Rebirth of the Thunder God

"I've found the whereabouts of the Dugu Family Head."

"Oh. That's really welcome news."

"It seems the news I just gave you wasn't welcome. It was a matter related to Beak Seolhwa, after all. I will be sure to tell her this later."

"Ah, no. What are you talking about? When did I say I wasn't pleased with Seolhwa's news?"

As Namgung Hui stuttered in embarrassment, a curve was drawn on the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's thin eyes.

"Hahaha. It's a joke. The atmosphere seemed to have sunk, so I was trying to lighten it up. It seems you are indeed worried about Beak Seolhwa."

"Does a person who knows that make such a joke? Anyway. Please tell me the whereabouts of the Dugu Family Head."

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who had been smiling, straightened his expression and said.

"He is also coming to the Iron Blood Fortress this time. Of course, he will come disguised."

"Well, since he runs a merchant guild in the Central Plains, won't he come disguised as a merchant guild?"

"You've figured that much out? Quite impressive."

Had Namgung Hui been playing around?

He also knew the fact that the Dugu family ran a place called the Taejeong Merchant Guild and funneled funds to the Blood Cult.

'Moreover, the Dugu Family Head was said to have been in and out of the Iron Blood Fortress.'

Although the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader would have his own information network, including the intelligence organization of the Martial Alliance, Namgung Hui also belonged to the side with quite a few sources of information.

The Hao Faction, the Beggars' Union.

Not only was he connected to the two major information organizations, but he had also grasped the internal information of the Blood Cult to some extent.

Although he might be behind in terms of information on the Hoicheon Association, Namgung Hui was not behind in terms of information on the Blood Cult.

On top of that, hadn't he founded his own alliance and was also building an information organization?

"You wouldn't have brought this up with just this much. You must know the exact location of the Dugu Family Head, right? Senior."

"Yes. I even know the location of the manor where he is staying. However, the person he is with is the problem."

"Who is it?"

"The Hwangbo Family Head. Hwangbo Hocheon, he is with the Dugu Family Head."

* * *

Namgung Hui and Jang Hwang, who had finished their private talk with the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, were immediately running to a manor he had told them about.

Since it was not far from the Iron Blood Fortress, they had decided to check out the manor first.

If things went well, Namgung Hui's plan was to eliminate the Dugu Family Head on the spot.

But the one with him was none other than the head of the Hwangbo family, Hwangbo Hocheon.

Perhaps concerned about this, Jang Hwang, who was on Namgung Hui's back, spoke worriedly.

"I know my younger brother is strong, but the opponent is the Invincible Fist King, Hwangbo Hocheon, who is ranked 8th among the Ten Great Masters. His ranking is not much different from my nephew's."

"The ranking of the Ten Great Masters that you just mentioned, brother. Isn't that information I told you? That's all bullshit. Wasn't it hard to see even the Wolf King as the last seat?"

"That's true, but still, the Ten Great Masters are the Ten Great Masters. You haven't received the title of one of the Ten Great Masters yet, have you? And you're still very young, right?"

In the private talk with the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, Jang Hwang had also learned of Namgung Hui's true identity.

Due to that, he had learned the fact that Namgung Hui was just a youth, but he was still maintaining a brotherly relationship.

Once a brother, always a brother, or something like that.

"What's the big deal about age? True skill is what's important. From your perspective, brother, do you think I can't enter the Ten Great Masters?"

"That's not it either, but still, experience is something that can't be ignored. Isn't the opponent a person who is being pushed to be the first Iron Blood Fortress Lord? At such an important moment, he wouldn't be alone."

"That's why it might be a good thing. Anyway. Brother. We're almost there, so please do as I say."

"Alright. You don't have to worry about that."

Namgung Hui set Jang Hwang down on the ground and looked at him with a slightly suspicious gaze.

Although his skills were extraordinary, since it was the first time they were carrying out a mission together, he couldn't help but be a little worried.

Moreover, if the Invincible Fist King, Hwangbo Hocheon, whom Jang Hwang had mentioned, was also in the manor ahead.

