The World’s Greatest is Dead

Elixir or miraculous medicine.

Just consuming it could grant one substantial inner qi.

It could take anywhere from several months to even tens of years.

While training mind techniques usually took an immense amount of time, it seemed absurd to think eating something could accelerate this process. However, it was true.

That was why martial artists were obsessed with elixirs and fortuitous encounters.

The problem was, those elixirs couldn’t be bought with money.

Not only could very few people create them, but it also took enormous amounts of money and time to produce even one.

‘Although there are things that can be bought with money’,

Their efficiency was not high, and in reality, they were purchased by affluent individuals more for health purposes rather than serious martial artists.

‘They’re too inefficient for martial artists.’

Therefore, people constantly sought genuine elixirs.

Like Shaolin’s Great Pill or Mount Hua Sect’s Rejuvenation Pill.

Things commonly called divine pills.

Of course,

‘If it were easily obtainable, it wouldn’t be called a divine pill.’

They were elixirs that an ordinary martial artist could not see in their lifetime.

Even the bloodlines of the Five Great Families couldn’t easily consume them.

But now,

“Are you saying I can eat that?”

Desire leaked into his voice uncontrollably.

Perhaps because he was excited, he couldn’t suppress it.

Indeed…

“How benevolent you are.”

When he spoke sincerely, Yu Chun-gil, who was behind him, frowned.

『…… Judging by your reaction, it seems you don’t really want me to give it.』

“Haha, what a joke.”

『It’s not a joke……?』

It was to the point of being amusing, and respect for him grew steadily.

『…… It’s the first time I’ve seen someone so blatantly materialistic.』

“Not materialistic, just honest.”

『That…… Never mind.』

Yu Chun-gil, as if giving up on trying to say something, shook his head.

After leaving the dining hall, he and Yu Chun-gil returned to his quarters.

Wondering why they had come to his quarters when they were going to consume an elixir, he voiced his curiosity, and Yu Chun-gil responded.

‘It doesn’t matter where. All paths are open now.’

He couldn’t understand, but Yu Chun-gil insisted he would understand when they got there, so he obediently followed.

By now, it got to the point where he had to ask,

“…… Are you really giving it to me?”

『You praised me so fervently a moment ago, yet now you doubt me?』

“It’s not a doubt, just a slight suspicion, perhaps?”

『You still speak eloquently. If you want it that much, shut up and go into the inner room.』

“…… Yes.”

He entered without further words. There was nothing special in the inner room.

“What on earth are we doing here……”

『Do you see that in the corner?』

Yu Chun-gil pointed to something. It was a cabinet that had been there since the first time he came.

『Move it to the left.』

He was about to ask why when noticing Yu Chun-gil’s expression, he shut his mouth.

He was dead serious. Almost excessively so.

So, he picked up the cabinet and moved it as instructed.

『A bit more to the side. No, not that way…… Oh, that’s right.』

After several trials and errors, the position was correct.

『Now, open the third drawer. Yes, just that much.』

He half-opened the drawer.

By now, he started to wonder what on earth he was doing.

“No way……”

『Now, grab the first drawer.』

“…….”

I grabbed the first drawer. However,

『Utilize your mind technique before opening it.』

“My mind technique?”

『Yes, hold the drawer and open it while performing the Blue Moon Mind Technique. It must not waver even slightly.』

Perform it without any wavering.

Wooong-!

Following his words, I activated my energy.

Although I still felt a bit uneasy, there was no shaking whatsoever.

Seeing that, Yu Chun-gil smiled.

『Perfect. It was worth the effort.』

I narrowed my eyes upon hearing those words. Those words…

‘… Huh?’

Before coming to Henan, the task he had given me, I thought it was merely a means to prepare for a conversation with the Sect Leader.

But seeing Yu Chun-gil’s reaction now, I felt it wasn’t just that.

‘Could it really be because of this?’

The instruction to perform the technique without wavering kept bothering me.

And for a good reason, as it was only yesterday that I managed to do it.

It was as if he had been waiting for this moment.

‘This old man…’

He seemed like he had no particular thoughts, but had he been waiting for the right moment? Due to me moving my energy, I couldn’t see Yu Chun-gil’s expression.

All I heard were his occasional laughter-filled breaths.

And then.

‘… Why won’t this open?’

The drawer resisted opening in an unusual way. One would think it should open more easily with my energy around it.

Maybe there was a nail holding it shut.

『Pull harder.』

Following Yu Chun-gil’s advice, I forcefully pulled it with more strength.

In the midst of this, I had to steady my mind to prevent my energy from destabilizing.

After a while of pulling.

Creeeak-!

The first drawer creaked open, and at that moment.

Clank.

An unfamiliar sound was heard.

Cha-chak-chak–!!

“Wow… This is crazy!”

The floor suddenly began to open. It wasn’t an exaggeration; the floor really opened up.

“… What is this?”

It was a sight one would expect to see in a past life. The floor opened unexpectedly, revealing a ladder inside.

“… What, what is this…”

I was too shocked to react properly.

『Hehehe. Fortunately, it’s not broken.』

The old man burst out laughing, seeming thrilled.

“… What is this?”

『Isn’t it fascinating? I had it custom-made for a hefty price, so marvel at it all you want.』

“No…”

I was too stunned to figure out what to ask first. Marveling at this contraption wasn’t possible.

“How on earth is this even here?”

Why was something like this on the floor of this room? That was the biggest mystery.

Moreover…

“Did you just predict I would come to this particular room?”

The floor of the guest room. Did the old man predict that I would come into this specific room?

How could he predict something like that? I questioned him filled with curiosity.

