Gazing at the manor, Nae Bihon recalled the events of the day he lost his memories.
Soho, the large warehouse of the Myriad Goods Store.
Boom!
At that time, Nae Bihon was swiftly pursuing an Emissary of the Three Realms fleeing the warehouse.
The Emissaries of the Three Realms all possessed extraordinary movement arts and had hidden refuges throughout the Central Plains where they could vanish in an instant. Thus, despite Nae Bihon’s own superb movement art, he lost the Emissaries time and again.
But this time was different.
The warehouse in Soho stood on an open plain far from the provincial capital, with no cover in any direction. No matter how he searched, there was nowhere nearby to hide or conceal oneself.
Thus, Nae Bihon was certain he would capture the Emissary this time.
Yet there was something he did not know: when their escape route was unsecured, the Emissaries of the Three Realms always prepared a contingency.
And the Emissary who had come to Soho had prepared a trump card far too powerful to be called a mere contingency.
Whoosh!
As Nae Bihon pursued the Emissary with lightning-like movement, black sword energy suddenly pierced his face.
Shockingly, someone had unleashed sword energy at him while he was executing his movement technique at full speed.
Swish!
Instantly twisting his body to evade, Nae Bihon landed where the sword energy had originated.
Atop a sheer cliff stood an elderly man. Oddly, the old man held no weapon in his hands.
How, then, had he manifested sword energy?
“Who are you?” At Nae Bihon’s question, the monstrous old man bared white teeth in a grin and extended his hand.
A flame-like form flowed out, soon revealing a grotesque black sword.
He had materialized true energy into a tangible blade.
“That’s…” Nae Bihon’s eyes widened as if to split.
He was not shocked that a bizarre flame-shaped sword had been created.
That cruel smile.
Was it not the very smile of the Emissary who had mercilessly slaughtered his son?
“It was you!”
Blue lightning seemed to pour from Nae Bihon’s eyes.
Until now, he had believed the murderer of his child was merely an Emissary of the Three Realms. At that time, the Emissaries wore strange, glossy martial robes and masks.
Yet that Emissary had been this old man?
Crackle!
Madness and Thunder Spirit Energy mingled and radiated from Nae Bihon’s entire body.
At last, he had found the enemy he had pursued for so long.
The cruel figure of the Three Realms who had split his beloved son’s head and torn out his spine… now he must exact the vengeance he had longed for.
“Raaargh!” Nae Bihon’s body was so cloaked in Thunder Spirit Energy that he was scarcely visible.
“I’ll devour you!”
Crackle!
Hundreds, thousands of lightning bolts created by Nae Bihon filled the sky.
It was Divine Spirit Annihilation, produced at the utmost limit of his Thunder Spirit Energy.
Even a graze would burst the body, and with thousands created, no matter how superb the old man’s martial arts, escape was impossible.
“Still insane, I see.”
Whoosh.
With a brief mutter, the monstrous old man was suddenly nose-to-nose with Nae Bihon.
“To unleash such a laughable attack.”
Grand masters of martial arts place great value on fleeting moments. In a fraction of a second, they can perform countless thoughts and analyses and unleash a variety of techniques at once.
From that perspective, Nae Bihon had committed an irredeemable error.
Meeting the enemy he had sought so desperately, rather than swiftly and subtly suppressing him with profound martial arts, he had excitedly drawn Thunder Spirit Energy to its maximum and unleashed Divine Spirit Annihilation—a preposterous assault.
Splat!
While Divine Spirit Annihilation floated in the sky, a sharp black sword energy grazed Nae Bihon’s body.
“Not a chance!”
Yet Nae Bihon’s body was cloaked in tremendous Thunder Spirit Energy.
No matter how extraordinary the sword energy was, even if it inflicted grave injury, he could recover in an instant.
Thus, heedless of the old man’s sword energy, he hurled Divine Spirit Annihilation.
Sizzle!
But the moment the sword energy touched his body, Nae Bihon’s pupils dilated slightly.
As the sword energy penetrated, roughly half the Divine Spirit Annihilation floating in the sky vanished. The bizarre energy within the sword energy had extinguished part of the Thunder Spirit Energy flowing through his body.
“Black Blood Demon Energy! You wield the Blade Emperor’s swordsmanship!”
Bu Eunseol had recognized at a glance, upon seeing the black blood demon saber the old man formed with true energy, that he was a descendant of the Blade Emperor.
But only now, steeped in madness, did Nae Bihon discern the old man’s identity.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
A single strand of sword energy that erased inner energy in an instant—celestial art.
The Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy, said to have been used by the Blade Emperor four hundred years ago, ceaselessly extinguished Divine Spirit Annihilation.
“Die!” With a thunderous roar, Nae Bihon thrust out his hand.
Even if more than half had vanished, over a thousand Divine Spirit Annihilation remained.
That alone could reduce the old man’s body to dust.
Boom!
As over a thousand blue Divine Spirit Annihilation rained down, the area where the old man stood turned pure white.
Whoosh!
Yet a sharp sound of parting air rang out, and the falling Divine Spirit Annihilation melted away like wax.
The old man had begun slicing Divine Spirit Annihilation with his black blood demon sword.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
Normally, Divine Spirit Annihilation could not be blocked by any weapon. Thunder Spirit Energy would course through metal and invade the meridians.
Yet the old man sliced Divine Spirit Annihilation as though cutting straw.
Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy.
Each time Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy poured from the mysterious sword formed of true energy, the black blood demon sword, Divine Spirit Annihilation melted like taffy.
Sizzle!
In the meantime, the old man extinguished all Divine Spirit Annihilation and thrust the black blood demon sword toward Nae Bihon. Dozens of sword energy strands erupted from the ground, wrapping around Nae Bihon’s body like a flower bud.
Crackle!
Nae Bihon again unleashed Divine Spirit Annihilation and shattered the sword energy.
But in that interval, the old man circled him, continuously unleashing sword techniques.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Each time the old man released sword energy, a demonic laughter-like parting sound spread.
And the sword energy doggedly pursued Nae Bihon like a living creature.
Whoosh! Crackle!
For a time, the old man’s sword energy and Nae Bihon’s Divine Spirit Annihilation clashed endlessly.
Divine Spirit Annihilation was far faster in release, but the old man’s sword energy left lingering afterimages in the air as though stationary.
Gradually, Nae Bihon became surrounded by black sword energy.
“Impressive. To contend with this old man to this extent.” The old man smiled leisurely and swung his black sword. “But because of your madness, you cannot unleash the profundity of your martial arts at all.”
Splat.
As the old man swung the black blood demon sword like lightning, black sword energy began to proliferate uncontrollably. Nae Bihon hurled Divine Spirit Annihilation madly, but it was no more than a final struggle.
The reason he had previously triumphed over Emissaries of the Three Realms was the unique property of Thunder Spirit Energy, which nothing could block.
Yet against this old man, Thunder Spirit Energy was ineffective.
Moreover, each graze of sword energy felt as though chunks of inner energy were vanishing.
In such a state, endlessly unleashing Divine Spirit Annihilation was futile.
“I’ll kill you!” Cornered, Nae Bihon flailed his arms wildly and charged the old man.
But it was the posture of a child rushing bare-handed at an adult. To one who could only wield madness and not the profundity of martial arts, only defeat remained.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Black sword energy grazed Nae Bihon’s body in succession.
Each time, the Thunder Spirit Energy within him diminished bit by bit.
Crackle!
He desperately spread Thunder Spirit Energy to restore his body. But the sword energy penetrating his body extinguished Thunder Spirit Energy faster.
Only then did Nae Bihon realize a terrifying truth.
“You can wield the swordsmanship of the Seven-Finger Demon Blade as well?”
Sword energy that could extinguish internal energy.
Was that not a function possible only with the swordsmanship of the Seven-Finger Demon Blade, which embodied the energy of death?
“Who said it was the Seven Blood Tear Forms!”
Sizzle!
A sharp sword energy swiftly grazed Nae Bihon’s body, drawing blood. Normally he would have recovered instantly… but Thunder Spirit Energy no more flowed from his body.
“The Seven Blood Tear Forms merely imitates our school’s swordsmanship!”
Whoosh!
A massive sword energy traced a crescent and bore down as if to cleave Nae Bihon in two.
Thud!
In the end, he barely rolled like a lazy donkey to evade it.
But the sword energy pursued his movement, wounding his shoulder, back, and one leg.
“I thought the Four Gods or whatever were formidable, but this is all you amount to.” The old man strode forward and stood before the kneeling Nae Bihon.
“It’s grown tedious. Die now.”
Whoosh!
A black sword energy split Nae Bihon’s head.
Or it should have.
Crackle.
Yet at that moment, Thunder Spirit Energy burst from Nae Bihon’s body and blocked the sword energy.
Boom!
At the same time, a bolt of lightning from the sky struck the old man’s head.
Realizing he could not defeat the old man in direct combat, Nae Bihon had feigned defeat, pretending his Thunder Spirit Energy was inactive.
