Rebirth of the Thunder God

The suddenly appeared group was staring at Namgung Hui's party, exuding a thick killing intent.

Perhaps they had just returned from a hunt, as they were carrying an unusually large wild boar on their shoulders, which seemed to be the cause of the fishy smell of blood that was lingering.

One of them spotted Muchi and opened his mouth.

"Guardian Captain! You're back?"

"Everyone, withdraw your killing intent! The Saintess is feeling uncomfortable."

"The Saintess!!?"

The group that had quickly withdrawn their killing intent prostrated themselves on the ground and said.

"We're sorry!!! Our eyes are like knots, and we dared to be rude to the Saintess. Please forgive us!"

Then and now, bowing one's head to a superior was the same.

Beak Seolhwa had also received such treatment quite a lot.

Still, she didn't seem to be on such bad terms with her subordinates.

It seemed they would exchange jokes.

Seong Sohui smiled bitterly and answered.

"I'm fine, so you don't have to be so sorry."

"T-thank you!"

Muchi spoke to the group that was thoroughly intimidated.

"Did you all go hunting?"

"Yes. We've been a little short on food lately, so if we skip even a day of hunting, we're likely to starve. Now that the big-eating Guardian Captain is here, we're in big trouble."

Unlike their words, their faces were full of smiles.

It meant they trusted and relied on Muchi that much.

Because at the very least, Muchi was a man who did more than his share.

"Everyone, bring the wild boar here. I'll help you prepare it."

"That would be great. The captain's skills are top-notch."

Muchi skillfully prepared the wild boar.

He removed the blood and even skinned it in an instant.

The preparation of the meat also proceeded smoothly, like flowing water.

"Here, take it."

"Thanks. Now that the captain is back. It would be great to have a feast with wild boar meat tonight."

"That won't be enough for a feast. I'll go catch some other wild animals later."

"Oh! I'd like to eat deer meat if possible."

"I want rabbit meat!"

"There's nothing to eat on a rabbit. I want to eat a pheasant!"

"There's even less to eat on a pheasant."

"But the taste is amazing."

Watching the hunters bicker, he wondered if they were really members of the Blood Cult.

Well, Namgung Hui had heard about it from the first Cult Leader's diary, but seeing it in person like this was a new experience.

"Everyone, let's go inside. It's not polite to leave guests outside."

"Ah. Right. We can't keep the Saintess standing like this. We'll go in right away."

As the hunter touched a few devices on the ground, a huge castle gate that had not been seen before appeared in front of them.

Seong Sohui and Beak Seolhwa looked on with slight admiration.

And Muchi showed a proud expression for no reason.

And Namgung Hui just nodded his head slowly, as if he had already known.

'So it was a combination of a concealment formation and an illusion formation. Now that I'm becoming well-versed in formations, I can see a way to break it to some extent.'

Of course, the formation in front of him had been set up by a formation master of a higher level than Namgung Hui.

And there might be more traps that Namgung Hui didn't know about.

Since he was accompanying Muchi like this anyway, there was no need to take a risk, so he followed the hunters inside.

As the castle gate opened, the guard martial artists welcomed the party.

After all, food was always welcomed wherever one went.

And if it was a precious chunk of meat, the reason was sufficient.

"Oh! Has the Guardian Captain also come? It seems you have successfully completed your mission."

"You've all worked hard. I'll tell you the story later."

"Yes. Please come in. The Military Strategist Bukgung will probably be waiting."

As Namgung Hui had guessed, Bukgung Jinwu seemed to be a military strategist.

Nevertheless, Namgung Hui still had many questions.

If it was the Divine Cult, there would naturally be a Cult Leader, and various ranks would exist below him.

And the existence of the Cult Leader was no different from the pillar of the Divine Cult.

When Namgung Hui had stealthily asked Muchi, Muchi had not given any answer about the Cult Leader.

This was the most important thing.

As the pillar of the Divine Cult, he would be the strongest martial artist.

Hadn't the Heavenly Demon of his past life also been a great martial artist, to the point of competing with his sworn brother?

