Rebirth of the Thunder God

Namgung Hui's body floated up.

The driving force that had levitated his body was none other than.

‘The undigested energy of the Thunder Core.’

The Thunder Core that Namgung Hui had eaten at the Thunder Sect had not been fully digested.

It was understandable. The energy it had contained for sixty years was so immense that it could not be easily digested.

Then where did the remaining energy of the Thunder Core go?

Like other spiritual medicines, it had hidden itself in the fine meridians throughout his body.

Now that his meridians had expanded, the hidden energy of the Thunder Core had come flocking out.

Like digging the ground with a shovel and then pouring water on it to compact the earth.

Namgung Hui's meridians were being compacted by the energy of the Thunder Core.

Namgung Hui slowly expressed the vast and profound energy that was circulating throughout his body.

A blue energy undulated.

Chichi, who was in his arms, also trembled and was completely intoxicated by that energy.

As the tangible energy filled the room, it slowly moved above Namgung Hui's head and began to entangle.

A round circle was drawn.

One, two, three, four.

As a full four rings were formed, they were instantly sucked into Namgung Hui's nostrils.

-Flash!

A bright light exploded from his eyes.

The room shone brightly, as if a dawn had broken.

Chichi, as if his eyes were also blinded, covered his eyes with his tail.

"Squeak! Squeak. (I feel like you become something amazing.)"

As Chichi said, Namgung Hui had achieved a clear accomplishment.

In the first place, his essence, ki, and spirit were already in a state of some completion.

However, since that balance was not perfect, he had forcibly widened his meridians.

Naturally, force was accompanied by pain.

The pain of his meridians being torn was indescribable.

And the immense energy that was stirring his whole body was enough to make his mind go blank.

If he hadn't had the experience and tolerance for pain from his past life, he might have lost consciousness from the pain of his meridians being torn to shreds.

But even in that intense pain, Namgung Hui grinned.

‘Now the Divine Thunder Art is also at the 7th star.’

The 7th star of the Divine Thunder Art.

The amount of Thunder Ki that was outputted had changed.

Well, since his meridians had widened, it was a natural thing to say, but the speed at which he could draw up the Thunder Ki had also been significantly reduced.

It meant that there was no need to go through the preliminary work as before.

Namgung Hui stood up from his seat with a satisfied expression.

His eyes had also become clear, and at a glance, it even felt as if he was dizzy.

‘First, I should go and warn Seolhwa.’

He didn't want to tell others about the dispute between his brothers, but Baek Seolhwa needed to know.

Namgung Hui didn't want to blabber about his family affairs, which were as good as a disgrace.

‘Still, she's a friend. She'll understand to some extent.’

To Namgung Hui, a friend was such an existence.

Just as he had been with his sworn brother in his past life.

Sorrow, joy, pain, happiness, etc.

Isn't a relationship where you share these emotions a true friendship?

Of course, he hadn't gotten that close to Baek Seolhwa yet.

Namgung Hui's senses had become quite sensitive, perhaps because his realm had risen by one level.

It wasn't as much as in his past life, but he felt that he had caught up quite a bit in terms of feeling presences.

That's why he was able to read Baek Seolhwa's presence right away.

For some reason, she was at his mother's residence, which Namgung Hui had told her about before.

To be precise, near the pond path.

Perhaps she was lost in thought, admiring the beautiful night sky.

Namgung Hui suddenly felt a mischievous urge.

Now that his realm had risen, couldn't he secretly approach her and surprise her?

Stealthily.

He suppressed his presence and approached like a cat.

Although he hadn't learned stealth techniques, his footwork was as good as an assassin's.

He succeeded in getting behind Baek Seolhwa safely.

His heart was even pounding, as if it were such a great feat.

The moment he was about to pounce on Baek Seolhwa.

-Swish!

Baek Seolhwa turned around and tried to stab Namgung Hui with the side of her hand.

But when she recognized Namgung Hui's face, she immediately stopped her hand.