Then, as the old man prepared his final strike, Nae Bihon unleashed the ultimate technique of the Thunder Spirit Sect, which summoned heavenly lightning.
Thunderclap Style.
Sizzle.
Struck by Thunderclap Style, white smoke rose from the old man’s body.
Clatter.
At the same time, a token fell from the charred robes of the old man.
“Pang Family…?”
Shockingly, what fell from the old man’s body was the Supreme Elder Token proving the status of the Supreme Elder of the Hebei Pang Family.
Among the Eight Emperors and Three Stars, a descendant of the Blade Emperor.
The one who had mercilessly slaughtered and experimented on his wife and son.
To think he was none other than the Supreme Elder of the Hebei Pang Family?
“That was an amusing move.”
At that moment, the old man—who had been emitting white smoke and frozen—bared white teeth in a grin.
“But your Thunder Spirit Energy has grown far too weak. This is merely a tingle.”
Nae Bihon’s Thunder Spirit Energy, repeatedly cut by Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy, had greatly diminished.
Thus, even though Thunderclap Style struck, it merely scorched his hair and skin.
“Ugh.” Nae Bihon tried once more to raise Thunder Spirit Energy, but it would not manifest.
Eyes rolling back, Nae Bihon bared his teeth and charged the old man. If he could not kill him with martial arts, he would bite through his throat with his teeth.
“Die!” His appearance was that of a ferocious beast.
The old man sneered and swung his sword.
Splat!
Black sword energy extended and cleaved Nae Bihon’s torso.
Boom!
Yet Nae Bihon’s body did not split in two and was instead pushed by the sword energy, flying to the cliff’s edge. Though he could not release it outward, Thunder Spirit Energy still remained within, protecting his body.
“I’d better kill you properly.”
The old man unleashed Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy once more toward Nae Bihon falling from the cliff.
Whoosh!
The sword energy the old man released moved like a living creature and pierced Nae Bihon’s Cheonryongae Point.
Spurt!
Blood gushed from Nae Bihon’s Baekhoehyeol point, but his skull did not split.
Splash!
In the end, Nae Bihon’s body plummeted below the cliff and was swallowed by the raging river.
“Anyway, you won’t be able to use Thunder Spirit Energy again.” The old man smiled faintly.
With Thunder Spirit Energy sealed by Dark Blood Blade Emperor Energy… even if he survived, the existence known as the Thunder God would vanish.
“Still, I can’t just leave it.”
Gazing at the distant sky, the old man spoke in a low voice. “Find even the corpse without fail.”
Whoosh.
Then faint winds blew from all directions, and black shadows scattered everywhere.
Wearing a sinister smile, the old man gazed down the sheer cliff before turning away.
***
Snapped from the recollection, Nae Bihon began to gasp for breath.
“Huff. Huff.” He had run from the Eunha Ridge to Hebei without drinking a sip of water, yet his breathing had not faltered once.
But recalling the monstrous old man he longed to tear apart, uncontrollable rage erupted.
“It was definitely the Pang Family’s Supreme Elder Token.”
The Emissary of the Three Realms who had mercilessly slaughtered and experimented on his wife and son.
He was none other than the Supreme Elder of the Pang Family, Pang Yeokin.
And because he held the status of Supreme Elder of the Pang Family, no matter how the entire martial world was searched, no trace could be found.
“So he’s no longer an Emissary now.”
Unlike when he slaughtered the family, the monstrous old man Nae Bihon had fought in mortal combat wore no Emissary’s attire. Either his status had risen another level in the interim, or he had worn the Emissary’s garb only at that time.
Whatever the case, that a figure of the Pang Family’s Supreme Elder level among the Eight Great Families was listed in the Three Realms was a shocking fact.
“My apologies to those guys.”
Suddenly recalling Bu Eunseol and Dae Guhwi’s faces, Nae Bihon wore a bitter smile.
In truth, he had not lost his memories.
More precisely, he had lost them and then fully regained them.
When Thunder Spirit Energy was restored, the injury to his brain meridians healed completely, and all memories up to that point were erased. But because he had absorbed an overwhelmingly powerful Thunder Spirit Energy without cease, the intense shock allowed him to recover every memory from before the brain meridians healed.
‘Bu Eunseol.’
And it was all thanks to Bu Eunseol’s aid.
If he had not helped, far from recovering his power, Nae Bihon’s body would have burst from the unmanageable Thunder Divine Energy.
Moreover, though he was the successor of Majeon with high power and status, he had hidden his identity and wandered various sects with him.
The journey they shared would be unforgettable for a lifetime.
