Rebirth of the Thunder God

"You there. Follow me for a moment."

Baek Seolhwa, despite being suddenly singled out, was not flustered.

Was she truly a master of returning to youth?

On the contrary, she nodded and responded to her call.

Namgung Hui, worried that a conflict might arise, sent a telepathic message to Baek Seolhwa.

-Seolhwa. That person named Eon Jiyeon is the guest we saw at the Lake Chao Sect before. Remember?

-Yes. I remembered when I saw her tall figure. It seems she has some business with me, so I'll go.

-Don't fight.

-Am I you?

Namgung Hui felt as if Baek Seolhwa had taken the words right out of his mouth, but he wondered if they would fight, having not even properly met.

Even if they fought, he could just run over when he heard the commotion.

As Eon Jiyeon and Baek Seolhwa went out the back door of the inn, Tang Soso glared at Namgung Hui and said.

"So, did you two have a good time together?"

"Soso. It seems you're misunderstanding something. There was nothing between a man and a woman like you're thinking. I just had an inner demon, and she helped me with it, and as a reward, I gifted her a protective garment."

"That undergarment from before was a protective garment? Well, it was a piece of clothing I'd never seen before."

"If you're really curious, you can test it later. Even my Thunder God Sword couldn't even scratch it."

"Really? If it's to that extent, it must be a really famous precious artifact. I'm getting jealous that you're only taking care of Seolhwa."

Whether Tang Soso glared with scary eyes or not, Namgung Hui just shrugged his shoulders.

Now, even if he wanted to give Tang Soso something, he had nothing left.

And he didn't want to gift anything to the child of a wealthy family.

"But, elder. Are you perhaps going to the Martial Alliance tournament?"

"Yes. Since it's a Martial Alliance tournament held after a long time, it wouldn't be bad to witness it. And since Jiyeon said she has business, I came with her."

"By business, you mean. You won't cause a scene here, will you?"

"Well. You should ask that child, not me. Yes. Did you have a good look at the restored document I gave you?"

"Thanks to you, I had a very good look. To the point where my mind became complicated."

"Hoho, yes. I was also very surprised while restoring it. It would be best if no one other than you sees it. Sometimes, the truth can be uncomfortable. I don't care about the state of the martial world anymore, but others will surely be different."

Namgung Hui also agreed.

Especially for the famous masters of the orthodox faction, this diary would be unbelievable content even if it were the truth.

Who on earth would admit that the Heavenly Demonic Cult, which they had always shouted to eradicate, was not truly an evil existence?

There was a high probability that even the high monks of the Shaolin Temple would not be pleased with this.

'Well, it's enough that at least I know the truth. By the way, when are they coming?'

* * *

While Namgung Hui was thinking about Baek Seolhwa and Eon Jiyeon, they were talking in a quiet open space.

"You said you're the Young Palace Mistress of the Moon Maiden Palace?"

"So?"

"And you even killed Namgung Sang when you were at the Namgung estate?"

Baek Seolhwa didn't know where on earth Eon Jiyeon had heard this, but since it wasn't something to hide, she nodded.

"I killed him, so what? Were you dating him or something?"

Eon Jiyeon suddenly frowned and shook her head vigorously.

"No. On the contrary, he's more like an enemy. I was going to thank you for killing him for me."

"With just words?"

"...I don't have that much money on me. If you need a large sum, I'll borrow it from my grandfather."

"Forget it. I was just saying. And in front of Hui, use the name Dugu Sang instead of Namgung Sang. He'll be very upset if he hears it."

Eon Jiyeon, as if Baek Seolhwa's advice hadn't even entered her ears, had other thoughts in her mind.

'Hui...? Have they already become that close?'

Eon Jiyeon's expression turned bitter.

But she soon regained her composure and continued.

"I'll keep that in mind. Then my business is done. Is there anything you want to ask of me?"

"No. I don't. Well, if something comes up later, I'll tell you then. Let's go in for now. People will be waiting."

Eon Jiyeon nodded and moved her steps into the inn first.

When they rejoined the group, it felt as if the number of people had increased.

Because there were two new faces.

And they were quite large men.

