Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 247

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 247
Wi Joong-dal, the Seongchakju administrator, had been enjoying more peaceful days than ever before.
Or rather, “safe” would be a more accurate description than “peaceful.”
Just five days ago—no, even a month ago—he had been consumed with anxiety, terrified that his collusion with the Green Forest Sect would be exposed.
He had committed corruption, formed ties with them, and granted them favors. Though he had belatedly realized his mistakes and distanced himself from the Green Forest Sect, unease still lurked in the depths of his heart.
When the Cheonsu-sa of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance had taken office not long ago, he had accepted it as inevitable. After all, he wanted to keep his distance.
Even if that Cheonsu-sa was the famous genius Young Master from the Eternal Snow Palace, Wi Joong-dal—a man burdened with many weaknesses—had not sought him out. He had simply hoped for an implicit agreement between them: to remain strangers, to avert their eyes, and to grant each other conveniences without acknowledgment.
But now, everything had changed.
Thanks to that terrifying man who had swept through Amsu County and Gangbuk Province, all the crimes had been pinned on the dead, and Wi Joong-dal himself had been transformed into an incorruptible official who had eradicated corruption.
He was even scheduled to be summoned to the Imperial Court soon to receive a commendation.
That man was terrifying, certainly, but he was also useful.
Though a leash had been fastened around his neck, he had been clothed in the garment of integrity—and by any measure, that was advantageous.
For this reason, he could not ignore the summons.
As Wi Joong-dal approached the location where the Gaebangsaekjuk Branch had stood, he could only gasp in shock.
“What in the world is this….”
Corpses lined the entrance.
The bodies of Beggar Sect members were scattered everywhere, and the stench of blood assaulted his nostrils.
This was nothing short of a hellscape itself.
Wi Joong-dal had never witnessed such a sight.
Even after more than twenty years as an official, this was his first encounter with such a one-sided massacre.
And among those corpses, seated in a chair placed at the center of the Beggar’s Sect Branch, was a single figure.
It was Seol Woon-hwi.
Before him lay countless scrolls and letters stacked high, and Seol Woon-hwi sat in a relaxed posture, as though he were in his own study, reading something intently.
They were clearly the intelligence records that had been stored in the Beggar’s Sect Branch.
He set down the letter he had been reading and spoke.
“The administrator has arrived, I see.”
Seol Woon-hwi’s smile still appeared benevolent, yet contrasted against the carnage surrounding him, it felt all the more unsettling.
“I… I heard that the Cheonsu-sa had summoned me….”
Wi Joong-dal’s trembling voice made it clear to anyone watching that he was utterly terrified.
“If anyone saw this, they might think I have the administrator serving under me. Though humble, please, do sit.”
As if on cue, Manager Seong brought forth a chair and placed it across from Seol Woon-hwi.
“Ahem….”
Wi Joong-dal sat down with a nervous cough, and Seol Woon-hwi continued speaking.
“I wished to discuss a matter concerning you, the administrator, and the Seongchakju. Surely this place is not too uncomfortable for you?”
“It’s… ahem, it’s fine.”
“By the way, before we discuss the matter… have you been well lately?”
“Thanks to you… I’ve been very well.”
At Wi Joong-dal’s response, Seol Woon-hwi’s expression grew satisfied.
“You’ll be summoned to the Imperial Court soon, so being well makes sense. How fortunate indeed.”
“…How did you know that?”
I waved a letter I was holding in my hand.
“The Beggar Sect’s intelligence network is far more intricate than I expected. Your achievements have already been reported to the Imperial Court, and the procedures for your commendation are underway.”
“….”
“Congratulations. You’ve earned a reputation as an incorruptible official.”
Wi Joong-dal’s heart was in turmoil.
Should he be pleased or afraid?
It was certainly good news, but the fact that this good fortune stemmed from the man before him filled him with unease.
Frankly speaking, it was only natural for Wi Joong-dal to seek a way to slip the leash around his neck.
He couldn’t spend the rest of his life being dragged about at someone else’s whim.
Yet the moment he attempted to free himself from that leash, he felt as though his head would be severed.
Ahem.
He steadied his breathing and asked.
“What did you summon me for?”
“It’s simple. I’d like you to eliminate all the beggars in the vicinity of Seongchakju.”
“…Beggars, you say?”
“Yes. Kill every last one of them without exception.”
Wi Joong-dal’s face hardened. “Beggars” meant members of the Beggar Sect. What I was asking was essentially to uproot the very foundation of the Beggar Sect in Seongchakju.
“That… wouldn’t be a bit difficult…? Beggars are quite transient… and above all, if they’re Beggar Sect members, they’re martial artists… it’s not easy to distinguish ordinary beggars from Beggar Sect members….”
“It seems you’re reluctant.”
He swallowed hard.
“The Beggar Sect members have grown far too bold. Ja-sa, who is the true master of Seongchakju?”
He was about to answer that it was now him, when I spoke first.
“By anyone’s measure, you are the master of Seongchakju.”
“I… I am?”
“Martial artists are ultimately common citizens when viewed broadly, and the state doesn’t exist for nothing, does it?”
“Hmm….”
“Seongchakju is land with unlimited potential for development, yet beggars are disrupting this place. They reek, they beg… they cause problems everywhere, don’t they?”
“That’s… true.”
