Rebirth of the Thunder God

[Kraaah!!!]

An ominous energy that surged with the Sword Spirit's roar.

His anger was revealed in all its nakedness.

Hadn't the Sword Spirit's soul been trapped in the Imperial Palace's secret repository until a short while ago?

If not only his soul but also his body had been sealed like this, it would be strange if he weren't angry.

That's why the Sword Spirit's anger felt perfectly reasonable.

But he couldn't just let him keep emitting that ominous energy.

Namgung Hui stroked the Thunder God Sword with a pitiful expression.

"Sword Spirit. I understand you're angry. But if you run wild like this, you'll only be doing those guys a favor. Calm down."

[Keuk... Keuk... Hoo...]

As Namgung Hui injected ice Ki into the Thunder God Sword with the Nine Yin Divine Art, it seemed he was regaining some of his reason.

The effect of calming his reason was properly displayed.

Moreover, since the imugi disliked cold energy, he couldn't help but come to his senses.

"Have all your memories returned?"

[No. I've lived for over a thousand years. There's no way they've all come back.]

"What kind of memories have returned?"

[Of course, it's the memories of the guys who made me like this! The Hoicheon Association! It's them! While I was attempting to ascend, those guys attacked me, took my Yeouiju, and separated my soul and body, sealing them respectively.]

"How many years ago was that?"

[I don't remember exactly, but it seems to have been several decades. It doesn't seem to have been a hundred years yet.]

The gap between a hundred years and several decades was excessively wide.

Well, to an imugi who had lived for a thousand years, it might not be a long time, but there were many difficulties in specifying the time.

But it wasn't as if he needed to specify the time.

‘Anyway, since it's the work of the Hoicheon Association, if I hunt those guys down, I'll be able to find out why.’

It could have been that they were after the imugi's inner core or the Yeouiju.

Because there were no traces of an inner core in the Sword Spirit's current corpse.

Still, what was somewhat strange were the scales and teeth.

The fact that the rest of the body parts were intact.

If they had used this to make armor, their power would have increased tremendously.

"Sword Spirit. What is your original name?"

[...Just call me Sword Spirit.]

"Alright. Sword Spirit. Is there a way to be resurrected?"

[I don't know that far. The sect leader of the Maoshan Sect might have a way.]

He deeply regretted not bringing Jang Hwang.

Well, since the opportunity wasn't gone forever, it seemed he could bring Jang Hwang later when he had time.

"Do you know what their purpose was in doing that to you?"

[It seemed like they were doing some kind of experiment with me. They seemed more interested in my soul than my body.]

"Soul?"

[Yes. I remember them trying to transfer my soul here and there and settle me in another body. But those bodies were too weak to contain my soul. In the meantime, there was a time when I almost settled in one body. Was it called a Poison Horn Calamity Net? They pushed a snake that couldn't even become an imugi at me. Well, perhaps because it was the same species, it was relatively easy to move. So I caused a ruckus to show those guys what I was made of. I killed about ten of them and was subdued. After that, I was sealed in the secret repository where I met you.]

"What on earth was the reason for that experiment? And if that was several decades ago, it's even more incomprehensible."

[My memories haven't fully returned, so this is all I can tell you. When more memories come back later, I'll tell you the rest.]

"By the way, your way of speaking has changed, so it's quite awkward."

[...Does that mean you prefer the previous 'Sword Spirit'?]

For some reason, Namgung Hui felt an expectant gaze from the Sword Spirit.

Since there was no need to tell a lie, Namgung Hui expressed his honest feelings.

"A cheerful appearance is better than a stiff Sword Spirit like this. Well, since your memories have returned and you're going to act as you originally did, there's nothing I can do about it. Do as you please."

[Ahem. The dignity of a dragon or such things don't matter, right?]

"Don't tell me you deliberately spoke like that to maintain the dignity or majesty of a dragon?"

[Uh-huh... Well, to become a dragon, you have to look the part, right?]

