The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 40

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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 40

Sichuan’s First Sword, Dang So-hye.
She was counted among the Thirteen Venerables, the mightiest martial artists of her generation, the master of the Sichuan Sword Gate, and a candidate for the title of Heaven’s Greatest Swordsman.
Moreover, she was an exceptional swordswoman who had emerged from the Sichuan Dang Family—a clan that had stubbornly clung to poison and assassination techniques for generations.
In her youth, this had caused considerable conflict; she had left the family and established the Sichuan Sword Gate, among other tribulations.
But such disputes ceased after she joined the Thirteen Venerables.
Especially when her son, Dang Geuk, became the patriarch of the Sichuan Dang Family, their relationship improved considerably.
And now, this granddaughter of Sichuan’s First Sword had come.
That meant she was the family’s precious jewel and the successor whom Sichuan’s First Sword cherished most—the one to whom she wished to pass down her martial arts.
In other words, she was a formidable figure whose very background wielded tremendous influence throughout the martial world.
And such a person had come to meet me.
‘It’s like my first life,’ I thought.
But back then, I had been serving as acting patriarch, so her visit was almost inevitable.
Now, however, my father—the true patriarch—was performing his duties perfectly well.
So why had she sought me out regardless?
My contemplation was brief.
I rose to my feet and replied.
“I shall go at once.”
After all, one could not keep a guest waiting.
I made my way to the Guest Reception Hall where she awaited.
And there, I beheld her once more—as she had been when we first met.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Young Patriarch. I’m Dang Ye-rin.”
“The honor is mine to finally meet the renowned Sichuan Sword Phoenix, whose fame echoes across the realm. I am Jin Muyeol.”
We exchanged courteous greetings.
We sat facing each other with tea and refreshments between us, studying one another.
After moistening my throat with tea, I spoke first.
“You’ve sought me out because of that man who came from Sichuan, haven’t you?”
“…!”
Her eyes betrayed that I had struck the mark.
An expression asking how I could possibly know.
I regarded her calmly and continued.
“The intelligence network of the Bukcheon Sword Family extends throughout Shaanxi. Uncovering such matters is hardly difficult. Please, do not be so startled.”
In truth, our capabilities did not quite reach that level.
I had simply tasked the Saeying Division with the investigation because of what had transpired in my first life.
Yet Dang Ye-rin seemed impressed by my answer. She regarded me with renewed interest.
“Indeed, the Bukcheon Sword Family truly commands Shaanxi. I am in awe of such power.”
“But if you seek help capturing this man, shouldn’t you be meeting with the patriarch instead? Why come to me…?”
“Of course, I first paid my respects to your father, the patriarch. But he told me that you would be the one to aid us.”
So that’s what it was.
It seemed Father wanted me to cultivate a relationship with Dang Ye-rin, who was called the Sichuan Sword Peak.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for her to appear like this.
I nodded in acknowledgment.
After all, from my perspective, it wasn’t a bad arrangement.
“I see. Understood. Then I shall do my utmost to assist you.”
“Thank you.”
“Before that, allow me to confirm first. You came here to capture Dok-an-gwi, an Evil Faction martial artist who came up from Sichuan, correct?”
Dang Ye-rin nodded at my question.
“That’s right. He killed members of our main family and fled here.”
“I didn’t know why he would flee to this place, but it seems he’s committed terrible deeds. Very well. I shall certainly lend my assistance.”
I nodded in understanding.
In truth, I had known the reason long ago.
The same incident had occurred in my first life.
An unexpected visitor from the Sichuan Dang Family.
They were pursuing a villain who had killed members of the Dang Family and fled. At that time, as acting family head, I stepped forward to help them for the sake of relations with the Sichuan Dang Family.
‘Though it didn’t go well.’
We succeeded in pursuing Dok-an-gwi, but information leaked during the process of capturing him.
It was a scheme by Lee Tae-gyeom’s faction to obstruct my achievements. When we went to capture him, Dok-an-gwi was already preparing a counterattack, and…
‘In the end, I did defeat Dok-an-gwi, but Dang Ye-rin suffered a grave injury protecting me—one that required at least half a year of recovery.’
Because of that, the atmosphere within the family was dreadful for a long time.
The Sichuan Dang Family raged in fury over their only daughter’s injury.
Conversely, within the family itself, public opinion formed that it was all my incompetence, and movements even emerged to drive me out.
So my already nonexistent authority plummeted to the very bottom.
Everything that followed was beyond mention.
‘But this time, such things won’t happen.’
Now, the Lee Tae-gyeom faction that would leak information has been dismantled, and my true strength has grown incomparably beyond my first life.
Therefore, there was no reason to suffer at Dok-an-gwi’s hands. We would be able to conclude this matter relatively easily.
I rose from my seat and spoke.
“Then let us depart immediately.”
“Pardon? Do you know where that villain is?”
“As I mentioned earlier, since he’s a person of concern who fled from another region, I’ve had eyes watching him. By now, he’s likely deliberating whether to cross into Shaanxi or Hebei from around this area.”
“I see. Then might I ask for your guidance?”
Dang Ye-rin spoke in a respectful tone.
Despite her outstanding background and abilities, her demeanor was remarkably courteous.
Come to think of it, she was like this in my first life as well.
I smiled warmly at her and gestured toward the outside.
“Let’s go.”
It was time to go capture Dok-an-gwi.

