Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 235
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 235
I am closely connected to Seo Hyo. That information couldn’t have failed to spread within Cheon Rim, and the fact that the Plum Blossom Sword Heaven Sect, which claims to be the actual master of Cheon Rim, cannot control my existence—which is directly connected to Yu Cheong’s will—could go beyond a matter of face to become a matter of capability.
Then what does the Plum Blossom Sword Heaven Sect ultimately want?
It would be one of two things.
Either they want to put a leash around my neck, or they want to kill me disguised as an accident.
What’s important is now.
First, I plan to negotiate with Jang I-cheong.
“Don’t worry too much.”
“I won’t. You’re someone who does well on your own anyway.”
“And I’m thinking of going to Gangbuk Province to take a look at Jang I-cheong’s face. Will you come with me?”
“…What would you do if I said I wouldn’t go?”
“I would have a hard time.”
Manager Seong let out a deep sigh.
“I’ll go. I have to go. If not me, who would protect Young Master’s side?”
After nodding, I quietly took out a letter from my chest.
Friction with Jang I-cheong was inevitable anyway.
And I had no intention of avoiding that friction, but I ended up receiving this letter too.
The contents were as follows:
-I am Heuk Myeong of the Black Heaven Demon Captive Palace.
As we discussed at the Cheon Ui-maeng Byeol Won, our interests align with yours.
An interesting situation has occurred now.
Bandits from Green Forest are hiding in the government office here in Amsu County, pretending to be government troops, but it’s an awkward situation for us to step in directly.
I would like to move together with you this time.
What do you think?
This letter arrived about one hour after Ham Jang-sik of the Beggar Sect had told me all the information.
The true meaning contained in this letter was simple.
You made Green Forest come all the way to Amsu County, but we don’t particularly intend to hold you responsible for that part. However, since we agreed to work together, we need to handle this matter properly—do you have a plan? It was roughly that kind of feeling.
I sent a brief reply.
-I will go directly. When I arrive, stand behind me. I will give you a gift.
It wouldn’t be bad to rack up some debt with the Black Heaven Demon Captive Palace while I was at it.
“Summon the Cheon Rak-bu.”
Manager Seong nodded at my words.
* * *
Pung Mu-hwi was sitting in his residence, thinking about the topic Woon-hwi had thrown at him.
Wind God Mirror.
That was surely the beginning of enlightenment to ascend to the Heaven-Human Realm.
When eating, when circulating energy, when training.
Even when sleeping, only the words “Wind God Mirror” circled in Pung Mu-hwi’s mind.
It felt like he could grasp it if he reached out, but at the same time, it didn’t seem like it would be easily caught—a mysterious feeling.
Just this alone made it clear.
He had to dig it out.
He had to seize it.
He had to find out and uncover it.
“Lord Pung, are you alright?”
When Jang Cheon-woon of the Gangcheon Sword Sect, who was sitting across from him, asked with a worried voice, Pung Mu-hwi raised his head.
“Ah… Sorry. I was thinking about something else for a moment.”
“…It seems you have something troubling on your mind.”
Pung Mu-hwi shook his head.
“Don’t worry about it. More importantly, you said you had something to say?”
Frankly speaking, Jang Cheon-woon was dissatisfied with everything happening in Seong Jak-ju right now.
Who is the master of Seong Jak-ju?
The Seongchak Alliance. Cheonsu Temple or whatever, no matter how much command authority they have, isn’t this too self-indulgent?
His thoughts showed on his expression as well.
“It seems there’s something that doesn’t sit well with you.”
“…You saw right through me. Honestly, I don’t think this is normal.”
Pung Mu-hwi sighed and said,
“How about we start by getting the context straight?”
“…I understand. Seol Woon-hwi of Cheonsu Temple—is this really okay?”
“What wouldn’t be okay about it?”
“Do you trust him?”
“Before trust, I was defeated as a martial artist, so what more would be needed beyond that?”
“…Lord Pung, he’s no different from an unbridled colt. Look at him now. Right now, all the people from O-dae Geom-jong and Sa-ma Oe-jong dispatched from Cheon Ui-maeng have each occupied their regions. But none of them touched Green Forest. In fact, there was no reason to touch them.”
“No reason to touch them?”
“Yes. Frankly speaking, whether they collected tolls or did whatever, they never caused us great harm. When common people needed strength, they would request our help, and we would escort them while receiving that help… It was a kind of virtuous cycle, but all of that has been broken. It’s not over. Everyone knows that Green King Im Cheong-san is greatly enraged. Green Forest may have lost four Green Forest bases, but fourteen still remain, and if those fourteen and Green King Im Cheong-san target our Seong Jak-ju…”
“Everyone will die?”
“Yes.”
“So what’s your conclusion?”
“…Please stop Cheonsu Temple.”
Pung Mu-hwi’s brow twitched.
“At least in this Seong Jak-ju, Lord Pung is the only one who can stop Cheonsu Temple.”
Although Pung Mu-hwi was defeated by Woon-hwi, for Woon-hwi now, Pung Mu-hwi is an indispensable sword.
He didn’t give him command of Cheon Rak-bu for nothing. That means only Pung Mu-hwi can stop Woon-hwi.
Even their names are similar.
“Huh… A martial artist drew his sword, but you’re telling him to only cut some tree branches and then stop.”
“…”
“If I persuade Cheonsu Temple as you say, what will you do after that?”
“…Pardon?”
“We destroyed four Green Forest bases and the Green King is enraged, so now should we go to them and bow our heads?”
“…Lord Pung…”
“Were you always such a coward?”
