Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 117

Nangseon Gi Hwan Dam – 116

Sangun immediately began working on the *dunbo* [a type of magical artifact or treasure] production with Chukman Daein.

While the myriad-wing piece required various rare and precious items and materials, Sangun’s workshop was already overflowing.

“You have all the materials?”

“Have you been living a lie? I have them.”

Sangun had plundered the *haejok’s* [sea bandits] workshop and the seven sects. He had just the right materials in his possession.

Chukman Daein chuckled dryly.

“Even in Chuksan, materials are scarce, and we only make it once every few decades… Fine! Since it has come to this, let’s give it a try!”

After that, everything went smoothly.

He floated the precious items in the air and melted them all down with Sangun’s *Bongak Cheonghwa* [a unique type of flame or energy].

Chukman moved his lips, emitting dizzying formations and magical glyphs.

One month later.

Boom!

With an explosive sound, Sangun’s killing intent burst forth from the training cave.

“Well… the success rate for the myriad-wing piece is only 50% even in Chuksan…”

Chukman Daein stammered, but Sangun’s eyes were cold.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, *Bongak Cheonghwa* surged violently from Sangun’s body, raging.

“Is, is this bastard trying to kill me?!”

Normally, he would have retorted, but Sangun was silent.

Chukman Daein swallowed hard and cautiously glanced at him with a forced smile.

“Even a master craftsman called a ‘*bopae* artisan’ [an artisan specializing in protective talismans] can’t always succeed. Making the myriad-wing piece with Sanyeo’s wings is a new attempt, isn’t it? Ahem! It’s alright. You’re still young! You can gather better precious items and try again!”

At those words, a deep smile spread across Sangun’s lips.

“That’s right. Oh, it seems there’s a very good precious item right in front of me.”

“Y, you bastard!”

Bang!!

The loud noise startled everyone staying in Guisan, and they rushed to the training cave.

Thump!

Several explosions erupted.

Soon, it quieted down, and Sangun emerged from the training cave with a cold expression.

“W, what’s going on?”

“…It’s nothing. I just failed at making a *bopae*.”

Even a master artisan who has only made *bopae* their entire life doesn’t have a very high success rate.

Moreover, the myriad-wing piece that Chuksan boasted about was more difficult to make than expected.

Chukman Daein and Sangun tried their best, but in the end, the production of the myriad-wing piece failed.

Sangun wanted to cry.

He had wasted all the precious materials he had obtained this time, and even Sanyeo’s wings, which he could never get again.

The moment he failed, he was so angry that he exploded with killing intent towards Chukman Daein.

But how could he kill him?

Fortunately, he barely managed to suppress it and came outside.

‘I just wasted my time.’

He had put in effort for a month, only for it to come to nothing, so it was understandable that he felt it was a waste.

Sangun shook his head and said he wanted to be alone, then went somewhere.

Geummae, Jangcheon, and Chuk Munkyung, who were left behind, wore bitter smiles as they looked at Chukman Daein, who came out afterward.

“Damn bastard.”

Chukman Daein was in a woman’s body, but he couldn’t avoid Sangun’s anger.

Fortunately, his life wasn’t in danger, but his hair was puffed up as if it had been burned.

He had been hit by the blue flames that Sangun emitted.

However, Chukman Daein also felt sorry, so he didn’t say anything more.

The group went back to their respective tasks, and Chukman Daein also disappeared.

* * *

Sangun walked around Guisan, calming his mind.

“The *dunbo* is out of the question.”

He didn’t have suitable materials.

He had lost all of Sanyeo’s wings, which were the best for making a *dunbo*.

Even if he wanted to make it, he couldn’t now.

Sangun also had ordinary *dunbos*. For example, the Giryeong Tea he received from Geummyeongokseo.

But those were just means of transportation and couldn’t be used in battle.

That’s why he tried to make the myriad-wing piece with Sanyeo’s wings to use it effectively, but he failed because luck wasn’t on his side.

‘I’m glad I didn’t give Gaga Kyung in advance.’

If he had given it in advance, he would have suffered a great loss.

The Daein was also feeling guilty, so he couldn’t ask for it, so there was no need to hand it over.

Gaga Kyung seemed like he should be used when there was something to make him work for.

Because he had lost a lot because of the Daein.

As he was calming his mind, a cute child with round eyes approached him.

It was a cute child with an onion-head hairstyle.

“What are you doing, Master?”

“…….”

The child was Tamhwa Ogong, who had gained intelligence through *Yongnoe* [a mystical substance or energy] and transformed.

Sangun stared at Tamhwa and suddenly looked at the sky and said.

“I hate the world.”

“You hate the world? Why?”

“There are things like that.”

He said, sitting down.