"What the. I thought you were an assassin. Did you sneak up on me like that to surprise me?"

"Uh, uh. Yes."

The one who was more surprised was Namgung Hui himself.

But the reason Namgung Hui was surprised was not because Baek Seolhwa had noticed.

‘The martial art Seolhwa just performed. It wasn't from the Moon Maiden Palace, was it? If it's a hand technique, it's definitely not in the Moon Maiden Palace.’

"Ah, right. What happened earlier? The third brother? You went to fight with him, right? You're not hurt?"

Namgung Hui immediately shook off his thoughts.

He himself didn't use the martial arts of the Namgung family.

It wouldn't be strange for Baek Seolhwa to know a hand technique.

Besides, there was no law that said a new martial art couldn't be created in sixty years.

"Actually, that's why I came. I've completely severed ties with the third bastard. He might attack you or Miss Seomun. He might even try to take you hostage……."

"And what's next? Are you saying he's going to aim for this body?"

"Well, that's a possibility. You're quite pretty. Right? He was drooling while looking at you earlier. That's why I'm saying, don't wander around for a while and stay put. Or call some people from the Moon Maiden Palace. You're a proper young palace mistress, it's a bit much to be without a guard."

"W-what do you mean, I'm pretty? As for the guard, I did ask Miss Choyeon to send a letter. But since I ran out on my own, I don't know if the palace mistress will send anyone."

"She'll definitely send someone. There was a conflict with the Heretic Alliance and the Green Forest, so if she heard about you, she might have already come out."

"Well. She probably sent someone to catch me."

Namgung Hui suddenly wondered what it would be like if the palace mistress came out in person and took Baek Seolhwa away.

‘Then I can't use the power of the Moon Maiden Palace, can I?’

"Seolhwa. What will you do if the palace mistress comes out and tries to take you away? Will you go back?"

"I don't know. If she doesn't accept the conditions I've set, I'll have to run away again."

"What if you run into the Green Forest alone then?"

"I don't know. I'll think about it then. I can't give in just because I'm scared of the Green Forest."

A determined expression appeared on Baek Seolhwa's face.

What on earth had been discussed between her and the Moon Maiden Palace mistress that she was so unwilling to bend her will?

It definitely didn't seem like a simple emotional argument.

"Alright. You must have your own thoughts. And the Moon Maiden Palace won't let you be in danger. Then. Let's be careful for a while."

Baek Seolhwa, as if she had never made a determined expression, glared at him and said.

"But did you secretly eat another spiritual medicine?"

"No. I just finished digesting the spiritual medicine I ate before. The energy was so immense at that time that I couldn't absorb it all."

"You must have eaten something really amazing. Your aura has changed completely. I almost didn't recognize you when you appeared from behind earlier."

"What's so great about this? Haha."

Namgung Hui was inwardly proud.

Because he felt that he had become stronger than Baek Seolhwa now.

It was truly displeasing for Namgung Hui, who had the memories of his past life, to be inferior to a mere rising star.

And since he was the Thunder God, one of the three martial gods, in his past life, his pride would not allow it even more.

Baek Seolhwa, as if not to be outdone, placed her hands on her hips and said.

"Then I'll have to train diligently too. I can't lose to you."

"Hey. It's possible to be weaker than a friend. And you only know the outcome of a real fight when you try it."

"Still, you can roughly feel it just by looking at the aura. That you're in a favorable position right now."

"Right now? I think it will be like that in the future too."

"Hmph! Then shall we have a match?"

"I'd love to. But are you sure? Your pretty face might get hurt."

"W-what are you talking about? Just follow me."

Baek Seolhwa rushed off somewhere in a hurry.

Even though there was definitely no training ground there.

‘She's a girl who needs a lot of looking after.’

"Hey! That's not the way! Come here."

* * *

It was a late night with a chilly wind blowing.

Namgung Hui, after finishing his sparring with Baek Seolhwa, returned to his residence.

