Rebirth of the Thunder God

"The leader of the Heretic Alliance. I'm thinking of selling some information about him."

"What?! The leader of the Heretic Alliance?"

"Aren't you getting surprised too easily for someone who's a division chief?"

"No. Wait a minute! Even our sect leader would be surprised at information about the leader of the Heretic Alliance. By the way, where on earth did you get that information?"

When the division chief looked at Namgung Hui with suspicious eyes, Namgung Hui continued speaking nonchalantly.

"I don't know if the division chief knows, but I have a Martial God among my ancestors, right? I happened to peek at a diary he left behind, and what do you know, the leader of the Heretic Alliance's weakness was written there."

The Heretic Alliance was a place he didn't like even in the past.

Even before the Great War between Justice and Evil broke out, they often clashed with the Orthodox Faction.

And during the Great War between Justice and Evil, they were always looking for an opportunity to profit from the conflict.

For such a Heretic Alliance to be rampant now, it was only natural for Namgung Hui to be displeased.

‘That leader of the Heretic Alliance bastard had not a shred of courtesy.’

The current leader of the Heretic Alliance was a figure who existed even in the Thunder God's time.

He was a guy who had made quite a name for himself among the rising stars of that time.

With such skills, he had no fear, and he had made a big mistake towards the Thunder God.

Because of that, the Thunder God had suffered an embarrassment that wasn't quite an embarrassment, and it was said that he had become distant from women in particular.

Anyway. For some reason, that guy had changed his name.

Perhaps he was ashamed of his past name.

And the Heretic Alliance and the Hao Faction were not on good terms either.

It was because just as the Martial Alliance used the information organization called the Beggars' Sect.

The Heretic Alliance also tried to pull the information organization called the Hao Faction to its side.

But they could not coexist like the Martial Alliance and the Beggars' Sect.

The Heretic Alliance tried to absorb the Hao Faction by force.

They tried to kill the sect leader and incorporate it as a subordinate organization.

In the process, the Hao Faction leader was seriously injured, but fortunately, he managed to escape and became a sworn enemy of the Heretic Alliance.

‘The Hao Faction leader will be happy if I give him the weakness of the leader of the Heretic Alliance. Well, I don't know if that old man is still alive.’

Even if his disciple had become the sect leader, he would not like the leader of the Heretic Alliance.

As Namgung Hui was recalling the past.

The Dongling division chief let out a long sigh and continued.

"Phew……. I don't think this is information I can dare to handle. I think I need to contact the main headquarters first."

"Alright. Then put in a message to the main headquarters. I'll stop by again in a few days."

"It will take about three days."

"Alright. Take care of yourself until then."

The words "take care of yourself" did not sound ordinary to the Dongling division chief.

It sounded like a warning that if she tried any other tricks, her body would not be in one piece.

As Namgung Hui stood up from his seat, the division chief quickly spoke.

"Ah. Young Master. Do you happen to know the identity of those outside?"

"I don't know about that. This is my first time here too."

"Would you like me to tell you their information?"

"If it's free."

Perhaps because of the word "free," the division chief opened her mouth with a faint smile.

"Yes. They are the Daexiong Gang, which has taken control of the area around Dongling, and they are a gang under the Heretic Alliance. They have been rapidly expanding their power recently, so our Hao Faction is keeping an eye on them."

"Oh. Those guys are affiliated with the Heretic Alliance? No. But how did the Heretic Alliance bastards get to be so rampant all the way here in Anhui province……."

Namgung Hui stopped mid-sentence.

Because he immediately realized the reason.

‘It's because the power of our Namgung family has weakened. How dare the Heretic Alliance operate in Anhui province. It would have been unimaginable when my brother was alive.’

Namgung Hui was very displeased with this situation.

The Namgung family's power was already not what it used to be.

On top of that, the Heretic Alliance, with which he had a bad relationship, was coveting Anhui province.

Namgung Hui changed his mind.

First, the possibility of the Hao Faction leaking his information had become slim.

They wouldn't leak Namgung Hui's whereabouts anywhere until they handed over the information about the leader of the Heretic Alliance.

