Rebirth of the Thunder God

The person who came out of the inn and greeted Namgung Hui was.

-Junior Brother. It's been a while. There are many eyes watching, so come in first.

None other than the First Senior Brother of the Hao Faction, Hae Wicheong.

For matters related to this kind of information, the Hao Faction was more suitable than any other place.

Although there was the Beggars' Sect, it was difficult for even beggars to loiter around in Beijing.

Namgung Hui gave a small nod and immediately entered the inn.

Then, as soon as Namgung Hui entered, Hae Wicheong bolted the door and even took down the sign.

It meant that business was over for the day.

Considering the rent in Beijing, it could be called an extraordinary measure.

"I received the letter you sent, Junior Brother."

"So that's why you rushed over like this. How is it? Do you like the martial art I passed on to you?"

"Like it? Of course, I do. While we're at it, I'd like to ask, where do you get such martial arts, Junior Brother? I've been mobilizing all of the Hao Faction's connections to collect martial arts, but I've never even seen such a supreme martial art."

That was a matter of course.

The martial art that Namgung Hui had passed on was not obtained from anywhere, but created in his own mind.

And it was an optimal martial art made to suit Hae Wicheong's body and environment.

‘Even without a master to guide him, if his Five Stars are supportive, it's a martial art that can be fully learned.’

However, the threshold for entry was that high.

It also required many spirit medicines and spirit herbs, a martial art that could only be learned if the financial power of the Hao Faction supported it.

But the Hae Wicheong in front of him was a talent equipped with all of that, so it was not a problem at all.

"Isn't it rude to ask about someone else's trade secrets? Should I ask for the Hao Faction's trade secrets too?"

Honestly, the Hao Faction's trade secrets were nothing to make a fuss about.

They extracted information from drunkards, and the eyes and ears of the lower class were their informants.

Since there were so many of them, and there were also some who would stop at nothing, it was difficult to wipe them all out.

Because among them, there were also ordinary people who really didn't know any martial arts.

"If it's a trade secret, I can't pry. I just asked out of personal curiosity. Anyway. I've managed to obtain the latest map of the Imperial Palace that you requested, Junior Brother. Take it."

Namgung Hui unfolded the map that Hae Wicheong handed him and nodded his head.

‘Indeed. It's not a sketch, but a precise map. As expected, the Hao Faction's information network is top-notch.’

A detailed map of the Imperial Palace that the Beggars' Sect could never dream of.

Since there were many officials among the customers that the Hao Faction mainly dealt with, it seemed they were able to create such a detailed map.

Originally, the imperial family strictly prohibited not only the map of the Imperial Palace but also maps of the entire Central Plains by law.

That was because one could raise an army and plot a rebellion.

Naturally, if it was the Imperial Palace where the emperor resided, there was no need to say more.

"The emperor, in preparation for assassination, sleeps in rotation in the five palaces marked there. No one knows when or where he will sleep. It is said that even the emperor himself does not know."

"Then who knows?"

"There's a rumor that the ministers below throw dice to select it randomly. It is also said that they sometimes choose by divination, and since the information is so varied, I don't know what the truth is."

"Perhaps it's all true. The selection method may differ for each minister."

"That's also true. If you give me half a month more, I'll figure out the exact cycle."

"No. I don't have that much time. I have to go in by tomorrow at the latest."

"Then I have no clever way either."

"This is enough, First Senior Brother. I'll use it gratefully."

It was truly a good job to have selected just these five candidates.

Because all he had to do was visit all of them.

Even if others didn't know, if it were Namgung Hui, he could break through the distance, not to mention the strict security, to some extent.

‘Or there's the method of having Chichi chase the emperor's scent. Since I have the edict he issued.’

"Junior Brother. Then are you leaving right away?"

"Not yet. I have to spend some time here until nightfall. Alright. I'll guide you in martial arts for the first time in a while. Come out to the backyard."

"I was just about to ask for that. This is great."

Namgung Hui looked at Hae Wicheong's grinning face and resolved to wipe the smile off that face.

A moment later, as Namgung Hui had resolved, not only did the smile disappear from Hae Wicheong's face, but it was also covered in profuse sweat.

