Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 273

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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 273
“No matter how you interpret it, the result is the same. You complete your revenge, and the Hondo Maryeom Palace falls into your hands.”
Seol Woon-hwi spoke with unwavering conviction.
“Annihilating the Hondo Maryeom Palace or making it yours—both are the completion of your revenge. The only difference lies in the method.”
“….”
“The first method is destruction. The second is conquest. Which will you choose?”
Han Mu-rin deliberated for a long moment.
And finally, he spoke.
“Please grant me some time.”
“How much?”
“One week. That should suffice.”
Seol Woon-hwi nodded.
“Very well. Give me your answer in one week.”
Han Mu-rin bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Supreme Commander.”
* * *
The Hall of Heavenly Righteousness within the Main Headquarters of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance, located in Cheonsu.
Silence permeated the vast chamber.
The seat of the Alliance Leader remained vacant. Since Ye Won-je’s sudden death, no one had occupied that throne, and Mae Wi-dong, the only man capable of claiming it, had refused the position for reasons unknown.
Perhaps he had judged himself unprepared, or perhaps there were other reasons—but now, seated in the position of Vice Alliance Leader, Mae Wi-dong’s expression appeared more complex than ever.
He had wished to revitalize the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.
Yet those who came to aid in its revival had fought among themselves, and now new grudges had been born.
His gaze swept across the empty seats.
Jang I-cheong of the Ihwageomseonchong, the Manhwa Geom-je.
Jin So-cheon of the Heavenly Sound Sword Sect.
Hang Ryeo of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect.
So Ryeong-hwa of the Heavenly Demon Yin Spirit Gate.
All empty seats. They could no longer come to this place.
Only three remained.
So Ye-hwa, the Wind Cloud Sword of the Suncheon Sword Sect. A woman whose neatly swept-back hair and sharp gaze left a striking impression.
Heuk Myeong, the Wolf Demon Vanguard of the Black Heaven Demon Prison Palace. A middle-aged man in black robes, emanating the cold aura befitting a demon palace.
And perched upon his shoulder was a raven—small in size, yet radiating the presence of a spirit beast.
And for good reason.
First, its color was white. This was Baek O, the demonic hand that Heuk Myeong kept at his side.
Finally, Hwa Mu-ryeong, the Red Flame Army of the Hondo Maryeom Palace.
The sole figure standing with Seol Woon-hwi. Mae Wi-dong, his expression troubled, questioned her.
“Do you know when the Snow Mountain Demon Lord will arrive?”
His tone was grave and respectful.
Hwa Mu-ryeong paused briefly before answering.
“He should arrive soon.”
“Is there a reason you didn’t come together?”
“I thought it was more fitting for me to take my seat first rather than arrive together.”
“I see.”
The moment Mae Wi-dong nodded, So Ye-hwa spoke coldly.
“Snow Mountain Demon Lord… at first that nickname felt strange, but now it suits you perfectly.”
“What do you mean?”
As Hwa Mu-ryeong narrowed her eyes, So Ye-hwa scoffed.
“The Ten Thousand Year Snow Mountain is clearly an organization that reveres the righteous path, yet the Polar Descendants there bear the character for ‘demon’ in their title. It would normally be strange, but seeing your actions, it doesn’t seem strange at all. That’s what I’m saying.”
In other words, it wouldn’t be surprising if Seol Woon-hwi walked the demonic path.
Hwa Mu-ryeong’s brow furrowed.
She didn’t harbor any particular feelings toward Seol Woon-hwi. However, while his actions had been excessive, they were necessary.
If Woon-hwi hadn’t done what he did, Jang I-cheong would be sitting here instead.
Soon after, Hwa Mu-ryeong let out a hollow laugh.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because it’s worth laughing about.”
“…”
“Does the Suncheon Sword Sect revere the righteous path?”
“You’re not asking without knowing.”
“I do know, but it’s strange. If you truly revere the righteous path, shouldn’t you say something to Jang I-cheong, who’s now dead and gone to the Three Path River? Shouldn’t you?”
“What are you saying?”
“Frankly, he started all of this, yet you’re covering for him because he’s from the same O Dae Geom-jong? Or are you deliberately turning a blind eye? Are you confident in yourselves?”
Just as So Ye-hwa was about to jump to her feet.
“Lady So.”
Heuk Myeong quietly stopped her.
“I don’t think now is the time for such words.”
“But…”
“If Jang Cheonsu-sa had lived, it would be right to apply the same standard to him. And considering that all of this began with Jang Cheonsu-sa, wouldn’t it be fair to say that Seol Cheonsu-sa is closer to being a victim?”
“…”
“Of course, I have received help from Seol Cheonsu-sa, but I trust that Lady So knows I’m not someone who can’t distinguish between public and private matters.”
“I do trust that.”
“Then let us wait and see for now. Seol Cheonsu-sa hasn’t even arrived yet, and we haven’t heard anything from his own mouth.”
So Ye-hwa sighed and glared at Hwa Mu-ryeong for a moment before picking up the tea in front of her and drinking it in one gulp.
Once the situation had settled somewhat, Mae Wi-dong spoke in a solemn voice.
“What we need to discuss now is not the nickname of the Snow Mountain Demon Lord, but the direction the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance will take going forward.”
Just as he was about to continue.
The door to the Cheon-ui Jeon opened.
All eyes turned toward it.
Woon-hwi was entering.
He carried himself with commanding presence.
From his figure in black robes emanated an aura different from before—the majesty of a master who had ascended the Four Stages of Heaven and Earth.
Mae Wi-dong’s eyes gleamed at the sight of Seol Woon-hwi.
So Ye-hwa and Heuk Myeong felt the same way.
