Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Then, if you receive my three moves, I will return."

At the Heretic Alliance Lord's proposal, the Divine Dragon, Muwon, who was next to him, answered instead.

"Donor Alliance Lord. How can a frail woman receive three of the donor's techniques? I will receive them instead."

"For a bald monk, you sure are fond of women."

"T-this isn't like that."

"Then would you receive them even if that person were a man?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

The Heretic Alliance Lord sneered and continued.

"Well, it doesn't matter. The one I have business with is that guy, so step aside. I won't stop you if you try to block me. But you guys won't end with just three moves. Will that guy endure just three moves and pass? Or will you guys see the end?"

Muwon stealthily examined Namgung Hui.

He seemed to be gauging whether he could receive the three moves.

In Muwon's eyes, Namgung Hui did not look like such a master.

A frail woman, and a rather beautiful one at that.

Rather, because of that beauty, it seemed Namgung Hui would not be able to receive even one move, let alone three.

"Young lady. Will you be able to receive three of the Donor Alliance Lord's techniques?"

Even Namgung Hui could not give a definite answer.

No, if he could show all of his true martial arts, three moves and more would be possible.

But as long as he couldn't use thunder ki in front of them, that was an unreasonable statement.

What would happen if it was revealed in front of them that Namgung Hui was with Muchi?

Not only the reputation of the Thunder Sect, but the reputation of the Namgung family would also hit rock bottom.

No, even if that wasn't the case, it was clear that the reputation he had built up so far would be tarnished.

Because it was true that he had taken him out and protected him with Beak Seolhwa.

And it didn't seem like he could silence the Sword Dragon and the Divine Dragon either.

'Wait. But there's no reason for me not to show all my martial arts.'

He had been contemplating it recently. He had devised a way to use martial arts without revealing his thunder ki.

Hadn't he participated in the duels at the martial arts tournament without using sword ki or sword aura?

In that process, he had been able to find some clues.

And fortunately, the only heart method Namgung Hui knew was not the Purple Thunder Divine Art.

The Purple Mist Divine Art.

And the Namgung family's inherited martial art, the Great Expansion Divine Art.

It seemed it wouldn't be bad if he combined these two appropriately.

'It's not complete yet, but shall I give it a try? If it's three techniques, I think I can somehow endure it.'

It might be different for others, but Namgung Hui knew the Heretic Alliance Lord's flaws.

His breathing and habits.

He would be able to strike the opening that appeared in the flow of his techniques in one go.

Namgung Hui nodded and said.

"Alright. I will receive the three techniques. If I really receive the three techniques, you will withdraw as you are. Understood?"

"Understood. But if you die within the three techniques, don't blame me. You over there, the tiger-like guy and the bald monk, you understand too, right?"

"Yes. Is there any doubt?"

"Alright. Donor Alliance Lord."

The Divine Dragon and the Sword Dragon, who had finished speaking, withdrew.

Beak Seolhwa also looked at Namgung Hui for a moment and then stealthily withdrew.

She usually didn't worry about Namgung Hui at all, but this time was different.

Because among the opponents Namgung Hui had faced so far, there had been no one this strong.

'Could he really be in danger? He's a person who can't be faced even if I pour out all my true ultimate techniques, and on top of that, he has to face him while hiding his identity.'

Beak Seolhwa herself was not confident.

Even if she brought out all of the Sosu Demonic Art, she could not face the current Heretic Alliance Lord.

It would be the same for Namgung Hui.

She still didn't understand why he had agreed, but she still trusted him.

Because he wouldn't be acting out of mere bravado.

Because he was a person who pursued practical benefits rather than empty appearances.

As even Beak Seolhwa withdrew, only the Heretic Alliance Lord and Namgung Hui were left standing alone in the middle of the road.

The Heretic Alliance Lord, perhaps because he had gotten rid of the burden that had been attached to him for a change, opened his mouth with a faint smile.

"Child. Are you ready?"

-Sreureung.

At the Heretic Alliance Lord's question, Namgung Hui drew his sword.

Although it wasn't a very good sword, it was quite usable, enough to contain an aura.

Of course, it was infinitely lacking compared to the Thunder God Sword.

Namgung Hui gripped the sword hilt tightly and said.

"Yes. Come."

As soon as Namgung Hui's answer ended, the Heretic Alliance Lord's whip flew in.

For a long whip to fly in without any preparatory motion.

