Rebirth of the Thunder God

A dizzying cliff drop.

A valley where a chilly wind brushes by.

The name of this place was the Valley of No Return.

It was a name given because countless people had lost their lives here.

And in that place, people were still losing their lives.

The situation was no different for Lee Jasung, known as the Thunder God.

“Cough!”

The Thunder God, after vomiting a bowl of black blood, looked down at his own chest.

A fatally beautiful, pure white hand was embedded there.

Wiping away the blood, Lee Jasung spoke to the owner of that hand.

“Sosu Mahu. You finally did it.”

The woman called Sosu Mahu was not in good condition either.

Her legs were nowhere to be found, not even a trace of their shape remained, and her entire body was covered in marks from thunder strikes, like a spider's web.

“You’ve done your part as well. To put me, the Vice-Lord of the Heavenly Demon Cult, in this state, you will surely leave your name as a great hero in the future.”

Sosu Mahu, the Vice-Lord of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

She had the title of the greatest woman in the world, who had risen to the position of Vice-Lord.

“And you, Mahu, will leave behind a notorious name. For killing the Thunder God, one of the Three Martial Gods of the martial world. Hahaha!”

Letting out a laugh, the Thunder God fell backward.

With his heart pierced, his legs gave out and he collapsed.

It wouldn't have been strange if he had died instantly, but he was holding on with his profound internal energy.

Sosu Mahu, having lost her legs, had no choice but to lie down next to the Thunder God.

Frowning as if she didn't like the Thunder God's laughter, Sosu Mahu asked.

“Is my state that amusing?”

“Do you think that’s why I laughed? On the contrary, far from finding it amusing, I was inwardly admiring how beautiful you still are, Mahu, even in such a state.”

At the Thunder God's unexpected compliment, Sosu Mahu faltered for a moment.

However, Sosu Mahu was also a figure who had reached the absolute realm; she soon regained her composure and asked the Thunder God.

“Then what were you laughing about?”

“I just laughed because our situation is so pathetic. The second-in-command of the Demonic Cult. The second-in-command of the Central Plains martial world. Isn't it funny that we're both about to die side by side? It suddenly made me wonder if this is why we trained in martial arts so desperately.”

Perhaps because the Thunder God honestly revealed his inner thoughts, Sosu Mahu's expression softened somewhat.

Sosu Mahu asked in a gentler voice.

“Then do you regret it now? Training in martial arts to that extent.”

At Sosu Mahu's question, the Thunder God briefly recalled the past.

Losing his parents at the young age of seven and meeting his master.

Becoming the successor of the single lineage Thunder Sect and training only in martial arts until the age of forty.

After that, he participated in the Great War between Justice and Evil, killing anyone called a demon head, and in the end, all that remained was the title of Thunder God and a shabby death.

All of it felt fleeting and empty.

‘I did leave behind my sworn brother, the Martial God Namgung Cheonhu.’

But it seemed even that Namgung Cheonhu had perished along with the Heavenly Demon, who was called the Demon God.

Judging by the fact that both of their presences had vanished.

So now, all that was left for the Thunder God was a sense of fleeting emptiness.

“Regret……. If I had a choice, perhaps. But I just struggled to survive, so I guess I have no regrets……. I’m just envious of my brother, the Martial God Namgung.”

“Why are you envious of him? Aren't you also one of the Three Gods?”

The Thunder God, perhaps a little embarrassed to harbor such feelings even after passing forty, scratched his cheek and said.

“Wouldn't you naturally be envious of a wealthy family? His handsome looks, his rich family, and on top of that, he was born with martial talent. Why wouldn't I be envious? Ahem. Most of all, I'm most envious of his beautiful wives.”

“So you’re just a man in the end.”

“Cough! Do you have no regrets either, Mahu?”

As the Thunder God coughed up another bowl of blood, Sosu Mahu, perhaps feeling inwardly awkward, pulled her hand from his chest and answered.

“Actually, I am envious too.”

“Of whom?”

“Unlike you, I was envious of all the women in the Central Plains. Especially the housewives who lived peacefully with their families.”

Come to think of it, Sosu Mahu had also lived alone for a long time.

It wasn't so much because of her notorious reputation, but because of the martial art Mahu practiced.

He had heard that due to the nature of the Sosu Demonic Art, which required preserving extreme yin energy, she could not be with a man.

So. It could be seen in a similar context to the Virgin Art that men practiced.

