Rebirth of the Thunder God

'That's not a person, but a spirit beast.'

Among the group of elders, there was a being that was hard to see as having a human appearance.

But it wasn't a complete spirit beast either, and it seemed it should be seen as a half-human, half-beast.

Because it had a human appearance to some extent.

"You seem surprised. That's a person, so there's no need to be so surprised. Cheongsu. Undo your transformation art."

-Poof.

With a sound, Cheongsu Jin-in returned to his original form.

His transformation art was so perfect that Namgung Hui had mistaken him for a half-human, half-beast.

'There are many with great talents. As expected of the Kunlun Sect.'

"I tried it once because I heard a guest had come, and judging by your expression, it seems it worked well. Hahaha!"

Cheongsu Jin-in, who was laughing very brightly.

He was truly enjoying having played a prank on Namgung Hui.

Perhaps because he was just stuck in a boring corner of the mountain, he seemed to feel happiness even with just this kind of amusement.

The Sect Leader, with a faint smile at Cheongsu Jin-in's appearance, scanned the crowd.

"The reason I have summoned the elders is because of the young Daoist friend in front of me. This is not a conversation to be had here, so let's go into the main hall."

"Yes. Senior Brother Sect Leader."

And so, as he walked side by side with the Daoists of the Cheong generation, one of the Daoists, who could not hold back his curiosity, threw a question at Namgung Hui.

"You have a pretty face like a woman. You must have made many women cry in the mortal world. What is the Daoist friend's name?"

"I, as a junior, should have introduced myself first. I was late. I am Namgung Hui, the youngest son of the Namgung family."

"Oho. Namgung. Certainly, the people there were handsome. I heard that the Azure Sky Martial God was also of no ordinary appearance. Indeed. A dragon begets a dragon."

As the elder said, what Namgung Hui had envied most about his sworn brother was his handsome appearance.

Namgung Hui thought that the fact that he could build a happy family was also largely due to that appearance.

Although one would not live by eating one's face, if one's partner was a handsome and pretty person, there would be no one who would dislike it.

'I need to get married soon too...'

Just as Namgung Hui was suddenly recalling someone's face.

Perhaps because they had arrived at the main hall, the elders entered the building and each sat in their seats.

Namgung Hui, taking a seat in an empty spot, began by introducing himself.

Because the gazes were all on Namgung Hui.

"A humble martial artist. I am Namgung Hui. Seeing the Jin-ins of the Kunlun Sect, I feel as if my eyes have been opened for the first time in a long time. The words 'a heaven beyond the heavens' are by no means an exaggeration."

"Hoho. A handsome fellow is also good at flattery. The tears of the women in the mortal world will not dry up."

"Only the tears won't dry up? Hehe!"

"Tsk, tsk. Junior brother. Having become a Daoist, where do you get off spouting such lewd nonsense?"

"Senior brother. What did I say? I just..."

Bbak!

The senior brother who slapped the junior brother on the back of the head.

This heartwarming sight was the same as any other sect in the mortal world.

The fact that they could show such friendship even after getting old made one feel a sense of purity from them.

"Now, now. It's good to show the friendship between senior and junior brothers after a long time. But this matter is quite important, so we will proceed with the meeting right away."

At the Sect Leader's declaration, the meeting hall became quiet in an instant.

They also knew that the elders' meeting was not held at any time, so they had no choice but to be quiet.

The elders also felt it in their skin.

They sensed that this was no ordinary matter.

The Sect Leader, in that silence, took out a manual and carefully placed it on the table like a sacred object.

The eyes of the elders, who were glancing at the manual, became as big as lanterns.

"Supreme Purity... Formless... Divine Art?!"

"Has the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art really returned to our sect? Senior Brother Sect Leader?"

Murmur, murmur.

The seven elders were each asking about its authenticity and raising their voices loudly.

"Now, now. Quiet! If you all keep talking, I will not open my mouth."

The elders, who became quiet again as if nothing had happened.

The Sect Leader, since he also knew their feelings well enough, immediately opened his mouth and began to explain.

"The Namgung Daoist friend here recently raided the Imperial Palace's secret repository. In the process, he smuggled out the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art and brought it to our Kunlun Sect."

"Ooh! If it's the Imperial Palace's secret repository, there's a high probability that it's genuine."

