The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 23

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

Master of the Bukcheon Sword Family – Chapter 23

The reason for my conviction was simple.
I knew of the corruption Wang Jin had committed.
‘It was so sloppy that I caught him red-handed in my first life.’
Wang Ho and those blood relatives seemed to hold the bloodline of the Bukcheon Sword Family in far too much contempt.
Especially considering they didn’t even bother hiding the misdeeds they committed.
Of course, in my first life, I was too incompetent for them to need such caution….
‘But not anymore.’
I was ready to sink my teeth into him at a moment’s notice.
However, I had no intention of making a move today.
Now that I had taken control of the Saeying Division, I wanted to assess how capable they were and how loyal they would prove to me.
‘There’s always a chance they might prioritize someone else’s orders over mine.’
Once I had organized my thoughts, I made my way to the family’s Medicine Hall.
There was something I needed to receive.
It was the Soul Sword Pill that my father had bestowed upon me.
‘Even during my time as family head, I only managed to obtain it once.’
The Soul Sword Pill was a precious elixir manufactured exclusively by the Bukcheon Sword Family, capable of granting approximately twenty years’ worth of inner cultivation in a single dose.
Naturally, the difficulty in its creation was extraordinary.
Given the astronomical material costs and manpower required for its production, only three pills remained in the family’s current reserves.
Such was the extent of the family’s decline.
‘To think I would come to possess one of them.’
It was something my father had given me while bearing considerable political burden.
I resolved to treasure this opportunity.
“Young Master. Please follow me.”
The Medicine Hall Master, who had attended the family meeting and understood the situation, led me forward.
We would be moving to a hidden warehouse that could only be accessed through a complex process.
I had expected him to be displeased about having to hand over the Soul Sword Pill, but surprisingly, the gaze he directed at me was quite warm.
Perhaps it was due to the numerous high-grade medicinal materials we had obtained from the Shanxi Yu Clan?
Click, click.
We descended through a mechanically concealed passage and entered a warehouse with a cool temperature.
At the far end lay three exquisitely packaged elixir pills.
“These are the Soul Sword Pills.”
The Medicine Hall Master spoke thus and handed me the Soul Sword Pill.
I bowed my head respectfully to him.
“Thank you.”
“I have been watching your accomplishments closely, Young Master. Please continue to exert yourself for the family’s sake.”
The Medicine Hall Master offered these words of blessing and then guided me outside.
I offered my thanks and headed toward the Training Grounds, where I summoned Sa Gong-cheon, who had been waiting, to guard the perimeter before consuming the Soul Sword Pill.
‘The Sword Soul Pill is originally a spiritual medicine specialized for the Northern Wind Heart Method, the inner cultivation technique of the Bukcheon Sword Family.’
However, after returning to the past, I had scarcely mastered the Northern Wind Heart Method.
I had focused instead on tempering my body through the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art.
But now it seemed necessary to develop an interest in the family’s martial techniques as well.
‘After all, the energies of the Northern Wind Heart Method and the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art do not conflict with each other.’
This was something proven in my first life.
Since the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art was fundamentally a Buddhist martial technique, it possessed the nature of embracing rather than rejecting energies—so long as they were not malevolent.
This was precisely why I could master two different inner cultivation techniques and wield both.
‘Then let me try it.’
I sat in a lotus position and placed the Sword Soul Pill in my mouth.
The bitter taste characteristic of spiritual medicine lingered on my tongue.
I savored it while slowly accepting the surging energy flowing inward.
Thus began the Grand Circulation.
The energy of the Northern Wind Heart Method drew the Sword Soul Pill’s energy through a complete cycle of my body.
In that process, my blood vessels expanded and strengthened further.
The speed of my inner power’s release accelerated, and now I seemed capable of unleashing far more explosive force.
How much time had passed?
At the end of the Grand Circulation, the Sword Soul Pill’s inner power settled into my dantian.
Normally, the process would have ended there….
But I did not stop.
I drew the inner power back up from my dantian and this time activated the Vajra Yaksha Divine Seal.
The two energies were compatible with each other.
So their effects could be shared as well.
Crack. Crackle.
The energy transformed according to the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art strengthened my body throughout.
My bones and muscles grew stronger, and my grip power intensified.
Now I seemed far stronger than those who had trained since childhood—incomparably so.
‘I have gained the equivalent of decades upon decades of inner power, after all.’
Among late-stage cultivators, would I not be among the select few?
Exhale.
I released a light breath and rose from my seat.
Vitality surged through my body, boiling with energy.
I drew my sword and swung it without hesitation.
Crash!
Without even channeling my inner power, the wooden target I had prepared split cleanly in two with a single stroke.
I had achieved the destructive power that previously required the Gale Slash technique through mere physical strength alone.
If I layered the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art’s energy on top of this, the power would become truly formidable.
I might even gain a certain advantage against Sa Gong-cheon, the supreme master.
With that thought, I stepped outside.
Sa Gong-cheon lowered his head and spoke.
“Congratulations on your breakthrough.”
“Thank you.”
Sa Gong-cheon seemed to have sensed the subtle aura flowing from my body.
I quickly contained the energy and then bathed.
I had sweated considerably during the Heavenly Circulation technique.
As I changed clothes and stepped outside, a martial artist was waiting for me.
