The World’s Greatest is Dead

There had always been questions lingering about Chun Uijin’s identity. Why had he come to this place? For what reason? I had not been able to understand it until now.

It was natural. Blue Moon Sect held a significant influence, with its base in Henan.

The monster named Yu Chun-gil, who concluded a bloodbath, was from there, and many of the past Murim Alliance leaders were people of the Blue Moon Sect.

That meant it was a power with an enormous standing. Chun Uijin was from such a place. He was even the son of the current leader.

Even if he was from one of the Five Great Families or the Nine Great Sects, Chun Uijin was someone whom people could not afford to treat carelessly.

‘Why did he come all the way to Anhui?’

I couldn’t know. Why he specifically chose Anhui remained a mystery. Moreover, he had come to the Murim Alliance branch in Anhui, hiding his identity.

Without a specific purpose, such a thing wouldn’t make sense.

‘This was the reason.’

Only now did I realize the reason.

The rusty, old, and now broken sword in front of me.

If this was indeed the cherished sword of the Sword Saint, as the old man said, then it was enough of a reason.

Moreover.

‘Judging by the reactions, most people don’t seem aware that he had this.’

Likely, even the Namgung Family didn’t know. If they had known, Namgung Sung wouldn’t have treated Chun Uijin the way he did.

‘Of course, this is purely speculative.’

There was a good chance that their attitudes wouldn’t have changed even if they knew.

After all.

‘Someone seems to be backing Namgung Sung already.’

It seemed that Namgung Sung was supported by someone influential enough that Chun Uijin wouldn’t stand out.

‘In such a situation, Chun Uijin came to Anhui.’

If his purpose was the sword, then a more precise reason was…

‘The need for symbolism.’

The meaning of this sword itself must have been necessary.

‘If it is the cherished sword of the Sword Saint, it speaks for itself.’

If so, what is the reason for needing symbolism here?

If it has come this far, it didn’t take long to figure it out.

‘… Of course, it’s a struggle for power.’

This situation was related to whoever was backing Namgung Sung. Judging by the circumstances, it seemed the Blue Moon Sect was currently engaged in a fierce battle for positions.

Namgung Sung’s reaction indicated this, and otherwise, Chun Uijin wouldn’t have needed to mention the acting sect leader.

From this, I could infer the condition of the Blue Moon Sect to some extent.

‘Seems like things are quite chaotic…’

In such circumstances, Chun Uijin had acquired symbolism, which was an undeniable advantage.

As much as I hated to admit it, the Sword Saint held significant meaning not only for the Blue Moon Sect but also for the entire Central Plains.

‘However, the problem now is…’

To Chun Uijin, as he perceived it, I was…

‘Someone who came to Anhui seeking this symbol and intends to pass it on to me.’

So, what to do?

What else can I do?

“… Correct.”

With things like this, my answer was determined.

“As Young master Chun expected, I also came to Anhui in search of the great Sword Saint’s cherished sword.”

『Great?』

I tried my best to ignore the voice giggling in the middle.

“… As expected…”

Chun Uijin nodded repeatedly, seeming deeply impressed by my words.

As expected, my guess had been correct.

“… I wondered why Young master Bang was in Anhui instead of Henan… It seems Young master Bang was here for the same reason as me.”

“Yes… that is correct.”

‘It’s not like that. I just wanted to turn my life around a bit. But I didn’t know.’

I had no idea my life would get so twisted.

In the midst of this distressing thought, a sigh almost escaped my lips.

“If that’s the case…”

Chun Uijin quietly rose and paid his respects to me.

Seeing this, I reacted as if surprised.

“Young master Chun. Why are you doing this?”

“…It seems that I have ended up taking the precious item you were looking for. I apologize.”

At those words, I narrowed my eyes slightly. What did he mean by that?

‘Does he think he just came and snatched it away?’

I had spent a year with the Murim Alliance, and Chun Uijin had only been here for a short while, so it must have seemed that way to him.

‘I thought about it before, but this guy is more naive than he looks.’

It was strange for someone to immediately apologize like this.

If it had been me, I wouldn’t have apologized but just feigned ignorance after taking it.

『How honorable.』

…What? I was pretty sure I didn’t say that out loud.

“There’s no need for that. Thanks to you, I found what I couldn’t on my own, Young master Chun.”

“…However.”

“As I said before, there’s no need to concern yourself. I’m really fine.”

“….”

Chun Uijin bit his lip with a peculiar expression as I sincerely assured him that it was okay.

“…Then, Young master Bang.”

“Yes.”

“If you’re willing, could you accept this heirloom?”

“….”

This time, I had to remain silent at Chun Uijin’s words.

For the record, it was intentional silence. I had already anticipated Chun Uijin to bring this up.

“…What do you mean? This sword was found by you, Young master Chun. Why give it to me…?”

Feigning innocence, I asked as if I had no idea.

“…This is none other than the beloved sword of the Sword Saint. Isn’t it right to hand it over to his successor?”

Chun Uijin spoke with a bitter smile.

I could see that this smile held a touch of regret.

“Young master Chun.”

“Just promise me one thing.”

With a serious expression, Chun Uijin added.

“…In exchange for accepting this, please become the sect leader of Blue Moon Sect.”

“….”

I furrowed my brows at those words.

“…The sect leader. I was curious about this last time too, but why do you want me to become the sect leader so much?”

“….”

“If you want, couldn’t you do it yourself?”

Wasn’t that why he came all the way here? He had even obtained what he wanted, so he could just do it himself…

‘Why does he keep wanting me to do it?’

I asked, unable to understand.

However,

“….”

Chun Uijin kept a stern expression without giving any answer.

