Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Child of the Pungun Merchant Guild. But why are you on the side of the military strategist Bukgung? If you don't tell me the truth, I will not forgive you in the name of this Demonic Poison."

At the words 'Demonic Poison,' Namgung Hui was inwardly surprised but also understood his title.

Because it was impossible for anyone other than the Demonic Poison to emit such a stench.

'If it's the smell of a rotting corpse, it must be because of corpse poison.'

The poison that arises from a rotting corpse is corpse poison.

Corpse poison had a considerable stench as much as its powerful effect, and it was so lethal that just seeping into the blood vessels could lead to death within a short time.

Of course, a master who could suppress the poisonous ki could prepare for it to some extent, but that would be a different story if the power of the corpse poison became stronger.

The corpse poison that the Demonic Poison was creating while enduring this stench would surely cause an ordinary master to die instantly before they could suppress the poisonous ki.

Namgung Hui maintained a calm expression at the question of the Great Elder, the Demonic Poison.

Because he knew that he would naturally ask the moment he handed over the letter with Bukgung Jinwu's seal.

"Do I look like I'm in league with the military strategist Bukgung?"

"For now, yes. My thoughts may change depending on your words, so speak carefully."

"The military strategist Bukgung doesn't know the contents of the secret message. If he knew the contents of that deal, would he have passed this achievement on to the Great Elder? He wouldn't have sent me here to disguise it as his own achievement."

"Then are you saying you just borrowed the seal? But that's also a strange thing. Why would the military strategist Bukgung, who cherishes his own things so terribly, carelessly lend his seal to an outsider?"

Once again, the Demonic Poison raised his momentum and intimidated Namgung Hui.

"That's because I made a deal with the military strategist Bukgung."

"A deal? What kind of deal was exchanged that he would even give you his seal?"

"That's because I promised to strike a blow to the radical faction."

"What, a blow? You impudent military strategist bastard. So how did you plan to strike a blow?"

"It's nothing special, I just said that our merchant guild would refuse the proposal we received this time. Since I had to enter the Heavenly Altar Pavilion to express my refusal, I asked him to lend me his seal."

The Demonic Poison still looked at Namgung Hui with a suspicious gaze.

His suspicion did not easily go away.

"That alone is not enough, although I just insulted the military strategist Bukgung, his ability is real. On top of that, a guy who cherishes his own things so terribly would not so easily give away his seal."

"Of course, there was another request. In fact, this might be the main point."

"The main point. Let's hear it."

"He asked me to infiltrate the Heavenly Altar Pavilion and cause trouble... no, a ruckus."

"A ruckus? Hahaha! From what I see, you don't seem to have the skills to cause a ruckus."

Namgung Hui was relieved at the Demonic Poison's answer.

The Demonic Poison was definitely a weaker opponent than the Demonic Fist.

To the point where he couldn't grasp that Namgung Hui was hiding his ki.

"That's because the means to cause a ruckus is not martial arts. Is martial arts the only means to harass an opponent?"

"Indeed. That would be so. If you're a merchant, you could harass your opponent with money. So did he order you to cut off our radical faction's source of money?"

Namgung Hui put on a deliberately pretty expression and continued.

"Other than that, the honey trap. With my beauty, I can't bewitch the elders, but I can bewitch the lower-ranking martial artists."

Namgung Hui's original appearance was in the handsome category.

It wasn't for nothing that one of his titles was the Jade Qilin, and even if he just performed a little bit of disguise, he would look like a peerless beauty.

It was just that he wasn't wearing any fancy makeup now, but if he just put on some powder here, the young men would have no choice but to fall for him.

When Namgung Hui had disguised himself as a woman and accompanied the escort in the past, how enthusiastic was the reaction?

After that, Namgung Hui never wore makeup or disguised himself excessively.

Because he hated attracting attention in that way, and it was quite a troublesome thing.

The Demonic Poison, as if acknowledging Namgung Hui's beauty, nodded and continued.

"In this day and age, such a skinny body type is popular, right? Yes. There's nothing as scary as a honey trap. In the past, the soul-stealing technique performed by the previous Demonic Phantom also boasted of considerable power."

"But there's no way I'd do that. I'm a merchant, not a prostitute."

Only then did the Demonic Poison stroke his chin and release his suspicious gaze.

"You must have been quite insulted. That military strategist Bukgung really doesn't know a woman's heart. No matter how much merchants don't care about anything as long as it's money, asking a woman to give her body is another story. Alright. I fully understand your feelings, so please stand on our side."

Namgung Hui smiled brightly and said.

"That's why I handed you the proposal. For your information, the military strategist Bukgung didn't even see the contents. You can rest assured."

"Indeed. If it were his greed, he would have tried to snatch this good proposal. If he succeeds in a deal of this magnitude, he would be able to grasp not only honor but also justification."

As the Demonic Poison said, it was a good proposal for the Blood Cult as well.

Even if the Pungun Merchant Guild took more practical benefits.

The costs and efforts incurred in that process would be borne by the merchant guild.

As they say, the thirsty person digs the well.

This deal was not necessary for the Pungun Merchant Guild, but it was a desperate deal for the Blood Cult more than anything else.

On top of that, if it was discovered by the Martial Alliance that they were dealing with the Blood Cult, it would be difficult to see a good outcome.

Of course, Gang Yuseong would secure a justification for this through Cheongi-ja.

Perhaps he would say that he was planting a spy like Namgung Hui now, or that he would betray the Blood Cult someday.

Besides, he would probably set up another dummy merchant guild and proceed with the transaction under a borrowed name, not under the name of the Pungun Merchant Guild.

'Right now, even if I just put poison in the alcohol or food and hand it over, I could deal a big blow. At first, they'll inspect it every time, but as one or two years pass, such inspections will surely become lax.'

