Rebirth of the Thunder God

'What. Dugu In should be dead. No. I killed him myself, so how is he alive?'

Namgung Hui, in disbelief, rubbed his eyes and looked at Dugu In again.

Upon closer inspection, his face was subtly different from Dugu In's.

The position of the mole was different, and his height was also slightly different.

But everything else was as if it had been made from the same mold.

His voice, the bridge of his nose, the shape of his face, his eyes, his hair, etc.

It didn't seem like they had similar faces just because they were from the same Dugu family.

It was as if he were looking at twins.

'Don't tell me Ouyang Yeonhui gave birth to twins? Ah! That's right. I have the roster of the Dugu family. If I look at this, I'll get the answer.'

Namgung Hui wanted to take out the roster from his robes and look at it right away, but now was not the time.

"You. Who are you to be staring at my face like that? It's a little unpleasant to receive such a gaze from a man."

"Ah. The people here are guests of the Bukgung family head. Don't pick a fight for no reason and just be quiet."

"No. That person stared at me first."

"It must be because you're handsome. Or he's envious of your fair skin."

"Hmm. Is that so? Well, that could be it. If I had a scar like that, I would be envious of my face. Hahaha!"

"Then. Since I'm here for my shift, you can count the supplies here. My shift is over, so I'll be going in."

Hyeokryeon Junwu patted Dugu Sinhyeong's shoulder and hurriedly disappeared inside.

"Hey! Hyeokryeon Junwu! You still have to stand guard for another half a shichen!"

Dugu Sinhyeong's words didn't seem to reach Hyeokryeon Junwu, as he disappeared without looking back.

Having no choice, Dugu Sinhyeong let out a deep sigh and trudged towards the cart.

"That's just my luck. What's the big deal about counting numbers? It's a piece of cake."

Eating rice cakes while lying down was an extremely dangerous act, but there was no way Dugu Sinhyeong would know that.

Because it was difficult to even see rice cakes within the Blood Cult.

"One, two, three. This is right. This is also right... There's nothing wrong with the quantity. Alright. You guys can go."

Namgung Hui and the Red-Haired Monster had business inside, so they couldn't just go back like this.

"The military strategist Bukgung told us to take responsibility for the goods until the end. We'll pull the cart to the warehouse."

"Then that's good for me. Then over there~~~. You see that pavilion? That's the warehouse. If you go there, someone will come out to meet you, so you can just hand it over."

"Alright. Then take care."

This time, the Red-Haired Monster patted Dugu Sinhyeong's shoulder.

Did patting someone's shoulder like that really give them strength?

Dugu Sinhyeong's expression looked quite bright.

Namgung Hui didn't want to talk to such a Dugu Sinhyeong, so he passed him and was about to go inside.

"You. You were staring at me earlier, have we met before?"

"How could that be?"

"Right? I've never met an outsider before. But strangely, I keep feeling like I've seen you somewhere. Should I say it feels like I saw you when I was young?"

Could it be that Dugu In had really been resurrected?

Since Namgung Hui had even disposed of his corpse, he denied that such a thing could ever happen.

And even if the dead were revived as a Jiangshi, they couldn't be as lively as the Dugu Sinhyeong in front of him.

"If you had seen me when I was young, I wouldn't have had this scar, so you must have mistaken me for someone else."

Besides, since Namgung Hui's appearance was currently disguised, it really didn't make sense for him to remember Namgung Hui.

Since Dugu Sinhyeong was also the same, he stroked his chin and nodded.

"Alright. I get it. Go on in."

Namgung Hui also answered him with a silent bow and pulled the cart forward.

As he sped up a little and lined up with the Red-Haired Monster who was ahead, he spoke to Namgung Hui.

"Do you really know him? I'm asking because the way you look at him is unusual."

"We don't know each other. A relationship where we might get to know each other if we're lucky? No. It seems we'll be acquaintances through a bridge."

"Hmm. It seems you're at odds with the people of the Dugu family. Well, since I'm not from this place, do as you please. Since I'll be helping you anyway."

