Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 144

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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 144

“If that’s what you’re referring to, it’s fine.”

“Why?”

“Because I can guess what the inside story is.”

Seol Yeon-hwa’s eyes widened, and Seol Mu-ryun, who had been standing in front of the residence with his arms crossed, also gleamed with interest.

“Didn’t the Palace Lord order it? To remain silent.”

“…Did Father tell you too?”

He shook his head.

“Even if he didn’t, I know.”

“How?”

“If I were in danger, Elder Sister, Second Brother, and Big Brother would never just stand by.”

Seol Yeon-hwa smiled brightly, and Seol Mu-ryun also smiled quietly so no one could hear, seemingly not displeased.

“I also made a request to the Palace Lord. That there be no interference from anyone.”

“…I see. I was worried you might feel left out.”

“It’s fine, Elder Sister.”

Having conversed that far, Seol Yeon-hwa whispered in a small voice.

“I was going to bring lots of gifts if possible, but that guy insisted on coming along. You might not know this well, but he’s a bit shy around strangers. Funny, right? That Cha Seol-rin among the Polar Descendants is shy. He has some childish aspects.”

At those words, Woon-hwi burst into laughter. Seol Yeon-hwa was probably the first and last person to speak so bluntly about Seol Mu-ryun.

And even Seol Mu-ryun didn’t bother to say much to such Seol Yeon-hwa. If he did, this would be his best effort.

“Stop the chatter and come out for a bit?”

Seol Yeon-hwa shrugged and stepped aside.

“Woon-hwi.”

“Yes, Second Brother.”

“I’d like to have a conversation inside for a moment.”

Woon-hwi nodded and took the lead, saying.

“I’ll guide you. Please follow me, Second Brother.”

Thus, Seol Mu-ryun and Woon-hwi entered the residence.

Where the two had disappeared.

Seol Yeon-hwa looked at Ju So-ah with sharp eyes and asked.

“Long time no see?”

“Indeed. Long time no see. Has our famous Seol Yeon-hwa, the flower of Snow Palace, been well?”

“I’ve been well. Fortunately, it seems your eyesight hasn’t died. I should have plucked those eyes out back then.”

Ju So-ah grinned.

“My, your way of speaking is the same then and now. Still, you’re a Polar Descendant, isn’t your speech lacking too much dignity?”

“Since when have you been looking after my dignity, you bitch.”

“I’ve never looked after it. I just feel sorry seeing you drop it everywhere you go.”

Seol Yeon-hwa’s brow furrowed.

“This bitch…”

“Where do you get off calling me this bitch, that bitch. The arm I got hit back then still tingles. How about the abdomen you got hit… is it well?”

If fate could be called ill fate, these two were probably closer to ill fate.

The Martial Alliance periodically holds the Yongbong Tournament.

Ju So-ah had participated exactly once, and Seol Yeon-hwa had participated twice.

These two had met in the Yongbong Tournament preliminaries where they both fell out together.

Ju So-ah’s foot had struck Seol Yeon-hwa’s abdomen hard, and Seol Yeon-hwa’s fist had struck Ju So-ah’s arm hard, causing both to fly far away together, and the preliminaries took place in a huge training ground.

Crossing the line meant disqualification, so naturally both were disqualified.

The championship prize at that time was Shaolin’s famous Great Recovery Pill.

It had been completely lost due to the Thousand Year Orchid incident, and they had missed that Great Recovery Pill for which even the manufacturing method no longer remained.

These two, who were at Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown level at the time, had the highest realm in the Yongbong Tournament, and there was a high probability that one of them would claim the Great Recovery Pill, but both failed to obtain it due to forfeit.

It would have been stranger if they had good feelings toward each other.

“…How long will you be staying here?”

At Seol Yeon-hwa’s question, Ju So-ah answered firmly.

“I don’t know either.”

The originally promised period was one year, but she had no intention of completing that year and leaving for somewhere else.

Being by Woon-hwi’s side was, honestly… fun.

Above all.

“Your youngest brother and my master. You know? He uses me very usefully.”

“…”

“If you’re dissatisfied, go tattle on me or something.”

“…Tsk.”

Seol Yeon-hwa turned her head, and Ju So-ah also turned her head.

The one congratulating Han Mu-rin for reaching Five Dragon Peak Realm was Won Yang alone.

Won Yang whispered quietly.

“Congratulations.”

“Yes. Well… it’s nothing special.”

* * *

Woon-hwi, who had been heading to the residence, stopped briefly in place.

The war of words between Seol Yeon-hwa and Ju So-ah wasn’t that loud, but it was enough to reach Woon-hwi’s ears.

Seol Mu-ryun said quietly.

“Does it concern you?”

“It would be a lie to say it doesn’t. Even if there was friendship between them, Ju So-ah is currently my subordinate.”

“Are you displeased that your subordinate speaks like that to Seol Yeon-hwa, a Polar Descendant?”

“I think there’s at least a need for education.”

Seol Mu-ryun nodded as if he understood that much. Then he said this.

“There’s something you don’t know.”

“About me?”

“How many people do you think Yeon-hwa has who could be called close friends?”

At those words, he flinched momentarily.

No matter how extraordinary Woon-hwi had shown himself to be until now, he couldn’t be perfect.

In the first place, there are no perfect people in this world. Even if people everywhere praise someone for seeing through everything, they truly cannot see through everything.

