Rebirth of the Thunder God

"That's probably impossible. Because this village is the main base of the six-tailed fox."

"?! Here?"

Not only Jeok Hwarin, but also Namgung Hui and Jang Hwang showed quite surprised expressions.

And for good reason, it didn't seem to fit for such a peaceful village to be the home of a monster.

"Mungchi. Is it true? A place that looks so good to live in is the base of a monster?"

"It's certain. You might not feel it, Dad, but I can faintly feel the energy of that six-tailed fox from here. Let's move quickly too. The six-tailed fox probably sensed me too."

"Hmm... In the first place, if it's at the level of a six-tailed fox, it might have set up a barrier around this entire village. You guys go to the inn for a while. I'll have to investigate the village for a bit before I go."

In this field, Jang Hwang could be called the foremost expert.

Since he had recently eaten a body-nourishing spirit medicine and the people didn't seem particularly dangerous, Namgung Hui obediently nodded his head.

"Be careful on your way. Brother."

"Yes. You be careful too. Ah. And if possible, go to an inn where the noodles are delicious."

"Yes."

Namgung Hui used his outstanding sense of smell to find an inn.

In fact, since there was only one inn in the village, there was nothing to choose from.

Still, judging by the faint aroma, it seemed the cooking skills would not be bad.

This much should be enough to satisfy Jang Hwang.

As Namgung Hui and his party entered the inn, the sharp gazes towards the outsiders gathered in one place.

Murmur, murmur.

The sound of them whispering among themselves could be heard.

"Judging by their appearance, they don't seem to be a bandit group."

"In the first place, the fact that they came this far means they're at least not a bandit group. If they were bandits, that person wouldn't have allowed it."

"Still, they seem to be martial artists, so let's just pretend we don't know and eat our food."

"Okay."

Although the villagers were wary, they did not show any particular signs of fear.

A look of trusting in something.

Namgung Hui felt as if he knew roughly what that was.

'That person's permission. For some reason, it feels like it's referring to the six-tailed fox. This one is quite trusted.'

Sometimes, there are monsters that reign as gods.

Called pseudo-religions, they are worshipped by people and accumulate spiritual power by receiving offerings.

And those offerings are usually accompanied by human sacrifices.

And sometimes, a wicked flood dragon would eat people and evolve into an evil dragon.

Even excluding that, there was also the case of the Human-Faced Spider, and a nine-tailed fox would be no different.

This is why monsters are dangerous.

Because they don't just eat them, but possess the villagers and make them cooperate voluntarily.

While Namgung Hui was looking around the inn, a waiter approached and spoke.

"You seem to be guests from outside."

"Do you not take orders from outsiders?"

"That's not it, but it's been a while since we've had outsiders. I'm rather glad."

"Really? Then take our order. Great Hero, Dancheong. What will you eat?"

The food that could most objectively grasp the cooking skills of an inn was noodles.

Since Jang Hwang had also decided to eat noodles, Namgung Hui decided to eat noodles for now.

"I'll have noodles."

"I'll have dumplings."

"Do you have twice-cooked pork here too?"

"Of course we have twice-cooked pork. It's not just because it's our inn, but there's no dish our chef can't make. The dish made with goose liver is also a real delicacy. Would you like to try it?"

"Liver? That's a bit... Just bring me the twice-cooked pork."

Perhaps because of the word 'liver,' the party flinched.

And for good reason, since he had also explained to them about the six-tailed fox, it must be a little creepy.

Because the six-tailed fox enjoyed eating liver.

And so, as the waiter disappeared into the kitchen, Namgung Hui closed his eyes and spread his electric net.

There were no particular risk factors inside the inn.

The chef was an ordinary person who didn't know martial arts, and the waiter, needless to say, even the villagers were laymen.

However, it wasn't as if there were only people who didn't know martial arts.

On the foothills of the mountain, a little distance away, there was a group of people who had learned a fair amount of martial arts.

Could it be that they were the royal guards protecting the six-tailed fox?

Well, although he didn't know if such a thing existed, it didn't seem ordinary for martial artists to be gathered like that.

A moment later, as the noodles came out, Jang Hwang also returned to the inn.

"I've come at the right time. Let's eat the noodles first and then talk."

And so, after finishing a delicious meal in their own way, Jang Hwang wiped the soup from the corner of his mouth and continued.

"Phew... That was a good meal. It was a warm meal for a change. Yes. I looked around the village, and as expected, a barrier was cleverly set up. It was close to a shielding formation that doesn't let in unpermitted beings."

"Sect Leader. Then does that mean we were able to come in because we had the permission of the six-tailed fox?"

"That's probably the case. Since they've set up a barrier of that level, they wouldn't just be watching."

"Are you saying it's confident it can subdue us all at once? Mungchi. What do you think?"

Mungchi, who was hastily eating the additionally ordered dumplings, patted his chest and said.

"Gulp. I don't think that's the case. Maybe it's trying to have a conversation first?"

"A monster wants to talk first? Ah. It could be trying to use a soul-capturing art."

If one wants to bewitch, one must first face them to provide the starting point.

No matter how outstanding a sorcerer was, they wouldn't be able to possess someone without even facing them.

"Brother. Is there any way to block the soul-capturing art?"

"As it happens, I've written a talisman for each of you. If you all carry it, you won't be affected by the soul-capturing art, at least."

Each of them stored the talisman that Jang Hwang handed them in their bosoms.

Although it wasn't an extra life, it was at least a self-help measure.

Now that the Sun God disciples also knew Jang Hwang's true identity, this talisman was extremely trustworthy.

