Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Hidden Dragon. No, Namgung Hui. What on earth is your identity? How do you know about the New Six Demonic Families that even the Martial God didn't know about?"

Namgung Hui inwardly thought he might have said too much.

And as the Mad Dragon said, his sworn brother, the Martial God, knew nothing about the Six Demonic Families.

The reason Namgung Hui knew that was.

'I overheard it from Sosu Mahu. I've had more conversations with her than I thought.'

And despite being sworn enemies, they had exchanged words more than a few times, stopping their fights.

The information about the Six Demonic Families was also learned through Sosu Mahu's mouth.

Of course, since Namgung Hui hadn't told the Martial Alliance, no one in the Orthodox Faction would know the details about the Six Demonic Families.

Even if they had known, they wouldn't have left it in writing in Namgung Hui's house.

"From Jegal Geon..."

"Don't lie. I've watched Jegal Geon more than you have. That person knows almost nothing about the Divine Cult."

"..."

His answer became difficult.

Even if he told the truth, the guy wouldn't believe him and was even berating him.

Namgung Hui had nothing to do but scratch his cheek.

"I see why the General is watching you. You still have many secrets. Well, since I can't open your mouth with force, shall we stop here?"

"Yes. I'd like to tell you everything if I could, but you wouldn't believe me even if I did."

'That I'm a reincarnator.'

"Hah! Isn't that for me to know after I hear it?"

"Sometimes, there are things you can know without being told. And right now, the one holding the hilt of the sword is me, not you."

As Namgung Hui tapped his sword and spoke, the Mad Dragon curled his lips and said.

"So you're going to kill me?"

"There's no one watching. Is there any reason to spare a force of the Hoicheon Association, which is my enemy?"

"Your actions are far from those of an Orthodox Faction member. By any chance, are you also a person of the Divine Cult?"

"Good grief. I've lived a long time to hear such things. Think whatever you want. It won't change anything no matter what you think."

"...So you're saying you're going to kill me. But I can't just die obediently."

The Mad Dragon stealthily dropped the bead he had been fiddling with since a while ago.

It was an action performed so secretly.

And it happened in an instant, so Namgung Hui had no power to stop it.

-Peong!

In an instant, smoke filled the air, and the Mad Dragon's presence disappeared.

Through the thick smoke, the Mad Dragon's voice was heard.

"Hahaha! Still, you've told me a lot, so I'll be on my way. Let's go easy on each other next time we meet."

Namgung Hui tried to chase the Mad Dragon somehow, but suddenly, an unexpected voice was heard in his ear.

[Namgung Hui. Is this how you use this?]

It was Beak Seolhwa, speaking through the earring artifact.

Namgung Hui was quite flustered, as he hadn't expected a whisper from Beak Seolhwa all of a sudden.

Hadn't her share been large in him taking out his anger on the Mad Dragon?

[...Yes. This is how you use it. But what's wrong? You're even whispering to me.]

[What's wrong? Of course, it's because I have important business. You know the wild mountain where we sparred before, right? Come to the summit there.]

Namgung Hui was lost in thought for a moment.

Why on earth was Beak Seolhwa calling him there?

Was she planning to attack him with the Blood Cult member?

But Namgung Hui shook his head.

No matter how much Beak Seolhwa defended the Blood Cult member, she was not a person who would abandon her principles to that extent.

'I'll know when I get there.'

[Alright. I'll go there right away.]

After answering, Namgung Hui quickly ran to the wild mountain.

He had run without any thought and didn't even know his current location.

But he could clearly feel the direction of the wild mountain, no, the direction where Beak Seolhwa was.

Was this also the effect of the earring artifact?

He had no way of knowing, but anyway, he arrived at the wild mountain in an instant.

As Namgung Hui carefully climbed to the summit, the Blood Cult member, Muchi, was eating food greedily.

"Huh? Is that the friend the fairy mentioned? That person is also very handsome."

Namgung Hui stared at Muchi for a moment, then asked Beak Seolhwa next to him.

"Who is this person?"

"Hmm... It might be a long story, so listen carefully."

