Rebirth of the Thunder God

Sreureung.

With a clear sword cry, a classic sword was held in the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's hand.

At his sudden drawing of the sword, Namgung Hui stealthily blocked Jang Hwang's front and opened his mouth.

"Are you suggesting we have a match now?"

The one who answered Namgung Hui's question was not the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader in front of him.

"Brother. Step aside for a moment. For some reason, that sword doesn't feel unfamiliar."

"You mean the sword, not the sword art?"

"Yes. That is probably..."

This time, instead of Jang Hwang, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader continued.

"The sacred artifact of the Maoshan Sect. I obtained it when I got my hands on the Heavenly Wind Sword Art. Sect Leader Jang Hwang. It is an honor to meet you like this."

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who had figured out that Jang Hwang was the sect leader of the Maoshan Sect in one go.

Well, if he were to use the intelligence organization of the Martial Alliance, it wouldn't be impossible to find out, but he wondered if he would have the leisure to do so when not only the Hoicheon Association but also the Blood Cult were rampant.

'This is probably something the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader figured out on his own. He's getting more and more suspicious.'

Namgung Hui felt the need to continue the conversation a little more, even just to dig into the inner thoughts of this suspicious Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.

"No. Red-Haired Monster... no. Yes. Senior. Since we seem to have a rough idea of each other's identities, why don't you reveal your inner thoughts at this point?"

"Didn't we agree to speak formally? I remember making that promise with my polite junior."

"...Alright. Senior. Why did you suddenly reveal your hidden identity and appear before us?"

"Isn't it to tell you that, that I showed you the sacred artifact of the Maoshan Sect? Now, let's sit down and talk."

Namgung Hui nodded his head and sent a gust of wind to blow away the dust piled up on the rock.

At that, Jang Hwang, as if his legs were quite sore, plopped down and opened his mouth.

"Brother, you must have many questions, but I must ask first. Seeing as he has even drawn the sacred artifact, it seems he has business with me first."

"That's right. I can see my junior here anytime, but isn't the Maoshan Sect Leader someone who is hard to meet even once in a lifetime?"

At his flattery, Jang Hwang, as if his face was hot, coughed and replied.

"Ahem... It's not to that extent. Anyway. Please tell me frankly the reason you drew that sword."

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who had nodded his head, laid his sword down at an angle and continued.

"It was 10 years ago, when I obtained the Heavenly Wind Sword Art. It was a day when it was raining very hard."

On the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's face, as he recalled that time, a sad emotion arose rather than the joy of obtaining a great fortune.

"To say you obtained a great fortune, your expression doesn't look good. Was there some kind of misfortune?"

"If it's a misfortune, then it's a misfortune. Because it was the day my mother ascended to heaven."

"...That's unfortunate. Then did she jump off a cliff or something? How is it that you obtained the Heavenly Wind Sword Art and the Supreme Purity Divine Sword on the day of the funeral? It's a little hard to understand."

At Jang Hwang's question, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who had straightened his expression, said.

"That's because my mother was a disciple of the Maoshan Sect, so she passed it down as a relic."

""!?""

At the sudden unexpected remark, Namgung Hui and Jang Hwang's eyes flashed at the same time.

Then, Jang Hwang, who had regained his composure, quickly continued.

"No. Then you mean you're Elder Sister Yeong's child?"

"That's right."

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's family history, suddenly revealed.

Although he knew that he was the hidden child of the current Martial Alliance Leader, Namgung Hui had not known his mother.

'If the Maoshan Sect Leader's older sister had the sacred artifact, was the original next sect leader the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's mother...?'

As if to turn Namgung Hui's guess into a certainty, Jang Hwang's words continued.

"Then you would be my nephew. Since my older sister said she would name her child 'Great Wind,' your name must be Daepung."

Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, Im Daepung.

Perhaps because he had borrowed the name of the Heavenly Wind Sword Art, the scent of wind was also imbued in his name.

For some reason, he felt the origin of his Eye-Controlling Sword.

"That's right. Uncle. I hope you will understand my late greeting..."

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, who bowed late.

When did he suddenly draw his sword, and now he was taking a polite attitude?

His ever-changing attitude and demeanor could not help but make his impression frown.

'He's a person I can't figure out at all. He seems like a sly person, but now he's also in the form of a polite nephew. I don't know what's real.'

Was he really a person who pursued justice?

Or was he a person who was plotting some conspiracy? Namgung Hui still couldn't grasp his inner thoughts at all.

However, what was certain was that his inner power was more extraordinary than he had thought.

"Hoho... As far as I know, my older sister followed a scoundrel monk. How could a fine child like you be born from such a fallen monk?"

This time, Namgung Hui quickly took Jang Hwang's words.

"That brother. This senior here is the son of the current Martial Alliance Leader."

"What!? That scoundrel monk is the Divine Monk? Ahem. Wait. Come to think of it, his martial prowess seemed very outstanding. Hoho..."

Jang Hwang, who now made a face as if he had understood something.

He must not have been pleased that his older sister had suddenly followed a monk.

Not only was she a candidate for the next sect leader, but didn't the Daoist and Buddhist schools sometimes have a confrontational composition?

Moreover, if it was the Maoshan Sect, which mainly dealt with sorcery, it was needless to say.

It would be a relief if they weren't treated as demons.

Jang Hwang, who was stroking his chin, stared at the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's two eyes and said.

"Yes. If so, it would make sense for Pung to learn the Supreme Purity Divine Sword and the Heavenly Wind Sword Art. No. The next sect leader of the Maoshan Sect is not me..."

"Uncle. I will refuse that."

"Really? If so, I have no choice. Then did your older sister leave any last words?"

The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader took out a crumpled letter from his bosom and said.

