Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 207

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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 207

“That’s not it.”

“Then there must be something bothering you.”

After saying that, Seol Woon-hwi dismounted from his horse and gestured for Ju So-ah to follow him.

Naturally, the two headed toward a nearby tree, and when they arrived there, Ju So-ah spoke in a small voice.

“I think things got a bit twisted from our first meeting.”

“Is that so.”

“To put it bluntly, you kept me tied down because of the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts I obtained in that secret realm.”

Seol Woon-hwi didn’t bother to answer. There was no need to deny or mention again what they both obviously knew.

“By now, you should know that I’m not the type to go around blabbing about such things… I’m a bit curious. Am I really your person, Young Leader?”

“You are my person.”

“Cheon Pung, who isn’t here now, dreams of becoming strong to assist you, Young Leader. Won Yang dreams of taking revenge on Namgung Ho of the Origin Blood Sect, and Han Mu-rin dreams of destroying the Hondo Maryeom Palace. So do you know what my dream is?”

“Do I need to know?”

“…What would you do if it were conquering the martial world or taking the head of the martial world’s supreme master?”

Seol Woon-hwi chuckled.

“What would I do? I’d have to help you.”

“…Really, you do realize you’re quite different from other people, don’t you?”

To Seol Woon-hwi, who was quietly watching without a word, Ju So-ah let out a deep sigh and asked casually.

“Do you know about the Cheon Ma Dong-ran?”

Though it was somewhat out of the blue, Ju So-ah’s expression was serious.

“If you’re referring to one of the histories lost during Cheon Nyeon Ji Ran, then I know of it.”

Cheon Ma Dong-ran.

It was an incident that occurred about 1,500 years ago from the present time. Won Geuk-cheon, who was the leader of the Demon Cult, led demons to invade the Central Plains, declaring he would unify it. After this incident, Won Geuk-cheon unified the martial world and the Demon Cult came to be called the Thousand Year Demon Cult.

It was a period of great chaos that shook the entire martial world, and it was also the name of the most shocking incident in the entire martial world until just before the Cheon Nyeon Ji Ran occurred.

The problem was that among the histories lost during Cheon Nyeon Ji Ran, there were also those about Cheon Ma Dong-ran, so exactly what happened during that period was not known in detail.

“There was someone named Ju Ji-hu. He was the first sect leader of Salgeom-mun and the one who created the sword technique called Salsaeng Sword.”

“Ju Ji-hu…”

“Have you heard of him?”

Seol Woon-hwi shook his head.

“That’s understandable. He’s not a well-known person.”

Ju So-ah scratched her head and spoke quietly while watching the swirling snow.

“There was someone who stood against Won Geuk-cheon.”

“That was this man called Ju Ji-hu?”

“Yes. He fought Won Geuk-cheon for seven days and seven nights, and was defeated.”

Seol Woon-hwi silently looked at Ju So-ah.

“I know. He was defeated and couldn’t stop Won Geuk-cheon’s ambition. In the end, the Thousand Year Demon Cult dominated the martial world.”

“I think there’s meaning in the history of the defeated as well.”

“That’s very kind of you to say, but I only heard stories passed down within Salgeom-mun, so I don’t know the details.”

“If there’s anything worth hearing among those non-detailed reasons, I’d like to hear it.”

“Something worth hearing? Hmm… The only thing that might interest you, Young Leader, is this. Our ancestor’s dantian was shattered there, but just before that, he cut off Won Geuk-cheon’s arm.”

“His arm?”

“Yes. They say he cut off his left arm. Not just the blood vessels, but severed it down to the source, so even that great Won Geuk-cheon would have spent his entire life devoted to recovery… but we don’t really know. It might have been what our ancestor hoped for.”

But strangely, at this part, Seol Woon-hwi’s eyes sparkled.

“I want to be sure – it was the left arm?”

“Yes. The left arm.”

“His name was Ju Ji-hu?”

“Yes. Ju Ji-hu, the first sect leader of Salgeom-mun.”

“And you’re a direct descendant of Ju Ji-hu?”

Ju So-ah tilted her head.

“Something like that. But why? Is something strange?”

“Rather than strange, it’s interesting.”

“What is?”

“I wasn’t particularly interested in Cheon Nyeon Ji Ran, but since I was in a position where news naturally reached me, I heard some things. After Cheon Ma Dong-ran, Won Geuk-cheon never used his ‘left hand’ even for a single moment.”

Ju So-ah blinked.

“Even when the Martial Alliance’s counterattack began and Cheon Nyeon Ji Ran started and ended, he always used only his right hand. I thought it was confidence. But… after hearing your story, it seems that wasn’t the case.”

Rather, Ju So-ah waved her hands dismissively.

“Oh come on… It’s just oral tradition, you’re giving it too much credit.”

“I’m not simply giving it credit – I’m saying this because there’s sufficient evidence.”

At Seol Woon-hwi’s serious words, Ju So-ah was flustered.

She had thought he was knowledgeable, but to this extent?

“So what is your purpose?”

Ju So-ah scratched her head.

The reason she came to meet Seol Woon-hwi now.

The reason she started this story.

It was all because of that.

Ju So-ah had never told Seol Woon-hwi about her goals like Won Yang or Han Mu-rin had.

So she was going to tell him now.

“Actually, rather than a purpose… it’s more like a long-cherished wish? My goal is to find the Salsaeng Sword, the martial art that Master Ju Ji-hu used, and Cheon-ae, Master Ju Ji-hu’s sword.”

“But you don’t even have a clue?”

“None. Salgeom-mun scattered to avoid Won Geuk-cheon’s pursuit after Cheon Ma Dong-ran. In that process, both the secrets of Salsaeng Sword and Cheon-ae were lost. Our family has carried on the last bloodline of Salgeom-mun, but no proper martial arts remain.”

