The World’s Greatest is Dead

‘Who did he say…?’

Who did that old man just say? I had to stay frozen for a while, processing what the old man had just said.

‘Sword Emperor? Did he say Sword Emperor?’

Sword Emperor (劍帝). Yu Chun-gil had clearly said that.

Then, who on earth did he refer to as the Sword Emperor?

No way.

‘That coachman?’

Did he call that coachman in front of me the Sword Emperor?

‘No way…’

Could such nonsense be true? I forced down my trembling and stared at the coachman.

The old man, who introduced himself as Chu Dong, had a hunched back and appeared quite diminutive.

His body was full of wrinkles from head to toe, and he looked like he had never held a sword in his life.

‘That person is the Sword Emperor…?’

How could I believe such words?

The Sword Emperor was someone even I, who had no interest in the Central Plains, knew about.

‘… A hero of the Great Demon War.’

A bloodbath caused by the Heavenly Demon.

It happened when the Heavenly Demon, who aimed to become the new supreme ruler by pushing aside the Murim Alliance, led the Demonic Cult to invade the Central Plains.

That war had famously ended in failure due to Yu Chun-gil.

Yu Chun-gil had killed the Heavenly Demon.

For that, he was called both the World’s Greatest and the Greatest of All Time.

However,

‘It wasn’t something he did alone.’

Of course, Yu Chun-gil hadn’t stopped that war by himself. Several figures had played significant roles against the Demonic Cult at that time.

Among those were the monsters now called the Five Kings of the World.

Even apart from them, there were martial artists who made significant contributions to the war just like Yu Chun-gil.

One of them was the Sword Emperor (劍帝).

‘The Sword Emperor Uiyang Yun.’

He was a figure known to have started as a wandering warrior and split the sky with his sword. At one time, he was said to be equal to Yu Chun-gil, the only martial artist comparable to him.

‘He disappeared as soon as the Great Demon War ended with Yu Chun-gil killing the Heavenly Demon.’

He vanished without a trace once the war was over.

Many were curious as to where he suddenly disappeared to or why he left without a word, but there were no known answers.

‘That’s why there were rumors that he died of illness or was assassinated.’

Whatever the case, it was certainly believed that the Sword Emperor was dead.

That was the common belief.

‘And now he suddenly shows up here?’

If that coachman was truly the Sword Emperor, why would he be here out of nowhere?

I glanced back at Yu Chun-gil, hoping it wasn’t true.

‘… Who is that guy?’

Yu Chun-gil also looked significantly surprised.

‘… Is it true?’

Forcing myself to hide my confusion, I looked at the coachman.

As I said before, he was not only thin but also seemed a bit shabby.

Even more so.

‘He’s one-armed.’

The old man was missing his right arm. Was such a person really the Sword Emperor?

‘What…?’

What was going on? As I stared at him filled with suspicion, the old man called Chu Dong spoke to me with an embarrassed look.

“Although I am missing an arm, I am confident in my skills as a coachman. Please trust me…”

He seemed to think that I was unhappy with the fact that he, a coachman, was missing an arm.

He wasn’t wrong. It was ridiculous for a coachman to lack an arm.

Of course, it was something strange to see, but…

‘… the Sword Emperor as a coachman…?’

If this old man was indeed the Sword Emperor, as Yu Chun-gil’s reaction suggested…

‘No way.’

A tingling thought crossed my mind, and I looked back. It was where the Virtuous Moon Sword was seated.

‘… So?’

Why did he allow these three to go?

‘… If the Virtuous Moon Sword knew this old man was the Sword Emperor?’

If he assigned him for surveillance and protection, the story would make more sense.

Just. ‘I don’t know how the Sword Emperor allowed it, though.’

That could be explained if an agreement was made between him and Virtuous Moon Sword. This presupposes that Virtuous Moon Sword knew about the disappeared Sword Emperor.

‘It’s possible.’

Nothing was impossible. Considering the influence that Virtuous Moon Sword wielded in the Central Plains, what couldn’t be accomplished?

‘…In the end.’

That coachman was indeed the Sword Emperor.

The Sword Emperor was going to work disguised as a coachman. That was the plan.

‘…Crazy.’

Just imagining it made me catch my breath. It would have been better not to know.

‘Now that I know, I have to pay attention to it too.’

Not just anyone, but the Sword Emperor?

Cold sweat trickled down my back. Just when my mind started to freeze from tension, “Young hero?”

“…!”

I snapped back to reality at the words of the coachman, no, the Sword Emperor.

“Are you alright…? If this old man’s presence is bothersome…”

“Oh, no. It’s nothing like that, elder.”

I hastily waved my hands.

“It’s not just your arm that’s the issue… If this journey to Sichuan is going to be arduous, I’m worried that you might fall ill while driving the carriage. That’s all. I apologize if I caused any misunderstanding.”

I focused all my attention as I spoke.

Fortunately, perhaps due to that, my words were clear, and my voice did not waver.

“Ah… So, you were concerned about such things as well, Young master.”

Chun Uijin, who seemed touched by my words, nodded appreciatively.

This guy, what’s my deal now? What’s “as expected”? When did I ever do something like this?

Chun Uijin, who always had misunderstandings on my terms, was the same as always.

“Hmm…”

Do Hyung, who gently patted my shoulder in agreement, was another matter.

I was so tense that these two were adding to my stress.

“…I understand. Thank you for your concern.”

