Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 326

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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 326
“A dog of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance…”
Seol Woon-hwi shook his head.
“I am no dog. Nor am I subordinate to the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance.”
Im Su-je’s eyes shifted subtly.
“What do you mean?”
“You already know, Senior. I am Seol Woon-hwi. Whether it be Cheon Ui Jung-jeong or Snow Mountain Demon Lord, these are merely titles. How could a person’s worth be determined by the survival of an organization?”
“…Your tongue is as sharp as they say.”
“Other things are sharp too. In my case.”
“…You madman.”
Seol Woon-hwi met Im Su-je’s gaze directly.
That was when it happened.
BOOM—!
A tremendous surge of energy erupted from within the Sect Master Hall. The overwhelming force of Limitless Divine Manifestation sent tremors through the surrounding space. But that was not all. Unmistakable emotion permeated that energy.
Panic.
Raw, primal panic rippled through the entire Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong.
Im Su-je’s eyes widened. He looked back at Seol Woon-hwi.
“…What is that?”
As Seol Woon-hwi continued to observe Im Su-je, he caught something in that moment.
“Your panic is directed differently than I expected.”
“…What?”
“You must have felt the same Flower Water Sword Technique colliding. Yet you ask what it is.”
“…”
“Shouldn’t you be asking if someone came to assassinate you?”
Im Su-je’s brow furrowed as if he had made a mistake.
Now I understood.
“You knew.”
“…Knew what?”
“The truth from twenty years ago. And the identity of the one sitting in the Sect Master Hall all this time.”
Im Su-je’s body stiffened slightly, and a smile bloomed once more on Seol Woon-hwi’s lips.
“Indeed, you are Cheon Pung the Swordmaster. To have merely watched for twenty years… may I ask your reason?”
By now, countless figures had gathered around the Sect Master Hall.
As more eyes turned toward them, Seol Woon-hwi straightened, pushing away from Jinwha Cheonryeong Geom.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Spouting nonsense in a place where you came to die by your own feet…”
“Is it loyalty?”
“…”
“It seems so. Then loyalty to whom? Not a person, it appears… to an organization?”
Im Su-je drew his sword. His aura, elevated to Heaven-Human Unity, erupted with ferocity.
CRASH—!!
A second collision echoed through the Sect Master Hall.
Seol Woon-hwi shook his head.
“Could you calm down for a moment?”
“Why should I?”
“Because I’m having difficulty speaking.”
“I have no reason to listen to you.”
“You do, though.”
“….”
“You must, otherwise you wouldn’t be refraining from cutting me down right now.”
“….”
“If I collapse like this, things could become even more complicated. And look—you can see that Grand Elder Sang Ji-hyeok is controlling the sect’s martial artists over there. They seem quite overwhelmed. Lend them a hand, won’t you?”
“You….”
“We could botch this entire operation. Someone who was already dead today will die once more, but there’s no need for others to perish as well.”
“….”
“This is all about minimizing sacrifice. You must understand that, so stop this now.”
Im Su-je, who had been glaring at Seol Woon-hwi with narrowed eyes, suddenly cried out.
“Everyone, stand down!”
All movement ceased at once.
Im Su-je, who had been staring at Seol Woon-hwi, finally released a deep sigh.
Seol Woon-hwi’s words were correct.
Im Su-je had long harbored a suspicion: what if Yeon Song-baek, the sect master of Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong, was not truly Yeon Song-baek but rather Shin Gang?
Since when? Twenty years ago.
The previous sect master, Yeon Hak-cheol, had ventured into the Secret Cave of Ihwa Mountain with two disciples. Only Yeon Song-baek had returned alive.
That was when it began.
The original Yeon Song-baek had been brutal and foolish.
Shin Gang, by contrast, was sharp-witted and possessed a brilliant mind.
Two people with completely opposite temperaments—yet the Yeon Song-baek who returned alive displayed some reckless tendencies, though it seemed almost like an act.
