Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 115

Nangseon’s Romantic Tale – Episode 114

At that moment.

Sangun was visiting the nearest Hugopa, gathering anything worth taking.

“There’s not much of use here.”

The most valuable items were old books and scriptures, along with a stockpile of spirit stones.

There were also a few treasures, but none caught Sangun’s eye.

The other sects were the same.

He acquired some scriptures related to puppetry and necromancy, but that was it.

“I can heal my internal injuries quickly.”

Fortunately, there were some spirit herbs that would help heal his internal injuries. He also secured many scriptures on converting evil energy into spirit energy. This would be more than enough to heal his internal injuries.

After thoroughly looting all seven sects, Sangun sorted through the various items and pulled out a few torn scriptures.

They were all part of a seven-page scripture.

It seemed ancient, but it was filled with nothing but nonsensical gibberish.

He couldn’t understand what it was trying to say, which only made him frown.

“What is this that they were keeping so carefully?”

It was a scripture he had obtained by breaking a seal using Hae Bongseok.

Since the other sects also had a piece each, there must be some great secret hidden within.

“I should examine it carefully later.”

It could wait.

He had gathered enough, so it was time to meet Geummae.

He never imagined he would meet her in a place like this after losing contact in the Sumyeong Mountains.

He wanted to catch up.

She was already at the level of Hwanseon [a high level of cultivation], so she might be able to help him heal his internal injuries.

“Um…”

As Sangun was feeling satisfied, Old Man Manho spoke up.

“What is it?”

“Though I am insignificant! If you would take me under your wing! I will serve you with the devotion of ‘serving the master when he is ill’ (師有疾病卽必藥之) [a traditional expression of loyalty and care], and cherish even a single teaching with the wisdom of ‘reviewing the old to learn the new’ (溫故知新) [learning from the past to understand the present]! Please, accept me as your disciple!”

He was prostrate on the ground, as if trying to become one with it, showing his determination.

“Out of the blue?”

It was quite unexpected.

He had been quietly following, and Sangun wondered what he was thinking.

‘Even in his ailing condition, he wields such immense power! How could a cultivator not be moved! Moreover, his ability to manipulate others is extraordinary, so there is no reason not to serve him as a teacher!’

It didn’t feel bad, but it wasn’t particularly good either.

In the first place, he already had Yeon-a guarding Baeksan as his disciple.

He didn’t need any more disciples.

“Do you think I have any reason to take you as my disciple?”

“Though my talents may be meager, I will serve you as my master with more sincerity than anyone else!”

Sangun looked down at him for a moment, then took out a few medicine bottles from his pocket and placed them on the ground.

They were from the Gongjeong River of the Taoists.

They were useless to Sangun, and the old man had been helpful, so ending their relationship with this wouldn’t be bad.

If Geummae hadn’t appeared, he might have kept him around a bit longer, but now he was unnecessary.

“Here are the elixirs I promised. I’m sorry to say, but I don’t need a disciple.”

“Even as a servant is fine! Please, allow me to witness the back of your greatness!”

As a servant…

Sangun pondered for a moment, recalling the various scriptures and books on sorcery, then glanced at the old man.

His expression was quite desperate.

Sangun turned his back on Manho and threw down the puppet he had received from Geummae.

The paper doll swelled up and transformed into a mature woman.

She floated into the sky like a fairy, as if telling them to follow.

“Do as you please.”

With those words, Sangun climbed onto Tamhwa’s back, and Manho hurriedly followed.

Thus, leaving behind the sects of the Harisan Mountain Range, which had been destroyed in an instant, Sangun and his group headed north.

* * *

After following the puppet for half a day, Sangun and his group arrived at their destination.

It was a pavilion on top of Guisan (鬼山) [Ghost Mountain], where the evil energy was even denser than other places.

A gloomy aura emanated from the area, and only withered trees stood instead of vegetation.

Upon closer inspection, there were many corpse trees that he had seen inside Hahumi Nong.

“Young Master!”

As he was looking around, Geummae ran out to greet him.

“Is this where Geum Sajae [a respectful title] lives?”

“Yes, it’s just a temporary place. Please, come inside.”

After telling Gyuyul and Tamhwa to stay nearby, he followed her.

Manho, afraid of being with Tamhwa and Gyuyul, trailed closely behind Sangun.

There was nothing special inside the pavilion.

There were puppets in human form standing here and there, and many treasures were scattered messily.

“Haha, it’s a bit messy, isn’t it?”

“All places where people live are like that.”

She seemed a bit embarrassed.

Sangun said it casually, and she seemed relieved, which was quite cute.

“By the way, how did you end up in Dongguk? I only heard that you disappeared with Eunmae after coming out of seclusion. Is it related to your bloodline?”

Geummae smiled and nodded.

As she grew older and became a mature woman, the atmosphere she exuded became more alluring.

“We, the descendants of the Manbyeon Gakgwi [a clan with a unique lineage], have the blood of both humans and spirits flowing through us. Thanks to that, our cultivation is also unique. That’s why I came all the way to this distant Dongguk.”

Huminbangwi [another name for the clan].

Considering her constitution, the journey to Dongguk was a good choice. Since it was a place overflowing with evil energy, it would have been of great help to them. It had only been 50 years since then, and she had already reached Hwanseon, so why wouldn’t it be?

