Rebirth of the Thunder God

Yelu Guang extended his fist towards Namgung Hui, but then his fist opened wide and quickly grasped Namgung Hui's hand.

"Isn't this the descendant of the Azure Sky Martial God? It's an honor to meet you! To think this is the bloodline of the Martial God I've only heard about...!"

At Yelu Guang's attitude, Namgung Hui was suddenly reminded of his past life.

Although this sight was unfamiliar now, in his past life, it was a sight he could see quite often, as many martial artists looked up to his sworn brother, the Azure Sky Martial God.

There were many famous masters of the martial world who extended their hands like this.

Even the heavy-bottomed sect leaders of various sects had hoped to receive a teaching from his sworn brother.

Namgung Hui retrieved his hand from Yelu Guang and opened his mouth.

"Wait, if you're a Yelu, aren't you a descendant of the Liao Dynasty? Why have you come to the Central Plains?"

At Namgung Hui's question, a shadow was cast over Yelu Guang's clear eyes for a moment.

Although it disappeared soon after, there was no way Namgung Hui would not have noticed it.

"I can't tell you that, even if you're Brother Namgung. I'll tell you when we get closer. Come on. It's your turn, brother. Let's go in."

As Yelu Guang had said, it was soon Namgung Hui's turn.

When he showed the identification tag with 'Namgung' written on it, the guards showed a startled expression and continued.

"Pass! But, Young Hero Namgung. Didn't you bring an invitation? You didn't have to wait like this."

"I didn't receive one. That's why I'm asking, can you tell me which organization is in charge of the invitations?"

When the guard showed a slightly troubled expression, Namgung Hui patted his shoulder and continued.

"It's a matter I can find out once I go inside anyway. Well, if you also look down on our family..."

"N-that's not it. In fact, all the household affairs of the Martial Alliance, including the invitations, are managed by the General Affairs Department."

"The General Affairs Department. I see."

Namgung Hui cupped his fists to the guard in gratitude and finally set foot on the land of the Martial Alliance.

As expected, even from the outside, it could not hide its magnificent momentum.

The sight from the inside was so elegant that it was difficult to describe in words.

Inwardly, at the brilliant sight of the Martial Alliance, Namgung Hui felt slightly uncomfortable.

'All this legacy was built on the blood that my sworn brother and I shed. But they didn't even hold a funeral for me, and they're treating the Namgung family like this? They were guys I didn't like even in my past life, but I'm even more disgusted now.'

But he couldn't let them be played by the hands of the Hoicheon Association or the Blood Cult.

On the contrary, he hated the idea of meekly letting the Central Plains martial world that he and his sworn brother had built be taken away.

And since there were many truly righteous and heroic people among the people of the Central Plains, it was the natural order to protect the martial world.

If it had come to this.

Cultivate oneself, regulate one's family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.

It seemed he had achieved a certain degree of self-cultivation and family regulation, and he resolved to aim for governing the state and bringing peace to the world.

"Brother Namgung. Have you been waiting long? No, the Martial Alliance warriors said I couldn't enter because I was a barbarian. So I dropped Brother Namgung's name, and they told me to go in right away. I guess this is why they say it's good to have connections. Hahaha!"

Namgung Hui was dumbfounded.

Not only did Yelu Guang, whom he had just met, drop his name.

But the guard had allowed it.

Was it because he had seen them talking while they were in line?

'It's easier to enter through the main gate than I thought. Then the disciple of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader must have entered through the main gate. I'll have to check the entry list later if I can get it.'

"By the way, Young Hero Yelu. How old are you? I think I'm younger, but aren't you uncomfortable calling me brother?"

"What's the big deal about age? If you deserve to be respected, you're a brother. Well, I'm actually young. I'll barely be of age next year."

Namgung Hui was slightly surprised.

Because Yelu Guang's face was clearly between his late twenties and early twenties, he had expected him to be three or four years older than himself.

'He must have gone through a lot more than I thought. Even this resembles my past life.'

