Rebirth of the Thunder God

“Come in, youngest."

At the sight of his father, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, Namgung Hui's heart swelled with emotion for some reason.

Was it because his father was healthier than he had thought?

Or perhaps it was the very existence of a father that made him feel this way.

It was a feeling that Namgung Hui was experiencing for the first time in his life.

"Father. Have you been well all this time?"

"Yes. Thanks to the manual you gave me, I came back from the dead."

The latter half of the Boundless Firmament Sword Art that Namgung Hui had restored.

Thanks to that, Namgung Uncheon had truly come back from the dead.

‘If the youngest hadn't restored the latter half, I would have fallen into Qi Deviation like my father.’

Of course, not everyone who fell into Qi Deviation died.

On the contrary, there were far more who lived than who died.

However, it was not without aftereffects.

Some lost all their internal energy, suffered from madness, or even harmed their own family members.

This was worse than not being alive.

On the contrary, it would only bring harm to the family.

Fortunately, Namgung Uncheon was able to escape from the threshold of Qi Deviation.

"But Father, who is the person next to you? She doesn't seem to be my new mother."

"New mother? Haha! You've gotten better at joking while I haven't seen you. Now, it would be better for you to greet each other yourselves than for me to do it. Greet each other, this is the youngest child I was talking about."

As soon as Namgung Uncheon finished speaking, the woman who was with him politely greeted Namgung Hui.

"My name is Seomun Hye from the Seomun family. It's nice to meet you, Young Master Namgung Hui."

"If you're Seomun Hye, then you're the White Flower?"

Just like her nickname, her face looked as white as jade.

On top of that, not only was her skin good, but her elegant features and her eyes seemed to hold a lake.

‘Come to think of it, she definitely resembles that Seomun Changhyeon who used to follow me around.’

"Hoho. I'm glad you seem to like her. I'd like to catch up with my youngest for the first time in a while, but since we have a guest who has come from afar, let's discuss the marriage proposal first. After all, you can see your father again later."

"Then, Fourth Young Master, Miss Seomun Hye, will you follow me?"

"Yes."

Before Namgung Hui could even answer, the guard led them somewhere.

It seemed they were moving to a quiet place to discuss the marriage proposal.

* * *

Namgung Hui was soon sitting in a quiet guest hall.

The situation had unfolded naturally, like flowing water.

Since she was the person he would be discussing a marriage proposal with anyway, there was nothing wrong with it.

He just hadn't expected Seomun Hye to be here so suddenly.

Seomun Hye took the teacup from her cherry-like lips and opened her mouth.

"You seem very surprised."

"Not very, but a little surprised. After all, I had said I would visit."

"Ah. You don't have to worry about that. It's actually a good thing. I actually ran away from home, so you wouldn't have been able to meet me even if you had gone."

"You ran away from home? Did you run away?"

Seomun Hye smiled shyly and said.

"Yes."

A demonic charm was embedded in her shy smile.

Among the demon heads he had met in his past life, a succubus used to bewitch men with such a smile.

Of course, the Thunder God, due to his high realm, did not fall for such a charm.

‘And this is not some demonic art. It's pure beauty.’

Namgung Hui suddenly wondered what it would be like if Baek Seolhwa smiled like this.

She too had a beauty that could be called the best among the beauties he had seen so far.

However, she didn't smile brightly like Seomun Hye in front of him.

On the contrary, she only glared venomously.

‘What a waste of a face. Wouldn't it be nice to smile like this?’

"Young Master. What are you thinking about so deeply with me in front of you?"

"Ah. It's nothing. I was just thinking about a friend."

"A friend? I'm sorry, but you've only been bedridden, do you have any friends?"

"It's a friend I made on my trip this time. I'll introduce you later. That friend also ran away from home, so you'll probably get along well."

On top of that, if she was the young palace mistress of the Moon Maiden Palace, it wouldn't be bad for Seomun Hye to become friends with her.

