Rebirth of the Thunder God

"This is the Esoteric Sect...!"

-KABOOOM!!

Before the envoy from the Association could finish his words, an intense roar erupted, turning the area upside down.

Literally, it overturned everything on the ground as if flipping the earth's skin.

Among them were the bandits who were standing on the ground.

The bandits, swallowed by Namgung Hui's palm technique, became one with the ground and could not move.

"..."

In one move, forty bandits were neutralized.

At the unrealistic sight, not only the Hyeongmun Escort Agency group, but also the envoy from the Association and the Ghost Saber were silent.

For a moment, time flowed quietly, and with the sound of swallowing saliva, the silence shattered into pieces.

Gulp.

"E-Envoy. What just happened? Is what I'm seeing really reality?"

"...I can't believe it either, but the Green Forest bandits were annihilated in a single move. In just one move."

"What on earth is that martial art? The Namgung family doesn't have such a palm technique, do they?"

"If my guess is correct, it must be the Great Hand Seal of the Esoteric Sect."

"Esoteric Sect? Are you perhaps talking about the secret sect of the foreign martial world?"

"That's right. The place that mainly uses the name Esoteric Buddhism. But I have no idea why a woman from the Namgung family has learned it."

Namgung Hui just watched quietly as the envoy from the Association and the Ghost Saber conversed.

It was a matter where information could leak if he made a mistake, but in fact, he had no energy to stop it.

That was because he was controlling his interior due to the aftereffects of performing the Esoteric Sect's Great Hand Seal.

'It's a martial art with more aftereffects than I thought. My palm feels not just tingly, but paralyzed.'

Besides that, perhaps because he had used a huge amount of internal energy, his Dantian also felt slightly empty.

It wasn't a delusion; a whopping three cycles of internal energy had disappeared from his six cycles.

Including the internal energy consumed in between, Namgung Hui now had only two cycles of internal energy left.

Of course, even with this much, there was no problem in dealing with them.

When he had completely controlled his interior and the sensation in his palm had returned, Namgung Hui moved.

As if he had no intention of hiding his martial prowess anymore, he instantly leaped with a phantom-like movement and extended his sword.

A swift sword momentum flowed from the tip of Namgung Hui's sword.

Light-Splitting Sword Art, First Stance. Light-Splitting Flash.

The afterimage of light blurred the tip of the sword, and the sword Ki was shot in a straight line.

Although a thrust was weaker than a cut, it was fast.

And if sword Ki was added, even the lacking power could be overcome.

"Cough!"

The frail human body could be pierced in an instant.

The swiftness was beyond the realm of perception.

And the dazzling brilliance of the light-splitting disturbed the opponent's vision.

That was why now. The Ghost Saber's chest was pierced powerlessly.

He slammed his body onto the ground, as if to follow the example of the fallen bandit of the Asura Division.

-Thud...

Namgung Hui confirmed that no breath was flowing from the Ghost Saber, then turned his head to look at the envoy from the Association.

"You're the only one left. If you have a hidden trump card, you'd better take it out now. The Ghost Saber and that bandit fellow must be waiting eagerly."

"...I understand."

The envoy from the Association nodded his head with a resigned expression.

Then, he took a stance that Namgung Hui had never seen before in his life; it felt as if a crane was stretching its legs straight.

At that sight, Namgung Hui could instantly figure out which affiliation the envoy from the Association belonged to.

"Seeing your scholarly demeanor, you must be from the Imperial Heaven. Your neat attire and sharp theory, but your practical experience is extremely lacking. You're a bookworm through and through."

The reason he hadn't been able to properly exploit Namgung Hui's openings was not just because Namgung Hui hadn't shown any.

In a duel between masters, if there were no openings, one had to create them by force.

That was why feints and variations were rampant, and hidden weapons were used like the bandit of the Asura Division.

But the envoy from the Association in front of him, despite his outstanding Ki, had made honest attacks and had not been able to show off his martial prowess.

"It's never a good thing for a scholar to have a lot of practical experience. It should be seen that this world, where even a scholar has to raise a sword, is flawed."

