Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Wow~! This is the Golden Merchant Guild!"

"Why is Miss Hwang surprised instead of us?"

"I just said it because everyone else seemed so unimpressed. Tch. It's the first time I've seen someone not surprised by our merchant guild."

And for good reason. Namgung Hui had been to all three of the great merchant guilds of the Central Plains.

Beak Seolhwa was extremely surprised, but perhaps because of her disguise, it didn't show well.

And Seong Sohui seemed to have visited such merchant guilds often, as she looked the most indifferent.

Of course, Muchi was quite surprised, but it didn't show on the outside.

"Wow. So cool. Is this the palace where the emperor lives?"

"Mr. Chunsam. You don't have to pretend to be so awkwardly surprised."

"No. I'm really surprised."

Because of Muchi's awkward tone, his words lost their credibility.

Hwang Sujin, on the contrary, feeling ridiculed, blushed slightly and strode forward.

"Anyway. Everyone, follow me inside. The inside is more magnificent than the outside. I'll make sure you're properly surprised this time!"

As she had boasted, the entrance of the Golden Merchant Guild was so dazzling that the expression 'splendid' was not enough.

The imperial palace? The imperial palace would never live like this.

He had never heard that the appearance of the palace was as brilliant as if it were painted with gold.

'They said it was more than the emperor. It wasn't a wrong statement.'

Looking at it this way, the scale seemed so different that it was awkward to group the three great merchant guilds of the Central Plains together.

Would the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild and the Pungun Merchant Guild even be able to catch up to the Golden Merchant Guild if they combined?

Just looking at the scale and width of the warehouses, they were wider than the area they possessed.

There was no way to confirm the amount of funds they could mobilize, but the income they earned by colluding with the Hoicheon Association would not be small.

"This young lady. You're showing a surprised expression for a change. But your expression looks a little sinister. You're not planning to do anything untoward at our merchant guild, are you?"

Namgung Hui, shaking off his thoughts, smiled and said.

"Didn't you invite me to do something untoward? Then I'll just eat your food and go. Well."

"My goodness. You won't lose a single word. Even if your martial arts are good, would it hurt to lose a word or two?"

"If I lose even once, horns will grow on my bottom."

"I'd like to see those horns. For now, I'll guide you to your guest rooms. But since Mr. Chunsam is the only man, you'll have to use a separate lodging. Is that okay?"

"It's okay. If it's here, even the stables would be magnificent."

"The stables. The place where our Ferghana horses live is not ordinary. Anyway. That place is even more difficult, so I'll guide Mr. Chunsam first. Originally, I would have the servants do it, but since you're my guest, I'm guiding you myself, so you should feel honored."

"Thank you."

"Then everyone, please wait here for a moment."

And so, Hwang Sujin took Muchi and disappeared somewhere.

Since the merchant guild was so vast, the place called the men's lodging seemed to be quite far away.

Namgung Hui was a little worried about Muchi being alone, but since he had never caused any trouble so far, he trusted him.

'He's not stupid. He just speaks a little clumsily. On top of that, he doesn't have a wicked heart, but rather a soft side.'

Muchi, the person who had completely changed his impression of the Demonic Cult members, along with the diary of the first cult leader.

Of course, Sosu Mahu, Beak Seolhwa, had changed his perception the most, but in Namgung Hui's head, Beak Seolhwa was a separate existence.

She was also a person who had reincarnated like him.

And although he didn't know if they were in the same boat, since they were friends but not friends, she didn't seem entirely bad.

Hwang Sujin, who had brought Muchi, led the rest of the party to the women's lodging.

"It would be more comfortable for everyone to use separate rooms, right?"

Seong Sohui was the first to answer with a faint smile.

"Yes. Since I have to handle medicinal herbs, the smell will be a bit foul. Please give me a room as far away as possible."

"I was planning to guide you to a separate building anyway, Little Saintess. Since you're here to treat a patient."

"Oh my. Then are you going to give us the stables instead of a separate building?"

