Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Come to my residence tonight. You'll have to spend the night with me."

"Wh-What are you saying right now..."

"I have something to show you in secret. You'll definitely like it when you see it."

"I-I think I'll like it, but I'm not mentally prepared yet... Aren't we going too fast?"

"It's a little fast, but. It's something that can't be done if not at this time. Because you and I will be very busy from now on."

"..."

Although Namgung Hui couldn't understand Beak Seolhwa, who was suddenly blushing, he didn't think much of it.

Since this matter might be the most important thing in his future actions, he didn't have the leisure to even look at her expression.

‘It would be the icing on the cake if I could give the ice crystal to Seolhwa and also learn the ice art. I have to take this opportunity to organize the principles I've newly obtained.’

If it weren't for this time, he might not have time to maintain himself in the future.

Because he had no idea how the Iron Blood Fortress, as well as the Hoicheon Association and the Blood Cult, would move.

What was certain was that the future situation would become more chaotic than now, not stable.

And the speed of change would also flow so fast that it would be unexpected.

When that time came, it would be overwhelming to even clean up the aftermath.

It was right to spend time as efficiently as possible when he could catch his breath for a moment.

The journey was smooth.

Although it was a little boring because Beak Seolhwa had suddenly become quiet, since Hubei Province and Anhui Province were quite close, they were able to enter Anhui Province as soon as they passed Wuhan.

"Seolhwa. Shall we stop by the Myeongmun Restaurant for a meal after a long time?"

"Ah. The food there was really delicious. Alright."

Beak Seolhwa, who came to her senses when they talked about food.

She also seemed to be constantly organizing some thoughts, perhaps because of the Blood Cult's matter.

Seeing her being restless, going back and forth, it seemed she had a serious matter to decide.

"Young Master~! We've arrived at the Myeongmun Restaurant. Shall we eat? You will? Alright!"

Although Namgung Hui hadn't said anything.

It was Chohwa, who was doing everything on her own, beating the drum and the gong.

Namgung Hui, finding such a Chohwa just cute, only let out a silly laugh and looked at the Myeongmun Restaurant outside.

Since the Namgung family had regained the shares of the Myeongmun Restaurant, it was not difficult to rent out the entire restaurant.

And since they had also built an annex in preparation for times like this, they did not cause any inconvenience to the existing customers.

Rather, the customers staying at the restaurant were to the extent of peeking into the annex to see Namgung Hui's face.

"They say the Jade Dragon has come."

"It's not the Jade Dragon, but the Jade Qilin. Should we call him by combining the Hidden Dragon and the Jade Qilin?"

"How about we just call him the Jade Dragon among ourselves on this occasion? It's like our own nickname."

"Oh! That's a good idea. The Jade Dragon. The sound of it is good."

The moment a nickname was created in an instant.

Although it was a good thing that a nickname praising Namgung Hui was created, still, he wished it were related to his martial prowess.

Because for some reason, he felt that he was only getting a nickname for this handsome face.

‘There's a limit to expanding one's influence with one's face. It's not like I'm running a small martial arts school. To raise the Righteous Heaven Alliance, the evaluation of my skills has to go up.’

For that reason, there was a need to maintain and develop his principles even a day earlier.

If it became known that Namgung Hui was not just in the ranks of the rising generation, but was on par with the Ten Great Masters, the number of people who wanted to join the Righteous Heaven Alliance would surely increase.

As far as Namgung Hui knew, the number of people who had become one of the Ten Great Masters at Namgung Hui's age was so small that they could be counted on one hand.

‘The ranks of the great masters. Well, I benefited from being reincarnated, but still, the fact that I'm a supreme master doesn't change. I just hope that many people will flock to my potential.’

Of course, he had no intention of accepting just anyone like the Iron Blood Fortress.

Even if he went with a small elite, he would have to thoroughly screen people and accept them.

And wasn't it a time when not only the spies of the Hoicheon Association, but also the Blood Cult were advancing into the Central Plains?

There was a need to check their identity, personality, and background.

Namgung Hui, who had finished his meal, ran into the Mad Dragon, who was moving diligently while limping.

Even though he had become disabled, he had not given up on his training, and was rather training even more diligently than before.

‘Is he in rehabilitation? Or perhaps he hasn't given up hope.’

Although Namgung Hui was not a physician, he had a few tricks he had learned over the shoulder.

Since he might be able to save the Mad Dragon's leg, he carefully approached him and asked.

"Mad Dragon. Can I take a look at your leg for a moment?"

"It's not my hobby to show my body to a man, but if it's you, it might be possible..."

"That's enough of your nonsense. Let me see your wound for a moment."

Namgung Hui, before the Mad Dragon's permission was even granted, roughly grabbed his leg and examined it closely.

‘He was hit by Sword Ki. It's definitely different from the martial arts of the Central Plains. The wound is unbelievably vicious.’

Of course, a wound could not be beautiful.

However, the wounds of the Central Plains were often restrained and ended with a clean line.

It meant that the cross-section itself was not so vicious as to make one frown.

It was not for nothing that the Mad Dragon was limping.

‘So it must be a demonic art. Since he's only thinking of thoroughly breaking the opponent.’

In a way, it might be the ultimate goal of martial arts.

Although martial arts also had the purpose of training, no matter how you packaged it, it was aimed at harming people.

If you really wanted to accumulate training, it would be right to become a practitioner and aim for immortality.

The place called the martial world was not fantastic, nor was it a paradise.

"Still, compared to the size of the scar, the inside is not seriously injured. It skillfully missed the tendons. This is all thanks to your outstanding lightness skill."

"Is that so? So is there a way to treat it?"

"It's impossible. For me, that is. But if it's the Divine Physician Sect Leader, it will surely be possible."

