The World’s Greatest is Dead

Saaa-

The biting cold stiffened my muscles. The room, already chilly, had become unbearable. I felt as if even my breath might turn into frost.

It wasn’t just the cold.

‘At this rate, I might die…’

Tremble-

The oppressive atmosphere made the entire room shake. His eyes grew significantly colder than before, and the presence emanating from him was overwhelming.

The pressure that Tang Gyung-ak emitted was so intense that it was impossible even to swallow dryly.

“It’s not just idle talk, is it?”

As Tang Gyung-ak spoke, he placed something on the desk. It was a dagger.

“If this were a bluff, I could have dismissed it. However, it does not seem to be the case. I have many questions for Young Hero Bang.”

“……”

Was it mere imagination? Although the dagger lay on the desk, it felt as if it was pressed against my throat.

The chill was palpable. I was reminded once again.

‘This place is the Tang family estate, and before me stands the Poison King.’

Not just anyone, but the Poison King, one of the Five Kings of the World.

He was issuing a warning.

He said he had many questions to ask. Tang Gyung-ak’s words, given alongside the drawn dagger, implied that he could resort to torture if necessary.

‘Father, you were right.’

Sichuan was a dangerous place, and he had advised me not to get involved. For once, my father’s words seemed to be correct.

‘Hoo.’

I sighed inwardly. I regretted opening my mouth. My unnecessary boldness had caused trouble.

But what could I do?

‘Half of this is their fault.’

They had spread information and expected silence. There was nothing more troublesome than that. I blamed these people for making me aware.

Creak-

The pressure grew stronger. I felt like I might vomit.

At that moment.

“That was a certainty.”

Tang Gyung-ak spoke to me.

“You seemed certain. Certain that the Tang family would need the Full Moon. I fail to understand why you thought so. Why?”

My eyes were exceptionally cold. It felt as if the dagger on the desk was about to pierce my forehead.

If I remained silent, the pressure would likely intensify. It could eventually prevent me from speaking. I had to open my mouth slowly before that happened.

“There’s no reason to hesitate.”

“……”

“The clues were already sufficient with the current information.”

Tang Gyung-ak didn’t respond. His gaze urged me to continue.

“The information gathered on the way, the actions of the family head, and the contents of the letter that arrived at the Blue Moon Sect. All of it was enough to deduce.”

“With just that?”

“Just that? It was more than enough.”

I found it amusing that such information was deemed trivial.

“The family head already knows.”

I spoke, meeting Tang Gyung-ak’s intense stare.

“Before coming to Sichuan, we encountered an incident in a village. I believe you’re aware?”

Tang Gyung-ak’s eyes widened at these words.

“Do you realize why I think so?”

“It’s because after the incident, we reported it to the local Murim Alliance branch, and given the proximity, the information would inevitably have reached the Tang family.”

This was the Sichuan Tang family. The influence they held made it natural that they would know such things.

“And I thought the Tang family would be closely monitoring the incident.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s directly related to the Tang family.”

“……”

The more I spoke, the colder the atmosphere became. However, the gaze of the ghost watching me grew so intense it felt scalding.

It felt as though my face might be pierced.

“Do you know the identity of those who attacked the village?”

“Who knows. Do you?”

At Tang Gyung-ak’s response, I couldn’t help but smirk.

“So, you acknowledge that you knew we experienced the incident?”

“……”

That was sufficient. The poorly concealed excuse that followed didn’t matter in the slightest.

“I don’t know the details, but they call it the Broken Heaven Palace.”

“…!”

Tang Gyung-ak’s reaction was more intense than before.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard of such a group, but let’s put that aside for now.”

From here on was the crucial part.

“They said they were looking for a certain ‘secret record’.”

That name was probably…

“The Secret Record of the Poison Sovereign.”

As soon as I spoke, the air began to tremble.

Wow, unbelievable, the air could actually tremble from the energy. It was an astonishing phenomenon.

At that moment.

Ssh-!

I staggered and fell to my knees.

Simultaneously, my vision started to blur. What was happening now?

It was a bewildering situation. While wondering what was suddenly going on, Tang Gyung-ak said to me,

“It’s the poison of the Yeollong grass.”

Yeollong grass?

“It spreads quickly through its scent, and if it’s stimulated by energy, it paralyzes you instantly.”

“… Ah…”

Hearing the explanation, it suddenly made sense.

No wonder there was an unusual floral scent in the hallway.

Feeling my state, I chuckled bitterly and said,

“Am I going to die now?”

Speaking calmly, Tang Gyung-ak, or rather, the Poison King, responded in a heavy tone.

“It depends on your answers from now on.”

He could kill me if necessary.

That was the warning I felt.

“Did they really mention the Secret Record of the Poison Sovereign?”

“Who knows.”

“… This brat.”

“Stop it. The Sect Leader can’t kill me.”

“… Huh?”

As I spoke with confidence, my vision further blurred. I could no longer see Tang Gyung-ak’s face.

“Do you mean to insult me?”

“… No way. How could I possibly disgrace the Sect Leader of the Tang family?”

“Then…”

“I just became sure from the behavior you just showed, Sect Leader.”

“… What?”

I was certain from his behavior. At my words, the Poison King frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“I always wondered why a successor had to come in person. Wouldn’t it be enough to just take the Full Moon? I used to think that.”

As I spoke, I pointed at something. A wooden box on the table.