‘Good. Let's have some fun.’

"Miss Cho. We have to fight this, right?"

"I suppose so. It seems we're surrounded."

Choyeon and Baek Seolhwa, who had come down from the deserted mountain after dressing as men, were now surrounded.

The Daexiong Gang members, perhaps because they had lost Namgung Hui before, did not rush in carelessly this time.

They surrounded Choyeon and Baek Seolhwa, forming a tight encirclement.

But Baek Seolhwa was not intimidated at all.

Because she would not lose even if they came by the cartload, no, by several cartloads.

Baek Seolhwa asked Choyeon in a slightly excited voice.

"Miss Cho. Then we have no choice but to fight those guys, right?"

"That's right. The commotion is unavoidable. It's a shame, this isn't why we disguised ourselves."

"It's okay. If we just get rid of those guys quickly, no more horseflies will bother us."

"Yes. Then……."

Just as Choyeon was about to continue.

Someone burst out laughing and walked out from among the Daexiong Gang members.

"Uahahaha! Are you the ones who broke the young master's balls?"

"Ah. I had a feeling. So one of them broke? So you're going to take revenge for him, old man?"

"Look at this. Your way of speaking doesn't seem like you're from the Orthodox Faction. Well, the young master's revenge is no big deal, but still, since it's a subordinate organization of our alliance, we have to show some sincerity."

"Alliance? Are you from the Heretic Alliance, old man?"

The reddish-faced old man seemed to feel a sense of pride at the word "alliance."

As soon as Baek Seolhwa mentioned the Heretic Alliance, his stooped shoulders seemed to straighten slightly.

Then, a Daexiong Gang member standing behind the old man continued in his place.

"Ahem! If you're asking who this is! He is the Blood Hand Old Claw, who holds the position of an elder in the Heretic Alliance! He is a person of such a high position that you dare not even speak to him."

"Ugh! Goosebumps. What's so high about an elder of the Heretic Alliance? You have to be at least an elder of the Divine Cult."

"Divine Cult? Are you perhaps talking about the Demonic Cult? That place is gone now. You're spouting strange nonsense."

"Demonic Cult? These guys can't say anything right… Anyway. Hey, Heretic Alliance old man. You're quite old and seem to have learned a lot of martial arts, aren't you ashamed of coming in a group like this?"

"Uahahaha! What a bold one. Not to be scared even after hearing my title. Good. You all step back. I'll deal with this one alone."

As the old man called Blood Hand Old Claw made the Daexiong Gang members step back, Baek Seolhwa sent a telepathic message to Choyeon.

-Can you escape on your own?

-I think it's possible, but why?

-I don't think I can protect you while dealing with that old man.

Although Baek Seolhwa spoke calmly.

She was still in the ranks of the rising stars.

And her opponent was an old master who held the position of an elder in the Heretic Alliance.

The amount of internal energy alone would be double, and the application of techniques and accumulated experience would not be easy to deal with.

‘But I won't lose.’

Choyeon hesitated for a moment, but she realized that she wouldn't be of much help even if she stayed.

She was not a master of martial arts.

She was a Flying Swallow, closer to a spy.

Choyeon nodded and immediately unfolded her movement technique.

She was excellent at lightness skill, so she flew away in an instant.

"Hey! She's running away. Chase her!"

As the Daexiong Gang members rushed after Choyeon, Baek Seolhwa spoke to the Blood Hand Old Claw.

"They've moved too, so let's move to another place. That clearing in the deserted mountain over there is quiet and nice."

"Hahaha! Since you've chosen your grave there, I'll have to follow. Let's go!"

And so, Baek Seolhwa and the Blood Hand Old Claw also moved to the clearing in the deserted mountain.

In an instant, the front of the inn turned into a desolate, empty lot.

The escape route Choyeon chose was the crowded marketplace.

First, there were many obstacles, so the pursuit would not be easy.

But the Daexiong Gang members, perhaps tired of such a pursuit, now mercilessly smashed through anything that blocked their way.

Even if it was a person.

"Kyaak!"

A woman was knocked away by a Daexiong Gang member's fist.

That sharp voice made Choyeon's steps pause for a moment.

