Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 301

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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 301
I quietly withdrew a rolled piece of paper from the storage bag at my side and cast it to the ground.
Keeping my gaze fixed on Mae Wi-dong, I spoke in a measured tone.
“This is a petition document stating that you will share the future with the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance going forward.”
“….”
“Sign it.”
Yu Myeong-san of the Suncheon Sword Sect spoke.
“We cannot simply sign a petition like this without discussion….”
“Senior Yu.”
“….”
“I believe you brought the authority to do so.”
“….”
“Moreover, while things might be different elsewhere, if this concerns the Suncheon Sword Sect, matters could become far more complicated. Do you wish for things to become more complicated here?”
Yu Myeong-san clenched his teeth.
My gaze began to sweep across each person, starting with Yu Myeong-san.
Finally, I turned to regard Han Cheol-su of the Mixed Path Demon Flame Palace and spoke slowly.
“When you established the Gukmun Society and why you are here now—was it not ultimately to secure advantage?”
“….”
“Maintain connections with both sides and attach yourselves to the victor. There is only one thing you must do: remain silent.”
The atmosphere grew tense.
“The moment the conflict between our Heavenly Righteousness Alliance and the Ihwageomseonchong ends, you will gain advantage regardless of the outcome.”
I spoke with unwavering resolve.
“I will say no more. Sign the petition.”
* * *
Han Cheol-su, the Blood Whisker Ghost of the Mixed Path Demon Flame Palace, emerged after signing the petition, still bewildered.
Han Cheol-su glanced around at those nearby.
Judging by the expressions on the faces of all the envoys now heading to the main headquarters, they seemed to have grasped the situation roughly.
What had transpired inside just now?
The full-scale war between the Ihwageomseonchong and the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance had begun.
With the board expanded to this degree, the situation would not evolve unless one side was completely destroyed.
Yet if evolution were to occur, at least one leader’s head from either faction would need to fall for resolution.
At this scale, it was simply better to merely observe.
From a position caught in the middle, lending a hand held no meaning and would only invite unnecessary harm—which was why I had signed Seol Woon-hwi’s petition.
As he said, one need only remain silent and attach oneself to the victor.
That was correct.
Han Cheol-su, moving with that thought, suddenly stiffened.
His sense of smell had caught something.
The acrid stench of blood.
Every sense in his body stood on edge.
It was not Han Cheol-su alone—all the representatives of the envoy group began to run with hardened expressions.
Han Cheol-su ran as well.
There was no particular reason for it.
The direction from which the scent of blood emanated was where the envoy group’s martial artists had gathered.
Though it should have been obvious, all those who had entered Cheon Ryong Palace were representatives of the envoy group.
While none of them had come alone, it would have been far stranger to cram dozens or hundreds of people into such an important gathering.
Thus, the envoy group’s martial artists had been assembled at Byeol Won Pavilion, located on the outskirts of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance, and now the scent of blood was emanating from that place.
Han Cheol-su, who had rushed there, swallowed hard.
The sight that unfolded before his eyes was nothing short of a massacre.
The martial artists of the Ihwageomseonchong envoy group lay scattered everywhere.
Between pools of blood lay corpses with severed limbs and decapitated heads, while martial artists clad in black garments stood in orderly formation.
The Wu Yi Squad.
The military force of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.
Standing firmly at the center was a man—tall and broad-shouldered, with a physique like an iron tower.
Though killing intent radiated from his entire body, his expression was surprisingly composed.
Wi Cheon-ho, commander of the Wu Yi Squad.
He regarded Han Cheol-su and the other envoy representatives, then spoke with measured calm.
“It seems your discussion has concluded.”
Wi Cheon-ho’s voice carried no emotion—as matter-of-fact as discussing the weather.
“As you’ve surely heard, the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance will now enter a state of war with the Ihwageomseonchong.”
Wi Cheon-ho continued speaking.
“Your presence here constitutes nothing less than the formation of a ‘temporary alliance,’ and we look forward to your cooperation going forward.”
Wi Cheon-ho performed the Embracing Fist salute, and Han Cheol-su, wearing a bewildered expression, nodded in acknowledgment.
Afterward, Wi Cheon-ho extended courtesies to the other envoy representatives, and they too nodded, their expressions no less confused than Han Cheol-su’s.
It was then.
Han Cheol-su’s gaze became fixed on a man standing at the edge of the Wu Yi Squad.
‘Who is that man…?’
He appeared to be in his early twenties.
His martial arts cultivation was at most at the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown level, yet his eyes and exposed temperament were extraordinarily sharp.
For now, he seemed no different from ordinary martial artists, yet Han Cheol-su found himself staring intently at his face.
‘I’m certain I’ve seen him somewhere before…’
The memory was not clear.
He did not know when or where, but it was certainly a face he had seen before.
‘Or perhaps not…’
The memory simply would not surface. It could have been a mistake, or perhaps he had seen someone who merely resembled this man.
The Murim was full of people who looked similar, after all.
Yet something was strange. The man was also looking at Han Cheol-su, and soon a smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
Han Cheol-su flinched.
That smile bore an uncanny resemblance to the smile of Seol Woon-hwi, whom he had seen in Cheon Ryong Palace.
The man slowly withdrew his gaze from Han Cheol-su and approached Wi Cheon-ho, offering a quiet greeting.
“You have worked hard.”
“No. I merely did what was necessary.”
Han Cheol-su was startled once more.
Wi Cheon-ho was a martial artist of the Divine Transformation Realm, yet he was responding with such deference to someone who had only reached the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown?
What was this?
Was he misreading the situation?
“Then I shall take my leave and head upstairs.”
“Yes, please go carefully.”
