Rebirth of the Thunder God

As the Wolf King widened the distance, a wind naturally rose.

But the wind that rose did not originate solely from the Wolf King.

From the tip of the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's sword, a sword wind was also created and flew towards the Wolf King.

Since a sword wind was something that even a first-rate master could use, it wasn't a great talent.

However, the sword wind that the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader performed was a little different.

Jang Hwang, who was watching it, said.

"It's the second stance of the Heavenly Wind Sword Art, Chasing Wind. It's a useful sword art for chasing a fleeing person. Although it's my first time seeing it."

As Jang Hwang said, the momentum of fiercely chasing the enemy was not ordinary.

Although it was called a sword wind, in fact, what constituted the sword wind was a bundle of sword Ki.

It was just that the form created the illusion of a rising wind.

It could be said to be typical of the sly Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who always had his eyes half-open.

"Tsk! More troublesome than I thought."

Indeed, the Wolf King was also one of the Ten Great Masters.

He struck down all the bundles of sword Ki disguised as a sword wind with his spear shaft and changed his stance.

It seemed he had also decided to slowly bring out his hidden card.

'The Wolf King's level is higher than I thought. Did he receive the last seat of the Ten Great Masters purely because of his ronin background?'

If it were the standards of the stuffy orthodox faction, it was judged that it could very well be so.

Hadn't it taken quite a long time for Namgung Hui himself to receive the position of one of the Three Gods in his Thunder God era, for the reason that his origin was unclear?

If he hadn't struck down the demonic heads in the Righteous-Demon War, he might not have received even the last seat of the Ten Great Masters, let alone one of the Three Gods.

This time, as if intending to overturn his undervaluation, the Wolf King threw his spear with all his might, along with an intense wave.

-Hwoooong!!

With a fierce Ki wave, a vortex enveloped the spear.

Although the act of suddenly throwing a weapon during a duel was close to a sudden act.

The reason people were surprised was not just because of that.

The tangible energy forming the vortex.

The swirling energy was clearly forming a spear light, surpassing a spear Ki.

Not only Jang Hwang, who was watching, but also Namgung Hui stopped his thoughts about the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader and looked at the spear.

'It's a power that can be called a one-hit kill. Even a master of the Transformation Realm would not be able to block it easily.'

The power of the stance was so strong that it was questionable why the Wolf King was at the last seat.

To show off such power in the Transformation Realm seemed to be a talent only he could possess.

That was how much the energy of the vortex contained in the spear held an intense momentum, enough to tear everything apart.

-Swaaaaah!!

A single spear that cut through the atmosphere and reached right in front of the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's nose in an instant.

If a person could realize a waterspout, would it look like this?

Even with such a powerful energy, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader firmly held his ground and just raised his sword.

A gust of wind also rose from his sword.

Just as the word 'heavenly wind' was in the name of the sword art, it was clearly expressed.

-Hwoooong...

Unlike the fierce vortex, a gentle breeze rustled and greeted the spear.

The series of movements was slow yet swift.

-Karararang!!

The spearhead and the sword blade clashed, and the collision of Sword Ki created an extreme noise.

Soon, the noise turned into a shockwave and spread throughout the clearing.

As a storm of dust raged, the members of the Heavenly Wolf Brigade each covered their eyes and glanced at the duel.

"Ugh! To think a simple clash would have this much impact...! It was a good thing we sent the onlookers away. It's an aftermath that even a peak master can't be careless about."

The Black Wolf unconsciously nodded his head at the words of the Heavenly Wolf Brigade member.

That was how much the clash that had just occurred had not only devastated a radius of one zhang, but had also caused an aftermath that an ordinary person could not have survived.

Indeed, a duel between supreme masters.

Just the clash they had shown now was more than enough to clearly prove that they were in the ranks of the Ten Great Masters.

The Wolf King took a step back and caught his breath for a moment.

"Hoo... With red hair and this level of mastery, you must be the Red-Haired Monster, one of the Ten Great Masters. To think I would run into one of the Ten Great Masters in the Central Plains like this. And with business with me at that. What on earth is your business that you would even volunteer for a duel like this?"

"Wouldn't there be much to gain just by having a duel with one of the Ten Great Masters? You too will achieve considerable results from this duel with me."

"What? Are you going to give me a lesson? Hahaha! Alright. Come!"

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who did not reveal his intentions.

Namgung Hui had a premonition that it was not just for the sake of giving a lesson.

Even excluding the work of the Martial Alliance, the work he had taken on as the Red-Haired Monster must be considerable.

The fact that he had led his busy body all the way here meant...

'It must mean he has some scheme. And to reveal his identity so openly like this, it seems he also has business with me.'

And so, the resumed duel led to the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's first attack.

The counterattack of the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who had only taken a defensive posture until now.

The Wolf King had judged that since he had only been on the defensive until now, his offense would not be very fierce.

But that was a miscalculation.

-Hwoooong...!

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's Ki, which had suddenly changed like the calm before a storm.

Although the Wolf King, who was reminiscent of a waterspout, was also amazing, the current momentum of the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader was not that of the Transformation Realm.

'The Profound Realm...! There are quite a few masters of the Profound Realm in this era. This is why I couldn't fully read his Ki.'

Namgung Hui watched the duel more carefully, as if to dig into the secrets of such a mysterious Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who had fully opened his Ki, threw his sword as if to imitate the Wolf King.

The Wolf King, thinking it was a trick to deceive him, reddened his face and swung his spear shaft.

"Are you trying to imitate my technique? Not a chance! This is a martial art I have honed and polished on the battlefield for over a decade. Try it if you can."

But at the Wolf King's words, Jang Hwang shook his head and said.

