Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 31

What kind of place is the Namgung Family?

In the martial world, if there are titles related to swords like Sword King, Sword Emperor, or Sword Sovereign, about eight out of ten times they always come from the Namgung Family – that’s how famous they are for swordsmanship.

Though the family was destroyed hundreds of years ago, I knew that Namgung Ho was continuing that lineage.

“How much do you know about Namgung’s martial arts?”

“…I only know a few basic martial arts.”

“What about the Azure Heaven Sword Heart Formula and Azure Heaven Sun Moon Sword?”

“…I know a little of the early incantation formulas, but I couldn’t learn anything beyond that…”

What I had mentioned earlier was the first incantation formula of the Azure Heaven Sword Heart Formula.

I looked at Won Yang.

She seemed very confused.

“Are you thinking of running away?”

“…If I stay here, great disaster will befall this place.”

“Because the Origin Blood Sect’s reach extends even here?”

“Yes.”

I burst into laughter.

“…Why are you laughing?”

“Because it’s absurd.”

“…Pardon?”

I crossed my legs as I was.

“Won Yang.”

“…Yes.”

“I’ll give you an opportunity.”

“…An opportunity?”

“As you well know, I have no one around me.”

“…”

“Those branch members over there also have decent talent, but in my view, none have talent like yours. What I’m saying is that I need someone talented who will move as my sword, by my side.”

“…But if you accept me, you’ll make an enemy of the Origin Blood Sect.”

“Would that be a problem?”

“…Pardon?”

“To accept someone means to also accept that person’s shame. If mortal danger comes because of that someone, that’s something I brought upon myself, and if I couldn’t handle it, I wouldn’t have accepted them in the first place.”

I was serious.

“That’s how I live my life. If you become my person, when the Origin Blood Sect tries to kill you, I will devote everything to destroying the Origin Blood Sect. That’s what I must do for my people, and that’s usually called responsibility.”

“…Branch Master…”

“Decide.”

Won Yang, who had been thinking deeply about something, soon shook her head.

“…I cannot stand by and watch as Branch Master and others fall into danger because of me.”

“Even if I give you the Azure Heaven Sword Heart Formula?”

Won Yang’s eyes began to shake violently.

“The fact that you couldn’t learn Namgung’s core martial arts despite being direct lineage means Namgung Ho kept you in check to that extent. Your father and mother were surely killed by Namgung Ho. Am I right?”

“…Yes…”

“Namgung Ho didn’t fail to chase you – he probably let you go, didn’t he?”

“…How do you… know so well…”

“I roughly know what kind of bastard Namgung Ho is. Plus, disguising yourself as a man and even changing your name… hmm, I don’t know what to call this, but should I say it’s a half-hearted disguise?”

“…”

“Just removing ‘Namgung’ from Namgung Won Yang is too sloppy, isn’t it?”

It was speculation, but from Won Yang’s reaction I could tell it was true.

However, even with such words, Won Yang’s resolve seemed firm.

“…If I stay here, it will be difficult for Branch Master and others as well.”

It was somewhat surprising.

I thought her longing for the Azure Heaven Sword Heart Formula was genuine, yet she showed such consideration for others.

The martial artists that exist in this world each have different aspects.

You could call it duality, or whatever you want, but someone like Won Yang would probably belong to the ‘good person’ category.

This could be explained by Won Yang’s following words.

“I am a martial artist of very lacking level, but I’m not so ignorant as to not recognize the value of the martial arts you gave me. Even if I promise with my mouth not to spread them elsewhere, you wouldn’t believe me with just that… so if you could take one of my limbs…”

“You want me to let it slide?”

Won Yang knelt down from her seat and said.

“…Though it’s shameless, I beg of you.”

“It sounds like you’re asking me to spare your dantian.”

“…”

“Are you thinking of revenge against Namgung Ho?”

“…Yes.”

I chuckled.

“Well, your talent is decent but there’s a slight problem with your judgment.”

“…Pardon?”

“Couldn’t you just build your strength under me and then get revenge?”

Won Yang blinked.

“If you leave Seol-ap, I can give you not only the incantation formulas of the Azure Heaven Sword Heart Formula but also a few spirit medicines, but what do you think your life will be like after you leave?”

“…”

“There won’t be anyone who can point out your shortcomings, so will you disguise yourself as a man again and waste time depending on other places?”

“…I am…”

I uncrossed my legs while looking at Won Yang who hung her head.

I’m not an idiot – I roughly understood.

I walked over and knelt on one knee in front of Won Yang and asked.

“Are you that afraid of the Origin Blood Sect?”

Won Yang raised her head and flinched at the unexpectedly close distance, trying to back away, but I reached out and grabbed her shoulder.

“I asked if you’re that afraid of something like the Origin Blood Sect.”

“…How could I not be afraid… It’s the Origin Blood Sect. The collective of demons, the greatest sect in the Central Plains.”

“That’s the story of ‘now.'”

“…”

“A descendant of Namgung… Not bad. Won Yang.”

“…Yes.”

“I’ll make this proposal for the first and last time. After this, I will not make the same proposal, and if you reject this proposal, I will send you away without any regrets. Limbs? Unnecessary. I haven’t lived coldly enough to stop someone who was once under me from leaving to find another path. I won’t send people to kill you nor will I trace your tracks. I swear on my name. Do you understand?”

