The Patriarch of the Northern Heavens - Chapter 74

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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 74

We immediately began preparing to depart.
First, I sought out Dang Ye-rin, Gye Wol-hyang, and So Hye-rim.
I apologized to Dang Ye-rin in particular and asked for her understanding.
I had promised to travel down to Sichuan together, but this incident had delayed that schedule.
However, Dang Ye-rin’s response was unexpected.
“Why would you apologize, Young Master Jin?”
“Pardon?”
“The ones at fault are the ruffians who suddenly attacked the Bukcheon Sword Family. It’s not your responsibility.”
“I’m grateful you see it that way.”
“Don’t mention it. By the way, who do you think they are? Could they be connected to the Black Night Fortress?”
“The Family Head has also considered that possibility.”
After all, there weren’t many factions powerful enough to attack us.
At most, it would be forces within the Black Night Fortress’s reach, or…
‘Those who would suffer losses from our growth.’
There was also a high probability that the attackers were from the Evil Faction in the Sanseo region.
They would certainly feel threatened by the Bukcheon Sword Family’s rise.
‘Of course, I can’t be certain.’
In my first life, nothing like this had occurred.
Back then, internal troubles had erupted within the Bukcheon Sword Family itself, while external attacks came much later.
But for an attack to come now like this…
‘My actions must have had an influence.’
I didn’t know when or which aspects had caused it.
There were too many possibilities to guess.
But one thing was certain—the incident had already occurred.
“In any case, Miss, I’ll return shortly. Yingshi isn’t far from here.”
“Hmm. Would it be alright if I came along?”
“Pardon?”
I was left speechless by Dang Ye-rin’s sudden proposal.
“Come along?”
“I’m personally curious about what happened. And I’d like to be of help to you.”
“But it could be dangerous.”
“Haha. Surely you don’t think I’d suggest coming without considering that?”
She broke into laughter.
“I’m confident I can take care of myself. And I wouldn’t be going alone—I’d be going with you.”
“Hmm.”
“Of course, you’re free to refuse… but wouldn’t my presence be helpful to you?”
She had a point.
Dang Ye-rin was the celebrated daughter of the Sichuan Dang Family.
Moreover, she was renowned for being favored by the First Sword of Sichuan, one of the Thirteen Venerables.
Even if she found herself in danger, considering her background, I couldn’t bring myself to strike at her.
“Then I’ll gratefully accept your assistance.”
“Hehe. Thank you for listening to me.”
Dang Ye-rin spoke with a gentle smile.
Meanwhile, the expressions of Gye Wol-hyang and So Hye-rim, who stood in the same place, were far from pleasant.
Gye Wol-hyang’s face showed clear displeasure, while So Hye-rim appeared flustered and uncertain.
“Then I should also——”
“Miss Gye. Weren’t you supposed to be conducting trade negotiations regarding horse commerce between your tribe and the Bukcheon Sword Family? Can you really afford to leave whenever you wish?”
“Ugh!”
Gye Wol-hyang’s expression crumpled at Dang Ye-rin’s words, struck right at her weak point.
Indeed, she was bound to the Bukcheon Sword Family by the duties entrusted to her.
As for So Hye-rim, I had already spoken to her beforehand.
‘Don’t follow along. Focus on your training for now,’ I had told her.
Taking So Hye-rim to a blood-soaked battlefield could invite any number of unforeseen complications.
It was far better to keep her within the clan—somewhere safe where I could respond immediately if anything went wrong.
That was my reasoning.
“Please take care on your journey.”
“Master. I wish you good fortune.”
In the end, both women were confirmed to remain with the family and not participate.
“Hehe.”
Dang Ye-rin smiled, clearly pleased with the outcome.
I exhaled lightly and conveyed the necessary precautions to her.
“Miss Dang. Even though you’ll be traveling with us, you must withdraw immediately if danger arises. Do you understand?”
“I understand. If that’s what will put your mind at ease, I’ll do as you say.”
“I’m asking for your word. I’ll also inform your guards in advance.”
What would happen if Dang Ye-rin were injured while helping the Bukcheon Sword Family?
It would be far from welcome for both the Sichuan Dang Family and ourselves.
So I had no choice but to issue these stern warnings.
“I promise.”
Dang Ye-rin’s expression showed reluctance, but she acquiesced to my words.
She too understood her position well.
With the negotiations concluded, I immediately finished the remaining preparations.
The hour was late into the night, with moonlight hanging in the sky.
Ordinarily, such a time would be unsuitable for travel.
‘But having received an urgent message, this is no time to be choosy about timing.’
Even now, the Yingshi Branch might be under attack.
If so, I needed to extend a hand of salvation as quickly as possible.
I headed toward the Training Grounds, as I had promised beforehand.
Sa Gong-cheon was waiting for me there, leading the members of the Wind Cloud Unit.
There was no need for lengthy words.
“Let’s go.”
At my single command, two hundred members of the Wind Cloud Unit began to deploy their lightness technique.
Our destination was the Yingshi Branch.
Where the enemies were.

