Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 173

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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 173

Dong U’s eyes widened greatly.

“…Great… Great Seol-rin sir…”

“Commander Dong, I trusted you more than anyone else.”

“…I’m sorry… I was… too greedy.”

“I know.”

Seol Ho-ryeong was a free-spirited man, but paradoxically, that also meant he was an excessively cold man.

Thud.

Seol Ho-ryeong’s sword pierced through Dong U’s heart.

Seol Ho-ryeong silently embraced Dong U and whispered softly.

“They call it worldly desires, but at least for this brief moment, let go of all of that and depart.”

“…Cough…”

Dong U’s head dropped just like that.

Now only Yeon Chu-ha, the vice-lord of Baek-ryeon-gak, remained.

He was feeling relieved at this moment.

Because he had survived.

No, because they would let him live.

Once they got outside, Yeon Chu-ha’s mouth would definitely be needed.

He thought that was right.

If not for Woon-hwi’s following words.

“Seo Hyo.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Now that I think about it, wasn’t there friction between Cheon Rim and Baek-ryeon-gak?”

“…Pardon?”

“When was it… There definitely was some, wasn’t there?”

Seo Hyo was truly a quick-witted man.

A strange smile formed on Seo Hyo’s lips.

“Ah… Now that you mention it, was it a year ago? When Cheon Rim’s merchant caravan entered the interior of Snow Mountain… I think Yeon Chu-ha ruined our caravan back then.”

Yeon Chu-ha’s eyes widened, and Seo Hyo looked at Yeon Chu-ha with a smiling face as he continued.

“You killed our Cheon Rim people back then. I’m thinking of repaying that grudge now.”

“What… What are you talking about right now…!”

Seo Hyo’s sword thrust forward.

Thud-!

Seo Hyo properly pierced Yeon Chu-ha’s heart, immediately withdrew it, and stepped back.

Yeon Chu-ha staggered backward.

“Why… Why…?”

“Ah. Wasn’t it you?”

“…What?”

“I’m sorry. I was mistaken.”

In this brief moment, Yeon Chu-ha’s gaze turned to Woon-hwi.

“Didn’t you… promise…?”

“I did. But I can’t take responsibility for grudges you accumulated elsewhere, can I?”

Woon-hwi sheathed the Jinhwa Heavenly Command Sword and briefly continued.

“But how unfortunate. Death due to a mistake… But it’s common in Murim.”

Woon-hwi looked at Seo Hyo.

“Isn’t that right?”

“That’s correct. It’s common in Murim.”

Seo Hyo smiled and said to Yeon Chu-ha.

“I’ll say it again, but I’m truly sorry. I was a bit mistaken.”

“…You… damn… bastards…!”

Thud, Yeon Chu-ha’s corpse collapsed to the ground.

Woon-hwi approached Seol Ho-ryeong, who had a complicated expression.

“Are you alright?”

“I have to be. But it’s quite shocking. Not just one or two.”

Woon-hwi had received the list from Yeon Chu-ha.

And while he was thinking of showing this list to Seol Ho-ryeong, now wasn’t the time yet.

This list should be shown to the person who would become the ‘Young Palace Lord.’

He slowly opened his mouth.

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Will you become the Young Palace Lord of Seol Palace?”

“…That’s suddenly a very deep question. Do I have to answer now?”

“You must have thought about it. And I think I can hear your true feelings because it’s now.”

“…Our youngest has really changed beyond recognition. Now he’s even a little scary.”

Seol Ho-ryeong let out a deep sigh and briefly turned his head to look at Yang Geon’s corpse.

Bringing up talk about the Young Palace Lord at a moment like this was something the past Woon-hwi could never have imagined doing.

But watching Woon-hwi recently, he had become certain of one thing. There was always a reason behind all his actions.

Seol Ho-ryeong had enough insight to understand why he was saying such things.

“You don’t want me to become the Young Palace Lord, do you?”

Woon-hwi’s eyes flickered slightly, but he didn’t answer.

“Let me ask you one thing. What’s your reason for thinking Mu-ryun should become the Young Palace Lord?”

Woon-hwi briefly recalled Seol Mu-ryun suffering from the Thousand Year Poison Snake. The conversations he had with him came vividly to mind.

“Not necessarily, but Second Elder Brother is ready to shoulder the ‘weight of the Young Palace Lord’ right now.”

“The weight of the Young Palace Lord… I see.”

Seol Ho-ryeong smiled slightly.

“Mu-ryun is excellent. He could certainly handle the Young Palace Lord position well.”

He was silent for a moment before continuing.

“Woon-hwi, I think you’re right. That guy has always lived for Seol Palace. He’s ready to dedicate everything to Seol Palace right now. I couldn’t not know that.”

Seol Ho-ryeong’s eyes deepened.

“It’s a blessing. I know my talents, and Mu-ryun knows his talents, but if we hadn’t competed with each other, we wouldn’t have shined this much. I love Seol Palace too. But…”

Seol Ho-ryeong’s expression became serious as he paused.

“If you ask whether I’m prepared to dedicate everything like Mu-ryun, the answer would be ‘not yet.'”

Seol Ho-ryeong suddenly burst into laughter. It wasn’t light laughter but laughter that came from deep insight.

“When I was young, I took the Young Palace Lord position for granted. Because I was the eldest son, because I was skilled. But Mu-ryun is different. He trained himself for the one who would sit in that position, worried, and constantly thought about what responsibilities he should bear.”

Seol Ho-ryeong’s voice became heavy.

“But Woon-hwi, Seol Palace isn’t just a simple sect. It’s a world that goes beyond a place that teaches martial arts and raises disciples, playing the role of a nation, a place where countless people’s fates hang in the balance.”