Won Yang, with a serious expression, nodded. Looking at her, I continued speaking.

“Work under me for exactly 20 years. If I tell you to dig the ground, dig; if I tell you to jump, jump; if I tell you to kill someone, kill them immediately. Simply put, it means absolute obedience to my words. If you do that, within those 20 years I will enable you to kill Namgung Ho with your own hands.”

Swallowing her saliva, Won Yang asked.

“…Is that really possible?”

“You still don’t seem to understand well. Just how much information do you think is in my head?”

“…That’s…”

“Han Cheol’s martial arts – I’m really sorry to say this, but no matter how heaven-and-earth level the martial art is, it’s useless to me. And the Azure Heaven Sword Heart Formula is the same. The value of that mental cultivation method is at the lowest level among divine-grade techniques. You may not know well, but the Azure Heaven Sword Heart Formula that both Namgung Ho and I know is incomplete.”

“…What?”

“The flow of the incantation formulas is cut off in the middle. I’m telling you clearly – there are other incantation formulas after the Azure Heaven Sword Heart Formula. The current Azure Heaven Sword Heart Formula is just half-complete. Even with just that much, it has use for others, but… for a martial art that was called the exclusive technique of a family that was the head of the Five Great Families, the level is very low.”

“…Is that really… true?”

“If you doubt it, go ask Namgung Ho later. Namgung Ho also knew this and mixed Blood Cult mental cultivation methods with the Azure Heaven Sword Heart Formula to create a new mental cultivation method.”

“…How do you know such things so well…”

“I have my ways of knowing everything.”

As an aside, the mental cultivation method that Namgung Ho created through such a process had very serious side effects.

While it could unleash explosive power in a short time, after unleashing such power, the state of blood vessels would become so messed up that one would need to recuperate for at least several days.

“I’ve made all my proposals and said everything I needed to say. Now decide.”

Won Yang, who had been contemplating, slowly rose from his seat and performed the Embracing Fist toward me.

“Please continue to provide much guidance and instruction in the future.”

His eyes no longer wavered, and his body no longer trembled.

His resolve was set.

“Good. But you’re still lacking.”

“…In what aspect do you mean?”

“Your current level is the Circulation Stage?”

“Yes.”

“Circulation Stage at eighteen isn’t bad, but it’s insufficient. Reach the Flame Qi Four Stages as quickly as possible.”

“I will certainly do so.”

“When you reach Five Energy Harmonizing Origin, I will teach you the improved Azure Heaven Sword Heart Formula. Until then, train with the Heavenly Phenomenon Heart Method.”

“Yes.”

I was about to gesture when I paused for a moment.

I had almost forgotten something.

“Also, stop disguising yourself as a man from now on. Use separate quarters. Understood?”

“…Yes!”

“You may go.”

Won Yang left to resume training, and I was alone.

No, wait.

I wasn’t alone.

Looking up at the sky, I spoke in a quiet voice.

“If you have something to say, come and say it.”

Then I felt a presence from behind. I could tell without looking.

It was Manager Seong.

“I heard you didn’t have a hobby of eavesdropping.”

“…I didn’t originally, but it seems to be a hobby I’ve developed recently.”

Manager Seong quietly approached my side.

“Are you planning to make an enemy of the Origin Blood Sect?”

I chuckled softly.

“That’s the wrong question.”

“Pardon?”

“Isn’t that a question you should ask the leader of the Origin Blood Sect, not me?”

“…”

“Many enemies will certainly arise on the path I walk. It’s unavoidable in Murim. However, whether to make me an enemy is not my choice to make.”

“…Young Master…”

“My person wants revenge against Namgung Ho of the Origin Blood Sect. What more is needed beyond that?”

Manager Seong made an indescribable expression, then let out a sigh.

“…I no longer know. Just how long will that confidence of yours last, Young Master?”

“Then I’ll have to live long.”

I asked Manager Seong, who burst into laughter.

“Has any reply come from Yang-ryeong?”

“…Not a single one has arrived.”

I had sent four letters, but not one reply meant they too had made their choice.

Then there was nothing more to hesitate about.

The justification was on my side.

Yang-ryeong was the debtor, I was the creditor.

Since they refused to fulfill their obligations, I could now proceed with forced execution.

“Manager Seong.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Summon Yang So from Iron Mountain Sword Gate…”

I looked across at the Branch Members who were frantically sweating and absorbed in Formation Technique practice.

“Tell them to practice for just five more hours, then return to their quarters and rest well.”

“Will that be enough?”

“Also prepare training resources so they can recover quickly.”

“Understood. But about that Formation Technique the Branch Members are practicing. Even I can see it’s an incredible technique, so if we organize it and report to Snow Palace…”

“Later.”

“…”

“It’s a Formation Technique that still needs much improvement. When the improvements are complete and I judge it perfect, I’ll give it to you then, so don’t rush me.”

Manager Seong scratched his head and asked in a small voice.

“…Tonight?”

I didn’t answer.

I had clearly written a one-day time limit in the letter I sent to Yang-ryeong.

Usually, one day means until midnight.

That’s right. Midnight.

I silently rose from my seat.

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