Rebirth of the Thunder God

The figure running towards Namgung Hui's party appeared to be a single person, thankfully, but their attire seemed far from the martial robes of an orthodox faction member.

If the clothing of orthodox faction members was generally characterized by being simple and plain, the figure currently running towards them was so splendidly ornate that it was dazzling to the eyes.

However, Namgung Hui couldn't help but frown deeply, as that attire was not unfamiliar to him.

The reason was...

'That's...! The attire of the Heretic Faction Leader!'

Because the protagonist of the splendid attire was none other than the Heretic Faction Leader.

He was a master of the Transformation Realm, and among them, an old martial artist who vied for the top spot.

Naturally, he was a man of the same era as the Thunder God, so technically, he was strictly a master of the previous generation.

It wouldn't have been strange if he had retired long ago, but he was still active.

Moreover, the current Zhejiang Province was the territory of the Heretic Faction.

If the Heretic Faction Leader were to summon his subordinates right now, they could arrive in an instant.

As it was, the Heretic Faction Leader himself was a master difficult to handle, so the thought that reinforcements could also arrive made his palms break out in a cold sweat.

'To think I'm getting nervous over a guy like that. I need to regain the martial prowess of my past life quickly.'

The eleventh star of the Purple Thunder Divine Art.

Only by reaching the realm aptly called the Profound Realm would it become easier to plan for the future.

Not only the Heretic Faction Leader, but also the Young Cult Leader and other demonic heads in the Blood Cult, and the unknown masters in the Hoicheon Association.

The emperor's personal guards, who could also become enemies, were opponents he could not be careless with.

Namgung Hui looked at the Heretic Faction Leader who had arrived right in front of him and prepared himself fully.

Although his current appearance was also disguised, it was a situation where his cover could be blown at any moment.

And unlike when Muchi was present before, the Heretic Faction Leader had no need to chase after anyone else.

He just had to capture Namgung Hui and his party.

From the Hoicheon Association's perspective, it wouldn't matter if they eliminated Ju Hwayeong right there.

'If she's a granddaughter the emperor cherishes, she could be used as a hostage, but the important thing is that Ju Hwayeong is still in danger.'

Still, the fortunate thing was that Namgung Hui didn't have to fight while protecting her all the time.

Ju Hwayeong was also at the peak of the supreme master realm, so she wouldn't be defeated so easily by the Heretic Faction Leader.

Rather, if the three of them attacked together, they might be able to subdue the Heretic Faction Leader before he could call for reinforcements.

However, that would only be possible if Namgung Hui poured everything he had into it.

The Heretic Faction Leader, who had stopped his advance, looked at Namgung Hui's party and spoke.

"As I thought. You weren't heading to Liaodong or Fujian Province. I did well to trust my gut."

An old, experienced martial artist who had lived for many years was never to be underestimated.

They could derive meaningful results not just by rational judgment, but also by intuition.

In a way, since it was a judgment based on experience, it couldn't be said to be entirely irrational.

Hadn't General One's prediction of the future with his Insightful Eye also been a result anticipated based on a vast amount of information?

The Heretic Faction Leader, instead of an Insightful Eye, must have made his current judgment based on the experience he had accumulated.

'In the Heretic Faction, where conspiracies are rampant, this might even look like child's play.'

Namgung Hui had only expected General One to be absent; he hadn't anticipated that the Heretic Faction Leader would also be involved.

Originally, in any organization, it was not common sense for the leader to step forward directly like this.

If Namgung Hui were to set his mind to it and take the Heretic Faction Leader's life right now, wouldn't the Heretic Faction face a crisis of its very existence?

However, since Namgung Hui had no guarantee that he could kill the Heretic Faction Leader, he decided to refrain from taking any reckless measures.

"For the old monster of the Heretic Faction to come all this way, isn't your butt a little too light in your old age?"

"If your butt is heavy, you're bound to go hungry. And when you get old, you lose your morning sleep. But you've managed to evade the imperial army and reach this far. I don't think Princess Jeonghwa's head could have thought of such an escape route. Is this your work?"

