Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Yes. I'll tell you right away. The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader has gone missing. And right after the martial arts tournament."

"The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader?"

Namgung Hui asked back and thought.

About the last moment he had met him.

'He had arrested the members of the Hebei Paeng family who had attacked Eun Seolrin. I haven't met him since then, so does that mean he went missing right after that?'

Timing-wise, it was right after that, when the martial arts tournament ended, so it fit perfectly.

But he judged that the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader was not a man who would be defeated by the members of the Hebei Paeng family.

Well, since the White Tiger Troupe Leader was a member of the Paeng family, he didn't know what he would have done by luring the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, but if so, he would have been caught by the Beggars' Sect or the Vermilion Bird Troupe.

And the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader was a being who was receiving attention from his surroundings.

The one who answered Namgung Hui's question was not Cheonghak, but Hu Gai.

"Our Beggars' Sect members are searching, but. He has disappeared without a trace, as if he had sunk into the ground. So I was going to ask Lord Namgung Hui, who is close to him, about this. Could you please tell him?"

The Beggars' Sect had already figured out that Namgung Hui and the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader had formed a friendship.

Well, since it wasn't a story to be hidden, he wasn't very displeased with Hu Gai's question.

"Of course, I'll tell him. But as far as I know, Hui probably doesn't know anything. It seemed he was in closed-door training after the martial arts tournament. That's also the reason why he hasn't been seen lately."

"Closed-door training... Such a strong person is trying to become even stronger?"

"More than that, he received the Small Return Pill. It seemed he was trying to digest it."

"I see. Since his cousin says so, it must be true. Then we'll investigate the whereabouts of the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader further in our Beggars' Sect. I hope his life is at least intact..."

Namgung Hui also had many things to ask of the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.

To be precise, hadn't he tried to use him to divert the General's attention for a while?

The fact that the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader was up to something had already been revealed when he had smuggled out the list.

When he was receiving the attention of the First General, he had tried to draw his attention appropriately and infiltrate the Imperial Palace's secret repository in the meantime.

And Yewol's escape would also draw more of the First General's attention.

Since there was an observation eye called the Three Eyes, it was a clear fact that the invasion of the Imperial Palace's secret repository would become easier if he disturbed him as much as possible.

'But the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader is missing. Don't tell me the First General moved first?'

Namgung Hui had not expected that the First General would strike the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader now, as he was paying attention to Princess Juhwayeong, who had established the Anti-Heaven Alliance.

It might be a natural thing to say, but Princess Juhwayeong, who was also the alliance leader, was a more dangerous person than a mere Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.

And most of all, Namgung Hui was convinced that the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who was as sly as a turtle and whose inner thoughts could not be known, would not be defeated so futilely.

On top of that, wasn't his biological father the current Martial Alliance Leader and the number one in the White-Path martial world, the Shaolin Divine Monk?

Since he didn't seem to be an abandoned child, he wouldn't just stand by and watch.

"Then is this all the bad news?"

"No. Unfortunately, there is one more thing. Right here. The Young Guild Leader of the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild has collapsed again. It is said that his body has frozen cold like last time."

Namgung Hui did not particularly harden his expression at this news.

But, the recurrence of the Ice Soul Poison happened faster than he thought, so he just thought that he had done well to come running quickly.

Perhaps because Eun Seolrin did not know martial arts, the recurrence of the Ice Soul Poison was fast.

Namgung Hui nodded and stood up from his seat and said.

"Then I'll have to go to the Young Guild Leader."

"Young Lady Namgung is not a physician, is she?"

"I'm not a physician, but we're both women. I can at least stand guard by her side. Since our Namgung family has a close relationship with the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild, we're not strangers."

Of course, this was limited to Namgung Hui.

It probably hadn't been long since they had made a deal with the Namgung family.

Since the Young Family Head, Namgung Chan, had mainly dealt with the Pungun Merchant Guild, his relationship with the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild would not have deepened much.

Still, since the newly established Chang Gung Merchant Guild was seeking to train with the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild, it couldn't be said that their relationship was bad.

Besides, since Namgung Hui had a record of treating Eun Seolrin primarily, the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild would at least look favorably on the Namgung family.

"Well, since an assassin might come at this opportunity, the escort of a Transcendent master would be reassuring. Then, Young Lady Namgung. Next time, let's have a meal instead of tea like this."

"Young Master Cheonghak is buying, right?"

"Of course."

"Alright. Then let's meet again when we have time. Then. I'll be on my way first."

Namgung Hui cupped his fists and left the reception hall, walking straight to Eun Seolrin's residence.

