The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 70

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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 70

“Such people exist?”
“Yes. They call themselves the Black Night Fortress.”
Wi Ji-hon tilted his head at my words.
“Black Night Fortress? I’ve never heard of them.”
“That’s to be expected. They don’t reveal themselves—they’re a shadow force working behind the scenes to control the martial world.”
I explained the Black Night Fortress to him.
What they had done, what they were plotting, and what dangers they posed.
Wi Ji-hon’s eyes gleamed as he listened to the entire account.
“An organization like that exists? How remarkable.”
“But it’s the truth. They schemed to seize control of the Bukcheon Sword Family.”
“I believe you. Your eyes are not the eyes of a liar. However…”
Wi Ji-hon smiled wickedly.
“I can also guess your intention. You want to use me to eliminate them, don’t you?”
As expected, he was perceptive.
It was far too obvious that I wasn’t speaking without purpose.
I exhaled lightly and spoke.
“I won’t deny it.”
“Hehe. I thought as much. Well, I would have the same idea. When facing such terrifying enemies, even the smallest help becomes desperately needed.”
Wi Ji-hon pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“Very well. I’ll help you. Let me properly clash with these Black Night Fortress bastards.”
“You truly mean it?”
“Having inherited the power of the Immovable Wisdom King, I bear the duty to protect the peace of the martial world. But according to your words, this Black Night Fortress threatens that peace. So I’ll eliminate them. Of course, I’ll have some fun in the process.”
Wi Ji-hon laughed heartily.
Seeing this, I warned him in a serious voice.
“But you must be careful. Among them are members of the Thirteen Venerables, or masters of comparable caliber. No matter how skilled you are, confronting such monsters could be dangerous.”
“That may be true. But if it comes to that, I can always flee, can’t I?”
Wi Ji-hon’s lips curled into a grin.
“I’ve fought these so-called Thirteen Venerables more than once. Some of them genuinely tried to kill me for challenging them. But I survived. Do you know how?”
He chuckled and continued.
“I simply fled with the resolve to die. When I committed fully to escape with all my strength, even they couldn’t catch me.”
“…”
I stood there with my mouth agape upon hearing his words.
I never imagined that the notorious Asura’s survival strategy would be something like this.
“Surprised, are you?”
“Yes. Honestly, I thought you would fight to the bitter end even in disadvantageous situations.”
“Why would I do that? I want to fight, not stake my life. Why wouldn’t I flee from a situation where I might simply die?”
He spoke as if offering counsel.
“One must be alive to fight. If you clash with an opponent you can’t handle and die pointlessly, there’s no death more pathetic than that. Remember this well.”
-I thought he was simply mad, but he turned out to be far more rational and flexible in his thinking than expected.
‘Indeed, that’s true.’
I inwardly agreed while bowing to Wi Ji-hon.
“I shall keep that in mind.”
He drove his blade into the ground beside him with a heavy thud before speaking to me.
“So then, how can we obtain a lead to those bastards?”
“There is a place called Jin Ga-jang in Hanan Province, Bofeng County.”
“Jin Ga-jang, you say? It must be an estate they’ve established.”
“Yes. On the surface, it appears to be an ordinary minor sect indistinguishable from its surroundings, but the true identity of the Jin Ga-jang Master is a demon cultivator who defected from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to Black Night Fortress. He maintains constant readiness to annihilate the surrounding sects at a moment’s notice.”
“Interesting. You seem to know quite a lot.”
“I conducted a thorough investigation of that location.”
In truth, it was information I had learned in my previous life. But how I obtained it hardly mattered now.
In fact, after the Jin Ga-jang incident, relations between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Central Plains martial world deteriorated rapidly.
It was much later that I learned this was Black Night Fortress’s conspiracy.
So in this life, I intended to prevent it beforehand.
“Please infiltrate quietly and eliminate the Jin Ga-jang Master.”
“Heh heh. Understood. But is he strong?”
“I believe he will prove satisfactory.”
Based on the scale of the incident, the opponent was at least Demon Lord class.
He was certainly equal to or stronger than the Blood Hand Demon Lord I had faced before.
At this level, Wi Ji-hon should be more than satisfied.
“Very well. Then I shall proceed as you wish.”
“Thank you.”
“Once the task is complete, or should circumstances arise, I will send word to your clan.”
“Yes, please do so.”
Wi Ji-hon said this and smiled wickedly.
“I hope that when we meet next, you’ll be stronger than you are now.”
“I assure you I will be. I have no intention of stopping here.”
“Aha ha! Excellent spirit. Then I shall take my leave.”
“Please take care of yourself.”
“And you—don’t get yourself killed by strange fellows.”
Wi Ji-hon left those words behind and kicked off the ground.
Boom!
His figure vanished in an instant at tremendous speed.
I watched the place where he had departed for a moment.
He truly was a man who came like the wind and departed like the wind.
“Young Master!”
“Master!”
Sa Gong-cheon and So Hye-rim came rushing toward me, left alone.
They regarded me with worried eyes.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. As you can see for yourself.”
I rotated my body this way and that to reassure them.
At that, Sa Gong-cheon let out a truly heavy sigh.
“I can’t tell you how startled we were when the Phantom God suddenly appeared. Still, I’m relieved nothing serious happened.”
“It’s more than nothing serious. I succeeded in winning over the Phantom God.”
“What?”
I explained how I had persuaded him, revealed the existence of Black Night Fortress, and redirected Wi Ji-hon’s target in that direction.
“Ha, haha! You truly are remarkable, Master.”
Sa Gong-cheon burst into admiring laughter upon hearing of my accomplishments.
It seemed to have made quite an impression on him.
“You are truly extraordinary, Master.”
So Hye-rim nodded in agreement as well.
I chuckled softly and spoke to them both.
“In any case, I’m grateful it worked out. But we might find ourselves entangled in further trouble, so let’s return quickly.”
“Yes.”
We boarded the carriage once more and set out for the Bukcheon Sword Family.
Fortunately, after the Phantom God, we encountered no further complications.
The three of us returned safely to the clan.

