Thunder God's Reincarnation-Chapter 131
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Chapter 131
Baek Cheon-Sang returned to Wenzhou after eliminating the Black Sword Gang, leaving behind Baek Cheon-Gi and fifty Baek Sword Corps members in Shaoxing. novelbuddy.c(o)m
Baek Mu-Gun and Namgung Hyun-Ah personally went to Wenzhou Port to greet Cheon-Sang.
โWelcome back.โ
โWelcome back, Father.โ
โWhy did you bother coming all the way here? We would have seen each other when I get home anyway,โ Cheon-Sang said.
โYou went all the way to Shaoxing to risk your life in a battle against an evil sect, so itโs only natural for us to greet you as soon as you return. Congratulations on annihilating the Black Sword Gang and gaining control over Shaoxing,โ Mu-Gun replied.
โThank you. Letโs go home for now.โ
Mu-Gun and Hyun-Ah headed back to the Baek Sword Sect with Cheon-Sang. The Baek Sword Corps and Heavenly Martial Hall martial artists who participated in the battle against the Black Sword Gang followed behind them. Upon arriving at the Baek Sword Sect, they celebrated their victory with a banquet. Cheon-Sang, the three squad leaders, and the Baek Sword Corps and Heavenly Martial Hall martial artists enjoyed the celebration with great delight.
The next day, Mu-Gun visited Cheon-Sang.
โCome in. I was actually about to call for you.โ
โHow may I be of help?โ Mu-Gun asked.
โBefore I decide, I would like to ask your opinion about what to do with the rights and authority we took from the Black Sword Gang,โ Cheon-Sang explained.
โWhich ones specifically?โ
โOut of all their rights and authority, the most important one is the exclusive Shaoxing Wine distribution rights.โ
The Black Sword Gang made huge profits through their exclusive right to sell all Shaoxing Wine produced by Shaoxingโs breweries. They bought the product at a very low price, then used their exclusivity to sell it at a high price.
The Shaoxing breweries wanted to earn more from their products as well, but since the Black Sword Gang used force to haggle, they were left with no other choice but to sell low. It was also through force and threats that the Black Sword Gang obtained the exclusive Shaoxing Wine distribution rights.
The Baek Sword Sect, a righteous sect, found it difficult to take over that specific right because the Black Sword Gang obtained it using oppression, then used it to exploit the breweries. Hence, Mu-Gun suggested, โWhy donโt we return the distribution rights to Shaoxingโs breweries instead?โ
โYou want to give up the interests weโll earn from it?โ
โNo. In exchange for returning the distribution rights to the breweries in Shaoxing, we will receive a portion of the profit they earn as protection taxes. We wonโt be earning as much as having the exclusive distribution rights to their products, but itโll still provide us with a decent profit.โ
โThatโs a pretty good idea. The breweries will likely find it more profitable to pay us a certain percentage of their profit as protection tax in exchange for repossessing the Shaoxing Wine distribution rights.โ Cheon-Sang liked Mu-Gunโs suggestion.
โThatโs right. Most murim factions collect protection taxes anyway, so they likely wonโt refuse our offer. We canโt set the protection tax too high, so we should just collect the same rate we collect from others to avoid problems.โ
The Baek Sword Sect normally charged ten percent of profits as protection tax. Considering the Seven Great Familiesโ protection tax varied from ten percent to twenty percent depending on the revenue size, ten percent was quite lenient. Moreover, compared to the evil sects, which usually demanded more than thirty percent, the righteous sects were quite conscientious.
โLetโs proceed with that plan. Iโll send a carrier pigeon to the White Dragon Squad Leader to start the negotiations with the breweries in Shaoxing,โ Cheon-Sang said.
โI assume the Black Sword Gang accumulated considerable wealth?โ
โIn total, they would probably have a little over one hundred thousand silver nyang.โ
โThatโs not that much, considering they had the Shaoxing Wine distribution rights,โ Mu-Gun commented.
โThey must have used their earnings for luxury and pleasure.โ
โThatโs probably it.โ
It would have been great if they earned more from this, but one hundred thousand silver nyang was still a huge sum of money. Adding the manor the Black Sword Gang used as headquarters into the calculation, the Baek Sword Sect gained considerably huge profits.
โBy the way, why were you looking for me? Is there anything you want to discuss?โ Cheon-Sang asked, wondering about Mu-Gunโs purpose for visiting him so early in the morning.
โWhile you were at Shaoxing, I made a public announcement in various regions of the Central Plains that we are recruiting martial artists who used to be part of the army.โ
โYou want to recruit former martial artists of the army?โ This was Cheon-Sangโs first time hearing this.
Mu-Gun explained that many martial artists left the army due to the collapse of the national treasury, then revealed his plan to recruit them to make up for the number of martial artists that the Baek Sword Sect lacked.