If he went through the Martial Alliance, he could easily obtain the deadly poison of the Sichuan Tang family.

In fact, it was said that the ten poisons of the Sichuan Tang family were used when they raided the safe house of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult 50 years ago.

Beak Seolhwa might be a little sad if she knew, but it was said that the mopping up of the remnants was concluded with the annihilation that took place at that time.

"You're a child I like. Then, since we've become allies, I'll show you something interesting. Take a look and if you think it's a good product, take it. Follow me."

The Demonic Poison led only Namgung Hui and went down to the basement through the stairs.

Why did the Blood Cult like the basement so much, was it to avoid the pursuit of the Martial Alliance?

It seemed that all the important facilities were located underground.

As he went down to the basement, the smell of corpses became particularly more severe.

Namgung Hui couldn't help but cover his nose at the pungent stench.

"The smell must be a bit strong. It took me almost ten years to get used to it. Now. We're here. This is what I'm going to show you."

Perhaps it was the Demonic Poison's laboratory, as a single corpse was placed in the cold and desolate basement.

"You didn't bring me here just to show me a corpse, did you? Although I'm a merchant, I'm not scared of seeing a corpse."

"Don't tell me you thought I brought you here to tease you? No. It's true that I'm trying to surprise you. Watch carefully. This is what I wanted to show you."

The Demonic Poison picked up a gourd bottle placed in a corner of the laboratory, listened to the sloshing sound, and smiled brightly.

It was quite eerie to see him smiling like that next to a corpse.

"Keep your eyes wide open and watch."

The Demonic Poison, who had finished speaking, opened the stopper of the gourd bottle with a triumphant expression and poured it on the corpse.

Kwalkwalkwal.

The unidentified liquid that poured out vigorously fell on the corpse.

Jiiik...

With the sound of something burning, the corpse melted away without a trace.

'!? The corpse disappeared without a trace...!'

As the Demonic Poison had said, he had watched with his eyes wide open, but as soon as it touched the unidentified liquid, the corpse disappeared as if it had sunk into the ground.

Even if you burned it with fire, a corpse would leave a trace.

Bone powder, clothes, and other body components would remain as ashes.

But when it touched the liquid that the Demonic Poison had poured, nothing remained.

"This is the thing I invented recently. How is it? There's no better thing to get rid of a corpse than this, is there?"

"It's an amazing thing. Even if you commit a murder, no trace will be left."

"That's right. Especially for martial artists who live by the sword, they will covet this thing with their eyes on fire."

"Great Elder. May I ask the name of the invention?"

"Aam. It's not difficult to tell you the name. Rather, I'd like to have my name evaluated. I named it Bone-Melting Powder, what do you think?"

Did he name it with the meaning of melting even the bones?

Since it erased the most difficult part to dispose of without a trace, it was a really well-suited name.

"You've named it really well. I don't think there's a better name than this. But can't this be used as a poison on a living person?"

The Demonic Poison licked his lips and continued.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't work on living creatures. It's a poison that only reacts to a corpse from which the soul has departed. Don't ask me what principle it was made with. Because that's a secret as a Demonic Poison."

Indeed, since it was no different from asking for the manufacturing method, he would have to endure it even if he was curious about the operating principle.

Judging from the Demonic Poison's personality, just showing his laboratory like this was probably a great favor.

Because he hadn't even brought Ma Jincheol, who was no different from his colleague.

"I could really buy it at a high price. Still, I need a sample to show the Guild Leader, so can I get just one bottle?"

"Of course, you can. The Guild Leader will have to see it himself to put a price on it. Here, take it. This one was just made, so its performance will be much better. Just a few drops will melt a corpse."

Namgung Hui took the Bone-Melting Powder that the Demonic Poison handed him, looked at it for a moment, and thought.

'Fortunately, there's no stench from this. I don't feel any special energy either... It's amazing. What on earth is the principle of melting a corpse?'

Namgung Hui decided to take a closer look later and put the gourd bottle in his robes.

"Then, since we've concluded a satisfactory deal. Let's go up and eat."

Originally, people's mouths would loosen when they ate and drank.

The information of the radical faction was best known by the radical faction members.

Namgung Hui resolved to ask about the internal information of the radical faction while eating a meal with him.

And so, they left the underground laboratory and came up to the ground.

Although the smell of corpses was still faint here, it felt refreshing to come up from the basement.

A meal? He didn't have an appetite because of this smell, but for his purpose, he had to create an appetite even if he didn't have one.

"Compared to the Central Plains, the resources are not abundant, but the cuisine of Guangdong Province is not inferior to that of the Central Plains."

And so, listening to the Demonic Poison's boasting of Guangdong Province, he arrived at a pavilion that looked like a restaurant.

It was open on all four sides, and a waterfall could be seen below the cliff.

Just looking at it refreshed his mind, and clear air seeped into his lungs.

Now he felt his appetite returning.

"This is the most wonderful scenery in the Heavenly Altar Pavilion. How is it? Isn't it a rare sight even in the Central Plains?"

"It really is. I've never seen such a magnificent view in my life."

"Haha! To say 'in my life' when you haven't lived that long. Now then, please sit down. I'll order the food to be brought."

The Demonic Poison called the servants and ordered the food.

Although it wasn't as much as the feast yesterday, various dishes were brought in one after another.

For a poor Blood Cult to provide this much hospitality, it seemed the Demonic Poison thought very highly of Namgung Hui.

It would also be a proof that this deal was that desperate.

"There's not much, but please eat."

"Yes. I'll eat well."

As Namgung Hui picked up his chopsticks and brought the food to his mouth.

Jijijik.

The purple lightning divine ki was activated in response to the poisonous ki.

(End of Chapter)