Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 324

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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 324
The man who quietly took a seat before Seol Woon-hwi bore a vastly different appearance than before.
His long hair was half black and half white, adorned with a jade coronet, and his physique had grown more imposing.
It was completely unlike his appearance when he had disguised himself as Yeon Song-baek. He looked younger now, sharper.
It was Shin Gang, the sect master of Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong, who had been performing as Yeon Song-baek. That contrasting hair color was likely his true appearance.
“You look far more impressive now, Senior.”
“You, on the other hand, do not look well at all.”
This was no casual remark. Seol Woon-hwi was wrapped entirely in cotton cloth, with crimson stains blooming across its surface in numerous places.
By any measure, this was far from normal.
Shin Gang examined Seol Woon-hwi’s condition carefully, then clicked his tongue.
“You truly have returned from the brink of death.”
“I am fortunate to still draw breath.”
“I confess, I did not expect you to slay Mae Wi-dong of Heaven-Human Unity. Since you have achieved this result, allow me to express my respect as a martial artist before we delve into deeper matters.”
Sincerity resonated in Shin Gang’s voice.
Third Celestial Realm.
In the current Murim, that cultivation level is called the “half-baked Heaven-Human Realm.”
Whether that assessment held truth or not, the fact remained that from that realm, he had struck down one who had achieved Heaven-Human Unity—an act that defied all convention, transforming the impossible into reality.
Of course, the Murim already believed that Mae Wi-dong had exploded from falling into a heart demon, so those who knew the truth would view Seol Woon-hwi differently.
Much as Shin Gang did now.
Seol Woon-hwi smiled gently.
“You are too generous. I merely wagered my life.”
“Wagering one’s life and actually prevailing are different matters entirely. Especially that martial art you employed…”
Shin Gang trailed off, his expression betraying uncertainty.
“Please, ask if you have questions.”
“I will inquire later. For now, let us address the matter at hand. What plan are you formulating?”
“Surely you have already surmised it.”
Shin Gang gestured for him to continue, and Seol Woon-hwi obliged.
“As I mentioned before, the corpse of a martial artist between Heaven-Human Unity and Limitless Divine Manifestation should be malleable.”
Shin Gang’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“Where is this corpse?”
“I shall bring it to you. But first, please lower the Energy Barrier.”
The moment the qi surrounding them dissipated, Seol Woon-hwi spoke.
“Manager Seong.”
At that call, Manager Seong immediately approached the door.
Clearly aware that there was a guest within, Manager Seong did not enter.
He responded.
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Bring the frozen one, would you?”
“…Understood.”
The moment Manager Seong’s footsteps faded, Shin Gang asked.
“You froze the body?”
“To prevent decomposition. While I was unconscious, several visitors came by out of concern.”
“…They must have been from Snow Palace.”
“Yes. One of them even brought Hundred-Year Ice.”
“…Hundred-Year Ice… Truly, Snow Palace seems to overflow with Spirit Medicine.”
“It is quite a vast territory, after all.”
In any case, Seol Woon-hwi had spoken clearly before losing consciousness.
That he would use Mae Wi-dong’s corpse.
Manager Seong, remembering those words, had persuaded Juche.
And naturally, they had completely frozen Mae Wi-dong’s corpse with the Hundred-Year Ice.
With the assistance of Juche, a master of Limitless Divine Manifestation, the condition could be considered perfect.
“A wise decision.”
Not long after, Manager Seong brought the frozen corpse of Mae Wi-dong. It was in considerably poor condition. The chest was pierced through, and the neck area was severely damaged.
Shin Gang examined the corpse and muttered.
“A mess.”
“Indeed a mess. Will it be difficult for you?”
“What do you mean.”
“I’m asking whether I should assist you.”
After examining Seol Woon-hwi’s body once more, Shin Gang let out a hollow laugh.
“No. In such a physical condition, if you overexert yourself and die, the plan you and I have established will come to nothing.”
“Then I will explain while you observe.”
“Explain what?”
“You don’t know what Martial Arts I used.”
Shin Gang fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
“The Martial Arts you use are Snow Palace techniques and an unidentified Sword Technique. But from what I see now, this is ‘Fist Technique.’ And it carries a strong scent of the Blood Cult. Have you entrusted yourself to the Origin Blood Sect?”
I had thought someone of Shin Gang’s caliber would pick up on this much. So this was something I absolutely had to address.
“I am not a member of the Origin Blood Sect. I simply know several Martial Arts techniques.”
“….”
Shin Gang’s gaze sharpened. But I did not back down.
“I won’t explain in detail. I have no desire to expose my true worth either.”
“Hmm….”
“I’ll simply give you a reference point to consider.”
I asked Shin Gang, who was regarding me with a peculiar gaze.
“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”
“Perhaps someone else came before I arrived?”
I did not deny it. With Shin Gang’s discerning eye, he would be able to detect another person’s presence.
“Who was it?”
“Someone with no interest in Murim affairs. Someone interested only in me personally.”
“…I see.”
Shin Gang asked no further questions. He could tell I was unwilling to speak, and there was something more important to attend to now.
Shin Gang rolled up his sleeves and spoke.
“Then let’s begin.”
“Where shall we start, Senior?”
“First, I’m thinking of changing the face to Yeon Song-baek’s face.”
Shin Gang began emitting subtle energy from his hands. As that energy touched Mae Wi-dong’s face, gradual changes began to manifest.
Shin Gang continued his work with intense focus. Mae Wi-dong’s face was slowly transforming into Yeon Song-baek’s visage.
“Now I need to manipulate the wounds.”
