Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 113

Nangseon Gi Hwan Dam – 112

The atmosphere shifted strangely as Man-ho shouted.

Elder Hong of the Hae Noon Sect bit his lip, and Elder Seol of the Hoo Go Sect stroked his beard thoughtfully.

Both the Hae Noon and Hoo Go Sects naturally desired the Twin-Horned Buho’s horn!

Thus, they couldn’t act rashly.

It wasn’t unusual to place various restrictions on vengeful spirits or Bokchung [a type of controlled spirit].

If the vengeful spirit they controlled was seized in battle, they couldn’t bear to see their enemy use it against them.

Most who controlled vengeful spirits implanted restrictions to prevent such situations.

To ensure they perished together!

There were ways to 解除 [jiěchú – release/remove] the restrictions, but it took a long time. Moreover, if the spirit decided to commit suicide, the loss would be immense.

Twin-Horned Buho weren’t spiritual beasts one could easily find. They were spiritual beasts that no longer existed in the world.

Elder Hong was furious that he couldn’t obtain the horn, and Elder Seol was worried that his plan to gain 名分 [míngfèn – justification/legitimacy] and restrain the Hae Noon Sect had failed.

“Is it necessary for all seven sects of the Hari Mountain Range to participate? What do you want that you’re requesting a martial arts competition….”

What did he want that he was asking for a martial arts competition! If he wanted something, he could just ask for it!

“What I want is just that. Hold a martial arts competition in three months! Until then… dispatch personnel from the Hae Noon and Hoo Go Sects to protect me. Of course, you’ll do that anyway, as who knows what might happen!”

Man-ho said that and closed his mouth.

They pondered for a long time, then confined Man-ho in a training cave with various restrictions and disappeared in a flash of light.

* * *

“May I ask…?”

[What is it.]

“Why a martial arts competition? Wouldn’t that draw the attention of 도사s [Dosas – Taoist hermits/immortals]?”

San-gun’s internal injuries weren’t fully healed.

It wasn’t good to attract the attention of 도사s. That’s why he was using Man-ho’s training cave.

In that situation, a martial arts competition!

He couldn’t understand it no matter how much he thought about it.

[I need something too.]

“Need… something?”

[Yes. I need a pure Mokshintong [wood-elemental divine connection] female immortal. That’s why.]

“What does that have to do with a martial arts competition….”

[Isn’t it bothersome to find them one by one?]

The only reason San-gun ordered the martial arts competition was to find the 육신 [physical body] of 촉만대인 [Chokman Daein – a great being/deity named Chokman].

‘It doesn’t matter since attention is already focused.’

He roughly knew the level of the sects around here anyway. Perhaps because the spiritual veins weren’t good, there were no high-level 도사s.

Then it would be right to use the focused attention!

“Then wouldn’t it be easier to just ask for the 육신 of a Mokshintong female immortal?”

How nice it would be if he could do that.

[Try asking a 도선 [Doseon – Taoist immortal] to hand over the 육신 of a Hwanseon [Hwanseon – Transcendent Immortal]. Who wouldn’t be suspicious! Besides, didn’t you say that no Taeseon [Great Immortal] had ascended from the Hari Mountain Range sects in decades? Then the highest 도사 is a Hwanseon, would they hand that over? There’s no need to stir up trouble.]

There was no need to arouse unnecessary suspicion.

The best way was to proceed without them knowing.

This was just right.

It was better to simply hold a martial arts competition and offer the Twin-Horned Buho as a prize.

This way, they would create chaos among themselves and engage in secret plots.

‘I can find the 대인’s 육신 and obtain elixirs to quickly heal myself. I can also observe the 신통 [shintong – divine powers/abilities] of the Dongguk [ancient Korean kingdom] 도사s.’

It was killing two birds with one stone.

The situation had become very large.

Now that things had come to this, they would act more cautiously.

San-gun didn’t care about the power struggles between the sects.

From the start, they seemed intent on treating him like an elixir and devouring him, so there was no reason not to use them.

Although he had internal injuries, he was perfectly concealing his 경지 [spiritual cultivation level] with 명은술 [Myeongeunsul – concealment technique].

To them, he would appear as an Il Tong 요수 [Il Tong Yosu – First Stage Demon Beast].

‘In three months, I can heal at least 20% of my internal injuries….’

Then he could take out Tam-hwa or Gwi-yul and kill them all.

Tam-hwa was still asleep but would soon awaken. San-gun could feel it because their 심 [shim – heart/essence] was connected.

The problem was Gwi-yul.

Gwi-yul had suffered considerable injuries and needed to recover.

It was difficult to recover with his body sealed in the Gongjeong River.

‘Here, the evil energy is being converted into spiritual energy due to the 진법 [jinbeop – formation/array]. But….’

