The World’s Greatest is Dead

“……”

With eyes wide open, he stared at the wooden sword. The finely carved tip of the sword touched someone’s neck.

Despite having the fairness uncommon for a man, the body hinted at rigorous training.

It was Chun Uijin of the Blue Moon Sect.

Amazingly, my wooden sword touched his neck.

“Hoo… Hoo…”

Catching my breath with a startled look, I stared.

“Haha… this is amusing.”

Chun Uijin laughed awkwardly and said, “I lost. As expected, Young master Bang is different.”

“……”

Chun Uijin’s reaction suggested he had anticipated his own defeat. To him, it might have been a given. No, he must have thought so for sure.

It was only natural.

After all, I had not only defeated the Young Azure Sword of the Namgung family but also easily bested Seom Sung-Gyeong, who was a martial artist from the Small Moon Division.

From Chun Uijin’s perspective, this was to be expected.

But,

‘What is this? How did this happen…?

Not for me.

‘Why on earth…?’

How had I defeated him? No, to be precise…

‘Why was it… so easy?’

How could I have won without much difficulty?

I couldn’t understand it at all.

“……”

As I looked at Chun Uijin with slightly trembling eyes, he still kept a smile and spoke.

“I apologize.”

It was a sudden apology, and I frowned upon hearing it.

“Why are you suddenly apologizing?”

Not knowing the reason, I asked back, and Chun Uijin replied.

“I know you matched me in skill during our sparring. It could have been a more meaningful match… I’m just sorry for that.”

“……”

Upon hearing his words, I realized what he meant.

Chun Uijin seemed to think I had fought while holding back.

‘There’s no way I held back.’

If I had, would I be catching my breath like this?

In contrast, Chun Uijin had his breath under control, while I was on the verge of hyperventilating.

This was a difference in physical capabilities.

In strength, speed, even stamina.

In every aspect, Chun Uijin surpassed me.

I realized this directly during the sparring, and it was a fact I already knew even without the match.

“No, it isn’t.”

I answered while thinking.

And that made it even stranger.

How did I win against Chun Uijin in such a situation?

It wasn’t that Yu Chun-gil had infused my body with energy; it was purely my own strength.

While pondering over this question, I felt a surge of joy from within.

“It’s more than enough.”

I defeated Chun Uijin with my own hands.

“It was a meaningful duel.”

The heat from that realization gradually engulfed my entire body.

* * *

Right after returning the sword.

Even as I walked away, I felt somewhat dazed.

Although there was nothing in my hands, they maintained a slightly rounded shape, as if still gripping a sword.

It was as if I believed I still held the sword.

As I wandered in a trance.

『Didn’t I tell you?』

Yu Chun-gil, who had been following, spoke to me. It was only after hearing his voice that I stopped walking.

『There was no way you came away empty-handed. Didn’t I tell you so?』

“……”

『Well then, did you truly gain nothing?』

I couldn’t say a word. It wasn’t that I couldn’t think of a rebuttal, but rather, I couldn’t utter a sound.

Amidst the flowing silence, as I stood speechless, Yu Chun-gil scrutinized me as if waiting for my answer.

As time passed, I barely managed to open my mouth.

“…… What happened?”

Yu Chun-gil chuckled at my question.

『What do you mean?』

“How on earth…?”

『Do you now see the sword?』

“……”

I replied with silence. Still, Yu Chun-gil continued, as if understanding the intention.

『My dear child.』

“… Yes.”

『This is what you gained from that place.』

Upon hearing Yu Chun-gil’s words, I swallowed quietly.

The countless deaths in the dream had led to this: seeing Chun Uijin’s sword.

His sword was still fast and sharp.

Even the first time I saw it, I felt that his movements were polished, a testament to solid training.

Chun Uijin was strong.

I wasn’t sure if he was as strong as Chun Hye-In or just below the Young Azure Sword level.

But he wasn’t someone who could be called weak among martial artists of our age group in this period.

Yet.

‘How did I see everything?’

Somehow, I could perceive all of his moves.

Half of the credit belonged to the power of Moon Eye.

I could foresee his sword’s path, predicting where he would strike.

The blue light revealed everything.

Of course, the path was not perfect. The lines that stretched out represented merely one of many possibilities.

Predicting which seemed most certain was Moon Eye’s efficacy in my view.

‘Seeing it, my body moved on its own.’

Seeing the emerging lines, my body moved autonomously before I could even process them mentally.

Even though my brain wasn’t fully convinced, my body seemed certain.

The resulting strangeness was indescribable.

Despite the questions, one thing was clear.

‘In the end, I won.’

I swung the sword following my body’s reactions.

I dodged what I could, parried what I couldn’t block.

Like when fighting young Yu Chun-gil in the dream, my movements were not as flawless.

There was a difference between dream and reality. Even with thousands of repetitions, my real body was different.

Nonetheless.

‘In the end, I did it.’

