Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 130

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 130

Mo Yong Nam-cheon nodded his head.

“Then, I’ll try making contact with Song Hak once.”

And there was someone who had similar thoughts to Kang Cheon-u.

It was Gun Mu-gyeol of the Martial Alliance.

Now it was a situation where he could no longer step forward directly.

If they went any further from here, they would have no choice but to enter into an all-out war with the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace.

Justification?

They had lost it all.

Gun Mu-gyeol’s expression was not good.

Seol Woon-hwi.

He was definitely a genius, that was certain.

It would be right to kill him immediately. If he was already this much now, it would become difficult to handle if he grew any larger from here.

Gun Mu-gyeol turned his head to look at Zhuge Yeong-hyeon who was kneeling.

“I’ve been hearing some unpleasant rumors.”

“…I’m sorry… I have no face to show.”

When Seol Woon-hwi devoured Jeok An, who was by his side?

There were the elite warriors of the Four Major Sects of Bong Rae, including Song Ui-gyeong, the Thunder Blade.

What did this mean?

It meant that Song Ui-gyeong had left the Martial Alliance.

Why did he leave? The reason for that was currently circulating in the streets.

The rumor that Bong Rae was used as a sacrificial lamb for justification in order to pressure the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace was now reaching even Gun Mu-gyeol’s ears.

Since they had directly damaged the values of the Martial Alliance that protected the peace and order of Murim, Zhuge Yeong-hyeon was kneeling like this.

Now the Martial Alliance could no longer step forward directly.

If they went any further from here, they would have to wage war with the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace. But that war wouldn’t proceed easily. When voices supporting Seol Woon-hwi were already rising within the Martial Alliance, a war?

It was madness.

Then they had to move from behind the scenes.

Right now, Seol Woon-hwi would be pacifying the interior of Jeok An.

There was a high probability he might call people from the Main Palace, and since he had to worry about Bong Rae and Yang-ryeong too, his head would certainly be very complicated.

They had to act first.

“Seong Tae-su Song Hak, make contact with him.”

Zhuge Yeong-hyeon, the Vice Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance, cupped his fists.

“Yes, Alliance Leader. This time, I will definitely get ahead of that bastard.”

* * *

There is no end to the martial arts under heaven. Even one who has reached the realm of Flying Dragon Ascending to Heaven, phoenixes fly above the clouds, and when the phoenix thinks it has reached the end of the sky, beyond that a divine dragon is already leisurely roaming.

This was a very famous maxim in Murim.

Gun Mu-gyeol and Kang Cheon-u certainly possessed extraordinary minds.

But unfortunately, when those two decided to make their next move.

There was someone who had already surpassed their very thoughts.

It was Woon-hwi.

The garden of Seong Tae-su of Geonkon Castle, decorated with blue jade, maintained a tranquility as if isolated from the present world.

In the marble pavilion located in the center of the garden, two people sat facing each other – Song Hak and Woon-hwi.

The Go board between them, intricately carved with crane patterns, was still before any stones were placed, and the conversation between the two men had also not yet begun.

“Hehe… Surprising. Coming to Geonkon Castle this quickly means… you departed immediately after conquering Jeok An… am I right?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

Song Hak couldn’t hide his smile. Though he tried to manage his expression, satisfaction leaked from his eyes.

“Do you remember Mak So-hong?”

“Yes. I remember. Wasn’t that the name of the messenger who came to Yang-ryeong?”

“I heard you told him this. To convey your words to someone who could understand.”

“I did.”

“At that time, we had a conversation not only about the ‘present’ but also about the ‘future’. Do you remember?”

“Of course.”

That’s why Woon-hwi had come here.

It wasn’t a joke – Woon-hwi had come straight to this place.

This had to take priority over settling Jeok An and such things.

“Probably by now, the Martial Alliance and Sichuan Sect will be sending people here.”

“They probably will. However, they are one step too late.”

“Hahaha, only one step? To be honest, even I never thought our Young Master Seol would come to Geonkon Castle today.”

Logically, that would be right. It would be correct to manage the interior first, but he had come here before even doing that.

This ultimately meant that Woon-hwi was predicting all of their moves.

“Surprising. Truly surprising. Are you really seventeen?”

Woon-hwi smiled gently.

“You’ve seen correctly, Seong Tae-su. I actually look younger than I am.”

“Hehehehe. You’re quite good at joking too. But…”

Song Hak’s expression instantly became serious.

“Simply coming is not enough. You need to match what you can give me, don’t you think?”

“That’s right. So I brought a gift first.”

“Hehehe… That gift wouldn’t happen to be the magistrates of Bong Rae and Jeok An, would it?”

“Yes.”

“Truly… remarkable. We haven’t even started the main topic yet, but you’re already shaking my heart like this. Do you see? My heart is already starting to lean.”

Woon-hwi was more cold-headed than ever.

To Song Hak’s words, Woon-hwi showed through action.

He handed Song Hak the Go container filled with black stones.

“Black stones… Good. I’ll go first.”

Song Hak picked up a black stone and placed it on the Go board.

His first move was an ordinary opening that took one of the four corners.

Woon-hwi also placed down a white stone. Seeing the move positioned in the corner opposite to his opponent’s, Song Hak’s eyes gleamed.

