Rebirth of the Thunder God

"Um... Young Master Hidden Dragon. The sword you entrusted to us has disappeared."

"No. What do you mean by that? Isn't the Sword-Unsheathing Pond a place guarded by high sword masters for twelve hours a day? And if it comes to it, they would always be ready to perform the Nine Palaces Sword Formation."

Namgung Hui was so dumbfounded that he was speechless.

Why on earth would Namgung Hui's sword disappear from the Sword-Unsheathing Pond, which was no different from a natural fortress?

It wasn't for nothing that Namgung Hui had trusted them and entrusted his sword.

Because he had thought it was that safe, he had boldly left his beloved sword, the Thunder God Sword, at the Sword-Unsheathing Pond.

"Ahem. I don't know if you'll believe me if I say this, but the sword flew away as if it had wings."

In an instant, one possibility came to Namgung Hui's mind.

‘Don't tell me it's the Sword Spirit?’

The Sword Spirit dwelling inside the Thunder God Sword was capable of controlling the Thunder God Sword.

That's why when he was facing multiple opponents, he would occasionally entrust the Thunder God Sword to the Sword Spirit and fight the enemies.

But if Namgung Hui didn't allow it, it wouldn't control the Thunder God Sword on its own.

‘There must be a good reason for it. Then shall I go and find it?’

"There's nothing I can do. I, the owner, have no choice but to look for it."

"I'm sorry... I'll deliver the message to the Sect Leader..."

"It's alright. I'll look for it for about an hour, and if I still can't find it, then you can tell him."

"...Is that alright?"

"Of course it is. It seems the sword resembles its owner, so I must also have some responsibility."

"N-No. What do you mean, responsibility? Young Master Hidden Dragon is truly benevolent."

Now that he had become a lay disciple of the Wudang Sect, there was nothing wrong with winning their favor.

In fact, since he thought it wasn't their fault much, there would be a need to reassure them to some extent.

‘Still, if the Thunder God Sword was really stolen, it's a big deal. Shall I look for it quickly? Chichi.’

Namgung Hui had Chichi point in the direction where the Thunder God Sword was.

[Ah. It's annoying. It's over there. Over there. I can feel the energy of that chatterbox.]

-You. Thank you.

Although it grumbled, it never refused Namgung Hui's request.

However, should I say that I'm a little tired of it asking for alcohol every time?

How that small fellow loved alcohol. If it weren't a spirit beast, he would have surely issued a prohibition order.

Hadn't even the Black and White Twin Elders, who were old masters of the martial world, seen their health deteriorate due to alcohol?

However, since it was a means for Chichi to accumulate spiritual power, he planned to watch for now.

And so, as he flew in the direction Chichi pointed, it was not a place where people walked, so it was not even easy to set foot.

Jang Hwang, who was on Namgung Hui's back, looked at the mountain terrain and said as if he were fed up.

"Your lightness skill improves day by day. By the way, are you really saying your sword is here?"

"Yes. Since Chichi said so, it must be true."

"Hmm. There's no way the imugi would have flown away for no reason. I wonder what the reason is."

Since Namgung Hui was also curious, he hurried his steps and arrived at the place Chichi had pointed to.

This place was so narrow that no one could pass through, and it was a terrain where one could easily fall to one's death if one took a wrong step.

On such a rugged mountainside, the Thunder God Sword was stuck alone.

And it was piercing through something.

Since Namgung Hui couldn't continue to carry Jang Hwang, he put him down on a large rock and headed for the Thunder God Sword.

"Sword Spirit. What on earth is going on? Why did you suddenly move on your own? I need to hear the whole story."

[Human. You've come at a good time. The reason I did that was. You see this thing I broke here? This is very bad!]

Namgung Hui pulled out the Thunder God Sword and examined the wooden plank stuck in the blade.

Various phrases were written on it, and it looked quite old-fashioned, so it seemed to be no ordinary object, but he didn't feel any particularly negative energy.

"Sword Spirit. Why is this bad? What if it's the axis of the formation that protects the Wudang Sect?"

