Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 132
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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 132
Woon-hwi shook his head.
“Rather than a problem, it brought out admiration.”
“Admiration?”
“Even though he’s not a martial artist, I could see his loyalty to the country from someone who has lived over 90 years.”
Woon-hwi leaned back deeply into his seat.
“In about a year, Song Hak will die.”
“…Really…?”
“The fact that an ordinary person has lived 90 years also means it wouldn’t be strange if he died at any time. Yet the fact that he acts so vigorously in his current position means his inherent character is beyond imagination.”
Woon-hwi let out a small laugh.
“After his death, I was planning to scale back everything I proposed today and renegotiate with his successor. That was the original plan, but his loyalty made me feel ashamed instead.”
Song Hak definitely knew.
How much life he had left.
Whether it should be called his insight or intuition.
There are many words to describe it, but knowing—that was truly important.
He intends to burn the last flame of his life, and with that flame, he plans to embrace Woon-hwi.
For Woon-hwi, who had made plans assuming such a person’s death, it was right to feel shame.
“The world is vast.”
“…”
“I thought I knew it, but when I look at it, it becomes vast again. That’s what makes the world interesting. Isn’t that right?”
Manager Seong and Won Yang looked at Woon-hwi silently.
“I’m thinking of giving Song Hak a gift.”
“…A gift?”
“No matter how much power and experience he has, with matters of this magnitude, the pressure coming down on Song Hak from within the court must be considerable. Since I can’t deny that I admired him, shouldn’t I at least help resolve that pressure quickly?”
Manager Seong and Won Yang didn’t understand what Woon-hwi was saying.
But with Woon-hwi’s next words, everything became clear.
“Before stopping by Yang-ryeong, let’s go to Divine Ginseng Valley first.”
“You… Young Master…?”
“Do you dislike it?”
“No, it’s not about liking or disliking, but Divine Ginseng Valley is… let’s go a little later…? Not now. That monster from Paemun is… really not advisable.”
Manager Seong strongly objected, and he was right.
Manager Seong must have certainly thought that Woon-hwi would target Divine Ginseng Valley, but he didn’t think it would be now.
At least after stabilization, he thought they would go then.
Now?
Suddenly?
“Manager Seong.”
“…Yes. Young Master.”
“Have I ever disappointed you?”
“…That’s not the case…”
“Won Yang.”
“Yes. My lord.”
“Am I not trustworthy?”
Won Yang waved his hands vigorously.
“No. No… not at all. Absolutely not.”
Then.
“Let’s go to Divine Ginseng Valley.”
There was nothing to say.
* * *
An old man who had been holed up in a small room, deep in thought about something, let out a sigh and turned his head.
A young man was standing outside the door.
“Why do you keep standing there? It’s annoying.”
“I apologize. More importantly, Master.”
“What?”
“Kang Cheol-san and Jang Un-hong from Sa Ryang are waiting outside, saying they want to see you.”
Sa Ryang was a region controlled by the divided forces of the Martial Alliance and the Sichuan Sect.
The ruling forces were called One Hall Three Gates.
Among them, One Hall was the Sichuan Sect and Three Gates was the Martial Alliance.
Ruling forces meant sects with some power in Sa Ryang, and since Sa Ryang was larger than expected, the number of sects there was about sixteen.
The numbers were also split evenly.
Eight belonged to the Sichuan Sect, eight to the Martial Alliance.
Kang Cheol-san, the hall master of Cheonryeongdang, which was One Hall among One Hall Three Gates, was the Sichuan Sect branch representative in Sa Ryang, and Jang Un-hong, the gate master of Apwhadomunhwa, one of the Three Gates, was the Martial Alliance Sa Ryang branch representative.
The peculiarity was that Kang Cheol-san was a master of the Harmony Realm, and Jang Un-hong was a master of Five Energy Harmonizing Origin.
Anyway, those two men had come to see this old man now.
The old man frowned deeply.
“Those bastards still haven’t died?”
At those words, the young man smiled slightly.
“Master, they are the ones who come here monthly for the Divine Ginseng Flower of Divine Ginseng Valley. They’re the type who neither live as if dead nor die as if alive.”
The young man’s voice was gentle, but the cynicism contained within was like a sharp blade.
The old man, No Cheon-myeong, the master of Paemun, narrowed his eyes and looked at his disciple.
“Pae Woon.”
“Yes. Master.”
“As you well know, those bastards keep bothering my ears. Like a boil stuck to my side.”
Pae Woon entered the room and began preparing tea.
His movements were light as wind and gentle as water.
“They must have brought a new contract this time.”
“A contract?”
“Yes. Especially with the great damage the Martial Alliance and Sichuan Sect suffered from the incident in Jeok An. They’ll definitely mention that while planning to use you, Master.”
No Cheon-myeong’s eyebrows moved slightly.
“Use me… That aside, Jeok An? Isn’t that where that sinister Lee Ja-gyeom is?”
“That’s right. The One Gate Three Families One Leader that Lee Ja-gyeom headed was completely destroyed overnight. By someone called Seol Woon-hwi.”
Pae Woon spoke as calmly as if discussing everyday weather, but the content was a major incident that shook the martial world.
No Cheon-myeong was silent for a moment. His eyes became cloudy as if recalling distant memories, then regained focus.
“Did the main branches of the Martial Alliance and Sichuan Sect just sit still?”
“They were thoroughly beaten, I hear.”
“…Ho…? Is that really true?”
