Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 299

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 299
Jo Tae-hwa’s expression hardened.
“And what scheme did Jang I-cheong, dispatched from the Ihwageomseonchong, attempt to pull?”
Seol Woon-hwi’s tone was calm, but the content was anything but.
“He colluded with bandits to seize profits, and ultimately dragged innocent martial artists from other sects into his schemes, leading them to their deaths alongside him. A truly pathetic human being. His ambitions far exceeded his actual capabilities.”
“…You bastard… are you insulting the dead?”
“He deserves to be insulted. I do not regard such a man as a senior, nor as a martial artist. I see him only as a schemer.”
“You…!”
I paid him no mind.
“Surely the seniors cannot claim ignorance of all this. Can you truly hide the sky with your hands?”
Yu Myeong-san rose to his feet, his face flushed with anger.
“Does that give you the right to kill our people!”
“It gives me more than sufficient justification.”
Seol Woon-hwi opened his mouth, his gaze sweeping across each person with unwavering resolve.
“Seniors. Remember this. I will make this proposal only once.”
“….”
“If you refuse this proposal, I stake my head on this: not only will those who refuse become my enemies, but everything behind them as well. And I will kill my enemies, again and again, until my dying breath.”
The atmosphere of the Cheon Ryong Palace turned frigid in an instant. Killing intent bloomed throughout the hall.
I remained unmoved.
“We will face only the Ihwageomseonchong.”
“What?”
Jo Tae-hwa rose in shock.
“The rest of you seniors should join the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance and take your share of the profits.”
The Cheon Ryong Palace stirred in an instant.
“W… what are you saying!”
Jo Tae-hwa cried out in bewilderment, but his words meant nothing.
“There are still those among you who maintain ties with the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance. The Suncheon Sword Sect, the Black Heaven Demon Prison Palace, and the Mixed Path Demon Flame Palace—these three sects have suffered no losses and continue to reap their profits. And the Divine Slaughter Sword Sect and the Heart Demon Dao Gate, which never participated in the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance’s revival from the start, likely harbor no great resentment toward it.”
If they did harbor resentment, that would be far stranger.
My gaze turned toward O Mu-nyeom of the Divine Slaughter Sword Sect.
“Particularly regarding the Divine Slaughter Sword Sect—I have a rough understanding of what secret agreement may have passed between you and Zhuge Yeong-hyeon of the Martial Alliance.”
O Mu-nyeom regarded me silently.
“If you wish to test which side holds greater advantage, I will not stop you. But since you stand here as the responsible representative, that choice must be made now.”
O Mu-nyeom nodded quietly.
I swept my gaze around the hall once more before continuing.
“The territory of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance will expand further. Cheonsu Temple will need to dispatch more personnel, so there is ample justification for their involvement.”
Yu Myeong-san asked.
“What does it mean to belong to the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance?”
“Exactly as stated. The Gukmun Society will be dissolved. There is no justification for its continued existence. Instead, each sect will form individual alliances with the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.”
I explained calmly.
“You will share the profits gained from Woon-guk and jointly respond to the great changes that will unfold in the Central Plains.”
At Seol Woon-hwi’s words, everyone except Jo Tae-hwa exchanged glances with one another.
Now that he mentioned it….
‘This… isn’t half bad, is it?’
Yu Myeong-san of the Suncheon Sword Sect cast a subtle glance toward Jo Tae-hwa.
‘The alliance between the O-dae Geom-jong and Sa-ma Oe-jong was never meant to last long anyway. But if the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance serves as a bridge between us, we can minimize friction while reaping substantial benefits.’
O Mu-nyeom of the Divine Slaughter Sword Sect regarded Seol Woon-hwi intently.
‘…I had assumed from the start that this organization could never endure, yet this fellow’s tongue proves far sweeter than I anticipated. More so, even, than Zhuge Yeong-hyeon’s proposal.’
This was genuine sentiment.
He had come with no interest in the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance’s revival, but now the calculus shifted entirely.
Why should they concern themselves with what the Ihwageomseonchong or the Martial Alliance thought?
As the strongest faction among the O-dae Geom-jong, he had arrived merely to fill a seat with feigned agreement, yet now he stood to gain far more.
Seol Woon-hwi spoke.
“Are not the senior of the Heavenly Sound Sword Sect, the senior of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, and the senior of the Heavenly Demon Yin Spirit Gate all individuals who understand the moral duty of a martial artist?”
“…Ahem….”
