The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 4

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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 4

When I entered the Meeting Hall where the family conference was being held, many senior members had already arrived.
All the influential figures—both major and minor—belonging to the Bukcheon Sword Family had gathered in one place.
Their gazes naturally turned toward me.
Wariness, irritation, curiosity, a hint of fear….
I could sense emotions of every conceivable shade.
It seemed clear that much had already been discussed regarding this incident.
“You’ve arrived, Young Master.”
An elderly man greeted me warmly.
Though already past sixty, he possessed a vigor that far surpassed most young men.
The old man’s identity was none other than Lee Tae-gyeom, the Elder Council Chairman.
He was the true power of the Bukcheon Sword Family and the leader of the Elder Council faction.
‘And of course, he’s also directly connected to the Dark Shadow Force—one of their lackeys.’
A flash of intense hostility flickered across my gaze before fading.
Instead, I looked at him and smiled gently as I spoke.
“It’s been a while, Elder Council Chairman. Have you been well?”
“Thanks to the Young Master’s concern, I’ve managed without incident. And how have you been, Young Master?”
“Unfortunately, not well. As you know, that incident occurred.”
I was referring to the Wang Ho incident.
“Ahem.”
Wang Jin, standing off to the side, let out a stifled cough, clearly uncomfortable with my mention.
But Lee Tae-gyeom merely smiled faintly, regardless.
“Today’s gathering is essentially to handle the aftermath. The investigation results from Jipbepdang have come in.”
“Yes. I’m listening.”
“Jipbepdang Master. Please explain.”
“Understood.”
Seo Un-hui, the Jipbepdang Master who had been called upon, spoke in a loud voice for all to hear.
“The embezzlement case involving General Manager Wang Ho has concluded as an act of Wang Ho’s independent judgment.”
“Wang Ho acted alone? That can’t be right, can it?”
“Hmm….”
Several senior members voiced their discomfort.
Though they weren’t speaking directly, their implication was clearly directed at Wang Jin.
The scale of the incident was too large for Wang Ho to have acted alone.
But Seo Un-hui explained calmly, as if understanding their concerns.
“Of course, we conducted our investigation with consideration for the relationship between Elder Wang and Wang Ho. While Wang Ho did threaten others using Elder Wang’s name, we found no evidence of Elder Wang’s direct involvement.”
“I see.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Everyone nodded as if in agreement.
Seo Un-hui, the Master of Jipbepdang, belonged to a neutral faction and possessed an unwavering character—which is why I trusted his words.
If he said there was no evidence, then there truly was none.
I had plenty of suspicion that Wang Jin was involved, but pushing the matter here would only invite backlash. So I nodded my head as well.
‘My current power isn’t enough to suppress Wang Jin without clear evidence.’
Besides, my true purpose for attending this gathering lay elsewhere than with Wang Jin or Wang Ho.
Tap, tap.
I tapped the table in the Meeting Hall a couple of times before addressing everyone gathered there.
“Would it be permissible for me to say a few words?”
“Please, speak.”
Lee Tae-gyeom answered on behalf of everyone.
It was a gesture inviting me to share whatever was on my mind.
I smiled faintly and explained the plan I had been contemplating.
“I would like to propose something to you all in light of this incident. A proposal to change the operational structure of the main house—primarily in administrative matters.”
The senior members’ eyes widened at my sudden words.
They were already surprised that I had spoken first.
Their expressions showed they hadn’t expected me to propose restructuring the family’s framework so directly.
“Young Master. What do you mean by changing the operational structure?”
“Exactly as I said, Elder Chung.”
I looked toward the elder named Chung Ki-hwan and offered him a slight smile.
“To prevent the unfortunate incidents that occurred this time from repeating, I propose we increase the number of administrators. Furthermore, for any ventures involving sums above a certain threshold, we must require the review and approval of at least two administrators, followed by final authorization from either myself or the Family Head.”
“Increase the administrators?”
“Wouldn’t that waste manpower?”
“However, it is far better than entrusting everything to one person and having funds embezzled. Moreover, I propose that half of the administrators selected this way be appointed by me.”
“What!”
“Young Master. Are you planning to fill all the administrator positions with your own people?”
The elders listening to this exchange spoke up in alarm.
They feared that doing so would concentrate all power solely in my hands.
But I pressed forward confidently, as though seeing no problem.
“It seems you all are laboring under a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Not my people—the Bukcheon Sword Family’s people. As Young Master and acting on behalf of the Family Head, I will discover and appoint talented individuals for the family’s benefit. What problem could there possibly be with that?”
“That is…!”
“Or perhaps you simply dislike the idea of my influence growing through financial administration?”
“…!”
No one could offer a response.
Everything I had just said was perfectly sound reasoning.
Thus they could not refute it. The senior members began exchanging glances, uncertain how to accept this. But then it happened.
“Hmm. Let it be done that way. The Young Master’s thinking appears quite reasonable.”
“Chairman of the Elder Council!”
“Elder Council members!”
Unexpectedly, Lee Tae-gyeom was the first to express his agreement.
What was he scheming?
He looked directly at me and spoke.
“However, for the sake of fairness, I propose that the remaining half be filled through deliberation by our Elder Council. How does that sound?”
“Very well.”
I nodded indifferently.
What mattered at this stage was not monopolizing all power immediately, but rather elevating my own influence first.
Even if they came at me like this to check my movements, it was acceptable.
Perhaps sensing my unexpected composure, Lee Tae-gyeom’s expression shifted subtly as he continued.
“Then we shall proceed accordingly. And there is another matter I wish to propose as a new agenda item in this meeting.”
A new agenda item?
“What might that be?”
“Observing this incident, it seems the Young Master’s personal safety has been exposed to far too much danger. Of course, when venturing outside, he travels with an escort, but… within the family compound, he moves about alone quite frequently, does he not?”
This was indeed something unthinkable in other families.
The heir of a family wandering about without a single guard.
Yet the Bukcheon Sword Family deliberately maintained such a practice.
They sought to diminish the authority of the Family Head and Young Master, instill that awareness among the family members, and thereby elevate the prestige of the Elder Council.
‘Absurd as it is, it has been accepted as common sense until now.’
But Lee Tae-gyeom was now attempting to change that very rule they themselves had established.
This was clearly not merely about providing an escort, but about assigning a watcher.
However, I did not reveal this understanding.
Assigning an escort was reasonable on its face, and besides, I wanted to see who they would assign.
“Therefore, I propose that we use this incident as an opportunity to assign an escort to the Young Master. The person I recommend is this individual.”
Lee Tae-gyeom produced a document, which he had clearly prepared beforehand, and handed it to me.
My expression shifted as I examined it.
‘Interesting.’
The document contained an unexpected name.
Moreover, it was someone I knew.
A faint smile crossed my mind as I contemplated the matter.
‘Perhaps I can turn this to my advantage.’

