Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Pfft!"

Namgung Hui was so surprised that he couldn't help but spit out his tea.

Naturally, Heo Yeongman, who was sitting across from him, was drenched in it.

But despite this, Heo Yeongman did not get angry.

He was remarkably calm.

Seeing Heo Yeongman's composure, Namgung Hui quickly apologized.

"I'm sorry. I was so surprised that I..."

It would have been stranger not to be surprised.

He had nonchalantly brought up a topic that was tantamount to Namgung Hui's weakness.

In a martial arts duel, it was similar to unleashing an ultimate technique the moment the opponent yielded the first move.

Heo Yeongman calmly wiped his face and spoke.

"Young Master. The fact that I brought this up means that my original purpose is not the gold ingots and the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron. And it also means that we are that desperate."

This time, Namgung Hui decided to unleash his own ultimate technique.

"Well, if the guild master's granddaughter is on the verge of death from Severed Meridians, I suppose you would be very desperate."

"!!?"

Heo Yeongman, who had maintained his composure until now, spat out his tea.

Fortunately, he didn't spray it like Namgung Hui, so it just flowed down his own beard.

"Where on earth did you hear that?"

"And how did you, General Manager, know that I had acquired those items?"

It was a matter they were both bound to be curious about.

Namgung Hui had guessed based on the knowledge from his past life, so Heo Yeongman would not be able to understand.

And Namgung Hui couldn't even guess how he had found out, since the head of the Hao Faction had supposedly taken care of the gold ingots.

The one who solved the mystery first was General Manager Heo Yeongman.

He was so desperate that he immediately confessed where he had heard it.

"I found out from the Hao Faction. To find this out, about half of the spies we had planted were lost. It cost a lot of money too."

For a guild of the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild's stature, there was no law saying they couldn't buy people with money.

Moreover, it seemed that those who knew the importance of information would go so far as to plant spies like this.

Receiving information faster than others would itself bring in enormous wealth.

"But the Hao Faction would only know the origin of the gold ingots. How did you know about the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron?"

"Naturally, since the gold ingots and the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron were together, I guessed as much. Then how did you, Young Master, know that the Young Guild Lady has Severed Meridians?"

"Well, I couldn't think of any other reason to mobilize both gold ingots and Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron at the same time. Weren't you trying to acquire an antidote with the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron and buy a spiritual medicine with the gold ingots? Well, I wasn't 100% sure, just about 80 or 90% sure. There's no particular reason to need Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron for an incurable disease."

Heo Yeongman nodded his head slightly as if he understood.

But unlike Heo Yeongman, Namgung Hui was still puzzled.

If they hadn't come to retrieve the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron and the gold ingots, then why on earth had they come to him?

The head of the Divine Physician Sect, who was at the Namgung estate, would be more helpful.

In the first place, the cure for Severed Meridians was created by the previous head of the Divine Physician Sect.

"But you're saying the reason you came to see me was not to get the items back?"

"Yes. To be precise, I came for treatment. We desperately need your cooperation, Young Master. Please save our Young Guild Lady!"

"No. I was planning to do so, but what are you asking me to help with? What ability do I have?"

"Actually, before I came to see you, Young Master, I met with the Heavenly Strategist. I'm sure you are not unfamiliar with the Heavenly Strategist, Young Master?"

Namgung Hui was well aware of the Heavenly Strategist.

He was none other than Jegal Geon's paternal grandfather.

Jegal Geon had boasted about him so much since he was young that his ears were about to fall off.

"Isn't he the greatest mind of the Jegal family? Of course, I know him."

"Yes. I had a conversation with him regarding Severed Meridians, and he said that, in fact, resolving it through the harmony of yin and yang has the fewest side effects."

The harmony of yin and yang was a principle that formed the foundation of the world, so Namgung Hui was not ignorant of it.

"But is there a connection between achieving the harmony of yin and yang and the reason you came to see me?"

"Ahem... By any chance, Young Master. Do you not handle an energy called Thunder Energy?"

