Rebirth of the Thunder God

An unfamiliar presence was detected from the direction Gwon Cheong had disappeared.

There were two of them.

The energy felt was closer to that of a spirit beast than a human presence.

But it was even stronger than the Blue Tiger he had encountered before.

That was why Namgung Hui frowned and immediately ran towards Gwon Cheong.

He had originally not intended to perform a lightness skill, but since what they were exuding was a clear hostility, he could not hesitate.

Hwik, hwik, hwik.

Namgung Hui flew in an instant and found Gwon Cheong.

As expected, two spirit beasts were aiming for Gwon Cheong.

One had the appearance of a wolf, and the other had the form of a snake.

What they had in common was that they had a pure white body.

Namgung Hui, without even admiring them, immediately stood in front of Gwon Cheong and performed the Thunder Dragon Palm with both hands.

Each thunder dragon ascended and flew, aiming for the wolf and the snake.

The creatures were not flustered by Namgung Hui's sudden attack.

The wolf with its maw, and the snake with its tail, swallowed and struck the thunder dragons.

-Kang! Kang!

As if they were skilled in such a fight, their movements were perfectly coordinated.

On top of that, as if to counterattack, they leaped towards Namgung Hui.

-Tang! Tang!

He struck the creatures' claws and teeth with the Thunder God Sword and performed the Thunderclap Palm.

Thunderclap Palm. Secret technique. Thunder Ring.

The ring of lightning spread wide and aimed for the neck of the large wolf.

Since its body was large, it was difficult to avoid.

No matter how fast a spirit beast's movements were.

-Kwagwagwang!!

A deafening thunderbolt erupted from the wolf's fur.

There was even a slightly pungent smell, which was clearly damage caused by the Thunderclap Palm.

When the smoke cleared, all that was left was a slight scorch on its fur.

It could be said to be an extremely thick and sturdy hide.

But perhaps because its pure white fur had been scorched, the wolf let out a fierce roar and said.

[Grrr...! To think that my fur would be burned because of a mere insignificant human...!]

[Huhu! White Wolf. You're in a sorry state. Can you catch the Blood Qilin when you're struggling with just one human?]

"What, catch the Blood Qilin?"

Namgung Hui frowned and glared at the wolf and the snake.

How dare a mere spirit beast aim for the divine beast, the Blood Qilin.

On top of that, since it was the Blood Qilin he was indebted to, there was no way he would look at them favorably.

[White Snake. Are you planning to spread that rumor all over the neighborhood?]

[Hoho! Even if the humans know, it won't be of any use, will it?]

[Well, as you say, it seems the Blood Qilin has shed a not-so-small amount of blood, but it's not good for it to be known.]

[Aren't you planning to eat the humans anyway? The dead tell no tales.]

Seeing that the Blood Qilin had shed blood, it seemed it had been slightly injured by Namgung Hui's last blow.

Perhaps the spirit beast called the White Wolf had a superior sense of smell, so it must have detected it.

'Does that mean the Blood Qilin has been temporarily weakened because of me? It didn't seem to have taken that much damage. Strange.'

Still, it was better to be safe than sorry.

It was good to prevent any possible discord.

He didn't think the Blood Qilin would be defeated by those things, but there was no need to bother its rest.

On top of that, judging that he had a chance to repay the favor for a change, Namgung Hui smiled.

"Do you think a mere mutt and a worm can catch Lord Blood Qilin?"

[Human. What do you know to be spouting such nonsense? The blood that the Blood Qilin shed is not a small amount, enough to make the mountains vibrate. If we can drink this, we too can become divine beasts.]

The blood of a divine beast contained a mysterious energy.

This was a story passed down from ancient times.

In particular, the blood of a dragon was so sacred that it was said to even bring a curse, so not just anyone could drink it.

Dragon's blood. A treasure more precious than any spirit medicine.

If it was the blood of the Blood Qilin, which was comparable to it, it was only natural that the White Wolf and the White Snake would aim for it.

On top of that, hadn't the barrier been temporarily opened to let Namgung Hui's party in?

It was fully understandable that they would mistake that for a gap.

Well, it was also true that he had exhausted some of his strength by fighting Namgung Hui.

"Lord Blood Qilin told you to be quiet so as not to provoke you, but you are aiming for his blood."

[Do you think we received some kind of grace from the Blood Qilin? Rather, we are trapped here and cannot leave. We will definitely catch the Blood Qilin today and raise a toast!]

With a ferocious roar, the White Wolf's fangs turned towards Namgung Hui.

Fangs whiter than its pure white fur.

Teeth with a sharpness that surpassed a decent sword aura flew, aiming for Namgung Hui.

-Kaang!

Namgung Hui raised the pitch-black Thunder God Sword, which contrasted with the white teeth, and blocked the fangs.

No matter how much it was the teeth of a spirit beast, it could not block a sword aura of one zhang.

