Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Let's have a match."

As soon as Namgung Hui heard her words, he realized her intention.

'She's trying to test the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers.'

Namgung Hui understood the incantations of the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers better than anyone else.

He didn't know if Tang Soso knew that, but he believed that it would be more helpful for her if Namgung Hui watched her rather than someone who didn't know.

And besides that, there would also be the intention of gauging Namgung Hui's skill.

'There's no need to refuse. I also have something to learn from watching the Tang family's hidden weapon techniques.'

Hadn't he tried to apply the Tang family's hidden weapon techniques to use the lodestone and bracelet he had just obtained?

On the contrary, it was a duel that Namgung Hui wanted to ask for.

"Then let's go to the sparring stage right away. Seolhwa, are you coming too?"

"Wouldn't it be better for both of you if there's a witness?"

Tang Soso was about to refuse, as it wouldn't be good for it to be leaked to others.

But she soon changed her mind.

"I'm fine with it. Instead, the Young Palace Mistress will have to exchange blows with me too."

"Alright. I don't have anything to do, so it's a good thing to witness the Tang family's hidden weapon techniques."

Adapting to the Tang family's hidden weapon techniques would work well in many ways.

In particular, one could become proficient in responding to sudden surprise attacks like an assassin's attack.

To put it in a narrower sense, one could improve many aspects applied in actual combat, such as evasion of long-range attacks, sense of distance, and dynamic visual acuity.

To be honest, it was difficult to learn that in the boring spars of the orthodox faction.

It was a good thing that Namgung Hui had fought countless actual battles in his past life.

If he had grown up like a flower in a garden like other members of the younger generation, he might have had a hard time in the great war between the orthodox and demonic factions.

In fact, quite a few of those members of the younger generation and the heroes of the orthodox faction had lost their lives.

And so, Namgung Hui's group went up to the sparring stage behind the Azure Radiance Pavilion.

Since it was still morning, the surroundings were just quiet.

In the midst of that silence, a clear sword cry rang out from Namgung Hui's hand.

-Screech.

"It's a sword we made, but it's a really cool sound. Isn't it, Young Master?"

"Are you trying to take credit? Of course, I agree with that opinion."

Who could deny it?

The skill of the Tang family's artisans could be considered the best in the world.

That was why Namgung Hui had entrusted the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron to them.

There was the Ouyang Iron Workshop that could be compared to it, but they had completely turned into enemies.

They were probably making weapons for the Blood Cult members by now.

"Will Miss Tang take the first move?"

"If you'd be so kind as to..."

-Swoosh!

Tang Soso threw a dagger as she was speaking.

Some might scold her for being cowardly, but actual combat was different.

As one could see from the Tang family's specialty, they were more practical than anyone else.

Weren't hidden weapons and poison the most efficient weapons for killing?

Namgung Hui easily deflected the attack of that dagger.

A faint afterimage appeared from Namgung Hui's body.

The Phantom Step he had obtained from the secret passage of the Empty Gate Sect Master.

If the Wind God Step was specialized for lightness skill, the Phantom Step was a movement technique specialized for combat.

Namgung Hui combined this with the Thunder Cloud Step and created a new movement technique, the Thunder Shadow Step.

As the dagger futilely cut through Namgung Hui's afterimage, a series of hidden weapons flew towards Namgung Hui.

A dagger flying faster and fiercer than before.

That was because Tang Soso had added acceleration by rotating her body.

-Slice. Slice. Slice.

Namgung Hui also stepped on the movement technique in succession and created afterimages.

A blue flash embroidered the sparring stage.

The blue afterimage was not only bright, but it also added a particular fatigue to the vision.

But Tang Soso was a martial artist of the Tang family.

A person whose dynamic visual acuity was more outstanding than any other family.

She scattered all of Namgung Hui's afterimages and this time threw a bundle of hidden weapons into the sky.

The peerless divine art of the Tang family finally unfolded.

Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers.

The sky became as black as if a dark cloud had formed.

Soon, a downpour poured from the dark cloud.

-Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

A chilling feeling that seemed to tear the whole body as if it were really raining.

Hidden weapons were stuck on the sparring stage with the momentum to tear all of Namgung Hui's afterimages to shreds.

-Clatter!

There was a certain rhythm, like an instrument being played in time.

'She still hasn't overcome the limits of the form.'

If one were to unfold the form so accurately, bound by the form like that, it would be easy to read.

When the next attack would come.

What she was preparing now.

Namgung Hui was reading it as if it were a matter of course.

Then it was easy to deduce the opening.

Namgung Hui did not miss the moment Tang Soso's breathing was cut off.

This time, he quickly unfolded the Wind God Step and flew.

-Slice.

The hem of his clothes brushed against the wind and fluttered.

A sword shot up from the fluttering sleeve.

-Clang!

Tang Soso barely blocked Namgung Hui's sword by holding a dagger in a reverse grip.

But it was impossible to completely block Namgung Hui's strike, which was even weighted down.

Tang Soso, who had been pushed back three steps, had Namgung Hui's sword at her neck.

"I lost. It was really like a ghost. As expected, it's possible because you know the incantations, right?"

"You could say that, but your breathing was too regular. You have to create some variables, whether by adjusting the speed at which the hidden weapons fall or by adjusting the interval, for it to work in actual combat."

"Yes. That's a matter of proficiency, so it will get better. But, Young Master. Are you going to keep talking in such a stiff tone?"

"Are you suggesting we speak comfortably?"

"Yes. It's also very awkward for me to use honorifics."

Since she was the young lady of the high-nosed Tang family, it was understandable.

It was also awkward for Namgung Hui to use honorifics to a girl who was much younger than him.

"Alright. You speak comfortably too."

"Okay. I will. Then the Young Palace Mistress too?"

Baek Seolhwa, who was observing the spar, also nodded.

"Do as you please."

"Alright. Then the three of us will speak comfortably. Then, Baek Seolhwa. Do you want to try blocking it too?"

"Instead, I don't hold back like Namgung Hui. Your face might get hurt."

"That's what I should be saying."

-Sizzle!

Even though Namgung Hui didn't use Thunder Ki, Baek Seolhwa and Tang Soso's gazes clashed, and a flash of lightning sparked.

Namgung Hui shook his head and got off the sparring stage, saying.

"Then you two do your best not to hurt your pretty faces."

-Screech.

As Baek Seolhwa drew her sword, it felt as if the warmth of the surroundings had frozen in an instant.

As if to prove that it was not a delusion, frost formed on Tang Soso's breath.

"Wow. It's so fierce from the start."

"Are you making a fuss over just this? For a person of the Tang family, you have no guts."

The atmosphere was chilly, but their gazes were hot.

The same went for Tang Soso's fingertips.

A strange scent spread from her fingertips.

It was the Dragon Poison Technique.

It was an unspoken rule not to use poison in a spar, but it seemed it didn't apply here.

-Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.

But as if she had expected this, Baek Seolhwa was already prepared.

The poison ki froze and could not advance.

"This can't be all, can it?"

"Of course not. It's just the beginning."

As soon as Tang Soso's words ended.

A rain of hidden weapons poured from the sky.

When on earth had she thrown the hidden weapons above her head?

'The Dragon Poison Technique was a feint. On the contrary, she used the time when the cold ki froze the poison.'

She aimed for the time when her sight and hearing were distracted.

And unlike when she sparred with Namgung Hui, she did not throw the hidden weapons high into the sky.

She adjusted it flexibly so that it would fall from a suitable height.

Even if she threw it high into the sky, it would not get faster than a certain speed.

On the contrary, as the distance increased, it would only give the opponent time to dodge.

-Clatter!

The hidden weapons were stuck in a row, and Baek Seolhwa slid across the sparring stage.

The place she was heading for was, of course, where Tang Soso was standing.

But there was no way Tang Soso would just stand there.

Unlike when she exchanged blows with Namgung Hui, she moved her feet with very agile movements.

