Rebirth of the Thunder God

[Human. By any chance, what is your relationship with the Thunder God?]

"...?"

Namgung Hui couldn't help but be slightly flustered as the spirit beast suddenly mentioned his past life.

Perhaps because Namgung Hui showed a surprised look.

The Ape pushed its head towards Namgung Hui and asked again.

[There's no resemblance to the Thunder God, but there's a strangely similar scent. The martial art you just performed was certainly similar to the Thunder God's.]

Although he didn't know how the Ape in front of him remembered the name 'Thunder God,' he thought it was worth talking to, as it didn't seem hostile to the Thunder God.

"How does a spirit beast know that name? He should be a person from 60 years ago."

[Didn't you hear it from the Thunder God? Then again, he said he died after being defeated in something called the Righteous-Demonic War...]

"It's a little unpleasant to hear that he was defeated. The orthodox faction won the Righteous-Demonic War, and the Thunder God was not defeated by Sosu Mahu. It was just a mutual destruction."

[Oho. You speak as if you know how the Thunder God died.]

'How can I not know when I was the one involved?'

"So how do you know that name? If you tell me the truth, I'll also tell you how I learned the Thunder God's martial arts."

[Alright. Since I don't smell any lies from you, I'll tell you right away. When I was young, I received a great favor from the Thunder God.]

"When you were young...? Don't tell me!"

Namgung Hui suddenly remembered a time when he had saved a baby monkey in the Qinghai Province area.

A baby monkey that was being chased by a tiger.

It really looked like just a ball of fur, so his hands couldn't help but move on their own.

Namgung Hui chased away the tiger and rescued the monkey, and tried to find its parents, but the monkey's family were all tragically dead.

It was not the work of a tiger, but of something else, and Namgung Hui speculated that it might have been the attack of a ferocious spirit beast.

Anyway. Since he couldn't just leave the rescued baby monkey, he took care of it until it could stand on its own.

That was for about a year.

It might be a short period, but considering the time invested in a mere creature, it was certainly a long time.

In the process, he taught it how to find food, of course.

And he even created and taught it martial arts that fit the monkey's body.

He didn't know. Because this monkey might later accumulate spirit energy and transform into a spirit beast.

Namgung Hui raised the monkey with such a wish.

[Not only that. He also taught me something called martial arts. Thanks to that, I, who was just a beast, was able to evolve into a spirit beast. And he even gave me a name...]

"Are you by any chance Mungchi?"

[!? Human! How did you know that name?]

"Of course I remember, because I was the one who gave you that name. I named you Mungchi because you looked like a ball of fur. And sometimes I called you Mungchi because you looked clumsy. I remember you quite liked that name back then. Well, you couldn't talk like you can now."

[Are you really the Thunder God?]

"You've grown a lot since I last saw you. Yes. I am the Thunder God. I have a young body due to various circumstances."

[...This alone cannot prove that you are the Thunder God. By any chance, did you find out by torturing him before he died, or...]

"Is your information, Mungchi, so important that it's worth torturing for, unlike other information? I don't think so."

The Ape, who was lost in thought for a moment, nodded his head and said.

[I see. Humans wouldn't have been interested in me back then. Because I hadn't accumulated any spirituality yet. But isn't it strange? You said with your own mouth that the Thunder God was clearly dead.]

"Alright. Since it's you, Mungchi. It should be fine to tell you. This is what happened..."

Namgung Hui slowly explained how he had met his death in the battle with Sosu Mahu.

And the fact that when he opened his eyes 60 years later, he had been reincarnated in the Namgung family.

[I see. So this is what humans call reincarnation. I wonder if I could be reincarnated as a human if I were to be born again.]

"Do you acknowledge me now?"

[Yes. I acknowledge that you are the reincarnation of the Thunder God.]

"Then. You should speak formally, right? Mungchi?"

[...]

Namgung Hui had taken care of Mungchi since he was a baby.

Even adding his past life's age, Namgung Hui was older.

And hadn't he been a benefactor who had not just saved his life but had even made him accumulate spirituality?

Since Mungchi also knew that well, he calmly nodded his head and opened his mouth.

[Father. No. This is a bit awkward. I think 'Dad' would be good.]

When you think about it, since Namgung Hui was no different from his adoptive father, Mungchi's title was not particularly wrong.

However, it was just a little creepy for a spirit beast of that large size to call him 'Dad.'

But in Namgung Hui's eyes, the image of the Ape and the baby monkey still overlapped, so he was pleased with his title.

