The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 117

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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 117

When I displayed a puzzled expression, Jo Yeo-ryeong’s face suddenly shifted to one of regret.
It seemed he had carelessly revealed information he shouldn’t have.
“Ahem.”
He cleared his throat, desperately attempting to maintain his composure.
I observed Jo Yeo-ryeong intently.
“Perhaps you could elaborate further?”
“I believe my previous explanation was sufficient. I have nothing more to say. In any case, you truly have no intention of selling the Manshou Lingyu Pavilion?”
“I apologize, but I have need of it myself. I’m afraid I cannot hand it over.”
When I responded with courtesy, Jo Yeo-ryeong spoke with urgency.
“I’ll give you thirty taels of gold. Surely that far exceeds the value of such an object?”
“Even if you offered a hundred taels, I would not sell. Please abandon this pursuit.”
“Hmm…!”
His expression grew visibly troubled.
Yet I detected a faint glimmer of killing intent in his gaze.
‘This bastard.’
He was considering taking it by force if circumstances permitted.
“Sigh. It seems your resolve cannot be broken. Should you change your mind, speak up at any time.”
“I shall. Besides, I won’t be going anywhere until the auction concludes.”
“Very well, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Jo Yeo-ryeong turned and departed toward his seat.
We watched his retreating figure.
It wasn’t only I who sensed that killing intent—soon, So Hye-rim’s voice reached me through a secret transmission.
[Master, be careful. That man just revealed his killing intent.]
[Yes, I felt it too. Though I’m uncertain whether he’ll actually attack us, there’s no harm in being cautious.]
In the meantime, Peng Seo-ho addressed me.
“Young Master Jin, would you not move together with us until the auction ends? If you’re willing, I’d like to grow better acquainted with Young Master Jin.”
“You mean with the Peng Family?”
“Indeed. And judging by the unsettling gaze of that fellow who just introduced himself as the Master of Leisheng Valley… it would be safer for you to remain with us Peng Family members.”
Peng Seo-ho, possessing keen intuition himself, had made such a proposal.
I pondered briefly before nodding in agreement.
In truth, there was no reason to refuse Peng Seo-ho’s offer.
“Then let us proceed together. Might I ask what Young Master Peng seeks in this place?”
“Hmm. A martial manual called the Hunyuan Sect Scripture. I cannot divulge the details, but it is an item related to the Peng Family, so I’ve come to retrieve it.”
“I see. I hope you obtain what you desire.”
I had already investigated beforehand what the Peng Family was after.
We conversed while awaiting the resumption of the auction.
Approximately half an hour later.
“Well then, let us resume the auction!”
Go Chief Manager, who was conducting the proceedings, announced the restart of the auction.
Some worried there might be another attack, but nothing of the sort occurred.
[Master, is there anything else you desire?]
[Well, I still have funds remaining, so I’m thinking of acquiring an elixir. So Hye-rim, is there anything you wish to obtain?]
[I’m content, Master. It hasn’t been long since you gifted me the Restoration Sword.]
[Is that so? I’m grateful that you treasure it so.]
I waited calmly for my turn.
How long had I been waiting?
“Now, this item is none other than a Summoning Elixir created by the legendary Shaolin Temple itself! Given the nature of the merchandise, explanation should be unnecessary, yes? We shall begin the bidding at ten gold taels!”
“Eleven taels!”
“Twelve taels!”
As the Summoning Elixir came up for auction, countless people rushed forward as if they had been waiting for this very moment.
I too joined in the bidding war with them.
The Summoning Elixir, though inferior to the Great Restoration Elixir, was an invaluable medicinal treasure possessing tremendous stability and potential.
I had heard it could replenish enough inner energy to last a full decade?
Moreover, unlike other elixirs that could be dangerous if improperly consumed, it was renowned for having no side effects even if one made mistakes while absorbing its essence.
Thus, many threw themselves into the bidding.
“Thirty gold taels.”
Yet I possessed sufficient funds to outbid them all.
After all, the family had provided me with an excessive amount of money to purchase the Thousand-Year Jade Lingzhi.
It was all money obtained thanks to the horses I had brought back from the Northern Region.
‘I must thank Jo Yeo-ryeong when I return.’
Without the goodwill of her and Phantom God, the Bukcheon Sword Family’s financial situation would be far worse than it currently was.
Of course, that goodwill was earned because we had treated her mother first, but…
Well, a good outcome is a good outcome.
“Thirty gold taels! Does anyone bid higher? Sold! The winning bidder, please come forward and settle payment.”
I withdrew a heavy pouch of gold taels and handed it to the staff member who had been waiting.
“This is the price with the one-tenth discount the Dark Emperor promised. That would be twenty-seven gold taels, correct?”
“Yes, confirmed received. Here is your merchandise.”
What he handed me was a small elixir wrapped in fine paper, emanating a soothing medicinal fragrance.
I folded it several times in its precious wrapping and placed it deep within my robes.
Since I could not consume the Summoning Elixir now, I was merely storing it for later.
I felt countless eyes upon me.
Mingled with jealousy and greed, they seemed desperate to possess the Summoning Elixir themselves.
‘As if that would happen.’
I intended to consume the Summoning Elixir the moment I returned to my lodgings.
I had no intention of carrying it about and inviting danger.
With that resolve, I leisurely watched as Peng Seo-ho obtained the Primordial Chaos Sword Technique.
Not long after, all items had been sold and the auction came to an end.
“True Martial Sovereign, what are your intentions now?”
