Rebirth of the Thunder God

The Kongtong Sect was one of the Nine Sects located in a remote place, along with Diancang and Kunlun.

Although its recognition was close to the bottom among the Nine Sects, in fact, its skills were not inferior to the Five Great Sword Sects.

Because of their tendency to pursue practical benefits like the Diancang Sect, there was a time when their methods were so vicious that they were seen as being between righteous and heretical.

In some aspects, they could be seen as more ruthless than the Diancang Sect.

Because the Kongtong Sect did not shy away from any means to subdue their opponents.

It seemed that the closer one got to the outside of the Central Plains, the more such tendencies intensified for the sake of survival.

Anyway. The Demon-Subduing Sword Art, a martial art of such a Kongtong Sect, was a sword art that subdued demons, just as its name suggests.

It was a matter of course.

Besides the Kunlun Sect, it was the closest place to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and they had also always been attacked by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Moreover, he knew that in his past life, they had reached the point of annihilation after the Kunlun Sect.

‘But it seems they weren't completely annihilated. To think that the Demon-Subduing Sword Art remains here.’

However, the strange part was that the Repentance Cave was a prison where sinners were confined.

The fact that a descendant of the Kongtong Sect was in such a place was a part that he could not understand.

Could it be that a demon lord of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had recorded the Demon-Subduing Sword Art here?

Well, it seemed he would know something if he read it first, so he immediately began to examine the incantation.

‘There seems to be nothing strange about the incantation. It's a sword art that was really created to thoroughly deal with demonic arts. But to think that something like this is recorded in a place where demon lords are confined.’

As if to solve Namgung Hui's such doubts, the author's complaint was written at the end of the incantation.

[Please, successor, I hope you will pass on the martial arts of the Kongtong Sect to future generations. An incident that occurred due to my mere greed. Even if the sin is with me, it will not be with the Kongtong Sect...]

This sounded a little strange.

A descendant of the Kongtong Sect who had barely survived had committed a great sin and was imprisoned in the Repentance Cave.

That meant that he had been alive at least after the Righteous-Demonic War.

The reason he could record the Demon-Subduing Sword Art in a place teeming with demons was probably because he was imprisoned after all the demons had died.

And only this wall had a particularly recently engraved look.

‘Well, it's not that there are no people who commit serious crimes in the Nine Sects One Alliance. If he committed a great sin near the Shaolin Temple, it's understandable that he would be imprisoned in the Repentance Cave. Then let's look at the rest.’

Although it was an interesting story, what Namgung Hui was looking for was the sacred object of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Holy Fire Mirror.

Since the information of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was more important than the internal affairs of the orthodox faction right now, he continued to walk towards the center of the Repentance Cave.

"Hui. What was that martial art earlier?"

"The Demon-Subduing Sword Art."

"Ah. That cruel sword art of the Kongtong Sect? Quite a lot of our cult members lost their lives to that sword art."

"But isn't the Kongtong Sect no different from a non-existent sect now? If I don't pass on that Demon-Subduing Sword Art to someone, it will probably be forgotten."

"That's true. Since we wiped out the Kongtong Sect, it's surprising that the Demon-Subduing Sword Art is even here."

"That's enough about the past. For now, let's continue to look for traces of the Holy Fire Mirror."

"Yeah."

And so, Beak Seolhwa, Namgung Hui, Chichi, and the Sword Spirit entered the depths of the Repentance Cave.

Now, as the air was gradually thinning, even their breathing was becoming labored.

That meant they had entered the deep part of the Repentance Cave.

Now, as if the imprisoned demons had almost never come this far, not even skeletal remains were visible.

"It seems the Holy Fire Mirror is not in the Repentance Cave. There's not as much left behind as I thought. Is it because it's the headquarters of the orthodox faction?"

"That could be. But from what I see, this isn't all. Our Divine Cult has a martial art that controls breathing, like the Danhyul Great Art. Even if the air was thin like here, there are plenty of people who would have lived. Let's go in a little further."

"If Seolhwa says so, I'll have to go to the ends of hell."

And so, Beak Seolhwa and Namgung Hui walked until they reached the dead end of the Repentance Cave.

