The World’s Greatest is Dead

Time passed.

Not much, just four days.

Given that it was a short span of time, not many things were accomplished.

Most of the time was spent either training or gathering bits of information.

Even that was honestly overwhelming.

During this period, the training was primarily focused on basic physical strength.

Yu Chun-gil advised, saying, “Instead of swinging a sword meaninglessly, build the strength to hold the sword first.”

So, from the morning onward, I had to do all sorts of laborious tasks like climbing mountains or lifting rocks.

In the midst of this, I questioned whether there was a more efficient way to train instead of using such a brute method.

‘Do you plan on running before you’ve even learned to stand? Get a grip.’

For once, I was genuinely scolded.

He told me to stop being cocky and just do what I was told properly.

His words were so on-point that I had no retort.

Especially since they came from the greatest man in history, so there was nothing more to say.

Hence, I really shut my mouth and did just as I was told.

“Gasp… Huff… Huff…”

After running for a while, I barely managed to stop my legs. My energy had reached its limit.

I stood still and looked up at the sky.

Despite my breath being ragged, as if I would throw up any moment, I felt slightly better upon seeing the distant horizon.

It was dawn.

I watched as the light slowly informed me of the approaching morning.

“Huff… Is it today?”

If I remembered correctly, it was.

Today was the day.

The day I would head to Sichuan to in order to repair the Full Moon.

* * *

Having finished my private training, I returned to my quarters.

Of all the changes over the past few days, the greatest was this.

I was no longer staying in the guest quarters I originally used but was lodging in the quarters where Small Moon Division members stayed.

Creak. As I opened the door and walked in, Do Hyung was already there.

“You’re awake.”

“…”

In response to my greeting, Do Hyung merely nodded.

The quarters of the Small Moon Division had several rooms, typically used by two people.

Naturally, Do Hyung was the youngest before I moved in. And upon my arrival, we ended up sharing the same room.

After spending several days with Do Hyung, I learned a few things about him.

First, ‘He’s really, unbelievably quiet.’

Do Hyung barely spoke even a word a day. If I didn’t initiate a conversation, he would stay silent the entire day. But it didn’t seem like he hated me and was ignoring me on purpose.

‘It’s just his nature.’

He seemed to be a person who inherently spoke very little.

And second, ‘He’s unbelievably disciplined.’

His lack of speech was one thing, but the man himself felt rigid and meticulous. His bed was always made with perfectly straight lines.

Do Hyung didn’t do anything half-heartedly.

This meticulous nature was also evident in his training…

‘He wakes up much earlier than I do.’

I wasn’t sure when exactly he got up, but Do Hyung was always up before me.

Whenever I woke up in the early morning, rubbing my eyes, he was never on his bed.

He would be out training, and train some more.

Besides eating and sleeping, it seemed like he did nothing but train.

Or maybe…

‘Does he even sleep?’

Sometimes, he went to bed even later than I did.

Truly, he was an extraordinary person.

Even now, as I finished washing and changing clothes, Do Hyung, having finished his preparations much earlier, sat in perfect posture.

There was only one reason he was in such a position.

“… You can go ahead and wait outside.”

“No.”

He was waiting for me to get ready. Normally he would have gone out first, but today was different.

Today, we had to leave for Sichuan, and before that, we had to meet the Virtuous Moon Sword.

This was why Do Hyung was waiting for me. After all, I was at the center of the event.

And it was truly burdensome.

Not just having Do Hyung wait without any complaints.

‘But also those eyes.’

The gaze of the Guardian Spirit subtly watching me from behind him.

Suppressing the urge to avoid those eyes, I finished dressing.

“Let’s go…”

As soon as my words were spoken, Do Hyung finally got up.

* * *

As soon as we stepped outside, gazes followed us from every direction.

It was the martial artists of the Small Moon Division who were waiting around.

Though they were seniors in name, it felt awkward to call them that.

‘They’re all avoiding me anyway.’

Whenever I looked at them, they avoided my gaze, and if I tried to speak to them, they quickly left the area.

At this point, anyone could have guessed.

‘Am I being ostracized?’