“But, why did you hide it? If I had known about the Ssanggak Buho [a powerful artifact] beforehand, I wouldn’t have gone to save you. I’m disappointed.”

“It just happened that way. As you know, I’m an easy target. So, don’t be too upset.”

Sangun waved his hand, and Geummae smiled brightly before gradually hardening her expression.

“I’ve been wanting to ask, but are you not feeling well, Young Master?”

“You guessed it. I suffered quite a bit of internal damage from the battle with the sea monsters. That’s why I was just watching without doing anything.”

“Sea monsters? Could it be that you were the one who massacred the Hae tribe?”

There was no need to hide it. As he explained the whole story, surprise flashed across Geummae’s face.

“To think it was you. Even a Taeseon [another high level of cultivation] wouldn’t be able to kill so many Hae tribe members single-handedly!”

“I almost died too, thanks to that.”

As he spoke candidly, Geummae let out a hollow laugh.

“Well, you were always different. Back then and now… If you hadn’t recognized me, I would have died. You were like that 50 years ago, but now you have a power that I can’t even dare to catch up to.”

Geummae said enviously.

That was true.

50 years ago, he had been severely defeated by Yeongmyeong Yuksa, but now he was manipulating and annihilating Hwanseons.

The same went for the Hae tribe and the seven sects of the Harisan Mountain Range.

If he had the power to manipulate and kill Taoists of the same level, his future actions were quite anticipated.

‘Taeseon, no… If you ascend to Yeonggeop [an even higher level of cultivation], how strong will you become?’

Geummae reviewed her relationship with Sangun once again and stroked her chest.

If it hadn’t been for her connection with him, she would have disappeared into a pool of blood.

“Then you must need a place to heal your internal injuries. This Guisan is filled with evil energy, but if we use a formation, we can create a surge of spirit energy that will be good for you to heal your internal injuries. What do you think?”

“I would be grateful if you would do that for me. I was a bit uneasy arriving in this unfamiliar land, but meeting Geum Sojeo [another respectful title] like this puts me at ease!”

He didn’t need help.

But there was no reason to refuse when she offered so readily.

It would prevent any possible danger, and it felt good to receive the other person’s kindness after a long time.

Perhaps that was why.

Sangun asked with a comfortable feeling.

“By the way, where is Eun Sojeo?”

“…….”

At that moment, Geummae’s mouth closed tightly.

Her face was filled with worry as she narrowed her brows.

Sangun narrowed his eyes and pretended not to know, taking a sip of tea.

An hour passed.

Geummae sighed and said.

“Can you listen to our story?”

Her face was quite serious.

He turned his head and looked at Manho.

Manho nodded knowingly and disappeared somewhere.

“I have plenty of time, so take your time and tell me. It’s not difficult to listen.”

Then, Geummae poured out everything she had experienced to Sangun, as if lamenting.

The setting sun disappeared beyond the mountains, and the moon rose high in the sky.

Sangun picked up the sobbing Geummae from his arms and laid her down in the bedroom.

He covered her with a blanket and came out, and Manho was sitting in front of the pavilion door, dozing off.

The moon rising between the branches of the withered corpse trees was truly radiant.

It was a full moon.

The moon felt closer than ever, as if he could reach out and grab it.

“Eun Sojeo was devoured by blood…”

It often happened to the Huna Bloods [those with mixed human and spirit beast blood].

They were those with a mixture of human and spirit beast blood.

The blood of one side could be biased, causing changes in the body of the Huna Blood.

Moreover, the Geumeun sisters were the Huna of Manbyeon Gakgwi.

They were half-human, half-spirit.

“Since her body is becoming spiritualized, she would need quite rare spiritual objects or elixirs to stop it.”

That must have been why she was after the Ssanggak Buho.

She had done such a thing with a glimmer of hope. Sangun also wanted to help, but he couldn’t think of a suitable way.

‘Even the Sanhaebalsango [a book of knowledge] didn’t have detailed information, so I hope she can overcome it somehow…’

At this point, many destinies were changing because of him.

It was unclear to simply conclude it.

Fortunately, Eunmae had been sealed to stop the progression of spiritualization.

‘I’ll have to check her condition first and then think about it.’

The next day.

Geummae set up a formation around Guisan as if nothing had happened.

She had prepared everything so that Sangun could heal his internal injuries.

“I have made it so that the reversed energy can be concentrated in one place, so the period of healing your internal injuries will be reduced by half.”

A large amount of rare spiritual objects was needed for the formation that converts evil energy into spirit energy.

Geummae readily offered the spiritual objects, and Sangun added to them to complete the preparations.

Soon, as the formation was activated, Guisan shook slightly, and the thick evil energy began to transform into spirit energy.

The eerie spirit of the ghost disappeared, and it was filled with abundant spirit energy.

It was insignificant compared to Baeksan, but it was enough.

Sangun entered the training room that she had arranged, and Manho entered a small secret room next to it and guarded the place.

After he entered.

Rumors spread widely that the sects of the Harisan Mountain Range had been destroyed.

And the story that it was the work of the Ssanggak Buho, who was said to be extinct, spread by word of mouth.

Thus.

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.