“I have indeed slain Jin So-cheon with my own hands, killed Hang Ryeo, and killed So Ryeong-hwa. Yet I had no choice but to do so—the circumstances that forced my hand were created by Jang I-cheong of the Ihwageomseonchong. The very man who caused your martial artists to perish stands before you, and the root of this calamity lies with him. How can you fault me for this?”
“…Hmm….”
It was sound logic, and none could mount a rebuttal.
But Jo Tae-hwa was different.
“This is laughable.”
“Is it?”
“You wield that three-inch tongue of yours to sow discord within our Nine Gate Society—do you not see the situation clearly….”
“It is not discord.”
Seol Woon-hwi met Jo Tae-hwa’s gaze directly as he spoke.
“It is mutual prosperity. The Nine Gate Society was never meant to exist in the first place, nor should it ever have been formed. You manipulate people directly, have them killed, and now you drag their parent sects into the fray to create further chaos? This violates both the way of the martial artist and the way of humanity itself.”
“….”
“It is the way of beasts.”
“Enough of this nonsense!!”
Jo Tae-hwa rose, unable to contain himself any longer, and Seol Woon-hwi smiled as he spoke.
“The specific terms can be negotiated later through discussion with our Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.”
Jo Tae-hwa, his brow furrowed, drew his sword.
The blade sang as it left the sheath.
He then swept his gaze across the assembly and cried out.
“You foolish wretches… how can you be so easily swayed by this boy’s words!”
All remained silent.
The Nine Gate Society’s momentum had clearly waned, after all.
No matter how they pooled their strength to become a great power, the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance had already become one with Woon-guk.
So long as these two entities were unified, touching the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance meant facing Woon-guk as well—and even a coalition of sects could not easily challenge a nation.
Seol Woon-hwi smiled faintly.
“Senior Jo.”
“…Who are you to call me senior!”
“Then I shall lower my expectations. Jo Tae-hwa.”
“You wretched cur, worse than a dog.”
“Cheon Rim and Ihwageomseonchong will be separated, and you will die here today.”
“…Ha, so you’re throwing a tantrum over me placing a hand on your chest once? No matter how much of a genius you are, creating new realms and all, how dare you think you can stand against me!”
At those words, Seol Woon-hwi shook his head.
“I am a pragmatist. When did I ever say I would face you?”
“…What?”
Seol Woon-hwi turned his head.
There stood Mae Wi-dong, the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.
“It seems the time has come for our Alliance Leader to demonstrate the will of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance to the world.”
A crack appeared in Mae Wi-dong’s gentle smile.
It was as though the mask he wore had shattered into pieces.
Mae Wi-dong sent a Jeonum transmission.
-Why are you doing this?
Seol Woon-hwi shrugged his shoulders.
-I’m not sure if you’re aware, but strange rumors are circulating in the streets.
-…Rumors, you say?
-Yes. Quite disturbing ones at that.
-May I hear the contents?
There was nothing difficult about it.
-It’s rather long, but to summarize: the rumor is that the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance actually belongs to Cheon Ui Jung Jeong, and the Alliance Leader is merely a puppet.
-…You didn’t fabricate this?
Seol Woon-hwi chuckled softly.
-What benefit would I gain from fabricating such a thing?
-….
-The Alliance Leader is certainly Mae the Great Hero. But if I’m the one handling all matters and receiving all the attention, isn’t that wrong?
-….
-We joined hands together, so we should work together as well.
-…Our Cheon Ui Jung Jeong clearly acts while looking ahead at least two moves, so it seems there is some dissatisfaction with me?
Seol Woon-hwi let out a quiet laugh.
-That couldn’t be.
-…It seems otherwise… but very well. I shall trust you this time.
Mae Wi-dong rose from his seat.
“As the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance, I cannot turn a blind eye to the conduct of Ihwageomseonchong.”
“…Alliance Leader Mae, have you lost your mind?”
“I am perfectly sane.”
Mae Wi-dong drew the sword at his waist and launched himself forward.
The blade that cut through the void was light itself.
Jo Tae-hwa drew his sword and blocked it—that too was light itself.
Kwaaaaaang—!!
A deafening boom erupted as a tempest of force swept across all directions.
“I have long desired to cross blades with the Golden Adamant Sword Hero.”
“…I have no wish to be drawn into this madness, yet very well. Since you struck first, do not complain if my hand proves excessive!”
The battle between Jo Tae-hwa and Mae Wi-dong commenced, and those seated began to distance themselves.
Only one.
Seol Woon-hwi alone did not retreat.
His gaze remained fixed upon Mae Wi-dong.
His movements, his gestures, his footfalls.
Even the very contraction of his muscles.
As if to etch every detail into memory, I concentrated with absolute intensity.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————