『Hmm? How would I know that?』

“Excuse me? Then how is this set up?”

『Oh, that’s obvious.』

Yu Chun-gil said with a sinister smile.

『I had it installed in the entire building.』

“… What?”

He installed this… in the entire building?

『It did cost a fair amount of money for this, but now it’s convenient no matter where you go, isn’t it?』

Looking at Yu Chun-gil proudly explaining, I was left with a stunned expression.

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t understand.

“Why…?”

『Hm?』

“Why did you do all this?”

Yu Chun-gil looked at me, seemingly not understanding my question. I meant, why did he have to set it up throughout the entire building when it could have sufficed to do it in just a couple of places.

『Because it’s fun.』

“…”

『Do you need any other reason?』

After hearing that, I decided to give up on understanding.

It was certain.

He was definitely crazy.

* * *

I descended the ladder. It was dark and inconvenient, but not scary.

What was scary was Yu Chun-gil’s words.

“This was made by the Tang family…?”

『Yes, it took quite some time to persuade that quirky old man.』

The creator of this ridiculous device was the Tang family, one of the Five Great Families.

I knew the Tang family was good with iron, but I didn’t know they could make things like this.

Moreover,

“That…quirky old man was the former head of the Tang family?”

『Well, technically he was the head before the last one. But yes.』

“…”

Not just any member of the Tang family, but a former family head.

No wonder he seemed unusual.

‘I don’t know who he is…’

A former head of the Tang family I didn’t know. If I didn’t even know the last head, how could I know the one before?

‘Anyway, he doesn’t seem like a normal person.’

Considering that he built such devices throughout the whole building just for money, he was certainly not an ordinary gentleman.

Descending the ladder, I was met with stairs.

I don’t know how far I went down those stairs. It must have been quite a distance, perhaps around a mile.

『It’s visible.』

I finally reached the bottom. A rusty iron door awaited me there.

I felt uneasy about the rusty door handle, but I grabbed it anyway.

At the same time, I gathered my energy.

『Oh. How did you know even without me telling you?』

“I just had a feeling.”

I did it because it seemed necessary, and it looked like my guess was correct.

Creak!

I struggled to pull the door open, but it eventually did.

I slipped inside, opening it just enough for one person to enter.

But,

“What is this…”

Once inside, it was much darker than outside.

Should I have brought a lamp?

『Focus your energy on your eyes.』

“My eyes?”

『Yes.』

“How do I do that?”

『Ridiculous.』

Even in the darkness, I could see Yu Chun-gil’s ghost staring at me with contempt. Damn.

“Why do you look at me like that? I could not have known.”

『Ah, did it show?』

“… Could you hide your expression a bit?”

『… Tsk. Move aside.』

My body felt light. It was the sensation of Yu Chun-gil possessing me.

Uung!

My energy began to move. It flowed and rotated, sending a strand to my eyes.

I felt a slight warmth in my eyes, and in an instant, my vision brightened.

‘Amazing.’

Just a moment ago, it had been dreadfully dark, but now it was so bright.

『Do you understand?』

As I admired the change, Yu Chun-gil had already finished possessing me.

“Yes.”

『This is so tiresome, having to spoon-feed you every single thing.』

… Should I apologize for my lack of talent? No, that would be too humiliating.

Anyway, the interior was clearly visible beyond my newly cleared vision.

“…Huh.”

I let out a gasp. The interior was much larger than I had expected.

How could such a space exist underground?

“…What is this place?”

『To put it nicely, it could be called a storage… To put it bluntly…』

“A blunt term?”

『A snack storage, perhaps.』

“…I beg your pardon?”

A snack storage? That name felt extremely out of place.

But no, the name didn’t matter. What mattered wasn’t the name.

“…So, there’s an elixir here, right?”

『Yes.』

“Then why is the elixir in a place like this?”

『I already told you. It’s a snack storage. It was made to sneak in and eat whenever I’m tired.』

“….”

So, it was a place he made to sneak in and eat the elixir when he was tired?

The purpose seemed absurd.

‘…No, think positively.’

As long as it benefited me, it was good enough.

Thanks to his lack of sense, I might get to taste the elixir, and that was more than enough.

“So, where is it? My elixir?”

『…Why is it your elixir? It’s mine.』

“Where is it?”

『It seems you can’t hear me…』

With a resigned sigh, Yu Chun-gil pointed to the left with his hand.

At the end of the direction he pointed to, there was a box.

I quickly approached it.

“This is it….”

Was this the place where my precious elixir slumbered?

“It looks expensive and precious at a glance.”

『It’s a box I bought for a few coins in the neighborhood.』

“Very fancy.”

『Just listen-』

“So, should I just open it?”

『…Do whatever you like.』

Was he really going to give it to me? I could hear Yu Chun-gil muttering those words, but I paid no mind and opened the box.

This time, it was easy; I didn’t even need to use any techniques, and the box opened lightly.

As it slowly opened, I could smell the distinct aroma of herbs.

Anticipation surged within me.

‘Is this going to turn my life around?’

Yes, considering I’d been rolling around all day due to that lousy evil spirit, I deserved this kind of reward.

Embracing my excitement, I fully opened the box.

And inside the box, I saw—

“Wow….”

『Oh, oh.』

Both Yu Chun-gil and I exclaimed in amazement as we inspected it.

It was impossible not to.

Having come all this way, I couldn’t believe what I saw inside the box.

I looked at Yu Chun-gil.

“…Respected Elder.”

『Yes?』

“How did this happen?”

With trembling hands, I lifted the box and showed it to Yu Chun-gil.

The box I showed—

“Why is this empty?”

It was completely empty.