Rebirth of the Thunder God

'Doll Snow Ginseng!!!'

Namgung Hui had not expected that even the Blood Qilin would possess a Doll Snow Ginseng.

The reason was, of course, the local climate.

The Doll Snow Ginseng, as it possessed the energy of extreme yin, only inhabited extremely cold regions.

In fact, it could be said to be a spirit herb that was difficult to even see outside of the North Sea.

But as if by some magic, the Doll Snow Ginseng was boasting its brilliant appearance and was placed right in the middle of the secret repository.

As not only Gwon Cheong but also Namgung Hui showed a surprised expression, the Blood Qilin showed a proud expression and said.

"It seems you're seeing a Doll Snow Ginseng for the first time."

"No. Isn't it natural that it's hard to see such a precious thing even once in a lifetime?"

"Yes. If you're a human with a short life, that could be the case."

"Moreover, isn't this an environment where a Doll Snow Ginseng cannot grow? It must be possible because the Blood Qilin can use sorcery."

Nod, nod.

Gwon Cheong and the single-horned snake also nodded as if they agreed with Namgung Hui's words.

The Blood Qilin, with a proud smile, stared at the Doll Snow Ginseng and then said to Gwon Cheong.

"I'm sorry to you, but I can't give you the Doll Snow Ginseng. Of course, since I said I would give you a spirit fruit, I'm not breaking my promise."

Gwon Cheong, who had smacked his lips as if he were disappointed, continued.

"I also have some shame, so I have no intention of demanding a Doll Snow Ginseng for just a stinky tofu recipe. And even if I take it, it would be difficult to even store it in the climate of Guangdong Province."

"That's right. Then let's go inside. The spirit fruit is inside."

And so, as they followed the Blood Qilin inside, a greenhouse that felt warm appeared.

Although it was indoors, the sun was in the sky.

Was that also an artificial sun made with sorcery?

Although he didn't know if it was an illusion, it was clearly affecting the living creatures.

Various kinds of trees were soaring high as if boasting their height.

Looking at the state of the leaves and branches, one could see how well the Blood Qilin had taken care of the trees.

The Qilin was said to be a divine beast that presided over life.

If it was a spirit fruit grown by such a Qilin, it would have a much more outstanding energy than the spirit fruits on the market.

Even just looking at them from afar, the appearance of the spirit fruits was new.

It was a feast of colors he was seeing for the first time.

It was so splendid that he wondered how such a color could be produced.

Gwon Cheong, who had admired the painting, walked to the center as if he had found a spirit fruit he liked and pointed to one.

"Lord Qilin. I would like this one."

"Oho. Your eye is not bad. To choose the Longevity Spirit Fruit. You deserve to live a long life."

The Qilin floated its body into the air, plucked the Longevity Spirit Fruit without hesitation, and handed it to Gwon Cheong.

Gulp.

A hint of doubt was in Gwon Cheong's eyes, as if he was wondering if he could really receive this.

Namgung Hui now thought that the Blood Qilin was trustworthy, but if it had been before he had exchanged memories, he would have looked at it with a suspicious gaze like Gwon Cheong.

'But now I can be sure. The Qilin sincerely intends to give it.'

No matter how high the value of the cooking recipe was.

He didn't think it would be superior to the treasure called the Longevity Spirit Fruit.

Of course, since it was the party involved, like the Qilin, who evaluated it, it was not Namgung Hui's place to say this or that.

"Lord Qilin. Can I really have this?"

"Of course. Are you trying to make me a liar? You can consume it right away."

As they say, if you save it, it becomes stinky tofu, no, dung.

An excessive treasure is likely to bring misfortune.

Since Gwon Cheong did not have outstanding martial arts like Namgung Hui, he would not be able to protect such a precious item.

Gwon Cheong, who was holding the spirit fruit, opened his mouth with a firm expression.

"Can I just chew and swallow it like this?"

"That's right. It's a clean spirit fruit, so there's no need to wash it. Eat it right away."

Gwon Cheong slowly nodded and brought the Longevity Spirit Fruit to his mouth.

He didn't know if it could really extend his lifespan as its name suggested, but the mysterious energy it contained was a fresh thing that Namgung Hui was also seeing for the first time.

Agjak! Agjak!

Gwon Cheong, who was chewing and swallowing the spirit fruit without hesitation.

Perhaps because of the effect of longevity, it seemed as if his wrinkles were gradually disappearing every time he swallowed the fruit.

And then, when the appearance of the Longevity Spirit Fruit completely disappeared, a faint luster and a blush appeared on his face.

An extreme efficacy comparable to returning to youth.

If the First Emperor of Qin had seen it, the effect was so outstanding that he would have ordered the Longevity Spirit Fruit to be brought instead of the elixir of life.

Gwon Cheong himself felt it vividly, and he touched his face and smiled brightly.

"Thank you so much! Lord Qilin! My body is overflowing with strength!"

"For now, it's because the energy of the spirit fruit has not yet been fully absorbed into your body. When the energy gradually subsides, the overflowing strength will disappear. Well, that's how you properly receive the power of the spirit fruit, so it's a good thing."

