Rebirth of the Thunder God

"That's enough. Yeonhui. You've lost."

Namgung Uncheon frowned at the guard's remark and asked.

"Who are you to dare speak to the acting family head's mother of the Namgung family like that?"

"Do you only treat her as the acting family head's mother at times like this?"

At the rude guard's attitude, the Firmament Guard drew their swords and stepped forward.

But Namgung Uncheon immediately raised his hand and stopped the Firmament Guard.

"That's enough. We need to find out who the opponent is first. Who are you really? You might see a terrible sight if you don't reveal your identity."

"A terrible sight. I shouldn't have to see something like that. Brother-in-law."

As soon as the guard finished speaking, he threw off his bamboo hat.

But Namgung Uncheon tilted his head as if he was seeing his face for the first time and asked.

"Did you just say brother-in-law? But in my memory, I don't have a brother-in-law like you. Besides, you're quite bold to speak so arrogantly to the head of the great Namgung family."

No matter how much the Namgung family had fallen, it was still a martial family belonging to the Five Great Families.

Even if it wasn't one of the Five Great Families, it was against etiquette to be so rude to the head of a family in a public setting.

That's why the Firmament Guard members had gotten angry and even drawn their swords.

Namgung Hui was also staring at the guard's face.

‘Strange. To call him brother-in-law means he's the maternal uncle of the second and third brothers, but in my memory, he doesn't look like someone from the Ouyang family. Still, he does resemble the second brother. Wait.’

Namgung Hui, searching his memory, suddenly recalled someone from the guard's face.

A face that was clearly left in the Thunder God's memory.

But Namgung Hui soon shook his head and shook off the thought.

Because no matter how he thought about it, it didn't make sense.

‘That doesn't make sense. It must just be a face that happens to resemble him.’

Baek Seolhwa, who had been watching calmly until now, also tilted her head at the guard's face.

It was as if she was trying to recall someone she had seen somewhere.

But she didn't seem to be able to remember who it was.

As people were staring at the guard, Namgung In suddenly appeared and shouted at the guard.

"Maternal uncle. You've come."

At Namgung In's confirmation, Namgung Uncheon asked.

"Second brother. Is that really your maternal uncle?"

"Yes. It's my maternal uncle who has been training in the mountains all this time. Isn't that right? Mother."

Perhaps because reinforcements had appeared one after another, Ouyang Yeonhui immediately regained her composure and continued.

"Yes. He is my older brother. Didn't I give you a hint before?"

"Hmm……. I seem to vaguely remember. It's late, but it's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too. Well, since it's a public place, I'll show you some courtesy."

Unlike the words 'nice to meet you,' it felt as if the atmosphere was instantly freezing.

It wasn't a delusion, as the Namgung family members, including the Firmament Guard, swallowed hard and even had their hands full of cold sweat.

"Then, wife. I can't just let this situation pass, so I will pass judgment on the charges of murdering a Firmament Guard member and bribery. Three months in the underground prison. This is my verdict."

"Husband! Three months in the underground prison! Are you telling me to just die!"

For an ordinary person, not a martial artist, three months in the underground prison was a harsh punishment.

Even ordinary martial artists had a hard time enduring in the underground prison.

No light came in, and it was full of all kinds of foul odors and unidentified germs.

Such an extreme environment was bound to eat away at a person's lifespan.

"Then did you expect me to forgive the killing of an innocent person?"

"I didn't kill him directly! I'm only guilty of handing a dagger to a warrior."

"Didn't you order him to kill the youngest with that dagger? Then are you saying the Firmament Guard member voluntarily invaded the youngest's residence?"

"Yes. I did not order him. It was excessive loyalty."

When she argued like this, it was difficult for Namgung Uncheon to press the charges any further.

Although the circumstantial evidence was clear, there was no physical evidence that she had instigated it.

Only the dagger showed that she was not unrelated, but there was no evidence of what she had requested.

"Then, on the charge of bribery……."

"Family Head Namgung. No, brother-in-law. Do you have to go that far? No matter what, isn't she your wife? If it's because of the past, I hope you'll forget it."

"The past……. Seeing that you know what happened, you must be my brother-in-law. But do you think I'm passing judgment based on personal feelings? If feelings were involved, it wouldn't have ended with the underground prison."

There was not a speck of affection in Namgung Uncheon's eyes as he looked at Ouyang Yeonhui.

What on earth had happened in the past that he would treat his own wife like a cow or a chicken?

"By the way, what is your name? You're my brother-in-law, so I should at least know your name."

"My name……. You would be worthy of hearing it. Poison…… no, I'm called Ouyang Cheon."

"Ouyang Cheon is a good name. Then are you planning to block me to the end?"