Even if the appearance of the merchant guild seemed to have changed somewhat from before.

Since the location had not changed, he arrived at Eun Seolrin's residence easily.

He had also memorized all the life gates of the formations that were laid out.

And now that his knowledge of formations had deepened, he was at a level where he could break through this much.

And so, the security at Eun Seolrin's residence, where he had arrived, was tight.

"Who goes there!"

"I'm Namgung Jayeon, a friend of Miss Eun. Could you please tell her I'm here?"

"Namgung...? Hup! Are you perhaps from the Namgung family?"

"Yes."

"You've come really fast. It hasn't even been two hours since we sent the message. Ah! The young lady is waiting. Please go in."

Whether he had come at the right time, it was truly amazing that they had just sent a message to the Namgung family.

Perhaps because it was the same symptom, they had requested detoxification from Namgung Hui again.

Coincidentally, since Namgung Hui had come first, sending the message had become a meaningless act, but anyway, it was important that Namgung Hui had come like this.

As Namgung Hui opened the door and entered, Eun Seolrin was lying on the bed like last time, breathing out cold air.

But fortunately, she had not lost consciousness like last time, nor was her whole body frozen solid.

"Miss Eun. It's me."

Perhaps because Eun Seolrin was smart, she immediately recognized Namgung Hui's voice.

"Lord Namgung Hui! Cough! Cough!"

"You don't have to call me so loudly, I can hear you. And it's not good for my disguise to be known, so please speak quietly."

"I was so happy to see you that I made a mistake. By the way, it hasn't even been half an hour since we sent the message, but you're already here."

"Ah. I didn't come because of the message. I also realized that the Ice Soul Poison was still there this time and came right away. Then I'll start the treatment right away, so please lie on your stomach."

"But last time, you decided to speak informally. But today, you're speaking formally again."

Come to think of it, he had spoken informally to her during the martial arts tournament, but seeing her again after a long time, it was a bit awkward to speak informally.

But it was also awkward to speak formally to a young lady who was much younger than his original age.

"Yeah. It's been a while, so the words didn't come out well. Anyway. Turn over. I'll treat you right away."

"Yes. If I have to tear my clothes like last time, I'll take them off in advance."

"No. The symptoms aren't that severe this time, so it should be fine."

Unlike last time, since he was going to melt the Ice Soul Poison using the ice art this time, it didn't seem to matter much.

The reason Beak Seolhwa had asked him to be naked was because her ki would rage fiercely.

But it didn't seem necessary to go that far for the aftereffects of the Ice Soul Poison.

Namgung Hui, facing Eun Seolrin who had turned over, created the Nine Yin Divine Art.

Although he could only gather a speck of ki.

-Sarak.

There was no lack in calling out the Ice Soul Poison.

The Ice Soul Poison, as if the ice art were its parent, calmly nestled in its arms.

Slowly, slowly, it melted and disappeared, and its attitude did not change.

And so, after quickly driving out all the aftereffects of the poison, Namgung Hui gently took his hand off.

"How's your body?"

"Is the treatment already over?"

"Yeah. I removed it with an easy and sure method this time, so it won't recur in the future."

Eun Seolrin turned her body and tidied her clothes.

Perhaps because she had eaten better than before, her complexion and her body had gained some weight.

"I'm always indebted to you. I don't know when I'll be able to repay this favor..."

"You can repay it for the rest of your life. Isn't it true that a debt doesn't disappear until the other person dies?"

"For the rest of my life? Huhu. Alright. Since a merchant's nature is not to live in debt. I'll repay it little by little."

"That's enough. Since I'm going to get a good interest from a rich person. Repay it as slowly as possible."

"Ah. And I have a letter to deliver to you, my lord. Please wait a moment."

Eun Seolrin stood up from her seat, took out a letter from her desk drawer, and handed it to Namgung Hui.

"I thought I should deliver this to you in person, so I didn't send it to the Namgung family. It's a letter left by the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader."

"!?"

Namgung Hui had not expected to hear the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's name from Eun Seolrin.

Although he had protected Eun Seolrin for a short time during the martial arts tournament, he didn't think their relationship was close enough to ask for such a favor in a brief encounter.

Moreover, since the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's inner thoughts could not be known, he even seemed sinister.

'Did he have no one else to entrust it to? Well, I'll know the answer if I read it.'

Namgung Hui opened the letter she had given him and read it.

