Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Did you hear the name of the child named Namgung Hui?"

"If it's Namgung, he must be a person of the Namgung family. I'm hearing the name for the first time."

"To think that the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who is well-versed in the current affairs, doesn't know. This is quite something. Well, since you don't know, there's no need to talk about it."

"Hehe. If I don't know, I can just learn, can't I? What is the reason why the White Tiger Squad Leader brought up the name of that young hero?"

"Ahem! In fact, he's a guy who had a conflict with our Peng family recently, and since he even caused trouble in front of the Black Tortoise Squad's territory, I brought it up in the hope that the Black Tortoise Squad would discipline him later. Our relationship is not that of strangers. Isn't that right?"

The White Tiger Squad Leader, Peng Horin, smiled slyly and continued.

"Then I'll trust only my Black Tortoise Troupe Leader and be on my way. Since the Black Tortoise Squad is in charge of security and order, I have no doubt that they will discipline him well."

"Hehe. Since the White Tiger Squad Leader has said so, I must surely set the order of the martial world straight."

"When this is over, I'll go to the Full Moon Pavilion and treat you to a big one."

After speaking, the White Tiger Squad Leader stealthily placed a small purse on the table and left the restaurant.

He had a satisfied smile on his face, but he suddenly turned his body towards where Namgung Hui was.

"Who's there?"

Namgung Hui thought his stealth technique had improved recently, but it seemed the White Tiger Squad Leader's ki sense was better than he had expected.

'This is a disaster. The White Tiger Squad Leader alone is a handful, but with the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader here, it will be difficult to avoid a disaster if a fight breaks out.'

At that moment.

Chichi, who was in Namgung Hui's bosom, jumped out and drew the White Tiger Squad Leader's attention.

"Kkik. Kkik. (Hey, fat pig.)"

"Is this rat barking at me? I don't know what it's saying, but it's quite unpleasant."

In fact, to call him a pig, Peng Horin's size was closer to a bear.

All the warriors of the Hebei Peng family boasted a large build and openly showed off their muscular bodies.

And since they even carried a large saber at their waist, honestly, just by looking at their appearance, they were the best among the five great families.

Not only his size, but since the White Tiger Squad Leader's cultivation was also deep, he did not immediately fall for Chichi's provocation.

But.

"Kkik. Kkik. (Hey, bear. Catch me if you can.)"

As Chichi even patted his own bottom and provoked him, he couldn't help but move his feet.

"A mere rat, a lowly creature, is looking down on me. How dare you make fun of me? These days, young brats, whether human or lowly creature, don't know how scary a tiger is. You brat! Stop right there."

As Chichi drew the White Tiger Squad Leader's attention and disappeared, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who had heard the commotion, also came out.

Namgung Hui, before he could chase the White Tiger Squad Leader, quickly changed his voice and sent a telepathic message.

-Black Tortoise Troupe Leader. I've come because I know you're a spy of the Association. If you're curious about my identity. Come out to the open space of Mount Zhongyuan by the beginning of the You hour (5-7 PM).

Although the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader hurriedly tried to find the owner of the voice.

-Whoosh...

Only a desolate wind existed in that place.

And no figure could be found.

At such a strange situation, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, instead of hardening his expression, had a deep smile on his face.

"Haha! This has become interesting. Alright. I don't know who you are, but I'll personally meet you."

As the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader also left the executive dining hall, Namgung Hui, who had been hiding under the eaves of the restaurant, undid his stealth and revealed himself.

'Just in case, I threw a dagger. Did he fall for it?'

Of course, it was a feat that Namgung Hui could perform because he could imbue his will into the dagger.

A dagger imbued with will like this.

-Whirl.

It was also easy to retrieve according to the user's will.

Although it was also because it had a magnetic property, it was difficult to adjust it precisely with just a simple magnetic force.

In the first place, this level was also the foundation of the Sword Control with Ki.

And it was also said that if one transcended this, it would become the legendary Heart Sword.

But although Namgung Hui vaguely believed in the existence of the Heart Sword, he was a little skeptical because he had not seen it with his own eyes.

And for good reason. Even his sworn brother, who was the number one swordsman in the world in his past life, had not reached the Heart Sword.

Well, he might have realized it in the process of perishing together with the Heavenly Demon, but it was difficult to believe for sure what he had not seen directly.

Perhaps because he was reminded of his sworn brother, his voice brushed past his mind.

