Rebirth of the Thunder God

"I-intruder!"

It seemed Namgung Hui's guess was wrong, as a familiar presence was felt from one side of the corridor. And two of them at that.

'Did Muchi escape with the Little Saintess? If he was going to go, he should have gone outside the merchant guild, why come to this dangerous place? Tsk.'

Unlike the clicking of his tongue in his mind, a faint smile was on Namgung Hui's face.

It meant he didn't particularly dislike Muchi's actions.

The door opened roughly, and Muchi, with the Little Saintess slung over one arm, revealed himself.

Now that the hunchback disguise was also gone, Muchi's head was so huge it seemed to touch the ceiling.

Perhaps because of that presence, the people of the Murong family also put their hands on their sword hilts and stared straight ahead.

"You found me well. This is all thanks to the Saintess."

"Don't mention it. By the way, Mr. Chunsam. The situation here seems quite complicated."

The one most surprised by the appearance of Seong Sohui and Muchi was Murong Yeonhui, who was being held by Namgung Hui.

She opened her mouth with wide eyes.

"I'm sure I fed that guy a special sleeping drug that could even put a spirit beast to sleep. No matter how much of a master he is, to overcome the medicine of that place...!"

"I told you the food tasted strange. You'll get in trouble if you play with food."

Food was one of Muchi's great joys.

Since she had ruined it, it was natural for Muchi to be angry.

Murong Yeonhui bit her lip and said.

"Junseong! It doesn't matter what happens to me! Capture that Blood Cult member and the Little Saintess!"

Murong Yeonhui realized the moment Namgung Hui subdued her.

That he would not harm her in order to extract some information from her.

If he had intended to take her life, he would have aimed for her neck from the beginning instead of subduing her like this.

As Murong Yeonhui sneered, Namgung Hui struck her neck hard and knocked her out.

It was a rather dangerous method, but it didn't matter if she died.

Because there were many people to ask.

-Sreung. Sreureung.

The members of the Murong family drew their swords and surrounded Namgung Hui's party and Muchi.

Not only were they outnumbered, but Namgung Hui's party had to fight while protecting Seong Sohui and Hwang Sujin.

On the contrary, the members of the Murong family had Murong Yeonhui's orders.

And Murong Junseong did not seem to value her life that much.

"I was hoping you'd really kill her, but it's a shame."

"Murong Junseong. What is your relationship with this Murong Yeonhui?"

"We are cousins. And within the Association, we are rivals. If you were to kill my sister, it could be an opportunity for me."

Whether he really wanted her to be killed.

Or whether he was bluffing to save Murong Yeonhui, he couldn't tell.

But one thing was certain.

'He's a guy who wouldn't care if Murong Yeonhui really died.'

There were only three things Namgung Hui wanted to find out from Murong Yeonhui.

The list of the Hoicheon Association members operating secretly in the Golden Merchant Guild, and how the people of the Murong family knew the martial arts of the Diancang Sect.

And whether the force that had annihilated Cheon Yeohwa's family was really the Golden Merchant Guild.

This was the main point.

If it was Murong Yeonhui, the mistress of the merchant guild, she would surely know something.

The Murong Junseong in front of him was difficult to see as a member of the Golden Merchant Guild in the first place, so he would not know much.

Hadn't he participated in the martial arts tournament with Namgung Hui until just a little while ago?

Even if he was a Transcendent master, he was only in the ranks of the later generation masters, so he would not know much.

'I have no choice but to take Murong Yeonhui out alive. I might even have to fight while protecting Murong Yeonhui.'

Silencing by murder.

The moment Murong Yeonhui was secured in Namgung Hui's hands.

The Hoicheon Association might try to kill her to prevent information from leaking.

It wouldn't be strange even if a restriction was placed on her.

In that confrontation, as if they had finished their calculations, the atmosphere became quite tense.

It was quiet like a drawn bowstring, but it was like a firecracker that could explode at any moment.

The one who broke that silence was, as expected, the Murong family's side.

Murong Junseong nodded and stepped forward.

"Listen up. Don't mind sister Yeonhui's life and dispose of them. I will take all responsibility."

""Yes!""

The martial artists of the Murong family formed a sword formation and approached.

The pressure weighing down on their shoulders and the momentum that dominated the air were extraordinary.

