Rebirth of the Thunder God

-Swish!

The moment Namgung Hui's sword strike was about to pierce Im Daepung's back.

Im Daepung's figure, which had been moving, blurred and disappeared.

The wind rustled, and a leaf fell from behind Namgung Hui.

At the same time, a cool voice pierced Namgung Hui's ear.

"Right-handed. And a swordsman. But it hasn't been that long since you learned the sword. Am I wrong?"

"?! "

Namgung Hui was truly bewildered.

How could he grasp so much information with just one move?

It was a feat that even Namgung Hui, who had a rather sharp eye, could not do.

Namgung Hui quickly distanced himself from Im Daepung and faced him directly.

To think that those slit-like eyes could show such an outstanding aspect.

As expected, one should not judge a person by their appearance alone.

'Is he really of Grand Master Gwangak's bloodline? I have to admit his observation skills.'

And Namgung Hui was not unfamiliar with the movement technique he had just unfolded.

And it felt like a familiar scent was coming from him.

'Could this be the Flying Eagle Movement Technique of the Diancang Sect? Ah, that's right. I can smell the tracking incense I put on the person who bought the secret manual at the black market. It was so faint that I almost didn't notice.'

At that time, the person who had bought the secret manual at the auction house was not Im Daepung in front of him.

Perhaps it was an errand boy sent by Im Daepung.

Or Im Daepung himself had bought it from him.

But seeing as he had learned it so quickly, his suspicion that he had known the information in advance and sent someone was solidified.

Well, that wasn't important.

First of all, the Im Daepung in front of him was no ordinary master.

He had truly hidden his true self in his turtle-like eyelids.

As Namgung Hui stared at him, Im Daepung sheathed his sword for a moment and said.

"Why? Have you lost the will to fight now?"

"That's not it. I just realized that you also have a hidden agenda in the Association, so I was thinking a little."

A group dispatched by the Hoicheon Association had clearly existed in the black market.

The peak masters who seemed to be the General's subordinates.

Among them, the one called the squad leader had even come out to meet him wearing a strange armor.

And yet, he had sent an errand boy to buy a mere secret manual, a task that he could have asked the forces of the Hoicheon Association to do.

That meant he didn't want this to be known to the Hoicheon Association.

'Or has he not yet fully boarded the same boat as the Hoicheon Association?'

At Namgung Hui's point, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader raised his slit-like eyes and continued.

"What is the reason you think so?"

"The movement technique you just unfolded, although it's not the complete Flying Eagle Movement Technique, it's a movement technique that applies it. Although you've modified it quite cleverly, you can't hide the unique momentum of the Diancang Sect."

Honestly, Im Daepung didn't need to hide this.

Since the Diancang Sect had also been forgotten by the world for a long time.

Unless it was Namgung Hui, it would be practically impossible to find traces of the Diancang Sect in a movement technique that had been modified like this.

"To think you can recognize this. I'm surprised several times today. So I'm sure. Your identity. The youngest young master of the Namgung family, Namgung Hui."

"..."

"You have a tendency to leak too much information. Well, at that age and with that level of cultivation, you might not feel the need to hide it, but the force you're going to face is a place that's difficult to handle with an individual's martial prowess, isn't it? Your carelessness will bring you trouble later."

"Why are you even giving me such advice? I recognize you as a spy of the Hoicheon Association. Are you trying to dispel my suspicion and induce carelessness?"

"Well, you can think of it that way. In fact, I wasn't unaware of that either. But as I said before, I'm not a spy of the Hoicheon Association. On the contrary."

"The opposite? What do you mean?"

"Literally, I'm not a spy of the Hoicheon Association, but I've infiltrated the Hoicheon Association as a spy of the Martial Alliance."

"?! Don't tell me you're a double agent?"

A double agent.

It was a term referring to an agent who pretended to be a spy in both camps and carried out espionage to the advantage of the place they originally belonged to.

It wasn't that there were none during the Righteous-Demonic War.

In fact, it was said that a double agent had poisoned the food of the Demonic Cult members and massacred them.