[Absolutely not! The reason it's bad is. Why is it bad...? Uh, why?]

The Sword Spirit, who, unlike its confident statement, could not explain the exact reason.

Still, since there was no way the imugi would have acted on a whim, Namgung Hui also examined the wooden plank for a long time.

‘It seems a sorcery is cast on it, but I don't know what it is. I'll have to ask my brother.’

Since the master of sorcery was right next to him, there was no need to worry.

Namgung Hui quickly returned to the rock where Jang Hwang was, held out the plank to him, and asked.

"Brother. This is the reason the Sword Spirit ran away. Do you feel anything?"

"...! The Sword Spirit has done a great thing. This is a kind of trap... no, a prison that confines souls. Why is such an ominous object in the Wudang Sect?"

"It looks like a very old object. Don't you think someone lost it here?"

"Well. Since this is an ominous object, it would be difficult to even make it. If it were lost, would the one who made it have just stood by? He would have searched the surroundings thoroughly."

"The Sword-Unsheathing Pond is nearby, so he might have done it to avoid a confrontation."

"Hmm. That's also true. If it's the Nine Palaces Sword Formation, even sorcerers would have a hard time, so the opponent wouldn't be good."

Anyway, the matter of the Sword Spirit's escape was settled with this.

However, since Jang Hwang said he would study the suspicious plank, it was handed over to him.

"Sword Spirit. No matter how urgent it is, let me know if possible."

[Tch. Alright. I'll report it from now on~]

A tone that felt young, unbecoming of an imugi that had lived for a thousand years.

Well, if it hadn't talked to anyone for a thousand years, such a tone might be natural.

Moreover, how lonely must it have been while accumulating training?

And in the end, by failing to ascend, it had become a fallen being.

‘They say an imugi that has lived for over a thousand years can succeed in ascending if it bites a Yeouiju. But since the Sword Spirit has already lost its physical body, it won't be able to ascend even if it finds a Yeouiju.’

Although it was a pitiful thing, living in the Thunder God Sword like this didn't seem to be a bad thing for the Sword Spirit.

Namgung Hui, who had returned to the Sword-Unsheathing Pond, told them that he had found the Thunder God Sword and then showed them a trick, saying it was nothing.

"Oh! Isn't this the Art of Controlling the Sword with Ki!"

"Senior brother. Is this really the Art of Controlling the Sword with Ki?"

Namgung Hui made the Thunder God Sword float in the air and cross the air with a whoosh.

"Actually, it's because a thing called lodestone is in the sword. The reason the blade is blackish is also for that reason."

"Lodestone? It's the first time I've heard of it."

"It's also called a compass stone, and since it has magnetism, it has the property of sticking to metal. So if it feels a strong magnetism, like this."

Hwik!! Kang!

The Thunder God Sword, which was immediately stuck in the iron gate.

Of course, although it was a trick using magnetism, it was strictly Namgung Hui who had performed the Art of Controlling the Sword with Ki and stuck it in.

"To think that this is possible with just a thing called lodestone, it's just amazing."

"Of course, it's not possible with just the power of the lodestone. The martial art I use deals with Thunder Ki, doesn't it? It's a skill that's possible because a synergy occurs with the Thunder Ki. Moreover, one must also have the function of the upper dantian."

"Ah. I understand. Since the Art of Controlling the Sword with Ki is originally a skill of the upper dantian. Then it's not that it's not the Art of Controlling the Sword with Ki. Even if you receive the help of an object and a martial art, it's a clear fact that it's the Art of Controlling the Sword with Ki."

The high sword master who saw through the core.

As he had inferred, Namgung Hui's ability was a skill that occupied ninety percent.

Anyway, since the commotion had calmed down, Namgung Hui bid them farewell and left Mount Wudang.

"Brother. You've been staring at that thing all this time. Is there a spirit inside?"

"It might have been there before, but now there's nothing inside. I just looked to see if I could read any memories. But since the sorcerer's skill is so high, I can't read anything. Well, since I've looked at everything I need to look at, let's continue on our way. Isn't it time to meet your friend?"

Although it was delayed a little because of the Sword Spirit.

