The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 49

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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 49

I don’t know why Namgung Seung beheaded Peng Seo-ho.
I only heard the result after the fact.
But in my first life, this incident sparked a war between the Namgung Clan and the Hebei Peng Family.
The Namgung Clan emerged victorious, but it was a hollow triumph.
They lost masters, and with their reputation shattered, the Namgung Clan could no longer remain among the Five Great Families.
‘That’s why they barely played a role in the subsequent wars.’
Thinking about it now, could this have been a scheme orchestrated by Black Night City?
After all, they had neutralized the power of the two strongest families in the Orthodox Martial World without dirtying their own hands.
Especially to eliminate one of the Thirteen Venerables without lifting a finger themselves….
From their perspective, it was like achieving their goal without any effort.
In any case.
While I was contemplating this, the martial duel between Namgung Seung and Peng Seo-ho commenced.
The beginning appeared remarkably balanced.
Neither side gave ground, and both displayed brilliant sword techniques against each other.
The spectators gasped in admiration at the sight.
“Woooooow!”
“Truly worthy of the Five Great Families’ disciples.”
“Magnificent momentum. Neither side is yielding even an inch.”
It was certainly a thrilling match to witness.
A desperate struggle where neither combatant conceded the slightest advantage.
Especially Namgung Seung—his expression alone conveyed intense desperation.
One could sense the crushing pressure of an absolute need for victory.
Could there be some reason behind it?
“Haaaah!”
He unleashed the Great Flame Sword Technique, the signature swordsmanship of the Namgung Clan.
Azure sword energy infused his blade, raining down from multiple angles as if to obliterate Peng Seo-ho’s defense.
“Ugh!”
Peng Seo-ho retreated step after step, desperately defending against the onslaught.
Soon.
“No!”
His body was driven toward the edge of the arena.
One more step backward and he would be defeated by stepping out of bounds.
Peng Seo-ho gritted his teeth and prepared a final counterattack technique.
He unleashed the Life-Severing Strike of the Five Harmonies Single-Blade Sword.
Azure sword energy clashed with overwhelming power, erupting in a deafening boom.
But the impact forced Peng Seo-ho’s body to slide further backward.
His defeat was now inevitable.
Peng Seo-ho exhaled deeply and lowered his blade.
“I concede. That was an excellent match….”
It was at that moment.
“Uuuaaaaaaah!”
A sharp crackling sound.
A scream of agony tore from Namgung Seung’s lips, and his sword immediately lunged toward Peng Seo-ho’s throat.
No one could have anticipated this sudden turn of events.
Peng Seo-ho himself, caught off guard by the abrupt assault, failed to mount a proper defense.
But I had foreseen it and prepared accordingly.
A thunderous boom echoed across the arena.
I drove my feet hard into the ground.
Unfurling the Pungsin Technique, I crossed the distance to the Martial Arts Arena in an instant and drew my blade.
My wind-wrapped sword intercepted Namgung Seung’s strike.
A metallic clash rang out.
“…!”
Namgung Seung’s eyes widened in shock.
He clearly hadn’t expected this outcome.
And the same held true for everyone else present.
But soon, those who had regained their composure began to cry out.
“What, what is the meaning of this!”
“Drawing a sword against someone who has already conceded!”
“Namgung Seung! Were you trying to kill Peng Seo-ho!?”
“Answer us at once!”
Cries of condemnation erupted from all directions.
Had I not intervened, Peng Seo-ho would have been as good as dead.
“I, I….”
Namgung Seung stumbled backward, at a loss for words.
But then it happened.
“Ugh!”
His eyes turned crimson in an instant.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
He shifted his target and began attacking me instead.
A swift blade infused with the mysteries of the Great Flame Sword Technique bore down upon me with ferocious intensity.
Had he trained diligently? His skill was quite formidable.
‘But.’
I was qualitatively different from most late-stage cultivators at this point.
Especially now that I had absorbed the Gongcheongseok Jade.
Without hesitation, I drew upon the power of the Vajra Yaksha Divine Art.
Simultaneously, the perception of the Pungsin Dance revealed the trajectory of each incoming blade strike.
A rapid series of metallic collisions erupted.
Namgung Seung’s every attack was neutralized in an instant.
Then.
Thud!
My fist drove deep into his abdomen.
“Gah!”
The man gasped, clearly struck hard.
I immediately pressed the Yun acupoint on Namgung Seung’s forehead, rendering him unconscious.
With a heavy thud, Namgung Seung’s body collapsed.
At that moment.
“Uwaaaaaa!”
“Gale Dragon Wind!”
“Gale Dragon Wind has defeated Namgung Seung!”
A tremendous roar erupted from the crowd.
Everyone marveled at my victory.
“Th-thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to save my life.”
As I caught my breath lightly and sheathed my sword, Peng Seo-ho clasped his fists in gratitude.
I shook my head and spoke.
“No need. But did you have some personal grudge with this man?”