* * *

“There’s no place like home.”
After a proper bath for the first time in ages, my spirits lifted considerably.
It was mentally soothing as well.
After changing into fresh clothes, I made my way to Father’s Administrative Office.
Great-Uncle was there as well, and upon seeing me, he asked in a surprised voice.
“Muyeol. Did you perhaps achieve some enlightenment?”
“I encountered several small opportunities.”
“Ah, hehehehe! As the old saying goes, ‘judge a man anew’—that’s precisely what’s happening. How do you grow stronger with each passing moment?”
It seemed Great-Uncle had noticed that I’d become considerably stronger than before.
Truly, he was a master of the highest caliber.
As the family’s greatest strength, he was naturally sensitive to such changes.
“So, did your journey go well?”
“Yes. I achieved my objectives sufficiently. Allow me to explain what transpired.”
I calmly recounted the events of my journey.
How I discovered Cheon Sal-seong and prevented Black Night Fortress from interfering.
And how I encountered the Phantom God on the way back and secured his cooperation.
Astonishment crossed both their faces as they listened.
“Cheon Sal-seong, you say….”
“I thought she was merely legend, yet she truly exists.”
“Yes. However, you can rest assured now. Currently, I’m teaching her martial arts to suppress her instincts. And given So Hye-rim’s exceptionally strong mental fortitude, I don’t believe she’ll cause any incidents.”
“Good. If you say so, then it must be so. I trust you.”
Father’s voice brimmed with confidence.
His words warmed my heart and lifted my spirits.
The trust of family who believed in you always felt wonderful, no matter when you received it.
And thinking of Father, whom I’d lost in my first life, made my heart ache with unexpected emotion.
But I didn’t let it show as I continued.
“Also, during this journey, I completed the Bukcheon Divine Art that I mentioned before. I believe it would be best if both of you learned it first.”
“The Bukcheon Divine Art, you say?”
“My, so quickly?”
Both of them seemed startled by my words.
Indeed, not much time had passed since I said I would create the Bukcheon Divine Art, so it was natural they’d be surprised to see the completed version.
I withdrew a manuscript from my robes and handed it to them.
They carefully studied it, and their eyes gleamed with light.
They could immediately sense that this wasn’t something I’d hastily created, but rather something born from deep contemplation and effort.
“Truly… remarkable.”
“To think you could create something like this at your current level.”
Both of them gazed at me with expressions of admiration.
But Great-Uncle’s expression soon turned worried.
“However, am I truly worthy of learning such a thing? The Bukcheon Divine Art is the symbol of the Family Head….”
“If Father has no objections, then I see no issue. In fact, I believe all members of the Bukcheon Sword Family bloodline should be able to learn the Bukcheon Divine Art if they possess the qualifications.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. Of course, I understand that the Founder decided the original Bukcheon Divine Art could only be learned by the Family Head. However, I believe that applies only to the original Bukcheon Divine Art, not the version I created.”
“…!”
“I am well aware that our family now faces an invisible threat. As you both know, the Black Night Fortress could move against the Bukcheon Sword Family at any moment. To prevent that, we need to strengthen the family’s overall power.”
“So you’re saying overcoming the immediate crisis is more important than preventing future chaos.”
“Yes. However, of course, those who have not mastered the Northern Wind Heart Method and lack the qualifications should not be taught this. This is no different from pursuing only higher-level cultivation methods while failing to build a proper foundation. Since the Bukcheon Divine Art and Northern Wind Heart Method are in a hierarchical relationship and are compatible martial arts, if we teach this to blood relatives who have mastered the Northern Wind Heart Method, it will be very efficient and increase our family’s overall strength.”
“Hmm. What is the Family Head’s opinion?”
“I support this. Uncle, please learn the Bukcheon Divine Art with me.”
Father expressed his agreement without a moment’s hesitation.
It seemed he had been wrestling with the same concerns as I had all along.
Great-Uncle appeared to be genuinely moved by this.
This declaration to open the Bukcheon Divine Art to everyone meant we were looking after not just the direct line, but the collateral branches of the family as well.
“Very well. Haha, the Bukcheon Divine Art… I find myself quite looking forward to it.”
“You won’t be disappointed. And has there been anything significant with the family during my absence?”
“The Phantom God of the Northern Region has expressed his intention to establish a trade agreement with us. He even sent his own daughter as his representative.”
His daughter…
It seems the person the Phantom God is sending to me is indeed Gye Wol-hyang.
I had suspected as much, but it appears he genuinely wishes to make me his son-in-law.
“Is there anything else?”
“And another distinguished guest has also arrived.”
“A guest?”
“Yes. Dang Ye-rin of the Sichuan Dang Family. I told her I wasn’t sure when you would return, but she said she would wait for your arrival and has been staying here. However…”
Father suddenly touched his forehead as if it ached and let out a deep sigh.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well… there’s a slight problem.”
“A problem?”
I could only stare in bewilderment at what Father said next.
“It seems the relationship between Miss Gye and Miss Dang is not very good.”
…What kind of situation is this?

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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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