Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 11

Whispering.

Even the wind felt colder and more probing in the darkened mountains, as if it were groping all over her body.

Could it be because the one who used to shield her from the wind was no longer there? She missed his large frame and the way he always glared at her with a sullen look.

“Grandpa, when is my husband coming back…?”

“…I don’t know.”

Qing Daoshan and Biqing of Kunlun were already leaving Hundred-Foot Valley.

In preparation for the worst-case scenario, Hualan had instructed Qing Daoshan to take Choa to Hwajang Village.

Qing Daoshan had witnessed their martial prowess and sensed the intense demonic energy emanating from the rat demon.

It reminded him of the demonic energy wielded by the Lee Tong demons, whom he had seen Taoist Immortals of Doseon-level [high-ranking Taoist practitioners] deal with from afar.

It was an enemy he couldn’t handle. If it weren’t for them, he and his young disciple would have lost their lives.

And that ghost had also said:

If they didn’t return seven days after arriving at the village…

She didn’t finish her sentence, but Qing Daoshan was already planning to take Choa to Kunlun even if she hadn’t said it.

He had found it strange from the start that she had white hair, but the strength and energy she subtly displayed were extraordinary.

Becoming a Taoist was a path Qing Daoshan had given up on long ago, but he wanted to at least raise his disciple to become one.

‘To become a Taoist and achieve immortality is the dream of all martial artists…’

Biqing also possessed extraordinary physique and talent, but Choa was even more gifted.

Qing Daoshan looked at Choa with a satisfied expression, as if he could already envision his disciple becoming a Taoist and performing Taoist arts.

“Choa… a tiger can’t be your husband.”

“If I say he’s my husband, then he’s my husband. Don’t tell me what to do!”

The old man smiled bitterly as he watched Choa and Biqing bicker.

They had only met a short time ago, but seeing that Biqing couldn’t even get a word in already, he figured that even if he got married, he would be dominated by his wife.

“But how far are we going? What if my husband can’t follow us…?”

“Once we cross this mountain, there’s a small village. I heard it’s a mountain village, but it has a palisade and operates a self-defense force. You’ll be able to rest comfortably there.”

‘That’s not what I was asking…’

Choa pouted and glanced back before letting out a sigh.

She didn’t know much, but since her husband was fighting because of her, she had to be patient and wait to avoid being a hindrance.

And although she had misunderstood for a moment, this made it clear.

‘My husband is on my side.’

So, even if it took years, Choa could wait.

* * *

A geometrically designed formation.

The formation was so twisted and tangled that it made one’s head spin just looking at it, but when spiritual energy was injected, the blood water shone brightly, creating an even more ominous atmosphere.

“Are you sure about this?”

[If a rat bastard can do it, why can’t I?]

If anything seemed wrong, he could just run away.

It wasn’t flowing into him; he was just injecting spiritual energy, so he had enough time to escape no matter how the situation changed.

After injecting spiritual energy for about 10 minutes, the sacrifices placed inside the formation slowly began to melt.

It was a mysterious phenomenon, but Sangun, who had expected it, watched it calmly without changing his expression.

However, Hualan’s complexion was not good, perhaps because it was her first time seeing such an ominous refinement.

She seemed very displeased, constantly frowning her beautiful face as if looking at something disgusting.

[If you don’t want to see it, go outside.]

“No. I don’t know what might happen.”

[…Suit yourself.]

Sangun ignored her and focused on the ritual in progress.

The sacrifices melted and turned into blood water.
The blood water, as black as sewage, slowly flowed along the formation towards the Nine Ringed Blade.

The Nine Ringed Blade was still stuck in the ground, but it could be seen that it was trembling slightly as the blood water seeped into the blade.

And a moment later.

The nine rings rang out with a clear sound, proclaiming the blade’s name.

[It eats quite a lot.]

Frankly, it was not easy for Sangun’s level to create a treasure-grade artifact.

It was something that might not happen even after dozens of failures.

Just as treasures were not called treasures for nothing, spiritual beings and spiritual beasts were not capable enough in terms of spiritual power and talent to create artifacts beyond the treasure level.

‘But I have the egg of the Solar Flare Bird!’

Jujin would perform the skill, and he only needed to replenish his spiritual power, so there was nothing to worry about.

Sangun, who had received the egg of the Solar Flare Bird from Hualan and crunched it to replenish his spiritual power, focused again and poured in spiritual power.