“Th-that can’t be! We have no grudge whatsoever, barely even acquainted! At most, we’ve crossed paths a few times in our childhood.”
“I see.”
Just as I nodded, someone from the Martial Alliance arrived.
“What is the matter?”
“Ah, Vice Alliance Leader.”
Yu Jung-hak, who had rushed over from a distance, heard the situation and his expression hardened.
“A young master of the Namgung Clan tried to kill a young master of the Peng Family?!”
This was a grave matter that could bring bloodshed to the Orthodox Martial World.
Indeed, the murmuring among the spectators only grew louder.
‘I’ve averted the worst-case scenario of Peng Seo-ho being murdered. But if things continue like this, the same incident could happen again.’
The Namgung Clan would face tremendous criticism for this incident.
Naturally, the Peng Family would also lose their minds and try to tear into the Namgung Clan.
If that happened, despite saving Peng Seo-ho, there was a possibility that war would break out.
Considering the approaching Heavenly Demon Tournament and the threat of Black Night City, it would not be good for those two families to be destroyed.
‘It would be wise to place the Namgung Clan in my debt now.’
“Yes. It seemed that the Namgung young master was under the influence of soul-seizing sorcery.”
“Soul-seizing sorcery?! Is that truly the case?”
Yu Jung-hak cried out in shock.
Soul-seizing sorcery.
It was a high-level demonic art that suppressed another’s spirit and forced their actions.
Naturally, it was an act absolutely forbidden in the Orthodox Martial World.
“The Namgung young master had no personal grudge with the Peng young master, and since he had already won the match, there was no reason to attack further. Moreover, I’ve heard his usual conduct was neither violent nor aggressive. And seeing how his eyes suddenly turned red and he lost his reason when facing me, it seems almost certain he fell victim to soul-seizing sorcery.”
This was actually my own opinion as well.
If Namgung Seung hadn’t been afflicted by a soul-stealing technique, there would be no reason for him to attack Peng Seo-ho.
And those crimson eyes I saw at the end.
‘They bore the mark of demonic cultivation.’
A member of the Namgung Clan would never have learned demonic cultivation, so the likelihood of him being under a soul-stealing technique was considerable.
Those who heard my words nodded in agreement, each offering their own remarks.
“Indeed….”
“If it weren’t soul-stealing, such an act wouldn’t make sense.”
“But who on earth could have done such a thing?”
“Could it be the work of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?”
“I heard they orchestrated an attack recently….”
“Hmm.”
Yu Jung-hak listened to my words and the reactions around us, then let out a sigh.
He exhaled lightly and patted my shoulder.
“In any case, you handled this excellently. Thanks to you, we prevented a major catastrophe. For now, we’ll detain him and conduct a thorough investigation.”
“That would be the best course of action.”
“The Martial Alliance will surely issue a reward for this matter. You can look forward to it.”
Yu Jung-hak smiled faintly, then instructed his subordinates to confine Namgung Seung to the Thunder Prison.
Soon, the Martial Alliance warriors moved busily and disappeared with Namgung Seung. Only Peng Seo-ho and I remained at the scene.
“Wind God Dragon, I shall not forget this debt of gratitude.”
Peng Seo-ho spoke thus and bowed once more.
He seemed more composed now, his demeanor more respectful than before. I nodded in acknowledgment.
“In any case, I’m relieved you weren’t injured. Perhaps you should rest for the remainder of the day.”
“That would be wise. It seems the Dragon Phoenix Conference will end here anyway.”
Continue the martial competition after an attempted murder had occurred?
This wasn’t some festival for deranged demonic cultivators—it was impossible.
I watched as he departed, surrounded by his companions.
My own comrades, including Dang Ye-rin and Chung Yun, approached me.
“Brother. How did you react so quickly?”
Jin Cheon-hui asked with considerable surprise on his face.
Instead of answering, I created a small whirlwind above my palm.
“I felt the flow of the wind. Normally, once a martial competition ends, the heated atmosphere should dissipate, but the killing intent lingered.”
“We didn’t notice anything at all.”
“Right. We were truly startled.”
Chung Yun and Dang Ye-rin each spoke in turn.
I smiled and replied.
“In any case, let’s head back for today. I’ve been concentrating so intently that I’m honestly quite exhausted.”
“Indeed, if we miss this opportunity, others won’t leave Jin Muyeol alone.”
Chung Yun spoke while observing the people around us.
In fact, they were all watching with gleaming eyes, eager to make my acquaintance by any means.
Under normal circumstances, I would have agreed to join them.
‘But tonight, I have something I need to do.’
I parted ways with my companions, promising to meet them tomorrow, and headed back to my lodgings.
And after some time had passed.
Whoosh!
I slipped out of the Inn where we had rented our room and made my way toward the Thunder Prison of the Martial Alliance.
Moving with such discretion that no one would notice my departure.