The coachman, no, the Sword Emperor, looked at me with a kind smile.

“I appreciate your concern, young hero, but I, Chu Dong, have been driving carriages for decades. In Anhui, I’ve never met anyone who could handle a horse better than me. Even the esteemed Blue Moon Sect Leader knows and trusts my skills.”

“….”

After hearing that, I was convinced.

‘He really is the Sword Emperor.’

That old man was the Sword Emperor.

No, even if he wasn’t, he was certainly an expert.

‘Driving a carriage for decades?’

Trusting or doubting my words wasn’t the issue here. The important thing was that Chu Dong mentioned the Blue Moon Sect Leader.

The Blue Moon Sect Leader knew his skills and entrusted him with this task.

This meant, ‘The old man must’ve been brought by the Virtuous Moon Sword.’

My words confirmed this for me.

I was surprised.

Only because Yu Chun-gil had said it was the Sword Emperor did I know this. Otherwise…

‘I would have just seen me as a frail old man.’

I couldn’t sense anything from the old man. There was no unique aura that experts usually had. A plain old man. In fact, a one-armed old man who seemed even more feeble than a typical elder.

I looked no more than that, yet he was the Sword Emperor.

‘… A journey with the Sword Emperor.’

A journey to Sichuan with the Sword Emperor driving the carriage. It was suffocating just thinking about it.

“…I leave it in your capable hands, elder Chu.”

Now that I knew, there was no way to refuse.

So, I boarded the carriage that the Sword Emperor would drive.

* * *

The carriage preparations were nearly complete and it was about to depart.

It was a situation where departing at any moment wouldn’t be strange.

Virtuous Moon Sword watched this scene from a window within Blue Moon Hall.

There was no need to strain or go out of his way to observe it.

After all, he could ascertain everything if he wished.

– I leave it in your capable hands, elder Chu.

Upon hearing Bang Sung-Yun’s response, the Virtuous Moon Sword stopped his hand.

He had been handling a stack of letters. His eyes sparkled.

He accepted it.

Fortunately, it was successful without any major problems.

“Indeed.”

No matter how wise or outstanding one might be, there was no way they could recognize the true identity of the old man.

If there was one concern, it would be the possibility of rejection due to his one-armed state.

“That doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Instead, Bang Sung-Yun showed humility towards the old man.

This resolved the most worrisome issue.

It was understandable, given what the old man had said to Virtuous Moon Sword.

“If I’m not satisfied, I will kill him on the spot.”

If displeased, he would simply kill. The old man’s words were chilling and filled with emotion.

Virtuous Moon Sword knew how serious the old man was and that he did not speak lightly or make idle threats.

This was why the start wasn’t bad from this aspect. Just as he was thinking so.

“Are you really sure about this?”

At the sound of the gentle voice, Virtuous Moon Sword turned his gaze.

Chun Hye-In was looking at him.

Seeing her, Virtuous Moon Sword asked coldly.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean sending just those three people. It seems like something important, so I wonder if they can handle it with so few people.”

Her words sounded genuinely worried, making Virtuous Moon Sword sneer internally.

He found his daughter’s teasing somewhat amusing.

Important matter?

That sounded ridiculous.

‘She should already know everything.’

That brilliant child surely already knew why the three were heading to Sichuan.

He knew how many eyes and ears she had planted around.

Virtuous Moon Sword thought it amusing that she pretended not to know.

It was fun predicting that she already knew everything she was saying.

“Are you saying you disapprove of my decision?”

“Not at all. I’m just concerned.”

“What concerns you?”

“That inept child might cause trouble by joining them. He might become even more foolish. Isn’t that a worry?”

“….”

At Chun Hye-In’s words, the Virtuous Moon Sword thought of his son.

The worthless lad who couldn’t even look him in the eyes till the very end.

Remembering this, Virtuous Moon Sword’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

Chun Hye-In sighed as she saw this change in expression.

“As always, the Sect Leader must have a plan. It’s just that we are not aware of it and only believe Sect Leader is right. Correct?”

Virtuous Moon Sword didn’t reply. He just stared coldly at Chun Hye-In.

The meaning of his gaze was clear.

– Do not cross the line further.

It was a cold warning.

Even as she sensed this, Chun Hye-In didn’t stop talking.

“I understand you’re pleased with your new toy. But please don’t let it distract you.”

She smiled despite her father’s icy gaze. As always.

“No matter how hard he tries, he’ll never be able to catch up to me. Eventually, he’ll fall out of your favor just like that child.”

The certainty in her voice was palpable.

Creak.

Chun Hye-In grabbed the doorknob behind her. The Virtuous Moon Sword hadn’t ordered her to leave.

But Chun Hye-In didn’t care either way.

“So, don’t expect much. If you must put hope in someone, let it always be me.”

With that, she walked out the door, and Virtuous Moon Sword didn’t say a word.

“I will meet the Sect Leader’s expectations, no matter what they are.”

With those words, Chun Hye-In left the room.

“…”

Virtuous Moon Sword stared at the closed door after Chun Hye-In exited.

Then slowly closed his cold eyes.

He quietly contemplated what Chun Hye-In had said.

After a while…

-Depart!

Heeheeheeheeng–!

The sound of a carriage setting off could be heard.

“Hmm…”

With a sigh, Virtuous Moon Sword realized.

Of all the things Chun Hye-In had said before leaving the room.

There was only one truth in her words.