Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 295

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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 295
I ignored the screams echoing from behind.
Before being a martial artist, one must pay the price for their choices as a human being.
Moo Cheol-woo was a man capable of far more than expected from his position as the Poison Master.
He was different from the Dark Master or the Assassin Master, who had bowed their heads cleanly upon arrival.
Based on my memories from my previous life, the Poison Master certainly followed Seo Hyo, but among the four known as the Four Main Gods, he was the most calculating man.
I hadn’t examined the details thoroughly, but there had to be reasons behind his loyalty to Seo Hyo.
It was clear even now.
Moo Cheol-woo understood this board precisely.
The very fact that he had brought up the word “persuasion” showed his ambition.
I harbored no small concern about being swayed by such a man, and I had no desire to waste time unnecessarily.
That’s why I killed him.
I made my way to the bedchamber and searched every corner.
A modest amount of spirit medicine and a considerable sum of gold coins.
And even the Cheon-rim O-dok-jin.
I let out an internal sigh.
There had been multiple attacks, and among them, the Cheon-rim O-dok-jin had appeared.
Considering the movements and such, it was right to attribute this to Cheon Rim’s doing.
It was arranged that way.
After placing the items into the Storage Bag, I turned my head.
I had told them it was Moo Cheol-woo’s work with my mouth, but it wasn’t.
I could stake my head and swear to it.
It couldn’t have been Moo Cheol-woo.
But for now, it was right to settle it as Moo Cheol-woo’s doing.
I came out slowly.
Dozens of corpses lay scattered, and among them, a dozen men and women looked up at me with blood-soaked faces.
Sa Seol-ran, the Assassin Master, spoke with a slight smile.
“These are the people I mentioned when I arrived. They were primarily trained as assassins, and their level will likely surpass even that of the Ghost Soul Gate.”
It appeared so.
The total number was ten.
One of them had reached the Divine Transformation Realm, and the remaining nine had all reached the Five Energy Harmonizing Origin.
To reiterate, the way of the assassin and the way of the martial artist are different.
There is a stark difference between reaching Five Energy Harmonizing Origin as a martial artist and reaching it as an assassin, so these nine deserved high regard simply for having reached that level.
Judging by how they had slaughtered the dozens around them, their skill was evident.
“You’ve been cultivating a fine unit.”
“You are too kind.”
“Is there anything else left to settle?”
The Dark Master and the Blood Master shook their heads.
After a moment of thought, I spoke in a quiet voice.
“I cannot abandon a unit that has been painstakingly cultivated.”
“…What?”
“Summon the County Governor.”
I collapsed back into my seat.
If I stationed the Dark Lord and the Assassin Master here while the friction with Ihwageomseonchong remained unresolved, they would almost certainly die.
For now, until everything was settled, I needed someone to manage this place—and truthfully, there was only one person for the job.
The County Governor.
Whether he grew greedy and seized control of this place or did something else was a matter for later.
“What are you doing? Go fetch him.”
Ya Muk-cheon, scratching his head, immediately bolted from his seat.
* * *
Not long after, the sound of hurried footsteps reached my ears.
Bang!
The door to the Cheon-dok Trading Company burst open roughly, and a man rushed inside.
He appeared to be in his early forties, with a sturdy build, breathing heavily as he surveyed his surroundings.
His face turned pale as he took in the blood-stained interior of the trading company and the dozens of corpses scattered about.
“Heavenly Righteousness… Your Excellency!”
The man spotted me and quickly dropped to his knees.
“Yang Hyeok, County Governor of Woon-guk, begs forgiveness for arriving late!”
I spoke calmly.
“You haven’t arrived late—you’ve arrived at precisely the right moment. Now, stand.”
Yang Hyeok rose and surveyed the surroundings once more, his eyes filled with reverence.
“All of this… it’s just as the rumors said.”
All I had done was kill the Poison Master, but such details mattered little to the County Governor.
Why was the County Governor so deferential to me?
There was only one reason.
Word of what had transpired at the Royal Fortress of Woon-guk had spread like wildfire among the officials.
The Prime Minister and Prince Chin, who had been the true power brokers of Woon-guk, were dead, and the Crown Prince had seized absolute control.
In plain terms, the Crown Prince was now the sky over Woon-guk.
For a mere County Governor to obstruct me—someone who had pressured that very Crown Prince and joined hands with him for the future—would be utterly absurd.
“I have no interest in what you’ve been receiving from Moo Cheol-woo until now. Simply continue as you have been.”
Continue as before?
From Yang Hyeok’s perspective, he could not simply accept words from someone nearly equal in standing to the Crown Prince.
He spoke urgently.
“…Please, give me any command you wish!”
I rose from my seat and walked toward Yang Hyeok.
“Manage Cheong Pung City.”
“…You mean Cheong Pung City?”
“Not just this place.”
My eyes gleamed coldly.
“Place all of Cheong Pung City under your complete control.”
Yang Hyeok’s eyes widened. Cheong Pung City was the largest commercial hub in the southern territories. To manage it entirely meant….
“But Lord Seol Woon-hwi, even with Moo Cheol-woo dead, his forces haven’t been dismantled, have they….”
“You can’t do it? Afraid of friction with a headless faction?”
“That’s… not it!”
Seol Woon-hwi chuckled softly.
“Wi Joong-dal of Seong Jak-ju currently has a stepping stone prepared to climb beyond his position as Ja-sa.”
When the unexpected name Wi Joong-dal appeared, Yang Hyeok’s eyes widened, but they soon transformed into delight.
“Even such a man needs subordinates, and if you straighten out this chaotic Cheong Pung City, wouldn’t that be proof of your own worth?”