Then Tamhwa sat on Sangun’s lap as if it were his place.

“What is the world? Should I eat it?”

It seemed like there was a lot to teach.

Sangun smiled and stroked Tamhwa’s head.

Then he smiled brightly and took out a steamed bun from his arms and took a bite.

“Where is Gyuyul?”

“I don’t know. He went somewhere.”

He had performed the secret art of giving spirit to Gyuyul with *Yongnoe*, but there was no difference.

It seemed like he had gained intelligence.

But along with that, it felt like his resentment towards Sangun had also grown.

Since he didn’t expect much in the first place, he only taught him the *Gugyeol* [essential techniques] of the *Pacheon Mageok* [a martial art or fighting style] and hoped that time would solve it.

‘He’ll take care of it himself.’

Since Tamhwa transformed into a human, the two often fought.

Of course, Gyuyul unilaterally started fights and hit him.

But how tough was Tamhwa’s body?

No matter how much Gyuyul hit him, Tamhwa didn’t care much.

‘He’s been hitting him for days and doesn’t care, so he must be tired of it himself.’

He had a worse temper than himself, so that must be the case.

Sangun spent a lot of time with Tamhwa and returned to the pavilion.

Since he failed to make the *dunbo*, it was time to leave this place.

He had roughly identified the treasures he had obtained this time, and he had also skimmed through most of the scriptures.

Among them, the seven-part scripture called *Humidongcheonro* particularly caught his eye.

The sects of the Harisan Mountain Range were sects divided from one lineage, and the *bibo* [secret treasure or manual] left by their ancestors was this scripture.

‘I don’t know what *Humidongcheonro* is. But someday, the day will come when I find out.’

But what could Sangun do when they hadn’t figured it out for thousands of years?

He was disappointed, but since there was nothing he could do, he had to wait for the future.

With that, Sangun cleaned up his residence in Guisan and prepared to leave.

After waiting for a while, the others appeared one by one, as if they had finished preparing.

“Ahem.”

Chukman Daein only coughed awkwardly, and the others smiled bitterly.

Sangun clicked his tongue and called Gyuyul and Tamhwa. Gyuyul kept hitting Tamhwa with *Guhwan-do* [a type of weapon, likely a sword or saber] as if he didn’t like Tamhwa.

Clang! Tamhwa, who was hit on the head, yawned as if nothing had happened.

“Where did you say Eun Sojeo is? Do you have a map?”

“It’s a place called Dogyeok. I have a map, so I’ll give you one.”

Sangun, who received the map of Dongguk, took out Giryeong Tea from his arms and put Tamhwa on it.

“It will take a month to get there from here.”

With that, Sangun’s group got on Giryeong Tea and headed to a place called Dogyeok.

* * *

One month later.

The place called Dogyeok was the capital of Dongguk, so perhaps because of that, the evil energy was more concentrated than near the Harisan Mountain Range.

“Dongguk was not originally so rampant with evil energy. Thanks to the incarnation of the *Hwansin of Sagye* [a powerful evil deity or being] in the Manbo Era, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has been disrupted.”

“*Hwansin of Sagye*.”

Since ancient times, it has been said that walking the path of the Demonic Dao leads to *Bunggye* [a state of chaos or destruction], and walking the path of the Evil Dao leads to *Sagye* [a state of extreme evil or corruption].

The *Hwansin of Sagye* would be an existence with evil energy different from this place.

“Since such an existence has incarnated, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is in a state of upheaval! No wonder this place is so strange!”

Chuk Munkyung said in admiration.

Jangcheon seemed to agree.

“That’s why Dongguk has no choice but to develop a formation that converts evil energy into spiritual energy. Most Taoists have left this place, but there are always those who are attached to the land where they were born and raised.”

Sangun was not born here, but he had some attachment to Mount Baek.

He somehow understood a little.

“Then, which sect does Sojeo belong to?”

Chukman Daein asked cautiously.

Dogyeok is the capital of Dongguk.

If so, there would be many large sects in Dogyeok.

“There are five prominent sects in Dogyeok, and the place I belong to is one of them. It’s called *Yacheongwimun* (夜天歸門) [Night Sky Returning Gate].”

“Oh! *Yacheongwimun*! Are you serving as an elder there?”

“Yes, the *Moonju* [sect leader] favors our sisters, so that’s how it happened.”

*Yacheongwimun*.

It means returning to the night sky.

Perhaps it was a sect that Taoists who walked the path of the Evil Dao mainly entered.

“Ah, we’ve arrived. It’s there.”

As expected.

The Guisan, where they had stayed before, was a joke compared to this place, which was full of tremendous evil energy.

There were high-rise pavilions stacked like towers in various places on each mountain peak.