The man turned his steps toward the Cheon Ryong Palace.
Han Cheol-su’s gaze followed the man’s retreating figure. His gait appeared ordinary, yet there was something extraordinarily refined about his presence.
Just as Han Cheol-su was about to ponder the man’s identity, Wi Cheon-ho’s voice rang out once more.
“I must apologize once again to all of you seniors for the unseemly display.”
Wi Cheon-ho, having performed a formal cupped fist salute, released it and spoke with resolve.
“I wish to host a grand banquet for all of you in the not-too-distant future. I humbly ask that you await the results until then.”
Though his words were courteous, Wi Cheon-ho seemed to harbor no doubt whatsoever in the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance’s victory.
Those who were satisfied began to leave one by one.
Han Cheol-su also departed, yet the face of that mysterious man continued to linger in his mind.
* * *
Only two people remained in the Cheon Ryong Palace after everyone had left.
And the silence that settled between them carried a weight that defied description—though it was entirely warranted.
“Are you satisfied now?”
“Are you asking me?”
Our Cheon Ui Jung Jeong should harbor no resentment toward me. However, it is clear that you harbor doubts….”
Mae Wi-dong, who paused briefly, sheathed the sword he had been holding and continued.
“I demonstrated it. The old Heavenly Righteousness Alliance was precarious indeed. Since I am fifty-four this year… I have lived as Vice Alliance Leader for nearly thirty years.”
The Heavenly Righteousness Alliance had always been large, but in the past, it had never wielded such formidable power.
The Heavenly Righteousness Alliance’s rapid expansion began after Mae Wi-dong assumed the position of Vice Alliance Leader.
Twenty-four years old.
Becoming Vice Alliance Leader at such a young age was truly an extraordinary personnel decision, yet he had proven it through results.
Then why had he come to the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance?
“For thirty years, I have thought of only one thing. And that purpose aligned perfectly with the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance’s purpose. Yes. The Heavenly Righteousness Alliance is an organization that embraces all martial paths. I too wish to embrace all martial paths. Just now, I let a hint of demonic energy leak through, and you, Cheon Ui Jung Jeong, would have noticed. That I can wield not only demonic energy but also righteous path energy as well.”
“Yes. I noticed.”
“Then there is no misunderstanding between us now?”
Seol Woon-hwi smiled gently.
“If there is no misunderstanding, then there should be no falsehood either, should there not?”
“Would it not be so?”
“I understand. I comprehend.”
Mae Wi-dong’s eyes twitched slightly.
Comprehend.
That word grated on him somewhat, but it ended there.
Seol Woon-hwi’s gaze shifted toward the half-destroyed entrance of the Cheon Ryong Palace, and Mae Wi-dong’s gaze followed.
Han Mu-rin, dressed in a black long robe, asked carefully from where he stood.
“Have I interrupted your conversation?”
Mae Wi-dong and I shook our heads.
I looked at Mae Wi-dong and spoke.
“Perfect timing, Han Mu-rin.”
“Yes, Cheon Ui Jung Jeong.”
“How did the task proceed?”
Han Mu-rin, after regarding me briefly, spoke with conviction.
“Pung Mu-hwi, who led Cheon Rak-bu under Cheonsu-sa, massacred the enemies in Hyang Il Gun. Seong Yang-ho assassinated Hyang Cheol, the Azure Radiant Sword of Jeong Bang Gun. And Seo Hyo massacred the enemies in Yeong Cheon Gun.”
Mae Wi-dong fixed me with a peculiar gaze.
“I didn’t mishear that, did I?”
“No.”
“Hmm… Hyang Il Gun would be where the Ihwageomseonchong’s Branch Office is established. You massacred them?”
“We killed Hyang Cheol, the Azure Radiant Sword of Jeong Bang Gun, and massacred the Ihwageomseonchong’s Branch Office in Yeong Cheon Gun as well.”
Like the Ihwageomseonchong and other major sects, they had established branch offices in various regions, and these three were the closest to Woon-guk.
The problem was that those places lay in Jin Guk’s territory, the neighboring kingdom to Woon-guk.
“…Must we also concern ourselves with friction with Jin Guk?”
“I’ve already made a request to the Crown Prince of Woon-guk.”
“…”
“If you add your opinion as the Alliance Leader to that, Jin Guk will at least turn a blind eye while our Heavenly Righteousness Alliance wages war against the Ihwageomseonchong.”
“…You’ve been preparing this since before this conversation even began.”
“You granted me full authority, did you not?”
“That’s true. Yes… indeed you did.”
Mae Wi-dong scratched his head and asked quietly.
“So what will you do now?”
I smiled faintly.
“A fortnight.”
“A fortnight?”
“Within a fortnight, I will secure the Ihwageomseonchong’s surrender.”
Mae Wi-dong’s eyes gleamed.
“Surrender, you say…?”
“Whether to take Sect Leader Yeon Song-baek’s head or receive separate compensation from them—you need only decide that, Alliance Leader.”
“Interesting… So you, Cheon Ui Jung Jeong, will handle the entire process alone, and I, as Alliance Leader, merely choose the spoils of victory?”
“Something like that.”
Mae Wi-dong could not fathom how far this young man’s vision extended.
Certainly, he had grasped it at first. He had grasped it, but as time passed, it grew increasingly strange and ambiguous.
And now, in this moment of recognizing the ‘strangeness,’ a feeling came to him.
He did not know the full picture, but he sensed where its direction was headed.
‘…A difficult one. This won’t be simple.’
Contrary to his inner thoughts, he smiled gently.
“Very well. When the time comes to decide on the spoils, please inform me then.”
“I shall do so. And from today, I wish to be dispatched to An Sim Gun for a fortnight. Will you approve this?”

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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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