After all, even among the rising stars, her background was her background, and the level of her martial arts would be unparalleled.

To be honest, it seemed that Baek Seolhwa was slightly ahead of Seomun Hye in terms of martial arts, fame, and even beauty.

Of course, this was Namgung Hui's personal opinion.

"But why did you run away from home?"

"Can I tell you that later? I don't think it's the right time yet. The family head also told me to speak comfortably."

"If my father said so, there must be a reason. Then shall we discuss the marriage proposal in detail?"

"Um……. Can we talk about that later too? For now, let's just……. Yes. Let's be like friends."

Namgung Hui himself preferred such a natural relationship.

To know a person's true nature and inner self, it was much easier to get to know them by being like friends than through a formal relationship.

Just look at Baek Seolhwa. Being friends with her made him realize that her beauty was not everything.

‘Other men would have fallen head over heels for Seolhwa's beauty. Ah, she's such a tomboy, so maybe not.’

Namgung Hui, worried that Seomun Hye might say something again, immediately shook off his thoughts.

"Then. It's getting close to dinnertime, so let's go outside. And while we're at it, I'll introduce you to my friend."

By now, Baek Seolhwa should have rested enough.

If she was going to eat at the common dining hall within the family estate anyway, she would come to the dining hall with Choyeon.

And so, Namgung Hui led Seomun Hye to the common dining hall within the Namgung family estate.

* * *

"Oh? Young Master, you're here? Is the person next to you Miss Seomun Hye?"

As soon as Namgung Hui arrived at the dining hall, he coincidentally ran into Choyeon and Baek Seolhwa.

Baek Seolhwa was still lost in thought, holding the Snow Mountain Roc in her arms.

Namgung Hui, seeing Baek Seolhwa, shook his head and said.

"Yes. Everyone, greet each other. Miss Seomun, the friend here is the person I was talking about earlier."

Only then did Baek Seolhwa raise her head at Namgung Hui's voice.

Then Seomun Hye, who saw Baek Seolhwa's face, widened her already large eyes and said.

"You're truly a beauty. I've met almost all of the Five Phoenixes and Four Flowers, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone as beautiful as you. If you don't mind my asking, what is your name?"

Seomun Hye looked very anxious, as if she was genuinely curious about Baek Seolhwa's identity.

Anyone who saw it might misunderstand that Seomun Hye had fallen head over heels for Baek Seolhwa.

Even though Seomun Hye was clearly a woman, not a man.

"My name is Baek Seolhwa, the young palace mistress of the Moon Maiden Palace. By the way, did he talk about me?"

"Yes. As far as I know, you are probably Young Master Namgung Hui's only friend."

"Only?"

"Ah. Young Master Namgung Hui has been bedridden for a long time, so he probably doesn't have any friends. I'm sorry if that sounded rude."

Namgung Hui couldn't refute it, as it wasn't exactly wrong.

If he were to look for them, there were a few friends, but it was extremely rare for them to visit after Namgung Hui had fallen ill.

The last one who came to visit was that guy from the Zhuge family, right? And that was about five years ago?

‘Perhaps they tried to cut ties because the family's fortunes were declining and even my father had entered seclusion. Then it's right that they're not friends.’

He knew that true friends were those who stayed by your side even in difficult times.

This was something he had fully realized in his past life, and he was feeling it keenly in his current life as well.

From that perspective, Baek Seolhwa, with whom he had fought a rather difficult battle, was worthy of being called a friend.

As Baek Seolhwa stood there without saying anything, Choyeon, who couldn't watch any longer, led Baek Seolhwa and said.

"Come on. Don't just stand here, let's go inside and talk. We have to eat too."

"Yes. Let's go in."

As they entered the dining hall, the warriors who were eating greeted them with a loud voice.

""We greet the Fourth Young Master!""

"Continue your meal."

""Yes!""

It seemed they had heard that Namgung Hui had restored the manual.

Infinite trust and goodwill were pouring out from their eyes.

