Rebirth of the Thunder God

Upon entering Weng'an County, Namgung Hui and Jang Hwang felt as if they were walking on thin ice due to the sharp gazes pouring in from all around.

"The gazes of the slash-and-burn farmers are quite sharp."

"It seems the recent forest fire was also the work of the slash-and-burn farmers."

"Well, since there are many slash-and-burn farmers in this Guizhou Province area, wouldn't that be the case? As it happens, the wind is also blowing gently, which is perfect for a forest fire to start. At times like this, one should generally not set a fire..."

"Well, isn't it because they also have to make a living? Let's just pass by quickly."

Namgung Hui, thinking it was not right to lay a hand on slash-and-burn farmers who didn't even know martial arts, thought it was best to just get out of here quickly.

But contrary to Namgung Hui's thoughts, they could not easily leave the mountain.

-Chaeng. Chaeng. Chaeng!

Because a fight had broken out not far away.

If Namgung Hui were alone, he might have just passed by, but since the sect leader of the Maoshan Sect was so curious, he had no choice but to follow the scene of the fight.

"Brother. Let's go."

Namgung Hui shook his head but followed Jang Hwang so as not to fall behind.

After running for about a hundred paces, a group fighting with weapons in the middle of the mountain path came into view.

"Black Tiger Faction! To use dirty tricks like the lowly unorthodox path group!"

"You guys from the Jeong'an Sect, are your eyes knotholes? It was you who attacked first, not us!"

"Nonsense! Can't you see the arrow stuck here? You're the ones who shot it! This is a shape that orthodox faction members don't use!"

"What kind of bullshit are you talking about! We told you we didn't shoot that! We don't even have a bow!!"

They were facing each other with their swords, shouting at each other and exchanging loud voices without giving an inch.

From Namgung Hui's perspective, it seemed that the person who had shot the arrow was someone else, and they were fighting due to a misunderstanding.

'Since the Iron Blood Fortress is recruiting from both the unorthodox and orthodox factions, such problems are already arising.'

Even if no one had shot the arrow, they were like a powder keg ready to explode at any moment.

If only a cause was provided, they would draw their swords and fight like that.

Still, since fighting because they themselves had provided the cause and fighting due to someone else's scheme were strictly different matters, Namgung Hui, who could not watch any longer, took a step.

"Brother. Where are you going?"

"For a moment. I'm going to catch a poisonous snake."

"A poisonous snake? Ah. You're going to catch that man hiding over there. I see. Go on."

If one were to strictly judge Jang Hwang's realm, it was only at the peak level, but perhaps because of his sorcery, his Ki sense was strangely outstanding.

Sometimes, he would sense things that were difficult to confirm with the naked eye, such as the other person's lies or feelings that even Namgung Hui hadn't noticed.

Well, he said it was done with spiritual energy, and although he couldn't completely believe it, he just recognized that he had some talent.

The moment Namgung Hui took about two steps onto the mountain path.

-Phat!

His figure disappeared in an instant and suddenly appeared on a tree.

There, strangely, besides Namgung Hui, another man was hanging.

Until just a moment ago, it seemed there were only leaves, but it was a perfect concealment technique.

Well, he was eventually captured by Namgung Hui.

"So you were plotting a conspiracy here. Instead of telling me where you're from, go and tell them."

"Let me go!"

Namgung Hui ignored his words, jumped down, and approached the scene of the fight.

As a person suddenly popped out of thin air, the people who were fighting shouted in surprise.

"Who are you!"

"Sorry, but could you put away your swords for a moment? I've caught the person who shot that arrow."

"!?

"!?

At Namgung Hui's words, the two sects stopped their hands for a moment.

To confirm Namgung Hui's words, they exchanged glances and then stepped forward with the arrow.

"By any chance, is the person lying down here the one who shot the arrow?"

"Yes. You can tell by comparing the bow and arrow slung on his back."

Even without comparing, the situation was obvious.

