Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 13

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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 13

Seol Woon-hwi silently looked at the unconscious Han Seok-hyeon.

Not bad.

Since his regression, he had only encountered those who either fled or begged, but this was the first time he met someone who could make relatively cool-headed judgments in such an urgently unfolding situation.

Of course, it wasn’t perfect.

But having decisiveness and insight was what mattered.

Those qualities could be refined.

Soon after, Cheon Pung, having finished loading all the Han-reung Jade Crystals, reported to Seol Woon-hwi, and Seol Woon-hwi answered cleanly.

“We return.”

“Yes, sir!”

* * *

Seong Yang-ho.

He was a butler who had watched over and cared for Seol Woon-hwi since childhood, and when Seol Woon-hwi was appointed as the branch head of Seol-ap, he even followed him to Seol-ap, showing how much he cherished Seol Woon-hwi.

Usually called Manager Seong, he was the only manager of the ‘Seol-ap Branch’ and handled most of the affairs that occurred in Seol-ap.

Since they nominally claimed to be a branch, he managed basic training resources, financial management, and even building repairs and garden maintenance.

Though he was assigned an impossible level of work that couldn’t be handled alone, amazingly, he processed all those tasks without any problems.

The proof was that not once had any financial issues erupted within the Seol-ap Branch.

Even he was bewildered by the current situation.

No, to be honest, he was going crazy.

On one side, dozens of unfamiliar figures had arrived carrying hundreds of geun worth of Han-reung Jade Crystals, and on the other side stood a man with crossed arms watching the entire scene.

That man was Lee Ji-chang.

His alias was Bing Seol Geom Heun.

An elder of the Ju-ryeong Sword Gate that dominated Yang-ryeong, and the master of Ya Woon-sang who had recently died at Seol Woon-hwi’s hands.

He wore an expression of disbelief, which was the same as Manager Seong’s.

Giving three nyang of silver each could be understood.

He knew all about the mines being seized for years. And about reclaiming them.

He also knew about massacring the Jang Sword Gate warriors who were guarding that place in the process.

He had heard everything.

That’s why he was making such an expression now.

Usually, martial artists are those who live and die by grudges.

Manager Seong was the same, and probably Seol Woon-hwi would be too.

But not all martial artists act like Seol Woon-hwi.

There’s a reason why limits exist.

Right now, Seol Woon-hwi was running wild.

One day for internal cleanup.

One day for raising his realm.

One day for settling the Cheong-ryeong Mine.

But from what he heard, after settling the Cheong-ryeong Mine, he went straight to the Seol-han Mine and settled that too, which was simply unbelievable.

Just three days.

In three days, he had accomplished what would normally take several months.

Whether it’s human affairs or treating illnesses, taking radical approaches inevitably brings backlash.

Manager Seong’s gaze turned toward Bing Seol Geom Heun.

That was the backlash.

From his appearance with crossed arms and a strange smile, Manager Seong read one thing.

Blatant killing intent.

Bing Seol Geom Heun’s realm was Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, the third stage of the Flame Qi Four Stages, while Seol Woon-hwi’s realm was Yang Gwang I Hyeon, the first stage.

By normal standards, there should be no contest.

He seriously pondered.

‘…Should I intervene.’

No, no.

He shook his head and forced a smile.

It wasn’t time to intervene yet. If Bing Seol Geom Heun wasn’t a fool, he wouldn’t settle things with a life-or-death battle here.

He had surely come to give a warning.

Just then, Bing Seol Geom Heun looked at Manager Seong. Seeing Manager Seong’s awkward smile, he also chuckled.

“You’ve met the wrong master.”

“Ah… you mean… me?”

“Seong Yang-ho, you’re the only manager of this Seol-ap, right?”

“…Yes… that’s right.”

“Your abilities are too good to waste on a manager position, yet you’re serving such a worthless bastard. What a waste.”

“Hehe… well… it can’t be helped.”

Manager Seong looked like an ordinary person to anyone, and even seemed a bit lacking.

It was truly remarkable acting.

Soon, another procession began entering the branch.

It was Seol Woon-hwi and the remaining four branch members.

They were pulling over ten carts, and seeing the horses panting, they must have come without rest.

Bing Seol Geom Heun, watching that direction, muttered quietly.

“Perfect timing. That damn bastard.”

Since his gaze was fixed on Seol Woon-hwi’s direction, Bing Seol Geom Heun couldn’t see it.

Manager Seong’s expression becoming extremely cold for a moment.

Manager Seong mentally wrote the character for patience and smiled again.

Seol Woon-hwi approached.

“You came without notice.”

“Yes, but don’t you have a single greeting for your senior?”

A smile also appeared on Seol Woon-hwi’s lips. He surprisingly took a very respectful posture and performed the Embracing Fist.

“This humble junior greets his senior.”

“Good.”

“I didn’t expect you to come personally.”

“Shouldn’t I come? You killed my disciple.”

Then Seol Woon-hwi tilted his head.

“Ah, you came because of that?”

“Then what other reason would I have for coming here?”

“I thought you came to return all the goods you’ve been exploiting from our Seol-ap and bow your head in apology.”

At Seol Woon-hwi’s following words, the moving miners and branch members, as well as Manager Seong who had been bowing his head, froze in place.

A smile filled with killing intent appeared on Bing Seol Geom Heun’s lips.

“…Has this bastard… gone insane.”

“Senior. I am perfectly sane.”

Having said that, Seol Woon-hwi gestured toward Manager Seong.

The meaning of that gesture was simple. Bring ‘that thing.’