"Yes. Just call me that from now on. And be polite."

[I under...stand.]

"Good. As expected, Mungchi listens well. But why did you wreak havoc in this area with the martial arts I taught you? The Mungchi I know wouldn't do that for no reason."

[Ah! Dad! Get away from me. I'm now!]

Mungchi's eyes suddenly turned red.

It was quite different from when they were shining clearly with spirituality.

A form that was incomparably ferocious, as if possessed by something and had lost its reason.

Namgung Hui, with his already sensitive Ki sense, could not miss this.

'He's being controlled by something! A wicked art? No. A mediocre wicked art wouldn't work on a spirit beast. I'll have to take a closer look.'

"Krawwwr!!"

Mungchi let out a ferocious roar and rushed at Namgung Hui like a thunderbolt.

The fist and palm techniques that the Thunder God had simply taught him.

On top of that, the unique group of Mungchi that had accumulated over 60 years was added, and it approached with a strange power.

Peong, peong, peong!

As if a drum were bursting.

Every time Mungchi's fist was swung, it felt as if the atmosphere was being torn to shreds.

Even for Namgung Hui, who had consumed a Heavenly King Pill, if he were to be hit, he would not be able to avoid a fatal wound.

But Namgung Hui had reached the realm of super speed with the Electrode Opening.

The effect of the Heavenly King Pill and the further advanced Electrode Opening, Mad Extreme.

It wasn't just Mungchi who was running wild; Namgung Hui's nervous system was also the same.

That was why, no matter how powerful a punch Mungchi swung, it did not reach Namgung Hui.

Rather, he leisurely dodged Mungchi's ferocious punches and aimed for his back.

-Peok, peok, peok!

Namgung Hui's thunder fists that burst in succession.

A thrilling pain flowed down Mungchi's spine.

As if to reenact the teachings of his past life.

'I taught him quite roughly back then too.'

Could he talk to a monkey?

He had to show everything from one to ten through action.

That was why, when teaching Mungchi, his hands couldn't help but become rough.

Just like now.

-Peong, peong, peong! Peok, peok, peok!

Namgung Hui, who was moving at a transcendent speed.

For Mungchi, who had lost his reason, it was difficult to even chase his shadow.

It was a match that could not be guaranteed even if his reason were properly attached, but since his reason was not intact, it seemed he had become Namgung Hui's toy.

'Then I'll have to analyze the cause now.'

Still, since a spirit beast's endurance itself was very outstanding, it was not easy to subdue it completely.

Moreover, since he could be seriously injured just by being grazed by mistake, Namgung Hui had no choice but to be even more cautious.

Because he couldn't kill Mungchi, whom he had met for the first time in a long time.

Namgung Hui, with his further developed Ki sense, observed the inside of Mungchi's body.

A new technique that applied the electric net.

Heavenly Color Secret Exhibition.

It was a grandiose name that meant to see through even the secrets of the heavens.

-Sarak...!

The inside of Mungchi was seen clearly, as if illuminated by a thunderbolt.

No matter how much spirituality had accumulated.

The net of electricity spread thinly could not be refused.

The extremely finely divided waves of Thunder Ki.

It dug into Mungchi's huge and sturdy body.

'The limbs are fine, and the heart and organs are also perfectly fine. If so, the problem must be the head.'

He sent all his electricity into his head and found the problem.

Something heterogeneous was hanging on the back of Mungchi's head.

It looked like a small lump, but when he looked closely, this was.

'Grass? Why is this attached?'

Anyway, the piece of grass that seemed to be the cause was unusual.

He would have to either burn it or pull it out.

But if he were to treat it carelessly, he might become an idiot as a side effect.

"Keuheoheong!!"

As Mungchi's condition seemed to be getting worse, he stopped worrying and made a decision.

'The safest thing would be to burn it with Thunder Ki. Since it also has a purifying effect, it should be fine.'

On top of that, if it were Mungchi, who had spirituality, he would have some resistance even if a huge amount of Thunder Ki were poured into him.

If it were a weak human body, it would be unimaginable, but if it were Mungchi, it was different.

Namgung Hui, who had made a decision, immediately wrapped his hands in Thunder Ki with the Two Principles Heart Art.

In one hand, the Thunder Dragon Palm.

In the other hand, the Thunder Fist.

A dragon and a tiger, imbued with purple thunder Ki, rushed towards Mungchi.

-Swaeaek! Huuung!