“Hahaha! Then if we both die, we’ll become a bachelor ghost and a virgin ghost. To be called a god even in death. What a strange fate.”

As she was dying, Sosu Mahu, as if she had gone mad, uttered a shocking statement.

“Hey. Should I take your bachelor tag before you die?”

The Thunder God stopped laughing and couldn't help but be startled.

“Mahu. Have you gone mad from your demonic art? What kind of nonsense is that.”

Sosu Mahu didn't answer and gently took the Thunder God's hand.

Then, as if she had made some kind of resolution, she continued in a solemn tone.

“Now your bachelor tag is gone.”

“???”

As the Thunder God squinted his eyes, wondering what she meant, Sosu Mahu spoke again.

“As I understand it, if a man and a woman lie down holding hands, they can have a child. So, I must have taken your bachelor tag.”

“Hahaha!”

Even though his chest was tearing apart in pain, the Thunder God couldn't stop laughing.

“You really are ignorant about that sort of thing. Do you think a child can be conceived just by holding hands?”

“Then what must be done?”

The Thunder God, blushing with inner embarrassment, carefully pressed his lips against Sosu Mahu's.

-Peck.

“Ahem! You have to press your lips together like this for a child to be conceived. By the way, to think we're performing such a great deed right before we both die, we're bound to be punished by heaven.”

That's right. The Thunder God was also an amateur in that area and knew nothing.

They were both pitiful souls who had never even dated until they were over forty.

Considering they had spent their entire lives training in martial arts in the mountains, it was perhaps natural.

They didn't even have parents to teach them such things…….

Just as their final burst of life was about to fade.

-Rumble! Craaack!

As if heaven itself was about to deliver punishment, a huge bolt of thunder struck the two of them.

In that blinding flash, the Thunder God's consciousness faded to pitch black.

Within his fading consciousness, the Thunder God quietly repeated his wish.

‘I wish I could live once more……!’

And so, the Thunder God closed his eyes in the Valley of No Return.

-Flash!

His eyes shot open from the pain that made his whole body tremble.

An antique ceiling he had never seen before came into view.

Perhaps because of the unfamiliar ceiling, he was seized by a sense of unease.

‘I’m sure I died, though?’

The Thunder God was certain he had died in the bloody battle against the Demonic Cult, his heart pierced by Sosu Mahu.

But feeling the aching pain all over his body, he could easily guess that he was alive.

In the midst of such confusion, someone burst open the door and entered.

“Young Master! Are you alright?”

‘Young Master? It’s been a while since I passed forty, what does she mean by Young Master.’

“Ugh……!”

The Thunder God tried to open his mouth to answer the unfamiliar voice, but no words came out.

Only a groan escaped.

He couldn't even make a small sound.

The owner of the voice, watching the Thunder God's state, spoke again.

“Young Master! Please wait a moment! I’ll go get the physician.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the girl who had called the Thunder God quickly opened the door and ran outside.

‘Ah. It’s quiet now. I should get some more sleep.’

And so, the Thunder God once again fell into the swamp of slumber.

The Thunder God kept dreaming.

What he saw in his dream was the growth of a young man.

From a newborn baby until he became a respectable young man.

About twenty years of life passed by like a revolving lantern.

And at the end of that dream, the moment the young man was struck by thunder, the Thunder God realized.

‘I see! These are the memories of this body.’

At the same time as the realization, he woke from his sleep.

The unfamiliar ceiling, no. The now familiar ceiling came into view.

The energy of the thunder still lingered in his body, making his whole body tingle with pain.

But the fact that he was alive turned that into joy.

‘I can’t believe I’ve been reincarnated. To think I was reincarnated into my sworn brother’s family, and on top of that, to recall my past life’s memories the moment I was struck by thunder…….’

The coincidences didn't end there.

The fact that he, who was struck by thunder, was the successor of the Thunder Sect.

This thunder energy could only be handled by the Thunder Sect.

A normal person would have died instantly.

Of course, if the thunder energy was left as it was, the Thunder God could also be in danger.

The Thunder God observed the thunder energy rampaging wildly throughout his body and calmly sat in a cross-legged position.

‘I can’t just let it run wild like this.’

Following the incantations of the Divine thunder Art, the Thunder God slowly drew the thunder energy towards his dantian.

At first, the thunder energy was uncontrollable, but once he drew a single strand of thunder energy into his dantian, the rest of the energy began to gather timidly.