Who is Seol Yeon-hwa’s closest friend?

Woon-hwi couldn’t easily answer this question.

“It would have been four years ago. Yeon-hwa, who participated in the Yongbong Tournament held by the Martial Alliance, was eliminated in the preliminaries together with a woman named Ju So-ah.”

Perhaps thinking of that time, Seol Mu-ryun showed a strange smile at the corner of his mouth.

“She was very frustrated. She didn’t stop training, saying she would meet Ju So-ah again in the future to settle the score, and eventually reached Five Energy Harmonizing Origin. Currently, among the young female martial artists of Murim, these two boast unparalleled growth speed. At least for Yeon-hwa, Ju So-ah is a formidable enemy, a mirror that reflects her heart, and a relationship where they sharpen each other’s swords.”

Deep interest filled Woon-hwi’s eyes.

A relationship where they sharpen each other’s swords… It was truly an impressive phrase.

“Could I hear a bit more?”

“Of course. A sword cannot sharpen itself alone. To be sharpened, there must be a solid whetstone, and that whetstone is also ground by the sword, so the relationship between Ju So-ah and Yeon-hwa can be seen as the same. In my view, it’s a connection that might come once in thirty years, perhaps once in fifty years.”

Seol Mu-ryun’s gaze deepened.

“Woon-hwi.”

“Yes, Second Brother.”

“In the flower garden called Murim, flowers bloom with their own colors. But among them, there are flowers that are more beautiful only when they bloom together. The flower called Ju So-ah might be a gift from heaven for Yeon-hwa to bloom more vividly.”

He looked up at the sky for a moment. His eyes contained deep insight.

“The principles of the world are mysterious, so sometimes the two people who clash most sharply become those who understand each other most deeply. A flower born alone in the polar regions and harsh cold withers with one gust of wind, but flowers that bloom leaning on each other can withstand even storms.”

Seol Mu-ryun smiled warmly.

“Before considering her a subordinate and educating her, it would be good to see her as someone who fills the empty space in Yeon-hwa’s heart. In the lofty snowy plains of the polar regions, even one spring breeze is precious, and it’s hard to find an opponent you can truly face… If you’ve found such an opponent, that’s not something to regret but a connection to cherish.”

It was strange.

There had been exactly one time when he’d had such a long conversation with Seol Mu-ryun.

At that time, he was in a near-death state due to the Thousand Year Poison Snake, and his mind was so far gone that his soul was almost separated, but even then he had felt it.

That Seol Mu-ryun’s insight was extraordinary.

And now he was certain once more.

The fact that Seol Jung-cheon hadn’t designated Seol Mu-ryun as the next Palace Lord without reason.

“Second Elder Brother’s words truly move this youngest brother’s heart.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. Those who learn martial arts often dream of reaching the summit. In this regard, Third Elder Sister, Second Elder Brother, First Elder Brother, and I are all the same. However, even in our current state of not having climbed it, everyone knows that the summit is lonely and cold. If there were someone to share the wind with, what greater blessing could there be?”

Seol Mu-ryun’s eyes sparkled.

Certainly, the youngest was extraordinary. Beyond understanding every word, his own standards were firm.

Most importantly.

“Thank you, Second Elder Brother. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Having gained great enlightenment from today’s conversation with Second Elder Brother, I will pretend not to know about the relationship between those two.”

He even acknowledged it and felt no shame in filling his lacking areas.

How had the youngest changed to this extent?

At this moment, Seol Mu-ryun felt tremendously at ease. If he couldn’t finish what he needed to do, this youngest brother would continue in his place.

“They say a person’s heart is sharper than a sword yet softer than water, but as Cha Seol-rin, I cannot dare fathom the depth of you, Hyeon Seol-rin.”

Woon-hwi burst into laughter.

“Aren’t you rating me too highly? I feel the same way. I cannot dare to match Second Elder Brother’s insight.”

“You could catch up, couldn’t you? Perhaps you’ve already surpassed it.”

“I won’t give you an answer right now. Second Elder Brother might be disappointed.”

At those words, Seol Mu-ryun chuckled softly, and Woon-hwi’s eyes widened.

Should it be called a heartfelt smile?

It was the first time he’d seen such a smile.

“Let’s go inside. I have a gift for you.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Thus, the footsteps of the two heading toward the residence were light, and the footprints they left were as clear and deep as the snow on the snowy plains.

* * *

Woon-hwi and Seol Mu-ryun sat facing each other inside the residence.

Outside the window, the snow of Snow Mountain shone white, and inside the residence was filled with warm air.

Though they were two people who had never exchanged a single word in his previous life, truly many things had changed in this life.

Should it be called a difference so stark it was extreme?

Woon-hwi was a little curious.

What was he planning to say that he had arranged this meeting?

Seol Mu-ryun opened his mouth.

“Our conversation went off on a tangent for a moment, but I came here today because I have something to give you and something to tell you.”

“Please speak, Second Elder Brother.”

Seol Mu-ryun’s gaze became gentle.

“If it weren’t for you, I might not be sitting here right now. And regarding the matter at Yaksu as well, I wanted to express my gratitude for all of it.”

“It was something I naturally had to do.”

Seol Mu-ryun shook his head.

“No. It was something you risked your life to step forward for. You covered for my foolish mistake and even helped me completely absorb the power of the Thousand Year Poison Snake, so if I repay this kindness with mere words alone, how could I call myself a man?”

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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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