"What if you don't listen to me like the Ferghana horses?"

As Namgung Hui crossed his arms and puffed out his cheeks, Beak Seolhwa pinched his cheek and said.

"When did you learn to talk like this? I never taught you that."

"What are you talking about? You..."

Namgung Hui was about to continue speaking out loud but hurriedly switched to a telepathic message.

-Didn't you tell me to talk like you?

-No. When did I ever talk so shrilly?

-That's how it looked in my eyes...?

-Good grief. I'll see you later.

"There you go again. Talking just between the two of you. Since you two are so close, I'll give you one room. Follow me."

"No. Please give us separate rooms."

"Hmph! I don't want to."

In the end, Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa, having incurred Hwang Sujin's displeasure, were assigned a rather magnificent room.

It was clear that she had given them the best room after the separate building, but on the contrary, such a favor was too burdensome for Namgung Hui.

After all, he was currently cross-dressing, but wasn't he a man on the inside?

Beak Seolhwa was also conscious of that, so she said with a slightly reluctant expression.

"You know me better than anyone, so I won't say it twice. Don't even think about doing anything strange. I'm not as ignorant as I was in my past life anymore."

Namgung Hui, perhaps because he recalled the dark history of that time, blushed deeply and nodded.

"I-I know what I need to know! Do you think I'm crazy enough to lay a hand on the Mahu?"

"You do it well enough in normal times."

"Anyone would misunderstand if they heard that. That's only when we're dueling."

"You did even worse things on the battlefield."

"That's the same for you. Are you going to be so childish? If you're going to be like that, why don't we go outside and have a round?"

"That's enough. That's enough. How can we do that in a place that's no different from an enemy camp? Anyway. Don't ever cross over here when you're sleeping."

"I wouldn't go even if you asked me to. So don't you worry."

And so, the conversation ended, and a moment of silence fell.

Was it because it was too quiet?

Even though the distance between the beds was quite far, the sound of their breathing was felt right next to them.

It was then.

"Pii~."

The Snow Mountain Roc, Feifei, poked its head out of Beak Seolhwa's robes.

Perhaps because it hadn't eaten properly due to the long journey, it seemed to be hungry.

"Isn't Feifei asking for food?"

"That's right."

Beak Seolhwa took out a small pouch from her robes.

Various grains were left, and from the grains, the color was exceptionally fine.

It was a part where one could see how much she cared for Feifei.

At that sight, Namgung Hui casually spoke.

"Wow~ If the cult members saw this, would they even guess you're the Mahu? To think you also have such a caring side."

"Why are you being so mean again? Didn't we agree not to be childish?"

"Pipi!"

As Feifei also responded as if Beak Seolhwa's words were right, Namgung Hui somehow became at a loss for words.

But to just stay still was also not to his liking, so just as he was about to open his mouth.

Knock, knock, knock.

"This young lady, Miss Seol. May I come in?"

Beak Seolhwa, who had hidden Feifei in her robes, answered.

"Come in."

Hwang Sujin, who had entered, tilted her head slightly and said.

"Wasn't there something here just now?"

"It must have been your imagination. There was no one here but the two of us. But what is your business?"

"Ah. It's nothing else. Since I've brought guests for a change. I was going to show you around the merchant guild. And this young lady. Have you memorized the list I gave you?"

"Of course. I've remembered who to beat up... no. Who to watch carefully."

"My goodness. You pick out only the words I like to hear. Watch carefully and be sure to beat them up. Then let's go."

Hwang Sujin left the door open and set off, and Namgung Hui immediately followed her.

Beak Seolhwa watched Namgung Hui's back intently and then followed with an unreadable smile.

In the room she had left, the warmth still lingered.

* * *

Hwang Sujin, who had been laughing cheerfully, hardened her expression the moment she set off.

No, rather than hardened, she looked like a completely different person?

Dignity? Seriousness? Such a heavy atmosphere filled the area around her.

