Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 72

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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 72

 

After a long time, my thoughts deepen.

 

I was trying my best to maintain composure.

 

While raising my martial arts realm is the top priority, I must not be hasty.

 

I must ascend step by step, with certainty.

 

The Mad Blood Meridian I suffer from certainly helps greatly as a warrior, but the side effects are no joke either.

 

When I reach any realm, I must go through an adaptation period in that realm. If I don’t, as precedent shows, my blood meridians will explode and I will die.

 

I pressed my hand to my head.

 

The information I had recently obtained reorganizes in my mind.

 

Some things connect while others break apart.

 

I couldn’t investigate in detail the things I thought were strange in my previous life. I lived quite busily and had more than one or two things to worry about. Even when I brought down the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace, I abandoned my existing work and moved alone.

 

For that, I was scolded and punished by Cheon Do-ja.

 

I gathered information in a short time and filtered out what seemed reasonably valid among them. That was my limit.

 

I too had a position and work to do.

 

After my regression, I prioritized filling in what I didn’t know based on information from my previous life.

 

But the moment I met the being called Jeong Mu-heun and obtained the Heavenly Demon’s Martial Arts Secret Manual, all the assumptions I had been thinking crumbled down.

 

What I said to him wasn’t an exaggeration.

 

I truly learned many things.

 

Now I need to verify them, but with my current realm, it’s nowhere near enough.

 

I remained lost in thought, still holding my head.

 

Moments from the past flash by. Countless people begged to be spared, and I mercilessly cut off their heads.

 

I killed those who blocked me, and I killed those who resisted.

 

I killed and killed again.

 

I have no regrets.

 

It was something that had to be done, and if I hadn’t, I would have had to kill dozens of times more people.

 

I feel no guilt.

 

I just thought that all those moments would repeat again.

 

I had to prepare.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

At the voice that suddenly reached me, I lowered my arm.

 

Ju So-ah was at a close distance.

 

And beside her was Manager Seong.

 

I looked up at the sky. The sun was just about to set.

 

At least two hours seemed to have passed.

 

“Did you finish receiving the briefing?”

 

“I did.”

 

“Then what are you doing here? Go and work.”

 

Ju So-ah scratched her head.

 

“Before starting, I was a bit curious.”

 

“What are you so curious about?”

 

Without hesitation, Ju So-ah asked.

 

“What exactly is happening here?”

 

My eyes narrow.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I really don’t understand.”

 

“So, what exactly?”

 

“I just went to look around those kids called Branch Members, and they’re all extraordinary.”

 

“Do they seem that way?”

 

“Yes. Especially that kid Won Yang is really shining. He’s at Yang Gwang I Hyeon right now, but from what I can see, he’ll reach Five Dragon Peak Realm soon.”

 

“What about the other two?”

 

“They’re exceptional too. I just had a light spar with them, and that kid Cheon Pung is very agile and has good senses despite his build. His judgment is quick too, and Han Mu-rin, was it? That kid learned some strange martial arts when young or something, because being at that realm doesn’t make sense. His swordsmanship itself is very irregular, and he seems to be trying to hide it, but his killing intent is overflowing. If he doesn’t refine that, he’ll be called a demon later.”

 

I chuckled.

 

“You seem to be quite serious when working, more than I thought.”

 

“Why are you like this? I told you before. I’m a warrior and someone who doesn’t forget kindness. If I’m not serious about repaying kindness, wouldn’t I become too lacking as a person?”

 

It wasn’t as bad as I thought.

 

“And what exactly is your identity?”

 

“You mean me?”

 

“Yes. From what I can see, you’re clearly at Five Dragon Peak Realm, but that doesn’t seem right. That moment when you perfectly controlled demonic energy in the Secret Realm… that absolutely wasn’t a warrior of Flame Qi Four Stages. It looked like what a master of at least Four Stages of Heaven and Earth level would show. How is that possible?”

 

I remained quiet.

 

“I don’t understand your identity.”

 

“…”

 

“Are you perhaps an old master who used Rejuvenation Technique?”

 

Ju So-ah continued speaking while looking at me bursting into laughter.

 

“The original person called Seol Woon-hwi died, and you’re taking his place… isn’t that it?”

 

“If that were the case, I’d have no reason to keep you alive here.”

 

“Would you kill me?”

 

I shook my head.

 

“If I was going to kill you now, I wouldn’t have saved you in the first place.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

Ju So-ah smiled brightly.

 

“What you obtained in the Secret Realm, it’s the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts, right?”

 

Manager Seong’s eyes instantly darkened.

 

He looked very ready to cut her head off right here if I gave the order, but my gaze was fixed on Ju So-ah.

 

This.

 

She’s quite something, more than I thought.

 

“You weren’t planning to keep me by your side to keep my mouth shut, were you?”

 

“Knowing that, why did you come here?”

 

“Because I owe you my life.”

 

“Is that so.”

 

“I did think that might be right, but looking at it now, that doesn’t seem to be it either. This protector beside you is glaring at me like he’d kill me right now… the killing intent is really tingling. Why aren’t you killing me?”

 

“At first it was interest, now it’s curiosity.”

 

“…Then, you’re not planning to cook and eat me later, are you?”

 

I burst into laughter.

 

“How old are you?”

 

“Twenty-eight.”

 

“At that age, you must have experienced much in Murim.”

 

“I have. Things like being discarded after use.”

 

“Do I look like someone who would do that?”

 

“You never know with people.”

 

“Then let me say this here and now.”

 

I continued in a firm tone.