What about underground?

What if it was underground where the 진법 didn’t reach?

Originally, Dongguk was a place where evil energy floated like air. There was no better place for Gwi-yul than here. The same would be true for 도사s who practiced Gwisul [evil arts], not just Gwi-yul.

However, the reason he hadn’t taken him out in advance was, of course, the risk of 反噬 [bǎnshì – backlash/betrayal]. If he took him out, he would quickly recover and attack San-gun.

‘It doesn’t matter now. I can use 영석 [yeongseok – spirit stones] to deploy a Hwanjin [illusionary formation].’

If he buried him underground and set up a Hwanjin and 금제 [geumje – restriction/seal], Gwi-yul couldn’t do anything.

He would reluctantly recover.

‘Gwi-yul matches well with Guhwan-do, so it would be even better to keep them together.’

That would speed up the recovery.

After Gwi-yul recovered, San-gun would have also recovered his body, so it didn’t matter.

After pondering for a moment, San-gun called Man-ho and ordered.

[Are you good at digging?]

“…Yes?”

Man-ho’s face instantly contorted at the sight of the leering face.

* * *

One week after San-gun and Man-ho were confined in the training cave.

A public notice was widely spread throughout the Hari Mountain Range that a martial arts competition would be held.

The Hae Noon Sect intended to solidify its position as the top sect in the Hari Mountain Range, and the Hoo Go Sect was no different.

The other sects tilted their heads at the sudden announcement of the martial arts competition.

However, upon hearing about the prize, they changed their expressions and jumped in.

Many didn’t know what the Twin-Horned Buho was, but when its 效能 [xiàonéng – efficacy/effect] was revealed, they had no choice but to rush in with fire in their eyes.

Thus, the Hari Mountain Range regained its vitality, and the story of the martial arts competition spread like wildfire. With just the Twin-Horned Buho’s horn, becoming a Jiseon [Earth Immortal] was not just a dream, so who wouldn’t be greedy? The rumors spread like wildfire and reached the ears of sects outside the Hari Mountain Range.

Three months later.

At the top of a stone wall that soared like a pillar.

Hundreds of 도사s were gathered there.

“They put in a lot of effort. 도사s gathered together to build a martial arts competition arena!”

“What’s so great about it? They couldn’t decide where to do it, so they just built it in the middle.”

The speakers were Elder Seol of the Hoo Go Sect and Hoo Go-bo, the sect leader (문주 [munju]) of the Hoo Go Sect.

“Even so, it’s refreshing to see the seven sects gather together to do something for the first time.”

“Yes. Even though it’s made of greed… it’s not bad. Originally, the sects of the Hari Mountain Range are 宗派s [jongpas – sects/factions] that branched off from one stream. If my father saw this, he would have been happier than anyone else.”

“This Seol Cha-pung will definitely bring the Twin-Horned Buho’s horn to the 문주!”

Hoo Go-bo simply smiled.

The 도사s participating in the competition were Hwanseon.

They were the elders of each sect.

Because of that, many 도사s who didn’t participate came to broaden their knowledge.

Hoo Go-bo narrowed his brows as he looked at one of the 도사s sitting in the audience.

Twelve 도사s wearing masks and covering their faces with bamboo hats caught his eye.

‘Are they external 도사s….’

“But they allowed it well. It was a demand that was no different from Man-ho Sajil’s 生떼 [saengtte – unreasonable demand/tantrum].”

“Is there any other way? The name value of the Twin-Horned Buho was that strong.”

It was then.

펑, 퍼펑!

The 화신통 [Hwasintong – Fire Divine Power] 도사s’s splendid fireworks decorated the sky.

Admiration arose as red dragons and phoenixes adorned the blue sky.

[Then! We will hold the 1st Martial Arts Competition! First, let’s see the Twin-Horned Buho that you all want the most!]

철컥!철컥! [cheolkeok! cheolkeok! – clank! clank!]

쿠구궁!! [kugugung!! – rumble!!]

The ground at the top of the stadium split open.

Inside, the Twin-Horned Buho, trapped in a cage, appeared, scattering fierce eyes.

Whether they had installed a mechanism, the cage soared high into the sky and stopped.

[Looking at that majestic figure, it’s certain that it’s the legendary Twin-Horned Buho! Why wouldn’t it be? This martial arts competition was held because of that one!]

The 도사 in charge of the commentary’s eloquence caused laughter to erupt from the audience.

However, there were many among them who couldn’t erase their greedy eyes.

[Now, before we begin, there will be a speech from each sect’s 문주!]

Everywhere you go, the speeches of high-ranking people are boring.

San-gun blamed his life for suddenly becoming a spectacle and glanced around at those in the audience.