Beak Seolhwa, having organized her thoughts, told Namgung Hui about Muchi's identity.

Namgung Hui already knew that Muchi was a Blood Cult member, so he wasn't particularly surprised or showed a big reaction.

"You're not as surprised as I thought."

"I heard some things from Hu Gai. And I just heard various things from the Mad Dragon."

"But why is your tone so cold? Are you sulking at me?"

"...No."

"Yes, you are. You are."

"I said no."

"Sigh... Namgung Hui. It's because I hid who I was going to meet before, right? It's because of him. But it's a bit much to say I'm hiding a Blood Cult member, isn't it? Right?"

Hearing that, it seemed plausible from Beak Seolhwa's perspective.

But what he still couldn't understand was.

"But why are you protecting a Blood Cult member? I roughly know the purpose, but you didn't have to go through all that trouble. You could have just handed him over to the Martial Alliance. Or killed him..."

"That's a bit harsh. How can you kill someone who looks so innocent?"

Namgung Hui thought it was entirely possible, considering Beak Seolhwa's usual ruthlessness, but even if he argued with her, nothing would change.

"So you want to take this person to the Blood Cult and infiltrate it?"

"Yes. From what you just said, you're also infiltrating there, right? With Muchi's help here, it would be easier to get in."

"Will this person cooperate?"

Beak Seolhwa turned her gaze towards Muchi and said.

"Muchi. You'll help, right?"

"Chew, chew. Of course, I'll help if the fairy says so. But I don't know what Bukgung Jinwu will say."

Namgung Hui didn't want to take the risk and take Muchi to the Blood Cult.

"Beak Seolhwa. Can't we just take care of him here? It seems wrong to go through the trouble of taking him."

Was it because he sensed the killing intent?

Muchi stopped eating and said to Namgung Hui.

"No! I have a wife and child waiting at home!"

"What? You were a married man?"

Beak Seolhwa also looked quite surprised, as if she hadn't known Muchi even had a child.

Namgung Hui was also quite surprised, but for some reason, he felt a sense of relief.

"That's right. She's not as beautiful as you, fairy, but my wife is also very pretty."

"If you put it that way, bandits also have wives and children waiting at home, and some live with their old mothers. But have we ever spared them for that? My family was ruined because of the Blood Cult. Beak Seolhwa. If there's no valid reason, don't defend him anymore."

Beak Seolhwa, as if she had no choice, let out a deep sigh and continued.

"Namgung Hui. Can't you just help me this once? Then, after this is over, I'll tell you everything about why I did it."

"Tell me now."

"That's... I'm not mentally prepared yet. Hey! A friend is asking you like this, are you really not going to help?"

"..."

As Namgung Hui continued to hesitate, Muchi, who had finished his meal, dusted off his bottom and said.

"Muchi. I have a question. Are you two really friends. Or are you lovers."

"Hey, hey, what kind of nonsense are you suddenly spouting?"

"When Muchi sees you, you look so good together, like a handsome man and a beautiful woman. I hope you two get married."

"..."

Beak Seolhwa was so dumbfounded that she couldn't say anything to Muchi.

In contrast, Namgung Hui glared at Muchi and continued.

"Muchi. Didn't you like Seolhwa?"

"That's right. I like the fairy. But it's not a romantic feeling. What should I say. When I see the fairy, I feel like I have to follow her orders for some reason. Like when I met the Cult Leader."

'Could it be because of Sosu Mahu's necklace?'

Namgung Hui, on one hand, could understand Muchi's words.

Hadn't he also been intimidated by Beak Seolhwa's words and followed her for some reason?

"What kind of question is that to a married man?"

"I asked because you follow her so excessively. So Muchi. What did you come out to find?"

"It would be faster to show you than to tell you. Look."

Namgung Hui looked at the drawing Muchi handed him and nodded.

'As expected, he came out to find the sacred artifacts of the Demonic Cult. But the Mark of the North Sea, the symbol of the Vice Cult Leader, is not on the list. Does that mean the Vice Cult Leader is not needed?'

