Survival Guide for the Reincarnated

“I erased Seolgung from the world with my own hands. Is that what’s been bothering you?”

Chief Steward Seong’s eyes widened.

His mouth opened and closed repeatedly, as if trying to speak but failing. The sight was almost laughable.

“...You’re like a ghost. Truly.”

“If it wasn’t for that, there’d be no reason for you to ask these kinds of questions.”

“...Is that so...?”

“At least that’s how it seems to me. I’ll say it again — I have no intention of annihilating Seolgung with my own hands. So stop worrying about it needlessly.”

“...I always trust you, Young Master. You know that, right?”

I nodded.

We had already recovered Jin Sohyeop’s corpse and completed his funeral.

And now, though I hadn’t said anything, the one holding the reins was Han Murin.

It took a day to travel from Hanbing Sect to the main palace.

I looked outside. Judging by the landscape, we would be arriving at the main palace soon.

“So, what have you been writing so diligently?”

Ever since we left Hanbing Sect, I had been holed up in the carriage, writing continuously.

I closed the manuscript and handed it to Chief Steward Seong.

He stared at the title I had scrawled on the cover, muttering under his breath.

“...‘Record of Eternal Torture’...? Is this...?”

“Care to take a look inside?”

“...May I?”

I nodded.

Chief Steward Seong opened the first page and began reading rapidly. «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» In the blink of an eye, he had reached the last page, closing the manuscript with a shocked expression.

“...What... is this?”

“It’s a compilation of the most essential torture techniques I’ve mastered in my life.”

“...Young Master... was it really necessary to write this down? Why not just... burn it?”

“Reason?”

Chief Steward Seong glanced around. The carriage was spacious, with a considerable distance between the driver’s seat and the interior. Our conversation couldn’t be overheard outside.

More importantly, Chief Steward Seong, who was in the Spirit Ascension Stage, had set up a sound barrier. If anyone could hear us, that would be the real anomaly.

“...If this falls into someone else’s hands, you’ll be branded a demonic fiend instantly.”

“That’s how it seems to you?”

“You know it is. Not just any fiend either — a grand fiend. These torture techniques... even the Imperial Palace’s torture experts would be astounded.”

His reaction was to be expected.

The “Record of Eternal Torture” contained a total of five torture techniques.

The first was the Point Pulse Sealing Art.

This technique involved sequentially sealing the acupoints, causing excruciating pain throughout the entire body while still allowing the victim to breathe. With each acupoint sealed, the pain intensified. It was a basic technique that could be performed even with minimal internal energy.

The second was the Joint Dislocation Art.

It was a method of inflicting extreme pain by twisting the joints without actually breaking the bones. The key was to maintain control over the joints using internal energy and ensure there were no lasting injuries. It was based on the principles of bone setting and could also be executed with basic internal energy.

The third was the Living Bone Fusion Art.

Now, this was where things got serious.

By injecting internal energy between the bones and flesh, the victim would feel as if their flesh was being torn away from their bones — though in reality, it wasn’t. Precision control of internal energy was crucial, and at least the level of the Flame Mastery Stage was required to fully manifest its effects.

The fourth was the Ten Thousand Agonies Art.

This technique stimulated the nerves throughout the body, gradually increasing the intensity of the pain while keeping the victim fully conscious. Despite being executable with basic internal energy, it was an advanced technique.

The higher the user’s cultivation level, the more precisely they could control the flow of energy, amplifying the pain inflicted on the nerves. If done without care, the victim could be reduced to a mindless shell. After countless trial and error, I devised five new pathways to inflict pain without causing brain damage.

And the fifth, the most critical technique:

The Reverse Heart Pulse Art.

This technique involved reversing the flow of internal energy through the meridians, sending waves of searing pain throughout the entire body. It inflicted no lasting internal damage but delivered unbearable agony. If one were to unleash its full power, the pain level would surpass that of the previous four techniques combined — by dozens of times.

In my previous life, I perfected these techniques through years of practice on the two men who deserved to die but whom I kept alive solely for my own training.

As an aside, not even the Grand Elder of the Martial Alliance could endure the Reverse Heart Pulse Art without drooling and begging for death.

“Chief Steward Seong.”

“...Yes...”

“You said just now that you trust me, didn’t you? Then why do you look so worried?”

“...How can I not be? I may not know exactly what kind of life you’ve lived, but this is extremely dangerous. And if you intend to teach this to Han Murin... I have to stop you.”

“Why?”

“...You know why.”

I crossed my legs casually.

“When you think about it, Seolap was a city full of all sorts of people.”

“...That’s because of the region’s special nature.”

He was right. The region’s unique characteristics couldn’t be ignored.

Wonyang had distanced herself from the Namgung Clan, moving as far away from the Central Plains as possible — but not too far.

Thus, she chose Seolap, the most remote area under the jurisdiction of Everlasting Snow Palace.

Jin Sohyeop and Baek Myeonggaek were the same.

Both had military backgrounds and were not direct disciples of Cheongseong Sect, but they were still descendants of its students.

Although I didn’t know all the details, I was fairly certain that at least half of those who had joined Seolap Bunta in recent years were people hiding their pasts.

Which was why...

“It’s not so unusual to have someone from the Palace of Demon Flames of Chaos in Seolap.”