As expected, even when they reached the end as Namgung Hui had guessed, they could not find anything special.

"Seolhwa. It seems to be a bust. Let's go out now."

"Wait a minute."

Beak Seolhwa walked towards the dead-end wall and then tapped the floor.

Although Namgung Hui saw no traces.

As soon as Beak Seolhwa gestured a few times, a hole suddenly appeared in the floor.

A space just big enough for one person to enter.

"Seolhwa, you knew formations too?"

"Uhm... This is a bit of a crude skill to be called a formation. Anyway. Let's go down."

And so, he reached the hidden passage with Beak Seolhwa.

It seemed this was a hole that the people of the Divine Cult had dug.

As they crawled through the tunnel like a mole, a space large enough to walk in now appeared.

From here on, the air was so thin that it was hard to breathe.

"Hoo... Was there really a person here? It's not just a naturally formed hole?"

"No. You saw it earlier. That's a technique our Divine Cult uses to hide. Anyway. Just follow me for now."

[Huh? I feel something up ahead.]

This time, as if Chichi had also found something, he trotted forward.

There, a single skeleton and what appeared to be human skin were placed, and red letters, as if written in blood, were clearly written.

[I am the Bright Rain Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Dao Demon. I believe that the one who has passed through the Rat's Den and has reached this far is a descendant of our Divine Cult.]

‘The Dao Demon was really alive. Let's see what words he left behind.’

[...I realized too late that there was a traitor inside. At first, I thought it was a spy from the Martial Arts Alliance, but that was not it. And for good reason, they were guys who were born and raised in the Divine Cult since they were young. Who would have expected that they would be active in the Divine Cult for several decades? Their name is the Hoicheon Association. With the words 'to return the stolen sky,' their purpose is said to be the annihilation of martial artists.]

‘!!!’

The purpose of the Hoicheon Association was finally revealed.

Were they really trying to wipe out the martial artists?

Seeing as they ostracized the existence of martial artists regardless of friend or foe, such an intention seemed very likely.

‘When they say 'the stolen sky,' are they talking about the land of the Central Plains that was given to the martial artists?’

In fact, the relationship of non-aggression between the government and the martial world was often a matter of saving face for the imperial family in some aspects.

The government did not care much about the murders committed by martial artists.

That was because the government's constables could not deal with the martial artists.

Although they transferred it to a place called the Martial Arts Alliance, it was something that happened because they could not punish the martial artists.

For example, even if a master of the heretic faction committed murder and arson, it was difficult for the government to punish them.

A public enemy of the martial world? That was only declared for extremely vicious people.

How could the Martial Arts Alliance deal with all the members of the heretic faction that were everywhere?

Moreover, since there was even a fence called the Heretic Faction, it was not easy.

‘I also didn't look favorably on the martial artists in this regard. Whether it was the orthodox faction or the heretic faction, there was only a difference in degree, and there were many scoundrels.’

Namgung Hui rather despised the politicians of the orthodox faction in some aspects.

The humiliation and disregard that Namgung Hui had suffered until he had obtained the title of Thunder God.

If Namgung Hui had been a descendant of a mere small to medium-sized sect, not an initiate of the Thunder God Sect, there was a high probability that he would not have been treated properly and would have ended his life as an unknown soldier.

‘Well, what's important is not my impressions. Let's see what else the Dao Demon left behind.’

[...And so, to promise the next time, we scattered with the sacred objects of our cult. The Saintess infiltrated the Divine Physician Sect to sow seeds in the Central Plains, and the young cult leader disguised herself as a merchant to hide the Holy Fire Mirror. Up to this point, it was according to our intentions, but a variable occurred. In fact, it wasn't even a variable. It should be seen as a scheduled matter. The place called the Hoicheon Association, which we had not grasped, was a much more powerful organization than our cult. To shake off their pursuit, I volunteered to be the bait. In the end, I was caught by them and came to the Repentance Cave. Still, it is a relief that I was able to smuggle out the Holy Fire Mirror safely. Now, I believe that a descendant with a connection will obtain the Holy Fire Mirror and revive the cult. Please, I hope that you who are reading this are the descendant who has obtained the Holy Fire Mirror...]

