Rebirth of the Thunder God

-Swoosh! Pang!

A power so strong that it was far beyond a simple Sword Ki.

On top of that, the sword art, which was not unfamiliar, made Namgung Hui frown.

‘The Dugu Family Head! He's already here.’

It was not yet dawn.

Since he had originally said he would come in the morning, he had arrived quite early.

"I had a bad feeling, so I hurried, and as expected, there was an intruder. You all, step back."

"Yes! Family Head."

Dugu Jin, who had resolved the matter he was in charge of alone, without even a retinue.

Originally, the position of a family head was so important that its weight was beyond words.

That was why family heads usually went around with personal bodyguards, but Dugu Jin seemed to have gone alone because he didn't want to stand out.

Like a lone wolf.

And so, as the people of the Dugu family retreated, Dugu Jin stared at Namgung Hui and said.

"Seeing as you can't be read, you're a fellow who came with a purpose. The Fist King wouldn't betray me, so this is strange."

Namgung Hui's appearance was that of a young martial artist of the Hwangbo family with a hero's headband tied tightly.

Since he was also wearing fist guards and leg guards like a fist user, it was hard to see him as a swordsman.

Nevertheless, perhaps because he felt something was off, Dugu Jin immediately saw through Namgung Hui's disguise.

"You're like a well-polished sword. It would be reasonable to see this as a swordsman, not a fist user. Who on earth are you?"

"Well. Shall I say I'm the grim reaper who will take you to the underworld?"

"There aren't many who hold such a grudge against me. I'll know once we cross swords."

Flash!

Simultaneously with the end of his words, Dugu Jin's sword blade split the dawn.

His sword was a path optimized for deadly actual combat.

A fast sword, yet not a fast sword, a heavy blow flew at Namgung Hui's neck in succession.

Namgung Hui coated his fist with Fist Ki and blocked the sword.

-Kakang!

Although Namgung Hui was polishing his sword.

His essence was in being a fist user.

He was so proficient that he had no great difficulty in facing Dugu Jin.

Dugu Jin's eyes sharpened.

"Is it not him? To think there's another who is so skilled in fist arts. But it doesn't seem to be the Fist King. Don't tell me it's his son?"

In the first place, there were few who gave up the sword and insisted on the fist.

Because no matter how bad, one had to hold another weapon to have an advantage in range.

Only the Hwangbo family and the Jinju Eon family used fist arts, and since even the Jinju Eon family had now walked the path of annihilation, there was practically no one besides the Hwangbo family.

Well, there was the Taishan Beidou Shaolin Temple, but they also used various weapons, including the staff.

Dugu Jin, as if to test him, pressed Namgung Hui through various sword paths.

-Swish! Hwik, hwik!

Namgung Hui lightly dodged, performing his footwork.

"Whatever your identity is, don't think of leaving this manor alive. Even if it's not me, reinforcements will come soon."

"!?

At the words that reinforcements were coming, Namgung Hui had no choice but to harden his expression.

Hadn't the Blood Cult, which was undergoing rapid changes with the recent death of the Young Cult Leader?

It was a very natural step to send troops outside to plan for the Central Plains or to catch possible deserters.

Dugu Jin, who had somewhat broken his rushing attack, entered a war of attrition, as if he had decided to drag time.

He moderately used only Sword Ki to disturb Namgung Hui's gaze.

His elegant and splendid sword dance embroidered the dark sky.

-Hwik, hwik, hwik!

Feints and variations.

Fast sword and hegemonic sword.

All the forms of the sword he could use were encompassed.

As if to show off in front of Namgung Hui.

As much as that, since the response had to be different for each sword dance, Namgung Hui also had no choice but to have a hard time whenever the form of the sword changed.

‘The sword art of the Dugu family is tricky.’

Like a family with cold blood.

They were persistent and calm to aim for their prey.

Slowly, slowly, they drained his strength and aimed for his vital points.

‘They must have taken refuge by now, so shall I also go all out?’

Since there was no good in dragging time here, Namgung Hui judged that it was time to settle the match.

And the start of that match was, as expected.

-Jijijik!

It was Namgung Hui's ultimate art, the Thunder Strike Fist.

"Thunder Ki?! You bastard! You were the Hidden Dragon!"

Thunder Ki was now an energy that was no different from Namgung Hui's symbol.