'To think a person can change their atmosphere in an instant. This is beyond the art of disguise.'

It also meant that the demeanor and behavior one had to have at the Golden Merchant Guild were restricted.

Because she was not just a young lady from an ordinary household, but a child of the Golden Merchant Guild.

Although she had no position, the fact that she was a direct blood relative would be as extraordinary as her expression.

Namgung Hui followed Hwang Sujin and examined the people on the list she had given him.

"Oh! Young lady. You've been out for a long time."

In fact, she had been kidnapped, not out, but anyway. It was something that had happened while she was trying to go out.

"Unhyeon. Are you surprised that I went out?"

"..."

Unhyeon. As Hwang Sujin had told him.

He was said to be the trusted subordinate of her stepmother, Murong Yeonhui.

Coincidentally, his name was the same as Namgung Hui's stepmother, Ouyang Yeonhui, so he was particularly concerned.

'His realm is roughly at the peak. His steps are certainly light, so he's perfect to be used as a messenger.'

On the contrary, his mouth seemed heavy, and it was considered that he would keep secrets well.

"How dare I harbor such thoughts towards the young lady? I was just hoping that you had a good time since you went on a trip for a change."

"A good time would be a good thing for you, not for me. If you're done talking, why don't you get out of the way?"

"Yes."

As Namgung Hui passed by the person named Unhyeon following Hwang Sujin, Namgung Hui looked at Unhyeon with a surprised expression.

"Oh my! Where are you touching!"

-Jjak!

Namgung Hui slapped his cheek so hard that the palm of Namgung Hui's hand was clearly imprinted on Unhyeon's face.

Still, he hadn't used any internal energy, so his teeth didn't fly out.

But perhaps because he had been suddenly hit, his soul had just flown out.

"W-what is this! If you're the young lady's guest, you can do anything..."

-Jjak!

Namgung Hui, who had slapped him one more time in the same place, crossed his arms and added.

"You touched a lady's bottom, and you're raising your voice? Do you want to die?"

As he did so, he even stealthily revealed the ki he had stored, and the person named Unhyeon could not dare to retort.

"...I have committed a mortal sin. Please forgive me."

He immediately calmed his anger, as if he had never raised his voice.

He was the owner of a great composure.

Only a high monk of the Shaolin Temple would be able to maintain his composure after experiencing such an absurd situation.

'As expected, he's no ordinary fellow.'

"Alright. It was just a graze. So I'll let it go this time. But there won't be a next time."

"Yes. Then this subordinate will take his leave."

Unhyeon hurriedly ran off somewhere.

He probably wanted to vent his surging anger somewhere, so he would be heading for a place with no people.

If not that, then.

'He'll report to that person named Murong Yeonhui. That an unexpectedly outstanding master is by Hwang Sujin's side.'

Namgung Hui hadn't just slapped his cheek.

The Murong family.

That was the family that had learned the Sun-Shooting Sword Art of the Diancang Sect.

Leaving aside the Hoicheon Association, Namgung Hui had to investigate them and, if possible, avenge his close friend.

Only then would his close friend in the afterlife and his descendants be able to close their eyes in peace.

At the very least, he would be able to use the principles of the Sun-Shooting One he had learned now without guilt.

As Unhyeon disappeared, Hwang Sujin smiled brightly and said.

"I didn't know you would move so actively. Thank you. This young lady."

"It's alright. My personal feelings were also involved, so you don't have to mind."

"Personal feelings. Unhyeon's gaze must have been unpleasant."

"Who's the next guy to beat up? Let's go quickly."

"Yes. The next one is not on my stepmother's side, but a person from the government office. And he seems to be quite high up."

"The higher the official position, the better."

And so, Namgung Hui set out to find people with Hwang Sujin to build up his karma.

But the person he faced this time was a truly unexpected person for Namgung Hui.

A faint but clear Thousand-Li Tracking Scent.

It was the General he had met at the Full Moon Pavilion before.