"He is a benefactor of the Kunlun Sect! To think there would be such a great fortune, I thought my dreams were good."

When the crowd became quiet again, the Sect Leader opened his mouth again.

"So I'm going to grant two of this Daoist friend's requests. One is to let him meet Cheongheo, and the other is to let him enter the Supreme Purity Peak."

"Senior Brother Sect Leader. Cheongheo is one thing, but isn't climbing the Supreme Purity Peak a sensitive issue?"

"That's why I've summoned you all like this."

The elder with the most lukewarm reaction glanced at Namgung Hui and continued.

"What if this manual was not brought from the Imperial Palace's secret repository? What if it was originally in that person's hands?"

"Cheongyo. What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, in order to climb the Supreme Purity Peak, he is intentionally returning the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art."

At Cheongyo's words, the other elders also nodded their heads and murmured.

"Oho. Cheongyo's words have a point."

"Since it might be a martial art of no great use to the people of the Central Plains, he could get something bigger by returning this."

"It's possible that he could steal the legacy of our ancestors."

Namgung Hui had not expected the elders to be this suspicious.

It was because he had vaguely thought that since they had only trained in the mountains, they would be vulnerable to conspiracy theories.

But on the contrary, since all they had to do in the mountains was meditate and fantasize, this kind of reasoning itself could be their specialty.

But Namgung Hui was not at a loss at their speculation.

Because he was confident he could explain himself even without the Sect Leader's help.

"As Cheongyo Jin-in said, I am planning to get what I want on the pretext of this manual. Those are the two requests I mentioned earlier. But I will prove that this junior brother does not harbor any wicked thoughts."

"We have not learned mind-reading. How can we see your heart?"

Although it seemed the Sect Leader was capable of it, mind-reading was not something anyone could learn.

As it was, if the opponent was a master like Namgung Hui, it would not work.

Since Namgung Hui had also firmly raised his mental defenses now, it would not be easy for even the Sect Leader to read his inner thoughts.

Namgung Hui, instead of answering, just stood up from his seat and extended his hand forward.

And then.

-Chijijijik!

He raised his Thunder Ki and brightly lit up the meeting hall.

So that all the elders could clearly see the Thunder Ki.

"Thunder Ki? He's a successor of the Thunder God Sect!"

"If he's a successor of the Thunder God Sect, we can trust him. Because that place strictly selects its people."

If it were the Thunder God Sect, it was a name that guaranteed Namgung Hui's identity more than any other place.

If it were another sect of the mortal world, the name 'Namgung family' might be more effective, but not for the Kunlun Sect, which had a connection.

"Heul, heul. Yes. Have you all dispelled your doubts?"

"Yes. Senior Brother Sect Leader. If it's the Thunder God Sect, there's no room for doubt."

Even Cheongyo, who had raised the question first, acknowledged Namgung Hui.

"Then the reason he wants to climb the Supreme Purity Peak might be because of that. Because the third sect leader of the Thunder God Sect is also sleeping there."

"He probably requested it, knowing that. Since there are many cases where insights are hidden in the remains of ancestors. Since we've received it back, we should gladly give it back."

This was something Namgung Hui was hearing for the first time.

Was this a case of a blind cow stumbling upon a mouse?

He had just made a poor excuse, but he had obtained quite useful information.

'If it's the third sect leader, I know he was the strongest among the past sect leaders, excluding the Azure Dragon.'

As the elders said, there might be an insight he had left behind in the remains of the third sect leader.

Of course, if it were stored in another sect's place, it was right not to expect much.

Since what Namgung Hui was aiming for was the trace of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art anyway, he moderately lowered his expectations and waited for the Sect Leader's words.

"Then I will take it that you have allowed me to climb the Supreme Purity Peak. No one has any complaints, right?"

"Yes. I am in favor."

"I am also in favor."

Unanimous.

Just with the background of the Thunder God Sect, he had captured everyone's hearts.

That was how close the Kunlun Sect and the Thunder God Sect had been since the past.

Although the distance was very far, it felt as if their hearts had formed a sworn brotherhood.

In fact, the reason Namgung Hui had participated in the Righteous-Demonic War was also largely due to the blow that was close to the annihilation of the Kunlun Sect.