“As you well know, the case of Yang-ryeong and this case are really different. No matter how much we’ve had dealings over Yang-ryeong’s affairs, the news has already reached the court. I heard it’s quite chaotic right now. Have you heard?”

“I haven’t heard, but I was expecting it.”

“Expecting… Then what’s the meaning of that gift? Surely it’s not ‘I spared the magistrates’ lives, so give me the land in return’… I don’t think it’s that.”

“Of course not. The two magistrates are nothing but an extremely heavy burden to me. But not to you, Seong Tae-su. And the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace will take those two cities.”

Song Hak’s eyebrows twitched.

He silently placed his second stone in another corner and spoke.

“Young Master is truly an interesting person. Seeing how direct you are, this looks somewhat urgent… am I right?”

“It’s not urgent. I simply know what you want, Seong Tae-su, and I can give it to you sufficiently. And while it’s two magistrates now, one more magistrate will be added soon. Three magistrates – surely you don’t not know their value.”

“Value… They are nothing but hollow paper dolls.”

“I wonder. They are corrupt officials. Ones who interfere with you, Seong Tae-su.”

“Interference, that’s right. Behind them who were not just colluding with Murim forces but exploiting, there would naturally be.”

“The court would be there.”

Song Hak raised his head to look at Woon-hwi.

“Do you think it’s rotten?”

“I think it depends on perspective.”

“Perspective… There exists non-aggression between the government and Murim, but for that to exist, there must be an underside, mustn’t there?”

Woon-hwi placed down a stone.

“That’s right. There is an underside. Like the current game between you and me, Seong Tae-su.”

There is no event in the world that happens without reason.

Every event has a reason.

“An interesting opening. And not an ordinary one at that.”

Song Hak smiled slightly and asked.

“What are your thoughts on Divine Ginseng Valley?”

The question was simple, but the meaning contained within it was complex.

Divine Ginseng Valley was a central location situated between the four cities, where the precious medicinal material called Divine Ginseng Flower was produced.

“Divine Ginseng Valley is….”

Woon-hwi fell silent for a moment, then placed a stone in the center of the go board and spoke decisively.

“Of course I will claim it.”

Song Hak’s eyes flashed.

He had expected it, but he was impressed by that straightforward answer.

“I like the young master’s honesty. However, Divine Ginseng Valley is a region that the imperial court is also very interested in. I am the same. Especially the enormous amount of taxes from those Divine Ginseng Flowers is an amount that the court cannot give up, and I don’t want to give up either.”

Song Hak placed a stone near the center as he continued speaking.

“If the young master were to manage that region, how about paying a certain amount of taxes? If there were such official procedures, the court would be able to accept this situation more easily. Not only Jeok An, but also Bong Rae and even Sa Ryang could all be handed over to the young master without any problems, so it wouldn’t be bad… What do you think?”

“Taxation….”

Song Hak was already convinced that Woon-hwi would claim Divine Ginseng Valley.

That was correct.

Hadn’t he already proven his worth? He was clearly a man who always kept his word once spoken. Whether when they exchanged letters in Yang-ryeong before or when they were exchanging words now.

It was ultimately the same.

These two men were having a conversation with both the present and future in mind.

And to Song Hak’s proposal, Woon-hwi seemed to think for a moment, then placed a stone in an unexpected position. It was a move that sharply penetrated toward Song Hak’s group of stones.

Song Hak flinched.

“Snow Palace is not a vassal state of the Yang Empire, Governor Seong.”

He furrowed his brow at Woon-hwi’s following words.

The air grew cold at Woon-hwi’s words. Song Hak managed his expression well, but his hands trembled briefly.

Woon-hwi had continuously shown this. If he clearly determined someone as an ‘enemy,’ he would retaliate against them in some way, no matter who they were.

Without going far, how had Woon-hwi claimed Yang-ryeong?

He had killed both the magistrate and all the constables who were there.

Right now they were having this conversation because both Governor Seong and Woon-hwi had something to gain from each other, but if that weren’t the case.

Woon-hwi’s sword would be directed toward the Yang Empire.

“Of course that wasn’t what I meant.”

To Song Hak who took a step back, Woon-hwi spoke gently.

“I have a more appropriate plan in mind.”

“An appropriate plan, you say?”

“Yes. I will give the Yang Empire exclusive trading rights for Divine Ginseng Flowers.”

“Trading rights…?”

“Fifty percent of total production. I will supply thirty percent of production at a price thirty percent lower than market price with priority, and supply the remaining twenty percent at a price twenty percent lower. Snow Palace will freely dispose of the rest.”

Song Hak’s eyes widened.

He began calculating.

Exclusive trading rights for Divine Ginseng Flowers had tremendous value.

Especially if they could receive stable supply at low prices, that alone would generate enormous profits.

Frankly speaking, just buying cheap and selling at high prices would be a great benefit in itself.

“And….”

Woon-hwi continued speaking as he placed another stone.

“I propose a political alliance.”

“…A political… alliance….”

Why had Woon-hwi captured the county magistrates alive?

They were corrupt officials who embezzled taxes anyway. Then who would be their backers?

Where would those backers be located?

An appropriate justification was needed, and Woon-hwi had provided that justification.

But now he had even presented the clear term of political alliance.

“…Even at my age, I cannot fathom how deep the young master’s thoughts run. However, it seems the young master’s conditions are somewhat lacking.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————