Come to think of it now, most of the victims would have been innocent commoners.

Anyway. It meant they could inflict huge damage on the opposing camp.

Namgung Hui asked with a suspicious look.

"Is that true? Even so, what's the reason for telling this to me, a stranger?"

"That's a simple story. First, it's good for me to clear your suspicion. And I was wondering if I could get a potential ally."

"An ally? Do you think I'll be your ally?"

There were still too many suspicious parts.

From the Dark Shadow Squad Leader pointing out Im Daepung.

To Yewol saying that there were many suspicious things about the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.

Besides that, looking at those narrow slit-like eyes, the seeds of suspicion did not easily disappear.

And since Namgung Hui did not put his trust in his background.

Whether he was the son of the Martial Alliance Leader or the son of the Wudang Sect Leader.

He didn't care about his status at all.

The scheme that Im Daepung was plotting.

His intention was the most important.

"I wasn't asking you to believe me from the beginning. It's something we can find out gradually. That's why I'm going to give you a gift. Here, take it."

Im Daepung took out a letter from his bosom and threw it to Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui caught what he threw in a daze, but he did not open it right away.

Because he felt that opening it would be flowing according to his intention.

"What is this?"

"It's the personal information of the General who is chasing you. Ah. You're also chasing the General recently, right? Well. Although the two of you can't be together, I hope you do well."

"..."

Namgung Hui stood there blankly, holding the letter in his hand, lost in thought.

Whether he should accept this and believe Im Daepung's words.

Or whether he should have a showdown with him here and now.

'Can I subdue him in this place right now?'

He wasn't sure.

That turtle-like Black Tortoise Troupe Leader would surely not have revealed even half of his skills.

Since all the squad leader-level personnel were martial artists comparable to the super-peak level, it would be close to impossible to subdue him, let alone take his life.

'Yes. Even if it's a lie. If I keep an eye on the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, it will be easier to grasp the underlings of the Association. And if he's really a double agent, it's even better.'

Namgung Hui put the General's personal information in his bosom and said.

"Then I'll ask one last thing. Why did you secretly steal and learn the Flying Eagle Movement Technique?"

"I was just curious about that too. How on earth did you recognize the divine art of the destroyed Diancang Sect?"

"I asked first."

"Haha. Alright. I'll answer. It was just to prevent the martial arts of the destroyed Diancang Sect from being forgotten."

Namgung Hui couldn't believe the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's words.

But he couldn't nitpick everything he said.

"If that's your true will, it's a relief, but if it's a false and absurd statement, you won't see a good end."

"Alright. I'll keep that in mind. And do you know that the Hebei Peng family is after you?"

"Of course."

"Then I'll leave this matter to you. I will not take anyone's side."

"So that you can reduce the power of the Hebei Peng family, the force of the Association. And also avoid suspicion?"

"That's right. If I take your side, the Association will suspect me. And if I take the Peng family's side, you'll be in trouble."

Namgung Hui still had many things he wanted to ask him.

How he had become a double agent.

And why he had diverted the letter that Yewol had sent.

And what he thought about his father, the Martial Alliance Leader.

He wanted to ask everything.

'More than anything, I'm most curious about his past. He appeared like a comet 10 years ago after obtaining the Heavenly Wind Sword Art, right? I'll have to investigate how he lived before that.'

Depending on his growth process, it would be decided whether he would really become a member of the Hoicheon Association.

Or remain a spy of the Martial Alliance.

For now, he would have to think of it as 'sailing in the same boat with an enemy'.

"Since our business is roughly over, let's part ways. And next time you cross-dress, you should study about women a little."

"...Alright."

As Namgung Hui finished his answer, Im Daepung put his hands behind his back and flew away.

It was a body movement that really suited the name of the Flying Eagle Movement Technique, as if he had become a single eagle.

Namgung Hui stared at Im Daepung's back and strengthened his firm will.

'I will definitely reach the great completion of the Purple Thunder Divine Art!'

* * *

By the time Namgung Hui returned to the Cheongi Inn, the sun had already set, and it was a dark night.

