Rebirth of the Thunder God

Namgung Hui, after talking with the Mount Hua Sect Leader, left the Mount Hua Sect alone.

In truth, there was no special reason why Namgung Hui was able to persuade the Sect Leader.

First of all, since he was the Mount Hua Sect Leader's hidden son, not only the Sect Leader but also the Mount Hua Sect disciples would surely hesitate.

But what about Namgung Hui?

A member of the Namgung family, known to the public, would tend to be swayed by a hostage, but there was no way Namgung Hui, who had experienced all sorts of hardships, including the great war between the orthodox and demonic factions, would be shaken by a mere spy.

'I said I would definitely save him, but guarantees are forbidden.'

Of course, that didn't mean he would let him die.

He had stepped forward because Namgung Hui, more than anyone else, had the highest probability of both definitively killing the spy and saving the hostage.

Would the Sect Leader really let the child, whether he was called Haun or Yong Ucheon, die?

He could at least guarantee that he would hesitate.

It would be similar no matter who else stepped forward.

If he escaped in that momentary gap, it would all be for naught.

And Namgung Hui, caressing the small gourd bottle in his bosom, thought.

'I'll be able to try this out at just the right time. It's a good opportunity, all things considered.'

Catch the spy.

Save the hostage.

And put the Mount Hua Sect in his debt.

Should it be called killing three birds with one stone?

Thanks to the efficacy of the Purple Thunder Divine Art, Namgung Hui was able to catch up to Sa Ilcheon in no time.

No matter how confident Sa Ilcheon was in his lightness skill, he was only in the ranks of the younger generation.

But Sa Ilcheon, who was more confident in his lightness skill than anyone else, showed a considerable degree of bewilderment when Namgung Hui quickly caught up to him.

"You followed me? Not the Sect Leader, but you?"

"You can even open your mouth. You're quite relaxed."

Normally, opening one's mouth while performing a lightness skill was a very dangerous thing to do.

Not only would one's breathing be disrupted.

One could also bite their tongue by mistake.

Of course, one doesn't die from biting their tongue.

However, the bleeding would be severe, and the flow of internal energy would not be smooth as a result.

"Ha! This brat seems to think I won't kill the hostage. Take one more step from there. Haun's life will be right..."

Step. Step. Step.

Namgung Hui, regardless of what Sa Ilcheon was babbling about, just walked straight ahead.

"And you, do you think I care about the life of a child I've never seen before? Kill him first. Then let's have a go at it."

Sa Ilcheon stared intently into Namgung Hui's eyes.

It was to see if this brat was being sincere or not.

But he couldn't read his inner thoughts at all.

It seemed like he was being sincere, and at the same time, it didn't.

So Sa Ilcheon decided to test him one last time.

"Then I'll show you that I'm serious. I'll cut off one of his arms first."

Sa Ilcheon moved the sword he had aimed at Yong Ucheon's neck towards his right arm.

No, he was about to.

Before Namgung Hui could unleash his Flash Thunder Finger.

-Flash!

A flash of lightning shot from Namgung Hui's fingertips.

The speed of light, terribly fast.

It couldn't take Sa Ilcheon's life.

-Ting!

But it was enough to knock his sword away.

Sa Ilcheon threw himself at the sword that was knocked out of his hand.

He had judged that his weapon was more important than the hostage.

It was a natural reaction, as swordsmen cherished their swords like their own lives.

-Swish!

But because of that, he ended up handing the hostage over to Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui, using a phantom-like movement, caught Yong Ucheon.

Although he couldn't speak because his muting point had been sealed, he was in a state of considerable fear.

"Haun. Rest for a moment. This big brother will take care of that brat and come back."

While Namgung Hui was laying Yong Ucheon on the ground.

Sa Ilcheon, having caught his sword in mid-air, began to flee.

He had chosen to flee because even if he could handle Namgung Hui for now, if the Sect Leader or other elders came after him, it would be a certain defeat.

But Namgung Hui did not chase Sa Ilcheon diligently.

Instead, he kept a moderate distance from Sa Ilcheon and waited for him to flee as far as possible.

'That way. The effect of this will appear.'

Namgung Hui caressed the gourd bottle in his bosom.

Its identity was none other than the Thousand Li Tracking Incense.

It was a special tracking incense from the Sichuan Tang family that he had received from the Tang family's artisans before, so there was no doubt about its performance.

* * *

And so, Namgung Hui engaged in a chase that lasted for a whole day.

Then, when Sa Ilcheon was looking at him, he just lay down on a rock and went to sleep.

Sa Ilcheon, at Namgung Hui's strange behavior, tilted his head from a distance.