“...Not unusual? Young Master, we’re talking about the Palace of Demon Flames of Chaos — one of the Four Demon Outer Sects.”

The Four Demon Outer Sects referred to the Palace of Demon Flames of Chaos, the Black Sky Demon Prison Palace, the Celestial Demon Shadow Sect, and the Heart Demon Path Sect.

These sects were independent demonic factions not under the control of the Central Blood Sect. While their power did not surpass that of the Central Blood Sect, they were still formidable enough to be referred to as the Four Demon Outer Sects.

At that moment, the carriage finally came to a stop.

“Chief Steward Seong.”

“...Yes, Young Master.”

“Release the sound barrier.”

Without another word, Chief Steward Seong dispelled the sound barrier.

“Now, let’s hear what you have to say. Han Murin.”

A voice came from outside.

“Yes, Hyeon Seollin-nim.”

“Come inside.”

A moment later, Han Murin stepped into the carriage.

“I need to ask you something. Are you a direct descendant?”

“...What?”

“Are you a direct descendant of the Palace of Demon Flames of Chaos?”

“...So you really knew.”

“Just answer the question.”

Han Murin scratched his head, his voice dropping to a subdued tone.

“I’m not a bloodline descendant. Not even an illegitimate one.”

“But you know the Flowing Shadow of Returning Flames technique.”

“...”

“And from what I can see, you also know the Demon Flame Heart Art. You’re intentionally not condensing the demonic flames within your body. Is that a conscious choice?”

Han Murin’s expression was blank, as if he couldn’t grasp the situation.

He must have suspected that his identity had been discovered to some extent. But he certainly hadn’t expected it to be this thorough.

“...How do you know all this? I’ve never condensed demonic flames, and there’s never been a single trace of soot left in my footprints...”

The martial arts system of the Palace of Demon Flames of Chaos was simple.

The Demon Flame Heart Art was a technique that condensed demonic flames within the body. It transformed the practitioner’s inner energy into black flames, circulating them through the entire meridian system until the flames became an intrinsic part of the practitioner.

Once that was achieved, using the Flowing Shadow of Returning Flames technique would leave traces of black soot with every step. That was only the beginning.

When the demonic flames ignited beneath one’s feet, the speed would increase exponentially, and then increase again. The technique allowed for abrupt directional changes and even movement through the air.

In ancient times, it was said to be comparable to the renowned Dragon Ascending Eight Steps technique of the long-extinct Kunlun Sect. Its defining characteristic was the creation of lingering afterimages.

“So, what’s your answer?”

“As I said, I’m not a bloodline descendant. Not even an illegitimate one. I’m the youngest son of the former Vice Sect Leader, Dong Yuseong.”

My expression shifted slightly.

The former Vice Sect Leader, Dong Yuseong...

“The Blood Shadow Divine Lord?”

“...Yes.”

I knew that name.

And from the look on Chief Steward Seong’s face, he knew far more than I did.

“Heh... Are you talking about the Blood Shadow Divine Lord who was executed for inciting a rebellion in the Palace of Demon Flames of Chaos about twenty years ago?”

“It was a false accusation, but... yes, that’s correct.”

Chief Steward Seong’s expression grew somber as he met my gaze, silently pleading.

Please. Just get rid of him.

Please, Young Master, just cast him out.

This is dangerous.

But all I did was smile.

“Why the surname Han?”

“My mother’s surname was Han.”

“And your mother?”

“...She’s dead.”

“Killed by the pursuit squad from the Palace of Demon Flames of Chaos?”

“Yes.”

“So you changed your surname to Han and came to Seolap to survive.”

“...That’s right.”

“So what’s your ultimate goal?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Han Murin answered.

“To eradicate the Palace of Demon Flames of Chaos.”

Chief Steward Seong let out a long, heavy sigh, while I chuckled softly.

Now it made sense.

“Then you’ll have to work harder. Someone with ambitions to wipe out the Palace of Demon Flames of Chaos can’t just be lingering at the Root Heaven Stage.”

“...May I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you really intend to keep me by your side?”

At that, I tilted my head slightly.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“...It’s the Palace of Demon Flames of Chaos. Among the Four Demon Outer Sects, they have the greatest power. They may not rival the Central Blood Sect, but they’re strong enough to go toe-to-toe with two of its branches simultaneously.”

“And so?”

Han Murin seemed at a loss for words, letting out a hollow laugh.

I decided to recite something I’d once heard.

“In all things, there is cause and effect. Joy and suffering arise from fate, and all good and ill fortune stem from past karma. Even if something exists now, once fate is exhausted, it will disappear.

So do not rejoice in what you have, nor grieve for what you have lost.

All things follow the path of fate.”

Upon hearing those words, Han Murin’s eyes widened.

“...You’re not a Buddhist, yet you speak of Buddhist teachings as if you believe in them.”

“What does it matter if it’s Buddhist, demonic, or otherwise? Truth is truth.”

Han Murin’s expression was complicated.

Then, he knelt down on the spot.

“...Seolap was a place I fled to when I had nowhere else to go.”

I remained silent, listening.

“I never thought I’d find such a connection there. I’m a man being hunted by the Palace of Demon Flames of Chaos. If they ever catch wind of me... at that time, please abandon me.”

“If I intended to abandon you, I wouldn’t have taken you in to begin with.”