Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 229

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 229

I thought they would make contact soon, but I didn’t expect it to be now.

It seems tonight is really going to be a long one.

Exhaling smoke, he spoke quietly.

“Please, have a seat.”

As soon as those words ended, an old man walked out from behind the pavilion.

Wearing nothing but a common long robe, he was someone neither Woon-hwi nor Manager Seong had seen before.

He naturally sat down in the pavilion and grinned.

“I’ve wanted to see you at least once, young one.”

“Who are you?”

The old man said.

“I came from Muk Se-hoe.”

Woon-hwi knows a great deal about many things.

His experience itself is unparalleled, but Muk Se-hoe?

He had never heard of it.

But it was too ambiguous to dismiss.

The aura emanating from this old man before him was that of a master who had reached at least the Five Realms of Martial God.

“It’s before the meal. May I join you?”

“Please do. And.”

Woon-hwi’s gaze turned toward the back of the old man.

“Those who came with you may also join us. There’s quite a lot of food.”

Of course, he wasn’t offering leftovers.

The leaders of the Seongchak Alliance and Ham Jang-sik, whether they had no appetite or not, had touched about half of the available dishes and left the other half untouched.

What Woon-hwi offered was the untouched half.

“Heh heh heh… Is that so? Then let’s do that.”

When the old man gestured, about ten men and women who had been waiting behind entered the pavilion and began eating the food without a word.

Woon-hwi carefully observed their faces.

One thing was certain.

None of them were young.

The youngest was 70 years old, and the oldest was this old man who had first revealed himself.

His age, conservatively estimated, was older than No Cheon-myeong.

At least 100 years old.

Since he had clearly reached the Five Realms of Martial God, his lifespan would be around 150 years, but if he regularly consumed spirit pills and such, he could survive to 170, or perhaps even 200 years.

“What should I call you?”

“Hmm? A title… I usually prefer to be called ‘old master,’ but since this is our first meeting today, let’s go with ‘senior.'”

The old man grinned and extended his hand to Woon-hwi.

“I am Hwa Mu-nyeom. Feel free to call me Senior Hwa.”

Before Woon-hwi, who had grasped his hand, could ask anything, Manager Seong beside him started in surprise and muttered.

“…Hwa Mu-nyeom…? Could it be… the Flame King?”

Hwa Mu-nyeom grinned.

“Well, being from Baekseol Wiryeong-dan, you’re certainly well-informed. I was called that long ago.”

Manager Seong seemed very confused.

“…Flame King… Hwa Mu-nyeom… I heard you went into seclusion 30 years ago…”

Hwa Mu-nyeom said nothing, and Woon-hwi also said nothing. They both lowered their hands.

At this point, it was right to get to the main topic.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of it. An organization called Muk Se-hoe.”

“Hmm… I understand completely. This is an organization that even ‘Seo Hyo’ doesn’t know about.”

Interpreting the words literally, it’s a gathering of those who remain silent to the world, but mixing that with Hwa Mu-nyeom’s words.

There was only one conclusion.

“You’re someone working for the reconstruction of the Thousand Year Demon Cult.”

“Heh heh… Well observed.”

Cheon Rim is certainly a remarkable organization.

While their martial power is excellent, fundamentally they are ‘merchants.’

In other words, they handle wealth, not martial force.

Some might view their connections as martial power, but strictly speaking, that’s not martial force. It’s merely an additional element.

Those seeking to rebuild the Thousand Year Demon Cult wouldn’t push everything forward with just money and connections.

They fundamentally need martial power.

As Seo Hyo mentioned, there are many in this Murim who are lying low for the reconstruction of the Thousand Year Demon Cult.

The Origin Blood Sect doesn’t belong to Yu Cheong.

Yu Cheong had something separate. The Muk Se-hoe before his eyes.

This organization is Yu Cheong’s hidden power.

“So why did you come?”

Hwa Mu-nyeom burst into hearty laughter.

“You fool, why would someone supposedly so clever ask such a thing? Isn’t your question wrong?”

Hwa Mu-nyeom leaned his head forward.

“Shouldn’t you be asking whether we’ll spare your life today, or kill you?”

The atmosphere in the pavilion instantly grew heavy.

* * *

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“…You’re laughing?”

“Yes. I laughed. Is that not allowed?”

“Well, well, it seems our young one doesn’t grasp the situation well…”

“Let’s stop with the unfunny jokes.”

“…Hmm?”

“If you wanted to kill me, you would have done so already. Above all, there would have been no need to bring so many people.”

Hwa Mu-nyeom also chuckled.

“I was surprised that someone who washed his hands in golden basins and went into seclusion harbored such grand ambitions, but your companions are no ordinary people either.”

“Do I appear so?”

“Yes. Every one of them is at the Divine Transformation Realm or above, and bringing all such people must be to show something.”

“What would that be?”

“The power of your faction.”

“…”

“It doesn’t seem like your full force came, but rather those you could bring from nearby. From what I see, your intention to use me as a blade seems firm. That’s why you showed the power of your faction.”

The other Muk Se-hoe warriors who had been eating had stopped moving at some point.

Hwa Mu-nyeom stroked his beard.

“How are you so certain of this?”

“Haven’t I kept telling you, Senior Hwa? I know my position. If you wanted to kill me, you would have assassinated me. But coming out in the open like this…”

“You pass.”

Though his words were cut off, he didn’t show it outwardly.

Hwa Mu-nyeom continues speaking.

