Survival Guide for the Reincarnated

Chapter 461

“What if he loses?”“Then I’ll have to move myself.”

There was a high chance they would end up fighting together, but there was also the possibility they would not. The Tyrant Blade Sect’s case and the Jin family’s case were different.

The position of a man with nothing left to protect could never be the same as that of a man who still had something to protect.

Jin Hoyeon lowered his head.

“Understood.”

Jin Muhang turned his gaze back toward the window.

The stars had begun to rise.

“Seol Unhwi.”

He muttered the name quietly.

“What kind of monster are you, to cause this much chaos?”

There was no answer.

Only the deepening night.

***

A pavilion located on the outskirts of the Jin family estate.

Seok Junseo stood there, staring up at the rising moon.

A blade rested in his hand. Drawn from its sheath. Moonlight reflected off the edge of the steel.

“Seol Unhwi.”

The moment those three syllables left his mouth, killing intent exploded from his body.

He had been in closed-door training.

Even now, the martial world still believed he remained in closed-door training.

While he had been secluded, a man came to see him.

Ordinarily, interrupting a martial artist during closed-door training was considered taboo throughout the martial world, but that man did not care in the slightest.

The man had spoken.

—A pleasure to meet you. I am Gun Mugeol of the Murim Alliance.

That had been his first greeting.

Gun Mugeol was an overwhelmingly famous figure, but the Five Great Families had always maintained neutrality.

In all the decades of their lives, Seok Junseo had never once met him.

That was how Gun Mugeol entered his life.

Gun Mugeol told him the Tyrant Blade Sect had fallen.

Seok Junseo went outside with him and looked upon the ruins.

Everything truly had ended.

The sect was gone. The people were gone. Everything they had built had been reduced to ashes.

He closed his eyes.

He had handed the position of sect master over to his son. He should never have entered closed-door training. He should have remained there with them.

To Seok Junseo, Gun Mugeol had said:

—I will help you take revenge.

Revenge.

—I will even prepare the stage for it.

Revenge and a stage.

Gun Mugeol had been smiling.

—Kill him. The Murim Alliance will stand with you. However, the timing must be during the exact moment that I choose.

Even after the Tyrant Blade Sect’s destruction, Gun Mugeol still acknowledged them as one of the Five Great Sects, and he had invited them into the Murim Alliance.

That carried profound meaning for Seok Junseo.

He did not know exactly what Gun Mugeol desired, but the promise to create a stage for him—

That alone was enough.

And then Gun Mugeol had said this:

—I will absolutely help rebuild the Tyrant Blade Sect. Let us build it together.

Seok Junseo had not moved merely for the sake of revenge.

This was revenge for the sake of rebuilding.

Revenge was not the goal.

It was the method.

The Tyrant Blade Sect had to rise again. Only then would their deaths carry meaning.

Seok Junseo slid the blade back into its sheath and sat down cross-legged.

He closed his eyes.

Sleep would not come.

Nor did he intend to sleep.

No matter what.

He would kill him.

***

The next morning.

The sun rose over the Great Desert.

Unhwi’s group prepared to depart.

In front of the Soul-Killing Gate.

Eun Unsaeng had come out to see them off.

“Travel safely.”

“Yes. Thank you for everything.”

As Unhwi spoke and offered a fist salute, Eun Unsaeng waved him off.

“That’s enough. Don’t do that kind of thing in the desert. It feels awkward.”

“Even so, proper courtesy should still be observed.”

Eun Unsaeng snorted a laugh.

“Courtesy, my ass. Next time you come, just bring more liquor. Thanks to you, the warehouse is empty.”

Unhwi smiled as well.

“I understand.”

Every meeting with Eun Unsaeng carried meaning. There were always gains to be had.

In many ways, it was not a bad relationship.

Unhwi mounted the Iron Sand Horse.

It truly was a famous steed.

Its size was enormous, and even its breathing sounded powerful.

Chief Seong, who had been staring at it with obvious envy, climbed onto a camel. Ju Soa and Namgung Wonyang followed behind him one after another, along with the Red Demon and the martial artists of Red Spirit Court.

Unhwi spoke.

“We’ll be leaving now.”

