Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Listen to the end! The previous Sosu Mahu was from the North Sea Ice Palace, that is, from the Northern Heaven of the Hoicheon Association! That necklace is the proof!"

"..."

At the words of the Lord of Red Cliff Valley, Namgung Hui recalled the sacred artifact of the Divine Cult that Hu Gai had shown him.

The necklace clearly drawn there.

The Mark of the North Sea.

He had wondered why its name was the Mark of the North Sea.

'To think she was really from the North Sea...'

Then he immediately understood why Sosu Mahu had used ice-based techniques.

Extreme yin ki, like thunder ki, was an extremely difficult energy to handle.

It was rare to see both the talent and the martial arts to handle it easily at the same time.

Of course, since the world was so vast, there was no law saying another user couldn't appear.

But just as the only ones who handled thunder ki were still from the Thunder Sect.

The only ones who properly handled ice arts were from the North Sea Ice Palace.

There were a few sects and families that used cold ki, but they did not show as outstanding an aspect as Beak Seolhwa.

If they had, their names would have been known long ago and they would have gained fame in the martial world.

That was how difficult extreme yin ki was to handle, to the point where achieving great completion was almost impossible.

"..."

Namgung Hui maintained his silence.

And Beak Seolhwa was still watching Namgung Hui's expression.

As if not to miss this opportunity, the words of the Lord of Red Cliff Valley continued like a machine gun.

"On top of that, regardless of her origin, the Vice Cult Leader, Sosu Mahu, was a person close to the Elder Faction, both in terms of seniority and otherwise. How could her successor stand on your side? Even if it's not the Hoicheon Association, it would be more reasonable for her to stand on our Blood Cult's side."

"There is some truth to your words. But how did you recognize the Sosu Demonic Art? The original form should have disappeared."

"Dugu In has already sent a message to the Blood Cult. If you are a successor of the Thunder Sect, you would not be unaware of that fact. After all, the first traces of the Sosu Demonic Art were discovered at the Namgung family estate. Then I will ask again. Successor of the Mahu. Will you not join us?"

Not only the gaze of the Lord of Red Cliff Valley, but also Namgung Hui's gaze turned to Beak Seolhwa.

"..."

She was still lost in silence.

And she did not give any answer.

It seemed she was contemplating how much Namgung Hui knew.

Then, Namgung Hui patted Beak Seolhwa's shoulder and said.

"Right now, we are friends. At least, that's what I think. You promised, right? That you would tell me everything after the Blood Cult's affair is over."

"Yes. I did. But now..."

"For now, dealing with the guys in front of us is the priority. Whatever plot you have, that's my problem to deal with. It means it's not a problem for those guys to meddle in. When did we ever act while being mindful of others' eyes?"

It was the same in his past life.

Even during the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, the two had declared themselves rivals and had left the ranks to fight countless times.

A feeling of being rivals and comrades at the same time.

They had moved instinctively, driven by their fighting spirit.

In that transcendent emotion, they had felt a slight affection for each other.

Although it was a memory close to a dark history for Namgung Hui, hadn't they also shared a kiss at the end of their lives?

If there had been no feelings, it would have been an act they could not have performed.

But then and now were different.

Namgung Hui had gained the fence of the Namgung family.

And his current self also coexisted.

It would be the same for Beak Seolhwa.

Namgung Hui could not understand her inner thoughts, but he thought he would be able to vaguely read them during their upcoming trip to the Blood Cult.

In the first place, just by looking at her actions at the Blood Cult, he would have no choice but to guess her direction.

If the Blood Cult were to aim for Namgung Hui's life...

'Then we would truly become greater sworn enemies than in the past. More than the Blood Cult and the Hoicheon Association.'

But at this moment, it was time to face the Lord of Red Cliff Valley in front of him.

Depending on how Beak Seolhwa responded here, Namgung Hui's course of action would also change.

"Alright. Let's deal with that guy first and then talk."

"Yes. That's enough."

Namgung Hui nodded and launched himself at the Lord of Red Cliff Valley.

At the same time, purple lightning flew, and explosions rang out in succession.

-Kwang! Kwagwagwang!