"If you insist on putting Yeonhui in prison to the end."

At Ouyang Cheon's arrogant behavior, the Firmament Guard members raised their aura again.

The Ouyang family martial artists also drew their swords at the sight of the Firmament Guard and entered a standoff.

The number of people Namgung In had brought was also considerable, so the numbers were roughly even.

Thirty versus thirty.

A touch-and-go situation.

The atmosphere became sticky and hot.

People were also steeling their fighting spirit, letting out hot breaths.

It was then.

Cutting through the sticky atmosphere, Ouyang Cheon's voice rang out.

"Yeonhui. Stay in the prison for a while."

"What? Brother, what do you mean……."

"I said for a while. And Family Head Namgung. Shouldn't that youngest kid also go to the prison? He cut off my nephew's fingers. And in any case, it was that kid who ended the life of a Firmament Guard member."

Looking at the results alone, it was true that Namgung Hui had committed the act.

However, the situation was a little unfair, as the Firmament Guard member had disguised himself as an assassin and entered Namgung Hui's residence.

On top of that, the reason Namgung Sang's fingers were cut off was because he had proposed the sparring first.

Even Namgung Sang was the one who had insisted on sparring with real swords.

But Namgung Hui readily accepted going to the prison.

"Alright. The prison. I'll go in there once."

"No. Hui. The prison is not a place you can just go to like you're going to the marketplace. How about you rethink it now?"

"It's okay. I'm going because I have my own thoughts. This way, Madam Ouyang will be convinced, and my third brother, whose fingers were cut off, will also be a little relieved, won't he? For the peace of the family, this one body should be a little uncomfortable."

Namgung Uncheon looked at Namgung Hui as if he was moved.

Was that all? The Firmament Guard members were also busy whispering, 'The youngest young master has changed.'

Of course, the gazes they sent were full of emotion and goodwill.

Without even knowing what was in Namgung Hui's mind.

‘The underground prison is perfect for sounding out Madam Ouyang. It's soundproof, and it's difficult for outsiders to enter.’

And Ouyang Yeonhui also looked at Namgung Hui with a sly gaze.

‘You're finally digging your own grave. How many have died in that prison without even knowing the reason? Do you think you can get out alive?’

And so, the prison sentence, with everyone hiding their inner thoughts, was carried out swiftly.

* * *

"Maternal uncle. Will Mother be okay? She doesn't know martial arts, I'm worried she'll get sick."

At Namgung In's question, Ouyang Cheon answered with a benevolent smile.

"In. Do you think I would let Yeonhui die? Don't worry. By the way, the family head's exit from seclusion was too early. Was there some kind of trigger?"

"I can't believe it either, but they say the youngest bastard restored the latter half of the Boundless Firmament Sword Art. It seems he had a fortuitous encounter in the martial arts library."

Ouyang Cheon stroked his chin and nodded slightly.

"Hmm……. If it's the family of the Martial God, it's plausible that there would be a manual. On the contrary, it would be strange if they hadn't found it until now. Then we'll have to move up the great cause on this occasion."

"The great cause? Isn't it not time yet?"

"It might be perfect when the inside is in chaos. And did you say the youngest? Because that guy messed with the Heretic Alliance and the Green Forest, the Firmament Troop will have a hard time returning for a while. Since they'll be busy protecting their business establishments."

"Now that I hear it, that's true. And the fact that the first brother sent out martial artists to the outside to do some escort business will also play a part. A full seventy percent of the Namgung family's martial artists are outside."

"On the contrary, it's a blessing in disguise for us. Then. Take this."

Namgung In took the wooden box that Ouyang Cheon handed him and asked.

"What is this? Is it a spiritual medicine by any chance……?"

"I'm sorry, but it's not a spiritual medicine. I told you before, it's a Demonic Emotion Pill, I don't know if you remember."

"If it's a Demonic Emotion Pill……! Isn't it a dangerous object? Don't tell me you're trying to get rid of me……."

"In. Do you think I would get rid of you? You're a child who has inherited my blood. For now, feed that to the Namgung family head. It doesn't matter if you put it in his food or water. Lastly, watch the young palace mistress of the Moon Maiden Palace with the third brother. Then this father will take care of everything."

"Can I call you Father now?"

"Yes. Since the great cause has begun, you can call me that."

Namgung In, with a moved expression, put the Demonic Emotion Pill in his pocket and asked.

"But Father. The Divine Physician Sect is clearly within the family estate, will we not get caught if we use this?"

"Do you think the Demonic Emotion Pill is an ordinary object? Even if the Divine Physician Sect leader examines him, he will only judge it as a symptom of Qi Deviation. In the first place, the Divine Physician Sect has never noticed it."

