Rebirth of the Thunder God

Namgung Hui looked at the approaching massive army and slowly nodded his head.

He had achieved his goal, not perfectly, but to a certain extent.

The fact that such a large army was flocking here meant that a gap had been created elsewhere.

Moreover, if such a large-scale army moved, it would surely be visible from Putuo Mountain.

'In that case, Tang Soso and Ju Hwayeong are also seeing this. Now I can move on to the next stage.'

Namgung Hui had thought it best to cut off General Yi's breath here, but he judged that it would be difficult unless he brought out his true ultimate techniques.

As it was, General Yi seemed to have taken many spirit medicines recently, and in terms of absolute internal energy, he surpassed Namgung Hui.

If that were the case, it would turn into a long-term battle, and it was obvious that the massive army would intervene in the meantime.

Even now, a Chiliarch had spotted General Yi and was shouting from a distance.

"Eunuch Wei!! Leave it to our imperial army from here!"

At the Chiliarch's shout, General Yi grumbled under his breath.

"Tch! A subordinate of Commandant Yu. It'll be hard to see this to the end. You're lucky, you brat from the Flying Moon Heavenly Family."

Namgung Hui had been planning to retreat just in time, but he couldn't quite understand why General Yi was also retreating.

Was there some issue with Commandant Yu? To give up on the cornered Namgung Hui here.

Anyway. As General Yi tried to withdraw, Namgung Hui didn't back down and retorted.

"You're the lucky one. I was about to send you to the afterlife with my next stance. It seems Lord Asura doesn't want to see you yet."

"Hmph. You think it will go as you wish? Anyway. We'll face off next time. I'll be taking my leave now. Feel free to run wild against the imperial army."

Was he hoping that Namgung Hui would inflict a massive blow on the imperial army?

He seemed to be hoping for a clash with Commandant Yu's forces.

There was no way Namgung Hui would fall for such an obvious ploy.

As General Yi deployed his movement technique and withdrew, Namgung Hui, as if he had been waiting, threw himself towards the sea.

"Hey! The enemy is running on the water! Navy, follow me!"

The Chiliarch steered the ship in the direction Namgung Hui had gone and gave chase.

But no matter how fast the warship was, it was no match for a master of movement techniques who could freely dash across the water.

Taking advantage of the gap created by the confusion, Namgung Hui was able to safely land on the Zhoushan Archipelago.

The imperial troops had set up their base and camp on Zhoushan, the largest island in the archipelago, so he could easily take refuge on a small island on the opposite side.

In fact, a small, uninhabited island like this was better for hiding.

It was full of numerous islands and reefs, making it difficult for the imperial army to search easily.

As darkness was slowly falling, moving recklessly would lead to being stranded.

'When night comes, I'll head to Putuo Mountain. Until then, I'll spend my time here.'

Namgung Hui hadn't settled on the deserted island without a plan.

Just as one soaks rice and lets it steam to cook it.

For now, he had to give the imperial army some time to sort out their thoughts.

In the meantime, Namgung Hui also had to organize and execute his plan.

'Unless General Yi and the imperial army are idiots, they can't not know my intention for coming here.'

The fact that Ju Hwayeong was isolated had become a publicly known fact to everyone in the martial world.

If so, the only people who would come for Ju Hwayeong would be reinforcements to rescue her.

However, the identity Namgung Hui had disguised himself with was that of a member of the Blood Cult's Flying Moon Heavenly Family.

General Yi, on his way back, would realize that something was strange.

He wouldn't understand why they were trying to save Ju Hwayeong of the Anti-Heaven Alliance, who was practically an enemy.

Of course, since General Yi was not as brilliant as General One, he wouldn't be able to deduce it at once, but he would surely find some points that didn't add up.

One might think that he shouldn't give them time to think, but Namgung Hui had something else he was aiming for.

'I have to wait for the rumors to spread.'

As Namgung Hui was leaving for this place, he had given instructions to On Yuha.

He had told her to spread a few rumors among the Hao Faction disciples.