โWell, itโs not a bad idea. Martial artists from the army are bound to have decent skills and a greater sense of belonging and loyalty than the wanderers who put money first. I could not think this far ahead, so thank you for doing it in my stead,โ Cheon-Sang said afterward.
โI should have asked for your permission first, but I decided to push through with the plan at my own discretion since the former members of the army could set their sights on another clan if we take too long.โ
โGreat work. If you canโt even push ahead with something like that as the Young Patriarch of the Baek Sword Sect, then what use would that position be? From now on, for as long as itโs for the sake of the Baek Sword Sect, donโt hesitate to proceed with your plans.โ
โThank you.โ
โDonโt mention it. By the way, how is the newlywed life?โ
โItโs going well.โ
โWill I be a grandfather soon?โ
โWhat are you saying, Father? It hasnโt even been that long since I got married and youโre already expecting a grandchild?โ
โOur family does not have many children. You have to pay attention to that.โ
โFine. On another note, I would like to set a date for my marriage with Lady Dan as soon as possible,โ Mu-Gun mentioned.
โArenโt you in too much of a hurry? It hasnโt even been a month since the last wedding. I doubt my daughter-in-law will be happy about that,โ Cheon-Sang responded.
โDonโt worry. My wife has already given me her permission. It also seems impolite to keep Lady Dan waiting for too long.โ
โFine, I understand. I will look into it and set a date.โ
Cheon-Sang no longer objected. He already knew Mu-Gun would marry the two women anyway, and there was no reason to postpone it now that Hyun-Ah had approved of it.
After their discussion, Mu-Gun left the White Sword Pavilion and returned to his residence to spend some quality time with Hyun-Ah.
* * *
Seok Gang repeatedly thought about whether to let Cho Woo-Kyung consume the ice qi beast core. Having consumed the fire qi beast core, Woo-Kyung now had over a hundred twenty yearsโ worth of internal energy. If he also consumed the ice qi beast core, he would possess more than two hundred forty yearsโ worth of internal energy, which was close to Seok Gangโs current internal energy. Seok Gang was not confident that he could control that amount.
Controlling someone elseโs energy was twice as difficult as handling the energy in oneself, and the greater the amount of internal energy the other person had, the greater the difficulty became. No matter how much he thought about it, Seok Gang kept reaching the conclusion that he would fail to control two hundred forty yearsโ worth of internal energy. If they encountered an error and the energy rampaged, both he and Woo-Kyung would be in danger.
For that reason, it would be better not to even attempt it unless he was certain he would succeed. Hence, after much consideration, Seok Gang decided to leave it to Mu-Gun instead. Mu-Gun was stronger than both Seok Gang and Geom Woo-Saeng combined. Above all, he was the Thunder Godโs successor. Seok Gang thought Mu-Gun could help Woo-Kyung absorb the ice qi beast core and safely guide him to the Absolute Realm.
Seok Gang would have to teach Mu-Gun the Qiankun Harmony Body Cultivation Technique to proceed with the procedure, but for Woo-Kyungโs sake, Seok Gang was willing to teach Mu-Gun even the scriptures of the Qiankun Infinite Hands, not just the Qiankun Harmony Body Cultivation Technique. Having reached a decision, Seok Gang called for Mu-Gun and requested he help Woo-Kyung absorb the ice qi beast core and advance to the Absolute Realm. Mu-Gun was more than willing to grant Seok Gangโs request.
After making Mu-Gun promise not to tell anyone about the Qiankun Harmony Body Cultivation Technique, which was not far behind Mu-Gunโs Heavenly Thunder Constellation Divine Art, Seok Gang began to teach it to him. While admiring its excellence, Mu-Gun absorbed all knowledge available within its scriptures, then practiced its circulation method.
The Qiankun Harmony Body Cultivation Technique was extremely profound, so its circulation method was naturally very intricate. On average, one would require a considerable amount of time to even begin to understand it. However, Mu-Gun had the Heavenly Thunder Constellation Divine Art, which was known as the best internal energy cultivation method. Since its circulation method did not differ much from the circulation method of the Qiankun Harmony Body Cultivation Technique, it only took him less than a day to understand the latter and master its internal energy circulation method.
After fully understanding the Qiankun Harmony Body Cultivation Technique, Mu-Gun looked for Seok Gang and Woo-Saeng and informed them that everything was ready. Unable to believe that Mu-Gun could fully understand the Qiankun Harmony Body Cultivation Technique within a day, Seok Gang started quizzing him about the key scriptures.
Without hesitation, Mu-Gun answered every last one of Seok Gangโs questions and even provided insights into parts that Seok Gang himself could not understand. Realizing that Mu-Gunโs enlightenment toward the Qiankun Harmony Body Cultivation Technique was beyond his comprehension, Seok Gang no longer doubted him. He immediately called for Cho Woo-Kyung.
โYou will now begin absorbing the ice qi beast core and using its energy to reach the Absolute Realm.โ
โWill you be helping me this time as well, master?โ Woo-Kyung asked.
