Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 201

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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 201

“Baek-ryeon-gak, Seol-ryeong-gak, Baekseol Wiryeong-dan, and even the infiltrators and recruited spies from Yu-hon Mun – none of them would have been able to find any connection to me. It would be strange if there were any. I acted with that in mind at every moment. Yes, you have no justification to oppress me like this when I serve Master Yu Cheong, the lord of ‘Cheon Rim’ and vice-leader of the Origin Blood Sect.”

Seol Jung-cheon looked at Yang Seol-jin with interest.

“Now that you’ve reached Primordial Sole Existence, you must feel like you own the world. I understand completely. If you release me, I’ll overlook today’s rudeness…”

“Are you afraid?”

“…What?”

“It sounds like you’re desperately begging for your life, but unfortunately, you won’t be leaving this place alive.”

“Ha! Seol Jung-cheon, how long do you think it will take me to break free from these hidden daggers and restraining techniques? One year? Two years? Ten years? No, one day. Just one day and I’ll break free from everything and escape… Kugh-!”

Yang Seol-jin’s agonized scream echoed through the prison.

That’s right.

Yang Seol-jin’s dantian had just been shattered.

“Ah… Ahh… Ahhhhh!”

Seol Jung-cheon, who had been standing quietly with his index finger extended, lightly flicked his finger.

Crackle-!

With a chilling sound, Yang Seol-jin froze solid once again.

In the prison that had instantly become quiet, Seol Jung-cheon turned around and began walking again.

The cell next to Yang Seol-jin’s was not empty.

There sat someone in lotus position, quietly seated as if he had given up on everything.

Seol Jung-cheon asked him.

“How many were there?”

At that question, Juche, the Commander of Baekseol Wiryeong-dan, opened his eyes.

“…It will pain your heart greatly to hear it.”

“I still want to hear it.”

The question of how many referred to how many members Deputy Commander Yeon Su-on and Chief Instructor Gok Jin-bung had offered to Noe Jeong Ma-gyo over the years.

“Over 8 years, a total of 500 people.”

“Including both newly admitted reserve members and active members combined?”

“…Yes.”

“It’s not my place to say, but you’re not someone who would miss such things. So why didn’t you know? Didn’t you even sense anything strange?”

“…I apologize.”

“I’m not asking for an apology, I’m asking for a reason.”

“…It’s the same as your situation, Palace Lord.”

Seol Jung-cheon closed his eyes tightly.

“Yeon Su-on was a person of great reputation and the most suitable candidate to lead the unit in my absence. If it were before I lost my internal energy, I would have passed the commander position to him. As for Gok Jin-bung… I truly never expected it.”

“…”

“I spent too much time trying to advance my cultivation level and failed to focus on my duties as commander. It’s all my oversight and my incompetence, as Hyeon Seol-rin said.”

This was not mere reflection.

“Palace Lord. May I make one request?”

“Speak.”

“By killing me, please strengthen the discipline of Baekseol Wiryeong-dan and select a new suitable candidate.”

“Do you want to die so badly?”

“Yes. And I only hope that death will have meaning.”

Seol Jung-cheon quietly sighed and sat down heavily in front of Juche.

“Shall we play a game of baduk after a long time?”

“…Palace Lord…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll arrange a stage where you can die. Just for today, I want to forget everything, have a conversation, and play a game. Can you do that for me?”

Strictly speaking, Juche’s internal energy was only sealed – he could break free if he wanted to. But he didn’t.

Juche had never ‘betrayed’ Snow Palace in all the recent events that occurred there.

He had simply been distracted by other things.

“May I… say something?”

“Speak.”

“I keep thinking about the things I missed.”

“…”

“What were those members thinking before they died? Even though their commander had no clue, did they still think of me and not lose hope? I resent myself so much it’s suffocating. So, Palace Lord.”

“…Speak.”

“I must die. Please just arrange that stage for me.”

Looking at Juche, Seol Jung-cheon was seeing something else.

What had his past life self been like?

When he lost all the Polar Descendants and had Snow Palace stolen by Yang Seol-jin, what exactly had he been thinking?

Hadn’t he thought the same thoughts as Juche now?

Frankly speaking, there was only one reason he could avoid walking the same path as Juche.

Because Woon-hwi had helped him.

Thanks to Woon-hwi, he was able to protect the Polar Descendants and Snow Palace.

“I’m sorry.”

“…Why are you apologizing to me?”

Seol Jung-cheon silently took out the Ice Heaven Go Board from his storage bag.

“Will you go first?”

“…I won’t decline. And.”

Hot tears flowed from Juche’s eyes.

“Congratulations on reaching Primordial Sole Existence.”

Seol Jung-cheon quietly nodded.

* * *

From the moment I finished dealing with Baekseol Wiryeong-dan, there was no longer any reason to stay there.

So I immediately returned to Yang Ling-ju and performed my duties as General Commander there.

I walked silently, watching the falling snow.

Behind me was Won Yang, and behind Won Yang were twenty men and women – members of Yang Woon-il-dan where Won Yang served as leader.

