Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Aunt!"

Namgung Hui looked at the young girl running out and then looked around.

There was not a single woman among the escort service group.

Then who was the little lady calling 'aunt'?

No matter how much he thought, he couldn't figure it out.

That little lady stopped her body in front of Namgung Hui.

"You're my aunt, right?"

"Me, an aunt? What do you mean...?"

Only then did Namgung Hui read something in the little lady's face.

'Ah! She's the spitting image of my sister-in-law. This child was born after I collapsed, so she's about 10 years old, a similar age. Then...'

Namgung Hui, having realized the little lady's identity, nodded and spoke.

"I don't know who told you, but I am your uncle."

"Huh? A pretty person like you is a man? You're prettier than my mom..."

He couldn't tell if this was flattery or a joke for his sister-in-law to hear.

Only a smirk escaped his lips.

Namgung Hui, perhaps because he found his niece, whom he was seeing for the first time, so cute, lifted her up and said.

"My princess. Shall we go inside and talk for a bit?"

"Okay! Hehe."

It seemed Namgung Hui's handsome appearance worked well regardless of age.

Since children are naturally honest, his splendid appearance made it easier to break down their guard.

As he brought his young niece into the estate, a young woman ran out from the pavilion.

"Namgung Yeonji! Didn't mom tell you not to run out suddenly? What if you get hit by a carriage!"

The woman's identity was none other than Namgung Hui's sister-in-law, Wi Jiseona.

"Mom! Aunt, no, uncle is here!"

"Uncle? Could this be the young master?"

"Yes, sister-in-law. It's me, Namgung Hui. It's been a long time, hasn't it? You don't seem to have aged at all, sister-in-law. No one would believe you're a mother."

"I've gotten so many wrinkles lately... Oh! We shouldn't be standing here like this, please come in. I was just preparing a meal."

Originally, the wife of the young family head would become the future matriarch of the Namgung family.

So she wouldn't do work that involved getting her hands wet like this.

Although Namgung Hui had said she didn't look like she had aged, as she had said, her hands and other places were full of traces of hardship.

'She's my only sister-in-law, so I'll have to treat her well from now on. She must have suffered a lot.'

There was a saying, "One can know without seeing."

Could Namgung Chan have established the escort service on his own, away from the family?

It would be absolutely impossible.

It would have been possible because of the martial power of the Azure Sky Brigade, as well as Wi Jiseona's support from behind the scenes.

Namgung Hui scanned the interior of the Azure Sky Escort Service and entered the pavilion.

As Wi Jiseona had said, a table was full of food, and even though the table was already full, maids were constantly bringing more food.

Namgung Hui was worried that the table legs might break.

'Still, the escort service business seems to be doing well. At this rate, I won't have to worry too much.'

It wasn't that he would neglect it, but it seemed he had put one worry to rest.

If he used his friendship with the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild in the future, the future of the Azure Sky Escort Service would be even brighter.

"Brother-in-law. But was there an attack on the way?"

"That's right. We were attacked by the Green Forest bandits, but fortunately, Hui here helped us, and we returned safely."

"The young master? As far as I know, the young master is not a master."

"Well, it seems he has obtained what is commonly called a fortuitous encounter in the martial world. Let's eat first and talk more."

"Ah. Yes. You must be hungry, so please eat a lot. There's plenty of food."

As Namgung Jincheon began to eat, the members of the Azure Sky Brigade also busily moved their chopsticks.

Namgung Yeonji, as if she were also hungry, moved her cute mouth diligently next to Namgung Hui.

"Uncle! Try this! It's really delicious!"

"Yeonji. Didn't I tell you not to talk when you have food in your mouth?"

"Hmph! I'll be full from mom's nagging."

"If you keep doing that, I won't buy you candy."

"I'll ask my uncle here to buy it for me. Dad said my uncle is rich~"

Wi Jiseona, having also heard from Namgung Chan, couldn't find any rebuttal to Namgung Yeonji's words.

Instead, she spoke to Namgung Hui suggestively.

"Young master. You can't just grant all of Yeonji's requests. It will spoil her."

Namgung Hui replied with a pleased smile.

"I understand."

"Hing~ Uncle. Buy me candy!"

