Rebirth of the Thunder God

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

"Cheongheo. Coincidentally, that's the Daoist title of the Daoist I came to find."

If so, he understood why Jeok Hwarin couldn't meet her maternal grandfather.

Since he was said to be sealed in a barrier right now, he couldn't be shown to Jeok Hwarin even if he wanted to.

However, what was strange was why Cheongjin Jin-in hadn't told him this at their first meeting.

"Ah. That is. Another Daoist with the surname Chu told me that Cheongheo Jin-in is also a Chu. And it seems he used to talk about his daughter from time to time. Saying she had entered the Sun God Palace."

"If he even mentioned the Sun God Palace, he must be your maternal grandfather. But did you hear what kind of situation he's in now?"

"Uh... He's in a state of being locked up because of Qi deviation or a mental demon? They said I might be in danger too if I meet him, so they couldn't let me meet him. But if you fall into Qi deviation, do you really not even recognize your own daughter?"

Namgung Hui recalled the moment his father had been hit by the Demonic Spirit Pill before and nodded his head.

"I don't know if you've heard, but the Blood Cult has a history of being secretly active in our family. At that time, my father experienced something similar to Qi deviation, and he even attacked me. The Daoists of the Kunlun Sect were probably worried about such a case. So don't be too disheartened."

"I see... If so, I have no choice. I can only wait until my grandfather's condition improves."

"Will the Daoists accept you until then?"

From what Namgung Hui had scanned.

There was not a single female Daoist in the Kunlun Sect.

Although there might be some in the interior that he hadn't fully looked at, there was not a single one in Namgung Hui's Ki sense.

Except for Jeok Hwarin in front of him.

'If there's a member of the opposite sex in a closed space, it will probably interfere with training.'

"Well, I don't know how long it will take, but they said I can stay for the time being. So what I'm saying is, do you by any chance have a way to treat my grandfather? You said your father also experienced it."

"My father's was not a proper Qi deviation. It was a case of recovering from the premonitory symptoms."

"Then there's no way?"

"Not necessarily. If it's the manual I passed on to the Kunlun Sect, it might be possible. Or if it's my brother, he might be able to do it with the sorcery of the Maoshan Sect."

'And who knows. If he can fully withstand my Thunder Ki, his mind might return.'

The Thunder God Divine Art, which harbored the energy of dispelling evil and upholding righteousness.

Although it had now become the Purple Thunder Divine Art, that group was still left in Namgung Hui.

Although he couldn't completely shake off the Qi deviation, he should be able to light a spark to some extent.

"Then I'll have to go to the Sect Leader. I have to try everything I can. Thank you. For the advice."

"It doesn't seem to have been much help. I'll think about it a little more too."

In fact, the most frightening thing was a disease of the mind.

Qi deviation was a disease that even the Divine Physician Sect Leader could not treat.

Although it was lumped together as Qi deviation, the symptoms were different for each person, so much so that they had to be subdivided and given separate disease names.

Some became half-corpses and just lay there.

And some became madmen and destroyed everything.

Perhaps Cheongheo Jin-in had also become something close to a madman.

And so, as Jeok Hwarin disappeared to find Jang Hwang, Namgung Hui woke up Chichi, who was in a deep sleep in his bosom.

"Chichi. We've come all the way to the Kunlun Mountains. Are you going to sleep like that?"

[Keung... I was enjoying acorn wine, but I woke up because of you.]

"Do you make wine with acorns too? Anyway. This is the Kunlun Mountains, where the spirit energy is the most abundant. Get up and get some air."

[Oh... The atmosphere is really full of spirit energy. At this rate, it would be like drinking a glass of Thunder Liquor.]

Namgung Hui stealthily looked at Chichi, who had woken up from his sleep.

After a long sleep, it certainly felt as if something had changed.

Starting with the color of its fur, its appearance was the same, but the atmosphere it gave off was quite different.

Should I say the wildness had been refined?

On top of that, the ferocious energy lurking inside Chichi was like watching a thunderbolt swirling in a dark cloud.

'Now it feels like it has combat power too. I was inwardly hoping its detector ability would be enhanced.'

Of course, the ability of the detector might have developed.

This was something that could be found out by asking Chichi or by trying it out himself.

Namgung Hui took out a bottle of Thunder Liquor he had saved and said to Chichi.

"Chichi. There's something I need to find in the Kunlun Sect. Can you tell me which direction it's in?"

