The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 107

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Master of the Bukcheon Sword Family – Chapter 107

“Great-Uncle….”
I felt a sudden surge of emotion welling up inside me.
In my first life, Father had passed away early, so no one had ever spoken to me in such a manner.
Yet here I was, hearing these words.
My heart felt warm and comforted.
“I will keep your words close to heart.”
“Good. That’s all I needed to hear.”
Great-Uncle smiled gently and nodded.
And shortly after.
I sat alone in the Training Grounds where the two had departed, my legs folded in meditation.
My mind was absorbed in contemplation, organizing my scattered thoughts.
The central question was about family and the clan.
‘I am the Young Patriarch of the Bukcheon Sword Family.’
‘One day, I will become the Family Head.’
‘Therefore, all members of the Bukcheon Sword Family are essentially under my responsibility.’
Until now, I had focused my attention intensively on those I needed….
But it seemed I needed to reconsider that approach.
In a broader sense, all the clan members were no different from family to the Bukcheon Sword Family.
Hearing Great-Uncle’s words made me realize this anew.
Then wouldn’t it be better to care for them as well?
‘But how?’
The answer came quickly.
‘By sharing both hardship and joy with them.’
I could not simply rule over them from above.
Any member of the Bukcheon Sword Family was a part of the clan.
Therefore, I had to become a community of shared fate with them.
When they suffered, I would suffer with them; when they rejoiced, I would rejoice with them.
Furthermore….
‘I must create an environment where all clan members can fully realize their potential.’
This was essential for the clan’s supremacy.
With this resolve, I immediately sought out Father.
His permission was essential for what I intended to do.
After hearing my explanation, Father asked with a slightly worried expression.
“Your intentions are good, but the elders and close relatives may strongly oppose this. It would infringe upon their privileges. Will you proceed regardless?”
“Yes, I believe strengthening the clan’s power takes priority over protecting the interests of a few.”
“Hmm.”
“Moreover, if you think about it carefully, this is not a bad thing for them either. They too would be able to learn advanced martial techniques that were previously forbidden. In truth, it’s a system that benefits only the direct line.”
“But since you’re a direct bloodline, you think it doesn’t matter anyway…”
Father, who had been pondering for a moment, nodded.
“Very well. Then I shall grant my permission. Go ahead and push forward with it.”
“Yes.”
I received Father’s approval and gathered the family members together.
It was to make a significant announcement.

* * *

I gazed upon the many people gathered before the Patriarch’s Hall.
From the family elders and commanders of each martial division, to the chief stewards and other senior figures…
Down to ordinary warriors and laborers.
They were all precious people who sustained our Bukcheon Sword Family.
They waited, wondering what this was about, simply for my appearance.
“It seems the Young Patriarch has something to tell us?”
“Could something have happened?”
“I hope it’s nothing serious…”
The murmurs reached my ears.
They all seemed anxious about something.
After all, it was unusual for the Young Patriarch to summon people like this.
-You’re trembling a bit yourself. Nervous?
‘A little.’
Honestly, I didn’t know what consequences this announcement would bring.
Perhaps it would only bring chaos to the family.
But still, I was determined to do it.
Once I had made that decision.
As I stepped forward before the people.
“We pay our respects to the Young Patriarch!”
Sa Gong-cheon, who had been waiting in advance, announced my arrival with a loud voice.
“We pay our respects to the Young Patriarch!”
Snap!
The family members bowed in perfect unison to me.
I returned their bow and then opened my mouth calmly.
“Thank you all for gathering like this. Everyone, I am Jin Muyeol, the Young Patriarch. I have arranged this gathering because there is something I must tell you all.”
I looked around the assembly and spoke with composure.
“Currently, our Bukcheon Sword Family faces a crisis of annihilation.”
“…!”
It was a declaration like a tempest.
Everyone listening opened their mouths wide in shock.
But my words were only just beginning.
It was too soon to be surprised.
“The reason is that a certain force has been targeting the Bukcheon Sword Family. They poisoned the Family Head to expand their influence over several years, and through the traitor Lee Tae-gyeom, they attempted to seize control of the clan. They even sent assassins to kill me.”
“That, that is….”
“Are you saying the Family Head didn’t collapse from illness, but was poisoned?”
“Then the Young Master’s attack by the Blood Hand Demon Lord was also…?”
Many of the clan members appeared to be in shock.
Some closed their eyes quietly, as if they had already suspected as much.
In truth, this was not entirely new information.
It was already somewhat known through the events that had occurred in Sichuan that the Bukcheon Sword Family had been engaged in a covert struggle against a great enemy.
“Yes, it was all their doing. And they still have not abandoned their designs on our Bukcheon Sword Family.”
I laid bare all the facts I knew without reservation.
I wanted everyone to understand this truth.
The clan members could not remain ignorant of these facts while the Bukcheon Sword Family faced such threats.
“They will continue to attack the Main House. To achieve this, they will not hesitate to employ any vile method. Yet we can do nothing but passively defend ourselves. Do you know why? Because we lack strength.”
At my words, the assembled audience’s expressions grew grave.
The Young Master himself was admitting the clan lacked power.
This spoke volumes about how dire their situation was, and how much the family had declined from its former glory.
‘But there’s no denying it. It’s the truth.’
“We are called the foremost family of Sanseo and the overlords of this region. Yet if we think objectively, we are weak compared to the Namgung Clan or the Sichuan Dang Family. And compared to the Dark Shadow Force, which even the Five Great Clans regard with contempt, we are beneath mention. If we continue to fight them as we are now, we will walk the path to annihilation. Therefore!”
I spoke with passionate conviction.
“We must become stronger.”
“…!”
“So that those dogs dare not target us. The Bukcheon Sword Family must grow stronger than it is now and become capable of protecting itself. Not just against them, but so that no one in this world can lay a hand on our clan!”
“Waaaaaaa!”
The clan members listening to my declaration erupted in fervent cheers.
All of them seemed excited by my resolve.
But I knew well that such fervor would be fleeting.
So I immediately continued with what I had prepared.
“However, I am well aware that mere pledges alone will change nothing. Therefore, I wish to tell you all something of great importance.”
Bewilderment crossed the faces of the clan members.
What could he mean?
I smiled faintly and made my declaration to them.
“From this moment forward, I will open the Library Archive of the Main House.”
“…!”
“Prove your loyalty and merit through deeds. If you do so, then regardless of status or bloodline, anyone will be able to learn the secret techniques of the Bukcheon Sword Family.”
“!!”
Astonishment blazed in the eyes of every clan member listening to my words.

