Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 371

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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 371
“I heard that Kong Young-heo, who was previously Il-ryeong, was pushed out by Ha Baek-hyeon.”
“That’s right.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to send him to Yang-ryeong rather than to the Northern Region?”
Seol Jung-cheon found himself puzzled by Seol Woon-hwi’s question.
“To hold back the savages of the Nan-cheon Region, we need strong warriors. And in Yang-ryeong, there is No Cheon-myeong, who could be called your man. Kong Young-heo would be sufficient reinforcement. I find it questionable whether sending such a person to Yang-ryeong is truly the right course.”
Seol Jung-cheon, observing the silent Seol Woon-hwi, pondered for a moment before speaking.
There was a crucial part missing from this conversation.
“Have you ever been to the Northern Region?”
Seol Woon-hwi shook his head.
“No. My experience extends only to the Central Plains and the Great Desert.”
“Hmm… That sounds like you don’t know much about the Nan-cheon Region.”
“I don’t, Father.”
Seol Jung-cheon continued.
“Beyond the extreme north lies a place called the Nan-cheon Region. It is a space where Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy has become twisted.”
“Twisted, you say…?”
“Yes. It flows in reverse. Those who dwell there are called Nan-cheon-ja. We simply call them savages.”
“I have heard the term Nan-cheon-ja before.”
“They were originally human. But they became corrupted by the influence of the twisted Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. They lost their reason and gained only brutal strength.”
Seol Jung-cheon’s expression darkened.
“There is a passage connecting them to this world. It is called the Nan-cheon Gate, and it opens periodically.”
“Periodically, you say…?”
“Much like how the Secret Realm opens every ten years or so, the gate opens in the same manner. And from there, the Nan-cheon-ja pour forth.”
“You mean the Snow Palace has been holding them back all this time?”
“Yes. For hundreds of years. That is precisely why the White Command Guard and the Snow Heaven Guard are periodically dispatched to the Northern Region.”
Seol Woon-hwi was utterly serious, and Seol Jung-cheon remained bewildered by this demeanor.
“How could you not know of this, of all people?”
There was certainly a clear reason for this.
“After Yang Seol-jin took control of the Snow Palace, the Nan-cheon Region became the Snow Palace’s territory.”
“…What?”
“Since the Nan-cheon-ja and even the Nan-cheon King were all resolved, there are virtually no records for me to have seen.”
It was understandable.
From the perspective of my previous life, from Seol Woon-hwi’s viewpoint, I left the Snow Palace, wandered the Murim, sought refuge in the Original Blood Sect, grew there, unified the Murim, reorganized it internally, and then reorganized the Snow Palace.
By the time I was reorganizing the Snow Palace, the Nan-cheon Region no longer existed, nor did the Nan-cheon-ja.
Everything had been resolved long ago.
Moreover, there was no reason to investigate it. There was nothing entangled with it at all.
“But recently, something strange has been happening.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Nan-cheon Gate opened earlier than scheduled this time. Not in ten years, but in seven. And the scale is far greater.”
“….”
“The more pressing issue is.”
Seol Jung-cheon fixed his gaze directly upon Seol Woon-hwi.
“The Chaos Heaven Emperor has appeared.”
“What is the Chaos Heaven Emperor?”
“The supreme existence among the Chaos Heaven beings. They possess martial power equivalent to the Five Realms of Martial God.”
“The Five Realms of Martial God… you say?”
“They do not employ martial techniques, yet they wield qi naturally and effortlessly. Sword Qi, Natural Energy, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy—truly troublesome adversaries.”
“…Juche has been nowhere to be found. It seems he has gone there.”
Seol Jung-cheon nodded in acknowledgment.
Seol Woon-hwi fell silent for a moment.
The Nan-cheon Region.
Chaos Heaven beings, Chaos Heaven Emperor, Chaos Heaven King.
These were names he had never encountered even in his previous life.
“Has the cycle grown shorter?”
“It has.”
