Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 222

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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 222

“…Confucius, it would be best for you to cooperate with the Seongjak Alliance now. Do not waste time here for the Cheon Ui-maeng. If you join us, you can expand the Snow Palace’s influence to the Central Plains through other means without having to go through the Cheon Ui-maeng.”

Woon-hwi chuckled and finally opened his mouth.

“Wi Geum-cheon, was it?”

“…That’s right. But… you’re speaking informally right from our first meeting.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve been watching continuously, but the first thing you should have said didn’t come out of your mouth.”

“…What?”

“Since when did the sects of this place stop recognizing the authority of the Cheon Ui-maeng?”

Wi Geum-cheon’s brow furrowed deeply.

Woon-hwi was asking why he wasn’t showing proper courtesy.

Respect for authority should naturally exist, and moreover, Cheonsu-sa is an official position of the Cheon Ui-maeng that manages this region, so how could the sect of Seongjak-ju, which should follow the Cheonsu-sa’s orders, not even offer greetings?

That was the meaning.

“I’m curious, so I’m asking – do you not know the position of Cheonsu-sa?”

“…I’m not ignorant of it. But the world changes, and after Ye Won-je died, the Cheon Ui-maeng collapsed. Isn’t it the principle of Murim that the strong take the place of the weak?”

“Then do you know why I’m sitting in this position?”

“…”

“This is the territory of the Cheon Ui-maeng and will now become a region managed by the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace. Before that, let me address something. Breaking the contract with the Cheon Ui-maeng and forming an independent alliance is clearly an act of betrayal. Do you have anything to say about this?”

Anger flashed across Wi Geum-cheon’s face.

“Betrayal? The Cheon Ui-maeng abandoned us first. After Ye Won-je died, no one came here, so we had to fight and protect ourselves…”

Ha.

Wi Geum-cheon’s words stopped at Woon-hwi’s hollow laugh. This arrogant bastard…

Wi Geum-cheon, thinking this way, was left speechless by Woon-hwi’s following words.

“Protected yourselves from whom?”

“…Eh…?”

“Ye Won-je died four months ago. During those four months, who exactly did you fight? Not only in Seongjak-ju but around the Cheon Ui-maeng, Green Forest bandits are still running rampant and don’t hesitate to engage in human trafficking. Woon-guk has never fought a war with other countries, and no sect has invaded Seongjak-ju. Yet you had to fight and protect?”

“…”

“Excuses, self-pity, escapism – whatever it may be, I know only one thing. This is the territory of the Cheon Ui-maeng, I am the Cheonsu-sa who manages that territory, and you and the Seongjak Alliance prospered under the protection of the Cheon Ui-maeng, swore loyalty in return, but took advantage of the moment when the Cheon Ui-maeng was shaken to turn your backs on it – you’re turncoats.”

Wi Geum-cheon’s expression hardened, and the two warriors behind him were about to draw their swords immediately.

But Manager Seong, who had approached at some point, struck both men’s wrists with his broom.

Thwack-! Thwack-!

“Let’s not draw swords so the atmosphere doesn’t get more hostile.”

At those words, the two warriors stepped back with furrowed brows, and Wi Geum-cheon quietly glared at Woon-hwi and Manager Seong.

“…Turncoats…”

“Do you deny it?”

“…I think it could vary depending on one’s perspective.”

Woon-hwi stared at Wi Geum-cheon intently.

What kind of man he was, what he was thinking, and how he would move in the future.

After making his judgment, he spoke quietly.

“At the beginning of the Hour of the Monkey today, all sects of Seongjak-ju will gather here at Cheonryong Hall.”

The statement itself was strange.

All sects will gather?

In the first place, not a single person had come to greet Woon-hwi, who had been appointed as Cheonsu-sa.

In Wi Geum-cheon’s case, he had come to deliver what was closer to a warning than a greeting, so that was accurate.

But to speak as if their gathering was confirmed – this was truly strange.

“This is the first I’m hearing of it. Did you send letters telling them to gather? No, before that, why do you think they’ll gather? The position of Cheonsu-sa is now a meaningless title in Seongjak-ju.”

Woon-hwi smiled faintly.

“A banquet will be held here at Cheonryong Hall today. I will formally invite all of you, and everyone will come here.”

“…You speak incomprehensibly. I heard you play Go well – is this also that? Some kind of strategy, something like…”

“You may go.”

Saying this, Woon-hwi turned around, and just as Wi Geum-cheon was about to get angry at being cut off, he met eyes with Manager Seong, who was glaring at him with a menacing expression.

‘…A warrior of Ip Sin Gyeong and a member of Baekseol Wiryeong-dan… They must be spread throughout the Central Plains… Could it be that Baekseol Wiryeong-dan has infiltrated this place?’

It was a reasonably logical speculation.

Looking at the actions Woon-hwi had shown so far, he absolutely never acted without reason.

Woon-hwi sat back down in the pavilion.

“Remember this. Since I have become the Cheonsu-sa of Seongjak-ju, this place is the land of the Cheon Ui-maeng and the land of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace. And ‘for now,’ the enemies of the Cheon Ui-maeng are the enemies of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace.”

Wi Geum-cheon glared at Woon-hwi silently.

“Admirably, you came to find me before anyone else today, so in recognition of your sincerity, I’ll let you off once even if you’re a bit late. Tell everyone this: at the beginning of the Hour of the Monkey, if they’re late, the price will be paid in blood.”

