Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 122

Rumble!

The thunder and lightning roared as if expressing displeasure. Everyone aboard the spirit energy carriage looked visibly tense.

Manho, of course, was terrified, and even Chuk Mun-gyeong and Jangcheon recognized the gravity of the situation.

“The Gokgong Delta…”

Chuk Man-daein muttered in disbelief. San-gun’s expression was also dark.

“What is the Gokgong Delta… ?”

Manho asked, his face filled with fear.

San-gun sighed deeply and began to explain, as if recalling a distant memory.

“It’s an unstable triangular zone where time and space are distorted.”

“Time and space?”

“Yes. Once… an unlucky fellow I knew entered this place and wandered for about ten years. He was fortunate enough to escape, but because time was distorted, a thousand years had passed in the original world by the time he got out.”

Frankly, even that was considered lucky. Others spent their entire lives wandering there, becoming lost souls, or were trapped in the void between spaces.

If not, the Gokgong Delta was a place where one might crash-land in a completely different world from where they started. [A place where the destination is not guaranteed.]

No sane person would ever enter this place.

Manho was speechless at San-gun’s explanation and remained silent for a long while.

The others were the same.

As soon as they entered, Ji-chung’s energy disappeared, but they couldn’t shake off the gloomy feeling.

“Still, one good thing is that Guisu Mountain is here.”

“Yes? That’s right! Guisu Mountain being in the Gokgong Delta means that he has some divine power that ignores spatial distortion! Otherwise, there’s no way he would have entered such a crazy place!”

Manho shouted, his face brightening with hope.

Chuk Mun-gyeong also smiled broadly at that.

“That’s right! Kya~ Manho, that Taoist is quick on the uptake, isn’t he? His insight is beyond compare!”

However, San-gun shook his head, dashing their expectations.

“That’s not it.”

“Th, then…”

“Are you going to complain to the gatekeeper?”

“There must be a way; that’s why we’re doing this. It’s a bit dangerous, but it’ll be much better than the Gokgong Delta.”

It was then.

The energy of Ji-chung, which had disappeared, reappeared!

“Damn it!”

* * *

A stormy sea area.

On a small island floating leisurely in the Gokgong Delta, countless swords were stuck in the ground.

Among the myriad of swords, an old man with age spots all over his face sat blankly.

At that moment.

The old man’s head tilted slightly.

He stared blankly at a point in the sky, and soon a blue and purple light flashed and approached.

“…What is that?”

His joints ached all over from sitting for so long.

He groaned and straightened his back, and his bones cracked.

“Aigo, my back…”

The old man patted his back and focused his eyes as he watched the carriage and purple light land on the island.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a guest.”

He couldn’t even remember how long it had been since he had a visitor. He was simply welcoming the visitor as always.

“Welcome. What kind of… Ah.”

Thump, thump, thump!!

The carriage, unable to control its speed as it descended, crashed into the old man!

It crashed into numerous swords and trees before finally stopping.

“Damn it…!”

San-gun, who had risen amidst the wreckage, cursing, was none other than San-gun. He turned his head sharply and threw the Jugwi Tongchun [a protective artifact] from his chest.

Whoosh!

Creak, creak, creak!!

“The shell of the Jugwi Tongchun! Ha! So that’s how you managed to survive!”

Ji-chung sneered mockingly as he launched a flying sword.

“I’ve flown ten thousand miles to find you. You’ve brought such disgrace to the Sea Dragon Clan with your mere Illusionary Immortal skills; you must pay the price!”

Yeonggeop Yuksa [a powerful technique].

And the Great Elder of the Sea Dragon Clan.

He couldn’t help but be nervous.

San-gun immediately tapped the Tamhwa [a magical bracelet] wrapped around his wrist. The Tamhwa swelled up and transformed into the Wiju Hoyeon Armor [a powerful set of armor].

The Great Elder’s face became even more venomous as he donned the black armor.

How many Sea Clan members had he slaughtered wearing that! It was armor that he wanted to tear apart and chew to pieces right away.

“Die!”

As if not giving him a chance, he immediately threw a double-edged axe from his chest. The axe flew with a purple light.

Feeling a moment of chills, San-gun activated the Cheollimayangbu [a movement technique] and teleported into the air.

Whoosh.

Crash, crash, crash!!

The double-edged axe scattered a strange purple light and devastated the surroundings.

He didn’t know what the purple energy was, but it was clear that he shouldn’t touch it easily.

Just as San-gun was about to take out the Hyeonhoe Sword [his sword].

“Uwaaaaaaack!!”

Suddenly, a scream was heard.

Turning his head, he saw Manho holding a sword, his entire body being sucked into it, starting from his arm.

It seemed he had accidentally grabbed one of the scattered swords. Ji-chung also frowned at the bizarre phenomenon.

However, only San-gun had a bright smile on his face, his lips forming a deep arc.

It seemed he had found the right place.

“Aigoo… what is this…”

It was then.

An old man he had never seen before rose from the thick fog, groaning.

He thought he was a Taoist, but he wasn’t.

He couldn’t feel any energy at all.

‘Yes. That old man is definitely the one.’

Uran, who wanted to take revenge on San-gun, had received a fortuitous encounter and learned the Sword Formation. At first, he thought he was related to the Sword Spirit Island, but that wasn’t the case.

Of course, he couldn’t feel even a speck of spiritual energy! Only then did San-gun understand and teleport to the old man’s side.

