Rebirth of the Thunder God

[I will name this martial art the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.]

'!!! This diary belongs to the leader of the Heavenly Demonic Cult!'

As soon as he saw the words 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art', he couldn't help but recognize the owner of the diary.

Because it was the symbol of the Heavenly Demonic Cult and also the Heavenly Demon's unique martial art.

But, to the point of feeling a sense of unease, unlike the cruel demonic heads Namgung Hui knew, the content of the diary was written in an extremely gentle tone.

And what shocked Namgung Hui more than anything was the record of daily life written in the diary.

The content felt as if it were written by a generous religious person for the disciples, rather than by the cruel Heavenly Demon.

The representative content was as follows.

[I held the bored Choa and unfolded my lightness skill for the first time in a while. Choa, held in my arms, enjoyed the wind and gave me the title of Heavenly Horse, a horse that runs in the sky. For the first time in a while, I felt that it was a good thing to have learned martial arts.]

[...omitted...]

[The disciples began to starve to death one by one. Having no choice, I created a martial art as a second-best measure to preserve food. The name of the martial art was the Blood Severing Great Art, a method of temporarily entering a state of suspended animation like the Turtle Breathing Great Art. I have no face to see the disciples, being able to do only this.]

[One of the disciples sold herself to a brothel, saying she would earn money. I wanted to stop her, but thinking of the starving disciples, I couldn't bring myself to do so. It was truly pathetic. Could I still be called a cult leader after this? And later, when I heard she was called a demoness, I felt a heart-wrenching pain.]

[This time, another disciple used illusion to deceive a rich man and stole a huge amount of silver. I scolded him, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him to return the money. When he was called an illusion demon by the world, a demon also took root in my heart.]

Even now, more than half of the diary was filled with worries about the disciples.

Although he occasionally expressed his murderous intent towards the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, based on his diary, it was a just anger that arose because he had been truly betrayed.

Besides that, there were also very simple contents, such as which disciple had given birth to a daughter.

And which child had been injured and he had treated.

And what was most surprising was that all of them were described not as evil people, but rather as good people.

To the point where they would even take care of an injured animal.

Namgung Hui's mind became complicated.

He felt as if the foundation he had known had been shaken.

Although he did not clearly distinguish between good and evil, he had thought that at least the demonic cult members he had beaten to death were evil.

But to think that might not be the case.

A sense of guilt slowly crept up.

"Ugh!"

At the sudden feeling of nausea, he couldn't help but retch.

It was dangerous.

An inner demon began to take root, and the prelude to cultivation deviation appeared.

"Namgung Hui. What's wrong all of a sudden? Did you get indigestion?"

"No. I'll be fine if I meditate for a while. You guys eat the steamed carp. I'll go and calm my insides for a moment."

"Me too."

Baek Seolhwa, as if she also had no appetite, stood up along with Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui, having no time to question Baek Seolhwa, immediately called the waiter and got a room.

"You can go into the second room on the third floor."

"Alright."

Namgung Hui flicked a silver coin to the waiter and immediately went up to the third floor.

His vision gradually darkened.

It was because the inner demon had become stronger and his mind had become confused.

The balance of essence, ki, and spirit was also broken.

It was really dangerous.

Namgung Hui quickly opened the second door and immediately sat on the floor and crossed his legs.

'Phew... Let's not be hasty. Slowly. I have to calm my insides slowly.'

He circulated the Purple Thunder Ki internally and repeated his inhales and exhales.

He returned to the time when he had first learned the breathing technique and slowly inhaled and exhaled.

But no matter how much he circulated the Purple Thunder Ki internally and tried to control the inner demon, there was no sign of improvement.

He shouldn't be hasty.

But he kept getting hasty.

His breathing gradually quickened.

Hyperventilation.

His mind gradually became black, and the thread of consciousness was about to break.

'No...'

Just as Namgung Hui's consciousness was about to fall into the abyss.

A single voice rang in his head.

-Namgung Hui! Get a hold of yourself!

'This voice... Baek Seolhwa?'

Her voice was heard, and a cold and chilly ki flowed in from behind his back.

Perhaps because the cold ki had cooled his overheated head, his mind gradually calmed down.

The inner demon that had cast a shadow on his mind slowly faded away.

The feeling of nausea that had risen also subsided, and it felt as if his insides had been cleared.

It was strange.

The inner demon that he couldn't control with his own ki had instead submitted to Baek Seolhwa's ki.

And so, after performing the small heavenly circulation with Baek Seolhwa's help a couple of times, his mind became completely clear.

Namgung Hui, who had completely overcome the inner demon, uncrossed his legs and stood up from his seat.