"It seems you've all finished eating, so why don't you give up your seats?"

"Our party hasn't arrived yet. We'll leave as soon as they come."

"Party or not. We're hungry now, so we can't. We'd appreciate it if you'd just get lost."

"...Don't these bastards have any respect for the elderly? Are you telling this old man to stand and wait for his party?"

"That's none of my business. Alright, I'll count to five. If you don't move by then, I'll drag you out by force. One, two, three... Huh? No, such a beautiful woman...!"

The large man, as if he were smitten by Baek Seolhwa's beauty, twitched his thick eyebrows and repeatedly exclaimed in admiration.

Whether he did that or not, Baek Seolhwa approached Namgung Hui and said calmly.

"Our business is done. Let's go."

"Then I'll go and pay."

As Namgung Hui approached the waiter to pay for the meal, the large man spoke to Baek Seolhwa.

"Ahem. Miss. May I ask for your name?"

"Why?"

"I want to know the name of the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. If you've descended from the heavens, I'll know you as a celestial maiden. Hahaha!"

Baek Seolhwa, as if she had gotten goosebumps, shivered once and then stormed out of the inn.

If it were her usual personality, she would have said something back, but since she had no intention of causing a scene from here on, she quietly went out.

As Baek Seolhwa disappeared, the rest of the group also followed her out of the inn.

The large man looked at the empty table and then continued.

"Brother. What should we do?"

"Do I need to say it? Of course, we have to do as we always do."

"Hahaha! Alright."

* * *

Namgung Hui's group, who had left the Yellow River Inn, were full. And it was a lazy afternoon.

They sat in the cool shade of a tree and talked about their future plans.

"Jiyeon, are you also participating in the tournament? Won't it be dangerous? I don't think the guys who destroyed your family will leave you alone."

"That's what I'm aiming for. This time, I won't leave them alone."

"How are you going to deal with the guys who ruined your family by yourself?"

"This old man here will help."

"Even so. Isn't it just the two of you? Well, I'm not saying I'll help, but I'm still worried."

"Forget it. It's a problem I'll handle myself."

Namgung Hui, who was listening to the conversation, was also slightly puzzled.

In the black market, since there was a Thunder Burst Bomb and the period of ambush was quite long, such a plan was possible, but now Eon Jiyeon didn't seem to have anything.

Hadn't she left behind numerous precious artifacts in Jo Seongho's warehouse?

Funds if it's funds.

Power if it's power.

Even with just her martial arts level, he wondered if Eon Jiyeon could deal with them by herself.

As Namgung Hui was also looking at Eon Jiyeon with a worried gaze, a telepathic message rang in his ear.

-Hui. That person named Eon Jiyeon came to your birthday banquet 10 years ago, right?

-She said so herself. I don't remember exactly. But seeing her familiar face, it must be true. But why do you ask?

-She called me out earlier and asked if I had killed Dugu Sang. And she said Dugu Sang was no different from an enemy. So I'm saying, isn't that the woman who had a crush on you 10 years ago?

-!? Come to think of it. It fits.

Dugu Sang had a particular liking for tall women.

Eon Jiyeon was the tallest woman Namgung Hui had ever seen.

It matched his ideal type, and the time her family was destroyed also coincided.

Then.

'Does it mean that the Hoicheon Association, not the Blood Cult, was behind the destruction of the Jinju Eon family?'

Thinking about it this way, it was ridiculous that he had fallen into an inner demon.

Whether they had become evil due to the side effects of the demonic art or not.

It was also somewhat true that they had committed evil deeds.

Of course, it wasn't that innocent blood hadn't flowed at the hands of the Thunder God, but he was able to relieve some of his guilt.

As Namgung Hui and Baek Seolhwa were exchanging telepathic messages.

A huge shadow suddenly entered the cozy shade of the tree.

"Hey. Young Hero. Would you mind getting lost for a moment with that old man there?"

It seemed the two large men they had met at the inn earlier had followed Namgung Hui's group.

Namgung Hui stared at those men for a moment and then opened his mouth.

"I didn't want to cause a scene in Zhengzhou, but if the opponent wants a beating, I have no choice."