Like the piercing wind, Baek Seolhwa's sword was truly fierce.

Namgung Hui was clearly superior in terms of aura, but in terms of sword arts, Baek Seolhwa was one step ahead.

So in the end, they were evenly matched.

But thanks to that, he had also gained a lot.

It wasn't an enlightenment, but he had learned how to respond in what way and at what time to make it easier.

Feints and variations. Thrusts and slashes.

He was able to get a glimpse of the ever-changing application of the sword from her.

He also learned that he still had a long way to go, and it was a very rewarding sparring match.

‘It wouldn't be bad to cross swords from time to time.’

Isn't this what a true friend is?

Didn't he and his sworn brother in his past life also often improve their martial skills through sparring?

In the first place, it was because of such sparring that he was able to restore the latter half of the Boundless Firmament Sword Art.

His understanding of the Emperor Sword Form was also achieved in that way.

‘I've really gained a lot today. Although it was a day when someone lost their fingers.’

The misfortune of an enemy was one's own happiness.

So it could be said that he had gained more in reality.

Namgung Hui briefly washed off his sweat and then lay down on the bed.

Even though he had spent the day hectically, he couldn't sleep.

Was it because the afterglow of the sparring still remained?

Or was it because Chichi was wriggling in his arms?

It was neither.

What was wriggling right now was none other than.

‘An intruder. An assassin?’

It was because an uninvited guest had visited Namgung Hui's residence.

It was a stealthy movement that the Namgung Hui of the morning would never have noticed.

He was only able to barely notice it because his aura had risen.

Namgung Hui also hadn't expected them to move so quickly.

It was understandable. No assassin organization that Namgung Hui knew of moved so quickly.

On the contrary, they went through a thorough preliminary investigation and then began the assassination.

Well, there was no law that said a new assassin group couldn't have been formed in sixty years, so the current intrusion wasn't that strange.

Namgung Hui didn't get up right away.

It was obvious that if they knew Namgung Hui had noticed, they would run away.

He had to wait until they took the bait.

-Rustle.

He heard the sound of someone lightly stepping on the roof.

The intruder seemed to be planning to enter through the window.

Namgung Hui, at the assassin's action, was also worried on the one hand.

‘I've been locking the window because of O Mujin last time. What if the assassin turns back because of that?’

There were thieves who opened doors and entered.

And there were thieves who, if the door was closed, went to the next house.

Namgung Hui suddenly wondered if assassins were also like that, but it was a groundless fear.

The assassin, with some trick, opened the window and came in.

No, it was a smooth movement, as if it had never been locked in the first place.

‘Wait, someone opened the window in advance. Well, if it's the second or third brother, they could have had the servants open it.’

Then it was rather good.

It was certain that the person who had hired the assassin was from the second or third brother's side.

At least it wasn't the work of the Heretic Alliance or the Green Forest.

-Lightly.

Even when the assassin entered the room, not even the sound of the window opening was heard.

It was a worn-out hinge, so it was normal for a scream-like sound to be heard.

It seemed they had really gone all out and even replaced the hinge.

When Namgung Hui looked at the assassin with his eyes half-open, he was, as expected, wearing a black mask and dark black clothes.

He came right up to Namgung Hui's bed.

Perhaps because his body was small, his footsteps were also unusually quiet.

He looked over Namgung Hui's form and then put his hand in his pocket.

Namgung Hui did not miss this opportunity.

As if he had been waiting, he kicked off his seat and stood up.

He kicked the assassin in the chest before he could take out his weapon and then grabbed the assassin's neck.

"Ack!"

He let out a pained groan, unlike an assassin.

Namgung Hui, whether he did or not, quickly pressed his vital points before the assassin could shake him off and threw him to the floor.

-Thud!

"Ouch……!"

"A woman? I thought your body was light. By the way, let's find out where you came from……."

Namgung Hui couldn't finish his words.

Because another assassin had attacked from behind.

(End of Chapter)