* * *

At that same moment.
“What!? The Granddaughter of Sichuan’s First Sword is pursuing me?”
Dok-an-gwi was receiving information from a masked Black-Robed Figure.
The Black-Robed Figure wearing a laughing mask like those used in classical opera nodded and spoke.
“That’s right. From Sichuan itself, she’s led a military force to capture you alone. Right now, she’s visiting the Bukcheon Sword Family to request their support.”
“Damn it all….”
Dok-an-gwi spat out a curse.
He had never imagined they would pursue him all the way from that distant land of Sichuan.
And to think they were even asking the Bukcheon Sword Family for aid?
The Bukcheon Sword Family was a formidable clan that dominated this land of Sanseo.
Their power, while not quite ranking among the so-called Five Great Houses, could still be counted among the top ten families in the realm.
If such forces pursued him, he was as good as dead.
‘How am I supposed to escape this?’
Dok-an-gwi thought this, then sensed something amiss and turned his gaze toward the Black-Robed Figure.
“But why are you helping me? And while hiding your identity, no less?”
“Well, let’s just say I hold a grudge against the Bukcheon Sword Family.”
The Black-Robed Figure spoke thus while regarding Dok-an-gwi, whose body tensed slightly at the fierce gaze visible within the mask.
But soon, regaining his courage, he asked.
“You’re saying my escape is a way to take revenge on the Bukcheon Sword Family?”
“It could bring them some shame, at least. But it will be difficult. The odds are high that you cannot shake off the pursuit of both the Bukcheon Sword Family and the Sichuan Dang Family. And this is their territory, after all.”
“Damn it….”
“Capture is inevitable. So I’ve come to make you a proposal.”
“A proposal?”
“Yes.”
The Black-Robed Figure withdrew something from within their robes and handed it to Dok-an-gwi.
Upon seeing it, Dok-an-gwi’s pupils trembled.
“What is that?”
“It’s called a Blood Jade. Once consumed, it greatly elevates your internal energy for a short time, amplifying your power.”
“…!”
“I’m giving this to you. Since you’ll be caught anyway, shouldn’t you at least fight back? That way, your chances of survival are highest.”
“What do you… want?”
Offering something like this while speaking—there was clearly some ulterior motive at play.
To this, the Black-Robed Figure smiled behind the mask and answered.
“The death of the Young Master of the Bukcheon Sword Family, who will come with the Sichuan Sword Seal.”
“…!”
“That is all we desire.”

* * *

I wasted no time, guiding Dang Ye-rin alongside several members of the Saeying Division.
She had arrived accompanied by the Green Snake Squad, the martial force of the Sichuan Dang Family.
Their strength was more than sufficient to contend with the warriors of the Johwa Realm.
In my previous life, I had failed to protect Dang Ye-rin due to unforeseen circumstances, but under normal conditions, they alone possessed the power to bring down Dok-an-gwi.
“This way.”
The Saeying Division members traced the signs left by their comrades, leading us onward.
The destination was an Unnamed Mountain—a place distinctly different from my first life.
‘It couldn’t be otherwise.’
In the original timeline, we had discovered him days later, as he was crossing the boundary between Shaanxi and this region to join the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
But because we found him far more quickly this time, we encountered him in a different location.
Perhaps he was equally shocked to see us?
As I pondered this, it happened.
I suddenly sensed the wind currents shifting unnaturally and cried out a warning to those around me.
“Beware! An ambush!”
“…!”
In that instant, a barrage of projectiles erupted from all directions toward us.
I immediately unleashed the Wind God Palm, sweeping away all the projectiles approaching from the front.
But several members of the Green Snake Squad sustained injuries from the rear assault.
“Ugh!”
“Did he somehow know we were coming?”
Their voices reached my ears, tinged with alarm.
Truthfully, I was shocked as well.
I had not anticipated that Dok-an-gwi would be encamped here with his subordinates.
How had he detected our pursuit?
“Show yourselves!”
At Dang Ye-rin’s furious command, the undergrowth rustled, and roughly a dozen figures emerged.
The one wearing an eye patch over one eye was Dok-an-gwi himself, whom we sought, and the rest were his subordinates.
All of them held poisoned projectiles trained upon us.
“Dok-an-gwi! How did you know we were coming?”
Rather than answer Dang Ye-rin’s accusation, Dok-an-gwi merely smiled enigmatically before issuing a cold command.
“Kill them all!”
Another deluge of projectiles rained down upon us.
But it was easier to defend against than the initial assault. Indeed, once the ambush was exposed, the Dang Family’s forces managed to repel the attacks without great difficulty at first.
But then.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
“Argh!”
Like a torrential downpour, the barrage of poisoned needles intensified, and our allies began falling one by one.
I erected a barrier of wind, deflecting the incoming projectiles.
At the same time, a question arose in my mind.
In my first life, Dok-an-gwi’s subordinates had never possessed such intricate assassination techniques.
‘What’s going on here? Did someone provide them?’
While I was pondering this mystery.
Dok-an-gwi began to move.
Realizing that assassination techniques would no longer work, he drew his blade.
“Young Master. Allow me to face him.”
Dang Ye-rin spoke those words to me and drew her own sword.
With her skill, she could certainly achieve victory against Dok-an-gwi.
Even in my first life, after she shielded me and sustained injuries, she managed to prevail regardless.
Yet I felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
I stopped Dang Ye-rin, who was about to rush forward with blade in hand.
“Young Master?”
“Please wait a moment.”
After observing Dok-an-gwi, I could discern what was happening.
Eyes flushed crimson. And an unmistakable bloodlust that could not be concealed.
This matched precisely with the characteristics of a technique I knew.
“He’s employed an Evil Method. He’s sacrificed his vital energy to dramatically enhance his combat power for a brief period.”
I gazed at Dok-an-gwi and asked in a cold voice.
“Dok-an-gwi, did you use Blood Jade?”
“…!”
A flash of surprise appeared in Dok-an-gwi’s eyes.

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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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