Rebirth of the Thunder God

-Swaeaek!

Namgung Hui, quickly dodging the Dugu Nine Swords that unfolded before his eyes, asked Jang Hwang.

"Brother. What is going on?"

"His obsession is so strong that it seems his hostility has risen. This is the first time I've seen a case like this."

"Then what should we do now?"

"It seems we'll have to kill him again. It doesn't seem like he'll answer even if we ask questions."

Dugu Jin, who was still swinging his sword at Namgung Hui.

He was so resentful even in death that he had not forgotten his hostility towards Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui had no choice but to cut off Dugu Jin's head.

Seogeok!

Although killing a person twice was not a pleasant experience, since the opponent was who he was, it wasn't bad either.

And so, Dugu Jin, who had met his death twice.

Since he could no longer ask questions, Namgung Hui decided to collect the rest of the spoils.

[Ink Pagoda Heavenly King Art]

[Dugu Nine Swords]

A whopping two manuals came out from Dugu Jin's bosom.

And each one was a great divine art that could not be ignored.

Although he wasn't very interested in the Ink Pagoda Heavenly King Art, the Dugu Nine Swords was a different story.

A legendary divine art that could give Namgung Hui enough inspiration.

‘Where on earth did the Dugu Family Head get this? I thought it was completely lost, but his resourcefulness is good. Well, it ended up in my hands in the end.’

Come to think of it, hadn't Namgung Hui seized the Purple Mist Divine Art and the Purple Elixir that Dugu In had smuggled out?

This time, he had obtained the Dugu Nine Swords from his father.

What other manuals and spirit medicines would be waiting for Namgung Hui next?

It was a moment where he was inwardly looking forward to his future revenge.

Namgung Hui stored the Dugu Nine Swords and then handed the rest of his belongings and the Ink Pagoda Heavenly King Art to Jang Hwang and said.

"Brother. Now for the next operation."

"As expected, this manual contains the most will. At this rate, there will be many memories to read. You can look forward to it."

The operation Namgung Hui was plotting was none other than.

The Chameleon operation.

A chameleon can change its color according to its surroundings.

If Dugu In and Dugu Sang had acted like cuckoos, Namgung Hui was planning to disguise himself as a martial artist of the Dugu family using transformation and disguise arts.

The fact that Dugu Jin was dead was currently unknown to anyone besides Namgung Hui and his party.

Now, if Jang Hwang were to peek into his memories, he could imitate him to some extent.

-Pung!

Jang Hwang used a transformation art to transform into the appearance of Dugu Jin.

Namgung Hui put on the cleanest Dugu family martial robe that was lying on the floor and then fixed his face with a disguise art.

"Oho. You look like a completely different person. You're the same as the fellow who was lying dead earlier."

"Brother. What kind of disguise art is that? It's the first time I've seen it."

"Well. It's the first time I've seen that kind of disguise art too. What this child is doing is that of the Hao Faction leader. Sect Leader. How did you transform?"

Jang Hwang, who had straightened his clothes, opened his mouth quietly.

"It's the transformation art I obtained from the Kunlun Mountains."

"Ah. If it's a transformation art, I can understand. And since Qi Men Dun Jia is an old specialty of the Maoshan Sect, it's not at all strange for the sect leader to perform it. Then are you planning to attack them in that form now?"

Namgung Hui shook his head while undoing his disguise again.

"The time is not yet right. First, I have something to do."

For now, he had to meet Beak Seolhwa.

And before that, he was thinking of stopping by the Wudang Sect and getting one martial art.

And if he had the chance, he might be able to encounter the Blood Cult fellows who had been chasing Beak Seolhwa.

If so, he could naturally join them and enter the Blood Cult.

"Now that things seem to be settled, I'll ask. When and where should I send our Sua?"

"It seems it would be safest for Miss Jeong to join the Tang family. I'll contact the Tang family, so I'll have them come and get Miss Jeong."

Since Sichuan Province and Guizhou Province were geographically quite close, it was not that difficult for the Tang family to take Jeong Sua.

As a guard, the Tang family was of course reliable.

