Rebirth of the Thunder God

The reason Namgung Hui couldn't leave Hangzhou wasn't for any special reason.

No, it was a special reason.

'Because I have to give this flute to On Yuha.'

And it would be good if he could also find out some information about the person called the General in the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance or the black market.

Since On Yuha's specialty was information, it would be quite helpful.

And so, Namgung Hui took Cheon Yeohwa and arrived at the Longjing Teahouse where he had had tea with On Yuha.

Cheon Yeohwa, perhaps not knowing that he would suddenly bring her to a teahouse, said with a slightly surprised expression.

"Brother, so you prefer tea over alcohol. Could it be that you and I, alone..."

"That's enough of your wild thoughts. I came here because I have business."

"Business?"

"Although it looks like this, this place has a separate role. It would be faster to show you than to tell you. Follow me."

"I was going to follow you even if you didn't say that..."

Namgung Hui smirked and moved his steps.

The top floor of the teahouse where he had met On Yuha before.

There, he entered the room called the Phoenix Room and waited for the waiter.

Then, soon, the waiter with the light steps he had seen before came in.

"I sent a message as soon as you arrived. The young lady will be here in one moment."

"Young lady? The person you're meeting is a woman, brother?"

"What does the other person's gender matter? If you wait for one moment, you'll know why I'm meeting her, so just be quiet."

Perhaps because he had brought a face he had never seen before, the waiter casually asked Namgung Hui.

"Excuse me... Who is this person? The young lady's arrival is a top secret."

"You can trust this child. I guarantee it on my name. And Cheon Yeohwa. You also can't go around telling people what you've seen and heard here. You're a smart child, so I don't have to explain in detail."

"Of course, brother. By the way, I'm very excited to see who you're meeting."

Namgung Hui first ordered the waiter to bring Longjing tea and then passed the time.

Exactly one moment. As if she had timed it, On Yuha appeared.

On Yuha opened the door and continued.

"You've waited a long time, haven't you?"

"Yes. I've waited a long time."

"Who are you?"

"Who am I? Seeing as you don't even know my name, the information power of the Hao Faction is not as good as I thought."

"!? "

Namgung Hui and On Yuha widened their eyes at the same time.

Namgung Hui had definitely not told her it was the Hao Faction.

On Yuha, thinking that Namgung Hui had told her this, glared at Namgung Hui and said.

"Junior brother. What is the meaning of this? To leak a secret to a third party. I didn't see you like that..."

"I didn't say anything. This person just guessed on her own."

"That's ridiculous. How could she have figured it out when I manage this place so secretly? It's a secret that even the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance doesn't know."

Namgung Hui just shrugged his shoulders.

Because it was true that Cheon Yeohwa had figured it out.

However, he was just curious as to how and by what means she had figured it out.

As Namgung Hui and On Yuha's gazes turned to Cheon Yeohwa, Cheon Yeohwa pointed to On Yuha's sleeve and said.

"Don't say anything to my brother, will you? The reason I found out is because of you. Thanks to what's on your sleeve there."

On Yuha held up her sleeve and said.

"How did you know by looking at this?"

"First, the ink stain on the edge. That must mean you do a lot of work with a brush."

"Even if that's true, there's no connection to the Hao Faction."

"Of course, there's more. The white crumbs on your hand. That's carrier pigeon food, isn't it? There aren't many jobs that mainly handle carrier pigeons. And the waiter I saw earlier, he's a thief, right? A woman who often touches carrier pigeons in a teahouse where a thief works. At this rate, it's reasonable to suspect it's the Hao Faction."

Of course, Cheon Yeohwa had not said it with certainty.

She had just guessed it might be the Hao Faction, but she had figured it out because On Yuha's reaction was so intense.

"Sigh... Where did you get this person?"

"Where do people come from, they come from their parents. She's a person I've chosen, so don't covet her."

"I have no intention of stealing my junior brother's person. I was just asking out of admiration."

