Rebirth of the Thunder God

Immortal.

Closer to a Taoist than a martial artist.

And closer to a celestial being than a Taoist.

Such immortals were words treated like legends by ordinary people, but to Namgung Hui, they didn't feel like mere fantasies.

'That's because my master was also one who had entered the ranks of immortals.'

In a way, it was a matter of course.

The first sect master, the Azure Dragon, was also a being who had ascended after accumulating Taoist training and becoming a spiritual beast.

In the first place, many of the sects passed down to a single successor were founded by immortals.

Even the immortals of Great Kunlun had such a tendency, and there were many cases where they did not take any disciples at all.

In fact, the Thunder Sect might not have taken any disciples if it hadn't been for the order of the first sect master.

The reason Namgung Hui had come out to the secular world and participated in the great war between the orthodox and demonic factions was also a guideline passed down in the sect and his master's order.

Perhaps because of that compulsion, Namgung Hui felt a sense of skepticism at the end of his life.

Because it was not a peace and well-being that he had sought to protect himself.

'That's probably why I got this new life. By the way, where did she get this? It's not easy to meet immortals.'

"But where did you get this?"

"Didn't I tell you earlier? It's a trade secret. It's a great discourtesy to ask for someone else's business capital, junior brother."

"On the contrary, can't senior and junior brothers tell each other?"

"Only now you call me senior sister? Not a chance. So are you going to take the request or not?"

Namgung Hui looked at the elixir for a moment.

Even if it was made by an immortal, it was not necessarily a top-grade elixir.

It was a matter of course.

Because even immortals had standards for dividing their cultivation.

And even if one's cultivation was high, it didn't mean they could unconditionally make an outstanding elixir.

Alchemy was a separate skill.

'But the elixir before me is truly of the highest grade. It reminds me of when I first saw the Thunder Pill.'

The Thunder Pill made by the Thunder God's master.

Namgung Hui could not forget the thrill of when he first saw the Thunder Pill.

Namgung Hui's body had trembled with excitement just by appreciating the Thunder Pill.

It was partly because he felt the thrilling Thunder Ki arrogantly, but also because he clearly felt the spiritual energy, perhaps because it was made by his master who had entered the ranks of immortals.

The Thunder God's master had looked at Namgung Hui, who had sensed this, with admiration.

'My disciple. Your talent is more outstanding than I thought. With this level of comprehension, you should be able to follow the sect's martial arts without any difficulty.'

After that, the arduous journey of training began.

If he had pretended not to notice after seeing the Thunder Pill, the training would not have been so arduous.

Namgung Hui shook off the ghost of the past, nodded, and said.

"Alright. I'll take the request. And I'd like to receive specific information about the flute. For example, the material or shape of the flute."

That much was needed for the treasure detector's effectiveness to be properly displayed.

No matter how much of a Chichi he was, he wouldn't be able to just find an imaginary existence.

On Yuha readily nodded at Namgung Hui's request and said.

"I've already drawn that. I've also written an explanation below, so you can just look at this."

On Yuha took out a small scroll from her bosom and handed it to Namgung Hui.

As soon as Namgung Hui received the scroll, he immediately unfolded it.

The smell of ink still lingered, so it seemed to have been drawn not long ago.

Namgung Hui followed the scent of the ink and scanned the drawing.

'Made of bamboo. The appearance is a little unique. An item from the ancient era? Then it would be easier for Chichi to find.'

Old items have a unique scent.

Just as old books have their own scent.

Relics with a long history also had such characteristics.

Namgung Hui, having sufficiently taken in the appearance of the flute, rolled up the scroll and put it next to Chichi.

"Then is this the end of our business? Can I get up now?"

"Yes. And when you find the item, come to the 5th floor of the Longjing Teahouse here."

"So this was a hidden branch of the Hao Faction. To build it in the territory of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance, you have a lot of guts."

"It's always dark under the lamp. And to catch a tiger, you have to go into the tiger's den, don't you?"

For a moment, a faint killing intent flowed from On Yuha's eyes.

It seemed she had some bad feelings about the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance.

Namgung Hui had no need to know that, nor was he interested, so he immediately got up from his seat.

"Then I'll stop by tomorrow."

"What? Tomorrow? You can find the item that quickly? You don't have to overdo it. Don't tell me you want to make a good impression on me..."

"Stop. Stop with the strange guesses. It's unpleasant."

