Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 131

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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 131

To be honest, in Woon-hwi’s calculations, those two were sufficient.

What was Song Hak’s concern? Taxes.

Those three cities barely paid any taxes as it was. They also sold Sinsamhwa independently, and naturally there were no taxes on that either.

To Song Hak, who was most displeased with this situation, Woon-hwi made a reasonable proposal.

Exclusive sales rights for Sinsamhwa, and a political alliance.

And Woon-hwi buys ‘prisoners’ from the Yang Empire.

The number of prisoners he’s bought so far exceeds two hundred.

He brought those two hundred people for a whopping twenty thousand silver coins.

Originally, twenty silver coins would have been sufficient, yet he paid the full twenty thousand. This was Woon-hwi’s intention to maintain face without paying taxes on the surface.

What could it be?

What exactly does he want that makes Seong Tae-su say it’s insufficient?

“It seems you want something from me, Lord Seong Tae-su. Would you please tell me what it is?”

“…Young Master.”

“Yes.”

“How high do you intend to climb, Young Master?”

Woon-hwi’s eyes flickered.

It was an unexpected question.

But it wasn’t as if he had lived without deciding on that answer.

He spoke decisively.

“The heavens.”

“The heavens… Though I may not be a martial artist, I pride myself on having an eye for people. Someone of your caliber could certainly stand in the heavens. Then let me ask this. You who speak of standing in the heavens—are you a man who always keeps his word once given?”

This time too, there was no hesitation.

“They say a man’s word is worth a thousand gold pieces. I have never once in my life failed to keep a promise I made.”

“…I see… Good… I envy you.”

“…”

“Do you know how old I am, Young Master?”

“I know you’re ninety-one years old.”

“Correct. I turned ninety-one this year. I’ve seen four emperors in my time. How much longer do you think someone like me will live?”

“You should live beyond one hundred, to at least one hundred and eight.”

“Hehe… I’d rather you curse me instead.”

Song Hak has lived quite a long life.

Beyond living long, he’s still active in his position, so there was nothing more to say.

“Could you promise me just one thing?”

“Please tell me what it is.”

“Ensure that the Yang Empire is not erased from this world.”

At those words, Woon-hwi’s eyes widened.

“If you can make that promise with the mouth that declared you would ascend to the heavens, I’ll give you those three counties. The checks from the Martial Alliance and Sichuan Sect? I’ll block them with what remains of my life.”

Woon-hwi, who had been placing a stone, lowered his hand.

This was truly unexpected.

Woon-hwi was aware that their conversation was about both the present and the future.

But Song Hak was looking beyond that future.

Song Hak was someone who recognized Woon-hwi’s value very quickly, and just by coming directly to Geonkon Castle, that value had already been proven.

Even if you live about ninety years, seeing something others cannot see doesn’t make sense, but experience doesn’t exist for nothing.

He entered government service at twenty, so this year marks a full seventy years. With that much experience, it’s right to have pride in one’s ability to judge people.

“Is that what you want?”

“That’s right. With the protection of the Young Master who has ascended to the heavens, wouldn’t the Yang Empire naturally be safe?”

After thinking for a moment, Woon-hwi spoke.

“I’d like to mention two things first.”

“Speak.”

“Even if marriage talks arise with the Yang Empire, I will not be the subject of them.”

“What’s the second thing?”

“Ensuring the Yang Empire isn’t erased from the world—that’s all I’ll do. I won’t govern in your stead or represent the Yang Empire’s position in any matter.”

“Hehe, you said two things, but this keeps growing.”

Woon-hwi looked at Song Hak silently.

Song Hak’s smile remained unchanged.

“Good. Please do that.”

“…I understand.”

Song Hak picked up a stone and continued speaking.

“I will strongly recommend this negotiation to the court. Of course, I’ll package it appropriately so they can understand.”

Woon-hwi raised his head.

“Congratulations. Today, Young Master, you’ve obtained no less than two counties. And before long, one more county will be added, so this is the birth of a new general commander.”

Woon-hwi didn’t smile.

Seong Tae-su Song Hak.

In his previous life, Woon-hwi had never met him directly.

Because exactly one year from today, Song Hak would die.

From Song Hak’s attitude, he seemed like someone who already knew he wouldn’t live much longer.

Frankly speaking, it was because he knew this fact that he had proposed trading rights and such things.

In one year, he could not only bring those cities under complete control but also defend them without problem.

Woon-hwi had made a deal with ‘Song Hak’ specifically, not with others.

When people change and the situation changes, it’s appropriate to establish new deals.

He could readjust the ratios when that time came, but his feelings were quite strange.

What Woon-hwi read in his appearance—someone who could easily give up three counties for the Yang Empire’s future—was loyalty.

“Hehe… What is there to see in this old man’s face that you stare so intently?”

“I was just looking.”

“Hehehe… Let’s finish placing stones. Today has been truly interesting.”

Looking at the laughing Song Hak, Woon-hwi finally picked up a stone.

* * *

Mak So-hong of Geonkon Castle spoke firmly.

“Please return. Lord Seong Tae-su said he will not meet with ‘martial artists.'”

At those words, Zhuge Yeong-hyeon, Vice Leader of the Martial Alliance, seemed dumbfounded and couldn’t speak for a moment.

