The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 139

If you sought information, you would go to the Beggars’ Sect.

This was a well-known adage in the Central Plains.

Beggars were everywhere, and being everywhere allowed them to hear many things.

Most of these beggars were members of the Beggars’ Sect, and the information gathered thus slowly accumulated within the sect.

Thus, saying that if you wished to know something, you could find it by asking the Beggars’ Sect was no exaggeration.

The only issue was that you had to pay for this information rather than simply acquire it.

For individuals who begged daily to survive, the price of the Beggars’ Sect’s information was unusually steep.

Unless someone was truly desperate to hear something, utilizing the Beggars’ Sect was relatively uncommon.

So, if not the Beggars’ Sect, what was the second most information-rich place?

When asked, everyone, without exception, seemed to speak in unison, saying that place was a tavern.

“Jang Hyung, did you hear?”

“Hear what?”

“The Little Sword Saint. The Little Sword Saint.”

Once alcohol was involved, loose lips were only natural.

Words spread from one mouth to another with ease.

A tavern was a place where these two factors met, so it stood to reason that a lot of information flowed through such places.

At that moment, the hottest topic of conversation in the tavern was about the Little Sword Saint.

“Who is the Little Sword Saint?”

At Jang words, who had been talking up a storm, the expression of the other man turned to shock.

“No, Jang Hyung. It seems you know everything when it comes to running your trading group. How can you not know about the Little Sword Saint! That’s why you ended up being scammed like a fool last time.”

“… Let’s save those painful words for later. Give me a proper explanation first.”

“It was a huge topic for a while that he is the Sword Saint’s successor.”

“Ah, yes.”

Upon hearing the explanation, Jang nodded his head. Indeed, it had been like that.

It had been some time since the death of the previous Murim Alliance Leader, the Sword Saint.

Yet, suddenly, the successor to the Sword Saint appeared, causing a brief stir.

“What was said? Did they say he defeated the Young Azure Sword?”

“It wasn’t just the Young Azure Sword. They said he even killed the Mountain Sky Demon.”

The Sword Saint’s successor, while hiding his identity, had been at a low level within the Murim Alliance.

There, he discovered a high master of an Evil Faction who was an enemy of the Namgung family, known as the Mountain Sky Demon.

Having no choice but to reveal his hidden identity, he rescued his comrades from the evil faction’s malicious figure.

Afterward, he even defeated the Young Azure Sword in a duel with a single strike…

“The Young Azure Sword is said to be close to the Seven Geniuses, right? To defeat even him… how remarkable. But what does this have to do with the Little Sword Saint… huh?”

Speaking, Jang seemed to realize something and let out a gasp.

“The Little Sword Saint is the Sword Saint’s successor?”

“… Jang Hyung is always slow to notice. That’s why your business always—.”

“Oh, stop with the needless comments.”

“It’s true. The Little Sword Saint is indeed that person.”

“… Haha.”

Jang let out a hearty laugh.

“I heard he hasn’t even turned twenty yet. And he already has a moniker.”

It had been less than a year since he revealed himself.

He was said to be a young man not yet even in his twenties.

Yet…

“The Little Sword Saint, huh…”

Such a name seemed excessive for a person so young.

Even if he was the Sword Saint’s successor, wasn’t it too heavy a name?

As Jang was pondering …

“It’s not too soon. It’s a name he more than earned.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you know what the Little Sword Saint did?”

“… I don’t.”

Having just heard the title, how could he know what that person did?

“Have you not heard about what happened in Sichuan recently?”

“If it’s Sichuan… did something happen again with the Tang family? Why? Did another special-grade weapon come out of the Iron Workshop?”

Whenever a special-grade weapon emerged from the Iron Workshop, the world would buzz. However, thinking it might be such news again…

“No, it’s not that. The Tang family was attacked this time.”

“What?”

Which madman dared to attack one of the Five Great Families?

Jang reacted with surprise.

“I heard that because of it, even the Poison King was in peril.”

“… Really? The renowned Poison King, even?”

Not only was the Tang family attacked, but even the Poison King was in danger?

It was indeed an unbelievable tale.

If it was a threat to the Poison King himself, what kind of attack could it have been?

As the story, incomprehensible as it was, became captivating, causing others to swallow their saliva unknowingly…

“Do you know who stopped it?”

The man asked Jang with an intrigued look.

“It was the Little Sword Saint.”

“What?”

“They say the Little Sword Saint defeated all the attackers and saved the Poison King.”

“Hah! How can such nonsense be believed?”

Jang wore an expression of disbelief as he frowned. Seeing this, the man clicked his tongue and continued.

“I’m telling you it’s true. Due to that feat, the Tang family considers the Little Sword Saint a benefactor and even presented him with several swords as gifts.”

