Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 291

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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 291
Seol Woon-hwi let out a hollow laugh.
“As I mentioned before, nothing can be done from within the shadows, Senior.”
“…You….”
“And yet you came anyway.”
Hwa Mu-nyeom glanced at Han Mu-rin.
“…Did you not create a situation that left me no choice but to come?”
“Is that not acceptable?”
“….”
“Do you still not understand?”
“Understand what…are you saying.”
“I need you, Senior Hwa. And you need me as well.”
“….”
“What I’m saying is that the bond between you and me must run deeper than the thread of fate that has formed between me and the Crown Prince.”
Hwa Mu-nyeom slowly released his grip.
“I once told you not to think of yourself as a blade like Yang Seol-jin. I have continued to ponder the true meaning behind those words.”
Seol Woon-hwi regarded Hwa Mu-nyeom in silence.
“Now it becomes clear to me.”
A smile graced Seol Woon-hwi’s lips while a cold smile spread across Hwa Mu-nyeom’s face.
“You audacious wretch—you intended to wield the Muk Se-hoe as your own blade.”
Seol Woon-hwi’s answer was simple.
“I will not deny it.”
“Then what is it you ultimately desire? It certainly does not seem to be overthrowing the Snow Palace.”
“You did not know?”
“…What?”
Seol Woon-hwi laughed brightly.
“I honor the promises I make, and I eliminate the enemies I must kill by any means necessary. When we spoke at the Cheon Ryong Palace, we discussed one shared purpose.”
“….”
“You desire the restoration of the Thousand Year Demon Cult, and I promised to aid you in that endeavor.”
“….”
“Have no fear. The Thousand Year Demon Cult will be restored. And in that process, I will obtain what I must obtain.”
“Then why do you not simply tell me what that is.”
It was one thing.
The life of Yu Cheong, Vice Sect Leader of the Origin Blood Sect.
Seol Woon-hwi had no intention of speaking that aloud now.
“You will come to know it in time.”
“….”
“And there is one more thing.”
Seol Woon-hwi quietly placed his hand upon Hwa Mu-nyeom’s shoulder.
“There is one more decision that you must make, Senior.”
Hwa Mu-nyeom glanced at Seol Woon-hwi’s arm draped across his shoulder and asked in a low voice.
“What is this?”
“The position of Vice Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance is currently vacant.”
“….”
“I wish for Senior Hwa to take that seat.”
Hwa Mu-nyeom’s brow furrowed slowly.
It was not the words from Seol Woon-hwi’s mouth that caused this. It was the increasing pressure in Seol Woon-hwi’s grip on his shoulder.
“Senior.”
“…Speak.”
“Do I appear to be a fool to you?”
Only Seol Woon-hwi and Hwa Mu-nyeom could understand the meaning of these cryptic words.
Watching Hwa Mu-nyeom’s silence, Seol Woon-hwi lowered his hand and stepped back.
“I hope you will make this choice of your own free will.”
“….”
“Among all the martial artists of the Muk Se-hoe, there is not a single one waiting only for the day of their death.”
“….”
Seol Woon-hwi turned and asked.
“Is that not so?”
No one nodded their head, as if watching Hwa Mu-nyeom’s reaction, yet their eyes spoke everything.
Without exception, all agreed with Seol Woon-hwi’s words.
“Imagine it. The Heavenly Righteousness Alliance that will lead the Muk Se-hoe and spread influence across the world.”
“….”
“The Heavenly Righteousness Alliance will become an organization that embraces the Demonic Path, the Righteous Path, and all others. Yes, that is true order. The Muk Se-hoe will become the pillar of such an alliance, and together with me, it will seize roughly half of Cheon Rim’s foundation.”
Hwa Mu-nyeom stared at Seol Woon-hwi with darkening eyes.
“The picture is becoming clear now. What I intend to do.”
“…You will make the foundation of the Thousand Year Demon Cult into the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance?”
“Does that displease you?”
Hwa Mu-nyeom did not answer with words.
Seol Woon-hwi did not press him either.
It was natural and understandable that Hwa Mu-nyeom was angry today.
He had certainly moved of his own free will today.
Of his own free will, he had summoned all the core members of the Muk Se-hoe and aided Seol Woon-hwi.
Did the Leader truly grant permission for this?
Not at all.
“Senior Hwa. May I speak one more word?”
“…Go ahead.”
“Your actions today aligned with what you told me back then at Cheon Ryong Palace.”
“….”
“It was the conviction of a martial artist who broke his seclusion and returned to the Murim to create order.”
“….”
“If I may be so bold, you handled that excellently.”
Hwa Mu-nyeom closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled a long breath before turning away.
Among those wearing masks, there were a few whose postures seemed somewhat awkward.
“You two—remove your masks.”
At Hwa Mu-nyeom’s command, two men flinched and slowly lowered their masks.
They immediately offered a respectful salute.
“My apologies for the late greeting. Dok Go-hyeon of the Dok Go Family pays respects to Yeom Wang.”
“…Dok Go-hyeon… I believe I glimpsed you briefly during the Gold Powder Ceremony. Is that correct?”
“You remember—I am honored.”
The Gold Powder Ceremony had taken place at the Hondo Maryeom Palace.
Dok Go-hyeon had been present that day, and though only for a moment, he and Hwa Mu-nyeom had exchanged pleasantries.
I had thought that first meeting would be our last.
Indeed, one never knew what life had in store when lived long enough.
Next came Pung Mu-hwi from Seongchakju, offering the Embracing Fist salute.