'Is that brat luring me? Or is he really tired? I can't read his inner thoughts. Well, fine. Even if it's a provocation, I just have to not respond.'

Sa Ilcheon thought that now was his chance.

He began to use his lightness skill, squeezing out every last bit of his strength.

In fact, as a spy, he had trained only in lightness skills day and night in preparation for times like this.

Although that brat named Namgung Hui had managed to chase him, when it came to a long-term battle, he was no match for him.

He must have gotten tired and lay down on the rock.

'That's because the endurance of our Association's shadows is extraordinary. There's no way a brat like that has received the same training as us.'

Recalling the hellish training of the past, his teeth clenched.

Such hellish training would never happen again, but if he failed his mission, an even greater hardship awaited.

Death? Death was not the problem.

A greater responsibility followed an irresponsible death, so he had to lead the mission to success no matter what.

Perhaps thanks to that tenacity and perseverance, the brat named Namgung Hui no longer pursued him.

Sa Ilcheon, still preparing for a possible pursuit, twisted his destination here and there to confuse the enemy as much as possible.

This was also a military tactic passed down to the shadows in the Association.

The so-called "Zigzag Path Reconstruction."

And so, Sa Ilcheon ran for two whole days without a wink of sleep.

Still, there was no pursuit, and he was able to arrive safely at the shadows' safe house.

As Sa Ilcheon deactivated the formation of the safe house and entered, a person's voice was heard from inside the pavilion.

"You're quite late. And why have you come alone? Your hands seem light too."

A chilling voice, like scraping metal.

A sense of pressure was even subtly emanating from that tone.

It didn't seem to be a delusion, as Sa Ilcheon got down on one knee and performed a fist-and-palm salute.

An extremely polite attitude that he had never shown even to the Sect Leader.

"I greet the Squad Leader!"

"That's enough with the greetings. Just answer my questions."

Sa Ilcheon, still on his knees, said.

"While smuggling out the Purple Mist Divine Sword, I encountered a meddler and failed. However, the Blood Cult forces supported by our shadows succeeded in smuggling out the Purple Mist Pill and the Purple Mist Divine Art."

"It was a chance to smuggle out all three of the Mount Hua Sect's divine treasures, so it's a shame. Still, after investing 10 years, if two out of three are lost, it's half a success. The Purple Mist Divine Sword is a pity, but we can just switch to aiming for the Dragon's Fang Sword. Yes. Number 7. You've worked hard. But are you really alone?"

"Yes. I have ordered the other shadows to take their own lives."

The man called the Squad Leader pointed to the wall and said.

"It seems you've been tailed."

"!!?"

Namgung Hui, who was hiding on the wall of the estate, was quite surprised that his stealth technique had been discovered.

"Is it because I learned it superficially? I've been discovered."

Namgung Hui obediently revealed himself and walked out from the wall.

"Is that brat the meddler you mentioned earlier?"

"Yes!"

"He seems to be only in the ranks of the younger generation, but his achievement is quite outstanding. Has there been such a person among the Seven Dragons recently?"

"He is the youngest son of the Namgung family, and this is probably his first time out in the martial world."

At the word Namgung, the Squad Leader nodded his head.

"A tiger father does not beget a dog son. As expected, a Namgung is a Namgung. Still, an uninvited guest should be treated accordingly. Number 7. Take care of him."

"Yes!"

Sa Ilcheon, who hadn't slept for two whole days, drew his sword and approached Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui found Sa Ilcheon's appearance strange, but.

"Haap!"

Since Sa Ilcheon rushed at him with a shout, he put aside his thoughts for now.

Namgung Hui met Sa Ilcheon's sword with the blue steel sword he had brought from the Mount Hua Sect.

It was a light sword strike, as light as his lightness skill.

-Clang. Clang. Clang!

But it was also that fast.

A series of nimble, quick sword strikes flew towards Namgung Hui's face.

It was as if the other person's desire to tear apart his unsightly face was being conveyed.

With the addition of fast footwork, it looked quite dazzling.

But that was all.

There was no power in the sword strikes.

It wasn't because he hadn't slept, but because his swordsmanship was lacking compared to his lightness skill.

Namgung Hui, seeing no need to drag things out, immediately faced him with all his might.

The Purple flash of the Purple Thunder Divine Art enveloped the blue steel sword.

Not only Sa Ilcheon, but also the man called the Squad Leader who was watching, had a look of interest in his eyes.

"It seems like the Purple Mist Divine Art, yet it's different. Ho-oh. To think there was such a martial art in the Central Plains."

A look of pure admiration.

