Rebirth of the Thunder God

The moment Namgung Hui saw Beak Seolhwa and the unidentified man.

A rage like an active volcano erupted within him.

He didn't know the reason.

For some reason, the sight of Beak Seolhwa avoiding him and being with another man on a wild mountain was unbearable.

The only fortunate thing was that, perhaps due to having just achieved the great completion of the Purple Thunder Divine Art, the disaster of his concealment technique breaking did not occur.

Namgung Hui decided to take this opportunity to eavesdrop on their conversation from even closer.

"Pretty lady. Muchi. Was hungry, thank you so much."

"Yes. Eat a lot. But you must never go down from this mountain, okay? Got it?"

"Got it. Muchi. Listens well. Hehe."

"And have you received any separate contact from the Cult?"

"Not yet. Jinwu is busy, don't know when he'll come."

"Then it can't be helped. If you get a message later, you have to tell me, okay?"

"Okay. Muchi. Will definitely tell the pretty lady."

Namgung Hui frowned as he eavesdropped on the conversation.

There was definitely the word 'Cult' (Gyo) that came out of Beak Seolhwa's mouth.

Currently, the only organization referred to as a 'Cult' was the Blood Cult.

All other religions had been designated as demonic or heretical cults and erased from the world.

Hadn't even the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult been condemned as a demonic cult?

Namgung Hui wanted to go down right now and ask who that large man was, but for some reason, he was reluctant to reveal himself just yet.

So he tried to listen to more of the conversation.

Beak Seolhwa packed her bundle and started to descend the mountain.

Namgung Hui momentarily debated whether to follow Beak Seolhwa.

Or to have a conversation with the unidentified man.

'If I meet that man now, I don't think I'll be able to control my anger.'

It seemed a rational conversation would be impossible.

He would deal with the man emotionally.

Fearing he might even fall into Qi Deviation, he decided to follow Beak Seolhwa.

Namgung Hui imprinted the man's appearance in his eyes and then shot off after Beak Seolhwa.

"Huh? There was something just now. Strange."

* * *

After leaving the wild mountain, Beak Seolhwa tidied her clothes and neatly brushed back her hair before entering the street.

She briefly touched the earring on her ear, then moved her hand to her necklace.

'In this life, I will never be swayed.'

Squeeze.

She took her hand off the necklace and entered the marketplace.

The streets were packed with people.

People blooming with laughter, ha-ha, ho-ho.

Sometimes there was shouting and loud voices, but they looked truly happy.

Beak Seolhwa thought that this peaceful daily life would not last long.

The Hoicheon Association that Namgung Hui spoke of was one thing, but more than anything, she knew better than anyone that the Blood Cult, vowing revenge, would absolutely not stay still.

'I have to meet them and negotiate. If it really doesn't work, I'll have to use my past.'

If the situation flowed that far, it would become very serious.

If the fact that she was a descendant of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult became known, would the Orthodox Martial Alliance really look upon her kindly?

Absolutely not.

The fate of the cult members who had surrendered in the past was not good.

And more than anything, Beak Seolhwa's biggest worry was how Namgung Hui would react.

'Will he consider me a traitor for deceiving him all this time? Or...'

"Beak Seolhwa!"

Beak Seolhwa immediately turned her head at the familiar voice calling her.

"How are you here...?"

"Well, I was following you... no, I happened to see you while passing by, so I called out. By the way, where have you been? You said you were busy."

"I just took care of some personal business. Why are you curious about that?"

"Personal business? I see that bundle in your hand is that business?"

Beak Seolhwa looked at the bundle in her hand and was quite flustered.

She had packed it full of food to bring to Muchi.

It was still dripping with grease, making it look very suspicious.

When had Beak Seolhwa ever brought food to someone like this?

Truly, one lives and learns.

"Ah~ this? Yes. This was my business. You don't really need to know, do you? Right?"

"...Is that so. Alright."

After answering, Namgung Hui quickly turned and disappeared.

