it turns out that way.’

I really needed to start recruiting.

‘Someone who would support me, that is.’

Those who would back me to become the Young sect leader of the Blue Moon Sect.

There was no one right now, but it was time to start looking.

‘The person to recruit…’

I already had someone prioritized in my mind.

What I needed to think about now was how to win him over.

‘Well…’

I had long found a method.

Even before coming to Sichuan.

Therefore, at the moment of fine-tuning the process and forming a plan—

“What are you planning to do next?”

A gentle voice interrupted my thoughts.

Frowning at the interruption, I looked ahead.

“… Next?”

“Yes, next.”

Seated calmly across from me was a beautiful woman with a cold demeanor, Murong Yeongsun, the daughter of the Murong family and my former fiancée.

“Next or whatever, of course, I have to return to the Blue Moon Sect for now…”

As I spoke, I looked at her and asked.

“… Why did Young lady Murong tag along?”

“It’s been almost a month, isn’t it a bit strange to ask only now?”

Murong Yeongsun spoke with a light smile.

True, it had been quite a while since we set off from Sichuan.

When I first got into the carriage, I was immensely surprised to find Murong Yeongsun seated there as if it was nothing.

Panicking and asking why she was onboard, Murong Yeongsun responded confidently.

“‘Cause I’m going with you, of course.”

She was so confident that it left me speechless.

They shared the same destination, she claimed. Since they were returning to Henan as well, we might as well travel together.

When I asked why she couldn’t use another carriage.

“This carriage is ours.”

Murong Yeongsun shrugged her shoulders as she spoke.

Upon hearing this, I realized the carriage was indeed different.

It was much more spacious and luxurious.

The seating couldn’t even be compared with the one I had used on the journey to Sichuan.

Then what happened to the carriage from the Blue Moon Sect? Just as the question arose, Yeongsun spoke.

“We’ll take that along too. Let’s travel comfortably together, right? It would be nice for you, and for the others as well.”

“…”

I looked around following her words. Both Do Hyung and Chun Uijin seemed enveloped in comfort, possibly amazed by the seating.

Could they be satisfied with the original carriage after experiencing this?

‘No, even if it’s a long journey, I can’t stay with her all this time.’

I briefly thought, but ultimately, the decision I made was the situation at hand.

‘… Damn it. Money is always the issue.’

Materialism truly holds power in every world.

The expensive things certainly proved their worth.

Thus, I ended up traveling with Murong Yeongsun.

With a sigh full of regret from a choice driven by greed, I reached out my hand.

“Water.”

As soon as I spoke lightly, something was placed in my hand. It was a glass of water.

Water trickled into the glass in my hand.

The one pouring the water for me was none other than Poison Dragon.

“More. More. More. Ah, there, stop.”

“…”

I gulped down the glass filled with water.

With the thirst quenched, I felt slightly better.

“As expected. Water is best when poured by Chun-il.”

“…”

Upon my praise, Tang Chun-il had a grimace.

“Look at your face. Didn’t I tell you not to squint your eyes triangle-like?”

“…”

At my sharp remark, Poison Dragon lowered his head.

I had to suppress my laughter at the somewhat sulking appearance.

“It’s a relief having this guy around.”

I hadn’t been bored throughout the journey.

Indeed, I was busy teasing Poison Dragon all the time.

Having something to do seemed essential for survival.

『… Annoying fellow. I thought I’d take a break for at least a day.』

Yu Chun-gil spoke with a disgusted expression on his face.

Wasn’t it unfair?

‘I just did what the Poison King ordered.’

In accordance with his agreement, I gave lessons under the guise of imparting the Sky Filling Flower Rain Art.

I simply played a little under the pretext of teaching.

‘Tang Chun-il also enjoys it, doesn’t he?’

The fellow surely was not bored while being with me.

See, how fun it was that he couldn’t even lift his head.

“Heheh. Ahem.”

He had to suppress a laugh that escaped unintentionally.

At that moment.

“It won’t be long before we reach Henan!”

Chun Uijin mentioned it while looking out the window. Hearing this, another looked outside as well.

‘Indeed. It’s a familiar neighborhood.’

Familiar scenery gradually appeared.

Looking at it, I steeled myself. Apart from the nostalgia of returning home.

‘It’s time to use my head again.’