[Umm... If it's a place that blocks energy like here, it might be a little difficult, but now, for some reason, I think I can do it. What are you looking for?]

"I'm looking for a martial arts manual. It's presumed to be on the Supreme Purity Peak over there. If you feel something precious, please let me know."

[Huh? I feel something even now. But should I say it's spiritual energy? I also feel like something is blocking it.]

Was it because it was an ancestral hall? Or was it because of the barrier?

Still, since Chichi had felt something, if he went closer and looked, he should be able to grasp it in more detail.

For now, since it seemed Chichi's ability was working, he let out a sigh of relief.

'Then shall I look for my brother too?'

By now, Jeok Hwarin would have had some conversation with Jang Hwang.

Since Namgung Hui also had business with Jang Hwang, he slowly walked, following the presence he felt.

"So. If you remove the mental demon that is the cause of the Qi deviation, you can treat it? And you, Sect Leader, can let me into that mental world."

"That's right, but it's a dangerous thing. Because both of you could get seriously hurt. So it's not a method I recommend. How about asking my younger brother Namgung instead? I know he's also on good terms with the Divine Physician Sect Leader."

Since he had been mentioned, Namgung Hui stealthily joined the conversation.

"Brother. That will probably be difficult. The Divine Physician Sect also doesn't have a particular way to treat Qi deviation. And even if they had that ability, they probably wouldn't be able to come all the way to this remote Qinghai Province. Because there are many people who are after him."

As it was, a situation where his own daughter was being put forward as the Saintess of the Blood Cult.

Since he had to take care of the major and minor affairs of the Divine Physician Sect alone, he had no leisure, either mentally or physically.

Right now, he would be troubled by his daughter's problem, leaving the Divine Physician Sect aside.

"Ahem... Anyway. At your level, entering your maternal grandfather's mental world is absolutely impossible. At least, you have to be a master of the Transformation Realm who has awakened the upper Dantian to be able to do it."

"Transformation Realm... I see. Thank you for the advice."

Jeok Hwarin, who suddenly ran off somewhere.

Namgung Hui stared at her retreating back and then approached Jang Hwang and asked.

"Brother. If you really enter the mental world, can you remove the mental demon?"

"It's called a mental world, but it means approaching the realm of the subconscious and physically removing the mental demon. In medicine, don't they sometimes touch the brain and manipulate memories?"

"Oho. That's also possible."

Knowledge that Namgung Hui had also encountered for the first time.

Although he knew that if you touched the brain surgically, you would become an idiot, it was the first time he had heard that you could even manipulate memories.

Perhaps it originated from the corpse art that Jang Hwang knew.

Perhaps because he handled the corpses of the dead, he seemed to be skilled in the surgical part as well.

"Anyway. In that world of the subconscious, unless you're a supreme master who has awakened the upper Dantian. Your mental body could be eaten instead. It might be possible for you, but at Jeok Hwarin's level, it's out of the question. But do you also have a favor to ask of me, brother? Judging by your expression, you seem to have something to say."

Namgung Hui tapped the Thunder God Sword and continued.

"Yes. It's not something else, but I'd like to talk about the spirit dwelling in this sword. Brother, you must have noticed its existence from the start, and I would like to ask about the true identity of this spirit."

"Yes. The time has come. As you've guessed, the being dwelling in the sword is not a human, but the spirit of a spirit beast. On top of that, it's not a good being, but it's not a fallen spirit either. Should I say it's the chaos that the Daoist sect talks about? It would be right to see it in that state."

"Then can you also know exactly what kind of being it is?"

Jang Hwang stared at the Thunder God Sword and continued.

"From what I can see, it's a spirit beast that has lived for at least 1000 years. Even just this would make it a great fellow. Its appearance has lost its form, so it's not clearly visible. But my guess is that it was a flood dragon in its lifetime."

"A flood dragon...!"

A spirit beast that had lived for a thousand years.

The Sword Spirit, which had the form of a snake.

All of this could not be explained if it were not a flood dragon.

On top of that, hadn't the Sword Spirit flared up, saying not to ignore the flood dragon, while facing the Orochi that the onmyoji had summoned before?

Namgung Hui had also been unconsciously aware of the flood dragon.

Then, something from the back of his memory flashed.

'If it's a flood dragon, could it be that place? This is not certain, so I'll have to stop by on my way later. If the Sword Spirit is really a flood dragon, there will be some reaction.'