“It seems I must visit that place myself at some point.”
At those words, Seol Jung-cheon’s eyes widened.
“Now?”
To that, Seol Woon-hwi shook his head.
“No. There are matters I must resolve first.”
“You speak of the transaction with Gun Mu-gyeol.”
“Yes. I intend to visit Yang-ryeong, meet with Song Hak, the Provincial Governor of Geonkon Castle, and then proceed to the Martial Alliance.”
News that the Provincial Governor of Geonkon Castle was on his deathbed had spread roughly a month prior.
Though it was awkward to say it so plainly.
A funeral was now all but inevitable.
“Song Hak—you had connections with that official, did you not.”
“I did.”
“An envoy group will be necessary then.”
“If you have someone to send, I will accept them.”
Seol Jung-cheon smiled.
Conversation with Seol Woon-hwi flowed naturally.
Whether Seol Woon-hwi was showing consideration, or whether their intentions simply aligned.
In truth, what did it matter which it was.
“Let us finish this great match then. We can also discuss the martial philosophy we have yet to address.”
“It seems you require my counsel on something.”
“Heh heh, I have been waiting for this very moment.”
Seol Woon-hwi smiled as well.
“Will you overturn the board entirely?”
Seol Jung-cheon, who had been about to place a stone, paused momentarily.
The arrangement of the stones was peculiar.
His mind raced rapidly.
This stone in the upper left corner… if it goes this way… wait?
“…Five moves?”
“Six moves. It will end in ten moves at the shortest, fifteen at the longest.”
“…I’ve lost.”
“We can simply play another round, can’t we?”
The two men smiled at each other.
* * *
Seol Woon-hwi and Manager Seong were conversing inside the carriage as they arrived at Yang-ryeong-ju.
“It’s only been half a year, yet it has changed so much.”
“What has?”
“What else? This place, of course. It seems quite different from the Yang-ryeong-ju I remember.”
Manager Seong’s words were accurate.
The streets were clean, and the people’s expressions were bright.
Half a year ago, this place was—though it’s awkward to say—quite chaotic.
Seol Woon-hwi’s process of seizing control of Yang-ryeong-ju was itself a path drenched in blood.
When he first took control of Yang Ryeong from Seol-ap, and then as it extended outward to Bong Rae, Jeok An, Sa Ryang, and even Divine Ginseng Valley.
Throughout all these processes, the residents of the cities had almost no say in the matter.
There was nothing but killing and killing again, so invisible chaos lay dormant within the cities, yet Seol Woon-hwi had not resolved that either.
It would take far too long.
With subordinates at his command, for Seol Woon-hwi to handle all such matters himself was not merely inefficient—it was foolish.
A faint smile played at the corners of Seol Woon-hwi’s mouth as he gazed out beyond the carriage.
‘They’ve all worked quite hard.’
Soon after, they arrived at the main branch of Yang-ryeong-ju.
Several people had already gathered there.
A woman approached Seol Woon-hwi and Manager Seong as they descended from the carriage.
Ju So-ah.
Leader of the Yang Woon Dan.
“I’m back.”
Ju So-ah smiled softly.
“Your complexion has become radiant. Things got busier after we left, yet you should have just stayed a bit longer.”
Seol Woon-hwi chuckled and patted Ju So-ah on the shoulder.
“Your qi circulation seems to have improved even more, but don’t let it go to your head.”
A young man approached from behind Ju So-ah, who shrugged her shoulders.
“Supreme Commander, I’m relieved you’ve returned safely.”
It was Han Seok-hyeon.
Seol Woon-hwi nodded and spoke.
“There’s much more laughter in the city now.”
“…”
“You’ve done well.”
“I merely did my duty.”
Han Seok-hyeon bowed respectfully with a cupped fist salute.
Behind him stood a woman whose expression betrayed considerable tension.
It was Namgung Won Yang.
She approached and offered a formal cupped fist salute.
“It is an honor to meet you again, Master.”