Besides that, he was also curious about the existence of the Vice Cult Leader and the Young Cult Leader, but that was not as important as the existence of the Cult Leader.

The hunter group had a different path, so as soon as they passed the main gate, they said their goodbyes.

"Guardian Captain. Let's go hunting together sometime later."

"Alright. I'll call you when I go to catch a tiger or a bear."

"No. Not when you're hunting something that scary."

"Hahaha. Alright. Take care."

Muchi laughed heartily, which was a rare sight.

He really looked comfortable, having returned to his own home.

Up to this point, only the savory smell of people living simply had wafted.

And so, he walked with Muchi through the street lined with thatched houses.

Although the houses looked old and rather shabby, the sound of laughter coming from here and there was bright.

Should I say it was like seeing a scene from 60 years ago?

Beak Seolhwa seemed to have the same thought, as a look of longing and a gentle smile were on her face.

But that smile and laughter did not last long.

As a certain group blocked Muchi's path.

"Guardian Captain. What happened to the mission you went on?"

The middle-aged man who had blocked Muchi's path had a firm build and his eyes were also cool.

Should I say it felt like he was intimidating the other person just by looking at them?

On top of that, the ki he was exuding was also not ordinary.

As expected of the Heavenly Blood Divine Cult. It was worthy of calling itself the successor of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"Second Elder. You've come. The work I went on went smoothly."

"Is that so? Who are the people behind you?"

"This is the Saintess. And these... are Jinwu's guests."

"The military strategist's guests?"

Curiosity was added to the cool eyes.

Since the military strategist would not call people for no reason, he would think they were very important people.

And if they were outsiders, he couldn't help but be interested.

"But how can you be sure she's the Saintess? I'm worried we're just revealing the location of our cult to a useless person."

"Hang your worries on that peak over there. And the matter of her qualifications is for Jinwu to deal with. It's not a matter for the Second Elder to interfere in."

"Hahaha! Yes. I almost overstepped my authority. You've worked hard. Guardian Captain."

"You work a little harder, Second Elder. I'm the only one running around tired."

"...Alright. I'll use some of my strength."

And so, passing the Second Elder's group, they reached a pavilion.

It certainly had a more angular and well-built appearance than the other shabby thatched houses.

[Heavenly Blood]

The signboard was also written in a flowing script, giving it a serene charm.

But compared to the Martial Alliance, its scale was incomparably small.

"From now on, there will be many people like the Second Elder. They might pick a fight with each of you, so deal with it well on your own. The people higher than me are also difficult for me."

The person called the Second Elder just now was no ordinary person.

His seniority would have been higher than Muchi's, but he had just let it pass.

Among the radical faction members he would meet in the future, some would not be favorable to Muchi.

And there would be times when they wouldn't let it pass like the Second Elder.

"You don't have to worry about us. And I was thinking of parting ways here, is that okay?"

"No. Everyone has to meet Jinwu and go. Only then will you get a pass."

Namgung Hui was a little reluctant to meet the military strategist, Bukgung Jinwu.

The position of a military strategist was a person who was wiser and smarter than anyone else.

If such a person were to see through Namgung Hui's disguise and even his true identity, it wouldn't be strange even if a sword fight broke out right away.

If that happened, he would not be able to watch Beak Seolhwa's whereabouts.

As Namgung Hui hesitated, Beak Seolhwa grabbed his hand and spoke.

"Don't worry. I'm here. Let's go in together for now."

Beak Seolhwa's one word was so reassuring.

At her words, the reason to refuse also disappeared, and he obediently nodded.

"Alright. But if it comes to it, I'm going to run away."

"Understood. I won't chase you even if you run away."

It was a disrespectful statement for a guardian martial artist.

Did it mean he trusted Namgung Hui that much?

Namgung Hui couldn't understand.

'I came here to cause a ruckus. But Muchi says he trusts me. Good grief. I can't even run wild as I please because of this.'

Muchi looked at Namgung Hui, then turned his body and entered the interior of the pavilion.

The guard martial artists here were Muchi's subordinates, as they all cupped their fists in a disciplined manner.

"Captain, you've come?"

