Rebirth of the Thunder God

-Yes. Since the Demonic Physician confirmed it, it must be certain. He's not a person who wouldn't recognize his own great-granddaughter.

'!!? The Little Saintess is the real Saintess?'

Namgung Hui was so surprised that his concealment technique almost came undone.

He couldn't help but be surprised because the fact he had believed in so firmly had been shaken.

'No. But I still don't know. Didn't Seong Sohui herself say she wasn't?'

Because of the villagers' following words, Namgung Hui's thoughts were repeatedly shattered.

-That's right. The fact that the previous Saintess had taken refuge in the Divine Physician Sect is a secret only we know.

-Still, who would have imagined that she would even have a child? No one would have known that the high-nosed Saintess would give her heart to a mere physician.

-On top of that, the Divine Physician Sect kept this fact under tight wraps. We wouldn't have known either if it weren't for the Demonic Physician.

Namgung Hui became more and more confused as he listened to their stories.

Did the Demonic Physician voluntarily leak the information to them?

If so, the Demonic Physician seemed closer to the radical faction than the moderate faction.

But that in itself was strange.

He seemed to cherish his great-granddaughter, Seong Sohui, and wasn't the military affairs department part of the moderate faction?

'Or, since he's so old, he might not be bound by factions.'

Whether Seong Sohui belonged to the radical faction or the moderate faction, no one would be able to harm her.

Because there was no reason to harm the goose that lays the golden eggs.

On top of that, if she truly obtained the title of Saintess, the faction she belonged to would also gain legitimacy, so they would rather try their best to please her.

Although only a short time had passed since Namgung Hui had infiltrated, he had learned that Seong Sohui might be the true Saintess.

The fact that the previous Divine Physician Sect Leader and the Saintess had been united also surprised Namgung Hui greatly.

'The son of the previous Divine Physician Sect Leader... He was a snot-nosed kid back then, but to think he seduced the Saintess of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, come to think of it, he's a better man than me.'

Someone had died without even properly holding a woman's hand.

Of course, he had held her hand and even kissed her right before he died, but could that really be called a proper relationship?

Perhaps he had been reborn like this because he was so resentful of that.

Beak Seolhwa was also just as resentful, so she had been reincarnated with Namgung Hui.

'In this life, I will definitely make a happy family!'

On one hand, Namgung Hui was curious what Seong Sohui's ability would be if she were the true Saintess.

The power to deliver death to living beings?

Or the clairvoyant eye that could see through all objects?

If not that, then the prophetic dream that could see the future?

Besides that, she might be able to exert various functions of the upper dantian.

If so, that was also a puzzling part.

If Seong Sohui herself was not aware of her ability, she could have told Namgung Hui that she was not the Saintess, but since she had said she was not the Saintess even after the Demonic Physician had visited, it was reasonable to assume that she had intentionally hidden this fact.

He couldn't help but become even more suspicious of Seong Sohui, wondering what her intention was in hiding this fact.

'It would be fastest to ask her directly.'

While Namgung Hui was continuing his reasoning, he heard the conversation of the villagers again.

-By the way, it seems the inner city has been a bit noisy lately.

-Is that any of our business, we're outsiders?

-Still, if the inner city is noisy, something bad must have happened. We old folks may not be interested in the moderate or radical factions, but our descendants have to live, don't they?

-But didn't you say you didn't want to join either side? You said you didn't like the moderate faction because it was difficult to know the military strategist's sinister inner thoughts, and you didn't like the radical faction because it was too radical. I think the Young Cult Leader's side has more legitimacy.

-Before the Young Cult Leader can claim legitimacy, he must prove that he is the true Young Cult Leader. How can someone who has not even properly learned the Heavenly Demon Divine Art be the Young Cult Leader? Moreover, doesn't he also not have the sacred artifact, the Sacred Fire Mirror?

After that, the villagers' conversation was filled with silence.

Their worried appearance was exactly that of an elder worrying for his descendants.

'The Sacred Fire Mirror must be the mirror Seolhwa mentioned. As expected, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was not properly passed down. But what is the inner city? Does that mean there's another hideout further inside?'

