The World’s Greatest is Dead

First-rate.

A level at which people called a martial artist an expert.

It was a stage when the inner qi in the dantian began to permeate the body fully.

This was also when the body’s strength increased, enabling explosive growth.

As more power could be infused into their beloved weapon, they could cut what was difficult to cut and break what seemed unbreakable.

That was the stage called First-rate.

– First-rate is a martial artist’s grave.

This contradictory saying also existed.

The reason was simple.

‘Wasn’t it called the limit of talent?’

A place that could be reached if an inept person worked diligently for a lifetime.

That place was commonly evaluated as First-rate.

It was said that only after years of training and cultivating one’s spirit could an inept person reach First-rate.

The reason why the Seven Geniuses were highly evaluated today was ultimately because they surpassed First-rate and reached the pinnacle at a young age.

I, too, had similarly gained a reputation by defeating Young Azure Sword.

‘……having claimed victory against a pinnacle martial artist.’

That alone was enough to make a name for oneself.

In this world, where level and honor were everything to a martial artist.

‘…… I’m First-rate.’

The fact that I became a First-rate martial artist stirred many emotions within me.

And it only took a few months to go from Third-rate to First-rate.

Moreover,

‘……it doesn’t seem like I just attained First-rate, does it?’

I wasn’t sure, but it felt different from merely being at the threshold of First-rate.

Having never experienced such a level, I couldn’t tell, but my intuition said so.

This wasn’t just First-rate.

“Hmm……”

I moved my body this way and that.

And I kept realizing more.

“Wow. This is insane. How can my body feel this light?”

My body felt incredibly light, and the usual fatigue was minimal.

Despite not sleeping a wink, my body felt refreshed.

It was truly amazing.

While I was marveling at this and continued moving my body,

『…… You’re a tenacious one.』

Yu Chun-gil looked at me with a peculiar expression.

『Look at this tenacious guy.』

“Why are you picking a fight early in the morning?”

『Normally, people would at least scream after what happened in the middle of the night. You didn’t even let out a whimper.』

Indeed, it was painful.

So painful that I thought I was going to die.

I couldn’t even scream or breathe properly through the night.

But, “Wasn’t it Grandpa who told me to keep my mouth shut?”

When he told me to keep my mouth shut or the energy would dissipate, now he calls me tenacious?

It was absurd, so I stared at Yu Chun-gil, who cleared his throat and spoke to me.

『I didn’t expect you to actually do it.』

“…… What?”

『Who would’ve thought you’d genuinely keep your mouth shut just because I told you to? I was just messing with you.』

“Are you serious? You told me to keep my mouth shut because the energy would dissipate!”

Since I was afraid the energy would be wasted, I endured with all my might, and now this?

When I questioned him, Yu Chun-gil averted his gaze slightly.

『…… Once you stabilized the energy, opening your mouth wouldn’t have mattered. I have the capability to manage that.』

“…… Grandpa.”

『Hmm?』

“Do you hear a dog barking outside?”

『No? It’s quiet. Who would raise a dog in the Tang household?』

“Yeah, right? No dogs? Then what is this sound I’m hearing?”

I said with a deep frown to Yu Chun-gil.

“Ah, it must be my mistake since Grandpa’s words sounded like barking. That’s probably it.”

『Oh…….』

Yu Chun-gil clapped his hands in admiration at my words.

『You’re quite sharp, huh?』

“Damn this old man, seriously……”

I sighed deeply and wiped my face repeatedly.

Ah. Seriously, I want to quit.

Grinding my teeth, I barely held back my anger.

I managed to endure because the results were good.

Despite being miffed by his trickery, I could mostly accept it since I had reached First-rate.

‘……First-rate, huh.’

It was a level I never thought I’d reach in my lifetime.

At best, I thought I’d be second-rate, and even that felt lucky.

‘So it is possible.’

Before I realized it, I had reached First-rate.

There was a peculiar emotion coming from that realization.

Reaching a place I thought I’d never touch in my lifetime, a subtle joy welled up within me.

I thought I didn’t care about such things.

But it seemed I unconsciously desired it.

‘Tsk.’

I stood up, reflecting on my complex emotions.

‘It doesn’t seem like I need to sleep.’

My body felt astonishingly good, even without sleep.

It felt too good to waste time sleeping.