Namgung Hui sensed that the time had come.

Thunder Energy was a very unique energy, so if they had been tracking Namgung Hui's movements, there was no way they wouldn't know.

In the first place, there were many who saw his fight with the Lake Chao Sect.

Namgung Hui had revealed the martial arts of the Thunder Sect without hiding them, so there were bound to be many witnesses.

Since his only enemy was the Demonic Cult, and there was no way Namgung Hui would be afraid of them, there was no need to hide it.

'The Heavenly Strategist would know about the Thunder Sect. And he would be able to deduce a treatment method applying it.'

"It seems the Heavenly Strategist gave you some advice."

"Yes. He said that Thunder Energy, being an energy of extreme yang, is one of the few means that can break through severed meridians."

"But do you believe that's possible at my level?"

Heo Yeongman was about to say something for a moment, but then corrected his posture and said.

"Ahem... I cannot give you the detailed story. For now, how about you return to the guild and hear the details from the Guild Master? We would like to return quickly as the matter is urgent."

'Well, shall I go and hear what they have to say? It's a matter I was planning to go to anyway.'

Better to get the beating over with first.

Namgung Hui also wanted to resolve the pressing matter first.

It was a problem that had been subtly grating on his nerves, so he felt like he wanted to pull out a sore tooth quickly.

'And if I can help when someone's life is on the line, it's right to do so. That was the chivalry and the way of Namgung that my sworn brother spoke of.'

"Ah. Then, before we go, may I just meet with the head of the Divine Physician Sect? I think I need to get some restorative medicine."

"The head of the Divine Physician Sect is here?"

"Yes. Then please wait a moment. I will just pack my things and come."

"Please do."

As Namgung Hui left the reception hall, a meaningful expression appeared on Heo Yeongman's face.

But there was no one there to see it.

'Still, for now, he passes.'

* * *

Namgung Hui gave the Thunder Liquor to the head of the Divine Physician Sect and received a restorative decoction, Gwanjeon-tang (Complete Preservation Decoction).

In fact, Gwanjeon-tang was a decoction highly sought after by the imperial family.

The 'Gwan' in its name meant blood vessel, and Gwanjeon-tang was a decoction created to preserve the blood vessels of overweight officials, whose vessels were not in good condition.

Of course, just as it protected the blood vessels, it also had the effect of protecting the meridians.

One might ask how such a mere decoction could handle Thunder Energy, but this was not the only thing Namgung Hui had prepared.

'The Nine Yang Pill. Taking this with it will double the effect.'

It was a pill made by combining nine types of yang energy.

It also had the effect of somewhat loosening hardened, severed meridians.

On top of that, it had a synergistic effect with Gwanjeon-tang, a pill that had proven its remarkable effectiveness in his past life.

'With this, the preparations are complete. Shall I say goodbye to Seolhwa and leave? Father will be busy, so it should be fine if I just leave a message with Cho-hwa.'

And so, Namgung Hui headed towards the Changyeon Pavilion with quick steps to meet Baek Seolhwa.

But even after arriving at the Changyeon Pavilion, he could not meet her.

"So you're the child named Namgung Hui. Indeed. You have a handsome face."

A middle-aged woman blocked his path.

There could only be one middle-aged person staying at the Changyeon Pavilion.

"Palace Lady of the Moon Maiden Palace. I offer my greetings, though belated. I am Namgung Hui, a humble junior of the martial world."

Namgung Hui politely performed a fist-and-palm salute.

Calling himself a humble junior of the martial world.

It was an awkward phrase, but for some reason, it felt right to use it with the Moon Maiden Palace Lady.

Looking at her, he felt as if he was reminded of his mother, whose memory was faint.

'Besides, she is Seolhwa's master, so it should be fine.'

And based on the memories of his past life, the successive Moon Maiden Palace Ladys did not have particularly good personalities.

That was why, even in his past life, he had built a slight friendship but could not get close.

"Still, unlike your slick appearance, your manners are proper. I suppose I can permit you to be friends."

