Rebirth of the Thunder God

"And I also have something to tell the Sect Leader. It's a matter related to your older sister."

"...?"

Jang Hwang, perhaps not expecting his older sister to be suddenly mentioned, showed a rather flustered expression.

"Do you know my older sister?"

"Rather, it would be strange if I didn't. And I've also seen you when you were young."

"Ah. You must have known my parents."

Nod, nod.

Only then did everything become understandable.

Well, if it were the former sect leader of the Maoshan Sect, he would be of the same generation as the Heavenly Secret Master.

Since both would be skilled in Qi Men Dun Jia, it could be said that their interests were also the same.

"Then let's talk about your story separately later. First, let's talk about Hui's story here."

"Yes. Please do so. I'm used to waiting. Haha."

Looking at Jang Hwang, who was smiling awkwardly, Namgung Hui felt sorry inwardly, but if they were going to talk alone anyway, it was right for him to finish his business first and disappear.

"Elder. How much do you know about the constellations?"

"The constellations. Since what I mainly see is astrology, it's a part I can't not know. In fact, the reason I'm paying attention to you is all because of this."

The feeling of finally getting a proper answer.

Unlike how he always vaguely talked around it, hadn't he started speaking very directly?

"I became aware of you when you were struck by lightning. It's been almost a year now."

"What did the astrology say at that time?"

"A star fell from the sky. A star full of the energy of the Ziwei Star."

Indeed. He now had a feeling why Namgung Hui had been called the Ziwei Star.

It seemed Cheongsu Jin-in also had a knack for astrology and had felt this and pointed it out.

If it were to that extent, it would roughly match what he had babbled to Nahi about causality and the Ziwei Star.

He might have been putting on a show of bravado to look as good as possible to Nahi.

Besides that, Nahi also didn't know anything.

"What does that Ziwei Star specifically symbolize?"

"It's the chief of the constellations and the star of the Big Dipper. Like its name, it has the strongest energy and shines the brightest among all the constellations. Just like looking at you."

This was not a statement that simply referred to Namgung Hui's handsome appearance.

Just as the martial world was currently interested in Namgung Hui's movements.

Namgung Hui was attracting the attention of those around him just by his existence.

Perhaps because he was born with the energy of the Ziwei Star, he had both talent and appearance.

"I heard that at least three, and at most four, such constellations appear in one era. If so, do you know anything about the constellations other than me? I only know the fact that the Heavenly Killing Star appeared 40 years ago."

Information obtained when he had gotten information about the martial world for 60 years from the Hao Faction.

It was said that 40 years ago, the Heavenly Killing Star had descended and caused a bloodbath.

Since it was a very old event, the records were not detailed, but the blood shed at that time was by no means small.

Namgung Hui guessed that it might be the biggest bloodshed since the Righteous-Demonic War.

"That's right. The Heavenly Killing Star is the most famous among the constellations. Besides that, you must have also heard of the Heavenly Monster Star and the Heavenly Gang Star."

Hadn't Namgung Hui also heard it from the third sect leader of the Thunder God Sect before?

But since he hadn't heard about the detailed history, he listened to the Heavenly Secret Master's words.

"What you're most curious about is the Ziwei Star. That constellation has the fate of shouldering a great mission from the heavens."

"Me? I'm not that grand or great of a person."

"You may think so, but those around you will not leave you alone. You. Do you know about fatalism?"

"Are you talking about that absurd nonsense that a person's fate is decided from birth?"

"Hoho. It's not such absurd nonsense. This is also a theory that is connected to the law of causality."

"Then if everyone's fate is decided from birth, what's the need for effort? Are you saying that even this act of making an effort is a part of fate?"

"It's not a theory I established, nor is it my opinion. However, what I want to say is that fate is not something that can be ignored. You should also think about it carefully. Why you are the only one who is so entangled with the Hoicheon Association and the Blood Cult."

After hearing the Heavenly Secret Master's words, he felt as if all the incidents in the martial world were happening centered around Namgung Hui himself.

Of course, there would be countless incidents and accidents in the martial world that Namgung Hui didn't know about.

And among them, there would also be major events that caused a stir in the martial world.

Even considering that, the leak of the Nine Sects' manuals, the rise of the Blood Cult, the schemes of the Hoicheon Association, etc.

Namgung Hui had experienced an unusually large number of matters that would be recorded thickly in the history of the martial world.

Was this what the Heavenly Secret Master called the fate of the Ziwei Star?

‘An object with magnetism is bound to attract other objects. Am I also caught in the vortex of events because I have the energy of the Ziwei Star?’

If it were at another time, he would have dismissed it as nonsense.

But Namgung Hui himself had experienced the supernatural phenomenon of 'reincarnation'.

If it were a constellation chosen by the heavens, it was a part that could be understood to some extent.

"And you have already met other constellations. And two of them at that."

"Two? Who on earth are they?"

"That far is not permitted to me. However, you will be able to meet them again in the near future. Hoo... It seems my permitted time is up to here. I'll wish you good luck."

"..."

Although Namgung Hui had heard many stories, rather than feeling refreshed, his mind had only become more complicated.

He had only dreamed of cultivating himself and his family, but it seemed he would have to govern the country and pacify the world.

If he were to endure this vortex of fate, would he be able to get a pretty wife and have a happy family?

‘Well, no matter what my fate is, I will walk my own path. That's the same in my past life and in my present life.’

He thought he had been doing well enough in his own way even now.

Ziwei Star or constellation, those were just one of the many titles that called Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui would pioneer his own destiny.

If it were a destiny decided by the heavens, he would thoroughly smash it.

"Now it's your turn, brother. Take your time and have a chat. I need to organize my thoughts for a moment."

"Alright."

Jang Hwang, who patted Namgung Hui's shoulder.

