The World’s Greatest is Dead

Drrrr—

The carriage moved swiftly along the road. The well-trained black horse ran tirelessly on the rough forest path, enduring the harsh way it was driven, seemingly unaffected by the violent handling.

The carriage shook and rattled as it went.

The coachman remained calm amidst all this, appearing accustomed to such journeys.

Alongside, the young man inside the carriage sat quietly, only repeating his breathing.

His physique was so large that the big carriage seemed cramped.

Peng Dojin, a direct descendant of the Peng family, opened his closed eyes and looked at his palm.

“…….”

His palm was drenched in sweat.

Noticing this, he lifted the corners of his mouth.

“…… Good.”

He clenched his previously opened fist tightly.

“Very good.”

Peng Dojin recalled the person he’d just met and smiled.

They had deeply impressed him.

“I thought it was just a rumor.”

The greatest of all time and the world’s number one.

The Sword Saint’s successor, who had claimed the pinnacle position after ending the Great Demon War, had appeared.

He had defeated the Young Azure Sword of Namgung and rescued the Tang family in Sichuan, gaining prominence.

Even after hearing this, Peng Dojin had not been particularly impressed.

He never trusted the rumors out of Central Plains, and he relied solely on his instincts.

Therefore, claims such as being above the Seven Geniuses or becoming the future World’s Greatest did not sway him.

Under ordinary circumstances, he wouldn’t have bothered meeting them.

‘A name was involved.’

The Little Sword Saint.

The issue lay with his name.

‘Bang Sung-Yun.’

A son born of a concubine from the Bang family.

While there were many speculations as to why he became the Sword Saint’s successor, that wasn’t the important part.

‘He’s Bang Sung-Yun.’

What mattered to Peng Dojin was the name, Bang Sung-Yun.

‘Her fiancé.’

The man that the woman he desired was betrothed to.

That was the only thing of significance to Peng Dojin.

The conversation of that day lingered vividly in Peng Dojin’s mind.

‘I’m not interested in you.’

‘Why not? There won’t be another like me in Central Plains.’

Peng Dojin was nothing if not confident. That day was no exception.

‘I want you. Become my woman, and you shall have the world.’

He was certain he would ascend to the pinnacle of the world.

He was convinced that the woman to stand beside him would naturally gain the world as well.

Though he said this boldly,

‘Ha.’

The woman only smiled at Peng Dojin’s words.

It was a sneer.

Whether she didn’t believe him or simply didn’t care, she sneered and said,

‘The world doesn’t interest me much. And, to be frank, I don’t really like uncouth people like you.’

‘That’s an odd thing to say.’

Though he was called uncouth, he shrugged it off.

For he was not uncouth.

‘If not the world, then what is it that you desire?’

‘I’m not obliged to tell you that, and besides—’

The woman caressed her smooth hair with her fingers.

She was beautiful. Peng Dojin couldn’t help but think so.

‘I have someone. I’m engaged.’

‘Ha.’

Upon hearing those words, Peng Dojin laughed.

‘Don’t lie. Do I look like someone who wouldn’t know about a broken engagement?’

‘Broken engagement?’

Peng Dojin flinched. The woman’s eyes had turned sharp.

‘I didn’t do anything like that.’

‘What?’

‘Even if that had happened, it doesn’t change anything.’

‘What does that—’

‘Didn’t you ask what I desired if not the world?’

The woman still smiled, but Peng Dojin recognized a subtle change in her smile.

It was no longer a sneer.

‘Well, it might be something similar.’

It was simply a smile.

A smile that conveyed emotions she hadn’t shown before, entirely from within.

Oddly enough, Peng Dojin found himself ensnared by her in that moment.

‘That man is my world. It’s not something you can give me.’

“…….”

With the memory fully recalled, the smile faded from Peng Dojin’s face.

And not long after, he learned that the woman was looking for someone.

‘Bang Sung-Yun.’

