Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 233

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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 233

As Im Cheong-san turned his head, a man was slowly walking in.

A middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard and sharp eyes that left a strong impression. His clothing was modest, but each step he took emanated an extraordinary aura.

Above all, the presence he exuded was far from ordinary.

Heaven-Human Realm.

And it was a considerably high level of Heaven-Human Realm at that.

However, Im Cheong-san was not intimidated. He too was a martial artist who had reached the peak of the Divine Transformation Realm, and above all, this was his territory.

“Who are you?”

Im Cheong-san asked in a cold voice.

The man smiled and answered.

“I am called Jang I-cheong, the Ten Thousand Transformations Sword Emperor.”

Im Cheong-san’s eyes narrowed. The Ten Thousand Transformations Sword Emperor… wasn’t that Jang I-cheong of the Pear Blossom Sword Heaven Sect?

“What brings a martial artist from the Pear Blossom Sword Heaven Sect all the way here?”

“I came with a simple proposal.”

Jang I-cheong took another step closer. The aura of Heaven-Human Realm flowed even more intensely from his body.

But Im Cheong-san did not retreat even slightly. Rather, he released his own qi. The auras of the two masters clashed tensely within the cave.

Jang I-cheong showed an expression of admiration.

“As expected of the Green King. To not budge even under this level of pressure.”

Is this bastard mocking me?

“Stop the nonsense and state your business.”

Looking at Im Cheong-san speaking bluntly, a sinister smile bloomed at the corners of Jang I-cheong’s mouth.

He said.

“Won’t you join hands?”

“…Hands?”

“It seems you’re thinking of targeting the Snow Mountain Demon Army, and I am the same.”

Jang I-cheong’s eyes flashed.

“Let’s work together.”

Though the words were a suggestion, in reality it was a threat.

No matter how outstanding Im Cheong-san’s courage was, he couldn’t be unaware of what would happen if he actually fought Jang I-cheong.

Certain defeat.

Those words formed in his mind.

“…What exactly do you plan to do?”

“I’ll explain that slowly. Before that, can you confirm definitively that you’ll work together?”

“…For now, I shall do so.”

“If you’re going to do so.”

Stopping his words, Jang I-cheong extended his foot and kicked Im Cheong-san.

Kwaang-!

Im Cheong-san, struck in the abdomen, was slammed into the wall.

“Start by speaking respectfully. Insolent bastard.”

* * *

It was interesting.

Currently, among the eighteen Green Forest strongholds, there were a total of ten in the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance territory.

Four on Seong Lim Mountain.

Four on Manwol Mountain.

And two on Taehaeng Mountain, which was on the outskirts of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.

The day before yesterday, I annihilated the four strongholds on Seong Lim Mountain, and today I was going to smash the remaining six strongholds to pieces, but Ham Jang-sik brought interesting news.

“Are you saying that both the Green Forest strongholds on Manwol Mountain and Taehaeng Mountain have withdrawn?”

“Yes.”

“Do you happen to know where they went?”

“Each went to different places. But it’s certain that they withdrew. Recently, merchant groups passing through those areas haven’t been attacked even once.”

There’s only one explanation for this.

“Someone intervened.”

“That’s about right.”

I rested my chin on my hand and fell into thought.

No matter how I think about it, among the regions managed by the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance, Seong Jak-ju is the most fertile land. It was one of the finest fertile lands in all of Cheon-ha and a strategic location adjacent to the heart of the Central Plains, so this wouldn’t be wrong.

If the Eternal Snow Palace completely dominates Seong Jak-ju and maintains the branch established here, eventually the core of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance would inevitably become the Eternal Snow Palace.

There would be those who would find this distasteful.

Furthermore, there would be those who dislike me as a person.

That wasn’t the end of it. Cheon Rim and the Silent World Society are clearly separate organizations.

Just as Seo Hyo was unaware of the Silent World Society’s existence, the current main force of Cheon Rim, the ‘Pear Blossom Sword Heaven Sect,’ would also be unaware of the Silent World Society.

I can’t say this with complete certainty, but the probability is very high.

Then there’s plenty of room to move separately from the Silent World Society’s actions.

As I always say, who set up the game isn’t important.

Who leads that game.

That’s what’s important.

I stared at Ham Jang-sik intently.

I’ve secured military force for now.

I need to secure information too, but no matter how I look at it, Ham Jang-sik is clearly testing the waters.

It seemed I needed to make things clear.

“Senior Ham.”

He raised his head.

“What do you desire most, Senior?”

“…Hmm? You’re suddenly saying something I don’t understand.”

A strange smile formed at the corners of my mouth.

“Do you really not know?”

“…”

“Let’s speak frankly. I need your full support.”

“…Full support…”

“You can take it to mean I want us to move almost as one body. You must know things about where the Green Forest bandits withdrew to, and what’s happening in the surrounding area right now.”

“…”

“Among those, there must be things you haven’t told me, so shall we make a deal?”

“A deal…?”

After a moment of silence, I slowly opened my mouth.

“I will make you a Yuk Gyeol-gae, Senior.”

At those words, Ham Jang-sik’s eyes flashed.

“How do you mean?”

“The Beggar Sect is currently in fierce conflict between the sect leader and deputy sect leader. Ultimately, choosing which side to join is up to you, Senior Ham, but if you have achievements, you’ll gain the initiative before having to choose.”