He clenched his fist tightly.

“What the Young Palace Lord needs isn’t simple loyalty or spirit of sacrifice. What’s needed is ‘power.'”

A cold light flashed in his eyes.

“No matter how strong Mu-ryun’s loyalty is and how ready he is to sacrifice everything for Seol Palace, if he doesn’t want to become the Young Palace Lord himself and considers himself as someone in opposition to me, what meaning would that have in the end?”

Woon-hwi’s eyes widened. He could clearly feel where Elder Brother’s words were heading. He also confirmed that Seol Ho-ryeong knew Seol Mu-ryun’s heart exactly.

“Yes, Mu-ryun is ready to sacrifice everything. But that alone isn’t enough. What’s needed to protect Seol Palace in this barren Snow Mountain, amidst threats from numerous external forces, is overwhelming power. As you said, Mu-ryun is sufficient to become the Young Palace Lord. But he’s insufficient to become the Palace Lord.”

Seol Ho-ryeong slowly approached Woon-hwi.

“Mu-ryun’s heart is truly for Seol Palace. But Seol Palace can’t be protected by his sacrifice alone. The power of the strong is needed.”

Seol Ho-ryeong suddenly looked at Woon-hwi sharply.

“And Woon-hwi, that strong person could be me, or it could be you.”

“…”

“Even if I’m called a genius, I wouldn’t fail to recognize a real genius, would I? Looking at your movements, it seems like you could ascend to Five Energy Harmonizing Origin right now.”

Woon-hwi’s eyes twitched slightly.

“…Do you think so.”

“When I saw you move earlier, it wasn’t the movement of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, was it? Why are you deliberately not advancing your realm?”

“…You can see that?”

“I can see it even when I don’t want to. Rather than Five Energy Harmonizing Origin, you seem to have already reached the Four Stages of Heaven and Earth… Is this also correct?”

In his previous life, he had never had a deep conversation with Seol Ho-ryeong. He had barely even seen his face properly. So when he first met Seol Ho-ryeong, it was difficult to judge what kind of person he was.

Now Woon-hwi was certain.

Seol Ho-ryeong was a true genius.

A genius of the same caliber as Cheon Do-ja, the sect leader of Heaven Gate, and the sect master of Maitreya Brahma Heaven Sect.

Though Woon-hwi could discern others’ martial arts through his previous life’s experience and the realm of Primordial Sole Existence, Seol Ho-ryeong had recognized where Woon-hwi’s enlightenment lay at a single glance without such experience.

This was pure talent.

Woon-hwi’s gaze deepened, and Seol Ho-ryeong’s gaze also deepened.

“Father knows too. Mu-ryun’s heart, and my heart as well. But Father is postponing his choice. Do you know why?”

Woon-hwi silently stared into his brother’s eyes.

“Because I told him I wasn’t ready, that I had no intention of taking the seat yet.”

“….”

“After reaching the Body Establishment Boundary, that resolve was set. Woon-hwi, I intend to become the Young Palace Lord.”

Seol Ho-ryeong’s words carried firm determination. Seol Mu-ryun, Seol Yeon-hwa, and Seol Ho-ryeong all cherished and loved Snow Mountain. The difference lay in their personal convictions.

“Did you feel responsibility when you reached the Body Establishment Boundary?”

“I did.”

“I see.”

Seol Ho-ryeong smiled with genuine warmth.

“But what do you think? Do you still believe Mu-ryun should become the Young Palace Lord?”

Seol Ho-ryeong placed his hand on Woon-hwi’s shoulder as he fell into thought for a moment.

“It’s fine. You don’t have to answer now. But here’s what I think. Snow Palace cannot be protected by good intentions alone. Especially for an organization like the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace that serves as both a sect and a nation, power is needed above all else. It’s important to become someone’s competitor and to guard against complacency, but ultimately, what’s most needed to shoulder all of this is power.”

A cold resolve appeared in Seol Ho-ryeong’s eyes. Seeing that resolve, certainty arose in Woon-hwi’s heart. This wasn’t simply the ambition of a Young Palace Lord. It was absolute will to protect Snow Palace.

This much conversation was more than sufficient—it was overflowing.

“If we manage to leave the Secret Realm.”

Woon-hwi paused briefly, then quietly handed the list he had been holding to Seol Ho-ryeong as he continued.

“Deal with all of them, and assume the position of Young Palace Lord.”

Seol Ho-ryeong smiled slightly.

“You want that?”

“Yes.”

In Woon-hwi’s view, Seol Mu-ryun was adequate as a Young Palace Lord but very lacking as a Palace Lord.

But Seol Ho-ryeong was adequate both as a Young Palace Lord and as a Palace Lord.

Both were outstanding people, but they pursued different directions.

Seol Ho-ryeong had a spirit of sacrifice, but the value he held most dear was power.

Seol Mu-ryun had a spirit of sacrifice and didn’t ignore the value of power, but he prioritized the spirit of sacrifice more.

For leading a single ‘sect,’ Seol Mu-ryun might be more suitable. He was flexible and wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice himself.

But for ruling an alliance of multiple sects, Seol Ho-ryeong was appropriate.

His genius and his power would become the strength that organization could rely on.

“Thank you. For our youngest to acknowledge this brother.”

Woon-hwi shook his head.

“Elder Brother is a man of such caliber that I dare not judge, so how can I speak of acknowledgment?”

“Isn’t that excessive modesty?”

“I merely spoke the truth.”

“…My word…. You’re certainly extraordinary. This… shouldn’t you be the one to become Young Palace Lord instead of me?”

Woon-hwi burst into laughter, and Seol Ho-ryeong tilted his head.

He was serious though.

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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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