The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 46

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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 46

Meanwhile, Iron Blood Sword Captain Jin Seo-hong and his group were moving with urgency.
“Hurry!”
He had requested reinforcements from a nearby Martial Alliance Branch and brought out their warriors.
“We must find the Young Master!”
They moved swiftly, continuing their search.
Not only the inn where the battle had occurred and the forest surrounding it, but also the cliff located some distance away and the river below it.
And there, Jin Seo-hong was able to discover the corpse of one of the attackers.
It was the gaunt-framed demonic cultivator who had been fighting Sa Gong-cheon.
He had fallen from the cliff and been swept downstream into the river connected to the waterfall.
“Did the Young Master eliminate him?”
The circumstances suggested as much.
But no matter how much they searched, they could find no trace of Jin Muyeol or the other two.
Jin Seo-hong’s heart grew anxious.
‘Could he have been kidnapped?’
If that were the case, it would be a true catastrophe.
It would be a critical matter—they could potentially lose the heir to the Bukcheon Sword Family.
He clung to a thread of hope from the fact that no body had yet been discovered, but….
Still, the unease would not fade.
Jin Seo-hong closed his eyes tightly with that thought.
Then.
“Captain! Urgent news!”
One of the Iron Blood Sword Squad warriors, whom he had left as a messenger just in case, came running and shouted loudly.
Jin Seo-hong responded immediately.
“What is it!”
“We found the Young Master! Word has come that the Young Master has joined up with Prince Jin Cheon-hui!”
“Is that truly so?!”
Jin Seo-hong asked in surprise and burst into loud laughter.
“Ha ha! As expected of the Young Master. You escaped that situation perfectly. To evade three masters from the Johwa Realm and flee like that!”
He truly always exceeded expectations. Of course, in the best possible way.
“Let us return at once! We must see the Young Master immediately.”
“Yes!”
Jin Seo-hong hastily withdrew his forces and headed toward the Martial Alliance Branch.
His face was adorned with a broad smile.

* * *

“Brother!”
“Young Master!”
As I arrived at the Martial Alliance Branch, Jin Cheon-hui and the other promising talents of the family rushed to greet me.
I stood before them with a deliberately composed expression.
Jin Cheon-hui looked as though he might burst into tears.
“It seems everyone managed to escape safely. Thank goodness.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Brother. If you hadn’t made yourself bait and drawn them out…”
A shadow fell across Jin Cheon-hui’s face as he spoke.
The mere recollection of those events was horrifying.
“But it was far too dangerous! What would you have done if something had gone wrong!?”
“Ha. I would have figured that out when the time came. Besides, everything turned out well in the end, didn’t it?”
I had managed to protect the entire group safely.
I had successfully evaded the three masters sent from Black Night Fortress.
And in the process of my escape, I had even obtained a fortuitous opportunity to return with…
Wasn’t this a result where everyone benefited?
“But what about Jin Seo-hong and the others?”
“The Iron Blood Sword Captain went out searching for you with the Martial Alliance Branch personnel, while the Huashan Sect members went to request reinforcements from the Martial Alliance headquarters.”
“The headquarters?”
“It seems they judged that the branch forces alone would struggle against them. After all, there were three masters from the Johwa Realm.”
“That’s true enough. I’m relieved they made it safely.”
“Young Master, please promise me you won’t do something like that again.”
Sa Gong-cheon’s eyes held a sharp intensity as he spoke. I turned away with a guilty expression.
“I am your bodyguard. Yet my master sacrificed himself to protect me—does that make any sense?”
“It wasn’t solely for you. It was to save all of us. Besides, weren’t their target me in the first place?”
“Regardless, deliberately courting danger was not fitting conduct for the Young Master of the Bukcheon Sword Family. Please take my words to heart.”
“I understand. I’ll be more careful.”
I had nothing more to say and could only nod in acknowledgment.
In truth, I was well aware of how my actions appeared to others.
It must have seemed recklessly foolish.
Yet if the same situation arose again, I would act identically.
It was the best course available, and there was no other path where everyone could survive.
“Young Master!”
In the distance, I could see Iron Blood Sword Captain Jin Seo-hong and the warriors of the Iron Blood Sword Squad rushing toward me.
“You’re unharmed!”
“We’ve worked hard to evacuate everyone here safely.”
“Hard work? It was you who did the hard work, Young Master. Just please don’t do something like that again. Elder Won-ju will beat me to death.”
Jin Seo-hong spoke in a joking manner, yet I could discern the genuine concern beneath his words.
“Next time, I won’t flee like that. I’ve gained confidence to face them head-on now.”
“Pardon?”
“Simply put, I was fortunate enough to obtain a fortuitous opportunity during my escape.”
“A stroke of fortune?”
“Hehe.”
I deliberately offered no answer.
How could I reveal obtaining the Gongcheong Stone Jade before so many witnesses?
It would certainly spark an uproar.
Naturally, I had no intention of doing so.
‘I’ll simply claim I consumed some appropriate spiritual elixirs.’
After that, I sought out the Martial Alliance Branch Chief.
Upon seeing me, he smiled with an expression of relief.
“Young Master Jin. I’m relieved to see you unharmed.”
“Thank you for your assistance, Branch Chief.”
“I’ve heard the young master of the Bukcheon Sword Family possesses exceptional righteousness and honor. To think you would actually lure the villains away to save others… I must confess, I was truly impressed.”
“I had sufficient confidence in my ability to escape. Had anyone else been in my position, they would have done the same.”
“Haha. If that were truly the case, this world would be overflowing with righteous heroes. But regrettably, that is not the reality. In that sense, you truly seem to be an exemplary hero of justice.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head upon hearing the Branch Chief’s kind praise.
He smiled warmly and continued.
“I look forward to hearing of your continued exploits.”
“I shall strive to live up to your expectations. Ah, but Branch Chief, would you be able to send a messenger pigeon to the Martial Alliance headquarters to inform them of my return? I believe it’s necessary to notify them in advance.”
Since the Huashan Sect had gone to request reinforcements, they would certainly be bringing back masters composed of the Martial Alliance headquarters’ elite warriors.
There was a possibility our paths might miss each other along the way.
So I was notifying them in advance to coordinate and prevent such a situation. The Branch Chief nodded at my words.
“I shall do so. Now, rest well.”
“No, we’ve already lost time, so we intend to depart immediately. Besides, we don’t know when those villains might appear again.”
“That’s true. Then I wish you safe travels to your destination.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
I cupped my fist in salute to the Branch Chief and rose from my seat. Thanks to the advance notice, my entire party was already prepared for departure.
“Well then, let us set out once more.”
Now was the time to journey to the Martial Alliance headquarters.
We departed toward the Martial Alliance at swift pace.
Fortunately, we encountered no enemies this time.