Since he had also skipped dinner, he was quite hungry, so he sat at a table and ordered food.

As he was waiting for the food and staring blankly ahead.

Suddenly, he felt a cold ki on his cheek, and his hair stood on end.

"Surprise!"

Namgung Hui, who was startled, stood up from his seat and saw Baek Seolhwa, who had placed her white hand on his cheek.

"What are you thinking about so hard that you didn't even know I was coming?"

"What? It was you, Seolhwa. No. How can you suddenly inject cold ki into a person's cheek?"

"What? Didn't you also try to surprise me by killing your presence before?"

"Well. That was for fun."

"I was also just playing."

"..."

Namgung Hui, not expecting Baek Seolhwa to even play a prank on him, couldn't answer right away.

"But where have you been that you couldn't even eat?"

"I went to meet the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader separately."

"What? The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader? So what happened?"

Namgung Hui briefly explained what had happened with the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, picking out only the key points.

As the explanation ended, the ordered food came out.

And Namgung Hui picked up his chopsticks, blew on the food, and began to eat.

Baek Seolhwa sat across from Namgung Hui, rested her chin on her hand, and moved her lips.

"So. The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader is a double agent. And you've decided to cooperate with him temporarily?"

"For now, yes."

"Do you think he's trustworthy?"

"Well. To be honest, there are quite a few suspicious parts. So I'm going to watch him for a while."

Namgung Hui slurped his noodles and chewed on his thoughts for a moment.

'The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader is settled for now. Then the problem is the General, as expected.'

Perhaps the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader had handed over his personal information to him to keep the General in check.

Even in the Martial Alliance alone, there were quite a few power struggles.

There was no law that said it wouldn't happen within the Hoicheon Association.

Then the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader might be borrowing Namgung Hui's hand to eliminate the General, who was a thorn in his side.

That was why he had to approach it carefully.

If he didn't want to be stabbed in the back.

Namgung Hui, who had cleanly finished even the soup, put down his bowl and asked Baek Seolhwa.

"Where did you guys go during the day?"

"We registered for the tournament and looked around here and there. Why?"

"Just. I didn't see you when I came earlier. Ah, that's right. Can you tell me about women?"

"What? Women?"

Baek Seolhwa stared at Namgung Hui blankly, as if she were dumbfounded.

Her expression changed from moment to moment, as if she were unfolding a story of various imaginations.

Only then did Namgung Hui realize that he had been misunderstood and hurriedly continued.

"That's not it. I met the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader while cross-dressing earlier, and he recognized me right away. He said it was because I didn't know about women."

"Ah~ I see. Why do you say things in a way that can be misunderstood? You mean he was telling you to learn the behavioral patterns of women. That person is no ordinary person. How did he recognize all that?"

"His observation skills are really amazing. So are you going to tell me or not?"

"Alright. I'll tell you right away."

And so, Namgung Hui learned about simple behavioral patterns and posture from Baek Seolhwa in his room.

Of course, the more he learned, the more he wondered if this was right, but since she was more beautiful than anyone else, he just let it go, thinking it must be right.

"Seolhwa. Thank you. It's late now, so you should go."

"Just a 'thank you'?"

"Do you need something?"

"That's not it, but later, with me, separately..."

"Separately? What?"

Baek Seolhwa, who had stopped talking, hesitated for a moment.

"...Let's have a sparring match."

"Ah. A sparring match? I welcome that. I've had some realizations recently. If I exchange moves with you, it will be easier to sort them out. Then how about tomorrow?"

"Alright. Let's have a match after lunch."

"Then rest well."

Baek Seolhwa nodded and left Namgung Hui's room.

And as she closed the door, she hit her own head in frustration.

'What was I trying to say so embarrassingly? I'm crazy. I'm crazy.'

As Baek Seolhwa scurried back to her room, Namgung Hui decided to investigate the General in earnest this time.

To do so, he took out and unfolded the information about the General that he had received from the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.

As expected, surprising information was written from the beginning.

(End of Chapter)