The death of his master and father, and the betrayal of a trusted disciple.
One could believe that such things had changed a person.
What began as suspicion eventually transformed into certainty.
The catalyst was the Cheon Geuk Sword, the divine weapon of Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong.
At that time, the Yeon Song-baek who returned alive had clearly stated:
That the Cheon Geuk Sword had been lost.
It was plausible. Entirely understandable and believable.
But approximately eighteen years ago, when Im Su-je had ventured outside for a brief journey, he discovered the Yeon Family Secret Residence, and there he found the Cheon Geuk Sword.
The Yeon Family Secret Residence was known only to members of the Yeon clan—how could Im Su-je have known of it?
It was simple.
Im Su-je had served Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong for over fifty years.
He had inspected the secret residences twice before, and both times they were in different locations.
He had visited both of those secret residences and discovered the Cheon Geuk Sword in one of them.
Yet Yeon Song-baek did not know of the Yeon Family Secret Residence? The sword was lost? This meant that whoever sat in the sect master’s chair bearing the Yeon surname did not know the Yeon clan’s secret residence—and worse, did not know where the Cheon Geuk Sword was hidden.
At this point, there was no way I could avoid certainty.
Yet Im Su-je remained silent.
For the greater framework of Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong.
Even when Sang Ji-hyeok of the Heaven-Human Realm—inferior to himself—was appointed as Grand Elder, even when he was excluded from the Seven Flower Swords, he said nothing.
He simply stood there like a quiet tree in that place.
He did not pledge loyalty to a person, but to an organization.
That’s right.
Just as Seol Woon-hwi said—loyalty and devotion.
He had never plotted rebellion.
Of course, Shin Gang wearing Yeon Song-baek’s face was now a master of Limitless Divine Manifestation, but when he first became sect master, he was at the Heaven-Human Realm, and it took approximately ten years to ascend from Heaven-Human Realm to Limitless Divine Manifestation.
If he had intended to plot, that would have been the time.
But he had no such intention and did not act.
Because without him, Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong could not exist as the greatest among the Five Great Sword Sects.
He possessed exceptional capability.
Even operating Cheon Rim from behind the scenes—it was clearly no ordinary matter, so observing him was the right choice.
But Seol Woon-hwi knows this?
Then what happens within the sect….
“Surely not….”
“Just as you suspected.”
The third clash.
Crash—!!
The ceiling of the Sect Master Hall shattered, scattering in all directions.
Seol Woon-hwi spoke quietly.
“The time for truth to be revealed has come.”
“…What truth are you speaking of?”
Seol Woon-hwi smiled faintly.
“What else? The truth everyone desires.”
“….”
“Do you wish to avenge the previous sect master and the real Yeon Song-baek?”
I shook my head.
Yeon Hak-cheol was a man worthy of respect as a martial artist, but not as a human being.
Yeon Song-baek’s brutal nature stemmed from Yeon Hak-cheol.
“Then join us.”
“In what?”
“To cast ourselves together into the yoke called truth.”
Im Su-je gazed quietly at Seol Woon-hwi.
“…How would that improve anything?”
“The bond between the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance and Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong would deepen.”
“….”
“Until now, Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong has undertaken many affairs. I intend to bury all of them under the name of Yeon Song-baek. The ‘Sect Master’ has already agreed to this.”
He asks me.
“…The way of those in power, I see.”
“The way of people, rather.”
“….”
“Will you join me?”
Im Su-je, lost in contemplation, did not answer with words.
He slowly sheathed the sword he had been holding.
That was answer enough.
But then.
Something I had not entirely anticipated unfolded.
The fifth exchange had just concluded.
Now Hwa Mu-nyeom should have withdrawn.
CRASH-!!
The sixth exchange.
CRASH-!!
The seventh.
The exchanges continued.
My brow furrowed deeper with each moment.
* * *
Within the Sect Master Hall, two masters of Limitless Divine Manifestation were engaged in a fierce blood duel.
