Rebirth of the Thunder God

"My older sister... was murdered."

"...!"

Although he had thought it might be so, such ominous premonitions rarely missed the mark.

"Brother. Didn't your older sister follow the Divine Monk, who was no different from the greatest in the world at the time? Then who on earth would assassinate her?"

"That's what I'm wondering too. The Heavenly Secret Master didn't tell me this either. You know it too, don't you? That he gives vague answers."

Misery loves company.

There was no way the Heavenly Secret Master would pinpoint the murderer and tell him.

He probably wouldn't even explain the proper cause of death.

And there was another question.

Her son, the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader.

There was no way he would stand by and watch his mother's death.

Since the Divine Monk was also a master who discussed being the greatest in the world, it was not strange at all for him to punish them thoroughly.

‘This is a case with many suspicious aspects.’

"Well, this matter is something I'll take care of myself, so you don't have to worry about it. If I need help, I'll tell you then, so you just focus on your own work."

Jang Hwang, who was taking care of his younger brother Namgung Hui first, even though he himself must be having a hard time.

Namgung Hui, at Jang Hwang's attitude, felt pleased and at the same time resolved to be of help.

‘I'll have to use the information network I have to the fullest. If she's my sworn brother's older sister, she's no different from my own older sister.’

The age difference was just a number.

In fact, when you think about it, Namgung Hui's true age might be much older.

Anyway, the murder of the former Maoshan Sect leader was not an ordinary matter, even considering it as news of the martial world.

‘What is there to aim for among the martial arts of the Maoshan Sect? Talisman arts? Corpse puppetry? Or sorcery?’

Since each and every one was extraordinary, they were martial arts that any organization would covet.

Weren't they martial arts that the Hoicheon Association or the Blood Cult, who liked secret schemes, would aim for?

The sorcery that read memories would be greatly coveted by General Yi.

And the corpse puppetry that made corpses stand up and fight was to the extent that it wouldn't be strange for the Poison Demon of the Blood Cult to covet it.

Hadn't the Jinju Eon family, which also used another kind of corpse puppetry, been annihilated by the hands of the Blood Cult?

Because of this, the Blood Cult was also a little more suspicious.

On the other hand, if the Hoicheon Association was behind it.

It was understandable that the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader was acting as a double agent and extracting information from the Hoicheon Association.

It would be fine to see it as him waiting for the right time to deal a massive blow to the Hoicheon Association for his mother's revenge.

‘Still, since there's no part that can specify who the culprit is, I'll have to stop my speculation here.’

"Brother. The destination after the Wudang Sect seems to be the Shaolin Temple. Will you be alright?"

"It's rather a good thing. Isn't it a chance to meet the person who will be my brother-in-law? He might be able to ask about this matter. Don't tell me you're planning to stop by there because of me?"

Namgung Hui said firmly.

"That's absolutely not it. In fact, I'm planning to go because it's presumed to be the place where the sacred artifact of the Blood Cult is. At that time, another friend of mine will probably accompany me besides me."

"The sacred artifact of the Blood Cult. This is a serious matter in its own way. You'll really be short-handed. That clone technique, can't you use it all the time?"

"Brother, you're joking, right? To use that all the time, it's impossible to even calculate how much internal energy would be needed."

Thinking about it like this, he realized what a great being the Great Sage, who was said to be skilled in clone techniques, was.

Was the scale of the celestial world really different from the scale of the mortal world?

Well, since such a transcendent being would not descend to the mortal world, it was a matter that had nothing to do with Namgung Hui.

At times like this, he vaguely felt that the law of causality was protecting this world.

"Then for now, going to the Wudang Sect is the first priority."

"Yes. I have to hear the whole story from the Sect Leader. Brother, then I'll go right away."

Since Zhuge Jian was a friend he could see anytime later, it seemed he didn't have to say goodbye.

And seeing as he wasn't in his residence, it seemed he had other work.

And so, Namgung Hui, without possessing the Taiji Wisdom Sword and the Supreme Purity Pill that he had been asked for by the Wudang Sect Leader, flew towards the Wudang Sect.

Although his hands were empty, his head was full of doubts.

The Sect Leader, who was the cause of this doubt, would not be able to scold Namgung Hui for his empty hands.

Xiangyang County, where the Zhuge family was, and Mount Wudang, where the Wudang Sect was, were no different from neighboring villages by Namgung Hui's standards.