* * *

The secret teachings of the Bukcheon Sword Family.
Naturally, that referred to martial arts.
The secret martial techniques of the Bukcheon Sword Family, which boasted a long history, possessed value beyond imagination.
It was the kind of thing that would be difficult to obtain even with a fortune in gold.
‘After all, there are even techniques left behind by someone who was once the greatest master under heaven.’
Naturally, the Bukcheon Sword Family had kept their primary martial arts strictly concealed.
Leaking those techniques to people outside the bloodline would essentially mean sharing the power created through martial arts.
That was why only the elders who had devoted themselves to the family for an exceptionally long time, aside from those of the Jin bloodline, truly knew the Bukcheon Sword Family’s major techniques.
Yet I had just declared that I would tear down such barriers significantly.
After that declaration.
I was having tea with my Great-Uncle, who had come to my residence.
My Great-Uncle smiled gently as he looked at me and spoke.
“The wind of change you’ve brought has already grown this much. Everyone is anticipating what comes next.”
“I apologize for not consulting with you beforehand.”
“It’s fine. I’ve already heard an explanation from the Family Head, and besides, didn’t I tell you that I’m on your side?”
His voice was gentle.
Hearing my Great-Uncle say such things, my nose tingled slightly.
I bowed my head with a grateful heart.
“Thank you for believing in me.”
“No, but aside from my faith in you, I have several questions. Would that be acceptable?”
“Please, ask as many as you wish.”
“Then tell me—I’m curious about your reasons for suddenly undertaking such an endeavor.”
“First, it is to maximize the potential of our family members.”
I continued speaking after moistening my throat with tea.
“I suspect you’re concerned about unqualified individuals using the Main House’s martial arts. After all, if we’re not careful, the Bukcheon Sword Family could become a laughingstock.”
“Indeed.”
“However, such concerns can be resolved by only granting them to those who have sufficiently accumulated merit. Even if we’ve lowered the barrier, receiving permission to learn the family’s highest-level martial arts would be limited to talented and skilled executives at most.”
“I see.”
“Furthermore, there is a second advantage to be gained by doing this.”
“Oh? So you’ve already thought this through.”
“Yes. That advantage is to use this opportunity as a foundation stone for our family’s martial arts to advance to the next level.”
“A foundation stone?”
“Yes.”
Seeing my Great-Uncle’s expression indicating he needed further explanation, I continued.
“Logically speaking, if more people use the same martial arts, there’s a possibility that weaknesses will be exposed.”
“That’s true. That’s precisely what I was concerned about.”
“But what if we looked at it from the opposite perspective? Through this opportunity, we’ve now gained the ability to correct those weaknesses.”
“Hmm. Could you explain what you mean by that?”
“Great-Uncle, if a greater number of people begin using the Bukcheon Sword Family’s martial arts, their strengths and weaknesses will become clear. Among them, there will surely be many things we haven’t yet identified. Then, wouldn’t we simply improve upon those discovered weaknesses?”
“…”
“Look at Shaolin. Everyone in the Central Plains martial world knows what techniques they employ, yet they have never fallen from the pinnacle of the Nine Great Sects and One Hundred Clans. This is not merely because Shaolin’s martial arts are formidable, but because countless monks across generations have preserved tradition by mastering the same techniques, and through the accumulated experience, each has overcome the individual weaknesses of those arts. The Main House seeks to accomplish precisely the same thing.”
My voice as I spoke carried an unwavering gravity.
“And this matter will become the foundation upon which the Main House leaps forward. The rumor that I have opened the Library Archive will spread throughout Sanseo like wildfire. When it does, will not countless talented individuals come knocking at the Bukcheon Sword Family’s doors, seeking to become members of the Main House?”
“…!”
“As I already stated in my address, the Main House faces an impending confrontation with a formidable adversary. If we can gather those willing to stand and fight alongside us in such circumstances, it is nothing but profit.”
In other words, an opportunity to gather talent.
Great-Uncle nodded as he listened to my words.
“Very well. I understand your thinking. I shall lend my strength to this endeavor.”
“Thank you.”
“However, the problem lies with the Elders. I cannot predict how they will respond. They may well attempt to obstruct us. I shall hold them back, but whether they will accept this willingly remains uncertain.”
“They need not accept it. In fact, I would prefer if they did not.”
I smiled coldly at Great-Uncle as I spoke.
“Then we would have the perfect opportunity to reform the Elder Council.”
“…!”
Astonishment flickered across Great-Uncle’s face.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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