Rebirth of the Thunder God

-Kang!

As soon as Beak Seolhwa clashed swords with the masked man, she realized he was not a swordsman.

'This grip... he's a saber user!'

On top of that, they all had developed forearms and large builds.

Then, only one place came to mind.

"You bastard! You're from the Hebei Paeng family. Even if you disguise yourself as a swordsman, it's too clumsy."

"...!"

Although they tried to maintain their silence, the masked men, excluding the leader, seemed quite flustered.

To the point where they stopped their hands while pushing back the Emei Sect nuns.

Their eyes were asking for a decision on whether to fight further or retreat.

"We are not from the Paeng family. Do you have any proof?"

"That's something we'll know when we catch you bastards and take off your masks, isn't it?"

"Then, on the contrary, if we slaughter all of you, there will be no one to tell."

Murder to silence.

They must have come with this intention from the beginning.

Beak Seolhwa decided not to hold back any longer.

-Chwarararak!

Thin ice formed all around, chilling the air.

Was it because it was an ice art performed with the Dragon's Tooth Sword?

The effect of the martial art was exceptionally outstanding.

"How strange. The Moon Maiden Palace using ice arts. Did you perhaps pick up and learn some sinister demonic art?"

"..."

Beak Seolhwa ignored the leader's words and executed her martial art again.

Nine Yin Divine Art. Ten Thousand Blossoms Chapter. White Flower.

Following Beak Seolhwa's will, the white petals frozen in the air flew towards the leader.

The scattering snowflakes were fatally beautiful, but they also exuded a murderous aura.

-Sagak! Seogeok! Seogeok!

"W-what is this bizarre martial art!"

Like a raging snowstorm, a bundle of sword ki pushed the leader back.

He tried to block it with his sword, but since it was not a familiar weapon, his skin was being cut helplessly.

In the end.

-Sreung!

He drew the large saber he had tied tightly to his back and blocked the sword ki.

-Chaengchaengchaeng!

As expected of a saber user, his momentum changed once he held the saber.

The martial art he performed was also the same.

"As expected, you use the Five Tiger Breaking Saber Art when you're cornered. Now that it's certain, you can't deny it."

"Hah! I was going to play with you a bit at night and then take care of you. Tsk! You're bringing this upon yourself. Alright. Fine. I'll kill you right here."

A sticky gaze filled with killing intent flowed from the leader's eyes.

Now that there was no reason to hide his martial arts, his ki blazed intensely.

A momentum like seeing a real tiger.

On top of that, seeing the thick scent of blood.

'This is not the work of a novice. He's a guy accustomed to killing. This one.'

Then there was no reason to hesitate any longer.

Beak Seolhwa sharpened the yin ki she had spread in all directions even more.

-Shukshukshukshukshuk!

From all directions, ice awls flew with the cold ki.

Five tigers fought against those ice awls.

-Tingtingting!

But Beak Seolhwa's Dragon's Tooth Sword was faster than the speed at which the large saber was swung.

In the end, a stream of blood flowed from the mouth of the leader, whose scratches were increasing.

"You son of a bitch! Why the hell can't I block this damn martial art!"

"That's. Obviously because of the difference in level between you and me, isn't it? That's why you lost to that guy too."

"Who is that guy you're talking about?"

"Namgung Hui. The kid you met in the preliminaries."

"!? How do you know my identity?"

The Saber Dragon, Paeng Murin. Although he was wearing a mask, Beak Seolhwa had secretly watched him fight Namgung Hui, so she remembered not only his ki but also the characteristics of his martial arts.

In the first place, there were only a few direct descendants of the Paeng family who could perform the Five Tiger Breaking Saber Art so skillfully.

And with such a young voice, there would be even fewer.

Still, unlike during the duel, the momentum with which he openly displayed his saber ki was extraordinary.

A skill that could sufficiently overwhelm an ordinary peak master.

"Just know that there is such a thing. I'm running out of time, so I'll go all out."

The Emei Sect disciples were fighting better than expected, but there was nothing they could do about the numerical disadvantage.

On top of that, the masked men, now that their identities were revealed, had no intention of hiding their martial arts.

