Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 382

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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 382
“…That….”
“If you do exactly as I say, I promise you this. I will let you live.”
“…Me… ?”
“I also intend to treat your legs. Since they were broken so cleanly, recovery shouldn’t be difficult. Of course, whether you escape and evade your pursuers depends entirely on your own abilities.”
“…Can you… truly promise that?”
“I have never broken a promise in a single moment. I have occasionally played with words, but I will make an exception for you.”
“….”
“Choose. What will you do?”
“…I’ll let you go.”
“A wise decision.”
* * *
Around the hour of Haeshi—between nine and eleven at night—a man appeared at the Twilight Inn located on the outskirts of Geonkon Castle.
Wearing a black traditional hat and face mask, his long robe was also black, and had an observer not known better, they might have mistaken him for an assassin.
He opened the door in silence.
The inn was quiet.
A few martial artists were present, though they were discussing Song Hak’s death that had occurred in Geonkon Castle.
He ignored them and climbed silently to the upper floor.
Only two people were here.
He gazed at the man with ash-gray hair.
With his legs crossed and arms folded, he emanated an extraordinary presence at first glance.
That man was none other than Seol Woon-hwi of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace.
He spoke.
“You’re late.”
“Were you so eager that you waited for me?”
“Do I look eager?”
“You don’t appear to be.”
“Sit.”
“….”
“I don’t repeat myself. Sit.”
The man removed his black traditional hat. He lowered his face mask.
His appearance suggested he was in his early forties, and he possessed one striking feature—his eyes.
One eye was white, as if he had lost his sight, while the other was crimson red, as if stained with blood.
He sat before Seol Woon-hwi without a word.
“It seems you did not employ Reverse Dragon.”
“There was no reason to.”
Won Yang, standing beside Seol Woon-hwi, whispered something softly into his ear.
Upon hearing this, Seol Woon-hwi asked the man.
“Heterochromatic Blood Eyes Yok Mu-han, correct?”
“Correct.”
“A master who has reached the Heaven-Human Realm, and once served as Grand Elder of the Cloud Iron Sword Sect?”
Yok Mu-han nodded and elaborated further.
“And one of the Hwan-myeong Group’s Envoys you’ve been searching for.”
I found it somewhat absurd.
“The Cloud Iron Sword Sect still stands intact, yet a former Grand Elder deliberately joined the Hwan-myeong Group? That’s difficult to comprehend.”
“Do I need your understanding?”
I let out a quiet laugh.
Then Yok Mu-han’s gaze shifted to Won Yang beside me.
“I heard on the way here that you subdued Il-hwa.”
Namgung Won Yang did not answer. She awaited my permission to speak.
“Loyal, I see. Let me ask one thing. Did you kill her?”
Namgung Won Yang looked at me. When I nodded to indicate she could answer, she spoke immediately.
“I did not kill her.”
“…I see.”
Yok Mu-han’s eyes fixed on me.
“I wish to see Il-hwa.”
“That’s not possible.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t wish it.”
I rested my hand on the table, my arms no longer crossed.
“You seem to treasure this member Il-hwa.”
“…”
“She was bait to draw you out, yet you openly reveal such affection for her. That’s peculiar. Am I correct in what I’m thinking?”
“You likely are.”
I let out a hollow laugh.
“Then let me ask you several things first.”
“Go ahead.”
I regarded Yok Mu-han directly.
“What is the purpose of the Hwan-myeong Group?”
Yok Mu-han tilted his head slightly.
He had heard vaguely of what happened in Yang Ling-ju, and he knew that Hyeol Mu, one of the Hwan-myeong Group’s Envoys, had died. So he should know—why ask?
Though puzzled, he answered the question.
“Division between nations. Inciting war—that is our purpose.”
“I already know that.”
I continued speaking.
“That’s not what I’m curious about.”
“…?”
“Why do you do such things?”
Yok Mu-han hesitated briefly before answering.
“We have lost everything. Our families, our sects, our clans.”
“So?”
“The world abandoned us. Therefore, we abandon the world in turn.”
“That is not a reason.”
“…What?”
“Revenge against the world? That cannot serve as justification.”
My eyes grew cold.
“Who, what, why. Only when these are clear is it true revenge.”
“We have justification….”
“You don’t.”
I spoke with absolute certainty.
“I know the creed of the Hwan-myeong Group. One life for one life, blood debts are repaid in blood.”
“….”
“But whose life are you repaying? Whose blood debt are you settling?”
Yok Mu-han could not answer.
“What grudge did Song Hak have against you?”
“…None.”
“Then why did you kill him?”
“…To spark a war.”
“Is that revenge?”
I tapped the table.
“You are not taking revenge. You are merely being used as a tool by someone.”
“…What are you saying.”
“Think about the ultimate purpose of the Hwan-myeong Group.”
I spoke quietly.
“Division between nations, incitement of war. Who benefits from all this?”
Yok Mu-han’s face hardened.
“One who seeks to expand power amid chaos.”
I continued.
“One who wishes to devour nations weakened by war.”
“….”
“The Hwan-myeong Group is that person’s tool. You believe you are taking revenge, but in reality you are merely moving at someone’s behest for their ambitions. Or perhaps you move for someone’s personal vendetta.”
Yok Mu-han clenched his teeth.
“…How much do you know?”
“More than you think.”
“….”
“You know what will unfold from here.”
“…I do.”
“The Yang Empire and the Jeokna Kingdom will rise, and when the Martial Artists connected to them join in, the dissolution of the Hwan-myeong Group becomes inevitable.”
