The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 119

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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 119

“…!”
The moment the Ten Thousand Beasts Horn Flute’s cry pierced the air, Feng Ya flinched.
The creature fixed me with a rigid, crystalline gaze.
Our eyes clashed against one another.
‘This is….’
Not what I expected.
I had assumed that blowing the flute would invoke some mystical force to instantly subjugate my opponent.
But the reality was entirely different.
The flute merely established a connection between our souls and laid the foundation—true subjugation depended solely on one’s own stature and presence.
‘So that’s why only the Master of the Wild Beast Palace can wield this divine artifact?’
In the hands of those with lesser stature, it would be utterly useless.
A worthless trinket, nothing more.
‘But I am different.’
Having returned to the past, I had trained relentlessly, elevating my martial stature with each passing day.
My martial prowess had already reached the Johwa Realm.
Therefore, I could subdue Feng Ya.
At least, that was what I believed.
Whoooosh!
As the horn flute’s cry grew louder, I unleashed my presence in full.
I drew forth the maximum power of the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art and summoned a tempest through the Bukcheon Divine Technique.
Mobilizing every ounce of stature I had accumulated, I bore down upon the creature with crushing force.
“Screeeeeech!”
Feng Ya, pinned beneath my overwhelming power, shrieked in agony.
Yet the creature refused to yield, radiating its spiritual energy to its absolute limit.
Crackle! Boom!
The clash of forces continued relentlessly.
But the struggle could not endure for long.
Crack!
A fracture appeared in the spiritual barrier protecting Feng Ya, accompanied by the sound of something breaking.
The creature’s domain crumbled and retreated.
“…!”
Unable to withstand the stature I exuded, Feng Ya trembled violently beneath the crushing pressure.
A moment passed.
“Phew.”
I lowered the Ten Thousand Beasts Horn Flute, sweat pouring down my face.
I instinctively understood there was no need to continue playing the horn flute.
“Master, look at that creature!”
Even after I released the restraining force I had bound myself with, Feng Ya did not flee from where it stood.
It simply flew before me and lowered its head.
Sensing the difference in rank accumulated as a living being, it submitted to me.
It was truly a remarkable achievement.
“What an adorable creature.”
I stroked its feathers and smiled warmly.
The beast that had been subdued by me appeared endearing to my eyes.
“Caw.”
Feng Ya also responded to me by rubbing its head against my hand.
Thus, the spiritual creature that had never been tamed by human hands became my companion.
So Hye-rim gazed at the sight in admiration.
“Wow. I never thought it would actually work.”
“Indeed. If my cultivation had been even slightly lacking, I would have failed. Fortunately, it seems I was strong enough to subdue it.”
“Master, may I try touching it too?”
“If it permits you.”
“Then… Ow!”
So Hye-rim, who had attempted to stroke Feng Ya’s head, recoiled in alarm and withdrew her hand.
The creature had moved its beak to peck at her hand.
I chuckled and stroked its head for her.
“It seems it will take time before you two become close.”
“Tch…”
So Hye-rim clicked her tongue.
“Well, I suppose there’s no helping it. Being a spiritual creature, it must have considerable pride.”
“Indeed. To earn the recognition of Feng Ya, you must demonstrate worthiness befitting that.”
“Feng Ya?”
“It’s the name I just gave it. I cannot keep calling it Wind God Dragon forever, after all.”
“That’s true enough.”
So Hye-rim gazed at Feng Ya with a look of regret, licking her lips.
“One day, I will embrace and stroke it.”
“Hehe. Do that.”
Whoooosh!
I felt the flow of wind as I laughed.
Perhaps the aura of the power I had released earlier was leaking out.
I sensed a group approaching urgently from afar.
Their numbers exceeded thirty.
It seemed the martial artists of Leisheng Valley had sensed the disturbance and were coming this way.
There was no need to make contact with them.
“Troublesome fellows are coming. Let us leave this place for now.”
“Yes.”
Fortunately, since Feng Ya was a spiritual creature, it seemed to understand human speech.
We made our way to a cave hidden within the valley.
Using Wind God Arts, I unleashed fierce winds in all directions—finding an empty space proved effortless.
“The Leisheng Valley bastards must be nursing quite the headache.”
“They will be. In a few days, they’ll realize Feng Ya has vanished.”
As I spoke, I gently stroked Feng Ya, who had settled her talons upon my shoulder.
“They’ll soon discover I’m the culprit. When that happens, they’ll likely suspect us of being responsible for the Valley Master’s death as well, won’t they?”
“Well, we can’t deny the truth. But they attacked first….”
“True enough. That’s why I intend to proceed openly. Fortunately, even if they harbor vengeance, there’s little they can actually do.”
At most, they might attempt an ambush in the name of revenge, or perhaps spread malicious rumors.
Such things hardly warrant my concern.
If they attack, I’ll simply counter. As for vicious gossip, it’s something that’s always followed me anyway.
For those who rise suddenly to prominence, envy and jealousy inevitably trail behind.
Whether the accusations held truth or not made little difference.
“Come then. Let us head south toward the Wild Beast Palace.”
We evaded the martial artists of Leisheng Valley as they began combing through the gorge, moving southward.
Our destination: Kunming, in Yunnan Province.
It was where a branch of the Nanman Beast Palace was located.