Sa Ilcheon, beyond admiration, even showed a look of bewilderment.

"There was such a martial art in the Namgung family? That's impossible!"

"Impossible things sometimes happen in the world."

Just like Namgung Hui's reincarnation, there were many things in the world that could not be understood by the human mind.

The same was true for Sa Ilcheon's current situation.

He looked at his own chest with disbelieving eyes.

"Cough...! When...?"

Before Sa Ilcheon could even realize it, Namgung Hui's sword had pierced his heart.

"Quickness is not just about being fast. Connecting and cutting. This is the most important thing. Well, you probably can't hear me now."

Namgung Hui's advice did not reach Sa Ilcheon, as his breath had been cut off while Namgung Hui was speaking.

However, it did reach the man called the Squad Leader who was watching from behind. Along with Namgung Hui's cold gaze.

Namgung Hui glared at him and said.

"Did you deliberately make me cut off the tail? You must have known there was a difference in skill, yet you just watched."

"Hahaha! A quick-witted child. A truly coveted talent. Yes. Since he brought a tail, isn't it right to cut off the tail? Anyway, since the mission failed, he had to go through the disposal process."

"Disposal... You speak of a person as if they were a tool. Even the Demonic Cult members didn't do that. The 'Association' folks seem to be even worse."

"Hoho. To think we'd be compared to the Demonic Cult. We may be more vicious than them, but we're also smarter."

"Alright. That's enough with the small talk. Call out the kids hiding behind you. No matter how much you test me, I won't show any openings."

"...! You read that far. Hahaha!"

Those who were hiding in every corner of the estate.

Some under the wall.

Some behind a wooden pillar.

One was even hiding under the feet of the man called the Squad Leader.

If Namgung Hui aimed for him, he would probably pop out from below like an awl.

As the man called the Squad Leader clapped his hands.

Those who were hiding all revealed themselves at once.

They didn't just reveal themselves; they also expressed their killing intent and rushed at Namgung Hui in one breath.

Namgung Hui, seeing that the enemies' attack was faster than he thought, quickly raised his sword to defend.

'Did all these guys only train their lightness skills to the extreme? All their feet are so fast.'

Did they also train their lightness skills by climbing cliffs?

He had no way of knowing that, but he could feel that they had gone through a harsh process.

Their body movements were not the standardized footwork learned in a Taoist sect.

Extreme practical orientation.

It seemed like the clumsy footwork that vagrants would learn, but in terms of efficiency, there was nothing to criticize.

'Did the man called the Squad Leader raise them? If so, I have to acknowledge this much.'

-Kagagang! Kagagang!

They were not just fast; their sword strikes also carried a considerable amount of internal energy.

Moreover, since there were a whopping ten of them, they not only had a numerical advantage but were also capable of a strategic sword formation.

Namgung Hui's blue steel sword gradually began to chip.

But Namgung Hui's expression was relaxed.

'Shall I try using that after a long time? It will be even more powerful if I use it with the Purple Thunder Divine Art.'

Namgung Hui immediately plunged into the midst of the enemies.

He slammed the Purple Thunder into the cracked blue steel sword.

Then, the sword, unable to withstand the powerful internal energy, exploded.

-Pabababak!

The fragments of the sword scattered like plum blossom petals.

The enemies quickly pulled back from the scattering fragments, but.

"Gah!"

The magnetic petals pursued them tenaciously.

If they had known this in advance, they might have been able to avoid it, but they hadn't expected it to follow them like this.

It was only natural.

How on earth could sword qi change direction and follow someone?

The Squad Leader, who was watching this, finally stood up from his chair.

"What kind of skill is this? It's definitely not the Sword Control Art. Hoho."

He wasn't just surprised because his subordinates had died.

He was surprised at having seen a new martial art.

He was even slightly excited, so he had to be seen as a natural-born martial artist.

But Namgung Hui did not acknowledge him.

"Did you use your subordinates as sacrifices to test me? Have you gotten a good estimate now?"

He had also learned that the Shattering Sword Art could pursue the enemy.

And he would have gotten a rough idea of Namgung Hui's level.

The blue steel sword and internal energy that Namgung Hui had consumed in the process brought him a secondary benefit.

"Yes. If you know yourself and your enemy, you will win a hundred battles. Unlike the Demonic Cult, we don't fight stupidly. Is being smart cowardly? To be honest, fighting stubbornly and dying is a stupid thing to do. Then I'll ask you. You're now bare-handed. Can you handle me?"

As the Squad Leader finished speaking, a huge amount of energy erupted from his body.

This was something Namgung Hui hadn't expected, and his fists clenched without him even realizing it.

(End of Chapter)