"Well, since you say so, junior brother, I'll let it go. Oh, right. Take this before you go."

Namgung Hui took the small piece of paper On Yuha was handing him and asked.

"What's this? An additional request?"

"No. Shall I say it's a small token of my sincerity for my cute junior brother?"

Seeing is believing, so it would be faster to unfold it himself than to ask her more here.

Namgung Hui immediately unfolded the small note and read it.

[Hebei Peng family, great young master Peng Manwi, secret meeting with a mysterious force]

[80% certain it's a force from the Association]

It was quite unexpected, yet useful information.

He had heard before that the Hebei Peng family was behind the Lake Chao Sect, so he had decided to deal with them while participating in the Martial Alliance tournament, and just in time, information about them had come in.

'At this rate, the justification is already secured, and if I use these guys, I might be able to dig into the back of the Association.'

Namgung Hui couldn't help but smile at the unexpected gift.

"Thank you, senior sister."

"Only now you call me senior sister?"

"Yes. If you want to hear me call you senior sister, bring me more quality information like this in the future."

Perhaps because she didn't dislike being called senior sister, On Yuha also opened her mouth with a faint smile.

"It seems it was helpful. I'll decide on that based on how you do in the future. You'll have to prepare to go to the black market, so you should go now."

"Alright."

Namgung Hui left the room as he was.

As he was leaving, he didn't forget to glance at the other woman who was next to On Yuha.

Although she had been silent all this time, Namgung Hui had not taken his attention off her for a single moment.

'She's probably On Yuha's bodyguard. For a Hao Faction member, her cultivation was quite high. She seemed to be a super-first-rate master.'

And her stealthy steps and breathing.

Not a single sound escaped from her every action.

In other words, she had learned the martial arts of a thief or an assassin.

Namgung Hui, having smelled a faint scent of blood from her body, judged that she was definitely not a thief.

'She's probably an assassin. A super-first-rate assassin can even kill a peak master.'

That was why he had been watching her.

It was partly to find out her background, but also because one should never let their guard down around an assassin.

That was the secret to how Namgung Hui had safely survived the assassins of the Demonic Cult.

Because he had been terribly tormented by assassins in the great war between the orthodox and demonic factions.

As Namgung Hui completely left the Longjing Teahouse, On Yuha's bodyguard, who had been silent all this time, opened her mouth.

"Young lady. Is it really okay to hand over the Fire Spirit Divine Pill? Didn't you say it was made from the inner core of a Ten Thousand Year Fire Fox?"

"Jeonghwa. Do you believe that? To be honest, I don't believe the boasts of immortals. Isn't the story of ascending to immortality also all nonsense? Anyway. I don't believe that a carp can live for ten thousand years, but even if it did, in my eyes, it's just a lump of grain."

On Yuha's thoughts were not particularly wrong.

In the world, there were many cases where immortals were treated as swindlers.

And the fact that a living being could live for ten thousand years was closer to a legend or a myth than a true story.

Who on earth could prove that a carp had lived for ten thousand years?

On Yuha was of the principle that she would not believe anything unless she had confirmed it herself.

'Information is also just a rumor if it's not fact-checked.'

Perhaps her information power was also the result of her meticulously fact-checking everything.

In any case. Even if the Fire Spirit Divine Pill was genuine, it was not a waste if she could obtain the item she was looking for.

Because On Yuha thought that if the true nature of that relic was real, even a Great Rejuvenation Pill would not be a waste.

* * *

As the sun was setting.

Namgung Hui changed into dark black clothes and changed his face once more.

This time, he drew a scar on his cheek to make his impression look fierce.

He also tore the corners of his eyes sharply, performing a makeup technique he had never done before.

The reason he had gone to the trouble of putting on makeup was not just to look fierce.

'Because I have to look like the Pursuit and Kill Squad Leader.'

Namgung Hui had killed the last descendant of the Diancang Sect, the Pursuit and Kill Squad Leader, and had taken his identification tag.

It was to enter the black market.

Now that the Pursuit and Kill Squad Leader's life and death had not yet been reported, he had to make good use of it.

Namgung Hui looked at his face reflected in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction.

'Then shall we go?'

Namgung Hui, who had finished his disguise, immediately headed for the West Lake.

No matter how outstanding the scenery of the West Lake was, he didn't have the time to stop by before going to the black market.

Then why was Namgung Hui heading for the West Lake?

