Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 377

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 377
“Just four days ago, he seemed fine… and now assassination…”
“Setting that aside, what is the current situation?”
“It’s chaotic.”
Mak So-hong gestured toward the fortress city.
“The Castle Lord has already designated a successor, but separately from that, we’ve apprehended the assassin. And the rumors are problematic as well.”
“You speak of rumors?”
Mak So-hong lowered his voice.
“The perpetrator is from Jeokna Kingdom.”
“I’ve heard.”
“With all manner of titles floating about, to be precise—it was Yeom Chu-seop, who served as the guard of Jeokna’s Third Prince, Jeok Myeong-cheol.”
“Jeok Myeong-cheol… and Yeom Chu-seop?”
“Yes… given how astute you are, I trust this much will suffice for you to understand.”
Mak So-hong’s expression grew grave.
“War between Yang Empire and Jeokna Kingdom may well be inevitable.”
“Yes… the likelihood is slim, but the rumors are spreading beyond our control.”
Having said this, Mak So-hong regarded Seol Woon-hwi.
“…But you wouldn’t have simply come without reason. Might I ask the purpose of your visit?”
“I’ve come to offer assistance.”
“Assistance…”
“I made a promise with Elder Song.”
“A promise, you say…”
“He asked me to help if Jeokna Kingdom ever faced crisis.”
“…Ah…”
Mak So-hong could not help but marvel.
Ever since Seong Tae-su Song Hak took to his sickbed, he had continuously sought to learn of Seol Woon-hwi’s movements.
It was Mak So-hong who had relayed this information to him.
Each time Song Hak observed Seol Woon-hwi’s actions, he would laugh and laugh again.
When Mak So-hong asked why he laughed so, Song Hak answered thus.
—Seol Woon-hwi is a man who will surely save Yang Empire whenever crisis befalls it, without fail.
Though he is one who values gratitude and grudges, his backing is the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace, and the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace has no particular reason to protect Yang Empire.
To Mak So-hong, who spoke thus, Song Hak stroked his head with an arm that was little more than bone.
—Live about ninety years, and you’ll see whether this man is genuine or false. Whether he is one who keeps his promises.
—In my judgment, this man would keep his promise even with a blade at his throat.
—That such a promise brings good fortune to him personally or not, he will keep it regardless—that is his conviction.
When Mak So-hong asked how he could know such a thing.
—Didn’t I say so? Live about ninety years and you’ll see. You should live that long yourself.
And with that, he had burst into hearty laughter.
And his words had proven true.
Seol Woon-hwi had come. He need not have come, yet he had—to honor that promise.
“…I humbly ask this of you, Young Master Seol.”
Seol Woon-hwi nodded and spoke.
“First, I wish to pay my respects to Song Hak’s remains.”
“…His remains?”
Mak So-hong’s expression grew troubled.
“That is… normally not permitted….”
“I understand.”
Mak So-hong deliberated for a moment before nodding.
“Very well. Since the Castle Lord trusted Young Master Seol so deeply, I too shall place my trust in you.”
“Thank you.”
“This way, please.”
Seol Woon-hwi and Namgung Won Yang descended from the carriage and followed Mak So-hong to the Castle Lord’s Residence.
After approximately half a shichen, the three arrived at an enormous manor situated at the heart of Geonkon Castle.
Mak So-hong led Seol Woon-hwi and Namgung Won Yang into an inner hall.
It was silent.
Everyone had withdrawn.
Upon a bed lay an old man, covered with white cloth.
Mak So-hong approached first.
“…Forgive my intrusion for a moment.”
With those words, Mak So-hong lifted the cloth.
“Come here.”
At his words, Seol Woon-hwi and Namgung Won Yang drew near.
Song Hak’s revealed face appeared remarkably peaceful.
As if merely sleeping.
Yet in this moment, my eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.
What entered my gaze was a wound upon the neck.
A minuscule wound. Shallow, yet precise.
“….”
I examined Song Hak’s body slowly.
Chest, abdomen, limbs.
Faint marks were scattered throughout.
Invisible to ordinary sight, yet clear to my eyes.
‘The blood paths were struck with perfect accuracy.’
Moreover.
‘To maximize suffering.’
My gaze turned glacial.
Song Hak must have endured tremendous agony in his final moments.
Yet he could not have cried out.
The wound upon his neck had prevented it.
I gazed intently upon Song Hak.
My match with this old man had been intriguing and thoroughly engaging.
What impressed me most was his unwavering loyalty to his nation.
And his reputation among the people was equally profound.
Outside these walls, countless souls mourned him and worried for his fate.
For such a man to meet his end like this—
It should never have happened this way.
Torturing an elderly man on death’s door? Using the forbidden Soul Annihilation Needle Technique at that?
I drew the cloth back over him.
Mak So-hong then asked carefully.
“What are your thoughts?”
“It’s tragic.”
Mak So-hong stared at me with bewilderment as I suddenly dropped the formal speech, his eyes widening at what came next.
“I wish Song Hak had passed without suffering.”
“Without suffering?”
Mak So-hong tilted his head in confusion.
“The physicians said he died instantly…”
“That’s what it would appear to be on the surface.”
I paused before continuing.
“But in reality, he must have endured tremendous agony.”
Mak So-hong’s face hardened.
“Do you know of the Soul Annihilation Needle Technique?”
“I’ve never heard of it before.”
