Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 69

Tales of the Wandering Swordsman – Chapter 68

Somewhere underground in Hansan, the capital of Goseon.

A place where ceaseless screams echoed.

There, a woman with crimson hair peered into a pit.

“How amusing.”

The woman’s lips curved into a subtle smile, making her look beautiful.

However, the men beside her all wore hardened expressions.

Among them were several who had reached the realm of Hwanseon [a high level of martial cultivation].

The Vice Leader of the Guigang Gate.

Naturally, they would be wary in the presence of Guieumna Chal, Yehu.

“How long will it take?”

At her question, a subordinate waiting nearby quickly answered.

“Fifteen days should be sufficient.”

“Three days.”

“…….”

“Finish it in three days.”

“Understood!”

Guooooooo!

As the men disappeared, Guieumna Chal sat alone, squatting in front of the pit.

When she twisted the corners of her lips upward, the Hon-gwae [souls trapped in a pit] in the pit wailed.

“108 solitudes. Using them as sacrifices to create a point of contact with the Collapsing Realm….”

Collapsing Realm.

A place where the sun does not reside.

A place that collapses and rises simultaneously.

“Ah- how delightful.”

After chuckling for a while, she disappeared while singing a strange song.

* * *

Since ancient times, there have been countless stories about what happens when a tiger gains wings.

How much faster would a tiger be if it could leap as if flying across the ground, and then gain wings?

Most would say that no beast could stand against it.

Of course, that’s just a story for ordinary people.

It’s a bit different in the world of Taoists, but even so, the idea that a winged tiger is strong cannot be denied.

Anyone can master the divine ability of flight upon reaching a certain level, but there’s bound to be a difference between having wings and not having them.

How much faster would an already swift tiger be if it also had wings?

That’s why most who oppose the Gungbi Tigers [a powerful clan known for their swiftness] give up on fleeing.

The wings of swiftness and the strong body of a tiger would tear apart any opponent who showed their back.

“Hmm….”

He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Gungbi Tigers before him. It was only natural that they would react this way, given the commotion he had caused in their territory.

‘Contact with the Gungbi Tigers is something I also desire, so it’s not a bad thing.’

Among the Four Great Spirit Clans, the Gungbi Tigers are the ones who know the most. Even if it’s not now, someday, they will be involved with Yoo-jung and be utterly destroyed.

San-gun stared at them intently before looking at Geummyeong Jisu.

“I am Geummyeong Jisu of Sawolrang’s Geummyeong Jade Decree. I am the third child of that person. This person is Sawolrang’s hermit, so please quell your anger! Surely, you don’t believe you can handle Sawolrang’s grudges!”

At the name Sawolrang, the Gungbi Tigers’ expressions suddenly hardened.

They couldn’t possibly not know Sawolrang’s grudges, which made it all the more so. Only then did San-gun cross his arms with a bit of leisure.

“This old one is Yang Jang-ji of the Gungbi Tigers. I never expected Sawolrang’s daughter to set foot here. Moreover, causing such a commotion….”

“Since things have come to this, I will tell you everything. It’s not something unrelated to the Gungbi Tigers either.”

Among the Gungbi Tigers, the old man Yang Jang-ji, with his wrinkled face, possessed the most powerful energy. He nodded to the Gungbi Tigers who were still wary, and then flapped his wings. The reputation of Sawolrang’s daughter was not to be ignored.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s right to hear the whole story. Besides, this place isn’t suitable for determining the rights and wrongs of the matter, so Sawolrang’s daughter! And their hermit, I invite you to the Gungbi Tigers’ Howiikjan (護位翼楼) [Hall of Guarded Wings]!”

Howiikjan.

Birobong, the highest peak of Mount Geumgang.

It was the Gungbi Tigers’ hidden residence. They said that and immediately flapped their wings and soared into the sky.

“Don’t worry. The Four Great Spirit Clans’ oath prevents them from harming us.”

Geummyeong Jisu said that and took out a Gongjeong Carriage from her chest and threw it.

Then, a carriage appeared with an amber light. It was her flying treasure, the Giryeong Carriage (技逞車) [Skillful Carriage].

“Please get in. It’s insignificant, but it’s better than nothing.”

Unlike before, her tone was extremely polite and courteous.

San-gun enjoyed her change and got into the carriage. He had consumed a considerable amount of spiritual energy fighting the Taoists of the Demonic Path, and flying was still burdensome for him, who was still in the realm of Yeonggyeol [a stage of spiritual cultivation], so he welcomed her consideration.

‘She’s doing something I like for the first time.’

As Geummyeong Jisu and Ryun got into the carriage, she drew up her spiritual energy.

As gray spiritual energy flowed into the carriage, horses made of spiritual energy appeared.

Soon, a protective barrier surrounded them, turning into gray streaks of light and following the Gungbi Tigers.

The speed was impeccable, but it was not enough to catch up with the Gungbi Tigers’ flying speed. She seemed to know that, as she narrowed her brows, but that was all.

In the first place, the Gungbi Tigers were the most skilled in flying among the Four Great Spirit Clans, so it was only natural.

“There might be something to extort from the Gungbi Tigers.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing.”

San-gun, with a smile on his lips, sat in the carriage and leisurely closed his eyes.

About an hour passed.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped in mid-air.

When he slightly opened one eye, a magnificent view unfolded before him.

Snow had already begun to fall, and Birobong, covered in snow, looked pure and clean. It looked cold enough to make one’s hands tingle, but it looked incredibly cozy to the eye.

After being still for a moment, the old Gungbi Tiger took out a spirit badge adorned with a pair of wing patterns from his chest.