Jang Cheon-woon hung his head low.
“We’re already riding on a tiger’s back. We have no choice but to go to the end. So don’t make foolish judgments. I’m not saying this as the leader of the Seongchak Alliance, but as your friend. Do you understand?”
Jang Cheon-woon remained silent.
That’s when it happened.
“Are you busy?”
Pung Mu-hwi turned his head. Manager Seong, who had approached stealthily, was there.
“What brings you here?”
“Cheonsu Temple has summoned all of Cheon Rak-bu.”
“Ho…? I heard that all the remaining Green Forest bases went into hiding. Did he discover their whereabouts?”
“Yes. They are hiding in the government office.”
“The government office…”
It wasn’t anything new for Green Forest and the officials of Cheon Ui-maeng’s jurisdictional areas to be in cahoots.
But it seems they used their heads.
Bandits are hiding in the government office? This makes their intentions suspicious.
Is it simply to hide themselves, or are they preparing for their next move?
In such cases, there are two methods. One is to wait.
And the other is to go and cut off their heads before they can do anything.
Woon-hwi chose the latter.
“…It seems the bloody wind that will blow this time will be quite intense.”
Pung Mu-hwi, who muttered this, rose from his seat.
“Should we leave right now?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the destination?”
“Amsu County. And he said we’ll move without stopping all the way up to Gangbuk Province above it.”
Amsu County was a region controlled by the Black Heaven Demon Prison Palace, and Gangbuk Province was a region controlled by the Ihwageomseonchong.
At this moment, the reactions of Pung Mu-hwi and Jang Cheon-woon were truly opposite.
Pung Mu-hwi found this interesting.
This was natural since it was a stage where he could hear some answers about just how far Seol Woon-hwi would go.
However, Jang Cheon-woon only sighed deeply inside.
There was no madman like this madman.
How could such a madman appear in that Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace?
Territory grabbing should be done in moderation, but if he devastated those two regions, this would be no different from war.
Seong Jak-ju, Gangbuk Province, and even Amsu County.
Once these three became entangled, it wouldn’t be easy to escape.
‘…Surely he won’t touch the government offices.’
He could only hope that wouldn’t happen.
Pung Mu-hwi briefly turned his head to look at Jang Cheon-woon.
“I’m saying this just in case, but don’t act rashly.”
“…Yes.”
“Then let’s have a drink when we return. With Cheon Su-sa.”
“…Understood.”
Thus, Pung Mu-hwi assembled the Cheon Rak Bu and headed toward Woon-hwi, while Jang Cheon-woon headed toward the Gang Cheon Wave Gate.
His expression was very cold.
* * *
Amsu County Magistrate’s Office.
County Magistrate Bae Jin-hu was lost in thought with a complicated expression.
The events from a few days ago, when Im Hwa-baek, the leader of Eunwol Channel, and Jeong Gwang-seok, the leader of Baekho Channel, came to visit, kept circling in his mind.
-Now you should start earning your keep.
Im Hwa-baek, who began speaking this way, brought forth a proposal that was impossible to refuse.
-First, you need to hide us.
Hide them?
Nowhere in this world do bandits hide in government offices. But the officials in this Heavenly Righteousness Alliance territory are a different story.
-Our County Magistrate Bae, you’ve received women and money from us, and there’s no end to what you’ve taken from us. Surely you won’t refuse, right? If you refuse, we’ll report to the Imperial Court. We have clear evidence in our ledgers, so we can just throw that to the court and run away… But what would happen to County Magistrate Bae then? You’d just die.
Curses almost burst out.
-It won’t take long anyway, so treat us well. My, bandits acting like government troops—the world has truly gone to hell. Isn’t that right?
Saying this while laughing heartily, Bae Jin-hu couldn’t say anything to the two warriors.
That day, dozens of bandits poured into the Amsu County Magistrate’s Office and were just wasting food while camping inside.
Look at them now.
Watching those bastards drinking alcohol and harassing several women from Amsu County made his blood boil.
But he couldn’t say anything.
Because he had committed sins.
Since his lifeline was at stake, he had to remain silent and endure.
That’s when it happened.
Bang—!
The main gate of the government office shattered into pieces.
When Bae Jin-hu turned his head in surprise, a man was slowly walking in.
“Wh-who are you! How dare you enter the government office….”
“Are you County Magistrate Bae Jin-hu of Amsu County?”
“Who… who are you…?”
Woon-hwi spoke in a cold voice.
“I am Seol Woon-hwi, Cheon Su-sa of Seong Jak-ju.”
“Se-Seol Woon-hwi?”
Bae Jin-hu’s face turned pale white.
And the bandits who were having a drinking party were making expressions as if an interesting spectacle had appeared, but as soon as they heard Woon-hwi’s name, they jumped up from their seats.
Ignoring them, Woon-hwi walked slowly and stood before Bae Jin-hu.
“Wait… hold on, if you’re Cheon Su-sa Seol, aren’t you that Cheon Su-sa from Seong Jak-ju? This is Amsu County—how can a Cheon Su-sa from Seong Jak-ju come all the way here? This directly negates the negotiations between the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance and Woon-guk….”
“The bastards from Eunwol Channel and Baekho Channel must have threatened you. Am I right?”
His words were cut off, but he didn’t feel bad or anything.
Rather, he was puzzled.
How does he know that?
“There are occasionally cases where corrupt officials reform themselves. If you resolve to become one of those cases, I will clear out all those bastards for you.”
“…Is that really true…?”
“Yes. If you wish, I’ll also find the ledgers for you.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————