“As I understand it, the original exists in the royal warehouse of Jeokna Kingdom, and a copy—half of the original—is hidden somewhere in the Murim.”
“Such a thing exists?”
“It ranks among the highest of Heaven and Earth Grade techniques. Even the incomplete copy would be considered low-tier Heaven and Earth Grade.”
“Then…?”
The needles struck the vital blood pathways with precision. The throat was pierced first to silence his voice, the chest punctured to prevent swift death, and both arms and the left thigh stabbed to maximize suffering. From the wound patterns, these were not inflicted after death. All were made while Song Hak still lived… He must have endured unspeakable torment.”
Mak So-hong collapsed to the ground in disbelief.
My voice struck his ears like thunder.
“Normally I would not speak of this, but Song Hak must have trusted you deeply. That’s why you came as my messenger when tensions arose with Yang Empire, and why you’ve been continuously reporting my movements to him.”
“How could you possibly know such things…?”
“Mere deduction based on circumstances. What matters is that if anyone in this fortress must learn this truth, you should be the first.”
“Young Master…”
“Your task is not to grieve.”
My cold gaze fixed upon Mak So-hong, still kneeling on the ground.
“Your task is to avenge the man you served. Is that not so?”
Fire kindled in Mak So-hong’s eyes.
“Stand.”
“Yes.”
Mak So-hong rose to his feet, his teeth clenched with resolve.
I asked him directly.
“I want to see the culprit.”
“…We’re currently interrogating him.”
“And?”
“…There are officials from the Imperial Court present, as well as representatives from various factions.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
Mak So-hong looked directly at me.
“I’ll guide you.”
With that, Seol Woon-hwi and Namgung Won Yang left the hall.
Mak So-hong, leading the way, arrived at the underground level of the Castle Lord’s Residence.
The path to the interrogation chamber.
The corridor was dark, with only torches on the walls illuminating the narrow space.
Mak So-hong pointed to a heavy iron door.
“It’s just ahead.”
Guards stood there.
The moment they saw Mak So-hong, they took the Embracing Fist salute.
“Open it.”
At Mak So-hong’s voice—different from usual, laden with killing intent—the guards didn’t hesitate and immediately opened the door.
Voices came from inside.
“Speak! Was it truly the prince of Jeokna Kingdom who ordered this!”
“…Ugh… Yes, it was!”
“You insolent dog, stop making false accusations and answer properly!”
If it was truly Jeok Myeong-cheol, the prince of Jeokna Kingdom, who had ordered this, it was an issue that transcended mere diplomacy—it could escalate to war.
Determining whether it was a false accusation or the truth was paramount.
I stepped into that chamber.
A spacious room.
A man was bound in the center.
His entire body was covered in blood.
Yeom Chu-seop.
The culprit.
And around him stood several people.
Officials from the Imperial Court, martial artists from Geonkon Castle, and representatives from other factions.
“Who are you?”
An official asked, looking at me.
“I am Seol Woon-hwi.”
“…Cheon Ui Jung-jeong?”
People murmured among themselves.
“From the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance…?”
“…The demon general of the Eternal Snow Palace?”
I ignored them.
I looked at Yeom Chu-seop.
Yeom Chu-seop met my gaze.
His face was caked with blood.
Yet his eyes still burned with life.
His cultivation realm appeared to be at the Body Establishment Boundary.
A strong man, certainly—but only to that extent.
“…So a big fish has arrived.”
Yeom Chu-seop laughed, spitting blood.
“Your reputation precedes you… How honored I am that even a small fry like me would catch your attention.”
“Under normal circumstances, I would have no reason to notice someone like you.”
“…”
“Did you learn the Soul Annihilation Needle Technique while guarding the Third Prince?”
At those words, Yeom Chu-seop’s eyes widened, and the surrounding crowd stirred with unease.
“Soul Annihilation… Needle Technique?”
“What is that?”
“Such a technique exists?”
Ignoring them once more, I stepped closer to Yeom Chu-seop.
Then I whispered quietly.
One life for one life, blood debt repaid in blood.
A life for a life—blood debts are settled with blood.
Just as the three members of the Hwan-myeong Group had reacted at the Yangryeong Main Branch, Yeom Chu-seop’s response was identical to theirs.
It was so predictable it was almost laughable.
I asked him.
“Was it truly necessary to go that far?”
“…”
“He was an old man with only days left to live. Did he deserve such suffering?”
Someone nearby tried to ask me what I was talking about, but Mak So-hong stopped them.
“…I… I never inflicted pain… I simply… killed him. By the Third Prince’s command!”
He emphasized the last part, but it was transparent to my eyes.
It was a lie.
“I see. It must have been the Third Prince’s command then.”
“…?”
“You merely followed orders.”
Yeom Chu-seop’s eyes wavered.
I took another step closer.
“But Jeok Myeong-cheol is not the type to give such orders.”
Yeom Chu-seop bristled.
“How would you know! I guarded him directly—I know him better than anyone here! He commanded me to kill Song Hak! And so I did! I am merely a tool. Nothing more than someone’s blade!”
Clearly.
Jeok Myeong-cheol was not the type to give such orders.
Seol Woon-hwi wanted to emphasize this once more.
There was only one reason.
Jeok Myeong-cheol, whom I had seen in my previous life.
He would become the twenty-fourth king of the Jeokna Kingdom—brutal, yes, but one who valued the Path of Supremacy and cause and effect, with a mind equally extraordinary.
Such a man could never commit such a foolish act.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————