"Hahaha. I'm sorry for laughing in a serious atmosphere, but you don't have to do that. Do you know that the founder of the Thunder God Sect was the Azure Dragon?"

[Huh? Come to think of it, I heard that the Azure Dragon created a sect that handles Thunder Ki. So that was your sect.]

"Yes. He didn't particularly maintain his dignity either. All the successive sect leaders of our Thunder God Sect were like that. They said it was like a thunderbolt, unpredictable. They just said to do as you please, to go with the flow."

[Alright. Then, Namgung Hui. You'll help me with my revenge too, right?]

"Of course, it's a friend's revenge. I'll also find the stolen Yeouiju and inner core."

[I don't know about the Yeouiju, but I think I saw someone consume the inner core. I don't remember exactly who it was, but it seemed to be a very high-ranking person among humans.]

"Don't tell me it was the emperor?"

[I don't remember that far. Still, if they ate my inner core, a 'reverse scale' would have grown on their chest. If you find that, you can recognize it a little more easily.]

"But it's not like I can just open anyone's chest. Well, let's look into this gradually. For now, let's go outside."

Anyway, it was impossible to carry out the corpse of this huge imugi.

As long as Jang Hwang was not here, there seemed to be no way to resurrect the Sword Spirit.

Since he would be infiltrating the Imperial Palace anyway, he decided to look into the Sword Spirit's matter on the side.

And so, the moment he was about to leave the dragon's cave.

Beak Seolhwa took out a manual from her bosom and said.

"You said they took out the soul, right? It seems to be related to this Soul-Stealing Scripture."

"Did you get that manual from the Red Wall Valley Lord?"

"Hui. You remembered. That's right. At that time, I took it because it didn't seem to be a martial arts manual. When I looked at it closely, it seemed to be a sorcery that steals souls, just like its name."

"Oho. Did you learn it?"

"A little? I'll have to ask the Maoshan Sect Leader a little more later. Anyway. From what I see, it seems they took out the imugi's soul with this Soul-Stealing Scripture."

"But why was it in the hands of the Red Wall Valley Lord? Ah! That was when the manual leakage incident was happening."

Wasn't that the time when Namgung Hui had obtained the Two Principles Heart Art and had returned it to the Wudang Sect?

If so, there was no law that said the Blood Cult hadn't raided the Imperial Palace's secret repository.

If the Soul-Stealing Scripture had been in the hands of the Hoicheon Association, there was nothing strange about the Red Wall Valley Lord smuggling it out.

"Yeah. It seems the Poison Demon ordered it. The Poison Demon was looking for the Soul-Stealing Scripture for a while."

"He's doing all sorts of things, even making a soulless person. Anyway. Since it's a more important manual than I thought, make sure you don't lose it."

"Alright. And Hui. Before we go, can't I just take one claw?"

"What are you going to use the claw for?"

"I want to try making something too."

"I think you'll have to ask the Sword Spirit about that, not me. Sword Spirit, did you hear?"

[If it's Namgung Hui's partner, she's worthy of having my claw. Instead, be satisfied with the pinky claw.]

"Just the pinky claw is enough. I'll use it well."

And so, taking only the Sword Spirit's pinky claw, they left the dragon's cave.

As they left, they erased the traces of the broken seal as much as possible, and just in case the Hoicheon Association came back, they artificially left only the footprints of a beast.

"Then let's go straight to Mount Song."

***

Mount Song was a famous mountain that was counted as the Central Peak among the Five Great Mountains of the Central Plains.

It was a mountain where three large peaks were particularly noticeable.

The middle peak was Junji.

The east peak was Taishi.

The west peak was called Xiaoshi, and each peak had buildings lined up, and the echoes of the Shaolin monks could be heard incessantly.

"Hap! Hap! Hap!"

"Yap! Yap!"

Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa climbed Mount Song and couldn't help but admire the scene before their eyes.

"It's not for nothing that they say Shaolin is the Taishan and Beidou. Although it's not splendid, in terms of grandeur, it's more magnificent than any palace."