In addition, there were *Hamun* [outer gate], *Jungmun* [middle gate], and *Sangmun* [inner gate] from the entrance of Guisan, dividing the boundaries.

‘Even the large sects in Banggok don’t make it to *Jungmun*…’

Perhaps the number of Taoists was extraordinary. He was about to peek with his divine sense, but it was impossible.

The multiple layers of *Geumje* [protective barriers or restrictions] repelled Sangun’s divine sense.

It was then.

Several beams of light soared from *Yacheongwimun’s Hamun*, blocking Sangun’s Giryeong Tea.

There were about fifteen *Biseon* [lower-level immortals] and one *Hwanseon* [higher-level immortals].

They were all wearing dark black clothes and holding staffs made of old trees.

“Who are you… Oh, isn’t that Elder Geum!”

“Have you been well, Elder Mak.”

The middle-aged Taoist called Elder Mak greeted Geummae happily and scanned Sangun’s group.

“But who are these people…”

“They are people who have a long relationship with me.”

“Ah, they were Elder Geum’s acquaintances! We shouldn’t be doing this, come inside. We can’t leave guests standing like this!”

Elder Mak, who had released the alert, smiled kindly and guided Sangun’s group.

There was nothing wrong with going down to *Jungmun*.

There were several pavilions in *Jungmun*, and according to his divine sense, at least dozens of *Hwanseon* were stationed there.

‘There was a reason for their confidence.’

Sangun followed them into the main hall and sat in the seat they guided him to.

He had been looking at the Evil Dao sect with a bit of prejudice, but it was surprisingly neat.

“I’m late to introduce myself. I’m Mak Jayeon, who serves as the *Jiphyeon Elder* [an elder with administrative duties] of *Yacheongwimun*.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jangcheon, the *Bubeopju* [title related to law or dharma] of Talui located in Goseon.”

“I’m Chuk Munkyung of Chuksan!”

“I’m Chukman of Chuksan.”

As they introduced themselves in succession, the attention naturally turned to Sangun.

“I’m Daeho, a *Nangseon* [wandering immortal].”

As he said *Nangseon*, a strange light flickered in Elder Mak’s eyes.

“Haha, Elder Mak! Even if Gongja [a respectful title] is a *Nangseon*, isn’t that too blatant? I’m getting embarrassed!”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Should I call this an occupational disease? Since you said you were a *Nangseon*, I couldn’t help but be greedy.”

“It’s okay. I think I know how much Elder Mak cares about the sect. I think it’s because Elder Mak is in *Gwimun* [another name for the sect] that it has prospered so much.”

As Sangun praised him to the fullest, Elder Mak smiled as if his mouth was about to reach his ears.

“Haha! Even if you gild it, nothing comes out!”

The laughter bloomed, and after enjoying refreshments for a while, they chatted a few times and got down to business.

“By the way, may I ask why you visited this sect?”

“Ah… it’s nothing. Gongja has a relationship with our sisters, so he wanted to see my sister’s condition.”

Then the smile disappeared from Elder Mak’s face, and he pursed his lips.

“Hmm… I see.”

“Is her condition okay?”

When Sangun asked, he smiled bitterly.

“Thanks to the *Moonju’s* efforts, her condition has not worsened…”

“It hasn’t gotten better either, has it.”

Geummae sighed and retorted.

Then the atmosphere subsided and became gloomy, but suddenly Geummae jumped up.

“Let’s go. As I was talking, I wanted to see my sister’s face. In fact, I haven’t seen her often because I’ve been wandering around for several years!”

Her efforts to speak cheerfully made her look even more pitiful.

Sangun smiled and nodded.

The others were the same.

As they got up from their seats and left the main hall, Geummae caused a *Dungwang* [a magical technique for movement] and flew to *Sangmun*. Sangun’s group flinched and then flew after her.

The fact that there were many *Hwanseon* in *Jungmun* meant that *Sangmun* was a place for *Taeseon* [great immortals].

But they were a little surprised that Geummae entered without hesitation.

As soon as Geummae entered *Sangmun*, she moved her lips and chanted a spell.

Then the floor in the center of *Sangmun* cracked open, revealing a staircase leading to the basement.

“There’s nothing to worry about. The basement of *Sangmun* is a place that the *Moonju* and *Daejangro* [great elders] have specially created for our sister. We can guarantee safety, so please come in without hesitation.”

Geummae said that and went into the basement.

Elder Mak also smiled kindly and went in.

Then Sangun’s group began to look at each other.

“Will it be okay…?”

“I don’t know. You have to ask Daeho what to do.”

Everyone looked at Sangun.

Sangun hesitated for a moment and then entered the basement without hesitation.

Then Jangcheon and Chukman Daein followed, and only Chuk Munkyung hesitated a little before chasing after them.