No, he had never received such treatment anywhere.

This could only be described as insane.

“…Did you say Mak So-hong?”

“Yes. I am Mak So-hong, Deputy Commander of Geonkon Castle’s Heavenly-Earthly Sword Squad.”

“As Vice Leader of the Martial Alliance, I came here having urgent matters to discuss with Lord Seong Tae-su of Geonkon Castle. How can you issue an order to expel guests? This is treating the massive organization that is the Martial Alliance…”

“Lord Seong Tae-su told me to convey these words.”

Mak So-hong caught his breath for a moment, then continued in a dignified tone.

“The sea accepts all rivers, but remembers the order in which the river waters enter the sea.”

Zhuge Yeong-hyeon’s face instantly hardened.

He realized the heavy meaning contained in that short sentence.

“…Don’t tell me… Seol Woon-hwi came first?”

“It seems you didn’t know, despite moving so urgently.”

His mouth closed.

Then Mak So-hong added.

“Lord Seong Tae-su said, ‘The river water must be clear for the sea to be clear as well.'”

“…The river water… must be clear…?”

“Yes. He said only rivers with clean water are qualified to enter the sea. I don’t understand the meaning well, but someone of your stature as Vice Leader of the Martial Alliance would understand better than I do.”

He knows.

He cannot help but know.

This was a clear warning.

Song Hak’s sharp criticism of the Martial Alliance’s past actions and failed strategies.

The blunder of trying to make the city of Bongrae a sacrificial lamb for their cause was already causing an uproar within the Martial Alliance, and now Song Hak was also reproaching them for it.

That was right.

Song Hak was Seong Tae-su, and Bong Rae County was under his jurisdiction.

Above all, for the non-aggression pact between the government and Murim to be maintained, the higher-ups needed to coordinate beforehand and accommodate each other’s desires. The Martial Alliance had been turning a blind eye to this all along, and now they had made a complete mess of things.

The justification was on Song Hak’s side.

Though he had much to say inwardly, he couldn’t say anything.

Because he felt that Song Hak’s decision had already been made.

“Oh, and the Vice Leader of the Four Heaven Alliance also came.”

“…Mo Yong Nam-cheon… was here?”

“Yes.”

“Lord Seong Tae-su left one more message, and as soon as he heard it, he left.”

Zhuge Yeong-hyeon asked with sunken eyes what other words were left.

Mak So-hong lowered his voice and spoke meaningfully.

“Lord Seong Tae-su said, ‘He who tears down old embankments and opens new waterways will control the flow of water under heaven. Therefore, shouldn’t we naturally open both land and sea routes?'”

Zhuge Yeong-hyeon’s face turned pale.

“And if I may add, Young Master Seol has already established a new trade system connecting our Yang Empire with the port city of Jeok An and even Bongrae. Above all, with the exclusive contract for Divine Ginseng Flower secured… there’s nothing more to say.”

Zhuge Yeong-hyeon clenched his fists tightly.

What did this mean?

The scheme of the Four Heaven Alliance and Martial Alliance to isolate Yang-ryeong had completely collapsed.

He kept his mouth firmly shut.

Seol Woon-hwi.

What kind of person was he really?

What kind of man was he to predict the schemes of the Martial Alliance and Four Heaven Alliance ahead of time?

How broad was his vision to be able to make such moves from that backwater place somewhere between the outer Murim and Central Plains Murim?

Frankly speaking, the distance from Gongneung and Sichuan to Geonkon Castle was far, but it was much closer than the distance from Yang-ryeong to Geonkon Castle.

This…

This really didn’t make sense. This really couldn’t be happening.

“The expression on the Four Heaven Alliance’s Vice Leader’s face when he left was very impressive.”

He raised his head to look at Mak So-hong, who continued speaking.

“The Martial Alliance’s Vice Leader has probably reached the same conclusion.”

Zhuge Yeong-hyeon had nothing more to say.

Because he had completely realized it.

Woon-hwi hadn’t simply conquered Jeok An.

He had established a new trade system connecting three countries and created a grand scheme that even checked the influence of the Martial Alliance and Four Heaven Alliance.

Could this really be something a seventeen-year-old man could accomplish?

Above all, Song Hak had been won over by such a person?

It felt futile.

“After all, isn’t a person who knows how to acknowledge defeat a true man?”

Where did it all go wrong?

Ah.

Ah… one thing came to mind.

When Seol Woon-hwi made his divine move.

When he completely changed the game board.

Everything had ended then. Because he refused to acknowledge it and dragged things out, it had come to this point. On an already tilted board, whatever one did, they could only be manipulated.

He silently turned around.

Complete defeat.

A total defeat with no excuses to make.

In this brief moment, Zhuge Yeong-hyeon seemed to have aged a full ten years.

* * *

Silence filled the carriage heading toward Yang-ryeong.

Three people were seated inside.

Manager Seong, Won Yang.

And Woon-hwi, who sat with his arms crossed and eyes closed.

No words had been exchanged between these three for a full hour already.

Sigh.

Unable to bear it any longer, Manager Seong spoke up.

“Young Master… if the talks went well, why do you look so displeased?”

Woon-hwi slowly opened his eyes.

“I was thinking about the man called Song Hak.”

“Ah… is there some very minor issue?”

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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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