“Indeed. Above all, you possess the authority of the government. With the Imperial Court’s attention upon you, it would be no difficult matter for you to eliminate the Beggar Sect members—or rather, vagrants—under the guise of establishing order. It would be an achievement in itself.”
“But… would the Beggar Sect simply stand idle?”
“The Beggar Sect….”
I chuckled softly.
“I understand exactly what concerns you. Then let’s do it this way. As Cheonsu-sa, I formally request this of you. Kill all the ‘beggars,’ and you’ve been persuaded by me to act. Yes, ultimately, I shall be the true architect behind this. Should the Beggar Sect protest, they’ll approach me first before you. If the Beggar Sect members cry out that they are martial artists and demand the non-aggression pact be honored, simply invoke my name.”
“Huh….”
“What do you think?”
It wasn’t a bad arrangement.
But.
“…In the end, you’re asking me to become your blade.”
“Isn’t that better?”
“…Hmm….”
“By sweeping away the beggars and establishing order, the achievement will go to Ja-sa. From my perspective, I get to remove the eyesore beggars, and most importantly, I bear all responsibility for this… Isn’t that precisely mutual benefit?”
Wi Joong-dal found himself at a loss for words. Seol Woon-hwi’s logic was flawless.
What could they possibly do when the Gaebangsaekjuk Branch was completely destroyed?
Moreover, since Seol Woon-hwi had volunteered to take responsibility, they could simply use his name.
After all, they were now bound together.
There was no choice.
“…Very well. I shall do as you say.”
“How fortunate. Allow me to clarify the details. Your task is simple, Ja-sa. Officially launch a vagrant cleanup operation under the guise of establishing order. During this process, eliminate all those connected to the Beggar Sect. Most importantly, the moment I tell you to stop, you must cease everything immediately.”
“…Understood.”
Seol Woon-hwi smiled warmly.
“As expected of Ja-sa. Today once again proves that Woon-guk’s future will be truly brilliant.”
Wi Joong-dal bowed his head.
“…When should I begin?”
“This very moment. Right now.”
A chill ran down Wi Joong-dal’s spine.
“…I shall do so.”
“Good. Now go.”
Wi Joong-dal could not linger any longer. He hastily took his leave.
Seol Woon-hwi had declared it.
That Ja-sa Wi Joong-dal was the master of Seongchakju.
But Wi Joong-dal knew the truth.
The true master of Seongchakju was Seol Woon-hwi.
Anyone asked would give the same answer.
* * *
The urgent report arrived at the Beggar Sect Leader’s office at dawn.
-Seongchakju Branch completely annihilated.
Upon receiving that single line of report, Hye Jung-san’s expression hardened. In thirty years of leading the Beggar Sect, never had a branch been completely destroyed.
“Master.”
The one who entered was Deputy Sect Leader Jin Mu-hyeok. Though hardly surprising, Jin Mu-hyeok had recently revealed his ambitions for the Sect Leader position and was desperately scheming to seize it, while Beggar Sect Leader Hye Jung-san watched and countered his moves.
The conflict between the two was nothing new.
It had persisted for nearly a decade, and the Beggar Sect could reasonably be said to be divided into two factions.
Jin Mu-hyeok’s face was filled with rage, yet despite their opposition, as members of the Beggar Sect, they remained its people. This was an undeniable truth.
He spoke.
“Have you heard what happened at Seongchakju?”
“I have.”
“They say over 120 of our people were massacred. Do you know who the culprit is?”
When Hye Jung-san did not answer, Jin Mu-hyeok spoke with a voice dripping with contempt.
“It’s Seol Woon-hwi. The youngest of the Eternal Snow Palace. Surely you knew?”
“…The Eternal Snow Palace…?”
“Yes. That bastard was assigned to Cheonsu-sa and has been running amok. It seems he was furious about being expelled from the Snow Palace, and he’s taking it out on our Beggar Sect.”
Jin Mu-hyeok spoke with a dismissive tone, and Hye Jung-san shot back at him.
“Do not let personal bias cloud your information. You haven’t even conducted a proper investigation yet, have you?”
“But… Master. Isn’t it obvious? We’ve already begun our inquiries, but making assumptions based on existing facts doesn’t truly enter the realm of truth, does it?”
“We call that arrogance.”
“What does arrogance matter? The Beggar Sect has the power to turn it into fact.”
….
“More than anything, some mere seventeen-year-old brat is looking down on our Beggar Sect.”
No matter that Jin Mu-hyeok held the position of Deputy Sect Leader, his tone had crossed every line and then some.
Standing before him was Hye Jung-san, both Jin Mu-hyeok’s master and the Sect Leader of the Beggar Sect.
At such an outrageous tone, Hye Jung-san’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Mu-hyeok.”
“Yes, Master.”
“I say this again: do not judge hastily. If he is truly blood of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace, he is no trivial opponent. And no matter how you dress it up, conjecture can never enter the realm of truth.”
“Then I must become someone capable of deciding whether that realm can be entered or not. I will become such a person, and I will turn my conjecture into truth. Rather, Master, I believe you are overestimating this brat. He is no different from any other martial artist of the Central Plains.”
“Sigh… Mu-hyeok…”
Jin Mu-hyeok shook his head.
“He’s merely a brat not yet twenty. Moreover, since he was cast out from Snow Palace, why not simply go kill him?”

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