But Namgung Hui's electric net did not feel anything.

It would be different if he went up to the ground.

This was clearly the lowest floor, and he wondered if there could be an environment where humans could live if he went down further.

Namgung Hui began to ponder whether to look around the village more or to return as it was.

He had originally planned to look around the village until dawn, right before the guards woke up, but since he had obtained more information than he had expected, he had no regrets about returning as it was.

Rather, he had many things he wanted to ask Seong Sohui when he returned quickly.

He also had to ask Bukgung Jinwu what the difference was between the inner city people and the outer city people.

'Let's not take any unnecessary risks and return as it is. I can just stop by again later anyway.'

Since he knew how to get in, he just had to retreat from here.

He had also achieved his initial results. Excessive greed was forbidden.

And so, as Namgung Hui was about to leave the ownerless house, he felt a familiar presence along with a murmuring sound from the surroundings.

"Greetings to the Vice Cult Leader!!"

"The greetings are enough. Is there a house here where we can lock up a prisoner?"

"As it happens, there is a place that has been empty for a year. Shall I guide you there?"

"Alright."

A villager led the Vice Cult Leader, the Demonic Fist, and approached the house where Namgung Hui was.

The place that had been empty for a year seemed to be the house Namgung Hui had just entered.

Namgung Hui, finding it difficult to run away and since he was now in the same boat as the Demonic Fist, jumped up to the ceiling of the house and hid his presence.

As long as he wasn't discovered by the villagers, the Demonic Fist wouldn't scold him too much.

Because it was she who had asked him to stir up the inside in the first place.

'Since I'm meeting her anyway, I should ask about the structure of the clan village and the inner and outer cities.'

-Kiik...

With the scream of a rusty hinge, the door opened and a villager entered.

He brushed off the dust inside and quickly reported to the Demonic Fist.

"This is the place. It hasn't been used for a year, so there's quite a bit of dust. Just push the prisoner inside."

"No. He's not an easy opponent. It's right for me to lead him. By any chance, was there a rat here?"

"We can't even eat rats because there are none. It's been years since I've seen one in the outer city. Is there a rat here by any chance?"

"No. As you said, it's unlikely that a rat that hasn't been seen for years would be here. I have to interrogate the prisoner further, so you can leave now."

"Yes, sir!"

The villager who closed the door and left.

To say he was a simple villager, his realm had far surpassed the first-rate.

As the door closed, the Demonic Fist's head was raised and turned towards Namgung Hui.

"Should I call you a rat? Or should I call you a younger brother?"

Namgung Hui, who was hanging from the ceiling, jumped down and said.

"Nuna. How can you be so disappointed as to call me a rat? By the way, what brings you here?"

"Strange. That's what I should be asking. How did you get into this outer city? You're quite talented."

"So this clan village is called the outer city? Then where is the inner city?"

"It wouldn't matter if I told you that. The inner city refers to the main headquarters of our sect in Gwangcheon Peak."

The main headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was the Heavenly Demon Peak of the Heavenly Mountains.

Since the Heavenly Demon resided there, the area was designated as a forbidden area, and no one could enter.

Perhaps the sacred ground of Gwangcheon Peak was also distinguished in a similar context to that of the Heavenly Demon Peak, but unlike the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult era, it seemed other people also resided there.

"How many people are there? Do all the New Six Demonic Families reside there?"

"No. Only the chosen ones reside there. The number is probably less than twenty. Most of the cult members tend to stay here in the outer city, the clan village."

This was a relief. Hadn't the clan village alone been full of masters?

On top of that, if you added the absolute masters that Namgung Hui had not yet identified, they were not inferior to the elite of the Martial Alliance.

Of course, in the martial world of the orthodox faction, there were many talented people who did not belong to the Martial Alliance, including hidden masters.

But if you added the variable of the Hoicheon Association and the bat-like people of the Demonic Heaven, you wouldn't know how it would work.

"The inner city has been noisy lately, it seems something is going on."

"Ha. You've found out that much? Have you even received spy training?"

