The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 25

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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 25

The Black Snake Society in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province.
It was the sort of Black Bandits faction that could be found in virtually any region of the Central Plains.
Naturally, its defining characteristic was ordinariness itself.
The society leader’s martial prowess was unremarkable, there were no members of renown, the number of disciples was modest, and wealth was scarce.
Yet even this insignificant third-rate Black Bandits organization harbored a secret.
It was that an elder of the Bukcheon Sword Family—the martial clan that dominated Shanxi Province—served as their hidden backer.
“Heh heh. Soon those debt collectors will be returning.”
Ju Yun-ho, leader of the Black Snake Society, murmured contentedly while gazing toward the main gate.
In truth, their arrangement was highly irregular.
Ordinarily, an elder of an orthodox martial family would never become entangled with such a minor Black Bandits faction.
Yet Wang Jin, an elder of the Bukcheon Sword Family, had approached Ju Yun-ho and the Black Snake Society first.
His proposal was simple: they would join forces in a business venture.
The venture entailed the Black Snake Society’s fighters impersonating Bukcheon Sword Family members and extorting protection money from merchants in the Marketplace District.
‘I absolutely refused at first.’
Understandably so.
What madman would accept such a request?
One misstep could earn the enmity of the Bukcheon Sword Family, the foremost faction in Shanxi.
No—it wouldn’t merely be enmity. They would be utterly annihilated.
Ju Yun-ho lacked the audacity for such an undertaking.
Yet he had been forced to accept Wang Jin’s request against his will.
Why?
‘Because he said he would exterminate the Black Snake Society if I refused.’
Wang Jin had declared that if Ju Yun-ho did not comply, he would mobilize forces and destroy the organization entirely.
Either way, death awaited him.
Thus Ju Yun-ho became Wang Jin’s subordinate and began impersonating the Bukcheon Sword Family.
But the results were astounding.
‘Just as Wang Jin promised, the Bukcheon Sword Family noticed nothing.’
This was due to the Bukcheon Sword Family’s complicated circumstances.
The family head lay bedridden with illness, while the young master was equally incapacitated.
Meanwhile, multiple incidents targeting the Bukcheon Sword Family erupted simultaneously across various locations, leaving them too preoccupied to notice this scheme.
In other words, they had stumbled upon an unexpected goldmine.
Of course, eighty percent of the profits had to be surrendered to Wang Jin….
‘But even with the remaining twenty percent, I’m earning quite handsomely.’
For a Black Bandits member who typically had to earn through brutal, exhausting labor, this was truly effortless gain.
No fighting required, virtually no risk of exposure, and stable profits?
He felt ashamed for initially hesitating to accept the proposal.
In any case.
“But why are they taking so long?”
He tilted his head, emerging from a prolonged reverie of pleasant memories.
The subordinates he’d sent to collect protection money were nowhere to be found.
Had something happened?
Just as he was about to order his other men to investigate, it happened.
CRASH!
The Black Snake Society’s massive front gate exploded inward with a deafening roar, sending clouds of dust billowing through the air.
“Wh-what is this!”
Ju Yun-ho stared in shock at the figures emerging from the dust.
First came the faces of the subordinates he’d sent to collect money.
And then….
“Wh-who the hell is that!?”
A young man stood behind them, sword drawn and leveled.