 

“Throughout my entire life, I have never once used someone I accepted under my command as a hunting dog.”

 

“…”

 

“I never have until now, and never will in the future.”

 

Ju So-ah scratched her head.

 

“Well… I understand. Actually, I already owe you my life, and whatever happens, we’re in the same boat… and you are giving me an opportunity, right?”

 

“That’s about right.”

 

“So I just need to train those three I mentioned earlier?”

 

“For now.”

 

“Then is there anything I can refer to?”

 

* * *

 

At Ju So-ah’s words, Woon-hwi’s gaze softened.

 

“Cheon Pung is twenty-four years old, a large man but with a heart kinder and gentler than anyone else’s. He once killed traitors from the branch who had committed crimes, and that day he remained alone at the training ground to even hold their funeral. He’s generous, and behind that generosity lies a sense of responsibility stronger than anyone else’s. He has the qualities to take the branch leader’s position in my absence.”

 

He paused briefly before continuing.

 

“Won Yang is… quick and agile. His sharp senses are particularly outstanding, and they shine especially in unexpected situations. He has a talent for reading and responding to situations faster than anyone else. Not to mention his talent for martial arts.”

 

A smile formed on Woon-hwi’s lips.

 

“Han Mu-rin is a bit special. His parents were falsely accused of plotting rebellion and his entire family was massacred. His killing intent is unrefined and rough. Like boiling lava, it’s unstable and dangerous. Certainly that killing intent could consume him. But within it lies pure passion.”

 

“Passion?”

 

“Though he’s consumed by thoughts of revenge, that’s not everything. He has the steadiness to never forget what needs to be done, and talent that would be called genius by ordinary standards, but right now he’s walking on a precarious tightrope. If he can’t control that killing intent, someday it will consume him. But.”

 

“But?”

 

“If he overcomes that killing intent, Han Mu-rin will become a martial artist worthy of leaving his name in the Murim.”

 

Ju So-ah, who had listened carefully to Woon-hwi’s story, thought quietly before speaking.

 

“…You must care for them a lot.”

 

“Of course I do. They’re my people.”

 

At Woon-hwi’s calm answer, Ju So-ah closed her mouth again.

 

“And I’m curious about you too.”

 

“…Why?”

 

Woon-hwi’s gaze deepened.

 

“Because you too will become one of my people.”

 

Ju So-ah’s eyes widened.

 

His words contained no calculated intention or false sweetness.

 

Only pure feelings of caring for and embracing his people were contained within.

 

She chuckled.

 

“Who says I will?”

 

“You never know.”

 

Ju So-ah said nothing more. And to her, Woon-hwi tossed a manual.

 

Catching it, she tilted her head.

 

“What’s this?”

 

“The Heaven Killing Wolf Star Formula and the Heavenly Phenomenon Heart Method.”

 

“…I’ve heard of the Heaven Killing Wolf Star Formula… isn’t that Han Cheol’s martial art?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“What’s the Heavenly Phenomenon Heart Method?”

 

“A heart method I created.”

 

“…Don’t joke around.”

 

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

 

“Then, you created a heart method? A martial artist of the Five Dragon Peak Realm?”

 

“I don’t particularly want to explain it in words. Read it and educate accordingly.”

 

“…I understand for now.”

 

Ju So-ah turned around and opened the manual.

 

As she walked while reading, she immediately looked at the Heavenly Phenomenon Heart Method, and stopped in place as soon as she read the first page.

 

What is this?

 

“…You really created this? You…?”

 

“Not ‘you’, but Branch Leader.”

 

“…Whatever that is. What… is this?”

 

Branch members of lower levels would have just thought, ah, that must be an amazing heart method, but someone of Manager Seong’s caliber had already noticed.

 

That the Heavenly Phenomenon Heart Method was a heart method that could reach the highest level even among Heaven-grade techniques.

 

And the same was true for Ju So-ah.

 

Her arms trembled.

 

“This kind of… creating this kind of heart method aside, why are you giving it to me?”

 

“Didn’t I say? That you might become one of my people.”

 

“…”

 

“Just in case, I’m telling you – you may learn it.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“You will be active as deputy branch leader at this branch for one year. Understood?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“You may go.”

 

After Ju So-ah left, Manager Seong approached.

 

“They say women flock to heroes, and look at this. Our Young Master must be a hero. Hahaha.”

 

To Manager Seong who said this, Woon-hwi asked.

 

“The materials you mentioned before?”

 

“Ah, that? I was waiting for you to ask.”

 

Then, as if he had always prepared it, he pulled out a rolled-up bundle of documents from his chest.

 

Before entering the Secret Realm, Woon-hwi had received a visit from the Samgok Sangmaeng.

 

They borrowed the name of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace and promised 600 geun of Divine Ginseng Flower monthly, but Woon-hwi was curious about the background.

 

Why did they need the name of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace?

 

It was because someone was eyeing the Divine Ginseng Valley with keen interest.

 

If not, there would have been no reason for them to approach first.

 

The materials Manager Seong handed over contained information about the Divine Ginseng Valley, and also data about the gold mine between Bong Rae and Yang-ryeong.

 

After reading everything, Woon-hwi chuckled.

 

This much could be considered fate, couldn’t it?

 

“Among the merchant alliances active in the Central Plains, there are several, and one of them was pressuring the Divine Ginseng Valley. The gold mine has already fallen into their hands.”

 

That’s right.

 

“It’s Cheon Rim.”

 

“Yes. It’s Cheon Rim.”

 

“Since we’re on the topic, I heard there’s a Cheon Rim black market near Cheongsu Village. Is that right?”

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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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