It was Gong Hyun, the commander of the Saeying Division who had become my direct subordinate today.
“I greet the Young Master.”
“Good to see you.”
“I’ve heard the news. That you will assume command of our division….”
His tone seemed measured, yet beneath it lay a subtle discontent.
I had been dealing with people for decades—surely I could read this much.
It appeared that Gong Hyun was displeased about serving under a mere youth like myself.
There was a simple remedy for such situations.
“Take this.”
I retrieved a pouch of silver coins I had hidden away and handed it to Gong Hyun.
Gong Hyun accepted the heavy pouch with a look of surprise.
The substantial weight of its contents made it clear this was a considerable sum.
“Your operational funds have always been insufficient, haven’t they? Use this for activities. And don’t just spend it on operations—make sure your subordinates eat well.”
“Are you truly giving this to us?”
“Would I have taken out such money if I meant to deceive you?”
I regarded Gong Hyun with a serious expression.
“Let me be frank. I wanted the Saeying Division because I believe it is the most crucial of the main family’s military forces.”
“…!”
“You understand the reason better than anyone. In this rapidly changing era, information is one of the most vital elements to avoid falling behind. Therefore, your importance needs no elaboration.”
Gong Hyun’s eyes trembled.
No one had ever spoken to him this way before.
It was inevitable.
Everyone instinctively understood that intelligence organizations were important, yet developing them required substantial investment, did it not?
Thus, no one had yet appeared willing to spend considerable resources to support them.
‘Father was bedridden and unable to do so… and the Elder Council had no intention of strengthening the family’s capabilities.’
But now I had appeared in this situation.
Someone who recognized their value.
And so Gong Hyun’s expression gradually softened.
At first, he had resented serving under a young upstart, but now his thoughts seemed to be shifting.
I spoke to him with conviction.
“I intend to develop your division into the finest organization of the Bukcheon Sword Family. But for that, I need results. Will you follow me?”
It was a request, not a command.
The same words spoken as a gentle request and delivered as a harsh order carried vastly different weight.
And so Gong Hyun nodded as if entranced.
“What would you have us do?”
“It’s simple. The first task I’m entrusting to you isn’t difficult.”
I met his gaze as I spoke.
“I’ve heard that strange rumors have been circulating recently in the Marketplace District.”
“Strange rumors?”
“Yes. Rumors that the Bukcheon Sword Family has been extorting protection money from merchants in the Marketplace District.”
“From the main family? That can’t be right…”
Since the Bukcheon Sword Family was responsible for maintaining order in this area, we occasionally received tokens of gratitude from merchants and innkeepers who had benefited from our assistance.
But those were voluntary and the amounts were never substantial.
Whenever they tried to give us large sums, we would actually refuse them.
So the Bukcheon Sword Family formally collecting protection money? It made no sense.
‘Absurd.’
Yet this absurdity was happening in recent times.
And it would continue for years to come.
Naturally, the culprit was Wang Jin.
Apparently thinking he wouldn’t be caught, he had leveraged the Bukcheon Sword Family’s reputation to extort money from the marketplace merchants.
‘In my first life, I could only impose a light punishment and let it slide.’
Back then, I as the family head lacked the power to do more.
But things were different now.
My father, who wielded considerable influence over the family, was still alive, and I myself had earned the trust of the family members through numerous accomplishments.
With justification added to that…
I could easily corner Wang Jin.
So I had instructed the Saeying Division to investigate this matter.
“If it’s a false rumor, we’ll set the record straight. If it’s true, we’ll need to conduct a proper investigation. So I’m entrusting this to you. I’m counting on you.”
“No, sir. Since this concerns the honor of the Bukcheon Sword Family, we’ll conduct a thorough investigation.”
Gong Hyun seemed equally intrigued, his enthusiasm evident.
I nodded and sent him on his way.
Sa Gong-cheon, watching his departing figure, asked quietly.
“Can we trust him?”
“Are you doubting the Saeying Division’s capabilities?”
“That’s not it. It’s just that the Saeying Division could have been co-opted by another elder faction.”
“Ha. If that were the case, they wouldn’t be going around looking like beggars.”
They were treated so poorly that rumors circulated about how they received less support than other military units, breeding resentment.
If they were receiving patronage from another faction, that wouldn’t be the case.
“And from meeting him directly, I could see he’s hungry for merit. I’m confident he’ll conduct this investigation properly.”
“If you say so, Young Master.”
Sa Gong-cheon shrugged his shoulders.
Either way, he was someone who showed me absolute trust.
Ever since I saved his daughter’s life, he had become my loyal retainer.
“How is Lin doing?”
“He’s doing remarkably well. Of course, we’ll need to keep watching, but there haven’t been any more fevers.”
“Just to be safe, have that child learn a cultivation method with the essence of harmony woven into it. Make sure the yang and yin energies within his body never clash, no matter what happens.”
“Understood. I should search for an appropriate technique.”
“I’ll open the Bukcheon Sword Family’s Library Archive for you. Search carefully through it.”
“Master of the Family….”
Sa Gong-cheon’s eyes gleamed with brilliance.
Ordinarily, a martial family’s library archive remained sealed to all but the most exceptional circumstances.
But to receive such an opportunity for his own daughter—he was deeply moved.
Yet it was only natural.
I intended to take full responsibility for my people to the very end.
Winning their loyalty at this price was an absolute bargain.
Thanks to this, I was freed from the duties of acting family head and could devote all my strength to cultivation.
And how many days had passed?
Word came from the Saeying Division, whom I had been waiting to hear from.
The rumors circulating through the Marketplace District were true.

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