A poison mist formed where Tang Soso had been standing, and she leisurely slipped away.

The poison mist froze with a crackle and blocked Baek Seolhwa's view.

On the contrary, the white frost had become an obstacle.

"Tsk. She's like an eel."

"And you're like a ferocious wolf."

A wolf was fierce and mainly hunted herbivores weaker than itself.

In other words, Tang Soso was being sarcastic, saying that she was attacking her, who was weak and delicate.

'There's no way Seolhwa would fall for such a shallow provocation...'

As if to mock Namgung Hui's boast, Baek Seolhwa flew like an arrow.

She leaped in an instant, and as if to shut Tang Soso's mouth, a white sword ki headed for Tang Soso's face.

-Swoosh!

Tang Soso could have dodged such a fierce sword ki.

But she stood there and didn't move an inch.

On the contrary, she had a faint smile on her lips and unfolded the black stick at her waist.

-Clatter! Clang!

'An iron umbrella. Did she mix black iron and Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron? A great hardness.'

Should I call it a black iron umbrella?

The black iron umbrella completely received Baek Seolhwa's sword ki.

As Namgung Hui was showing his admiration, something shot out from the top of the black iron umbrella, as if it wasn't over yet.

-Swish!

There was a hidden weapon in the iron rod.

The Tang family's mechanism was also a masterpiece.

At the sudden activation of the mechanism, Baek Seolhwa quickly unfolded a different form and stepped back.

"You're using a mechanism on top of poison, you cheat."

"And you're using a different form on top of sword ki?"

Namgung Hui, who shook his head, thought the spar was over and went up to the sparring stage.

"Now that you've shown each other everything, let's stop here. There are more eyes watching, so it won't be good to continue."

Hearing the commotion, spectators had gathered.

Chohwa and Choyeon.

Even the Moon Maiden Palace Lady, Yu Seolran, and the Namgung family head, Namgung Uncheon.

Namgung Hui couldn't understand why his father and the Moon Maiden Palace Lady were together, but he judged that he couldn't continue the spar like this.

"Hoho. You didn't even show your face to your father, and you were bickering with the young ladies here."

"Hoho! That's right. This is why it's useless to raise a son."

Namgung Hui got goosebumps for some reason at Yu Seolran's tone.

Was it because she was the Moon Maiden Palace Lady that he felt a chill?

It could have been just his feeling, so Namgung Hui quickly greeted his father.

"Have you been well? This unfilial son has been busy, so I'm late in visiting you."

"It's alright. This father knows well how busy you've been running around. I didn't know you wanted to get married so badly. To think you'd find a bride yourself."

"By bride, you mean?"

"Isn't there a child named Cheon Yeohwa? I heard she's a child you'll be responsible for for the rest of your life."

"I think there's some misunderstanding. Actually..."

Namgung Hui briefly explained where he had met Cheon Yeohwa.

And why he had brought her.

Baek Seolhwa and Tang Soso, who heard that, smiled brightly and nodded.

"So that's what happened. It's a shame for such an intelligent person."

"Still, you never know, so keep an eye on her. It's not like you're entrusting her with a penny or two."

"I'll take care of that. You two stay out of it if you're not going to help."

As Namgung Hui was bickering with his friends, Namgung Uncheon, who was watching them with a pleased expression, casually continued.

"Then, Hui. If you're done talking with your friends, follow this father for a moment."

"Yes."

Namgung Hui immediately followed Namgung Uncheon and moved to a secluded place.

It was the Moonlit Pavilion where Namgung Hui's mother had stayed.

Perhaps because of that, moonlight filled Namgung Uncheon's eyes.

"It's been exactly 15 years since my wife passed away."

"Yes. It's already been that long."

"Your mother was a truly beautiful person. Not only her appearance, but her heart was especially beautiful. I hope you also meet such a fine woman. That's why I'm saying, this father is going to recommend a marriage partner."

Namgung Hui swallowed his dry saliva for a moment and then asked Namgung Uncheon.

"Where is that place?"

(End of Chapter)