Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 351

Narrative of a Wandering Swordsman – Part 2, Episode 60

“What? Is that really true?”

“To be honest, I can hardly believe it myself. You can’t imagine how absurd it sounded when I first heard it….”

The two conversing were Ji Jeo-wi of the Ji Clan and his son, Ji Heon-wi.

They were discussing how Cheonbeom had humiliated the Yangcheon leaders from his very first day and captivated the hearts of the Munmu Seon [Martial and Literary Immortals].

Since all the Cheonmu Seon [Celestial Martial Immortals] over forty years old had witnessed it, it couldn’t be dismissed as mere boasting, yet believing it outright seemed too far-fetched.

“I could understand if it were against a Hyangseon [Fragrant Immortal], but to be defeated so thoroughly by a fellow Sangseon [Superior Immortal]….”

Ji Jeo-wi was genuinely impressed.

Could he have done the same? To break through Hwanjin [Illusionary Formation] with just martial prowess, and to create such a significant advantage in a one-versus-many situation with simple illusions and Hwanjin?

If someone asked, he would confidently say he could, but when he honestly asked himself, he couldn’t answer.

‘So, he is indeed the Sangseon the Grand Preceptor told me to watch.’

He had been puzzled why he was told to keep an eye on a mere Sangseon, but now he understood there was a larger purpose.

“By the way, Father, what is the reason for monitoring the Munmu Gwanjang [Martial and Literary Chief]…?”

“That’s something you don’t need to know. Ahem, I should have asked about your affairs first, being a father. How are things in the Cheonmu Palace [Celestial Martial Palace]? Which division are you in, Yang, Ju, Byeon, or Yu?”

“Byeoncheon [Border Sky].”

“Hmm, Byeoncheon isn’t bad. The Byeoncheon Mujang [Border Sky Martial General] is someone I know. He’s a bit taciturn, but his skills are undeniable. Learn a lot under Byeoncheon Mujang.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Alright, you may leave now.”

Ji Heon-wi bowed and left, and Ji Jeo-wi, left alone, held the Jeoneumbu [Telepathic Talisman] that had risen from the shadows, nodding to himself.

“The Gon family is nearing its end. All that’s left are the Hu and Gyo families, huh?”

Ji Jeo-wi twisted his lips and erased the Jeoneumbu, then smiled eerily.

* * *

First day of duty.

Cheonbeom, having satisfactorily fulfilled his duties, realized that the situation was taking an unexpected turn as the next day passed, and then the day after that.

Three days since his appointment as Munmu Gwanjang.

“Again today?”

“Yes, Gwanjang-nim [Chief],” U-myeong said with an expressionless face.

Cheonbeom could only sigh as he looked at the people gathered at the Munmu Palace from early morning.

“This is definitely not what I wanted.”

As the Munmu Gwanjang, he had stated several times that anyone, whether Munseon [Literary Immortal] or Museon [Martial Immortal], who had difficulties in their training or sought guidance, could come to the Munmu Palace.

But Cheonbeom had not anticipated that they would take it this seriously.

On the first day, there were thirty.

On the second day, fifty.

On the third day, sixty, and today, the fourth day, it finally….

“Exactly one hundred.”

Exceeded one hundred.

“Don’t those guys have anything else to do?”

“Most Munmu Seon gather in the morning to exchange insights on their training. If they don’t have any external duties, they usually refine themselves in the Sugung [Water Palace],” Pyeong Ga-yeon approached and answered.

“So, those who don’t have external duties come to the Munmu Palace to seek guidance.”

“That’s right.”

“But why does it keep increasing?”

“I’m not sure about that either….”

Pyeong Ga-yeon trailed off, as if she was also wondering.

“It’s because the Munmu Gwanjang’s fame is spreading within the Sugung.”

U-myeong, with his emotionless face, answered instead.

He pointed to one of the gathered Munmu Seon and said.

“That person over there is not a Cheonmun Seon or a Cheonmu Seon, but a regular Pyeongmuseon [Ordinary Martial Immortal]. His rank is Jeong 6-品 [Rank 6A], lower than Cheonmu Seon.”

Even such people come to see if they can benefit from the rumors of the Munmu Gwanjang.

Even though he is a fellow Sangseon, what is there to hesitate if they can gain great enlightenment or achieve progress in their training by seeking guidance?

If they achieve results as a Pyeongmuseon, they can be promoted to Cheonmu Seon!

“I see. So that’s why they’re so….”

Full of enthusiasm.

‘Thanks to them, I’m exhausted.’

One or two times is fine, but it’s been like this for three days, and the workload keeps increasing, so he’s getting tired.