[Junior. By the time you read this, you will have heard the news that I have gone missing. But since I have left such a letter, you will have realized that it is just a false rumor. And I will proceed with the matter of drawing the General's attention as promised. Yewol will also act as you have instructed, so don't worry. But Yewol's condition is getting worse faster than expected. Although the Tang family is administering a tranquilizer, you should hurry. Then I'll see you later.]

Namgung Hui folded the letter and was lost in thought for a moment.

Although Tang Soso had boasted that she could neutralize the Human-Faced Spider Poison to some extent.

It seemed that the Human-Faced Spider Poison improved by the Hoicheon Association was more powerful than expected.

Indeed. As time passed, whether it was martial arts or living creatures, they were bound to become stronger, so there was no law that said the spirit beast, the Human-Faced Spider, would not have a more powerful poison.

Rather, to kill the humans who tormented it, it would have honed its poison.

'By the way, I have to stop by the Pungun Merchant Guild, but if this is the case, I won't be able to visit the Pungun Merchant Guild.'

Unfortunately, the Pungun Merchant Guild was located at the opposite end of Beijing, where the Imperial Palace was.

And it was also troublesome if Namgung Hui's whereabouts were known while going to such a Pungun Merchant Guild.

Rather, in a time like this, it would be better to reduce the variables and be safer by infiltrating the Imperial Palace as quickly as possible.

Besides, since Yewol was in a hurry, it would be better to hurry.

"Seolrin. Can you send a message to the Pungun Merchant Guild?"

"The Pungun Merchant Guild? It's not that I can't send it, but do you have business there instead of our merchant guild?"

Eun Seolrin said in a slightly disappointed tone.

Namgung Hui chuckled at Eun Seolrin's attitude, patted her shoulder, and said.

"This is also related to the elder Cheongi-ja. It's official business. So don't be too jealous."

"Elder Cheongi-ja? Then it must be an important matter. I'll deliver the message right away."

Perhaps because of the words 'Cheongi-ja,' Eun Seolrin put on a somewhat relieved expression.

It would not be pleasant to lose an important customer to another of the three great merchant guilds.

Since Namgung Hui needed to write the content of the letter first, he approached Eun Seolrin's desk and asked.

"Can I use your brush, ink, and paper for a moment?"

"Of course, you can."

Namgung Hui, who had nodded, briefly wrote down the details of the deal and the matter of the Blood Cult, then dried the ink.

"Here. You can deliver this to the Young Guild Leader of the Pungun Merchant Guild. And seal it so that the contents inside cannot be seen."

"Yes. That's our merchant guild's specialty, so you don't have to worry. Is there anything else you need me to do?"

Originally, he wanted to ask her to sell the spirit herbs he had and to do various other miscellaneous things, but he didn't have enough time.

It seemed he would have to take care of this after visiting the Imperial Palace or make time for it separately.

"Not right now. I'll stop by again later and ask. If I had time, I'd like to hang out with you a little more, but since I have an appointment with the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, I think I have to part ways now."

Eun Seolrin also nodded with a disappointed expression, perhaps because she had lost the opportunity to repay his favor.

"Since you're so busy, I can't help it. Our Myriad Gold Merchant Guild is always ready to support you, my lord, so please be sure to stop by."

"Alright. Then you take care of yourself too. And let's see each other again later."

Namgung Hui waved to Eun Seolrin and left her office.

A firm light was dwelling in Eun Seolrin's eyes as she followed Namgung Hui's back.

***

Namgung Hui, who had left the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild, immediately moved away like an arrow.

And he took off his woman's disguise and even used the art of disguise to have a faint impression.

The place Namgung Hui was going to infiltrate this time was the Imperial Palace, which could be more dangerous than the Blood Cult.

The original Imperial Palace was also extremely dangerous, but he couldn't even imagine what the current Imperial Palace, where the Imperial Heaven was also coiled up, would be like.

It would not be strange at all if the First General, who had the Insightful Eye, had set a trap in advance and was waiting for Namgung Hui.

He could only hope that the deception of the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader and Yewol would work properly.

And so, he quietly and gradually slowed down and headed to the Imperial Palace for three days.

When the eyes of the Beggars' Sect members and the Hao Faction members were not visible, Namgung Hui increased his speed and entered Beijing in an instant.

When he arrived in Beijing, there were certainly no beggars around.

It was because the government office had chased away the beggars under the pretext of public security.

The Hao Faction was the same.

Since their members were from humble origins, including waiters, thieves, and courtesans, it was difficult to see them like beggars.

But it wasn't that there were no Hao Faction members at all.

Because waiters existed wherever you went.

As Namgung Hui arrived in Beijing and stopped by an inn, the waiter who approached him brought up a rather welcome word.

(End of Chapter)