As if he had read the hostility in Namgung Hui's gaze, the Red-Haired Monster immediately saw through the fact that Namgung Hui had a grudge against the Dugu family.

This was not welcome for Namgung Hui.

Even though he had reached the perfect Transformation realm, his emotions were not controlled like this.

As his body had become younger, it was difficult to control his emotions.

And so, Namgung Hui pulled the cart with a blank mind.

There was nothing better than emptying one's mind to control it.

As they reached the warehouse, someone came out and blocked the path of Namgung Hui and the Red-Haired Monster.

"Stop. Are you the supply team sent from the military strategist's office?"

Namgung Hui stepped forward and answered the martial artist's words.

"That's right."

"That's right? What's with that tone? How dare you use such a tone to our direct descendants!"

"We are outsiders hired by the military strategist. That means we don't have to be polite to you."

"You're letting outsiders into the Blood Heaven Peak? Has the military strategist gone mad?"

"It doesn't seem like a big deal, so why are you making such a fuss? Anyway. We came to drop off the supplies, so please guide us to the warehouse."

"This bastard... No. Alright. I'll guide you to the warehouse. Follow me!"

The direct descendant martial artist who had shouted bravely led Namgung Hui and the Red-Haired Monster with vigorous steps.

He, displeased with something, kept looking back and snorting.

It seemed that the direct descendants had such high noses that they were angry just because they were not treated with respect.

Or it might be even more so because they were hostile to the military strategist's office.

The direct descendant martial artist who had stopped walking turned around abruptly and said.

"Here. Put the cart in that corner."

Although the warehouse was spacious, it was also desolate.

That one could guess the internal affairs of the Blood Cult from this.

Even though it was a space where the high-nosed direct descendants stayed, it seemed they were severely lacking in food and daily necessities.

Namgung Hui, as he was asked, put the cart in the corner and began to unload the supplies one by one.

Either way, he had to finish the job he was given to be satisfied.

But even though Namgung Hui was trying to do the dirty work, the direct descendant martial artist kept interfering.

"Hey, you. You don't have to unload the supplies. Come here for a moment."

Namgung Hui felt his murderous intent and realized that he was trying to get revenge now.

There were no eyes to see here.

Since he was an outsider anyway, even if he made a mistake, he wouldn't be held responsible.

Because the position of a New Six Demonic Family would not be greatly reprimanded for getting rid of one outsider.

Besides, if it was an impression that looked like a nobody like Namgung Hui, it would be even more so.

"You've been saying things that get on my nerves since a while ago. You bastard. Are you someone important outside? If you have a title, try spouting it."

"A title. I don't have one. I'm just using the name of the Sword Demon for now."

"So. It's a name you claim yourself, not a title given by others? If you're so confident in your sword, follow me to the back mountain."

He was worried that if he caused trouble in the warehouse, the surroundings would be damaged, but he said he would guide him to his own grave.

Not only did he guide him to the warehouse, but there was no other martial artist as kind as this.

It was only right to give such a kind martial artist a sharp lesson.

Namgung Hui followed the kind martial artist and arrived at the back mountain.

"Is this your grave? The feng shui is good, so it will be warm even after you die."

"What? A grave? This bastard is spouting nonsense just because he has a mouth. Alright. Let's see whose grave this will be!"

Chaeng!

The direct descendant martial artist who had finished speaking extended his sword like a fierce tiger.

Although his attitude was very unpleasant, his sword art was by no means at a level to be ignored.

Even now, as if he had reached the state of sword and body as one, his movements were free.

-Chaechaechaeng!

The sword strikes that poured out in succession were also sharp and fierce.

He thrust his sword in succession and then smiled.

"The title of Sword Demon seems to be something I should be given. Instead, I'll give you a title. The Ugly Demon. How is it? Your running away appearance is no different from an ugly ghost. Hahaha!"

Namgung Hui shook his head at his naming skills and gripped his sword.

"Do you think you can become a Sword Demon just by swinging your sword like that? Have you actually dealt any damage to me?"

"Ha! I was going easy on you, so you must have thought I was easy. Alright. Then I'll really make a grave for you here. Here I come!"

