Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 347

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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 347
In that instant, the air between the two froze solid.
Immortal Maitreya’s qi erupted outward, and Yu Cheong’s demonic energy surged upward in response.
As the auras of these two masters at the Primordial Sole Existence realm collided, the surrounding trees began to tremble. Fallen leaves scattered across the ground swirled into a vortex, lifting skyward.
Immortal Maitreya’s gentle smile vanished.
“If I recall correctly, we engaged in a life-and-death duel approximately twenty years ago, did we not?”
“That is correct.”
“I sustained serious injuries that day.”
“And I suffered wounds that bordered on fatal.”
“Do you believe the outcome would differ now?”
Yu Cheong gazed upward at the sky.
“I cannot kill without Cheon No-ya’s permission.”
“…Are you hesitant? Cannot kill? Your words seem oddly qualified.”
“No. I am not hesitant, nor are my words imprecise. I cannot kill you, Immortal Maitreya.”
“Hmph…”
“But today, you shall serve as my outlet for this rage.”
Immortal Maitreya burst into laughter.
“Since I’ve ventured out after so long, I shall ensure you remain bedridden for roughly a year.”
Immortal Maitreya had certainly perceived it.
The madness within Yu Cheong.
Yet he harbored no thought of defeat.
For no matter how formidable demonic power became, it would always be suppressed before the Buddhist Way.
It had been so before, and it would be so again.
Such was the nature of demon-subduing.
The previous encounter had been similar.
Immortal Maitreya, burdened with many tasks under Cheon Do-ja’s command, had regarded Yu Cheong—who received special treatment—with displeasure, and thus they had fought.
The result was Immortal Maitreya’s complete victory.
From that day forward, Yu Cheong had been forced to remain bedridden for over two months.
This time would be no different.
Immortal Maitreya clasped his hands briefly in salute and took his leave.
* * *
After the ceremonies concluded, Seol Woon-hwi entered a quiet garden within the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance and exhaled deeply.
The Alliance Leader’s enthronement ceremony and the various ceremonial proceedings that had continued all day had finally ended.
Countless greetings with martial artists, complex political calculations, and an unexpected encounter with Yu Cheong—truly, it had been an exhausting day.
Moonlight traced silver ripples across the garden’s pond, and lotus petals swayed gently in the breeze, releasing a subtle fragrance.
The quiet night naturally bestowed tranquility.
Though such peace was not destined to last.
“We meet quite frequently, it seems.”
Seol Woon-hwi’s voice carried a hint of weariness.
Within the pavilion by the pond, in its shadowed corner, a figure sat—or more accurately, lay collapsed.
It was Immortal Maitreya.
What was truly peculiar was his appearance.
His entire body was covered in wounds.
And these were no ordinary injuries.
The wounds from Demonic Energy were unmistakable, his right arm was reduced to tatters, and multiple holes pierced through his abdomen. His monastic robes were soaked in blood, darkened to a deep crimson, and his once serene face bore deep scars etched across it.
A master who had reached the realm of Primordial Sole Existence could no longer be considered merely human.
Martial artists of ordinary caliber could not even dream of the divine abilities available to such beings—chief among them being bodily regeneration.
Immortal Maitreya’s current state conveyed a single truth.
Wounds so severe that even regeneration was beyond reach.
I walked slowly into the pavilion.
“It appears you crossed blades with Yu Cheong.”
“Heh heh… It has been quite some time since I engaged in discourse about the Martial Way, and truly, he was formidable.”
Immortal Maitreya’s voice was considerably weaker than usual, yet he still retained that characteristic composure.
“I shall not ask what prompted your conflict. But this I must inquire about: why are you here in this state?”
“Heh heh, Seol Woon-hwi, now I see you are a person of cold rationality without sentiment.”
I regarded Immortal Maitreya in silence.
No emotion flickered across my eyes.
Immortal Maitreya let out a hollow laugh before speaking.
“Surely you would not simply turn away from someone standing before you so grievously wounded?”
“I do not turn away guests, but by any measure, you would be classified as an uninvited visitor, would you not?”
“Huh…”
“I find myself suddenly curious. Given that you have sustained injuries of this magnitude, what state must the Vice Sect Leader of the Origin Blood Sect be in?”
Immortal Maitreya fell silent for a moment.
He could not bring himself to speak of it.
The fact that he had been beaten mercilessly.
“Very well. I shall not press the matter further.”
I too had experienced ascending to the realm of Primordial Sole Existence.
The realm of Primordial Sole Existence was truly a wondrous domain.
Within this realm existed further layers of cultivation, which for convenience could be classified as low, medium, high, and supreme grades.
From my perspective, the future Yu Cheong stood at nearly the pinnacle of Primordial Sole Existence—positioned between the high and supreme grades.
If asked whether he could contend with Cheon Do-ja, I would shake my head, but the fact that he stands at such a realm is what matters.
And at this moment, Immortal Maitreya occupies the medium grade within Primordial Sole Existence.
His reluctance to speak suggested a crushing defeat, which meant the current Yu Cheong had reached the high grade.
“I attempted to prevent the return of the Demonic Path, yet I failed. Surely you would not abandon one such as I?”
“How shameless of you.”
My response was concise, yet it was a strike that pierced to the very heart.
Immortal Maitreya coughed blood as he laughed.
“Shameless… I suppose it could appear that way. But this state I find myself in now—is it not entirely because of you, Seol Woon-hwi?”