Thanks to that moment of hesitation, Choyeon was instantly surrounded.

"That wench's lightness skill is amazing. Where did the ones who were with her earlier go? Why are you with a guy I've never seen before?"

A Daexiong Gang member with a bushy beard approached Choyeon, twirling his saber.

"Hmph! You think I'll tell you that? You rotten bastards who only oppress the weak!"

Choyeon was suddenly reminded of Chohwa at the Namgung family estate.

The two sisters, who had been wandering as orphans, were taken in by the Namgung family when they were young and were saved.

It was a stroke of luck. If they hadn't caught the eye of the Eldest Young Master, they would have suffered a worse fate than the woman lying there.

Choyeon clenched her teeth and steeled her resolve.

Whether it turned out to be porridge or rice, she had to fight now.

"Oh? You want to fight us? Just tell me where that wench from earlier is, and I'll let you live."

"I can't do that. I won't do as you wish."

Actually, it would have been fine to say that the person dressed as a man earlier was Baek Seolhwa.

But even if she said that, would the Daexiong Gang members let Choyeon go?

She didn't think so.

On the contrary, they would try to do something to her to silence her.

As a Flying Swallow, she knew the ecosystem of the martial world better than anyone else.

That's why she was about to draw her sword and rush at the Daexiong Gang members.

Suddenly, a person flew from behind the Daexiong Gang members.

"Uaak!"

"I-it's a surprise attack!"

With those words, the Daexiong Gang members quickly turned around.

It seemed they intended to deal with the attacker before Choyeon.

Another person flew into the air, and a voice followed.

"Yeon-ah. I'm not too late, am I?"

"Young Master! I'm fine!"

"It's the guy who ran away earlier. Get him first! He's a slippery one, so tie up his feet first."

""Yes!""

With a powerful response, the Daexiong Gang members rushed towards Namgung Hui.

Some swung their broadswords.

Some swung their sickles, and all sorts of weapons tried to tie up Namgung Hui's legs.

But.

-Swish. Swish. Swish.

Namgung Hui unfolded a brilliant movement technique and deflected all of the enemies' attacks.

Namgung Hui rotated his body and delivered a Thunder Strike Fist to each of their abdomens.

A tingling Thunder Ki swept through the Daexiong Gang members.

"Kuock!"

"Kereureuk……."

Thanks to that, the Daexiong Gang members each let out strange noises and slammed into the ground.

They were also foaming at the mouth, so it seemed a considerable shock had been dealt to their insides as well.

And so, in an instant, five Daexiong Gang members were lying on the ground.

A smile naturally appeared on Namgung Hui's face at the taste of his hands for the first time in a while.

‘Fists are still more comfortable.’

No matter how much he had trained with the sword recently, he was the Thunder God who had trained in the Thunder Strike Fist his entire life.

The fist technique was still more familiar to his hands.

As Choyeon also joined in, all the Daexiong Gang members except for the leader were lying on the ground.

"How boring. I had some expectations since you joined the Heretic Alliance, but you guys were just small fry. A third-rate gang is a third-rate gang."

"H-how on earth……."

The leader of the Daexiong Gang blinked and looked at his subordinates.

They were subdued so quickly that he didn't even have a chance to intervene.

Namgung Hui, for his part, wondered if he had run away for nothing when he could have dealt with them like this from the beginning.

‘I'm stronger than I thought. This isn't bad in its own way.’

He had been cautious with his body because he had been bedridden for a long time, but perhaps because the Thunder God's insights remained, his application of techniques and efficient distribution of power were on a different level.

It meant that a simple classification of realm was useless for Namgung Hui.

It was then.

-Swish!

Suddenly, a sharp energy flew towards Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui quickly unfolded the Thunder Cloud Step and chased after the owner of the energy.

‘Above the inn.’

There, a stooped old man was lightly landing on the ground.

Even though the inn was not low, it was a very light footwork.

Such an old man landed on the ground and opened his mouth, revealing his missing teeth.

"Boy. Your skills are quite good. By the way, where did that Blood Hand Old Claw bastard go?"

(End of Chapter)