Ham Jang-sik frowned.

For two reasons.

Because I knew the internal situation of the Beggar Sect better than expected, and because he was ashamed of having the sect’s disgrace exposed.

“…That doesn’t sound like idle talk, how surprising. The conflict between the sect leader and deputy sect leader is top secret.”

“Among organizations that deal with information in the world, the Beggar Sect is supreme, but even the Beggar Sect cannot hide everything. Senior.”

“…Would you continue?”

I spoke without hesitation.

“Raising one’s value as a beggar of the Beggar Sect ultimately comes down to results. That could be money, or it could be information, but if you produce results with those things, that becomes achievement beyond mere results.”

I looked directly at Ham Jang-sik and said.

“Not only Seong Jak-ju, but all the nearby cities have Beggar Sect branches. While you are an O Gyeol-gae, Senior Ham, there are other O Gyeol-gae in other places. To speak plainly, your position is ambiguous.”

“….”

“What if all of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance’s information were to flow through Senior Ham?”

At those words, Ham Jang-sik’s eyes widened greatly.

“…Is that… possible?”

“Yes. It’s entirely possible.”

Ham Jang-sik rubbed his face.

“…Since I deal with information, I know you’re not someone who speaks empty words. But having all of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance’s information flow through me means I would manage all Beggar Sect branches near the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance… That’s really not as easy as it sounds.”

“It won’t be easy. However, even if you help me, you won’t lose anything significant. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s correct.”

Ham Jang-sik was already helping the Seong Jak Alliance as an information organization. There would be nothing particularly strange about helping someone else at this point.

Ham Jang-sik asked with a serious expression.

“What exactly do you want from me?”

I placed both hands neatly on the desk and spoke.

“Two things. First, there must be no hiding of information from me. What I say, what I desire. Yes, you must faithfully carry out my orders.”

My voice grew cold.

“If you hide information or give false information, or confuse me in such ways, this deal will be immediately terminated and Senior Ham will become my enemy.”

Ham Jang-sik gulped.

I could roughly see what he was thinking. He was weighing the gravity of becoming an enemy.

“Then what’s the second thing?”

I smiled.

“It’s a bit uncomfortable. Using formal speech.”

“….”

“So I’m thinking of dropping it. How about it. Will you join hands with me?”

After hesitating for a long while, Ham Jang-sik raised his head to look at me. Seeing his expression that seemed to show resolve, I drove in the final nail.

“I thought you were quick-witted when you came to the banquet on the first day, but you seem slower at calculations than you appear.”

It was a sharp remark. An exquisite pressure that touched Ham Jang-sik’s pride while urging a decision.

Ham Jang-sik let out a hollow laugh and extended his hand to me.

“Fine. Let’s work together.”

I grasped his hand.

Now Ham Jang-sik and I are one body.

“Tell me everything you know.”

“…Understood.”

There are two types of people in the world. Those who seize opportunities and those who miss them.

Ham Jang-sik was wise.

* * *

Seongjakju Gwan-a.

Woon-hwi and Manager Seong stood before the door of the Ja-sa’s residence.

Manager Seong looked worriedly at Woon-hwi’s pale face. Recently, Woon-hwi had been dealing with multiple people.

No matter how excellent one’s recovery ability, the reality is that one cannot help but become mentally exhausted.

He asked carefully.

“Young Master, are you really going to do this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Shouldn’t you properly treat your wounds first? And according to the agreement between the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance and the Unguk court, I understand that when Cheon Su-sa meets with Ja-sa, prior notice must be given with proper courtesy.”

Woon-hwi couldn’t fail to read the worry contained in Manager Seong’s voice.

“The wounds will heal soon.”

He smiled slightly and continued.

“The agreement is also merely a formality.”

Manager Seong was anxious.

“Even so, I’m still worried. If the Woon-guk court gets involved, things will escalate, and as far as I know, Young Master has no connections to the Woon-guk court.”

“That’s not wrong.”

“You have something else in mind, don’t you?”

Woon-hwi smiled slightly and opened his mouth.

“Does Manager Seong know what the core of that ‘agreement’ is?”

He tilted his head.

To begin with, having Cheon Su-sa from the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance dispatched to manage territory in Woon-guk doesn’t make sense realistically.

However you express it, ultimately there’s a nation called Woon-guk and Seong Jak-ju is land belonging to that Woon-guk, yet someone dispatched to that land manages the city?

It’s beyond strange to the point of being bizarre, but this makes sense in this current land. Manager Seong, who had been pondering, spoke with confidence.

“Civilians are managed by officials, martial artists by the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance’s martial artists, dividing into these two categories and having Cheon Su-sa and the local officials discuss and handle matters related to major and minor affairs – isn’t that the core?”

“Correct. That’s the core. But there’s something more important than that.”

Woon-hwi said while looking at the residence.

“In managing the major and minor affairs of Seong Jak-ju, dialogue is absolutely necessary.”

This was the reason Manager Seong was anxious.

“I have a feeling that dialogue won’t be the kind done with words.”

“Regardless of what type of dialogue it is, has Ja-sa ever had a dialogue with me until now?”

Manager Seong closed his mouth. Because there had never been even once.

Woon-hwi hadn’t directly sought him out, and Ja-sa hadn’t approached Woon-hwi either.

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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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