Rebirth of the Thunder God

-Child of the Namgung family. Your hobby is quite peculiar. A grown man dressing as a woman. Keol, keol, keol.

‘!!!’

Namgung Hui was not only surprised that his disguise as a woman had been seen through, but he also couldn't believe that the Daoist of the Wudang Sect looked like an ordinary old man to him.

If he hadn't been wearing the Daoist robes of the Wudang Sect, it would have been fine to see him as just a villager.

That meant that he knew how to control his Ki to the extreme.

That meant he was a master, and if he could even deceive Namgung Hui's Ki sense, it would be reasonable to see him as a master of the Profound Realm.

Well, it could be possible if a master of the Transformation Realm had learned a special martial art, but the Wudang Sect Daoist in front of him was not an assassin.

If so.

-Elder... no. Sect Leader. Why have you come here?

-Ahem. Do I look like the Sect Leader? You've got the wrong person. Why would the Wudang Sect Leader come to a rural martial arts school like this with nothing to do?

-Is that so? Then I'm afraid I'll have to postpone finding the martial arts manual for you.

-What? You'll find the martial arts manual for me?

The Wudang Sect Leader, who was quite flustered, unlike when he was playing a mischievous prank.

If he were to deny this fact as well, Namgung Hui had no intention of really finding their martial arts.

-I found the Two Principles Heart Art for you, so there's no law that says I can't find another martial art.

-Keu-eung... You must keep it an absolute secret that I am the Sect Leader.

The Sect Leader, who obediently admitted his identity.

In the first place, if he had shown such a great talent, he had no choice but to be discovered by Namgung Hui.

Although he didn't know what talent he had to have recognized Namgung Hui's disguise as a woman and his Ki.

On the contrary, it could be said that there was no one besides the Taiji Sword Immortal, the greatest master of the Wudang Sect, who had such an ability.

‘By the way, if the Sect Leader is coming out like this, it must mean that a really important manual has been stolen.’

Considering the timing and the culprit, there was a high probability that it was the Blood Cult.

Of course, the Hoicheon Association, which was covetously aiming for the Central Plains martial world, could not be excluded.

But considering the ten-year plan of the Blood Cult, they were the most likely suspects.

And hadn't the Two Principles Heart Art also been smuggled out by them and then recovered by Namgung Hui?

Anyway, Namgung Hui also had a detector.

And since there was also a sorcerer named Jang Hwang, it might not be a difficult task for him to recover the manual.

If Namgung Hui couldn't find it, it would be reasonable to see that the manual would never be returned.

-Then let's talk in detail later. For now, act naturally. That's right. You continue to pretend to be a woman, and I will pretend to be a villager.

Now that the Sect Leader had discovered Namgung Hui's identity, there was no need to continue acting, but for now, he decided to play along with him.

"Father."

"This is class time. Call me Master, not Father."

"Master. I've brought a new friend."

"Is she enrolling in our martial arts school?"

And for good reason, Namgung Hui's current appearance was that of a proper young lady.

It was not strange for her to apply for admission after seeing the master's handsome appearance.

Rather, the master seemed to have thought that the friend was an applicant for admission after seeing that she was a woman.

"No. I came because I wanted to see the Wudang Sect Daoist here."

"The Senior Uncle? Well, that's not my business, so ask the Senior Uncle yourself."

The identity the Sect Leader had disguised himself as must be a person that the master didn't even remember.

Since he must have just made up that he was one of the senior uncles, he wouldn't have a close relationship with him.

Perhaps the reason the Sect Leader was walking around the streets like this was because he thought he might be able to get a clue about the manual.

Namgung Hui, thinking that he should at least greet them since he had come to someone else's house.

He cupped his fists towards the master and the Sect Leader and said.

"I am Namgung Jayeon, from a branch family of the Namgung family. The master's handsome face shines even from a distance."

"Namgung? Oho. I heard a new phoenix has appeared in the Namgung family. It seems that was you, miss. And a martial artist speaks with this sword. A face doesn't feed you. Such compliments are declined."

Although Namgung Hui thought that face did feed him, it was right that a martial artist spoke with a sword.

"Now, now. Since we have guests today, we'll end the class here and dismiss. But tomorrow, we'll have a supplementary class for half an hour, so come with a firm mind! That's all!"

"Aah... A supplementary class."

"I don't want to~~."

The students, while expressing their complaints, trudged outside.

Still, they would come again tomorrow.

To see this handsome master.

"Senior Uncle. The lady from the Namgung family has business with you. What will you do?"

"If she has business, I should see her, shouldn't I? If there's a quiet place, prepare it."

The master, as if he didn't like this Daoist, crumpled his handsome face and said to his daughter.

"Jeong Dan-a. You escort the guests to the guest hall. This father needs to prepare for tomorrow's class."

The master, who was giving a hint as if it were all her fault.

Although his face was handsome, his heart seemed a little sharp.

Jeong Dan-a guided Namgung Hui with a bitter smile.

"Please follow me. Since our martial arts school is in a good location, the scenery from the guest hall is quite nice."

As expected of Yichang, which was nestled between Mount Jingmen and the Yangtze River, it was as scenic as she said.

"Ahem. Do you two also have business with me?"

"That's not it. I also have business with the benefactor here."

"What's your business? Weren't you with him all along?"

"We just ate and came right away, so we couldn't really talk. No. But why is the Daoist asking that?"

"Ahem. It's just that I don't like crowded places."

"Well. I can talk later, so I'll wait outside. You two have a good chat."

"Alright. The refreshments are enough, so you guys eat."

At the Sect Leader's order to leave, Jang Yuhui's party quietly disappeared.

Although it seemed they were inwardly curious as to what he would talk about with Namgung Hui, since even Namgung Hui shook his head, they obediently retreated.

