Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Please let me meet the feudal lord."

"Alright. Let's do that."

"!?

Namgung Hui, despite having asked for it himself, looked at the Heavenly Secret Master with a disbelieving face upon hearing the positive answer.

"What are you so surprised about? Did you think I wouldn't know that you came to our family because of the feudal lord?"

"No. If you reveal a heavenly secret, isn't it a great loss for you, Heavenly Secret Master?"

"Hohoho. This is not something I know by looking into the heavenly secrets. As a result of watching you with a formation, your gaze has been fixed on the feudal lord since the time of the banquet. If you stare so openly, the feudal lord himself might notice. You got out at the right time. So it was also good for me to strike up a conversation. Is this the intuition of a master?"

It might be so.

The reason Namgung Hui had left the banquet hall was because he had felt a strange sensation in his super-sense.

The moment Namgung Hui had looked at the feudal lord, he might have also been conscious of Namgung Hui.

‘Come to think of it, if I were in my original form, he would have no choice but to notice. This is why a handsome face attracts too much attention.’

It wasn't for nothing that Namgung Hui insisted on disguising himself.

Although few people remembered an ordinary face, if it were a handsome appearance like this, one would remember it after seeing it just once.

On top of that, Namgung Hui, whose appearance was known to the Hoicheon Association, had no choice but to stand out even more.

"Will such a feudal lord meet me?"

"He should probably want to meet you even more. It's a bit much for me to say this directly. So I'll arrange a meeting right away. Follow me. The sect leader of the Maoshan Sect should also come along."

"Yes. Elder."

The Heavenly Secret Master, whose generation was even higher than Jang Hwang.

He was worthy of receiving respect from Jang Hwang.

And since he was being so favorable, there was no need to be sarcastic.

Because the reason he had been hiding and concealing things so far was that he must not violate the law of causality.

‘Don't tell me the Four Divine Beasts also disappeared because they violated this law of causality? No. If their existence had disappeared, I wouldn't even be able to remember them.’

However, it seemed he had received some corresponding harm.

What kind of causality had he intervened in?

Would the law of causality be twisted just by knowing the events that had occurred 100 years ago?

Since it was a matter of learning about a result that had already occurred, he thought there would be no big problem.

"Now. If you wait here, the feudal lord will come soon."

"Yes? Even though you haven't called him?"

Although he might have communicated in a different way without Namgung Hui knowing, that would also take some time.

Hadn't they just moved as soon as Namgung Hui had asked?

Even if the intention was conveyed immediately, there was also the time for the feudal lord to prepare.

But what did he mean by he would come soon?

"You'll know in a little while. In fact, the one who was called..."

"...was not me, but you."

"!?

The feudal lord who suddenly appeared.

And his words sounded strange.

"Haven't you understood yet? It's not that you called me. I asked for you to be called here. Hidden Dragon."

The moment he finally understood the situation.

In fact, it seemed the feudal lord had first asked the Heavenly Secret Master to see Namgung Hui.

To think that the person being chased would ask to see Namgung Hui first.

Was it because he believed in his identity as a feudal lord that much?

"Now that you understand, let's continue our conversation. I am Ju Hoechan, the Marvelous King. As you know, I am one of the feudal lords. Well, since I'm on the side of having a rather weak presence among the feudal lords, it's not that great of a position."

The feudal lord was a feudal lord of the border region.

After the Yongle Emperor, who had been the King of Yan, usurped the throne, the power of the feudal lords had shrunk considerably.

Perhaps because he was afraid that another rebellion would occur, he had greatly reduced their authority.

So the Marvelous King's words had a high degree of credibility.

‘It would be better to have become a direct disciple using the hollow title of a feudal lord. If his rank among the feudal lords is low, it could rather act as a fetter.’

He could be assassinated.

If not, he would have to live under numerous checks and surveillance.

Hadn't Ju Hwayeong also disliked that and even formed a force called the Anti-Heaven Alliance to resist the Hoicheon Association?

But he had no way of knowing what kind of scheme it was to arrange a meeting like this.

"Then what is the reason you wanted to see me?"

"I called you because you were staring at me... you wouldn't believe that, would you? Yes. I wanted to see you because I have important business with you."

"Business, you say?"

The feudal lord, who had been smiling slyly, suddenly wiped away his smile and said with a serious expression.

"You. How much did you know when you came looking?"

Since he had come this far, Namgung Hui thought it was not a matter to hide and obediently confessed what he knew.

"I know that the direct disciple ran away with the Taiji Wisdom Sword and the Supreme Purity Pill."

"Is that all? Then I'll have to explain further. In fact, I didn't steal this. Rather, I received a burdensome request."

"A request? What does that mean?"

"It means that the Sect Leader entrusted this troublesome Taiji Wisdom Sword and the Supreme Purity Pill to me. To deliver it to someone. Well, in return, I did receive a copy of the Cloud-Treading Steps and a copy of the Ten Section Brocade."

Unbelievable facts that were suddenly revealed.

Why on earth had the Sect Leader planned such a thing, even going so far as to make a request to Namgung Hui?

No. And why did the Sect Leader say to deliver the Taiji Wisdom Sword to someone else?

As Namgung Hui looked at him as if he couldn't believe it, Ju Hoechan continued.

"Tsk. This is why I hate troublesome things. What is the affection of having been raised for 20 years? Anyway. Listen to me well. You know well that there is a force that is secretly active in the Imperial Palace, right?"

"Yes. I know it well as the Hoicheon Association."

