Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Oh. Who is this. Isn't it the youngest junior brother?"

"...How did you recognize me when I'm in disguise?"

"You recited the secret password that only disciples use, so I had no choice but to know."

Dam Gihae. The third disciple of the Hao Faction Leader and the successor of the Empty Gate Sect, the sect of thieves, had appeared.

Namgung Hui thought it would be faster to ask Dam Gihae than anyone else, so he considered it a fortunate turn of events.

"Is that so? Alright. This is perfect. With the third senior brother here, it'll be much easier to ask for information."

"Haha! I've even been called senior brother by the Hidden Dragon, I've made it in life. Alright. Since I've heard the lip service of being called senior brother, if you have anything you're curious about, ask away. I'll tell you what I know."

Namgung Hui nodded and asked.

"The manual the Wudang Sect is looking for, do you know what it is?"

"You even found out that the Wudang Sect lost a manual? Wow, junior brother's skills are more outstanding than I thought. Well, telling you that isn't difficult. The lost manuals are the Ten-Section Brocade and the Two-Principle Heart Method. And also the Wudang Sect's spirit medicine, the Great Clarity Pill. They lost these three."

"What? They even had the Great Clarity Pill stolen?"

Great Clarity Pill.

If the Shaolin Temple had the Great Rejuvenation Pill, the Wudang Sect had the Great Clarity Pill.

The most expensive spirit medicine of the Wudang Sect.

To be honest, it was somewhat lacking compared to the Great Rejuvenation Pill, but it was still superior to the Small Rejuvenation Pill and the Mount Hua Sect's Purple Mist Pill.

To think that such a peerless spirit medicine was stolen.

No matter how much the spies of the Blood Cult had prepared for 10 years, he hadn't known that even a giant sect like the Wudang Sect would give up its treasures so easily.

"This must be no ordinary matter, but the Wudang Sect isn't even asking the Martial Alliance for help? Still, they had three things stolen, wouldn't it be a big problem if this fell into the enemy's hands?"

"That's probably because they've already recovered the Ten-Section Brocade and the Great Clarity Pill."

"Why are you only telling me that now?"

"I wanted to see the look of surprise on junior brother's face."

As expected of the Wudang Sect with its underlying strength, they had recovered the stolen manual and spirit medicine in one go.

Still, it seemed they hadn't recovered the Two-Principle Heart Method manual yet, as the disciples were running around busily.

Beak Seolhwa pouted her lips, as if something was not to her liking.

"Okwol. What are you so dissatisfied about now?"

"I heard the Ten-Section Brocade was recovered..."

"It has returned to its original owner, so there's no need to be so disappointed. All treasures have their rightful owners, so if you are worthy, it will come into your hands someday."

"Hmph! Talk is cheap. So you're saying the opportunity might never come."

Namgung Hui shook his head as if he was fed up and said to Dam Gihae.

"Then do you happen to know where the thief who stole it is?"

"If we knew that, we would have recovered the manual long ago. Even the Hao Faction has no way of knowing that."

"I guess I have no choice but to wait for the right time."

As Namgung Hui dropped his head in resignation, Dam Gihae added.

"Well, there are two candidate locations that are presumed to be safe houses. I can tell you those, do you want to go?"

"I'd welcome it if you tell me, but aren't you going, third senior brother? You're a master of thievery... no, of stealing arts, so it's worth a shot, isn't it?"

"You'll know why when you hear it. The candidate locations are... Honghu Fortress and Red Cliff Valley."

"Honghu Fortress must be the Yangtze River Water Fortress, but I've never heard of Red Cliff Valley. What kind of place is it?"

"You don't know Red Cliff Valley? Ah. You said junior brother was bedridden for 10 years. I forgot because you know more than I thought. This is a place that should be seen as a new rising sect, and the valley master here seems to be quite outstanding even among the hundred great masters. Even the Faction Leader warned me about it."

"The Hao Faction Leader? What did he say?"

Dam Gihae glanced at Beak Seolhwa and Muchi.

He seemed to be asking if it was okay to tell them.

"These people are my people, so it's okay to say it."

