Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Heh heh. Are you that Namgung something, called the Sleeping Dragon?"

Namgung Hui stared at the waist of the beggar who had called him.

The six knots tied there.

The meaning of a six-knot beggar.

It meant he was an elder of the Beggars' Sect.

As Namgung Hui stared at the beggar's waist, he suddenly realized that his fingers were also strange.

'One, two, three... nine? He's missing a finger? Could he be that person?'

The Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar.

An elder of the Beggars' Sect who remained in Namgung Hui's memory.

In terms of seniority, he was a person closer to the era of the Thunder God than Namgung Hui's era.

Although he was not the same as the Thunder God, he was a person who had lived for more than a cycle of sixty years.

That meant he had a considerable amount of information.

And since he was an elder of the Beggars' Sect in charge of information, Namgung Hui couldn't even dare to imagine how many stories of the martial world were contained in his head.

"My name is not Namgung something, but Namgung Hui. Elder Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar."

"Oh? You recognize me. I saw you once when you were a child."

Beggars go to all sorts of feasts and get food.

He must have definitely stopped by Namgung Hui's birthday banquet 10 years ago.

Even if not, he would have stopped by when Namgung Hui was born.

Because until then, the family's fortunes had not completely declined.

"Then may I get to my business?"

"Heh heh. Do as you please. I'll just sit here and watch."

The Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar plopped down on the floor, not a chair, and looked at Namgung Hui with a broad smile.

Namgung Hui, whether he did that or not, calmly handed the portrait to Jegal Geon and said.

"Geon. When you have time later, please find the person drawn there."

"Who is it?"

"She's the younger sister of a younger brother I know, so don't try to find out the details."

"Well, finding a person. is a piece of cake. I'll find her right away. But this isn't the business you came for, is it? Get to the point."

Namgung Hui glanced at Tang Soso and Eun Seolrin.

If it were Tang Soso, she would have surely brought up the story of the Five Poisons Sect and the Sun God Palace.

If it were Eun Seolrin, she would have brought up the Hoicheon Association.

Then the story Namgung Hui would bring up was decided.

"Geon. Have you selected some of the good marriage partners I mentioned before?"

It was the suitable marriage partner that was the original purpose of the tournament.

Namgung Hui had consistently not lost sight of his purpose.

Unlike the words about the Hoicheon Association or the Blood Cult that had come up before, it was a rather anticlimactic question.

But Tang Soso and Eun Seolrin, who were around him, stared at Namgung Hui and Jegal Geon with sparkling eyes.

Baek Seolhwa, who was next to Namgung Hui, also pretended to be calm, but she stood there stiffly, holding her breath.

"I thought you were saying something else. I've already sorted that out. Wait, where did I put it? Ah. Found it. Take it."

People's heads turned in unison towards the hand that Jegal Geon was holding out.

The Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar, who was watching this ridiculously, burst out laughing and said.

"Hahaha! They called him a sleeping dragon, and he's really something. And his lack of sense pierces the heavens. Isn't this the ultimate yin and yang? Heh heh heh!"

Namgung Hui, as if he couldn't even hear the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar's words, received the scroll that Jegal Geon was holding out with a trembling hand.

"You're saying the marriage partners you've carefully selected are written here?"

"I don't know your standards, but at least by my standards, I've selected them thoroughly. Still, since I've known you for a long time. They'll probably meet your standards to some extent."

"Is that so? When the tournament is over, I'll treat you to a big meal. If there's anything you want, just say it."

"What I want. Miss Eun here said she would get it for me. And I need some time, but you can't give me your time, can you?"

"Time can't be bought with money. Yes. Then I won't disturb you any further. Good work."

As Namgung Hui didn't ask any other questions, people looked at Namgung Hui with a puzzled expression again.

"You don't have anything else to ask? About that Black Tortoise Troupe Leader or the spy."

Namgung Hui, who had been excited until now, hardened his expression and whispered softly.

"It's not that I don't trust Geon, but I can't trust the inside of the Vermilion Bird Squad right now. The only people I can trust are our people here. Moreover, I can't completely trust the elder of the Beggars' Sect in front of me."

"Heh heh. This brat has some guts. To talk behind my back even when I'm right in front of him?"

The Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar dusted off his bottom and stood up from his seat.

Then he brought his head close to Namgung Hui and opened his foul-smelling mouth.

"Heh heh. To not flinch, I have to admit you have real guts. Among the members of the younger generation, you're the second one to stay still at my dirty appearance."

"Who was the first?"

"That's a secret. Yes, you brat. The reason you brought that up in front of me is because you have something to say to me, right?"

As expected of an elder of the Beggars' Sect who was quick-witted, he had grasped Namgung Hui's intention right away.

Indeed, who would bring this up so openly with the person right in front of them?

Since that wasn't his real intention, he must have brought up the fact that he couldn't be trusted so that he would hear it.

"I don't trust everyone here either, but the person I suspect is the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, Im Daepung."

A ripple appeared on the face of the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar, who had been smiling all this time.

He scratched his chin, which was dripping with grime, and continued.

"Im Daepung is a rare hero these days. What's the reason for saying that? You don't seem like a brat who would say something foolish."

"I'm not sure either, but in the process of interrogating a spy from the Association, I received information that Im Daepung is related to the Association. That's why I'd like you to tell me the personal information about the person named Im Daepung that the Beggars' Sect has."

"That's not difficult, but do you really think he's a spy?"

"You have to look before you leap. Since the situation is what it is, it's not good to be certain, is it?"