“Won Yang.”

At my call, Won Yang came up beside me.

“Yes, my lord.”

“After completing the patrol with the members, return to headquarters.”

Won Yang looked puzzled for a moment, then nodded.

“Understood.”

After sending Won Yang and the members away, I entered an alley beside the building across the street. In that place with a dead end, no exits on either side, and few people around, I slowly turned around.

A man was there.

He, whose appearance was completely unsuited to such a place.

Among all the forms I had seen of him so far, he was displaying the most imposing and most master-like appearance.

I performed the Embracing Fist with all the courtesy I could muster.

“I greet the Palace Lord.”

Father shook his head.

“There’s no need to be so formal before your father.”

Father’s voice had become much deeper than before. It was as if the resonance of an avalanche was contained in those few words.

That’s right. More precisely, that’s how it should be.

“You’ve completely settled into the realm of Primordial Sole Existence.”

Father smiled gently. That smile carried a leisure that hadn’t been there before.

“Your help was great. In the secret chamber of the first Palace Lord… there I finally discovered what I had been seeking, and your words that awakened me to my shortcomings combined together to stimulate my enlightenment, no.”

Father reached out and gently stroked my shoulder.

“I misspoke. It wasn’t that your help was great – it was entirely thanks to you.”

“You give me too much credit. I merely showed you the path.”

Wind blew between Father and me, but I paid it no mind.

Father’s heart, and my heart.

They merged together, and at this moment, nothing could intrude between us. It was that solid.

“Woon-hwi.”

“Yes, Father.”

“This father has no face to show you.”

I was momentarily flustered by the sudden words.

“The revival of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance, Woon-hae’s betrayal… Yang Seol-jin’s schemes, the division of the Snow Palace, creating lists of those who turned their backs and those who didn’t, categorizing them, even getting filth on your own body to make my choices easier, securing justification and laying the groundwork. I’m truly ashamed now of placing such a burden on you.”

I shook my head.

“I only did what needed to be done, Father.”

“…Let me speak honestly. I believe you were the man closest to heaven in your previous life.”

I didn’t deny it. To deny this would be deception beyond humility.

I was certainly close to heaven and achieved the Blood Cult’s dominion through the organization called the Original Blood Sect.

I couldn’t deny it was an achievement similar to that of the Thousand Year Demon Cult that once unified the Central Plains long ago.

“Receiving the position of Blood Heaven Middle Emperor meant that you, not Yu Cheong or Cheon Do-ja, were the one who truly ruled the Blood Cult, so I judged that entrusting those burdens to you would be the most ideal way to resolve all matters.”

I looked at Father silently.

“After I reached Primordial Sole Existence, I felt my own inadequacies far too keenly.”

“You need not say such things. Who would dare think Father inadequate?”

Father shook his head.

“How could I not know what it means to participate in the revival of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance?”

“…”

“You’re trying to expand and solidify the Snow Palace’s influence from the Outer Martial World into the Central Plains, aren’t you?”

“That’s correct.”

“But if things don’t go well, you’re also thinking of erasing the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.”

“That is also correct.”

Father’s eyes became serious.

“Now, shouldn’t I also earn my keep?”

“…When you say earn your keep…”

I felt infinite warmth from Father’s hand resting on my shoulder.

“Son, let me share the burden you carry.”

“Father…”

“I too wish to protect this Eternal Snow Palace. How could I push all those burdens onto my son and just watch like an old man in the back room?”

Though I had never once shown that things were difficult since starting my new life, Father seemed to sense things differently.

“You once told me before. That conditions were needed to make the Snow Palace into a solid iron fortress.”

Those conditions meant that either I reached Primordial Sole Existence, or Father reached Primordial Sole Existence – one of these two cases had to be fulfilled.

“The condition has been met, but there must be things that were omitted. The vacancy of the Young Palace Lord position would be an example.”

“That’s correct.”

“I intend to add my spoon to the table you’ve set. I will appoint Ho Ryeong as Young Palace Lord and send you to the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.”

“Do you plan to announce this at the succession ceremony?”

Father nodded.

“Now shouldn’t this father help you walk the path you wish to take?”

I smiled slightly.

I couldn’t deny that there were more than one or two things to worry about.

My realm is only Five Energy Harmonizing Origin, and I can’t even raise my realm quickly due to the Mad Blood Meridian.

I made the most of what I had to create situations and make progress happen.

Fortunately, things seem to be progressing well.

“Woon-hae will be sent to the Wind Wall.”

The Wind Wall is classified as the most dangerous place in the Snow Mountain.

It’s also called the northern fortress that blocks the barbarians coming down from above.

“You’re giving him a chance to die as a warrior.”

“When Ho Ryeong was organizing the inside of the Snow Palace, the Cold Ice Gate’s help was significant. I heard from Sam Bing Wi-sa that you gave advice to Third Lady – is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“…Perhaps, paradoxically, the person with the coldest heart might be the warmest person.”

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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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