Seol Woon-hwi quietly looked at Ju So-ah. Deep thoughts passed through his eyes.

“What are the characteristics of Salsaeng Sword technique? Tell me if you know anything.”

Ju So-ah fell into thought for a moment.

“From what I heard from my grandfather… Salsaeng Sword technique is the ultimate in softness. It flows flexibly like wind, then explodes intensely like lightning at the crucial moment.”

Seol Woon-hwi’s eyes sparkled slightly.

“Is that all?”

“Not all of it. He said that while there are many martial arts in the world, none are as beautiful as Salsaeng Sword technique. It’s a sword technique like dancing. But its end was always death.”

Seol Woon-hwi’s gaze looked far into the sky. Some memory flashed through his mind.

The sword dance that Yu Cheong sometimes practiced.

It was considered peculiar even among the Blood Cult members. It was thought to be useless in actual combat because it was too beautiful, but Seol Woon-hwi could sense it.

At the end of that sword dance lay the inevitable death of the opponent.

Seol Woon-hwi judged it to be a transcendent martial art and thought it couldn’t dare be classified as Martial God grade.

He had thought the man had many secrets in various ways.

Ju So-ah’s following words confirmed it.

“And it was said to be a contradictory sword technique that was beautiful like a sword dance for a ball, but ended with the opponent’s death. I’ve never seen it myself and only heard about it, so I wonder if such a thing is possible… but who knows. Maybe such a thing really exists.”

It was certain.

Yu Cheong’s sword dance.

That was Salsaeng Sword technique.

With a slight hope, he asked.

“What does Cheon-ae look like?”

Ju So-ah expressed the sword’s length with both hands.

“According to what’s been passed down… the blade is silver-white with a bluish tint, and seven stars are engraved on the hilt. And there’s a mysterious pattern on the blade, like flowing clouds…”

When she got that far, Seol Woon-hwi suddenly burst into a hollow laugh.

That laugh contained a mixture of surprise and realization.

“This is… truly a strange connection.”

“What do you mean…”

Seol Woon-hwi quietly sent a telepathic message.

-The sword used by Yu Cheong, the vice-leader of the Origin Blood Sect, is the Cheon-ae you’re looking for.

Ju So-ah’s eyes widened.

“Why are you suddenly using Jeonum… No, more than that… What?”

-Yu Cheong uses two swords. One is the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Sword, one of the ten famous swords under heaven, and the other is a nameless sword. That nameless sword matches exactly with the Cheonae you described.

An expression of disbelief crossed Ju So-ah’s face.

-Then… the Killing Sword Technique too…?

-Yu Cheong has a sword dance he occasionally practices. It was so beautiful that many people would mock it as useless in real combat. But in my view, that was an Ascending Martial Art. One at a level that couldn’t even be considered Martial God Grade.

Ju So-ah couldn’t continue speaking. She had never imagined that her family’s legacy, which she had searched for over several years, would be discovered so easily.

-But… how did that end up with Yu Cheong…?

-I don’t know. I never asked Yu Cheong, and we weren’t close enough for Yu Cheong to explain it to me. Given my position and his position, there was no reason for us to become friends in the first place. The positions of Vice Sect Leader of the Origin Blood Sect and Blood Heaven Middle Emperor were like that.

Seol Woon-hwi’s gaze deepened.

-Now your goal has become clear. Go find Yu Cheong, the Vice Sect Leader of the Origin Blood Sect, and uncover the secrets of Cheonae and the Killing Sword Technique.

For a while, Ju So-ah couldn’t say anything.

If she didn’t notice something strange about this conversation that had proceeded so naturally, she deserved to die.

An enormous sense of incongruity arose.

-…What is this conversation, right now?

-It’s exactly what you’re feeling.

Ju So-ah slowly retraced all the aspects of Seol Woon-hwi she had seen from the beginning.

It had been strange.

The insight and experience he couldn’t possibly show at that age, the skill to easily eliminate martial artists of higher realms.

And the things he knew were truly beyond imagination.

On top of that, he had even used the demonic energy of Martial God Grade demonic arts at the Flame Qi Four Stages realm.

In the end, the answer converged to one thing.

-…Did you… regress?

-More precisely, it’s a previous life.

-…Isn’t that just wordplay?

-Just as you have secrets to uncover, so do I.

-…This is driving me crazy.

“This is really driving me crazy…”

Saying that, Ju So-ah punched Seol Woon-hwi’s chest with her fist hard enough to make a thudding sound, as if she couldn’t bear it.

-Are you insane? How can you tell me something like that so casually?

-Is there a problem?

-Wouldn’t there be? What if someone captures me and tortures me? No matter how much I resolve not to let it slip from my lips, there are so many unknown techniques in the world – what if they force it out of me?

Even in the midst of this, seeing Ju So-ah worrying about him, Seol Woon-hwi smiled mysteriously, and as soon as she saw that, Ju So-ah snapped at him.

-Does this amuse you? I just learned the General Leader’s greatest secret. If this happens…

“I’ve felt this from before, but you’re really quite fearful.”

“Ha, me?”

Seol Woon-hwi reached out and placed his hand on Ju So-ah’s shoulder.

“You are my person, and I am also your person. As long as you’re with me, there’s nothing to fear under heaven.”

“…Ah…”

Ju So-ah’s expression, letting out a quiet exclamation, was flushed red.

“Now that we’ve learned each other’s secrets, the burden on our hearts should be lighter. Is that enough now?”

Ju So-ah, who had been staring blankly at Seol Woon-hwi, shook her head and let out a sigh.

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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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