The World’s Greatest is Dead

Namgung Sung tumbled and fell onto the ground. Blood trickled out from his mouth, staining the floor. The atmosphere around the martial arts arena was eerily similar.

Everyone remained silent, creating an unbroken serenity.

After a brief moment passed,

“What…?”

“What just happened?”

“Isn’t that… isn’t that the Young Azure Sword who fell?”

“Did Young Azure Sword really lose? To Young master Bang?”

All eyes alternated between the fallen Namgung Sung and Bang Sung-Yun.

Bang Sung-Yun stood upright while Namgung Sung lay bleeding on the ground, solidifying the fact: Young Azure Sword had lost, and Bang Sung-Yun had won. At least, that’s how it appeared.

However,

“No way… What on earth happened?”

No one understood the victory.

“What happened at the end?”

“Young Azure Sword clearly drew out his sword qi and… attacked…”

Before the final exchange, Young Azure Sword had drawn out his sword qi. Being able to manifest sword qi at such a young age was unimaginable.

It was clear that Young Azure Sword had proven his name. But then,

“Why did the Young Azure Sword suddenly fall? It seemed like Young master Bang was slower.”

For some reason, it was Namgung Sung who fell. In contrast, Bang Sung-Yun seemed exhausted but had not collapsed.

What exactly happened?

While everyone was dumbfounded and unable to comprehend the situation,

There was only one person,

“… That…”

Among the spectators, only Chun Uijin, an exceptionally handsome man, understood the reason.

‘Blue Moon Sword Dance…’

The technique used by Bang Sung-Yun was undoubtedly it. A unique technique passed down from the Blue Moon Sect. It was a technique that could only be used after opening the so-called ‘Moon Eye’. Moreover,

‘… It’s different.’

The Blue Moon Sword Dance Chun Uijin knew was somehow subtly different. He was familiar with the sword used by his father and sister. It was beautiful and refined, with a remarkably elegant sword path.

The sheer difficulty of the technique was enough to intimidate. However, it differed from what Bang Sung-Yun used.

‘How is it possible to express it so lightly and simply.’

His grip on the sword was crude, and it seemed too slow to imbue much power into the blade. There was no trace of delicacy; it was just a simple, sweeping motion.

‘Even so, it was definitely the moon.’

A moon had risen at the tip of Bang Sung-Yun’s sword. It was different from the beautiful sword his father and sister displayed. It was rough, crude, yet grand and immense.

It resembled the sword he had seen long ago as a child.

“Indeed… Young master Bang.”

The essence of that person’s teachings was evidently within Bang Sung-Yun. Chun Uijin became more certain of it. He had been momentarily confused at the start of the duel.

Namgung Sung’s sword path was incredibly sharp, and Bang Sung-Yun seemed to be struggling to fend it off.

However, that was his misconception.

“To think… Young Azure Sword, Namgung Sung, lost.”

“This means Young master Bang is truly Sword Saint’s successor…”

“Did he really hide his strength all these years?”

“This is unbelievable…”

Even those who had doubted began to realize the truth of the unfolding reality. The young man standing above them was indeed the successor of Yu Chun-gil, the Sword Saint, who had once been revered as a hero.

Look at him. He had proven it honorably. He had thoroughly crushed a genius believed to be the future of the Central Plains in front of many witnesses.

Merely that fact changed the way people viewed Bang Sung-Yun.

“Young master Bang!”

“Wow…!!”

Amidst the previously subdued atmosphere, a belated cheer broke out.

“We believed in you!”

“Magnificent!”

In truth, they hadn’t believed at all. They had been full of doubt.

They hadn’t found it magnificent either. Bang Sung-Yun had merely defended throughout the day and finished with one crucial strike at the end. What curious reactions. Chun Uijin silently sighed at the candid reactions.

This was the Central Plains, where only the winners were remembered and revered. He realized that fact once again. It was a scary place, no matter when he looked at it.

‘Just looking at it makes me this tired. How can you be so strong, Your Highness?’

He felt exhausted, but even in this atmosphere, Bang Sung-Yun remained the same. He caught his breath alone amidst the noisy cheers, as if the surrounding sounds did not reach him.

Did he think other people’s reactions did not matter?

He focused solely ahead, on the collapsed Namgung Sung.

“Ugh… Hnnng… Ack.”

Namgung Sung, who had been lying down, twitched. It seemed he had not lost consciousness.

Cough-!

He spat blood from his mouth.