The phenomenon was possible because the White Wolf in front of him was no ordinary creature.

Perhaps because the White Wolf could also coat its teeth with spirit ki, a white energy was gathered on its fangs.

"Is the only thing you do after building up your spirituality to attack others and commit plunder?"

[Hmph! We beasts have lived like this since we were born. By the way, have you humans lived quietly? Haven't you humans destroyed mountains and hunted innocent animals? Moreover, you even pull out the plants that are just standing there by the roots. Sometimes you even set fire to the mountains. Such humans are the real pests!]

Namgung Hui also agreed with the White Wolf's words to some extent.

The slash-and-burn farmers who set fire to the mountains.

Although their purpose was to temporarily make the land fertile.

It was inevitable that damage would occur due to the mountain fire.

Besides that, the humans who lived by hunting.

Right now, there was a hunter in the Blood Cult, and next to him was an herb gatherer who pulled out plants by the roots.

In fact, all of this was the act of life circulating.

An animal eats a fruit.

The seed of that fruit comes out as excrement and sprouts again.

That animal is then eaten by another beast, and life repeats and circulates.

In Buddhism and Taoism, was this called reincarnation?

Still, it was clearly a wrong act to harbor an evil heart and harm others.

This was called an evil act, and it was said that one would receive heavenly punishment someday.

Whether it was in this life or the next.

He didn't know if Namgung Hui had the right to judge, but at least he couldn't let them commit an evil act against the Blood Qilin, with whom he had formed a friendship.

"Even if you don't attack Lord Blood Qilin, your spirit ki is already overflowing. Looking at your spirituality, you're still far from it. The spirit beasts in the Great Kunlun are not as greedy as you."

In the Great Kunlun, it wasn't just the immortals who cultivated.

Spirit beasts, including divine beasts like the Blue Dragon, cultivated the immortal path to ascend and shed their skins.

Well, although the lineage of the Great Kunlun was now as good as severed, at one time, spirit beasts also built up their spirit ki through cultivation.

In other words, what the White Wolf and the White Snake were trying to do now was similar to the act of the Demonic Cult's Great Duke extorting internal energy with the Star-Sucking Great Art.

Looking at their spirituality now, it was not as pure as the Star-Sucking Great Art.

Perhaps that was the reason for their ferocious nature.

[It's quite something for a human to even know about the Great Kunlun. So what's going to change? The Great Kunlun is far, and Qilin Peak is close. On top of that, we have no intention of cultivating for a long time. Why should we take a detour when a shortcut is clearly visible?]

[Huhu! The White Wolf is right. Even if we cultivate like that, there's no guarantee that we'll obtain an outstanding spirituality, is there? Most spirit beasts die before their time is up while cultivating.]

"Is the result the only thing that matters? If the process is happy and enjoyable, isn't that enough?"

[We don't find that enjoyable. Then let's take an enjoyable action now.]

The White Wolf bared its fangs again.

An even fiercer energy than before.

On top of that, it extended its claws and swung them without hesitation.

Hwik, hwik. Swish, swish.

The atmosphere trembled and even shivered.

Since spirit ki was an energy superior to ordinary internal energy, its power was stronger than the martial arts performed by humans.

The energy was fully loaded into Namgung Hui's sword, which was receiving it.

-Kagagang!!

Even though he had completely blocked the blow, his body was pushed back.

And from behind Namgung Hui, the White Snake's tail flew like a whip.

-Hwik! Hwik! Hwik!

The weight of the already heavy White Snake's body was loaded with acceleration, so its weight was considerable.

Now, as it was difficult for Namgung Hui to block from his spot, he quickly escaped with the Form-Shifting and Position-Switching.

[Hahaha! You're pretty good, but not as much as you blabbered with your mouth. On top of that, your companion is open!]

As Namgung Hui moved away, the White Wolf immediately threw itself at Gwon Cheong.

They were not humans who followed a great cause or justification.

They were just beasts that would not shy away from any means or methods if they could achieve their goal.

-Swiiik!

The White Wolf, which had reached Gwon Cheong's vicinity in an instant.

As it opened its mouth wide, a foul smell vibrated.

Gwon Cheong, scared by the smell, sat down.

As if enjoying it, the White Wolf smiled bitterly and attacked Gwon Cheong.

Then, a blue flash suddenly flashed from the dark sky.

-Ureureung!!

The thunderbolt that struck without any warning mercilessly struck the White Wolf's back.

-Kwaang!!

[Kraaak!! What's with the sudden thunderbolt...!]

"When you commit a sin, it's only natural for the heavens to punish you. You should have lived with a kinder heart."

Namgung Hui, as if he had approached at some point, stood in front of Gwon Cheong.

Then he retrieved the dagger that had fallen to the ground and smiled.

[White Wolf. It seems that human summoned the thunderbolt. My eyes clearly saw that dagger fall with the thunderbolt. It seems he's using a strange sorcery, so let's be careful.]