* * *

The distance from Taiyuan, where the Bukcheon Sword Family was located, to Yingshi was not particularly far.
Even at the pace of an ordinary commoner who had learned martial arts, it would take no more than three or four days.
Then what of our speed, having mastered the Wind Cloud Technique?
The answer was simple.
One day was sufficient.
We could arrive at the Yingshi Branch in an instant.
“….”
I gazed upon the scene before me with eyes grown cold and distant.
The Yingshi Branch was destroyed and burning in countless places.
And from within came the sounds of weeping and groans of agony.
The stench of blood and death.
All of it told me that something terrible had already transpired.
“W-who are you!”
Two warriors standing guard at the entrance to the Yingshi Branch cried out in alarm upon seeing our approaching force.
Their expressions were filled with fear.
It was understandable—having suffered grievous losses from an enemy attack, they would naturally be terrified of an unknown army approaching.
I stopped Sa Gong-cheon, who was about to step forward, and advanced myself, calling out.
“We are reinforcements sent from the main family. Is the Branch Master within?”
“F-from the main family, you say!?”
“Yes. Tell the Branch Master that the Young Patriarch Jin Muyeol has arrived.”
“Y-Young Patriarch! Forgive our rudeness!”
Upon recognizing my identity, they hurriedly rushed inside.
Shortly after, a middle-aged man with graying hair emerged.
It was Jin Cheng-yun, the Branch Master of Yingshi.
“I pay my respects to the Young Patriarch.”
Jin Cheng-yun, apparently not expecting my arrival, cupped his fist in salute with a slightly flustered expression.
I exhaled softly and asked him.
“Can you accommodate the warriors I’ve brought inside for now?”
“Yes, though I must warn you that the Branch is in poor condition at the moment….”
“That’s fine. We only need a place to rest briefly. Sa Gong, Commander!”
“Yes.”
Sa Gong-cheon lowered his head and led the Wind Cloud Unit members deeper inside.
I followed Jin Cheng-yun’s guidance and entered the branch as well.
The interior was in slightly better condition than the outside.
However, corpses draped in cloth were scattered throughout the space.
“Branch Master. Would you explain what happened here?”
“Yes. I will answer as truthfully as I can based on what I know.”
He spoke those words and began his explanation.
“The enemies who attacked us this time are a group called the Gui Chuang Sect. Have you perhaps heard of them?”
“I’ve heard they’re a fairly powerful force in this region. But what of them?”
“We don’t fully understand the reason either. They attacked us with such absurd pretexts that….”
“What exactly did they claim?”
“They said our Bukcheon Sword Family killed one of their martial artists. And without any verification, they simply attacked us.”
“Hmm.”
They attacked us first on their own side?
Just as Jin Cheng-yun said, it was an absurd pretext.
In the first place, even if it were true, Evil Faction martial artists wouldn’t concern themselves with such matters.
‘If things go wrong, we’d have to wage war against the main family. Evil Faction bastards who treat their subordinates as disposable wouldn’t attack us for such a reason.’
Then what came to mind was that they’d been pressured into it.
They too had been coerced by someone and attacked us.
If that were the case, their reckless assault also made sense.
They had no choice either.
‘Wait.’
Then wasn’t the true objective of those behind this to draw out our forces?
-The possibility is substantial. As you think, their objective is likely to temporarily weaken the main family’s military strength.