Shin Gang began working the corpse’s wound sites. He was making the injuries that Seol Woon-hwi had inflicted with the Blood Demon Soaring Heaven Art appear as though they had been made by Shin Gang’s martial arts.
“The penetrating wound through the chest… I’ll need to make it look like a sword wound.”
“The blood energy that penetrated through the middle had dispersed into the surrounding meridians and bone.”
“…Then I’ll need to carve away the bone as well.”
“I’ll guide you through it.”
Looking at Seol Woon-hwi, Shin Gang was engulfed in peculiar emotions.
It had only been recently that this man had become his enemy, yet now they were working together, hand in hand.
This work was something no one else in this world must ever know.
It would become a secret shared by only these two, and those who might notice would be one from each of their respective factions.
At most, perhaps two people total.
By this very act, these two men would become bound together by an invisible knot, and ultimately they would have no choice but to move in the same direction.
But there was one problem.
It was a problem that naturally accompanied such arrangements—from Shin Gang’s perspective of wanting to conceal this secret, there would inevitably come a time when he would strike at Seol Woon-hwi from behind.
This was the question he had hesitated over earlier.
He had considered asking directly when he would strike, but ultimately refrained from doing so.
However, Seol Woon-hwi had already seen through that question.
“The choice is entirely yours, Senior.”
Seol Woon-hwi’s words struck Shin Gang suddenly, causing his brow to twitch.
“If you work with me, you won’t be troubled by such secrets.”
“…”
“Eventually, as time passes, this new truth will become firmly established, and no matter what anyone says later, no problems will arise. I’m sure you understand why.”
Seol Woon-hwi’s pupils gleamed.
“I don’t engage in such petty acts.”
“…Neither do I. Then it seems you and I must remain together until this world ends.”
“Indeed we must.”
Who would stand above, who would give orders.
Such things would be decided later.
For now, these two men stood as equals.
Shin Gang refocused on his work.
His craftsmanship was meticulous, and Seol Woon-hwi, who guided him through each detail, was equally precise.
The night deepened as the work continued.
These two men were constructing a perfect narrative to deceive the Murim.
Mae Wi-dong’s corpse would become Yeon Song-baek’s corpse, and the Murim, already reeling from the shock to the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance, would be struck once more by this new revelation concerning the Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong.
The story of Shin Gang, the true successor of Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong, returning and executing the fake would carry that much impact.
These two men possessed that much power.
Shin Gang spoke as he completed the final touches.
“…It’s done.”
Shin Gang’s concentration, having ascended to Limitless Divine Manifestation, was remarkable.
This proved his yearning—to this extent, he desired to remove his mask.
Shin Gang, his expression complex, gazed at Seol Woon-hwi.
“You’ve worked hard. He truly resembles Yeon Song-baek.”
“…It’s not a resemblance—this is Yeon Song-baek. I’ve altered everything: the structure of blood vessels, muscle tissue, bone structure, all of it.”
It was possible because it was a corpse.
Had this been a living person, such work would have been impossible.
“Now we just need to spread the story well. Are you confident?”
“If I lacked confidence, I wouldn’t have made the proposal in the first place.”
Seol Woon-hwi smiled faintly.
“You’ve worked hard, Senior.”
“You’ve done well too.”
Shin Gang rose from his seat and spoke.
“Cheon Rim is now yours, so you spread the rumors. I’ll cooperate accordingly. And.”
Shin Gang’s gaze swept across Seol Woon-hwi’s physical form once.
“I’m sorry for disturbing your rest. I’ll leave now, so get some proper sleep.”
“If you’re sorry, why not brew a few medicinal materials conducive to recovery and send them along.”
Shin Gang let out a hollow laugh.
“I have some. I’ll send them through a top-grade messenger bird soon.”
“Thank you.”
“And the corpse?”
“Once my body recovers, I’ll take it myself.”
Shin Gang stood there for a moment, then let out a sigh.
This wouldn’t do.
He wanted a definitive answer.
“…You’re certainly no ordinary man. That’s why you want a definitive answer. You don’t think I might stab you in the back?”
“Were you planning to?”
“What if, when you brought that corpse, I killed you? And then killed all the Four Main Gods and took Cheon Rim back?”
“That would be the worst-case scenario for me.”
“Yet you come anyway? You’re beyond being an ordinary man—you’re genuinely, thoroughly insane.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“It is.”
Shin Gang let out a hollow laugh.
“Normally, those who know secrets should be kept to a minimum, but it seems you’re not aiming for the position of Alliance Leader… There’s certainly someone designated as the next Alliance Leader. Am I right?”
Shin Gang was certainly no ordinary man either.
It wasn’t for nothing that he’d been operating both Cheon Rim and Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong and acting for decades.
“That is correct.”
Shin Gang spoke briefly to Seol Woon-hwi, who did not deny it.
“Bring him here. If he is present, I cannot lay a hand on you, and your mind will find peace as well.”
“I am overwhelmed by such consideration. To ease merely my peace of mind, you would expand the circle of those who must know this secret?”
“Do you dislike it?”
“I do not dislike it.”
“Then there is no problem.”
“There is none.”
Shin Gang glanced at Seol Woon-hwi’s wound and asked.
“A fortnight?”
“It could be sooner.”
“Then I shall plan for a fortnight.”
Currently, Seol Woon-hwi could barely walk properly.
The fortnight Shin Gang mentioned referred to a state where movement would pose no problems, and Seol Woon-hwi suggested it could be faster than that.
Yet Shin Gang wished to be certain.
“Before you arrive at Sword Sect, send a letter ahead.”

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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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