"Alright. For the next matter, I would like to let him meet Cheongheo. Is there anyone who objects?"

"I have no objection, but is it okay to let a benefactor meet Cheongheo? I'm afraid he might go crazy and harm the Daoist friend."

"That is also my concern."

Namgung Hui wondered what state Cheongheo Jin-in was in that they were so worried.

Although his martial arts would not be trifled with, since he was the disciple of the Heavenly Dao Immortal, it was hard to understand that his mental state was that broken.

So Namgung Hui asked.

"As far as I know, he is the disciple of the Heavenly Dao Immortal. How did he end up in such a state?"

"That is also what we are curious about. But since he cannot open his mouth properly, we are also just vaguely speculating."

"I think the Heavenly Dao Immortal broke him. This is why you shouldn't have two masters."

"Junior brother. Still, with the Heavenly Dao Immortal's fame, would he have intentionally made Cheongheo like that?"

"The fact that you say 'made him like that' means you also agree with me to some extent, senior brother?"

"I just judged that there was some truth to it. Refrain from hasty speculation."

Looking at the elders' public opinion, it seemed that the majority of them also thought that Cheongheo Jin-in had changed after taking the Heavenly Dao Immortal as his master.

Whatever the facts were, Cheongheo Jin-in was currently in a very dangerous state.

"For that reason, Cheongheo is currently sealed in a barrier. It will take some time to release it, and we also have to make thorough preparations."

"Then I can just climb the Supreme Purity Peak first and wait."

"That would be good for both you and us. Go and look around the inside of the sect with the Maoshan Sect Leader. Although there's not much to see."

As the Sect Leader said, there was not much to see compared to before.

The interior of the Kunlun Sect, which had turned into ruins, was still not fully restored.

No. Should I say it felt as if they had intentionally not rebuilt it?

Considering the years that had passed and their level, it would not be unreasonable to clear away such debris and build a new building, but it felt strongly as if they had left it intentionally.

'A scar of glory? No. It seems they think of it as a humiliation that should never be forgotten.'

Anyway, since Namgung Hui had achieved half of what he wanted, he decided to wait for the right time with leisure.

If it were really difficult to meet Cheongheo Jin-in, it would not be a problem to give up.

However, he was trying to meet him because of a few words that kept bothering him.

'If Cheongheo Jin-in is difficult, I can just find the Blood Qilin or Cheongi-ja again. A turning point, was it? He said that if that passed, Cheongi-ja could also open his mouth.'

"Then with this, we will conclude the elders' meeting. Everyone, go back and announce the return of the Supreme Purity Formless Divine Art. And that we will hold a small banquet for the first time in a long time."

"A banquet! We'll have a feast for the first time in a long time. Senior Brother Sect Leader. Then I will go down to procure food for the banquet."

"I was just about to ask. Since you're doing it on your own, go and come back well."

"A banquet cannot be without wine, so I will go and take out the wine jars."

As if they were excited about the banquet, they each took on tasks they were not even asked to do.

That was how much the banquet, which was being held for the first time in a long time, would be a sweet event for them.

The Daoists of the Kunlun Sect were not much different from the people of the mortal world.

In a way, should I say they were more purely human?

They did not hide their desires, and there seemed to be no falsehood in their hearts.

But since it wasn't as if they couldn't control their desires, it was only good to see.

"Daoist friend, you should also go out now. If you go out, Unhak will give you a room. I will call you again tomorrow to climb the Supreme Purity Peak."

***

"This is the guest room where the Young Hero will be staying."

"And the room next door is where my companions are staying?"

"Yes. Then please rest well."

Namgung Hui, who had returned to his party again.

After moderately unpacking his luggage in the guest room and coming out, Jeok Hwarin was sitting in the backyard with a dazed expression.

Her state was unusual, so he had no choice but to ask with a strange expression.

"What's with that expression? Did things not go well?"

"Uh... Namgung Hui, you're back. Yes. As you said, things didn't go well. I couldn't meet my maternal grandfather."

"Why couldn't you meet him? You said there were two elders with the surname Chu. Don't tell me your mother gave you the wrong information?"

Jeok Hwarin shook her head and answered.

"My grandfather's Daoist title... is Cheongheo."

(End of Chapter)