Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 386

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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 386
Gun Mu-gyeol smiled, and the sparring match began.
Gongsun Myeong-wol moved.
Whoosh—
Her body flowed like water.
Kang Mu-cheol swung his sword, but—
Slip—
Gongsun Myeong-wol was already elsewhere.
Flowing Shadow Formless Sword.
A seamless fusion of natural movement technique as fluid as flowing water and a sword technique without form.
Slice, slice, slice—
Kang Mu-cheol’s shoulder was cut.
Then his arm was cut.
Then his leg was cut.
“Ugh…!!”
Kang Mu-cheol fell to his knees.
His eyes were wide with disbelief—it was clear he hadn’t read a single one of Gongsun Myeong-wol’s attacks in that brief moment.
Kang Mu-cheol slowly rose to his feet and raised his sword toward Gongsun Myeong-wol.
Gongsun Myeong-wol, who had been lowering her blade, gazed at him quietly before raising her sword to match his stance.
That was the moment.
Thud.
With that sound, Gongsun Myeong-wol’s physical form vanished from sight. Kang Mu-cheol completely lost track of her movement again and instinctively tried to push backward, but his body froze in that very posture.
A cold sensation at his neck.
A sword.
He shifted only his eyes to the side.
In his blind spot, Gongsun Myeong-wol stood there.
He hadn’t seen her with his eyes, hadn’t even felt the blade touch him.
Continuing further would be mere stubbornness.
Kang Mu-cheol released his sword.
“Victory goes to Gongsun Myeong-wol of the Gongsun Sect!”
Cheers erupted.
At the highest tier of the Spectator Stands.
Gun Mu-gyeol gazed silently at Gongsun Myeong-wol for a long moment.
“Young Master Seol.”
“Yes.”
“What is your assessment of that movement technique?”
Seol Woon-hwi answered quietly.
“It was inseparable from the sword.”
“…Inseparable from the sword?”
“Yes. Ordinary movement techniques exist to relocate the body. Swiftly, far, or cunningly. But—”
Seol Woon-hwi paused for a moment.
“Gongsun Myeong-wol’s movement technique exists for the sake of the sword.”
“…Continue.”
“The movement technique creates the sword’s trajectory, and the sword determines the direction of the movement technique. They are not two things becoming one.”
“…?”
“From the beginning, they were never two.”
Gun Mu-gyeol’s eyes flickered with interest.
“You mean they were one from the start?”
“Precisely.”
Seol Woon-hwi nodded.
“In the Confucian school, the sword and movement technique are trained separately. The sword is the sword, and the movement technique is the movement technique. Only later, at higher realms, do they attempt to unite the two.”
“That’s right.”
“In Buddhism, they speak of ‘all dharmas returning to one’—everything ultimately returns to a single Buddha-nature. Both sword and movement technique become one Buddha-nature.”
“Indeed.”
“In Daoism, they speak of ‘non-action and natural spontaneity’—wielding the sword without being bound by the sword, employing the movement technique without being enslaved to the movement technique.”
Gun Mu-gyeol listened quietly.
“But the Gongsun Sect…”
Seol Woon-hwi’s voice lowered.
“Never separated the sword and movement technique from the beginning. They trained as one from the start. Unlike the Confucian school, which combines them later; unlike Buddhism, which unifies them; and unlike Daoism, which flows naturally—they simply were one from the origin.”
“…”
“It was always one.”
Gun Mu-gyeol fell silent for a long while.
“…A path uniquely their own.”
“Yes.”
“Belonging to neither Confucianism, Buddhism, nor Daoism.”
“The Gongsun Sect’s own path.”
Gun Mu-gyeol let out a soft laugh.
That is why they are one of the Five Great Families—each walking their own way.
“But tell me this.”
Gun Mu-gyeol turned his gaze back to Gongsun Myeong-wol.
“How old is that young girl?”
It was not Seol Woon-hwi who answered this question.
It was Zhuge Yeong-hyeon, who had been listening quietly to the conversation. He spoke softly.
“Twenty-five, Alliance Leader.”
“Twenty-five…”
Gun Mu-gyeol marveled.
“To reach such a realm at that age. Moreover, that level of refinement is truly extraordinary.”
Seol Woon-hwi also gazed upon Gongsun Myeong-wol.
He agreed entirely.
I had never been entangled with the Gongsun Sect. In my previous life, when I unified the Murim, the Gongsun Sect was already half-ruined.