The Lord of Red Cliff Valley, as expected of a Transcendent master, immediately unleashed his sword aura to block Namgung Hui's Explosive Thunder Palm.

At the clash of the auras, a storm raged, and the debris of the collapsed pavilion scattered.

Beak Seolhwa froze that torrent of debris and advanced towards Hyeokryeon Socheon.

As Beak Seolhwa approached, Hyeokryeon Socheon narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth.

"Successor of the Mahu. It's not too late even now. Join our Blood Cult. I will personally recommend you to the Cult Leader."

"You dare to recommend me? Don't be ridiculous. Do you think this body would receive such a thing from a mere spy?"

"Tsk, tsk. An ugly thing has a high nose."

"...?"

Beak Seolhwa, having heard that she was ugly for the first time in her life, was at a loss for words.

Although her current appearance was a disguise, she didn't feel very good.

But one thing she was relieved about was.

'He doesn't know my true identity. Is it because that Dugu In guy sent the message in a hurry?'

If he had known she was the Young Palace Mistress of the Moon Maiden Palace, who was famous for her beauty, Hyeokryeon Socheon would not have dared to say she was ugly.

Beak Seolhwa, with a wicked smile, swung her sword at Hyeokryeon Socheon.

Of course, her sword was scattered with ice flowers made of bundles of aura.

-Chwarararak!

Although Hyeokryeon Socheon was a rather outstanding master, to block Beak Seolhwa's sword aura.

-Seogeok!

It seemed his skills were insufficient.

His left arm was cut off in one go, and he spat out red blood.

"Keoheok! You wench are not just a successor of the Mahu. This is definitely not the Sosu Demonic Art...!"

"You only realize that now? Well, how much would you guys know even if you did? Tsk, tsk."

In fact, there was a high probability that no one in the current generation, except for Namgung Hui, remembered the original form of the Sosu Demonic Art.

Even Cheongi-ja, who was famous for his insight, would have only encountered the Sosu Demonic Art through literature.

In the first place, if Beak Seolhwa hadn't performed the Sosu Demonic Art at the Namgung family estate, this fact would not have been conveyed to the Blood Cult.

"If you just stand there like that until the end, you won't be able to escape death."

"Eek!"

Hyeokryeon Socheon stopped the bleeding of his left arm and raised his sword.

A determined expression appeared on his face, as if he had steeled his resolve.

Namgung Hui, who was exchanging blows with the Lord of Red Cliff Valley, added a word to the ripening atmosphere.

"Lord of Red Cliff Valley. Is this all you've got?"

"I was just about to show you my ultimate technique. You brat. You've become arrogant just because you reached the Transcendent realm at a young age. Let me show you the taste of old ginger."

"Old ginger. It must be good for the body."

As the Lord of Red Cliff Valley had boasted, a sword aura nearly three feet long shot up from his sword.

Had Namgung Hui ever seen such a large aura since he came to the martial world?

Even Beak Seolhwa had used her aura by splitting it into small pieces, not by increasing its size so foolishly.

It meant that the Lord of Red Cliff Valley possessed a massive amount of internal energy.

And it meant that his claim of it being his final ultimate technique was not an empty boast.

-Uungung!!

With a loud sword cry, the sword aura fell towards Namgung Hui's head.

A magnificent sword aura that was no different from a death sentence for an ordinary person.

But Namgung Hui was no ordinary person.

He responded with his Thunder God Sword and drew his sword.

-Pat!

A purple line was drawn like the horizon, and a sword cry followed.

A result of extreme speed.

It dropped the large sword aura just like the story of the person named Hou Yi shooting down the sun.

-Ttaenggeurang.

The arm holding the sword was cut off and fell to the ground.

There was no trace of the magnificent sword aura.

Instead, from someone's mouth, blood that was reminiscent of a sword aura poured out.

"Keulleok! Was there such a fast sword art...? On top of that, the Thunder Sect doesn't even use swords."

"Your information is rather slow. Is it because you're stuck in Red Cliff Valley? To not even know of the existence of the Divine Thunder Sword Art, let alone that I can also use a swift sword."

"To be defeated by a brat like this..."