They recklessly showed off their ultimate techniques and pushed back the Emei Sect disciples.

Beak Seolhwa had confirmed the enemy's identity and strength.

Now, there was no reason to hide her own ultimate technique.

She held the Dragon's Tooth Sword at an angle and executed a technique.

Jade Maiden Sword Art. Ultimate Technique. Ice Flowers in Full Bloom.

She had once been impressed by the sight of the Sword God performing the Plum Blossom Sword Art in the past.

Beak Seolhwa, who had not forgotten that inspiration, had melted the principles of the Plum Blossom Sword Art into her own sword art and made it her own.

The scattering frost bound the air and dominated the surroundings.

It expanded its domain to a degree incomparable to the ice awls she had thrown before.

"W-what is this...! W-words..."

Paeng Murin, his mouth frozen, stopped talking.

-Seogeok!!

His neck was cut, and he fell to the ground.

He became a cold corpse, unable to close his eyes or mouth even at the moment of death.

A member of the Paeng family, who had witnessed Paeng Murin's corpse, ran over with wide eyes.

"Brother!"

As the formation broke, the Paeng family martial artists who had been gaining the upper hand gradually retreated.

Since their leader had died, it was not strange for them to lose their will to fight.

Beak Seolhwa, who had no intention of letting the Paeng family members go, was about to charge forward with a white frost, but.

"Stop!"

A man, his martial arts robes flapping, descended from the sky.

Anyone could immediately recognize who he was, as he was openly revealing his identity.

'The White Tiger Troupe Leader. Paeng Horin. He was probably Paeng Murin's cousin, right?'

He was a famous person, to the point that even Beak Seolhwa, who was not well-versed in the affairs of the martial world, knew him.

On top of that, the White Tiger Troupe Leader was a Transcendent master that even Beak Seolhwa could not ignore.

The tide of the battle had turned again.

The masked men also regained their will to fight.

The White Tiger Troupe Leader slowly walked towards the head lying on the ground.

"...Paeng Boin. Is this head really Murin's?"

"Yes..."

"..."

A moment of silence fell.

The masked members of the Paeng family stood behind the White Tiger Troupe Leader in the meantime.

"The culprit must be that child called the White Phoenix. Hah... Who can I blame for being late? You there, White Phoenix. If you've committed the deed, you must have thought of taking responsibility, right?"

Beak Seolhwa was dumbfounded.

Anyone could see that the ones who had shown suspicious movements were the masked men.

There was a limit to turning the tables.

Did it make sense to openly protect one's own family like this?

And a person who had even secured the position of White Tiger Troupe Leader at that.

Just as Beak Seolhwa was about to open her mouth with a venomous face.

"What is going on here? White Tiger Troupe Leader."

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader ran over from the opposite side and stood next to the White Tiger Troupe Leader.

"Black Tortoise Troupe Leader. You've come at a good time. The Saber Dragon, Paeng Murin, has been found here as a corpse. I believe the culprit is the White Phoenix over there."

"Indeed. The surroundings are full of traces of ice art. This must be the work of none other than the White Phoenix's martial arts. Then I will take her into custody."

"..."

The White Tiger Troupe Leader, not wanting to let Beak Seolhwa go like this, briefly grabbed the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's arm and said.

"Isn't it possible to have a summary judgment in a case like this? As a relative, I believe I have the right to do so."

"But given the current situation, a thorough investigation is necessary. And White Tiger Troupe Leader. The Alliance Leader summoned you a little while ago. It would be better for the Association's position if you hurry and go."

For a moment, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's small eyes seemed to flash.

But since his eyes were originally so small and slitted, no one noticed.

Perhaps because the word 'Association' was mentioned, the White Tiger Troupe Leader could no longer be stubborn.

"Ahem. Since the Alliance Leader has summoned me, I must go. Then, I hope you will surely appease the vengeful spirit of our Murin."

"Yes. I will be sure to interrogate her fairly."

The White Tiger Troupe Leader, even at the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's answer, still had a reluctant expression, as if he was unwilling to leave.

