Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 225

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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 225

In Seong Jak-ju, the reputation of Punggeom Hall was overwhelming.

For 300 long years, it was a sect that had experienced all kinds of ups and downs – sometimes as a ruler, sometimes as its right hand, and sometimes falling to the bottom – but now it was the undisputed master of Seong Jak-ju as the leader of the Seong Jak Alliance.

At the peak of Seowoosan, in front of the main gate of Punggeom Hall.

Woon-hwi, who had subdued the sect leader of Gangcheon Sword Sect, stopped walking at a distance of about ten zhang. There was already someone waiting for him.

Pung Mu-hwi, the hall master of Punggeom Hall.

Though he was a man in his late forties, his completely white hair fluttered in the wind.

His lean figure standing with only a single sword as support looked like a landscape painting.

“The sky is truly clear.”

Pung Mu-hwi, who had been looking up at the sky, lowered his gaze and spoke.

“The wind is nice too… Don’t you think so?”

Anyone could see it was a question directed at Woon-hwi, but Woon-hwi did not answer.

Pung Mu-hwi smiled faintly.

‘The genius young master of Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace… He may be mysterious on the Go board, but unfortunately, in the Central Plains’ Murim, he’s just a greenhorn.’

With such thoughts, he quietly continued speaking.

“Jang Cheon-woon of Gangcheon Sword Sect isn’t someone who deserves such treatment… To drag around one of the main pillars of the Seong Jak Alliance like that. Truly living up to your reputation.”

“Get to the point.”

Woon-hwi’s voice was cold and concise.

“The point… Very well. What business brings you here?”

“I hosted a banquet as Cheon Su-sa and sent a letter saying you must attend. But you didn’t come, so what choice did I have? I had to come fetch you.”

“Hmm… One might be too busy to attend, but you couldn’t understand that and came personally? And even went so far as to subdue Jang Cheon-woon like that…”

Pung Mu-hwi’s eyes flashed as he trailed off.

“What do you intend to do with me?”

“If dialogue works, I’ll dialogue. If it doesn’t work, I’ll subdue you just the same.”

“That won’t be easy for you.”

“I’ve never thought of it as difficult.”

Pung Mu-hwi’s eyes narrowed.

“Cases where a martial artist of Five Energy Harmonizing Origin subdues a martial artist of higher realm are extremely rare… but looking back at history, such cases weren’t entirely nonexistent.”

“So?”

“I understand what you’re trying to do, but stop there. This is advice from a senior in Murim to the genius young master of Snow Palace.”

Woon-hwi chuckled.

“Do you know what I’m trying to do?”

“Of course I know.”

“Then try telling me.”

Pung Mu-hwi shrugged his shoulders and quietly continued.

“Snow Palace must evaluate you very highly, but they won’t put you in the center. Unfortunately, you’re not the eldest son but the youngest. Since that youngest’s abilities are too outstanding, you’ll always be circling the periphery. Even I, from such a distance, can picture that situation in my head and see it before my eyes even when I close them, so there’s no way you don’t know it. In such cases, there’s one most certain method. Building your own power base.”

Woon-hwi’s eyes sparkled.

“Not only the martial artists of Yang-ryeong, but all those affiliated with that place must be your people. Since you already made rounds to inspect them once before coming here… there’s nothing more to say about that. But that alone wouldn’t be enough.”

“…”

“You will surely use Cheon Ui-maeng as a stepping stone to build your power, then aim for one of two things.”

“What would that be?”

“First is independence. Second is…”

Pung Mu-hwi paused for a moment, then spoke coldly.

“Rebellion.”

Woon-hwi smiled slightly, but Manager Seong behind him did not. There were things that should be said and things that shouldn’t be said.

This bastard who doesn’t even know what kind of person Woon-hwi is.

How dare he spout such nonsense in front of whom?

He wanted to intervene immediately, but he couldn’t. Intervening would mean not respecting Woon-hwi.