"Yes. I'm back. Is Jinwu inside?"

"Yes. He is in his office."

"Alright. These are Jinwu's guests, so there's no need to check their identities separately."

"Ah! You've completed your mission! As expected of the captain!"

"That's enough flattery. I'm going in."

Muchi patted his subordinates' shoulders and then moved his steps.

Although it was not a magnificent and splendid pavilion, it was a place where one could feel sturdiness and coziness.

Rather, at that sight, Namgung Hui felt a sense of incongruity.

'Isn't this clean and tidy interior the frugality that the Martial Alliance should be pursuing?'

The current Martial Alliance was extremely magnificent.

Although it was not as much as the Golden Merchant Guild, it was quite splendid and grand compared to its appearance 60 years ago.

It would be a relief if its substance was good with such an appearance.

But they were steeped in peace, and some were even in league with the Hoicheon Association.

Namgung Hui, recalling the list he had received from the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, decided to start the process of cleaning house as soon as he had the chance.

-Toktoktok.

"It's Muchi. Can I come in?"

"Come in."

A voice tinged with some fatigue was heard.

As the door opened, a man with an impression as haggard as his voice was sitting in front of a pile of documents.

"This is the Saintess that Jinwu requested. Greet her."

"Saintess. You've come? Please sit there."

Seong Sohui sat down and cleared her throat.

She looked directly at Bukgung Jinwu's gaze and opened her mouth.

"Although I am called the Little Saintess in the Central Plains, I am not the Saintess of the Divine Cult. There was someone who called me the Saintess for short, so I let it be, but I think I need to make it clear this time."

As Namgung Hui had guessed, she was just a simple physician.

Bukgung Jinwu smiled faintly at Seong Sohui's remark and said.

"If it's Muchi's insight, he wouldn't have said it for no reason. By any chance, would it be alright if I conducted a simple test regarding that?"

"Alright. If you can be convinced by that, by all means."

"Thank you. Whether you are the Saintess we are looking for or not, your heart is indeed worthy of being called a Saintess. Then, may I ask who these people are?"

Bukgung Jinwu, as if he hadn't heard anything from Muchi, immediately asked who Beak Seolhwa and Namgung Hui were.

"This is not the Saintess, but the Fairy. She has an incredibly beautiful appearance, although she's in disguise now."

At Muchi's remark, Beak Seolhwa glared at Muchi, and Muchi turned his head away as if he were flustered.

"Muchi. What about your wife, and you're eyeing another woman?"

"That's not it! The Fairy already has a master!"

Muchi stared at Namgung Hui.

It was a look asking him to plead on his behalf.

"I don't know if she has a master or not, but I don't think Muchi has any feelings for this friend. Of course, not for me either."

"Of course, since that person is a man, he wouldn't have any feelings, would he?"

As Namgung Hui had guessed, Bukgung Jinwu had seen through Namgung Hui's disguise as a woman in one go.

"How can you be so sure that I'm a man?"

"My sense of smell is quite sensitive. To the point where I can tell if someone is a woman or a man just by smelling them."

If he had known this would happen, he should have worn a fragrance pouch.

He hadn't worn one because Chichi disliked such smells, but still, he thought he should have asked for its understanding and worn one at this time.

What's done is done.

The disguise as a woman was to avoid suspicion, and it didn't matter if he was found out.

He just had to hide his face with the art of disguise.

Just as Namgung Hui was about to say something, Muchi spoke up for him.

"He is the person I have decided to serve as my older brother."

At the word 'older brother,' Bukgung Jinwu looked on with considerable surprise.

"For you to acknowledge him as your older brother, he must be a great master. On top of that, his heart must not be bad... Still, I need to confirm whether he will be a harm to our cult."

Namgung Hui nodded without realizing it.

Because he had agreed with Bukgung Jinwu's words.

As Muchi was at a loss for words, Bukgung Jinwu continued.

"Can you and the person called the Fairy here remove your disguises? If not, it seems we will have to resort to force."

As soon as Bukgung Jinwu's words ended, martial artists appeared from behind the office.

All of them revealing a ki that was not lacking compared to Muchi.