"But why did you two become senior and junior brothers? You're a person of the Namgung family, brother."

"I just learned some formations from the Hao Faction Head, so it just happened. I'm not an official disciple, so you don't have to worry too much. Just think of us as partners with the Hao Faction."

"Hmph. Still, once a junior brother, always a junior brother."

Cheon Yeohwa let out a sigh of relief and continued.

"Ah. I see. Then it's not a great relationship."

"Well, you could say that. Anyway, On Yuha. Take this. It's the flute you asked for."

As Namgung Hui handed over the flute, On Yuha's eyes sparkled.

On Yuha received the flute with trembling hands and said.

"You didn't put this to your mouth, did you? Then I'd have to scrub it clean."

"I didn't even touch it with my mouth, let alone my saliva. You can blow it without worry."

"Really? Alright. I'll try blowing it later, not now. Then, since you've completed the request, I'll give you the elixir as promised."

On Yuha took out the old wooden box she had shown him before.

Namgung Hui, feeling the unique celestial ki of the immortals, smiled brightly.

On Yuha probably didn't know the true identity of this elixir.

If she had known its true value, she wouldn't have ended it with just finding a flute.

"Junior brother. That elixir is very good. That's why I'm saying, can't you do me one more favor later?"

"I'll judge that after I eat this elixir and see how great it is. And even if I do, only ask for what's within my power."

"I won't ask for such a difficult favor. I was just going to ask you to be on my side if I have a conflict with the great senior brother later."

"That's fine. Then I'll ask you for one favor too. Do you perhaps know the person called the General in the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance or the black market?"

"The General? I think I've heard of him, but I'll have to investigate the details."

"Then investigate it and send it to the Namgung estate. I'd like it to be as fast and detailed as possible."

"No. If it's fast, it won't be detailed, and if it's investigated in detail, it won't be fast."

"I trust that you, as a senior sister, can do it."

"Only now you call me senior sister? Goodness. Yes. I'll do it. You said you're going to the Martial Alliance tournament, right? I'll send it before then."

Namgung Hui, having finished his business, nodded and stood up from his seat.

"You're leaving already? Aren't you going to eat?"

"I just ate. And since the warriors of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance will be swarming soon, it would be better to leave early."

"That's true. Since I've stirred up the black market so much, I'll have to be careful for a while too. Alright. Goodbye, junior brother."

"Yeohwa. Let's go."

"Yes, brother."

Cheon Yeohwa followed Namgung Hui with a strange smile.

And she slyly threw a glance at On Yuha.

As Namgung Hui and Cheon Yeohwa went outside, On Yuha shook her head and whispered.

"Tsk tsk. Where did such a vixen come from? He's going to have a lot of trouble with women in the future. By the way, shall I try an experiment?"

On Yuha carefully brought the flute to her mouth.

And she gently blew into it to make a sound, but perhaps because it was old and worn out, no sound came out.

Nevertheless, On Yuha's expression was bright.

'It worked! There's a reaction!'

A moment later, with a rustling sound, a mouse gently fell from the ceiling to the floor.

No, that one was just the beginning, and starting with the mouse, moles, snakes, crows, and so on.

All the nearby animals flocked.

On Yuha gently said to those animals.

"Hey guys."

Nod. Nod.

The animals, as if they understood On Yuha's words, nodded their heads.

Not only that, but the animals gathered in the place scattered according to On Yuha's certain order.

On Yuha, watching that, gripped the flute tightly.

'He wouldn't know how great an item this is. Hohoho!'

* * *

Namgung Hui dug his itchy ear for a moment.

He was currently on his way home after stopping by the Thunder Sect to repair the formation and get the Thunder Liquor.

Since he had finished the work he had originally planned, he should have felt refreshed, but his ear suddenly became itchy, so he couldn't help but tilt his head.

'Did someone curse me?'

There were many people who would speak ill of Namgung Hui.

There were the black market and the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance, with whom he had just had a conflict.

