The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 112

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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 112

“Hye-rim, how could you…?”
I was taken aback.
This was the first time she had made such a request on her own initiative.
The other family members seemed equally bewildered, their expressions betraying their surprise.
“I want to be of help to you, Master.”
Yet So Hye-rim’s face bore the unmistakable resolve of someone whose mind was made up.
From experience, I knew that I couldn’t persuade people who wore such an expression.
Still, I couldn’t simply grant her request outright.
“No. You know why, don’t you?”
“Is it because of my constitution?”
So Hye-rim smiled faintly.
“If that’s your concern, please don’t worry. I’ve overcome it through the martial technique you taught me and the power of the Bokho Sword. In fact, should danger arise, I’ll remain far more composed than ordinary people. If you wish, you could even test me.”
“No, I believe you.”
I knew So Hye-rim didn’t lie.
She wasn’t the type to boast about such things.
But traveling together was a different matter entirely.
“There may be brutal battles waiting ahead. I won’t be able to look after you or show you consideration.”
“That’s fine.”
“Your life could be in danger.”
“Even so, it doesn’t matter. I’m far stronger than you think. I will never become a burden to you.”
Her voice was calm and measured.
Like someone simply stating facts.
As I listened to her words and gauged her cultivation level, I was momentarily startled.
The subtle aura emanating from her far exceeded my expectations.
“Hye-rim, when did you…?”
“Break through the Johwa Realm barrier? Not long ago. It’s just that you’ve been so busy, Master, that I haven’t had the right moment to report it.”
“My.”
“She… she broke through the Johwa Realm barrier?”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“It’s true. My, even Mu-yeol is called a once-in-a-century genius, but Hye-rim is no less remarkable.”
I found myself in complete agreement with Great-Uncle’s assessment.
Looking at my current expression, I must have appeared foolish with my mouth hanging open.
And rightfully so.
I was a special case—having regressed and returned to the past.
For someone of my generation to reach such heights was truly an exceptional growth rate.
‘It must be the power of Cheon Sal-seong.’
Her talent alone seemed comparable to those legendary figures born with the Celestial Martial Body.
I exhaled slowly.
How could I possibly refuse under these circumstances?
Still, I had to put her to the test.
“Then let me see your martial prowess.”
“My martial prowess? Are you suggesting a sparring match?”
“Yes.”
I maintained my composure as I met her gaze.
“If you pass by my standards, I will permit you to travel with me. But if you do not, I will not. What do you think?”
“There’s no reason to refuse. I accept.”
So Hye-rim nodded readily.
Her demeanor suggested she had never been denied anything.
Well, a master of the Johwa Realm could afford such confidence.
‘But realm alone does not explain everything.’
Would she truly be strong enough to travel with me without issue, despite lacking genuine combat experience?
Honestly, I assessed the odds as fifty-fifty.
In any case, after finishing our meal, we headed straight to the Training Grounds.
Only Father and Great-Uncle followed us.
This test was too secretive to reveal to anyone else.
I drew my sword quietly and spoke.
“Then we begin.”
“Yes.”
“Come at me first.”
“I won’t hold back.”
Whoosh!
In that instant, a killing intent as thick and viscous as blood poured toward me.
Had I been careless, it would have been terrifying enough to shatter my composure and stance.
The killing intent of the Cheon Sal-seong’s wielder, unleashed in earnest.
It was no longer indiscriminate as before, but rather refined and controlled.
So Hye-rim pushed off the ground lightly and rushed toward me.
Whoosh!
The first technique she deployed was a thrust.
A fundamental move included in all sword arts, yet its power seemed far removed from mere basics.
‘Even wielding a wooden sword, one could pierce stone.’
In other words, an ordinary person struck by this would die instantly.
I let out a hollow laugh and deflected her blade.
Clang!
With a heavy sound, her center of gravity twisted.
But she immediately anchored her lower body and unleashed a reverse strike.
Like a serpent, the undulating attack surged toward my throat.
Rather than block it, I evaded with a flash of instinctive wit.
I retreated, then launched my counterattack.
Gale Consecutive Slash.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Multiple powerful strikes rushed forward to breach her defense.
“Huh…”
But it showed no signs of breaking through.
She stood in place like an immovable wall.
Though I was holding back considerably, she remained completely unmoved even by these still-threatening attacks.
‘Then perhaps I should push harder.’
I narrowed my eyes and drew upon the power of the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art.
A subtle golden aura spread outward.
Noticing my actions, she too drew upon the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art.
Our auras clashed, and we engaged in a test of strength with neither side yielding an inch.
I smiled with delight at my disciple’s growth and unleashed a technique.
Whirlwind Strike.
Boom!
A massive hammer-like force of energy crashed against her body.
Even with her body reinforced by the Vajra Yaksha energy, she couldn’t withstand this and was sent flying backward.
Screech!
But So Hye-rim planted her feet on the Training Grounds floor and came to a stop.
I didn’t miss the opportunity and extended my blade forward.
But So Hye-rim was already unfolding her rotation technique.
Clang!
My blade lost the opening in vain.
