Rebirth of the Thunder God

The unexpected existence waiting for Namgung Hui and Gwon Cheong was none other than.

"Roar~!!!"

The hero of the mountains. A tiger.

In such a deep mountain, meeting a tiger was not a particularly strange thing.

In the first place, since Qilin Peak was a place with almost no human presence, it was a good place for such a fierce beast to inhabit.

The mountains were full of wild animals to eat, and there were also plenty of valleys that tigers liked.

If he had only encountered a tiger, he would not have called it an unexpected existence.

Another existence confronting the tiger.

Its appearance was somewhat peculiar to be considered a wild animal.

"I-is it a spirit beast?"

"Seeing that it's a snake with a horn, it seems to be a spirit beast."

Horns do not usually grow on ordinary animals.

The only horns on a wild animal would be the antlers of a deer.

And if it was a snake, it was undoubtedly a spirit beast.

Its size was also different from an ordinary snake, so large that it surpassed even a giant python.

To the point where it could swallow a tiger in one gulp.

"Grrr...!"

Perhaps intimidated by that pressure, the tiger showed a somewhat dispirited appearance.

As the horned snake opened its mouth wide, the tiger turned tail and ran.

Still, since its movements were as agile as a tiger's, it was able to escape safely from the horned snake.

Perhaps because it had missed its prey.

The horned snake turned its head and looked at Namgung Hui and Gwon Cheong.

"Shaaaa!!!"

It flicked its tongue, clearly expressing that it was angry.

Among the famous generals, there was a person who licked his lips like that when he was angry.

Anyway. Namgung Hui was dumbfounded by the appearance of such a spirit beast.

"Why are you getting angry at someone else when you missed your prey because you were incompetent?"

Namgung Hui, not only immune to poison but also not wanting to be ignored by a mere snake, rolled up his sleeves and rushed at the snake.

"D-dangerous!"

Gwon Cheong's warning flew, and Namgung Hui's fist also flew towards the snake.

-Peok!

"..."

It collapsed in vain, unlike a spirit beast.

To think that it was a spirit beast that fainted from a single punch.

It seemed that its spirituality was not high, so it was not a strong individual.

In the first place, if its spirituality had been high, it would have felt Namgung Hui's ki and would not have shown hostility.

Namgung Hui, who had subdued the spirit beast, dragged its large body and presented it to Gwon Cheong.

"If I cut off this horn, it seems it would sell for more than a decent spirit medicine."

"That's right. From what I see, it looks like a single-horned snake, and if it's its horn, you could get at least five hundred nyang of silver."

"If you sell it in the Central Plains, you could get over a thousand nyang, couldn't you?"

"Perhaps because the Guangdong Province area is full of poisonous creatures, it would be difficult to get a proper price, wouldn't it? It's also difficult to carry it safely to the Central Plains."

The vast mountain range was a good place for bandits to hide, so the security was not particularly good.

Right now, Guangxi Province was full of mounted bandits and bandits.

Only those with outstanding martial arts and exceptional lightness skills like Namgung Hui's party could cross the mountains safely.

An ordinary herb gatherer would have to walk along the official road, so they were likely to be plundered by bandits.

That was why the market price of medicinal herbs was bound to be relatively cheap.

"Then I'll sell it to a friend for a high price."

"Well, since you caught it, you can have it. I'm a man who doesn't have much greed for material things."

Indeed, if he had greed for material things, he would not have lived a simple life in a hut.

Looking at his simple attire, one could clearly feel his frugality.

Namgung Hui was about to cut off the single-horned snake's horn, but he hesitated for a moment because it seemed to be an individual whose horn had not yet fully grown.

Originally, it was an unwritten rule not to touch the young of either spirit beasts or animals.

Although its size was large, it could be on the small side for a spirit beast.

Because even the large pythons that inhabited the jungle boasted a size like this.

"It doesn't seem to be a fully grown one, so I'll have to let it go for now."

"What!? Let it go? What if it attacks again?"

"It's not like you come here alone, is it, mister?"

"That's true. I haven't even come close since my father passed away."

