Rebirth of the Thunder God

-Rustle.

Namgung Hui quickly awoke from his sleep at the sound of footsteps at dawn.

Perhaps because his recent achievements had deepened, his senses were exceptionally sharp.

Moreover, Thunder Energy also had the property of activating the nerves.

But as soon as Namgung Hui got up from his bed, he tilted his head in confusion.

'He's not particularly hiding his presence.'

That wasn't the only puzzling thing.

Eun Seolrin's quarters were in the deepest part of the inner sanctum.

It wasn't a place one could approach while leaking their presence like that.

But that question was resolved when the intruder got closer.

'It's the Hao Faction Head! But why is he here at dawn...?'

Could the Hao Faction Head have betrayed them?

But as if that wasn't the case, the Hao Faction Head was walking straight towards where Namgung Hui was.

Even sending a wave of energy towards Namgung Hui.

"Lay disciple. It seems you're awake, so I'll be intruding for a moment."

The Hao Faction Head, without even waiting for permission, immediately opened the door and entered Namgung Hui's quarters.

"What brings you here at this hour?"

"Naturally, I have something to discuss in secret."

"Then couldn't you have just called me during the day?"

"That would be difficult for various reasons. Anyway, The reason I came is because of the Hui Association."

At the mention of the Hui Association, Namgung Hui straightened his posture.

"Please continue."

"Yes. The Hui Association, it seems the leader of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance has also joined them. The movements of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance have been unusual lately. Not only that, but it seems they're planning something for this Martial Alliance tournament as well."

"That's quite important news. Have you informed the Martial Alliance?"

"Not yet. They say there's a spy from the Hui Association in the Martial Alliance as well. That's why I have a favor to ask of you."

"Let's hear what the favor is first."

The Hao Faction Head took out a scroll from his bosom and said.

"Before that, I ask. Are you willing to do anything to deal with the Hui Association?"

"If it's not an unreasonable matter."

The Hao Faction Head, pausing for a moment, stared into Namgung Hui's eyes and said.

"Assassination. That is what I am asking of you."

A member of the orthodox faction, especially one from the Namgung family, would likely be reluctant to assassinate.

Assassination was a cowardly act performed by killers.

But Namgung Hui didn't care whether it was assassination or poisoning, as long as he could eliminate the enemy efficiently.

The great war between the orthodox and demonic factions that the Thunder God had experienced was not so lenient as to allow for such considerations.

"If the target is a spy from the Hui Association, then by all means, it must be done."

"Phew... That's a relief. I was worried you would refuse. This is the information I've gathered on the spy. He's probably a disciple of the leader of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance."

Namgung Hui unfolded the scroll the Hao Faction Head handed him and asked.

"He's a rather handsome man. He's participating in the Martial Alliance tournament?"

"That's right. He probably won't have that face when he participates. Still, I'm telling you to memorize it just in case."

"Understood. If he's a member of the Hui Association, I will proceed with the task without hesitation. Then, Faction Head."

Namgung Hui put the scroll in his bosom and continued.

"Shall I hear why you sold my information?"

The Hao Faction Head let out an awkward laugh and said.

"Haha. That is... it was all for your sake. In fact, that man, Eun Chunghyeon, already knew that you possessed the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron and the gold ingots. Of course, it's true that the information leaked from our Hao Faction, but I was definitely not the one who leaked it. You should see it as his handiwork."

Was it said that the only thing money can't buy is a person's life?

Of course, Namgung Hui didn't agree at all, but he thought it was a common joke.

Especially if you asked Eun Chunghyeon, he would say it was the truth, not a joke.

Anyway, He thought that if he had poured in a huge amount of money, even planting spies, there was nothing he couldn't find out.

"Putting that aside, what do you mean it was for my sake?"

The Hao Faction Head's eyes suddenly took on a sly glint as he said.

"That... I can't tell you now. It would be better for you to hear it directly from that Eun fellow later. And isn't it great that we've caught the tail of the Hui Association? In fact, they've secretly intervened in many of the troubles that have befallen you. The Ice Soul Poison you also experienced is one example, and the force that fought with the Azure Sky Brigade, and the masters of sound art who ambushed you. Well, if we dig deeper, there will be more."

"Not the forces of the Blood Cult, but the Hui Association?"

"At least, from what I've found out, that's the case. To be precise, they secretly supported the forces of the Blood Cult."

Namgung Hui, on the one hand, didn't understand.

Why on earth would they scheme things so complicatedly?

Wouldn't it be better to just appear in the open and gather their forces?

"Have you still not figured out their purpose?"

The Hao Faction Head shook his head.

"No, not yet. But if we keep finding their tails like this, won't we be able to figure out what they're up to? For now, it seems to be far from the peace of the martial world, so it probably isn't a good scheme."

"Well, if he's a disciple of the leader of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance, he should have some information, so I'll interrogate him before the assassination."

Now that his mastery of the Divine Thunder Art had also risen.

The level of the Thunder Energy torture had become even more powerful.

Someone in the ranks of the younger generation would never be able to withstand it.

Of course, lately, there were more people who could withstand the Thunder Energy torture.

He had met them occasionally in his past life, so it wasn't surprising.

Especially Seomun Changhyeon, who seemed to secretly enjoy it, to the point where it made his teeth chatter.

Since the Divine Thunder Art was not yet at its peak, it would be good to develop a new torture method instead of being complacent.

'I had an epiphany thanks to the Ice Soul Poison this time. It should be fine to try using that.'