Beak Seolhwa let out a sigh of relief, thinking Namgung Hui had backed down obediently, but for some reason, a corner of her heart felt uneasy.

"Chirp-chirp-"

Feifei, as if reading Beak Seolhwa's mind, rubbed against her cheek and cried.

"It's okay. It will be okay now. Yes. It has to be."

* * *

After parting with Beak Seolhwa, Namgung Hui executed the Wind God Steps and flew away.

He moved his feet frantically, not even knowing where he was heading.

How long had he run like that?

When the surrounding terrain had completely changed, he finally stopped and looked around.

'This isn't Henan Province. I've come too far.'

Was it because he had reached the 10th stage of the Purple Thunder Divine Art?

Was it because his mastery of the Wind God Steps had deepened?

Or was it because the demon in his heart had grown deeper?

Namgung Hui was so lost in thought that he didn't even know where he was standing.

Well, it was okay.

He could just ask for directions.

And unlike someone else, he didn't have any personal business today, so he didn't have much to do.

Namgung Hui stopped a passerby and asked.

"Excuse me, I'd like to ask for directions. What province and county is this?"

"This is the middle of Shanxi Province, and you're asking because you don't know? Were you kidnapped or something?"

"Not that, I just ended up here after walking aimlessly for a while. Then, could you tell me what county it is?"

"Do you see that mountain over there? That mountain is Mount Heng, so this is Hunyuan County."

"Hunyuan County. I've come quite a long way."

"Tsk, tsk. How can a young man be so absent-minded? Did you get your heart broken or something?"

"Heart broken, you say?"

"I mean, did a young lady dump you? Otherwise, a young man who's barely of age wouldn't be wandering around aimlessly."

At the passerby's words, an indescribable emotion welled up in his chest.

He definitely hadn't been dumped.

So why did it feel like an itchy spot had been scratched?

Namgung Hui took out a silver coin from his robes and handed it to the passerby.

"Thank you for showing me the way."

"When did I show you the way? I just mentioned a place name."

"I'm not talking about that kind of path, but the path I must take."

"The path you must take? That's right. A true man should shake it off and continue on his way. I'll pray for your martial fortune, young master. You're handsome, so you'll get back on your feet in no time."

Namgung Hui gave the passerby a grin and walked towards Mount Heng.

At times like this, there was nothing better than spending time in a quiet mountain.

As it happened, all the fortuitous encounters he had were from mountains.

His meeting with Chichi, the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, the great completion of the Purple Thunder Divine Art, and so on.

Come to think of it, he had met Beak Seolhwa again in front of the Thunder Sect in the mountains.

'There's no reason for me to think of her now. I'll go to the mountain and check my martial arts. My hands are itching.'

Now that he had achieved great completion, he had to express it somewhere.

It wasn't just because his mind was complicated.

It was because he was truly curious about the power of the Purple Thunder Divine Art.

Only by knowing its power could he control it in the future.

At the very least, he could prevent any mishaps.

Having climbed halfway up the mountain, Namgung Hui briefly stopped.

To admire the scenic view of Mount Heng?

That wasn't it.

"Hey. Young master. Where are you going in such a hurry all by yourself? Why don't you stop for a moment."

It was because an uninvited guest had stopped him.

Namgung Hui turned and looked at them.

They were all wearing thick leather vests and holding axes.

They didn't look like woodcutters, so they were probably mountain bandits.

"Are you from the Green Forest Alliance?"

"Oh? You recognize us and still speak informally, young master? You must be the child of a martial arts family, with no fear in your eyes. Among our Mount Heng brothers, there's even a member of the Asura Axe, you know. Now that you understand, hand over your money pouch... Gack!"

The bandit's chest was pierced by a throwing knife from Namgung Hui.

It happened in an instant, so the remaining bandits were dumbfounded.

They probably couldn't believe that a throwing knife had flown without a sound and pierced their comrade's chest.

Namgung Hui retrieved the throwing knife with his magnetic force and then declared to the remaining bandits.

"You all, if you can give me even one valid reason to live, I'll let you live. Otherwise, you all die."