"Yes. The Hoicheon Association. That place is not on good terms with me either. Of course, it's the same with our Wudang Sect. Well, that's something the entire Nine Sects One Alliance... no. The majority would agree with. And there is also a force within the Imperial Palace that opposes the Association. They are..."

"Are you talking about the Emperor's faction?"

"Oh! You know more than I thought. Alright. Then we can skip this. I am, for one, of the Emperor's faction. Isn't blood thicker than water? In fact, the reason I was able to save my life was all thanks to His Majesty, so I have no choice but to support him. Anyway. My mission is to bring this manual and spirit medicine to His Majesty the Emperor."

"Indeed...!"

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

There were not many forces that could properly check the Hoicheon Association.

Even within the Martial Arts Alliance, their spies were overflowing.

And as the feudal lord had just said, not all of the Nine Sects One Alliance were trustworthy.

Rather, a situation where it was difficult to trust each other as such suspicions and suspicions tailed each other.

But if it were a relationship that was openly checked or opposed by the Hoicheon Association, wouldn't it rather be that the Hoicheon Association was proving their credibility?

If it were the emperor who was being targeted by the Hoicheon Association, it could be said that his line was completely different from the Hoicheon Association.

If the Taiji Wisdom Sword and the Supreme Purity Pill were delivered to him, it was a clear fact that his power would be further reinforced.

And he could also use this as an excuse to put the emperor in his debt.

‘Even if the Taiji Wisdom Sword were to be leaked later. If the one who has it is the emperor, the justification is plausible.’

Once, when the emperor's power was mighty, he had ordered all the martial arts of the Nine Sects One Alliance to be offered to the emperor.

Of course, it was thwarted by a huge backlash, but still, it did not end in a vain effort.

‘Offer only the three ultimate arts that each sect is most confident in. If you send a martial art like that of a low-class ruffian, you won't be able to guarantee the future.’

So the martial arts that represented each sect were enshrined in the Imperial Palace's secret repository.

And based on that, the emperor trained his own army.

But it wasn't that the emperor had just extorted the martial arts.

The relationship of non-aggression between the government and the martial world.

It meant that he would turn a blind eye to the martial arts forces ruling the regions to a certain extent.

It meant that as long as they didn't cross the line, he would recognize the effectiveness of their rule.

But the emperor, unlike his title of 'Son of Heaven', had a surprisingly short lifespan.

Chronic illness or assassination.

For various reasons, it changed in a short cycle.

At least the current emperor was maintaining his lineage quite thinly and long.

But even this situation did not seem easy.

Precisely because of the Hoicheon Association.

"May I also ask a question?"

"Go ahead."

"What is the situation of the current emperor? He seems to be ill. Is he not in a critical condition?"

"Your source of information is quite good. To think you know that His Majesty is not well. But he is not in a critical condition. Well, since I can't tell you the details, I'll just say that you don't have to worry so much. And this Taiji Wisdom Sword and the Supreme Purity Pill are also items that His Majesty will personally collect."

Was the emperor secretly learning martial arts?

If so, it was understandable that he had secluded himself and did not show his face.

And even the reason why the spirit medicines in the Imperial Palace's secret repository were completely empty.

‘It's a good thing that he's getting stronger himself. Since all his subjects would be suspicious.’

"I roughly understand the situation. But there is still a part that I don't understand."

"Why did the Sect Leader entrust this to me and then have you track me down?"

Ju Hoechan, who pointed out the main point right away.

Since he hadn't given an answer besides this part, it was natural for Namgung Hui to be curious.

"Yes. There's no need to create a situation artificially like this, is there?"

"I also don't know the detailed circumstances, but it seems the Sect Leader wanted to test you. To see if you have the ability and qualifications for it."

"Qualifications."

"It would be faster to hear the details from the Heavenly Secret Master here than from me. The mission I was entrusted with was not just as a carrier. It was also to deliver this to you. Take it."

Ju Hoechan, who handed a letter to Namgung Hui.

Seeing that the letter was firmly sealed, it was not sent by a person of ordinary status.

"Is this also a letter carrier? Hahaha! Then my mission is now over, so I'll be on my way."

Ju Hoechan, who disappeared after saying only what he had to say.

Could he really trust his words?

What if all of this was a conspiracy to shake off Namgung Hui's pursuit?

But he wouldn't go so far as to create a grand plan with the Heavenly Secret Master.

And this letter in Namgung Hui's hand.

‘A seal is stamped on it. And it's from the imperial family.’

To be precise, was it called the Imperial Mandate Seal?

It referred to the jade seal that the emperor used when giving orders to his subjects.

It would rarely be used.

Even if it were used, the Eastern Depot, which was under the direct jurisdiction of the emperor...

‘It would be difficult. Since it has fallen into the hands of the Hoicheon Association. Anyway, does it mean that the person who sent this is the emperor or his close associate?’

Although Namgung Hui wanted to open it and read it right away, there was still something left.

"You seem to have a lot of questions. If you have such a vigorous curiosity, it would be fine for you to be a member of our Zhuge family, not the Namgung family. Hohohot!"

"Can I really trust the Marvelous King?"

"I don't know about that. Even if I can see the heavenly secrets, I can't see into a person's heart."

Although it sounded like a Zen riddle, his words were not particularly wrong.

Hadn't there also been a saying that one could know the depth of ten fathoms of water, but not the heart of a person?

"Still, I'd like to say that he's more trustworthy than the Hoicheon Association."

"Elder. I'd like to have a heart-to-heart talk with you on this occasion. Do you have time?"

"Alright. I also have quite a lot to say to you. Then let's not do this here. Let's move to my residence. And I also have something to tell the Sect Leader. It's a matter related to your older sister.”

(End of Chapter)