And in the distance, there were the Blood Cult and the Hoicheon Association.

And Baek Seolhwa might be cursing him for leaving as soon as he came home.

For some reason, Namgung Hui didn't think he would feel bad if Baek Seolhwa showed such an attitude.

No, on the contrary, he might even like it a little.

"Brother. We're almost at the Namgung estate."

Since they had entered Hefei, the Namgung estate would soon be visible.

No, it was already visible to Namgung Hui's eyes.

Cheon Yeohwa, who did not know martial arts, would not be able to see it yet.

"Yes. We'll be there soon. You've had a hard time following me from afar."

"No. You're the one who had a hard time carrying me, brother. You even went up Mount Huang yesterday."

"You're heavy? You should eat a lot when we get to my house. You're too thin."

She must not have eaten properly after being captured by the slave traders.

The slaves were all emaciated. In the first place, if the slaves became strong, they might try to escape, so they were given as little food as possible.

Finally, the Namgung estate was visible to Cheon Yeohwa's eyes as well.

She looked at the main gate with sparkling eyes and said.

"It seems you've recently rebuilt the main gate and the walls. They all look brand new. And I can feel the artisan's skill."

It was a matter of course, since it was built by the artisans of the Sichuan Tang family.

And although Cheon Yeohwa didn't know, there were also mechanisms and formations installed in various places.

Although it wasn't as much as the Tang family's fortress, it was still as sturdy as a natural fortress.

"I'll put you down now. Let's walk from here. The surrounding scenery is quite nice, so it's not bad to look at it as we go."

He had heard from Cheon Yeohwa on the way.

Her family had been completely ruined.

Her family, which was in the merchant line, had been crushed by a mountain of debt due to the schemes of a rival merchant guild.

No matter how resourceful Cheon Yeohwa was, she couldn't clear the debt that had been accumulating since she was young.

And the rival merchant guild was one of the three great merchant guilds of the Central Plains.

There was nothing an individual could do against such a force.

It would be difficult even for someone with outstanding martial power like Namgung Hui.

Because the limits of what an individual could do were strictly set.

'So I have to gather people too.'

Although Cheon Yeohwa had not asked Namgung Hui for revenge, if he were to make her completely his person, he would have to at least punish them to some extent, even if it wasn't complete revenge.

And the things the rival merchant guild had been doing were clearly illegal.

The Salt King's fortress, human trafficking, and illegal salt.

The salt monopoly was strictly managed by the country.

They must have bribed the officials with a huge amount of money.

Well, leaving aside the illegal salt, human trafficking and the Salt King's fortress were items that were strictly forbidden even by the Martial Alliance.

As Namgung Hui was organizing his thoughts, he soon arrived at the main gate of the Namgung estate.

A member of the Azure Sky Brigade, who had recognized Namgung Hui from a distance, shouted with a bright smile.

"Youngest Young Master. You've come!"

"Yes. Nothing happened while I was gone?"

"Yes! Except for the fact that the young lady of the Tang family and the young palace mistress were looking for you!"

"Alright. Keep up the good work."

"Yes!"

He was full of discipline.

To the point where one might wonder if it was too much.

But this was not bad either.

As much as their discipline, their loyalty and affection for the Namgung estate must be deep.

Even if they were tired from their excessive discipline, Namgung Hui would develop the Namgung estate to make them feel a greater sense of belonging.

"Wow~! The inside is even more amazing. The elegant interior scenery is truly a masterpiece. Especially the pavilion in the center there is no different from a work of art."

"That's probably the work of the Vermilion Bird Squad Leader. He promised my father he would build him an office."

Was the Vermilion Bird Squad Leader's name Gongson Jeongu?

He had said he would do something about the devastated family head's office after seeing it.

Perhaps because he was a person of the Gongson family who valued promises, he had kept it like a knife.

As Namgung Hui was also lost in admiration, looking at the daily developing Namgung estate, someone attacked Namgung Hui from behind.

(End of Chapter)