Thud.

The upper body of the Lord of Red Cliff Valley separated from his lower body and collapsed.

It was cut so smoothly that it seemed he would come back to life if the upper body was just reattached.

In fact, if the people of the Jinju Eon family had seen it, they could have made him into a Jiangshi and revived him.

Beak Seolhwa's side also seemed to have settled the situation, as there was no noise coming from there.

As Namgung Hui turned his head in that direction, he saw Hyeokryeon Socheon lying on the ground, coughing up blood.

Hyeokryeon Socheon, with difficulty, turned his head towards Namgung Hui and slowly opened his mouth.

"B-beware... of the Northern Heaven..."

And so, leaving behind that meaningful word, Hyeokryeon Socheon also breathed his last.

Namgung Hui stared at him for a moment, then advanced towards the corpse of the Lord of Red Cliff Valley.

'Whether it's the Northern Heaven or the Demonic Heaven. What's important now is the Blood Cult. First, let's retrieve the Great Luo Sparrow Needle.'

Fortunately, the Great Luo Sparrow Needle came out of the robes of the Lord of Red Cliff Valley.

And a few more items came out, but before he could examine them, Beak Seolhwa approached and stored them in her robes for now.

"...Hui."

"You should call me I Jayeon for now. Seol Okwol."

"Yes. Jayeon. What are you planning to do from now on?"

"From now on. I think that's something you should ask yourself, not me."

Beak Seolhwa looked intently and clearly into Namgung Hui's eyes and said.

"You've figured it all out, haven't you?"

"Not all of it. I still don't know your inner thoughts."

"..."

Beak Seolhwa couldn't answer.

Because she herself didn't know her own complicated inner thoughts at the moment.

No. In fact, she had already leaned towards one side, but there was still something she needed to confirm.

'Can I maintain this heart even when I go to the Divine Cult? Can this heart not change when I face the cult members...'

Even now, hadn't Muchi alone made her steps turn towards the Blood Cult?

Of course, she couldn't guarantee that there would be another innocent person like Muchi in the Blood Cult, but there were bound to be innocent people.

Even if they didn't want to, if they were born as the child of a cult member, it would be a situation where they could do neither this nor that.

'I can't let unjustly and pitiful people be created like in my past life.'

During the time of Sosu Mahu, it wasn't that there were no Orthodox Faction members who had died unjustly at her hands.

Just thinking about it, there were more than ten.

But if she hadn't killed them, the blade would have eventually turned towards her.

There was no reason to show mercy once they had met as enemies on the battlefield.

To not even create such innocent victims, she had to enter the Blood Cult herself and have a showdown.

Beak Seolhwa clenched her necklace tightly and steeled her resolve once again.

Not to repeat the mistakes of her past life.

"Perhaps because it's a valley. It's starting to get cold. Let's go in quickly."

The two, who had long since reached the state of being impervious to heat and cold, were unlikely to feel the cold, but Namgung Hui, due to the cold atmosphere of the current situation, hurriedly moved his steps.

As Beak Seolhwa, who had been following him with lonely eyes, also left, only the coldly stiffened corpses and the wind remained in Red Cliff Valley.

* * *

"By the way, you two, did you fight or something? The atmosphere is strange."

At Muchi's question, Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa shook their heads and said.

"No."

"No."

"Jinwu said that a strong denial indicates a strong affirmation. Since there are two denials, it seems to become an affirmation."

Muchi's head seemed to work really well at times like this.

Should I say that his ability to read the atmosphere was also more sensitive than that of ordinary people?

'Come to think of it, when I was hiding, it felt like he was reading my presence. He's a guy with outstanding five senses.'

Namgung Hui ruffled Muchi's hair and continued.

"It's not like that, so don't worry about it. By the way, how are the people?"

Muchi pointed to a corner of the pavilion and said.

"The Saintess over there is taking good care of them. Thank you."

"Thank me? You should be thanking the Little Saintess over there."

"No. I was thanking you, brother, no, I Jayeon."

"Me? Why?"

As Namgung Hui tilted his head and asked, Muchi smiled brightly and answered.

"Thanks to you, I found her. Our Saintess."