'If things go wrong, it will be hard for both of us to be safe.'

Of course, if the mission succeeded, that would be the end of it.

And Namgung Hui was confident of that.

In the first place, the middle of the Central Plains was closer to Namgung Hui's home base than the Dugu Family Head's stage.

Although the fact that the Hwangbo family had left the Martial Alliance and newly established the Iron Blood Fortress could be a variable, if it were the people of the Hwangbo family that Namgung Hui knew, it wouldn't be entirely disadvantageous.

"Then, here we go."

Namgung Hui straightened his clothes and moved forward.

His attire was still that of a disguised ronin, so his rough appearance was stronger than a neat impression.

Jang Hwang, next to such a Namgung Hui, was also extremely rustic, but when it was harmonized with Jang Hwang's simple face, he looked like a Daoist who had been cultivating for a long time in the mountains.

Of course, since that was the truth, it could be seen that his outside and inside matched.

Namgung Hui, who had reached the manor, glanced at Jang Hwang and then knocked on the door.

"Is anyone there?"

Rustle, rustle.

A presence was heard from inside, and a brief conversation was exchanged.

"Was there another invited guest?"

"Well. As far as I know, there isn't. In the first place, how many people know about this place..."

"Then it must be an uninvited guest. I'll go and chase them away."

A moment later, the door opened, and a man who looked like a servant stuck his head out.

"Who is it?"

"A passing fortune-teller."

"A fortune-teller? No. We don't believe in such things, so disappear quickly. There's an important guest inside, so if you make an unnecessary commotion, you'll be severely punished. Go when I'm asking nicely."

If it were a normal situation, the servant would have kicked the fortune-teller's butt right away, but since a man with a murderous impression was standing next to him, he couldn't just do that.

And if an unnecessary commotion occurred, nothing good would happen to him, a servant.

Jang Hwang grinned at the servant's attitude and continued.

"Then please deliver a message inside. 'Iron blood and cold blood are gathered in one place, so their energies are truly not in harmony.'"

Since the servant also had some sense, he made a startled expression at the words 'iron blood.'

Was he really a skilled fortune-teller?

This could be a problem in its own way.

It seemed there would be no loss in various ways if he just delivered the message inside.

"Ah, alright. Then please wait a moment."

The servant who quickly went inside.

Jang Hwang, as he disappeared, asked Namgung Hui.

"Iron blood must refer to the Fist King, the Iron Blood Fortress Lord. And cold blood refers to the Dugu Family Head? But why cold blood?"

"At one time, the Dugu family was also called the Cold-Blooded Family. If it's the Dugu Family Head, he will surely react when he hears the words 'cold blood.'"

If he were to ask Beak Seolhwa about the words 'Cold-Blooded Family' right now, she would nod her head and acknowledge it.

Although one could say that Beak Seolhwa, who was from the North Sea, was the most fitting for the term 'cold-blooded,' just by looking at the actions they had committed at the Namgung family, they did not fall behind compared to the North Sea Ice Palace.

In fact, since he had also heard the term 'Cold-Blooded Family' from Beak Seolhwa in his past life, her acknowledgment would be included to some extent.

A moment later, the door opened again, and this time, not just the head, but the servant came out in his entirety and greeted Namgung Hui's party.

"Ahem. I... was very rude at our first meeting. Please come inside for now."

Looking at the servant's attitude, it seemed they had been spared the dismissal order.

The start was not bad.

The servant who was guiding the way kept looking back and said in an anxious tone.

"Excuse me... Master Fortune-teller."

"Is there something you want to say?"

"Could you perhaps read my fortune too? My dreams have been bad lately..."

"Hmm... Wait a moment."

Jang Hwang, who had stopped his steps as if he was really going to do something, took something out of his bundle.

"Carry this with you for a while when you sleep."

"Isn't this a scented pouch?"

"Did you expect some great talisman? Still, you don't have to doubt its effectiveness, so just do as I say."

"Yes! I understand."