"It's hard to convey in words, so I've written it down here."

"Thank you. I will read this separately when I have some quiet time. Then, it seems my business is over here. Will my younger brother take care of things now?"

"No. Brother. It's been a long time since you've seen your nephew. Are you going to end the conversation so blandly?"

Jang Hwang exchanged glances with the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader and said.

And with a very unknowable smile.

"Isn't it all for the sake of my younger brother that I'm yielding? Anyway, the detailed things to say will be written in this letter. I will ask what I'm curious about on my own. Go ahead and ask what you're curious about."

Although Namgung Hui was somewhat uneasy, since he had many things to ask the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader, there was no reason to refuse.

"Then I will ask. Senior. Why did you act as the Red-Haired Monster, and what is the reason for suddenly revealing your hidden identity in front of me?"

"Because the time has come. And the reason I chose now is all because of that."

"Please speak in a way that is easy to understand."

"Alright. Then you know that the Maoshan Sect is a sect that specializes in sorcery, right?"

"Of course. I am also well aware that sorcery is a martial art of the upper Dantian."

"Yes. By learning the martial arts of the Maoshan Sect, my upper Dantian is in an open state."

Namgung Hui nodded his head as if he had expected it.

Hadn't he also been a special case where his upper Dantian had opened by being struck by lightning?

And due to that, he had also performed a school of thought similar to the Sword-Controlling Art.

No, in a way, it would be right to see the realm that Namgung Hui had acquired as the Sword-Controlling Art as well.

Even if it was to borrow the power of a lodestone.

Rather, Namgung Hui's Sword-Controlling Art, which used the magnetic force of a lodestone, would be much more efficient and better for involving irregularities than the pure Eye-Controlling Sword, which consumed a huge amount of internal energy.

Because it would be hard to expect a sword whose thread of inner power had been cut to suddenly fly in.

"Well, what I want to say is that I can also use sorcery. Just like my uncle over there. So it was easy to track your footsteps, and in the process, I came to know a few important incidents and came to inform you."

"Hmm... It's somewhat suspicious, but I'll listen for now."

"Alright. Actually, I also tried not to reveal my other identity that I had been painstakingly hiding. But if it's a case where I've become close with my uncle, I judged that I could gain your trust without receiving any particular suspicion. Honestly, you will still be suspicious and doubtful of me. I understand. Even if I play the role of a double agent for the Hoicheon Association, you won't be able to be sure of my intentions."

"For a person who knows that to come out like this means it's that important of a matter, right?"

"That's right. Especially since there's a high probability that something bad has happened to your partner, Beak Seolhwa."

"To Seolhwa, you mean?"

Namgung Hui, while asking back, inwardly recalled the situation where he hadn't been able to contact her recently.

Hadn't he tried to contact her several times by receiving the Ice Crystal from the Black and White Twin Elders?

But perhaps because the distance from the Hundred Thousand Mountains of Guangdong was gradually increasing.

Or perhaps because Beak Seolhwa was in a situation where she couldn't receive a call, he couldn't get in touch.

Since this was the first time he was using this communication artifact, and he had no way of knowing in what cases the communication would be cut off, he was just waiting for Beak Seolhwa's call.

It was clear that it was affected by the barrier, and there was no law that said it wouldn't be affected by other sorcery or formations.

"As you know, I infiltrated the Blood Cult with the identity of the Red-Haired Monster. In the process, I obtained information about the Young Cult Leader and the Grand Duke."

"If it's the Young Cult Leader and the Grand Duke, aren't they the de facto rulers of the Blood Heaven Peak? So that's why you went on a mission with me at that time."

"That's right. Then I'll tell you the information I found out after that. A while ago, a bloodbath occurred at the Blood Heaven Peak."

"A bloodbath... There's no news of life, but still, if it's the sacrifice of our enemies, isn't it a boon for our side?"

But to say it was a boon, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader's face was dark.

"Well, if you just look at the fragmentary information, that's the case, but I know that not many people actually died. And the level of martial power revealed in the process not only far surpassed my predictions, but an unexpected demonic art also appeared."

"What on earth is it that you're acting like this? The Heavenly Demon Divine Art wouldn't have appeared."

Right now, it was safe to say that only Namgung Hui knew the whereabouts of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

Of course, if someone else had acquired this, the case would be different.

"Of course, it's not the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. However, a demonic art comparable to it, the Northern Darkness Demonic Art, has appeared."

""!!?""

Namgung Hui asked with his eyes wide open.

"Are you sure about that? By any chance, did you mistake it for the Star-Sucking Great Art?"

The Northern Darkness Demonic Art was a martial art that was different from the root, so much so that it was comparable to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

At one time, it was called the Northern Darkness Divine Art, and there was also a legend that it had become the foundation of all demonic arts.

But that was also an old story. Now, only the degraded version, the Star-Sucking Great Art, existed.

Since the one who had learned it was the Grand Duke of the Demonic Cult, it wouldn't be strange for the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader to mistake it.

"If it were just the Star-Sucking Great Art, I wouldn't have made such a fuss and revealed my identity. It's because it's such a serious matter that I came here like this."

'If the Northern Darkness Demonic Art has really appeared, then the one who has learned it must be the Grand Duke of the Blood Cult, right? There's a high probability that he also caused the bloodbath. Or it could be a third party...'

Namgung Hui's mind became complicated.

Could it be because of this that he couldn't get in touch with Beak Seolhwa?

Even now, he tried to contact her with the communication artifact hanging around his neck.

-...

He still couldn't get in touch.

He could only hope that there was no problem.

"And I didn't just come to tell you this news. In fact, this is my main point."

"What is it this time?"

"I've found the whereabouts of the Dugu Family Head."

(End of Chapter)