Perhaps because she was referred to as stupid, Ju Hwayeong immediately flared up.

"You senile old man. Where do you think you're spouting such nonsense? If you're senile, you should be preparing to enter your coffin."

"Hahaha! Your verbal skills are indeed sharp. It wasn't for nothing that you were called the Demonic-Mouthed Princess."

Demonic-Mouthed. A princess with the mouth of a demon.

Namgung Hui found himself nodding at the Heretic Faction Leader's words without realizing it.

Hadn't she made a bombshell declaration to Namgung Hui just five days ago?

Her unrestrained speech was not out of place at all to be called the mouth of a demon.

"How dare you! It is impudent to call the Princess's name by changing it so carelessly!"

"And I am also strictly the head of an organization, and my age is such that even if you brought your grandfather, he couldn't be compared. Or is it that you have no mother, and that's why you have no manners?"

Perhaps because he had touched a raw nerve, Ju Hwayeong's body trembled, but...

She did not dare to rush at a master of the Transformation Realm first.

And soon, she calmed her anger and looked at Namgung Hui, asking with her eyes what he was going to do about the Heretic Faction Leader.

'Hmm... Seeing as he's not rushing in right away, he seems to have another trick up his sleeve. What on earth is he thinking? Well, it would be fastest to ask him directly.'

"Faction Leader. Do you intend to fight us? Or is there something else you want?"

"As expected, you're a quick-witted fellow. I have no interest in a foul-mouthed princess. The reason I have come is to see you."

"What do you mean by that? Do you even know who I am?"

"The young ladies next to you may not know, but I know who you are. If you wish to hear it from my own mouth, I will tell you now."

"!?"

Namgung Hui harbored doubts, thinking 'no way,' but he also thought that an old, experienced Heretic Faction Leader would be capable of such a feat.

In any case, seeing as he had singled him out, it must be that he really had business with Namgung Hui.

If Ju Hwayeong and Tang Soso could escape safely, a private meeting with the Heretic Faction Leader didn't matter.

Even if he fell into danger, he could just escape with the Wind God Steps.

Having finished his thoughts, Namgung Hui immediately sent a telepathic message to Ju Hwayeong.

-I will handle this old monster. Princess, you should escape through the route I told you.

-Can you really handle that old monster alone?

-I can't guarantee that I'll win right now, but I won't lose either. And didn't you see my lightness skill? I'm confident enough in escaping.

-I understand. Then I will go first with the young lady of the Tang family. If you die for nothing, I'll be the one to get a harsh scolding from the White Phoenix, so you must not die. Then, I wish you good luck in battle.

As Namgung Hui nodded, Ju Hwayeong and Tang Soso stealthily glanced at the Heretic Faction Leader and left the place.

As the Heretic Faction Leader had said, he didn't even give Ju Hwayeong a glance.

He only looked straight at Namgung Hui and opened his mouth.

"Then, child of the Namgung family. Let's move to another place and continue our conversation."

And so, an unexpected private meeting between Namgung Hui and the Heretic Faction Leader was established.

* * *

Kuaiji Mountain, located southeast of Shaoxing County, Zhejiang Province.

Like the name of the mountain, it meant to gather and discuss plans.

It was a perfect place for a secret talk, just like Namgung Hui and the Heretic Faction Leader were having now.

A solitary manor nestled among dense, giant trees.

Warm sunlight poured down, and it was an incomparably quiet and cozy place for someone to spend the rest of their life.

In such a manor, Namgung Hui faced the Heretic Faction Leader and fiddled with his teacup.

"What is the reason for inviting me here, knowing who I am? We are not in a relationship to have such a close conversation, are we?"

"That is true. You are a talent of the younger generation of the orthodox martial world, and I am the head of the unorthodox path."

"For someone who knows that to do this, there must be a reason. We both don't have much time, so let's hear it."