* * *

Muuhan, where the Martial Alliance headquarters was located, was an exceptionally bustling city.
It was always crowded, but it seemed especially so now.
I suspected the influx was due to the Dragon Phoenix Conference drawing people from all directions.
“It was wise to send someone ahead to secure an inn for us.”
“Without that foresight, we’d have been sleeping under the stars.”
I replied to Sa Gong-cheon with a light jest.
Yet it was no mere joke—without advance preparations, there was a genuine possibility we’d have spent the night exposed to the damp night air.
Had I come as an individual, it might have been acceptable, but as the family’s representative, such conduct was unthinkable.
We entered a prestigious inn with confidence and settled in.
After a simple meal and brief rest, the fatigue from our journey seemed to melt away entirely.
“Jin Muyeol!”
Just then, Chung Yun and the members of the Huashan Sect burst into the inn.
He grasped both my hands, his voice trembling with emotion.
“Thank heavens you’re safe. You have no idea how worried I’ve been….”
“Haha. I’m equally relieved to see you unharmed, Chung Yun. Honestly, I wasn’t certain those fools would fall for the bait.”
“Still, please don’t do such things again. I’d rather die fighting alongside you than survive through my comrades’ sacrifice.”
“I’ll be more careful.”
“Regardless, I’ve incurred a debt of life-saving gratitude to you. How can I ever repay it….”
I shook my head at Chung Yun’s contemplative expression.
“There’s no need. I drew them out to save not only the Huashan Sect members but my own people as well.”
“But….”
“If you truly feel obligated, then maintain a good relationship with the Bukcheon Sword Family going forward. That will suffice.”
“Of course we will. Since you saved our lives, the Bukcheon Sword Family and the Huashan Sect are bound by blood oath.”
We exchanged smiles as we spoke these words.
Soon, Chung Yun glanced at the shadows to gauge the time and spoke to me.
“Shouldn’t we head there soon?”
“Head where?”
“The Banquet Hall. It should have started by now.”
“Ah, I see.”
The Dragon Phoenix Conference was a social gathering for rising talents of the Orthodox Faction.
As such, the Martial Alliance typically converted its entire grounds into a banquet venue.
Moreover, those from sects of greater influence secured positions closer to the center of the Alliance grounds. However, arriving early was necessary to claim such spots.
‘The crowds are quite substantial, after all.’
I accepted Chung Yun’s kindness and called upon Jin Cheon-hui and the other rising talents who had come with us.
“Have a pleasant time. We’ll remain here at the inn.”
Due to the rule that escorts could not accompany us, Jin Seo-hong and the Iron Blood Sword Squad had not come along.
We pushed through the throngs of people and entered the Banquet Hall. Inside, appetizing dishes and wine tables were already arranged, with people claiming their seats.
“Look there. The Huashan Sect.”
“Who are those people with the Huashan Sect members?”
“They look like the Bukcheon Sword Family, don’t they?”
“What? The Bukcheon Sword Family? The one from the rumors?”
“It must be them. The Huashan Sect arrived first but skipped the banquet to wait for the Bukcheon Sword Family, so it has to be.”
“Then the person at the front must be….”
Whispers carried on the wind reached my ears.
They likely thought their murmurs were private, but thanks to the Pungsin technique I’d mastered, I heard every word with crystal clarity.
But why were they so startled upon seeing me?
When I voiced this question, Chung Yun smiled with a hint of embarrassment.
“We caused quite a stir when we arrived here, sir.”
“A stir?”
“Yes. We spread information about how the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s demons attacked us, and how you sacrificed yourself to help us escape. So you’ve become quite famous now.”
“I see.”
So that was the situation.
It made sense that everyone would be shocked—such an incident happening right under the Martial Alliance’s nose.
But as I was thinking this,
a middle-aged man in Martial Alliance robes pushed through the crowd and approached me.
He looked directly at me and spoke.
“There you are. Swift Wind New Hero.”
…Swift Wind New Hero?

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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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