"Hearing that, it seems you're right. It would be a good world if everyone could live peacefully without swinging these hideous swords. But what can you do? Humans are this flawed. Let's us flawed ones settle the score."

"Let's do that. It seems both you and I have already crossed a river we cannot return from."

A dark shadow was cast on the envoy's face.

Should he say it felt like he had changed from a noble white heron to a pitch-black black heron?

Namgung Hui looked at such an envoy with pity, then soon strengthened his fighting spirit and readjusted his grip on his sword.

As he said, they were sworn enemies with the Hoicheon Association, to the point that it was irreversible.

Showing clumsy sympathy was worse than not doing it at all.

As Namgung Hui nodded, the envoy from the Association flew in, extending his sword like a crane's leg.

Although it was a standard sword momentum, thanks to that straightforwardness, the power of the stance stood out all the more.

Was it a martial art created by scholars?

For some reason, despite the honest sword momentum, the principles contained within were paradoxically of the highest level.

It felt as if such a martial art would be born if scholars gathered and put their heads together.

Namgung Hui dodged such a crane's kick several times.

It was because it was Namgung Hui that he could dodge it easily; they say you can't block it even if you know it's coming.

It was honest but fast, and fast yet steadfast.

The sword momentum it carried even boasted a hegemonic aura.

-Kagagagang!

Sparks flew as if the sword was being ground, and steam rose from the overheated blade.

It was due to the friction, but also because it couldn't handle the internal energy imbued in the sword.

Crack.

In the end, unable to withstand the energy, cracks formed on the blade, and fragments fell off.

"How was it?"

"Not bad. Better than most swordsmen."

"Is that so..."

Thud.

The envoy from the Association, who had finished speaking, fell down as he was.

Still, he was still breathing, as his chest rose and fell, repeating inhalation and exhalation.

That was also the result of his steadfast sword momentum offsetting Namgung Hui's sword light.

Namgung Hui had also intended to cut off his breath in one go.

Even now, wasn't he grimacing in pain?

Namgung Hui walked up to the envoy to release him from his pain.

"Any last words?"

"Heok... None. Do you have anything you're curious about?"

"Hmm... Since you're an envoy from the Association, I'll ask one thing. What exactly does 'envoy' mean?"

"It's just as the name 'envoy' (使者) implies. But it has two meanings. It can mean a person who runs errands after receiving an order or a request, and it also has the double meaning of a grim reaper who takes the souls of the dead to the afterlife."

"I see. It feels like an executioner. By the way, they say this jade plaque is the envoy's plaque. Is that right?"

When Namgung Hui showed the Hoicheon Association's plaque from his bosom, the envoy from the Association's eyes widened for a moment, then he nodded his head.

"Hahaha. So that's how it was. I thought you were excessively strong, but was it a disguise? That is the envoy's plaque. To be precise, it's like a mark to fight for the position of envoy."

"A mark, you say. What does that mean?"

"As long as you have it, you are an envoy. But at the same time, it is also a target that makes you have to fight with other members for the position of envoy."

"Ah. So that's why the General didn't say much even when I had this."

"That's right. From the moment you possessed it, you became a member of the Association. It's as if you took care of the previous envoy and became a new one..."

He had wondered why the General had let Namgung Hui use the Hoicheon Association's jade plaque, but there was such a scheme.

Like unknowingly getting addicted to drugs.

The more Namgung Hui abused the jade plaque, the more he would become a member of the Association.

He used the foundation and identity that the Hoicheon Association had laid.

And he had even used their manpower, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to see him as a true member.

'The General watched and did nothing, aiming for this, and took no special measures.'

Even if Namgung Hui himself didn't think he was a person of the Hoicheon Association.

How those around him would view Namgung Hui, who possessed and even used the Hoicheon Association's jade plaque, was another matter.

Beak Seolhwa, who knew all the inside stories, wouldn't, but the members of the Martial Alliance who didn't know Namgung Hui well, or other third parties, might really think he was joining the Hoicheon Association.

It was a problem that arose because Namgung Hui hid many things from others, and it was also a problem of not being able to easily judge who was an ally.

