Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 120
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 120
Determination filled his eyes.
He thought to himself.
What is a sword?
Is it a tool that sheds blood for its master, or is it an existence that finds its own path?
And what is this being before my eyes?
Is he merely a bastard son of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace, or… a giant who will move the Murim in the future?
Song Ui-gyeong resolutely knelt down.
And pressed his forehead to the floor.
Performing the ritual of prostration, he spoke.
“I will serve you.”
When those words echoed through the Great Hall, Woon-hwi quietly nodded his head.
It was the light of one who accepts the weight of responsibility.
The two witnesses, Ju So-ah and Won Yang, quietly watched the scene.
Today, Song Ui-gyeong, the Thunder Flash Single Sword and master of Bong Rae, became Woon-hwi’s sword.
* * *
A gloomy dawn with dark clouds covering the sky.
Among the One Gate Three Houses Two Manors, warriors from the Three Houses were hiding in the forest near ‘Baek-ma-ji-ro’.
Their number was about several dozen.
The warrior of the highest level was at Five Energy Harmonizing Origin.
The warrior of the lowest level was at Jucheon Gyeong.
The great road connecting Yang-ryeong, Jeok An, and Bong Rae is called the Nine Dragon Trade Route, and to reach Yang-ryeong from this Nine Dragon Trade Route, one must pass through two small paths.
Those are Baek-ma-ji-ro and Yang-ma-ji-ro.
Lee Ja-gyeom had said.
Today, the procession of Cheonha Trading Company and about four other trading company processions would pass through this Baek-ma-ji-ro, so annihilate them all and return.
The world of warriors is ruthless.
If you’ve been wronged, you must repay it without fail.
When introducing the sects of Jeok An, there’s a reason they’re called One Gate Three Houses Two Manors.
The One Gate is Hwaryeong Sword Gate.
Hwaryeong Sword Gate, where Lee Ja-gyeom serves as sect leader, has the authority to command the remaining Three Houses and Two Manors.
The reason was simple.
First, he was a master who had reached the Body Establishment Boundary, and second, all of One Gate Three Houses Two Manors belonged to the Sichuan Alliance.
If they all belonged to the Sichuan Alliance, naturally the strongest among the same Sichuan Alliance should have command authority.
That’s why warriors from the Three Houses – Yeom Family House, Heuk Family House, and Hyeong Family House – were present here.
Shin Ji-hyeok of the Yeom Family House spoke.
“Everyone stand by. They will come soon.”
At those words, those hiding in the forest nodded their heads.
Shin Ji-hyeok was the man with command authority in this place.
First, the head of the Yeom Family House was at Five Energy Harmonizing Origin. And on the same level as that head was precisely Shin Ji-hyeok.
In other words, the Yeom Family House had essentially mobilized the core military force of the family. Moreover, Shin Ji-hyeok was forty-five years old this year and had lived in Jeok An for a full thirty years.
Being part of the Sichuan Alliance, having long experience, and frequent exchanges meant there were those who followed him.
It was right for him to have command authority.
Just then, the ground trembled.
Shin Ji-hyeok smiled.
They were coming.
“Prepare yourselves.”
As soon as those words ended, the trading company procession revealed itself.
Ten carriages, about twenty warriors as escorts, and including ordinary guards and porters, it approached nearly eighty people.
He checked the flag attached to the carriage.
It was the emblem of Cheonha Trading Company.
He was convinced.
For a company like Cheonha Trading Company, leading such a large-scale procession was fitting. Wasn’t it a trading company boasting such a large scale that it was called virtually the power behind Yang-ryeong?
Before long, the trading company drew near.
Shin Ji-hyeok threw the sword he was holding.
The target was the coachman pulling the carriage at the front.
Shin Ji-hyeok was certain.
This sword would pierce through that coachman’s head.
And that would become the signal for the attack.
And before even reaching Han Da-gyeong, the procession of Cheonha Trading Company would be completely annihilated, and all the goods they were transporting in their carts would become ours.
He truly thought so.
However, all of those things went awry from the very first step.
When the coachman simply waved his hand.
Kwaang-!
With a thunderous sound, the sword flew to the side and embedded itself beside the carriage.
Warning bells rang in his head.
Something was wrong.
But he couldn’t stop.
Shin Ji-hyeok grabbed the hidden dagger tucked at his waist and kicked off from his position.
There was one target.
That coachman.
And simultaneously, dozens of warriors began bursting out from the bushes.
Their number exceeded eighty.
“Kill them all!”
Saying this, Shin Ji-hyeok thrust his dagger.
It began extending straight toward the coachman’s head, and in that brief moment.
The coachman’s eyes flashed.
He moved one step back and turned his head to the side.
Paang-!!
The dagger pierced through the air. It was fine. He was still within range.
The dagger that had stopped immediately extended toward the coachman’s neck.
He intended to slash it, but the coachman was faster.
Pueok-!
The coachman’s right hand struck Shin Ji-hyeok’s abdomen.
Shin Ji-hyeok, who was pushed back, raised his head. The force was strong, but it was fine. It wasn’t unbearable.
He could see.
The coachman drawing a dagger from his left waist and swinging it.
Flash Void Single Needle Technique.
Shin Ji-hyeok reacted to that which extended like a ray of light.
Continuing to swing the dagger in his hand to the side, the coachman’s dagger was deflected sideways. He immediately extended his foot.
That foot reached the coachman’s abdomen.
As if thinking the same thing, the coachman’s foot also reached Shin Ji-hyeok’s abdomen.
Kwaaaaang-!!
The coachman stepped back two paces, and Shin Ji-hyeok stepped back three paces.
His expression hardened.
Certainly… something was wrong.
Shin Ji-hyeok raised his head.
“…Who are you?”