It certainly seemed like I was being properly disliked.

It wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.

‘… Considering my actions.’

When Yu Chun-gil entered my body and shattered the Sword Saint’s technique.

Back then, my words and attitude must have been a problem.

Even I found myself unpleasant. They probably saw me as an arrogant guy flaunting myself as the Sword Saint’s successor.

This was evident from the subtle but discontented looks they kept giving me.

However, since they knew I had the skill to back it up, like overcoming the Sword Saint’s technique, they didn’t feel the need to bother me.

‘Hmm.’

I scratched the back of my neck.

I didn’t particularly care about their looks anymore…

‘But they’re quite something too.’

I couldn’t comprehend the attitude of the Small Moon Division.

‘If I were them, I’d be trying hard to get close to someone like me.’

They could have aligned themselves with me, rather than creating animosity. Yet, they chose such an attitude.

‘Well…’

Maybe it was because they were martial artists? It was something I could never understand.

At that moment, A soft touch.

Do Hyung, who was walking with me, suddenly patted my back.

What the heck?

I turned to look, feeling slightly creeped out.

His eyes held an inexplicable sympathy.

Only then did I realize.

‘… He seems to pity me?’

It wasn’t hard to notice that I was being shunned by the other members of the Small Moon Division.

In that light, it seemed like Do Hyung was trying to console me.

‘Heh.’

Though it felt absurd, having Do Hyung look out for me wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“… I’m… okay, senior.”

“…”

I forced a smile, trying to feign nonchalance with a pitiful look. Do Hyung’s patting became even more intense.

『… Tsk tsk tsk…』

Yu Chun-gil clicked his tongue in sympathy for Do Hyung, but I ignored it as usual.

Ignoring all the looks, we headed towards the Blue Moon Hall.

When we arrived, several people had already gathered there.

They appeared to be 3rd-generation disciples bustling about doing something.

A wagon was placed in the middle of the plaza.

They were meticulously stacking provisions onto the wagon.

I quickly realized.

‘This must be the wagon we’re taking.’

This was the wagon meant to take us to Sichuan.

As I glanced at it, someone approached me.

“Young master Bang.”

“Oh.”

It was Chun Uijin.

“Chun…”

I was about to greet him warmly but paused for a moment.

‘What’s this?’

Chun Uijin’s expression seemed off.

At a glance, it looked normal, but I sensed something was amiss.

‘He looks troubled.’

Perhaps he was mentally fatigued; his expression appeared somewhat dark.

“Have you been well, senior?”

Do Hyung gave a slight nod in response to Chun Uijin’s greeting.

“It’s an honor to go to Sichuan with you, senior.”

At the word “honor”.

Do Hyung cleared his throat slightly. He seemed embarrassed.

Seeing that, I asked Chun Uijin.

“Young master Chun, are you unwell by any chance?”

“… Pardon?”

Chun Uijin paused at my question.

“Oh, your expression didn’t look good. I was just wondering.”

“Ah…”

Hearing my words, Chun Uijin laughed awkwardly.

Even his smile felt dry.

“… Perhaps it’s because I’m tense and didn’t sleep well. Thank you for your concern. It’s nothing serious.”

“Hmm.”

That didn’t seem right though.

I could tell he was lying but didn’t feel the need to pry further.

“I see.”

I nodded appropriately. He said he was fine, so there was no need to ask more questions.

“Then, let’s go in.”

I led them straight into the Blue Moon Hall where the Virtuous Moon Sword was waiting.

* * *

“We greet you, Sect Leader.”

As always, the man with a cold demeanor welcomed us inside the room.

It was the Virtuous Moon Sword, the Sect Leader of the Blue Moon Sect.

He looked at us with his trademark sharp eyes.

“Are you mentally prepared?”

“Yes.”

Do Hyung replied on behalf of everyone in response to Virtuous Moon Sword’s question.

Virtuous Moon Sword slightly nodded in response to his answer.

“This matter is of great importance to the main sect.”

His tone was solemn as he continued.

“Especially because it has to be undertaken with utmost secrecy; you all must be particularly careful with your words.”