'But if I were to become conscious of this and become passive, that would be a big miscalculation.'

Namgung Hui planned to thoroughly use the Hoicheon Association's plaque, regardless of their intentions.

Rather, he could even more actively draw in other members.

He could just kill all the guys who tried to compete for this envoy's plaque.

'It doesn't matter if I'm misunderstood in the process. Honor? It's a problem I don't need. If I can just dismantle the Hoicheon Association, I can endure any false accusation.'

In that process, all he needed was one pillar of support to protect him.

That pillar of support would not misunderstand him over a mere jade plaque.

Or she might even ask him to get another envoy's plaque so that she could use it herself.

Then all he had to do was get one more jade plaque for the future.

"Thank you for the advice. If you have anything else to say, go ahead."

"...I don't. No. There is one thing that bothers me. The emperor has been a little suspicious lately."

"If you're a scholar, you should call him His Majesty. You have no respect. And if you're trying to drive a wedge between the emperor and me, it won't work, so stop it."

"It's not about driving a wedge. His personality has been erratic lately, as if he's changed into a different person. This is something that will be easy to judge whether it's a lie or not if you check it yourself..."

Hearing that, he had heard a similar, though not identical, story from Ju Hwayeong.

That the emperor's inner thoughts might be different from before, that no one knew that person's inner thoughts.

At first, he had just thought he was an emperor who hid many things, but it seemed there was another problem.

'The emperor... Well, as that person said, I just have to check it myself.'

Although it would be difficult right now, he resolved to investigate the emperor at some point, and then bent his body towards the envoy, whose breath was slowly stopping.

"Yes. Even though you're dying, you've told me many things, so I express my gratitude once again. Then, rest in peace in the afterlife. I will send the rest of your colleagues along."

"Ha. Ha. I underst..."

The envoy from the Association, who breathed his last.

Although he didn't know his name, since it was a human duty to close his eyes, Namgung Hui raised his hand and stroked his face.

Then, he put his hand in his bosom and looked for the jade plaque.

And as expected, he could find a jade plaque that looked exactly like Namgung Hui's.

He left the other belongings.

It was a consideration so that he could use them as travel expenses in the afterlife.

As the situation was thus settled, Escort Leader Bang, who had been watching anxiously from behind, stealthily approached and asked.

"Uh... Benefactor. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Yes. I'm not hurt. Instead, could I ask you to clean up here?"

"Yes! Just leave it to me. Hyeongmun Escort Agency, assemble!"

At Escort Leader Bang's command, the Hyeongmun Escort Agency moved in perfect order.

And Namgung Hui just watched it quietly, then buried the envoy's body.

Since he didn't know the name, he carved a short phrase on the tombstone.

[The one who tried to turn back the heavens has returned to the earth.]

* * *

The Hyeongmun Escort Agency group, who had finished cleaning up, perhaps to change the atmosphere, drove the carriage diligently and entered Changsha.

Now, the Golden Merchant Guild was visible to the naked eye.

Perhaps because they had run hard, it seemed they could spend the evening at the Golden Merchant Guild.

"It is a great relief that the benefactor also has business at the Golden Merchant Guild. I was worried that we would part ways before entering the Golden Merchant Guild."

Only when the goods were delivered inside the merchant guild could the escort mission be said to have been completed safely.

From that perspective, if another robber appeared after entering Changsha and snatched the escorted goods, the escort mission would be a failure, even if it was close to the destination.

Even if that robber appeared to be an insider of the Golden Merchant Guild.

However, since Namgung Hui also had business at the Golden Merchant Guild, he had accompanied them to the end.

That was why Escort Leader Bang's expression was so bright.

But unlike the bright Escort Leader Bang, Namgung Hui couldn't help but make a rather displeased expression at the entrance of the Golden Merchant Guild.

That was because he had been reunited with an unexpected person.

A man with a hero's headband tied tightly and a face as shiny as jade.

Mo Socheon, whose face was more suited to the term 'pretty boy' than Namgung Hui, was standing alone at the entrance of the Golden Merchant Guild, exuding his presence.

(End of Chapter)