Not only did he have a bow by himself, but the fletching of the arrow was also the same.

"...We fought a useless fight because of this fellow. Where is he from?"

"...I can't tell you."

"Well, making people open their mouths is our Black Tiger Faction's specialty..."

"There's no need for that. I think I have a rough idea of where he's from."

This time, Jang Hwang appeared and intervened in the current situation.

As if he knew something, he approached the person who had shot the arrow and made eye contact.

"You. You're from the Heretic Faction, aren't you?"

"Wh-What are you talking about? The Heretic Faction. I belong to the orthodox faction."

"Orthodox faction? Then what is the name of your sect?"

"Of course, I can't say that. Because it would bring shame to my sect."

Jang Hwang grinned and picked up the arrow that had fallen on the ground.

"Let's see, the place that makes such a fine arrow must be the Hocheol Blacksmith, right? That place is famous for making goods for both the orthodox and unorthodox factions."

"What are you talking about! That place is a place that loathes the unorthodox faction. For such a place to make such a fine arrow? Not a chance! At least the Cheollyong Blacksmith would have to be the one to make an arrow of this level."

The man, who spoke as if having a fit at Jang Hwang's words.

At the sight of such a man, Jang Hwang let out a deep smile and opened his mouth.

"See. You're from the Heretic Faction, aren't you? The only people who would get so worked up about the Hocheol Blacksmith are those from the Heretic Faction. Isn't that right, brothers of the Black Tiger Faction?"

Nod, nod.

A fact that the Black Tiger Faction, which belonged to the same unorthodox path, also knew well.

The Hocheol Blacksmith that Jang Hwang had mentioned was a place that completely loathed the unorthodox faction.

On top of that, it was a sworn enemy of the Cheollyong Blacksmith, which had made the arrow Jang Hwang was now holding.

That was why the man in front of him had gotten so worked up as if having a fit.

'As expected, he can read something that is not visible to the eye. Can he really hear the voices of objects?'

Anyway, the spy from the Heretic Faction who had taken the bait that Jang Hwang had thrown.

He looked at Jang Hwang's sly face and seemed to have given up his protest.

"Yes. I'm from the Heretic Faction. So what are you going to do to me? Are you confident you can handle the aftermath? You traitors!"

The martial artist from the Heretic Faction, who had changed his strategy and was now threatening them.

He stared at the members of the Black Tiger Faction with a look that guaranteed they wouldn't be able to do anything.

"Hmm... It seems you think we came here without any countermeasures."

"Even so. You couldn't have evacuated your families, could you? You can call us dirty, but isn't this how the unorthodox path has always lived? Your families..."

"They've all been evacuated. The Iron Blood Fortress Lord provided a lot of support. The evacuation of our families was one of them."

"No. That can't be...!"

The martial artist from the Heretic Faction, who looked on with disbelieving eyes.

But the man from the Black Tiger Faction just raised his sword with an indifferent expression.

"Then, farewell."

-Slice!

The martial artist from the Black Tiger Faction, who swung his sword without a moment's hesitation.

To say they were once in the same camp, his hand was excessively ruthless.

Still, if sending him off without pain was mercy, then it could be called mercy.

As the cleanup was thus finished, the martial artists of the Black Tiger Faction and the Jeong'an Sect looked at each other with embarrassed expressions.

"If you've all cleared up the misunderstanding, then you can just make up. Why are you all making such sullen faces among men? Come on. Shake hands."

The Black Tiger Faction and the Jeong'an Sect, who shook hands with reluctant faces.

As they were gently shaking hands while suppressing their hostility, this time, Namgung Hui spoke.

"But this road is not in the direction of the Iron Blood Fortress, so why were you fighting in a mountain like this?"

"Ah. We were on our way to support the Divine Physician Sect Leader at the request of the Iron Blood Fortress Lord."

"The same goes for our Jeong'an Sect. We really fought for nothing over the same purpose."

"To the Divine Physician Sect Leader? Is he perhaps in danger?"

