Rebirth of the Thunder God

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

Namgung Hui glared at the martial artists who had appeared behind him and opened his mouth.

"If I say I can't, do I have to fight the people behind you?"

"Will it just be the martial artists behind me? We will have to mobilize all the personnel of our cult to capture you."

"Capture me... You speak as if I'm a criminal."

Bukgung Jinwu smiled and said.

"To be honest, I can roughly guess who the person called the Fairy here is. If it's a beauty that Muchi would praise, it could only be the Young Palace Mistress of the Moon Maiden Palace. And if it's the person who disappeared with her..."

Bukgung Jinwu's smile looked sinister for a moment.

It was as if he had figured out all of his inner thoughts.

'Because Muchi indirectly revealed Seolhwa's identity, everything has gone wrong.'

He contemplated whether to get rid of the military strategist in front of him and leave the place.

But judging by the military strategist's tone and attitude, he was not an opponent with whom conversation was impossible.

His identity had already been revealed thanks to Muchi.

Namgung Hui glared at Muchi and then opened his mouth calmly.

"Well, since my identity has been roughly exposed, let's talk openly. I am Namgung Hui, the youngest son of the Namgung family."

"As you may have heard from Muchi, I am Bukgung Jinwu, the military strategist of the Heavenly Blood Divine Cult. Since it is a family that once competed with the Namgung family, I am inwardly pleased."

"Pleased? The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was ruined because of the Martial God of the Namgung family, wasn't it?"

"That was the work of the previous generation, and if we go back to our ancestors, we were not without exchanges. It is a matter of historical record."

There was some truth to Bukgung Jinwu's words.

A long, long time ago. At one time, the surnames Bukgung and Namgung were mentioned side by side, and there were even exchanges.

But not now.

Some cult members would grind their teeth at the surname Namgung.

Hadn't the Dugu family also made an enemy of the Namgung family?

On the contrary, Namgung Hui also had a rather deep emotional rift with the group of the Blood Cult.

He had not forgotten the evil deeds committed by the Dugu family in the Namgung family.

No, he couldn't forget even if he wanted to.

Because not only his father's life, but his own life was also in danger.

'On top of that, Ouyang Yeonhui confessed to having poisoned my mother. At the very least, I won't be satisfied until I've uprooted the Dugu and Ouyang families.'

"The past doesn't matter. To be honest, at this point, the reality is that the relationship between the Blood Cult and the Namgung family is not good. What on earth are you plotting, to be acting so nonchalantly? Military Strategist Bukgung."

If Bukgung Jinwu had seen through Namgung Hui's disguise.

This time, Namgung Hui had seen through Bukgung Jinwu's mask in one go.

Bukgung Jinwu, who was trying to continue his words with a fake demeanor.

Surprise appeared on such a Bukgung Jinwu's face.

"Oho. You are a person with quicker wits than I expected. And yet, you were taken in by the Dugu family?"

"Are you trying to provoke me now? My self-cultivation is not so low that I would fall for that. Don't think of making trouble for no reason and just get to the point."

As Namgung Hui even exuded a subtle killing intent, the martial artists waiting behind him put their hands on their sword hilts.

Bukgung Jinwu raised his hand at Namgung Hui's momentum and stopped the martial artists.

"That's enough. Don't step forward. For now, Young Master Namgung, please take a seat. It seems the conversation will be long."

Namgung Hui, curious about what on earth Bukgung Jinwu was plotting, decided to play along with his scheme for a while.

As he stealthily sat next to Seong Sohui, Beak Seolhwa also sat right next to Namgung Hui.

As if to express openly that she was on Namgung Hui's side.

Namgung Hui was rather pleased with such a Beak Seolhwa's appearance.

He had been worried that her attitude would change when she came to the Blood Cult, but it seemed that was not the case.

And Beak Seolhwa herself was also surprised.

'That guy called the military strategist. He's not just annoying. He's unlikable.'

The attitude that scratched Namgung Hui's insides somehow made her insides uncomfortable as well.

Should it say it made her want to take Namgung Hui's side for no reason?

For now, she had no intention of opening her mouth, but she had the will to express it in this way.

Bukgung Jinwu looked back and forth between the two of them and then nodded.

"I think I know who the master Muchi was talking about is. Then, as Young Master Namgung said, let's get straight to the point. Young Master. Please join our moderate faction. The Dugu family is actually a family belonging to the radical faction, and their intentions are different from ours."

