Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 255

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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 255
Two men were approaching.
If I didn’t know who they were, I should be dead as a martial artist.
One was Seong Yang-ho.
The other was Seol Woon-hwi.
But.
‘…Did he suffer Qi Deviation…?’
This was Hwa Mu-ryeong’s thought, but everyone present shared the same suspicion.
That included Pung Mu-hwi as well.
It had been ten days since the traitors of Seongchakju had been eliminated.
During that time, most orders had been issued through Manager Seong, and Seol Woon-hwi had remained secluded. This was Pung Mu-hwi’s first glimpse of him in ten days.
But his condition was far from good.
He was severely emaciated, and strange wisps of energy-like vapor emanated from his body.
I couldn’t even begin to fathom what it was.
Seol Woon-hwi, who had approached beside Pung Mu-hwi, spoke in a composed voice.
“It seems like the first time since we last met at the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance’s main headquarters. It’s been a while. I am Seol Woon-hwi of Seongchakju.”
His voice was remarkably clear despite his physical condition.
Pleasantly so.
Seol Woon-hwi greeted each person in turn, his gaze passing over them.
“The senior from the Heavenly Sound Sword Sect still appears robust. And the senior from the Azure Cloud Sword Sect—I see you’ve gained composure since then, which suggests some plan you’ve been working on has borne fruit recently.”
The two men remained silent.
It was peculiar.
They were supposed to be at the Five Energy Harmonizing Origin level, but this atmosphere was something else entirely.
It felt as though they were in the presence of someone who had reached the Harmony Realm, or perhaps even the Body Establishment Boundary.
Seol Woon-hwi finally turned his gaze to the red-haired woman.
“I understand that the senior from Hondo Maryeom Palace is particularly astute in matters of practical benefit.”
“Is that so?”
“After the Black Flame Demonic Hand Woo Rin, who was the unit leader of Hwasung Division, went missing, you took that position, did you not?”
Hwa Mu-ryeong let out a small laugh.
“Right, it was Jeok An, wasn’t it? He went missing on the way there. That bastard Woo Rin.”
“I don’t fully understand the reason either, but I heard that after taking the position of unit leader of Hwasung Division, you personally requested to be dispatched here to the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance. Is that correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Such a decision could not have been made without extraordinary intellect and tremendous ambition.”
“Why would that be the case?”
“Because it’s so glaringly obvious that you’re not satisfied with merely being a unit leader of Hwasung Division.”
“….”
“If you lacked ambition, there would be no reason for the Four Demonic Outer Sects to join the ‘Ihwa Alliance’ created by the O-dae Geom-jong and Ihwageomseonchong. Above all, from my perspective….”
“That’s enough.”
Hwa Mu-ryeong detected something strange in Seol Woon-hwi’s words. It was as if her innermost thoughts were being laid bare.
She tried to cut him off, but Seol Woon-hwi continued without pause.
“It seems Senior Hwa’s true intentions lie not with the Mixed Path Demon Flame Palace, but elsewhere.”
“…I told you to stop. Are your words even making sense?”
“That’s not it. I understood perfectly well, but there was no reason to stop.”
“…This really is a strange bastard, isn’t it? It’s odd enough that you came here in such a broken state, but constantly provoking me like this… it looks like you’re begging to die. Am I right?”
Seol Woon-hwi shook his head with a smile.
“I believe we’ve exchanged sufficient pleasantries. Shall we proceed to the main matter?”
“There was a main matter?”
“Yes. There is.”
Seol Woon-hwi’s eyes—cold and lifeless as a rotting fish—swept across Hwa Mu-ryeong, Jin So-cheon, and Hang Ryeo in turn before he continued quietly.
“In ten days, either I or Jang I-cheong will be dead.”
“….”
“According to intelligence obtained through classified channels, a Secret Realm will open, and both Jang I-cheong and I will enter it. Of course, there will be those who follow us inside, but I say this with certainty: whoever enters will die. Only one person will emerge alive from that Secret Realm.”
“….”
“I’m giving you ten days to choose.”
Seol Woon-hwi gazed out at the vast Cheon Hae stretching beyond the cliff.
“Seongchakju is vast, and Cheon Hae is vast as well, but unfortunately, there are few people capable of managing this Cheon Hae. If I fall, Jang I-cheong will swallow not only Seongchakju but Cheon Hae as well. But if I win.”
Seol Woon-hwi’s eyes began to gleam with killing intent.
“I will slaughter every last person who sided with Jang I-cheong.”
“….”
“Ten days. Make your decision within that time.”
Hwa Mu-ryeong let out a low chuckle.
“That’s all?”
“Yes. This is my main point.”
“For a main point, it’s rather bland. Since you’re here, shouldn’t we exchange a move or two? I hear you subdued Pung Mu-hwi over there? And that you’ve been cutting down masters of the Divine Transformation Realm? I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, but what happened is real, isn’t it? Ah, I’m just too curious to bear it.”
Without drawing his sword, Seol Woon-hwi stepped back with one foot and tilted his body at an angle.
“Then please, come at me.”
Why wasn’t he drawing his sword? What could he possibly do with such a broken body?
The questions rose to the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t speak them.
This was truly a feeling difficult to explain in words.
‘…What is this…?’
It was as if she were being overwhelmed.
Not a single opening appeared in that seemingly careless stance.
No matter where she charged, she could only envision a counterattack meeting her. Faced with this impossible phenomenon, Hwa Mu-ryeong swallowed hard.
As the meaningless standoff persisted, Seol Woon-hwi straightened his posture.
“It seems today is not the right time.”
“….”
“Senior Hwa. Perhaps we should exchange blows another time when the opportunity presents itself.”
“…Is that…so?”
Then Seol Woon-hwi’s Jeonum reached Hwa Mu-ryeong’s ears.