“… You… bastard…”

With bloodshot eyes, Namgung Sung glared at Bang Sung-Yun. His previously sculpted face was now a mess, and his well-arranged hair was disheveled.

Just one strike. His appearance had changed after taking it. His lips were drenched in his own blood.

“I… I…”

Namgung Sung’s rough breathing filled his speech.

“Young… Azure Sword… I am Namgung Sung, the Young Azure Sword…”

Using his sword as a staff, he struggled to stand. One might say his will was strong.

However, the manner in which he did it did not look very upright.

“I… cannot… acknowledge… this. I cannot acknowledge… this…”

As if he had not yet been defeated, Namgung Sung pointed his sword at Bang Sung-Yun.

“I… I am… the Young Azure Sword of the Namgung family. There’s no way I could lose to such trickery…”

Namgung Sung faltered while speaking but managed to regain his footing.

He looked as if he might collapse at any moment.

“Ha… ha…”

It was evident that his defeat was already assured, yet Namgung Sung could not accept it. Did he intend to continue the battle somehow?

No matter how you looked at it, it seemed impossible.

And then.

Bang Sung-Yun seemed to have realized it too, as he slowly walked towards Namgung Sung. He did not hold a sword. Was he possibly going to support him?

People expressed shallow admiration at the sight.

Just when their view of Bang Sung-Yun, the Sword Saint’s successor, was about to change…

Bang Sung-Yun reached Namgung Sung, and at that moment.

Smash-

“Huh?”

“What?”

“…… Gasp……?!”

Bang Sung-Yun’s knee struck Namgung Sung in the groin.

The men watching flinched and pulled their legs together.

It landed perfectly. They even heard something breaking.

“…… Ugh…… Uaaaah……”

In pain, Namgung Sung rolled his eyes back and collapsed.

Namgung Sung, who was stuck to the ground, was even foaming at the mouth.

“Spit!”

Seeing that, Bang Sung-Yun spat on the ground and spoke.

“So noisy. If you can’t acknowledge it, so what?”

His voice was filled with annoyance.

“Stop blabbering and just stay there. That’s what suits you best.”

After shooting those disdainful words, Bang Sung-Yun turned his back and descended from the arena.

His stomping steps were full of emotion, and those who had just witnessed what happened didn’t stop him.

Thus, the duel ended.

* * *

The Young Azure Sword had been defeated by the Sword Saint’s successor.

That was the story that spread within the Murim Alliance right after the duel. It spread really quickly.

– No, you see, Young master Bang…

– The Young Azure Sword used his sword qi, but… he…

– Just one strike ended the duel…

The rumors grew in size as they were passed around.

The amusing thing was that most of those who directly witnessed the duel still managed to tell a different version of the story despite having seen it with their own eyes.

Only two hours had passed.

Despite it being only that brief amount of time, the rumors had already diverged somewhat from the truth.

“This is ridiculous…”

Rumors were always like that, always pointless. Even if dozens of people witnessed something directly, the essence blurred after passing through just one or two mouths.

『Still, isn’t it not that bad? After all, there’s nothing harmful to you.』

The old man’s words made him click his tongue.

“There’s no harm, you say. Even if I had gold in both hands, it would be meaningless without the strength to protect it.”

Moreover, everyone now knew that his hands were filled with gold.

In their eyes, he seemed to be someone backed by a mighty army.

‘In reality, I was just holding a knife too heavy for me.’

The phrase “an empty shell” was perfect for this moment.

“Ughhh…”

A scream involuntarily escaped as he moved his body.

“Wow… insane.”

Without realizing it, he exclaimed in astonishment. The pain was so intense that he couldn’t help but let out an exclamation. His muscles screamed. From head to toe, there was no part that didn’t ache.

He hadn’t known that human muscles could hurt this much. The novel sensation was almost refreshing. He glanced sideways at the old man with an intense glare.

“… What on earth… did you do to my body… ugh…”

He spoke with full resentment, and a laughter echoed from somewhere.

『Well, I used that pitiful body of yours as sparingly as I could, so your words are a bit harsh.』

“… Is this… sparing it…?”

『Do you think it would have been easy to beat Namgung’s kid with your insignificant physique?』

“… Hmph…”

He didn’t argue back. It had indeed been astonishing. He had barely managed to defeat Young Azure Sword with his barely above-average body. That fact was still unbelievable.

Was there some hidden talent in his body? He didn’t entertain such nonsensical thoughts. He raised his head and looked at the damn ghost in front of him.

That old man was truly an incredible entity. He had realized that in this fight.

