The World’s Greatest is Dead

My vision blurred, but something stood out exceptionally clear within it, the blue eyes of the old man who squatted down, staring at me.

‘… Why is this old man here?’

While I was about to be surprised by this unexpected encounter, the old man spoke to me.

『Do you remember what I said last time?』 he asked.

‘Last time?’

Last time…?

‘Aha!’

I remembered our last conversation. Just before parting ways, the old man had asked me:

『If our positions were reversed, what would you do?』

“Reversed?”

I had replied to him.

『You might end up asking me for a favor.』

Indeed, the old man had said that. And I had scoffed and replied immediately:

“In that case, I will grant whatever you wish for, elder.”

… What had the old man said back then?

『Alright. Then, let’s meet again』, he had said.

“…”

Recalling the old man’s words, I swallowed dryly as he looked at me. The old man seemed to notice that I had remembered our conversation, as my expression changed.

『Now, let me ask you again』, he said with a wide smile. That face was so terrifying that it made me forget my pain and my body stiffen. With that frightening smile, the old man asked me:

『Shall I help you?』

It was the temptation of a ghost.

* * *

Crack!

“Grr!”

Under the fierce assault, Yun Sochun’s arm trembled. He barely managed to deflect the blade but was ultimately overpowered. Through his squinting eyes, he saw the giant figure continuing its relentless attacks. Despite his massive size and weight, he was incredibly fast.

The overwhelming difference in skill level loomed large, making Yun Sochun increasingly exhausted. He already knew that the Mountain Sky Demon was toying with him. Mountain Sky Demon could end everything whenever he pleased, but he chose not to.

Was he playing with him?

Understanding the situation, Yun Sochun furrowed his brows in frustration. He was exhausted—beyond exhausted—his breathing erratic. Despite this, Yun Sochun continued to swing his sword. Dying here was not an option.

‘I have no choice.’

Narrowing his brow, he began to draw on his inner strength.

‘I have to use it.’

He was preparing to use the power he had been holding back.

Originally, it was a technique that should never be used in real combat, but there was no other way.

To overcome this situation, he had to do whatever it took.

Thud-!

He forcefully positioned his foot to set his pivot.

“Hmm?”

Mountain Sky Demon’s eyes gleamed with interest at the sight.

He sensed a peculiar aura.

He wrapped the qi sent from his dantian around his body.

In an instant, the qi infused into his sword.

Sword qi became active.

He slightly twisted his waist, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

He took a specific stance for a wide slash.

As he assumed the stance, the sword qi began to transform.

“Whooo…!”

With a deep exhale, a refreshing sensation embraced his body.

Ssss-!!

A subtle qi gradually began to gather on the sword.

“This guy…?”

Mountain Sky Demon’s face showed his displeasure as he saw that.

What was this?

His instincts were telling him that it was something dangerous.

At best, he was barely first-rate.

This was the level that Yun Sochun had achieved, according to his assessment.

And yet, he felt threatened by such a person?

It was incomprehensible.

Mountain Sky Demon gripped the handle and quickly closed the distance.

Just as he was about to slash Yun Sochun.

“Stop.”

He froze at the sound of the command.

Bam-!

“Ugh!”

Taking advantage of Mountain Sky Demon’s hesitation, Pungyeon appeared and kicked Yun Sochun in the abdomen, sending him sprawling backward.

The gathered qi dispersed, and Yun Sochun collapsed as his stance broke.

“Ugh! Cough…! Ugh!”

Had he been struck properly? The fallen Yun Sochun repeatedly retched, groaning in pain.

“Hmph.”

Watching this, Mountain Sky Demon drove his blade into the ground.

Then, with a frown, he spoke to Pungyeon.

“I thought you left me to handle this since you were just watching?”

Pungyeon smiled at Mountain Sky Demon’s words.

“How could that be the case? We’re partners… I was just letting you get a taste.”

With that, Pungyeon walked over to the fallen Yun Sochun.

Grab.

“Ugh…”

He grabbed Yun Sochun by the neck and lifted him up.

“Young Master, are you alright?”

Yun Sochun looked at him with pained eyes at the words spoken with a smile.

“Wh… why…”

He couldn’t comprehend it. He couldn’t believe it.

Neither Pungyeon standing before him nor the current situation.

What in the world was happening? Why was his guard doing this?

Seeing Yun Sochun’s reaction, Pungyeon spoke.

“Are you surprised? If so, I apologize.”

“Pungyeon… what on earth…”

“You’ve become rather miserable, Young Master.”

Pungyeon raised a hand and wiped the blood off Yun Sochun’s cheek.

“What… what are you doing… Pungyeon…”

It had been five years since they met.

The betrayal of a guard he had come to think of as family. Yun Sochun couldn’t believe it.

But,

Grip-!

“Ugh-!”

The grip on Yun Sochun’s neck tightened.

“What I mean is.”

As the grip grew stronger, a smile began to spread across Pungyeon’s face.

“Young master, why did you have to provoke Lady Chun and bring things to this point?”

“…!!”

Pungyeon mentioned Lady Chun.

As his sister’s name emerged, Yun Sochun’s lips trembled uncontrollably.

“Pungyeon… could it be… this situation… Was it ordered by my sister?”

Yun Sochun, quivering as if struck by shock, spoke.

Seeing this, Pungyeon burst into laughter.

“Hahaha!”

What could be so amusing? Pungyeon continued to laugh heartily.

“Young master, our innocent Young master…”

Pungyeon stopped laughing and looked at Yun Sochun as he spoke.

