Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Um... Young Master. Would you teach me the Sword-Riding Art?"

"Now you finally acknowledge me as a man. And the Sword-Riding Art is not something that can be taught so easily. First, one must have the foundation to perform the Sword-Riding Art. The opening of the upper dantian, internal energy of more than 4 Jiazi, and more than anything, a profound understanding comparable to the Profound Realm is required."

In order to perform the Sword-Riding Art, it was not necessary to reach the Profound Realm.

Even if one did not reach the Profound Realm, if the conditions were met, one could perform the Sword-Riding Art as much as one wanted.

Hadn't even Namgung Hui, although he had received the help of an object, performed the Sword-Riding Art from the Transformation Realm?

But that was possible because he had already experienced the Profound Realm in his past life.

But Ju Seoyeon was not a reincarnator like Namgung Hui.

Although her upper dantian was open, it meant that that alone was not enough.

"Your Highness. Why do you want to learn the Sword-Riding Art?"

"Because it's cool?"

"...One cannot run without first learning to walk. For now, please solidify your internal energy arts, including the Sword Ki Manifesting as Sword Aura."

"Tsk... Alright. You're saying the same thing as my master. Then if I master the Sword Aura, you can teach me then, right?"

"By all means."

"Wow, but if you're not Namgung Jayeon, then you must be the Young Master Hidden Dragon? But that person is also only a young man. How can he perform the Sword-Riding Art?"

"Wouldn't it be possible if one encountered a lot of fortuitous encounters?"

The fact that Namgung Hui had recalled the memories of his past life was a fortuitous encounter if one were to call it that.

Because it was a very rare thing for a person to be struck by lightning.

Well, it seemed it was because of a fate like the Ziwei Star or a constellation, but being born with the energy of a star could also be called a great fortuitous encounter.

"In the end, it means you have to be lucky. Well, whatever. I'll just have to train on my own. Still, if it's to that level, it seems you really won't be caught by my father. I don't think there's anyone in the Imperial Palace stronger than you."

"The word 'seems' means you're not sure."

"I don't know all of my father's close aides. Lately, it seems he has brought in other forces that we don't know about, so I know even less."

"Other forces, you say?"

"I haven't talked to them specifically, so I don't know for sure. Just that the number of unfamiliar faces has increased quite a bit? It would be faster to ask my mother than me. Because my mother would have at least had a conversation with them."

‘Is there a force that the emperor can bring in? If it's a force hostile to the Hoicheon Association... Don't tell me it's the Blood Cult?’

Or, just as he had brought in Namgung Hui, he could have invited a person from another orthodox faction.

Because even if it were the Nine Sects, they could not be free from the pressure of the imperial family.

Hadn't Namgung Hui also taken on this task because of such pressure from the imperial family?

Namgung Hui, recalling the need to meet the emperor and the Empress again, asked Ju Seoyeon.

"Then is your business with me over?"

"For now. If I have something else to say later, I'll come to see you anytime."

"If Your Highness the Princess goes out like this, you will receive many glances from those around you. And meeting a man will create even more gossip."

"But if we meet in the Imperial Palace, that's a problem in itself."

Namgung Hui suddenly wanted to say, 'Then can't we just not meet?', but looking at Ju Seoyeon's two eyes, it seemed it would be useless to say it.

‘Did I show her the Sword-Riding Art for no reason?’

The Sword-Riding Art, since it floated a sword in the air, looked a little flashy, but in fact, the group hidden in this flashiness was truly amazing.

A skill that was manifested by the simple combination of the pinnacle of profound and numerous martial arts.

But Ju Seoyeon in front of him had a strong feeling of just chasing after the flashiness.

That's why Namgung Hui had urged her not to neglect the training of her internal energy arts so that she could fully understand those groups.

Well, since she wasn't his disciple, and if their friendship had been deep, he would have personally guided her, but since the princess was so stubborn, there was no need to be kind.

Then a good idea came to him.

‘If I investigate the emperor, I'll need to go around the Imperial Palace. Since the places an inspector general can go are limited, it would be good to use the princess.’

"Your Highness the Princess. Then how about this?"

"What?"

"I will be Your Highness the Princess's martial arts instructor for the time being, so let's go around the Imperial Palace together."

"Ah~! That's a really good idea. If I go with the inspector, I won't be in much danger either. It would be good to go and see my younger brother on this occasion."

"You mean His Highness the Crown Prince?"

"Yes. It's been 10 years since he fell ill. Seeing as my father doesn't pay much attention to him these days, I think he's half given up."

"But this is a matter I've been curious about for a while. Why do Her Majesty the Empress and Your Highness the Princess always use honorifics for the emperor? If it were someone else, there would be no need to call him that."

At Namgung Hui's question, Ju Seoyeon's eyes became moist.

"Sometimes... my father seems normal. Of course! I'm not saying it's madness or anything. What should I say? It's like he sometimes takes control of his body?"

"Hmm... Then if we can just remove the possessed ghost, we can return His Majesty to his original state."

"Yes. That's why we haven't given up hope."

"When you say 'we,' you mean Her Majesty the Empress and Your Highness the Princess, right?"

"Yes."

"But why did Her Majesty the Empress stick to the Hoicheon Association, and Your Highness the Princess is still alone?"

"Because that side also doesn't look particularly good. I have a bit of a good eye. So I don't really like the place called the Hoicheon Association."

When the upper dantian opens, one begins to see things that are not visible.

Future sight, clairvoyance, prophetic dreams, insight, etc.

Perhaps what Ju Seoyeon was seeing and feeling was also one of such abilities.

If so, she would have felt exactly what Namgung Hui had felt while dealing with the Hoicheon Association.