Words aside, who could possibly look down on Seol Woon-hwi now?
Whether the actions Seol Woon-hwi had taken would bring about significant consequences was a secondary matter. He had already become one of the upper echelon masters of the Murim.
That was what mattered most.
He walked slowly and took a seat in the empty space.
“My apologies for being late.”
“Not at all. You’ve arrived at the perfect time.”
Mae Wi-dong spoke with utmost courtesy.
“First… you’ve endured considerable hardship because of this matter.”
“I merely did what was necessary.”
Behind Seol Woon-hwi as he spoke, five figures took their seats. So Ye-hwa, her brow furrowed at the sight, interjected into the conversation.
“That’s quite a few people, isn’t it?”
Seol Woon-hwi’s gaze shifted toward So Ye-hwa.
“You must be well aware of what kind of gathering this is, yet you’ve brought far too many people without the proper authority, haven’t you?”
At So Ye-hwa’s sharp words, Seol Woon-hwi offered a gentle smile.
“I understand well what you’re trying to say, Senior.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. The reason I brought them here is because they were the principal actors in this incident and deserve recognition for their contributions.”
“…Contributions…? Recognition…? For killing four members of Cheonsu Temple?”
The atmosphere grew cold.
Seol Woon-hwi regarded So Ye-hwa.
“They were not four members of Cheonsu Temple, but four fools consumed by nothing but greed.”
“…”
“Moreover, do you know why they died?”
“…I wonder. What was the reason?”
“Because my people shed blood.”
Seol Woon-hwi’s voice was remarkably calm.
“My people bled. Why should I not exact a price for that?”
“But because of that…”
“Are you about to say that the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance has been placed in a difficult position?”
“…”
“Then such a situation should never have been created in the first place. This is the Murim. Those who submit lose everything—that is the way of things. Do I appear to be someone who would submit?”
So Ye-hwa’s mouth fell open in a daze.
Is this guy actually insane?
“Only one who has resolved to lose everything has the right to resolve to take everything from another. Furthermore, do you possess the authority to hold me accountable?”
“…What?”
“There is nothing more disagreeable than someone without authority acting as though they possess it. Senior.”
So Ye-hwa was about to spring to her feet in indignation when—
“Snow Mountain Demon Lord, and Wind Cloud Blade. Now is not the time for us to blame one another.”
At Mae Wi-dong’s words, So Ye-hwa stopped abruptly in her place.
Mae Wi-dong exhaled a deep sigh.
“Let me summarize the current situation facing the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.”
Mae Wi-dong spoke, cracking his fingers one by one.
“Gangbuk Province, Bogae County, Juksan County, Balwha County. Four regions have become ungoverned territories.”
“….”
“And Ihwageomseonchong, Heavenly Sound Sword Sect, Azure Cloud Sword Sect, and Heavenly Demon Yin Spirit Gate. Four sects have now certainly turned their backs on the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.”
This was no exaggeration.
Letters condemning Seol Woon-hwi’s actions had already arrived from those four sects this very morning.
Mae Wi-dong looked toward Seol Woon-hwi.
“The Snow Mountain Demon Lord stands at the center of all this.”
Seol Woon-hwi spoke calmly.
“So what will you do?”
“What do you mean….”
“Both you and the Vice Alliance Leader know this. That this is a moment of choice.”
Seol Woon-hwi stated clearly.
“Whether to embrace me and face those four sects, or to strike me down and shift all the grievances onto me.”
His words struck at the heart of the matter.
In the end, all these grievances centered on Seol Woon-hwi.
From the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance’s perspective, if they cast out Seol Woon-hwi and dumped all the grievances on him, there would be no repercussions.
After all, the dead speak not, and even if one places a few justifications upon a corpse, no one would object.
It was the ancient tradition of the Murim.
Mae Wi-dong asked.
“Which path does the Snow Mountain Demon Lord desire?”
“It matters not to me.”
Seol Woon-hwi spoke with tranquility.
“But I will make one thing certain.”
“What is that?”
“If you abandon me, the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance will remain merely an ordinary alliance. But if you stand with me….”
Seol Woon-hwi’s eyes gleamed with intensity.
“Whether it becomes gruel or rice, the righteousness of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance will strike deep roots throughout the realm.”
Silence fell.
Only then could Mae Wi-dong understand.
Why Seol Woon-hwi had brought his people here.
This was a demonstration.
Seong Yang-ho, Ju So-ah, Namgung Won Yang, Han Mu-rin, Pung Mu-hwi.
And Hwa Mu-ryeong standing there as well.
Each of them commands their own people. Regardless of their individual abilities, with merely those present here, Seol Woon-hwi had devastated four entire regions.
Now that place had been emptied of Cheonsu Temple, and many of the sects that had been ruling forces had lost their strength, becoming a chaotic wasteland.
In the end, Seol Woon-hwi was the center of all this.
With merely that much power, I could devastate four entire regions in a single night.
So imagine what I could accomplish if I had the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance backing me.
I had exploited this psychology countless times before.
When I swallowed Yang-ryeong, I stimulated people’s imaginations, and the results exceeded even those expectations.
This time was no different.
A subtle smile bloomed at the corners of Mae Wi-dong’s lips.
The rumors were certainly not exaggerated.
He was no mere object.
His actions and manner of speech.
The atmosphere he naturally created.
Words like “remarkable” fell short of capturing it.
In Mae Wi-dong’s eyes, I sparkled like a star in the night sky, burning with an almost mad brilliance.
“Before we begin the meeting, might we speak privately for a moment?”
I smiled faintly.
“Of course, Vice Alliance Leader.”
The two men rose from their seats and headed toward Byeol Won.

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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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