Rebirth of the Thunder God

"What is your relationship with Lee Jaseong?"

"?! "

Namgung Hui had never expected to hear his name from his past life like this.

And from a complete stranger at that.

The people he had told his name to were extremely few.

It would have been his sworn brother, Namgung Cheonhu, and at most, Sosu Mahu, whom he had acknowledged.

"Where on earth did you hear the name Lee Jaseong?"

"As expected, you're not saying you don't know. Are you offended that I called your grandmaster's name so casually?"

'He's not my grandmaster, but it's not entirely wrong either. It's no different from my past self passing down my insights to my present self.'

Even the Thunder Core, which he had intended to give to his disciple, had been taken by Namgung Hui.

And he had even taken the position of the current Thunder Sect Master.

It would be better to compromise to some extent rather than to deny it and demand an explanation from him.

"I am a disciple of the Thunder Sect now, but you'll have to explain where you heard about the Thunder Sect. If."

"If?"

Namgung Hui narrowed his eyes and said meaningfully.

"If there's an impure reason, you and I will have a long conversation today. With this."

Namgung Hui tapped the scabbard at his waist.

In a way, it might have looked like he was threatening an old man like a common ruffian.

That's how gentle the old man's impression was, and his eyes were shining brightly.

As if he didn't belong in this black market at all.

"Hoho. Indeed, that Jaseong has raised a fine descendant. Yes. A long conversation is good. Then let's not talk standing here, let's move. Follow me."

He didn't feel any hostility from the old man, so he decided to follow him obediently.

And even if a battle were to break out, the bamboo flute should not be broken, so it would be reasonable to move.

But the old man, instead of going outside, took down a painting on the wall and pressed something firmly.

And then.

-Grrr.

As if a mechanism had moved, the thatched hut shook for a moment, and the floor opened up.

Stairs leading to a pitch-black place were revealed.

"What are you doing? Follow me."

Namgung Hui nodded and followed the old man into the darkness.

* * *

As Namgung Hui descended the stairs, he couldn't help but be amazed.

Could it really be possible to build such an underground facility inside the central island with just one's own strength?

If that were possible, the old man before him would not be of ordinary identity.

His martial arts were also considerable, and the antiques in the underground were also rare treasures in the world.

The fact that he had readily shown such a secret place to Namgung Hui meant that he had at least a sliver of goodwill.

It was probably towards the Thunder God of his past life.

'That's why it's even more strange. There's no one who would have goodwill towards me.'

Of course, since he hadn't gained a bad reputation, it wasn't strange to think that someone owed him a debt.

"I can't bring you tea, so let's talk right away. Yes. It would be faster to explain when I met your grandmaster. Let's see..."

Memories filled the old man's eyes.

The old man, who had a distant look in his eyes for a moment, as if he had found something like an antique from the bundle of memories, opened his mouth with a smile.

"Yes. The place we met was the Namgung estate. I think there was a rather large banquet. It's been a long time, so I don't remember exactly, but many people had gathered. That Jaseong also appeared in shabby clothes then, so the memory is vivid."

Grind.

Namgung Hui's teeth ground on their own.

Because the Thunder God also remembered that time.

He had put a lot of effort into dressing up, but to call it shabby.

'This bastard really knows me.'

Now the word 'bastard' came out naturally for the old man.

It was the result of the ego of his past life becoming stronger than his present life.

The old man, unaware of Namgung Hui's inner thoughts, continued to speak.

"Unlike his shabby and rustic appearance, the man's eyes were alive. They were very fierce. It felt like he was full of poison."

And rightly so, at that time, Namgung Hui had been tormented by his master's harsh training, so he was full of anger.

And since it was a time when he had not been out in the secular world for long, he was also very wary of his surroundings.

If it hadn't been for Namgung Cheonhu's strong persuasion, he would never have attended the banquet.

"And there was also a young member of the younger generation who was the opposite of that man. Was his name Chunsam at the time? I think it was."

A person who used the character 'Chun' (春, spring) and 'Sam' (三, three) was a name Namgung Hui also knew well.