* * *

Yunnan Province was the southwesternmost province in the Central Plains.
Its terrain was treacherous, and it had little exchange with other provinces—so much so that some refused to consider it part of the Central Plains at all.
Yet despite this, Yunnan Province’s value was far from negligible.
It bordered several southwestern nations, including Dayviet, making it a hub of commerce, and it boasted abundant local specialties: tea, mushrooms, and more.
Kunming, the capital of such a place.
“Now that we’re here, I can certainly feel the exotic atmosphere,” So Hye-rim remarked.
True to her words, the clothing and architectural styles of Kunming’s inhabitants differed noticeably from those of typical Central Plains people.
One might say they were better suited to this climate.
Seeing many non-Han peoples among the crowds suggested these were their native customs.
We cut through the heart of Kunming.
With our different attire and, more importantly, our unmistakably conspicuous features, we drew every eye upon us.
“Look there. Isn’t that a hawk perched on his shoulder?”
“They look like Central Plains people, but what are they doing here?”
“Are they from the Wild Beast Palace?”
The reason was obvious: Feng Ya.
She refused to leave my side.
From my perspective, this arrangement suited me well.
Had Feng Ya taken to the skies to follow us, I could never be certain when she might disappear.
‘Well, if it comes to that, there’s nothing to be done.’
Should Feng Ya truly desire freedom, I would grant it to her.
Fortunately, he showed no signs of suspicion at the moment.
That’s why I kept him close.
I wonder how long we walked.
“That must be the place.”
We arrived at a manor that could be called a branch of the Wild Beast Palace.
The Kunming branch was the only place the reclusive Wild Beast Palace had ever established an outpost.
They had created this foothold to facilitate trade with the Central Plains.
We approached the rough-looking martial artists guarding the gate.
“Hmm?”
“Who are you…?”
The two martial artists stationed there saw us and moved to block our path.
“Greetings. I am Jin Muyeol of the Bukcheon Sword Family. These are my companions.”
But I spoke first.
They stared at me with expressions of utter bewilderment.
“What’s your purpose?”
“I wish to meet the branch director. Right now.”
“The branch director?”
“He’s not someone you can meet just because you want to.”
“We’ll arrange an appointment. Come back then.”
It seemed my name wasn’t well-known in these parts.
Usually, when people heard the names Bukcheon Sword Family or Jin Muyeol, such situations rarely occurred.
‘Or perhaps the Wild Beast Palace people simply don’t know of me.’
Well, it didn’t matter much.
I wasn’t the type to take such things as insults anyway.
Instead, I withdrew a letter from my robes and handed it to the two men.
“Then could you deliver this to the branch director? Once he sees this, he’ll want to meet me immediately.”
“Hmm.”
“Understood.”
The two men nodded in agreement.
My face was filled with absolute certainty.
By adopting an attitude that left no room for other possibilities, they naturally became intimidated.
“Wait here then.”
One of the two gatekeepers went inside to deliver the letter.
We waited there for the gatekeeper who had gone to deliver the letter to return.
The wait was not long.
Soon, not only the gatekeeper who had entered but the branch director himself came out.
“Are you… the Wind God Dragon Jin Muyeol?”
“I am.”
“The contents of that letter—they’re true, aren’t they?”
“I stake my name on it.”
“Come inside for now. We can talk more comfortably in there.”
The branch director guided us two into the guest chamber with those words.
He spoke as he poured Pu-erh tea, a specialty of Yunnan.
“Forgive my late introduction. I am Hyeok Un, Grand Warrior of the Wild Beast Palace. I oversee this Yunnan branch.”
“As I mentioned earlier, I’m Jin Muyeol.”
“I’m So Hye-rim.”
“And that hawk? It doesn’t seem like an ordinary creature.”
“His name is Feng Ya. Our fates intertwined on the journey here, so we’ve been traveling together.”
I stroked Feng Ya’s feathers as I spoke.
Feng Ya blinked his eyes and made a pleased sound.
“How remarkable that a spiritual creature follows a person so readily. Is that also the power of the Ten Thousand Waters Spiritual Realm Technique?”
Hyeok Un, a middle-aged warrior, spoke with narrowed eyes.
I chuckled softly and nodded.
“I cannot deny that it has been of considerable help.”
“Ah…!”
Hyeok Un let out an exclamation of admiration.
“I never imagined the lost Ten Thousand Waters Spiritual Realm Technique would be in your hands. Could you explain how this came to be?”
“Of course. I’ll explain everything I know.”
I recounted the entire journey from beginning to end.
How we discovered information about the Ten Thousand Waters Spiritual Realm Technique while investigating the shadowy force known as Black Night Fortress.
How we learned that the technique had been stolen from there and moved to the Black Market.
And how we obtained the Ten Thousand Waters Spiritual Realm Technique and acquired Feng Ya at the Black Market.
“And we’ve come all this way to return it to the Wild Beast Palace. After all, the Ten Thousand Waters Spiritual Realm Technique is a sacred treasure of the Wild Beast Palace.”
“Ah! Thank you so much. Our palace has been in quite an uproar over its disappearance… Thanks to you both, we can recover it.”
Hyeok Un expressed his gratitude with genuine emotion.
I seized the moment of his appreciation and made my request.
“Then, could you send word to the Wild Beast Palace? Since we’ve come all the way to Yunnan, I’d like to go directly to the palace and deliver it in person.”
“Of course, that’s no trouble. However… are you certain about this?”
“Certain? Ah, if you’re concerned about the heat or the environment, please don’t worry. I’ve trained considerably in martial arts, and my body is quite resilient.”
“No, it’s not that sort of problem.”
He hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Our palace is currently in a rather difficult situation.”
“A difficult situation?”
“Indeed. We are engaged in war with a certain force.”
The Wild Beast Palace was at war?
This was information I’d never heard before.
I asked him with a serious expression.
“With whom, may I ask?”
“The Five Poison Gate.”
The answer came immediately.
“One of the great powers that divides Nam Man in two.”

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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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