'Jaseong. The realm of the Heart Sword really exists. I will reach it someday and show you. Don't blame this brother for being rough with his hands then. Hahaha!'

Namgung Hui was also very interested because it was a realm that his sworn brother had longed to reach.

Well, anyway, since he had achieved his intended goal, he now had to decide how to cook the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader himself.

'There's what the White Tiger Squad Leader said. And since the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader has practical authority, it would be a little difficult to meet him with this appearance, right? I have no choice but to disguise myself again.'

Although Namgung Hui still had quite a bit of time, since he had to pack preparations for his disguise, he left as soon as Chichi returned.

"Chichi. You're not hurt, are you?"

"Kkik. Kkik. (I hurt my foot a little.)"

"Let me see. I'm not a complete stranger to medicine. If it's a shallow wound, I can treat it."

"Kkik. Kkik. (Can't you just replace it with Thunder Ki Liquor? I feel like I'll get better if I just drink.)"

Namgung Hui stopped his steps for a moment and stared at his bosom.

Even to Namgung Hui's sensitive sense of smell, there was no smell of blood.

And liquor was no different from a poison that would make a wound fester.

This cunning brat wouldn't have asked for liquor without knowing that.

Namgung Hui let out a deep sigh and continued.

"Phew... Chichi. I'll give you one bottle of Thunder Ki Liquor as a special reward for your hard work last time and this time. But from now on, you can't make unreasonable demands in situations like this. Got it?"

"Kkik. Kkik. (Hmph! How cheap. Alright.)"

Although he had successfully negotiated with Chichi, Namgung Hui felt awkward inwardly.

'It's not just once or twice that Chichi has been active. And his demand was a reasonable one. From finding the Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron to the Purple Mist Divine Sword, and he even took good care of my valuables when I lost consciousness. Then I'll have to achieve something in the future.'

The great completion (10th stage) of the Purple Thunder Divine Art.

The Purple Thunder Divine Art, which was somewhat different from the Thunder God Divine Art, boasted a power comparable to the 10th stage of the Thunder God Divine Art even at the 9th stage.

That was why he had been able to break through the closing formation and safely repair the formation when he had visited the Thunder Sect.

More than anything, the reason Namgung Hui was aiming for the great completion of the Purple Thunder Divine Art was because it was a level where he could brew the Thunder Ki Liquor himself.

To have to raise the level of his heart art just for liquor, not to deal with enemies.

It was literally a case of the cart before the horse.

Although in this case, the cart and horse would be the liquor and the guest.

'Anyway, I need the great completion of the Purple Thunder Divine Art to deal with the General smoothly. I'll have to refine the Heavenly Thunder Sword Art on this occasion.'

Namgung Hui's martial arts were honestly in a messy state.

The Emperor's Sword Form and the Plum Blossom Sword Art, and even the Descendant of Yi's Archery that he had recently obtained.

Even the insights of the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers, a type of hidden weapon technique, were mixed in.

Normally, it would be a case of 'too much is as bad as not enough', and it would become messy like the martial arts of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader.

But Namgung Hui's level was not that low.

More than anything, he had a sufficient understanding of the preceding martial arts.

And he had even mastered the principles to melt them down.

That was why he had boldly created and modified the Heavenly Thunder Sword Art.

Well, since this was a problem that had to be dealt with by concentrating in a secluded place later, he decided to focus on the matter at hand for now.

'To disguise myself, I'll have to stop by a clothier's first.'

Namgung Hui, who had left the Martial Alliance, passed the bustling marketplace and moved to a deserted street.

There were so many people that it was difficult to even find a clothier's.

Although it wouldn't be impossible to find one if he used his long-distance vision, he didn't want to use his long-distance vision just to find a clothier's.

And since Namgung Hui's current appearance drew enough attention, it wouldn't be good to have many witnesses.

And most of all, he would be able to find a clothier's with his naked eye soon enough.

Now it was a deserted street with no people.

He felt a sense of unease, as if he were wondering if this was the same Zhongyuan County that had been bustling with people until just now.

The reason was simple.

Because it was excessively old and shabby.

Originally, if there was a bustling street, there was bound to be a run-down street.

Namgung Hui felt bitter, as if he had seen the dark side of the Martial Alliance.

And there were not even any beggars from the Beggars' Sect in this run-down slum.

Perhaps because they had judged that there was nothing to gain here.

On the contrary, would it be a relief for the poor?