Gugugung.

Now the cave was vibrating slightly, and the light of the formation became even brighter. It was a little blinding.

Then the Nine Ringed Blade began to tremble violently, and its color slowly turned blackish-red.

When all the sacrifices in the formation had melted, and all the black liquids at the end had seeped into the Nine Ringed Blade.

Kieeeeeee!

At that moment, screams of various beasts and people erupted from the Nine Ringed Blade.

Sangun and Hualan frowned at the sound, but they did not stop Jujin.

The screams from the Nine Ringed Blade became more and more shrill, and blackish-red smoke billowed above it, filling the cave ceiling.

The black clouds transformed into human and animal forms, appearing to struggle as if resisting.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A huge vibration echoed from the Nine Ringed Blade.

Crack! Crack!

The cave walls cracked around the formation where the Nine Ringed Blade was stuck, and even from those cracks, the blackish-red smoke seemed to come alive, trying to take on various forms before disappearing and rising to the ceiling.

At this point, even Sangun, who had been confident, began to feel nervous.

Should he stop?

Sangun’s pupils trembled as he hesitated.

Kieeeeeee!

The black clouds that filled the ceiling slowly began to seep into the Nine Ringed Blade.

The nine rings of the Nine Ringed Blade shook madly, and the undulating black clouds seemed to desperately struggle as if they didn’t want to enter.

Sangun instinctively realized that the souls of the people and spiritual beasts killed by the Blood Cat Hermit were entering the Nine Ringed Blade.

He felt a little pity, but it was something he had already expected.

He had felt it acutely while fighting the Blood Cat Hermit.

That his current strength was not enough.

It was a moment to realize once again that some power was needed to live a prosperous and comfortable life.

What if Hualan hadn’t been there? And what if he hadn’t found the Buwoo Sword?

He wouldn’t have been able to cut off the Blood Cat Hermit’s head so easily.

The easiest way to increase his power was a powerful artifact, and Sangun was not foolish enough to leave a prepared meal.

If there was power to be gained, he had to take it. That was how to survive in this world.

Kuuuuuung!

Before he knew it, all the black clouds had entered the Nine Ringed Blade. The Nine Ringed Blade shook madly, emitting a huge vibration that made his feet tingle.

Just when he thought it was about to explode!

“Heup!”

[Ugh!]

The light subsided.

[Hoo… I thought it was going to explode.]

“M-me too.”

The tension that had been building up slowly subsided as the Nine Ringed Blade became calmer and calmer, feeling stable.

After another moment.

[Good. I think it’s done.]

“Please tell me for sure that it’s done.”

[Um… it’s done!]

The Nine Ringed Blade, which had been a dark gray color, had turned completely blackish-red, and the eerie aura it emitted was enough to make anyone’s legs tremble.

Even if he injected more spiritual power, neither Jujin nor the Nine Ringed Blade reacted any further. To be honest, he was half-doubtful whether it would work, but it seemed to have succeeded well.

Of course, it had not become a complete treasure-grade artifact. It possessed higher spiritual energy than a treasure, but a slightly lower aura than a divine weapon.

An artifact with far superior abilities than a normal artifact is called a treasure.

And what is more powerful than a treasure is a divine weapon. Even if there are ten treasures, they cannot match the power of one divine weapon, so it was enough to be satisfied that the Nine Ringed Blade was close to the divine weapon level.

‘Should I call it death energy?’

It was an aura that was too turbid to be called spiritual energy, and it was filled with a terrible resentment.

‘It would be worth fighting against even the most difficult Doseon, more difficult than the movie.’

Even a Taoist who wielded various artifacts and performed divine feats could be fought.

Of course, if he were to fight a Taoist with a true divine weapon, he would be pushed back, but since each artifact has different performance and compatibility, he could compete with the same divine weapon if he did well.

‘But even so, he won’t be able to use it properly unless he becomes human.’

Even if he could hold it with his tail, it didn’t mean he could use it.

There was also a way to have Hualan hold it, but she was Sangun’s ChangGui [a type of ghost servant]. She couldn’t use spiritual power, so she wouldn’t be able to perform complete divine feats.

‘Of course, it would be possible if he transferred spiritual power to her…’

Even though he was a tiger and she was a ChangGui connected by a soul, it was a bit too much for Sangun.