‘The guy who came yesterday is coming again, and the guy who came the day before is coming every other day….’

It’s so annoying.

Just yesterday, he was planning to visit the Tongcheon Seogo [All-Encompassing Scripture Repository], but as soon as he sends one guy away, another one sticks to him like a leech, asking for guidance, so it’s hard to find time.

‘…Annoying.’

Explaining it once or twice is fine.

Even the guy who went back saying thank you comes back the next day to ask if he understood correctly, so he’s already sighing.

‘If I teach one thing, they should know at least two, even if they can’t learn ten.’

It’s frustrating that they can’t do that.

Why are they so stuck in their ways and only ask rigid questions?

“This won’t do. At this rate, I’ll die from overwork before Cheongeop [Celestial Karma].”

Cheonbeom took a brush and paper, scribbled a few words, divided it into a hundred pieces, and sent them flying to all the Munmu Seon who were waiting.

“Gwanjang-nim. What is this?”

One of the Cheonmu Seon looked at the writing and drawing on the paper and asked, as if he didn’t understand.

The writing and drawing that Beom had distributed were something he had never seen before.

The letters were missing a tooth or two, making no sense, and the drawing was just squiggly lines like earthworms.

“This is a test I’m giving you. I, the Munmu Gwanjang, said it, but you all know it. There are more people visiting the Munmu Palace than I thought.”

So, they even line up from the crack of dawn.

“From now on, if anyone wants to seek guidance at the Munmu Palace, only those who pass the test submitted by the Munmu Palace will be able to enjoy the benefits. In the first place, there will be those who find the answer just by solving the test I gave.”

At his words, the Munmu Seon couldn’t hide their disappointment.

Then, as if on cue, they carefully looked at the drawing in their hands, but they couldn’t understand what it was.

Cheonbeom smiled at the puzzled Munmu Seon.

“Go back today and look at my test while doing your daily work. If you keep thinking about it, you might be able to solve it.”

Cheonbeom also gave the test paper to the Hagwan [Lower Officials] and palace maids working in the Munmu Palace.

“You guys should also try to solve it in your spare time. It will be a useful time.”

“Where are you going, Gwanjang-nim?”

“I’ll be in the Tongcheon Seogo.”

“Seogo?”

“If anyone asks, tell them I went there because there’s something to refer to for the supervision of Munseon and Museon’s training.”

The Munmu Palace Hagwan, who watched the Munmu Gwanjang’s disappearing figure, looked at the test paper in their hands.

“It’s not a letter, and it’s not a drawing….”

I don’t know what it is.

“U Museon. What are you going to do?”

U-myeong, with his stiff expression as if he had no emotions, answered as if it were natural.

“My job is to assist my superior.”

But since his superior is gone, there’s nothing to do.

The Munmu Palace doesn’t have a set routine yet.

“First of all, it would be good for us to solve the Munmu Gwanjang’s test.”

“Do you know anything?”

“I don’t know. Pyeong Munseon is said to be a genius among geniuses, don’t you have anything that comes to mind?”

“…Well, it seems like the Gwanjang’s test contains something extraordinary, but I don’t know exactly.”

“Based on what we’ve seen for the past few days, the Gwanjang-nim is not one to tell lies, so it would be good for us to focus on solving this test today.”

At U-myeong’s words, Pyeong Ga-yeon and the Munmu Palace’s Hagwan all nodded.

It’s still only as small as a fingernail, but a sense of pride in working at the Munmu Palace is slowly sprouting.

If the Munmu Gwanjang’s closest aides can’t solve his test, it would be a disgrace, so it’s only natural.

“Keueung….”

And that day, not a single person solved the Munmu Gwanjang’s test.

* * *

Tongcheon Seogo.

It is a place where you can view all the Gongbeop [Cultivation Methods] and Biseul [Secret Records] of the Sugye [Water Realm], and Suseo [Books] related to the laws.

Chuck.

The Tongcheon Seogo was heavily guarded, and even a Cheonmu Seon of Jong 5-品 [Rank 5B] could not enter without applying for a viewing pass to enter and exit the Seogo separately.

But.

“Jong 4-品 [Rank 4B] Munmu Gwanjang-nim.”

When the guards saw the Munmu Gwanjang’s Yeongpae [Official Insignia], they were startled and bowed their heads.

“Thank you.”

Cheonmujang [Celestial Martial General] of Jeong 5-品 [Rank 5A] also needs a viewing pass, but Jong 4-品 and above do not need it.

The Yeongpae is proof of that.

‘It’s convenient.’

