Rebirth of the Thunder God

'The Hao Faction Head!'

Why was the Hao Faction Head at the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild?

He should have returned to the Hao Faction headquarters to prepare for a battle with the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance.

'Wait. Could it be that the Hao Faction Head leaked my information?'

As Namgung Hui looked at him with suspicious eyes, the Hao Faction Head quickly spoke up.

"Hoho. Welcome, my lay disciple."

"Faction Head. What is the meaning of this?"

"Do you not see me? I am the owner of this house, yet there is not a single greeting. Tsk."

Realizing his mistake, Namgung Hui quickly bowed his head and greeted the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild Master.

"I am Namgung Hui, the youngest son of the Namgung family. It is an honor to meet the greatest merchant in the Central Plains."

"Do you truly think it's an honor? Martial artists have a tendency to look down on merchants."

Not just martial artists. Scholars also looked down on merchants who only cared about money, calling them money demons.

But Namgung Hui, who knew well the frightening power of money, did not think so.

He had learned it to his core from the moment he became an orphan in his past life.

Moreover, the great merchant Eun Chunghyeon, with his sharp, imposing eyes, did not have the look of someone who could be easily ignored.

"Who would dare to disrespect the Guild Master? With an appearance like a tiger, no one would dare to act carelessly."

"I look like a tiger? Is that a compliment?"

"Would it be a slander?"

"Look at this one. Even when I say I look like a tiger, he doesn't back down and retorts well. Are you being sincere?"

"I too will become a dragon, so I am simply not afraid of a tiger."

"Hoh. A truly bold child. A man should have such spirit. Good. Very good."

It was a good thing that the other person saw him in a favorable light.

But Namgung Hui did not want to engage in small talk for long.

"Then, Guild Master. May we get straight to the point? Regarding the matter of Miss Eun here."

"Alright. Let's stop the small talk. Rin, come here for a moment."

"Yes, Guild Master."

Eun Seolrin led her slender body and walked in front of Eun Chunghyeon.

Despite her slender body, her steps were steady.

Eun Chunghyeon looked at Eun Seolrin with his sharp eyes.

Then.

"My granddaughter. You have suffered much all this time."

He gently hugged Eun Seolrin and sat her on his lap.

The very picture of a grandfather comforting his granddaughter.

It was a very heartwarming scene to behold.

-Drip. Drip. Drip.

Tears like jade beads flowed down Eun Seolrin's cheeks.

Was it because the years of fighting the Ice Soul Poison had been so hard?

Namgung Hui, having experienced the Ice Soul Poison himself, could fully understand her feelings.

'Still, to see a person who seems so cold shed tears like that, it does look different.'

That was because Namgung Hui had a preconceived notion about the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild.

Not just Namgung Hui, but everyone in the Central Plains would think of the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild as heartless, bloodless merchants.

After all, Namgung Hui's own brother, Namgung Chan, thought so.

'Jegal Geon also didn't speak well of the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild.'

To become one of the three great merchant guilds in the Central Plains, one had to be ruthless.

If one considered this person and that person and showed compassion, one could never reach the status of one of the three great merchant guilds.

That was why the scene before him struck Namgung Hui as new.

To him, the Eun grandfather and granddaughter did not seem like such ruthless people.

Rather, it felt like they were trying hard to appear so.

Like a small Yue bird (peacock) packaging itself with its splendid tail feathers.

Eun Chunghyeon, having thoroughly examined Eun Seolrin's body, turned his gaze to Namgung Hui.

"Yes. My granddaughter is indeed fully cured. In that case, I will forget about the gold ingots."

Namgung Hui let out a sigh of relief, but at the same time, he felt a sense of doubt.

"You mean not the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron?"

"That's right. Isn't that obvious? Who would give 10 gold ingots as a treatment fee? Even the head of the Divine Physician Sect wouldn't accept that much."

"Isn't that place naturally not a place that sells medical skills for money? Then is your granddaughter's life worth only 10 gold ingots?"

"You should speak correctly. It's 10 gold ingots. Who would give 10 gold ingots for their granddaughter?"

Eun Chunghyeon's words were not exactly wrong.

It was because it was the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild that they offered 10 gold ingots as a treatment fee.

In silver alone, it was ten thousand taels, and that was an amount of money one would be hard-pressed to see in a lifetime.

'But detoxifying the Ice Soul Poison is a more difficult task than that 10,000 taels.'

If Namgung Hui hadn't finished the treatment first, this bargain would have naturally been won by Namgung Hui.

But the granddaughter was already fully cured.

And Eun Chunghyeon held the justification.

