Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 160

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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 160

Jeon Bi.

It’s a name I’m hearing for the first time.

“He asked me to tell you that the person with the surname Seo got caught up in some unfortunate business and will likely come to pay his respects a bit late.”

If it’s a ‘person’ with the surname Seo, there’s only one.

Seo Hyo.

No wonder Seo Hyo hadn’t shown even a trace of himself despite Yang-ryeong becoming Yang Ling-ju and him being appointed as the general commander – this didn’t match his personality at all.

It clearly means some unavoidable incident has occurred.

“Is that all?”

“That’s all for now. And he asked if it would be alright to implement ‘that thing’ we promised ahead of schedule, and insisted on getting an answer. What should I tell him?”

“Tell him to proceed with it.”

Woon-hwi immediately explained to Han Seok-hyeon what it was, and after hearing everything, Han Seok-hyeon’s eyes widened.

“…Fifty percent of the black market profits… plus experiments… Isn’t this dangerous?”

It was indeed dangerous.

“Pretend not to see the experiments they conduct inside. If anything happens, turn a complete blind eye to it.”

“…I understand. You must have your reasons.”

It wasn’t that I had none.

More than that.

“I want to build an academy.”

“The site would naturally be Blue Cloud Mountain, right?”

When Woon-hwi nodded, Han Seok-hyeon smiled and said.

“I’ll try to build it as quickly as possible. We have plenty of materials so that won’t be a problem… Are you planning to install mechanical formations?”

I thought for a moment.

The academy would become one of the most important places in Yang Ling-ju.

Young talents from regions incorporated into Yang Ling-ju would flock there, and even though No Cheon-myeong, a master of Heaven-Human Unity, would reside there permanently, worldly affairs are full of unpredictable events.

It’s also important to prevent any unforeseen situations.

“The Main Palace has quite a few experts in mechanical formations. I’ll mobilize them. And I’ll entrust you with full authority. However, it must be completed within two weeks.”

Building a structure within two weeks. This was certainly not easy, but it wasn’t impossible either.

First of all, Woon-hwi had a lot of money.

Not just a lot, but really a lot.

Since there were plenty of materials, construction could begin immediately once plans were established.

If we gather hundreds or thousands of workers, what couldn’t be done in two weeks?

“I’ll draft detailed building plans and report to you.”

“Go ahead.”

It was just as Han Seok-hyeon was about to turn around.

“Heh heh heh…”

A far too familiar.

Laughter could be heard.

Woon-hwi’s head turned.

An old man stood there with his hands clasped behind his back.

The young woman beside him didn’t even catch my attention.

Dressed in white robes, with long braided white hair… the old man’s body reaching six feet in height.

Despite being well over a hundred years old, his eyes were full of vigor and that leisurely smile he always wore.

Supreme Master of Murim.

Blood Heaven Venerable, Cheon Do-ja.

He spoke.

“I hear you’re quite skilled at Go, young master. Might I have a game with you?”

* * *

The phrase “indescribable emotion” suddenly flashed through my mind.

Like a single painting that suddenly emerged from old memories, that emotion filled my chest.

Cheon Do-ja.

The memory of that day was vivid.

When he, called the Supreme Master of Murim, first revealed himself before me, it seemed as if all sounds in the world had stopped.

-A bastard son of Snow Palace would have many places to go, yet you’ve come all the way to a place like this.

His eyes alone showed the weight of a thousand years. The him in my memory smiled innocently.

-Stay as long as you wish, then leave when you want to.

I felt a sense of relief, as if I had finally found home after wandering lost for a long time.

That face from back then.

That appearance from back then.

Even though countless things in this world had changed and changed again, not a single thing about this man had changed.

A smile formed on my face.

“I’ve been quite busy with various matters lately and had put up a sign saying I wouldn’t play Go for a while…”

“But?”

“Since such an honored guest has come from afar, I suppose I should make an exception.”

Heh heh heh heh.

His characteristic laughter could be heard.

“What should I call you?”

“…Hmm… There are many, many titles by which this world calls me, but just for today, I’d like to be ‘Old Man Cheon.'”

“I understand. Then I’ll call you Old Man Cheon.”

“Then I’ll call you Young Master Seol.”

“Please do as you wish to call me and as you wish to do, Old Man Cheon.”

I spoke to Han Seok-hyeon, who was standing there bewildered, unable to understand the situation.

“You may go.”

“…Yes… I understand.”

Han Seok-hyeon, who had been tilting his head while looking at Cheon Do-ja’s face, soon left.

“I’ll escort you to the Great Hall.”

“Heh heh… I’m fine playing here.”

This was the courtyard in front of the residence. It wasn’t even a garden, just a place with some stone steps, some dust, and an entrance leading to the residence.

In such a place, Cheon Do-ja sat down with a thud, laughing.

Even as dust clung to his white robes, he didn’t mind. This is the kind of person he is. The Cheon Do-ja I know.

I also quietly sat down in front of him.

“I brought a Go board with me, but since I’m a guest who came without an appointment, I’ll follow Young Master Seol’s preference.”

“It’s fine to use the Go board you brought.”

“Heh heh heh… Very good then.”