Namgung Hui, still with a smile on his face, gently sent a telepathic message.

-Yeonji. I'll buy it for you later, so let's eat first. Yes. I'll buy you candy after you finish your meal.

Namgung Yeonji, despite hearing a telepathic message for the first time, was not flustered.

She immediately sat up straight and picked up her chopsticks.

"Phew... who does she take after that she doesn't listen?"

Namgung Hui thought that at least it wasn't because she took after Namgung Chan.

Because his older brother's appearance in his childhood was extremely exemplary and obedient.

On the other hand, Namgung Hui had a slightly unique personality and was often compared to his brother.

That was why Namgung Yeonji's behavior was probably.

'It must be because she takes after my sister-in-law. I heard when I was young that my sister-in-law also had a temper.'

But it seemed that even such a personality couldn't throw a tantrum if the other person was too gentle.

It takes two to tango.

Or perhaps Namgung Chan had accepted all of Wi Jiseona's complaints.

The appearance of the couple that Namgung Hui had seen was extremely peaceful, without any rough edges.

As everyone finished their meal, Wi Jiseona, as if she had been waiting for it, asked Namgung Hui a question.

"I heard from him that you should be at the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild now, young master. I was secretly hoping that the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild and... Oops. Please pretend you didn't hear that."

"Yes. I was indeed staying there until a while ago. I earned a pretty good income as a bodyguard. And the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild will probably try to establish a connection with the Azure Sky Escort Service."

"Yes? The Myriad Gold Merchant Guild will reach out first? Why?"

"Well... the Namgung family has risen again. And isn't it because the reputation of the Azure Sky Escort Service that my brother has built is so great?"

"No, young master. We are also sufficiently self-aware. The Myriad Gold Merchant Guild is one of the three great merchant guilds of the Central Plains, so would they want to entrust their goods to a new escort service like ours? If I were the guild master, I don't think I would be very keen on it. Well, if you don't tell me, young master, I can't do anything about it."

Wi Jiseona's lips pouted.

Although she said it was fine, she seemed to be sulking.

Namgung Hui, seeing his sister-in-law, of all people, acting like that, felt quite uncomfortable.

"To be honest, it's because of me. Because I have a common enemy with them."

At Namgung Hui's words, Wi Jiseona replied with a slightly disappointed expression.

"Ah... I see. I honestly thought you and that young guild mistress or whatever were in that kind of relationship."

"That kind of relationship, you say?"

"No, it's nothing. Then, since I have to finish up the escort mission with my brother-in-law, would you mind looking after our Yeonji for a while?"

"I'd be happy to. Then, uncle. Sister-in-law. I'll take Yeonji to the marketplace for a while."

"Go ahead. But don't come back too late."

Wi Jiseona glared at her daughter.

Namgung Yeonji received that gaze very calmly.

It seemed she was showing a calm appearance so that Wi Jiseona wouldn't find fault with her if she showed too much excitement.

Namgung Hui, at the sight of his niece, was suddenly reminded of Chichi.

They were like two peas in a pod, cute and shameless.

"Mom~ I'm leaving."

"Alright. Don't be too rude to your uncle. Got it?"

"Of course. It's the first time we've met, so I'm also shy."

Even from Namgung Hui's point of view, that didn't seem to be the case; she was a truly shameless niece.

"Anyway. Be careful on your way."

"Yes~ Uncle, let's go."

Namgung Yeonji grabbed Namgung Hui's hand and ran out.

Her steps were filled with power, as if she had been taught martial arts from a young age.

Namgung Hui, not disliking his niece's lead, willingly matched his steps to hers.

As they left the Azure Sky Escort Service and entered the marketplace, Namgung Hui asked his niece a question.

"Yeonji. Can uncle ask you something?"

"What is it? I'll answer anything I know."

"As you said, this is our first time meeting, isn't it? But your behavior is as if you've met me many times. I was just a little curious, so don't worry too much about it."

"Ah~ that's because. Dad always talked about you, uncle. I always wondered why he talked so much about an uncle whose face I didn't even know. But now that our escort service is eating and buying swords for the uncles with the money you gave, and our livelihood has improved in many ways, I just felt close to you."