The moment she heard that Jeonum, Hwa Mu-ryeong’s eyes widened and her hands began to tremble violently.
“…You… right now…?”
I didn’t bother answering.
“I’ll take my leave first. Remember this well, seniors. Ten days. You must decide within ten days.”
I turned and left, with Manager Seong and Pung Mu-hwi following in my wake.
The people from the Ihwa Alliance departed one by one, but not Hwa Mu-ryeong.
She remained in that spot, dazed for a long while.
At the moment I turned to leave, another Jeonum transmission arrived.
Its contents were as follows.
-If you desire a deeper conversation, come discreetly to Cheon Ryong Palace.
And before that.
The Jeonum transmission I had sent was engulfing Hwa Mu-ryeong in confusion.
“Alive… you say? That child?”
* * *
The descent from the Cliff was treacherous.
Three figures moved quietly along a narrow path winding between rocks.
Below stretched the endless expanse of Cheon Hae, and in the distance, the silhouettes of Yong Rin Do and Wol Yeong Ban Do emerged hazily.
Manager Seong led the way ahead, while I and Pung Mu-hwi followed side by side.
After walking for some time, Pung Mu-hwi finally spoke.
“I’m grateful for what happened just now.”
“Grateful? For what?”
“As a Pavilion Master, I couldn’t resolve the matter myself, yet you stepped forward personally, and you even saved the lives of myself and Yeom Cheol, the Vice Pavilion Master here.”
Yeom Cheol, Vice Pavilion Master of Cheon Rak Bu, bowed in gratitude to me, and I waved my hand dismissively.
“There’s nothing to be grateful for. If anything, I should be the one thanking you.”
“Pardon?”
“For not betraying me.”
“Ah….”
Pung Mu-hwi’s steps halted momentarily. I stopped as well and looked at him.
“Hwa Mu-ryeong’s proposal was certainly not unfavorable. She promised to maintain the Seong Jak Alliance and guarantee profits—it was the kind of offer that would tempt someone of your caliber. Moreover, as you can see, my body is far from whole. Yet even in such circumstances, you did not abandon your loyalty.”
“…There was no reason to consider such things.”
“No reason?”
Pung Mu-hwi slowly raised his head and met my gaze.
“You are more than worthy of following, Seol Cheonsu-sa. That alone was sufficient. If you call this loyalty, then I am the one who should be grateful.”
A smile crossed my lips.
“Your loyalty, Pavilion Master Pung, is held in high regard by me.”
The two of us resumed walking. The wind blew, scattering my robes. Pung Mu-hwi, watching me, asked carefully.
“You mentioned your body isn’t whole… are you certain you’re alright?”
“Do I look that unwell?”
“…Yes. It appears as though you’ve fallen into Qi Deviation. Your internal energy flow is unstable, your complexion is poor… and most of all, I cannot discern your ‘Realm.'”
I remained silent for a long time.
Only the sound of waves crashing against the cliff below could be heard.
To be honest with you.
“It’s not fine.”
“…This doesn’t seem to be related to the Beggar Sect Leader… Is that correct?”
“That’s right. It has nothing to do with the Beggar Sect Leader. This is purely a result of my own greed.”
“…You speak of greed, sir.”
“It’s only natural that you cannot read my realm. I cannot explain it in detail, but not just you—no one in that place could read my realm. The same will be true for Jang I-cheong when we meet in the future.”
“…I don’t understand all the details, but since you say it’s fine, I will trust you.”
Seol Woon-hwi nodded and spoke briefly.
“Ten days is short, yet also a very long time.”
“….”
“So prepare yourself.”
Prepare….
“What must I prepare for?”
Seol Woon-hwi stopped walking and looked at Pung Mu-hwi. A sharp glint flashed across eyes that had seemed dull as rotting fish.
“Pavilion Master Pung, answer this question seriously.”
“I will listen carefully.”
“Do you think I will lose to Jang I-cheong?”
Pung Mu-hwi seemed to ponder for a moment, but soon shook his head firmly.
“No. There is no way Cheonsu-sa could be defeated.”
“Then the matter becomes simple.”
Seol Woon-hwi paused briefly before continuing in a cold voice.
“The moment I enter the Secret Realm, slaughter every martial artist belonging to the Ihwa Alliance.”
Pung Mu-hwi’s eyes widened greatly.
“That… Is that truly permissible? Not just the O Dae Geom-jong and Sa-ma Oe-jong, but there are also sects established in that region. Moreover, the government is involved, and even the Imperial Court is entangled… How could we….”
“Pavilion Master Pung.”
At Seol Woon-hwi’s brief words, Pung Mu-hwi fell silent.
“This is not a matter of whether it can be done or cannot be done. It is a matter of whether it will be done or will not be done.”
“….”
“Whether it’s the Imperial Court or the government, their problems are mine to solve. What matters is completely uprooting the foundation of the Ihwa Alliance that Jang I-cheong created.”
Pung Mu-hwi fell into deep thought. Seol Woon-hwi was right.
If we miss this opportunity, the Ihwa Alliance will take root even deeper, and later it will become uncontrollable.
The true meaning of “uncontrollable” was that they would become the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance itself.
But there was one critical problem.
“With just Cheon Rak Bu alone… it seems it will be difficult.”
“I didn’t say to use only Cheon Rak Bu.”
Seol Woon-hwi smiled.
“There is the Seong Jak Alliance, and there are also the remnant forces of the Gang Cheon Wave Gate. And most importantly….”
Seol Woon-hwi gazed toward Cheon Hae.
“Hwa Mu-ryeong will come.”
“You mean Hwa Mu-ryeong?”
“The Unit Leader of the Hwasung Division from the Mixed Path Demon Flame Palace will stand on our side.”

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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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