As expected of the Murong family, a member of the Five Great Families.

Although Namgung Hui had a bitter taste in his mouth, he certainly thought they were superior to the martial artists of the Namgung family.

Of course, he didn't know what would happen in the future.

Cheokcheokcheok!

A swift sword dance that matched their strides stirred the room.

A martial art that was not in the Murong family of the past.

A form closer to that of a sect rather than a family's martial art.

And a practical, swift sword style that felt distant from that of the Central Plains.

-Chaechaechaechang!

The swift swords thrust simultaneously by several people were so elegant that they were dazzling.

On top of that, not only did they pour in from various angles, but they were also fast.

A realm of sword momentum that an ordinary person could never block.

But.

"Ugh!"

"Eok!"

The martial artists of the Murong family each grabbed their wrists and frowned.

It was the price of carelessness, as they had not known their offense would be blocked so easily.

Azure Sky Boundless Sword Art.

A martial art that was the symbol of the domineering sword and had left the name of the Azure Sky Martial God.

The swift swords that the martial artists of the Murong family had unfolded were easily blocked by that domineering sword strike.

"This sword art is familiar. Are you perhaps from the Namgung family?"

"What does my origin matter? Rather, how did the Murong family learn the Sun-Shooting Sword Art when you're not even from the Diancang Sect?"

"No. What?"

The flustered Murong Junseong could not continue his words properly.

Now that 50 years had passed since the Diancang Sect was annihilated.

There were almost no one in the current generation who recognized the Sun-Shooting Sword Art.

At most, there would be the Heretic Alliance Lord and the Hao Faction Leader, who had lived for a long time.

And it was uncertain whether even they would properly remember the martial arts of the Diancang Sect, which had been a frontier sect.

"You're a really suspicious wench. Not only do you have the jade plaque of the Association. To even recognize the Sun-Shooting Sword Art. My mind has changed. I'll have to catch you myself and ask."

After finishing his words, Murong Junseong revealed a ki that was quite different from when he was at the martial arts tournament.

Perhaps because there was nothing to hide now, a ki that exploded without restraint.

Had he learned the internal energy heart method of another sect? The ki lingering around him was somewhat unfamiliar.

'This guy. His movement technique and his heart method, he's learned all sorts of martial arts from here and there.'

Although it seemed he had learned various martial arts like a martial artist of the Unorthodox Faction, unlike them, the martial arts that Murong Junseong had learned were all close to the orthodox ones.

Moreover, those martial arts all belonged to the ultimate techniques.

And they were of sects or families that almost no one remembered now.

The haze rising above Murong Junseong's head now seemed to be proof that he had learned a heart method of extreme yang.

'Don't tell me, the Sun Divine Palace? They're both affiliated with the Northern Heaven, is that why?'

Well, whatever the reason, the internal energy heart method that Murong Junseong had learned was that of the Sun Divine Palace, the highest among the supreme martial arts.

His movement technique was extremely stealthy and quiet, so it seemed to be that of an assassin.

And his sword art, as he had seen before, was clearly that of the Diancang Sect.

The common point was that they were sects that had once been located in Yunnan.

If so, it was considered that the assassin's martial art was that of the Killing Chamber.

-Pat!

A hot heat shot towards Namgung Hui.

A stealthy movement technique and a hot extreme yang ki.

On top of that, it was so exquisitely combined with the swift Sun-Shooting Sword Art that it made one think it was originally from one sect.

-Shwikshwikshwik!

The sword blade grazed Namgung Hui's cheek in succession.

Due to the hot heat, Namgung Hui's face turned red.

But that was all.

Not a single scratch was left on Namgung Hui's face.

"You dodge better than I thought."

Murong Junseong, as if he still had something to show, this time took a different starting stance and rushed in.

Not a swift sword, but a phantom sword.

A protean sword momentum flew at Namgung Hui from various directions.

Front, back.

The crown of the head, the nape of the neck, the heart, the dantian.

Aiming at each important vital point, a brilliant sword ki embroidered the empty air.

Namgung Hui, instead of striking it with his sword, quickly escaped the place with a Phantom Step and a Form-Shifting and Position-Switching technique.

