Rebirth of the Thunder God

As Namgung Hui looked more closely, it wasn't actually the Sword-Riding Art, but she was practicing fixing her sword in the air.

Perhaps such a feat was difficult to perform in a training ground, and it would be difficult to receive help from equipment.

Because even now, she was floating the sword much more easily with the help of silver threads hung here and there in the garden.

As if her training was over, the princess wiped her sweat and took the sword.

Just by floating the sword in the air, a considerable amount of internal energy was consumed.

However, Ju Seoyeon possessed an internal energy like the great sea, so much so that there was a rumor that she had emptied the Imperial Palace's secret repository.

Namgung Hui had definitely never seen a person who exuded a presence with just the total amount of internal energy like that.

‘It's a different presence from the Divine Monk. Amazing.’

This was why it was difficult to ignore the Imperial Palace.

Putting aside talent, it was because they could forcefully build the foundation of internal energy.

Moreover, they even transformed the innate body with the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Altering Art.

Although he didn't know what Princess Ju Seoyeon's innate talent was, from what Namgung Hui saw now, she was by no means inferior to the Seven Dragons and Five Phoenixes.

As soon as she finished sheathing her sword, a court lady ran up to her and wiped the rest of her sweat with a white handkerchief.

"Princess. A guest has come from the Censorate."

"The Censorate? Isn't that a place where people who have done wrong are called? I haven't done anything wrong. Ah. I did catch an innocent bird while training, but it can't be because of that. I'll have to meet him right away."

"Is it alright if you don't wash up?"

"Oh, right. I'll smell of sweat, right? Then have the guest wait in the guest hall. I'll wash up quickly and go."

"Yes~. I'll have him wrapped around my finger, so please take your time~."

"Hoho! You be careful not to get eaten up yourself. The inspectors of the Censorate are sometimes called grim reapers."

"Aww. He didn't look like that. Please hurry up and go."

"Okay. See you later."

She seemed to be on good terms with the court lady without any reservation.

Speech and behavior that seemed a little light for a mere princess.

Although Namgung Hui might be an old-fashioned person, he thought that a person should act in a manner befitting their status.

‘It's just that a princess doesn't live a life of her own. All the various spirit medicines and rare foods she eats come from the pockets of the people. Therefore, she should refrain from speech and behavior that would disappoint the expectations of the people.’

Of course, the princess's appearance now was not that extreme.

In the first place, wouldn't it be enough to behave properly only in front of the people?

However, Namgung Hui thought that even in normal times, a princess should live with a sense of responsibility befitting a princess.

Well, it wasn't that the princess's appearance now was irresponsible.

‘Some might say it's just the tip of the iceberg, but if you see one, you can know ten.’

"Sir~. Have you been waiting long?"

The young court lady asked Namgung Hui affectionately, even with a smiling eye.

It seemed like a honey trap, but perhaps because she was young, it was extremely clumsy.

"It was just a moment. Why wait long? But where did the princess go, and you came back alone?"

Since the scene from a moment ago was at a distance that an ordinary person could not have seen or heard, Namgung Hui pretended not to know and feigned ignorance.

Even if he told her that he knew because he had eavesdropped on the conversation, the court lady would not believe him.

Because the distance from the princess was that far.

"Her Highness the Princess said she would wash her face for a moment and come. Would you like to chat with me until then?"

This time, the court lady even linked arms with Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui, using the principle of Tai Chi, let her arm slip and then said carefully.

"People have their own proper way of conducting themselves. A court lady like a court lady, a princess like a princess. Are you doing the work of a court lady right now?"

"O-Of course! This is the duty of a court lady."

"But, it's a job that's a little unbecoming for a young court lady to do. Alright. Since there will be some time until Her Highness the Princess comes, let's have a chat."

And so, he immediately moved to the guest hall with the young court lady.

Although the court lady showed a rather anxious expression at first, she soon regained her composure and quickly brought out tea.

"It's hot, so please drink slowly."

Namgung Hui cooled the tea with the Nine Yin Divine Art he had learned from Beak Seolhwa and brought the teacup to his lips.

"The scent is good, but the taste is also good. Is it that not all Longjing tea is the same?"

"Of course. Only the finest products are offered to Her Highness the Princess. And more than anything. Isn't it because the person who makes the tea is pretty? Ahem. My handiwork is good."

"Handiwork. It seems you've even dipped your hand in here."

"Ah. That's not what I meant... Anyway. You said you were an inspector general, right? You must have been newly appointed."

"The faces of the inspectors are hardly known, right? Why do you think I was newly appointed?"

"Ah. That is. There are several reasons, but first, it's because no one but a newly appointed inspector would come to see Her Highness the Princess."

An interesting story for Namgung Hui.

As he gestured with his chin as if to tell her to continue, the young court lady continued.

"Actually... Her Highness the Princess is as popular as she is pretty. So there are quite a lot of people aiming for the position of a prince consort, but among them, there aren't only good people. So to the people who come to see Her Highness the Princess..."

"It seems someone is doing some harm. Is that why there were so many gazes in front of the palace?"

Are they preventing others from even touching the rice cake they can't eat?

Or it could be jealousy or putting a hex on the princess.

A protest, if it was a protest.

"Ah. The inspector general also felt it. You must be a master."