[A lot of 염병할 [yeombyeonghal – damn/cursed] bastards have gathered.]

Among them, there were several pure Mokshintong 도사s.

“Didn’t it go as 육사 [yuksa – master/teacher] wished? I still feel chills. Surely there’s no need to worry about my life, right?”

Man-ho, trapped in the same cage, asked in a trembling voice.

[There’s nothing to worry about. Unlike Sam-gwi, I keep my promises.]

“Sam-gwi would have kept his promise too.

If he were alive!”

Then San-gun narrowed his eyes.

[Are you saying I’m going to die?]

“There’s no guarantee that you won’t….”

That wasn’t wrong.

How could the world always go as planned?

It was true that he couldn’t be sure.

[Even if you die, I won’t die.]

He had no intention of dying.

He had been like this until now, and he would continue to be like this in the future.

“Aren’t we in a 一蓮托生 [ilnyeon-taksaeng – linked fate] relationship! H, how can you say such a thing….”

[一蓮托生 my ass. Did you think I didn’t know you were trying to sell me off with a few pills and a 둔보 [dunbo – slow-witted person], you despicable bastard!]

Man-ho became silent as San-gun brought up the past and scolded him.

He had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths.

San-gun glared at such Man-ho and fell into deep thought for a moment.

‘If there was a Taeseon here, I wouldn’t have been able to do this so easily.’

The cage he was trapped in was one of the 寶貝s [bǎobèi – treasures/magic items] made of iron bars.

In addition, there were 符籍s [bujeoks – talismans/amulets] plastered all over it, so it seemed difficult to destroy easily.

‘Three months.’

He hadn’t just been playing around.

San-gun took out a black bead with a carapace pattern and a black cocoon at his feet.

The moment the winner was decided and the cage was opened, 阿鼻叫喚 [ā bí jiào huàn – utter chaos/pandemonium] would come.

[Now, please come out!]

It started just in time.

도사s from each sect entered majestically from both sides.

They were groups of gray 長袍s [changpaos – long robes] and groups of green 道袍s [dopaos – Taoist robes].

After a while.

The sects’ martial arts competition ended.

[The 도사s of Dongguk seem to be well-versed in 傀儡術 [goeroesul – puppetry/puppet technique]. The puppets are unique.]

Strangely enough, the 도사s of Dongguk threw paper dolls and materialized them to fight with puppets.

“I know that Dongguk excels in 傀儡術 and 殭屍術 [gangsihsul – corpse manipulation/necromancy]. Perhaps it’s because of the frequent battles with the Hae tribe, and because the entire Dongguk is covered in evil energy. That’s why 傀儡術 and 殭屍術 have advanced.”

This was another surprising fact.

“That’s why there are many bizarre 通術s [tongsul – spiritual techniques]. Hundreds of years ago, one of the countries in Dongguk, called the Empire, angered a 傀儡術師 [goeroesulsa – puppeteer/puppet master], and the country was completely evaporated.”

San-gun didn’t know much about Dongguk. It wasn’t well described in the 山海發散考 [Sanhaebalsango – geographical and mythological text] either.

That’s why he watched their martial arts competition with interest.

It was then.

Suddenly, an ominous aura of 靈氣 [yeonggi – spiritual energy] swept through the entire venue.

Then the 문주s of each sect, who were watching the martial arts competition, were startled and stood up from their seats.

“Deploy the 禁制 [geumje – restriction/seal]!!”

At the same time, the audience became chaotic and a commotion began.

Because the black-clad people wearing bamboo hats in the audience soared up, shining 遁光 [dungwang – escaping light]!

쿠구궁! [kugugung!! – rumble!!]

The sudden appearance of intruders caused a round 禁制 to unfold around the venue.

It was a green circular 禁制.

“Hmph, useless.”

It was a woman’s voice.

The 禁制 that surrounded the venue unfolded, but as if to mock such a 禁制, one of the black-clad people threw a jewel from his chest.

It was a blue 青石 [cheongseok – blue stone/lapis lazuli] with a graceful light.

As the 青石 shone brilliantly, a 蛟龍 [gyoryong – horned dragon] that had been coiling inside appeared.

Its length was well over a hundred 丈 [jang – a unit of length, approx. 3 meters].

The 蛟龍 immediately opened its mouth and ran away with the cage containing the Twin-Horned Buho.

“Chase after them!”

“What are you doing!”

A commotion broke out.

The 도사s who were preparing for the martial arts competition immediately attacked the black-clad people.

The 도사s who were watching from the audience were anxious to escape in fear.

In such 阿鼻叫喚.

The Twin-Horned Buho was in the 蛟龍’s mouth.

San-gun, trapped in the cage, let out a hollow laugh with a dumbfounded face.