No matter how quickly he artificially spread the rumors using the Hao Faction.

It was inevitable that it would take some time.

Rather, if it looked too contrived, the imperial army would surely become suspicious, so it was proper to wait patiently for the rumors to spread over time.

'Still, it's a huge relief that the distance is short. It won't take that long for the rumors to spread.'

Namgung Hui, having some time until then, decided to contact Beak Seolhwa with the communication artifact.

Since he could use it five times a day anyway, being too frugal with it was also inefficient.

Namgung Hui cleared his throat, touched the artifact around his neck, and spoke.

[Ahem. Seolhwa. Are you busy?]

As if she had some free time, Beak Seolhwa's reply came back immediately.

[Hui? What's up at this hour? I was just resting in my room. What are you doing?]

[I heard that Princess Ju Hwayeong and Tang Soso are trapped on Putuo Mountain, so I came to rescue them. It would be troublesome if they fell into the hands of the Hoicheon Association. By the way, Seolhwa. I heard from the Palace Lady that you're going to be the next Palace Lady? What's this all about?]

[Ah. You heard. It's just as it sounds. I decided to become the next Palace Lady if I win the martial arts tournament. And speaking of which, you've brought it up at a good time. They say the Blood Cult's Young Cult Leader competition will end within half a month. It seems they're testing and deciding on various events.]

Namgung Hui, now on his last use of the artifact, had no choice but to speak carefully.

[Really? Half a month isn't long. Then there will be a great upheaval in the Blood Cult after that. Anyway. Let's talk about the Moon Maiden Palace again later. Sleep well.]

As the artifact's uses ran out, Beak Seolhwa's reply did not come.

At first, he had thought being able to communicate five times was a great thing, but after hearing Beak Seolhwa's voice, five times felt far too few.

Still, just hearing her voice, like rain in a drought, felt like it quenched some of his thirst.

'So Seolhwa is really becoming the Moon Maiden Palace Lady. I'll ask about this again later. The Blood Cult will also be a problem. I must strike the Dugu Family Head before half a month passes.'

The Dugu Family Head, who had left on his own.

He must be looking into the problems with their funding sources right now.

With the Iron Blood Alliance also forming in Guizhou Province, it would be difficult for the Dugu Family Head to finish his work quickly and return.

Since he wasn't clueless, he would be acting while reading the atmosphere in Guizhou Province.

To not miss that, Namgung Hui had instructed On Yuha to pay special attention.

When he returned to the family estate, he would be able to hear a rough summary of the information from Guizhou Province.

'Then, shall I start moving as well.'

As darkness fell, there was also diligent movement in the imperial army's camp.

It seemed they had either received the rumors Namgung Hui had spread, or some order had come down from the higher-ups.

Still, they could not enter the archipelago area, which was full of reefs.

Namgung Hui melted into the darkness using his stealth technique and then headed for Putuo Mountain based on the map Yewol had given him.

Chap. Chap. Chap.

Namgung Hui's figure running on the water had such tremendous airtime that he was like a bird flying over the sea.

It truly looked that way, so no one suspected he was a person.

With just a few steps, he was able to leap from the deserted island he was on to the island where Putuo Mountain was located.

And as he approached Putuo Mountain, stones and arrows flew at Namgung Hui from the air.

-Shuk shuk shuk!

A shower of stones and arrows poured down like rain.

They flew indiscriminately, as if to deny Namgung Hui's footing.

The arrows were also shot from powerful bows, and the force they carried was not ordinary.

It was a penetrating power that could have pierced through armor if it had hit a regular imperial soldier.

But against Namgung Hui, it was insufficient.

-Pang pang pang!

He poured out ranged palm strikes, clearing away the shower of stones and arrows.

Yet, the sky was still densely packed.

As if to show why General Yi hadn't entered here.

Even if it turned into a battle of attrition, if entry was this difficult, even General Yi with his abundant internal energy would be in a bind.

And even if he managed to reach the mountain.

Ju Hwayeong's forces would be waiting for the exhausted General.

'Ju Hwayeong is a supreme master, and the group following her are no ordinary people either.'

