Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Listen, criminal Namgung Hui! You are under arrest for the murder of a Firmament Guard member as of this moment!"

The Firmament Guard's vice-leader, Namgung Hyo, even drew his sword and shouted.

Namgung Hui, dumbfounded by Namgung Hyo's bold statement, asked.

"Vice-leader. You're saying I committed murder? No. If you're going to frame me, you should do it plausibly. Who would be convinced by such an absurd story?"

"Hmph! Fourth Young Master. Do you see the body in front of the door there?"

"You're saying this assassin's body is a Firmament Guard member? Why would…… could it be!"

"I don't know what you mean by 'could it be,' but you'll have to explain why the body of our Firmament Guard member who went missing yesterday is there. Until then, you are a suspect, so we will take you into custody first."

"You're saying the body here is a Firmament Guard member……."

Namgung Hui was dumbfounded.

Hadn't he gotten a confession from the assassin last night?

He had clearly said with his own mouth that he was an assassin from the Killing Curtain.

And he had heard it together with the woman named Lee Sang-ah from the Moon Maiden Palace.

‘Could it be. Is it all a lie?’

He had plotted this, even giving up his own life? Why on earth?

When Namgung Hyo nodded to his subordinates, they surrounded Namgung Hui.

As they took out a rope to tie Namgung Hui, Namgung Hui stopped them and said.

"That's enough. I'll walk to the interrogation room myself. Don't touch my body."

Namgung Hui was wronged, but he didn't want to lay a hand on the Firmament Guard members who knew nothing.

After all, the Firmament Guard were members of the Namgung family.

Looking at their expressions, it seemed that only the vice-leader knew the truth.

"Then, Fourth Young Master, will you hold onto this and come? We're still taking you into custody, so it's a bit…… to be so free."

"Alright. I'll hold the rope and go."

"Yes……."

The Firmament Guard member also seemed reluctant.

But with the body of a comrade in front of them, they couldn't just stand by.

He would have to go to the interrogation room and hear the truth.

"Let's go!"

The vice-leader, Namgung Hyo, also thought this much would be fine.

He had at least made it look like he was taking Namgung Hui into custody, so even if other people saw, they would think he was being dragged away for committing some wrongdoing.

And so, Namgung Hui headed for the interrogation room, receiving the gazes of those around him.

* * *

The interrogation room of the Namgung family.

This place was built during the golden age of the Namgung family, and it was a place where countless demonic people had been interrogated during the Great War between Justice and Evil.

It even had an underground prison that was hard to find in other families, and the soundproofing and sturdiness of the building were also rare.

Namgung Hui was dragged to such a place.

He was even being investigated as a suspect in the interrogation room.

The Firmament Guard's vice-leader slammed the table and said.

"Hey. Fourth Young Master. The body in front of the door earlier. You killed him, right?"

"He was an assassin who came into my residence last night. I even brought the dagger he threw, just in case. Would you like to see it?"

"You're saying this is our guard's? Is there any proof? And do you think a mere Firmament Guard member could have something that looks so expensive? In fact, it's something that can never be bought with the salary our family gives."

Namgung Hyo glared. His eyes were even filled with a hint of resentment.

Especially since he emphasized the word 'salary,' it seemed he had also suffered because of money.

"So that's it. So that's it. This is all because the family has become difficult. You said your name was Namgung Hyo?"

"No matter how much of a branch family member I am, Fourth Young Master, I'm much older than you. And if you're a suspect, it would be beneficial for you to be polite."

Namgung Hui calmly looked Namgung Hyo up and down, from head to toe.

His hands and face, the martial arts uniform he was wearing.

The scabbard and sword hanging from his waist.

He was clearly different from the Firmament Guard members he had seen earlier.

Of course, since he was the vice-leader, he could wear a more luxurious martial arts uniform than them.

He would also receive a slightly higher salary.

But the luxurious scabbard and tassel seemed difficult to have even for a leader-class person.

Above all, his fine skin was a little unnatural for a martial artist to have.

It even seemed to have a sheen.

‘He's been away from the sword for a long time.’

"Alright. Vice-leader. How much will it be?"

"What, how much? You're going to bribe me with money? In that case, you're admitting to the crime……."

-Bang!

Namgung Hui slammed the table hard and took out a silver coin from his pocket.

"Looking at your skin, you seem to like meat. Why don't you buy some meat from the butcher's with this?"

"With just two silver taels, our family……."

-Bang!

"Then I'll give you more. It's ten silver taels."

"Ha! Fourth Young Master. I'm really disappointed. You're trying to cover up your crime with silver. And you still call yourself a direct descendant of the great Namgung family……."

-Bang!

"Fifty silver taels. Use this to have a dinner with your family and the Firmament Guard members."

Namgung Hyo's eyes were colored with greed.

Although fifty silver taels was a lot of money for an individual, it wasn't a great amount of money to risk his life for.

His life wouldn't be worth just fifty taels.

‘It must mean that his greed for money is that great.’

"Fourth Young Master. I'm sorry for being rude. But it's true that our guard died. It's not a matter that can be covered up with just fifty silver taels."

"Then I'll add another fifty taels and give you a hundred. Will that be okay?"

"Ahem! That's not enough. At least two hundred taels……."

"Was the bribe from Madam Ouyang about two hundred taels?"

"!!!"

As if Namgung Hui's guess was right, Namgung Hyo's eyes widened.

On top of that, his hands were trembling, and unlike the attitude he had shown so far, he was quite flustered.

"W-what do you mean by that! I didn't receive any bribe from the acting family head's mother. All I received was a reward for my loyalty to the family all this time!"