"But who is the man next to you? He doesn't look like your friend. Let me see... You've learned the martial arts of the upper Dantian. But why is there so much miscellaneous energy?"

As expected, even the Taiji Sword Immortal couldn't read Jang Hwang's internal energy.

Perhaps because he was a sorcerer, the Daoists of the Kunlun Sect would be better in this field.

"Elder. I am Jang Hwang, the sect leader of the Maoshan Sect."

"Oho. The Maoshan Sect's lineage still continues. When you think about it, it's because that monk and I have children who cause trouble. What sin would the sect have?"

The former sect leader of the Maoshan Sect had fallen in love with the current Martial Arts Alliance leader and had given birth to the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.

And hadn't the Wudang Sect Leader's daughter also fallen in love with the son of the Black and White Twin Elders and given birth to Jeong Sua?

Of course, giving birth oneself and having a child give birth were clearly different matters.

Moreover, unlike the Shaolin Temple, where marriage was forbidden, the Daoist sects did not forbid it.

"Yes. The fact that you've accompanied him means that we can discuss important matters together."

"Yes. You can trust me. And to recover the manual, we need this brother's talent."

"Right. If it's the sorcery of the Maoshan Sect, there must be some kind of trick. Alright. Then I'll get straight to the point. Find the Taiji Wisdom Sword."

As expected, if the Sect Leader were to come running with his socks on, there would be no other martial art.

But he was puzzled as to how the Wudang Sect's number one divine art had been leaked.

"But Sect Leader. How were three martial arts stolen? The Two Principles Heart Art and the Ten Section Brocade are one thing, but isn't the Taiji Wisdom Sword a sword art that only the direct disciple and a very few permitted people learn?"

"Keu-eung... As you've also seen Cheonghak, Cheonghak, unlike what people know, is not a direct disciple."

Come to think of it, although he was called the Sword Dragon, it seemed he had said that he was not the number one prospect in the Wudang Sect.

Unlike the Divine Dragon, who had received everything from the Shaolin Temple.

"Don't tell me. Are you saying the direct disciple ran away with it?"

"Yes. It's become the most troublesome thing. After raising him for 20 years, to think he would run away with it... Tsk!"

"No. It's not just the Taiji Wisdom Sword that was stolen, is it?"

"Yes. The Supreme Purity Pill was also stolen, and a copy of the Cloud-Treading Steps was also stolen. Since it's a copy, it doesn't matter much, but still, it's inevitable that my heart aches."

Still, the fortunate thing was that since the Cloud-Treading Steps was a unique footwork, it would be recognized if used.

That meant that it would be difficult for the one who stole it to learn it carelessly or to perform it.

‘But the Hoicheon Association or the Blood Cult are fellows who would perform it without a care. Besides, if it's them, they could even modify this in their own way and use it.’

And the Supreme Purity Pill was also a problem.

A legendary and supreme spirit medicine comparable to the Great Rebirth Pill.

Among the spirit medicines Namgung Hui had eaten so far, there was no spirit medicine that surpassed the Supreme Purity Pill.

Even the Purple Mist Pill, the number one spirit medicine of the Mount Hua Sect, was lacking compared to the Supreme Purity Pill, and one would have to eat five or six Rebirth Pills to be comparable to the Supreme Purity Pill.

‘If it's a fellow raised as a spy for 20 years, would he be a member of the Hoicheon Association rather than the Blood Cult?’

The timing was also strangely off from the time the spies of the Blood Cult had been active.

Those guys had mainly planted spies 10 years ago, and it was only a few months ago that they had begun to show themselves in earnest.

"Sect Leader. When was the manual stolen? Was it along with the Two Principles Heart Art?"

"That's not it. At that time, the Taiji Wisdom Sword was fine. But because I entrusted it to the direct disciple at that time, this mess happened."

Hadn't the Mount Hua Sect also cherished it until it went bad?

If they had just fed the Purple Mist Pill to the direct disciple.

But in the case of the Wudang Sect, it was rather because he had entrusted it to the direct disciple. Since he was a spy, this had happened.

Hadn't they said that spirit medicines all had their owners decided by the heavens?

It had to be seen that the Wudang Sect was really unlucky.

"It's a relief that the spirit medicine was also stolen along with it."

"What does that mean?"

"Because I have a spirit medicine detector. And if we add the Sect Leader's ability, we'll be able to catch the culprit soon."

"Hmm... Is that so? Then I'll pick out the suspicious locations, so go and catch him quickly. I'll give you a generous reward."

"Alright."

The Sect Leader opened a map and pointed out five places.

Even from Namgung Hui's perspective, it was a terrain that was easy to escape to.

One could go to the south coast and travel by boat.

Or one could hide in a boat on the Yangtze River.

If not, it was also a good way to hide in the crowded Iron Blood Fortress.

Perhaps because most of the people who gathered at the Iron Blood Fortress were people whose appearance was strange and suspicious.

But for Namgung Hui, these candidate locations were not very meaningful.

Because all he had to do was tell Chichi to chase the spirit medicine that had a similar scent to the Sect Leader.

-Chichi. Did you hear that? Point out where the spirit medicine with a similar scent to that old man is.

[Here! I feel it from here.]

The direction Chichi pointed to without a moment's hesitation.

Namgung Hui, who was looking at that direction, frowned and had no choice but to ask Chichi again.

-Chichi. Is this really the right way?

[Uh. It's certain. Then shall we make a bet on alcohol?]

Seeing Chichi even bet on alcohol, it seemed it was really certain.

The reason Namgung Hui had asked Chichi again was none other than, that direction was.

‘It's Xiangyang County, where the Zhuge family is.’

(End of Chapter)