"Of course. If my lifespan is extended, there would be nothing better than this. Thank you so much."

Gwon Cheong even bowed.

The Blood Qilin, as if it didn't dislike it, also looked on with a faint smile.

And so, when Gwon Cheong stood up again, this time, the gaze turned to Namgung Hui.

"Do you also want something?"

Namgung Hui hadn't expected it, so he didn't answer the Blood Qilin's question right away.

Then, he was suddenly reminded of the Doll Snow Ginseng he had seen at the entrance and stealthily brought it up.

"Are you saying you'll give me a spirit fruit?"

"There's no reason I can't."

[It's not like you're a stranger.]

'To be honest, I don't really need other spirit fruits. A spirit medicine to give to Seolhwa and a spirit medicine of extreme yin to melt the Fire Spirit Divine Pill. I only need those two.'

Namgung Hui looked at the Blood Qilin with sparkling eyes and said.

"Can't you do something about the Doll Snow Ginseng?"

The Blood Qilin chuckled.

The way Namgung Hui was looking at it pitifully seemed quite funny.

The Blood Qilin, who had read Namgung Hui's memories, fully understood why he needed it, but for some reason, a mischievous thought arose because of a certain scene.

"Didn't I tell you? The Doll Snow Ginseng is not possible. Instead, I'll give you something else. You follow me. The rest of you, wait here."

"Yes. Lord Qilin. Please take your time. I'll be guarding here diligently with the single-horned snake!"

Would there be anyone who could break through the barrier that the Blood Qilin had set up?

The Blood Qilin did not dislike Gwon Cheong's joke.

Rather, the human-like smell that wafted from him was quite endearing.

And so, Namgung Hui was once again alone with the Blood Qilin.

Taking this as an opportunity, Namgung Hui opened his mouth again.

"Grand-aunt. Is the Doll Snow Ginseng really not possible? As you know from looking into my memories, I need it to melt the Fire Spirit Divine Pill."

"That's why I'm saying, there's no need to take a spirit medicine of extreme yin. It's inefficient and a waste of a top-grade spirit medicine. It's a matter that can be solved by asking your partner, so why are you trying to take a long and troublesome detour?"

"..."

Namgung Hui was at a loss for words.

Namgung Hui, whose memories had been read, could not refute the Blood Qilin's words.

"Keuung..."

"Hahaha. Didn't you already see all the ugly sides of each other in your past lives?"

"That's because our clothes were torn while fighting."

The final battle that had unfolded in the Valley of Certain Death.

Although they had seen all there was to see of each other then, he wondered if such things would even register in a life-or-death situation.

It could be said that the situation was completely different now.

"For a mere man to try to ruin things because of embarrassment. Tsk, tsk. It's a good thing that the Heretic Alliance Lord you encountered a while ago backed down out of goodwill. If he had held a grudge against you, it could have been dangerous. And yet, you're hesitating now because of your pride, how pathetic."

The Blood Qilin's direct words, which were like a blow to the bone.

Namgung Hui, who also fully agreed, just lowered his head and could not offer any rebuttal.

"I've looked at your memories, and the daughter of the Divine Physician Sect Leader is also with you, right? Does any personal feeling enter into the medical practice performed there? It's all for the greater good, so put your embarrassment aside for a moment. The Azure Dragon brother wouldn't have established the Thunder Sect for that."

At the Blood Qilin's words, he boldly corrected the parts he had been wavering and hesitating about.

'That thing. I can just think of it as a medical practice. The purpose is in that context anyway. There's no need to be embarrassed at all.'

And as the Blood Qilin said, hadn't they seen all there was to see of each other in their past lives?

To be like this now was a truly ridiculous sight.

Namgung Hui, whose heart had been refreshed for a change, smiled brightly like an enlightened high monk.

"Thanks to you, Grand-aunt, I've been relieved of a worry. I almost did a useless thing for a foolish reason."

"I'm glad you realized it now. So just take the spirit fruit I've chosen for you."

"Yes. I will gratefully receive whatever you give me."

"To say 'whatever,' all the spirit fruits I give are top-grade. Do you see the black and white tree over there?"

Even as he entered, there was one tree that was particularly noticeable.

The left side was white, and the right side was black.

Unless it had been deliberately painted, how could a tree have such diverse colors on its left and right sides?

And with the contrasting white and black at that.

"It's a truly amazing tree. To have contrasting colors in one body."

"It's a tree called the Yin-Yang Tree. The name of the spirit fruit hanging there is also called the Yin-Yang Immortal Fruit."

The name itself was not ordinary.

A feeling as if it possessed the energy of yin and yang at the same time.

Since it was connected to the principle of Taiji, it even exuded a sense of familiarity.

Wasn't the principle by which Namgung Hui melted the energy of the Fire Spirit Divine Pill also the principle of Taiji?

Namgung Hui was very tempted by the Yin-Yang Immortal Fruit, but he didn't feel the need to consume it himself.

And as if to drive a nail, the Blood Qilin's words continued.

"Give that to your partner, not to you."

"Then you should have said so from the beginning. Why did you say it as if you were giving it to me?"

