Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 52
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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 52
Chapter 1
Woon-hwi had returned to Han Da-gyeong.
As soon as he returned, he held a brief funeral for Baek Myeong-gaek and was about to depart when an unexpected guest arrived.
It was Yang So.
“Ah… it seems I’ve come at a bad time.”
Woon-hwi shook his head.
He had things to discuss anyway, so the timing worked out well.
But first, he had to ask.
“What brings you here?”
“Oh, it’s nothing major. I came to express my gratitude.”
He couldn’t help but smile.
“Yang So.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t need to thank me. Everything you gained was through your own efforts, wasn’t it?”
“It was Hyeon Seol-rin who gave me the opportunity.”
“That’s true, but there are countless people who can’t seize an opportunity even when it’s given to them.”
Yang So scratched his head.
To him, Woon-hwi asked:
“Do you plan to continue maintaining Iron Mountain Sword Gate?”
“…Yes.”
“That’s your freedom, so I won’t say anything against it. Originally, I was thinking of placing Iron Mountain Sword Gate in Ju-ryeong Sword Gate’s position. I needed to ask your opinion, and since you’re here, I’ll ask. Do you have any thoughts of relocating?”
After pondering for a moment, Yang So shook his head.
“I’ll remain in Seol-ap. After all, Seol-ap is also under Hyeon Seol-rin’s jurisdiction, isn’t it?”
He nodded. That was correct.
“How is your training in Heaven’s Extreme Following Heaven Sword Technique progressing?”
“I’m almost at the point of mastery.”
“Good. Come find me after you’ve mastered it. I’ll give you the Heaven’s Extreme Anti-Heaven Sword Technique.”
Yang So’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected to receive it so soon.
A strange smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“This… the favors keep continuing, but is there something specific you want from me?”
He shook his head.
“There isn’t.”
“That can’t be… This is the Murim, after all. The martial arts of the Heaven’s Extreme Sword Emperor are of immeasurable value, yet you gave them to me. Moreover, you’re saying you’ll give me the Anti-Heaven Sword Technique at such an early stage… I can’t help but ask. In the Murim, there’s no such thing as favor without a price.”
“Isn’t it right here?”
“…”
“Aren’t you already my person?”
“…That’s correct. I am Hyeon Seol-rin’s person.”
“Do you have any thoughts of betrayal?”
“…I’m not insane, and I haven’t lived so shamelessly.”
“Then is there anything more to say?”
He was left speechless.
“Build your forces. And build your martial strength. Understood?”
Yang So quietly performed the Embracing Fist.
“I will do so, my lord.”
He chuckled softly.
“My lord?”
“I thought addressing you as Hyeon Seol-rin was somewhat inappropriate.”
“Why?”
“I’m not grateful to Seol Woon-hwi who has Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace as his background, but to the person called ‘Seol Woon-hwi.'”
“Is that so?”
“Therefore, I will address you as ‘my lord’ from now on.”
“Do as you please.”
He turned around just like that.
The people to accompany him were decided.
Han Mu-rin and Manager Seong.
Woon-hwi departed toward Han Bing Gate, not the Snow Palace.
* * *
It took three days to reach Han Bing Gate, located deep within Snow Mountain.
Sheer cliffs, endless glaciers, and countless stones jutting out between them made the path to Han Bing Gate even more treacherous.
“Young Master. This is Han Bing Gate’s territory.”
Manager Seong, who began speaking thus, slowly continued.
“It’s a place that strictly restricts outsiders’ entry, but they won’t be able to refuse the Young Master’s visit.”
Buildings emerging from the snow came into view. They appeared very unique, as if they had grown from within the glacier.
They had carved the glacier to create pillars and built structures on top of them.
An architectural technique that created the illusion of floating on ice.
To be clear, Han Bing Gate is a sect whose technical skills are far more valuable than their martial prowess.
“As you well know, Han Bing Gate’s refining techniques are the best in Snow Mountain. They work with metal and medicinal materials even in this frigid land.”
It wasn’t for nothing that they could form a marriage alliance with Seol Jung-cheon, the supreme master of the Snow Palace. It was possible because there were reasons for it.
Woon-hwi said nothing.
Before coming here, Woon-hwi had thoroughly examined the place where Jin So-hyeop and Baek Myeong-gaek had fought.
Had he not done so, he would have arrived faster, but he had no regrets.
Woon-hwi’s gaze turned toward Han Bing Gate’s main entrance.
The gatekeeper there was startled once by the Hyeon Seol-rin emblem carved on the carriage and startled again by Woon-hwi’s cold gaze. Then he immediately ran inside and returned before even a moment had passed.
“Th… there’s currently a meeting being held in the Main Hall, so if you could come inside and wait for now…”
Looking at the troubled gatekeeper, Woon-hwi silently nodded and began walking.
Why isn’t he taking the carriage… why is he walking? But why is the direction he’s walking… toward the Main Hall?
The gatekeeper, thinking something was wrong, tried to stop Woon-hwi, but he soon had to face Han Mu-rin.
With those murderous eyes that seemed to say he’d tear his throat if he interfered, the gatekeeper immediately cowered.
Thus, the three arrived at the Main Hall where a meeting was in full progress, and the middle-aged man sitting in the highest seat frowned upon seeing the three.
This man was Jin Yang-je.
He was from one of Woon-hwi’s maternal family sects and was his maternal uncle.
The meeting stopped at the appearance of the three.
