Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Hey. Would you like to make a deal with me?"

"What kind of deal are you talking about?"

"Ah. It's not a deal. It would be a request. Since a deal is made on equal footing."

"I don't know what kind of request you're going to make, but I don't have much time."

Namgung Hui had to leave for Guangdong Province as soon as possible to grasp the conspiracy of the Blood Cult and Beak Seolhwa's inner thoughts.

If it weren't for the temptation of the Two-Principle Heart Method, he wouldn't have even stopped by Red Cliff Valley.

That was why he was not inclined to accept any great deal or request that Hwang Sujin proposed.

"Is that so? That's a shame. I was going to ask you to escort me to our merchant guild."

Namgung Hui responded with an awkward smile, as he had roughly expected it.

Then, Hwang Sujin also continued with a smile.

"I thought this young lady considered that Hoicheon Association or whatever it's called important. If you go to our merchant guild, I could introduce you to a few connections. It's really~ a shame."

"Connections? You said you didn't know anything about that place."

"Why wouldn't I know? It's because someone is blocking and ostracizing the information that comes to me, right? If I introduce you to each and every one of those suspicious guys, wouldn't you be able to catch a few connections?"

Hwang Sujin's words were not exactly wrong.

Even if she didn't know the practical affairs, she would know the internal structure of the Golden Merchant Guild better than anyone else.

It was impossible not to know the place where one was born and raised, both physically and personally.

'On top of that, the location of the Golden Merchant Guild is in Hunan Province, just before Guangdong Province, so stopping by wouldn't be a big detour.'

And if not for this opportunity, when would he get to see the Golden Merchant Guild?

The Golden Merchant Guild, which was called the best among the three great merchant guilds of the Central Plains.

It was said that the Pungun Merchant Guild was at the bottom, the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild was in the middle, and the Golden Merchant Guild was at the top.

'And the place that ruined Cheon Yeohwa's family was also the Golden Merchant Guild. Since I promised to get revenge, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a look on this occasion.'

Namgung Hui, having finished his calculations, nodded and said.

"Alright. It's on the way, so it won't be difficult. But I can't spare much time."

"That's enough. I'll write down the suspicious people one by one on the way, so when you get to the merchant guild, check them out yourself."

"By any chance, you wouldn't point out an innocent person because of a personal grudge, would you?"

"Of course, I can't completely exclude my feelings, can I? My stepmother is the most suspicious, so I can't help but have a grudge, can I?"

Namgung Hui, who had also had a taste of family conflict due to the Dugu family, fully sympathized with Hwang Sujin's words.

"I understand. I'll take care of that part myself."

As the situation seemed to be settled, Namgung Hui asked the other kidnapped people about their whereabouts.

Fortunately, they all had a place to stay, and although not as much as Hwang Sujin, there were also children of powerful sects.

"You don't have to worry about that. Unless it's the Lord of Red Cliff Valley, there's no one who would touch our sect. If you have time later, benefactor, please stop by. At our Hyeongmun Sect."

Namgung Hui kept the name Hyeongmun Sect in his mind and nodded.

"Yes. Then please take good care of the rest of the people."

And so, after parting with the people at Red Cliff Valley, only the five of them, Namgung Hui's party of three, Hwang Sujin, and Seong Sohui, were left.

Namgung Hui looked around the desolate Red Cliff Valley and asked Hwang Sujin.

"Didn't the Lord of Red Cliff Valley have any subordinates?"

"He had one subordinate, but it seemed he was out on some errand. Seeing him pack his things tightly, it looked like he was going far away."

'Far away. It seems he headed for Guangdong Province, where the Blood Cult is.'

He didn't know what he had left to deliver, but it meant he wouldn't be back for a while.

Since Red Cliff Valley was a terrain where it was difficult for carrier pigeons to fly, if he burned this place down and eliminated it, it would take a considerable amount of time for the news to be delivered.

Namgung Hui set fire to Red Cliff Valley and then asked Seong Sohui.