"Then that should be enough, shouldn't it? Looking at that, it seems it just attacked because we invaded its territory."

In the direction Namgung Hui was pointing with his fingertip, a mysteriously shaped fruit was hanging.

A fruit with a tempting and brilliant color.

The tree that bore it also looked extraordinary.

Ordinary spirit beasts would settle down like this and protect the spirit fruit to consume it or to absorb the energy flowing from the spirit fruit.

The single-horned, double-headed snake that the Heretic Alliance Lord had caught was also a famous spirit beast in that regard.

'By obtaining spirit ki like this, they build up their spirituality and transform into a more outstanding spirit beast. It can be seen as similar to the context of an imugi holding a Yeouiju.'

Of course, not all spirit beasts acquired spirituality in this way.

Among the individuals called monsters, there were cases where they attacked humans and sucked their essence.

The first thing that came to mind was the nine-tailed fox.

The fox with nine tails was said to build up its spirituality by enchanting humans and sucking their essence.

It was said that such an evil act of the nine-tailed fox was not left unchecked by the immortals, so it was hard to see them these days.

Gwon Cheong still opened his mouth with a displeased expression.

"Well, since you caught it, I have nothing to say. But it's still quite unsettling, can't you do something about it until we descend the mountain?"

Namgung Hui chuckled at Gwon Cheong's words and said.

"I was about to educate it anyway. Watch carefully."

If it was an ordinary animal, it would be difficult to make it follow a human's will unless it had been raised from a young age.

But a spirit beast that had built up its spirituality was different.

Weren't Feifei and Chichi able to communicate with humans?

Although it was not yet an adult, if it was a sub-adult with a size like this, it would surely understand Namgung Hui's words.

As Namgung Hui poured ki into its horn, the spirit beast, which had come to its senses with a start, immediately raised its head.

"Shaa...!"

A cry full of vigilance.

Unlike before, it was scared, so it showed no sign of recklessly attacking.

Namgung Hui calmly approached and stroked its snout.

"We were the ones who invaded your territory, so I'll let it pass this time. From now on, look at your opponent before you attack. The humans who climb this mountain are likely to be stronger individuals than you."

"What snake understands human language..."

Nod, nod.

As the single-horned snake nodded, Gwon Cheong looked at the spirit beast as if he were surprised.

"It really understands human language? Then does it understand what I'm saying too?"

Nod.

Gwon Cheong approached the single-horned snake as if he were amazed.

"Even if I climb the mountain later, you can't attack me, okay? Got it?"

Nod, nod.

It looked at Namgung Hui's expression and then nodded.

Perhaps because he was a person of skill who could put it to sleep in one blow, he had no choice but to watch his expression.

"It seems to understand what I'm saying, so let's go inside."

"Yes. It's only the beginning, so I'm scared of what kind of amazing spirit beast will come out in the deeper parts, but I'm also looking forward to it."

And for good reason. The fact that there was such a spirit beast meant that there was also a spirit herb of a similar grade.

So if a dangerous spirit beast appeared, he couldn't help but be expectant.

But Namgung Hui and Gwon Cheong had to stop their steps not long after leaving the entrance.

That was because.

"Why are you following me? And do you think that big body will be hidden just because you hide like that?"

The single-horned snake was following Namgung Hui's back.

It was following him, hiding its large body behind a tree.

The sight was so comical that Namgung Hui couldn't just frown.

"Hoho. Don't tell me it has submitted to you?"

"That's probably not it. It's probably because it thinks it can get an outstanding spirit fruit if it follows me."

Hadn't Chichi also clung to Namgung Hui in that context and eaten thunder ki?

Since spirit beasts were not without a cunning side, the probability of that was high.

Because there was no reason to obey a human who had invaded its territory.

At Namgung Hui's words, the single-horned snake, which had been intimidated, stuck out its tongue and even brought its body close.

"Shaa..."

What the single-horned snake extended was not just its body.

A single fruit hanging from the tip of its horn.

It had offered the spirit fruit it had been guarding to Namgung Hui.

"You're offering this to me?"

Nod, nod.

"Why don't you eat it yourself?"

It was a spirit fruit that had not yet fully ripened.

