Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 288
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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 288
The next morning, as the hour of Sa Si dawned, Seol Woon-hwi stood before the Main Gate of Gyeongseong in Yun Kyung Province.
Seol Woon-hwi had arrived at the appointed place with Seo Hyo, Manager Seong, and Han Mu-rin.
Morning sunlight bathed the fortress walls, yet the air remained bitterly cold.
Manager Seong pointed toward a group approaching in the distance.
“They’re coming.”
The Crown Prince walked forward with Kim Mu-jin and Jang Cheol-san, all three bearing expressions far more solemn than usual.
Seol Woon-hwi leaned close to Manager Seong and whispered something. Manager Seong’s expression hardened as he nodded in acknowledgment.
Seol Woon-hwi then turned his gaze toward the Crown Prince and spoke.
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince nodded and surveyed Seol Woon-hwi’s group. His eyes lingered briefly on Seo Hyo before returning to Seol Woon-hwi.
“Are you prepared?”
“Of course.”
“Then let us proceed.”
The Crown Prince led the way into Gyeongseong. The gate guards recognized him and hastily opened the passage.
The path toward the Royal Palace.
Within the fortress city, morning activity was already in full swing.
Merchants opened their shops while officials made their way to work.
As the Crown Prince’s entourage passed, everyone in the streets knelt and paid their respects.
Yet the Crown Prince paid them no mind, walking directly toward the Royal Palace.
“How long until we reach Jeong Sa Cheong?”
“Half a Shichen should suffice.”
It was not the Crown Prince who answered Seol Woon-hwi’s question.
It was Kim Mu-jin.
“Is the Prime Minister typically alone at this hour?”
“Hardly. From Sa Si until before O Si, the Prime Minister reviews state documents. Whether he eats or not, two individuals—one man and one woman—always stand guard at his side.”
These two referred to the Left Guard General and the Right Guard General.
Both were martial artists of the Heaven-Human Realm and government troops.
Beyond that, neither Seol Woon-hwi nor anyone else spoke another word.
Thus they arrived at the Royal Palace’s Main Gate.
Dozens of guards knelt in unison.
“We greet the Crown Prince!”
The Crown Prince raised his hand, signaling them to rise, then addressed the captain of the guard.
“These individuals will accompany me to Jeong Sa Cheong. Let no one interfere.”
“Understood, Your Highness!”
The guard captain bowed, though bewilderment flickered across his eyes. The Crown Prince bringing outsiders to Jeong Sa Cheong was truly unprecedented.
Yet he could not voice any objection.
A mere guard captain questioning the Crown Prince?
That was unthinkable.
The entourage passed through the gates and naturally proceeded toward the Royal Palace. Its interior was vast and magnificent, adorned with crimson pillars, golden eaves, and intricately carved dragon motifs etched throughout.
After walking for quite some time, they passed through the Royal Fortress and arrived at Jeong Sa Cheong.
Only then did the Crown Prince speak.
“Once we arrive at Jeong Sa Cheong, I will first have a conversation with the Prime Minister. After that, do what needs to be done.”
Seol Woon-hwi regarded the Crown Prince.
Speak with the Prime Minister first?
Was he so reluctant to miss an opportunity he had waited so long for? I found myself curious how someone with such unbridled ambition had managed to endure all this time.
Unexpectedly, Seol Woon-hwi smiled faintly.
“As you wish. However…”
Seol Woon-hwi gazed forward.
At that very moment, a man emerged from the estate near Byeol Won.
Seol Woon-hwi continued.
“It seems you will unfortunately have no time for a separate conversation.”
The Crown Prince’s brow furrowed. And with good reason.
The man who had just appeared was Prime Minister An Wi-gwan.
An Wi-gwan’s eyes widened as if he had not expected the Crown Prince to appear, and the moment he saw Seol Woon-hwi beside him, his brow creased.
It was clearly unexpected.
Why had these two men come together? And to this place, Jeong Sa Cheong, no less?
Behind An Wi-gwan stood two martial artists.
One was a sturdy man who appeared to be in his mid-fifties.
This man was Left Guard General Yeol Gwang-yeo.
And beside him stood a man with a sharp, keen impression in his late forties—this was Right Guard General Gwak Seo-jin.
Both men were martial artists of the Heaven-Human Realm and were far from unworthy of being called masters. Sensing something amiss, they began to tighten their grip on their composure.
An Wi-gwan, his expression hardening, offered a bow to the Crown Prince.
“Your Highness, what brings you here?”
“Is there somewhere I should not come?”
“That is not the case, but if you had business with me, why not send a letter? Then I would have gone to you myself.”
An Wi-gwan, who appeared to be in his early sixties, looked arrogant at first glance.
And the Crown Prince could not point out such an attitude.
No matter how much authority a Crown Prince possessed, politics demanded submission to those who held real power.