"I think I can see why the successive Heavenly Demons struggled against the Shaolin Temple. The 108 Arhat Formation performed here seems to be so powerful that it gives me the creeps."

Although their evaluations were mixed, everyone was showing that the majesty of the Shaolin Temple was great.

And so, as they were standing blankly in front of the mountain gate, a monk came over with his palms together and spoke.

"Amitabha. This is a time when we are not receiving incense guests. I'm sorry, but I would be grateful if you would visit at a later time."

"Would it not be possible even if we have business with the abbot?"

"By any chance, did you make an appointment?"

"If it's an appointment, it's an appointment. Please tell them that the Hidden Dragon and the White Phoenix have arrived."

"Oh! So you are the Hidden Dragon benefactor. The abbot has already told us. Please come this way."

"???"

At the surprisingly easy permission, Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa exchanged glances and spoke telepathically.

-Hui. Did you really make an appointment in advance?

-No. There was nothing like that. What is it?

-We'll find out when we meet. Let's go in.

Since it wasn't a place where schemes were rampant like the Blood Cult or the Hoicheon Association, there was no need to hesitate.

And so, the interior of the Shaolin Temple that they entered gave a tremendous sense of openness, as if their chests were being cleared.

Unlike the sects of the Daoist school, a tolerance that seemed to embrace everything.

And yet, a firmness was also felt, as if it would not allow any evil group.

A grand hall where a majestic aura was clearly felt.

As Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa crossed it, gazes flew in from all over.

‘Everyone is staring at Seolhwa. I don't feel good about it.’

Namgung Hui stealthily blocked the monks' gazes and covered Beak Seolhwa's face.

"Why are you suddenly blocking the way?"

"Because people keep staring."

"What. What's wrong with them staring a little?"

"Because I think you'll wear out. I've already put my saliva on you, so I can't let you wear out, can I?"

"Hmph. Such silly words."

The corner of Beak Seolhwa's mouth curled up slightly.

It seemed she didn't particularly dislike Namgung Hui's attitude.

Rather, she even had a smile, as if she were in a good mood.

"If you go up to that Xiaoshi Peak, you will be able to see the abbot. May the boundless grace of the Buddha be with you."

The monk who had been in charge of guiding them, as if he didn't want to hear the conversation between Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa, disappeared in a hurry.

There were still many peaks on Xiaoshi Peak.

Did he say there were about 36?

Among those many peaks, the place where the Shaolin abbot lived...

‘It will be easy to find. Because he's already calling us with his Ki wave.’

A Ki wave that not only pricked the skin but even seemed to press down.

It was so huge that it was hard to believe it was purely the energy that a person was emitting.

The Heavenly Demon of his past life also had a similar skill.

Heavenly Demon's Reign Steps.

There was a footwork that suffocated the opponent just by walking.

"Seolhwa. It seems he's calling us, right?"

"I know, right? That old man is quite strange. It's as if he's testing us."

"Still, since he's inviting us like this, we have to respond to the test. Then I'll go first."

Namgung Hui pushed away the pressing Ki wave and took a step.

But, as if the Shaolin abbot would not allow him to walk, he strengthened the pressing energy with a firm will.

The atmosphere is heavy.

His body was also heavy, and his steps had even slowed down.

Should I say it felt as if he were suddenly floundering in heavy water?

But Namgung Hui performed the Electrode Opening and continued to walk.

Beak Seolhwa also froze the atmosphere and reduced the resistance.

And the two of them, enduring the pressure, were able to safely climb to the top of Xiaoshi Peak.

"Hoo... Just climbing Xiaoshi Peak is making me sweat."

"I'll cool you down. Come here."

And so, the moment Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa were about to stick together and cool off their sweat.

An uncomfortable voice was heard from the other side.

"Ahem! Where do you think you are, doing such an irreverent thing in the sacred Shaolin Temple? Come in at once.”

(End of Chapter)