Rebirth of the Thunder God

The Tang family head continued with a sly smile.

"I want to monitor you for a while to see if you leak the incantations or not. I trust you will understand this much."

In a way, it might have been a matter of course.

As the Tang family head had said, there were many suspicious points to just believe Namgung Hui's words.

It was a great favor that he had restored the secret manual of the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers.

But for an ancestor to suddenly appear in a dream and tell him this fact was something hard to believe.

Even if he understood the Namgung family's Boundless Azure Sky Sword Art, it would be difficult to easily accept the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers, a martial art of another family.

'If the suspicion ends at this level, it's actually a cheap price to pay.'

If the Tang family head had not believed Namgung Hui's words and had interrogated him, it would have been quite troublesome.

He had even thought of revealing the Azure Sky Pavilion if the problem escalated, but it seemed he wouldn't have to go that far.

Of course, since he had cleverly left traces inside the Azure Sky Pavilion, he wasn't too worried.

"Then when will the surveillance start?"

"I was thinking of starting right away. Soso. Come in."

As the Tang family head's words fell, the door opened and a woman entered.

She looked a couple of years younger than Namgung Hui, but because of her sharp eyes, she didn't look so easy.

Moreover, perhaps because of her unusually bright red lips, she even looked somewhat eerie.

Nevertheless, it was undeniable that she was a great beauty.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Young Master Namgung Hui. I am Tang Soso, and though I am unworthy, I am the young lady of the Tang family."

"As you may already know, I am Namgung Hui, the youngest son of the Namgung family. So, this young lady here will be monitoring me?"

Namgung Hui finished his words and turned his head to look at the Tang family head.

"That's about right. Why? Are you uncomfortable because she's a woman?"

"To be honest, I am uncomfortable. Moreover, I'm still a bachelor, and if there are any unnecessary rumors..."

"Ah. That's fine. No one would dare to spread such rumors about our Tang family. Unless their guts are hanging out."

As the Tang family head had said, no one would dare to spread rumors about the Tang family.

Unless they wanted to worry about being poisoned every time they ate.

Namgung Hui looked at Tang Soso with a reluctant expression.

He was reluctant simply because she was a woman, but above all.

'The fact that she's not in my memory means she had no connection with our family... Suddenly, she's attached as a monitor? It means there's some kind of scheme.'

Perhaps there would be surveillance on the secrets Namgung Hui was hiding, that is, the Thunder Sect, or the people Namgung Hui would meet in the future.

And it seemed there was another purpose besides the leakage of the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers.

If the purpose was really surveillance, he would have attached the elders of the Tang family, who were masters superior to Tang Soso.

There were even elders who were acquainted with Namgung Hui.

'Let's see if I'll be taken in so easily.'

In terms of substance, Namgung Hui was older than the Tang family head.

He was determined not to fall for the Tang family head's sly scheme.

"Don't look at me so fiercely. It's called a monitor, but it would be more comfortable to think of her as a helper. That would be more comfortable for both you and Soso."

"So be it. Then, returning to the main topic, may I ask about the second compensation?"

The 5,000 silver taels, 100 blue steel swords, and 2 high-grade poison-resisting pearls that the elders of the Tang family had offered as the first compensation.

This alone was a huge price, but Namgung Hui was looking forward to the second compensation that the Tang family head himself had brought.

Could he perhaps receive a treasure of the Tang family, such as an elixir or a hidden weapon, or some other divine object?

"Ah. As for the second compensation, I have already given it to the Namgung Family Head. If you're really curious, ask the Namgung Family Head."

Seeing that he had given it to his father first, it seemed it wasn't something Namgung Hui particularly needed.

And since he had given it to his father, he didn't want to take it away.

What Namgung Hui needed right now was just an elixir, so even if it was a little regrettable, he could yield it to his father.

'Besides, the elixirs of the Sichuan Tang family have a lot of poison ki, so they're not compatible with me. There's a high probability that most of the ki will be burned by the Purple Thunder Ki.'

Still, he would have to ask what he had received.

Because Namgung Hui might be able to give some advice.