And it happened so quickly, like flowing water, that it seemed as if a light had flashed.

But Namgung Hui knew the Heretic Alliance Lord well.

To the point where he could sell his information to the Hao Faction Leader.

To be precise, he knew his martial arts and habits well.

Throwing a whip like drawing a sword was his specialty.

The long range of the whip and its unpredictable trajectory changed from moment to moment, flustering those who faced it for the first time.

-Ting!

The whip coiled around Namgung Hui's sword like a snake.

The coiled snake did not easily let go of the sword.

As Namgung Hui's sword was firmly sealed.

The corners of the Heretic Alliance Lord's mouth curled up, and a follow-up attack flew in.

This time, the Heretic Alliance Lord's other weapon, a sickle, flew in.

A sickle was usually used for farming, but it was also useful when used as a weapon like this.

The length of the handle could be lengthened or shortened to one's liking.

And the length of the sickle could also be adjusted at will.

The Heretic Alliance Lord's sickle was long.

To the point where it flew towards Namgung Hui in an instant.

The moment the Heretic Alliance Lord flew towards Namgung Hui, this time, the corners of Namgung Hui's mouth went up.

At that sight, the Heretic Alliance Lord was puzzled, but that was soon resolved.

Sreureuk.

The snake's coil loosened powerlessly, and Namgung Hui's sword regained its freedom.

The Heretic Alliance Lord was sure he hadn't released it, but as the whip fell powerlessly to the floor, his puzzlement turned to surprise.

"You had a hidden skill. Did you learn that from the Hao Faction Leader too?"

"That's not it. By the way, with this, one technique has passed, right? As expected, the martial arts of the Unorthodox Faction are no big deal."

As Namgung Hui skillfully blocked it, the Heretic Alliance Lord was quite angry.

"To be so triumphant after barely blocking one technique with luck, I'll have to steel my resolve for a change."

Should I say he fanned the flames of a burning house?

On top of that, since he was provoking the Heretic Alliance Lord, who had lost his grandson, with martial arts, there was no way he would stay still.

This time, he seemed to be planning to use a claw technique, leaving the whip aside, as he equipped a hook on the back of his hand and leaped.

No, it couldn't even be called a leap.

Because he had disappeared from that spot as if he had performed a Form-Shifting and Position-Switching technique.

As soon as the Heretic Alliance Lord disappeared, Namgung Hui rolled forward and swung his sword towards the sky.

-Kang!!!

A clash of aura against aura.

Naturally, the power of the Transformation's aura was also remarkably different.

But.

"A domineering sword... You're lucky. You can make up for the lack of power in your aura."

A domineering sword. A Paegeom.

A somewhat slow or inflexible sword momentum, but its power was extraordinary.

On the contrary, the claw technique was very outstanding in speed and freedom, but its power was rather weak.

If one knew the path in advance like this, it was not impossible to block it.

However, since the aura unfolded by a master of the Transformation realm was not ordinary.

Namgung Hui's clothes were torn here and there from the aftermath of the collision.

And blood was slightly forming on the hand that had gripped the sword hilt.

Not only that. Since the Heretic Alliance Lord's attack had come from above, his feet were stuck in the ground.

If the Heretic Alliance Lord had performed his techniques in succession, it would have been a disastrous situation, but he did not perform his techniques right away.

'It's not because of the side effects of his martial arts. Did he intentionally go easy on me?'

Of course, Namgung Hui also had a countermeasure, but it was uncertain whether it would work correctly.

He hadn't yet grasped the extent of the Heretic Alliance Lord's underlying strength.

Rather, should say it felt like he was going easy on Namgung Hui?

Perhaps because Namgung Hui was not showing his skills as much as his ki, he felt like he was being watched with an interested gaze.

Then, the Heretic Alliance Lord's telepathic message flew in.

-Keulkeul. Child of the Namgung family. I don't know what you're hiding, but this has become interesting. An Orthodox Faction member protecting a Blood Cult member.

Had the Heretic Alliance Lord caught a glimpse of the Azure Sky Boundless Sword Art in Namgung Hui's sword momentum?

As expected, not just anyone could be the Heretic Alliance Lord.

What Namgung Hui had performed was just a Paegeom.

'As expected, that guy has also reached a level similar to mine in my past life. To read the Namgung family from a simple sword momentum.'

But this was not something he had not anticipated.