“That fellow.” Recalling Bu Eunseol’s ever-changing faces, Nae Bihon sighed deeply. “When we first met, he claimed to be a sword corps leader of the Martial Alliance. To think he was the successor of Majeon.”
Shockingly, he even remembered Bu Eunseol’s appearance before the Yeolha Holy Palace in Namman, when he had claimed to be a Martial Alliance leader.
And the fact that the successor of Majeon was a Martial Alliance leader was shocking even to Nae Bihon.
If this fact became known, the martial world would be turned upside down.
“There must be some story behind it.”
But Nae Bihon truly cherished Bu Eunseol like a younger brother.
Thus, whether his identity was the successor of Majeon or the Martial Alliance’s Grand Alliance Leader, it didn’t matter.
“If he learned the truth, he would have risked his life to come here and fight.”
Fearing that Bu Eunseol might be harmed because of him, Nae Bihon had pretended not to remember and had come here alone.
“Huu.” Nae Bihon took a deep breath.
This vengeance was his.
His benefactor and little brother, Bu Eunseol.
Unlike himself, he was a man with a bright future ahead. He must not be dragged into this affair.
“Let’s test just how formidable the power of the Eight Great Families is.”
Nae Bihon squared his shoulders and strode boldly toward the Pang Family.
Having regained his power, he intended to topple the Pang Family single-handedly.
Heaven had granted him another chance at vengeance. He must not fail this time.
Step, step.
Walking alone, an inexplicable emptiness filled his heart.
Bu Eunseol, who had always called him brother and stayed by his side, and Dae Guhwi, who had followed him.
He had spent a long time with them and grown accustomed to it, so suddenly being alone brought a pang of loneliness.
“What am I thinking?” Nae Bihon chuckled hollowly and shook his head.
He had left the Thunder Spirit Sect long ago for vengeance.
And until now, he had wandered the martial world alone. To feel emptiness only now?
“Life is solitary, after all.”
Feeling loneliness now was strange in itself.
Crackle.
As he raised his Thunder Spirit Energy, the once-bright sky darkened abruptly.
In an instant, he summoned the Thunder Divine Energy in the heavens to rain down lightning like divine punishment upon the Pang Family.
For the vengeance of his son and wife, he would fight to his heart’s content.
“It was the Pang Family, was it?”
At that moment, a familiar voice sounded behind Nae Bihon.
Turning, he saw a tall, gray-robed man and a gentle-faced youth walking side by side.
Bu Eunseol and Dae Guhwi.
Lost in deep thought, he had not even sensed their approach.
“How did you…” Nae Bihon was greatly startled.
No matter how remarkable Bu Eunseol was, how could he pursue him instantly?
“Brother Nae.”
Bu Eunseol sighed.
“The current martial world is no longer a place where unparalleled masters can live in solitude.”
“What do you mean?”
“The martial world is filled with countless intelligence networks, and masters like Brother Nae are always under watchful eyes.” Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “You believed you had traveled the martial world in secrecy until now, but in truth, your every movement was fully exposed.”
Due to his Thunder Spirit Energy, Nae Bihon always emanated faint thunder energy from his body.
His movement art was accompanied by intense light and explosive sound.
From the start, the existence known as the Thunder God could not travel the martial world covertly.
Thus, past Thunder Gods first mastered secrets to eliminate Thunder Spirit Energy and other energies.
Only after perfecting such martial arts did they enter the martial world.
But having lost his family to the Three Realms, he had left the Thunder Spirit Sect gripped by madness without properly learning its martial arts, wandering the martial world alone.
“So that’s how it was.”
Nae Bihon felt a hollow laugh within.
Recalling his mad wanderings in the martial world, he suddenly realized one fact.
“The Three Realms deliberately did not kill me. Rather, they saw me as a tool they could use at any time.”
“That was the same for this little brother.” Bu Eunseol spoke frankly. “To maintain my hidden identity, I used Brother Nae twice.”
Nae Bihon was slightly surprised.
He had not expected Bu Eunseol to reveal his dual identity himself.
“Why tell me this?”
“Is this one not Brother Nae’s little brother?”
“Then what about me?” Dae Guhwi grinned and interjected, and Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.
“Are you not Brother Nae’s disciple? You have received his martial teachings and even shared his Thunder Spirit Energy.”
Tremble.
Nae Bihon’s body quivered lightly.
To suppress the overwhelming emotion, he had to bite his lip.
After losing his family, his heart had turned to ash, filled only with madness and obsession for vengeance.
Yet before he knew it, he had gained the most reliable younger brother in the martial world.
And a disciple to inherit his ultimate arts.
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