“I plan to return to my lodgings and cultivate with the elixir. After what just happened, I doubt anyone in the Black Market would be foolish enough to attempt robbery against me… but one can never be too careful.”
“I see. The auction has concluded, but the Black Market festivities will continue for several more days.”
Peng Seo-ho nodded with a hint of reluctance, then bade farewell to me and So Hye-rim.
“I would have liked to deepen our acquaintance, but I must deliver this news to the family immediately—it is a matter of considerable importance to the Peng Family.”
“Then we shall meet again next time. Today has been most enjoyable.”
“Should you ever find yourself in Hebei, please visit the Peng Family. I owe you my life twice over, so our doors will always be open to you.”
“Safe travels.”
“I hope you return safely as well, True Martial Sovereign.”
Peng Seo-ho and his entourage departed with those words.
After seeing them off, I made my way directly to the inn I had secured in the Black Market.
“I shall stand guard as your protector, Master.”
“Would that be acceptable?”
“Of course. Leave it to me.”
“Thank you.”
After positioning So Hye-rim as my guardian, I retrieved the summoning elixir I had obtained from the auction.
“Exhale.”
I steadied my breathing lightly, then placed it in my mouth.
“…!”
A cool, refreshing energy coursed down my throat and deep into my abdomen.
The quantity was explosive.
‘Slowly.’
Using the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art, I began to dissolve and absorb it.
Though it is called an Esoteric Buddhism technique, its roots are identical to the Buddhist dharma of the Central Plains, following the teachings of Buddha.
Thus, I could absorb the energy far more efficiently.
The medicinal efficacy was being assimilated with remarkable efficiency.
‘Ah.’
The power flowing from my dantian was extraordinary.
I smiled with genuine joy.
Through desperate cultivation with the elixir’s essence, I had acquired a considerable amount of inner strength.
This far exceeded the ten years of cultivation typically attributed to a summoning elixir.
At least by my current standards, there would be no peer among those in the late Transcendence Realm of my generation.
‘But I cannot afford complacency.’
My ambitions reached far higher.
I could not celebrate merely surpassing those in the late Transcendence Realm.
With that resolve firmly set, I slowly rose from my seat.
So Hye-rim, who had been guarding the door, greeted me with delight.
“Ah, Master. You’ve finished already?”
“Yes. Thank you for standing guard.”
“Not at all. After all you do for me, this is the least I can offer.”
“You speak of owing me a debt, but I see it differently. You are simply exercising your rightful due.”
“Hehe. I appreciate you saying so.”
“In any case, our business in the Black Market is concluded. We should depart soon.”
“Yes.”
“Still, it would be wise to rest a moment first. I think a bath and a proper meal would serve me well.”
“I agree. Let us meet again shortly and dine together.”
“Very well.”
As promised, we each bathed and descended to the Inn’s dining hall, where we enjoyed a hearty meal.
The sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon.
Ordinarily, this was the hour when people retreated indoors rather than ventured out, which is precisely why I chose this moment to leave the Inn.
Should any pursuers be tracking us, the confusion of timing might work in our favor.
Thus we departed the Black Market with utmost discretion.
Exiting through the main gate by which we had entered, a broad thoroughfare materialized before us—one that led toward the heart of Guiyang.
Following this official road through Guiyang and continuing southwest would bring us to Yunnan.
From there, I need only make contact with the Wild Beast Palace or discover the route leading to them, deliver the sacred relic, and the purpose of this entire journey would be fulfilled.
Or so it seemed.
Yet.
Whiiing.
A fierce wind swept toward me, warning that matters would not unfold so easily.
“Sigh.”
I exhaled slowly and spoke toward the source of that warning.
“Come out. I know you’re hiding there.”
“…!”
At my words, rustling sounds erupted, and roughly a dozen martial artists emerged from concealment.
Among them were Jo Yeo-ryeong, master of Leisheng Valley, and his entourage—along with several faces I had glimpsed at the Auction House earlier.
Their intent required no inquiry.
They had been lying in wait, hoping to intercept me as I departed.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Though their purpose was transparent, courtesy demanded I ask.
There remained a slim possibility they harbored different intentions.
At this, Jo Yeo-ryeong and the others twisted their lips into cruel smiles.
“Whelp. Surrender the Ten Thousand Waters Jade Pendant now. Do so, and we may yet spare your life.”
“Hand over the Summoning Pill as well! That is no treasure for the likes of you!”
“I have no intention of surrendering the Ten Thousand Waters Jade Pendant, and the Summoning Pill has already been consumed.”
“What, what?!”
“Is it not obvious? Knowing brigands like you might appear at any moment, why would I keep such a thing? It was far wiser to consume it immediately.”
“You…!”
“Why rage at me? It was never yours to begin with. If you resented it, you should have brought more silver to the auction.”
With that mockery, I drew my blade.
Shing.
The moment I drew my weapon first, their expressions shifted to shock.
“Y-you’re actually going to fight us!”
“Just two young brats think they can take on all of us!”
“These pathetic rabble came swarming in numbers because they were afraid of mere children.”
My tone naturally grew harsh.
There was no need for courtesy with these vermin, nor any reason to show them respect.
What they deserved was only punishment.
So then….
“Come at me all at once.”
I gestured with my sword-wielding hand.
“Let’s settle this here and now.”

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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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