"We are planning to stop by the Golden Merchant Guild on our way to Hunan Province. What will you do, Little Saintess?"

"I was also on my way to the Golden Merchant Guild. I heard there was a patient to take care of there."

"That's great. We can go together. I look forward to working with you."

"That's what I should be saying. You and Miss Seol are great masters."

"I am a pretty great master. Hoohut! Then shall we go? Ladies."

Beak Seolhwa, who was watching Namgung Hui's way of speaking, walked ahead of him, as if something was not to her liking.

And so, as the flames that had been blazing in Red Cliff Valley died down, only a desolate pile of ashes remained.

* * *

Since there was one person in Namgung Hui's party who didn't know martial arts well, they couldn't rush their journey.

Seong Sohui was at a level where she could at least protect herself, so she could also perform lightness skills, but Hwang Sujin could not.

But fortunately, she could rent a four-horse carriage.

Since the power of the Golden Merchant Guild was said to be the best in the Central Plains, it was not strange for her to ride around in a four-horse carriage so openly.

Thanks to that, the journey was smooth, although a bit slow.

There were almost no suspicious glances at Muchi.

And they did not experience any delays in their journey, including checkpoints.

They could even have a comfortable night's sleep, so there were even satisfying parts.

"Money is really good. Isn't it? I Jayeon?"

"Yes. The more money, the better. I'll have to earn a lot of money for a comfortable old age later."

"You can't pretend not to know me when you become rich, okay?"

"Do you think I would do that? For a lifetime... I don't know, but if this heart doesn't change, that will never happen, even if I die and come back to life."

"Thank you, even if it's just empty words."

"Who said it's empty words? Then why don't you try saying some empty words yourself?"

Hwang Sujin, who was watching Beak Seolhwa and Namgung Hui, carefully joined the conversation.

"Having a lot of money certainly has many good points, but there are also some bad points. Look at me. Would I have been kidnapped if I didn't have money? It means that my personal safety is at risk because of money."

"Hey. With Miss Hwang's beauty, you're at a level where you'd be kidnapped just for your face."

"Oh my. This young lady. Thank you, even if it's just lip service. Well, at least I wouldn't have been taken by the Lord of Red Cliff Valley."

That was also true, so Namgung Hui didn't particularly deny it.

Instead, he offered her another comfort.

"If you put it that way, martial arts is the same. Rather, there are many cases where people die from learning too much martial arts."

"Too much is as bad as not enough? Is it something like that?"

"That's right. It seems that having everything in moderation is the best."

"I agree. I didn't want to be born into a rich family either. My dream was to build a small family."

At Hwang Sujin's remark, Namgung Hui stealthily glanced at Beak Seolhwa.

The words she had uttered before she died.

That she was envious of the women who lived peacefully with their families.

Perhaps the life that Hwang Sujin desired was not much different from the life that Sosu Mahu had looked upon.

Living an ordinary life might be more difficult than he thought.

'Living an ordinary and happy life is much more difficult. Even I have to face the Hoicheon Association and the Blood Cult for my happiness.'

The peace of oneself, the peace of one's family, the peace of the martial world.

He couldn't even fathom how much work he would have to do to make the world itself peaceful.

Even in his past life, the back of the Martial God had looked huge, and looking back now, his shoulders were endlessly wide.

'Still, brother. I may not be able to do anything about this world, but I'll do something about the martial world. At the very least, I'll make the Namgung family the best.'

Rumble, rumble. Neigh.

As if to break Namgung Hui's reverie, the carriage suddenly stopped with the neighing of the horses.

Hwang Sujin stuck her head out of the carriage and said.

"What's wrong?"

"The carriage wheel has come off."

"Huh? Our Golden Merchant Guild's carriage rarely has that happen."

Even to Namgung Hui's eyes, the Golden Merchant Guild's carriage was superior to that of the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild.

The Myriad Gold Merchant Guild's was the best and most comfortable he had seen so far.