This was truly the fascinating part of the whole affair.
The reason the Gongsun Sect had crumbled so thoroughly was that the Martial Alliance had branded them as enemies of the Murim.
Gun Mu-gyeol didn’t act alone—he united with the other Four Great Families, and naturally, when the Gongsun Sect collapsed, the Murim was left with Four Great Families instead of Five.
And all of them had been dealt with by Seol Woon-hwi’s hand.
Seol Woon-hwi had heard of her too.
A once-in-an-age genius born of the Gongsun Sect.
Gongsun Myeong-wol.
She had reached the Heaven-Human Realm at thirty years of age, but afterward, her fate remained unseen, and she disappeared, becoming a plaything in Gun Mu-gyeol’s hands—a tragic woman.
“What are your thoughts on this, Young Master Seol?”
Seol Woon-hwi, who had been silently observing Gun Mu-gyeol, answered in a measured voice.
“Those movements are not those of a martial artist who has lived twenty-five years. That is a refinement that requires at least fifty years of wielding a sword.”
“…Indeed.”
Gun Mu-gyeol’s eyes shifted.
“How did the Gongsun Sect cultivate such talent?”
“There is certainly innate talent involved.”
Seol Woon-hwi spoke quietly.
“But the Gongsun Sect’s martial learning system is exceptional.”
“…A martial learning system?”
“Training the sword and movement technique as one is, conversely, equivalent to growing twice as fast, is it not?”
“…Ah.”
Gun Mu-gyeol struck his knee.
“While others train the sword and then train movement technique separately, the disciples of the Gongsun Sect grow in both when they cultivate one.”
“Precisely.”
“But isn’t that equally dangerous?”
There were two meanings to this.
The latent potential of the Gongsun Sect itself, and the flaws inherent in such martial arts.
Seol Woon-hwi dismissed the former. Gun Mu-gyeol wasn’t asking about that anyway.
Gun Mu-gyeol continued immediately.
“If either the sword or movement technique falters even slightly, both will collapse.”
“That is why most disciples of the Gongsun Sect cannot surpass the Harmony Realm.”
Seol Woon-hwi continued matter-of-factly.
“But those who do transcend it ascend to the Heaven-Human Realm in a single leap.”
“…Extreme, then.”
“Extreme, but efficient.”
“Then this Later Generation Prodigy called Gongsun Myeong-wol—”
Gun Mu-gyeol gazed at Gongsun Myeong-wol once more.
“She is one who transcended that extreme.”
“Yes.”
“If this Later Generation Prodigy breaks through the wall of the Five Energy Harmonizing Origin, what then?”
“The divine and the blade will become completely one.”
Seol Woon-hwi stated it plainly.
“If one ascends to the Heaven-Human Realm?”
“The form will disappear.”
“…The form?”
“One becomes indistinguishable—whether sword or human.”
Gun Mu-gyeol fell silent for a long while.
“…And the Martial God Five Realms?”
Seol Woon-hwi’s voice dropped low.
“One becomes a Sword God.”
The two locked eyes.
Silence flowed between them.
“Remarkable talent. Much like yourself.”
“You flatter me.”
Gun Mu-gyeol chuckled softly and murmured.
“What a waste.”
“What do you mean?”
“That such talent stands against us rather than with us.”
Gun Mu-gyeol’s gaze returned to Seol Woon-hwi. He smiled faintly and continued.
“The Gongsun Sect maintains neutrality, after all.”
Seol Woon-hwi smiled as well.
“True. Just as the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace does.”
And then.
“Neutrality sometimes becomes the most dangerous enemy.”
“…Heh heh.”
Gun Mu-gyeol burst into laughter.
But that laughter was cold.
The sparring match continued.
And then.
“Next match! Seol Yeon-hwa of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace, versus Hyeol Mu-jin of the Blood Wolf Sword Sect!”
At last.
It was Seol Yeon-hwa’s turn.
The Training Ground fell silent.
All eyes converged on Seol Yeon-hwa.
The Polar Descendants of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace.
The woman called the greatest of the later generation prodigies.
Seol Yeon-hwa took her place in the center of the Training Ground.
She did not even draw her sword.
She simply stood there.
“Begin!”
With the judge’s cry, Hyeol Mu-jin spoke.
“I regret marring such a beautiful face today.”
His eyes gleamed with intensity.
“This is merely a contest—harbor no grudge!”
