Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 369

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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 369
Seol Woon-hwi spoke.
“Innkeeper.”
The innkeeper, whose face was notably covered in hair, swallowed hard at the sound of Seol Woon-hwi’s voice.
He appeared young in years, yet his presence was far from ordinary.
A master of martial arts, or perhaps a scion of some formidable clan.
Whoever he was, he was not someone to be dismissed lightly.
“Are there no other inns?”
“There are, but… they would likely be much the same.”
Seol Woon-hwi pondered for a moment, then withdrew several silver pieces from his pouch.
“Then could you rent us the stable instead?”
The innkeeper’s eyes widened.
“…The stable?”
Seol Woon-hwi nodded.
From the context, it seemed he meant to spend the night in the stable—a statement that even Manager Seong beside him found bewildering.
Yet Seol Woon-hwi was resolute, and the innkeeper read that determination clearly.
“Well… that is…”
The hesitant innkeeper glanced at the silver pieces, then finally nodded.
“Very well. Would you mind waiting a moment? I shall clean the stable for you.”
Both men nodded.
About half a shichen later, the innkeeper approached to say the cleaning was complete, and the two men relocated to the stable.
The scent of horses hung thick in the air. There was a faint hint of manure as well, though what had been cleaned left no visible traces.
Manager Seong’s brow furrowed.
“Young Master… do you truly intend to sleep here?”
“Does it trouble you?”
“Of course it does.”
“Then shall Manager Seong secure us a room instead?”
“…Those pursuing the Secret Realm would be impossible to silence except by death…”
“And?”
“…Then we shall simply sleep here.”
Seol Woon-hwi let out a soft chuckle and settled into one corner of the stable.
He spread clean straw and sat upon it.
“One night is all we need. Bear with it.”
“…Sigh.”
Manager Seong exhaled deeply and sat beside him.
“Brighten your expression. When else will you have such an experience?”
“That is true enough.”
As Manager Seong reflected, he found the situation not entirely unpleasant, and his expression brightened once more.
He had slept rough with Seol Woon-hwi many times before, but spending a night in a stable?
This was truly a precious memory in the making.
It was something I could boast about anywhere.
Once I settled into position, I closed my eyes and examined my internal state, while Manager Seong kept vigilant watch over our surroundings with sharp eyes.
Time passed in silence.
Half a quarter, half a shichen, one full shichen.
Then.
“Ah. There, there they are.”
A voice called out.
I opened my eyes, and Manager Seong’s expression darkened at this intrusion upon our precious time.
It was the innkeeper.
He had brought a middle-aged man into the stable.
The innkeeper introduced the man with an awkward smile.
“This gentleman is the County Magistrate of Baekwha County.”
I furrowed my brow.
“…County Magistrate?”
The middle-aged man hurriedly performed a cupped fist salute.
“Ah, it is an honor to meet you! I am Jang Wi, the County Magistrate of Baekwha County!”
I nodded indifferently.
Jang Wi continued with a flustered expression.
“But still, how could a Great One like yourself be sleeping in such a place! This will not do! Please come to my government office!”
“It is fine.”
“How could the Cheon Ui Jung-jeong of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance and Lord Hyeon Seol-rin of the great Eternal Snow Palace…”
“Whatever title you wish to use, I came to this inn as a guest today, and finding no rooms available, I decided to spend the night here. What more could I possibly need?”
At that, Jang Wi fixed the innkeeper with a cold stare.
The innkeeper, now pale, was about to say something when—
“The stable is quite sufficient. It is an experience I would never have otherwise, so why not simply return?”
“…Then at least allow me to provide a meal…”
“I am not feeling well, and I have no appetite. If time permits later, I shall come find you myself.”
Jang Wi let out a sigh.
“…Then I wish to do something for you. Is there anything you require?”
No matter how much I insisted on receiving no special treatment, my position carried weight.
From the County Magistrate’s perspective, if word spread that Seol Woon-hwi had come to the village and spent the night in a stable because the inn had no rooms, he would likely face criticism from many quarters.
Something had to be done.
I spoke briefly.
“I need two horses and one carriage.”
“Will that suffice?”
“It will.”
“Understood. Since you mentioned desiring a unique experience, as County Magistrate, I cannot say more. I shall procure two of the finest horses and one carriage for you.”
“Thank you.”
County Magistrate Jang Wi gazed at me for a moment, then withdrew.
“…Truly, you are a Young Master indeed.”
Seol Woon-hwi retrieved the Primordial Innate Mental Technique and began reading, while Manager Seong sought rest. Of course, he had maximized his energy sensitivity, so he was prepared to rise instantly should anyone approach.
Yet even as he settled, he found himself thinking.
It had been a rather good day.
The following morning.
Seol Woon-hwi and Manager Seong boarded the carriage the County Magistrate had prepared and set out toward Snow Mountain.
* * *
The Eternal Snow Palace—a magnificent edifice nestled upon the pristine Snow Mountain.
The carriage came to a halt before its gates.
The door opened slowly, and Seol Woon-hwi and Manager Seong descended in turn.
The moment two martial artists of the White Command Guard stationed at the entrance spotted Seol Woon-hwi, they offered their respects and spoke with utmost courtesy.
“The Palace Lord awaits you.”
Seol Woon-hwi nodded and turned his head toward Manager Seong.
“It won’t take long.”
“Understood. I shall wait here.”
Seol Woon-hwi walked slowly into the palace.
The path was familiar.
He passed through the corridor and made his way toward the central hall.
A martial artist of the White Command Guard stood before the hall as well.