"Thank you, Palace Lady. Then, I was hoping to meet Seolhwa for a moment before I go. May I pass?"

"That, you cannot do, child."

Namgung Hui was about to let out a deep sigh with a "just as I thought" feeling, but suddenly the Moon Maiden Palace Lady changed her words.

"No. If you pass my test, I will let you meet her. Would you care to try?"

"I don't have much time, so may I hear what it is first?"

"It is simple. You just have to block three of my techniques."

Three techniques didn't sound too difficult.

Namgung Hui, who had recently made an achievement, felt a competitive spirit stir within him.

He had occasionally exchanged blows with the Moon Maiden Palace Ladys in his past life, so it wouldn't be too dangerous.

"Very well. Then."

Namgung Hui launched himself forward without warning.

He didn't have time anyway, and he believed she could easily block a surprise attack.

Namgung Hui extended his leg and unleashed the Thunder Severing Kick.

-Swish! Thwack.

As expected, the Moon Maiden Palace Lady used a fluid footwork and easily deflected Namgung Hui's surprise attack.

But Namgung Hui was not discouraged.

He unleashed a chain of attacks again, cornering the Moon Maiden Palace Lady.

The flustered Palace Lady, this time, blocked Namgung Hui's fist with her scabbard instead of using footwork.

"You brat. I told you to receive my techniques. Where did you learn to launch surprise attacks?"

"Well, you just used one technique. Now there are two left."

"Look at this brat. I see how you managed to seduce Seolhwa with your cunning. Fine. There are still two techniques left, so try and receive them."

Yu Seolran thought that two techniques were more than enough.

She had been caught by a surprise attack, but she judged that Namgung Hui, who was only in the ranks of the younger generation, would never be able to block them.

Yu Seolran drew her sword from its scabbard.

In an instant, the air seemed to freeze solid.

The atmosphere trembled.

-Fwoooosh...

In the heightened atmosphere, Yu Seolran quickly thrust her sword.

A white sword energy flew towards Namgung Hui's brow.

As if with the intention of leaving a scratch on Namgung Hui's handsome face.

Namgung Hui also inwardly clicked his tongue at the fiercer-than-expected attack.

Moreover, since his sword had not yet been made, he had to receive the attack with his bare hands.

'Now should be fine to use that.'

Having reached the 8th star of the Divine Thunder Art, he should be able to use the latter half of the techniques without restraint.

Namgung Hui wrapped his two fists in Thunder Energy.

The secret technique of the Thunder Strike Fist, Thunder Eruption.

-Ziiiing!

The overheated fists emitted a flash of light.

And soon, the flash and the white sword energy collided.

-Boom!

It was just a clash between sword energy and a flash of light, but an explosion was heard.

The explosion carried a considerable amount of energy waves, scattering the debris lying around.

The chilly air heated up in an instant.

The same was true for Yu Seolran's inner thoughts.

Her disciple Baek Seolhwa, and the Namgung Hui before her, were no ordinary people.

Her interest piqued, Yu Seolran unleashed a half-moon sword energy and used her footwork.

Namgung Hui also responded with the flash of light wrapped around his fists.

-Kang! Boom! Boom!

The three techniques had long since passed.

But Namgung Hui had no room to speak, so he could only focus on blocking Yu Seolran's techniques.

-Rumble!

A deflected half-moon sword energy demolished an innocent wall.

It was now hard to find a completely intact wall in the Namgung estate.

'At this rate, our family estate will collapse.'

Namgung Hui had no time to worry about the estate because of the relentlessly attacking Yu Seolran.

He himself was in immediate danger, so all he could do was deflect her attacks.

Namgung Hui's worry did not end as a groundless fear.

The half-moon sword energy that Namgung Hui deflected this time flew towards an innocent pavilion.

Namgung Hui belatedly thought "oops," but the half-moon sword energy was already reaching the pavilion.

-Swhoooosh!

And then, the half-moon sword energy that was about to destroy the pavilion was extinguished by someone.

(End of Chapter)