The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 113

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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 113

However, we did not immediately ride our horses toward Guiyang.
There was something we needed to do first.
I retrieved a box I had prepared in advance and opened it.
“Master, what is that?”
“A face mask.”
“Ah!”
She let out an exclamation as if she had suddenly understood something.
A face mask.
It was literally a false face crafted to mimic a human visage.
I had previously commissioned my own personal face mask in case such a need might arise.
“If our identities are carelessly exposed, it could invite unnecessary complications. The Black Night Fortress dogs might catch wind of it and dispatch assassins.”
“So you intend to wear the face mask.”
“Yes. My face is rather well-known, after all. Ideally, I would have procured one for you as well, but… I apologize. I was unable to obtain one for you. There simply wasn’t enough time to have a new one made.”
Unfortunately, there was insufficient time to create a new one.
Moreover, if word spread that I was searching for a craftsman here to obtain a face mask?
It would only complicate matters.
Then the entire purpose of the face mask would be defeated.
So instead, I handed her a veil that female martial artists commonly wore.
This wouldn’t completely conceal her beauty, but…
It would still be sufficient to hide her identity.
‘Besides, So Hye-rim’s face isn’t particularly well-known anyway.’
Having left the sect to train solely within the Bukcheon Sword Family, there was no reason her face would be recognized.
Thus, her disguise was adequate.
All that remained was my own disguise…
‘It’s been a while since I’ve had to do this.’
I affixed the face mask to my face and then circulated my inner energy.
Crack, crack!
The grotesque sound of bones shifting echoed through the air.
My shoulders narrowed, my height decreased by roughly an inch, and my skeletal structure itself began to twist and contort.
“M-Master!? What are you…?”
“Calm yourself. I’m merely employing Bone Shifting Technique.”
I raised my hand to stop So Hye-rim, who had rushed forward in shock.
Bewilderment flickered across her eyes.
Bone Shifting Technique.
It was a martial art that literally manipulated bones to alter one’s skeletal structure—a technique typically mastered only by assassins.
Yet it was remarkable that I, the successor to the Bukcheon Sword Family, had learned such a technique.
“Where did you learn something like that?”
“I learned how to do this long ago.”
To be precise, I learned it in my first life.
As the Family Head of the Bukcheon Sword Family back then, I needed to disguise myself whenever I wanted to do something while avoiding the eyes of both insiders and outsiders.
‘I never expected that experience from those days would prove useful.’
In any case, what I chose was the Bone Restructuring Technique.
The pain when moving my skeletal structure was considerable, but the effect itself was remarkable.
It required minimal internal energy to maintain, making it quite efficient.
I pulled out a bronze mirror I’d been carrying and examined my appearance.
My usual face had vanished, replaced entirely by a man I’d never seen before.
He appeared to be in his mid-thirties.
Though his build was slightly lean, he still carried a sharp, commanding presence.
This should be enough to avoid suspicion in the role of a bodyguard for a noble lady.
‘This will suffice.’
I tested my voice as well, making it different, and asked her a question.
“Well then, what do you think?”
“Goodness. You look like a completely different person. It seems I have even more to learn from you, Master.”
“I’ll teach you if you wish to learn, but… I doubt you’ll have much use for it?”
“Still, wouldn’t it be useful to know it for some future occasion?”
“I suppose you have a point.”
“Master? Why are you speaking formally…?”
“From now on, I am Jin Hyung, a bodyguard serving the young lady. Please call me Guard Jin.”
“D-do we really need to do this even when we’re alone?”
“A bird listens by day and a mouse listens by night. If you develop the habit of being careful from the start, you won’t make mistakes later. Young lady.”
“Ah, young lady…?”
Was it strange to hear myself called that?
A faint blush crept across So Hye-rim’s face.
But she soon nodded with a pleased expression.
“Very well then, Guard Jin.”
“Yes. I look forward to serving you, Young lady.”
“Likewise.”
“Then shall we depart?”
“Yes.”
With our disguises complete, we began our journey in earnest.
According to my investigation, approximately twenty days remained until the Black Market opened.
We had time to spare, but there was no telling what variables might arise along the way.
So it was best to hurry.
‘It will take more than ten days just to travel from Sanseo to Guizhou.’
With that thought, I urged my horse forward.
A sharp wind guided our path.