Still, it was a relief that no Mount Hua Sect disciples were in sight.

It would have been troublesome if the Mount Hua Sect had also been framed for participating in treason.

In that case, climbing Putuo Mountain was not very difficult for Namgung Hui.

Unlike General Yi, Namgung Hui was a master of the Transformation Realm and possessed an explosive lightness skill that the other lacked.

When the opponent's offensive faltered for a moment, Namgung Hui kicked off the ground and charged towards Putuo Mountain.

While protecting his body with a protective Ki barrier, he instantly deployed the Wind God Steps and shot forward.

Wind God Steps. Chapter of Explosion. Tornado.

It was no coincidence that its name was the same as the tornadoes that raged in the great desert.

An explosion of Ki, as if whipping around, burst from Namgung Hui's Yongquan points (soles of his feet).

-Paang!

Faster than the arrows his opponent shot, Namgung Hui headed for the summit of Putuo Mountain.

With the surroundings being dark, they could not follow Namgung Hui's figure.

With a single leap, he covered a distance of over 50 zhang.

An unbelievably astonishing leaping ability.

But having witnessed it with their own two eyes, Ju Hwayeong's party had no choice but to admit it.

The fact that their opponent was very bad news.

"Tch! Everyone, lower your bows and engage in close combat!"

Ju Hwayeong's clear, sharp voice was heard, and the rest of her subordinates readily drew their swords and spears.

Namgung Hui, though he could have sent a telepathic message to Ju Hwayeong by now, calmly received their attacks.

And he did so while mimicking the forms of the Asura Sword Art and various other demonic arts.

-Chang chang chang! Chaeng chaeng chaeng!

Namgung Hui's lightning-fast sword rush threw Ju Hwayeong's forces into disarray.

In the dark, they couldn't get their bearings against Namgung Hui's stealthy and swift swordplay.

In truth, it wouldn't have been strange if their heads had flown off long ago.

But they did not realize that Namgung Hui was holding back.

Because he was thoroughly acting everything out.

So, what was the reason for Namgung Hui to go through such a troublesome act?

It was to prepare for any contingency.

'You never know. There's no law that says there isn't a spy from the Association in Ju Hwayeong's camp.'

Such secret struggles were what the Imperial Palace did best and enjoyed most.

Planting spies, betraying betrayals, to dispose of arch-rivals and ascend to the throne.

This was a specialty among specialties of the Eastern Depot, so there was no law that said there wasn't someone planted by the General among them.

And so, Namgung Hui neutralized his enemies with his cruel and rough swordplay, gradually approaching Ju Hwayeong.

When her subordinates were unable to put up a fight, Ju Hwayeong finally came forward herself and faced Namgung Hui.

-Kang!

"You! A sword art I've not seen in the Central Plains. It resembles the demonic arts passed down through oral tradition. Are you perhaps a person from the Demonic Heaven?"

Ju Hwayeong's guess was quite plausible.

There was no law that said the Demonic Cult's secret manuals weren't in the Imperial Palace's treasury.

The Demonic Heaven could certainly mimic demonic arts like Namgung Hui.

And above all, besides the Hoicheon Association, there was no one else who would target Ju Hwayeong.

"Think as you please, Princess. If you surrender now, I will spare your life. However, you will have to pay dearly for making me go through this trouble."

"Hmph! How dare you speak to me, a princess, in such a manner? You are truly an ill-bred fellow. I shall bestow upon you a great lesson."

With that, Ju Hwayeong adjusted her stance and drew up a great amount of internal energy.

It was a sword art that Namgung Hui knew well.

The latter half stances of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art.

'It's the 15th stance, Falling Plum Blossoms in Abundance (落梅紛紛).'

Namgung Hui couldn't help but admire inwardly, seeing Ju Hwayeong had properly mastered the ultimate technique of the Mount Hua Sect in a short period.

But Namgung Hui's admiration did not last long.

That was because a fierce momentum suddenly flew towards the back of Ju Hwayeong's head.

(End of Chapter)