“What nonsense…”

“Moreover, I heard that the Tang family’s child, one of the Seven Geniuses, the Poison Dragon, views him as a benefactor and stays by his side. They are so devoted. If someone saw, they might think he’s a personal attendant…”

*Clang!*

In the midst of the man’s words, a loud noise emerged from behind.

“What was that?”

The sound drew the attention of everyone in the tavern.

It seemed someone had broken a glass on the table.

It didn’t seem like it had been accidentally dropped. The broken glass and the look of moisture on the hand suggested it had been crushed while being held.

When people confirmed it was a young man trembling in anger…

“Gulp!”

“That… that…”

Some evidently recognized the young man, starting with the man who had been speaking.

“… Baek, why like this?”

Jang seemed confused by the situation and asked the man.

“…… Poison……”

Baek stammered as he spoke to Jang.

“Poison Dragon…… It’s the Poison Dragon.”

“Huh?”

At those words, Jang also turned to look at the young man.

The young man was dressed in green silk with white patterns mixed in, and he had a very fierce appearance.

And the emblem emblazoned on his chest.

Seeing that, Jang also hesitated.

“…… Oh no.”

It was something that anyone in the Central Plains could not possibly be unaware of.

For it was the very symbol of the Tang family, which they had just been discussing.

“Poison Dragon.”

“Poison Dragon, you say…?”

“One of the Seven Geniuses is here…?”

Seven Geniuses referred to a group of seven incomparable geniuses in the world.

They were called such, as they were monsters who might continue the current peace brought by the Sword Saint.

Among them was the Poison Dragon from the prestigious Tang family, known for their poison techniques.

The appearance of the Poison Dragon rendered the tavern utterly silent.

However, there was an issue.

“The fact that the Poison Dragon is here means……”

“Could it be?”

This atmosphere was not because the Poison Dragon appeared, but because there was a certain figure who might be near him.

Immediately, there were rumors.

A young man who was treated as a benefactor and revered by the Tang family for bestowing grace upon them.

This young man, whom the Poison Dragon admired so much, even following him on a long journey, serving him loyally like a personal attendant.

The fact that the Poison Dragon was here meant.

“The Little Sword Saint as well?”

“Who is it…? Who is the Little Sword Saint?”

“Could it be that he has returned to Henan?”

The most famous prodigy in the Central Plains right now.

There was a possibility that the Little Sword Saint, Bang Sung-Yun, was present.

Because of this, everyone’s gaze turned toward the table where the Poison Dragon sat.

At that moment, “Here!”

Someone sitting at the table suddenly raised his hand.

“The bill! Hurry!”

It was an exceptionally handsome young man with a rather urgent expression.

* * *

On a bright, sunny day, in the present Henan.

I walked the streets with a rather unsatisfied expression.

“Damn it.”

I swore harshly as I glanced to the side.

The fierce-looking man took a startled step back at my gaze, avoiding eye contact.

“You couldn’t hold it in and broke the cup? We didn’t even finish eating.”

“…… I’m sorry……”

“Didn’t I tell you to wear a different outfit?”

“…….”

The man lowered his head with a thoroughly contorted expression.

“Look at this guy? You can’t keep a proper expression?”

“……”

“We couldn’t even finish eating because of you. I’ll pluck your eyes for……”

*Sigh.*

I trailed off, letting out a deep breath.

‘Dammit……’

A sigh escaped me naturally. Although the man’s presence was aggravating, the situation made it even more exasperating for me.

‘How did it come to this?’

It all became bizarre. As soon as I arrived at Henan, I was overwhelmed by so many changes I felt dazed.

“Hehe.”

From the side, laughter could be heard. Following the sound, Murong Yeongsun, veiled, was quietly chuckling.

“…… Is it funny?”

“Yes. Isn’t it funny to you, young master?”

Murong Yeongsun, who walked with her characteristic graceful steps, spoke.

“The world is filled with stories about you. Aren’t you happy about it?”

“Do I look happy right now?”

“No, you don’t.”

Saying that, Murong Yeongsun poked my furrowed forehead with her finger.

“Don’t scrunch up that handsome forehead. It’s not going to change anything anyway.”

“…….”

I brushed away Murong Yeongsun’s hand with the back of my hand.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue shortly. Murong Yeongsun was half-right.

There was nothing to change.

‘I just thought it was a passing rumor.’

The name “Little Sword Saint” and such. I had thought it would be a rumor only popular in Sichuan.

‘Who would have guessed it would spread like this?’

Upon arriving in Henan, I realized it wasn’t like that.

As Murong Yeongsun said, the whole world was talking about me.

Even in the tavern where I went to satisfy my hunger, it was no different.

‘I was so surprised when my story came up.’