And if it were the knowledgeable Dang Soso, she would surely become Jeong Sua's friend.

‘Even if not, she would try to be friendly with Jeong Sua to ask about Dang Hojin's work. Perhaps she could get some scraps from the Black and White Twin Elders.’

Their circumstances were not a problem for Namgung Hui to interfere with.

However, if they could make an antidote for the Human Face Poison more easily, the story would change.

Since it wouldn't always be possible to treat it with the inner core of the Golden Toad Divine Pill.

He could only hope that either the Divine Physician Sect Leader or Dang Soso would develop an antidote first.

***

Namgung Hui, who had parted with the Black and White Twin Elders, crossed Guizhou Province and arrived in Hunan Province.

Since the letter to be sent to the Tang family needed a little more care, he couldn't just stop by any letter delivery service and send it.

If so, he had to go to a place that professionally handled carrier pigeons, and as it happened, the Golden Merchant Guild was nearby.

Since it was a place he had to pass through before going up to Hubei Province anyway, Namgung Hui decided to stop by the Golden Merchant Guild for that and other reasons.

"Is this the famous Golden Merchant Guild, one of the three major merchant guilds of the Central Plains?"

"Yes. From what I see, I think it's the largest among the three major merchant guilds."

"It has to be. If there's a place bigger than this huge place, that's a fortress, a fortress. It wouldn't be a mere merchant guild."

"The inside is also quite nice, so let's go in and look around more."

"Alright. Let's go."

Namgung Hui led Jang Hwang and entered the Golden Merchant Guild.

Although people were standing in a long line, the pass Namgung Hui held out made the gatekeepers bow their waists.

‘It's a little bit like this to be glared at every time. From now on, I'll have to jump over the wall or use the back door.’

Perhaps because they had heard the news of Namgung Hui's visit, someone ran from a distance and greeted Namgung Hui.

"Namgung Jayeon!"

The one who greeted Namgung Hui was the young guild leader and friend, Hwang Sujin.

She still thought Namgung Hui was a woman.

Since Namgung Hui had not revealed his true identity to her, she couldn't know even if she wanted to.

Because the Murong sisters would not tell her this.

‘It's about time I revealed my original identity. I'm also sick and tired of dressing as a woman.’

But the identity of Namgung Jayeon would still be useful at times.

Especially when it came to making the opponent let down their guard and aiming for their weaknesses, there was nothing better than dressing as a woman.

It wasn't for nothing that assassins disguised themselves as old people, children, and women.

Because people relatively thought of them as weak and let down their guard.

Besides that, the brothels and pleasure districts that could be entered with the identity of a woman had room to be active in a different sense.

"It's been a while. Sujin. Has everything been alright?"

"Why wouldn't there be anything? The Divine Physician Sect Leader you escorted... no. Let's go inside and talk. Follow me."

Perhaps because she had a lot to say, she led Namgung Hui and ran with quick steps.

Hwang Sujin, as if she had no interest in the man next to Namgung Hui, didn't even give him a glance.

Since Jang Hwang was also busy looking around the inside of the Golden Merchant Guild, the two moved as if they didn't know each other's existence.

"Sujin. Is the work manageable?"

"Of course it's manageable. I've gotten used to the work now, and my father has also recovered and is helping me with my work."

"Since you said your father has recovered, I have to ask. Did the Divine Physician Sect Leader really detoxify the Human Face Poison?"

"Yes! It's all thanks to you."

Although he didn't quite understand why it was thanks to him, seeing Hwang Sujin so happy, he just let it go.

"I'm really glad you've recovered. Then you can slowly take your hands off the work now, right?"

"No. I've also gotten good at the guild's work now, so there's no need to do that. And I'll also keep the position of young guild leader."

"Then what about your father?"

"My father will now formally receive succession lessons from my grandfather and ascend to the position of guild leader."

The Golden Merchant Guild, which was very ideal and cruising smoothly.

But would the Hoicheon Association just watch this?

They were not fellows who would sit by and watch the Golden Merchant Guild, which was their source of funds, become independent.

"How is the reaction of the Association?"