“Because of me, you say?”
“That Yu Cheong fellow, after conversing with you, became terribly displeased. And as a result, here I am in this condition, am I not?”
Seol Woon-hwi leaned against the pavilion’s railing and spoke.
“Perhaps the Master provoked him deliberately.”
“Provoked? I merely asked out of curiosity.”
“Out of curiosity, you say.”
Seol Woon-hwi’s eyes turned cold.
“May I ask what that curiosity was about?”
Immortal Maitreya chuckled softly.
“I never imagined I would pay the ‘information price’ in such a manner. ‘Cheon Oe Cheon’—you know of it….”
Immortal Maitreya’s eyes widened mid-sentence. Even bearing such wounds, he remained a supreme master who had reached Primordial Sole Existence.
In that moment, he perceived it.
That Seol Woon-hwi possessed knowledge of Cheon Oe Cheon.
“…How do you know of this?”
“I heard it in passing.”
“In passing…? There would be none foolish enough to speak of it openly. Since you bear the protection of Cheon No-ya, it makes sense that you would know.”
I offered no denial.
“Then this is all the better. You will understand my circumstances.”
To be honest, I had no intention of hiding my knowledge of Cheon Oe Cheon.
Given the unfolding situation, I judged it acceptable to reveal that much.
But what mattered was that I knew far less about Cheon Oe Cheon as an organization than he assumed.
I knew what they did, but the most crucial thing—their purpose.
That, I did not know.
Yet now Immortal Maitreya spoke of understanding my circumstances, and from his knowledge of Cheon Oe Cheon, it was clear he too belonged to that organization.
I had obtained far more information than expected.
I watched Immortal Maitreya struggle to rise, maintaining my composure.
He seemed to still be in pain and sank back down, but I immediately spoke.
“Understanding does not mean you will offer assistance.”
“Amitabha… You are truly cold-hearted, are you not?”
“It is not coldness, but reality, Senior.”
I gazed toward the pond and continued slowly.
“Your true reason for coming here is not treatment, but Yeok Geun Gyeong, is it not?”
Immortal Maitreya wore a subtle smile.
Yeok Geun Gyeong was indeed a Buddhist martial art.
The countless intricate incantations contained within it were themselves the secret method to evolve the human body to an even higher stage—which meant it could exponentially increase the body’s regenerative capacity.
The greatest problem was that one needed to reach at least the strength of Limitless Divine Manifestation to perceive this fact, which was also why I could not currently practice Yeok Geun Gyeong.
Immortal Maitreya did not know the contents of Yeok Geun Gyeong, but he had learned and perfected the martial art created from it.
The very fact that he had reached Primordial Sole Existence meant his talent surpassed genius itself, so it made no sense that one of his caliber would not understand the essence of Yeok Geun Gyeong.
Test after test.
Demand proof again and again.
The Murim was such a place.
“Indeed… you are no ordinary person, are you?”
“Whether you are the culprit or not, my answer remains the same. I cannot give you the Yeok Geun Gyeong.”
“Then the trade regarding the martial arts recorded in our earlier discussion should still be valid.”
“It remains valid, but since you have presented nothing that suits my taste, we are essentially back where we started.”
Immortal Maitreya lowered his head deeply.
“Then what should this humble monk do?”
“That is a matter for you to contemplate.”
At Seol Woon-hwi’s cold reply, Immortal Maitreya offered a bitter smile.
“Indeed… I have lived my life expounding the Buddha’s compassion, yet when the time comes to seek that very compassion, it proves so difficult.”
“Compassion….”
Seol Woon-hwi turned his head to regard Immortal Maitreya.
“What do you mean by the compassion you speak of?”
“Why, naturally the Buddha’s….”
“You speak of the Buddha’s compassion, but do you understand its very foundation?”
Immortal Maitreya’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
Was this youth truly attempting to instruct a master of Primordial Sole Existence?
Such a thought flickered across his face, but vanished just as quickly.
Still, it might be worth hearing. Worth observing.
“Our Seol Do-u certainly possesses profound knowledge of the Buddhist path.”
“You keep drawing me into further explanation. I do not follow Buddhism.”
“Yet your knowledge seems quite profound for one who does not.”
“It is hardly profound knowledge. I merely understand moral duty.”
“Moral duty… Then what do you believe to be the foundation of compassion?”
Seol Woon-hwi gazed upon the lotus flowers in the pond and spoke quietly.
“Compassion without conditions, empathy as one body.”
Immortal Maitreya’s eyes flickered with recognition.
“To bestow great compassion even upon those with whom one shares no connection, to share in great sorrow as though we were one body…?”
“You understand as well.”
“Of course I understand it… but I did not expect you to grasp it with such depth.”
Seol Woon-hwi smiled and continued.
“But is what you seek now truly compassion?”
“What do you mean?”
“I am saying that seeking for your own desires and needs has nothing to do with compassion.”
Immortal Maitreya fell silent.
“You are afraid right now. The desire to become the representative of those who serve Buddhism in this vast Murim has become ingrained in you.”
“….”
“So when such a person sees some madman who not only knows Darma’s legendary martial art, the Yeok Geun Gyeong, but even understands it—a man who does not follow the path of Shaolin—you thought you must seize it for yourself. Is that not so?”
Immortal Maitreya neither denied nor affirmed.
He merely gazed at Seol Woon-hwi in silence.

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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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