It might have been insane, but, ‘…… I want to train, weirdly enough?’

For some reason, I felt a strong desire to train.

“Today’s schedule…”

I had to see the Poison King once more, and although I didn’t know when, it seemed inevitable.

If that was the case, wouldn’t it mean I had to train until then?

Thinking about it, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Am I really losing it?”

Wanting to train, of all things.

If this wasn’t madness, what was it?

Training had always been something I did begrudgingly. I never did it out of a desire.

Like finishing a homework assignment, it was something I forced myself to repeat.

“… How strange.”

I wondered if I was just showing off because my skills had improved.

Even with those thoughts, I didn’t feel entirely bad about it.

With that mood, I moved forward.

Though there were many questions to ask the old man, right now, I wanted to train so badly that those thoughts didn’t come to mind.

As I stepped out and started walking, so deeply absorbed in my thoughts, I didn’t notice that Yu Chun-gil was watching me with a heavy gaze.

* * *

Like someone possessed, he went outside.

The old man watched him with a somewhat serious expression.

Although the young man’s blue eyes were shining, they also seemed a bit hazy.

While the old man watched the departing youth, another old man, Poison Sovereign Tang Yun, spoke,

『Yu Chun-gil.』

Turning his gaze towards Tang Yun, who had called his name, he saw eyes filled with a burning desire.

『Explain.』

Tang Yun’s eyes were fierce. His passion was evident.

Looking at those eyes, Yu Chun-gil spoke,

『What do you mean?』

『Explain what happened earlier when you entered that child’s body.』

『Ah, that.』

The old man chuckled.

He had expected Tang Yun to ask.

『It’s as you saw. It would be a waste to squander the energy of the Great Rejuvenation Pill, so I used some capabilities.』

Since the original skill level was second-rate, absorbing everything was impossible.

Nonetheless, he had gathered and stored a good amount in his dantian.

Much more than expected; he thought half of it would be wasted.

『That kid’s body was better than I thought.』

Thanks to the previous efforts of Bang Sung-Yun, it was possible. The old man himself was surprised by this.

『He’s quite the tough one.』

Bang Sung-Yun was indeed a sturdy individual.

He hadn’t called him tough for no reason.

Even though he always showed a face full of reluctance and grumbled constantly.

『He uses his body to the extreme.』

He trained until he couldn’t move any farther.

No matter how hard it was, he didn’t compromise with himself.

Even if he staggered, he would get up again if he could.

The moment he stopped training was only when his body could no longer function.

It was intense. How could someone be so intense, even to such an extent?

While the training methods were set for him, he had expected some level of compromise.

『… He just did it all.』

Bang Sung-Yun did exactly as told.

Normally, that frail body shouldn’t have been able to handle such levels, but Bang Sung-Yun succeeded.

Could it be due to some fortuitous encounter he had obtained? Yu Chun-gil believed that wasn’t the case.

『He was always like that.』

Even before receiving the Blue Moon Mind Technique, Bang Sung-Yun was the same.

During his third-rate days, the old man had observed his training.

At first, he wondered why Bang Sung-Yun trained so desperately.

Had he experienced some drastic change, driving him to transform?

He had that suspicion.

『He’s just that kind of guy.』

It wasn’t due to some drastic change.

Bang Sung-Yun was simply that kind of person.

He was living so intensely that even the old man thought it absurd.

Despite claiming he wanted to live an easy life and avoid troublesome matters, it was more of a self-deprecating reminder rather than a genuine belief.

To the old man’s eyes, Bang Sung-Yun was someone who couldn’t live any other way.

Therefore, the old man had chosen Bang Sung-Yun.

Though lacking other alternatives, he believed it was his destiny to make this choice.

Hence, it was even more surprising.

『Why on earth…』

Why on earth had such a person remained at a third-rate level?

The question grew increasingly unsettling over time.

Though a late start in martial arts could explain it, looking at the state of his Blue Moon Mind Technique, that was not entirely the case.

At least ten years.

It was clear he had been training from a young age.

And yet, he remained at a third-rate level…? While it would be understandable if Bang Sung-Yun were a complete dullard.

『But that’s not it either.』

Bang Sung-Yun was no dullard. Though his awareness seemed somewhat lacking, he was by no means a slow learner.