"Heh heh! A sleeping dragon is truly a sleeping dragon. Yes. As you said, it's good to be certain. It'll be difficult right now. I'll give you the information by tomorrow. But."

"But?"

"You'll have to pay a suitable price for it. If you can't... You'll understand the rest without me saying it. Since you're a smart brat."

Namgung Hui showed a triumphant smile and handed over the liquor bottle he had packed in his bosom.

"I thought so and packed it in advance."

"Oh? But do you think a single bottle of liquor is enough for the price?"

"Take a sip first and then talk."

"Since you're so confident, I'll have to taste it."

The Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar took the liquor bottle that Namgung Hui handed him, opened it, and took a sip.

Ordinarily, beggars would gulp it down, but seeing him savoring the liquor carefully.

'The Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar doesn't trust me either. He's checking if there's poison or not.'

That sight, on the contrary, gave him confidence.

Because it meant that the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar was also suspicious of how far the spies of the Association had infiltrated.

On the one hand, he was also worried.

Because the fact that the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar was so cautious also meant that the allies had not yet been properly identified.

Gulp.

When the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar had completely swallowed the Thunder Ki Liquor.

His small eyes suddenly widened several times, and an exclamation burst from his mouth.

"Th-what is this! Is this really liquor? You didn't poison me, did you?"

"Haha! That's a liquor called Thunder Ki Liquor, and you probably can't get it anywhere now. Even at the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild here."

Eun Seolrin also tilted her head slightly at the mention of Thunder Ki Liquor.

Then, as if she had heard it from somewhere, she clapped her hands and continued.

"Isn't Thunder Ki Liquor the liquor of the Thunder Sect? As far as I know, that place was destroyed... Ah. The young master has succeeded it."

As expected of Eun Seolrin, who was knowledgeable.

Well, since she knew everything that could be turned into money, it wouldn't be strange for her to know about Thunder Ki Liquor rather than the martial arts of the Thunder Sect.

Since the master of the Thunder God had sold it several times at the black market, the merchant guilds would know it even better.

Jegal Geon also became interested and immediately added.

"Hui. I just happen to need something..."

Before he could finish his words, Namgung Hui took out two bottles of Thunder Ki Liquor and threw them to him.

"One bottle is the price for the favor. And give the other bottle to Elder Cheongi."

"To my grandfather? Yes. My grandfather would drink this much liquor. Alright."

Originally, the people of the Jegal family did not enjoy drinking.

Because when they drank, their mouths became light, and it was difficult to control their bodies, so they made mistakes.

The people of the Jegal family managed themselves thoroughly.

But if that liquor was Thunder Ki Liquor, the story changed.

'Even if it's the strategist of the Jegal family, Cheongi. On the contrary, if he sees the ki contained in the Thunder Ki Liquor, he will drink it with peace of mind. Then he will answer my questions well later.'

The Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar licked the Thunder Ki Liquor on his lips and asked Namgung Hui.

"The more I see you, the more of a rascal you are. You were planning to play with this old man from the beginning, right? Yes. Alright. I'll play with you this time. Then. I'll give you the information you want tomorrow. So give me two more bottles of Thunder Ki Liquor."

"Not one bottle, but two. That won't do. Isn't this one bottle worth a fortune?"

Chichi, who had been drinking the valuable Thunder Ki Liquor whenever he had the chance, felt a pang of guilt and squirmed in his bosom.

"Heh heh! That's why I'm saying it. You brat. It means I'll bring you that much information."

"What do you mean by that much information? Are you perhaps going to introduce me to my soulmate?"

"It won't be fun if I tell you now, will it? If you're really curious. You just have to bring two bottles of Thunder Ki Liquor tomorrow. Do you understand?"

"Yes. But if the information is not worth it, I'll drink this Thunder Ki Liquor myself."

"Yes. Alright. Then come to the Zhongyuan Inn by noon tomorrow. And bring a lot of silver. Then I'll be on my way."

As the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar walked away, Jegal Geon immediately cupped his fists and said.

"Elder. Please take care."

The Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar, whether he heard him or not, glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and then disappeared, unfolding a graceful movement technique.

At his slightly urgent attitude, Namgung Hui showed a triumphant smile.

'At least the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar can be trusted. Well, I don't know if the inside of the Beggars' Sect is corrupt, but at least it'll be better than the Martial Alliance.'

It was no easy task to infiltrate as a beggar.

In the first place, since the Beggars' Sect thoroughly verified their identities, it would be difficult for even a spy from the Association to enter.

In fact, although it was called identity verification, it was nothing more than hazing and establishing discipline.

'The Dog Beating Staff Technique was a master at beating people. And the hazing of the king of beggars was no joke.'

In the past, the Thunder God had also wandered around like a beggar.

Before he lost his parents and met his master.

When he recalled those days, he wondered if a spy from the Association could really infiltrate.

A person who had used the conveniences of civilization would never be able to adapt to the lifestyle of a beggar.

"Then, Geon. I'll really be going. The rest of the work. You'll take care of it even if I don't ask you, right?"

Jegal Geon shook his head as if he were fed up, and then, as if he had remembered something, he clapped his hands and took out a letter.

"Ah, that's right. There was a letter that came for you. Take it."

'A letter for me at the Vermilion Bird Squad? Who on earth? Did my brother send it?'

This time, Namgung Hui received the letter with a puzzled expression, and as expected, the sender was from his family.

But the moment he opened the letter, he realized that was not the case.

(End of Chapter)