"Hahaha. Isn't that the same thing? It's your person anyway. And are you planning not to give it to her after making a promise?"

"That's not it."

"Then don't grumble and just give it to her."

The Blood Qilin flew into the air as before, carefully plucked the Yin-Yang Immortal Fruit, and handed it to Namgung Hui.

"There's nothing special about the method of consumption. However, when she consumes it, it would be good for you to stay by her side. Since the energy that the Yin-Yang Immortal Fruit possesses is the energy of yin and yang, you may have to intervene in the middle."

Beak Seolhwa would be good at handling the yin energy among the yin-yang energy, but Namgung Hui would be able to handle the yang energy much more safely and delicately.

If the yang energy were to run rampant, Namgung Hui would have to intervene and control it.

Namgung Hui also fully understood that, so he nodded and put the Yin-Yang Immortal Fruit in his robes.

"Ah, and you said you got a spirit fruit from the single-horned snake, right? Take it out."

Namgung Hui obediently took out the spirit fruit and handed it to the Blood Qilin.

"As expected, it's not fully ripe yet. Then for a moment."

As the Blood Qilin placed its hand on the spirit fruit, a green light flashed, and the spirit fruit became even larger.

If it had just gotten bigger, Namgung Hui would not have been surprised, but the energy felt from the spirit fruit, including its color, had changed remarkably.

"Thank you. Grand-aunt. I'm just keep being indebted to you."

"That's what elders are for. Now that I have nothing more to give, don't expect too much."

There was nothing more to get.

The reason he had come to Qilin Peak in the first place was to find a spirit medicine to give to Beak Seolhwa or a spirit herb of extreme yin for himself.

Common sense dictated that there was no way a spirit herb of extreme yin would be in such a tropical region.

Well, it wasn't that there was no law that said there wouldn't be such a thing in an unknown cave or a deep part.

And so, Namgung Hui, who had finished all his business on Qilin Peak, asked the Blood Qilin, holding the spirit fruit.

"What is the name of this spirit fruit? And I'd like to know its efficacy."

"It doesn't have a particular name, but if I had to name it, I could call it the Fruit of Evolution. Because if you feed it to a spirit beast, it will grow even more."

He understood why the single-horned snake had been guarding this spirit fruit.

And yet, did the single-horned snake hand this spirit fruit over to Namgung Hui?

'Did it think I would ripen it like the Blood Qilin and give it back?'

Unfortunately, even if he had such a talent, he had no intention of returning it to the single-horned snake.

If he had to feed this.

'It would be better to tell Chichi to eat it. I'm sorry to the single-horned snake, but.'

Namgung Hui woke up Chichi in his robes and pulled it out.

"Kiik? (What's wrong?)"

"Would you like to try this?"

"Kiik. Kkik? (Why is there only a side dish and no alcohol?)"

"What is this, always talking about alcohol. It's good for your body, so just eat it without complaining."

As Namgung Hui stuffed the spirit fruit into Chichi's mouth, Chichi reluctantly gnawed on the spirit fruit.

A little while later. A luster flowed from Chichi's fur, and a strong light was emitted from its body.

A sight as if a spirit beast was really evolving.

But when the light disappeared, Chichi's body size, as well as its color, had returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

Only the luster flowing from its fur still remained.

At the sight of such a Chichi, the Blood Qilin said with slight admiration.

"Oho. It's quite difficult for a pine squirrel to obtain spirituality, but it's an extraordinary child. Does it mean it's taking after its master?"

"It's not a master-servant relationship. We're just friends who are together."

"Yes. I misspoke. Is this child's name Chichi? It seems this friend was the one who was going against my territory earlier."

It seemed the reason Chichi's detection ability was limited was because of the Blood Qilin's barrier.

Perhaps because of that. Chichi, who had realized the situation late, stealthily whispered to Namgung Hui.

"Kiik kkik? (How did you end up with Lord Qilin?)"

"It just happened that our fates crossed. By the way, has anything changed?"

"Kiik. Kiik. (My senses seem to have become more sensitive than before. Even now, I can vaguely feel great energies through the barrier.)"

If so, that was a relief. Since there would be no great barrier master like the Blood Qilin in the imperial palace, Chichi's ability would be more than enough.

He had been inwardly worried that he wouldn't be able to get the Golden Turtle Divine Pill to detoxify Yewol, but it seemed that wouldn't be the case.

As Chichi's evolution was also finished, there was really no more business to be done on Qilin Peak.

Namgung Hui, as evening was also approaching, said to the Blood Qilin.

"Grand-aunt. It seems I and my friends have been too much of a burden. And shamelessly, it seems it's time for us to take our leave."

"I'm glad you know you're shameless. I was very worried that you had no shame as well as no sense."

At the words 'no shame,' Namgung Hui glanced at Chichi for a moment and then said.

"Hahaha. Then I'll come and see you again when I have the chance."

The Blood Qilin shook its head and said.

"Child. I don't think there will be a next time. I also have my own circumstances. Then, before we part, let me give you one piece of advice. About the Blood Cult right below.”

(End of Chapter)