"Krawt!"

Mungchi, who twisted his body here and there with a ferocious roar.

The Thunder Dragon Palm, like a single loach, dodged Mungchi's fists and bit the nape of his neck.

-Kwajik!

But the plant colony that had taken control of Mungchi held its ground without flinching, even though the Thunder Dragon had bitten it hard.

But Namgung Hui's attack did not end there.

Rather, as if the Thunder Dragon were holding the plant colony, it coiled up and fixed itself.

-Huuung! Peong!!

The tiger-shaped thunder fist that flew in succession struck the plant colony as it was.

Swaaa...

With the sound of something burning for a moment, it turned to ash and was oxidized.

Kuung...

Mungchi, perhaps due to the intense shock, lost consciousness and collapsed.

Or it could be the aftermath of being liberated as the plant colony disappeared.

Namgung Hui scattered the thick dust that had been generated as Mungchi collapsed with a palm wind.

Looking at Mungchi's face up close like this, the cute appearance of his childhood certainly remained.

A simple face that didn't match his large size.

Perhaps because he had been frowning while being tormented by the plant colony, he had now regained his original appearance.

Namgung Hui organized his disheveled Ki for a moment and waited for Mungchi to wake up.

A moment later. Mungchi raised his huge body and scratched the back of his head.

[It's gone. It's gone! Did you treat me, Dad?]

"Yes. You haven't had a corner that didn't need my hand since you were young. To think I have to take care of you like this even after you've grown up."

[Keuheong!!]

Mungchi, who suddenly let out a resonant cry.

As if to express his sorrow in a raw way, he shed thick tears and hugged Namgung Hui tightly.

"Mungchi. My ribs are going to break. Loosen your strength a little."

[I'm sorry. Dad.]

Mungchi, who went back and forth between informal and formal speech.

Although he lacked consistency, should I say it was like the willful Mungchi?

Perhaps because the size difference was so large, it was difficult to even pat his head.

But Namgung Hui even stood on his tiptoes and patted his head for a long time.

Mungchi, who had regained his senses, spoke to Namgung Hui.

[Dad. You saw that piece of grass I burned earlier, right?]

"Yes. I burned it myself, so how could I not have seen it? But how did a spirit beast like you get beaten by a piece of grass like that?"

[I'm about to tell you that now. That's not just an ordinary poisonous plant. It's a monstrous plant that someone has artificially created.]

"Really?"

[Would I lie to my dad, whom I've met for the first time in a long time? It's true. And I'm probably not the only one who's been affected. It has no effect on humans, but it affects animals and spirit beasts. Since I was also affected, there's no need to say more.]

If Mungchi's words were true, this was a serious matter in its own right.

Someone was trying to control the spirit beasts.

At the very least, it seemed certain that they were trying to cause confusion by making the spirit beasts lose their reason.

"So you were causing a disturbance on this rocky mountain because of that plant colony."

[That's right. I stayed only on this mountain to avoid causing as much damage as possible to the surroundings.]

"Then do you have any idea who did it?"

[Yeah. I have an idea. Because this happened to me after I met a certain bandit group.]

"A bandit group... Their location?"

[It's not that far from here. They probably set up a base nearby to observe me. And those guys, not only are their numbers large, but each and every one of them is a fellow who has learned a great martial art. That's why they were able to plant this piece of grass on the back of my head.]

Namgung Hui was also quite surprised by this.

Right now, if he didn't use the Electrode Opening, it was difficult to get behind Mungchi.

But to think they had planted the plant colony before Mungchi had lost his reason.

It seemed certain that they were at least masters of lightness skill.

'Still, it's a relief that I can take care of the monster incident and the bandit group's matter in one go.'

A situation where he could aim for two birds with one stone.

Rather, thanks to Mungchi, it had turned into a blessing in disguise.

If it were Mungchi, he would be a reliable force as an ally.

Well, although there were some difficulties in introducing Mungchi to the party, they probably wouldn't particularly refuse.

"Alright. Then the monster case is also wrapped up, and if I just recover the bandit group's martial arts, the job the Fist King ordered is over."

[Dad. What did you just say? Did you call me a monster?]

"Ah. That is..."

Namgung Hui briefly explained the mission he had received from the Fist King to Mungchi.

At that, Mungchi, as if he had cleared up the misunderstanding, nodded his head and continued.

[Dad. That's not talking about me. The monster that the person called the Fist King mentioned. It really exists.]

(End of Chapter)