“Yes. Moreover, it seems the Yang-je Kingdom’s court was also thoroughly handled.”
“The court?”
“More precisely, it appears he made a secret deal with Seong Tae-su Song Hak of Geonkon Castle. Though I don’t know the exact details, things will certainly proceed in the direction he wanted.”
It was interesting. But.
“What about that bastard son of Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace?”
Pae Woon smiled while pouring tea. That smile contained understanding of something ordinary people wouldn’t know.
“The Seol Woon-hwi I just mentioned is that bastard son of Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace.”
Then No Cheon-myeong was greatly surprised.
“Ah, that bastard was him?”
“Yes. Aren’t you forgetting people’s names too much?”
“It’s not like the Seol surname only exists in Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace, and I only remember the names of those worth remembering.”
He was well aware of that too.
In fact, No Cheon-myeong didn’t even know who Kang Cheol-san or Jang Un-hong from Sa Ryang were. He just thought they must be those two idiots who came every month.
Pae Woon continued.
“Since he knows well that you, Master, have no great interest in matters related to Divine Ginseng Valley’s cultivation, he’ll come in a month at the latest, or two weeks at the earliest. Won’t you be able to see his face then?”
No Cheon-myeong looked sharply at Pae Woon.
“You seem certain that he will definitely come.”
“Like water flowing to low places, I think it’s only natural.”
Pae Woon continued as he set down tea in front of No Cheon-myeong.
“Looking at Seol Woon-hwi’s movements, he has currently swallowed up Bong Rae and Jeok An, so next will surely be Sa Ryang.”
“Huh… I didn’t know there was someone in the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace who liked playing territorial games.”
“Since it’s something humans do, what can be done about it? Whether he can handle it or not is a matter heaven will decide, so he just needs to wait for heaven’s will, doesn’t he?”
No Cheon-myeong burst into hearty laughter.
“I’m a bit curious. Just what kind of fellow is he to make fools of both the Martial Alliance and Sichuan Sect, and even cook the Yang Empire’s imperial court?”
Pae Woon briefly thought about correcting that it wasn’t the Yang Empire’s imperial court but Seong Tae-su and Song Hak, then simply stepped back silently and watched No Cheon-myeong drinking tea.
No Cheon-myeong took a sip of tea and spoke briefly.
“Send those two back. There’s no point in sitting face to face with fellows who are bound to become corpses anyway.”
“Yes. I will do so.”
“But… there’s one thing I’m curious about.”
“What would that be?”
“What do you think of that man called Seol Woon-hwi?”
A strange light flashed in Pae Woon’s eyes.
It was unexpected. He had never been curious about anyone before.
Pae Woon immediately organized his thoughts and answered.
“Even martial artists who pride themselves on knowing everything cannot properly grasp him. On the surface, he’s an illegitimate son of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace and branch master of Yang-ryeong, but…”
He paused for a moment and looked out the window.
“I think he’s a person who might appear once in a thousand years, if at all.”
No Cheon-myeong’s eyes flashed brightly.
“Your insight is always amazing, Pae Woon.”
“That’s not it. It’s just…”
Pae Woon continued while looking toward the manor entrance.
“I’m merely listening to the sound of the great currents of the world changing.”
* * *
Three men and women were climbing the mountain through mist flowing along the valley.
It was Woon-hwi, Manager Seong, and Won Yang.
The magnificent scenery of clouds embracing the mountain peaks was truly impressive – this was Divine Ginseng Valley.
The strange rocks visible between the dense forest were like works carved by heaven and earth, and the brilliant blue-green plants growing everywhere glowed as if containing spiritual energy.
“Is this the Divine Ginseng Flower?”
Manager Seong nodded at Won Yang’s question.
“This massive mountain itself is no different from a cultivation ground for Divine Ginseng Flowers. Do you want some?”
Won Yang shook his head. Divine Ginseng Flowers were already piled high in the branch’s Medicine Hall.
There was no reason to be greedy here.
As Woon-hwi’s group continued walking, the narrow mountain path came to an end.
There was a small waterfall there, and the water stream flowing over the rocks was both utterly serene and beautiful.
That’s when it happened.
The three men and women stopped in place.
Next to the waterfall was a fairly high stone staircase, and two men were currently coming down from there.
The two men who happened to spot Woon-hwi’s group stopped right there and soon opened their eyes wide.
At first, they thought “no way, no way.”
But looking carefully, it was Seol Woon-hwi.
Kang Cheol-san and Jang Un-hong looked at each other.
‘…Why do we have to encounter that bastard here of all places…’
‘…He wouldn’t scatter assassins here, would he.’
Though they had complicated expressions and different thoughts, the root was the same.
He was truly someone they didn’t want to meet, and someone they shouldn’t meet.
Woon-hwi approached those two.
“I greet you. Seol Woon-hwi of Yang-ryeong pays respects to the sect leader of Cheonryeongdang and the gate master of Jeok Hwa Gate.”
“…Ahem… We accept your greeting. But… why are you here?”
Woon-hwi answered briefly to Kang Cheol-san’s question.
“I came to have a conversation with the master of Divine Ginseng Valley.”
“…Unfortunately, it seems you’ve made a wasted trip.”
“How so?”
“Senior No Cheon-myeong must be very busy right now, as he refused to meet even with us two.”
Woon-hwi smiled slightly.
“I see. Still, since I’ve come this far, I plan to go up and try anyway.”
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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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