“Yes, you’re right. We intend to use you as a blade. You’ve already shown that qualification and proven your own worth. While secrecy is natural in rebuilding the Thousand Year Demon Cult, it’s also true that we need someone who can operate in the light rather than the shadows. Unlike us, you who can operate openly have very useful value…”

“I’m sorry, but.”

Draining a cup full of alcohol, he finished speaking.

“I have never said with my own mouth that I would become a blade. Senior.”

The atmosphere grows cold.

Hwa Mu-nyeom’s eyes instantly sharpened, and the Muk Se-hoe warriors sitting around also subtly shifted their bodies. But Woon-hwi remained calm.

“Why do you seek to rebuild the Thousand Year Demon Cult?”

At Woon-hwi’s question, Hwa Mu-nyeom asked back.

“Why are you curious about that?”

“Shouldn’t I naturally be curious about it?”

Woon-hwi slowly spoke while swirling his wine cup.

“Throughout thousands of years of history, there has never been a group with such enormous infamy as the Thousand Year Demon Cult. Attempting to rebuild such an organization is sufficient reason to become an enemy of all Murim. I’m curious about the reason worth bearing such consequences.”

Hwa Mu-nyeom drank his wine and smiled softly.

“Good. You’ve even driven out Yang Seol-jin… and Seo Hyo of Cheon Rim actively recommended you to that person. Yes, I’ll tell you everything openly.”

Hwa Mu-nyeom slowly began to speak.

“Murim needs order.”

“Order, you say.”

“Look at the current Murim. The righteous path and demonic path, the tyrannical path and evil path are all tangled up fighting each other. Each puts forward their own justice while keeping the others in check.”

Hwa Mu-nyeom’s voice gradually grew heavier.

“But none of them can achieve true unification. The Martial Alliance are just hypocrites who make loud noises on the surface while only seeking profit behind the scenes, and the Four Heaven Alliance only looks after their own interests, thinking only of what’s in front of them under the excuse of the tyrannical path. And all the other remaining forces only try to protect their own territories. Like the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance you’ve been dispatched from.”

“So you’re saying the Thousand Year Demon Cult is necessary?”

“That’s right.”

Hwa Mu-nyeom nodded firmly.

“The Thousand Year Demon Cult was different. They achieved true unification. Whether righteous path or demonic path, tyrannical path or evil path, they created a grand order that encompassed everything.”

“Because of that order, great chaos came to Murim.”

“What can be achieved without sacrifice?”

Hwa Mu-nyeom’s eyes gleamed coldly.

“Even now, people die every day. From conflicts between sects, from meaningless struggles, from secret battles for profit. Then wouldn’t it be better to be unified under one order?”

“…”

“When the Thousand Year Demon Cult is rebuilt, all these meaningless conflicts will end. Under one absolute order, true peace will come.”

Woon-hwi fell silent for a moment.

Because he could feel Hwa Mu-nyeom’s will.

These people were truly sincere.

Hwa Mu-nyeom asks.

“I have given my answer. Now I want to hear yours. What do you desire?”

At Hwa Mu-nyeom’s question, Woon-hwi fell into thought for a moment.

‘I want Snow Palace to be eternal.’

But he didn’t want to discuss that here. For Snow Palace to be eternal, Yu Cheong, their greatest enemy, must die.

But killing him would not be easy.

First, there’s the Original Blood Sect in front, and there are Murim forces protecting him. Muk Se-hoe is included among them.

But most decisively, Woon-hwi’s current level is still weak.

Even if he rapidly raised his level, to kill Yu Cheong who has long been at the Primordial Sole Existence level would require time.

Yes. Ultimately, to kill Yu Cheong, he must first deceive him.

Muk Se-hoe.

They are chess pieces, and would be one of Yu Cheong’s great powers.

He could start from here.

Woon-hwi quietly continued speaking.

“I respect my father.”

“…”

“His will, everything about it is good to me. He doesn’t wish for bloodshed between blood relatives, and I also respect his will to preserve Snow Palace’s values. However.”

A subtle change crept into Woon-hwi’s voice.

“I am the youngest. Because I’m the youngest, I can uphold Father’s will, but I cannot uphold it from the closest position.”

Hwa Mu-nyeom and the other warriors of Muk Se-hoe listened quietly.

“Anyone can see that Seol Ho-ryeong, the eldest son, is indeed a genius. And he’s sufficient to become the Young Palace Lord. The second son is the same.”

Woon-hwi paused for a moment and looked at his wine cup.

“I cherish my brothers. I cherish them, but I didn’t want to tie them down so they couldn’t do anything.”

Everyone fell silent at Woon-hwi’s story. No one picked up chopsticks, no one lifted their cups. It was because they were that serious.

“I’m sick of it.”

Woon-hwi’s voice sank low.

“Though I placed Elder Brother in the Young Palace Lord position, I could sufficiently perform that role if I sat in that seat. But I can’t overturn it either. If I did, it would go against Father’s will.”

Hwa Mu-nyeom muttered softly.

“You were a filial son.”

Woon-hwi gave a bitter smile.

“A filial son… I’d be grateful if you thought of me that way, but I wonder. Rather than a filial son, I’d prefer if you thought of me as a hegemon.”

“…How can you be a hegemon? Anyone can see that you now are closer to a loser and far from being a hegemon.”

A smile formed on Woon-hwi’s lips. But that smile was colder than expected.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————