"I've heard about it roughly, but what exactly is the reason for the difference of opinion between the moderate and radical factions? Isn't their common goal the conquest of the Central Plains anyway?"

Although it was a rather cliché statement, the goal of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, including the foreign martial world, was also the conquest of the Central Plains.

In that process, they would also take revenge on the forces of the imperial palace and the sects that had harassed them.

Although it had started with misunderstandings and instigation, the emotional rift that had been built up over time was quite deep.

Even Namgung Hui himself, even if he had the first Cult Leader's diary in his head, had no intention of turning a blind eye to the evil deeds committed by the later generations.

Especially the Dugu family, he had resolved to crush them at all costs.

"That's a really cliché statement. I don't know the inner thoughts of the radical faction, but the opinion of the moderate faction is far from the conquest of the Central Plains. We just want a comfortable home, and furthermore, self-sufficiency."

"That's a rather modest goal."

"Looking at the words alone, it may be modest, but it is a problem that is difficult to achieve in reality. To the point where it would be more comfortable to challenge the conquest of the Central Plains."

In reality, the conquest of the Central Plains was just a figure of speech.

Most of the time, it was an act of invasion to overcome the poor circumstances of the foreign martial world.

It could be said that an invasion for revenge like that of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was much rarer.

The name 'Central Plains' itself referred to a fertile civilization centered on the Yellow River, so the land was bound to be tempting.

That was why Namgung Hui was puzzled.

To settle in such a frontier and wish for self-sufficiency?

Not only were there only steep mountain ranges, but plains were rare, and it was even difficult to find a water source necessary for farming.

Because it was located on the frontier, it might satisfy the need for a safe home, but self-sufficiency was out of the question.

If so, the only option left was the invasion of the Central Plains, as the foreign martial world always did.

In fact, hadn't the Pungun Merchant Guild, which had requested Namgung Hui's help, been threatened by the Blood Cult in that context?

Even if it wasn't an act committed by the moderate faction, there was no excuse for the fact that it was an act committed by the Blood Cult.

Whether it was the moderate faction or the radical faction, they were both a community of fate called the Blood Cult.

Anyway. Bukgung Jinwu might have expressed it as a more difficult task than the invasion of the Central Plains for that reason, but in Namgung Hui's eyes, it lacked realism in many ways.

"Wishing for self-sufficiency in such a frontier seems like too much greed. Don't tell me the threat to the Pungun Merchant Guild was the work of the moderate faction?"

"Our moderate faction has not yet carried out any military action against the Central Plains. Except for the assassination of the Heretic Alliance Lord's disciple by Muchi."

"But why did you order Muchi to assassinate the Heretic Alliance Lord's disciple? If you had left him alone, only the Orthodox Faction would have been in chaos, and then you would have naturally bought time and it would have been a good thing. Isn't it?"

Bukgung Jinwu smiled bitterly as if he were in a difficult situation and said.

"I can't tell you that right now. Muchi. You didn't say anything either, did you?"

"I didn't. I didn't tell her even when the Fairy asked."

Only then did Bukgung Jinwu respond with a satisfied smile.

"Good. Good. That's our Guardian Captain. Anyway. It wasn't an act that would harm the Central Plains martial world, was it? Rather, it would be reasonable to see it as having thwarted the conspiracy of the Heretic Alliance."

Namgung Hui answered with a reluctant expression.

"Alright. Then that's that. What are you trying to do by recruiting me?"

"Using one enemy to deal with another. To get rid of an enemy, wouldn't it be better to draw in another enemy?"

"Wiping your nose without using your hands. It's a very reasonable act to use me, who is an enemy of the Dugu family, at this time."

Even if he were to capture the Namgung Hui in front of him, it would only cause unnecessary bloodshed in the process.

If he were to capture him alive, he might be able to control the Namgung family, but that was too much of a risk.

Namgung Hui was a person who had won the martial arts tournament with the title of Hidden Dragon and had broken away from the ranks of the later generation masters.

On top of that, the fact that he had not used thunder ki in the martial arts tournament was a public fact.

The Hoicheon Association and the Blood Cult, who knew that Namgung Hui was the successor of the Thunder Sect, had no choice but to raise their evaluation of him even further.