The former fiancé.

A relative of the ruined family, already disengaged for years.

It puzzled him why a woman of her caliber would pursue such a man.

‘He turned out to be the Little Sword Saint.’

Creak.

The carriage shook with Peng Dojin’s aura.

“Young Master, the carriage will break if it goes on like this.”

“Oh, my apologies.”

Peng Dojin immediately withdrew his aura at the coachman’s words.

“Hmmm.”

He recalled the person as he leaned back.

“This is difficult.”

It had become quite troublesome.

“If only he were a fool.”

Meeting him in person, he understood.

“He’s likable.”

Peng Dojin had taken a liking to him.

The unreasonable presence he emanated.

“How is this even possible?”

An overwhelming depth that bordered on incomprehensible.

Facing Bang Sung-Yun, Peng Dojin truly felt there was nothing he could do.

Moreover.

‘He unleashed it only upon me.’

The oppressive aura, the overwhelming energy that crushed his body.

All of it precisely controlled, targeted solely on him, without spilling over to the surroundings.

“Ha.”

Peng Dojin, with his sharp instincts, thought as he felt that aura.

‘Defeat.’

If that power truly signified it, even if he unsheathed his weapon, he would lose.

Moreover, how about those movements?

‘There’s no opening.’

Even just walking, there was no gap discernible.

Every small motion carried an air of readiness.

‘I heard he hasn’t even reached twenty yet.’

What ordeals must one endure for their steps to carry the scent of blood?

“Phew—”

Peng Dojin opened and closed his fists repeatedly as he spoke.

“I want to fight.”

He wanted to fight him.

Curious about the man who captivated the woman he longed for. If he were insignificant, he was prepared to dispose of him right there.

Upon meeting him, he felt his fighting spirit ignite.

“Did he say to maintain etiquette?”

He realized that even if he had drawn his sword on the spot, he might have lost.

The arrogance of not drawing his sword because it wasn’t the right place.

Looking down on him as if he were insignificant, Peng Dojin liked that self-confidence.

‘You must acknowledge such strength when it exists.’

He could do so because he possessed such strength. That’s why Peng Dojin laughed.

“Really troublesome.”

To experience such a feeling again.

It was the first since that monster at Mount Hua.

“Hahaha.”

Laughing, Peng Dojin closed his eyes.

This Dragon-Phoenix Tournament would be quite entertaining.

He thought so as he smiled.

* * *

“Achoo!”

I sneezed and covered my nose. What was this? Was someone cursing me?

I wiped my nose and surveyed the surroundings.

It had been peaceful ever since the carriage resumed its journey.

Do Hyung was looking out the window, but the atmosphere felt peculiar.

Chun Hye-In exuded a menacing aura.

Chun Uijin was eyeing Chun Hye-In warily and refrained from speaking.

‘This carriage really is a mess.’

The atmosphere inside the carriage was quite remarkable. That’s what I thought.

The cause of this was undoubtedly that Peng family’s fellow.

‘…… What a strange fellow.’

I shuddered at the mere thought of him. Never had I encountered a person quite like that.

‘The Heavenly Martial Body, they said.’

He certainly possessed an extraordinary physique. Setting aside his bizarre nature, he clearly had a robust build.

The Heavenly Martial Body—the tales about it had always intrigued me, but seeing it directly made it all the more real.

A body designed for martial arts and talent inherited from the ancestors.

‘Born with a silver spoon in his mouth.’

They say such people are born with a Bi-seo in their mouth.

Thinking about it made my insides churn.

『He certainly had an attractive build.』

Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Yu Chun-gil nodded and agreed.

『In my heyday, his physique was about as good as mine.』

‘Oh?’

That was quite a compliment. It came from none other than Yu Chun-gil, comparing the man’s body favorably to his own.

『Of course, even if that’s so, I would have still won.』

“……”

Was that what had been occupying his mind?