In the first place, it was a close enough distance that even those who didn't know martial arts could arrive in a day.

That's why Namgung Hui, carrying Jang Hwang, was able to arrive at Mount Wudang after a short while.

"Is this the place where the number one sword sect, the Wudang Sect, is?"

"The Mount Hua Sect would be sad to hear that."

"Hoho. If it were the days when the Plum Blossom Sword God was around, I wouldn't know. But now, isn't it right that the Wudang Sect is the number one sword sect? Then let's go in and see what a great sect it is."

Although the word 'hegemon' might be awkward for the Zhuge family, the Wudang Sect was different.

The hegemon of Hubei Province.

There would be no better word to describe the position of the Wudang Sect.

Although Mount Wudang was not one of the Five Great Mountains of the Central Plains, its mysteriousness was such that it had a spiritual energy that was not inferior to the Kunlun Mountains.

Since it was shrouded in clouds all year round, it was just amazing to look at with the naked eye.

And since a lot of internal energy actually flowed there, the number one sword sect, the Wudang Sect, had also settled there.

Such a Wudang Sect, since it resembled an incense burner, even looked very beautiful, so it was not lacking as a tourist destination.

However, since the rules of the Wudang Sect were a little stricter than other Daoist sects, there were not that many visitors.

Among them, the strictest point would be the Sword-Unsheathing Pond.

The Sword-Unsheathing Pond, as its name suggests, was a small pond where one would leave one's sword.

This was said to have originated from an act of showing respect for the founder of the Wudang Sect, Zhang Sanfeng.

A person who would surely be mentioned if one were to pick the greatest in the world of all time.

Respect for such a person was not a choice, but was forced as a necessity.

If one did not leave one's sword at the Sword-Unsheathing Pond, one would be considered an enemy of the Wudang Sect, so one had no choice but to either give up one's sword or give up the Wudang Sect.

That was a statement that also applied to Namgung Hui, who was climbing Mount Wudang.

‘To leave the Thunder God Sword at the Sword-Unsheathing Pond is a little worrying.’

Was Namgung Hui's sword an ordinary sword?

It was a sword made by melting down the precious Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron in its entirety.

On top of that, it was a divine sword among divine swords that had even been modified by mixing in lodestone so that the Art of Controlling the Sword with Ki could be used more easily.

It was so compatible with Namgung Hui that it was impossible to even compare it with other precious swords.

Right now, in this world, there were almost no precious swords that could withstand Namgung Hui's Thunder Ki.

"Stop! This is the Sword-Unsheathing Pond of the Wudang Sect. If you wish to climb Mount Wudang, leave your sword and entrust it to us."

As soon as they arrived at the Sword-Unsheathing Pond, the Daoists of the Wudang Sect came out to meet them.

It wasn't that they were welcoming them enthusiastically, but it was to quickly disarm them.

Namgung Hui had no choice but to leave his sword and hand it over to the Wudang Sect Daoists.

"You carry two swords? And they all look like famous swords."

"I'm learning a special martial art, so I need two swords. Should I write down my origin and name here?"

"That's right. You must have visited the Wudang Sect before. You're skilled in the procedures."

Namgung Hui answered with a smile and then wrote down the names Namgung family and Namgung Hui.

At that, the Wudang Sect Daoists, as if they had finally recognized him, were startled and shouted.

"Young Master Hidden Dragon! You were the young master that Cheonghak praised so much. I should have recognized you by your jade-like face. I've been very rude."

"What do you mean, rude? And isn't it a bit much to identify a martial artist by his handsome face? A martial artist feels acknowledged when he is recognized by his martial arts."

"Haha. Come to think of it, you've reached the state of returning to simplicity, so your solar plexus is flat, and I can't feel your Ki. It's a truly great achievement for your age."

The Wudang Sect Daoist, who was now looking at Namgung Hui a little more objectively.

Still, as if his insight was extraordinary, he immediately recognized the state of returning to simplicity.

Ordinary martial artists could hardly guess the stage of returning to simplicity.

In the first place, since returning to simplicity was a state where the control of Ki reached its peak and one looked like an ordinary person, it was quite difficult to distinguish it.

That meant that the ability of the Wudang Sect Daoist was outstanding.

In the first place, if he weren't such a person, he wouldn't have been able to be in charge of the Sword-Unsheathing Pond.