Sangun shook off his 잡념 [japnyum – idle thoughts] and shouted at Hualan.

[Now, Hualan. Put the Nine Ringed Blade into the Gongjeong River.]

“…Are you testing me right now?”

Hualan’s eyes twitched.

He was telling her to touch something that seemed like it would curse her just by touching it! Even though she was a ghost, she thought it was too much.

[Testing? I’m a tiger, so I can’t grab the Nine Ringed Blade. Of course, you, who is like my limbs, have to do it.]

Sangun put on a straight face.

“If I grab that ominous thing, will I be eaten or something?”

[That can’t be. Even if that happens, you can just throw it into the Gongjeong River before it does.]

Sangun’s words meant that it might happen, but he trusted her to handle it.

“Don’t use that dignified tone only at times like this.”

[Ahem! Why aren’t you doing it! Hurry up! Hurry!]

Hualan narrowed her eyes and glared at Sangun, but he was as firm as if he had put on an iron plate on his face.

She let out a small snort and approached the Nine Ringed Blade.

Sangun’s words made sense. It would be difficult for a tiger’s paw to grab the blade. In the first place, the Gongjeong River was also with her.

It was not wrong, but she did not want to grab the ominous thing with her hands.

Hualan looked at the Nine Ringed Blade, took out a small piece of cloth from the Gongjeong River, held it in her hand, and picked up the Nine Ringed Blade with it.

[Oh, how is it? Do you feel like you’re going crazy… or do you feel like you want to kill me?]

Hualan, who had drawn the great blade, tilted her head strangely and looked at Sangun.

“…I think I want to kill you a little.”

[…]

Sangun, who was slowly backing away, licked his nose with his tongue in tension.

Hualan couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the sight.

[Ahem, don’t joke around.]

“It seems like nothing is wrong.”

Unexpectedly, nothing was wrong. It was quite a large great blade, but she picked it up without any problems and put it into the Gongjeong River without any regrets.

[Good. Let’s check the power later and get out of here for now.]

It took longer than he thought.

When they went outside, the sun was already rising. It seemed that it had taken much more time than he had felt.

[Where is Choa?]

“In case Sangun-nim died, I told that old man to go to Hwajang Village.”

[…Huh? Why?]

“If Sangun-nim is killed, I will also lose my power, and if that happens, wouldn’t the Blood Cat Hermit target Sanbi-nim?”

That’s true.

There was no harm in preparing for the worst.

As expected, it was good to have a smart subordinate.

But he couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had been subtly ignored.

‘Well, it was dangerous, so…’

Choa headed to Hwajang Village.

Thinking about it carefully, it wasn’t bad. The power of the old man from Kunlun was insignificant, but he was not an easy person to defeat unless it was himself or Hualan, who were strong even among spiritual beings.

It seemed that he was on the verge of leaving a foot in the realm of Doseon.

‘I don’t have to go to Hwajang Village.’

It was only natural to think this way.

In the first place, he was the one who was going to send Choa to Hwajang Village, and since she was going there on her own, he didn’t have to follow her.

“Aren’t you going?”

[Um.]

It wouldn’t be bad to part ways here.

The voice of ‘Husband!’ kept ringing in his ears, but he couldn’t help it.

He didn’t want to get caught up in Choa’s fate.

Even though he had become a spiritual being after spending a hundred years, he was only a drop in the bucket compared to the true powerhouses.

Of course, he could help Choa now. But what about next time?

Choa was not an ordinary child. If he kept her by his side as a spiritual being, there was a high probability that a more cruel future than he imagined would come.

Decisively, Sangun did not have the confidence to protect Choa.

Of course, he didn’t have the power either.

‘I don’t have the power. I don’t have that resolve yet.’

Besides, he wanted to find the ingredients to make the 역근환(易根丸) [Yeokgeunhwan – Tendon Changing Pill] that could transform him into a human.

Choyeonbang [name of the place where the pill can be found].

If he had that, he could transform into the human form he missed.

If that happened, he would be able to use the Nine Ringed Blade and use more powerful divine feats, which would also increase his power.

If he became that strong, he might be able to help Choa.

‘And Bongak Cheonghwa [another item he seeks] too…’

He might be able to operate it differently, not with his paws. Considering various things, it seemed better to find Choyeonbang first.

[It would be better to find Choyeonbang.]

“Yes, I understand.”