* * *

The moment I entered the Black Snake Society, I surveyed my surroundings.
Dozens of men were already gathering, having heard the commotion.
When I extended my perception, I confirmed there were no more than this. It seemed they had all rushed here without exception.
‘Well, even if someone tried to flee, Sa Gong-cheon would catch them anyway.’
I had deliberately stationed two people outside for this reason.
Both had expressed concern that going alone might be dangerous….
But I had insisted on coming solo, wanting to gain more real combat experience.
Yet it was fine.
With my current strength, I could handle these Black Bandits without difficulty.
“Y-you! Who are you!”
“It doesn’t matter.”
I completely ignored the words of what appeared to be the leader of these thugs.
His face flushed with anger at my dismissal.
It seemed my youthful appearance made him furious at receiving such treatment.
“You insolent brat! Do you know where you are!”
“Isn’t this where a bunch of vagabonds gather, impersonating the Bukcheon Sword Family?”
“…!”
The leader’s anger faltered, and he flinched at my words.
It was a natural reaction.
From their perspective, it was absolutely critical that no one discovered they’d been extorting protection money from commoners while impersonating the Bukcheon Sword Family.
So when I spoke as though I knew everything, they were deeply shaken.
I smiled coldly at them and spoke.
“I have a proposal for you. I cannot forgive your impersonation of the Bukcheon Sword Family, but I can offer you a way to keep your lives.”
“Kill that bastard!”
The leader didn’t even listen to my proposal before screaming.
“Kyaaaaaaaa!”
In that instant, they drew their weapons and rushed at me.
Their reaction seemed quite desperate.
They probably understood that this secret couldn’t leak out, which is why they were so frantic.
But they made the wrong choice.
If they’d accepted my offer, it would have ended with the dissolution of their sect and them returning all the money they’d earned under the Bukcheon Sword Family name….
The moment they drew their blades against me, I decided there would be no mercy.
I kicked away the men I’d been using as a shield and unleashed the second form of the Gale Cyclone Sword.
Heavenly Rotation.
Clang clang clang!
“What!?”
“Ugh!”
At the same moment, the bodies of those surrounding and attacking me erupted with blood as they flew upward.
Those who had been launching their attacks slightly later hesitated. But I didn’t miss the moment they faltered.
Chaotic Dance.
The third form of the Gale Cyclone Sword unfolded, and a fierce wind of blades swept across all directions, drawing a crimson trajectory.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
“Gahhh!”
Everyone caught in that path was sliced down and fell.
The Black Bandits were now completely terrified.
They had realized I was far superior in skill to any of them.
“R, run!”
“Kyaaaaaaaa!”
They scattered to both sides, trying to leap over the wall to escape me.
Thud!
But then Sa Gong-cheon and Gong Hyun appeared.
From their respective positions, they began cutting down the Black Bandits attempting to scale the wall. Both possessed exceptional skill, and no one could escape past them.
“This… this can’t be….”
The enemy leader’s face turned hollow as he watched.
Seeing his subordinates fall so easily, he must have realized he had no chance.
“Stop him! If we all attack at once, we have a chance!”
He barked orders at his remaining men who still had the will to fight.
But immediately after, he began fleeing without hesitation.
What a pathetic fool.
I twisted my lips into a smirk and surged forward.
Whoosh!
“Die!”
“Hyaaaah!”
The elite enemies, still unaware their leader had fled, charged toward me.
I executed the Phantom Thief King’s footwork toward them.
My form rippled like a specter, slipping through their blind spots and sweeping past their necks.
Squelch! Squelch!
“…!”
The remaining Black Bandits flinched and retreated at the sight of their comrades collapsing without even a chance to scream.
I ignored them and rushed straight toward the enemy leader.
And thrust!
“Gaaaahhhhh!”
My blade pierced through the leader’s left thigh.
Caught mid-escape, he let out an agonized shriek.
But I ignored his screams and twisted the blade free.
Now the enemy’s mobility was completely stripped away.
I kicked him aside, withdrew my sword, and slowly approached the leader.
The leader, desperate to live, was frantically trying to stop the bleeding.
“How much better it would have been if you’d accepted my initial proposal.”
“P-please, spare me.”
The first thing that came out was a plea for his life.
Instead of answering, I swept my gaze around the area. Sa Gong-cheon and Gong Hyun had already eliminated all the enemy disciples trying to flee.
No enemies remained. Still, I asked just to be sure.
“Are there any more disciples outside right now?”
“No, there aren’t. Even if there were, they’d run the moment they saw this.”
Indeed, I doubted the Black Bandits had enough honor to return after witnessing such a defeat.
Which meant there was virtually no chance of information leaking out.
Sheathe.
I sheathed my sword and issued a command to the leader.
“Tonight, summon the elder of the Bukcheon Sword Family who conspired with you.”
“…!”
“Otherwise, I’ll behead everyone here.”
I spoke in a cold voice.
With such sincerity behind my words, he couldn’t possibly think I was joking.
As proof, the leader nodded frantically, trembling with fear.
With this, we were now ready to lure out Wang Jin, who stood behind him.
‘Wait, Wang Jin.’
In this life, I’ll make sure you have no escape.