To go on a boat ride?

'That's because. The black market is located on a small island in the center of the West Lake.'

In the center of the West Lake, there was an island that was invisible to people's eyes.

Of course, if one's eyesight was as outstanding as Namgung Hui's, they might be able to confirm it with the naked eye, but since a formation was spread around the black market, even that was impossible.

That was why one had to show a token to the boatman dispatched to the black market and enter the central island.

Namgung Hui, caressing the Pursuit and Kill Squad Leader's identification tag in his bosom, arrived at the pier.

Since the sun had not yet completely set, it was quite crowded with people.

A boat ride on the West Lake was more atmospheric when the moon was up than during the day.

Moreover, a boat ride for lovers, under the cover of darkness...

"Came alone?"

The boatman asked, looking at Namgung Hui who was alone.

Namgung Hui was, of course, going to the black market, but the boatman's gaze was not to his liking.

But without showing it, he said nonchalantly.

On the contrary, if he showed a naive appearance, he would be considered suspicious.

"Of course, I'm alone. I have a secret place to go."

"A secret place. Then you'll have to show me what you've prepared."

Namgung Hui took out the Pursuit and Kill Squad Leader's identification tag he had prepared.

The boatman, seeing the words 'Pursuit and Kill', quickly bowed his head and said.

"Oh my! I didn't recognize the infamous Pursuit and Kill Squad Leader..."

"Shh! Did you forget so quickly that I said it was a secret?"

"Ahem. I've only been dispatched for a short time. I'm sorry. Then I'll escort you right away. Get on."

Fortunately, he seemed to be a newcomer with experience as a boatman.

Seeing his naive side, it seemed he didn't have to worry.

Namgung Hui lightly boarded the boat and scanned the scenery of the West Lake.

The falling leaves and the whirlpools dancing with them.

It seemed to contain the subtlety of 'Return', but the things floating on the water seemed to show the subtlety of 'Flow'.

He could feel the martial arts even in nature like this.

In the first place, the beginning of martial arts was the imitation of nature.

And so, Namgung Hui, who was watching the gradually receding leaves, soon realized that the boat was slowly stopping.

They hadn't even arrived at the central island yet, so why were they stopping here?

Could it be that his disguised identity had been discovered?

As Namgung Hui looked at the boatman with a slightly worried gaze, he let out a cough and continued.

"From now on, the boat will shake a little. Hold on tight."

As he said, the boat swayed back and forth.

The boat spun around as if caught in a whirlpool.

Even though there was nothing on the water.

Only then did Namgung Hui realize that the current phenomenon was caused by a formation.

'A very mysterious formation. The Hao Faction Head wouldn't have installed it. Then who on earth?'

The Jegal family would not cooperate with the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance.

Although the black market was an independent organization from the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance, it was still no different from the black path.

On the contrary, since they were a group that would do anything for money, more so than the martial artists of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance, they could be seen as more vicious.

There was no way the pure white Jegal family would have joined such a pitch-black group.

'I'll have to ask the Hao Faction Head about this later. A formation master on par with the Faction Head.'

When Namgung Hui had fully appreciated the formation, the boat had already arrived at the central island.

Although the West Lake was wide, to think that an island like this was hidden in plain sight.

Namgung Hui, at the sight of the larger-than-expected central island, watched in a daze for a moment.

"Aren't you getting off?"

Only then did Namgung Hui, who had regained his senses, jump off.

"Thank you. I came comfortably thanks to you."

"Ahem. Don't mention it. It's been less than a fortnight since I came to the black market, but I'm a well-known figure in the boatman world. If you're really grateful, just mention it to Elder Daesangheum later."

"Elder Daesangheum. Alright."

And so, Namgung Hui parted with the boatman and walked towards the black market.

The black market, like a natural fortress, was surrounded by walls on all sides.

And the pitch-black city gate also seemed to be made of dark iron, so it looked so sturdy that even an ordinary martial artist couldn't break through it.

As he approached the city gate, a gatekeeper spoke with a firm tone.

"I'll check your identification tag."

Namgung Hui handed over the Pursuit and Kill Squad Leader's identification tag he had prepared.

Then the gatekeeper who saw it tilted his head and said.

"Pursuit and Kill? The Pursuit and Kill Squad Leader already went inside a long time ago."

"?! "

It seemed things had gotten a little complicated.

(End of Chapter)