Dam Gihae nodded slightly and stealthily opened his mouth.

"I heard the Red Cliff Valley Master has learned a demonic art. The only witnesses are our Hao Faction members, so the Martial Alliance probably doesn't know. If they knew, some measures would have been taken."

"A demonic art..."

Namgung Hui realized that it wasn't just the Blood Cult that used demonic arts.

Hadn't an elder named Daesangheum used a demonic art at the Black Market last time?

At that time, he had thought he had learned a demonic art that was auctioned at the Black Market, but thinking about it again now, it seemed to be a demonic art that had flowed from the Demonic Heaven.

As long as the Demonic Heaven was in the Hoicheon Association, they wouldn't let a demonic art manual flow into the Black Market.

As Namgung Hui stealthily glanced at Beak Seolhwa and Muchi, Muchi stood still as if it were no big deal, while Beak Seolhwa looked slightly nervous.

'As expected of Sosu Mahu, her reaction to demonic arts is quite different.'

Namgung Hui suddenly judged that from the moment he had coincidentally met her at the Thunder Sect, to the incident of being struck by lightning on the same day, all of this could not have happened by chance.

Perhaps it was sent down from the heavens to prevent the chaos of the martial world.

Because the concept of reincarnation itself could not have happened to two people by mere coincidence.

'Is it that my life and Sosu Mahu's life were so pitiful that they let us reincarnate and told us to protect the peace of the world?'

Of course, it could be that Namgung Hui was reading too much into it.

But as long as there was a General who saw through it, it was difficult to dismiss it as a simple coincidence.

For some reason, Cheongi-ja, who was said to see into the secrets of heaven, also seemed to know something.

"Anyway. It's too dangerous for me to infiltrate such a dangerous place alone. The Yangtze River Water Fortress is surrounded by water, so it's difficult to use my lightness skill, and Red Cliff Valley is a rugged terrain no different from a natural fortress, so it's easy to die if you misstep."

"I see. I understand. Still, aren't you telling me too readily? Is there something you want?"

"It's nothing special. The meeting with the first senior brother I mentioned before, won't you push for it soon? The value of junior brother's name might not be the same as back then, but the first senior brother is asking so earnestly. Junior brother will also be able to get something without feeling disappointed."

Dam Gihae, as if he had received something from that person called the first senior brother, made the shape of a silver coin with his hand and grinned.

"I have the first senior brother's invitation, so I'll stop by on my way."

"Good. Good. He's in Hunan Province now, so it'll be fine if you go after you finish your business in Hubei Province."

"And Senior Brother Dam. Can I ask you for one more favor?"

"Ask away."

"By any chance, has Senior Brother Dam inherited the true succession of the Empty Gate Sect?"

"Well, you probably guessed from seeing me before, but I am the current successor of the Empty Gate Sect. But since I haven't been taught the complete martial arts, there's an ambiguous aspect to it."

"Is that why you became a disciple of the Hao Faction Leader? Anyway, Since that's the case, let me ask you about the imperial palace's secret repository. I'm planning to infiltrate it, can you give me some information or advice?"

Dam Gihae, who had been picking his ear, was startled and shouted.

"What? The imperial palace's secret repository!? Do you think that's a place you can just enter like you're visiting a marketplace? If I had to give you advice, it would be to never go there."

"Why? Didn't the Shadowless Divine Thief enter it before?"

"Sigh... At that time, the Shadowless Divine Thief almost died and came back alive. And after that, he was chased in a huge pursuit and eventually met his death. In that process, some of the ultimate techniques of the Empty Gate Sect were lost, so now I'm in a situation where I can't completely succeed the Empty Gate Sect. Why of all places do you have to rob the imperial palace's secret repository? Are you trying to get revenge on the Hoicheon Association?"

"It's not revenge, an acquaintance needs a medicinal ingredient that's in the imperial palace's secret repository. To save that person, I absolutely need to get it."

"What on earth is the medicinal ingredient that you need to go all the way to the imperial palace's secret repository? Do you need a dragon's inner core or something? Well, it's not my problem to meddle in. Alright. I can give you a map. I don't know how to infiltrate, so don't ask."