The coachman rubbed his abdomen and pushed back the black hat he was wearing.
The moment he saw the face thus revealed, the color drained from Shin Ji-hyeok’s face.
“…Seol… Woon-hwi?”
That was as far as it went.
“Kill them all.”
Then twenty porters rushed toward a cart attached to the carriage, each drawing a sword from there, and about twenty men and women burst out from the five carriages.
Including the twenty men and women who had looked like escorts.
The total of about sixty warriors each had an extraordinary aura.
Especially one person’s aura was very impressive.
It was a middle-aged man with long hair braided back, and at least Shin Ji-hyeok had seen that middle-aged man before.
When Lee Ja-gyeom entered Yang-ryeong leading hundreds of warriors, he was the one who withstood all the attacks unleashed by the leaders of One Sect, Three Families, Two Manors, including Lee Ja-gyeom.
“…Seong… Yang-ho…”
His expression was extremely cold.
“How dare you kick our Young Master’s abdomen? This bastard has completely lost his mind.”
He kicked off from his position.
He couldn’t even react.
Slash-!
His right arm was severed.
Slash-!
Then his left arm was severed.
Slash-! Slash-!
The tendons in both legs were cut.
Collapsing to the ground with a thud, he looked at Seol Woon-hwi with an expression of disbelief.
He couldn’t turn his head or anything.
Manager Seong was gripping his hair and pointing a hidden dagger at his neck.
Manager Seong was furious.
As seen from the previous situation, Woon-hwi was not normal.
Normally, he would have easily defeated a master of Five Energy Harmonizing Origin, but this time it felt almost like a ‘draw’.
Originally that was also impressive, but compared to what Woon-hwi had shown so far, it was quite lacking.
Recovery from the wounds sustained while burying Woo Rin not long ago would take time.
A very long time at that.
“How dare a bastard like you touch our Young Master…? I should slaughter you right here…”
“Manager Seong.”
“…Yes, Young Master.”
“Leave that bastard alone and clean up the rest.”
After all, when recovering the body, there’s nothing as efficient as moving around.
Manager Seong, who had withdrawn the hidden dagger pointed at Shin Ji-hyeok’s neck, rushed toward the other Jeok An warriors.
Cough, as Shin Ji-hyeok spat out blood, only one word existed in his mind.
Failure.
Complete failure.
Step by step.
There was a man walking toward him.
It was Woon-hwi.
He raised his head as he was.
Their eyes met as he looked down.
Shin Ji-hyeok simply could not understand this situation.
No, that’s not right.
Only one possibility came to mind.
“Who is it…”
At that question, Woon-hwi tilted his head.
“What are you talking about?”
“This bastard… Don’t pretend you don’t know! I asked who it is!”
“That’s why I asked what you’re talking about.”
“There must be an informant. Who is that bastard? Which damn son of a bitch is colluding with you bastards!”
At those words, Woon-hwi shook his head.
“You seem to be greatly mistaken.”
“…What?”
“Your reaction stems from the question of how we could have predicted your scheme. Am I right?”
“…”
“Surely Lee Ja-gyeom said this. That among the sects of Yang-ryeong, there would certainly be those who predict an attack on merchant caravans. But no one would know which trading company’s procession would be attacked.”
Shin Ji-hyeok’s eyes trembled.
It was true. Lee Ja-gyeom had really said exactly that.
“The trading companies you’re targeting are ‘two’.”
“…What?”
“Cheonha Trading Company’s caravan and the Shin Family Clan’s caravan.”
“…”
“On Baek-ma-ji-ro here and the opposite Yang-ma-ji-ro, Cheonha Trading Company’s caravan and the Shin Family Clan’s caravan pass today. Although five other caravans each also pass through, that’s not important. What’s important is that you’re targeting only those two trading companies.”
“…There must be an informant. That bastard must have told you.”
Woon-hwi shook his head.
“Unfortunately, the solidarity of your One Sect, Three Families, Two Manors is strong. Not a single traitor exists.”
“…Then it doesn’t make sense. Then how could you be certain which trading companies we would target?”
Woon-hwi kindly answered quietly as if for everyone around to hear.
“The question is wrong. You shouldn’t ask how I could be certain of that, but what I observed to think that way.”
“…”
“When playing baduk, understanding what kind of person your opponent is is fundamental. If you know what he wants, what he’s aiming for, you can also predict the moves he’ll make later.”
“…What… nonsense…”
“What Lee Ja-gyeom wants is the division of Yang-ryeong. He also needs to show Jeok An’s military power. In other words, he needs to make an example, but who should be the target?”
“…”
“Two conditions are needed. First, it must be a sect that has built considerable influence in Yang-ryeong, and second, it must be a sect that received great benefits from me and draws the attention of other sects. Cheonha Trading Company had been reigning there even before I became the regional lord, and after I became the regional lord, it received great benefits and expanded its power, while the Shin Family Clan received the greatest benefit from the recent bloodbath in Yang-ryeong.”
“…”
“Human actions always have reasons. Even if I don’t want to read them, even if I try to pretend not to know, I can see right through the thoughts of the man called Lee Ja-gyeom.”
“…Then… at Yang-ma-ji-ro…”
“Many people are already positioned there.”
Shin Ji-hyeok’s eyes filled with despair.
Woon-hwi slowly raised his sword and thrust it straight down.
Thunk-!
It pierced through Shin Ji-hyeok’s neck and emerged from the back of his neck.
“Kheuk…”
“Though I’ve never seen Lee Ja-gyeom’s face, I’ll send him to you soon enough.”
He withdrew the sword.
“Settle your grievances in the afterlife. If you have any complaints, take them up with him.”
He swung his sword toward the neck of Shin Ji-hyeok, who wore an expression of disbelief.
Slash-!
His head soared into the sky.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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