Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 239
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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 239
Im Cheong-san swung his sword in a wide arc. Red sword qi spread out in a crescent shape and struck down at Pung Mu-hwi.
But Pung Mu-hwi, unfazed, swung his sword once more.
Whirlwind Sword.
A whirlwind that arose in an instant swept in all directions, but it was completely shattered by Im Cheong-san’s crimson-stained sword.
A martial art that could melt even the wind.
That was the Green Mountain Blood Fire Art.
Im Cheong-san thrust his sword forward.
Slash-!
Pung Mu-hwi’s shoulder was cut deeply.
Pung Mu-hwi, who was trying to respond, immediately leaned his body backward.
Whoosh-!
The sword grazed past. Then flames began to rise from where it had passed, and Pung Mu-hwi felt it.
There was definitely ‘demonic energy’ among those flames.
He didn’t care.
Manipulating nature and condensing it was not an unusual technique for a Divine Transformation Realm martial artist.
Im Cheong-san grinned wickedly.
He had gained the upper hand.
He intended to finish it like this. Qi exploded from his body.
Green King Heaven Conquering Art.
Massive qi exploded from Im Cheong-san’s body. It was the highest-level martial art that only the head of Green Forest Sect could use. His sword shot up high as if to pierce the heavens.
“I! Am the Green King! You bastard!”
He brought it down just like that.
Massive sword qi struck down from the sky. It was overwhelming power as if the heavens were collapsing.
And at this moment, Pung Mu-hwi was more peaceful than ever.
He lightly rotated his body and strongly swung his sword upward.
The sword qi bursting from Pung Mu-hwi’s sword created a massive typhoon.
Typhoon Sword.
Kwaaaaang-!!
From the collision of sword and sword, the trees around the mountain retreat were uprooted and flew away, the roof of the retreat also flew off, and deep cracks formed in the ground.
Rocks turned to powder and scattered as thick smoke billowed up.
Soon the dust cleared.
Im Cheong-san had stepped back three or four steps with a furrowed brow, while Pung Mu-hwi was buried in the ground.
Soon after, Pung Mu-hwi pressed his hand against the ground and stood up.
Im Cheong-san frowned as if he couldn’t understand the current situation.
“…Bastard… you had some skill after all.”
Pung Mu-hwi said nothing.
Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, and blood also flowed from his entire body.
But his eyes were still sparkling.
It wasn’t simply the will to not back down, but confidence in himself.
Eventually.
Pung Mu-hwi began to move.
Thousands, tens of thousands of winds became one and swirled around Pung Mu-hwi’s sword. It was like a living creature. Sometimes writhing like a dragon, sometimes soaring like a bird, sometimes flowing like water.
The wind enveloped everything. The pillars of the mountain retreat, the floor, the ceiling, and Im Cheong-san.
Fear crept into Im Cheong-san’s eyes.
This was different from any martial art he had ever experienced. It seemed as if the wind itself became a sword, and the sword itself became wind.
“…What… what is this…!”
The sword moved. That sword, so graceful.
It was the Wind God’s Will Sword, the ultimate technique of Punggeom Hall that even Woon-hwi had admired.
The wind became sharp. The gentle wind instantly transformed into blades and rushed toward Im Cheong-san.
Im Cheong-san tried to block it by swinging his sword.
His Green Mountain Blood Fire Art was still there.
He was confident he could melt, burst, and tear the wind.
But that confidence was shattered after swinging his sword just once.
Paaang-!!
Im Cheong-san’s sword was struck by the wind and bounced to the side, and when he tried to recover it, it bounced away again.
His balance crumbled and his mind wavered.
Wind swept from all directions.
From above, from below.
And from the sides.
Even from within him.
In an instant.
All the winds became a storm. Pung Mu-hwi was right in front of Im Cheong-san’s nose.
He swung.
Slash-!
Im Cheong-san’s head separated from his body and fell.
For a moment, the inside of the mountain retreat became quiet. The wind also subsided.
Pung Mu-hwi clenched his fist in that spot for a while, thinking deeply about something.
Was the martial art he had just displayed truly his own, or was it his own interpretation of what Woon-hwi had called the Wind God Scripture?
Either way didn’t matter. What was important was that he had gained enlightenment.
Pung Mu-hwi turned toward Woon-hwi and deeply performed the embracing fist salute.
“Thanks to the grace of Master Cheon Su-sa, I, Pung Mu-hwi, have gained enlightenment.”
His voice contained sincere gratitude.
“I was able to understand, even if just a little, what the Wind God Scripture is. I will serve you even better from now on.”
Woon-hwi quietly nodded.
“Continue your training. And this time was very excellent.”
Leaving behind Pung Mu-hwi who bowed once more, Woon-hwi looked around.
The Cheon Rak Bu members had already slaughtered all the Nokrim faction members and had been watching Pung Mu-hwi’s fight for some time.
The opportunity to witness a life-and-death battle between masters from such close proximity was not common.
Especially a fight where one person would definitely die – this was truly precious.
Everyone was admiring Pung Mu-hwi’s performance, and they began to see Woon-hwi, who received such absolute trust from Pung Mu-hwi, in a slightly different light.