“Did you really think that such a situation was solely possible because of your luck and skills? You are so naive, how will you survive in this harsh world? I have told you repeatedly, haven’t I?”

Words Pungyeon always used to say to Yun Sochun.

“There is no one you can trust in this world. Only you can protect yourself. Despite teaching you this, it seems you still have a lot to learn.”

“… Krrrr… Ugh…”

A sense of hopelessness shadowed Yun Sochun’s face.

“Lady Chun provided the information and promised me…”

He clenched his fist slowly but firmly.

“She promised to appoint me to the position of commander I’ve been yearning for, if I completed this task properly…”

“Kkkk…”

“Please don’t take it too hard. After all, with your capabilities, you wouldn’t have been able to give me that position.”

Despite trying to free his arm, Yun Sochun’s restrained body did not move as he wished.

“So, if you have to blame someone, blame your incompetence.”

“Krrr-!”

“In light of the care I’ve taken of you, I’ll ensure you leave this world without pain.”

“Let… let go…!! I said let go!!”

Yun Sochun tried to muster his qi.

Whack-!

“Augh-!!”

Pungyeon’s fist struck Yun Sochun directly in the abdomen, causing him to gasp harshly.

“Your futile resistance is quite tiresome. At this rate, I have no choice but to give you some pain.”

As Pungyeon reacted with annoyance, Mountain Sky Demon, who was behind them, spoke.

“Hey, you haven’t forgotten our promise, have you?”

“Ah, don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.”

Pungyeon replied with a smile.

“As promised, I’ll ensure that the Namgung family’s warriors continue to come here. That’s why I leaked the information. However…”

“Ugh! Urgh!”

“I have some work to do here, so could you deal with those pests first?”

The Murim Alliance members who were not yet dead.

Considering the possibility of reinforcements arriving, it was necessary to finish things conclusively.

Mountain Sky Demon shook his head expressionlessly at the polite command.

He didn’t care what Pungyeon did.

As long as the promise was kept, nothing else mattered.

Thinking thus, Mountain Sky Demon moved to handle the remaining members.

Coughing repeatedly, Yun Sochun glared at Pungyeon with a steely gaze.

“You piece of trash…!”

To think he trusted and followed such a person for years.

Extreme betrayal made the corners of his eyes quiver.

It had been a life with no stable ground.

In that life, Pungyeon had been his only confidant.

He had resolved to live fiercely and overcome his sister.

Pungyeon had seemed like a true brother who cared for him.

‘Stupid fool…’

Yun Sochun cursed himself.

He should have trusted no one, as Pungyeon often warned.

While dreaming of revenge, he had failed to properly surveil his surroundings.

Due to his mistakes, the outcome was disastrous.

‘In the end… was everything in my sister’s hands?’

For a fleeting moment, he thought he had found hope.

But everything was a facade.

He had achieved nothing in the end.

“Young master, have you given up?”

Pungyeon sneered at the sight of Yun Sochun.

“It seems there’s no need to waste energy pointlessly; this is better.”

He spat out the words as he raised his other hand, which held a dagger.

Seeing this, resignation gradually appeared in Yun Sochun’s eyes.

Just as Yun Sochun was about to close his eyes slowly.

Thud.

Something rolled next to him.

What is it?

Yun Sochun checked it with my blurry vision.

“……!!”

Yun Sochun’s eyes widened in shock.

What had rolled over was a head.

It was none other than the Mountain Sky Demon’s head. The once expressionless face that had been moving earlier.

It was the face of the Mountain Sky Demon with a clean-cut neck.

“Uh……?”

It wasn’t just Yun Sochun who saw this; Pungyeon did too.

He turned his head to look behind him.

“What the……?”

Seeing the unfolding situation, Pungyeon froze.

Not far away, the Mountain Sky Demon’s body collapsed. The neck was cleanly severed.

Thud-!!

Soon, the large body fell powerlessly to the ground.

“Haa…….”

A low sigh was heard from somewhere. The lanterns had gone out, and darkness was evident. In that darkness, Pungyeon noticed something.

Eyes.

Very blue eyes.

Someone was watching from beyond the darkness.

Shudder-!

Meeting those eyes, Pungyeon felt a chill as his hair stood on end.

“Who are you……?”

Pungyeon asked, raising his voice.

Step.

Footsteps were heard from the darkness. Simultaneously, the eyes drew closer.

Yun Sochun also watched this.

Especially the flickering blue light from the darkness.

‘That is…….’

Yun Sochun couldn’t take his eyes off that light.

Step.

Slowly approaching footsteps. It didn’t take long for the owner of the sound to reveal themselves.

“Ah…… Ahhh……?”

Yun Sochun unconsciously let out a voice as he confirmed them. A young man with long, brown hair, which had untied and was now disheveled, appeared. He was around Yun Sochun’s age.

It was Bang Sung-Yun.

He walked over listlessly, leaning his sword on his shoulder, while blood dripped from his thigh.

“Young master Bang……?”

Pungyeon was equally taken aback by the sight.

What in the world happened to him……?

‘How is this possible?’

What happened to the Mountain Sky Demon, and why was this guy casually walking toward them?

It was a situation that made no sense.

As Pungyeon took a stance and looked ahead, Bang Sung-Yun suddenly spoke.

“Choose one.”

“What?”

Pungyeon frowned at the sudden remark.

Bang Sung-Yun continued, seemingly indifferent.

“Would you like to be minced to death? Or.”

His eyes.

“Beaten to death like a dog?”

For some reason, they were a vivid blue.

TL’s Corner:

Spirit Integration, old Man, into my body – Bang Sung-Yun(probably)