โNo, the Young Patriarch will help you,โ Seok Gang explained.
โHuh?โ
โDonโt worry. The Young Patriarchโs martial prowess is much higher than mine, and he has a deeper understanding of the Qiankun Harmony Body Cultivation Technique than I do.โ
It was hard for Woo-Kyung to believe what Seok Gang just said. Although Mu-Gunโs martial prowess was great, he could not bring himself to believe that Mu-Gunโs enlightenment of the Qiankun Harmony Body Cultivation Technique was higher than Seok Gangโs.
โWhat I can tell you for sure is that there is no one more suited than me to guide your martial arts level to the Absolute Realm, so donโt worry too much,โ Mu-Gun told Woo-Kyung.
โBefore we begin, I would like to ask a question that has been bugging me.โ
โWhat is it?โ
โWhy are you so willing to help me improve my martial arts? If anything goes wrong, your life could also be in danger, Young Patriarch Baek. Even though I am staying at the Baek Sword Sect because of my two masters, I am free to leave at any time. That makes me curious about why youโre so willing to risk your life to help me reach a new realm,โ Woo-Kyung asked.
โIt is for the sake of murim,โ Mu-Gun answered.
โFor murim?โ
โAs you already know, the Nine Celestial Demons Sect threat is closing in by the minute. It would be great if you stayed with the Baek Sword Sect, but even if you didnโt, Wouldnโt it be in murimโs best interest to turn even just one more person into a martial arts master before the Nine Celestial Demons Sect earnestly takes action?โ Mu-Gun explained his reasoning.
โYouโre doing this ultimately for the great cause of murim, not only for the sake of the Baek Sword Sect?โ
โYes. For that reason, I hope you use the power you are about to gain for the sake of murim.โ
โIโd be more than willing to. Moreover, I promise to spare no effort for the Baek Sword Sect as long as the sect does not go against murimโs path of righteousness,โ Woo-Kyung declared.
โThank you. Shall we get started, then?โ ๐๐ป๐๐๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.๐๐๐
โWhat do I have to do?โ Woo-Kyung asked, wondering if there was anything he was supposed to do.
โThe same thing you did last time.โ
Woo-Kyung sat in a lotus position.
โPlease consume the ice qi beast core now,โ Mu-Gun instructed.
Following the order, Woo-Kyung consumed the beast core that he received from Seok Gang. As soon as he did, Mu-Gun immediately sat behind him and placed his palm on Woo-Kyungโs myeong-mun point.
โTrust me and leave everything to my energy.โ Mu-Gun began to let the Thunder God qi flow toward his internal body.
The Qiankun qi within Woo-Kyung naturally showed aggression toward the Thunder God qi, which was flowing from an external source. Remaining calm, Mu-Gun began to enter the harmonic state of the Heavenly Thunder Constellation Divine Art. Likewise, the Thunder God qi took a harmonic stance and gently approached the Qiankun qi, easing the wariness of the latter until it no longer resisted the Thunder God qi, which was approaching like a spring breeze.
Not missing the opportunity, the Thunder God qi burrowed into the Qiankun qi and seamlessly mixed with it. Afterward, it proceeded to merge with the Qiankun qi, using itself as the core. Having surrendered, the Qiankun qi tried to harmonize with the Thunder God qi, which was a higher-ranked energy than itself. At that moment, Mu-Gun immediately began to guide the Qiankun qi using a natural flow he created by circulating the energy according to the scriptures of the Qiankun Harmony Body Cultivation Technique.
The beast coreโs energy initially resisted the fusion with the Qiankun qi since their energies were incompatible. However, the Qiankun qi sneakily began to bond with the beast coreโs energy as the former hovered around and constantly attempted harmonization. The first attempt showed some resistance, but everything went smooth sailing after that. In lightning speed, the beast coreโs energy fused and bonded with the Qiankun qi, having realized that it would not be harmed even if it combined with the Qiankun qi. Now proceeding as slowly as needed, Mu-Gun absorbed the beast coreโs energy by whirling the Qiankun qi around it.
As Woo-Kyung meditated and observed his internal body, he witnessed the Qiankun qi absorbing the beast coreโs energy in a surprisingly natural flow. Mu-Gun guided the Qiankun qi much more naturally than Woo-Kyung himself could do through qi circulation, allowing him to witness the extent of Mu-Gunโs strength once more. Now focusing on the method Mu-Gun used to handle the Qiankun qi in him, Woo-Kyung was able to observe the Qiankun qiโs movements more accurately than anyone else. As a result, Woo-Kyungโs understanding of his internal energy circulation method deepened.
Meanwhile, the Qiankun qi within Woo-Kyung finally absorbed the last of the beast coreโs energy, increasing it twofold. However, the most crucial step was just about to begin. Mu-Gun immediately guided the Qiankun qi from Woo-Kyungโs hoe-eum point to his chong-maek point.