There were five of them.
One of them was quite recognizable.
Sim Mun-ryong, who bore the character for “twelve” inscribed upon his back, scratched his head and then offered a respectful cupped fist salute.
“The Palace Lord awaits you.”
Seol Woon-hwi approached him and let out a soft chuckle.
“Continue as you have been.”
“I am continuing as before—what more could you possibly want?”
Seol Woon-hwi regarded Sim Mun-ryong for a moment, then tilted his head.
“Now that I see it, this must be Hyeon Sim’s welcoming greeting alone.”
Sim Mun-ryong offered no reply.
The four White Command Guard members flanking him—their faces were also familiar now.
They seemed to be sworn brothers, perhaps.
“Your names are…”
“We share the character for ‘brightness’ in our names, sir.”
“Does the White Command Guard suit you well?”
“Of course.”
“Then that is well.”
Seol Woon-hwi pushed open the hall door.
The hinges creaked.
With that sound, a broad corridor unfurled before him once more.
There was a person in this corridor as well.
This time, it was a man bearing the character for “eleven” inscribed upon his back and chest.
The Eleventh Cold Spirit of the White Command Guard.
The moment I had seen Sim Mun-ryong, the Twelfth Cold Spirit, I sensed it, but it was now clear that all twelve Cold Spirits of the White Command Guard, down to the First, were assembled here.
“I bow before Lord Hyeon Seol-rin. I am Young Wol, the Eleventh Cold Spirit.”
“So you are Senior Young Wol. I heard you had been dispatched to the ‘North’ for some time now. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Young Wol smiled faintly.
“The honor is mine to meet Lord Hyeon Seol-rin in person.”
With that, Young Wol stepped aside.
I continued walking.
Thus I met the Tenth Cold Spirit Han Mu-san, the Ninth Nang Seol-pung, the Eighth Mo Cheon-han, the Seventh Gwak Han-ya, the Sixth Bang Yu-han, the Fifth Im So-ya, the Fourth Chu Ya-seong, the Third Yang Ya-so, and the Second Seo Han-seong.
What Hyeon Sim, the leader of the White Command Guard, intended to show was unmistakable.
I have not been idle, I have made the White Command Guard stronger still, judge for yourself by witnessing it directly.
This exceeded my expectations.
And finally.
The moment I faced the First Cold Spirit, I simultaneously stifled a hollow laugh and released a deep sigh.
At the entrance to the Palace Lord’s Hall.
Standing before it was a tall, well-built man.
He opened his mouth.
“I am Ha Baek-hyeon, the First Cold Spirit.”
“So you are Senior Ha. But if my memory serves, the First Cold Spirit of the Twelve Cold Spirits was someone with the characters Kong Young-heo.”
Kong Young-heo, the Invincible Iron Cold Spirit.
His realm was Heaven-Human Unity, and he was greatly anticipated even within the Snow Palace. In fact, he was someone whom all of the Twelve Cold Spirits followed.
“When someone enters, someone must leave, is that not so?”
The previous Ha Baek-hyeon had been the Second Cold Spirit.
The Second had surpassed the First?
No, interpreting it that way would be crude.
This must never be interpreted in such a manner.
“Has he perished?”
“If you speak of the previous First Cold Spirit, no.”
“….”
“It seems I must explain. Senior Kong was defeated by me and subsequently relocated to the North.”
“To face the barbarians, you mean.”
“Indeed. He has not lost his limbs, nor has he lost his internal energy. He lives on, whole and complete.”
“That is most fortunate.”
“Yes. And.”
Ha Baek-hyeon paused briefly before speaking in a quiet voice.
“The Palace Lord awaits you.”
It was the same words all the previous Cold Spirits had spoken.
I moved forward.
One step, two steps.
As I walked, I stopped beside Ha Baek-hyeon and placed my hand upon his shoulder.
“Senior Ha.”
“Yes, Lord Hyeon Seol-rin.”
“There are truly many people in this world.”
“….”
“You see, as you’ve likely already discerned, I possess a rather exhausting disposition—one that ensures anyone who dares toy with me pays a price, regardless of who they are.”
“I’m not certain what you mean.”
“Before arriving at Snow Palace, I was being followed. I entered the Secret Realm and issued a warning not to follow, yet this person disregarded it and entered anyway.”
“….”
“They wielded a type of mystical technique distinct from Martial Arts—whether Martial Arts derived from such techniques or vice versa, I cannot say—but it was genuinely tedious and vexing to contend with. I later learned this sorcerer hailed from Heaven Gate.”
“….”
“I detected the surveillance long ago, yet I revealed nothing. The same holds true now.”
“….”
“I prefer not to reveal myself. So, will you assist me?”
“While I cannot grasp the full meaning, it sounds like coercion.”
I smiled gently.
“I do engage in coercion—quite extensively, in fact. But here’s the thing: sufficiently intelligent people interpret it differently.”
“How so?”
“As guidance or warning.”
Ha Baek-hyeon’s expression hardened.
Because my grip tightened.
“You’d do well to perform your duties.”
“….”
“Senior Ha belongs to the White Command Guard and, while previously I-ryeong, now holds the position of Il-ryeong among the Twelve Cold Spirits—a martial artist of considerable standing.”
Ha Baek-hyeon stared at me silently.
“Let me be abundantly clear: nothing has changed, whether then or now. Do not stray from that fundamental duty.”
“….”
“Answer.”
“…I understand.”
I reached out and seized Ha Baek-hyeon by the collar, dragging him close to my face.

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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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