A snake's eyes detect heat.

Even in this dark night sky, the thunderbolt with the energy of extreme yang would be clearly visible.

Namgung Hui, using the Two-Forms Heart Method, floated a dagger in the empty air, held the Thunder God Sword in his right hand, and slowly approached the White Wolf.

"Now that we've seen enough of each other, let's finish this."

[Finish? Good. You're not a bad human for a late dinner. White Snake! Let's go!]

[Huhuhut! Alright!]

Namgung Hui threw the dagger into the sky and immediately performed the Thunderclap Palm with his left hand.

The place where the thunder ring flew was not the White Wolf or the White Snake, but the ground.

The ground was overturned, and it raised a thick dust.

Gravel flew in all directions, and the view was blocked.

The White Snake, thinking that Namgung Hui's petty trick was useless, curled its lips and shot a poison needle at the place where the human figure was visible.

Shuk, shuk, shuk! Ting, ting, ting!

Although the poison needles bounced off something, the White Snake was not disappointed and swung its tail.

After all, it just had to restrict the human's movements from a distance.

The White Wolf would take care of the finishing touches.

And so, as the White Snake swung its tail several times.

As the thick dust was cleared by the White Snake's tail, the view began to open up again.

Even though the thick dust had cleared, the figures of the White Wolf and Namgung Hui were in the same place.

The White Snake, with a puzzled expression, asked the White Wolf.

[White Wolf. Why are you leaving the human alone? Didn't I buy you time?]

[...]

In the White Snake's vision, which was different from a human's, it would only seem that the White Wolf and Namgung Hui were standing still, but in Namgung Hui's human eyes, it looked completely different.

First of all, Namgung Hui was not standing still, but had his arm extended.

At the end of his arm was the Thunder God Sword.

And that Thunder God Sword contained the ferocious energy of the Heavenly Thunder and was piercing the White Wolf's chest.

The skill was so fast and clean that blood was only now dripping from the White Wolf's chest.

Only then did the White Snake, who had noticed something strange, shout.

[The White Wolf has been defeated! How on earth?]

'It's thanks to the 8th technique of the Flash Lightning Thirteen Thunders, Quick Flash.'

A flashing lightning is faster than anything else.

It could be said to be the speed of light.

Such a fast sword, as fast as light, was difficult for the White Wolf to perceive, no matter how much of a top-level spirit beast it was.

Moreover, since Namgung Hui had even raised a thick dust, its perception was bound to be somewhat slow.

"This is not the time to be so careless. White Snake."

[Hmph! Do you think I'm as stupid as the White Wolf? I'm not careless...]

Ureureung! Kwagwagwang!

A single dagger that Namgung Hui had thrown into the empty air.

It then turned into a thunderbolt and fell.

Right towards the White Snake's brow.

But the White Snake had witnessed the martial art that Namgung Hui had performed before.

It immediately raised its tail to protect its brow.

Its tail, its strongest part, would be able to withstand a blow of this level.

But.

-Puheok!

Something other than the dagger that had fallen from the sky grazed the White Snake and passed by.

The White Snake looked at its own body and muttered softly.

[A dagger... one... was not...]

Kung!!!

As the White Snake said, Namgung Hui had two daggers.

Although he had only asked the craftsmen of the Sichuan Tang family for one, they had made two, so they were being used so usefully.

'I just had to throw it while the White Snake was distracted by the sky. Originally, feints and variations are essential in a real fight.'

The White Snake, who had seen the brilliant bolt from the blue, was particularly conscious of the sky.

As if it had a premonition that the thunderbolt would also fall on it.

Rather, Namgung Hui drew the White Snake's attention with the bolt from the blue, and when its tail was above its head, he threw a dagger at its open chest.

The so-called Flying Thunder Sword. Quick Throw.

Namgung Hui, who had defeated the two spirit beasts, blew away the dust and extended his hand to Gwon Cheong.

"Mister. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Thanks to you, I'm not hurt. But I want to change my pants quickly."

"Don't tell me you peed yourself?"

"N-no! It's just that those things attacked me when I was relieving myself, so it got on me!"

"If it's not, it's not. Why are you so angry...?"

"Tsk, tsk. Stop teasing the innocent person and let's just pack up the spoils and go back."

Namgung Hui nodded at Gwon Cheong's words and walked towards the corpses of the spirit beasts, which were the spoils.

The White Wolf and the White Snake.

Blood was still gushing from their pure white bodies.

'They say snake blood is also good for health. I should pack this too.'

Namgung Hui skillfully skinned the snake and extracted the White Snake's poison fangs and poison sac.

Since snake meat was also quite delicious when grilled, he also cut the meat into large pieces and packed it separately.

And so, the large White Snake quickly became small, and Namgung Hui was about to turn his gaze to the White Wolf.

Something quite amazing was discovered near the White Snake's body.

(End of Chapter)