* * *

We rode on and on without pause.
Fortunately, we were mounted on premium thoroughbreds procured from the Northern Region, so our pace never faltered.
There was a minor incident where bandits coveted our steeds and attacked us midway, but….
‘One strike of the Gale Wind Palm shattered their leader, and they all scattered.’
In any case.
Within days, we arrived at Guizhou Province.
“This place seems surrounded by nothing but mountains. The air feels thick too.”
“Is this your first time in Guizhou Province?”
“Actually, I’ve never left Sanseo before….”
So Hye-rim spoke with a hint of embarrassment.
But it was hardly surprising.
Most people from the Central Plains never ventured beyond the province where they were born in their entire lives.
It was only martial artists who traveled across the Central Plains under the guise of wandering the jianghu who were exceptional.
Moreover, given her age and constitution, she had lived a life far removed from such travels.
“Have you been here before, Dae Ho?”
“Once, long ago. But I only passed through—this is my first time visiting Guizhou with a specific purpose.”
I spoke while surveying my surroundings.
We were in Guiyang, which could be considered the heart of Guizhou.
‘Though it’s not the real Guiyang.’
To be precise, it was more like a remote village belonging to that administrative district.
It was also the place where the Black Market was said to open.
“There are so many people. Could they all be participants in the Black Market?”
“Probably so.”
As So Hye-rim whispered softly, I nodded in agreement.
True to her words, this small village was teeming with people.
Masters in worn robes, Black Bandits with fierce expressions, organized Evil Faction martial artists, and even those who appeared to be from the Orthodox Faction.
‘This truly deserves to be called the Black Market.’
The scale was considerable.
Indeed, a place operated by the Dark Emperor, one of the Thirteen Venerables.
‘In my past life, I never came here directly and only heard rumors, so I couldn’t truly grasp its magnitude. But its influence seems far greater than I imagined.’
That was only natural.
The Black Market was where one could obtain rare elixirs, martial treasures, and martial manuals that were normally difficult to acquire.
Beyond that, there were dark rumors of obtaining information unavailable in ordinary markets or placing assassination contracts, though I had only heard such tales.
Of course, the latter was mere rumor.
“Let’s head inside.”
With that thought, I led So Hye-rim toward the village entrance.
But she tugged at my sleeve and pointed toward something.
“Dae Ho. Look over there.”
“Over there… huh?”
I couldn’t help but feel quite taken aback.
The emblem she pointed to was unmistakably familiar—the great tiger insignia of Dae Ho.
A group of martial artists clad in robes embroidered with tigers.
They were warriors of the Habuk Peng Family.
Moreover, I recognized the figure leading them.
‘Isn’t that Peng Seo-ho?’
There was no doubt about it.
He was indeed Peng Seo-ho, a young master of the Habuk Peng Family.
He was also the man I had once saved from the rampage of Namgung Seung.
“Why would the Peng Family come to a place like this?”
So Hye-rim whispered as she watched them.
I paused briefly before answering.
“I’m not entirely certain yet. But they must have come for some specific purpose.”
What other reason would martial artists have for visiting the Black Market?
From my perspective, it was of little consequence.
My sole interest lay in the Eternal Jade Spirit Orb.
As long as they weren’t after the same thing, it mattered not to me.
“Come, let’s enter.”
We followed the Peng Family group inside and approached the village entrance.
“The entrance fee is five silver taels per person.”
“That’s quite expensive, isn’t it?”
“If you don’t wish to pay, you needn’t. But then you won’t be able to enter.”
“Here you are.”
I paid ten taels and purchased entrance tokens for both of us.
We entered and secured a room at a modest inn, where we took our meal.
Upon seeing the lodging and food prices, she clicked her tongue in dismay.
“This place is nothing but overpriced robbery. Why is everything so expensive?”
“It can’t be helped. Since demand naturally concentrates here, prices are bound to be inflated.”
“The Eternal Jade Spirit Orb. How can we obtain it?”
“The Black Market hasn’t begun yet, so I can’t be certain… but once it does, there should be an auction. We can purchase it then.”
While other items were often sold by street vendors, the Eternal Jade Spirit Orb was far too precious for such common trade.
It would likely be handled through the auction.
‘I brought sufficient funds, so if fortune favors us, we might even acquire other rare items.’
After all, the Black Market regularly received genuinely precious treasures.
It would be worthwhile to stock up on spirit pills and similar items while we’re here.
With such thoughts, I savored the meal.
But then it happened.
-Mu Yeol! Be careful. An extraordinarily powerful master is watching you!
‘An extraordinarily powerful master?’
-Yes. At the very least, he’s a powerhouse on par with the Sichuan First Sword I encountered before. I’m certain of it.
Which means….
Cold sweat dripped down my face.
A master of the Sichuan First Sword’s caliber appearing in the Black Market?
There could be only one person capable of such a thing.
The master of this place—Dark Emperor So Yeon-u.
‘Who is it?’
I carefully shifted my gaze, scanning for anyone whose eyes might be fixed upon me.
The sprawling inn was so crowded that I couldn’t scrutinize each person individually.
Among them were many who appeared formidable.
Yet in that sea of faces, I found myself locking eyes with an Innkeeper boy I hadn’t noticed before.
He appeared to be around fifteen years old, perhaps even younger.
He was truly a boy in every sense of the word.
But the moment I became aware of him, my Sword Spirit issued a warning.
-That’s him. That’s the one who’s been watching you.
‘This mere boy?!’
Beads of sweat formed on my brow as I stared at him.
Noticing my gaze, he smiled brightly and approached my table.
“Guest. Is there anything you require?”
His tone was respectful.
It was the very picture of an Innkeeper’s demeanor.
But I hesitated, uncertain how to respond, before finally speaking.
“Bring me another bottle of wine—any kind will do.”
“Would Bamboo Leaf Green suit you?”
“That would be perfect.”
“Very well. I shall return momentarily.”
He smiled and vanished from sight.
But soon enough, he returned with a bottle of Bamboo Leaf Green and approached our table, respectfully presenting the wine.
“Here you are.”
“Much obliged.”
“Ha. Obliged, you say? This is merely my duty. However….”
The Innkeeper boy leaned in with a subtle smile and whispered to me.
“How did you see through me?”
…!”
Upon hearing those words, my entire body erupted in goosebumps.

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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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