Namgung In looked at the Demonic Emotion Pill in his pocket again with an admiring expression.

Then, as if he had thought of something, he carefully opened his mouth.

"I've heard that people are coming from the Moon Maiden Palace. Will there be no problem with the great cause if we only block the young palace mistress?"

"It doesn't matter. I've already leaked the information about the Moon Maiden Palace to the Green Forest. The Firmament Troop and the Heretic Alliance, and the Moon Maiden Palace and the Green Forest will already be fighting fiercely. All we have to do now is proceed with the great cause."

* * *

The underground prison of the Namgung family.

It was all made of solitary cells, and the bars were also made of a mixture of black iron, so they were extremely sturdy.

Such a prison, perhaps because of the black iron, also contained yin ki, and along with the damp air, it brought a bone-chilling cold.

Even a martial artist would likely get sick from such a cold.

So countless criminals must have disappeared as the dew of the prison.

And if one's internal energy was sealed, there was nothing more to say.

Namgung Hui, on the chillingly cold floor, suddenly recalled someone, but he soon shook his head and erased it.

What was important now was not the past, but the present.

And dealing with the evil woman across from him was the priority.

As Namgung Hui shivered from the cold, Ouyang Yeonhui, who was locked up across from him, spoke through the bars.

"You bastard. I don't know what plan you have to have come down to the prison, but don't even think about getting out alive."

"Madam Ouyang. Are you plotting some kind of evil scheme?"

"Hmph! What's the point of hiding it anymore? I'm thinking of killing you thousands of times a day."

"Being honest is good. I didn't like anything about you, but that one thing is good."

"What did you say? You have no manners because you grew up without a mother."

Unlike Namgung Hui, who was suffering from the cold, Ouyang Yeonhui was wrapped up in a thick fur coat, so she was much freer from the cold.

It was a clear discrimination, but she had shamelessly come in wearing a fur coat, saying it was the difference between a martial artist and an ordinary person.

But Namgung Hui did not complain about that.

‘On the contrary, the fur coat will be a hindrance. She doesn't even know that it's vulnerable to this kind of humidity.’

Well, Namgung Hui had no intention of leaving Ouyang Yeonhui alone until then.

Since the honest Ouyang Yeonhui would also spill information, it didn't seem like it would take much time.

"Madam. Let's have a heart-to-heart talk."

"Heart-to-heart? Alright. Good. I'm willing to listen to your last words. After all, I'm the acting family head's mother of the Namgung family."

"Good. Good. Then I'll ask right away. Did you also poison my mother?"

Ouyang Yeonhui, despite there being no one listening, looked around and then opened her mouth.

"Yes. I poisoned her and killed her. Are you resentful?"

"Of course I'm resentful. But why did you do it? Jealousy?"

"Of course, there was jealousy. But she knew something she shouldn't have. That's why she died."

Namgung Hui suppressed his anger and continued.

"What on earth was it?"

"I can't tell you that even if you die. It's my disgrace."

"I thought you were an honest person, but I'm very disappointed."

"Being honest and knowing shame are two completely different things. Then I'll ask you too. What on earth were you thinking when you cut off the third's fingers?"

"Of course, he fed me poison and tried to kill me again, wouldn't it be strange if I just stood by?"

"Is there any proof that it was our child's doing?"

"I already found out by catching O Mujin. What's the point of denying it anymore? By the way, smelling you, it seems you've prepared poison again. Why do you always use such obvious tricks? Anyone who sees you would think the Ouyang family is the Sichuan Tang Clan."

Ouyang Yeonhui, as if there was no one watching.

She seemed to have resolved not to hide her inner thoughts anymore.

She took out a small gourd bottle from her pocket and smiled mockingly.

"You have a dog's nose. Then did you also realize how great this poison is?"

"It's probably not from the Five Poisons Sect. Is it a poison from the Sichuan Tang Clan? Seeing how confident you are, it must be one of the Ten Tang Clan Poisons."

"Yes. It's the Ice Soul Poison that will send you to the other world."

Namgung Hui tilted his head at the words 'Ice Soul Poison.'

‘It's not one of the Ten Tang Clan Poisons I knew. Did she get it from somewhere else?’

It seemed she had obtained the poison from a third force, not the Sichuan Tang Clan or the Five Poisons Sect.

"Then try to detoxify it."

Namgung Hui laughed at her words as if they were ridiculous.

It was a natural thing to say, as he had the Pure Thunder Essence, the natural enemy of poison ki.

Namgung Hui raised his Pure Thunder Essence to the fullest and tried to detoxify the Ice Soul Poison she had administered.

But.

‘Huh? It's not detoxifying?’

It seemed the Ice Soul Poison was not an ordinary poison.

(End of Chapter)