"So you're telling me to hand over the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron?"

"Not necessarily, but if you really can't grant my request, then I suppose I'll have to."

A smirk escaped Namgung Hui's lips.

He had certainly done his part.

What if he had had a bad heart?

He could have just played dumb from the beginning.

Or he could have staged a show of force.

In the first place, it wasn't something Namgung Hui had stolen, but merely a spoil of war obtained by cutting down an enemy.

But because he was a Namgung.

He treated Eun Seolrin with the thought that a person should do their duty.

And then, after treating Eun Seolrin, he intended to claim his share of the gold ingots and the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron.

"You find this amusing? Then what will you do if I say I will retrieve the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron?"

"Go ahead and try. It would be interesting to see how the other party reacts."

The Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron. It would surely be a great treasure to the artisans of the Tang family.

But the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers manual that Namgung Hui had given them was, to the other martial artists of the Tang family, a peerless divine art that surpassed the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron.

Since he had said he would show it directly to the family head, there was no way he would give up the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers manual and side with the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild.

'I haven't even given him the latter half yet, so he must be burning with anticipation.'

By now, the artisans of the Tang family would have arrived at the Tang family's fortress.

They would be passing the manual around, verifying its authenticity.

In fact, there was no need for that; if the family head saw it, he would not doubt that it was a supreme martial art.

Because it was the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers restored by the Thunder God himself.

Namgung Hui, thinking he had done his duty, judged that it would be fine to back down now.

He had no doubt that the Sichuan Tang family would take care of the share of the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron that Eun Chunghyeon was claiming.

The Tang family head was one of the ten great masters, known as the Poison King.

He would not be ignorant of the value of the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers.

As Namgung Hui mercilessly turned around and headed for the door, the Hao Faction Head quickly shouted.

"Hey! Lay disciple. Stop for a moment. And you too, you should bargain while looking at your opponent. Should you treat your benefactor like that?"

At the Hao Faction Head's scolding, Eun Chunghyeon's nose twitched as he said.

"Who would have thought he would have a stronger spirit than me? He truly is a boy who will become a dragon. This Martial Alliance tournament will be quite noisy."

"Lay disciple. Come here. Actually, that's not what this friend was trying to say."

"Then what was he trying to say?"

"You have to come here for me to tell you."

Namgung Hui, as if he had no choice, moved his feet again.

He approached closer to Eun Chunghyeon than before and opened his mouth.

"What is it you have to say?"

"I will yield the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron to you. I trust you are well aware of how great an item it is. Then you must also grant my request, right?"

Namgung Hui nodded and said.

"Yes. If it is a request I can grant, then by all means."

In fact, it was best to resolve it cleanly with the person involved like this.

For the sake of the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron, there was no request he couldn't grant.

As Eun Chunghyeon had said, the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron was no ordinary treasure.

Eun Chunghyeon nodded with a satisfied smile.

"Of course, it's a request you can grant. You, have you ever thought of working for our guild?"

Namgung Hui couldn't answer immediately at the unexpected proposal.

After a brief pause, he continued.

"Me, work for the guild? I probably don't know how to do anything."

"Why wouldn't you? Your cultivation level seems extraordinary, so wouldn't you be perfect as my granddaughter's bodyguard? Especially since that girl Sowol betrayed us, I can't trust anyone from the inside. Tsk."

Namgung Hui found himself nodding.

Although the Namgung family was currently suffering from financial difficulties, its past fame had not gone anywhere.

The Namgung, famous for its righteousness.

The Namgung were worthy of trust.

But Namgung Hui was not keen on this matter.

'Well, I have to prepare for the Martial Alliance tournament too.'

Complacency was forbidden.

Of course, Namgung Hui didn't think he would lose to any of the younger generation, but he had to check his body and pack the necessary items for the Martial Alliance tournament.

The Thunder God Sword to be made from the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron was one such preparation.

Namgung Hui shook his head and said.

"That would be a bit difficult. I have to participate in the upcoming Martial Alliance tournament."

"There's still about a month until the Martial Alliance tournament. And you entrusted the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron to the Sichuan Tang family, didn't you?"

Namgung Hui glanced at the Hao Faction Head next to him and continued.

"Yes. Because there is no one else who can handle the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron. So I asked them to make a sword."

"Well, I didn't ask with the intention of stealing it, so don't be too guarded. Anyway. It will take quite some time to make a sword from the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron. It will take at least a fortnight."

That was something Namgung Hui also acknowledged.

With the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron, it wouldn't be strange if it took over a month.

Of course, the artisans of the Tang family would surely speed it up.