“….”
“When that happens, all those who were used as tools will be captured and executed. Even those in positions like yours, Hwan-myeong Envoy, will perish. Only the Group Leader and the Hwan-ryeong he follows will likely survive.”
“….”
“Unfortunately, I have no intention of sparing or protecting your Hwan-myeong Group. You, Il-hwa, and all of you will die—and that is of your own making.”
“….”
“Of course, those who were used through ignorance will meet a dog’s death, but that too is of their own doing. They will have no cause for resentment.”
Yok Mu-han wiped his face.
Seol Woon-hwi.
When he had only heard rumors, he thought it absurd.
How could a mere youth barely past his coming-of-age accomplish such things? But seeing him directly, it was entirely possible.
This man.
He was truly a terrifying human being.
Why had he summoned him?
Yok Mu-han understood.
“…I ask but one thing.”
“Speak.”
“Will you spare Il-hwa?”
This much explained why Yok Mu-han had joined the Hwan-myeong Group.
“The Pavilion Master of Biryeon Pavilion was a man named Il Ji-seok. He had one daughter.”
“….”
“Il-hwa, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Your relationship with Il Ji-seok?”
“…We were close friends.”
“So you joined the Hwan-myeong Group to avenge your friend, and have actively used Il-hwa, his daughter, all this while.”
Yok Mu-han’s brow furrowed.
“Used?”
“Does the word offend you?”
“It does.”
“Then do you deny the content as well?”
“…I do not deny it.”
Yok Mu-han’s expression twisted, but that was all.
If something comes in, something must go out.
“Do you know who the Group Leader is?”
At my question, Yok Mu-han shook his head.
“The Hwan-myeong Leader?”
“…I know one.”
“Tell me the name.”
“…If you swear on your name that you will spare Il-hwa, I will tell you.”
I had no intention of making this difficult, but this was something different.
Though I had already told Il-hwa I would spare her life, what Yok Mu-han was asking was equivalent to taking responsibility for everything.
“I can provide a hidden identity and a place to stay.”
“…Where is that?”
“Hondo Maryeom Palace.”
Yok Mu-han’s eyes widened considerably.
“If it’s an organization under the protection of the Heavenly Righteousness Alliance, and with my patronage, you won’t die as a member of the Hwan-myeong Group at the very least. This is the best promise I can make.”
“…I understand. I’ll tell you.”
Yok Mu-han spoke in a quiet voice.
“An Elder of the Four Heaven Alliance—Gwak Seung-han, the One-Eyed Dragon Elder.”
“Are you certain?”
“I am.”
I regarded Yok Mu-han with a peculiar gaze.
I had definitely seen the name Gwak Seung-han in the records of the Hwan-myeong Group from my previous life.
This was something I needed to address, but the Group Leader of the Hwan-myeong Group had never been revealed even in my previous life.
Only three Phantom Envoys had been identified.
And one additional person I personally suspected.
If he was correct, that would make four in total.
“I wish to ask one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“Has anyone actually seen the Group Leader?”
Yok Mu-han tilted his head.
“What do you…mean?”
“Exactly as I said. Has anyone directly seen this person called the Group Leader?”
“…Aside from the Phantom Envoys, there wouldn’t be. And since you mention it, you’re quite fortunate.”
“Is that so.”
“Not all members of the Hwan-myeong Group know the Phantom Envoys. Even I, who spent fifteen years in the organization, didn’t see Gwak Seung-han until my thirteenth year.”
It seemed sufficient to understand that even ordinary members rarely glimpse the Phantom Envoys.
I nodded.
“That’s enough.”
After that, Yok Mu-han spoke slowly.
“I ask one thing of you—tell Il-hwa.”
As I nodded, Yok Mu-han drew a short blade from his robe.
Namgung Won Yang’s hand moved toward her sword, but I raised my hand to stop her.
“…Master?”
“Leave it be.”
Yok Mu-han pressed the blade against his own neck.
“Seol Woon-hwi.”
“Speak.”
“Will you tell Il-hwa for me?”
Tears welled in Yok Mu-han’s eyes.
“That the one who annihilated the Bi Yeon Gak was Zhuge Yeong-hyeon of the Martial Alliance.”
Zhuge Yeong-hyeon had committed so many absurd acts that this revelation came as no surprise.
“Who are you?”
“…I may as well tell you.”
“Yes, tell me everything you know.”
Yok Mu-han let out a soft chuckle.
And then.
A sharp slash—!
His throat was cut.
Blood fountained upward in a crimson spray.
Yok Mu-han’s body crumpled to the ground.
Silence fell.
Namgung Won Yang looked toward Seol Woon-hwi.
“…Master.”
Seol Woon-hwi turned his head.
“Do you have something to say?”
“…Yes.”
“Speak.”
“…Is it the Four Heaven Alliance? Are they behind the Hwan-myeong Group?”
Seol Woon-hwi shook his head.
“It’s not so much that they’re behind it, but rather that they’re concealed within the Four Heaven Alliance.”
“…I see.”
Seol Woon-hwi could not fail to understand what weighed on Namgung Won Yang’s heart.
“Are you worried about Manager Seong?”
“…Yes.”
“Do not worry.”
“Pardon?”
“He is not a man who dies easily.”
“….”
“And Kang Cheon-u is not the sort to stand idle and watch, so Manager Seong will be safe.”
“…Understood.”
Seol Woon-hwi gazed down at Yok Mu-han’s corpse.
“Bring this body to Mak So-hong, and inform Il-hwa of what has transpired immediately.”
“As you command.”

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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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