"Ah. That's a bit of a problem. It was discovered that Murong Yeonhui was on our side. So both Murong Yeonhui and Murong Soran have been called back. It seems others will come down to monitor us."

Hwang Taeseong, the son of the guild leader and the former young guild leader.

The fact that he had overcome the Human Face Poison meant that there was another helper, so it was as clear as day that the Hoicheon Association would investigate the truth and take follow-up measures.

On top of that, if it were the Murong family, it wouldn't matter if they were sacrificed...

Namgung Hui, who had thought so, also felt sorry for Murong Yeonhui inwardly.

It wasn't a marriage she had wanted to come to, and.

Even Murong Soran had not lived according to her own will.

‘The Hoicheon Association is trying to control everything as they please.’

The fellows who were controlling the imperial court were trying to control the world beyond the Central Plains.

In that process, if it didn't fit their standards, they would adjust it and try to change everything.

Right now, the Golden Merchant Guild was also one of those adjustment targets.

Although he didn't know who would come down from the top, it was clear that it would be no ordinary person.

At that time, he might even use force directly, so he couldn't help but be a little worried.

If it were at a different time, it would be different.

Because he had clearly witnessed the growth power of the Mad Wind Group leader and the Sunflower Manual.

"It's been a while since I've seen you, but why are you so downcast? Is it because of the story I brought up? Don't worry too much. My grandfather is also mobilizing all his connections to protect the guild right now. The last flame, or something. You know my grandfather's connections are no ordinary thing, right?"

The Golden Merchant Guild leader's connections could be said to be the widest in the Central Plains.

Beyond just being well-connected.

He would be connected to people that Namgung Hui couldn't even imagine.

As she said, it seemed he could let go of his worries a little.

Because even if a rich man goes bankrupt, he can last for three generations.

It wouldn't be bad to rely on the power they had built with gold.

"Sujin."

"Why are you calling me?"

"You can't be surprised by what I'm about to show you from now on."

"What are you going to show me? No! Why are you suddenly taking off your clothes... what. You were a man?"

Hwang Sujin, who bit her tongue at the end of her words from being so surprised.

She couldn't help but open her eyes wide when she saw Namgung Hui, who had suddenly returned to his original form.

"Wait... If it's a handsome young master like this in the Namgung family... are you by any chance the person named Namgung Hui?"

"Yes. Sujin. My original name is Namgung Hui. I'm undeservedly called the Hidden Dragon in the Central Plains."

"Wait. Wait. Then Seol Ok-wol is also a fake? If it's a person who sticks to you like that, is it the young palace mistress of the Moon Maiden Palace, Beak Seolhwa?"

"That's right. Still, our Sujin's head isn't bad. It seems there's some reward for studying at the merchant guild lately."

"Of course... no. This is not the time to talk about that. Why are you telling me this now? Why did you deceive me all this time!"

Hwang Sujin, who suddenly got angry.

And for good reason, Namgung Hui, whom she had considered a friend, had been hiding his identity and deceiving her all this time.

If everything that had happened with Namgung Jayeon was an act and a fake, the sense of betrayal and loss she felt would be beyond words.

Namgung Hui, who had also sensed that, opened his mouth with a bitter smile.

"Sujin. I really think of you as a friend. In the first place, if I had intended to deceive you all along, I wouldn't have shown you my true form now."

"That's true, but... why are you telling me this now?"

"At that time, there were many eyes watching from the Association. Honestly, even now, I don't know where they might be watching us. Because there are many people with extraordinary abilities in the place called the Association. Right now, the person called General Yi is said to have another eye on his forehead. That's why he wears a turban or something every day."

"Ah... So that's why he never took it off. Anyway! You!!!"

Although Hwang Sujin wanted to get angry more, she also understood Namgung Hui's position to some extent.

It was just that she was a little angry and felt wronged that he had deceived her all this time.

And she had thought he was a friend of the same sex, but to think he was a friend of the opposite sex, and a very handsome nobleman at that, she even felt a strange emotion.

Without even knowing Hwang Sujin's heart, Namgung Hui approached her and asked.

"Sujin. I have a few favors to ask of a friend. You can grant them, right?”

(End of Chapter)