In fact, there was a 50% chance that he was just testing him.

There was no way Namgung Hui would have carelessly revealed the martial arts of the Namgung family.

But if it was what Namgung Hui was aiming for.

"It's the Heretic Alliance Lord! Capture him!"

"Donor. Step back! Our Eighteen Arhats will face him."

The ancient sword masters and the Eighteen Arhats arrived at the same time.

Now, if he just entrusted the Heretic Alliance Lord to them, it would be over.

The remaining one technique, he didn't have to receive it.

But Namgung Hui, as if he had no intention of doing so, raised his hand and said to the ancient sword masters and the Eighteen Arhats.

"Just a moment. I am currently being tested by the Heretic Alliance Lord. It will be over after I endure just one more technique. Can you please wait until then?"

"No. The Heretic Alliance Lord is a master of the Transformation realm! Is that even a reasonable statement?"

"That's right. Donor. Please leave it to our Eighteen Arhats."

Namgung Hui shook his head and answered.

"Just one technique is enough. Receiving a lesson from a master of the Transformation realm is a very precious thing, isn't it?"

As Namgung Hui even mentioned a lesson, the ancient sword masters and the Eighteen Arhats were at a loss for words.

At one time, the relationship between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions was not so bad that they would even have martial arts exchanges from time to time.

That is, until the Heretic Alliance expanded its power after the Great War of Righteousness and Evil and friction became frequent.

"Yes. I will shoot just one arrow. I am not a heartless person who would be rough with a woman."

Now, the Heretic Alliance Lord was calling Namgung Hui a woman and playing along.

Was it because Namgung Hui had caught his interest?

Or was it because he had cleared the misunderstanding that he had killed his grandson?

His eyes had changed to be favorable.

As even the Heretic Alliance Lord came out like that, the martial masters had nothing to say.

The ancient sword masters and the Eighteen Arhats withdrew with the momentum that they would step in if necessary.

Then, the Heretic Alliance Lord took out the horn bow hanging from his back and smiled slightly.

"This is a horn bow made from the horn of a single-horned, double-headed snake."

As the words 'single-horned, double-headed snake' came out, the Divine Dragon and the Sword Dragon behind him shouted in surprise.

"If it's a single-horned, double-headed snake, isn't it a spirit beast among spirit beasts?"

"Amitabha. If it's the horn of a double-headed snake, one would be poisoned just by being grazed. It would be good for the donor to be particularly careful."

Namgung Hui knew more about spirit beasts than they did.

Single-horned, double-headed snake.

As its name suggested, it was a term referring to a snake with two heads that had poison in its horn.

Since the single-horned, double-headed snake usually guarded precious spirit medicines, it was even called the guardian of spirit medicines at one time.

To think that he had broken the horn of such a precious spirit beast and made it, it was no ordinary treasure.

Namgung Hui nodded as if he were ready.

"I'm ready, so please shoot the arrow whenever you're ready."

"Keulkeul. Yes, I understand."

In a way, Namgung Hui did not dislike the Heretic Alliance Lord's sinister-looking expression.

'I don't know what he's plotting, but I'll use it well.'

Apart from the plot, the arrow shot by the Heretic Alliance Lord would be an unimaginably powerful bow.

If he were to be careless, he might lose his life as the Heretic Alliance Lord had warned.

Namgung Hui widened his stance and took a defensive starting posture.

Then, the Heretic Alliance Lord, with a satisfied smile at Namgung Hui's posture, nocked an arrow on the horn bow.

The atmosphere became tense like the bowstring of the horn bow.

Although it was Namgung Hui who was receiving the arrow, the tension was felt more from the martial masters watching from the surroundings.

Gulp.

They swallowed dryly and clenched their fists.

They even bent their knees, holding their sword hilts as if they would step in at any moment.

In the midst of that sticky tension.

An arrow flew through it.

-Tang!

The appearance of the arrow was not even seen, and just a single line was drawn in the empty air.

Naturally, an arrow carrying an aura should have a clear trajectory.

But because it flew so fast, even the trajectory could not be followed.

Naturally, the gazes of the martial masters turned to Namgung Hui, who was the Heretic Alliance Lord's target.

And Namgung Hui's sword was already pointing to the sky.

And at the same time.

"Keulleok!"

Black, dead blood spurted from Namgung Hui's mouth.

(End of Chapter)