"Fine. Then I will get straight to my business. You. You were accompanying the one who assassinated my grandson last time, were you not?"

'Did he realize it was me who was with that fellow Muchi? Then I have to assume he saw through my female disguise at that time. What a sly old man.'

When he was disguised as Namgung Jayeon, the Heretic Faction Leader had not acknowledged Namgung Hui.

He had thought he had been fooled, but he had been deliberately pretending not to know.

It was a matter of revenge for his grandson, yet to think he had just let it go, Namgung Hui couldn't even begin to guess the Heretic Faction Leader's inner thoughts.

Namgung Hui was slightly flustered, but since it seemed the Heretic Faction Leader had come knowing everything, he had no choice but to admit it meekly.

"...That is correct. But that person has already safely entered the Blood Cult, and I have no contact with him now, nor do I know what has become of him."

In fact, after Namgung Hui had infiltrated the Blood Cult, he had not met Muchi.

He seemed to be moving about busily, perhaps because it was his first time back in a long while.

He had probably received some kind of mission from the military strategist, Bukgung Jinwu.

He didn't know what it was, but it must have been a rather secret and important mission.

"I know that as well. However, what I want to ask is whether you obtained anything from my grandson."

"Something? What exactly are you referring to? It wouldn't be something like silver. Was there a martial arts manual?"

The Heretic Faction Leader looked intently into Namgung Hui's eyes before opening his mouth.

"It seems you don't know either. Then it's highly likely that the whereabouts of that item have flowed into the Blood Cult. Hmm..."

The Heretic Faction Leader, stroking his gray beard, fell into a serious expression.

His wrinkled face smoothed out again as his mouth opened.

"It can't be helped. It doesn't seem like you would have a way either."

"What on earth is that item, that you're acting like this?"

"Have you ever thought about why my grandson was assassinated?"

"That's because... he seemed like he would create a variable in the martial arts tournament, isn't that right?"

To be precise, he had thought he was plotting some kind of disturbance to cause damage to the orthodox martial world, but since it hadn't happened and the person in question had been assassinated, he had just said it was a variable.

"The Hao Faction Leader may have thought so, but what the Blood Cult was aiming for is another matter. Why did that lanky fellow come to the Central Plains? You must have heard that, right?"

"That's because..."

Namgung Hui stopped talking and was lost in thought for a moment.

'Come to think of it, Muchi said he came out to find a sacred artifact of the Blood Cult. Don't tell me!'

"By any chance, did your grandson have a sacred artifact of the Demonic Cult?"

"I'm glad you've noticed now. Yes. I had that child go and find one item."

"Oh. What does that item look like?"

"That, I do not know for sure either."

If he could just know its appearance, he could figure out what rank of sacred artifact it was, but since the Asura statue was said to have been destroyed, it couldn't be the Cult Leader's sacred artifact.

The Vice-Cult Leader's sacred artifact was also with Beak Seolhwa, so it was likely the Young Cult Leader's.

Well, there was also the Saintess's sacred artifact, but it probably didn't have much symbolic significance.

'Did the Young Cult Leader boast that he would become the Cult Leader because Muchi had retrieved the sacred artifact? But Muchi belongs to the moderate faction and should be hostile to the Young Cult Leader.'

He didn't know how the situation was unfolding, but it didn't seem to be flowing in a good direction.

If the Blood Cult's unity strengthened and they advanced into the Central Plains based on that power...

The Righteous-Demonic War might break out again.

Instead of swallowing the Central Plains whole like the Hoicheon Association, they might be seized by a desire for revenge and try to destroy everything thoroughly.

'Is the Heretic Faction Leader telling me this because he's also concerned about this? You live long enough, and you see all sorts of things.'

"It's a pity that you don't know what that item is. But what is the reason for explaining this to me in such detail?"

At Namgung Hui's question, the Heretic Faction Leader grinned and opened his mouth.

"You. What would you do if I told you I know the location of another sacred artifact?”

(End of Chapter)