Now it was So Hye-rim’s turn to attack.
As if she’d been waiting, she grinned and advanced, unleashing dozens of thrusts.
Patter, patter, patter, patter, patter!
A single hit would pierce holes through my body.
I focused on sensing the flow of wind through the Windgod Art.
At the same time, I began deflecting each of her attacks one by one.
So Hye-rim’s eyes widened in surprise that even this attack didn’t work.
I parried the final attack using Heavenly Thread, then extended the thread forward.
“Shall we try something more serious?”
Whoosh!
Two strands of thread shot forth from Heavenly Thread, rushing to bind So Hye-rim.
Rather than counterattacking to sever them, she retreated and evaded the threads.
But waiting to greet her were two hidden blades extending from my sleeves.
Combined with the Windgod Art, the hidden blades changed their trajectories freely like living swords.
“Ugh!”
For the first time, she let out a sound of distress as she moved her footwork to evade the hidden blades.
In that moment, I pressed forward and unleashed my blade.
As I stepped into the Windgod Step, a tempest coalesced around my sword.
Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Boom!
The opening form of Storm Slash unfurled, and So Hye-rim had no chance to evade—she was engulfed entirely by the maelstrom.
In that instant, I sensed victory. By any measure, this was an attack she could not escape.
And yet.
A tremendous force erupted outward!
“!?”
The sheer energy that burst from So Hye-rim’s palms annihilated the Storm Slash that had been meant to shred her in a single, overwhelming wave.
I could only stand there in stunned disbelief.
Though I had deliberately restrained my power to avoid wounding her, I never imagined that a single Palm Strike could disperse it so completely.
“Remarkable.”
I could not help but offer genuine praise.
“To have grown this far without my direct instruction—it astounds me.”
“Master, you’ve taught me everything. All that I can do now is because of your guidance.”
“Yet I scarcely involved myself in your combat techniques. Still, this transcends all expectation.”
“Without a proper training partner, I could only imagine the form you displayed that day and hone my martial arts through constant practice. But Master, your strength has grown far beyond what it was then.”
It was true.
My martial prowess now far surpassed what it had been when I rescued So Hye-rim.
Yet she too had advanced considerably.
‘If I recall correctly, when we first met, she was at the level of a supreme master.’
Now, compared even to several martial artists of the Johwa Realm whom I had encountered, she was scarcely inferior.
What was truly unsettling was that she had not yet unleashed her full strength.
“Shall we go all out then?”
Thus I ventured the suggestion with barely concealed eagerness.
Even as master and disciple, competitive spirit had kindled within me.
After all, just as she had not revealed her full power, neither had I.
I had not yet invoked Asura Transformation, nor blended the Windgod Dance with the Vajra Asura Divine Technique.
Moreover, supreme techniques such as Gale Windgod Step and Howling Gale were all sealed away.
I believed that employing them would still grant me decisive advantage over So Hye-rim.
But she shook her head firmly.
“No. I believe this is sufficient. This was not a life-or-death duel between us—it was a test to see if I am worthy to serve as your escort.”
“Ah, yes, that’s right.”
I could only be taken aback in that moment.
Who would have thought that Cheon Sal-seong herself would decline further combat and present such sound reasoning?
“So then, what is your verdict?”
“…I cannot deny it.”
The skill with which she had pressed me back.
And the restraint and judgment she had displayed in this final moment.
Both demonstrated that she was more than capable of serving as my escort.
There was likely no one more suited for the task than her.
“Does the Family Head approve as well?”
“Indeed. My child, watching you just now, I find myself confident that I can entrust Mu-yeol’s protection to your capable hands.”
Father gave his consent as well.
To be honest, after witnessing that sparring match, I would have had no reason to refuse.
“Hehehehe. In just a few years, the landscape of the martial world will shift.”
Great-Uncle showed no restraint in his praise either.
“Thank you for your kind words.”
So Hye-rim bowed respectfully to us before sheathing her sword.
I too returned the Windgod Sword to its scabbard and spoke to her.
“One last question—this journey may prove quite arduous. We’ll be traveling long distances while concealing our identities, so we might find ourselves entangled in unexpected troubles. Are you truly prepared for that?”
“If I thought I would lose my composure over such matters, I would never have made this proposal in the first place.”
“Good. Very well. Let us depart together.”
“Wonderful!”
She let out an excited cheer.
I chuckled softly and gave her several instructions.
“Time is pressing, so we’ll depart tomorrow at first light. Since it’s a long journey, pack plenty of changes of clothes and daily necessities. I’ll handle the money and emergency provisions.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Then I’ll come fetch you at dawn tomorrow.”
We gathered our belongings as agreed and met again at dawn the next day.
Despite the early hour, Father came out to see us off.
I bowed respectfully.
“We shall return safely.”
“Yes. Both of you, please take care of yourselves.”
“We shall return safely.”
“Please stay well.”
We bid Father farewell and set out on our journey.
Our destination was Guiyang in Guizhou Province.
It was where the Black Market convened.

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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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