"I don't know the details, but there must be a reason why the Iron Blood Fortress Lord sent us, right? Seeing as the Heretic Faction is even interfering like this, it seems the situation is not very good."

Namgung Hui recalled the martial artists who usually escorted the Divine Physician Sect Leader.

People who had their lives saved by the Divine Physician Sect, or whose families or relatives had received a great favor and had volunteered to be escorts.

Since he had seen their level at the Namgung family, he hadn't really thought that the Divine Physician Sect Leader would be in danger.

But the Heretic Faction Leader would not be ignorant of that.

If so, it meant that they had prepared something corresponding to their level.

'The ones protecting the Divine Physician Sect Leader were at least three supreme masters. Of course, among them, some might not be able to show their full martial prowess as before due to injury or old age, but three supreme masters are a force that can even face a master of the Transformation Realm.'

Conversely, it meant that if only a master of the Transformation Realm was deployed, there was no law that said they couldn't capture the Divine Physician Sect Leader.

Originally, a master of the Transformation Realm was a resource so rare that it was questionable whether one could even see one in a lifetime, but in the current martial world, where the number of masters of the Transformation Realm had increased significantly, it seemed it wouldn't be impossible.

'Especially, there's no law that says there isn't an unknown master who has received support from the Association. It means the Divine Physician Sect Leader could really be in danger. Then this is not the time to be doing this.'

"Then do you also know where the Divine Physician Sect Leader has taken refuge now?"

The martial artists of the Black Tiger Faction and the Jeong'an Sect opened their mouths at the same time.

""Golden Sand Valley.""

* * *

Since he needed to move quickly, Namgung Hui even deployed the Wind God Steps and was heading to the Golden Sand Valley alone.

Fortunately, since a member of the Black Tiger Faction had a map, he was able to find the location without much difficulty.

'The presences I feel are six. One must be the Divine Physician Sect Leader. The other three must be the bodyguards protecting the Divine Physician Sect Leader. Then the other two are...'

Clear enemies.

Just by looking at the confrontational composition, they couldn't be allies.

Still, the fortunate thing was that it seemed no other situation had occurred to the point of being a crisis yet.

They were just looking at each other with their swords drawn.

"If you wish for a diagnosis, put down your swords. Let's not be like this, as we are all growing old together."

"Hey. Sect Leader. How many times do I have to tell you that it's not us who need a diagnosis, but a patient in another place? Let's not be like this and just follow me. Although you are younger than us, there is no order in going."

"My goodness. Are you being childish even in your old age? Act your age. Black and White Twin Elders."

At the words 'Black and White Twin Elders,' Namgung Hui's complexion hardened.

They were people who had existed even in Namgung Hui's Thunder God era, and they were masters of the previous generation of the same seniority as the Heretic Faction Leader.

He had thought they would have naturally passed away and gone to the afterlife, but to think they were still alive was unbelievable.

'They are old monsters who must be at least 100 years old. What on earth did they eat to both live so long?'

It didn't make sense that not just one, but both of them were alive.

Unless they had eaten the elixir of life that Qin Shi Huang had so desperately searched for.

Well, anyway, since it seemed to be an unchanging fact that the old monsters were alive, Namgung Hui quickly joined the Divine Physician Sect Leader's side.

Rustle.

""Who's there!""

As Namgung Hui let out a presence, the Black and White Twin Elders quickly turned around.

As befitting twins born on the same day and at the same time, their words and actions were simultaneous.

Namgung Hui ignored the Black and White Twin Elders and spoke to the Divine Physician Sect Leader.

"Sect Leader. I have come at the request of the Iron Blood Fortress Lord. I will join your side, so please do not attack."

The moment Namgung Hui was about to approach the Divine Physician Sect Leader's camp.

-Chaeng!

"Do not approach!"

The Divine Physician Sect Leader's bodyguards not only pointed their swords at him, but even surrounded Namgung Hui.

(End of Chapter)