Chapter 37
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Mastering Heavenly Thunder
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Lightning flashed occasionally now. It felt like something sparked amid the clash of qi against qi, though Tang Ho-gwan couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. Still, he had a vague hunch about what triggered the bolts.
Anyway, with that kind of training under his belt, he figured he could adapt it to his Myriad Heavenly Flower Rain technique. But it just wouldn't click. Of course, without Dan Hyeong-u's help, the difficulty was expected—but this felt downright hopeless.
"Hoo..."
A quiet sigh escaped Tang Ho-gwan's lips. He gathered his saliva and turned, only to freeze in shock as his body locked up.
Dan Hyeong-u had appeared right behind him before he knew it.
"Wh-what is it?"
Without a word, Dan Hyeong-u placed his hand on the crown of Tang Ho-gwan's head. Tang Ho-gwan flinched, trying to pull away in panic, but Dan Hyeong-u was too fast. Then, a surge of energy poured through his skull, dazing his mind.
"Hrngh!"
A stifled groan slipped out. Dan Hyeong-u's hand lifted away.
"Try again."
Tang Ho-gwan snapped back to focus at the command, steadying his breath. He spat toward the sky.
Dan Hyeong-u's qi now filled his entire body. He hadn't noticed before, but up close, something felt different. Confidence surged through him.
Shweeeeeek!
The saliva needles blanketed the heavens, then rained down.
Plop-plop-bam! Crackle-crackle! Thud!
Tang Ho-gwan stared blankly at the scene he'd created. It was clumsy, nowhere near as powerful as what Dan Hyeong-u had shown, but it was unmistakably Heavenly Thunder.
Most needles just fell harmlessly, with only a few crackling with electric qi—but it was still Heavenly Thunder.
"I-I can't believe it... Me, using Heavenly Thunder...!"
Tang Ho-gwan whipped his head around, eyes alight with awe and joy. But Dan Hyeong-u was gone, already back at his spot, standing silently.
A warm smile touched the corners of Tang Ho-gwan's eyes.
That night, he didn't sleep a wink, hurling spit at the sky till dawn. He'd finally grasped the barest edge of Heavenly Thunder. Sure, with Dan Hyeong-u's help—but still.
After over forty grueling days on the road, the group finally reached Heochang. Martial arts training had delayed them by a few days, but no one complained.
Everyone had made gains of their own.
Dan Hyeong-u's teachings yielded astonishing results. Electric qi now sparked from most of their sword strikes. Not as fierce as his, but impressive nonetheless.
Even more surprisingly, the porters had qi building inside them. A tiny amount, without any internal cultivation method—but accumulating qi without one was remarkable.
In other words, the Heavenly Thunder Dan Hyeong-u taught served as a dynamic cultivation art. They built and controlled qi through motion.
For Umun Hye, Jo Seol-yeon, and Hyeong Pyo—who already had some internal energy—they could now infuse it into their techniques. A minuscule amount, but enough to boost their power a full step.
Truth be told, with more solid training in Heavenly Thunder, they could lace even their footwork or basic movements with electric qi. But reaching that level would take far too long.
Even so, with those gains, no one voiced regrets.
And the biggest winner of the journey? Tang Ho-gwan, hands down.
Through blood, sweat, and tears, he'd seized the key to Heavenly Thunder. The road ahead was uncertain, but holding that key was huge. The catch? He couldn't teach it via oral formulas.
Dan Hyeong-u's assistance was essential to learn it. Someday, if Tang Ho-gwan reached a high realm, he might pass it on—but that would be transmission, not a codified manual for posterity.
Whatever the case, mastering Heavenly Thunder put Tang Ho-gwan's mood through the roof.
On the flip side, the four who hadn't learned from Dan Hyeong-u trudged along with heavy steps. Watching everyone else advance right before their eyes, unable to join in—how frustrating must that be? But Dan Hyeong-u was firm on that front. They never got to train again.
Thus, the group arrived in Heochang and headed for the Henan Escort Bureau and Jo Family Manor.
"This can't be..."
"It's a total ruin."
Jo Seol-yeon and Hyeong Pyo gazed around in dismay. They'd come to the Escort Bureau first. Most buildings had burned to the ground—nothing usable left.
"We'll have to start completely from scratch."
"Yeah."
Hyeong Pyo eyed the charred remains with regret, then shook his head to shake off the sentiment.
"Shall we check the Jo Family Manor next?"
Jo Seol-yeon shook her head at his suggestion.
"Not yet... I don't want to go there just yet. Let's give it a little more time."
Hyeong Pyo stroked his chin thoughtfully. No need for two houses anyway. Rebuilding the bureau would require hefty funds.
"Why not just sell off the Jo Family Manor?"
Jo Seol-yeon's eyes widened as she stared at him, then she smiled and nodded.
"That sounds like the best plan."
Decision made, things moved fast. Tang Ho-gwan stepped up.