"Heok! Heok! I thought I had caught up a little, but has the gap widened even more in the meantime..."

Hae Wicheong, who became somewhat dispirited.

Although he had achieved dazzling growth, it was a distant task to catch up with Namgung Hui, who already had the experience of his past life.

On top of that, hadn't Namgung Hui also obtained numerous fortuitous encounters?

Namgung Hui patted the discouraged Hae Wicheong's shoulder and offered words of comfort.

"Do you think I've just been playing around? And I've also had quite a few fortuitous encounters. I became a secular disciple of the Wudang Sect, and I got a cartload of spirit beast inner cores from the Kunlun Sect. Is that all? I also have a whole bunch of legendary divine arts that I can't tell you about, First Senior Brother."

"...You don't have to lie to comfort me. The more you do, the more miserable I become."

Since the words Namgung Hui had uttered were not something that could be easily believed one by one, Hae Wicheong thought Namgung Hui's boasting was a lie.

Namgung Hui let out a chuckle and showed Hae Wicheong the Two Principles Heart Art and the Ten Section Brocade.

"!? Two martial arts at the same time? It's the Two Principles Heart Art!"

"See? I told you I'm a secular disciple of the Wudang Sect. On top of that, I was taught a legendary divine art called the Ten Section Brocade. Moreover, I also got a Small Reversion Pill a while ago. I'm going around getting all these fortuitous encounters, so would it make sense if I were weaker than you, First Senior Brother?"

"Is this what they call a destiny appointed by the heavens? Amazing. I'm at a point where I'm not even envious anymore."

"Yes. Don't be too envious. Look at me. Don't I have to risk my life to enter the Imperial Palace again today? I don't usually whine, but the Imperial Palace is really scary. It's an unknown territory."

The Imperial Palace, a place where even the experience of his past life did not apply.

On top of that, his biological parents from his past life had also met their end at the hands of the Imperial Palace.

Perhaps because of that, negative emotions welled up whenever he thought of the Imperial Palace.

"First Senior Brother. For now, rest. Rest is also a very important law. Don't overwork your body by just training hard. When I touched your right calf earlier, I noticed that you've been using that area unusually much lately. Too much is as bad as too little. Imbalance is the most dangerous law."

"Amazing. You can tell that too? This time, I'd believe you even if you said you were a secular disciple of the Divine Physician Sect."

"It's not to that extent. Anyway, for that reason, get some rest. I'll have to come up with a concrete plan until then."

Hae Wicheong nodded his head and then added.

"Ah. Come to think of it, it seems Junior Sister also has some business with you, Junior Brother. She might come looking for me, knowing that I'm here."

"Well, if she comes, I'll see her, and if I leave first, I'll have to promise for next time."

"It's purely up to Junior Sister's luck. Alright. Continue with your work."

Hae Wicheong, as if he were really going to rest, changed into his casual clothes and went into his room.

As if he had fallen asleep right away, his breathing became even.

‘It's good that he listens to me well. I hope my disciple in the future will also do as he's told like that.’

Although there was his nephew, Namgung Yeonji, as a disciple candidate, he wondered if she would listen, as they were related by blood.

Since Namgung Hui didn't have the confidence to be harsh with his nephew, it seemed he would have to think hard about taking her as a disciple.

And so, Namgung Hui also went into a spacious guest room, unfolded the map, and examined it carefully.

‘It's certainly more detailed than the map I got before. And the structure of the Imperial Palace also changes subtly each time.’

As it was a huge Imperial Palace, not only was there repair work, but new buildings would be constructed, and old pavilions would be demolished.

It was natural for the terrain to change in that process.

They dug up the ground and filled it again, and sometimes they even exposed it to drive something in.

Although it was difficult to record all of such a series of processes, it was drawn in quite some detail on the map that Hae Wicheong had handed over.

‘The entry route can be here, and for the sake of just in case, the escape route here was perfect. If it comes to it, I can run to the east coast and take a detour, so it will be easy to shake them off.’

And so, he established the Imperial Palace operation step by step.