His sword flew toward Seol Yeon-hwa.
But.
Whoosh—
Seol Yeon-hwa twisted her body slightly.
The sword sliced through empty air.
“…What?!”
Hyeol Mu-jin was taken aback.
He swung his sword again.
Yet Seol Yeon-hwa had not even drawn her blade.
She merely evaded.
To the left.
To the right.
Forward.
Backward.
As if dancing.
“This… this cannot be…!!”
Hyeol Mu-jin gasped for breath.
He had already swung dozens of times, yet landed not a single strike.
Gun Mu-gyeol murmured.
“…Remarkable movement technique.”
Seol Woon-hwi spoke.
“Superior even to Gongsun Myeong-wol.”
“…I concur.”
Then it happened.
Seol Yeon-hwa drew her sword.
Whoosh—
Once.
A single slash.
Clang—!
Hyeol Mu-jin’s sword was sent flying.
“…!!”
Hyeol Mu-jin lost his weapon.
Seol Yeon-hwa’s blade touched his neck.
“Concede.”
Her voice was ice.
“…I… I concede…!!”
“The victor: Seol Yeon-hwa of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace!”
The Training Ground erupted into chaos.
Cheers and exclamations poured forth.
“As expected….”
Gun Mu-gyeol marveled aloud.
“Truly, her reputation is well-deserved. She has grown even stronger than before… it is genuinely awe-inspiring.”
“My Elder Sister possesses innate talent, but it is not something the Alliance Leader need be wary of.”
“…Hmm?”
Seol Woon-hwi smiled gently.
“I myself walk neither the Righteous Path nor the Demonic Path, nor do I tread the Path of Supremacy or the dark way. But my Elder Sister clearly walks the Righteous Path, so naturally there is nothing to be cautious about. Is that not so?”
“You speak true. As it should be. Then she is not a threat to be wary of, but rather a blessing to the righteous Murim.”
Gun Mu-gyeol smiled.
The sparring matches continued.
Seok Cheon-han cut down his opponents one after another.
Chu Mu-geuk dominated his enemies with his spear.
Gongsun Myeong-wol toyed with her opponents through her movement technique.
And Seol Yeon-hwa achieved overwhelming victory in every match.
The sun began to set.
Night fell.
The first trial had ended.
Thirty-eight remained.
First place was naturally Seol Yeon-hwa.
Gun Mu-gyeol opened his mouth.
“After a half-gak of rest, we shall proceed with the second trial.”
All eyes turned toward Gun Mu-gyeol.
“Everyone, move to the Waiting Room.”
The Later Generation Prodigies withdrew.
The Training Ground began to empty.
Gun Mu-gyeol rose from his seat.
Seol Woon-hwi also stood.
Their gazes met.
“Shall we share a drink?”
“How could I refuse?”
Gun Mu-gyeol led the way, and Seol Woon-hwi followed.
Namgung Won Yang accompanied them as well.
The three walked together.
Toward the Bangju Hall.
* * *
The Bangju Hall.
Before the massive hall.
Yet something was amiss.
There were no guards.
All the sentries who should have been protecting Bangju Hall had vanished.
‘Deliberately withdrawn.’
Seol Woon-hwi surveyed the surroundings.
Perfect silence.
Gun Mu-gyeol opened the door.
“Come inside.”
I stepped through.
A spacious chamber.
A low table sat in the center, with wine bottles and cups arranged upon it.
“Be seated.”
At Gun Mu-gyeol’s words—delivered with an ease that came from having no eyes to observe him—Seol Woon-hwi let out a hollow laugh.
“Are you not weary, sir?”
“Hmm?”
“Wearing a mask like that—is it truly necessary?”
Gun Mu-gyeol smiled enigmatically.
“Beginning already, are we?”
“You may interpret it as such, but I would prefer you not dwell upon it, if possible.”
“….”
“If you dwell upon it, you may mistake what is distant for what is near.”
“Heh, I shall remember that.”
Gun Mu-gyeol took his seat and continued.
“A mask, you see, is not about concealing myself—rather, it is about revealing myself all the more.”
“I see.”
“The principle of acting without artifice varies in interpretation, but this mask upon my face—it can be a device that reveals my existence more fully while also concealing it, allowing me to live in accordance with the natural way.”
Gun Mu-gyeol smiled and poured wine.
“Is it not so?”
Seol Woon-hwi did not answer.

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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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