If the Golden Merchant Guild's was superior to that?

'Strange. Did someone intentionally break it?'

But there were no suspicious movements.

Even if Namgung Hui was lost in other thoughts for a moment, weren't Beak Seolhwa and the sharp-sensed Muchi also on board?

Anyway, Since the wheel had come off, they had to choose one of two options from here: walk or repair the carriage.

"Miss Hwang. Do you think you can fix it?"

"Well. I'm not an expert, so I don't know for sure, but if the axle is broken, it will take a long time. Let's walk from here. The inn isn't far."

Since it had come to this, it seemed they could proceed faster if Beak Seolhwa carried Hwang Sujin.

But if either of them objected, he wouldn't be able to carry it out.

"Okwol. You carry Miss Hwang."

"Me?"

"Then shall I carry her?"

Beak Seolhwa, suddenly recalling the time she had been carried by Namgung Hui, blushed slightly and shook her head.

"No. I'll carry her. Miss Hwang. Would you like me to carry you?"

"Oh! Is that okay? I've always wanted to fly through the sky on the back of a master. As fast and as high as possible, please~!"

Every time Namgung Hui saw this side of Hwang Sujin, it felt like he was seeing a truly innocent young girl.

At that sight, he first smiled warmly, but in the end, it turned into a bitter smile.

'She really shouldn't be related to the Hoicheon Association. To have to... with my own hands...'

"Wahahaha! This is amazing! Miss Seol! Please run faster~~"

And so, with Hwang Sujin's excited laughter, Namgung Hui's party arrived at an inn around noon.

Hwang Sujin got off Beak Seolhwa's back with a disappointed expression.

But that expression soon contorted.

The reason was that, contrary to Hwang Sujin's wishes, the door of the inn was firmly closed.

"Huh? That's strange. I've never seen it closed in my life..."

"Even if it's a lifetime, it's only 20 years at most, isn't it? And you probably didn't stop by every day."

"That's also true, so it's hard to deny. We have no choice but to go to another inn. Well."

Since Hwang Sujin was covering the travel expenses, they had no choice but to follow her decision.

Since the vicinity was Hwang Sujin's territory anyway, there would be no harm in following her words.

Namgung Hui also had no choice but to acknowledge every inn she chose.

And even the food that came from the inns was all delicious and to his liking.

The portions were also generous for the price.

And so, the place where Hwang Sujin's steps stopped was the Seokmun Inn.

She also seemed to be here for the first time, as her steps towards the front of the inn were cautious.

Hwang Sujin, who had been hesitating in front of the door for a moment, stepped into the inn.

"Is anyone here?"

The waiter, who was touching something in the kitchen, answered late and came out.

"Welcome~! How many are in your party?"

Hwang Sujin looked around the empty inn and continued.

"Five. Are you open for business?"

"Yes. Of course. Please sit anywhere you're comfortable. What would you like to eat?"

"Wait a minute, I'll go ask my companions."

Hwang Sujin, as if she didn't like the Seokmun Inn, pushed her companions who were about to enter outside and whispered quietly.

"This place is suspicious. It doesn't make sense that there are no customers even though the nearby inns are closed. Let's move to another place."

And so, as Hwang Sujin grabbed Namgung Hui's wrist and was about to leave the Seokmun Inn.

Namgung Hui shook off her hand and opened his mouth.

"I think I'll have to eat at this inn."

"Why?"

Just as Namgung Hui was about to say something, a man who looked to be in his thirties walked out from inside the inn.

As Namgung Hui and the man stared at each other, Hwang Sujin spoke to Beak Seolhwa with a strange expression.

"Look at those two's expressions. They look like they're lovers."

Beak Seolhwa, knowing that Namgung Hui was originally a man, shook her head at her speculation.

"That's probably not it. I think that man is probably..."

"Everyone, please come inside for now. It seems it will take a while to talk with my junior sister."

(End of Chapter)