"I was just lucky. So what's going on in the inner city?"

"I can't tell you that, an outsider."

"If you can't tell me, I can't help it. By the way, do all the New Six Demonic Families reside here in the clan village?"

"That's right. Now, because of a special situation, we are at odds, but at one time, we were on good terms, so we all built our houses in one place."

In this case, it would be difficult to single out and deal with the Dugu family.

Because if Namgung Hui and the Dugu family met, there was bound to be trouble.

Although the clan village was larger than he thought, it was a narrow space built underground.

If Namgung Hui caused a commotion in such a quiet village, people would surely flock from the surroundings.

'I'll have to make another plan for this.'

Namgung Hui looked at the Mad Dragon, who was sprawled on the floor, and asked.

"By the way, is it okay to drag the Mad Dragon here so openly? He's a precious guest to the radical faction."

"The treatment of that guy has already been decided. A suspicious letter was also found on his body, and he was not a guy dispatched for a simple reconciliation."

"What was his purpose?"

"Poisoning. He tried to poison the well of our sect. Although our factions are divided, we don't use separate wells. Just as we live in a clan village like this."

Namgung Hui felt a chill at her words.

It was just that Muchi had openly shown his hostility towards Hyeokryeon Socheon.

If you think about it, the two factions had not yet killed each other or escalated into a big fight.

If so, it meant that the two factions could join hands at any time, and Bukgung Jinwu or the Demonic Fist could turn on him and betray him.

In that context, it could be seen that the Mad Dragon had been abandoned by the radical faction.

Whether it was the radical faction or the moderate faction, their purpose was revenge or the safety of the Blood Cult.

It was just a matter of regaining the glory of the past and continuing their existence.

'I can't trust Bukgung Jinwu, let alone the Demonic Fist.'

"Still, it's too suspicious. The Hoicheon Association is planning things so clumsily? And by sacrificing a talent called one of the Seven Dragons in the Central Plains?"

"That's something I don't know. If it's the Demonic Heaven, they would have dozens of children like the Mad Dragon, so it's no loss to use them as consumables like this."

"Even though he's the successor of the Mad Demon?"

"Is there only one successor of the Mad Demon? On top of that, it's enough not to teach him the true ultimate technique. As a result of my interrogation. This child was only a half-wit."

Was that why he had been defeated by Namgung Hui without even being able to put up a fight?

Indeed, if he had properly inherited the true teachings of the Mad Demon, he would not have been so helplessly defeated by Namgung Hui.

Because the Mad Demon was a top-tier demonic head among the demonic heads.

"Nuna. Can I also interrogate him?"

"Hmm... I guess I can make that much of a concession. But don't kill him. I still have something to experiment on."

"Thanks."

"Then I'll be going now. Be careful when you go out. Don't get caught and die a dog's death."

Even though she knew Namgung Hui's approximate realm, she called it a dog's death.

That meant she was confident that Namgung Hui would die if he was discovered.

Namgung Hui also thought there was some truth to her words.

Because the members of the clan village alone were not a force to be ignored.

'Still, it's not that I can't escape, but if it's that kind of remark, it means the hidden military power I don't know is much greater.'

And most importantly, she had no intention of dealing with Namgung Hui yet.

He didn't know if it was because of his companion, Seong Sohui, but it seemed there was no reason to be hostile to the Demonic Fist for now.

And so, as the Demonic Fist left the house, Namgung Hui and the unconscious Mad Dragon were left alone.

Namgung Hui sent a moderate amount of thunder ki into the Mad Dragon and woke him up.

-Jijijik.

"Mad Dragon. Wake up."

"Keueung... Where am I? Who am I?"

Perhaps because the Demonic Fist's interrogation was quite rough, the Mad Dragon's memory seemed to be confused.

Namgung Hui looked at him pitifully, took off his mask, and approached him.

"It's me. Mad Dragon. Don't tell me you've forgotten my face too?"

From the Mad Dragon's mouth, a more shocking word than Namgung Hui had expected came out.

"Cheon Yeohwa? Is it my younger sister, Yeohwa?"

(End of Chapter)