Namgung Hui nodded and took out the latter half of the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers.

Now, if he just handed this over, the deal with the Sichuan Tang family was practically over.

Although there was a nominal surveillance attached, he planned to shake it off gradually.

He wouldn't be stuck with her throughout the Martial Alliance tournament, would he?

If he did, only bad rumors would arise for Tang Soso.

Namgung Hui also didn't welcome such rumors, so he planned to thoroughly distance himself from her.

As Namgung Hui took out the secret manual, not only the Tang family head but also Tang Soso's eyes flashed with fire.

A hot and direct desire.

Since the restoration of the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers was the long-cherished wish of the Sichuan Tang family, it was a natural reaction.

The Tang family head swallowed his saliva and opened his mouth.

"Young Hero Namgung. Is that really the latter half of the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers?"

"Yes. It would be faster to see it in person than to hear about it. Here."

Namgung Hui slowly handed over the secret manual, teasing them.

The Tang family head, who received it, couldn't control his trembling hands, even though he was already a considerable master.

His trembling hands turned the cover of the secret manual.

Gulp.

Tang Soso, who was watching from the side, also swallowed her dry saliva.

It felt as if time had stopped for an eternity.

Neither the Tang family head nor Tang Soso breathed as they savored the secret manual.

How long had that quiet time passed?

"Indeed! It is the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers! It must be genuine."

To say it was genuine, half of it was written by Namgung Hui.

And since it was an improved version, not a copy, the stake might have been over half.

Although the price Namgung Hui had received was great, the insight of that Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers was more than worth it.

'Still, it's a martial art that's useless outside of the Sichuan Tang family.'

The Tang family head looked at Namgung Hui with eyes that burned even more brightly.

This time, greed overflowed as if to devour Namgung Hui.

"Yes. No one but me would recognize this value. The elders must not have known its potential value. And."

The Tang family head brought his face close to Namgung Hui's and continued.

"I think I know why the Martial God left his insight. In fact, this... is superior to the original Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers. I guarantee it. I hate to admit it, but it's true."

He admitted a fact he hated to admit at once.

He was making a judgment as cold as the name of the Sichuan Tang family, the cold-blooded ones.

This was why the members of the Tang family were scary.

They seemed to engage in revenge emotionally, but when it came to making a judgment, they were as cold as ice.

Namgung Hui, since he was not their enemy and was closer to a benefactor, calmly received the Tang family head's gaze.

"Yes. In fact, I thought so too. I wonder if the Poison King and the Martial God were close in their later years."

'It's not a lie. In fact, it was a friendship that was not a friendship, which arose because I had peeked at the secret manual.'

In the process of the Thunder God finding out the secret manual of the Poison King and the method to detoxify the ten poisons of the Tang family, it was only natural that bad feelings would arise.

Could the Poison King's poison ki be suppressed so obediently with the Thunder Ki torture?

The stubborn nature of the Tang family was not something that could be handled so easily.

Then, if there was a stick, there must be a carrot.

His sworn brother and Martial God, Namgung Cheonhu, had gently soothed the Poison King.

'Hoho, I caught a snake in Nanman not long ago, and wouldn't you know it, it has two heads and horns. Would you like to take a look, Poison King? Ah, and there's also a large centipede I caught in Xinjiang.'

Their identities were the Single-Horned Twin-Headed Snake and the Red-Scaled Centipede, which were no different from spiritual beasts.

It was a carrot that could sufficiently soothe the Poison King's heart.

"Still, I have no intention of withdrawing the surveillance. Hmm... yes. Soso also needs to memorize this latter half, so I'll give you five days. Please be prepared by then."

Five days was like a welcome rain for Namgung Hui.

Because he had a need to visit the Thunder Sect without anyone knowing.

'I needed to get the Thunder Liquor, so this is a good thing. And with the newly learned Wind God Step, I should be able to go and come back in three days.'

As Namgung Hui nodded with a satisfied expression, this time the Tang family head took something out from under his desk and handed it to Namgung Hui.

As soon as it appeared, Chichi flinched in his bosom.

In other words, it was the appearance of a clearly precious item.