The meaning of that reaction was clear.

Would I do it or not, that’s what he was asking.

“Hmm…”

In reality, I only had one choice to make.

I reached out my hand to grab the sword’s hilt. Just as my fingers wrapped around it.

“Oh, Young master Chun.”

I called out to Chun Uijin.

“Yes…?”

“Well, I’m not asking for much in exchange, but could I make a small request?”

“What on earth…?”

“Oh, don’t worry.”

He tightly gripped the handle as he spoke.

“It shouldn’t be a difficult request.”

* * *

Holding the wooden box, I stepped outside. It was still early morning.

“…ugh…”

Groaning, I trudged along. The wooden box was heavier than expected, making it quite burdensome.

『Tsk, tsk… A man can’t even lift that?』

“… This is…heavier…than I thought…”

I had thought it would be light since Chun Uijin carried it easily, but it was far beyond my expectations.

How could a mere old sword be this heavy?

The wooden box itself wasn’t supposed to be this weighty; something felt off.

“This is driving me crazy…”

Sweat dripped down my face as I barely managed to carry it while the old man clicked his tongue in disapproval.

『What a weakling.』

“No, I’m serious, it’s really heavy…”

『It’s not like it’s anything other than cold iron. How can you not lift it?』

“Cold iron or not, it’s genuinely heavy…”

I was halfway through speaking when my body stiffened, questioning if I’d heard correctly.

“… Grandpa.”

『What is it?』

“What did you say this was made of again?”

『Hmm?』

The old man looked puzzled.

『Cold iron, I said.』

“… Cold iron? This old, worn-out, ugly antique?”

『Yes, it’s crafted from cold iron brought directly from the North Sea.』

“This old, worn-out, ugly antique?”

『… Why do you repeat yourself?』

I was rendered speechless.

‘Cold iron? The rare kind brought from the North Sea?’

Cold iron was incomparable to regular iron. It was rare, and only a limited number of craftsmen could forge swords from it, making a cold iron sword a lifelong dream for any sword enthusiast.

‘… And on top of that, a rare thousand-year cold iron.’

A sword made from the rarest kind of cold iron?

‘… Should I just sell it and run?’

Selling this alone would fetch a fortune, enough to live an idle life forever…

As the tempting thought crept in,

『Stop thinking about frivolous things and move along.』

The old man cut me off, as if reading my mind.

『You know full well you can’t sell it.』

“…”

My face contorted as I listened.

That was true. Selling this sword wasn’t an option. Especially since it was made of thousand-year cold iron…

‘If I try to sell it, it’ll soon be revealed as Yu Chun-Gil’s heirloom.’

Then, things would get extremely complicated.

Given that it’s not an ordinary sword, trouble would arise from all directions.

‘I’d get tangled up in a mess.’

It would inevitably affect me if I tried to sell it.

Having already accepted the sword, selling it was not an option.

“… Damn it.”

I felt a pang of regret. It was so frustrating I felt like crying.

『… Sigh.』

The old man sighed, watching me begrudgingly carry the wooden box as I moved on.

As I continued walking silently.

『”By the way, you know.”』

The old man spoke to me from behind.

『”Why aren’t you asking?”』

“…”

His voice was subtly playful. I ignored it and kept walking.

Then he stepped in front of me and asked directly.

『”If it were you, you would have noticed something strange by now. Why don’t you ask?”』

Damn it. I had hoped to get away with it, but it seemed he wouldn’t let me go that easily.

‘Damn it.’

I cursed inwardly and spoke to the old man.

“…what do you mean? I don’t know anything.”

『”Really? I doubt it…”』

“I don’t know how highly you think of me, Grandpa, but…”

『”If you can guess what I’m talking, I’ll give you a weapon made of black iron. A very fine one at that.”』

“…Why is this sword in Anhui?”

『”Heh heh heh.”』

Damn it. I couldn’t hold back and ended up asking. I wanted to ignore it as much as possible, but…

‘Using black iron to tempt me? That’s dirty.’

But it was too much money to refuse.

“Phew…”

I sighed, this time differently. I put down the wooden box I had been carrying and looked at the old man.

Fine, since it had come to this, I might as well ask everything.

“Grandpa.”

『”Yes?”』

“About that cherished sword of yours, the antique.”

『”Its name is Full Moon (萬月).”』

For an antique, it had a really impressive name.

“Yes, Full Moon. Why was it stuck in Anhui?”

To be more precise, in a remote corner of an obscure cave. Why was it there?

The old man must have been waiting for me to ask this since earlier.

Moreover…

‘Please, let it not be that.’

I would have to pray, expecting the old man’s answer from now on.

‘Please, please let it not be that.’

I fervently hoped and prayed. As long as it wasn’t one particular answer out of the six I envisioned, it would be fine.

But…

『”Well, you see.”』

Yu Chun-gil spoke in a sly manner as if he knew my reaction.

『”I don’t know either.”』

“Oh, shit.”

I cursed the moment I heard it. The old man laughed merrily at my reaction.

『”Hahahahahaha!!”』

He was laughing so hard, clutching his belly. Not paying attention to him, I pressed my forehead with my hand.

‘After all that praying, not even once does he help? Are you insane?’

I had said only one out of six would be bad, and it just had to be that one.

That he didn’t even know why his own treasured sword was in Anhui.

‘I hoped it wasn’t that.’

The old man had said he didn’t exactly know how he died.

Moreover, he had mentioned it wasn’t a natural death as known, but a death caused by someone else.

The fact that his treasured sword was secretly placed in Anhui meant…

‘… It was done by someone involved in the old man’s death.’

In short, it was really screwed up.