“Ah….”
“Yang Hyeok.”
“Yes… yes, Lord Seol Woon-hwi.”
“If a man is born, he must seize what he desires and eliminate those who obstruct him. When a worthy ally appears, grasp his hand, and when an opportunity to prove yourself arises, prove yourself. Isn’t that the way of a man?”
Yang Hyeok’s eyes gleamed with fervor.
“…I shall remember… and remember again.”
“Good.”
Seol Woon-hwi turned his gaze to Sa Seol-ran.
“Entrust your subordinates to Yang Hyeok. For now, they will forge a new order in Cheong Pung City.”
“Understood.”
Sa Seol-ran nodded and looked upon her subordinates.
“From this day forth, serve County Governor Yang Hyeok. His commands are my commands.”
Ten assassins knelt in unison.
“We shall obey!”
Seol Woon-hwi placed a hand upon Yang Hyeok’s shoulder.
“Remember this. Cheong Pung City is no longer ‘Cheon Rim’s land’—it is the land of the ‘Heavenly Righteousness Alliance and Woon-guk.’ Let no one draw breath without our permission.”
“I shall make it so!”
Conviction resonated in Yang Hyeok’s voice.
“Your bearing is excellent.”
Seol Woon-hwi gazed upon Ya Muk-cheon and Sa Seol-ran.
“We depart for Cheonsu. Make ready.”
“Yes!”
Not a trace of doubt flickered in the eyes of Ya Muk-cheon and Sa Seol-ran.
Seol Woon-hwi’s methods.
The trust Seol Woon-hwi bestowed.
Though it came through Seo Hyo, it was unmistakably conveyed. And so they were certain.
That he was a man worthy of working alongside.
Thus the three departed for Cheonsu, where the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance Main Headquarters awaited.
* * *
A man with black hair and neat attire stood alone.
Before him lay a Go Board, and though it was his turn to place a stone, he did not.
With eyes closed, drawing a deep breath, he slowly opened them.
I clenched the Black Stone in my hand with crushing force, and with a sharp crack, it crumbled to dust and scattered.
“Heheheh… it seems your mood is quite poor.”
At the leisurely words of Cheon Do-ja, the founder of the Original Blood Sect seated across from me, the Unknown Man lifted his head.
The Unknown Man’s expression was pure serenity, devoid of any emotion—though both he and Cheon Do-ja knew the truth.
This was merely the surface appearance; beneath it, his inner turmoil churned as if ready to burst at any moment.
“I have but one question, Founder.”
“Go ahead.”
“Why are you doing this?”
The eyes of Demonic Way Zen Master Yu Cheong were deeply sunken.
Cheon Do-ja, meeting that gaze, wore an unexpected smile.
Yu Cheong understood this well—that Cheon Do-ja was a man full of mischief.
But this situation was different.
“You restrain me while my subordinates die one by one at the hands of the Snow Mountain Demon Lord. I am genuinely curious about your reason for this.”
“Heheheh… subordinates, you say… Do you not yourself wonder whether they are truly your subordinates or merely phantoms bound together by ambition?”
“Why would I not know? I am their ambition.”
Cheon Do-ja laughed with a hehehehe sound.
“Then you would not place a stone.”
“There is a move I should make, yet you prevent me from making it, then ask if I would not make it—I believe that is a contradiction.”
Even at Yu Cheong’s words, Cheon Do-ja’s smile did not fade.
Yu Cheong is a man who has mastered the art of concealing his true nature.
The reason Seol Woon-hwi of the previous life failed to notice was not because Cheon Do-ja shielded him, but solely because of Yu Cheong’s ability.
Yet even Yu Cheong was now unable to hide his true feelings.
The recent news he had heard left Yu Cheong bewildered, again and again.
The events unfolding within the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.
The events occurring between Cheon Rim and Muk Se-hoe.
And at the center of all these events, one man.
“The Snow Mountain Demon Lord—do you regard him so highly?”
“If you answer, then I will place a stone.”
“You answer first, Founder.”
“My, it seems our Vice Sect Leader is truly quite angry. Hehehehehehe.”
At Cheon Do-ja’s hearty laughter, Yu Cheong was instead taken aback.
He could not recall ever seeing this man so delighted in approximately thirty years…
“Listen here.”
“…Yes.”
“What do you believe is the value of completion for a martial artist?”
There was not a moment’s hesitation.
“To rule this world in place of Heaven for ten thousand generations. That is what true completion as a martial artist means.”
“Do you truly believe so?”
“Then what do you believe?”
“My thoughts are unimportant, but someone once told me—the value of a martial artist’s completion is the mettle to never retreat, no matter the circumstance.”
Yu Cheong let out a bitter laugh.
“I believe it is no different from arrogance.”
“That is precisely why I wish to see it.”
“….”
“If you step forward, the Palace Lord of Snow Palace will do the same, and then Snow Palace and the Main Sect would begin war… but that would hardly be entertaining, would it?”
“It could serve as an opening move for the unification of the Central Plains.”
“Heh heh… and that is precisely what makes it so tedious.”
“….”
“My friend, whose whim decides the opening? I have not yet made that determination.”
From Cheon Do-ja’s gently smiling form, the aura of a Supreme One began to radiate outward. Yu Cheong swallowed hard.
‘…A monster.’
He had never considered himself weak. He had planted people throughout the Central Plains, built organizations, and cultivated his strength while clearly recognizing himself as a powerful one—yet gazing upon this mad old man before him, that conviction inverted entirely.
Was he eternally the weak one? Could he truly never surpass this man?
Precisely because he was unpredictable did fear grip him all the more.

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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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