The World’s Greatest is Dead

“…… You refuse?”

In the tense atmosphere, Tang Gyung-Ak asked me.

His expression was full of puzzlement and bewilderment as he asked.

“If you help me open the vault, I’ll give you a top-grade weapon inside.”

I immediately refused that offer.

Tang Gyung-Ak’s reaction indicated that he couldn’t understand why.

“Yes. I refuse.”

I confirmed my refusal once more, as if emphasizing his confusion.

“…… You don’t like the terms?”

“Yes.”

I nodded.

Tang Gyung-Ak’s brow furrowed further at my response.

“May I ask what part of the terms is unsatisfactory?”

Even in such a situation, Tang Gyung-Ak’s tone and voice didn’t change.

It implied that he wasn’t a person who was easily swayed by these things.

“The reason……”

When it came to reasons, many came to mind, but ultimately it boiled down to one.

“It’s a bit underhanded, isn’t it?”

“What?”

Tang Gyung-Ak’s expression changed at my words. Calling it underhanded was crossing the line in many ways.

The mighty Tang family.

It wasn’t something one should dare to say to its master.

Tang Gyung-Ak, who probably knew this better than anyone.

Rumble—!!

Finally started to unleash his aura.

“It seems like you need to pay more attention to the weight of your words.”

“……”

I involuntarily swallowed hard. For the first time, I realized.

That one could even infuse words with power.

‘… Wow.’

I was genuinely impressed. One could actually suppress someone to death with just their aura.

Watching the Poison King, I came to this realization.

“Knowing your own position is good, but you should think once more about where you are standing.”

Where I was standing.

In the Tang family’s territory. And in front of me was the Poison King.

It meant he could kill me whenever he wished.

‘One wrong word and I’ll be dead.’

I was certain. The chills running down my spine and the Poison King’s eyes told me so.

My palms sweated.

I slightly clenched my fists to hide it.

If I made a wrong move, I’d die. Fear and terror overwhelmed me.

Were my fingertips trembling?

What about my lips? What kind of expression was I wearing?

My senses felt dulled.

At that moment.

『Are you scared?』

Yu Chun-gil asked me.

『If you’re scared, just nod. I’ll help you.』

Yu Chun-gil’s voice was lower than usual, as if he were sincere.

If I truly wanted it, it seemed like he would use any means necessary.

But, ‘No.’

I slightly shook my head.

I opened my clenched fist.

My fingertips weren’t trembling.

The cold sweat had already vanished, perhaps devoured by the chill.

My dull senses were returning.

A death line, they called it.

I had crossed the line between life and death many times before.

Was I scared of death now? No, I wasn’t.

I had always been this way.

Death wasn’t scary.

It was life that frightened me more.

Struggling in front of death to live better.

That was what frightened and exhausted me more.

So.

“Think of my position?”

I wasn’t scared of the Poison King.

“I don’t think you have the right to say that to me.”

“……”

Crack-! The Poison King’s pressure intensified.

I could feel him holding back. He was close enough to break my neck instantly.

Yet, he held back this much.

‘It’s either that my backer, the Blue Moon Sect, is that strong.’

Or he needed me that much.

“You are-”

“No, think about it.”

I interrupted his words amidst his pressure.

“Offering what was rightfully mine as a reward for a request, is that really acceptable?”

“……!”

At my words, the Poison King’s pressure momentarily wavered.

The relentless force twisted roughly.

It seemed as though it represented the emotions of the Poison King.

Watching this, I let out a slight chuckle.

The momentum that had attempted to bind me had already vanished completely.

“Isn’t that right?”

“…… What do you mean?”

The Poison King pretended not to understand. Judging from his expression, I almost believed he genuinely didn’t know.

『Look, look at that wretched fellow.』

Behind me stood the informant who had forewarned me about this situation.

『There’s certainly something I heard while I was alive.』

Yu Chun-gil had clearly told me something this morning when we came to the Iron Workshop.

And I repeated the exact words to the Poison King that I had heard then.

“The lost secret technique of the Tang family.”

As soon as I said it, the Poison King flinched.

Enjoying his reaction, I continued speaking to him.

“In exchange for restoring the Sky Filling Flower Rain, you would grant me the weapon stored in your secret vault.”

“…….”

“This was a promise made by the Poison Sovereign himself to the Sword Saint, my master, was it not? Or am I mistaken?”

After saying this, no answer came from the Poison King.

However, his expression told me everything.

“…… How do you……”

Just as he was about to ask how I knew this, a laughter interrupted him.

“Heeheehee–!!”

Tang Jichul, who had been quietly observing, suddenly chuckled.

“Hahaha. Well… it’s been a long time since I saw the Tang family head in such an awkward position.”

“…… Elder.”

“Family Head Tang, you have been struck.”

Tang Jichul tapped the Poison King’s shoulder and approached us.

“Boy, how do you know that?”

“Is it important how I came to know?”

I tilted my expression slightly as I spoke.

“Isn’t the fact that I know this information more important?”

“True.”