"Brother. As I said before, the Heavenly Wind Sword Art of the Maoshan Sect is a martial art specialized in the Sword-Controlling Art. Look."

As Jang Hwang said, the sword blade danced as if riding the wind and floating in the air.

The dance avoided the Wolf King's spear shaft and headed for his neck.

As the sword suddenly changed its trajectory, the Wolf King couldn't help but be startled.

The Sword-Controlling Art. To be precise, the realm of the Eye-Controlling Sword.

As the name suggests, if it was within the range of one's eyes, one could send the sword anywhere.

Just like now.

"Heop!"

The Wolf King, who swallowed a gasp and rolled his body on the ground.

He had not only performed a phantom-like movement, but had even performed a somersault.

That was how fatal and sharp the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's Eye-Controlling Sword was.

If the sword were just flying around, he would have been able to block it with his protective Ki.

But the Sword-Controlling Art was a quality where not only the true meaning contained in the sword, but also the energy was comparable to Sword Ki.

Instead, since the consumption of internal energy was considerable, it was not a talent that could be performed for a long time.

But a short play would be enough to take the opponent's life.

Again, the sword changed its trajectory, and this time, it flew, aiming for the Wolf King's heart.

The Wolf King, who had barely raised his body from the ground.

His stance was that of a javelin throw, as if he intended to throw his spear again.

-Ting-geurang!

"...?"

"The captain dropped his spear?"

That's right.

The Wolf King had thrown his spear, but it was not towards the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, but just dropped on the ground.

In other words, it meant he had shown his intention to surrender.

At that sight, the sword that had been cutting through the air stopped abruptly, and the Wolf King's voice filled the clearing.

"My complete defeat. I never dreamed that the Red-Haired Monster would be such a strong martial artist. A master of the Profound Realm... At least, you seem to be one of the top five in the current martial world."

Of course, the martial world was full of strange people.

Right now, in the Blood Cult alone, wasn't there a Young Cult Leader who was presumed to be in the Profound Realm?

Well, he would have risen to the position of the current Cult Leader by now, but anyway, the Martial Alliance Leader, the Divine Monk, was also presumed to be in the Profound Realm, and there was no law that said there weren't more masters of the Profound Realm among the Ten Great Masters whom Namgung Hui had not yet met.

'Right now, even I am at a level that can be called the Profound Realm.'

However, the fact that the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, a mere division head of the Martial Alliance, was not in the Transformation Realm but the Profound Realm was very surprising.

In fact, he had been half-thinking, 'Is that person really not the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader?'

'He certainly resembles the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader. Especially his expression, where his inner thoughts cannot be read, and even the mysterious atmosphere.'

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader sheathed his sword and said.

"It was a good duel for me too. What is the name of the stance where you threw the spear earlier?"

"...It's called Crouching Dragon River. It may be seen as rather arrogant, but when I named it, I had enough confidence to do so."

"You can still be confident now. The opponent was just bad, but it's sufficiently powerful, isn't it? Right now, the number of people in the martial world who can block the Crouching Dragon River stance can be counted on one hand."

"For some reason, I feel like I'm being praised. Still, thanks to you, I've learned a lot. If we have a chance later, let's have a drink. It seems those gentlemen in the back have business with you now."

The Wolf King, as befitting a ronin, had read Namgung Hui and Jang Hwang's expressions and had realized that they had business with the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.

And for good reason. Not only Namgung Hui, who was curious about everything, but even Jang Hwang, who had recognized the Heavenly Wind Sword Art, had a clear look of wanting to talk to the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.

"Alright. If we have a chance later, let's have a drink. Ah. And when you throw the spear, you tend to focus too much on your upper body. From next time, try to pay attention to your lower body as well. Especially the Yongcheon points."

"!?

At the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's advice, as if he had realized something, the Wolf King's face, along with a surprised expression, was slowly nodded.

"Indeed...! I've gained a lot from today's duel. Next time, I'll really treat you to a big one. Come and find the Heavenly Wolf Brigade anytime. I'll leave a word at the ronin branch."

"Thank you. Then, see you next time."

The Wolf King, who nodded his head and disappeared with the Heavenly Wolf Brigade.

His subordinates, as if they hadn't expected their captain to lose, had dazed expressions until the moment they left.

Namgung Hui, who was following the Wolf King and the Heavenly Wolf Brigade with his eyes, smelled a familiar scent from them.

'Not just the smell of the battlefield. For some reason, I feel like I've seen a similar group somewhere. Their appearance, and their energy.'

Was that all? It seemed he had seen their unconscious behavior patterns and habits somewhere before.

However, Namgung Hui's thoughts could not continue because of the approaching Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.

"Hey. Junior. It seems we have a lot to talk about. Shall we move to another place?"

As he said, the clearing where they had had a duel was now worthy of being called ruins.

The ground was overturned by the Wolf King's Crouching Dragon River.

And the rocks were not just shattered, but had exploded due to the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's Eye-Controlling Sword.

"Alright. If there's a good place, please guide me."

At Namgung Hui's words, Jang Hwang replied.

"I know a place with good scenery near here. Follow me."

* * *

Namgung Hui, Jang Hwang, and the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader climbed up to the middle of a mountain where a valley stream was murmuring.

For the masters, Namgung Hui and the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, such a mountain terrain was no problem at all.

Since Jang Hwang had also learned some martial arts, he was just a little out of breath. Rather, since the clear air of the mountain filled his empty lungs, his expression was quite flushed.

"Hoo...! We're here. If it's here, no one will be eavesdropping, and there will be no onlookers. Now, let's bring out our respective business here."

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who had stopped his steps, nodded his head and stealthily drew his sword.

(End of Chapter)