It indicated the time had come for me to think hard again.

While recalling this, I scratched my head lightly.

“It’s going to become busy now!”

Murong Yeongsun told me. Hearing this made me flinch.

‘What?’

Did she know what I was going to do?

Was Murong Yeongsun really that sharp?

‘No, this isn’t just being perceptive; it’s foresight.’

It wasn’t just prediction but foresight.

Nothing else explained it. Looking at her with a slightly tense face.

“People will be watching you now!”

Murong Yeongsun said with a smile. Hearing this, I made a bewildered expression.

“…… What do you mean?”

I asked with the tone of, what a random remark.

“Well, rumors must have spread all over Henan, so you’ll be bothered for a while. You even got a title, right?”

“Ahh.”

Was that it?

It was not about what I was going to do in the Blue Moon Sect, but what I had done in Sichuan.

‘The Little Sword Saint.’

It was the title I got after killing the Spear Demon in Sichuan.

At that time, it was a story famous only among the Tang family and some current circles in Sichuan.

“But isn’t it just a small rumor?”

I had come all the way to Henan; why bother thinking about it?

I thought it was just a small rumor that would soon die down.

So, when I expressed that, Murong Yeongsun made a strange expression.

“A small rumor?”

“Yes.”

“What is that…… Ah.”

Just as Murong Yeongsun was about to say something, she suddenly stopped.

Then.

“Is that so?”

Slapping her hands as if realizing something.

“Perhaps it’s best to go and see for yourself.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

She said with a bright smile.

What is this? Why such an ominous reaction?

My uneasiness sprouted unintentionally due to Murong Yeongsun’s demeanor.

『…… Oh dear. Tsk, tsk, tsk.』

Yu Chun-gil clicked his tongue disapprovingly, only intensifying the feeling.

* * *

What on earth could it be?

My mind was filled with questions.

I found out the answer a few days later.

For, as soon as I arrived in Henan.

“Well now, about the Little Sword Saint.”

“They say the Sword Saint’s successor did such things in Sichuan…….”

“Then he surpasses the Seven Geniuses by far, you say?”

“Seven Geniuses are nothing! People say there’s no comparison!”

“They say he swiftly cut down the revived absolute master with just one strike….”

“Even the Poison King couldn’t manage against him, so they say?”

“…… Wait,”

I couldn’t react at all to the conversations around me.

What is this?

I stood there, dumbfounded by the unfathomable situation.

At that moment.

“A small rumor?”

Murong Yeongsun sidled up next to me, whispering.

“Sure.”

“…….”

While unable to react to those words, I barely managed to catch my breath.

『Did I not tell you so?』

Not only Murong Yeongsun, but Yu Chun-gil, floating in the sky, also spoke to me.

『Young man, you need to have a clearer understanding of your worth, as I said.』

Unable to voice a response to Yu Chun-gil’s words.

‘This…….’

It seemed that something had significantly gone awry.

Very significantly, indeed.

* * *

A region in the northwest of Guangdong Province.

This place was usually shrouded in thick fog and teeming with wild animals, making it unfrequented by humans.

For safety reasons, locals were prohibited from accessing the area.

Recently there had been disturbing rumors of ghosts appearing deep inside, causing even fewer people to approach.

In that very place, “Arrghhh—!!!!”

Harsh screams were constantly echoing.

“Please, spare me—!!!”

The desperate cries were heard intermittently, intermingled with the voices of more than one person, forming a chorus of screams nearing the edge of anguish.

“P-please–!”

“I’ll talk!! I’ll talk—!! Arrghhh–!!”

The screams reverberated so profoundly inside the area that they could not be heard in the villages outside.

If someone were to hear them, they’d readily suspect that, perhaps as the rumors suggested, there could be ghosts involved. Though it was nothing like that in reality.

In the depths of the fog, there was a constructed abode.

Though not maintained to perfection, the building did not appear to be a ruin.

Screams had echoed from that place.

“Gasp-!”

“Ngh… ngk…”

As those screams gradually subsided to silence, a scene of despair unfolded inside the abode.

The floor was littered with corpses brutally slain, their blood flowing and soaking the ground.

It seemed that the ones who had been screaming were these people.

“Gasp… gasp… gasp… P-please, don’t…”

The last surviving man, appearing utterly terrified, whimpered.