Even if not brilliant, he should have reached at least a second-rate level.

『Hmm.』

There was a question. Something felt off.

Around that time Yu Chun-gil recalled it.

『…… Then, can I possess that child’s body?』

Tang Yun’s voice was heard, and upon hearing it, Yu Chun-gil’s gaze changed.

『Haha.』

Yu Chun-gil laughed. At that moment, a chill swept through the room.

『Just in case you think about it.』

The smile was not a smile.

With a split grin and eyes glimmering fiercely.

Seeing this, Tang Yun flinched.

It was the expression Yu Chun-gil often made during his lifetime.

『Do not dare think about it.』

It was the expression he made when he was truly angry or when he met someone he had to kill no matter what.

『He is mine.』

『……』

『No matter your lingering regrets. If you dare to try, I’ll personally erase the Tang family from this land.』

Erase the Tang family. At those chilling words, Tang Yun’s brow furrowed.

What could a spirit who was already dead do?

Knowing that he could do nothing, Tang Yun found it hard to speak easily.

Because Yu Chun-gil.

That mad dog might really do it.

By any means necessary.

『Tsk……』

Tang Yun clicked his tongue briefly.

『Who said I would touch him? I was just asking.』

Hearing that, Yu Chun-gil changed his expression again. Confirming this, Tang Yun continued.

『Then, let me ask another thing.』

『Speak.』

『Why did you specifically have the child consume the Great Rejuvenation Pill?』

『Hm?』

Yu Chun-gil looked at Tang Yun again, with an expression asking what he meant.

『Because it was there to use.』

『You know that’s not what I mean. What I’m asking is.』

Tang Yun met Yu Chun-gil’s eyes and asked.

『The reason you forced him to consume it urgently. That’s what I’m asking.』

『…… Hmm.』

『Because you seemed to have a purpose, I went along with it, but was there a particular reason?』

『Ah, now I get it, that’s why you played along.』

The old man chuckled, recalling the event of the night.

It was rare for Tang Yun to help feed the Great Rejuvenation Pill to Bang Sung-Yun.

This guy too seemed to have a plan.

And then.

『Yes, I have a use for it.』

The old man answered Tang Yun candidly.

『Originally, I wanted to feed it to him more gradually.』

For efficiency’s sake, at least until First-rate level.

It was right to raise him to such a level before feeding him.

But now, it couldn’t be helped.

He had to force a fortuitous encounter upon Bang Sung-Yun.

『It’s a bit unfortunate, but the result wasn’t bad.』

He thought he had made the right decision.

『This should be enough.』

Just about enough to be useful.

While Yu Chun-gil nodded, satisfied with his thoughts.

『So you admit it was thanks to me?』

Tang Yun said to Yu Chun-gil in a peculiar tone.

『Thanks? For what?』

『That it was due to my help that the boy consumed the Great Rejuvenation Pill.』

『Hm……』

It wasn’t wrong. The issue was why he was saying it in that tone now.

『So?』

Sensing that Tang Yun wanted something, Yu Chun-gil asked, and Tang Yun began to speak, as if he had been waiting.

『Then, I have a favor to ask.』

As soon as he heard that, Yu Chun-gil frowned.

『If you’re referring to what you mentioned earlier, don’t forget that I’ve already given my answer.』

He spat a brief warning.

Judging by what he saw, it seemed he intended to mention the possession of Bang Sung-Yun again.

Even after hearing this, Tang Yun didn’t stop.

『Just listen. It could be beneficial to you as well, or rather, something you might like.』

『Hm?』

Hearing that, Yu Chun-gil’s eyes showed interest.

『Something I might like……?』

‘I’ll listen’. With that look in his eyes, Tang Yun explained to Yu Chun-gil.

After hearing all of it.

『Ha.』

Yu Chun-gil laughed aloud.

『Hahahahaha-!!!』

A rough sound echoed through the room.

After laughing for a while, Yu Chun-gil stopped and said.

『…… You’re a crazy one as well. The very attitude you so-called righteous sect members have in mind.』

He liked it.

No, he didn’t just like it; he loved it.

『Fine. That much, I can do.』

He was curious.

How the situation would unfold and what reaction Bang Sung-Yun would have.

And the events that would occur in the future because of it.

Yu Chun-gil looked forward to all of it.