And it was to the point of being quite burdensome.

Namgung Hui led the guests into a small room.

"Originally, we should be eating in the guest hall, but since our family's finances have become difficult, we have integrated the dining hall like this. It's humble, but please understand."

"It's okay. Everyone knows that the Namgung family has become difficult."

"This is good enough. How well do other places live that you say that?"

The Moon Maiden Palace's financial situation was probably not very abundant either.

Their reclusive nature and the fact that they were not particularly materialistic.

So, in Baek Seolhwa's eyes, the current state of the Namgung family would seem fine.

On the other hand, to Seomun Hye, the Namgung family would seem shabby compared to the Seomun family.

‘Besides, the Seomun family had an excellent aesthetic sense as much as their outstanding looks. Even if they spent the same amount of money, it would have been splendid.’

Anyway. The most important thing in a dining hall was not its appearance, but the food.

Choyeon began to bring out the food with the servants.

Since both Seomun Hye and Baek Seolhwa's visits were unplanned, such a splendid meal was not prepared.

"It's not much, but please eat a lot."

"If I eat a lot, I'll gain weight, so I can't. I'll just eat a little."

As Seomun Hye smiled bashfully, Baek Seolhwa, as if her thoughts were different from hers, flinched.

‘Will I gain weight if I eat a lot……?’

Baek Seolhwa had never overeaten in her life.

Not only was the Moon Maiden Palace not abundant, but the Moon Maiden Palace mistress disliked overconsumption and waste.

Baek Seolhwa, who saw this as a rare opportunity, tried to feast, but the meal ended faster than she had thought.

Well, the taste was okay though.

"It's more delicious than I thought. I ate well, Young Master."

At Seomun Hye's compliment, Namgung Hui let out a sigh of relief.

"Phew……. That's a relief. How was it for you, Seolhwa?"

"It was okay for me too."

Baek Seolhwa wanted to add, 'except for the fact that the portion was small,' but she held it back because she was self-conscious.

"Now that the meal is over, Choyeon, please show Miss Seomun to her room."

"Would you like the room next to the young palace mistress's here?"

"Yes. It just so happens that that's the only empty room. Would you like to follow me?"

As Choyeon stood up, Seomun Hye looked at Baek Seolhwa and continued.

"Aren't you going, young palace mistress?"

"I'm going to talk with him for a bit and then go. I've memorized the way now."

Seomun Hye stood up with a somewhat disappointed expression.

Did she want to become friends with Baek Seolhwa?

Since it was the room next door anyway, there would be plenty of time in the future.

As Choyeon and Seomun Hye went out, Baek Seolhwa threw a question at Namgung Hui.

"Is that the person you're supposed to marry?"

"It hasn't progressed that far yet. It's just that marriage talks are going back and forth. And since it's a union between families, it won't proceed smoothly even if I want it to."

Of course, the Namgung family would no longer decline but only prosper in the future.

Namgung Hui would make it so, and the foundation for that was already in place.

Martial arts, financial power, and reputation.

Not only its past fame, but it would make its name known even more highly.

Then the Seomun family would also try to push this marriage proposal quickly.

"But I heard that Miss Seomun also ran away from home. You should treat her well in the future. You also ran away from home, so you'll have a lot in common."

"What was that person lacking that she ran away from home?"

"I don't know that either. When I asked, she didn't tell me, just like you. And you, why did you run away from home? Are you still not going to tell me?"

"I'll tell you when I get the chance."

"What better chance is there than now? And have you named the Snow Mountain Roc?"

"I'm still thinking about it. Should I call it Bingbing (Ice Ice)? Or Feifei (Falling Snow)? Which one do you think is better?"

"They both suit it well. But if I had to choose one, I think Feifei, which means snow falling heavily, would be better. It also has a similar intonation to Chichi here."

"That……."

Just as Baek Seolhwa was about to answer.

"Kyaak! Let me go!"

Seomun Hye's scream was heard.

(End of Chapter)