This was a conversation between leaders.

Pung Mu-hwi continued speaking.

“Your inner thoughts must be complex. You’re clearly a genius, but you were born too late. There’s already someone who earned the title of genius before you. Yes. I’m talking about Young Palace Lord Seol Ho-ryeong.”

Confidence settled in Pung Mu-hwi’s voice.

“Lord Seol Jung-cheon, the supreme being of Snow Palace, is famous for not wanting fratricide among his children, but that doesn’t mean he’ll prevent competition. I too have children, so I understand that feeling well. Yes. You will later eliminate the other successors or make them your people to aim for what lies beyond.”

Woon-hwi looked at Pung Mu-hwi with interest, while Manager Seong looked at Woon-hwi with puzzlement.

‘Why is he just listening to such words? Why?’

To Manager Seong, who knew the inside story of everything that happened in Snow Palace, Pung Mu-hwi’s speculation was completely wrong.

Woon-hwi had no intention of becoming the supreme being of Snow Palace, and he cherished Seol Ho-ryeong very much.

It was Woon-hwi’s will that made Seol Ho-ryeong the Young Palace Lord in the first place.

Above all, Woon-hwi was someone who had stood in the heavens in his previous life.

But why…?

Then a flash of lightning struck Manager Seong’s mind.

‘Could it be… he deliberately set up this situation?’

He recalled what Woon-hwi had said while killing the bandits of Green Forest before coming to Cheon Ui-maeng.

-A different game than what he intended will be set up.

The way people in the Central Plains looked at Woon-hwi now was not favorable.

He was known as very outstanding but with a terrible temper, recklessly charging forward without regard for anything. All the strategists in the Central Plains would think like Pung Mu-hwi, and Yu Cheong of Origin Blood Sect would be no exception.

To reiterate, Yang Seol-jin intended to use Woon-hwi as a sword for rebuilding Cheon-nyeon Mage School.

Not just any sword, but the sharpest sword in this world.

Yu Cheong would surely think like Yang Seol-jin too.

Elimination?

That’s what inferior players do. Those filled with arrogance like Yu Cheong and Yang Seol-jin don’t easily eliminate someone.

Because they’re desperate to hold more cards in their hands.

A chill ran down Manager Seong’s spine.

Looking at Woon-hwi’s actions so far, the above assumptions weren’t perfect.

There were definitely logical shortcomings and holes.

But if it’s anyone other than Woon-hwi, maybe not, but if it’s Woon-hwi, he could fill the logical shortcomings in some way.

Woon-hwi’s real target is Yu Cheong. If he fills the logical shortcomings to establish a relationship with Yu Cheong and eventually strikes from behind…

Good heavens.

This seems to be correct.

Pung Mu-hwi might not know, but he just brought up the core of the game Woon-hwi had set up.

Whether this should be called outstanding or just a lucky guess, he couldn’t tell at all.

Woon-hwi glanced at Manager Seong and patted his shoulder. Manager Seong wanted to send a telepathic message.

Really, let’s just stop here and return to Snow Palace.

Woon-hwi read that thought but didn’t bother mentioning it and quietly looked at Pung Mu-hwi before speaking.

“What I’m trying to do, such things aren’t important.”

“…How so?”

“I don’t think of myself as stupid, but I don’t think of myself as smart either. But you seem different.”

“…”

Woon-hwi’s voice sank coldly.

“Those who think of themselves as too smart always make fatal mistakes.”

“…Are you saying I made a mistake?”

“You did. Punggeom Hall has 300 years of history, right? You’ve experienced many ups and downs too.”

“That’s right.”

“Now you’re the undisputed master of Seong Jak-ju, leading the Seong Jak Alliance and getting excited as if you’ve reached the heavens. But you still don’t know.”

“…What are you talking about?”

Woon-hwi’s gaze became sharp.

“Mae Wi-dong’s will to revive Cheon Ui-maeng. And the enormous game that will has created.”