"Anyway, you did receive it. I'll specially compensate you for your overdue salary. Instead, will you testify for me? That you received a bribe from Madam Ouyang."

"That's enough with the slander. I really didn't receive……."

-Bang!

This time, Namgung Hui emptied all the silver in his pocket.

It was the silver he had taken from the Tiger Subduing Fortress and the spoils he had collected so far.

‘It should be about three hundred taels.’

Namgung Hyo's eyes became as wide as lanterns.

His greed was also dripping to the point of falling on the table.

He swallowed hard and was slowly reaching for the silver.

"How about it? With three hundred taels."

* * *

The time Namgung Hui was dragged to the interrogation room.

In the Changyeon Pavilion where the guests were staying, the women's conversation was in full swing.

"Lee Sang-ah. Where did you go last night?"

"Me? Well. Should I say I went to pick something up……?"

"Pick what up? You didn't steal anything, did you? You should never do that here. Got it?"

"Why? Because it's your friend's house?"

"Yes. It's my friend's house, so if you're rude, you're on your own."

Lee Sang-ah smiled slyly at Baek Seolhwa.

Then she touched the small pouch in her pocket and even let out a sigh of relief.

‘Still, I'm glad I safely brought what I wanted. Hehe.’

Lee Sang-ah, while arranging her pocket, continued.

"By the way, Young Palace Mistress. Are you really thinking of changing the palace rules of the Moon Maiden Palace?"

"Do you like it as it is?"

"I also like it being relaxed. But I'm also worried that many of the palace disciples might leave if that happens."

"That's a problem we'll have to see. And besides the palace rules, there are many ways to preserve our strength."

As soon as Baek Seolhwa finished speaking, someone knocked on her door.

-Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Young Palace Mistress, are you inside?"

"Miss Seomun? Please come in."

As the door opened, Seomun Hye's figure appeared as Baek Seolhwa had said.

She had even brought food, and Baek Seolhwa couldn't understand why she was doing this, leaving her maid behind.

She had a history of bothering Baek Seolhwa by bringing food last night as well.

"Oh? There's someone I haven't seen before."

Seomun Hye gently glared at Lee Sang-ah.

Was it because she had brought too little food?

But it didn't seem to be that kind of gaze.

"And who are you? You've come to our young palace mistress's residence, right?"

"Ahem. My name is Seomun Hye from the Seomun family. And you?"

"Me? I'm Lee Sang-ah, who is as good as the young palace mistress's one and only younger sister. I'm from the Moon Maiden Palace."

Lee Sang-ah shrugged her shoulders triumphantly.

It looked like a show of off, as if she was closer to Baek Seolhwa than her.

"Why are you being so childish again? Miss Seomun, please sit there."

Seomun Hye placed the food she had brought on the table and sat on a chair.

Still, since she had brought enough food for two people, it seemed okay for Lee Sang-ah to eat with them.

"By the way, what brings you here so early in the morning?"

"Do I have to have a reason to visit? I just came to build a friendship with the young palace mistress."

Baek Seolhwa didn't know it well, but it was a common thing for rising stars to build friendships like this.

Wasn't the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly a representative meeting of that kind?

Of course, Baek Seolhwa had also been invited, but she had rejected all of them.

Well, since the Moon Maiden Palace was reclusive, she had no interaction with other rising stars, so Baek Seolhwa would be awkward in such a situation.

"I see. But it seems noisy outside. Did something happen?"

"I don't know. It seemed like Young Master Namgung Hui was being dragged away, but what could be wrong?"

"Wait a minute. He was dragged away?"

"Yes. Thirty warriors tied him up and took him away, but he's a direct descendant, so he'll be released soon. The power of the direct descendants of the Five Great Families is surprisingly strong. As long as he didn't kill anyone, there won't be any particular problem. So let's just eat."

As Seomun Hye calmly picked up her chopsticks, Baek Seolhwa stared at her and said.

"You've even had marriage talks with that kid, but you don't seem to care."

"The marriage talks were between the families, not with me. I even ran away from home to refuse it."

"Still, he helped you when you were in danger."

"I never asked for his help. He stepped in on his own. In fact, I could have blocked it myself at that time."

Baek Seolhwa was about to say something to her, but she couldn't bring herself to open her mouth.

‘Right. What can I scold her for? What she said wasn't exactly wrong.’

Instead, Baek Seolhwa quietly stood up from her seat.

"I'm going to go out for a bit. Sang-ah. You stay here and have a meal."

"I came as the young palace mistress's guard, how can I eat? Let's go out together."

"Do as you please."

Baek Seolhwa left her residence and walked towards Namgung Hui's residence.

Then she suddenly remembered that he had been dragged away and turned her body to where she felt a lot of presences.

‘Thirty warriors, it must be that way.’

The central part of the Namgung family estate.

Along with the family head's hall, it was the most heavily guarded place.

There was the general affairs office, which was in charge of the Namgung family's household affairs, and the Daeyeon Pavilion, where the Firmament Guard and the Firmament Troop resided.

Naturally, since there were many key facilities, the place was teeming with warriors.

"Wow~ This place seems more crowded than our Moon Maiden Palace."

"Of course. There are a lot of people who have come out to watch."

Baek Seolhwa felt quite a few presences heading this way, besides the thirty warriors.

They were coming from the opposite direction of Baek Seolhwa, and since their attire was all different, they didn't seem to be from the Namgung family.

On top of that, their age range was also diverse, and a middle-aged lady was also mixed in.

Was that why?

The Namgung family warriors who had formed a formation all looked in that direction and shouted.

""We greet the acting family head's mother!""

(End of Chapter)