Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 43
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 43
Cheonha Trading Company.
They were the ones who played a major role in the process of selling the Han-reung Jade Crystal. I couldn’t proceed with the story while leaving them out.
After thinking for a moment, I opened my mouth.
“Give these people 10,000 silver coins.”
“…Pardon?”
The promise with Han Jang-kwang was simply to spare their lives, but I could show this much compassion.
“Give it to them.”
Yang So, who had been scratching his head, handed the money to the Han family members of Ju-ryeong Sword Gate, and they left Ju-ryeong Sword Gate like that.
I said quietly.
“Set it on fire.”
Earlier, after destroying Jang Sword Gate, Blue Cloud Blade Gate, and Hyeon-cheon Palace, I had set them all ablaze.
Ju-ryeong Sword Gate should be the same.
I gestured for Jin So-hyeop and Baek Myeong-gaek to follow me, then moved to a wall in the corner.
The two men who were called out quietly bowed their heads, and I watched them silently before speaking slowly.
“When I first accepted you two, I told you to obey absolutely. Do you remember?”
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t.”
“…We’re sorry.”
I shook my head.
“I don’t want an apology. I’m asking you for your reasons.”
Jin So-hyeop, who took a deep breath, answered first.
“…As a Murim person, I think settling grudges is natural.”
“And so?”
“But touching the government is different.”
“Different?”
“To put it clearly, touching the government means breaking the order of Murim. I don’t want to touch the government.”
“Because you’re from a military background?”
At those words, Jin So-hyeop’s head shot up. His eyes were trembling.
“…How… did you know?”
“I can tell from your movements.”
I extended my hand and pointed at Jin So-hyeop’s feet.
“Every three steps you take, more strength goes into your left foot. It’s a habit of those who spent long hours on horseback, and that angle when you draw your sword, diagonally upward from the left waist, that’s Foot Sword Technique optimized for mounted combat. It’s also the standard martial art of the Yang Empire Cavalry.”
Silence fell.
Jin So-hyeop’s face was paler than ever.
“And Baek Myeong-gaek.”
At my call, his eyes trembled slightly.
“You still have traces of Cheongseong Sect’s breathing technique.”
“…How… how…?”
“Though Cheongseong was destroyed hundreds of years ago, their breathing technique is also an Ancient Breathing Technique that affects the flow of heaven and earth. Every time you regulate your breathing, the surrounding air trembles slightly. Though you only know a part of it, that doesn’t mean the foundation disappears.”
“…That’s…”
“And I see traces of a soldier in you too. It doesn’t seem like Yang Empire, so where?”
“…Wol Kingdom.”
“Did you commit a crime?”
“…No. My ancestor of the Baek Family was a first disciple of the destroyed Cheongseong Sect, and the breathing technique obtained then still remains in our family. My father, who was a military officer, taught it to me.”
“So that’s why I see traces of both Wol Kingdom Infantry and Cheongseong together.”
“…Yes.”
“You don’t want to touch the government because you had a father from a military background? Is that right?”
“…Similar.”
I fell into thought for a moment.
* * *
What kind of man is Seol Woon-hwi.
Based on his actions so far, Jin So-hyeop and Baek Myeong-gaek thought there was a very high probability they would die today.
Even so, they didn’t want to make the government their enemy.
That was these two men’s conviction.
In a situation where that conviction clashed with Woon-hwi’s orders, these two chose their conviction.
They were prepared to humbly accept the consequences.
The two men quietly closed their eyes, and suddenly Woon-hwi’s voice came from above their heads.
“Conviction is truly a strange thing.”
The two men didn’t even move. Woon-hwi continued speaking.
“Sometimes it’s heavier than mountains, sometimes lighter than feathers. You must be feeling that weight right now.”
Jin So-hyeop and Baek Myeong-gaek silently bowed their heads deeper.
“I too abandoned many things for my convictions. As a result, I came to live every moment in the past. With regret.”
“…”
“I don’t know if that was right or wrong. But the thought that I don’t want to repeat it is still overwhelming.”
There was some regret in Woon-hwi’s voice.
“I won’t say your judgment was wrong. However, it’s an undeniable fact that your judgment put your comrades’ lives in danger.”
Wind blew. The leaves beyond the wall swayed.
“After tonight passes, you will no longer be Seol Ap Branch Members.”
At those words, both men’s shoulders flinched.
Woon-hwi’s words meant one thing.
Jin So-hyeop raised his head.
“…I thought you would kill us.”
A faint smile appeared on Woon-hwi’s lips.
“If I end things with death, that would be mere punishment, not teaching.”
Baek Myeong-gaek also opened his eyes and looked at Woon-hwi.
“I accepted you two. I gave you martial arts and gave you heart methods. Han Cheol’s martial arts are useful, and the Heavenly Phenomenon Heart Method I created will be compatible with whatever heart method you learn in the future. I won’t take away any of it, nor will I demand compensation.”
Their mouths fell open.
They thought they would lose at least their dantian.
“Just as I have my path, you have yours. No one knows where your path will lead. Even I don’t know. But.”
Woon-hwi’s eyes sharpened.
“If we meet at the end of different paths, then we will be enemies. So live with dignity. While keeping your convictions. Understand?”