Finally, it was time for Namgung Hui to reunite with the long-awaited Beak Seolhwa.

Of course, she might not arrive right away.

Because she had to come to Hubei Province while evading the pursuit of the Blood Cult.

Still, Namgung Hui thought she wouldn't be late.

Although this was an experience from his past life, she would often appear quickly whenever Namgung Hui appeared on the battlefield.

Of course, on the contrary, when she appeared, the Thunder God would descend.

‘As expected, there's no wrong in old sayings. They say you grow fond of someone when you fight.’

Namgung Hui returned to Yichang, the territory of the Hyeongmun Sect, where he had met the Sect Leader before.

To reunite with Jang Yuhui and her friends?

That wasn't it, and in the first place, the place of reunion promised with Beak Seolhwa was right here.

Since the Yangtze River flowed quickly in Yichang, it was also good for transporting goods via the canal.

Since it was no different from the center of the Central Plains, one could also travel to all parts of the country via land routes.

That's why Beak Seolhwa also seemed to have designated Yichang as the place to take advantage of these benefits.

‘It seems she's planning to come by boat. If she's bringing even ordinary people, the waterway would be safer than the land route.’

"By the way, have you been in contact with your friend?"

Namgung Hui stroked the magic tool hanging around his neck and shook his head.

"Not yet. But won't she contact me soon?"

"It's a bit like this to say, but I'm worried that something might have happened. No matter how much of a master your friend is, one hand can't beat ten, can it? Moreover, if it's the Blood Cult, the successor of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, their handiwork would be indescribably rough and strong."

Namgung Hui couldn't not know that Jang Hwang was also vaguely worried.

But since Namgung Hui was the one who knew the most about the Blood Cult.

And since Namgung Hui knew Beak Seolhwa's past life as well as her present life, he firmly believed that she would appear safely.

"My intuition is whispering that she will arrive soon. Whenever I get this feeling, she has always come without fail, so it will surely be fine."

"Hoho. If you say so, then it must be so. Let's get something to eat first. We have to have a full stomach to be able to do whatever comes our way."

Since they hadn't eaten anything since coming down from Mount Wudang, not only Jang Hwang, but also Namgung Hui was hungry.

And as Jang Hwang said, it was right to store up strength to do whatever came their way.

‘This time, I'll have to go to a restaurant with no people.’

Hadn't the last restaurant not only been crowded, but also had idlers who picked a fight?

As much as it was crowded, the food was good, but right now, he needed a peaceful meal rather than taste.

His mind was full of miscellaneous thoughts, and on top of that, because of the martial arts incantations he had obtained from the Wudang Sect, his head was demanding rest.

At times like this, it was best to hole up in a deep mountain and meditate, but since the situation was not favorable, there was a need to spend time in a moderately quiet place.

"Brother. Let's go to that restaurant. I don't know about the taste, but it has the fewest people."

"Alright. I also wanted to eat in a quiet place for a change. Our thoughts are aligned."

And so, the restaurant they arrived at not only had no people, but it was also filled with a fragrant smell.

Perhaps because they were in the middle of preparing for business, the inside of the restaurant was bustling, and the waiter who was carrying a chair saw Namgung Hui and ran over to him.

"Excuse me, customer. It seems it will be difficult today as we are fully booked."

Indeed. He had wondered why there were no customers in such a skillful restaurant, but it seemed someone had rented out the entire restaurant in advance.

If so, he had no choice but to find a second-best option.

Since Yichang was full of restaurants, all he had to do was put in a little effort.

"Then there's nothing we can do. We'll have to find another restaurant."

"Haha. I'm sorry. Miss."

And so, Namgung Hui was about to turn around and leave the restaurant.

A familiar face was seen near the entrance.

He also seemed to have recognized Namgung Hui and immediately came over to greet him.

"Benefactor!"

It was none other than the second escort leader of the Hyeongmun Escort Agency, Bang Yusu, who had appeared.

And the other people who appeared behind him were also people with whom Namgung Hui had a deep connection.

Because they were none other than the people of the Golden Merchant Guild.

(End of Chapter)