"Seolhwa. Thank you. I'm alive thanks to you."

"You. What did you read earlier to fall into such an inner demon? Did you read some dangerous demonic art incantation?"

"Speaking of inner demons, why have you been so quiet all this time? Are you upset with me about something?"

"...That's not it. I just had something to think about on my own. You don't have to worry now. I've almost sorted it all out."

"I'm glad if that's true."

"So what did you read earlier?"

Although Baek Seolhwa showed unusual curiosity, he couldn't bring himself to show it to her because it contained really dangerous content.

Just as the Hoicheon Association had desperately chased the Empty Gate Sect Master, it was dangerous content that could cause a storm of blood in the martial world.

'For now, only I should know. Even a person with deep cultivation like me fell into an inner demon, so there's no law that says others won't.'

Of course, it was only possible if there was an incident that could engulf one in a sense of guilt like Namgung Hui.

Like having a record of slaughtering demonic cult members.

Or only those who had committed an equivalent act would be applicable.

And Jo Seongho, who had interpreted this, had only said that it contained tremendous content.

He hadn't fallen into an inner demon.

'This content may not be true, but the Hoicheon Association wouldn't have chased the Empty Gate Sect Master for a diary written with mere lies. At least, it would be correct to see 90% of it as the truth.'

Of course, this story was from an era much earlier than the era of the Thunder God.

The time the diary was discovered was 100 years ago from now.

The time when Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty and ascended to the throne was an even earlier era, so it would be reasonable to see this diary as being at least 120 years old.

'The more I know about the Hoicheon Association, the more I'm in a fog. To return the heavens... Does that heaven mean the emperor? But the current emperor is a descendant of Zhu Yuanzhang, isn't he?'

He couldn't know exactly why the Hoicheon Association had targeted this diary, but at least it seemed certain that it was related to Zhu Yuanzhang or the Heavenly Demonic Cult.

Looking at it this way, he could also understand why the Blood Cult was hostile to the Hoicheon Association.

Since the forces of the Hoicheon Association seemed to have a connection with the current imperial family, they couldn't help but have great hostility towards the Ming Dynasty, which was established by a traitor.

'Wait. Then the things that will happen in the future may not be limited to the martial world. Treason against the imperial family. Or damage to the civilians will also occur.'

If one's character became violent due to the side effects of the demonic art, it could lead to an extreme.

As Namgung Hui was continuously lost in thought, Baek Seolhwa, who was in front of him, pinched Namgung Hui's cheek and said.

"Is it really not a demonic art secret manual? You're lost in idle thoughts again."

Namgung Hui, needing to divert her attention, took out the white piece of cloth in his bosom instead.

This was the item that Chichi had brought from Jo Seongho's warehouse, saying it was a precious artifact.

Naturally, since nothing was written on it, Baek Seolhwa was about to frown upon receiving it.

-Rustle.

The piece of cloth suddenly dug into Baek Seolhwa's bosom.

Baek Seolhwa, who was surprised, tried to tear off the piece of cloth.

On the contrary, the piece of cloth, as if resisting, wrapped around her body and stuck to it.

And like an undergarment.

"What is this?"

How could a piece of cloth change into clothes as if it had a self?

Of course, since the bracelet Namgung Hui was wearing also changed its shape at will.

It wasn't an impossible thing.

But why did it not change when Namgung Hui had it?

And as soon as it touched Baek Seolhwa's hand, it changed its shape like that.

Did it covet cold ki like the Snow Mountain Roc?

'Or it could be a guy who likes beauties. For some reason, it's unsettling.'

Still, fortunately, Baek Seolhwa seemed to like the piece of cloth.

"This looks surprisingly sturdy. Namgung Hui, do you want to try swinging your sword? Don't put any sword ki in it."

Baek Seolhwa, as if to really test the new protective garment, even took off her outer garment and showed her back to Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui, not liking the protective garment that was sticking to Baek Seolhwa's body.

Readily took out the Thunder God Sword and swung it at the protective garment.

-Ting!

Namgung Hui felt a repulsive force from his hand.

He had controlled his strength, thinking it was just a simple piece of cloth, but it seemed there was no need for that.

Namgung Hui once again put his full strength and swung his sword at the protective garment.

-Ting!

It still deflected the Thunder God Sword, and there was not even a scratch.

If it were such a precious protective garment, Namgung Hui would have worn it long ago.

But it didn't seem like he could take away a precious artifact that had chosen its owner.

In the first place, there had been no reaction even when it was in Namgung Hui's bosom.

"It's a really great protective garment. But can I wear this?"

"If I ask you to take it off, will you?"

