The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead, chapter 127

Bang Sujin.

A woman who was the only daughter of the Bang family and, like me, a child from a concubine.

The family was notorious for having three children from three different mothers – a scandalous household indeed.

Our father, despite his age, never matured and constantly flirted with women, creating a chaotic home environment. To me, she had seemed almost the only hope in that dysfunctional family.

Bang Sujin at the age of thirteen.

The alias she went by at the time was none other than:
“The Best Prodigy in Liaodong.”

You might wonder what a thirteen-year-old could achieve, but back then, it seemed like everything.

At the age of thirteen, she could beat martial artists past the age of twenty like they were nothing.

Whenever the Evil Faction appeared in the village, she would single-handedly clear them out with a wooden sword.

Someone even quipped that a dragon had emerged from the Bang family when they saw her wielding a sword.

Yes, even now, thinking back, nuna was a genius.

She did many inexplicable things that could only be attributed to genius.

Although her temper was difficult, often causing troubles without distinction of water or fire, her talent was undeniable.

Who was it? I think it was the head of the Murong family.

He once said to her, “Soon, no one in the Central Plains will be unaware of the daughter of the Bang family.”

That statement alone showed her genius.

‘The head of the Murong family, no less.’

If the master of one of the Five Great Families evaluated her like that, she was undeniably a prodigy.

Father, knowing this, pinned all his hopes on her, thinking she was our sole hope…

“Damn, this family.”

“Screw it! I’m out!”

But the hope of the house couldn’t tolerate the increasingly chaotic household and ran away.

She left so quickly that no one in the house realized she’d disappeared.

She left only a letter and vanished.

That left my father in despair, and his wrath turned towards me.

“That damn woman.”

My fist clenched instinctively.

If she was going to run, she should have taken me with her. How could she escape alone?

*Crinkle-!*

The letter crumpled in my tightly clenched hand.

“Calm down…”

I had to calm down. I repeatedly told myself this in my mind.

Seeing nuna’s letter brought up so many things to think about.

Now was not the time to ponder over the past.

I straightened the crumpled letter and stared at it.

‘First…’

The seal on the letter.

That was the first problem.

‘Why is the seal of the Beggars’ Sect’s leader on this?’

Yu Chun-gil said this wasn’t just any seal of the Beggars’ Sect, but specifically that of the leader.

Such a notable seal wouldn’t just be used for sending a casual letter…

‘What is going on?’

Why was this seal placed on my nuna’s letter?

And…

‘How did she know I was in Sichuan?’

For this letter to have reached the Murim Alliance, someone had to have sent it there knowing my location.

How did she know I was here to send it?

That part puzzled me the most.

This was a sister who hadn’t contacted me for nearly ten years.

Yet, nuna used the Beggars’ Sect leader’s name to send a letter to where I was.

‘If I consider the time I’ve spent in Sichuan…’

Not a long period, which meant she was either nearby…

‘…or had a way to hear news about me.’

What could it be?

‘What the heck has she been up to?’

Same father, different mother.

What had she been up to after running away?

‘Even if she ran away, it seemed unlikely she would lead a normal life.’

Given what I had seen, nuna wouldn’t live a normal life.

Instead.

‘I found it odd that there were no rumors.’

It had been strange that she was living so quietly.

‘… As expected.’

It seemed she was not living a simple and peaceful life.

Such thoughts crossed his mind.

‘… Sss…’

I glanced at the letter and swallowed briefly.

‘Father was right.’

I then recalled that my nuna must have sent a letter. Back then, she had urged me not to contact her.

‘… She said she’d kill me if I contacted her?’

It seemed she had anticipated this, as she had clearly written a warning in the letter.

Even though it had been ages since I last saw my nuna and her warnings didn’t scare me much.

‘… With that person, you never know what might happen.’

The lingering fear from my memory tightened around my throat.

Recalling her insane temper first-hand made me believe she could not have grown up normal.

Finally., ‘The Dragon Phoenix Tournament?’

This was the last part of the sparse content in the letter.

It was the part that concerned me the most if anything.

It mentioned that the Dragon Phoenix Tournament would be held soon, and suggested meeting there.

That was the last part of the letter.

‘… How did she know this?’

I could not understand this part.

‘Isn’t this classified information?’

The Murim Alliance held the martial competition for postgraduates every five years.

Even though the timing was aligning perfectly, it was strange that she so confidently asserted that it would be held soon.

‘And the part about the Beggar Sect Leader as well.’

I wondered if she was mixed up in something strange. Such worries clouded my mind.

Softly, with that thought, I carefully folded the letter and tucked it into my chest.

Then, I looked at the branch manager standing in front of me, smiling as I spoke.

“I have received the letter well. Thank you for your consideration, branch manager.”

“Oh, no problem at all. It was something that had to be done.”

The branch manager forced a smile in response to my words, but his gaze was fixed on the letter tucked in my chest.

Clearly, the Beggars’ Sect seal on the letter bothered him.

“Your words are more than enough. I wouldn’t want to take up the time of such busy people any longer. I shall be taking my leave now.”

“Ah, no…”

“Excuse me.”

Before the branch manager could say more, I bowed lightly as if to cut the conversation short.

