The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 59

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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 59

We decided to visit Father first.
Before heading to the Shanxi Yu Clan, we needed to inform the family of our plans.
Fortunately, Father readily approved of my proposal.
“As it happens, Medicine King sent word asking about visiting our main house. If you go now, you should be able to meet him.”
“However, if we use this opportunity this way, Father may not be able to receive treatment from Medicine King.”
“Why would I need treatment from Medicine King? I’ve already recovered completely. It’s better to pass that opportunity to someone else who truly needs it.”
As Father spoke, he looked toward Gye Wol-hyang.
“Young lady, I sincerely hope your mother recovers fully.”
“Thank you so much, Family Head.”
Gye Wol-hyang seemed deeply moved by Father’s gesture.
It was no small matter to yield an opportunity to receive treatment from Medicine King, renowned throughout the realm.
Yet Father had conceded so effortlessly that she would surely feel indebted to him.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Go carefully and return safely.”
Sa Gong-cheon, Gye Wol-hyang, her guard, and I slipped away from the family compound and moved covertly toward the Shanxi Yu Clan.
Our movements were discreet enough that no one would notice our departure.
Gye Wol-hyang then asked the reason.
“Why are we moving so secretly? Is there some particular reason?”
“I have quite a few enemies, you see. I was concerned we might face unnecessary attacks along the way, so I took precautions.”
I shrugged and told her about the Blood Hand Demon Lord.
Of course, I didn’t mention anything about Black Night City.
Even so, Gye Wol-hyang seemed quite shocked.
“A demon lord would certainly be a demon practitioner of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult… It’s remarkable that you defeated such a powerful foe.”
“If luck had been even slightly worse, it would have been impossible. Ah, there—I can see the Shanxi Yu Clan now.”
We traveled swiftly and arrived at Go Hyeon, where the Shanxi Yu Clan was located.
Perhaps because I had sent word ahead through a messenger?
Yu Qing-ah was already waiting in front of the clan compound.
Upon seeing me, she cupped her fist in salute.
“Yu Qing-ah, Young Patriarch of the Shanxi Yu Clan, greets her benefactor.”
“Have you been well?”
“Truly, I’ve been so busy I barely had time to breathe.”
Yu Qing-ah smiled brightly as she spoke.
The fact that she now called herself Young Patriarch suggested she had achieved complete victory in the succession struggle.
She had truly become Medicine King’s rightful heir.
After congratulating Yu Qing-ah, I introduced my companions.
“This is Gye Wol-hyang from the north and her guard. I believe I explained the circumstances in my letter—shall we proceed inside?”
“Of course. The Grand Patriarch is waiting for you as well.”
Following her guidance, we made our way into the heart of the Shanxi Yu Clan.
Soon we arrived at a chamber thick with the scent of medicinal herbs.
Yu Qing-ah remained outside the threshold, calling inward with a composed voice.
“Grandfather. Jin Muyeol and his companions have arrived. May I show them in?”
“Yes.”
With permission granted, we entered and came face to face with Medicine King.
Medicine King was an elderly man of considerable stature, the very image of a martial artist.
No—judging by the sharpness of his presence, he had clearly cultivated martial prowess to a formidable level.
I offered him a respectful fist salute.
“I am Jin Muyeol, Young Master of the Bukcheon Sword Family, and I pay my respects to Medicine King.”
“I’ve heard the circumstances. You wish to treat the mother of the young lady present?”
“Yes.”
“But if you use this opportunity now, the Bukcheon Sword Family will lose your chance to receive my medical attention. Are you truly certain about this?”
“It matters not. When a life hangs in the balance, one cannot afford to be petty about such things.”
Medicine King laughed heartily at my response.
“Hehehehe, I wondered what sort of man you were, but you carry yourself with the spirit of a true hero. Very well. This time, I shall waive the fee and offer my aid freely.”
“Do you truly mean that?”
“I do not speak falsehoods in such matters. Besides, I’m curious what affliction has resisted even the medicine men of the Northern Steppes.”
He turned his gaze toward Gye Wol-hyang.
“Gye Wol-hyang, was it? Please describe in detail the condition that afflicts your mother.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Gye Wol-hyang explained the symptoms with considerable precision.
I noticed medical terminology interspersed throughout her account that even I could not fully comprehend, suggesting she possessed some knowledge of medicine herself.
She must have devoted herself to studying such matters in her efforts to heal her mother.
After hearing her complete account, Medicine King stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“Hmm. Hearing these symptoms, I confess I’m puzzled as to why it hasn’t improved. The physicians of the Northern Steppes should be more than capable of managing such a condition.”
“That is precisely why we have come here, Elder. Please, I beg you—save our mother.”
“I was already planning to do so. I shall gather the necessary medicinal materials, so prepare yourselves for immediate departure. This will be my first consultation beyond the Great Wall.”
Medicine King left the chamber to gather his herbs, and we waited for him outside.
I looked at the anxious Gye Wol-hyang and spoke.
“Now that Medicine King has taken up the matter, all will be well.”
“I scarcely know how to repay such kindness….”
She spoke in a trembling voice.
I smiled gently at her and replied.
“Save such words for after the treatment is complete. For now, I have merely introduced you to Medicine King—nothing more.”
“I understand. Still, thank you so much, Young Master.”
Gye Wol-hyang bowed her head in gratitude.
I smiled warmly and waited for Medicine King.
“Come now, let us depart.”
Medicine King approached us, a large bundle of supplies slung across his back.
I asked with a startled expression.
“You’re taking all of that with you?”
“Since we don’t yet know the cause, shouldn’t we prepare for as many possibilities as we can? This is already a carefully curated selection.”
He had a point.
With this level of preparation, I wouldn’t have to worry about running short on medicinal ingredients.
We rented a carriage from the Shanxi Yu Clan.
Our plan was to ride it as far as the Great Wall.
“Let’s depart.”
At my words, Gye Wol-hyang’s Guard nodded and urged the horses forward.
Our destination was the Northern Steppes.
Where the Heavenly Demon resided.