‘That means there’s a high probability similar incidents are occurring at other branches.’
-Exactly. It’s far easier to defeat you piecemeal like this than to attack the main family directly. They’ve clearly decided to eliminate you.
‘I must send warnings to the main family and each branch immediately.’
In the worst case, we might have to fight enemies across multiple fronts.
If so, the casualties would be substantial.
How could I resolve this?
As I paced through the branch and pondered briefly, the answer became clear.
“I need to make an example.”
-An example?
‘Yes. Even if others try to attack the main family in such a manner, I’ll make an example so they dare not recklessly challenge us.’
-That means….
‘I believe you’re thinking the same thing.’
A murderous intent crystallized in my eyes.
‘If I thoroughly crush this Gui Chuang Sect or whatever they are, others will think twice before attacking us.’
-!
The Senior’s astonished emotion reached me.
I was clearly harboring a murderous intent at this moment.
That was when it happened.
“M-Master So! The enemies have returned!”
Jin Cheng-yun’s alarmed voice rang out.
I stepped outside and gazed upon three hundred martial artists approaching from afar.
Each one was armed with spears—a formidable force indeed.
So they truly had earned their reputation in Sanseo?
“Hmm?”
They faltered upon seeing me and some of the Wind Cloud Unit members emerge from the building.
It seemed they hadn’t expected reinforcements to arrive so quickly.
But I paid them no mind.
I simply took a long stride forward and asked.
“Are you the Gui Chuang Sect?”
“Y-Yes. And who are you?”
“Jin Muyeol. Young Master of the Bukcheon Sword Family.”
“The W-Wind God Dragon!”
Startled exclamations erupted among the enemy ranks.
Regardless, I fixed my gaze upon the one who appeared to be the Gui Chuang Sect Master and spoke.
“Why did you attack the Yingshi Branch?”
“That is… because those bastards harmed our disciples…”
“Spare me the lies.”
I cut off his words with an icy tone.
“Give me the real reason. Who sent you?”
“…!”
Panic flashed across the Gui Chuang Sect Master’s face.
I had struck a nerve.
“Well, fine. That’s certainly an important matter, but let’s set it aside for now. Listen, I have a proposal for you.”
“A proposal?”
“Yes.”
I pointed toward the one I presumed to be the Gui Chuang Sect Master.
“Destroy your own dantian right now, sever the meridians in all four limbs, and apologize to the dead. If you disband your sect, I’ll let this matter slide.”
“W-What kind of insane nonsense is that! Do you really think I’d accept such an absurd proposal?”
The Gui Chuang Sect Master furrowed his brow and shouted.
It seemed my proposal didn’t sit well with him.
But I had no intention of backing down here.
“I suggest you think carefully before dismissing my words.”
With a soft metallic whisper.
I quietly drew the Windgod Sword.
It was a signal.
A thunderous rumble erupted.
Before long, some two hundred Wind Cloud Unit members emerged outside, drawing their weapons in unison and radiating killing intent.
A sinister aura erupted as if a colossal tempest were bearing down upon them.
“H-hiek!?”
Unable to withstand that overwhelming presence, some of the enemies stumbled backward in terror.
I regarded them calmly and made my declaration.
“Otherwise, you all die.”
“…!”
The Gui Chang Sect Master’s face drained of all color.

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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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