Although there was also the Great Thunderclap Temple that handled Thunder Ki in his past life, since they hardly showed themselves, it had to be seen that Namgung Hui was the only one.

Moreover, if it were purple Thunder Ki, not blue lightning, there would be no one besides Namgung Hui.

"I have always looked forward to this day to take your head."

"And I have also devised various plans to wipe out the seeds of the Namgung family. First of all, I have already dealt a huge blow to your family. Especially that bitch named Gamo has long since converted to our cult."

Namgung Hui, briefly recalling the shame of the past, calmly nodded his head.

"Yes. As you say, that is a great shame for our family. So I plan to return to your family and the Blood Cult as much as I have received."

"I wonder if that's possible with your skills. I'll see if your potential is as big as your mouth."

-Chaeng!

Dugu Jin, who clashed with Namgung Hui.

He tried to peek at Namgung Hui's emotions, but for some reason, he couldn't read them.

‘Fellow...! You're using a cheap trick. Did this fellow also learn the martial arts of the middle Dantian? No. The martial arts of the Thunder God Sect are not the martial arts of the middle Dantian. Rather, they are close to the upper Dantian.’

The specialty of the Cold-Blooded Family was not limited to the technique of reading emotions.

A sword art that was cruelly powerful.

The Dugu Nine Swords.

The sword art of the Dugu family, which was only considered a legend, was resurrected in Dugu Jin's hands.

Flash!

In one flash, nine trajectories were drawn.

What on earth was he performing that nine movements appeared in one move?

Namgung Hui hurriedly raised his protective Ki and performed the Thunder Shadow Winning Steps with all his might.

Namgung Hui's afterimage was torn to shreds by the Dugu Nine Swords.

Namgung Hui was also quite flustered by the enemy's suddenly changed sword dance.

‘His Ki suddenly changed. What on earth is this demonic art?’

Namgung Hui thought that such an explosive power was impossible unless it were a demonic art.

But as if he had read Namgung Hui's thoughts, Dugu Jin said with a sneer.

"You think it's a demonic art? Unfortunately, this is not a demonic art, but the family martial art of our Dugu family. Watch. The true value of the Dugu Nine Swords!"

An eerie sword strike bloomed from the tip of Dugu Jin's sword.

Nine deadly and beautiful sword paths.

The Sword Ki that had bloomed in an instant soon turned into a Sword Pill and then exploded in the void.

-KABOOOOM!!!

"Kraaak!"

"Don't get swept away!"

The people of the Dugu family, who had been standing back, were also swept away by the aftermath, unable to avoid serious injuries, as if they had not known that their family head would display such unimaginable military power.

Although that sight could be considered a good thing for Namgung Hui.

Namgung Hui's expression was not bright.

‘It has far surpassed the level I had imagined. Don't tell me the other heads of the Six Demonic Families are also at this level?’

Every fellow he had met recently had a military power that exceeded his expectations.

Even General Yi, who he had assumed was at the Transformation Realm, had now reached a level where he could be called a Profound Realm master.

Besides that, the one who was in charge of a mere bandit group was also a master of the Transformation Realm.

The Dugu Family Head in front of him also seemed to have surpassed the mature Transformation Realm.

‘The martial world these days is not hiding three parts, but three-tenths.’

But it wasn't just Dugu Jin who was hiding his skills.

Namgung Hui also immediately began to take out the talents he had been hiding one by one.

Opening of the Electric Poles. Mad Extreme.

Two Principles Heart Art. Dividing the Mind.

Thunder Shadow Winning Steps. Electric Steps.

In an instant, four afterimages resembling Namgung Hui were created, disturbing his vision.

Simultaneously, lightning crackled in both of Namgung Hui's hands.

And soon, as he clashed his hands, a light exploded.

-KABOOOOM!!

A talent that applied the Splitting Light Burst Flash.

It was a technique that poured out a huge amount of light in an instant to block the enemy's vision.

As a result, the Dugu Family Head's vision missed Namgung Hui for a moment.

And that Namgung Hui appeared right behind Dugu Jin and struck him.

-Peoeok!

Degeul, degeul. Dugu Jin, who rolled for a long time.

Although he had performed his protective Ki to the extreme, he couldn't breathe properly.

Perhaps because a few of his ribs were broken, his chest was extremely uncomfortable every time he took a breath.