* * *

Namgung Seung was dreaming.
It was a dream filled with memories of his childhood.
Moments of sorrow and discrimination, despite carrying the blood of the clan head, branded as lowborn.
No one stood up for the powerless illegitimate son.
Even ordinary martial artists and servants looked down upon him.
‘I worked myself to death because I hated it so much.’
Yet all that came in return was oppression and obstruction from his direct brothers, who coveted the position of secondary clan head.
No matter how much he honed his martial arts and strived, the clan members never regarded him with warmth.
Instead, they only despised him further, saying he was overstepping his station.
Namgung Seung fell into despair.
All he wanted was to be treated like a human being, yet why was the world so cruel?
As he cultivated this despair, sweet words of temptation reached his ears.
-Don’t you want to take revenge on the clan members who tormented you?
That was what they said.
Namgung Seung opened his eyes with that thought.
“Gasp!?”
And he had no choice but to stumble backward in shock.
Standing outside the Thunder Prison, beyond the iron bars, was someone wearing a mask, staring down at him.
They spoke in an androgynous voice that was impossible to place.
“Namgung Seung. You failed.”
“Y-you are…”
“If you had only managed to kill that brat from the Peng Family, we could have sparked a war and dragged the Namgung Clan into the mire. Yet you couldn’t even accomplish that simple task. You truly are worthless.”
“Wait, please…”
“Excuses are unnecessary. Since you were nothing but a disposable tool anyway, it’s better to kill you now before you waste any more breath with pointless words.”
Whoooosh!
A brilliant blade aura erupted from the Masked Figure’s sword.
Namgung Seung’s face drained of all color.
He was bound, with nowhere to escape.
It seemed he would truly die without any means of resistance.
But it was just as the Masked Figure was about to slash through the iron bars of the Thunder Prison that separated them.
“Pointless words.”
“…!”
“I’d like to hear what that is myself.”
The Masked Figure turned his head with a rigid motion, gazing toward the entrance of Thunder Prison.
Jin Muyeol descended, bathed in the faint moonlight filtering down.
“Got you. Little rat.”

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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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