An Wi-gwan fixed Seol Woon-hwi with a sharp gaze.
“You are truly persistent.”
“Are you referring to me?”
“I clearly stated I would have no conversation whatsoever with the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance, yet here you are, having manipulated His Highness into bringing you to this place.”
Seol Woon-hwi smiled enigmatically.
“Are you displeased?”
“Rather than displeased, I find it somewhat petty.”
Whether An Wi-gwan’s intent was provocation or something else, Seol Woon-hwi paid it no mind.
He had asked only one thing.
“Do you think I came here to have a conversation?”
“…What?”
“Prime Minister An Wi-gwan. You must die today.”
An Wi-gwan’s face drained of all color in an instant.
“This madness….”
Seol Woon-hwi and Seo Hyo rose from their seats simultaneously.
BOOM—!!
BOOM—!!
Two thunderous explosions erupted, sending the Left Commander and Right Commander sprawling sideways.
It was all according to plan. Han Mu-rin, positioned behind them, surged forward.
An immense torrent of Demonic Transformation erupted from his body.
Demonic Transformation Sword Technique.
Han Mu-rin’s eyes blazed with intensity.
PIERCE—!
His blade pierced through An Wi-gwan’s heart.
* * *
Among the Crown Prince’s entourage, none comprehended what was unfolding.
No, every action should have a proper prelude—yet they simply severed his head without even a proper conversation? This made no sense whatsoever. A madman.
And in this moment, the Crown Prince had to make a choice.
To move or not to move.
He chose the latter.
His patience, cultivated over more than thirty years, had become second nature to him.
Manager Seong, observing the Crown Prince’s stillness with keen attention, quietly rose and repositioned himself toward Han Mu-rin.
At the entrance to Gyeongseong, Seol Woon-hwi had instructed each of them on their roles once they entered the city.
Seo Hyo and Han Mu-rin’s movements were their assigned roles, and Manager Seong’s inaction carried a role of its own.
Seol Woon-hwi had said:
-When no one expects it, we will kill the Prime Minister. And if the Crown Prince shows any sign of issuing orders at that moment, seize him as a hostage immediately.
-And if he doesn’t move?
-Then create as much distance as possible. Preferably toward Han Mu-rin.
To seize the Crown Prince as a hostage while masters of Limitless Divine Manifestation and Heaven-Human Unity stood openly watching would be no different than suicide.
Yet looking at what unfolded, it was entirely feasible.
Kim Mu-jin and Jeong Cheol-san stood in stunned bewilderment, though not quite as much as the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was undoubtedly intelligent. He was no fool.
He had time to judge before anyone else, and he judged that he would not move.
Manager Seong read that moment between heartbeats.
Seol Woon-hwi’s words rang true.
Manager Seong, having shifted toward Han Mu-rin, quietly drew the Hidden Dagger from his waist, while Seo Hyo approached Seol Woon-hwi, who stood rooted in place as he unsheathed Jinwha Cheonryeong Geom.
“What will you do? Will you truly face both of them at once?”
“Does it seem impossible?”
“It seems possible, but isn’t it a shame to reveal a hidden trump card in a place like this?”
Seol Woon-hwi glanced sideways at Seo Hyo.
Seol Woon-hwi glanced at Seo Hyo.
Seo Hyo is certainly exceptional. No—extraordinary.
Seol Woon-hwi has already faced and defeated two Heaven-Human Realm martial artists. Each time, he sustained severe injuries or worse. Yet now he faces two Heaven-Human Realm martial artists simultaneously?
This suggested that Seol Woon-hwi possessed something he had been concealing, and Seo Hyo was advising him to hold back now and save it for a truly critical moment in the future.
“After all, I will soon be operating as an Elder of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance, yet the world knows nothing of who Cheon Rim’s Daughter is or what realm she has attained.”
Seo Hyo rolled his neck and regarded the Left General, who seemed unable to comprehend this absurd situation.
“And, I do not mean to doubt the Supreme Commander, but I believe plans always carry variables.”
“I do not deny it.”
“Should ‘he’ choose not to move, we must preserve our strength for a potential escape afterward. That is my assessment.”
Seo Hyo gazed at Seol Woon-hwi with clear, resolute eyes.
—If this endeavor fails, I am prepared to die here. And I will do whatever it takes to ensure your survival, Supreme Commander. Therefore, I ask that you fulfill my wish afterward without fail.
Seol Woon-hwi let out a soft laugh.
How could he refuse when Seo Hyo spoke with such conviction?
“Take command as Left General. You have half a Gak.”
Seo Hyo nodded and rose from his seat.
Seol Woon-hwi turned his head.
The Right General still stood with wide eyes, clearly bewildered.
“You seem confused.”
“…You… do you even know where this place is?”
“How would I not? This is the Royal Fortress of Woon-guk.”
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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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