Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Sujin. Bring those Blood Cult members to me. Then I will at least spare your life."

"?!"

Hwang Sujin, who had been confident even in front of the General, showed a flustered expression at Murong Yeonhui's words.

Anyone would be flustered to hear the words 'Blood Cult members.'

Moreover, she didn't even know that the Lord of Red Cliff Valley was a member of the Blood Cult.

Because Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa hadn't told her.

That was why her eyes trembled when she was told that Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa were members of the Blood Cult.

She probably couldn't believe it.

To think that the person she had accompanied, thinking of them as a friend, was a member of the Blood Cult.

But in her gut, it was somewhat understandable that the young Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa were so strong if they were Blood Cult members.

And although Murong Yeonhui had treated her badly, she was by no means a person who enjoyed making empty boasts.

Hwang Sujin frowned and asked.

"Mother. What nonsense is that? Do you have any proof?"

"Proof. It would be more accurate to say a witness. The hunchbacked man that you, Sujin, guided. He is also a member of the Blood Cult."

It seemed some information had flowed to the Heretic Alliance Lord, who was affiliated with the Hoicheon Association.

If the First Senior Brother of the Hao Faction, who had said there was a spy of the Hoicheon Association inside, had leaked the information.

'It wouldn't be strange for the Hoicheon Association to know. On top of that, since the Heretic Alliance Lord is also on their side, the reason for his dispatch is also explained. By the way, if there really is a spy of the Hoicheon Association in the Hao Faction, it's going to be a headache.'

Since all the disciples were in a suspicious situation, he couldn't point a finger at anyone.

But if he left the Hao Faction as it was, information would continue to leak.

He was worried about what the Hao Faction Leader was doing, to be just watching the spy.

Anyway, What was important right now was not the Hao Faction, but the Murong family group in front of him.

Perhaps it was not that the Hao Faction's spy had told them, but that the Hoicheon Association had found out through its own information power.

If so, he just had to subdue the opponent and ask.

Namgung Hui narrowed his eyes and said to Murong Yeonhui.

"Whether the hunchback is a member of the Blood Cult or not, why are you driving us to be Blood Cult members as well?"

"That's because Sujin was kidnapped by the Lord of Red Cliff Valley, a member of the Blood Cult. Sujin has no way to deal with the Lord of Red Cliff Valley, neither with her abilities nor her connections. And yet, she escaped Red Cliff Valley safely? That must be a situation where she was either recruited by the Blood Cult or is being threatened. With your martial power, it's certainly possible. Isn't it?"

'Seeing how she's deducing, it seems the information didn't leak from the Hao Faction.'

Whatever the case, Namgung Hui himself and Beak Seolhwa were being misunderstood as being from the Blood Cult.

To overcome this, he had to show something corresponding.

A plaque indicating his identity.

Or he would have to reveal the sect or family he belonged to.

For now, since he was in a disguised identity, there was nothing he could put forward, but Namgung Hui suddenly had a good plan.

Namgung Hui, having finished his thoughts, searched his robes and took out a jade plaque.

A luxurious jade plaque with the character 'Association' (會) engraved in a flowing script.

A spoil he had obtained after dealing with an elder of the Heretic Alliance.

The General had certainly told him to use this to knock on the door of the Hoicheon Association.

Then now was the time to use it in earnest.

As Namgung Hui took out the jade plaque, the expressions of the people who saw it changed from moment to moment.

Hwang Sujin, who was right next to him, widened her eyes and seemed to feel a sense of betrayal.

Beak Seolhwa, who was next to her, hid her expression.

And Murong Yeonhui, who was in front, squinted one eye and opened her mouth.

"You're also a member of the Association? I haven't heard anything about it."

"I was recently invited to join by the General. It would be convenient to see me as a recommended member."

"An invitation to join? A recommended member? Do you think the Hoicheon Association is a neighborhood alumni association? But the jade plaque is undoubtedly genuine. This is strange."

"Of course it's genuine, since I was invited by the General. I've dealt with the Lord of Red Cliff Valley and brought back Hwang Sujin for the sake of the Association. If she were to fall into the hands of the Blood Cult, it would surely have an impact."

In the first place, what the Lord of Red Cliff Valley had aimed for was probably to strike a blow to the financial resources of the Hoicheon Association.

On top of that, if he could send a huge amount of silver to the Blood Cult, it would be killing two birds with one stone.

Murong Yeonhui looked at Namgung Hui with eyes still full of suspicion.

"Female masters are extremely rare. Not to mention if they are in the ranks of the later generation masters. Such a precious talent appeared before me without a sound or a rumor, and on top of that, calls herself an ally? If it were you, would you believe it so readily?"

"Then what will you do if you don't believe me? Are you going to subdue me here?"

"There's no need for that. The General is also here at this merchant guild, so I can just ask him directly."

"You probably won't get the answer you want. The General I'm talking about is a different General."

Perhaps because he had revealed the existence of another General.

The Murong family members standing in the back looked at each other and murmured.

And Murong Yeonhui, as if she knew this fact, looked at Namgung Hui again with an interested expression.

"If you know that much, there's a high probability that you're really an ally. Then, which of the Three Heavens do you belong to?"

"I belong to the Demonic Heaven."

After finishing his words, Namgung Hui performed the Red Lotus Sword Art, the easiest of the demonic arts he knew to imitate, the martial art of the Black Wind Brigade.

Of course, since the true meaning was not contained and only the form was similar, it was different from the real demonic art.

But the only one who could properly recognize that now was Beak Seolhwa.

As Namgung Hui finished his demonstration, Murong Yeonhui opened her mouth with a slightly impressed expression.

"Oho. I was rude. To have such a female master join our side, you are most welcome."