Wanting to see the latter half of the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers, the artisans would devote all their energy to the work.

"That's why I'm saying this. I'll shorten that period for you. In return, how about you guard my Rin for that period? Not bad, right?"

With the support of the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild, including the four-horse carriage and material support, the period would indeed be shortened.

But.

"Then it's not me granting you a request, is it?"

This had to be seen as a fair trade.

In a way, it was more beneficial to Namgung Hui.

Of course, there was no bodyguard as good as Namgung Hui, but as a request in exchange for the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron, it was somewhat lacking.

"That's how well you have to guard my Rin for a fortnight."

It seemed his love for his granddaughter was greater than he thought.

Well, her appearance was also beautiful, and to have reached the position of Young Guild Mistress, her abilities must also be outstanding.

From a grandfather's point of view, it was perfectly understandable to cherish his granddaughter.

"Understood. Then I will guard the Young Guild Mistress for a fortnight."

"Yes. You've decided well. It might be a good opportunity for you too."

"A good opportunity?"

"Ah. I didn't mention it. That's also why the Hao Faction Head is here. Will you explain? I think it would be better than me doing it. To clear up any misunderstandings as well."

At Eun Chunghyeon's words, the Hao Faction Head nodded and continued.

"Yes. My lay disciple also needs to clear up his misunderstandings. The reason I came is none other than the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance."

"The Heretic Practitioners' Alliance, you say?"

"Rin's illness is all because of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance. In fact, it was thanks to them that you obtained the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron and the gold ingots."

What Namgung Hui had obtained was actually thanks to the Green Forest Bandits, but it seemed it was possible because the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance and the Green Forest Bandits had colluded.

Namgung Hui had also guessed as much.

'The reason they banded together, could it be the Hoicheon Association...?'

"Are you saying they are the Hoicheon Association?"

"As expected. I knew you would figure it out right away. That's why I came all this way. If it were just dealing with the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance, it would be difficult for the Hao Faction alone to handle the 'Association'."

Nod nod.

Namgung Hui also inwardly thought that the Hoicheon Association would be more frightening than the revived Blood Cult.

The elder of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance was also a member of the Hoicheon Association, and the master of the Crouching Tiger Fortress also had the jade plaque of the Hoicheon Association.

"If I guard Miss Eun Seolrin, they might target her again."

"That's right. That's why I asked you. A trustworthy person who is also hostile to the Hoicheon Association. There are not many of them."

"Very well. For a fortnight, I will thoroughly guard Miss Eun."

There was no longer any reason or need for Namgung Hui to refuse.

On the contrary, it had become an opportunity for Namgung Hui.

"Now my granddaughter also needs to rest, so you should be on your way."

"Yes. Then I will take my leave. And I will see the Hao Faction Head separately later."

To interrogate him now, Eun Seolrin also seemed to need rest.

And it would be better to have a private meeting with just the two of them.

'I'll have to tenaciously extort him on the pretext of him selling my information.'

He was in need of information anyway.

The movements of the Blood Cult, the movements of the Mount Hua Sect.

And the state of the martial world that Namgung Hui still didn't know.

That was material that would be very helpful in the upcoming Martial Alliance tournament.

Namgung Hui exchanged a strange look with the Hao Faction Head and exited the office.

Eun Seolrin also bowed to Eun Chunghyeon and scurried out.

As Namgung Hui disappeared, the Hao Faction Head asked Eun Chunghyeon.

"What do you think?"

"He's an amazing child. Not only did he withstand my Tiger Eye Art, but he was also unshaken by your formation."

"It's been a long time since a dragon has appeared. That's why we have more reason to embrace him. To deal with the Hoicheon Association, we won't be enough on our own."

* * *

Namgung Hui had nothing to do, to the point where the word 'bodyguard' was meaningless.

All he had done for the past few days was to loosen Eun Seolrin's tense muscles whenever she looked tired.

Of course, relieving fatigue with Thunder Energy was not something anyone could receive.

In fact, it was Namgung Hui's first time trying it.

He had no disciples or children.

"Thank you, Young Master Namgung Hui. Thanks to you, I feel much relieved."

"Don't mention it. I just did my duty as a bodyguard. By the way, you still have a pile of work."

Eun Seolrin spent her days busy, with no time to even breathe, as she dealt with the backlog of work.

Normally, one would rest for a while after getting up from a sickbed, but Eun Seolrin never had a day off.

And so, about five days passed.

But, when the seventh night had passed.

-Rustle.

Under the cover of dawn, someone was sneaking into Eun Seolrin's quarters.

(End of Chapter)