Although it was wrapped in a cloth, its shape was clearly a scabbard.

"This is the Thunder God Sword you ordered. As befitting its arrogant name, I made it really cool, so you should be fully satisfied. And I've also put in two daggers, so there will be a time when they will be useful."

This time, Namgung Hui's hands trembled as he accepted the Thunder God Sword.

Finally, Namgung Hui would be able to perform the Heavenly Thunder Sword Art as he pleased.

Because the Thunder Ki, which had become even stronger with the Purple Thunder Ki, could not be handled by anything other than the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron.

As Namgung Hui removed the cloth it was wrapped in, a scabbard with a dark luster appeared.

Even the scabbard felt the touch of an extraordinary artisan.

As Namgung Hui was savoring it, the smiling Tang family head continued.

"Try drawing it here. So you don't complain later that it's a defective product."

The artisans of the Tang family had handled the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron, so how could there be a defective product?

The Tang family head's intention was to see Namgung Hui's admiring expression.

Namgung Hui, thinking it would be fine to show such a side, readily drew the sword.

-Shhhring.

With a clear metallic sound, a dark sword body was revealed.

As expected, since the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron was used whole, the cold ki emanating from the sword body was clearly felt.

As if the sharp edge would cut one's neck in an instant.

Namgung Hui immediately flicked the sword body with his finger.

-Ting...

A clear and pure sword cry spread through the air.

It had a beautiful tone, as if it had become a musical instrument.

The sword cry did not stop there.

-Woong woong!

This time, a joyful sword cry rang out, as if it had met its master after a long time.

At that sight, the Tang family head showed a slightly surprised expression.

"Hoho. Treasures have their owners. It seems the Thunder God Sword has recognized you as its master. When we held it, it didn't even make a sound. It's a little vexing. We were the ones who made the Thunder God Sword."

Namgung Hui, with a satisfied smile, sheathed the Thunder God Sword.

Because he planned to appreciate the Thunder God Sword in earnest when he returned to his quarters.

"It seems there's nothing left to give and receive, so I will return to my quarters now. I will see you in five days, Miss Tang."

"Yes. Alright."

Namgung Hui performed a fist-and-palm salute to the Tang family head and carefully left the room.

Although he seemed to be moving slowly, his steps were so fast that he left the spot in an instant.

Because it was a mysterious footwork imbued with the subtlety of the Wind God Step.

As Namgung Hui disappeared, the head of the Tang family, Tang Cheonsang, looked at Tang Soso and said.

"How was it?"

"For now, shall I say it's not bad? He's only been up from his sickbed for a short time, but his ki is considerable. And he didn't even flinch when he saw me. There's usually a reaction, whether it's dislike or liking, right?"

"Yes. Even though you're my daughter, there are more than one or two who freeze up when they see you. Hmm... for now, shall we give him a passing grade?"

* * *

Namgung Hui, having taken the Thunder God Sword, quickly left the estate.

As they say, strike while the iron is hot.

If he delayed such a matter, it would surely become troublesome.

What if someone wanted to accompany him to the Thunder Sect?

Although the location had been unintentionally revealed to Baek Seolhwa, it had to be kept strictly secret.

Choyeon might say she would follow.

And Tang Soso might join him sooner than planned.

'And it's not just a matter of getting the Thunder Liquor. I also have to visit my sister-in-law.'

Namgung Hui's brother, the young family head Namgung Chan, had already started a family.

However, due to the operation of the Azure Sky Escort Service, Namgung Hui's sister-in-law, Wi Jiseona, was in charge of the household.

He wasn't just visiting for his sister-in-law's well-being.

Because there was a matter where he needed to use the power of the Azure Sky Escort Service.

On the contrary, Namgung Hui was going to ask Wi Jiseona for a certain task.

And so, he ran all day with the Wind God Step.

He soon arrived at Mount Huang, where the Thunder Sect was located.

As he took a deep breath of the fresh air and rested for a moment.

-Ting. Ting! Clang!

The sound of weapons clashing was heard.

It seemed a fight had broken out nearby.

(End of Chapter)