The Sword Spirit, as if it had heard the story, repeatedly muttered the word 'flood dragon' and fell into thought.

His soul was becoming clearer, and it felt as if he were firmly establishing his identity.

"Still, since it's not a wicked being, rest assured. Since it's with your clear soul, it won't be corrupted. By the way, did the matter you went for go well?"

"Yes. I've achieved what I wanted for now, but since Cheongheo Jin-in is in that state, it seems it will be difficult for a question and answer session. Well, since there's no need to hear it from his mouth, I'll have to postpone it for the next opportunity."

Excluding Cheongi-ja, the Blood Qilin would also know about the law of causality to some extent.

It was not something he wanted to know by bothering a person who had fallen into Qi deviation.

A truth that he would come to know when he crossed the turning point at some point.

For now, he would just do his best in the matter in front of him.

'To do that, I must find the whereabouts of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Tomorrow will be a really short day.'

And so, Namgung Hui safely finished his first day at the Kunlun Sect.

***

The next day. Morning.

The Daoists of the Kunlun Sect, as if they had no morning sleep, woke up early and started their day.

Although it was just meditation and simple stretching, a busy atmosphere hung over the peaceful Kunlun Sect for the first time in a long time.

Namgung Hui, as if to add to that busyness, was having a private meeting with the Sect Leader from early in the morning.

"The young Daoist friend has woken up early. It must be that your heart is that urgent. Then there's no reason to delay. Let's go right away."

"Yes. Sect Leader."

Namgung Hui followed the Sect Leader and stepped onto a mountain path that was not paved at all.

Certainly, unlike the Jade Purity Peak or the Supreme Purity Peak, there were almost no people.

Since there were no mountain beasts that would break through the boundary of the Kunlun Mountains, it was so quiet that it was excessive.

Should I say it felt as if there was a firm will not to disturb the deep sleep of the ancestors who had entered eternal sleep?

Namgung Hui, who had woken up from that deep sleep for the first time in a long time, arrived at the Supreme Purity Peak with a bitter smile.

"This is the Supreme Purity Peak, and the ancestral hall where the remains of our ancestors are stored."

Namgung Hui looked at the large cave in front of him and showed a look of admiration.

"It looks truly magnificent and comfortable. Your ancestors must have slept peacefully there."

"Our ancestors. Wouldn't they have all ascended to immortality?"

"Ah. I have misspoken."

"Hoho. Well, the ancestors who failed to ascend to immortality must be in a deep sleep. Now then, let's go in quietly."

As they entered the cave, there were cave halls with respective nameplates hanging, each pierced.

Should I say it was as if each ancestor was given a room?

Its size was by no means small, and it was so comfortable and cozy that even a living person could use it.

Namgung Hui, looking at the nameplates one by one, found a name that was not that of a Daoist of the Kunlun Sect.

"Jangcheon? Were there also ancestors who used a secular name?"

"Ah. From there, they are not people of our Kunlun Sect."

"Then why are they stored here?"

"Although they are not disciples of the Kunlun Sect, they are people who passed away after making a huge contribution to our Kunlun Sect, and we are enshrining and honoring them there. You were a successor of the Thunder God Sect, right? I will guide you first to the place where your ancestor is enshrined."

And so, the place where Namgung Hui arrived, following the Sect Leader, was the end of the cave, located in the deepest part.

Perhaps because it was the end, the allocated cave hall was particularly wide and large.

"As you can see, his contribution was extraordinary, so the place where his remains are stored is also that large. We also don't know how much of his will is dwelling there. If it's you, the orthodox heir, you might be able to get something. But don't have too high of an expectation and go in. This time, I will be waiting outside."

Namgung Hui gave a silent bow with gratitude and carefully opened the stone gate of the cave hall and entered.

Geugeugeung...

As the stone gate was pushed, a heavy tremor was transmitted.

It was as intense as if Namgung Hui's heart were pounding.

Namgung Hui, with that intense expectation, quietly looked at the remains of the founder that appeared in front.

The remains of the third sect leader, who still seemed to be alive.

It was so precarious that it seemed it would scatter to pieces with just a light touch.

Namgung Hui looked at such an ancestor, bowed three times, and quietly conveyed his inner thoughts with a silent bow.

'The current Thunder God Sect Leader, Namgung Hui, greets the third Sect Leader.'

And so, as soon as Namgung Hui finished his greeting.

[Yes. You have come well. My descendant.]

A clear voice that pierced his ears was heard.

(End of Chapter)