Tang Jichul didn’t disagree and nodded.

“If it upset you, I apologize.”

“No, it didn’t particularly upset me.”

Normally, one would be upset being deceived, but I was not.

‘If I had unknown information, I would have used it too.’

The opponent knew something that I didn’t. If I held such knowledge, not using it would have been foolish.

So, I did not feel upset, but rather.

“Since I know this information…”

If the opponent had tried to deceive me but failed.

“Shouldn’t you now properly meet the terms?”

Conduct business properly. This was a warning to Tang Gyung-ak.

I knew more than he thought. A warning like that.

“……”

Tang Gyung-ak stared at me for a moment.

What would he do?

Would he apologize? Or would he press harder to intimidate me?

Watching him with interest.

“What do you want?”

Tang Gyung-ak chose neither, offering a different response.

It was clear.

‘This man is a born merchant.’

He had a bit of a swindler’s nature mixed in.

Skilled in politics and adept at handling people.

In short.

‘A tough opponent.’

He was somewhat challenging to deal with.

“That’s not for me to say.”

However, he was not an unmanageable opponent.

“Given the situation, why don’t you make an offer that might pique my interest?”

Make the offer first.

Hearing this, the Poison King spoke to me.

“How about giving you two weapons from the vault?”

He intended to add one more to what he originally planned to give.

Normally, this might have been an adequate deal, but, “Come on.”

Given the situation now, it wasn’t enough.

Yu Chun-gil had told me.

If you go to the Tang family, they will try to drain you down to your bones.

Hearing that had made me anxious, but, “Offer more.”

I felt confident I could squeeze everything out of them too.

* * *

Meanwhile, as Bang Sung-Yun continued his conversation with Tang Gyung-ak.

Clang-! Clang!

In the most secluded part of the Iron Workshop.

In a rarely visited and obscure location, loud sounds echoed.

Clang–!!!

The woman with her hair tied back, Tang Yelan, hammered with all her might.

Bang-!!

Each time, sparks flew.

Tang Yelan didn’t fear these sparks; instead, she kept strengthening her arm.

Her eyes only focused on the lump of iron before her.

Bang-! Bang, Bang!

Although her delicate arms showed no sign of tiring, she was already drenched in sweat, and her breath was slightly rough. Tang Yelan didn’t care.

She concentrated solely on what was in front of her.

Focused on nothing but what her hands would create.

Bang-!! Bang-!!

Gradually, her hand movements became more precise and forceful.

Simultaneously, Tang Yelan’s breath grew a bit more labored.

She lacked strength. Her stamina was waning.

Yet, she didn’t rely on her inner qi.

Even as a martial artist, she only used her raw strength when handling metal.

“Steel is sensitive. It will notice shortcuts and slip away.”

If she wanted to create what she desired, she had to use only her own strength.

That was what Tang Yelan had learned and observed.

Bang-!

The shape was gradually forming. To ensure there was no distortion, she became more meticulous and gentle, yet still forceful.

Bang-! Bang-!

Life sparkled in Tang Yelan’s eyes.

Seeing the steel gradually transforming, she thought.

“Interesting.”

As always, there was something inherently special about creating things with one’s own strength.

Just a bit more.

Just a little more, and she would achieve it.

If she kept doing this, little by little, someday—

Surely, someday, she would achieve what she wanted.

As this thought crossed her mind, the woman raised her hammer.

“Useless thing.”

“…….”

Crack-!

At the sudden thought, the woman’s hammer struck a strange spot.

Drip… drip.

Sweat trickled down her chin. Tang Yelan stood still, staring blankly at the iron rod.

Her eyes were on the rod, but echoes of thoughts resounded in her head.

“Why do something so pointless?”

“You have no talent.”

“Don’t you feel ashamed as a member of the family?”

“…….”

Thunk.

Tang Yelan let go of the hammer she was holding.

The hammer fell to the floor.

“Hoo… haa…”

Releasing the breath she had been holding, Tang Yelan crumpled to the ground.

It felt overwhelming and stifling, as if something was binding and choking her.

Sweat continued to flow from her overheated body.

When the sweat reached her eyes, the droplets grew slightly larger.

“Sss…”

To hide her tired state, Tang Yelan raked her hand through her hair.

Various emotions etched themselves into her delicate features.

It always happened around this time.

“If you’re having a hard time, just ignore it.”

Since the time when that dry voice no longer consoled her.

“What’s said by those who know nothing is meaningless anyway. Proving oneself is everything.”

Now that the only person who had believed in her was gone.

Tang Yelan realized that she had lost the support that barely held her up.

“Yelan, you can do it.”

“…….”

Ruminating on those words she could no longer hear, Tang Yelan covered her face with her hands.

“I… don’t know.”

Could she do it?

Now that there was no one left to believe in her.

Tang Yelan didn’t know herself anymore.

“I… don’t know, Grandpa.”

So, Tang Yelan said in a weary voice.

And there was someone—

『…….』

A dry, sharp-looking old man watched her from behind.

With eyes full of deep pity and sorrow.