"Thank you for believing me even now. To be honest, I was in a situation where I shouldn't have moved, but I was blinded by merit and acted on my own. I hope you will report well to the higher-ups."

"Yes. Merit is merit, so I will report it well. Then bring Sujin to me now."

Hwang Sujin seemed quite flustered, as if she hadn't known things would turn out this way.

To think that the person she had trusted as a friend was not only performing a demonic art but was also on the same side as her stepmother.

Hwang Sujin, who had been widening her eyes, shook her head violently and was lost in thought.

'This isn't right. He definitely showed hostility towards the Hoicheon Association. And no matter how ignorant I am of martial arts. He didn't perform a demonic art when he was facing the Lord of Red Cliff Valley. Rather, the Lord of Red Cliff Valley's martial art resembled a demonic art! Then perhaps...?'

Hwang Sujin made a determined expression, as if she had resolved something.

"Mother! No. Lady Murong. What are you planning to do using me? Are you planning to threaten my bedridden father?"

"Yes. Why do you ask when you already know? There's no need to hide it now, so I'll tell you plainly. I plan to obtain the last remaining key to the secret repository. I've already collected two, so I just need to take your father's."

"Then I'd rather die!"

After finishing her words, Hwang Sujin took out a dagger and immediately thrust it towards her own heart.

But would Namgung Hui, who was right next to her, just watch?

He quickly snatched her dagger and grabbed her pulse.

"Ack! Let go of me!"

"I can't do that. Because I have to present you to Lady Murong. Then shall we go?"

Namgung Hui walked towards Murong Yeonhui while subduing Hwang Sujin.

Hwang Sujin had a pitiful expression like a cow being dragged to a slaughterhouse.

And Namgung Hui had a gallant posture like a general who had accumulated merit.

"Here is Miss Hwang Sujin. Please take her."

The atmosphere was like a transaction where a person was an object.

Would the scene of human trafficking at the Black Market be like this?

Murong Yeonhui looked down at the tearful Hwang Sujin and opened her mouth.

"I've finally caught you with my own hands. You've slipped away like an eel all this time, but you chose the wrong bodyguard this time. You chose someone on my side, so your much-vaunted insight is also a thing of the past."

"Hmph! Do you think my grandfather will just stand by and watch this? The guards all saw me enter here."

"Do you think I can't silence them? And whatever the case, your leash is attached to me, so it doesn't matter. Then let's see that insolent mouth of yours."

Murong Yeonhui shot up from her seat and was about to grab Hwang Sujin's face.

Until Namgung Hui snatched her wrist.

"Why are you suddenly interfering?"

"That is..."

Namgung Hui, who had been trailing off his words, curled the corners of his mouth and pulled Murong Yeonhui.

"What is this!"

Murong Yeonhui tried to resist violently, but no matter how much of a peak master she was, if her paralyzing acupoint was subdued, she couldn't move, like a log.

"What do you mean, what is it? You were deceived by me. You people of the Murong family? If you move, this Murong Yeonhui will die."

From the beginning, Namgung Hui had trusted Hwang Sujin.

To be precise, her insight.

Since a telepathic message would cause a vibration of ki, if he had performed it in front of Murong Yeonhui, she would have surely noticed.

Namgung Hui trusted Hwang Sujin's insight and committed the act.

As a result, he was able to subdue Murong Yeonhui beautifully without any noise.

'With Hwang Sujin's acting skills and her insight, she had no choice but to notice the hint in what I was saying. In the first place, if she had seen my martial arts, there's no way she would think I was a member of the Blood Cult.'

In the first place, if Namgung Hui had really known how to use a demonic art, the Lord of Red Cliff Valley would have expressed it in front of Hwang Sujin.

On top of that, it was almost impossible to subdue a Transcendent master with just imitation.

And he had crushed him with overwhelming martial power.

Hadn't Hwang Sujin also proposed to accompany him after seeing such martial arts?

If she had been suspicious of Namgung Hui's origin from that time, she would not have requested to accompany him.

Murong Junseong looked back and forth between the subdued Murong Yeonhui and Namgung Hui and said.

"Tch! Sister. You acted so high and mighty, and now look at you."

"Murong Junseong. Didn't you also lose the martial arts tournament you were so confident about? In the first place, if you had won, things wouldn't have turned out this way!"

"That's enough. Sister. What's the point of arguing about who's right and who's wrong now? So, Hwang Sujin. What is it that you want?"

Hwang Sujin glanced at Namgung Hui's expression and then answered.

"The list of the Hoicheon Association members who have infiltrated our merchant guild. I'd like you to hand that over. And I'd also like to get the antidote for the poison that poisoned my father."

"Every single one of those is a matter I cannot answer. The same goes for sister Yeonhui, so don't ask. We don't even know the name of the poison."

"Lies! Murong Yeonhui definitely poisoned my father! And you don't even know the name of the poison? That's ridiculous!"

"What's so ridiculous about it? And didn't you bring the Little Saintess for the antidote? It might be faster to ask her rather than us. Well, she's probably been subdued by now anyway. Hahaha!"

If they had realized that Muchi was a member of the Blood Cult, they would have surely sent people to subdue him.

If the Little Saintess had also come for the Young Guild Leader's antidote, the members of the Hoicheon Association would have flocked to capture her.

Even if she had learned some martial arts, she seemed to be no match for the group of the Hoicheon Association.

Although Namgung Hui hadn't fully grasped Muchi's underlying strength, seeing how quiet it was...

'Muchi must have been subdued as well.'

As soon as Namgung Hui had that thought, a loud noise was suddenly heard from one side of the corridor.

-Ujigeun! Kudangtangtang!

"I-intruder!"