“Good. Be careful on the road.”

Eun Unsaeng raised a hand.

The group departed.

A sandstorm rose behind them.

Eun Unsaeng watched their backs for a long time.

Then he muttered quietly,

“...Things are about to become interesting.”

Blood Heaven Arbiter.

A hollow laugh escaped him.

More than anything, there was no way Eun Unsaeng would not know what had happened at Yellow Sand Pass.

Right now, Unhwi was dealing with the affairs of Red Spirit Court as the Blood Heaven Arbiter while simultaneously confronting the Murim Alliance.

The Jin family was absolutely not an easy opponent, yet Unhwi intended to fight them?

And behind them all stood Gun Mugeol.

That was what made him curious.

Had Gun Mugeol truly failed to foresee this situation?

If he had foreseen it, he would never have allowed matters to remain unattended like this. Which meant he had intended it.

And if he had intended it, then what exactly was he aiming for?

Eun Unsaeng was curious.

Curious about the outcome of that battle.

He remained there for quite some time.

***

Two days later.

Unhwi’s group crossed from the edge of the Great Desert into the Central Plains.

“Haa...”

Namgung Wonyang let out a sigh.

“We finally escaped the desert.”

“Was it difficult?”

At Chief Seong’s question, Namgung Wonyang looked around before answering.

“I wouldn’t say difficult... it was just too dry.”

A vast green plain stretched out around them. The wind blew cool and refreshing.

Chief Seong smiled as if he understood.

“Were you alright, Chief Seong?”

“I’m used to it.”

Chief Seong chuckled.

Ju Soa spoke from beside him.

“Used to it? Have you gone to the Great Desert often?”

“A few times back when I was with the White Snow Spirit Regiment.”

Ju Soa nodded before turning her head.

Unhwi was riding ahead of them.

How should she describe it?

It was as though he always existed beyond common sense.

She never knew what he was thinking, but every action he took somehow produced the best possible outcome.

She could not understand him.

Could a person like that truly exist?

At that moment, Unhwi spoke to the Red Demon riding beside him.

“Palace Lord Jeok.”

“Yes, Blood Heaven Arbiter.”

“I think this is where we should part ways. You should return to Red Spirit Court first.”

“...Already?”

“Yes. You need to prepare for the opening of the trade route. You also need to coordinate with the merchant groups coming from the Soul-Killing Gate.”

“That is true, but...”

The Red Demon hesitated.

Understandably so.

“The issue with the Jin family still remains...”

“I’ll handle that myself.”

The Red Demon looked at Unhwi strangely as he answered in that calm tone.

Unhwi continued.

“You should focus on taking care of Red Spirit Court. That is more important.”

“...Understood.”

The Red Demon offered a fist salute.

“I must say it again—thank you for paying such close attention to Red Spirit Court.”

“There’s no need for gratitude. I merely did what needed to be done.”

To be blunt, the Red Demon had initially disliked Unhwi.

But after seeing the way he handled the affairs of Red Spirit Court, his thoughts had changed completely.

This man was a martial artist.

A real martial artist.

And a man among men.

A man who honored his word once it was given.

At the very least, if someone like this stood above him, then regardless of age or cultivation realm, he could follow him willingly.

“Whether it is our sect or anywhere else, if the Blood Heaven Arbiter requires us, Red Spirit Court will come running without hesitation.”

Unhwi smiled faintly.

“I appreciate the sentiment alone. Simply remain loyal to the Blood Heaven Sect.”

“Hah...”

“You should go.”

Scratching his head awkwardly, the Red Demon departed with the martial artists of Red Spirit Court.

Only Unhwi’s group remained.

Four people.

Unhwi, Chief Seong, Ju Soa, and Namgung Wonyang.

Unhwi spoke.

“We’ll return to the Blood Heaven Sect.”

Chief Seong carefully approached him.

“Young Master?”

Unhwi turned his head.

“There’s a village just a little farther ahead. How about resting there for a day?”

Unhwi considered it briefly before nodding.

“Very well.”

The group headed toward the village.

It was a small village.

There was an inn.

The group entered.

“Bring us some liquor.”

Chief Seong spoke to the innkeeper.