Woon-hwi, who had no interest in such thoughts from the members, slowly rose from his seat.
“Everyone worked hard.”
Everyone waited for Woon-hwi’s next words.
“Though it’s an abandoned mountain retreat, given Im Cheong-san’s nature, his treasures should be located here. Gold and silver treasures, spirit pills, secret manuals – whatever it is, it’s all yours. I’ll give you half an hour. Search within half an hour and return to Seong Jak-ju.”
“Yes!”
The Cheon Rak Bu members rushed out to search the mountain retreat, and Pung Mu-hwi, as if uninterested in such things, sat down and began energy circulation.
The night was deepening.
* * *
In that quiet place, Manager Seong asked me.
“May I ask just one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why did you yield? Normally, Young Master would have stepped forward yourself.”
This was certainly a reasonable question.
I always stepped forward when it was a situation where I needed to act.
It didn’t matter who the opponent was.
Because that was the role a leader should play.
“Because there’s something more important left to do.”
“Something more important, you say?”
Manager Seong tilted his head, but there was a good reason why he had yielded Im Cheong-san to Pung Mu-hwi.
He hadn’t spoken it aloud yet.
He quietly said to Manager Seong.
“Recently, you’ve been quite impatient.”
“…Ah… Is that so?”
He could see Manager Seong trying his best not to show it, so he hadn’t mentioned it before, but now it seemed he should.
“Is it very difficult?”
“…It’s not difficult.”
“Then why do you blame yourself so much?”
Manager Seong’s eyes widened as if these were a series of unexpected questions.
“Why… do you say such things?”
“As I’ve said before, I don’t care whether Manager Seong is a warrior of Ip Sin Gyeong or a commoner.”
“…”
“Manager Seong is a great help to me just by being at my side, and above all, don’t you read my thoughts even before I do?”
Manager Seong scratched his head.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It is a compliment. Being frightened by each of my moves means you know what results my actions might bring, so it would be strange if it weren’t praise.”
Just moments ago, Pung Mu-hwi and Im Cheong-san had fought a decisive battle, showing off their martial arts as if it were a life-or-death struggle.
Pung Mu-hwi’s performance was particularly interesting – whether he was a genius or not, his ability to hear about the Wind God’s Mirror and interpret it in his own way was certainly more than adequate to judge him as exceptional.
Clearly, he had gained enlightenment.
Though it wasn’t a leap to the Heaven-Human Realm, he had still grown by one level.
Manager Seong had watched those two fight while gritting his teeth, which represented his feelings.
I understand.
Why he’s impatient.
Why he’s anxious.
I know it all.
“You’ve seen quite a lot.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Those who raised their level by playing baduk with me, those who raised their level through direct help, those who raised their level immediately upon hearing something like enlightenment. There weren’t just one or two, and Manager Seong has watched it all.”
“…That’s correct.”
Countless times, I had discussions about martial learning with Manager Seong.
I gave enlightenment, and gave it again.
Whether indirectly or directly, I created situations where levels could be raised and constantly gave advice.
The problem is.
Despite such efforts, Manager Seong still remains at the Body Establishment Boundary.
I didn’t know at first.
And I didn’t know until just the day before yesterday.
Having many things to worry about was one reason, but surprisingly, I failed to notice that the answer was close by.
This is my mistake.
So now I’m trying to give that help.
“You said you received his exclusive martial arts from Juche?”
“Yes. I also received martial arts that he created himself.”
“Why do you think Juche gave such martial arts to Manager Seong?”
“…”
“And Juche said that besides himself, Manager Seong was the only one who could lead Baekseol Wiryeong Dan. Have you thought about the reason?”
Manager Seong’s eyes wavered.
And he just stood silently, unable to answer.
“He completely trusted Manager Seong. He saw the power Manager Seong possesses, the direction he would move forward, and the qualities to eventually become the soul of Baekseol Wiryeong Dan, and gave that trust as a gift – he didn’t give doubts about your abilities.”
After watching Manager Seong hang his head low for a moment, he quietly continued.
“After coming to my side, you must have been anxious seeing countless others raise their levels thanks to me. Why not me, why am I stuck in place? While also being tormented by the obsession that you must become stronger to protect me as you watched me clash with massive entities like Muk Se-hoe.”
He continued quietly.
“I’ve repeatedly said that Manager Seong being by my side is a great help to me, but unfortunately, you don’t seem to fully believe those words. Even I say that I’ve received help from Manager Seong, yet you think you’re not helpful – how could that make me feel comfortable?”
“Young Master…”
“As long as Manager Seong doesn’t believe in himself like now, no matter what enlightenment I give, it will be useless. What Juche of Baekseol Wiryeong Dan gave to Manager Seong wasn’t martial arts. It was enlightenment.”
“…Enlightenment, you say?”
“‘Believe in yourself’ – something like that.”
A cold wind blew, but the conversation deepened further.
“You probably think you must become strong to protect me. Like a father protecting his son. But Manager Seong, I think it’s more important for you to completely protect yourself than to protect me. Believing in yourself and realizing what you already possess – that’s all you need right now. Muk Se-hoe? You need to become stronger than them? You already have something no one else can possess.”
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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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