If he poured in too much Thunder Energy at once, the tingling sensation tended to dull the sense of pain.

Then what if he broke it down into smaller pieces and injected it?

And at the main pain points at that.

Especially the pain points in the joints were extremely sensitive and could inflict a pain like carving bone.

He had an inspiration from compressing the Ice Soul Poison with the net of Thunder Energy this time.

Namgung Hui decided to use it.

'The pain of tearing flesh and scraping bone. Let's call it 'Tendon Splitting and Bone Grinding'.'

It had to have a name like that to exhibit a performance that surpassed the Thunder Energy torture.

Just as Namgung Hui was creating a new torture method, the Hao Faction Head handed him another scroll and said.

"This is a record of the incidents and accidents in the martial world so far. I thought you'd be curious, so I brought it. Of course, you can think of it as my small token of guilt."

Namgung Hui was inwardly pleased that the Hao Faction Head had given him information he hadn't even asked for.

But he didn't smile or show it on the outside.

He just accepted it with a calm expression.

Namgung Hui said in a calm tone, as if it were no big deal.

"Well, I'll read this later. Then I'll look forward to more good information next time."

"What? Next time too? Hoho. Alright. Alright. I'll bring you even more surprising news next time. Then, go back to sleep. I should be on my way as well."

It would be best to return before the sun rises.

After all, he had secretly entered someone else's quarters.

"Yes. Please take care."

-Swish.

The Hao Faction Head, nodding his head, erased his presence and disappeared from the spot.

It seemed to be a great skill, as if he were using some kind of formation to hide his presence.

It felt as if he were distorting space itself.

It felt similar to the concealment formation that was spread out in the Thunder Gate.

'Is he making the world not recognize his own existence? How fascinating.'

It seemed to be a really good thing that he had learned formations from such a Hao Faction Head.

He should be able to solve the repair of the Thunder Sect without much difficulty.

It would be a good idea to stop by to pick up the rest of the Thunder Liquor before going to the Martial Alliance tournament.

'When I go to the Martial Alliance tournament, there will be many famous masters of the martial world who like alcohol. Especially on the Beggars' Sect side, they wouldn't refuse free alcohol, and they would go crazy for Thunder Liquor.'

If it was information from an elder-level figure, beyond a branch leader of the Beggars' Sect, there would surely be information that could dig up the background of the Hui Association.

With the credibility of the Namgung, he was of a status worthy of receiving information about the Hui Association.

And they could also pretend to be defeated by Namgung Hui and give it to him.

The greatest information organization in the Central Plains would not be ignorant of the existence of the Hui Association.

Namgung Hui organized his future plans and went back to bed.

But his sleep could not continue.

-Rustle.

Because he felt someone's presence again.

'Did the Hao Faction Head come back? He must have forgotten to give me something.'

Namgung Hui got up from his bed to greet the Hao Faction Head.

But when he spread out his senses, the visitor was not heading towards Namgung Hui's quarters.

And it wasn't the Hao Faction Head's footsteps, nor was it just one person.

'Real intruders.'

Namgung Hui, thinking this was no time to be idle, quickly killed his presence and approached the intruders.

The number of presences he felt was about three.

Looking closely, they were all dressed in dark black clothes.

Not only were they wearing masks, but they also seemed very accustomed to this kind of stealth.

'Is there a collaborator? How did three of them get this far without being detected?'

It was a strange thing for even one to intrude.

That's how tight the security of the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild was at the moment.

Moreover, the Hao Faction Head had set up formations and hired a large number of bodyguards with money.

It was no different from a dense net being spread out.

Without a collaborator, they would not have been able to break through this net.

Namgung Hui, thinking that Eun Seolrin might be in danger, quickly headed to her quarters.

He decided to arrive before the killers and greet them.

Naturally, he was familiar with the geography, and since he knew the life gates of the formation in advance, he could arrive at the quarters before them.

Currently, Eun Seolrin, having spent a weary day, was in a deep sleep.

He had watched her during the day, and he didn't want to let her be woken up by a commotion.

'She must be very tired now. It was a workload that even an ordinary martial artist would find hard to endure.'

He was suddenly reminded of his own brother.

The reason he hadn't shown his face to Namgung Hui all this time must have been because of this much work.

For the sake of Namgung Chan, who had suffered for the family, he decided to deal with the killers quickly.

Namgung Hui gathered Thunder Energy at his fingertips.

The Flash Thunder Finger, which was somewhat weak in power but supreme in speed and stealth.

The flash of thunder cut through the darkness and pierced the vital point of the killer.

-Thud.

Without a single groan escaping, one killer fell from the roof.

Namgung Hui quickly caught the killer and scanned the remaining ones.

-Flinch.

'In this darkness, the flash makes it a one-time use. Still, it's not bad that I safely put one killer to sleep.'

But the killers, as if mocking Namgung Hui's thoughts, exchanged glances and began to flee.

And they scattered in two different directions.

It seemed they had judged that they couldn't face Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui wanted to catch both of them, but he was in a difficult situation because of the formation installed in the quarters.

If he ignored the life gates and ran, the formation would be activated.

And if he chose to step on the life gates, it seemed he wouldn't be able to catch both of them.

'I have no choice. Let's catch one of them for sure.'

Namgung Hui quickly stepped on the life gates and chased after the killer who seemed stronger.

He judged that he would know more than the weaker-looking one.

Just as Namgung Hui was about to catch up with the killer.

-Swish!

A blade glinted in the darkness.

(End of Chapter)