Little by little. Little by little. The thunder energy gathered and finally became the size of a bean.

The Thunder God did not stop circulating his energy there and pushed forward.

‘This is just the beginning!’

-Crackle! Crackle!

As the thunder energy moved, it created static electricity all around.

Each time, a sharp pain struck his entire body, but a thrill ran through his heart.

Finally, he was able to gather the specks of thunder energy to create a small Pure thunder Essence.

Although it was only the size of a chestnut, it wasn't a big problem as he could grow it in the future.

The joy of having forged the Pure thunder Essence was brief. His mind began to become chaotic again.

‘Who am I? Am I the Thunder God, Lee Jasung? Or am I the youngest son of the Namgung family, Namgung Hui?’

Before he could define himself, the girl from before burst through the door.

“Young Master! You’re awake!”

‘Ah! Right. That child was Chohwa.’

The maid's name and personal history came to mind at once.

Seeing how it came to mind so smoothly without any sense of unease, he thought that he must be Namgung Hui.

But then, the memories of his past life rushed in like a wave, and he began to feel confused again.

His head throbbed with pain.

He lowered his head and touched his forehead.

Then his gaze naturally shifted to the mirror placed in front of him.

The image of a man was reflected there.

A face full of sickness with slender limbs.

Despite that, a handsome young man with such fine features that it drew admiration.

He couldn't help but nod at that handsome appearance.

‘Right! This body is Namgung Hui. The Thunder God, Lee Jasung, is dead.’

The moment the Thunder God cast aside the name Lee Jasung and defined himself as Namgung Hui.

-Drip.

Black blood flowed from his nostrils.

“Young Master! Are you alright?”

“I am fine, so step back.”

After spitting out a good amount of dead blood, the pain subsided. Along with it, the confusion also settled down.

“Hoo……!”

As he let out a hot breath, his mind and body stabilized. His shaken identity firmly took its place.

The memories of the Thunder God, Lee Jasung, and the memories of Namgung Hui completely merged into one.

Namgung Hui nodded and savored the memories flowing through his mind.

‘The Great War between Justice and Evil ended in the victory of the Orthodox Faction. I’m glad my death was not in vain.’

Searching through Namgung Hui's memories, the Great War between Justice and Evil had concluded with the victory of the Orthodox Faction.

The Demonic Cult collapsed and was destroyed, and the remnants of the Demonic Cult were pursued by the Martial Alliance for the next twenty years.

In the end, all the Demonic Cult followers were rooted out, and it was said that now it was difficult to even find a trace of demonic arts.

‘That’s a good thing. That the wicked demonic arts have disappeared.’

That much blood of the heroes was also shed.

Why else would the demon heads be called demon heads.

Their resistance was fierce.

It was truly tenacious of them to hold out for twenty years even after their base was destroyed.

Still, since they won the Great War between Justice and Evil.

Now was the golden age of the Orthodox Faction.

Thanks to the sacrifice of the heroes, they could enjoy an era of peace.

But there was still a remaining question…….

‘What happened to the Thunder Sect?’

The single lineage sect, Thunder Sect's Master, Lee Jasung.

He had died at the hands of Sosu Mahu without being able to take even a single disciple.

That meant that the current Thunder Sect was as good as an empty house with no owner.

‘Wait. Isn’t this a problem that can be solved if this body becomes the Sect Master again? Besides, I even made a Thunder Core to give to a disciple before I left, so it should be fine if this body takes it back. Namgung Hui will become the 8th Sect Master, so there shouldn't be a problem.’

-Creeak.

While he was organizing his thoughts about the Thunder Sect, a man with a goatee, dressed in pure white clothes, opened the door and entered.

Seeing him holding a medicinal soup with a strong aroma, he seemed to be a physician.

The physician gently offered the medicinal soup and opened his mouth.

“Fourth Young Master. Since you were struck by thunder, you must quickly treat your internal injuries. This is called Guiwon Bocheon-tang, a medicinal soup with excellent effects on internal injuries. Now, now. Drink it all up.”

“I will drink it well.”

Namgung Hui drank the medicinal soup that the physician handed him.

Good medicine is always bitter.

It was so bitter that it felt like poison.

As if Namgung Hui's thoughts were not wrong, the Pure thunder Essence dormant inside him reacted to the energy of the medicinal soup.

-Zzzzt. Zzzzt.

‘Look at this? Feeding me poison instead of medicine?’

(End of Chapter)