"Just the map is enough. I'll take care of the infiltration myself."

As Dam Gihae disappeared somewhere, Namgung Hui fiddled with the Hoicheon Association's jade plaque in his robes and grinned.

'The General said I could knock on the door anytime. This is enough to infiltrate. Before I go, if I develop or learn a new concealment technique, there won't be a problem.'

Or it seemed fine to learn from Muchi.

The reason he had been able to hide at the mountain summit all this time was thanks to a great concealment technique.

If Beak Seolhwa ordered him from the side, he would surely tell Namgung Hui, even if it was the Blood Cult's concealment technique.

In fact, since he hadn't raised any objections to Namgung Hui's orders, he would probably agree if Namgung Hui asked.

Dam Gihae, who had disappeared for a short while, appeared with a rather thick scroll.

"Here's the map of the imperial palace. You can trust it, as its accuracy is superior to any other map."

"Thank you. When I meet the first senior brother later, I'll be sure to praise Senior Brother Dam."

"I don't expect praise. Just say I sent you. Then, is our business finished?"

"Is there any contact from the second senior sister?"

"The second senior sister and I are not on good terms. However, some news came to the Hao Faction from her, and it was news about the Heretic Alliance. It's probably related to junior brother, right?"

"What news?"

"It was news that the Blood Wolf Brigade had been dispatched from the Heretic Alliance. It seemed like they were intending to get revenge because the Heretic Alliance Lord's disciple had died. Well, since you said you didn't kill him, the blade of revenge won't be directed at you."

As the Heretic Alliance Lord's disciple was mentioned, Muchi blinked.

He seemed to be making that expression to hide his surprise, but in Namgung Hui's eyes, it was clear that Muchi was quite flustered.

'You brat. You're big and your martial arts are strong, but you're a coward. Even if the Blood Wolf Brigade attacks in a group, you'll win... I don't think so.'

The Blood Wolf Brigade was one of the representative strike forces of the Heretic Alliance.

In the current era, without the best strike force, the Black Wind Brigade, the Blood Wolf Brigade might be the best single strike force.

Mobility and ruthless hands that didn't distinguish between water and fire.

On top of that, they didn't shy away from any method for their purpose.

And since they had even gained the justification of revenge, Namgung Hui couldn't even imagine what those guys would really do.

Namgung Hui patted the back of the frightened Muchi and said.

"It'll be fine. Just trust this big brother."

"Big... brother...?"

Since he was in front of Dam Gihae, Namgung Hui couldn't reveal the identities of Beak Seolhwa and Muchi, so he responded with a smiling eye instead of an answer.

"Anyway. Senior Brother Dam. I'll use the information you gave me well. If you get any more good news later, let me know."

"Alright. I'll have to run around diligently to act as the Hidden Dragon's senior brother. Ah. And since the Wudang Sect disciples are out now, the movements of the Yangtze River Water Fortress are also unusual. You should be careful."

"It seems those guys have smelled something too. Alright, I'll be careful."

Namgung Hui had also been through all sorts of hardships, so he knew well not to underestimate the water bandits.

In particular, since they were skilled in swimming, they would show off a martial prowess superior to their original skills when they entered the water.

Moreover, even an absolute master would die if they couldn't breathe.

On top of that, if it was in the water where one couldn't perform a lightness skill, the range of movement would also be restricted.

'Well, as long as I don't go into the water.'

Namgung Hui was about to wave his hand and leave the Hao Faction branch.

Dam Gihae, as if he had suddenly thought of something, threw him a letter.

"I almost forgot. That's a summary of the recent trends in the martial world. It's the most basic and important information. Take a look at it when you're bored later."

"Oh. Thank you so much. As expected of a descendant of the Empty Gate Sect, your senses are extraordinary. Then I'll really be going. Senior Brother Dam."

Namgung Hui's tone had become much gentler than at the beginning.

As expected, there must be giving and receiving between people for affection to build.

As soon as Namgung Hui's party left the Hao Faction's branch, Dam Gihae hurriedly sent a message somewhere.

(End of Chapter)