'That's why he's even wearing a mask and trying to recruit me. Using one enemy to deal with another, using barbarians to deal with barbarians. Just by hearing it, the answer to how he thinks of me comes out.'

But that didn't mean Namgung Hui could just refuse.

As Bukgung Jinwu said, if he could borrow the power of the moderate faction to strike the Dugu family, Namgung Hui would welcome it.

Even if it felt like he was being used, if he could just deal a huge blow to the Dugu family, there was no reason to refuse.

However, whether this was really the intention of using one enemy to deal with another, or whether it was a trap to isolate Namgung Hui, was a matter that had to be seen.

'I could be discarded after being used, so I have to be even more careful.'

"If you really can't trust me, I'll attach Muchi to you."

"Isn't Muchi strictly the military strategist's person?"

"Then what should I do to make you trust me?"

Namgung Hui narrowed his eyes and said.

"I'd like you to leave something as collateral."

"What kind of thing?"

Namgung Hui stood up from his seat and approached Bukgung Jinwu's desk.

And then he picked up an object on the desk and grinned.

Its identity was a Judge's Brush.

It could be considered a brush made of steel, and it was probably an object that Bukgung Jinwu cherished very much.

To the point where the handle was worn out from being touched so much.

Bukgung Jinwu's face contorted as if he were in a difficult situation.

"That's a bit difficult..."

"It's either this or nothing."

As Namgung Hui finished his words as if driving a nail, Bukgung Jinwu let out a deep sigh.

"Sigh... I can't help it. It's an object I cherish, so please be sure to return it when the work is done."

It wasn't for no reason that Namgung Hui had chosen the Judge's Brush.

To be honest, no matter how much he cherished the Judge's Brush, he could just make a new one.

But there was another meaning contained in this.

'This is a Judge's Brush made of black iron. It's not precious just because it's made of a rare metal. It's because it's an object that symbolizes the military strategist of the Divine Cult.'

On one hand, he had thought Bukgung Jinwu would refuse, but he had readily given it.

He must have thought that Namgung Hui didn't know the meaning of this Judge's Brush.

Indeed, it was a fact that one couldn't know unless they were a member of the Blood Cult.

And ordinary cult members would not even know the existence of the Judge's Brush.

As Namgung Hui took the Judge's Brush, Bukgung Jinwu continued.

"Then, can I assume that we are on the same boat for the time being?"

"Yes. Whether it's being in the same boat or having different dreams, let's do it together for the time being."

"Alright. Then I'll ask you for one favor right away."

"What favor? Are you going to order me to assassinate a key figure?"

"It's not an assassination. Perhaps because you are an outsider, you will be picked on quite a bit. At that time, you just have to pick out and deal with the members of the radical faction."

"Their lives?"

"I would appreciate it if you could stop at the point of making them half-dead."

"Well, they're your family, so I guess. It's not a difficult task, so I'll get right on it."

As Namgung Hui was about to withdraw, Bukgung Jinwu added.

"And I would appreciate it if you both would continue to maintain your disguises."

"Of course. If it's revealed that we are from the Orthodox Faction, we'll be attacked right away."

"Haha. Alright. Then, Muchi, you guide them to their lodgings. And distribute these passes as well."

Bukgung Jinwu put three wooden plaques in Muchi's hand and smiled brightly.

It was a pleased smile, as if he had achieved a small success.

"Alright. Saintess. Fairy. Older brother. Follow me."

Seong Sohui stood up from her seat and asked Bukgung Jinwu.

"When are you planning to do my test?"

"I will send someone separately for that. Please rest comfortably in your lodgings."

As Seong Sohui's matter was also settled, Namgung Hui's party followed Muchi and left the office.

And so, as the once full office became empty, one of the guardian martial artists who had been standing behind Bukgung Jinwu spoke.

"Military Strategist. Are you really planning to do it?"

"The die has already been cast. And I trust Muchi's Ghost Eye."

"Indeed, if the military strategist's sense of smell is in the realm of super-senses, then the captain's Ghost Eye was in the category of spiritual sight. If it's a person chosen by such a captain, we can trust him. This subordinate has overstepped his bounds."

"It's alright. I was also worried while sounding him out. Then let's move on to the next stage."

"Yes!"

In the office where the warmth of people had lingered, now only a cold wind lingered lonely and then disappeared.

It was late evening, when the red sunset was pouring in at an angle.