The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 56

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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 56

‘What is that?’
-What? You don’t know the Bukcheon Divine Art?
The Sword Spirit responded to my bewildered question with one of his own.
We both fell silent, searching for words.
We realized our conversation wasn’t connecting—we were speaking past each other entirely.
The Sword Spirit soon sighed, as if understanding what had happened.
-Sigh. So it’s been lost to time, has it? I knew this would happen.
‘So there was once a martial art called the Bukcheon Divine Art?’
-There was. You know how unlucky that Pungsin bastard was, right? He reached the pinnacle of the martial world relying solely on his innate talent and instincts. That’s the thing about him.
‘Yes. Isn’t that the origin of the Windgod Technique? I heard about it during my trials.’
-Right. But even he had many worries in his later years. Know why? His children disappointed him. When he died, the ones who would lead the family couldn’t even match half his ability. Can you imagine how frustrated he must have been?
The Sword Spirit clicked his tongue—or rather, made the gesture of clicking a tongue he no longer possessed—and continued.
-So he made a great decision. Before dying, he would create one martial art himself and leave it behind. That’s the Bukcheon Divine Art. It’s a secret technique passed down only to those who will lead this family across generations.
‘But it’s gone now.’
-Right. It seems only the inferior North Wind Heart Method survived in memory. How did things end up like this…
It was a shocking revelation.
I never imagined a heart method superior to the North Wind Heart Method had existed.
Surely everyone would be stunned if they learned this truth.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
While I was still conversing with the Sword Spirit, Great-Uncle asked with a puzzled expression.
My shock must have shown on my face.
I sent a telepathic message to Father and Great-Uncle without revealing anything.
[I have something urgent to discuss with both of you. Could you spare some time?]
“…!”
Both men flinched, then nodded in agreement.
Shortly after.
The three of us gathered in the head of the family’s Administrative Office.
“Muyeol. What is this about? Has something gone wrong?”
Father regarded me with a dark expression.
He seemed worried that I had returned from the Dragon Phoenix Conference with bad news.
But I shook my head first.
“It’s not exactly wrong… but it’s not terribly serious either.”
“Then what is it?”
“First, please hear me out. The truth is, the Windgod Sword kept in our family vault was a fake.”
“What do you…”
Father’s expression turned incredulous.
It was understandable—being told outright that the family’s treasure was counterfeit would confuse anyone.
But I paid no mind and continued speaking.
“So I entered the Martial Alliance’s warehouse to find the arrangement our ancestor left for future generations—the Windgod Sword. And I was able to find the true Windgod Sword there.”
“Now that I think about it, you’re carrying two swords.”
“Could the newly acquired sword be…?”
“Yes. It is the true Windgod Sword.”
I drew the Windgod Sword and showed its sharp blade to both of them.
“Hmm.”
“The exterior is worn, but the interior is completely undamaged. The inside truly deserves to be called a treasured blade.”
“So you found the Windgod Sword—what is the problem then?”
“That is… I have become able to converse with the Windgod Sword.”
“Hmm?”
“You speak with the sword?”
“Yes. The Windgod Sword… or rather, my Senior is a Sword Spirit, so to speak. He has been asleep until now, but he possesses consciousness.”
“…”
Both their expressions shifted subtly.
They looked uncertain whether to believe this or not.
It was only natural.
Anyone would react the same way if suddenly told that a sword possessed consciousness.
The very fact that they didn’t question my sanity spoke volumes about their trust in me.
-If it were anyone else, they wouldn’t even listen to such a story. They believe you would never speak falsehoods.
‘That’s actually quite touching.’
I exchanged thoughts with my Senior and continued speaking.
“In any case, according to my Senior’s account, the main family apparently possessed the Bukcheon Divine Art, a martial technique superior to the North Wind Heart Method.”
“What?”
“Is that truly so?”
“Yes. And it appears that technique has been lost. Among us, there is not a single person who has learned the Bukcheon Divine Art or knows anything about it.”
“Hmm.”
“Muyeol. Would it be alright to speak with that Sword Spirit of the Windgod Sword?”
“Yes.”
I handed the Windgod Sword I was holding to Father.
But Father’s expression became subtle as he accepted the sword with an expectant look.
It seemed he couldn’t establish communication.
“I hear nothing at all.”
“Could it be that only those who have learned the Windgod Art can communicate with it?”
Uuuuung.
“…!”
Suddenly, a sword cry resonated from the Windgod Sword.
Everyone was startled and looked toward the Windgod Sword.
It was as if it had heard our conversation and answered.
“What is this…”
“Yes, it seems the Sword Spirit has responded to me.”
At my words, both Father and Great-Uncle could not hide their excitement.
Though they trusted me, seeing a sword with a true sword spirit dwelling within it was likely their first time in life.
“It’s truly a shame we cannot converse directly.”
Father spoke thus and returned the Windgod Sword to me.
The Sword Spirit spoke the moment it came into my hands.
-I thought perhaps I could communicate since you’re a descendant of Pungsin, but it seems that’s not the case. As you said, it appears only those who have mastered Pungsin’s martial techniques can truly converse with me.
‘Was it always this way?’
-Indeed. Pungsin’s own children could never properly commune with me. Perhaps that’s why, after I vanished, another sword came to be revered as the Windgod Sword in my stead.
The Sword Spirit spoke with a bitter tone, then shifted his demeanor.
-In any case, relay what I’m about to say to them.
“The Sword Spirit says this to you.”
After hearing his explanation, I conveyed it to the two of them.
“He says he doesn’t know the secret formulae of the Bukcheon Divine Art. However, he believes there may be a way to learn it.”