As soon as those words ended, the black and white-haired woman beside Cheon Do-ja took out a large Go board from her storage bag and placed it between me and Cheon Do-ja.

I looked at her for a moment.

Should I say it’s been a long time.

The current Valley Master of Poison Snake Valley is a person named Seon Yang-baek, and if time passes without major incidents, he will declare his retirement in about 14 years.

And there was a person who would become the new Valley Master after him, and that was this woman.

Poison Empress Witch, Yang Ui-ji.

Currently, she holds one of the positions as Cheon Do-ja’s protectors.

She looked at me and winked with one eye.

I ignored her.

“Hehe… This is quite exciting indeed.”

Cheon Do-ja naturally moved his hand toward the white stones, but I was faster than him.

“Since you are the guest, shouldn’t you properly take the black stones?”

“…Hooh…?”

“I’ll take the white stones. Elder Cheon.”

At this conversation, Yang Ui-ji’s eyes also sparkled, and Cheon Do-ja’s pupils gleamed as well.

“…Strange… Really strange.”

“Are you referring to me?”

“You clearly know who I am and why I came… yet you would choose the disadvantageous side?”

“Is that not allowed?”

“…”

“And furthermore. In playing baduk, no matter how advantageous the first move may be, it doesn’t determine the direction of the match.”

“…Mm?”

“Haven’t you already moved first several times, Elder Cheon?”

“…”

“Please take the black stones. At least for now, I think that’s right.”

“Heh… hehehe… Interesting. Truly interesting.”

So saying, Cheon Do-ja placed down a stone.

The upper right corner of the go board.

I gazed at it quietly and spoke.

“May I ask just one question?”

“Go ahead.”

I placed the first white stone in the lower left corner and asked.

“Why does someone who flies through the heavens take interest in affairs happening on the ground?”

Cheon Do-ja pondered for a moment, then placed his second stone.

“If a crane flying through the sky doesn’t look down at the fish on the ground, how could it claim to understand the principles of the world?”

“Are you merely observing the fish? Or do you enjoy fishing?”

A smile spread across Cheon Do-ja’s lips.

“Sometimes… it’s also enjoyable to throw a stone into a pond and watch the ripples spread out.”

“A stone thrown in jest disturbed the water’s surface, and those ripples shook the lotus flowers.”

“Hmm… What do you mean by that?”

“Three forces became entangled by a move made in jest. You hypnotized two warriors from the Sichuan Sect, and starting from that, the Sichuan Sect, Martial Alliance, and Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace became intertwined.”

Cheon Do-ja burst into delighted laughter.

“Hehehe! It couldn’t be helped. The move I initially intended to make became corrupted. As Confucius said, I planned to watch a grand scheme unfold by entangling three sects, but before the Snow Palace’s main palace could even act, everything was resolved in Confucius’s hands, which was both disappointing and surprising.”

Cheon Do-ja raised his head to look at me. In his eyes was the depth of one who had seen through the principles of the world.

“Murim is a place where those who practice the way of warriors gather, but occasionally there are those who exceed expectations. Watching their way is enjoyable just by itself. Like you.”

Looking at the delighted Cheon Do-ja, I spoke quietly.

“Since Elder Cheon speaks of the way of warriors, let me ask.”

“Speak.”

“Do you not observe what’s below, or do you pretend to observe?”

“…Mm?”

Cheon Do-ja’s expression hardened.

“That’s an odd thing to say.”

“There were spies in the Snow Palace.”

“Mmm…”

“Not just one or two. Of course, even if they were spies, it’s natural for a place the size of the Snow Palace to have spies, but they said they were looking for something.”

“…”

“And.”

I took out the Tae-yeong Records from my chest and handed them to Cheon Do-ja.

His brow furrowed.

“…What is this?”

“I want to ask you something.”

“…”

“But seeing your reaction now, I think I know.”

“What are you talking about?”

About twenty moves had been exchanged on the go board. Black and white stones intermingled, creating a subtle formation.

“You were the one who hypnotized the two warriors from the Sichuan Sect, Elder Cheon. I’ll call this the first move. The first move was indeed yours, but the remaining moves weren’t made by you.”

“Why do you think so? Couldn’t I be acting right now?”

“No. This is absolutely not moves made by one person.”

“How so?”

“The personalities are too different.”

“Personalities…”

“Most importantly, the temperaments felt from the moves are complete opposites.”

“…”

“No matter how much one comprehends the principles of heaven and earth, a person’s temperament doesn’t change. One can try to hide it, but when making moves, it’s a different story.”

“Different…?”

“Even if you want to hide it, you cannot. In the moment of making a move, you are ‘yourself.'”

“Oho…”

Cheon Do-ja’s gaze deepened. I continued speaking quietly.

“The initial moves were full of playfulness. Like this go board right now.”

“Then what about the remaining moves?”

“They’re sinister.”

“Sinister… hehe… You think so?”

“Yes. Most importantly, they’re not simply sinister, but the intention to thoroughly annihilate and the intention to hide oneself are far too blatant.”

And at this moment, I decided to voice the suspicion that had settled in my heart. That’s why I brought the Tae-yeong Records.

“Elder Cheon.”

“Speak.”

“Do you wish to punish me?”

Cheon Do-ja smiled without saying a word.

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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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