It would be bothersome to get more entangled here.

Having said that, I smoothed things over and the branch manager, unable to hold me back any longer, allowed me to leave with a hint of regret.

And so, I stepped outside.

* * *

『The Dragon Phoenix Tournament, huh…』

As soon as I stepped out, Yu Chun-gil muttered to himself.

『Yes, there was something like that, wasn’t there?』

His gaze held a hint of nostalgia as if recalling old memories.

Just as he wondered about some significant recollection,『It was a place where you could enjoy beating up those cocky geniuses. Not a bad place. There’s no better venue for venting frustrations.』

“…”

Though his words were violent, he spoke with a melancholic tone, leaving me puzzled. Deciding not to try and understand the old man’s thoughts any longer, I chose to ignore him.

『But, it’s held around this time, huh?』

*Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle.*

Yu Chun-gil let out a sinister laugh. It seemed he was plotting something bizarre again.

‘It should be fine this time.’

I thought there wouldn’t be any major problems with the Dragon Phoenix Tournament.

That old man probably didn’t know.

‘The Blue Moon Sect can’t participate in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament.’

The Blue Moon Sect, being a sect directly under the Murim Alliance, couldn’t participate in the festival held by the Murim Alliance.

With such a condition in place, the Dragon Phoenix Tournament was of no significance to me.

Judging so, I chose to think lightly about it.

At that time, I momentarily forgot a crucial aspect.

That I had wretchedly bad luck.

* * *

I slowly returned to the Tang family. While I did want to tour the area a bit more, the gazes following me were too sharp to ignore, leaving me with no choice.

“They said to wander around freely,” but their fierce gaze as they followed behind made it impossible to do so with ease.

“Escort and guide? Nonsense.”

That was blatant surveillance.

Moreover, “Do Hyung or Chun Uijin weren’t watched this much.”

It seemed like I was getting special treatment as they trailed closely every time I moved around.

Well, even if it was frustrating, I could understand why.

The situation fit perfectly.

“Not only did I audaciously open the secret door of someone else’s vault,” but an attack also occurred inside that vault.

Coincidentally, the Poison King had been caught in the enemy’s trap.

“And I, the Hero of the Aftermath, killed the enemy leader in that attack.”

Anyone could have called me a hero, “but politically or rationally, I was the most suspicious.”

Given that stance, I couldn’t blame the Poison King for his measures.

“But regardless, it’s still annoying.”

There was no way not to be bothered by it.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue. As soon as I entered the Tang family manor, the followers disappeared.

Was their surveillance range limited to outside the manor? Or perhaps, “there could still be eyes watching me without my knowledge.”

They could be hiding their presence and watching undetected.

It was like stepping into the tiger’s lair, “But fortunately,” I had someone helpful with me in this matter, even if alone I wouldn’t have known.

『There don’t seem to be any Tang family warriors around.』, Yu Chun-gil said.

I felt a bit relieved and began walking.

Where I arrived was the training hall.

Today, Do Hyung and Chun Uijin had suggested training together, so I made time specifically for that.

“In a few days,” Iron Workshop Master said, it would be less than a few days until the completion of the Full Moon.

He had mentioned not more than five days.

That implied I could return soon after.

“Let’s just take it easy for now.”

Hence, I decided to keep a low profile and fulfill only what was necessary, just as I had planned.

After all, there wasn’t much more to do in Sichuan.

The task now was to organize what had already unfolded and claim it as my own.

“For now…”

Until the Poison King summoned me, there was nothing else to do but focus on training.

Practicing the newly acquired Blue Moon Sword Dance, “I should try out the Divine Sword.”

The special weapon that Tang Yelan had meticulously repaired, the precious sword of the Heavenly Demon, which now would become my beloved weapon.

It was time to try it out.

*Clang. *

I placed my hand on the hilt of the divine sword strapped to my waist.

As I had felt before, the grip was incredibly comfortable.

As I lightly clasped it, a thought occurred to me, and I asked Yu Chun-gil, “But, is it really okay for me to use this?”

There was still an odd sense of discomfort.

“Though I belong to the orthodox sects, wielding a sword used by a demonic cultivator… it feels…”

It was as if my barely remaining conscience was slightly hurting.

Especially since Yu Chun-gil, who slew the Heavenly Demon, had given it to me to use, which puzzled me even more.

“If it were the Full Moon, at least there would be a pretext.”

Though it wouldn’t be without its own set of problems, it would provide a valid reason.

A disciple using their master’s sword, who would object to that? With justification, even many arguments could be held, but the divine sword didn’t carry that. Even if exposure was unlikely, why had he entrusted it to me?

I intended to specifically keep asking about this part, “Why this sword…”

However, I paused mid-sentence.

Yu Chun-gil’s expression had turned strange.

Though he answered none of my questions, he was looking somewhere else intently.

Feeling the tension rise unknowingly in response to his expression, with heightened vigilance,『Half a step back. Tilt the sword diagonally, and the back of the sword towards the northwest left.』

Yu Chun-gil’s words came, and I immediately followed the instructions.

At that very moment, *Screech-! Clang-!!!* an attack aimed at my sword came flying from somewhere.