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader raised his slitted eyes and added.

"I am also a member of the Association. Have you forgotten?"

"How could I forget that. Then I will trust you and go."

The White Tiger Troupe Leader, as if something was not to his liking, shook his head slightly and hurriedly threw himself towards the Alliance Leader's office.

Personal feelings were personal feelings, but the moment the Association was mentioned from the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's mouth, this was not a matter to be taken lightly.

As the White Tiger Troupe Leader left, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's eyes turned back into slits.

The atmosphere even seemed to change, as if he had become a different person.

The masked men, as if they had felt it too, began to slowly back away.

"Where do you think you're running? I will bind you suspicious fellows first. You there, Emei Sect disciples, please help me."

As soon as the White Tiger Troupe Leader disappeared, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's attitude changed completely.

The Emei Sect disciples, perhaps not expecting him to protect them, exchanged glances among themselves for a moment.

Beak Seolhwa, on the other hand, having already heard the whole story from Namgung Hui, skillfully subdued the masked men.

The masked men, as if they had no intention of resisting any longer, obediently submitted to being bound.

It would be more beneficial for them to be released through connections rather than being stabbed while resisting.

And so, while Beak Seolhwa was tying up the masked men with a rope, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader approached and asked.

"White Phoenix. How much do you know about me?"

"I know as much as that guy... no, as much as Namgung Hui knows."

"Oho. They say you two are really close, but to think you'd share that much. Then. I'll be brief. Listen carefully. Right now, various forces, including the Hoicheon Association, are plotting a conspiracy within the Martial Alliance."

"I know about the Hoicheon Association, but what do you mean by various forces?"

"Typically, the Blood Cult..."

"!?"

As Beak Seolhwa was startled, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader raised his slitted eyes and asked.

"Why are you so surprised? It's not the first time you've heard it."

"No, it's not that. And is there another place?"

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader stared at Beak Seolhwa for a moment, then continued.

"Besides that, there are a few forces whose names I don't know yet, so it's not certain. However, the thunderclap bomb that went off this time was definitely not the work of the Blood Cult or the Hoicheon Association. Not only our Black Tortoise Troupe but also the other Four Divine Troupes were monitoring them."

"I think it would be better for you to tell that to Namgung Hui rather than me. Is there any more information you've heard about the Blood Cult?"

"The Blood Cult... The Beggars' Sect said they saw a suspicious person. He was such a large man that a portrait was not even necessary."

"...I see. Is there nothing else I can help with now?"

"Do you have something urgent to do? Actually, I was going to ask you to escort the members of the Paeng family."

"It doesn't matter since there are Emei Sect disciples besides me, right? I have some personal business to attend to, so I have to go now."

"Hmm... I see."

As soon as the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader nodded, Beak Seolhwa disappeared from her spot.

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's eyes, watching Beak Seolhwa's back, shone even more sharply.

* * *

Namgung Hui, who had parted with Ju Hwayeong, was walking down the road with a heavier expression than ever before.

'There are more affairs of the martial world that I didn't know about. And to think that a spy of the Blood Cult is nearby...'

Namgung Hui had thought of the Mad Dragon, but he had heard it wasn't him.

A man with a particularly large build and a clumsy way of speaking.

As soon as Namgung Hui heard the description of such a person, someone immediately came to mind.

'The man who was with Seolhwa was like that... No way.'

On the other hand, Namgung Hui could not erase the ominous feeling.

In the first place, he had never seen a man of seven feet tall in his entire past life.

And so, Namgung Hui arrived at the summit of the wild mountain.

The place where he had met that suspicious man.

Namgung Hui looked around, and realizing there was nothing, he let out a sigh of relief.

'Phew... Seolhwa wouldn't do that. The princess must have been mistaken.'

But then.

He heard the presence of someone running towards the summit of the wild mountain.

Namgung Hui quickly executed his concealment technique and hid himself among the bushes.

The person who appeared was none other than Beak Seolhwa.

Namgung Hui looked at her with disbelieving eyes.

Suddenly, a large man shot up from under the ground.

That suspicious, seven-foot-tall man.