From Plan A to Plan D.

He had finished preparing to meet the emperor by devising detailed yet flexible countermeasures.

As the sun was now setting, the cries of nocturnal birds were faintly heard.

The fact that it was night meant that it was time for Namgung Hui to move.

And so, the moment Namgung Hui changed into his night clothes and was about to leave the inn.

-Beolkeok!

The door of the inn opened, and someone rushed in.

"Junior Brother! You haven't left yet?"

"I was just about to leave. Thanks for opening the door."

"Wait! Look at me."

"I'm looking."

"No. That's not it. Let's talk."

"What talk?"

"Junior Brother. You've been to the Blood Cult before, right?"

"I have. Why?"

"The Blood Cult is in an uproar right now."

Wasn't that something Namgung Hui already knew?

The young cult leader had met his death at the hands of the grand prince, and a big change had occurred in the power structure.

Moreover, since Beak Seolhwa had let the Blood Cult members escape, there would be more noise.

"Are you making such a fuss just because of that? I don't think you needed to come in person."

"Huh? You knew? Then you must also know that the spirit beasts are running rampant at Qilin Peak. I knew this was the latest news..."

"Wait. At Qilin Peak? What do you mean the spirit beasts are running rampant?"

As Namgung Hui showed a rather surprised expression, On Yuha, as if nothing had happened, returned to her triumphant expression and opened her mouth.

"Ah. As expected, you didn't know~. Junior Brother, listen well. At Qilin Peak, rare spirit beasts that we've never seen before have come out and have taken over the entire Guangdong Province. The Martial Arts Alliance has also started to investigate this. It is said that even the Blood Cult is in a state of isolation."

This seemed like a good thing, but something was not right.

Could it be that the Hoicheon Association had made the spirit beasts run rampant?

Considering what they had done at the Kunlun Mountains recently, it was a sufficient possibility.

Or it could be that as the Blood Qilin went into seclusion, the vicious beasts were taking this opportunity to act up.

"But it doesn't seem to be such an important matter that you had to rush over like this. As Senior Sister said, if the Martial Arts Alliance investigates in detail, something will come out. They will also handle the response themselves."

"Ah. Of course, the reason I rushed over like this is because I have another business. Ahem! Junior Brother. Lend me some money."

***

Namgung Hui, who had infiltrated the Imperial Palace, fumbled in his empty bosom and recalled the conversation he had had with On Yuha a moment ago.

‘Money? How much?’

‘You have a night-luminescent pearl, right? Take that out, and all sorts of precious items, as much as possible.’

‘It seems you're more interested in precious items than money. What are you plotting?’

‘Lately, since the black market has been ruined thanks to you, the black market is not opening properly. I'm trying to snatch that.’

It wasn't a bad plan.

Honestly, it was impossible to completely eliminate the black market.

If there is light in the world, there is bound to be darkness.

No matter how much it was regulated by force, the re-emergence of the black market was an indispensable element.

Hadn't the Heretic Faction also been eyeing the black market?

Perhaps the Heretic Faction was moving to hold a black market around this time.

If On Yuha could secure a position before that, it would be a good thing.

‘Then I'll support you for sure. I'll introduce you to all three major merchant guilds of the Central Plains, including the Golden Merchant Guild, the Ten Thousand Gold Merchant Guild, and the Pungun Merchant Guild. Instead, make sure to dominate the black market.’

‘Really?! Kyaak!’

On Yuha, who was so excited, even hugged Namgung Hui's neck and jumped up and down.

Anyway, after entrusting the matter of the black market to On Yuha, he was currently in a state of having infiltrated the Imperial Palace.

Before parting with On Yuha, since he had received all the information she knew about the Imperial Palace, the infiltration was also somewhat easy.

For example, what kind of habits the guard in front of him had, when he went to urinate, etc.

Although they were trivial, since they were necessary elements for infiltration, they were of excellent help.

‘Now, shall I go to meet the emperor?’

Namgung Hui recalled the candidate sites and was about to take a step.

But at that moment, he saw a familiar face near the back gate and had no choice but to stop his steps.

(End of Chapter)