* * *

We crossed the Great Wall and entered the steppe region.
“So this is the Northern Region.”
“We still have some distance to go before reaching our tribe’s territory. We’ll serve as your guides.”
Gye Wol-hyang’s Guard skillfully guided the horses.
Since we hadn’t traveled far from the Great Wall yet, I could see horse markets operating in various places.
The steppe peoples and Central Plains merchants were likely in the midst of active trade.
If this matter concluded successfully, the Bukcheon Sword Family could also establish a foothold there.
-How so?
‘Gye Wol-hyang’s tribe ranks among the three most powerful tribes of the steppes. They command a significant share of the horse market.’
-Ah, I see. So by earning their gratitude now, we might gain a foothold in horse trading later?
‘Precisely. Though we’ll need this matter to go smoothly first.’
Still, assuming success, the rewards upon our return would be substantial.
A martial clan’s foundation rested on martial prowess and its members, but ultimately it was money that sustained those members.
And horse trading would become the springboard for the Bukcheon Sword Family’s great leap forward.
Until now, we had no stable source of income beyond our dealings with the Golden Frog Merchant Guild.
I was absorbed in these thoughts when it happened.
“Hmm? That’s…”
Gye Wol-hyang’s Guard, who had been leading, spotted something and narrowed his eyes.
Gye Wol-hyang wore an equally startled expression.
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s our tribe’s banner. But why have the tents come down this far?”
Indeed, several portable tents and a considerable number of warriors had gathered at that location.
As Gye Wol-hyang approached, some of the warriors who recognized her came forward and greeted her in the steppe tongue.
She spoke with them briefly, then turned back to us and explained.
“It seems to be Father’s orders. Since the physicians from the Central Plains were reluctant to travel so far, he had Mother brought to a location closer to the Central Plains for treatment.”
“That works out well. We won’t need to travel so far after all.”
Medicine King spoke as if relieved.
I nodded in agreement with his sentiment.
If things proceeded this way, the time required would be considerably shorter.
That was when we were about to enter.
“Please wait a moment.”
One of the warriors spoke in clear Central Plains dialect.
“Another physician is currently conducting a consultation inside. Would it be possible for you to be seen after they finish?”
“Listen, this person is….”
“Never mind. It would be impolite to interrupt someone else’s consultation. We can wait a bit.”
Medicine King stopped Gye Wol-hyang as she stepped forward to speak.
We waited for a time in another tent.
Shortly after, the warrior who had stopped us earlier came to fetch us.
“Please come this way.”
Only Medicine King, Gye Wol-hyang, and I decided to go for the consultation.
Medicine King was naturally going, Gye Wol-hyang wanted to confirm her mother’s condition, and I was going to see if purification energy might work against illness as well.
The tent we arrived at looked quite luxurious.
We entered and saw Gye Wol-hyang’s Mother.
She resembled Gye Wol-hyang so closely that I imagined she would look just like this woman when she aged a bit more.
She bowed her head upon seeing us.
“You must be the ones my daughter brought. Thank you for coming all this way from the distant Central Plains.”
“Ahem. No. A physician must go wherever there is a patient in need.”
Medicine King said this and approached Gye Wol-hyang’s Mother.
“May I take your pulse for a moment?”
“Of course.”
Medicine King grasped her wrist and infused a stream of vital energy into her.
Then he began asking various questions, mostly about her symptoms.
“Despite taking tonics regularly to strengthen your body, your vitality continues to decline… Could you perhaps tell me what medicines you normally take?”
“Yes.”
Gye Wol-hyang’s Mother nodded and listed several medicines.
Upon hearing her answer, Medicine King muttered with a puzzled expression.
“Then there’s no reason there shouldn’t be improvement… Hmm.”
He withdrew a single mysterious blue herb from the bundle he had brought and offered it to her.
“Just to be sure, try holding this in your mouth for a moment.”
“Understood.”
Gye Wol-hyang’s Mother obediently followed Medicine King’s instruction.
But something strange occurred.
The herb she held began to change color, and soon turned completely black.
Medicine King’s expression immediately grew grave.
“This is….”
“Sir, what’s wrong? Why did that herb turn like that?”
Gye Wol-hyang asked urgently.
Something about the situation clearly seemed off.
Medicine King answered with a grave expression.
“At first, I suspected illness. The constant decline in vitality and deteriorating health pointed most strongly to disease. But when I saw that medicine had no effect, I decided to investigate other possibilities just to be thorough.”
“Other possibilities? What do you mean?”
“Poison.”
“P-poison? You’re certain?”
Medicine King nodded solemnly, his expression grave.
“Yes. Your mother is currently poisoned. I’m certain of it. This herb is rarer than most medicinal materials, but it can detect virtually any poison.”
“That can’t be….”
Gye Wol-hyang’s face went blank, as if the sky itself had collapsed.
But my mind was elsewhere.
‘A poison so subtle that even ordinary physicians cannot detect it through pulse diagnosis.’
The image of Father lying in bed flashed through my mind.
A terrible suspicion gripped me.
‘Could this be connected to those Black Night Fortress bastards?’
My gaze turned cold and sharp.

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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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