"No matter how great the Divine Physician Sect Leader is, I don't think I've heard of him fixing a disability."

"You're surprisingly deaf. As far as I know, he has treated at least ten people. Well, in the first place, since such people volunteer as the Divine Physician Sect Leader's bodyguards, there are many cases where it doesn't become a rumor. Don't go over to the Divine Physician Sect just because the Divine Physician Sect Leader treated you. I'll pay for the treatment."

"...Thank you. If I can really fix this leg, I will be loyal to you."

Not only the Mad Dragon's martial power, but the information he possessed would also play a very important role in the future schedule.

There was a need to treat the Mad Dragon, even if it meant paying the Divine Physician Sect Leader a thousand gold pieces.

‘About the Imperial Palace and the emperor. And I also have to clearly find out where he got the treasure map of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.’

"Mad Dragon. Don't overdo it until I bring the Divine Physician Sect Leader. If you do that and your condition worsens, it will only interfere with the treatment."

"Alright. I'll do as you say."

"Rest is also a part of training. You don't improve just by recklessly overworking your body."

Namgung Hui, who had finished what he had to say, patted the Mad Dragon's shoulder and then got on the carriage.

Although there was still a mountain of work to do, he also felt a little relieved.

‘The big work is now just what I have to do tonight. This night will be a very long time.’

***

Namgung Hui, who had finally returned to the Namgung family estate.

As much as he had returned after a long time, he spent a busy time.

He also had to visit his father, the head of the family.

And he also had to meet his older brother and the young master, Namgung Chan, and have a small talk.

And he also saw his nephew's face after a long time and gave him some pocket money.

"Uncle. Why didn't you buy me a present?"

"I'll buy you something nice next time. I didn't know you would be at the family estate, so I couldn't buy it."

Since he usually stayed at the Azure Sky Escort Agency, he had not expected his nephew to be back at the main house.

However, now that the escort business was on track, the young master seemed to be focusing on the family's affairs, and was in the middle of his succession lessons.

"Hing. Then it's a promise. You have to buy me something nice next time."

"Haha. Alright. I promise."

"And it's a secret from mom~. You can't say I asked you to buy me something. Alright?"

And so, he also stroked his cute nephew's head and looked around the inside of the family estate after a long time.

Since so much had changed, there were many things that were unfamiliar even to Namgung Hui, the owner of the house.

Among them, there was a building that was so unfamiliar that even Namgung Hui was surprised. Not only was the site very large, as if another family had moved in, but the number of buildings was also quite large.

Namgung Hui stopped a servant who was passing by and asked.

"A lot has changed while I was away. What are these buildings?"

"Ah. It was the youngest young master. This is the lodging for the Moon Maiden Palace Daoists. The family head personally ordered and even supervised it."

For some reason, he was reminded of the Changwol Pavilion where his mother had stayed.

Perhaps because the family head, Namgung Uncheon, had taken charge of the overall supervision, that kind of feeling was exuded.

Since the name of the Moon Maiden Palace also had the character for 'moon', it was a place that suited them quite well.

‘Still. It's too big for a lodging where mere guests are staying. If you saw it, you would believe it even if they were relatives.’

Since the capital of the Namgung family was now to the extent that it would not be inferior to any family, this much expenditure was bearable.

Moreover, since it was the sect of Beak Seolhwa, Namgung Hui's childhood friend, it would not be a waste even if it cost a thousand gold pieces.

However, he wondered how many of the Daoists in the Moon Maiden Palace would stay, even if they built it so big.

‘How many of those reclusive women would stay in our family? Rather, because it's too spacious, the people who are staying might feel lonely.’

But as if that were Namgung Hui's groundless fear.

The building of the Moon Maiden Palace Daoists, which he had examined up close, had more people living in it than he had thought.

"Oh my! Look at this handsome young master. He would even slap the cheeks of Song Yu and Pan An."

"Huh? Really. He's incredibly handsome. Just looking at his face would make you full."

"Full? This girl is saying something that could get her in big trouble."

"Hohoho! It seems he's the partner of the young palace lord. It's really going to be a big deal. Shall we stop joking now?"

Although he had experienced the Moon Maiden Palace Daoists in his past life, they were women he could not get used to.

Since they were so strong-willed and had been in a closed space for a long time, there were many who had a unique personality.

Putting aside Beak Seolhwa, even the vice palace lord, Na Harin, and Yi Sang-a, who was strange like her name, all had strong characteristics.

Moreover, even the palace lord, Yu Seolran, was an unpredictable person.

He was even a little concerned that she seemed to be getting too close to his father these days.

Still, since their eyes had met, Namgung Hui couldn't just pass by, so he approached them first and greeted them.

"This humble one is Namgung Hui of the Namgung family. Are you the heroines of the Moon Maiden Palace?"

"That's right. Thanks to you, we're living comfortably at the Namgung family estate. We should have come to the Central Plains sooner. To think it's so prosperous."

"Hey. It's because this is the Namgung family. Other families and sects are eager to use us. Not only our power, but there are also many places that covet this body."

Namgung Hui also felt a little guilty.

Although he did not covet their bodies, hadn't he been coveting the power of the Moon Maiden Palace the most?

But still, since Namgung Hui had a conscience, he had given them quite a lot.

Even this huge building was built with Namgung Hui's funds.

Even what they ate, drank, and wore would have come from Namgung Hui's purse.

That's why he spoke to them a little more confidently.

"While you are here, please think of it as your home and stay comfortably."

"Huh? Didn't you hear? This is really our home now."

"...? What do you mean by that?"

"Ah. You really haven't heard. This Moon Maiden Pavilion is now a branch of our Moon Maiden Palace."

(End of Chapter)