As he infused it with spiritual energy, wings made of spiritual energy momentarily appeared from the spirit badge, dyeing the surroundings before disappearing.

Immediately after.

The air rippled.

A small shrine hidden on the top of Birobong revealed its appearance.

It was a shrine adorned with fluttering feathers and the image of a tiger. And in the middle of it was a wonderfully drawn landscape painting, and the Gungbi Tigers descended one by one in front of it.

“You can enter Howiikjan if you have the spirit badge. As a precaution, be careful, because if you try to enter without the spirit badge, the Geumje [forbidden spell] will be activated and destroy even your soul if you try to enter without the spirit badge.”

Receiving the spirit badges one by one, the Gungbi Tigers jumped into the landscape painting first.

That landscape painting was one of the treasures created with spatial divine abilities, and if it were to be graded, it would be an item corresponding to a Jibo (至寶) [Supreme Treasure] level.

Looking at the landscape painting with ripples like waves, San-gun’s heart pounded.

A divine ability that creates individual spaces!

Moving through space and creating and maintaining space are worlds apart.

Besides, he couldn’t even guess how vast the space would be, so how could he not be excited?

“Now, let’s go.”

Geummyeong Jisu and Ryun jumped into the landscape painting, and San-gun calmed his mind and jumped in as well. Soon, tranquility filled Birobong, and only the occasional rising ripples silently created a scene.

* * *

At the same time.

In the streets of Hansan, a fairy-like woman with flowing white hair was drinking tea.

A long sword hung at her waist, and even ordinary people could easily tell that it was no ordinary object.

The ordinary people couldn’t dare to approach her and watched from afar. A fairy had descended. No, there was a heated debate that she was a Taoist who had been living in seclusion in the mountains.

Whether she knew it or not, the woman’s face was full of worry.

The reason was the Chuchimpan [a mystical compass].

The well-functioning device had suddenly stopped pointing in any direction.

Not knowing why, she had been groaning for a while and was waiting here.

“It’s not broken….”

The target wasn’t dead either.

If she had died, a strand of hair on the Chuchimpan should have burned a long time ago.

Then the only thing left was that she was in a place where her location could not be identified….

“Haa…. If it were anywhere else, it wouldn’t matter, but since it’s Goseon, it’s possible.”

Goseon is a place with many mysteries and reclusive hermits.

Even Taeseon [highly skilled Taoists] are famous for being cautious there, so how much more so would it be?

So all she could do was wait without any promise.

“Would it be better to go east?”

She knew at which point the signal had been cut off. She was just worried about going the wrong way.

As she was contemplating for a while.

A crane descended from the sky with graceful posture.

The crane, which landed in front of her with its long legs, stared at her intently before opening its mouth.

[Baekryeon. The Elder is looking for you.]

It was an absurd sound, but Baekryeon narrowed her eyes with a calm face.

[I know you killed the Museon [Martial Immortal] of the Wudang Sect. Now that you have achieved the revenge you have been eagerly waiting for, you must return to the Ice Palace as promised and prepare for the wedding.]

Wedding.

Baekryeon closed her eyes at the mention of that story. After the revenge, she was supposed to get married. Originally, she had been planning to commit suicide after completing her revenge, so she didn’t even care.

‘I didn’t know things would turn out like this.’

But knowing that San-gun was alive, how could she marry another man?

It was absolutely impossible.

It must not happen.

Baekryeon hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.

“Bicheong. I have something to do.”

At her calm words, the crane called Bicheong shuddered.

It was because it was so rare to see her speaking.

The crane in front of Baekryeon was Bicheong, a disciple of the Kunlun Elder, who also knew San-gun. Compared to Baekryeon’s talent, she was only half as good, but even so, her talent was not lacking, and Bicheong had also recently risen to the level of Museon.

[Something to do?]

“……I have something to do. I’m sorry, but I can’t go back, so please know that.”

She said that and got up from her seat. It was a clear order to leave.

But the white crane soon turned into a human and grabbed her wrist.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s not good to disobey the Elders’ words. If you keep doing this, your situation will only get worse.”

It was a gentle coaxing tone, but Baekryeon frowned and shook off her hand.

“Don’t touch my body.”

With an icy voice, a thick chill spread from her body.

Tsuzuzyut.

The ground froze and the atmosphere sank.

The ordinary people were startled and ran away, and the bustling streets became silent.

But Bicheong didn’t care and opened her mouth calmly.

“If I don’t contact you in three days, Gyerong Sajuk (師叔) [martial aunt] from the Ice Palace said he would come to find you. Is that okay?”

Then Baekryeon’s face crumpled. Even if she shook off Bicheong, one of the Elders would come directly to find her, so how could she not?

From the Ice Palace to Goseon was a distance, but if it was an Elder-level person, they would arrive in fifteen days.

Unable to continue speaking, Bicheong sighed and comforted her.

“It’s not that I don’t know your heart, so that won’t happen. Just promise me this. I don’t know what it is, but after you finish that work, you must return to the Ice Palace with me.”

Baekryeon was silent for a long time, then nodded heavily.

Only then did a look of joy return to Bicheong’s face.

“Do you have a place to stay? It’s been a long time since we met, so shall we catch up? There’s someone in Hansan that my master told me about, so we can stay there.”

Bicheong chattered on, not knowing her feelings.

‘It’s a relief that the grudges have been resolved.

I was very worried.

I was quite surprised when you accepted the marriage, but since you’re smart, there must have been a reason,’ etc.

She chattered on without being asked.

Baekryeon stared blankly at the sky, recalling someone with a dark face, and followed behind Bicheong.