『What’s this? Your eyes look pretty interesting. Almost like you’re showing respect?』

“Respect… my foot… I’m looking at you in disbelief.”

『Kek. Alright, let’s put it that way.』

He was extremely annoying.

“Sigh…”

He staggered and steadied himself into the least painful position.

As he groaned and fumbled around, the old man asked him with a peculiar look.

『So, why did you do that?』

“… What do you mean?”

『That last bit.』

“…”

『You must have had a reason for doing that, given who you are, right?』

At the mention of the final event, Yu Chun-gil recalled that moment.

Why did he do that? He didn’t quite understand it himself.

He could have just ignored it and walked away, but he couldn’t hold back. Though it would have been better if it hadn’t targeted the groin.

He had distinctly struck that spot.

This might blow up beyond just a duel because of it.

It worried him a bit, but there was nothing he could do about it.

“… Grandpa. To be honest.”

『Yes.』

“Don’t you think he deserved at least that much?”

The old man didn’t respond. He merely looked at him with an unexpected expression.

“What’s with that look?”

『Nothing, I didn’t expect you’d care about something like this. It’s unusual to hear such words from you.』

“Well, I don’t care. I was just irritated.”

『Such things are what people would call caring.』

“Forget it.”

Waving his hand to stop listening, he said, “You’re not going to help me anyway, and there’s nothing you can do. I just did it to vent.”

If he had tried to find meaning, it could be endless. It was easier to dismiss it as an act of irritation.

『Haha.』

Half-amused by the ‘do as you please’ attitude, Yu Chun-gil chuckled.

『Can you bear the consequences?』

At the cryptic words, I laughed this time.

“Bear the consequences…”

Bear the consequences? Just thinking about it was terrifying. The consequences he referred to were none other than those.

If we had just dueled, it might have been fine. The problem lay in the fact that I struck Namgung Sung in the groin. A slight mistake could lead to Namgung’s family using this incident against me.

In that case, my situation would become quite dangerous.

“Why should I deal with that?”

I replied bluntly, massaging my stiff shoulder.

Bearing the consequences? There was no need for that.

And that old man already knew it too.

『You’re knowledgeable enough not to dig for answers unnecessarily.』

This was just a pointless back-and-forth.

『”Heh heh…”』

The old man laughed.

Just from that, it was clear he knew everything and was asking for the sake of it.

『”You really are a clever one.”』

Who’s saying what to whom? It was absurd.

As I grimaced and tried to look out the window,

『”Well then.”』

I turned my head back to look at the old man.

I swallowed dryly as I stared.

‘What’s this?’

This time the feeling was different. I felt a chill without knowing.

My already aching body stiffened even more.

『”Now, I’ll ask something else.”』

Huge.

Yu Chun-Gil’s presence suddenly seemed enormous.

He was always big, but now he couldn’t even be compared to before.

A mountain (太山).

It felt as if a towering mountain blocked my view.

‘… Breath.’

I grabbed my chest slightly. Breathing felt extremely difficult. How could a person’s presence be so overpowering?

“Suddenly… why… are you doing this?”

I managed to ask with difficulty.

Looking at the old man in confusion, I saw Yu Chun-Gil’s rare expressionless face asking me,

『”How did you summon the moon?”』

“What…?”

The moon? What was he saying out of the blue? Unable to understand, I stared at the old man.

『”The sword you swung at the end. It was clearly the Blue Moon Sword Dance. Exactly the same as mine.”』

“Ah.”

Only then I understood what the old man was asking.

『”This shouldn’t be possible. What did you do?”』

There was no usual cackling laughter, no irritating expression meant to tease.

Pure expressionlessness. Just his natural face, and my hands trembled.

‘This… old man. His face is truly frightening.’

Even though I knew, his expressionless face made it even scarier. The pressure emanating from the old man was enormous.

However, I couldn’t let my pride be wounded by succumbing to fear.

“… That’s all? I didn’t do anything special.”

I forced myself to speak bravely.

“I simply imitated.”

『”What?”』

The old man asked again as if he didn’t understand.

『”Imitated?”』

“Yes.”

『”Explain in detail.”』

“… In detail, huh.”

How could I explain this more? That was truly all there was to it.

As I had mentioned before, I was skilled at memorization, and this time was no exception.

“I just mimicked the motions Grandpa made while swinging the sword, the breaths he took at that time, and the qi movements within my body.”

Then, piecing together the circumstances that happened to me.

“And it worked.”

『”….”』

The old man was at a loss for words.

TL’s Corner:

Our boy Sung-Yun is secretly a genius.