* * *

That night.
Wang Jin was heading toward the Black Snake Society with two of his trusted associates.
“It seems the collection is proceeding faster than expected.”
“I’m concerned they might break their word and seize a large sum of money.”
“Yes. I share that concern.”
The reason he was going on a day other than the regular tribute day was because the Black Snake Society had contacted him.
Specifically, they said the tribute amount was too large and needed to be split into installments.
And they had urgent matters to discuss with Wang Jin.
“Foolish bastards. A long tail always gets stepped on….”
Wang Jin believed the Black Snake Society could do this precisely because they had broken his word and collected a large sum.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to gather the tribute in such a short time.
But to Wang Jin’s mind, this was a blunder.
Moving too hastily increased the risk of being discovered by the Bukcheon Sword Family.
Especially now, with the Family Head risen from his sickbed and the Young Master’s momentum strengthened, caution was essential.
‘I should tell them not to contact me for a while.’
As Wang Jin clicked his tongue and passed through the Black Snake Society’s damaged front gate, it happened.
“You’ve come. Wang Jin.”
A voice he shouldn’t have been able to hear reached his ears.
Wang Jin’s face went rigid as he turned to face the source of the voice.
Jin Muyeol, the Young Master of the Bukcheon Sword Family, was staring at him with a cold expression.
“Young Master? How did you…?”
“How? Can’t you figure it out even looking at this?”
He hurled something toward Wang Jin.
Catching it reflexively, Wang Jin’s eyes trembled violently.
It was the Bukcheon Sword Family uniform he had provided to the Black Snake Society. That meant the Young Master knew everything.
“There must be some misunderstanding… I assure you there’s been a misunderstanding, Young Master.”
“Then surrender peacefully. I’ll at least give you a chance to explain yourself. But if you resist, it won’t be amusing.”
“Hmm. I understand. But where did my escorts go?”
“Would I have carried out this affair with someone who might be a spy for Elder Lee Tae-gyeom?”
“I see.”
A strange light flickered in Wang Jin’s eyes.
And then.
Clang!
Wang Jin’s blade struck down Jin Muyeol’s sword, which he had drawn in haste.
Jin Muyeol’s brow furrowed.
“What are you doing?”
“Simply doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve always desired to kill you, Young Master.”
“So you plan to kill me and bury the evidence. Your nephew comes to mind.”
Jin Muyeol twisted the corner of his mouth.
“That fool Wang Ho also tried to kill me and ended up dead instead.”
“I won’t be as easy as that fool.”
“Is that so? We shall see.”
Jin Muyeol spoke those words and then whistled.
A sharp whistle pierced the air.
Footsteps thundered in rapid succession.
“…!”
At that signal, dozens of martial artists emerged from the shadows and surrounded them.
Wang Jin’s eyes trembled as he recognized their identity—they were the enforcers of Jipbepdang, the organization that executed the family’s laws.
Their presence meant only one thing.
“It was a trap from the beginning…!”
“Would I have come alone to meet you otherwise?”
Jin Muyeol spoke and raised his sword.
“Criminal Wang Jin. As the Young Master of the Bukcheon Sword Family, I hereby declare your crimes.”
“…!”
“Your transgressions are twofold: conspiring with the Black Bandits to sell the family’s name for illicit gain, and attempting to assassinate the Young Master. These are unforgivable capital crimes against the Bukcheon Sword Family.”
His lips twisted into a cruel smile.
“Therefore, I sentence you to immediate execution.”

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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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