“When we were talking earlier. Before even exchanging tokens, you reached for the wooden box first, didn’t you?”

“… What’s the problem with that?”

“It was very strange. Considering that someone like the Sect Leader of the Tang family wouldn’t forget something so basic.”

This was a matter between sects and families.

Touching an item before an agreement was concluded with a representative? It was unthinkable.

Yet, the Poison King almost did exactly that.

I focused on that.

“It was just a mistake.”

It might have been.

Everyone makes mistakes.

But…

“Right. People can make mistakes. But the chance that you, Sect Leader, would make such a mistake is not very high. Thus.”

I assumed the Poison King wasn’t someone who would make such an error.

After all, he was the Sect Leader of one of the prestigious Five Clans. Someone of his stature making such a basic mistake? And as the fearsome head of the Tang family?

Impossible, unless there were two possibilities.

“Either you made an intentional mistake in front of me…”

Or.

“It was a mistake born out of a pressing, significant matter.”

“….”

“If it’s the latter.”

Rattle.

I forced my worn-out body to stand. Although I was truly drained, forcing myself up was possible.

“That means you need the Full Moon that much.”

Thump! I barely managed to brace myself on the table. Had I not, I might have fallen.

The amazing thing was that my voice didn’t tremble even in this wretched state.

At first, I was scared, but now even that wasn’t the case.

Maybe because I was certain.

“And that you specifically called for me, not just the Full Moon…”

I squinted my eyes. I could no longer see Tang Gyung-ak’s face clearly.

“You possibly needed the Full Moon and the Sword Saint’s successor. Thinking about why that would be necessary…”

I connected the dots.

Even if the information seemed unconnected, forcing it to link together revealed something.

And making that forced connection seamless was…

Information that ‘only I knew and the opponent did not’.

His previous Sect Leader, the Poison Sovereign.

And the snack warehouse that Yu Chun-gil had secretly made along with the Full Moon.

The connection that came from there.

This was literally information only I knew, and the Poison King did not know it.

“The Poison Sovereign’s record, the Full Moon, and the Sword Saint’s successor. These three are related. That’s what I observed, but what do you think, family head?”

“……”

At my words, the Poison King said nothing.

Silence lingered.

I waited for a while, anticipating the Poison King’s reaction.

Sssssss—……

I heard a sound like something slowly dispersing, and gradually, strength began to return to my body.

Blood started to circulate again, and my breathing began to stabilize.

Wow……. It finally felt like I could live again.

Just as I caught my breath and calmed down a bit.

“…… My.”

Tang Gyeong-ack spoke.

“It seems I’ve let a snake into the family.”

It didn’t seem to be a bad reaction.

『This guy……. Surely, he is a disciple of that crazy person. No, he’s even crazier than him.』

Annoying words followed from behind.

* * *

Clang-! Clang clang-!

A place filled with the rough sounds of metal being forged and intense heat.

Clang–!!!

Along with the noise, sparks flew, and the smell of iron filled the space.

And there was someone there, with a cloth tightly tied around their head, hammering with all their might.

Clang-! Clang clang-!!

Their movements were precise, maintaining a consistent rhythm.

Each time the hammer struck the surface, the heat roared up, and hot sparks flew, but the person seemed unfazed.

Rather, their eyes were filled with fervor.

They looked almost joyful and happy as they proceeded with the tempering.

During that long period of sweaty labor.

“Daughter.”

A gentle voice called from behind, causing the person to pause.

They turned to look behind.

The voice’s owner was an elegant middle-aged woman, who seemed young for her age.

She was the person’s mother.

She was Pyun Jin, the mistress of the Tang family.

The Poison King’s wife and the mother of the young sect leader Tang Jun.

Moreover,

“Mother.”

She was also the mother of the woman holding the iron.

Pyun Jin frowned as she looked at her daughter.

Despite having given birth to a beautiful child, her face was covered in soot and dust.

She disliked seeing her daughter in such a state, hence avoided coming to this ironworks.

“……Why on earth do you not come when you are called?”

Because her daughter was so disobedient, she had to come herself.

“Oh.”

The woman responded to Pyun Jin’s words.

“Did you call me?”

“I must have called you more than ten times.”

“Sorry. I was just having fun.”

“…….”

The woman threw the hammer she was holding aside and untied the cloth from her head.

Her long, straight hair cascaded down lightly.

As she roughly arranged her hair, the woman asked.

“What do you need?”

“Someone from the Blue Moon Sect has come today.”

“Ah.”

She remembered hearing about it. They mentioned that a guest would visit soon.

“I see.”

Just that much interest.

The woman responded as if it were nothing special, and Pyun Jin sighed.

“Your father will likely call for you at dinner.”

“I suppose so.”

Since it happened often, it didn’t concern her much.

“Just in case…….”

“Yes, I know.”

The woman smiled, not even listening half the time.

“Do not mention this matter. Try not to speak about it, and also…….”

What was it again? Ah, right.

“If there is someone with the surname Bang, do not get involved with them. That’s it, right?”

“Correct. Especially for the last point, you must always remember it.”

Pyun Jin heatedly warned her daughter, trying to ensure she did not forget.

“Don’t worry.”

The woman responded, slightly smiling as if her mother’s concern was endearing.

Not really paying close attention while she said so.

TL’s Corner:
I think Pyun Jin is one of Bang Sung-Yun’s father’s victims. lol