‘If it comes to it, I have to use force, so not just anyone can be in charge of the Sword-Unsheathing Pond. At the very least, only a high-level sword master among the high sword masters can be in charge.’

High Sword Master.

Just as the Mount Hua Sect had the Plum Blossom Sword Masters, the Wudang Sect also had the title of High Sword Master.

It was a word that was derived from carrying the Songmun Ancient Sword, and as its name suggests, it used the characters for high and sword, and referred to a sword master with high achievements.

To be classified as high-level among them meant that one was a skilled person within the top ten percent of the Wudang Sect.

Excluding the first-generation disciples, the elders and the Sect Leader, he would be one of the top-ranking masters among the second-generation disciples.

Namgung Hui, who had finished signing, put down his brush and asked.

"Can I go in now?"

"Does that person not have a sword?"

"Yes. He's a person who doesn't use a sword."

"Then you may go in. I hope you achieve what you came for."

Seeing as there were no particular words, it seemed the Sect Leader also had no message for the others.

On top of that, considering that the Taiji Wisdom Sword had been stolen, the atmosphere was not tense.

Should he say it felt like seeing the Wudang Sect on a normal day?

Namgung Hui, feeling that peaceful atmosphere himself, went straight to the mountain gate.

"At this rate, it seems Mount Wudang could also be one of the Five Great Mountains. I don't know why it's not one of the Five Great Mountains."

"Shouldn't we ask the emperors who have performed ancestral rites throughout history? We're almost there."

Finally, the appearance of the Wudang Sect in front of them.

Putting aside the title of the number one sword sect.

Even just as a Daoist sect, its majesty was indescribably distant.

Why on earth was Mount Wudang not one of the Five Great Mountains?

It was to the point where such a question arose on its own.

"Welcome. Since you have passed the Sword-Unsheathing Pond, you may go in right away."

At the mountain gate, they briefly checked if he was wearing a sword.

Since he had already filled out the register at the Sword-Unsheathing Pond, there was no need to do anything else.

As Namgung Hui entered with a determined gait, sharp gazes poured in from all over, and among them was a person that Namgung Hui also knew.

"Young Master Hidden Dragon! It's been a long time. You must have been doing very well. Your complexion has improved."

He was none other than the second-generation disciple of the Wudang Sect, the Sword Dragon Cheonghak.

A person with outstanding skills, enough to push aside the direct disciple with his skills.

If he had been taught all the martial arts like the Divine Dragon of the Shaolin Temple, the result of the martial arts tournament might have been a little different.

That meant that his innate talent was truly legendary.

"But what brings you to our mountain gate? What about Miss Namgung Jayeon, whom you were supposed to bring?"

"Are you disappointed that I came instead?"

"Ah, no. That's not what I meant..."

Cheonghak, who was quite flustered.

Did he really have a personal feeling for Namgung Jayeon?

Since Namgung Hui did not want a man to have feelings for him, he resolved to draw a clear line when he was in the form of Namgung Jayeon in the future.

"It's nothing else. I came because I have business with the Sect Leader. If you tell him I'm here, he'll call for me right away."

"The Sect Leader has just returned, so you've come at the right time. You're lucky."

Well, since Namgung Hui had left for the Zhuge family, and the Sect Leader had returned right away, the timing would match.

Now was the time to meet such a Sect Leader and ask him questions.

As Cheonghak sent a message to the main hall, a reply came back right away.

"Oh. The Sect Leader says he wants to see you right away. This is a very rare case. It's strange. You haven't caused any trouble, have you?"

"Well. I think it was someone else, not me, who caused the trouble. Well, since he's calling for me, I'll go in right away."

And so, Namgung Hui, who quickly entered the main hall.

Cheonghak was about to volunteer as a guide, but as Namgung Hui found his way well on his own, he stopped his steps and followed his back with his eyes.

‘It's really strange. It's as if he's been to our sect before. Did he come when he was young? I don't remember.’

There was no way Namgung Hui, who had been lying in his sickbed, would have visited the Wudang Sect.

However, since the Thunder God of his past life had been to the Wudang Sect, he was able to go to the Sect Leader without hesitation.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Sect Leader. It's Namgung Hui."

"Come in."

And so, the moment Namgung Hui opened the door and entered the Sect Leader's office.

Namgung Hui's eyes widened at the unexpected sight, and then he had no choice but to squint his eyes again.

Because all sorts of martial arts manuals were scattered on the floor.

(End of Chapter)