Liquor and side dishes were brought out.

The four of them sat down together.

Unhwi drank first.

Chief Seong followed.

Ju Soa and Namgung Wonyang picked at the food.

This time, Ju Soa spoke.

“Um... Blood Heaven Arbiter?”

“Yes?”

“How do you think the Jin family will respond?”

Unhwi lowered his cup.

“They won’t remain still.”

“You’ll be alright, won’t you?”

Unhwi snorted a laugh.

“Is there any reason I wouldn’t be?”

“You killed Maeng Jeung, a Manifestation of the Boundless master. They’re obviously going to seek revenge now... and you even sent them a letter.”

“I did.”

“It sounded like you directly summoned the head of the family. Jin Muhang is a Harmony realm master, isn’t he? He’ll come for revenge...”

“Are you afraid?”

Ju Soa let out a hollow laugh.

“No, but wouldn’t it be strange not to be afraid? Even if Jin Muhang is the only Harmony realm master among them, there are still Heaven and Earth Four States martial artists under him, not to mention one or two Five Realms of Martial Divinity masters too. If all those people come after us, aren’t we all dead?”

Unhwi silently raised his cup and drank.

Then, watching Ju Soa clutch her chest in frustration, he set the cup back down.

“Ju Soa.”

“...Yes?”

“One coward like Chief Seong is already more than enough.”

Chief Seong flinched beside them.

“And besides, you need to think about this differently.”

“Differently...?”

“Who do you believe stands behind all this?”

“...The Five Great Families— no, the Four Great Families joined the Murim Alliance, so in the end, it’s Gun Mugeol.”

“Then what exactly is Gun Mugeol aiming for?”

“...I’m not sure.”

“We need to determine his intentions. Unfortunately, the Jin family is merely a Go stone. No matter how they move, there is a limit to their role in all of this. There are two things we should be considering. First, why does Gun Mugeol still continue calling the Four Great Families the Five Great Families while bringing them all into the Murim Alliance? Second, how far is the Jin family truly willing to sacrifice itself for the sake of the Murim Alliance?”

Unhwi quietly tapped the table.

Tap. Tap.

A steady rhythm echoed through the room.

“Though it may appear that the Jin family is moving, in the end, it is Gun Mugeol who is making the move. I do have one rough suspicion in mind... but we’ll have to see.”

Unhwi lifted the bottle and poured liquor into Ju Soa’s cup.

“I’ll say this only to ease your unnecessary worries.”

Ju Soa accepted the drink with both hands and looked up at him.

“Even if I die, none of you will.”

Her mouth fell open.

“...Shouldn’t that be the other way around?”

“Perhaps. Ideally, none of us die at all. But we’ll see how things unfold.”

Ju Soa sighed.

“Drink.”

“...Yes.”

The moment Ju Soa lifted her cup—

Flutterflutterflutter—

A sound came from outside the window.

Namgung Wonyang turned her head.

A bird was flying toward them.

A messenger pigeon.

No, not an ordinary messenger pigeon.

Its feathers were dark crimson. It was larger than normal, and its eyes were sharp.

A top-grade messenger pigeon.

The instant Namgung Wonyang recognized it, she shot to her feet.

She opened the window.

The messenger pigeon landed on her arm.

A letter was tied to its leg.

Namgung Wonyang untied it.

The bird immediately took flight again.

Ju Soa blinked.

“...What is it?”

Without answering, Namgung Wonyang unfolded the letter and began reading.

Slowly, her expression stiffened.

“...This...?”

“What does it say?”

At Chief Seong’s question, Namgung Wonyang lowered the letter and answered.

“It’s from Jang Seok of the Beggars’ Sect.”

“Jang Seok?”

The beggar who had ties to Unhwi.

Now he controlled the entire intelligence network of the Heaven’s Will Alliance, and even within the Beggars’ Sect, he was considered a rising figure.

Not long ago, he had even risen to the rank of Six-Knot Beggar.

Within the Beggars’ Sect, he was already a figure of considerable influence.

And he had sent a top-grade messenger pigeon? Directly pinpointing their location?

That meant the matter was urgent enough to justify it.

And judging by the contents... it truly was.