The days when he had received harsh training in the mountains.

The reason Yelu Guang was able to reach that level was probably because he had gone through harsh training like the Thunder God in his past life.

"Then, since Brother Yelu has called himself a younger brother, I'll speak comfortably."

"Hahaha! As expected of a person from the Namgung family, you're so magnanimous. Thank you so much for not treating me as a barbarian and taking me as a younger brother. I'm serious!"

"Who said it was a lie?"

"Ah. I'm sorry. The people of the Central Plains don't believe my words, so I spoke excessively. Then, brother, please show your younger brother around the Martial Alliance."

Namgung Hui had also come to the Martial Alliance after 60 years, so the geography was unfamiliar.

Only the location in Zhongyuan County, Zhengzhou, was the same, but the surrounding walls and the main gate.

Even from the outside, it was a completely different building.

And the inside was even more so.

Although it had not been invaded, since 60 years had passed, all the pavilions had been demolished and completely rebuilt.

In fact, the Martial Alliance where Namgung Hui was standing could not be seen as the same as the previous Martial Alliance.

The New Martial Alliance.

As they say, new wine in new bottles.

Everything had been overturned to take a leap into a new generation.

He didn't know if they remembered what sacrifices and blood had been shed on top of it.

"Brother Yelu. It's been a long time since I've been here, so my memory is not accurate, but will you still follow me?"

"If I say it twice, it's nagging. Of course, since it's a place my brother is leading, I have to follow you to the ends of hell, don't I? Hahaha!"

"You brat. Don't you lie with a straight face? Yes. Where do you want to go first?"

"They said the most manly places in the Martial Alliance are in the Black Tortoise Squad. Please show me around there first."

Even when Namgung Hui thought about it, the place with the most manly and magnanimous temperament was the Black Tortoise Squad.

Although the treatment was not particularly good compared to the other divine squads, since they recruited people without regard to their background, it could be said to be the most upright.

"Yes. Let's go there. Follow me."

Unless Namgung Hui's memory was wrong.

The location of the divine squads would be the same.

The Azure Dragon, symbolizing the east.

The White Tiger, symbolizing the west.

The Vermilion Bird, symbolizing the south.

The Black Tortoise, symbolizing the north.

No matter how newly the Martial Alliance was built, this orientation would not change.

That was why Namgung Hui headed north without hesitation.

'It's a good thing I have to investigate the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader anyway.'

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, Im Daepung.

The hedgehog-like Dark Shadow Squad Leader had clearly said that the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader was his superior.

It didn't matter if this was a trap or a slander.

To investigate the underlings of the Association anyway, not only the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader but also the Azure Dragon Squad Leader and the Vermilion Bird Squad Leader would not be able to escape the target.

But as he was moving his steps, something kept bothering him.

As if he had forgotten something important.

'By the way, I feel like I'm missing something. Well, does it matter?'

Namgung Hui put aside his uneasy feeling and hurried his steps, reaching the northern pavilion where the Black Tortoise Squad was located.

As expected, unlike the Azure Dragon Squad and the White Tiger Squad, there were not that many people.

No, the Azure Dragon Squad and the White Tiger Squad were also quiet.

Because they had chased away all the gathered spectators.

But contrary to that, the Black Tortoise Squad did not refuse anyone who came.

There were several reasons for that, but first, they couldn't bring themselves to chase away the relatives who had come to see the Black Tortoise Squad members.

And most of all, it was also to catch the eye of the famous masters who might be hiding among the spectators.

You never know, right?

They might be promoted or transfer to a new job by the famous masters who had a good impression of them.

'The Black Tortoise Squad members were mostly from small and medium-sized sects or insignificant families.'

The work they did was mostly night guard and patrol.

Most of the work that people avoided.

Well, as Yelu Guang had said, there were manly people, but.

'That's also an old story. In my time...'

At that moment, a voice that awakened Namgung Hui's thoughts was heard.

"Brother! Look at that. Some swordsman is beating a person. Tsk! I have to step in."