‘He has a lot of tricks. He's a tricky fellow. As far as I know, he's only at the age of a young man, yet to even do such an application, he seems like an old monster who has gone through all sorts of hardships.’

Dugu Jin spat out blood-mixed saliva and got up, dusting himself off.

He had allowed an attack because he had just obtained the Dugu Nine Swords.

If the Dugu Nine Swords had been mature, it was obvious that Namgung Hui would have been the one to suffer.

Because the best subtlety of the Dugu Nine Swords was to strike later.

‘It's hard to breathe, so there's no good in dragging it out into a long battle. I'll end it here.’

Although he didn't want to admit it, the brat in front of him was his equal, or even more.

But victory was not seized by the stronger person, but by the one who survived until the end.

Dugu Jin raised the Ink Pagoda Heavenly King Art to the extreme and sent out his best and finest sword strike.

Dugu Nine Swords. 7th Stance. Breaking Palm Form.

The ultimate stance of the Dugu Nine Swords, the natural enemy of bare-handed martial arts.

Nine sword forms blocked all of Namgung Hui's fist and leg arts and reached his throat.

Just one more inch, and Namgung Hui's throat would be pierced.

But Dugu Jin's sword was not short.

It stopped right in front of Namgung Hui's throat.

"Keoheok!"

That was because Namgung Hui's fist had already caved in his chest.

Dugu Jin didn't even realize when he had extended it.

"I-Is this a master of the Profound Realm... Amazing. But you won't be able to go back as you please..."

Dugu Jin, who breathed his last.

For a head of the Six Demonic Families, his end was so vain.

Rather, for him, it might be better to leave the world without much pain.

Namgung Hui, while looking at the people of the Dugu family who still remained inside the manor, drew his sword.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you live. Goodbye."

And so, the moment Namgung Hui was about to pronounce a death sentence on the people of the Dugu family.

A tremendous Ki was felt from outside the manor.

At least a master of the Transformation Realm.

And there were two of them.

It seemed they were the reinforcements Dugu Jin had mentioned.

Still, he thought it was a relief that there were only two.

Because he could somehow face two masters of the Transformation Realm.

"Tsk, tsk. I see this fellow again."

‘This voice?’

For some reason, the old voice and tone were not unfamiliar.

Should I say that even just hearing the tone, I could feel the alcohol?

Soon, the figures who had entered the manor were people that Namgung Hui also knew well.

‘The Black and White Twin Elders!’

The elders and meritorious retainers of the Heretic Faction, the Black and White Twin Elders, had appeared.

"Child. It's been a while. Perhaps because you've eaten something good, you look well. Someone has been having a hard time quitting alcohol lately..."

"Elders. Do you know who I am?"

When Namgung Hui had met the Black and White Twin Elders, he had been in the form of the Black Guest.

Besides, Namgung Hui's current appearance was also that of a person from the Hwangbo family.

Since he had never met them in his original form, it was quite strange that the Black and White Twin Elders recognized Namgung Hui.

"Tsk, tsk. Of course, you're our granddaughter's benefactor. How could we not recognize you? By the way, I wonder if we've disturbed what you were doing. Shall these old men lend a hand?"

Although Namgung Hui was also curious as to how they had recognized him, for now, what was important was the problem of dealing with the remnants of the Dugu family, as they had said.

Since there was nothing good about them letting this fact out, it was right to deal with them quickly.

"Then I'll ask for your help."

"Alright. With this, we'll be able to repay our debt a little."

Although Namgung Hui wanted to correct 'light' to 'debt', since it wasn't the first or second time the Black and White Twin Elders had confused words, he just let it go.

-Seogeok. Puhak. Seogeok!

And so, the people of the Dugu family left the world without even leaving a death cry.

Namgung Hui, in order not to leave any evidence, melted all the corpses with the Bone Melting Powder he had received from the Poison Demon.

Except for Dugu Jin's corpse.

"Oho. What's that thing? The corpse disappeared without a trace."

"It's an item I got from the Poison Demon before. But elders, why have you come here?"

The Black and White Twin Elders, who exchanged glances for a moment.

As if they had judged that it was okay to tell Namgung Hui, they slowly nodded their heads and opened their mouths.

"That is. We came to kill the Fist King.”

(End of Chapter)