Manager Seong gulped.

He asked with his eyes if he should really bring it, but Seol Woon-hwi didn’t even budge. There was no choice then.

Manager Seong took a deep breath and immediately ran inside, returning with a small box. Receiving the box, Seol Woon-hwi smiled broadly and handed it to Bing Seol Geom Heun.

“It’s a gift.”

“…Huh… This bastard is truly unpredictable. First he seemed to be making demands, now he’s giving gifts…”

Bing Seol Geom Heun’s expression froze as he opened the box.

There was a head.

And it was Ya Woon-sang’s head, crawling with maggots.

“It’s a humble gift. The head of a vermin who disrupted Seol-ap’s discipline and offered Seol-ap’s assets to Yang-ryeong, including Ju-ryeong Sword Gate. To me, he’s just such a bastard, but to you, senior, he was your disciple, wasn’t he.”

“…Do you… wish to die.”

“Of course not. I really want to live a long life. And just so you know, unfortunately, that head in the box is all that remains of Ya Woon-sang’s corpse. I chopped up the rest and fed it to wild dogs, so if you want, you can catch those dogs one by one and try to piece him back together.”

An tremendous killing intent began to emanate from Bing Seol Geom Heun’s body. He reached out and grabbed Seol Woon-hwi by the collar.

Surprisingly.

Really surprisingly, Seol Woon-hwi took no action at all.

Rather, the branch members who had been carrying the Han-reung Jade Crystal with him were drawing their swords and rushing over.

“Stop, don’t come.”

At Seol Woon-hwi’s words, everyone stopped in their tracks.

“…You… do you think I won’t touch you because you have Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace behind you.”

Surprisingly, Seol Woon-hwi chuckled at those words.

“Senior. Not long ago, I killed some beggars here in Seol-ap.”

“…”

“You belong to different places, but I really don’t understand why you all say the exact same things. This isn’t a problem with Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace. It’s a problem between me and Yang-ryeong. And.”

Seol Woon-hwi paused for a moment, then struck away Lee Ji-chang’s arm that was gripping his collar.

“Move it. You can’t tear it anyway.”

“…”

“Do you know what the difference is between you and me, senior?”

“What?”

“You’re bound by constraints.”

“…What?”

“As for me. If the Martial Alliance touches me, I’ll take the Alliance Leader’s head, and if the state touches me, I’ll take the Emperor’s head. In that process, whatever background I have doesn’t matter.”

“…You crazy bastard…”

“I’ve heard that I’m crazy many times, but I’m emphasizing that it’s not about background that’s important now, but personal matters. Do you understand.”

“…So?”

“I’m not the type to move without thinking. Even when I do something worthy of death, I always kill the person responsible, but I give at least one warning to those who benefited from that person.”

“Huh… Alright, continue.”

“You’ve been exploiting Seol-ap through Ya Woon-sang all this time. Hand over everything you’ve taken so far. And also stop interfering with Cheong-ryeong Mine on Seol-ap’s land. If anyone other than those I designate comes to Cheong-ryeong Mine even once more, I’ll kill not only them but everyone who gave the orders. And…”

“Enough, I have no reason to listen to more.”

Bing Seol Geom Heun stepped forward and glared at Seol Woon-hwi.

“I warn you for the first and last time. Listen well. Cheong-ryeong Mine belongs to Yang-ryeong, and Seol-han Mine also belongs to our Yang-ryeong. All of those will be managed entirely by our Ju-ryeong Sword Gate, so know this regarding this matter. Also, what you called exploitation was something that happened due to Ya Woon-sang’s personal misconduct. We know nothing about that matter. I’ll hand over those ore stones over there. If you interfere with our Yang-ryeong and Ju-ryeong Sword Gate’s affairs any further, not only you but this entire Seol-ap will be swept by a bloody storm. Do you understand.”

Surprisingly.

This time too, Seol Woon-hwi smiled gently.

“Yes. I understand.”

“…You’re really an unpredictable bastard.”

Bing Seol Geom Heun reached out and patted Seol Woon-hwi’s head.

“From now on, learn to distinguish between when to crawl up and when not to. Do you understand.”

Seol Woon-hwi had just heard the exact same words he had said to those he had directly killed not long ago, but surprisingly, this time he didn’t smile.

“And, it seems you’ve prepared something while living as a fool for 6 years, but that’s as far as it goes. You’re destined to be a bastard son anyway. In the end, your fate is to have no choice but to cling to someone. Accept that. I’m giving you this advice because I truly feel sorry for you, so engrave it in your bones.”

Bing Seol Geom Heun was sincere.

This Seol Woon-hwi before his eyes was a bastard son anyway.

Though he had Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace behind him, hadn’t they seen it all along?

Even when they kept checking and checking again, Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace didn’t bother to step forward. Palace Lord Seol Jung-cheon didn’t step forward either, and his brothers didn’t step forward either.

The mines belonged to Yang-ryeong, and the ruling family of Yang-ryeong was Ju-ryeong Sword Gate.

That was already as good as decided. It could be called fate. But seeing Seol Woon-hwi before his eyes, who was a bastard son with no backing to speak of, showing such a confident attitude was truly an eyesore.

“You know it well too, don’t you. That your future will ultimately be decided by others’ hands. Though a chess piece like Ya Woon-sang died, it’s fine. If you become that chess piece, your life will become much more comfortable. So from now on, live with your head bowed. The games end here. Do you understand.”

“…”

“And I’ll send someone later to convey the policies that Seol-ap should follow from now on, so steel your heart and wait.”

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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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