What was needed right now was the symbol of the Cult Leader or the Young Cult Leader to claim the orthodoxy of the cult.

Since the Vice Cult Leader could never ascend to the position of Cult Leader, it seemed Sosu Mahu's legacy was not needed.

So Beak Seolhwa, who had received the necklace as a gift, was also standing there calmly.

"To find the Sacred Fire and the Saintess, the sacred artifacts of the Divine Cult... Muchi. I'm sorry to say this to you, but don't you think it would be difficult with your abilities?"

"I thought so too, but Bukgung Jinwu said I could definitely find them. For now, I don't know about the Saintess, but didn't I find the fairy?"

"Even if Seolhwa is as beautiful as a fairy, she's not the Saintess. Isn't the Saintess a woman chosen by the god your cult speaks of? And I think I heard she has a special ability."

"That's right. The Saintess has the power to control death."

The ability of the Saintess, which Namgung Hui also knew from hearing it from Sosu Mahu.

But since Namgung Hui hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he was half-convinced.

'In the first place, it doesn't make sense that a living being can freely inflict death. If so, the Saintess would have massacred everyone in the Great War of Righteousness and Evil.'

Or there could be a special restriction.

Well, since the way of interpreting it in a religious sense could be different, Namgung Hui didn't attach much meaning to the Saintess.

She hadn't shown any particular appearance until the moment the Demonic Cult was destroyed.

"So Muchi. Do you have to find these sacred artifacts and the Saintess?"

"If I go back empty-handed, Bukgung Jinwu will definitely say something. To let the fairy and her husband in safely, I think I have to bring at least one of the two."

"H-husband. How embarrassing."

"Yes. Don't call me husband. I'm going to disguise myself as a woman when I infiltrate the Blood Cult."

"You're cross-dressing again? Have you perhaps awakened to a strange taste?"

"Tsk, tsk. Do you think I'm a pervert? It's not that, it's because someone I know gave me a disguised identity, and I have to disguise myself as a woman."

When the Pungun Merchant Guild had suggested infiltrating the Blood Cult, it was a story proposed by the Young Guild Leader, Kang Yuseong.

Since infiltrating as a woman could bring various advantages, such as body searches or the opponent's carelessness.

Namgung Hui had also readily agreed to cross-dress.

"Muchi. Let's think about the sacred artifacts of the cult as we go. I have an informant, so if I ask there, I might get something."

"Alright."

'Hu Gai might bring new news. And it would be okay to casually ask the Hao Faction.'

Namgung Hui, having finished talking to Muchi, this time looked at Beak Seolhwa's face and said.

"And you also need to disguise yourself if you're going to infiltrate. A pretty face like that isn't common, so let's make you look a little ugly."

"...Am I that pretty?"

"Of course. Then Muchi also needs to be disguised, so I'll have to get some supplies. Wait a minute. I'll be right back."

"Are you going alone?"

"There's no need to take you with me. It would be better to go alone instead of moving together cumbersomely."

"...Can't I go with you?"

"Well, if you want to follow, then follow. Muchi will be a little lonely, though."

"Muchi. It's okay. I'm used to it. You two go together."

Since Muchi was also okay with it, there was no reason to leave Beak Seolhwa behind.

On top of that, he had to tell his companions that he would be away for a while, so it would be better to move together.

Namgung Hui patted Muchi's shoulder and headed for the marketplace with Beak Seolhwa.

As they walked down the rather quiet street, they listened to the words of the passersby.

"To think the martial arts tournament ended like that... I was secretly hoping to see the Eighteen Arhat Formation that would be performed at the closing ceremony, but it's a pity."

"I was disappointed that the Plum Blossom Swordsmen didn't participate this time. The sword dance they perform is also quite beautiful. By the way, so did they catch the culprit of the explosion?"

"Yes. They said it was an old man and a young woman. But surprisingly, they said the woman's origin was from an unusual place."

"Where on earth?"

Namgung Hui had to stop his steps for a moment because of the name that came out of the passerby's mouth.

"The survivor of the Jinju Eon family, Eon Jiyeon..."

(End of Chapter)