“Pung Mu-hwi, Pavilion Master of Pung Geom Hall and newly appointed Cheonsu of Seongchakju. It is an honor to meet Yeom Wang.”
“Though you joined rather suddenly and your greeting came late, was this truly our first meeting?”
“Yes, it is our first meeting.”
Yeom Wang glanced briefly at Seol Woon-hwi.
“There’s someone in the middle who’s made things complicated—it doesn’t quite feel like a first meeting.”
Hwa Mu-nyeom, who had surveilled Seol Woon-hwi’s surroundings multiple times, had inadvertently observed Pung Mu-hwi on several occasions.
In any case.
“Master Hwa, may I take my leave now?”
“Go ahead.”
Seol Woon-hwi turned his head. Though he could not identify each masked figure individually, he offered them all a respectful Embracing Fist salute.
“I am grateful for the assistance of my seniors.”
Several nodded in acknowledgment. Despite their masks, their eyes were clear enough to reveal their emotions.
Satisfaction, admiration, and anticipation.
Seol Woon-hwi’s conduct had earned their favor without his realizing it, and Hwa Mu-nyeom was well aware of this.
Seol Woon-hwi held Hwa Mu-nyeom’s gaze for a moment, then continued on his way.
Today, I had severed the bond between the Nine Gate Society and Woon-guk.
Now I had to move forward to what came next.
* * *
The price of choice had to be severe.
An Wi-gwan was dead, Seol Woon-hwi had rebuilt his relationship with the Woon-guk Imperial Court, and once again he had proven himself.
And now there was one person who had not yet paid the price for their choice.
Hwa Mu-nyeom.
He was in a private audience with a man.
“Why did our Vice Leader make such a choice?”
“…”
“You were doing well, then suddenly you stumbled. Let’s speak frankly—do you have grievances with the Muk Se-hoe?”
“There isn’t one.”
“Then why did you do it?”
Hwa Mu-nyeom lifted his head. The man wore a mask, but Hwa Mu-nyeom knew what expression lay beneath it.
There was no need to think about it.
The man was smiling.
“Do you believe I made an incorrect judgment?”
“Before we discuss whether it was correct or incorrect, I’m asking why you moved independently without my permission as the Leader. That’s what I’m saying.”
“Moved independently…? Are you referring to me?”
“Why? Wasn’t that the case?”
“The board itself was set by the Leader, and I simply did what needed to be done within that board. I doubt you’re now trying to assign blame, so what’s your real intention?”
The masked man said nothing for a moment.
Then he burst into laughter.
Ahahahahaha.
“I was just joking around, but you took it so seriously. Intention? Nothing much.”
The man leaned forward.
“What do you think about the war between Cheon Rim and Muk Se-hoe?”
“I believe it was something that had to happen eventually.”
“Eventually… The victor will take everything, so I wonder what the Master will think of this.”
The question carried more than one layer of intent.
Hwa Mu-nyeom, seasoned as an experienced master, responded to it directly.
“If the Master objects, naturally we should follow his instructions, but as far as I know, the Master has said nothing thus far.”
“That’s true.”
“Then isn’t this direction the correct one?”
The man let out a hollow laugh.
“You’re flawless. But let me ask you one thing. What does our Vice Leader think will win?”
Which side will win…
“Whoever is more desperate and more resolute will emerge victorious.”
“That’s a wise answer, but I didn’t know you had such tastes.”
The man scratched his head, leaned back in his chair, and rested his chin on his hand.
“I’m not sure whether Cheon Ui-jung really wants the restoration of the Thousand Year Demon Cult, or if it’s just the expansion of his own power.”
Hwa Mu-nyeom did not answer.
As he had said before, whoever was more desperate and more resolute would take everything.
That included the Leader before his eyes.
“What’s interesting is that our Vice Leader is already acting like his limbs, so it seems clear that the old ways of Muk Se-hoe didn’t sit well with you. Isn’t that right?”
“Do you want an honest answer?”
“Of course. For you or the Vice Leader to hide your true feelings here would be odd, wouldn’t it? Especially when we rarely meet alone like this.”
Hwa Mu-nyeom nodded and answered in a quiet voice.
“The old Muk Se-hoe lived up to its name—it remained silent. But Seol Woon-hwi said that silence was not the right path.”
“And then?”
“I agree wholeheartedly with that view. Not just I, but most of the members of Muk Se-hoe think the same way. You know well enough—we are all those who chose seclusion from the Murim.”
“Of course I know. How could I not? I’m the Leader of this society, after all.”
“The members of Muk Se-hoe don’t have many years left to live. They didn’t join Muk Se-hoe merely to die in silence.”
“You want to leave some kind of legacy, is that it?”
“If the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance absorbs Cheon Rim and is reborn as an organization comparable to the Martial Alliance or the Four Heaven Alliance, and if they become the architects of this achievement, then all members of Muk Se-hoe will be satisfied. At least.”
“At least?”
“Because they will have done something before they died.”
The man scratched his chin, finding himself at a loss for words.
Every word was painfully accurate. It was absurd to deny it, and he couldn’t even try. Seol Woon-hwi had struck precisely at Muk Se-hoe’s weakness and transformed them into his own force through that very vulnerability.
Truly, this one is formidable.
Tsk.
The man clicked his tongue lightly and spoke.
“The board has certainly grown larger. Let’s see how this unfolds. Oh, and.”
The man continued, his gaze fixed on the silent Hwa Mu-nyeom.
“I considered punishing you, but since the Master has said nothing, how can I impose a penalty? So rise now. You’ve said all you need to say.”

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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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