I exploited the openings I created to thrust the wooden sword into Chun Uijin’s weak spot.

That was how I won the battle.

“…… Haha…”

I let out a chuckle involuntarily.

My level hadn’t increased. My internal qi hadn’t grown, and my body remained the same.

Yet, I defeated someone of undeniable skill like Chun Uijin.

Moreover, with my own hands.

‘This is absurd.’

My mouth couldn’t help but curl upward.

At that moment.

『Tut-tut. Don’t be so full of yourself, grinning like that.』

Yu Chun-gil clicked his tongue, seemingly having waited for this.

『Don’t get complacent just because you won once. It’s unbecoming.』

“What… but why?”

『Reveling in joy is disgusting to watch. Verifying the situation was the purpose, not to let you forget your place.』

As he kept clicking his tongue, Yu Chun-gil added.

『It was a close call. Had you been only slightly slower, you’d have lost, my dear child.』

“……”

I had no retort. He was right.

My stamina had reached its limit already, and as he said, had the fight lasted a bit longer, I would have collapsed and lost.

So it was indeed a close call.

Knowing this, I still couldn’t understand.

“…… How was this possible?”

I still couldn’t grasp how I had defeated Chun Uijin. I hoped Yu Chun-gil would provide the answer.

Yu Chun-gil looked at me with a face full of contempt.

『How did you win, you ask. It’s obvious.』

He spoke as if questioning something so apparent was a waste of time.

『The child was weaker, you were a bit stronger. Victory and defeat were decided by just that.』

“But…”

『Dig deeper, and there’s more to it, of course. Like the intuitive sense refined in the dream.』

“Intuition?”

『Didn’t I tell you? If you wait to move until you see, it’s too late.』

“Yes, I remember.”

Thinking too much is folly. Just act. It was advice Yu Chun-gil had given me.

I deemed it significant enough to remember.

『There’s a caveat to that advice.』

“Yes…?”

This was different from his earlier words.

“A caveat, you say.”

Juxtaposing his earlier advice to avoid waiting until seeing and just act?

『The body moves because the mind directs it.』

This statement was somewhat different.

Previously, he advocated for movement over analysis, but now he asserted that…

『Whether you act because you recognize and think it through is another matter.』

“It’s hard to understand.”

『Simpler put, how quickly you react hinges on the honed mind.』

While tapping his temple, Yu Chun-gil pointed at me.

『You have trained through countless experiences, dying and reviving, hence slightly more usable now.』

“……”

So what he meant was…

‘Through thousands of deathly encounters, the gap between thought and action had narrowed.’

Or rather, perhaps my thinking time had shortened without me realizing.

Though difficult to comprehend in full, the ultimate point Yu Chun-gil conveyed was singular.

‘The dream helped.’

Those grueling, hellish times. Benefitted me, that was the essence of his message.

He wanted to articulate just that.

“… Tsk.”

My expression twisted in displeasure. Although the results suggested it was true, I was reluctant to admit it easily.

“After all that hellish suffering, if it hadn’t been helpful, that would have been a bigger problem.”

How many times my neck had been severed and how many times I had taken blows from a sword.

Even after waking up, the sensation was still so vivid that chills ran down my neck.

Because of that, I lightly rubbed my neck and looked at Yu Chun-gil.

“… So, elder.”

『Yes.』

“Can I win against Chun Hye-In now?”

Since I had defeated Chun Uijin, perhaps I could also defeat Chun Hye-In.

That was the intention behind my question.

『Don’t be ridiculous.』

Yu Chun-gil responded firmly with a sigh.

『Just because a small pair of wings grew on your back, it doesn’t mean a sparrow can overtake a hawk.』

“…”

『Don’t even expect it. It’s still beyond your reach.』

The metaphor was quite severe. I had barely become a sparrow, while Chun Hye-In was described as a hawk?

It was clear Yu Chun-gil held Chun Hye-In in very high regard.

“So, it’s a no.”

I had hoped a little, so it was disappointing.

However,

‘He said ‘still’.’

I keenly remembered how the old man had said it was still beyond my reach.

『… Hmph.』

Yu Chun-gil snorted as if he knew exactly what Bang Sung-Yun was thinking.

『Young one.』

“Yes.”

『It’s only one victory. Don’t get arrogant.』

“When did I ever show arrogance?”

『Don’t get drunk on it. You still have a long way to go.』

“… Hmm.”

『If you want to make the moon blossom at the tip of your sword, your heart must always be calm, like a patient night.』

“That’s quite abstract and impractical advice.”

Blossom the moon with the sword.

Stay as calm as the night.

For me, it was nothing but sleepy talk. Besides,

“I’m not interested in the moon or anything like that.”

Moon and whatever else.

These were not things I cared about.

How on earth was one supposed to make the moon blossom with a sword?

The moon was just a phenomenon that appeared when the sun set.

『Well, well…』

Yu Chun-gil laughed at my response.