I guess you have to have a high rank.

When the gate with the letters Tongcheon opened, a space larger than it looked from the outside greeted him.

There were many trees towering like pillars supporting the sky, and various letters were engraved between the trees.

When Cheonbeom tried to touch the letters on the tree, someone appeared and clasped his hands.

“I greet the Jong 4-品 Munmu Gwanjang-nim.”

He was a mysterious-looking old man, but only a phantom existed.

Cheonbeom immediately realized that he was the one managing this place.

‘Hyangseon.’

He seems to be deliberately hiding his energy, but he can’t deceive Beom’s eyes.

Cheonbeom clasped his hands together and greeted him.

“I am Munmu Gwanjang Cheonbeom.”

“You are the one who has been rumored in the palace these days. Nice to meet you. I am Hyang Ui-jeong, who manages the Tongcheon Seogo. You can call me Hyang Jang.”

“I understand. Hyang Jang.”

“Since this is your first time here, I will tell you a few requests and rules.”

Hyang Jang then ran his hand over the letters on the densely packed tree pillars.

Then, mysteriously, the letters flowed out of the tree and turned into books.

“Most Suseo can be taken out and put back in this way.”

When he brought the book back to the tree pillar, it turned into letters and permeated.

“All the Suseo here can never be taken out. Most of the Suseo have Geumje [Restrictions] implanted, and copying or copying is also prohibited.”

“There may be a way to go out of the Seogo and copy it.”

“All Suseo have Geumje that I have engraved. If you move it somewhere and write it down, I can know it right away, so it’s useless. If any illegal act that violates the Seogo’s regulations is discovered, it will not end with a light punishment.”

Hyang Jang, who smiled again with a kind face, explained about the Seogo’s facilities in addition to that.

“There is also a place for reading on one side of the Seogo. Among them, there are also places for training and places for performing, so please feel free to use them.”

“Are you providing it for free?”

“It will be automatically deducted from your salary.”

It wasn’t free.

Like a slippery old man.

I thought it was free because he told me to use it as much as I wanted, but it wasn’t.

‘I almost got ripped off.’

Cheonbeom listened to Hyang Jang’s explanation for the last time as if he didn’t care.

After that, he disappeared somewhere, and Cheonbeom put his hand on a wooden board that looked like a reading desk and infused his consciousness.

Then, the Suseo of the law he wanted and several Gongbeopseo appeared on the reading desk and floated up.

“It’s convenient.”

He immediately speed-read the law Suseo and related Gongbeopseo.

And after a while.

Cheonbeom’s face, who covered the Suseo, was not very good.

“Even if I’m Jong 4-品, this is all the law Suseo allowed to Sangseon.”

The law Suseo he could see were based on very basic foundations.

They were already basic things he knew, so they were useless to Cheonbeom.

There seems to be more than that, but it was blocked so that only Jeong 4-品 could view it.

“Is this the only harvest?”

Beom, who had one Gongbeopseo in his hand, relaxed his expression, and what he had was related to the Five Elements Geoksan [Five Elements Mountain Pressing].

The Four Elements Geoksan [Four Elements Mountain Pressing] that Ho Jun-seong used is now in Beom’s hands.

If he uses it with Subong Yeosan [Mountain-Sealing Art], he wondered if he could achieve the Five Elements Geoksan that the Gaju [Clan Leaders] were talking about, but looking at this Gongbeopseo, it didn’t seem impossible.

“Five Elements Palgwae Body(五行八卦身) [Five Elements Eight Trigrams Body].”

A Gongbeop that combines the mysteries of the Five Elements Geoksan and Palgwae [Eight Trigrams] to protect the body with the Five Elements Palgwae.

If you put the Five Elements Geoksan in your body, your body becomes Bulgwae [Indestructible] like Gangche Sul [Steel Body Art], and you incorporate the principles of all things by grafting the Five Elements and Palgwae.

Put the Five Elements in your body and pierce the Palgwae….

Whoosh.

“What.”

The Gongbeopseo of the Five Elements Palgwae Body in his hand disappeared.

Surprised, he looked around, and a little kid was holding the Five Elements Palgwae Body, smiling.

Cheonbeom, who was frowning because he was robbed of the Gongbeopseo while he was concentrating, was soon goosebumps all over his body.

‘I didn’t feel the presence?’

It’s not an ordinary little kid.

The energy and momentum that subtly emanates from it have been felt somewhere.

‘Daechen Mujang [Great Sky Martial General].’

She resembles her energy and appearance.

“You’re the Munmu Gwanjang who’s been talking a lot these days.”