“…”

“I have now entered that game, and you were already in it. In a situation where you should be cooperating with me instead, you’re caught in self-contradiction and can’t read the situation properly.”

Pung Mu-hwi’s face hardened.

“…Could you explain?”

Woon-hwi shook his head.

“I plan to explain at the banquet. Right now, there seems to be something more pressing.”

“What would that be?”

“I will be giving you orders from now on.”

Pung Mu-hwi sneered.

“Do you think I’ll listen?”

“Then do I look like I would listen?”

Neither had any intention of following someone else’s orders. Pung Mu-hwi had his pride as the leader of the Seong Jak Alliance, and Woon-hwi had his pride as Cheon Su-sa officially dispatched from the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace.

Woon-hwi spoke calmly.

“Isn’t this a world where the strong rule?”

Seeing Woon-hwi draw the Jinwha Cheonryeong Geom, Pung Mu-hwi burst into laughter.

“Good! Our Punggeom Hall has sworn never to kneel before the Cheon Ui-maeng. Until the moment I die.”

Pung Mu-hwi also drew his sword.

“However, as you said, this is a world where the strong rule, so even that oath would be nothing more than a candle flame before the strong.”

Woon-hwi said nothing and walked forward. Pung Mu-hwi did the same.

“Let’s see whose sword is sharper, whose will is stronger.”

Pung Mu-hwi’s sword swung like lightning, and Woon-hwi’s sword responded like lightning.

Woon-hwi’s sword, which had drawn Heo Hyeon Energy to its limit, and Pung Mu-hwi’s sword, which contained the traditions of Punggeom Hall, clashed in midair.

Kwaaaaang-!!

* * *

A shockwave that shook heaven and earth rocked the peak of Seowoosan.

As soon as the first collision ended, Pung Mu-hwi pulled back and swung his sword in a wide arc.

Clear Wind Sword.

A clear breeze arose as sword energy rode the wind toward Woon-hwi.

It seemed like a refreshing spring breeze, but the sharpness contained within could slice even steel to pieces.

Woon-hwi’s eyes flashed. He could see the flow of energy. No, he read it.

He grasped at a glance what trajectory Pung Mu-hwi’s sword energy would trace, where it was strongest and where it was weakest. He twisted his body diagonally, penetrated through the weak point of the sword energy, and raised the Jinwha Cheonryeong Geom to slash upward.

Paang-!

As the blade swept past, cold Han Gi spread out. Ice crystals blooming from the tip of Woon-hwi’s sword met the wind and scattered brilliant light. In this brief moment.

Woon-hwi’s sword moved once more.

Absolute Ice Return to Void Sword.

Instantly, Pung Mu-hwi’s head jerked backward.

It wasn’t over. His legs disturbed the ground.

Wind Shadow Step.

Moving two steps diagonally, he could see.

The ice crystals that had formed in the air following the tip of Woon-hwi’s sword were devastating the spot where he had been just moments before.

The corners of Pung Mu-hwi’s eyes trembled slightly.

‘This bastard… what is he?’

Clearly he was one level above, yet beyond striking the weakness of the Clear Wind Sword, such attacks were possible?

It was impossible without reading two, no, three moves ahead.

He gritted his teeth.

This brat touched people’s core.

He somehow turned those who thought themselves extraordinary into ordinary people.

Most people would be frustrated, but Pung Mu-hwi wasn’t that type of person.

He was the type to fight back.

Whirlwind Sword.

A whirlwind arose as Pung Mu-hwi’s body spun rapidly. Sword energy poured out from all directions. It was a perfect attack with nowhere to escape in any direction.

Woon-hwi didn’t dodge. Instead, he extended the Jinwha Cheonryeong Geom forward and thrust it in a straight line. Heo Hyeon Energy concentrated at the sword tip and precisely pierced through the center of the whirlwind, its weakest point.

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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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