Jin So-hyeop and Baek Myeong-gaek simultaneously knelt and performed the Embracing Fist. Their eyes held a mixture of regret, gratitude, and resolve.
“We will never forget the Branch Master’s teachings.”
Woon-hwi said briefly.
“Won Yang.”
Won Yang, who was not too far away, quickly responded.
“Yes, Branch Master.”
“Didn’t you say three treasured swords came out from Ju-ryeong Sword Gate?”
“Yes.”
“Bring all three of them.”
Won Yang, who was momentarily startled, soon nodded and immediately received the three treasured swords from Yang So before running to Woon-hwi.
Woon-hwi, who was quietly looking at those three treasured swords, handed the middle sword to Won Yang and gave the remaining two swords to Jin So-hyeop and Baek Myeong-gaek.
With the continued gifts and kindness, the two men were in a state where they couldn’t collect themselves.
“Where are you planning to go?”
To this question, Jin So-hyeop said he would enter the government of Yang-je Kingdom, while Baek Myeong-gaek said he would return to his hometown.
Soon Woon-hwi turned his back and spoke.
“Go.”
The two men bowed one last time and left.
Even after they disappeared, Woon-hwi gazed at the wall for a long time. Only moonlight was quietly falling.
And there was someone approaching him.
It was Han Mu-rin.
“…I unintentionally overheard the entire conversation.”
“So?”
“You seem like someone who listens to what your subordinates have to say.”
“So, what of it?”
“May I offer a word?”
“Go ahead.”
“Shouldn’t you have killed them?”
At those words, Woon-hwi chuckled.
“Why? Are you afraid of martial arts being leaked?”
“The value of Han Cheol’s martial arts and the Heavenly Phenomenon Heart Method – those two things are certainly tremendous. But even if they were leaked, I wouldn’t be afraid.”
“Then what are you worried about?”
“I’m worried about the method. I don’t trust those two. Regardless of their personal beliefs, they caused harm to comrades who had their backs. If the coordination of the Five Snow Ice Flower Formation hadn’t been so excellent, probably one of us three would have been seriously injured. And that one person would have been me, with the lowest level of skill.”
Woon-hwi quietly listened to Han Mu-rin’s words.
“I don’t think it’s right to send off those who committed such crimes with gifts like that, let alone failing to punish them severely.”
“Now I see it was truly a complex worry.”
“…Yes.”
“Then I’ll give you a clean answer. Those two were also my people.”
“But those two…”
“And you are also my person.”
At those words, Han Mu-rin even withdrew his smile and closed his mouth.
His heart seemed to pound.
“I don’t care whether those two spread the martial arts I taught them elsewhere or do whatever else. The same goes for you, and Won Yang and Cheon Pung behind you. Think back carefully. Did I ever mention not to reveal the martial arts to other places?”
“…You did not.”
“You are all making a very big mistake right now.”
“What mistake are we making?”
“Martial arts are ultimately tools. Whatever those tools may be, the person who uses them is what’s most important.”
“…”
“People were born first, and martial arts came after. I accepted you as my people and I also respect the beliefs that person holds.”
Woon-hwi moved his steps and approached Han Mu-rin.
“To accept someone means accepting everything about that person. My not asking about your past is the same thing.”
Han Mu-rin gulped.
“…Do you know my past?”
“I do.”
“How do you know?”
“I keep saying the same thing, but I’ll tell you clearly. A person’s movements show much more than you’d think. This has nothing to do with high or low levels of skill. When they breathe, when they eat, when they circulate energy, when they move – traces remain in every aspect. There’s a difference between being able to read those traces or not, but at least I can read those traces.”
“…Then, if I stay here, you’ll have many more enemies. Your life will be in danger too.”
“I told you then. Even if heaven and earth turn upside down, enemies don’t exist for those who walk with me.”
Woon-hwi’s hand rested on Han Mu-rin’s shoulder.
“I don’t hold back those who want to leave. I’m not afraid of martial arts being leaked either. Because for me too, beliefs are more important than mere martial arts.”
“…”
“And should a warrior worry about getting hurt? If you had been seriously injured, that would have been my oversight, so it would be right for me to take responsibility. Do you understand what I mean?”
Han Mu-rin looked at Woon-hwi with shaking eyes.
He didn’t know what to say.
His boldness was extraordinary.
The value of life is not equal for everyone. That’s common sense in Murim.
Woon-hwi didn’t stray far from that common sense either, but he clearly drew a line.
The lives of his people and the lives of others.
The former he cherished terribly, the latter he viewed as coldly as trash on the street.
Was he a man with such firm standards?
He didn’t know.
This was really that illegitimate son of Seol-ap?
To such Han Mu-rin, Woon-hwi spoke.
“Don’t chase after Jin So-hyeop and Baek Myeong-gaek. Don’t kill them either.”
“…Is that an order?”
“It’s an order.”
A smile formed on Han Mu-rin’s lips.
“I will obey.”
Woon-hwi moved his steps toward the cliff.
It was a place where all of Yang-ryeong County could be seen at a glance.
Flames were rising from several places, but it was quite a spectacular view.
“Won Yang.”
“Yes.”
“Plant the Snow Spirit Banner.”
Today, Yang-ryeong became the territory of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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