Because it was the former name of the current Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader.

"That man, besides his handsome appearance, his way with words was no joke. Most women would fall for him in an instant. But as it happened, that man coveted the item I was going to present to the family head."

"!!! "

As soon as Namgung Hui heard those words, the old man's identity immediately came to his mind.

'It's Jo Seongho! I didn't recognize him because he was full of wrinkles.'

He hadn't told him his name directly.

But he had heard the Thunder God's name at a gathering with his sworn brother, who was the family head at the time.

It was because of a matter related to the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader.

As Namgung Hui was reminiscing about the past, Jo Seongho's words continued.

"When that man tried to take the tribute from me by force, your grandmaster stepped in. Well, as for the details, you'll be able to deduce them without me telling you. You must have heard that all the past Thunder Sect Masters were incredibly strong. Still, to add a brief comment, it can be said that he gave a true education for the younger generation."

Nod nod.

Namgung Hui also absolutely agreed with that part.

Because it was an incident where he had disciplined a rude ruffian-like man.

As a result, the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader had argued with his sworn brother, Namgung Cheonhu.

Naturally, Namgung Cheonhu, who was thorough in distinguishing right from wrong, had sided with the Thunder God and Jo Seongho.

Was it because of that?

The Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader had gone astray.

Just as his name suggested, he had defected from the orthodox faction to the unorthodox faction.

Despite that late entry, he was a person of great talent, to the point of rising to the position of alliance leader.

But his character did not support it at all.

He was full of greed, to the point of being vicious.

The friction that had arisen with Jo Seongho right before him was because of his greed.

Even the dispute with the Hao Faction was in that context.

'But why is Jo Seongho here? I don't understand.'

He had had a conflict with the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader, so why was he living in the black market?

Although the black market was not an organization affiliated with the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance, it was a place that was walking the path of a companion.

Then he could just ask him directly.

"Then you're saying you're a person of the orthodox faction, old man. Why are you residing here?"

"Just know that it's for personal reasons. Oh, right. You said you were looking for a flute earlier, right? It's here, so I'll find it for you. Please wait a moment."

'If it's for personal reasons, I can't pry into it.'

Jo Seongho finished his words and stood up from his seat.

He seemed to be heading for a warehouse somewhere in the underground space.

Since it was quite spacious and also secret, it was a perfect place to store and hide something.

Had two moments passed since Jo Seongho had left his seat?

It seemed to be taking some time to find the item, as he had not yet returned.

Namgung Hui felt a sense of worry, wondering if he might not be able to find it.

Since it was an old item, it wouldn't be strange if it had gone missing.

"Chichi. I think you'll have to go."

"Kiiik. Kkik? (You want me to go find the flute?)"

"Yes. It seems that old man can't find it."

"Kiiik... (Alright...)"

-Kudangtangtang!

Just as Chichi was about to finish its answer, a loud noise was heard from the direction Jo Seongho had headed.

Namgung Hui, without a moment's delay, ran there with Chichi.

Namgung Hui threw his words at the thick dust.

"What happened?"

"Hoho, perhaps because I haven't managed it for a long time, the items have spilled out. Come and help me clean up. It seems it will take half a day alone."

Namgung Hui also didn't welcome it taking a long time.

Because he had more business to attend to.

"Alright."

As Namgung Hui waved his hand, the dust settled in an instant.

It was a hand gesture that mixed the subtlety of 'Return' and 'Adhere'.

'The group of the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers is helpful at times like this.'

As he drove the dust to one place, the interior of the warehouse was now properly visible.

The sight of all sorts of junk scattered about.

Many of those miscellaneous items looked quite precious.

As Namgung Hui remembered, Jo Seongho was the son of a wealthy merchant guild.

As Namgung Hui joined in, the warehouse was cleaned up in an instant.

And Chichi also, as if it had found the flute it was originally looking for, brought a flute identical to the picture to Namgung Hui.

"Kiiik. Kkik. (Three bottles of Thunder Liquor.)"

"Alright. I'll give you three bottles. Good job."

He stroked Chichi's head and received the flute.