"I, I have an old mother to take care of... Gurgle..."

Namgung Hui looked at the collapsing Green Forest bandit and continued.

"You also die if you lie. You think I can't tell the difference? Next."

"I have never killed a person before. It's true! I was just sold to the mountain stronghold..."

"Alright. I'll let you live. Come behind me. Next."

"I know where the chief hid the money! If you let me live, I'll do whatever you say!"

"Alright. You too, behind me. Then lastly, do you have a reason to live?"

Namgung Hui gestured with his chin at the last remaining bandit, who let out a deep sigh with a look of resignation.

"Hoo... A reason for me to live. There isn't one. I've lived as a bandit for 10 years, and the number of people who have died at my hands is over several dozen. I've harassed women. I've even raped children."

"You, you, you. You wicked..."

Namgung Hui raised his hand to silence the bandit behind him and asked further.

"So what's the reason for bringing that up now? Are you asking me to kill you quickly?"

"That's not it. I just wanted to say it before I die. I'm going to die either way. I can at least talk about my life's path, can't I? And do you think I wanted to live like this? I was born with a harsh fate and had no choice but to become a bandit."

"That sounds like an excuse."

"A young master born into a noble house like you wouldn't know. You'd understand if you were as dirt poor as us."

Namgung Hui wasn't completely unable to understand what the bandit was saying.

Hadn't he also lost his parents in his past life and lived like a beggar?

Among the same group of orphans, there were those who became beggars of the Beggars' Sect.

And there must have been people who became thieves like the bandit before him.

But it was all an excuse.

Namgung Hui would rather starve than covet others' things to fill his stomach.

Perhaps it was because of that disposition that he had caught his master's eye.

"I've heard your last words well. Since you've spoken your heart out, you must have no regrets now. Farewell. I pray that in your next life, you will live a good life."

Swish.

Namgung Hui cut off the bandit's head in a single stroke and then said.

"Let's go. Lead me to your stronghold."

* * *

"Uahahaha! When it comes to liquor, Xifeng liquor is the best. Isn't that right, Vice-Chief?"

"Of course. And the braised meat here goes really well with it. By the way, I'm not sure if it will suit the taste of our Asura Axe brother."

"I'm fine. This one bowl of knife-cut noodles is enough for me. But didn't you say you had a message from the Alliance Leader? Chief Hong."

"Come, come. Let's talk after we eat. I have something to say about that anyway."

The member of the Asura Axe nodded, cleanly emptied his bowl, and put it down.

Seeing that he didn't seem to be enjoying the drinking party.

Chief Hong smacked his lips and dismissed the women who were serving them.

"Everyone except the Vice-Chief, leave."

"Yes."

As the people left the room, Chief Hong put down his cup on the table and continued.

"Then let's slowly get to the story. How much does our Asura Axe brother know?"

"I don't really know much. I just do what I'm told from above. All I know is that I'm supposed to kill a brat."

"The message I received is the same. It just has more details about the bastard's personal information. Here. Look."

The Asura Axe bandit took the letter from Chief Hong and read it.

[Name: Namgung Hui]

[Martial Prowess: Estimated to be at the Peak level]

[Weakness: Family or his close friends. The list is as follows]

[Jegal Geon, Beak Seolhwa, Namgung Uncheon, Namgung Chan, Namgung Yeonji, Wiji Seona. It is believed that kidnapping just one of them will be sufficient.]

After reading the letter, the Asura Axe bandit frowned his thick eyebrows and said.

"So you're saying we should stage a hostage situation because a direct approach won't work?"

"The bastard is so elusive and slippery like an eel. It seems the Alliance has judged it that way. What can we do? We have to follow orders from above. Well, it's not a job for our Asura Axe brother. It's something we were already working on, so there should be results soon. As it happens, the Azure Sky Escort Agency's escort is nearby..."

-Kudangtangtang!

Chief Hong, annoyed that his words were cut off by a sudden commotion, shouted.

"What's with all the commotion!"

"Sir... Chief. I think you need to come out and see."