“…I’m sure you were told to wait, but it seems you’ve taken the wrong path.”
“No, Uncle.”
Woon-hwi’s eyes were serious.
“I don’t want to delay even a moment.”
“…”
“Those who are seated may remain in their places.”
“…Fine. Get to the point quickly.”
The Han Gi grew even denser.
This place was the heart that contained the history of Han Bing Gate, which had continued for hundreds of years.
There, Woon-hwi quietly continued speaking.
“Han Bing Gate’s refining techniques are the finest in Snow Mountain.”
Woon-hwi’s voice carried depth.
“Their skill in processing medicinal herbs is also unparalleled. This would be a great asset to the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace. In fact, it already is an asset.”
Jin Yang-je’s eyes moved slightly.
“As you well know, I care deeply for the Snow Palace. I would do anything for the Snow Palace’s future, but unfortunately, there is a grudge between that Han Bing Gate and myself. A grudge that you, Uncle, personally created.”
Jin Yang-je let out a hollow laugh.
“A grudge… Yes, well said. Didn’t you shatter our Woon-hae’s limbs and kill his guards?”
“It seems you haven’t heard the reason.”
“I heard it.”
“That’s fortunate. Those guards died because they did things deserving death, and Fourth Brother was beaten because he did things deserving a beating. What more is needed beyond that?”
Jin Yang-je’s gaze grew cold.
“You’ve changed greatly.”
“The world moves at a rapid pace. I think it’s natural to change.”
“Good. I’ve heard your story well. Now tell me the real purpose of coming here.”
Woon-hwi took a moment to catch his breath. To be clear, Woon-hwi was being very respectful right now.
He couldn’t be more respectful than this.
“There’s something I’d like to say first.”
“Let me hear it.”
“I consider grudges very important.”
“Likewise.”
“And if something goes out, something must come in return. I understand that to be the law of Murim.”
“So?”
“Hand over Cho Se-hwi. Interrogation is necessary.”
A sneer formed at the corner of Jin Yang-je’s mouth.
“For such a trivial matter?”
Trivial.
That single word struck Woon-hwi’s heart.
“Cho Se-hwi is the future of our Han Bing Gate, having reached Five Energy Harmonizing Origin at an early age. If I hand him over for such a matter, what would become of my dignity?”
The word “trivial” had pierced deep into his heart, but the word “dignity” pierced even deeper.
“And…”
He laughed.
It was a sneer.
“You seem to think many things have changed just because you’ve occupied that small piece of land in Seol-ap, but Yang-ryeong is merely a backwater at the edge of Snow Mountain. Do you think that conquering one such place has put you at the center of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace?”
Jin Yang-je’s eyes were sunken.
His mind was crystal clear now.
He didn’t like the very fact that Woon-hwi was standing here like this. If something goes out, something must come in?
He largely agreed, but that was as far as it went.
This madman dares to come here after merely taking one backwater village…
“Just because heaven’s luck followed you once, you now try to converse with us as equals. Are you so proud of occupying one backwater place? Is that such a great achievement?”
His laughter echoed through the great hall.
“I still remember it clearly. That sight when Woon-hae whipped you. Back then you just cowered there like a dog… Yes, from your perspective, taking that backwater must be a great achievement. It’s probably the greatest achievement of your remaining life.”
His gesture continued.
“And yet you want me to hand over a Five Energy Harmonizing Origin warrior who is one of Han Bing Gate’s future prospects?”
Woon-hwi looked at him silently.
Jin Yang-je’s arrogance continued.
“Yes, now you have several sects under you, I hear. I heard Ju-ryeong Sword Gate collapsed. Long Sword Gate too, and Blue Cloud Blade Gate. But what does that matter? They’re just small sects at the edge of Snow Mountain. Just because you destroyed a few such things doesn’t mean you can become equal to our Han Bing Gate.”
After pausing briefly, he opened his mouth again.
“I thought you’d have that much sense, but you haven’t changed at all. Whether as a child or now, you’re still exactly the same as back then. What shamelessness does a bastard who grew up like weeds in the backyard have to dare request our Han Bing Gate’s future in this sacred Main Hall!”
Every single word he spoke was an insult directed at Woon-hwi.
But he still didn’t know.
What kind of existence he was mocking right now.
And why Woon-hwi had been silently listening to all those words.
Woon-hwi’s gaze changed.
When he yielded one step, the arrogance that demanded two, three more steps.
An attitude of not retreating even an inch himself.
And even going so far as to bring up events from the distant past in a public place to belittle him.
He wanted to make this clear.
There are two grudges between Woon-hwi and Han Bing Gate.
One is Woon-hwi’s personal matter.
And the other is a matter concerning Woon-hwi’s subordinates.
The former grudge could be buried.
After all, these were events from before his regression, and Han Bing Gate’s value was exceptionally high. Their refining techniques were the best in the Snow Palace, and their herb processing techniques were also the best.
Most of the physicians in the Main Palace’s Medicine Hall were all from this Han Bing Gate.
He had no interest in whether the resentment from that time remained or not.
As Woon-hwi had told Seol Jung-cheon, he would do anything for Snow Mountain’s future.
It was something he couldn’t accomplish in his previous life, and that was the purpose of his second chance at life.
For that purpose, a small grudge? It was right to bury it.
Even if they had tormented him for six years, he had planned to settle everything if they just handed over Cho Se-hwi.
But there was an unbridgeable gap.
This was a matter of hierarchy, a matter of common sense.
He slowly began to move.
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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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