『Think like that for now. You’ll eventually understand.』

His confident words made me uneasy, as if Yu Chun-gil intended to force me to understand eventually.

At that moment,

『In that sense, you did well with the Tang family affairs.』

“Pardon?”

Suddenly? Out of nowhere, he mentioned the Tang family, drawing Bang Sung-Yun’s gaze.

“… Why bring up the Tang family now?”

It was a question I wanted to ask, but I hadn’t expected him to come up first.

『I was wondering what to do with it, but things have turned out well.』

“What do you mean?”

『Didn’t I say I would get you a better Cold Iron Sword?』

Was I talking about the time in the underground?

Yu Chun-gil had mentioned that if I could reach the next level with my own power, he would get me an amazing Cold Iron Sword.

Oh, perhaps?

“Are you suggesting sourcing a sword from the Tang family?”

Saying that, I couldn’t help but be in awe.

If so, I was already excited.

“A Cold Iron Sword from the Tang family?”

The Tang family’s weapons were said to be unattainable, regardless of how much money one had.

Among them, a sword made from Cold Iron, comparable in value to a divine sword?

Such a treasure was impossible to obtain even with a fortune.

‘I could sell it and live comfortably for life.’

I didn’t know how Yu Chun-gil would manage it, but if I did, I would gladly bow to him.

Settling my eager heart, I thought.

『It just so happens.』

Yu Chun-gil nodded in agreement.

『I have some unfinished business with that family.』

“… Pardon?”

『Why don’t I just take everything this time?』

Had I misheard?

‘Sacking the Tang family…?’

One of the Five Great Families…?

‘Nah.’

I must have heard wrong.

Smiling at the thought,

“Elder, what do you mean by that? Could you explain properly?”

Soon after, I had to ask seriously. Because I believed Yu Chun-gil was truly capable of such things.

* * *

Whoooosh!

In a secluded clearing, rarely visited by people, Chun Uijin swung his sword. Sweat dripped with each intense move, but he persisted, seemingly unaffected.

“Huff! Huff!”

Though he looked like he could topple from exhaustion, his sword never wavered.

Continuously slicing through the air.

“Now-!”

At a precise moment, Chun Uijin loosened his grip.

Swish—!!!

His sword drew an immaculate arc, creating a half-moon shape.

“Haa… Haa…”

Observing this, a grin of satisfaction formed on his face.

“It’s done.”

He succeeded eight times out of ten now. It was a move he had learned from Bang Sung-Yun at the Murim Alliance’s Anhui branch long ago.

Eliminating excess force while releasing power at the critical moment.

Chun Uijin had not forgotten that lesson, and as proof, the difficult motions were becoming more natural to him.

However,

“Still a long way to go.”

The satisfaction in Chun Uijin’s eyes quickly faded.

“More.”

He had to swing his sword even more. He was still a long way from his goal.

“At least.”

Enough so that he didn’t require needless pity. He wanted to reach that point.

“The opportunity I finally got.”

When Bang Sung-Yun had offered to spar, he was overjoyed.

But,

“Ultimately, it wasn’t even a real match.”

His skill level was too low to make the most of it.

“He deliberately ruined his posture.”

During the sparring, Bang Sung-Yun had taken awkward and unstable stances.

At first, it was confusing.

“What’s going on?”

Why such ambiguous movements?

He didn’t even counterattack properly, merely avoiding or deflecting attacks.

During their sparring, Chun Uijin realized.

“Ah.”

He was going easy on him. Deliberately taking faulty stances to reduce speed and power, ruining his breath by moving more aggressively.

It was all a facade to make the gap seem smaller. That’s what it felt like.

“Damn it…”

Chun Uijin bit his lip.

It hurt.

Lowering himself to such a degree to match him in skill—it was too painful and agonizing.

Moreover, “In the end, I lost.”

Even with such awkward stances and breathwork, he still lost.

“He is truly an amazing person.”

He became even more certain of Bang Sung-Yun’s remarkable abilities.

“How strong is he, really?”

Beating the Young Virtuous Sword was shocking enough, but recently there had been rumors of him defeating Seom Sung-Gyeong.

The youngest Small Moon Division Member. It was unprecedented in history.

They said he had overturned the records set by the Sword Saint.

Thinking of that, Chun Uijin halted his movements.

Bang Sung-Yun had easily achieved what he had aspired to.

Thinking about it made him feel small and insignificant.

Would he never reach it?

That thought gnawed at his mind, but Chun Uijin tried to push the thought away as he gripped his sword again.

“… I can do it.”

He would make it somehow.

Holding onto that determination, Chun Uijin was about to swing his wooden sword again when “You’re working hard, aren’t you?”

“!”

Hearing the voice, Chun Uijin froze.

Forcing his rigid neck to turn towards the voice’s origin, he saw

“Hello.”

His sister, and his source of fear.

“My useless brother.”

Moon Dancer Chun Hye-In was looking at him.

“Shall we talk for a bit?”

With a chillingly stoic expression, no less.