The endless competition—it seemed exceedingly persistent.

『Child.』

I turned to Yu Chun-gil upon hearing him call.

『So, are you not concerned about what that fellow said?』

“……”

The reminder made me frown. I was pondering it anyhow.

‘He mentioned Young lady Murong, didn’t he?’

He claimed that she was his.

He would absolutely not yield her. Peng Dojin had asserted so.

The Young lady Murong he mentioned could only be one person.

‘Murong Yungsun.’

In the Murong family, there was only one known daughter of the White King.

His only daughter, Murong Yungsun. Therefore, the Murong Young lady he referred to had to be her.

But.

‘Why?’

The curious part was why he mentioned Murong Yungsun there.

That puzzled me.

‘There must be some entanglement.’

There was clearly something between them.

That’s why he had spoken that way. Even though I hadn’t heard anything from Murong Yungsun, this mystery didn’t otherwise add up.

Moreover.

‘Is that why he sought me out?’

His reason for seeking me out could be explained by this link.

‘Although my participation in the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament was a secret.’

No secret can remain complete.

If it was the intelligence of the Five Great Families, they could have discovered as such.

‘…… And they must have also known about my previous engagement to the Murong family.’

I wasn’t sure if one came before the other.

But if they knew, that would explain him seeking me out.

‘…… Hmm.’

I scratched my cheek.

‘Could there be something between the Peng and Murong families?’

Engagements between the Five Great Families happen from time to time.

Considering she is Murong’s only daughter, it might be a bit of an issue.

If the partner was Peng family, dealing with them wouldn’t be problematic.

“……”

I rapped my fingers on the window frame.

『Tsk tsk. It bothers you, doesn’t it?』

I click my tongue at Yu Chun-gil’s words.

‘It doesn’t.’

There wasn’t anything about it, but what concerned me was whether it would impact me.

‘That’s his life.’

I had no intention of interfering.

I only worried whether Peng Dojin would become a nuisance.

『Child, it shows on your face. It bothers you.』

“……”

Yu Chun-gil kept teasing, so I simply shut my eyes.

I pondered in that state.

‘Did he say Peng Dojin?’

He had claimed as such.

He was an outstanding man, and anyone hearing his name would never forget it.

Ironically, that was true.

‘I’m already annoyed.’

The name of that uncouth strange man had etched itself into my memory.

Annoyingly so, indeed.

* * *

As evening stealthily approached.

Whinny—!!!

The carriage finally stopped in its path.

“We have arrived, young master!!”

Motivated by Chu Dong’s call, I stirred from the static carriage and stepped outside.

The moment I stepped out, a cool breeze hit my nose, and I wrapped my clothes tightly to ward off the chill from the somewhat nippy weather.

『Aren’t you accustomed to that yet?』

Yu Chun-gil spoke disdainfully at my shivering.

Since the previous events in Sichuan, he mentioned controlling temperature with inner qi.

He pitied that I hadn’t mastered this art.

‘…… I forgot.’

I felt unjustly accused. When could I have had time to learn such skills?

I was busy rolling around all day. When could I have possibly learned such a skill?

‘Damn it.’

It was cold. I decided I must learn it before winter ended.

“Ha.”

As I exhaled, faint mist emerged from my breath.

An evidence of winter’s arrival.

As the mist rose into the void, I moved my gaze.

And there, in the distance, was our destination.

‘…… Wow.’

I immediately let out a sigh of awe.

Tall walls enveloped the area, and though night had set in, a peculiar light emanated from within.

Furthermore, a gigantic emblem representing the place’s organization was boldly imprinted on enormous banners on the walls.

The Murim Alliance.

Seeing it, I swallowed hard.

‘I’ve finally arrived here.’

The core of the righteous factions.

This was the main headquarters of the Murim Alliance, where even the Nine Great Sects’ Shaolin temple was situated.

‘The headquarters in Henan.’

At last, I had arrived here.