Perhaps because an unknowable power was imbued in Jang Hwang's voice, the servant quickly took the scented pouch and put it in his bosom.

And so, the servant who had finished guiding them to the inside of the manor bowed his head repeatedly and left.

Perhaps because of the place, it seemed he couldn't go deep inside.

"Brother. I smell the scent of the cypress tree you gave to the man named Somyo before."

"Oh. You remembered? That's right. This time, I didn't apply the sap, but gave him a scented pouch made of sawdust."

"At that time, you said it was because the man named Somyo's body odor was strong. Why did you give it to him again this time?"

"Did you see the servant's face just now?"

As it was, since Namgung Hui's upper Dantian was open, he clearly remembered the servant's face.

"As he said, his complexion was very dark and gaunt, as if he hadn't slept for a few days. It didn't seem like he just couldn't sleep. It seems the Dugu Family Head worked him hard."

"Well, that could be, but from what I saw, it was insomnia. Rather, if he were worked hard, wouldn't he have to sleep because his body was tired? I couldn't know his inner thoughts, but he must have some great worry."

"Let's say that's the case. Then why a scented pouch of all things?"

"Cypress trees have the effect of helping with deep sleep. I'll give you a better one as a gift later."

"Ahem. Brother. Then may I ask for two?"

"I didn't bring many, so it's a little tight. But why?"

"Because I also have someone to give a gift to."

"Is it perhaps a woman? It must be that woman your nephew was talking about. Hahaha. Alright. I'll put it in a pretty scented pouch and give it to you."

Namgung Hui nodded his head with a satisfied expression.

Thump, thump.

Now was the time to erase his smile and greet the guests in earnest.

In front of cold blood and iron blood, he also needed to be serious.

Since he had entered the tiger's den on his own, he had to be on his toes.

"Are you the fortune-teller Cheong mentioned?"

The person who greeted Namgung Hui this time did not look like a simple servant.

From his slightly arrogant tone of voice, the smell of the Dugu family wafted strongly.

"That's right. I am that fortune-teller."

The man who looked Jang Hwang up and down.

He frowned at his rather rustic attire, but when a strange divine energy swirled on his face, he straightened his impression and nodded his head.

"There is a precious guest inside, so pay special attention to your behavior. If you understand, follow me."

The man who quietly guided the way.

His attire looked like that of a general manager who managed the manor, and from his gait, it seemed this person had also learned a considerable amount of martial arts.

'Is he a person of the Dugu family? His unique atmosphere resembles that of a person of the Dugu family. The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's information was correct.'

Of course, he would only know after opening the lid.

Unless he met the Dugu Family Head, he couldn't say that his information was accurate.

Soon, the general manager's steps stopped, and a cozy detached house appeared.

"Manor Lord. I have brought the fortune-teller. May I let him in?"

"Let him in."

Namgung Hui's complexion hardened slightly at the clear voice that came from inside.

Because it was not the voice he had expected.

'A woman's voice... The high-nosed Dugu Family Head wouldn't have cross-dressed. Is it a representative?'

It was common to put forward a representative.

Especially if one was in a high position or an important position, it was common to have a shadow warrior in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances.

'First, let's see who else is inside.'

Deureureuk.

As the door opened, a scent as clear as the voice wafted from inside.

A quiet interior scenery.

In that scenery, a man with a good physique and a woman who seemed to be the owner of the voice were facing each other.

"Is that the diviner who mentioned iron blood and cold blood?"

Not only was his voice cheerful, but his tone of voice was also full of life.

'This person must be the Invincible Fist King. He knows how to properly control his Ki. Quite impressive.'

His realm could not be read exactly.

That meant his Ki control was free and easy.

His solar plexus was flat, and his eyes were full of spirit.

It must be that the heart art he had learned was extremely pure.

"That's right. This humble one knows how to read fortunes a little."

The one who spoke this time was not the Fist King, but the woman who was called the Manor Lord.

"Yes. Then shall we hear your business for coming? Sect Leader of the Maoshan Sect."

(End of Chapter)