He was smiling pitifully, as if Namgung Hui's story were his own.

Namgung Hui, feeling a little overwhelmed by that smile, came out with a determined gait.

Perhaps because the interior of the Zhuge family did not have splendid decorations, it seemed there were particularly many open spaces.

Of course, it wasn't shabby or desolate.

Should he say there were only the necessary decorations?

Perhaps because of that openness, a cool breeze frequently caressed Namgung Hui's cheek.

As if to offer comfort for the hardships that lay ahead.

‘Then shall I read the message that the Marvelous King gave me?’

The time was right.

There were no people around.

It would be perfect for spending such a quiet time.

Namgung Hui immediately broke the seal and opened the letter to read it.

[The time permitted to this writer is not much, so I will get straight to the point. My people. I will issue a royal command.]

Was it the emperor's tone? It was full of a high-handed and coercive feeling.

[On the day of Guiyou, at the hour of Zishi. Come to the Imperial Palace.]

‘Is this the end?’

It was vaguely written to just come to the Imperial Palace.

Ordinarily, if it were an order in a normal time, he would have thought that he would be guided, but since the Imperial Palace was now almost under the control of the Hoicheon Association, he couldn't help but feel a little anxious.

‘Is it a test?’

It seemed that the emperor was also watching Namgung Hui's response, as those around him were constantly trying to test him.

Or perhaps the emperor really didn't have enough time to write a letter and had sent it written like that, but for some reason, it felt like an attitude of telling him to find his own way.

‘Information power, infiltration ability, situational judgment, reasoning, etc. It requires various abilities.’

Should he say it felt like he was picking an agent of the Eastern Depot?

The Eastern Depot, which was no different from the emperor's direct royal guard, mainly handled such intelligence, so such abilities were naturally required.

And the authority and power that the people of the Eastern Depot possessed were immense.

It wasn't for nothing that people even went so far as to castrate themselves to enter the Eastern Depot.

Hadn't it been said that the Eastern Depot had the power to make even a flying bird fall?

‘Still, it's not a eunuch.’

Namgung Hui, whose groin suddenly felt sore, quickly shook his head and shook off the strange thought.

"Hui. Why are you out here alone?"

As soon as he had organized his thoughts, Zhuge Jian also seemed to have finished the banquet and was walking over with a rather tired expression.

"I just had something to think about. Did the banquet end well?"

"Uh. The feudal lord suddenly left, so thanks to that, we were able to finish early."

"That's a relief."

"Then did you find the person you were looking for?"

"Ah. Right. That direct disciple... no. I roughly found him and the matter is more or less resolved. I don't have to go around poking my nose into things anymore."

Zhuge Jian pushed his face close to Namgung Hui and said.

"For a person who says that, your expression isn't particularly bright."

"It's just that things have gotten more complicated than I thought. Your grandfather also knows about this matter, so if you're really curious, ask him."

"My grandfather?"

"Uh. I need to organize my thoughts and think about my future schedule. You should also get some rest."

If it were the usual Zhuge Jian, he would have joked and bothered Namgung Hui, but for some reason, the atmosphere was dark, so he couldn't.

And so, looking at Namgung Hui's retreating back, Zhuge Jian also walked somewhere.

***

Namgung Hui sat in the most secluded pavilion within the Zhuge family and thought about his future schedule.

‘Now that I've come to Hubei Province, I'll have to stop by the Wudang Sect. If I can meet the Sect Leader at that time, I'll have to ask him why on earth he tested me in this way.’

And if he were to just go to the Wudang Sect, the long-awaited reunion with Beak Seolhwa was waiting.

Although he had touched the communication artifact from time to time, there was no contact, as if she were spending busy days at the Blood Cult.

Still, since the promised day was approaching, he would be able to see her face soon.

‘It's a problem even after I meet Seolhwa. Do I go to the Shaolin Temple first, or do I meet the emperor first?’

The date the emperor had instructed was about half a month from now.

But if he were to visit the Imperial Palace after half a month, it seemed there would surely be a mistake.

First of all, he didn't even know where to go, and since he also had to avoid the eyes of the Hoicheon Association, he would have to start the preliminary work at least three or four days in advance.

Still, since he had a record of invading the Imperial Palace before, there was also a part that was somewhat reassuring, but it was possible that they had strengthened the security after that.

And hadn't he also run into a person named Adjutant Yang?

And seeing the atmosphere flowing these days, it was clear that the security had not loosened.

‘Still, it would be better to stop by the Shaolin Temple, which is a midway point, first. And while I'm at it, I'll also stop by the Yellow River and check on the existence of the imugi.’

The fact that Namgung Hui had become conscious of the existence of the imugi was actually from before.

From the fact that it had the same origin as the Azure Dragon, the founder of his sect, it had attracted Namgung Hui's attention.

If it could really make a rain that was so cold, it must be no ordinary being.

If he could just draw such an imugi to his side, it would be the icing on the cake.

And there was also another part that was subtly bothering Namgung Hui.

‘I'll know when I go to the Yellow River myself. Since I have Chichi and the Sword Spirit, it won't be difficult to find it.’

"Brother. You've been waiting a long time. I heard news of my older sister after a long time, so it took quite a while."

"It's alright. Weren't you always the one who waited, brother? So what kind of stories did you hear?"

"I just heard how my older sister ended her life."

"...It must not have been good news."

Unless it were an evil person or a hostile relationship, the news that someone had died could not be good.

Moreover, if it were the older sister of his sworn brother, it would be even more so.

"In the Maoshan Sect, the concept of death is a little different from what you think... But still, I couldn't think of this news as good."

"Excuse me, but may I ask about the circumstances?"

"You are worthy enough to hear it. My older sister... was murdered.”

(End of Chapter)