“P-please! I’ll, I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!!”

He pleaded, rubbing his hands together desperately.

“You’ll talk?”

The person who seemed responsible for this chaos merely chuckled at his words.

At that moment—

“Please-!”

*Squelch!*

A chilling sound resonated as the man’s pleading hands were severed.

*Splat!*

Blood spattered onto the cheek of a woman.

The woman lightly wiped the blood off her cheek and swung the sword she held.

The blood on the blade was swept off by the wind pressure, drawing a semicircle as it slid into the scabbard.

*Clang.*

Relaxing her stance, the woman wore an expression of subtle refreshment quite at odds with the brutal scene.

“Ah. Now I can finally breathe.”

What could she possibly mean by breathing? Humming softly, the woman moved forward.

The accumulated blood made squelching sounds as she stepped through it.

Creating a constant sound, she exited the building.

Outside was equally shrouded in fog, and there were corpses there as well.

The only difference was that the bodies outside were in much cleaner condition compared to the inside.

Inside, the bodies were brutally dismembered, but outside, they all had their heads cleanly severed.

Noticing this, the woman spoke with a slightly sheepish expression.

“Oh dear, I missed a few.”

Her words of regret were answered.

“I always tell you to focus, yet you always let some slip by.”

The reply came from a masked figure whose face was obscured. Judging by the voice, the figure was presumably a woman, but it was difficult to guess her age or true appearance.

“Hahaha. Sorry, master.”

“… Sigh.”

The masked person was the woman’s master.

Though she seemed displeased with the woman’s attitude, she refrained from scolding her further.

Years of experience had taught her that this woman wouldn’t change with rebukes or nagging.

“Did you learn anything?”

“No?”

The woman answered firmly.

“You know. There’s nothing to gain from interrogating them.”

The master didn’t disagree. It was true.

“Instead.”

The woman pulled out something from her garments.

“I found this.”

She handed a letter found inside to her master.

After receiving the letter, the master unfolded it and began reading.

“…….”

The master’s shoulders trembled slightly. It seemed she had discovered something important.

“Is there something going on?”

“Yes.”

Folding the letter, the master tucked it inside her clothing and explained to the woman.

“The people of Broken Heaven Palace decided to settle in Guangdong for a reason.”

*Schwing.*

A sound of a sword drawing was heard from the master’s direction as she spoke.

Curiously, the master didn’t hold a sword.

Where did the sound come from? As the question arose—*KA-BOOOOM!!!*

With a tremendous sound, the abode from which the woman had emerged was engulfed in light and vanished.

“Oh my.”

The woman widened her eyes slightly upon witnessing this.

“Honestly, you are so intense. I tried so hard to keep it from collapsing.”

“Once we’ve obtained what we need, erasing it is the right choice.”

“Yes, yes. I suppose.”

“Now let’s head to Henan.”

The woman beamed at her master’s words.

“Are we finally going?”

“Yes, now we can go.”

“Even though you mentioned you felt uneasy about meeting the Alliance Leader?”

“It’s something I must eventually face… And we have to look into matters concerning your brother.”

Her brother.

As that word reached her ears, the corners of the woman’s eyes gently crinkled.

“Wonderful.”

The woman had been incredibly curious.

‘What has that adorable kid been up to behind this nuna’s back?’

Recently, she’d been hearing various rumors.

It was said that the Sword Saint’s successor had appeared and defeated Namgung’s Young Azure Sword, Poison Dragon of the Seven Geniuses, and even notable masters from the Evil Faction, such as Mountain Sky Demon and Spear Demon.

An incredibly sensational record for someone not even yet twenty.

Rumors that anyone would find unbelievable merely by hearing them.

Especially so for her.

‘What has our smart little one been doing?’

For indeed, the subject of those rumors was none other than her own younger brother.

What on earth had he been up to to suddenly become the Sword Saint’s successor?

Though she couldn’t understand—”Meeting him will tell me, right?”—she didn’t dwell too deeply on it. After all, she’d find out once they met.

With that in mind, the woman, Bang Sujin, the eldest daughter of Liaoning Bang Family, smiled.

“…….”

Her master, who had been watching her.

Yun Heesun, the Sword Empress of Heaven Beyond Heaven, let out a small sigh.