"Wants a beating? Haha. What I want is the woman next to you. If you have any sense, just get lost before you get beaten up."

Namgung Hui, even because of his complicated mind, wanted to vent his anger somewhere.

Since such an opponent had appeared at the right time, there was no need to refuse.

Resolving to taste the feel of his fist for the first time in a while, he stepped on the movement technique and extended his fist.

A fast and simple trajectory.

As if a light had flashed, it hit the large man's face.

-Thump...!

"Don't just stand there and watch, come at me."

"W-wait! If you know who we are, you won't be able to swing your fist."

"Who are you?"

"We are the rulers of Hebei Province and the family of swordsmen, the Hebei Peng family! It's not too late. If you apologize, I'll leave with my brother."

At the mention of the Peng family, Tang Soso, who was watching silently from behind, tilted her head.

"If you're from the Peng family, you wouldn't not know my face. You there. Is this the first time you've seen me?"

"You are also a beautiful woman. But you're not my type..."

"That's not it... Forget it. Seeing as you don't know me, you must be from a branch family at best."

"A branch family. That's a shame. I had a debt to settle with the Hebei Peng family. Well, I guess I'll have to take it out on these guys."

Namgung Hui swung his arms and walked towards the remaining branch family member of the Peng family.

"A-are you really going to lay a hand on me even though I'm from the Peng family! The consequences will be scary..."

-Thwack!

"If I were scared of the consequences, I wouldn't have laid a hand on you in the first place. Well, you probably can't hear me."

Namgung Hui neatly folded the two collapsed large men under the shade.

"Namgung Hui. But are you really okay? The Hebei Peng family cherishes their own family as much as our Tang family. It would be better to silence them for sure..."

"No. There's no need for that. On the contrary, it's a good thing if these guys go and tattle."

"Why? I'm sorry, but to be honest, the Namgung family can't deal with the Hebei Peng family yet."

"You don't know if it's long or short until you measure it, do you? Even if their bodies are big, you don't know their length. I'll take care of this, so don't worry about it."

Namgung Hui had not yet forgotten that the Hebei Peng family was behind the Lake Chao Sect.

The information that the Hao Faction Head had first given him.

All sorts of corruption, including the Salt King's Fortress, were rampant in the territory of the Namgung family.

Perhaps even the slaves like Cheon Yeohwa in the estate were created by the hands of those guys.

'And there was also the suspicion that the Hebei Peng family was colluding with the Hoicheon Association. It's not a bad thing to catch the tail and aim for the body on this occasion.'

On the contrary, it might be a very good thing.

Since the power of the Hoicheon Association was greater than he had thought.

If it was the Hebei Peng family, they would be connected to the core forces, not just some insignificant underlings.

He decided to take a good aim at this opportunity.

Tang Soso smiled a knowing smile and then opened her mouth.

"Then let's leave right away. We have to leave now to arrive at the Martial Alliance by this evening."

And so, following Tang Soso, Namgung Hui's group, which had increased by two, arrived at Zhongyuan County, where the Martial Alliance was located.

And at the same time, Jo Seongho and Eon Jiyeon said to Namgung Hui's group.

"We'll only accompany you this far. I have to pack my preparations. And Jiyeon here has her own things to prepare."

"Yes. Then let's meet later if our paths cross."

Namgung Hui wondered if it was okay to let those two go like this, but Namgung Hui also had a lot of things to do.

The assassination request he had received from the Hao Faction Head.

He had to find the disciple of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader.

And he also had to investigate the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, Im Daepung, whom the Dark Shadow Squad Leader had mentioned.

In that process, there would be power struggles between sects and families.

And there would also be a group of the Blood Cult aiming for this opportunity.

'I have to get through all this wisely. And I'm not alone anymore.'

Namgung Hui glanced at Baek Seolhwa next to him.

At that moment, as if Baek Seolhwa were also looking at Namgung Hui, their eyes naturally met.

Flinch.

Although he had done nothing wrong.

Namgung Hui hastily withdrew his gaze and walked busily.

But Namgung Hui's steps had to stop after a short while.

(End of Chapter)