The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 29

Virtuous Moon Sword, Chun Seonghwa.

He was the 14th sect leader currently leading the Blue Moon Sect.

If one were to list the world’s outstanding swordsmen, he would always be among them.

His age had long surpassed forty, which meant for a martial artist, he was in his prime.

It was said that when he drew his sword, its brilliance illuminated even the darkest night.

His graceful and intricate swordsmanship, coupled with the profound enlightenment embedded within, left spectators in awe.

In other words, he was…

‘A monster.’

A real monster who could kill someone like me in the blink of an eye.

I could not even fathom how strong he was, nor could I dare to try.

‘Sssss.’

I slowly steadied my breath. Virtuous Moon Sword’s gaze was fixed on me.

His calm, blue eyes looked at me, making me incredibly uneasy.

“I greet the sect leader.”

“I greet the sect leader.”

“I greet the… sect leader.”

Kneeling in humility, everyone from the Small Moon Corps was busy paying their respects to Virtuous Moon Sword.

I had thought they were already tense while guiding us, but this…

‘This is beyond tense.’

Even they wore evident signs of nervousness in front of the Virtuous Moon Sword.

Moreover,

“… Sect leader.”

Chun Uijin, who had come from behind, also knelt on one knee and bowed his head before him.

Virtuous Moon Sword briefly glanced at Chun Uijin. It was just a fleeting moment.

He then turned his gaze back to me.

I did not avoid his eyes, and after an uncomfortably long moment that felt like it might choke me, he finally spoke.

“You’ve had a hard journey.”

His voice was deep and low—a perfect match to his appearance.

“I am Chun Seonghwa.”

“And I am Bang Sung-Yun.”

Upon hearing my name, Virtuous Moon Sword gave a slight nod.

“Please, follow me inside.”

With that, our conversation ended. The Virtuous Moon Sword turned away and began to lead us into the Blue Moon Sect.

As I stood there, watching his curiously,

『Hoho, would you look at that.』

Yu Chun-gil let out a light chuckle.

『The little kid has grown so much.』

“….”

Calling that heavy and imposing person a kid…

I barely managed to stifle my laughter.

* * *

Following the Virtuous Moon Sword, we entered the inner area. Once again, the Small Moon Corps guided us.

I carried the unbearably heavy wooden coffin on my back, and we walked towards the sect leader’s room.

Upon entering, one thing was certain immediately.

‘This is luxurious.’

As expected from a sect with such prestige, it was quite lavish.

Not only was there a large pond, but the supporting pillars were all magnificent.

And the floor was practically sparkling.

Taking brief glimpses around as we walked into the room, at that very moment…

“Let me greet you once again.”

Virtuous Moon Sword said as he looked at me.

“I am Chun Seonghwa, the 14th sect leader of the Blue Moon Sect. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“I am Bang Sung-Yun from the Liaodong’s Bang Family.”

An esteemed guest, huh? It didn’t quite feel real when I heard it that way.

“I apologize for greeting you late as I received the news belatedly.”

“No problem.”

It seemed he indeed received the news late. It had always struck me as odd.

Despite the emergence of the Sword Saint’s successor, the Blue Moon Sect’s response had been sluggish.

It seemed it was due to this issue.

As he began to speak, Virtuous Moon Sword’s gaze shifted to my side. He was looking at Chun Uijin.

Sensing his gaze, Chun Uijin flinched but Virtuous Moon Sword quickly averted his eyes.

‘Hmm.’

He was looking at his son, but his gaze didn’t seem ordinary. Noticing this, I managed my expression.

Before saying anything, there was something I had to show him first.

“Before we talk further, could you take a look at something I brought?”

Upon hearing my words, the Virtuous Moon Sword looked at the wooden coffin.

Feeling his gaze, I opened the coffin.

“……”

As soon as he confirmed what was inside, Virtuous Moon Sword’s eyebrows twitched.

He seemed to recognize it.

“…… Full Moon.”

For the first time, emotions filled the usually stoic face of Virtuous Moon Sword. It was a surprise.

“…… How did you get this?”

“Oh, I found it in a cave in Anhui.”

“In Anhui, you say?”

“That’s correct.”

Why would this be in Anhui? His face reflected the same question.

“…… May I take a look at it?”

“Please do.”

Upon my words, he examined the blade of Full Moon with his hand. As he inspected it slowly, he looked back at me and spoke.

“…… It’s truly his sword.”

I wondered what he could discern just by touching it, but if he said so, it was good.

“I recovered it, but it seemed dangerous to keep it, so I thought it would be best to entrust it to the Master’s sect.”

At the word ‘Master’, the Virtuous Moon Sword slightly frowned.

‘Reaction confirmed.’

I mentioned it on purpose to see this reaction. Now, how would he respond?

Although I speculated Virtuous Moon Sword’s potential reaction, he said,

“I understand.”

‘Huh?’

His response was unexpected.

‘I understand?’

Did he just immediately agree to keep it?

‘This is unexpected.’

It was quite surprising.

I didn’t expect him to agree so quickly to my request to keep it.

Usually, people would claim ownership and say something but Virtuous Moon Sword merely affirmed my words.

“I will keep it as safe as you wish. Discussing further matters might be tiring since you’ve just arrived, so shall we continue tomorrow?”

“…… Yes. I think that’s a good idea too.”

While responding, I slightly frowned.

I wondered about his reaction but then I understood it vaguely.

‘Ah, I see.’

That man seemed to…

“Thank you for the warm welcome. Then, I’ll see you tomorrow, taking your consideration.”

‘He doesn’t trust me.’

Precisely, yes, doubt.

Virtuous Moon Sword suspected me.