Yelu Guang rolled up his sleeves and suddenly jumped into the training ground.

He was so quick that he went in before Namgung Hui could even stop him.

"Hey! Where do you think you are, beating a defenseless person like that? What if he becomes an idiot? Will you take responsibility?"

At Yelu Guang's shout, the swordsman raised his head and asked.

"Who are you? You don't look like a warrior of the Martial Alliance."

"Me? If you're asking about me, I'd say I'm a lonely wolf wandering the vast grasslands."

"So. You're no different from a beggar? I thought a great hero had stepped up. So you have a problem with my actions?"

"Yes. It seems you've already won the spar, so why are you still beating him? Can you still be called a martial artist after that?"

"Then what is it that I can't be called a martial artist?"

"A martial artist should know how to take care of the weak and not tolerate injustice. But you are rather tormenting the weak and causing injustice."

Smirk.

The swordsman smiled and then suddenly stabbed the hand of the man he was beating with his sword.

Stab!

"Aaaak!"

At the painful voice, Yelu Guang shouted.

"No! What is this! To break a defenseless person's fingers!"

"As you said, I'm not a martial artist anymore, so are you going to fight me, a civilian?"

"Th-this is absurd! Alright. Whether you're a civilian or a bald head, let's have a match."

Yelu Guang also drew his large sword and faced him on the sparring stage.

Swordsman vs. swordsman.

Although the opponent he was facing was not to be taken lightly, Namgung Hui trusted Yelu Guang.

'Unlike his simple-looking impression, he's a master of internal ki. And I can't even grasp how much internal energy he's hiding.'

On the one hand, that point raised his suspicion.

What kind of person had raised such a monster-like man?

It definitely wouldn't be the Nine Sects and One Gang.

Of course, since he was a descendant of the Liao Dynasty, he was not a person of the five great families.

Then it would be reasonable to see him as a disciple of a mysterious sect or a secluded master.

'Well, the fight seems to be over soon, so let's ask him on this occasion.'

As expected, the fight went as Namgung Hui had predicted.

-Kang! Kang! Kang!

Every time the swords clashed, the swordsman's feet were pushed back.

After several exchanges of sword strikes, the swordsman had no place to stand on the sparring stage.

"You brat. You're quite strong. Then it's my turn! Hah!"

A sword ki rose from the swordsman's sword.

It was an unwritten rule not to use sword ki in a spar.

But this was not an official spar, and the swordsman's attack was too fast to consider such things.

Namgung Hui recognized the swordsman's opening stance and half-opened his eyes.

'The Hebei Peng family's Chain Soul-Stealing Sword.'

As its name suggested, it was a sword technique that unfolded in a chain of attacks.

A martial art that made good use of the advantage of the Hebei Peng family's heavy physique.

Even now, with the addition of rotational force and body weight, the power that had been pushed back was gaining the upper hand.

And with the addition of the blue sword ki, even Yelu Guang had to be pushed back.

"To bring out the sword ki so suddenly. You brought this upon yourself, so don't blame me."

Finally, a sword ki formed on Yelu Guang's sword.

A clear and vivid blue sword ki.

It was a part that showed how pure and dense his internal energy was.

That clear sword ki headed for the swordsman, and the swordsman quickly unfolded the Chain Soul-Stealing Sword, but.

-Clang.

The large sword split in half and fell onto the sparring stage.

A crushing defeat.

How could a weapon imbued with sword ki be split in half like this?

That was a phenomenon that occurred because the difference in internal energy was enormous.

The swordsman looked at his hand as if he couldn't believe it.

At the same time, Yelu Guang's sword was at his neck.

"I still haven't given up on being a martial artist, so I won't beat you mercilessly. And don't live like that in the future. At least if you know shame."

Yelu Guang carried the man who had been beaten until just now and came down from the sparring stage, heading for Namgung Hui.

The situation seemed to be settled like this, but...

"Wait. Stop."

Someone came up to the sparring stage and stopped Yelu Guang.

(End of Chapter)