While quietly eating plain noodles, even there, they talked about me.

However, ‘What? I saved the Poison King and became a benefactor to the Tang family?’

The rumor itself had spread somewhat inaccurately.

‘Saving them, my foot……’

When did I save the Poison King or the Tang family?

No, I did do something similar, but it had become vastly exaggerated.

‘Rumors are always…’

It was no different in my past life, rumors couldn’t be trusted. It seemed that the same applied to my current life as well.

“It’s all your fault.”

“……?”

I spoke irritably to Tang Chun-il. Tang Chun-il then wore a puzzled expression.

“Why is it my fault……?”

“Because you stick around me, we keep getting caught. Ugh, you have to cover either your clothes or your face, one or the other!”

“…….”

The rumor that Poison Dragon had a fierce look was quite famous, and there had been several occurrences on the way where people recognized Tang Chun-il.

Moreover, since he wore the martial attire of the Tang family, it was all too obvious. It was common sense that clothes with a symbol could only be worn by a direct bloodline.

“This is driving me crazy.”

How did it spread?

As I frowned and turned my thoughts around.

『Hey, stop fretting and enjoy it. This was bound to happen sooner or later anyway.』

Yu Chun-gil spoke to me in a pitiful tone.

『From the point my successor’s name spread, it was expected, wasn’t it?』

Yes, I knew it.

I had become the Sword Saint’s successor. Since the moment I appeared at the Murim Alliance in that state, I expected that my name would eventually spread across Central Plains like this.

‘That’s true, but that’s not the issue at hand.’

The problem wasn’t that.

‘Isn’t it strange?’

The process of the rumor spreading was odd. Hence, it was bothersome.

‘It was quiet before, so why suddenly?’

If the term “Sword Saint’s successor” had spread everywhere, it would have been fine instead. But at that time, it didn’t, as if someone was blocking it.

‘But this time, on the contrary.’

It spread quickly, as if someone had deliberately circulated it.

Both seemed artificial.

That’s why it was suspicious.

‘Who moved things around?’

Someone had initially suppressed the rumor and then propagated it.

The difference would be.

‘The person who blocked it and the one who spread it are different.’

If my assumptions were right, it would be different people, and their intentions would also differ.

‘Tsk.’

Getting involved in something strange felt unsettling.

The current rumors were as follows,

-The Little Sword Saint killed an expert of the Evil Faction and saved the Tang family.

-The Little Sword Saint is not only a benefactor of the Tang family; even Poison Dragon follows him out of respect.

-The reason Poison Dragon follows him is that the Little Sword Saint overwhelmed him in a duel.

-The Little Sword Saint possesses martial talent bestowed from heaven, even looking down on the Seven Geniuses of the World.

And so on.

Barely a third of it seemed to hold truth, with layers upon layers added.

‘…… This is professional work.’

To make a lie sturdy, you have to mix in some truth.

To spread these embellished truths as rumors.

This smelled distinctly of a professional.

‘Tsk.’

Who in the world could it be?

It wasn’t that I had no idea at all about who it might be.

‘There are too many suspects.’

There were so many candidates that it became even more so.

Even refining my thoughts and narrowing down the candidates, clearly identifying them was difficult.

“Tch.”

I clicked my tongue and shifted my thoughts.

The fame that came so abruptly.

While it didn’t exactly feel good.

‘At least…… it’s not all bad.’

There were not only negative aspects.

‘Right now, it’s convenient for use.’

Even as exaggerated fame, it undeniably helped me get what I needed.

‘Think positively.’

I could do more now.

That’s how I tried to think.

Scanning my surroundings, I felt subtle gazes directed at me. Not only due to Tang Chun-il but also because of the clothes I wore.

Chun Uijin wore the martial attire of the Blue Moon Sect, while I and Do Hyung wore that of the Small Moon Division.

That caused attention to gather.

Especially as this place was a county managed by the Blue Moon Sect.

‘At least we’ve arrived.’

Having concluded a journey that wasn’t short, they returned to Henan, where the Blue Moon Sect resided.

‘Phew.’

Catching my breath, I gazed around from afar.

A large, towering building on a hill came into view.

The Blue Moon Sect (靑月門).

I had returned to the place where much work had to be done.

Unlike when I left, I felt many changes.

Whether it was my realm or status.

With things having turned this way, perhaps in the sect, there’d likely be some changes concerning me, wouldn’t there?

While contemplating that, I stepped forward.

…… That change was confirmed faster than I anticipated.

* * *

“…… Where are you asking me to go?”

In a dumbfounded voice, I asked, and the Virtuous Moon Sword repeated.

“Representing the Blue Moon Sect, go to the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.”

“…… What kind of nonsense is that?”

As soon as I returned, trouble befell me.