"Now that we've finished our meal, let's move right away. A place has come up where we have to go first, so everyone follow me."

"Dad. Where are you trying to go? Isn't this your first time here?"

"A number of martial artists' presences have been detected over there. If we go there and start a fight, won't we find something out?"

To harass the innocent villagers would be no different from a bandit group.

But if they were martial artists who had learned a fair amount of martial arts, it was a different story.

The party moved quickly, following Namgung Hui.

Although Namgung Hui had said it was a short distance, that was only by Namgung Hui's standards, and they had to walk quite a bit to the foothills of the mountain, which were quite a distance away.

"Great Hero. I think we should consider this outside the village. Do people really live here?"

"I don't know if they live here, but right now, there are a number of people in that hut over there. They've even learned the talent of hiding their presence."

"Huh? You're right. I can also faintly feel it. There are ten of them, right?"

Jeok Hwarin's level was not low either.

Her talent was on the outstanding side, to the point of being exceptional.

However, there were quite a few regrettable aspects.

Internal energy, real combat experience, a master to properly guide her in martial arts, etc...

It was a part that made one look forward to how much her skills would improve by leaps and bounds if these were provided.

That was why Namgung Hui had given her some guidance on the way, and she had quickly reached the end of the peak.

It seemed certain that she would rise to the supreme master level if only a starting point were provided soon.

"It's close to the right answer, but looking closely, there's one more being that has completely erased its presence. There are eleven in total."

Perhaps the being that was completely erasing its presence was the six-tailed fox.

Namgung Hui smiled with satisfaction that he had found the right place.

"It might be dangerous, so I'll take the lead. Mungchi, you stick right behind me."

"U-ung..."

"Why is your answer so half-hearted? You've eaten a lot of food."

"I didn't eat much..."

Considering Mungchi's original size, three plates of dumplings might have been a small amount.

Namgung Hui, who had realized this, patted Mungchi's shoulder and added.

"Then, once we catch the fox, I'll prepare a lavish meal for you in the evening. So cheer up."

"Okay."

Namgung Hui shook his head and walked straight towards the hut in front of him.

Looking closely, the hut looked like an abandoned shrine where something had been enshrined.

As expected, was the six-tailed fox acting as a false god?

Since that was something to find out in the future, Namgung Hui immediately threw open the door of the shrine and went inside.

The gazes of the martial artists who were waiting inside were all directed at the intruder, Namgung Hui.

As Namgung Hui faced the sharp gazes and placed his hand on his sword hilt, a voice like a nightingale was heard from beyond the curtain.

"Welcome. As it happens, I was waiting for you."

"To think you were waiting for a guest, but not even showing your face. Isn't that rude? Six-tailed fox."

"Six-tailed fox! How rude!"

As expected of the royal guards protecting the six-tailed fox, the martial artists flared up and shouted.

"Then should I call a six-tailed fox a nine-tailed fox? Anyway, if you want to fight, then attack. If you want to talk, then show some courtesy. Originally, a conversation should be had while facing each other."

"Alright. Everyone, would you mind stepping aside for a moment? If possible, I would like you to be outside."

"Still, wouldn't it be safer if we were here? They are martial artists."

"No. Even if all of you attacked, you wouldn't be able to handle that one man. So it would be better to at least give our guests a wide space."

"...You're saying we're not even needed. I understand. We'll be on our way out."

The grumbling appearance of the royal guards was just like that of a sulking child.

Namgung Hui judged that they were clearly possessed by the six-tailed fox.

Because it was extremely out of place for a grown man to show such a look.

And so, as the royal guards disappeared, Namgung Hui snorted and said.

"Hmph. As expected of a monster, you've possessed them well. Let's see that great face of yours."

"Alright."

Sarak.

The sound of silk brushing past was heard alluringly.

Could it be that it was performing a soul-capturing art from the very beginning?

Each and every simple motion felt so enchanting.

Soon, the six-tailed fox revealed itself from between the parted curtains.

Gulp.

At the enchanting figure of the six-tailed fox that was revealed, the men, whether it was Jang Hwang or Dancheong, all swallowed hard.

But Namgung Hui, rather, just clicked his tongue at his party and had no emotion towards the six-tailed fox's figure.

It wasn't as if the six-tailed fox's beauty was lacking at all.

Rather, it felt as if it transcended the beauty of this world.

Of course, since the six-tailed fox must have performed a transformation art, it wasn't of this world.

"H-How can there be such a beautiful being..."

"It's really a monster."

'They're all like this because they haven't seen our Seolhwa properly. Seolhwa is a hundred times prettier than that six-tailed fox.'

"Goodness. All men are the same. The same. Why don't you wipe your drool?"

Jeok Hwarin, being the only woman, did not seem to be particularly possessed by the six-tailed fox.

But the six-tailed fox, at Jeok Hwarin's appearance, spoke as if interested.

"I don't know if you were born with it, but you have an immunity to sorcery."

"Me? That's the first I've heard of it. Right? Sect Leader."

"Well. It's hard to be sure about that."

Jang Hwang also just made an unreadable expression and did not give a definite answer.

Jeok Hwarin, judging that they were just teasing her, shrugged her shoulders and this time said to Namgung Hui.

"Great Hero. What are you going to do now?"

"That will be decided after I hear what the six-tailed fox has to say. Let's hear the reason for inviting us like this."

Everyone's gaze turned to the six-tailed fox.

Her long eyelashes.

Her enchanting lips, as if they had held blood.

Her eyes seemed to hold a grudge, making her look pitiful.

"Yes. I will tell you. The reason I was waiting for you all. It is because of the Imperial Star there.”

(End of Chapter)