"A master, if I am a master. In that regard, don't worry about the riffraff, and let's talk about you. How old are you now?"

"Don't tell me you've fallen for me..."

"Cut the nonsense and just answer my question. This is an interrogation as an inspector."

As he even threatened her with an interrogation, the young court lady answered with a serious expression.

"I am fifteen this year. A truly beautiful age."

"For your age, your growth is a little slow."

"Yes? Slow growth! D-Did you see my body or something?"

"Couldn't it be that I was talking about your mind, not your body? Anyway. What I want to say to you is that if you're a young court lady, act like a young court lady. In the first place, if a child who is not as mature as you performs a honey trap, it only creates a backlash. And it's a honey trap only if you're pretty."

"What did you say?!"

"The last part was a joke. Anyway. If a child does such a thing, how would I see Her Highness the Princess? Wouldn't I see her as a wicked master who even makes a child perform a honey trap?"

"Ah... That could be."

"Excessive loyalty can rather be harmful. I saw a glimpse of that from the gate guard on my way here."

The saying 'too much is as bad as too little' also applied here.

In the first place, it was fortunate that Namgung Hui was not a person of the Imperial Palace. If he had been an inspector general dispatched from the Censorate, he might have started by arresting the gate guard.

Although he knew their heart for the princess, the direction and degree were excessive.

"And it's also a bit much to wear clothes that don't suit you."

"Yes? Are you saying I don't even suit a court lady?"

"That's not it. What do you think your strengths are?"

The young court lady tapped her chin with her finger and said.

"A cheerful personality? And a pretty face?"

"A pretty face. I find that hard to agree with."

"No. Really, if you're an inspector general, is that all? To say a woman is not pretty to her face!"

"I meant that your other strengths are greater than the fact that you're not pretty. You have a very cute face."

"C-Cute... I've never heard that before..."

"That's because you're wearing makeup that doesn't suit you."

Among the skills that Namgung Hui had learned from the Hao Faction leader was the art of makeup.

Since disguise was also a type of makeup, it might have been a natural result.

In Namgung Hui's discerning eye, the court lady in front of him looked like a person wearing clothes that didn't suit her.

At a beautiful age, one should act like a flower.

If you stick thorns all over a fresh flower for no reason, even a flower that would look pretty looks scary.

"There's a saying in the martial world. Be careful of the elderly, women, and children. The way you try to get something from the other person with a honey trap rather arouses the other person's vigilance. It would be better for you to approach as a 'cute girl' rather than as a 'beautiful woman'. At the very least, you might be able to induce the other person's carelessness."

"You're a very direct person. Thank you. For giving me sincere advice."

Namgung Hui also didn't know why he had given such advice to a young court lady.

Because all he had to do was get some information from the princess and then leave.

Whether the court lady in front of him met a bad official, or whether she caused trouble for the princess, it was none of Namgung Hui's business.

‘For some reason, seeing this court lady reminds me of an old memory.’

A memory from his past life, a fragment of a ghost.

But since it wasn't a particularly welcome memory, he shook his head and shook it off.

"B-But am I really not pretty?"

"Right now, you're at an age and have a face where you'd hear you're cute rather than pretty. Anyway, you'll also become a proper woman in the next three years. Until then, sleep well and eat enough. Because for development, sleep and nutritional intake are important."

"Phew... I thought so. I thought I was really ugly. Because people only look at Her Highness the Princess. I lost my confidence without even realizing it."

In fact, even the princess didn't look pretty to Namgung Hui.

To be precise, should he say that she had a pretty face but he wasn't attracted to it?

Since he had been around a woman who was much more beautiful than her, he couldn't help but develop a tolerance for beauty.

And so, the moment Namgung Hui lifted his teacup again.

Deureureuk.

The door opened, and Princess Ju Seoyeon, who had finished washing her face, entered the guest hall.

Namgung Hui put down his teacup and paid his respects to Ju Seoyeon.

"Inspector Jang Myeong-gi greets Her Highness the Princess."

"Phew... You've been waiting long, right? For now, please sit down."

As Namgung Hui naturally sat down, the young court lady also offered a teacup to Ju Seoyeon.

Ju Seoyeon, as if she were quite thirsty, gulped down the hot tea and then continued.

"But isn't an inspector someone who interrogates people who have done wrong? I haven't done anything wrong."

"Please lower your speech. Your Highness."

"No. I'm more comfortable this way. So what is the reason you've come to see me? Don't tell me you've also come to see my face?"

"Pfft."

Namgung Hui let out a chuckle without even realizing it.

From her perspective, Namgung Hui might also be just one of the many men who had come to see her.

But from Namgung Hui's perspective, she was one of the many women who were not as good as Beak Seolhwa.

Ju Seoyeon, who didn't know the difference in their perspectives, opened her mouth as if she were somewhat displeased.

"Why are you laughing? Did my words sound like a joke?"

"I apologize. This subject has committed a discourtesy. It's not that. I've really come to ask Her Highness the Princess something. For now, please dismiss the court lady and I will speak."

"You don't have to send Yuhwa away. She's a very trustworthy child. Then will you tell me the reason you've come?"

Namgung Hui glanced at the court lady and then answered.

"If you say so. I'll get straight to the point. Your Highness the Princess. What is your relationship with the Hoicheon Association?”