Since Namgung Hui just had to disguise himself anyway, he entered a shabby clothier's.

Although there was a musty smell, he wondered if even the new clothes would smell.

Namgung Hui, who had entered the clothier's, shooed away the flying flies and said.

"Is the owner here?"

"Hic~ A customer has come. The owner is here."

The clothier's owner, who had come out wiping his drool, revealed his full appearance.

Namgung Hui couldn't hide his surprise.

It wasn't just because he was shabby or dirty.

'He's missing an arm. And looking at the cross-section... it looks like it was cut by a saber. This scar is probably from the Peng family.'

To cut a cross-section so wide and clean would be difficult with an ordinary sword ki.

Even a sword gang would find it difficult to create such a scar, and it would probably be possible only with a wide saber.

And most of all, the familiar scar, the pattern reminiscent of a tiger, could only be the Five Tiger Gate Severing Saber.

Although Namgung Hui was not a person who meddled in other people's business, he couldn't help but ask.

"What happened to your arm?"

"Ah. This? Well, it's the left arm I paid with instead of silver because I couldn't pay the protection fee on time. What, are you going to get revenge for me, young master? Hehehe!"

A sense of resentment was exuded from the clothier's owner's self-deprecating laugh.

A feeling of being detached from the world, yet a deep-seated emotion.

Even the insensitive Namgung Hui found it difficult to easily turn away.

"It's not a grand revenge, but if I happen to have a conflict with that guy later, I'm thinking of cutting off his left arm for you."

"A young master who looks like he can't even catch a fly properly says that. I don't really believe you. But since your words are appreciated, I'll give you a set of clothes for free. What do you need that you came to this shabby clothier's?"

"Do you happen to have clothes that a courtesan would wear?"

* * *

Zhongyuan Mountain, named after Zhongyuan County.

In the open space of the low mountain, a pair of a man and a woman were having a secret meeting.

The woman was wearing a courtesan's attire, although it was rather old.

And the man had a handsome appearance and a dignified face, and just looking at him made one feel a sense of reliability.

However, his eyes were unusually small, so they looked like slits, but on the contrary, those eyes gave off a gentle impression.

Not only his appearance, but the atmosphere that emanated from him was also quite peculiar.

A firm yet somehow solid momentum was felt.

A feeling of looking at a large turtle.

Perhaps that was why.

Despite his kind impression, no one seemed to be able to ignore him.

And it even felt like something was hidden in his slit-like eyes, like a turtle.

The person with that kind face looked at the courtesan and opened his mouth.

"Are you the one who called me, miss?"

The man called 'miss', Namgung Hui, nodded and answered.

Of course, he did not forget to modulate his voice to that of a woman.

"That's right. I called you. Why? You didn't expect a woman to come out?"

"Haha. On the contrary, it's more affectionate to be greeted by a pretty woman. Wouldn't it be a little strange for stuffy men to meet in a secret place like this? By the way, if I didn't mishear you earlier, you seemed to have mentioned the word 'Association'. Where did you hear that word?"

-Whoosh...

Suddenly, in the windless open space, a wave of ki stirred.

The leaves trembled and fell, and the grains of sand on the ground danced.

It was the result of Im Daepung revealing his momentum.

Was his unique martial art the Heavenly Wind Sword Art?

It was a momentum that really suited the wind.

But would Namgung Hui be defeated by such a silent demonstration?

On the contrary, he continued with a faint smile on his lips.

"Oh my. Are you trying to oppress me, a woman, with force?"

"That's enough. I knew you were a man from the beginning. You seem to be a person who doesn't know about women, but from now on, you should study a little and then disguise yourself. So why did you say I was a spy of the Association?"

Since his disguise was blown. Namgung Hui gave up his womanly act and continued his answer.

"You're not surprised. Are you admitting that you're a spy of the Association?"

"Admitting... Well. I don't know where you heard such nonsense, but I'm not a spy of the Association. Then I'll be on my way."

At this point, Namgung Hui was a little flustered.

He had thought he would surely fly into a rage, asking where he had heard it.

He retreated so calmly.

To think that revealing his momentum once was all.

'What is this? He looks so proudly that I'm getting confused. But I can't just let him go like this.'

This time, Namgung Hui moderately raised his momentum and aimed for Im Daepung's back.

-Swish!

A sharp attack flew towards Im Daepung's back.

If he remained still, his back would surely be pierced.

And yet, Im Daepung did not turn around until the end.

(End of Chapter)