“Oh, and what might that be?”
“That is….”
Upon hearing this, I furrowed my brow.
‘Sword Spirit, are you certain about this?’
-Yes. Unless you challenge Feng Shen Valley again or find another arrangement and ask him directly, there’s no other way.
At the Sword Spirit’s resolute tone, I exhaled deeply and continued.
“…It seems I have no choice but to discover it myself.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“The Bukcheon Divine Art is an inner cultivation method that our ancestor enlightened himself to achieve. The Bukcheon Heart Method is merely a modified version designed for easier learning.”
“Explain further, if you would.”
“What I mean is, since I have mastered the Pungsin martial techniques of our ancestor, the way I instinctively employ the Bukcheon Heart Method should be close to the Bukcheon Divine Art itself. If I can find that gap, I can restore the Bukcheon Divine Art.”
“Hmm.”
Great-Uncle let out a sigh.
“To be honest, it seems like an extraordinarily difficult task.”
“I agree with that assessment.”
Perhaps it would be faster to simply find another arrangement from Pungsin.
Reconstructing someone’s martial techniques carried such implications.
There was always the risk that something entirely different might emerge, merely resembling the original in content.
-Well, but that shouldn’t matter, should it? After all, what’s truly important is creating a higher cultivation method. I don’t think it needs to be exactly like the original.
The Sword Spirit spoke thus and laughed with ease.
Yes.
That much is certainly true.
But still, it would be good to try as much as I can.
“I will do what I can for now.”
“Good. But don’t overexert yourself. If you focus too heavily on this alone, you might fall into demonic obsession.”
“Understood.”
“Simply discovering the Windgod Sword, the legacy of our founder, is an achievement worthy of tremendous praise. You’ve done splendidly.”
Father’s eyes glistened as he patted my shoulder.
It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.
Being acknowledged by family like this truly felt wonderful.
I explained to them the events that had unfolded during my journey to ease the tension.
How I left the family to participate in the Dragon Phoenix Conference and encountered the Huashan Sect.
How I was ambushed there and nearly met disaster, but seized the opportunity to discover the secret manual of the Sage King—the Gongqing Stone Jade.
And how at the Dragon Phoenix Conference, I incurred debts to the Namgung Clan and Habuk Peng Family while recruiting Namgung Seung, and….
How I slew the Blood Hand Demon Lord on my return journey.
After hearing my account, neither of them concealed their astonishment.
-Honestly, there’s more than one thing to be shocked about. Even I was left speechless when I heard you’d obtained the Gongqing Stone Jade.
Just as the Sword Spirit said, this journey was particularly eventful.
But what could I do when it was all true?
“Haha, hahaha! Muyeol, it seems you were born under the destiny of a hero destined to command an era.”
Great-Uncle laughed heartily and patted my shoulder.
Father nodded in agreement.
“Otherwise, such feats would have been impossible. I am truly proud.”
“You’re all embarrassing me with such praise.”
“Haha. No, I speak from the heart.”
“However, I am somewhat concerned about Black Night Fortress’s reaction. Now that we’ve killed the Blood Hand Demon Lord, I wonder how they will respond….”
“I believe we should be safe for the time being.”
“Hmm?”
“Would you explain your reasoning?”
“I have surely become a target they must eradicate. But they will have learned that I am not as easily crushed as they thought.”
Through this incident with the Blood Hand Demon Lord, they too must have realized it.
That I am a formidable opponent. To kill me, they would need to send someone stronger than the Blood Hand Demon Lord.
“However, preparing and dispatching someone stronger than the Blood Hand Demon Lord would be a significant burden for them. Especially now, when our family has bestowed favor upon the Namgung Clan and the Peng Family.”
Since the Dragon Phoenix Conference, the names of the Swift Wind Divine Dragon and the Bukcheon Sword Family have become widely known.
Moreover, we have gained many allies.
This meant the situation differed greatly from my past life.
‘Besides, we’re not even at war with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult right now.’
So their options for moving against me were limited. And I intended to crush each and every one of their schemes.
“Therefore, we can afford to be at ease for now. Though I won’t pretend we can live peacefully relying on that alone.”
“You mean we must strengthen the family’s power before they make reckless moves.”
“Precisely. At least to a level comparable to the Five Great Families.”
“Understood.”
Both their eyes hardened with resolve.
As the family head and Elder Won-ju who directly lead the family, they must have felt the weight of responsibility keenly.
I looked at them and smiled faintly before speaking.
“Well, there’s no need to burden yourselves too heavily. The momentum has already begun shifting toward our Bukcheon Sword Family.”
I extended one hand and showed it to the two of them.
“Five years. Within five years, I will have our main family incorporated into the Five Great Clans.”
If that happened, we would become the Six Great Clans, but still.
In any case, both of them appeared quite satisfied with my declaration.
I bowed to them and left my seat.
-What are you planning?
Growing the family was good, but first I intended to solidify our internal unity.
There were things I needed to do for that.
-What things?
‘Isn’t there someone who recently joined the main family? They must be feeling quite out of place by now.’
I wanted to give him a genuine opportunity to become a true member of our Bukcheon Sword Family.
A short while later.
I visited Namgung Seung and looked at him as I asked.
“Namgung Seung. There is something I wish to ask you.”
“Something you wish to ask?”
“Yes.”
I spoke with a smile playing at my lips.
“Would you not wish to take revenge against the Namgung Clan, who abandoned you?”
“…!”

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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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