"Old man. I want to buy this. How much would it be?"

"You can just have that. He's the descendant of an old friend, so I can give that much for free. I've also received help before."

A reduction in expenses was a welcome thing for Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui, with a satisfied smile, put the flute into his bosom.

Well, although it was said to be haunted, Namgung Hui's ki sense did not feel any negative energy.

Namgung Hui looked at the booklet in his bosom and took out another business.

"By any chance, old man. Do you know anyone who can restore erased letters?"

"Are you thinking of restoring an ancient document? At that level, I think I can do it. Would you mind showing it to me?"

Thinking that Jo Seongho was trustworthy, he readily took out the diary of the Empty Gate Sect Master.

"Here it is. I would like you to restore the erased letters in the middle."

Jo Seongho, who had received the diary, flipped through the pages and read it at a glance.

A moment later. Jo Seongho, who had finished the last page, nodded and continued.

"At this rate, I think I can restore it quickly. It's late evening now, so it should be possible by dawn. What do you think? Will you come back tomorrow morning?"

"It's faster than I thought. That's fine with me. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

The time given to Namgung Hui was only three days.

Counting the day of his return, it was practically two days.

If the work finished this quickly, he could come to get it even at dawn.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow."

Namgung Hui, who had finished his bow, turned his body and was about to leave the underground warehouse, but the black powder at his feet was particularly noticeable.

It was because the black powder was sticking to a piece of iron, and looking closely, it seemed the lodestone had been shattered into powder.

It seemed to be a very precious mineral, but to be so easily turned into powder, although it was not his own, he felt a sense of regret.

Jo Seongho, who saw it, also opened his mouth with a bitter smile.

"It breaks so easily, that's why I told you to handle it carefully earlier. It's a waste, but it can't be helped, I have to throw it away."

Namgung Hui, seeing the lodestone powder, had a good idea.

"Old man. If you're going to throw it away, may I take it?"

"What are you going to use it for? If you're thinking of swindling someone..."

"That's not it. I'm thinking of mixing it into a weapon. If I put it in a dagger, I think it will make a pretty decent weapon."

"In a dagger? Oh-ho. It might be different for others, but for the martial arts of the Thunder Sect, it would be fine. Yes. Take as much as you want."

Namgung Hui also had a few daggers mixed with Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron.

If he mixed lodestone powder into this.

'A dagger that can be freely retrieved might be born.'

Attractive and repulsive forces.

A force that weakens with distance, but with the interaction of the Purple Thunder Ki and the lodestone, it would be more than enough to shoot and pull a dagger.

Then, like the Sword of Will, he would be able to freely throw and retrieve the dagger.

Namgung Hui packed the lodestone powder and came out.

He had almost finished his business at the black market.

Now it was time to go to the auction house, the core of the black market.

Namgung Hui walked with a light heart and cheerful steps.

Since the black market's auction house was in the center of the island, it was not difficult to find.

As expected, as he got closer to the auction house, the crowd began to get quite crowded.

Sometimes, arguments would break out and fights would occur.

And loud voices would come and go, and commotion would become frequent.

But that commotion also soon stopped.

Because the manager and enforcer of the black market, the Black Spirit, had appeared.

"..."

The Black Spirit said nothing.

He just stood there with his pitch-black bamboo hat pressed down, staring at the scene of the commotion.

Nevertheless, the pressure flowing out of him crushed the atmosphere.

Namgung Hui also looked at the Black Spirit with a rather impressed expression.

How many people in the current martial world could emit such a sense of pressure just by their existence?

'The power of the black market is on par with the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance, so it wasn't an empty word.'

It wasn't for nothing that the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance couldn't draw the black market into their subordinate organization.

They would have been eyeing the black market, their source of funds, just as they were trying to swallow the Hao Faction.

But since the power of the black market was by no means inferior to that of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance, it was practically impossible.

At that moment.

The Black Spirit's gaze suddenly turned to Namgung Hui, and his mouth, which had been silent, slowly opened.

Namgung Hui, upon hearing that voice, was surprised for several reasons.

(End of Chapter)