* * *

The person listed on the documents handed to me by Lee Tae-gyeom was Sa Gong-cheon.
He was in his early thirties.
Though relatively young, he was a martial artist possessing exceptional skill at the Peak realm.
However, I knew his value did not end there.
‘Sa Gong-cheon’s potential is truly remarkable.’
In my first life, he steadily elevated his prowess until reaching the Harmony realm, becoming one of the martial artists most remembered as representing the Bukcheon Sword Family.
Unfortunately, he met an early demise due to the Dark Shadow Force, which did not wish for the Bukcheon Sword Family to grow stronger.
Yet they were assigning such a man as my personal guard.
“Young Master, what do you think?”
“I believe it is a good arrangement.”
When I answered immediately, Lee Tae-gyeom’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
“Why is that?”
“I personally thought you would reject my recommendation, Young Master. But to accept it so readily—I must confess, I am somewhat taken aback.”
“How could I refuse you, Elder Council Chairman? Everything you do is with my best interests in mind.”
I answered with a gentle smile.
Of course, that was not the true reason at all.
Sa Gong-cheon’s potential was far too precious to waste languishing beneath Lee Tae-gyeom.
Why had such talent lived as a puppet under Elder Council Chairman Lee Tae-gyeom?
It was because Sa Gong-cheon’s young daughter had contracted a rare illness.
Ordinary physicians could barely prevent the disease’s progression, let alone cure it, and obtaining the medicine for his daughter’s treatment required him to periodically acquire expensive and rare medicines that could not be purchased with a standard monthly stipend.
‘But I know the cure for that illness.’
“Hmm.”
Lee Tae-gyeom stroked his chin with an expression suggesting something was amiss.
No matter how I looked at it, my reaction must have seemed strange to him.
But to withdraw a proposal he had already made here?
There was no way he could commit such a shameful act before the family council.
In the end, he nodded and forced a smile.
“I do hope this man proves helpful to you, Young Master.”
“Of course. With the care you have shown me in arranging this, I shall endeavor to get along well with him.”
I accepted Lee Tae-gyeom’s greeting with a subtle smile.
Thus, the matter of appointing a personal guard for the Young Master passed without incident.
‘Later, will the Elder Council Chairman not beat his chest in regret?’
But by then, it would already be too late.
Sa Gong-cheon would already be mine.
I smiled at such thoughts.
Imagining Lee Tae-gyeom’s fury, I felt satisfied even without eating.
‘I cannot wait to meet the young Sa Gong-cheon.’
If I could win his favor, it would be as though I had gained ten thousand soldiers.
And shortly thereafter.
I came face to face with Sa Gong-cheon.

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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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