"If so, that's a relief. That at least Your Highness the Princess is maintaining neutrality."

"Yes. I have to hold on to my senses like this. My younger brother is also ill, and so is my father. Anyway. Thanks to you, I had a good sight today. I'll be counting on you in the future. Instructor. I'll be going now."

"Yes. Please take care. Your Highness."

And so, Ju Seoyeon gave Namgung Hui a gentle smile and then returned to the Imperial Palace with her young court lady.

As they disappeared, Namgung Hui sat down at the table again and was lost in thought for a moment.

How did things turn out like this?

Hadn't Namgung Hui originally thought of the emperor's call as nothing serious?

He had just intended to save him if the emperor was in trouble from the Hoicheon Association and at the same time, deal with the Hoicheon Association in return, but now he was on the verge of making an enemy of the emperor.

‘In the current situation, simply distinguishing between friend and foe is meaningless. Perhaps the emperor could be the biggest enemy. At this time, as the Empress said, it wouldn't be bad to cooperate with the Hoicheon Association.’

There was nothing better than blowing one's nose with the enemy's hand.

All sorts of dirty impurities would be on that hand, and it would even save Namgung Hui's trouble.

Even the damage that occurred there would be borne entirely by the Hoicheon Association.

As Namgung Hui spent half a day at the inn like that, the visitor he had been waiting for finally appeared.

"Brother. When did you abandon this older brother so coldly, and now you're calling me all the way to Beijing? Did you miss me that much?"

"Brother! You've come at a good time. This younger brother has missed you very much. And abandoning you? I just gave you a break since you've been working so hard."

Namgung Hui's words were not empty.

Unlike Namgung Hui, Jang Hwang was not a supreme master, so he must have been mentally and physically exhausted from the long journey.

Hadn't even Namgung Hui been quite tired and needed a rest?

But since it was not a time for Namgung Hui to rest, he had forced a march.

It was fortunate that Namgung Hui's realm supported him, but even that was not enough, and he was in a situation where he desperately needed help.

"Hohoho. Alright. I thought you had abandoned this older brother for a lover. But seeing you alone, it seems that's not the case."

Although Namgung Hui's heart twinged a little, since it was an event that he had really considered for Jang Hwang, he immediately continued his answer.

"Brother. For now, please look at the materials that this younger brother has organized. I will tell you the story after that."

"To think you're only thinking of putting me to work as soon as I arrive. Tsk, tsk. Yes. How is this my younger brother's fault? It's the fault of this older brother who has a bad younger brother. Then I'll have to see what problem has troubled my younger brother."

Although Jang Hwang grumbled, he readily accepted all the scrolls that Namgung Hui handed him.

Since he knew that Namgung Hui would not have made such a request for no reason, he read the materials with a serious expression.

A short while later. When he had read all the materials, Namgung Hui additionally explained the story that had happened at the Imperial Palace.

"Hmm... I see. This field is my specialty rather than yours. By the way, an ancient ghost. It's hard for me to guarantee this unless I see it myself."

"If it is a ghost, is there a way to drive it out?"

"That would also depend on how great a ghost it is. If it's a being greater than me, wouldn't I be defeated instead? But such a being would be rare. Because it would be difficult for it to exist in the human world."

Hadn't there been a law of causality that Namgung Hui had recently learned about?

A law that existed to maintain the balance of this world.

As Jang Hwang had said, if it were a being that could twist such causality, the law would surely have acted and corrected the causality.

"And you found the Sword Spirit's body? Where? I think I should go there first."

"Why is that?"

"Don't humans also die if they are left in a critical situation for a long time? A spirit beast is also a life. It wouldn't be good to leave it for a long time. Especially since you've released the seal."

Namgung Hui was also inwardly concerned that he had left the Sword Spirit's corpse.

Now that Jang Hwang was here, there was no need to postpone it.

The period promised with the Empress was three days, and he had also been promised a period of half a month with the emperor.

"Then I'll have to go and see the Sword Spirit's corpse first. Shall we go right now on this occasion?"

"Alright. Let's go right away."

"Dam Gihae. You stay here at the branch. In case someone is looking for me, please take a message for me."

"Alright. Have a safe trip."

Namgung Hui patted Dam Gihae's shoulder and then headed to the Yellow River basin with Jang Hwang.

***

"Is this the place where the Sword Spirit's corpse is? It's surprisingly close to the Martial Arts Alliance."

"That's why I thought this secret passage was a secret escape route of the Martial Arts Alliance when I first found it."

"That's true. If you follow the river from here, you can escape quickly."

"Then I'll go in below now."

Namgung Hui lit the torch he had brought and calmly stepped down the underground stairs.

Ttogak. Ttogak. Ttogak.

Namgung Hui's expression slightly distorted as he moved his steps.

‘Hmm... The feeling seems to have changed. Is it just my imagination?’

The sensation of stepping on the stairs felt subtly different.

If before it felt like stepping on a rather damp ground, now it felt as if the moisture had dried up.

Well, since the Yellow River basin was right above, it was a geography where it wouldn't be strange to be affected by the surroundings at any time.

Namgung Hui, for now, continued down the path and greeted the cave he had entered with Beak Seolhwa before.

"This is it. The place where the Sword Spirit's body is sleeping."

"The seal is well released. Very clean. The workmanship is quite good."

[Of course. How many times have I done this?]

Namgung Hui shook his head at Chichi's words and then pushed open the stone gate.

A subtle sense of disharmony was felt as he opened the stone gate.

It was not much different from what he had felt while stepping on the stairs.

The identity of that sense of disharmony was revealed in all its nakedness as soon as the door was fully opened.

‘The Sword Spirit's body has disappeared...!’

(End of Chapter)