Namgung Hui licked his lips in disappointment.

In the end, he couldn't even find out where the Holy Fire Mirror was.

Could there be a code that only the people of the Divine Cult could recognize?

As Namgung Hui looked at Beak Seolhwa, she shook her head with a serious expression.

"I also don't know about the whereabouts of the Holy Fire Mirror. It seems we'll have to search all the merchant guilds."

"Sigh... At that time, it would be better to just learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Or should I concentrate on the Sun and Moon Divine Art?"

It wasn't for nothing that Namgung Hui was aiming for the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

As Beak Seolhwa had said before, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was the symbol of the cult leader.

Someone who has learned the Heavenly Demon Divine Art suddenly appears?

It seemed the Blood Cult, as well as the Demonic Heaven, would be thrown into confusion.

To claim such legitimacy, one could not learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art carelessly.

One had to be at a level to overwhelm with martial power to make the Blood Cult members accept it.

"There's something written on the back too. Let's read this first."

Beak Seolhwa turned over the human skin and read the story on the back.

The story from here on was written like a diary of what had happened after being imprisoned in the Repentance Cave.

[30 years after the end of the Righteous-Demonic War, a martial artist of the orthodox faction came in for the first time in a while. Not only were there almost no surviving cult members, but since the hatred had already been diluted, even the orthodox faction member I met after a long time felt welcome. In the first place, since I knew that the Righteous-Demonic War was the work of the Hoicheon Association, there was no reason to hate them anymore. And so, I had various conversations with the disciple of the Kongtong Sect who had come in after a long time, but this guy was a villain who should not be associated with. Because he was imprisoned in the Repentance Cave for the crime of raping a woman.]

It seemed the one who had left the Demon-Subduing Sword Art seen above had committed such a great sin.

It seemed strange that the Martial Arts Alliance would have punished him, but seeing as he was imprisoned in the Repentance Cave, it would be difficult unless it were such a serious crime.

And since he was one of the few remaining descendants of the Kongtong Sect, it was right to keep him alive.

[And the person he raped was none other than the sect leader of the Maoshan Sect. The state of the orthodox faction was not good. They called us demons, but their own state was more ridiculous.]

‘Don't tell me! The one who put that person in was the Divine Monk? If so, it makes some sense.’

The identity of the highway robber that the Divine Monk had mentioned was a disciple of the Kongtong Sect.

With such a background, since he could have been thoroughly investigated with the power of the Martial Arts Alliance, he would have realized that he was not a spy of the Hoicheon Association.

Moreover, the character of the Kongtong Sect was to the extent that it could be seen as being between righteous and heretical, so it was not out of place to call them scoundrels.

In the first place, such rape incidents occurred frequently in the current Central Plains.

Since Namgung Hui's friend, Zhuge Jian, mainly dealt with such cases, he couldn't help but know even if he didn't want to.

‘It's human nature to want to wield power once you have it. That's why the saying 'do not pass on to the unworthy' was created. Because martial arts should not be passed on to those who are not worthy.’

In the case of the Divine Monk, how terrible it must have been for his lover to be raped.

Simply beating the culprit to death might have been a mercy for the murderer.

It would be better to make him live his whole life in the Repentance Cave, reflecting on his actions.

Perhaps the reason their son, Im Daepung, became the Black Tortoise Troupe Leader was because of this incident.

Because the Black Tortoise Troupe was strictly an organization in charge of public security.

"That old abbot is also quite pitiful. Because of the name of the Martial Arts Alliance leader, he can't even get proper revenge. And even if he gets revenge, it won't be satisfying."

"I know, right? The Black Tortoise Troupe Leader must have been heartbroken too. Still, we have to do our work."

Considering the gravity of the matter, there was no time to be immersed in such sentiments.

The time promised with the emperor was approaching.

The whereabouts of the Holy Fire Mirror were still unknown.

If so, it seemed he would have to make an unreasonable request to the Divine Monk and enter the Ancestral Hall.

And so, the moment he was about to put down the human skin and stand up from his seat.

[Huh? There's something hidden here.]

Chichi brought another human skin.

(End of Chapter)