Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 93
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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 93
“Yes. If one move is placed incorrectly, the entire flow breaks, and if one group goes in the wrong direction, everything collapses. That’s why sometimes you must abandon one territory.”
Wang Mu-ha’s gaze deepened.
He slowly spoke as he placed down a black stone.
“Are you saying that Su Gwang-ho’s death was for the sake of the overall flow?”
“That’s correct. What matters is who places the stones, and though I’m playing stones with you now, senior, it was surely Martial Alliance Vice-Leader Zhuge Yeong-hyeon who created this very situation.”
“….”
“Zhuge Yeong-hyeon’s moves are certainly excellent. He must have been drawing a grand picture like this Go board. However….”
Woon-hwi picked up a white stone.
“His moves overlooked one thing.”
“What did he overlook?”
“The most important thing in Go is reading your opponent’s heart. Zhuge Yeong-hyeon was so focused on his grand picture that he failed to read others’ hearts. Su Gwang-ho’s heart, Bong Rae’s heart, and….”
Woon-hwi placed down the white stone.
“He also failed to read your heart, senior.”
Wang Mu-ha’s eyes wavered. Woon-hwi’s words pierced deep into his heart.
He placed a black stone with trembling hands, but it was nothing more than a desperate struggle.
“How can one who cannot read people’s hearts discuss ruling the world? This is the true meaning of benevolence . It is also the source of the Way .”
Woon-hwi picked up a white stone.
Blood flowing from his shoulder stained the white stone.
He placed it down as it was.
Thud.
Along with that sound, drops of blood fell as well.
And Wang Mu-ha no longer picked up any stones.
No, he couldn’t place any.
“…In ten moves, no, twelve moves, I think I’ll lose.”
Woon-hwi shook his head.
“Seven moves. Even accounting for variables, it will be decided within nine moves.”
Though black and white stones were placed almost evenly on the Go board, that was only how it appeared on the surface.
Once Woon-hwi began to move, two territories would be destroyed within two moves, and four more would collapse within the following seven moves.
“…I’ve lost.”
“Yes. You’ve lost. By nine and a half points.”
Wang Mu-ha looked at Woon-hwi with dazed eyes.
“…Who… are you exactly?”
“I am Seol Woon-hwi.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. What more would be necessary?”
“…Someone who plays such moves… Huh… Amazing. Truly amazing.”
Wang Mu-ha wore an expression of disbelief.
His gaze was directed toward the Go board. He slowly retraced the previous processes.
What conversations had they exchanged, what topics had been raised.
What were each other’s positions.
He decided to change his perspective slightly.
Wang Mu-ha’s mind spun furiously.
He immediately began following the flow that Woon-hwi had created.
Then.
He suddenly realized.
What is Heaven-Human Unity.
It is becoming one with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.
But could that truly be the end? As Woon-hwi had said earlier, Go is a battle between people.
And within that battle lies the Way.
‘The Way… Yes, it was the Way.’
Woon-hwi’s white stones weren’t simply overpowering the opponent’s black stones. They were creating flow, and within that flow, reading the opponent’s heart.
Just as Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy flows naturally.
If Heaven-Human Unity is becoming one with heaven and earth, what would be the realm above that?
People becoming one with people.
That might be the beginning of Limitless Divine Manifestation.
“Ah… Could it be….”
That was the moment. Something stirred within Wang Mu-ha’s inner self.
A door that had been closed for decades was about to open.
Just as he had grasped the principles of the world through the small world of Go, he had understood the Way of humanity through a match with one person.
Could the ‘flow’ that Woon-hwi had spoken of be exactly this?
Wang Mu-ha, who was about to sit in lotus position, soon hesitated.
It was insufficient.
Really… regrettably, it was slightly lacking.
“It seems you’ve gained enlightenment.”
“…I have. But… it seems still insufficient.”
“If you proceed slowly, won’t you eventually reach it?”
He was at a loss for words.
This.
He couldn’t even grasp what was happening.
What exactly was this man?
His heart began beating frantically.
Earlier, Wang Mu-ha had evaluated Seol Woon-hwi highly.
But that was actually an underestimation.
At this moment, Woon-hwi’s value began to appear anew in Wang Mu-ha’s eyes.
In the moment enlightenment rushed in, Woon-hwi reflected in his eyes was no longer just one young martial artist.
He was the shadow of a giant who would move the world.
“Are you alright, senior?”
“…I’m… fine.”
He swept his hair back.
His already aged appearance seemed to have grown older in this brief moment.
He felt like he had seen a wall.
“…The Martial Alliance has been underestimating your value far too much.”
“Thank you.”
“…I’m not just saying that. I mean it. And the Martial Alliance has entrusted me with all authority. And I am one martial artist. Though the Martial Alliance’s cause is important, I will uphold the Way as a martial artist.”
Wang Mu-ha rose from his seat and performed the Embracing Fist.
“Today, I have received a favor from you, Confucius. I will surely repay this favor. It was truly a good match.”
Woon-hwi also performed the Embracing Fist.
“It was the same for me.”
“And… if there’s anything you wish to request, please do so. I’ll grant anything.”
“Actually, there was something I had wanted to request.”
“Please tell me.”
“But since things didn’t proceed as I had hoped, I’ve judged that it’s too early.”
Wang Mu-ha tilted his head.
Then, he suddenly opened his eyes wide.
“Could it be….”
“Yes. I was thinking of having your affiliation transferred, senior.”
“…Huh….”