Hwa Mu-nyeom’s eyes gleamed. The Xianhe Advancing Sword in his hand was one he had received from Shin Gang, its grade belonging to the upper echelon of Martial God Level.
A blue radiance began to flow from the blade.
The third form of the Ihwa Flowing Water Sword Technique—Diverging Streams.
The sword tip curved mysteriously like rippling water, then instantly split into three paths, simultaneously targeting Shin Gang’s philtrum, dantian, and heart. Three colossal waves of sword energy, manifested from Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, tore through space as they advanced.
Yet Shin Gang did not fall victim to such an assault.
What he unleashed was the secret of secrets from Ihwa Geom Cheon Jong—the fifth form of异化神靈功, Absolute Flower Without Constancy.
The blade of the Heavenly Extreme Sword in his hand created seven afterimages like scattering petals, blocking all of Hwa Mu-nyeom’s attacks.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG-!
The sound of metal striking metal rang out continuously. Where the two blades met, sparks erupted, and shockwaves rippled outward, striking the pillars of the Sect Master Hall.
As cracks formed in the pillars and they swayed violently, Shin Gang harbored different thoughts within.
‘…Yeom Wang… Was he truly of this caliber?’
To be honest, Shin Gang had never been fond of such things as severing ties and washing away past debts. To renounce worldly affairs and leave the past behind? This, for all its noble phrasing, was nothing more than fleeing—how could it be anything else?
To regard highly someone who had fled because they lacked the strength to bear the debts accumulated over time was something Shin Gang’s nature could never permit.
Thus, he had also looked down upon Yeom Wang.
Even if both were masters of Limitless Divine Manifestation, how could one who fled be equal to one who never fled and continuously overcame and created their own destiny?
Yet it took only a single move.
With this one move, Shin Gang had to reconsider his thoughts.
Yeom Wang Hwa Mu-nyeom.
Among the masters of the previous generation, one who contended for the highest rank.
Nearly a hundred years of age, yet his vital force rivaled my own.
“Impressive indeed, but the Ihwa Flowing Water Sword Technique seems to have undergone excessive modification.”
“It appears so.”
It was no idle remark.
The Ihwa Flowing Water Sword Technique that Hwa Mu-nyeom displayed was no mere imitation. Within it flowed Hwa Mu-nyeom’s unique killing intent and martial philosophy, making it impossible not to address.
“I shall exercise restraint.”
Even as Hwa Mu-nyeom spoke thus, he was deeply astonished within.
‘Shin Gang… was this man truly of such caliber?’
Though Hwa Mu-nyeom himself had already withdrawn from the Murim, he had not neglected his cultivation.
He had trained ceaselessly and now gazed toward Dao Transformation Authority, the realm beyond Limitless Divine Manifestation.
‘How intriguing.’
Hwa Mu-nyeom planted himself firmly, and Shin Gang did likewise.
The blades of the two men clashed once more.
Kwang—!!
Kwaaang—!!
Even as the thunderous sounds reverberated, Mae Wi-dong’s corpse lying on the ground sustained not the slightest damage.
These were men capable of such precise control.
The two men exchanged moves.
Third.
Fourth.
And finally, the fifth.
After exchanging five moves, the two men withdrew slightly, and Hwa Mu-nyeom reflected.
No matter how much he refrained from unleashing his true martial prowess, the Shin Gang he faced now was undoubtedly standing upon the same level as himself.
‘When operating as Yeon Song-baek, I could not fully display my martial arts. If this is his current full strength… it is not without merit.’
The sword intent contained within the form and the trajectory of sword energy it created.
Everything was impressive.
Should fortune favor them in this blood battle today, one of them might ascend to the realm of Dao Transformation Authority.
In truth, an opportunity to face an opponent of this caliber with full strength was something that might occur only once in a lifetime, if at all.
Hwa Mu-nyeom lifted his gaze. The moment he beheld Shin Gang’s expression, which bore traces of excitement, he was certain they harbored the ‘same thought’.

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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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