Still, if he sold it in the Central Plains, he could get a considerable amount of silver.

If a martial artist consumed it right away, he would be able to obtain a pretty good amount of internal energy.

It was just that Namgung Hui had only consumed precious spirit medicines recently, but even a spirit fruit of this level was amazing.

"Are you asking for a new house in exchange for an old one? I'm not a toad."

At Namgung Hui's words, the single-horned snake's body seemed to shrink suddenly.

"Kiing..."

As it even let out a whining sound, Namgung Hui could not refuse the spirit fruit that the single-horned snake was offering.

"Alright. But don't rely on me too much. I also came in to find a precious spirit herb."

Nod, nod.

Suddenly, its eyes even lit up, and it wagged its tail affectionately.

Anyone who saw it would mistake it for a dog, not a snake.

Gwon Cheong, who found the sight quite amazing, was just envious of Namgung Hui.

"Now, now. We've got a new, reliable companion. Let's move forward vigorously."

"Shaa~!"

Although Gwon Cheong was nominally leading the way, when he took a wrong turn.

"Shashasha!"

The single-horned snake stepped forward and guided the way.

Gwon Cheong, finding the sight so praiseworthy, smacked his lips and said to Namgung Hui.

"It's a tempting spirit beast. Do you have any intention of transferring it to me?"

"Transfer? What do you know about that thing's schemes?"

Although Namgung Hui held back his words, wasn't a snake originally known as a cunning beast?

Even if it became a spirit beast, it wouldn't change much.

Moreover, even the higher-level imugi were often evil.

And so, following the guidance of the single-horned snake, they passed the entrance in one go and reached the middle.

From here, the single-horned snake was also cautious, and it hid behind Namgung Hui in a tense state.

"From here, it's my turn. But I don't think I need to step forward."

"What do you mean? Don't tell me you're asking me to take the lead again? I'm fine up to the entrance, but from the middle, it's different..."

Gwon Cheong was also scared from here, and he stealthily moved his steps back.

Namgung Hui shook his head at the sight of the single-horned snake and Gwon Cheong and spoke to his robes.

"Chichi. It's your turn."

Namgung Hui's secret weapon.

The treasure detector, Chichi.

The ki it held was stronger than the single-horned snake's, and since Namgung Hui had benefited greatly from him so far, there was no reason not to use Chichi.

Chichi, who had been enjoying a nap, poked his head out from his robes and opened his mouth wide.

"Kiiik~? (Yawn~ What is it this time?)"

"There must be a precious spirit herb in here. I'd like you to find them with your senses."

"Kiik? Kiik. (Really? One bottle per spirit herb.)"

He was planning to brew Thunder Liquor to give to Chichi anyway.

It was not a waste to invest all the Thunder Liquor he had now in Chichi.

Moreover, would the spirit herbs that Chichi found be just ordinarily precious?

They would surely be more valuable than the Thunder Liquor.

"Alright. One bottle per spirit herb. I promise."

"Kiik. Kkik. (No taking back your words. Then I'll be back.)"

And so, as Chichi jumped out from Namgung Hui's robes and ran towards the forest, Gwon Cheong, as well as the single-horned snake, looked at Namgung Hui with curious eyes.

"Ahem. It's a spirit beast squirrel, a friend of mine. Please don't tell anyone."

"I thought you weren't interested in the single-horned snake, but you were carrying such a precious spirit beast. The single-horned snake here also looks somewhat disappointed."

"What's there to be disappointed about? I made friends with that friend first. And that thing isn't following me, we're just together because we have something to give and take."

The single-horned snake, perhaps feeling Chichi's spirituality, lowered its head with a resigned face.

On top of that, based on Namgung Hui's words, its detection ability seemed to be superior to its own.

The single-horned snake had lived for a not-so-short time, but it was the first time it had seen a spirit beast with such an ability.

But Chichi, who had received Namgung Hui's expectation and mission, returned in a hurry.

And from Chichi's mouth, Namgung Hui heard unexpected words.

"Kiik. Kiik. (My detection ability doesn't work. I feel like someone is blocking it.)”

(End of Chapter)