“We will bear that in mind.”

Of course, the mission to retrieve Sword Saint’s beloved sword, as well as the need to visit the Tang family for its repair, was highly classified even within the Blue Moon Sect.

That was probably why they moved with a small, elite team.

Rustle.

The Virtuous Moon Sword placed a neatly folded letter with the Blue Moon Sect’s seal and a wooden box wrapped in cloth on the table.

“This is a letter with the Blue Moon Sect’s seal. Make sure to deliver it to the Tang family head. Also, it is forbidden to read it before then.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And this.”

The Virtuous Moon Sword looked at me while holding the wooden box.

I reached out for it immediately.

Thud.

‘Whoa, this is crazy.’

I almost dropped the box as soon as I grabbed it. It was so heavy, even with both hands.

Did he really lift this effortlessly with one hand…?

“Deliver this along with the letter. Depending on the Tang family’s decision, you are to handle this yourself.”

“…Understood.”

I tried to suppress any sign of struggle as I held up the box. I had a good idea of what was inside without needing to be told.

‘Full Moon.’

The old man’s beloved sword was likely in there. Just as I finished gathering the items,

“Then, you may be on your way.”

‘Huh?’

I blinked in surprise at Virtuous Moon Sword’s words.

What? Could this really be all?

I expected him to say something more.

I waited just in case, but the Virtuous Moon Sword did not look in my direction again.

‘Is this really the end?’

Was he seriously done giving instructions?

Not even a word of caution? How could he end it like this?

‘Does he not even worry?’

Even if the team was carefully selected due to inner qi, you would think he’d show concern for a mission of such gravity.

Though it was my suggestion, I didn’t expect him to accept it so readily. Furthermore…

‘…Is it really just the three of us?’

Was he genuinely sending only me, Chun Uijin, and Do Hyung?

‘I thought he would add someone else…’

My assumptions were wrong.

Although I chose the two accompanying me, I thought he would add another person or two for the mission’s safety.

‘To think he would really let us go as is.’

I found it hard to discern Virtuous Moon Sword’s intentions.

‘…Hmm.’

I narrowed my eyes, focusing on him. Could it be…

‘Is it because it involves the old man?’

As I had mentioned to Yu Chun-gil before, I suspected Virtuous Moon Sword as one of the suspects involved in Sword Saint’s death.

While I wasn’t certain, I placed high probability on it.

‘What is this…’

No matter how I looked at it, he did not seem like the kind of person who would handle things this way.

Maybe he judged that the mission wouldn’t be too dangerous?

Given the reputation of the Small Moon Division Leader, it was plausible…

‘Even so.’

It still seemed risky. Just as these thoughts crossed my mind,

“Do you have any other matters?” Virtuous Moon Sword asked.

Though phrased as a question, it was essentially a prompt to leave quickly.

“… No, I understand. I will be on my way.”

“Alright.”

With that, Virtuous Moon Sword averted his gaze from me.

I had no choice but to conceal my discontent and exit the room.

Even then, I still felt an air of suspicion.

* * *

Once outside, it appeared that preparations were nearly complete.

Food supplies were loaded onto the cart, and a large carriage along with two horses were ready.

The carriage looked quite comfortable for three people.

Moreover, its polished exterior indicated considerable attention to detail.

One problem remained.

“Who’s going to drive this?”

Who would drive the carriage? Traveling from here to Sichuan would take more than a day or two, requiring significant time on the road.

Given that there were only three of us, I thought we might take turns driving when,

“Excuse me.”

An elderly man of small stature at the front of the carriage bowed his head toward us.

“I am Chudong, and I will be your driver for this mission… It is an honor to escort such esteemed individuals…”

‘Oh.’

It looked like they had provided us with a driver for the journey after all.

That was a relief. At least that aspect wouldn’t be a hassle.

As I thought that and was about to greet the old man,

『Hmm?』

Yu Chun-gil stated, noting the old man.

『That guy is the Sword Emperor?』

Freeze-!

Hearing Yu Chun-gil’s words, my body instantly tensed.

…Who did he say?