* * *

Soon after Bang Sung-Yun left, only Full Moon and Virtuous Moon Sword remained in the room.

As the Virtuous Moon Sword silently gazed at Full Moon, someone suddenly appeared beside him. It seemed as if the figure had dropped out of thin air, but Virtuous Moon Sword did not react at all, as if he was already aware of it.

“Do you believe him?”

The man who appeared asked the Virtuous Moon Sword.

“I wonder.”

A somewhat vague reply followed.

“It can’t simply be believed, but it’s equally strange not to believe.”

“Then why didn’t you ask anything?”

“……”

Virtuous Moon Sword took a sip of the tea that had already grown cold in front of him.

Why hadn’t he asked anything?

Questions abounded. If he wanted to ask, it would have been like holding onto a mountain from the beginning.

However,

“That too is unclear.”

“What do you mean?”

“Those eyes were definitely Moon Eyes.”

“……”

The man, who was called the Squad leader, did not deny Virtuous Moon Sword’s words.

Moon Eyes (月眼). It was evidence that the Blue Moon Mind Technique had been properly absorbed into the body, and that the body and the technique were well-aligned.

Generations of Blue Moon Sect leaders had traditionally been those who possessed the Moon Eyes.

The young man named Bang Sung-Yun fulfilled at least that minimum requirement.

And more than that.

“Even setting aside the Moon Eyes, the stability of the mind technique is quite high. You are aware of this, aren’t you?”

“……”

Once again, the Squad leader remained silent. Virtuous Moon Sword had to be impressed upon seeing Bang Sung-Yun.

The energy of the Blue Moon Mind Technique was extremely delicate and sensitive.

Any slight disruption would prevent the energy from flowing properly.

“He has already started the rotation.”

Even if it was incomplete, the energy was circulating within Bang Sung-Yun’s body.

From this, one could deduce.

“It means he didn’t just learn the technique a day or two ago.”

What took at least several years to refine to such a level.

Bang Sung-Yun’s body reflected that exact state.

However, there was something strange.

“The level is too low compared to the perfection of the mind technique.”

For some reason, the amount of energy and the level seemed significantly low.

What was visible appeared to be at the second-rate level. This raised questions for Virtuous Moon Sword.

“He certainly defeated the Young Azure Sword, didn’t he?”

“That’s correct…”

“Are you sure?”

“There were several witnesses to it.”

The Young Azure Sword of the Namgung family was rumored to toy with quite a promising junior, and according to information, that was true.

“He defeated the Young Azure Sword?”

If Bang Sung-Yun was truly the Sword Saint’s successor, it wouldn’t be impossible.

“But how, with that body?”

The Virtuous Moon Sword couldn’t understand how Bang Sung-Yun, with such a frail-looking body, managed to defeat the Young Azure Sword.

Could he be hiding his strength? No, that couldn’t be it.

If that were the case, it would mean he could hide his level from Virtuous Moon Sword’s eyes, but…

“Hmm.”

Virtuous Moon Sword thought about the young man he had just encountered.

He was a handsome young man who claimed to be the Sword Saint’s successor. His aura was quite peculiar.

‘He was arrogant.’

Yes, arrogant. That described him perfectly. Though he seemed to maintain etiquette, his attitude and tone were unsettling.

He didn’t tremble at all while looking at him, even though he appeared tense. Despite this, he acted like he wasn’t concerned at all.

“Hmm.”

But oddly enough, it wasn’t unpleasant. That was the feeling he got.

The firm gaze that didn’t avoid his; could anyone be that confident without having something to back it up?

Moreover,

‘The energy within his body.’

He furrowed his brows as a hypothesis came to mind.

‘That was his mind technique.’

It was different from the ordinary Blue Moon Mind Technique, rough and free.

It closely resembled the energy the Sword Saint used.

Everyone tried to learn it, but no one succeeded.

Imprinting delicate yet rough and free energy into one’s consciousness was like mixing water and oil.

Only the Sword Saint could use it, yet this so-called successor, Bang Sung-Yun, seemed to possess even a hint of it.

That was why he decided to overlook the suspicious elements and improbable occurrences for now. It was solely because of that.

“The energy technique had already been implanted in his body, and he had even opened the Moon Eyes. For now, it’s better to keep him close and observe him.”

Moreover, he showed up carrying the Full Moon. It was more important to observe him closely rather than send him away or treat him poorly.

“Captain.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Keep an eye on him and report any suspicious activities immediately.”

“Understood.”

“And furthermore.”

Chun Seonghwa regarded the squad leader with a slightly cold gaze.

“Find out more details about the Liaodong’s Bang Family.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The man who answered courteously disappeared, and the Sect Leader let out a shallow sigh while looking at the entrance.

“This is not easy.”

His appearance was unexpected. Even when he first heard the news, it was troubling for various reasons.

In the current situation, the Sword Saint’s successor was like an unexpected typhoon.

What particularly concerned him was.

“That child must have already heard about it.”

The moment Bang Sung-Yun arrived at the Blue Moon Sect, his daughter must have heard about it.

If that happened, his daughter would act before he could figure things out himself.

“… Hmm…”

What would happen then?

A shallow sense of unease mixed with a vivid curiosity stirred within him.

The Virtuous Moon Sword closed his bright blue eyes for a moment.

And he thought.

‘Perhaps, she might already be on the move.’

* * *

After meeting with Virtuous Moon Sword, I was being guided to my quarters.

However, I had to tilt my head in confusion as I looked at the person in front of me.

“Nice to meet you.”

A sudden greeting. It was a woman with long hair.

I looked into her blue eyes and asked.

“Who are you?”

“Who do you think I am?”

“Hmm.”

I nodded after hearing her response. She seemed like a lunatic.