Perhaps because the technique he had performed for a change had missed. Murong Junseong squinted one eye and opened his mouth.

"Tch! A minnow-like fellow."

"It would be an eel, not a minnow. Because the minnow is you, not me. By the way, the sword art you just performed must be the martial art of the Mount Heng Sect, right?"

"Hah. I'm so dumbfounded, I can't even speak. Is there a martial arts dictionary in your head or something?"

"For someone who can't speak, you're asking a lot of questions."

"So how did you recognize the Falling Star Thirteen Swords?"

Falling Star Thirteen Swords.

As its name suggested, it was a sword art created by modeling the shape of a falling star.

Since there were 13 different paths, it was given the name Thirteen Swords.

On top of that, the Mount Heng Sect was a sect with enough underlying strength to compete for the last seat of the Nine Sects One Gang at one time.

The Five Great Sword Sects.

With Mount Song of the Central Peak as the center.

There was a title referring to the sects located on Mount Heng of the Northern Peak, Mount Tai of the Eastern Peak, Mount Hua of the Western Peak, and Mount Heng of the Southern Peak.

Since the only remaining sect among the Five Great Sword Sects was the Mount Hua Sect, its meaning had now become meaningless.

'Was the name of the Mount Heng Sect's sword art the Falling Star Thirteen Swords? The name is vague, but that diverse and protean sword path is clearly left in my memory.'

On top of that, since it was also compared to the Plum Blossom Sword Art at that time, it was inevitable that it would remain in his mind.

Perhaps because he recalled the past.

The conversation he had with Wi Jinmyeong vaguely passed by.

'Brother Jaseong. You're saying my sword art is inferior to those Mount Heng guys. Is that it?'

'When did I say it was inferior? I said there was nothing lacking. It means that just because there are many techniques, it's not an outstanding sword art. Then is the South Sea Thirty-Six Swords the strongest?'

'Ahem... The South Sea guys are also quite good with their swords, aren't they? That's also because they have many techniques. Just you wait. I'll add more techniques and show you that I'm better than those guys.'

'Alright, alright. Do as you please. I also like the Mount Hua Sect better than the Mount Heng Sect.'

Namgung Hui finished his reminiscence and opened his mouth.

"Minnow. Are you curious about how I recognized the Falling Star Thirteen Swords?"

"Yes. Stop beating around the bush and just answer."

"If you're curious, five hundred nyang."

"What? Five hundred nyang? What kind of beggar-like talk is that? If you don't want to tell me, just say so..."

"I don't want to. Is that enough? And since I've been receiving all this time, it's my turn to attack."

Namgung Hui, this time, readjusted his sword hilt and took a specific starting stance.

A posture similar to the Sun-Shooting Sword Art that Murong Junseong had performed a little while ago.

But there was a subtly different part.

That was also revealed in the sword art that Namgung Hui performed.

-Swaeaek!

A momentum more ferocious than a simple arrow.

It was like seeing a crossbow fired with iron.

That's how fatal and sharp it was.

-Sageuk!

To the point of cutting flesh in an instant.

Along with Murong Junseong's hair, his left ear fell off, spraying blood.

"How can your sword be faster than mine!"

With a groan full of pain, Murong Junseong also swung his sword.

A Sun-Shooting Sword Art full of anger.

But it never reached Namgung Hui in the end.

Instead, Namgung Hui's sword just reached his wrist.

-Puhwak!

Along with a stream of blood from his wrist, a fishy scent of blood spewed out.

Along with the severed wrist, the sword fell to the ground.

And the knees of the wide-eyed Murong Junseong also knelt on the ground in vain.

"I-I was defeated so easily...? No way! What kind of sorcery did you perform!!"

"If you're affiliated with the Northern Heaven, you'll know well. That what I performed was not sorcery or a demonic art. Speak honestly. You also know. That the martial art I performed resembles the Sun-Shooting Sword Art."

"..."

As Namgung Hui neutralized Murong Junseong, the members of the Murong family who had been pushing back Beak Seolhwa and Muchi stopped their hands.

As if Murong Junseong should not be lost, unlike Murong Yeonhui.

It seemed others had the same thought, as a fierce energy suddenly flew towards Namgung Hui.

-Swaeaek!

And a bundle of eerie aura at that.

(End of Chapter)