"Take it off here? Are you perhaps...?"

"No. That's not what I meant. I was just saying. Since you were chosen by the precious artifact, I don't think I can wear it even if you take it off. And if I'm giving it to you, Seolhwa, it's not that much of a waste, so you can have it. Since I have this bracelet, it doesn't matter if I don't have a protective garment."

Of course, the more protective gear, the better.

But since it was also a case of 'too much is as bad as not enough', he boldly gave up his ownership of the protective garment.

Because excessive protective gear could stagnate or dull one's martial arts.

"Hui. Thank you. I'll definitely repay you later."

"You're repaying me? What's gotten into you?"

"When I thought about it this time, it seems I've only been receiving from you."

"Wow. Our Seolhwa is now even considerate. I'm so happy I could cry."

As Baek Seolhwa put her hand on her hip and glared, the door suddenly burst open, and Tang Soso came in.

"You two! You didn't even eat... Ah. Sorry. I was rude. Continue your good time."

Tang Soso hastily closed the door and left.

Right now, Baek Seolhwa had taken off her outer garment and was only wearing a thin protective garment.

In other words, Tang Soso seemed to have misunderstood that Namgung Hui and Baek Seolhwa were having a secret affair.

In an instant, Baek Seolhwa's face turned red, and she hastily picked up her outer garment and put it on.

"Ahem. You didn't see, did you?"

"What?"

"Ah, no. It's fine if you didn't see. Then let's go down before Soso misunderstands further."

Namgung Hui also nodded and was about to go out, but then he remembered something to give to Baek Seolhwa and grabbed her arm.

"Wh-what is this?"

"No. Just wait a moment. I have something else to give you. Here, take this."

Namgung Hui handed her one of the pair of earrings that Chichi had picked from Jo Seongho's warehouse earlier.

"An earring? But why is there only one?"

"Look carefully."

Namgung Hui gently held the earring in his hand and whispered inwardly.

[Ah ah. Can you hear me?]

[?! What is this?]

[This is the function of this necklace. According to Chichi, we can exchange words about 5 times a day.]

[Strange. Where did you get something like this? You've been poking around here and there without me knowing, haven't you?]

[Poking around? I was just busy with some business.]

Perhaps because exactly 5 words had been exchanged, the voice Namgung Hui sent further did not reach.

So, having no choice, he put the earring in his bosom and said out loud.

"From now on, when we deal with the Hoicheon Association or the Blood Cult, let's communicate with this."

"Alright. It's not awkward for me to wear an earring, but can you wear it?"

It was unlikely that a man wearing an earring would be seen in a good light.

But it was fine.

"I'm thinking of making it into a necklace and wearing it. Then let's go down slowly."

And so, as Baek Seolhwa and Namgung Hui came down to the first floor of the inn, Tang Soso was not sitting alone.

One old man and one woman.

Perhaps because she had a friendship with the woman among them, Tang Soso was chatting with the woman as if they had met after a long time.

But the woman in front of Tang Soso was not unfamiliar to Namgung Hui.

It was natural.

Because they had carried out a mission together until just a while ago.

'The Black Spirit. No, now she's probably a descendant of the Jinju Eon family.'

Then it wouldn't be strange if she had a friendship with Tang Soso, a member of the Sichuan Tang family.

As Namgung Hui and Baek Seolhwa stopped their steps in front of the dining table, the conversation naturally stopped, and the gazes turned to Namgung Hui.

The Black Spirit looked at Namgung Hui and then opened her mouth softly.

"Namgung Hui..."

"I can't call you the Black Spirit here. What's your name? Come to think of it, I didn't even know your real name."

"...My name is Eon Jiyeon. This old man here is..."

"My name is Jo Seongho. You and I are not without a connection, so feel free to call me comfortably."

Since Namgung Hui knew Jo Seongho's name, he simply bowed and asked Eon Jiyeon.

Because her name was not unfamiliar.

"Eon Jiyeon. I think I've heard that name before. Have we met before?"

"Yes. I went to your birthday banquet 10 years ago."

"10 years ago... A lot of things happened then. Anyway. It was nice to meet you again. And it seems you know Soso too?"

"It's because you were lying in bed for a long time. Most of the children of the martial arts families are friends with each other. Isn't that right, Tang Soso?"

"That's right. But you're lucky to be alive. I was a little worried because I heard your family had been destroyed. Well, we were also at war with the Five Poisons Sect, so we couldn't care much."

"It's alright."

Eon Jiyeon, who had finished speaking, suddenly turned her head to Baek Seolhwa, who was standing there, and said.

"You there. Follow me for a moment."

(End of Chapter)