I regarded Namgung Won Yang with an enigmatic expression.
The martial artists of Yang Woon Dan had been dispatched to the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance roughly two months prior.
At that time, Namgung Won Yang had been a martial artist of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown realm.
Yet now, she had clearly reached the Five Energy Harmonizing Origin stage.
“Remarkable.”
“You are too kind…”
“Is there anything you require?”
Namgung Won Yang smiled brightly.
“I already possess everything I need.”
Namgung Won Yang was twenty years old this year.
At merely twenty, she had ascended to the Five Energy Harmonizing Origin realm.
Even during my time at Seol Ap, I had valued Namgung Won Yang’s talent more highly than that of Cheon Pung or Han Mu-rin.
Yet I had not anticipated she would reach this level.
After contemplating something briefly, I spoke quietly.
“Come to my residence tonight.”
“…Alone?”
“Alone.”
Namgung Won Yang nodded.
Ju So-ah, observing the two of us with a peculiar expression, asked casually.
“What about me?”
“You are dismissed.”
Ju So-ah laughed softly.
“You remain unchanged.”
But more importantly—
“What of Noh Senior?”
“He should be overseeing the examinations at this moment.”
“Examinations?”
“Yes. There is a Martial Rank Assessment being held at the academy today.”
“Martial Rank Assessment?”
“Indeed. The Supreme Commander created this examination after stepping back, and the academy’s structure is now divided by ranks. Since he must oversee and supervise that, he will likely arrive after it concludes.”
That made sense.
“Let us proceed inside. There is much we must discuss.”
“Very well.”
Ju So-ah dismissed Yang Woon Dan, and I subsequently moved to the Grand Hall located at the center of the Main Branch.
Seol Woon-hwi, seated at the upper position, spoke quietly.
“Be seated.”
“Yes.”
Four people, including Manager Seong, took their seats.
A brief silence fell.
Seol Woon-hwi spoke first.
“How has Yang-ryeong been faring?”
Han Seok-hyeon answered first.
“It has been stable. Noh Senior has worked diligently, and Unit Leader Ju and Commander Namgung have traveled extensively resolving various issues, so there have been no major problems.”
“Speak in detail.”
“Yes. First, security has improved significantly. After you departed, an unusual organization appeared in Yang-ryeong.”
“An unusual organization?”
Though the question was posed casually, Seol Woon-hwi’s brow furrowed sharply at Han Seok-hyeon’s response.
“An organization calling itself the Hwan-myeong Group.”
“…The Hwan-myeong Group?”
“…Yes. Do you perhaps know of them?”
I cannot be ignorant of this.
I had mentioned it lightly before—currently, the Murim exists in an Era of Great Peace.
And this era of peace shatters approximately ten years hence.
The cause is war, though not between martial artists themselves, but between nations.
As martial artists are swept into this conflict, both the Four Heaven Alliance and the Martial Alliance enter the fray, and the entire Murim becomes engulfed in the flames of war.
At the genesis of all this stands the Hwan-myeong Group.
Because of them, the Yang Empire, the Enemy Nation, and the Moon-bright Kingdom begin their war.
Little is known about them. Even I, having conducted my own investigations, know precious little of their true nature.
Seol Woon-hwi rested my chin in my hand.
Regardless, this was peculiar.
The Hwan-myeong Group appears at this very moment?
No, that’s not it.
This must be viewed differently.
They did not appear at this time—they have existed long before.
Holding their breath, gathering strength, and waiting for their moment, they unleashed everything years later.
Everyone in the Grand Hall fell silent, observing Seol Woon-hwi lost in contemplation.
Seol Woon-hwi lifted my head and gazed at Han Seok-hyeon.
“Did they openly reveal themselves as the Hwan-myeong Group?”
“…No.”
“Then how were they first discovered?”
“Suspicious movements were detected among individuals flowing into nearby villages.”
“By tracking those movements, you realized they were organized?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“From what I observed, they appeared far too ordinary.”

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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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