The direct descendant martial artist raised his sword aura and swung it horizontally.

The sword aura that soared up a foot symbolized that he had already reached the mature Transcendent realm.

Along with the sword aura, there was no wavering in the sword art he performed, and it was upright.

He was definitely superior to ordinary orthodox faction martial artists.

But for Namgung Hui, it was bound to be insufficient.

-Kang!

Namgung Hui neutralized his sword aura with a single thrust.

And that, without even wrapping his sword in sword aura, but just with sword ki.

No matter how much the level difference was, it didn't make sense to face a sword aura with sword ki.

It was at the level of hitting a rock with an egg.

Since the direct descendant martial artist also knew that, he shouted with wide eyes.

"I-impossible! How can you receive my sword aura with sword ki? What kind of trick did you use!"

From the perspective of a Blood Cult member, he couldn't say it was a demonic art.

He was just staring at Namgung Hui with disbelieving eyes, having stopped his offensive.

Namgung Hui thought he could at least resolve his curiosity, so he sheathed his sword for a moment and continued.

"Have you heard of the absolute strike point?"

"What kind of bullshit is that?"

"If you don't know, I'll have to explain it from the beginning. There's a point where the strike point of an attack ends. If you hit that spot exactly, the power becomes the maximum. It means there's no waste of power at all. Even if you use 100 of your internal energy, the effect is only 70. On the other hand, I draw 50 of my internal energy and exert a power of 50 as it is. Do you understand?"

"No. Understand or not. If so, since you're 50 and I'm 70, shouldn't this body win? Stop spouting sophistry. Just explain what kind of trick you used!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You don't understand even if I explain it. It just means that I'm a much superior master than you. And this result came out based on such principles and understanding. This result won't change even if I hold a wooden sword. It means you can really break a rock with an egg."

"Tell your bullshit to Yama in the afterlife!"

The man drew a larger and clearer sword aura than before and rushed towards Namgung Hui.

This time, he stuck close, as if he wouldn't give away the absolute strike point or whatever.

"No matter how good you are at tricks. You won't be able to do anything about the sword aura you face in front of you!"

Was it the sword aura omnipotence theory?

It had been popular in the Central Plains for a while.

The sword aura cut through iron and cut large rocks like tofu.

Depending on whether one could implement this sword aura or not, the treatment also varied greatly.

Of course, it was a phenomenon that occurred because the Transcendent masters who could use sword aura were rare, but the gap between sword aura and sword ki was really like heaven and earth.

Because there were many things that sword aura could do that sword ki couldn't.

Like now, the only thing that could block such a clear sword aura was a corresponding sword aura.

At this level, facing it with sword ki was no different from a suicide act.

No matter how much you used the absolute strike point and other mysterious principles.

It was useless in front of the absolute power of the sword aura.

If so, he just had to not face such a sword aura.

Namgung Hui's figure became blurry and then suddenly appeared behind him.

Although it was as if he had performed the Different Form, Same Position, the afterimage lingered for a long time.

Perhaps because of that.

His reaction was late because of the afterimage.

-Puhwak!

His left arm was cut off, and he sprayed blood.

"Keuak! What on earth is this...!"

He couldn't even let out a groan of pain and couldn't come to his senses from the sword strikes of Namgung Hui that flew in succession.

-Hwikhwikhwik! Chaengchaengchaeng!

It was so fast that by the time the sound of cutting through the air was heard, the sword had already been extended.

His skin was cut, and blood began to flow.

Just as he had cut off his left arm, he could have cut off other parts of his body.

"You're playing with me...!"

"Rather than playing with you, I just experimented a little. The martial art I newly created this time is quite good."

"You're saying this is a martial art you created? You're talking as if you're a great master."

"Well, I'm about that level. By the way, do you have any last words before you die? If not, I'll at least carve your name on your grave."

"...Are you really going to kill me? Be satisfied with one arm. If you kill me, you won't be able to handle the aftermath."

"Who on earth are you?"

"My name is... Cheon Hojin, a member of the Biwolcheon family! A direct descendant of the current Young Cult Leader.”

(End of Chapter)