"I'll buy the manor. I was planning a branch family estate here anyway."
Hyeong Pyo quickly cupped his fists in gratitude.
"We'd be deeply thankful."
Truth be told, Hyeong Pyo could've handled it himself—his experience meant wide connections. Selling one manor in Heochang was no big deal. But tying in with the Tang family? Massive boon. It'd ward off shady powers eyeing the reborn bureau.
And so, the Jo Family Manor was settled. Tang Ho-gwan ensured Jo Seol-yeon could visit anytime she wished. It held all her memories of growing up.
Trivial, now that he'd unlocked Heavenly Thunder.
"Now, time to settle the last matter."
Jo Seol-yeon turned. The porters stood behind her. Payment time.
She distributed the pre-prepared rewards—generous sums for the rough escort duty. The porters accepted cautiously.
"The Henan Escort Bureau will rise again soon. Please help us out then. I beg you."
As Jo Seol-yeon bowed, the porters waved their hands frantically.
"N-no, Lady! Don't bow to us!"
They gently raised her, hesitating a moment. Then Jong Chil stepped forward as spokesman.
"We have nowhere else to go. We'd like to stay on here, if you'll allow it, Lady."
Jo Seol-yeon beamed at his tentative words.
"Of course! You're welcome anytime."
Rebuilding needed veterans. She'd have loved to strong-arm them into staying, but couldn't. Them volunteering? Pure joy.
"Thank you."
Jong Chil and the porters bowed deeply.
"We look forward to working with you."
Jo Seol-yeon returned the bow.
"Me too."
And so, the Henan Escort Bureau began anew.
Rebuilding the bureau wasn't easy. But Hyeong Pyo's vast experience and network made it smoother than expected.
First order: Erect new buildings. Without usable structures, even the chief's office was gone.
At minimum: Chief's office, quarters for escorts and porters, and a mess hall.
Hyeong Pyo rushed them to completion. The rest? Build gradually. Deeds mattered more than bricks for revival.
While laying foundations, the staying porters had downtime. They'd spent it training martial arts with Dan Hyeong-u.
They could infuse sword strikes with electric qi—but only when he was nearby. Without him, no dice.
If he implanted energy in their hands, they might wield it solo. But he hadn't, so they trained at his side.
Same for everyone else—even Tang Ho-gwan needed him nearby for Heavenly Thunder. So he trained at the bureau with the porters too.
Thus, setting up the new Tang branch fell to Tang Moon-young. Young as she was, her "Flying Phoenix" moniker shone as she handled everything flawlessly.
Hyeong Pyo and Jo Seol-yeon wanted to train too, but duties piled too high.
Umun Hye visited daily for sessions. Though her real aim wasn't just the arts.
The Umun family wielded wealth matching its rumors, dominating a third of the world's commerce. Proving it, their Heochang branch dwarfed the bureau—huge influence, massive estate.
Umun Hye stayed there, training daily with Dan Hyeong-u. Each glimpse of his strength drew her heart deeper. His gruff exterior hiding a kinder core pulled her further.
Unwittingly, the Umun family aided the bureau's revival.
Everything clicked. The Henan Escort Bureau was poised to soar again.
Since the Heavenly Qi Master's treasure map surfaced, the Martial Alliance buzzed nonstop. Even the lowliest servants barely caught a breath.
Guests flooded in daily; rumors swirled endlessly. Quashing one birthed another.
In the Alliance Leader's office, Mountain Breaking Sword Dugun Un met with elders and unit leaders.
The Alliance had five elite units, each upholding its core role.
Azure Dragon Unit and White Tiger Unit embodied martial might. Azure Dragons deployed for external ops; White Tigers guarded the home front.
Vermilion Bird Unit served as eyes and ears—gathering intel, wielding rumors.
Black Tortoise Unit handled secret missions, loyal only to the Leader.
Last, Victory Dragon Unit: Composed of young talents from sects and families, groomed as future leaders.
The five leaders and eight elders gathered in grim tension.
"Lately, ominous events plague the martial world. The Hua Family vanished clean off the map."
The mood darkened further.
"Who could...?"
The Hua weren't famed, but investigation revealed them as descendants of the Thunderclap Sect.
"Traces of fire bombs everywhere—no doubt they're Thunderclap remnants."
The Leader continued gravely.
"Those fiends likely targeted the Hua's stock of Thunderclap Bombs."
"Urgh."
"As we feared...!"
Elders' faces grew ashen. Thunderclap Bombs were that terrifying.
"We need countermeasures, no?"
All eyes turned. It was Okheo-ja of Mount Hua Sect.
Under scrutiny, Okheo-ja pressed on gravely.
"If those beasts misuse the bombs with ill intent, it'll doom the martial world. We must stop it somehow."
Nods all around. But no clear plan emerged.
Finally, the Leader sighed.
"Hoo... Things grow thornier by the day. And that's not all."
"Not all...?"
The Leader spoke heavily.