Namgung Hui, as if he fully understood Namgung Yeonji's words, nodded and replied.

"I see."

No matter how he looked at it, Namgung Yeonji took after Wi Jiseona's personality a lot.

For a ten-year-old child, her thinking was extremely sharp.

Namgung Hui, with a pleased smile, held his niece's hand and walked to the candy merchant.

Namgung Yeonji also smiled brightly and looked back at Namgung Hui.

And so, the afternoon at the Azure Sky Escort Service passed in an instant.

* * *

"Yeonji. Uncle has some urgent business, so I have to go now. I'll stop by again when I have time."

"Hing... Uncle. Can't you leave Chichi behind?"

Namgung Hui was also sad, but for now, he had to leave with Chichi for the repair of the Thunder Sect.

"I'm sorry. I also need Chichi's help."

Namgung Hui had introduced Chichi to Namgung Yeonji last night, and they had gotten along so well that Namgung Yeonji had quickly fallen for Chichi.

Perhaps because she had no friends of her own age, she seemed to be particularly drawn to Chichi.

And since their personalities were also similar, it seemed they had a lot in common.

'And what's strange is that Yeonji also understood Chichi's words.'

Was this a talent?

Or was it a trick of fate?

He didn't know for sure, but he would have to try secretly teaching Namgung Yeonji the martial arts of the Thunder Sect later.

Because being able to communicate with Chichi seemed to be closely related to the talent for handling Thunder Ki.

"Young master. I'm a little sad that you're leaving so soon."

"I don't have much time. I'll be sure to buy you a gift next time."

"Oh my. I don't need any such gifts. It's enough for you to just come empty-handed."

Namgung Hui could fully read the expectation in Wi Jiseona's face.

She probably hadn't even seen any decorative items like sachets while raising this impoverished escort service, so she would probably be quite happy if he bought her a few gifts.

Considering Wi Jiseona's hardship, just decorative items were not enough.

'Alright. I can ask Miss Eun for advice on this. Her insight was quite outstanding. And a woman knows a woman's heart best.'

Namgung Hui nodded and turned his gaze to Namgung Jincheon.

"Uncle. It's a pity, but I have to go now. Please take care of yourself. The personnel will be replenished soon, so your schedule will be more relaxed then."

"Hoho, I'm finally getting my due from my niece in my old age. Yes. I hope you will also be victorious, Hui."

Since Namgung Hui really didn't have much time, he bowed his head and immediately left the Azure Sky Escort Service.

As Namgung Hui's back grew smaller, Wi Jiseona spoke to Namgung Jincheon.

"Brother-in-law. It's really the young master, right? It's not someone else wearing the young master's mask, is it?"

"Hoho. Surely not. In the first place, if someone could imitate such a handsome face, they would have made a name for themselves in some way, whether for good or for bad. And not just his face, but his disposition is the spitting image of my deceased sister-in-law."

"Well, I was also reminded of my mother. Our Yeonji is so similar that she even calls him aunt. But our young master, with a face like that, still doesn't have a partner?"

"Do you perhaps know a good match to introduce?"

"I don't know anyone in particular, but I was thinking, what about the young guild mistress of the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild? He didn't seem very keen on it, but isn't it better to make an enemy an ally?"

"Having the support of the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild in the escort service business would be like having a thousand troops and ten thousand horses. I also agree with my niece-in-law's opinion."

* * *

Since Namgung Hui had wasted a day at the Azure Sky Escort Service, he now had only 4 days left.

He might think he had plenty of time, but since he had more places to visit in Mount Huang, Namgung Hui felt it was quite tight.

'To interpret the diary I obtained this time, I need to stop by the black market. The black market is in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, so it would be good to interpret this on this occasion.'

It was a good opportunity to find out the secret history of the Hoicheon Association.

And since the black market was a place where precious items and treasures were auctioned, he might find some pretty good items.

With Chichi's ability, he would surely be able to find hidden treasures.

As Namgung Hui was organizing his plans and climbing Mount Huang.

"Wait. Where are you going?"

Someone was blocking his path.

He had thought it would be a bandit, to do such a thing on a mountain, but the opponent was an unexpected force.

(End of Chapter)