“But unfortunately, I think it’s too early.”
“…No. It’s not too early. I am a warrior. I am a man who keeps his word once given.”
“I know that. If I told you right now to move your allegiance to the Snow Palace, you would do it. But would that really be the right thing to do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I have not yet won your heart, senior.”
“…”
“Even if I made you move your allegiance through a simple wager, what meaning would that have? I told you earlier, didn’t I? That true benevolence is reading people’s hearts.”
“…Huh…”
“From my narrow perspective, I have not yet won your heart. Isn’t that right?”
“…But it’s true that I’ve been shaken.”
“Because it hasn’t completely tilted, I’m not making demands.”
Woon-hwi held Wang Mu-ha in high regard.
Seriously speaking, if Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace had Hyeon Sim, then the Martial Alliance had Wang Mu-ha.
The difference was that while Hyeon Sim was loyal to Seol Jung-cheon, Wang Mu-ha was loyal not to Alliance Leader Gun Mu-gyeol, but to the values of the Martial Alliance itself.
Above all.
Wang Mu-ha hadn’t come here for no reason. He came because he was that caliber of person.
“…Truly… bold and mighty.”
“You praise me too highly. I am still just a weak candle flame, senior.”
“If there were candles like you, this world would burn up in an instant.”
For a while, Wang Mu-ha was silent, and Woon-hwi was silent too.
They looked at each other.
Wang Mu-ha didn’t know what thoughts Woon-hwi was having, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that his own thoughts were being read by Woon-hwi.
Truly a frightening person.
His martial arts talent, having reached Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown before even turning twenty, was tremendous, but his mind was even more tremendous.
A thought suddenly occurred to him.
Genius.
‘…The Palace Lord of Snow Palace is truly blessed.’
How on earth could one succeed so well in raising children?
It was beyond words.
“…How about we continue this conversation later?”
“Good. At that time, I’ll try to win your heart, senior.”
“…I don’t know when that time will be, but fine. I’ll look forward to it. And I will withdraw.”
Wang Mu-ha’s voice deepened.
“I cannot stop the entire Martial Alliance, but at least I can block the Vice Alliance Leader’s schemes at my level.”
At those words, Woon-hwi shook his head instead.
“You don’t need to go that far.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes. The game between Zhuge Yeong-hyeon and me is not yet finished. Just withdrawing is sufficient.”
“…I understand. I’ll do that.”
As Wang Mu-ha stood up from his seat, Woon-hwi spoke as if he had just remembered something.
“May I leave today’s game record?”
Wang Mu-ha looked at Woon-hwi for a moment. He already knew that this game record was not just a simple record.
“…You want to convey the meaning of this game to the world?”
“Yes. I hope the enlightenment you gained here today will be passed down to future generations.”
Wang Mu-ha’s gaze deepened.
“Fine. Do as you wish. This game has that kind of value. And…”
Wang Mu-ha was no fool.
He immediately caught on to what Woon-hwi meant by saying such things.
“…Truly a frightening person. Just how many moves ahead are you placing your stones?”
“I can answer that question like this: ‘As far as I can see.’ I can only see as far as my vision reaches, senior.”
“Then that vision must encompass the entire world.”
In Wang Mu-ha’s mind, the value of the man called Woon-hwi had already soared high enough to pierce the heavens.
Dare he say it – Vice Alliance Leader Zhuge Yeong-hyeon? If Woon-hwi took that position instead of him, the Martial Alliance would rule the world.
It was astounding.
Wang Mu-ha turned and began walking away.
His staggering steps, showing considerable shock, were quite impressive, but this time Wang Mu-ha spoke to Woon-hwi as if he had just remembered something.
“…If we play again next time, it will be different then.”
A smile appeared on Woon-hwi’s lips.
“I sincerely hope so.”
And so Wang Mu-ha departed.
The first to rush to Woon-hwi, who remained alone in the Great Hall, was Manager Seong.
“Young Master…!”
He immediately lifted Woon-hwi’s arm to stop the bleeding, but surprisingly, Woon-hwi was smiling.
“Wow… You’re smiling right now? And how exactly do you play baduk that your wounds burst open?”
“Then and now, he certainly has tremendous skill.”
“Who? That old man?”
Woon-hwi nodded.
“And Manager Seong.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Bring a brush and paper.”
“…This is driving me crazy. Again? Please rest a bit?”
Woon-hwi shook his head.
As he said repeatedly, the game was not yet finished.
Right now, he had simply met the move that Zhuge Yeong-hyeon had played.
Now it was Woon-hwi’s turn to make a move.
Woon-hwi was certain.
This would truly be the ‘divine move.’
* * *
In the Yang Empire, there were exactly two places called castles.
Geonkon Castle and Geom-ap Castle.
Both places had Beggar Sect leaders who managed several branches. Yuk Gyeol-gae Cheon Su-gang, who had directly conversed with Woon-hwi in Seol-ap once, was precisely the head leader of Geom-ap Castle.
At that time he had been deputy head leader, but he had recently advanced to the Divine Transformation Realm and naturally became head leader.
In his quarters, he swallowed hard.
“Huh… This is… really genuine?”
His hands began to tremble. He couldn’t help it.
A single game record transmitted from the Beggar Sect’s Yang Ryeong Branch.
That was what was making him like this now.
“Head Leader, they say Geum Do-gi-hyeop has already personally confirmed it.”
“Yes… That must be so. Such a game record cannot be carelessly forged…”
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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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