Wi Geum-cheon clenched and unclenched his trembling fists. Then, without saying a word, he turned and left Cheonryong Hall. His subordinates hurriedly followed him, and as soon as the door closed, Manager Seong approached Woon-hwi.

Woon-hwi was taking out Sinsamyeon from his bosom and lighting it.

“Young Master, but will they really all gather today?”

“Some will come and some won’t.”

“…”

“But one way or another, they will all end up here at Cheonryong Hall.”

Manager Seong interpreted Woon-hwi’s words this way.

If they don’t come, he’ll go directly to bring them.

“Since I said I’d hold a banquet, I should keep my word. Go buy some alcohol and food for now.”

“…I heard there’s a quite famous inn nearby. I’ll make some food reservations there.”

“Please do.”

* * *

There’s a saying that even if this world collapses, beggars will surely survive.

That was certainly not wrong.

Hundreds of years had passed since the end of Cheon Nyeon Ji Ran, and the only sect that succeeded in rebuilding was Gae-bang.

There’s also a Gae-bang here in Seongjak-ju.

The Gae-bang Seongjak branch.

The branch leader there, Ham Jang-sik, was a Five Gyeol-gae and a beggar among beggars who was recognized even within Gae-bang.

Right now, he was sitting in his office reading a letter.

His expression was completely hardened.

–

Greetings for the first time.

I am Jang Seok, the Yang Ling-ju branch leader.

Senior Ham Jang-sik’s reputation has reached even here in Yang Ling-ju. It’s an honor to write to you, Senior, who has risen to the position of Five Gyeol-gae.

First, I would like to say a few words about Seol Woon-hwi, who has been appointed as the new Cheonsu-sa in Seongjak-ju.

You have probably already heard rumors about him. A genius who reached Ogijowen at a young age, a hero who obtained one of the Ten Great Famous Swords of the Sichuan Sect, a strategist who defeated Zhuge Yeong-hyeon of the Martial Alliance… such rumors exist.

But more important than all these rumors is his conduct that I witnessed directly.

When I first met him, I was just a deputy branch leader in a small mountain village called Seol-ap, and getting through each day was the best I could do.

However, everything changed after a serious meeting with Seol Woon-hwi.

He incorporated Yang-ryeong into Seol-ap’s territory, and then Sa Ryang, Jeok An, Bong Rae, Divine Ginseng Valley… eventually creating the vast territory called Yang Ling-ju. This was unimaginable before. In that process, I was promoted from Yi Gyeol-gae to Sam Gyeol-gae, and now I’m even looking toward Sa Gyeol-gae.

Senior, to be honest, I was also wary of him at first. There were always enemies around him, and being with him seemed dangerous.

But I soon realized that he is someone who produces results in any situation and gives opportunities to those who work with him.

Gae-bang’s teaching is clear. We are survivors. We are those who seize opportunities.

Just as you, Senior, have successfully endured in Seongjak-ju, I too survived in Yang Ling-ju. And now I am prospering.

If Seol Woon-hwi tries to unify the seven sects of Seongjak-ju, he will surely succeed. And if you, Senior, stand by his side in that process, the status of the Gae-bang Seongjak branch will rise even higher.

Of course, the choice is yours, Senior. However, when the wind called Seol Woon-hwi blows, I would like to say that it is wise for beggars to ride that wind and fly higher rather than fight against it.

I pray for your peace.

Written by Yang Ling-ju Gae-bang Branch Leader Jang Seok

–

Ham Jang-sik finished reading the letter and let out a deep sigh. His fingers slowly moved across the letter.

“Jang Seok… This bastard, what an amusing fellow.”

The content of the letter appeared to contain very beneficial information on the surface. Setting aside Seol Woon-hwi’s movements and such, the fact that he was a man who brought results one way or another.

That much was clearly conveyed.

However, if you looked deeply into the content of this letter, it was close to a warning.

Sam Gyeol-gae Jang Seok.

If Ham Jang-sik didn’t know the news that he would soon be promoted to Sa Gyeol-gae, he should step down from his position as information organization branch leader.

Certainly, Jang Seok had been active alongside when Seol Woon-hwi transformed the small city of Seol-ap into the massive city of Yang Ling-ju.

This was what was amusing.

His affiliation was with the Beggar Sect, but why did it seem like his loyalty was to Seol Woon-hwi?

He stroked his chin.

Wait a moment.

Shouldn’t he look at this a bit differently?

‘…Rather than a warning… is it goodwill?’

As with all information organizations, showing favor to the ruling group of a region was nothing special.

However, in Ham Jang-sik’s case, rather than showing favor to the Seong Jak Alliance, he was now moving almost as one body with them.

“…Don’t hedge your bets on both sides, pick one side… And that one side must be Seol Woon-hwi’s side…”

Otherwise, he would end up like the corpses piled up in corners when Yang Ling-ju was created.

Seol Woon-hwi did not fear the organization called the Beggar Sect.

Now he knew for certain.

This letter was goodwill sent by the Beggar Sect’s Jang Seok.

It was both a warning that he would die in a foreign land soon if he didn’t side with Seol Woon-hwi, and goodwill suggesting they join hands together.

“Seol Woon-hwi…”

The seven sects of Seong Jak-ju turning their backs on the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance wasn’t something that happened overnight. They had already formed a new organization called the Seong Jak Alliance, and the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance’s authority had completely disappeared from this place.

In such a situation, the appointment of a new Cheonsu-sa would certainly cause great waves.

Ugh.

He scratched his head vigorously.

“…For now… I should pick a side first.”

Only then could he confirm which side was longer.

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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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