“Get lost if you don’t want to die.”

Ji-chung threatened, revealing his killing intent to the suddenly appearing old man.

It was a strange thing.

Considering his nature, he could have launched a killing blow without asking anything.

But he didn’t.

That gave San-gun even more confidence. There must be something suspicious about him; that’s why he’s acting like that!

“If you’ve come here, you must draw a sword! Hurry up and draw a sword!”

However, the old man didn’t care what the situation was and told him to draw a sword.

He was telling him to draw one of the many swords stuck all over Guisu Mountain.

“A sword…?”

“I will draw!”

Unlike the suspicious Ji-chung, San-gun answered readily and grabbed the old man’s hand.

It was no different from a human hand.

San-gun was immersed in emotion all by himself.

“I told you to draw a sword; why are you grabbing this old man’s hand?”

“Is that so? That’s strange. I clearly only grabbed a sword.”

Then, the old man’s furrowed face relaxed, and he gave a bitter smile.

“An interesting fellow has come.”

He only said those words, and a sharp sword energy exploded from the old man’s body.

Soon, the old man’s form became vague and turned into a beautiful treasured sword with a small light.

“What!?”

San-gun sneered at Ji-chung and was sucked into the sword.

It happened in an instant.

He was sucked into the sword, and only a treasured sword spun in the air before being stuck on the ground.

Ji-chung immediately ran and grabbed the treasured sword, but nothing happened.

“…Damn it!”

He grabbed the treasured sword and exploded all kinds of energy, but nothing changed.

It was then.

The treasured sword glowed faintly.

Ji-chung’s lips curled up.

However, the treasured sword soon changed its form and turned back into the old man.

“Look for another sword. It’s no longer possible.”

“What are you talking about! You! Send me to where that guy is! If you don’t send me…!”

However, the old man scoffed.

“It’s not possible since the spot is already taken.”

“What are you talking about!”

“Once you’ve held a sword, you can’t go to Sword Spirit Island again unless the practitioner dies.”

“Sword… Spirit Island? This place is the entrance to Sword Spirit Island!?”

“That’s right. And I’m just a lowly old man managing this place.”

The entrance to Sword Spirit Island!

Only then did Ji-chung suppress his excitement.

If he was the one managing the entrance to Sword Spirit Island, he was not someone to be treated carelessly.

“You’re the gatekeeper.”

“Call me what you like. My job is just to give swords to visitors.”

The old man with an indifferent face only repeated the same words. Ji-chung glared at him fiercely. Sword Spirits refer to those born from swords. It’s not uncommon, but they do appear from time to time.

It’s similar to the principle of imbuing spirituality when cultivating with the Main Lineage Dharma [a cultivation technique] for a long time.

But this Sword Spirit can be said to be particularly unique among them.

The guardian spirit who protects Sword Spirit Island.

Or the one called the gatekeeper.

If that’s true, he would have spent at least tens of thousands of years here.

He’s not an existence to be easily dismissed.

“Whichever of these you hold, going to Sword Spirit Island is the same.”

“That word! Is it true!?”

“Of course. I’ve been here my whole life; would I not know that?”

The old man shrugged his shoulders and said, and Ji-chung glared at him with tearful eyes before grabbing a sword scattered around him.

Soon, his body began to be sucked into the sword.

Then, the old man muttered slightly.

“Well… it might be a bit off.”

“You bastard, die…”

Whoosh!

Spin, spin, thump.

“Why don’t you guys go too?”

Then, the bushes rustled, and three figures appeared. It was Jangcheon, Chuk Man-daein, and Chuk Mun-gyeong.

“Are the paths different?”

“That’s right. But the end is the same, so there’s no need to be different.”

After pondering for a moment after hearing the answer, Jangcheon grabbed a slightly blunt sword.

Whoosh!

He disappeared with the sound of the wind.

Now there were only two left.

“I’ll stay here. You should go.”

“Yes? H, how can I leave Great Master behind!”

He looked scared.

Well, if he was unlucky enough to fall close to Ji-chung, he would be dead that day, so it was natural.

“This old one has no reason to go. I’ve heard a few stories about Sword Spirit Island from a friend. It’s a place only for swords….”

He glanced at the old man, who was looking at the distant mountains as if he didn’t know.

“Chuk Sajil, go in and suffer a little! Suffering in youth is something you should buy!”

Chuk Man-daein kicked Chuk Mun-gyeong with his foot! He rolled on the floor and touched a sword and disappeared.

“It’s just as well. I was trying to regain my lost realm anyway. It’s the Gokgong Delta, but it’s not bad. We’ll all get out when the time comes. Besides, I have a perfect companion!”

Chuk Man-daein looked at the old man with subtle eyes, but the old man remained silent.

“An old friend secretly threw a sword here a long time ago, and it seems to be doing well. Thanks to that, I came to find it.”

Only then did the old man raise his eyebrows and look at her.

The reason Chuk Man could find Sword Spirit Island was all because of the sword her friend had hidden.

If it hadn’t been for that, she wouldn’t have been able to find it. And this Sword Spirit wouldn’t like that very much.

“Sword… don’t you want to find out where it is? You shouldn’t reveal the location of this place?”

He looked at her as if he was uncomfortable and then clicked his tongue.

Chuk Man smiled contentedly and raised the corners of her lips. Bamboo has been famous in Guisu Mountain since ancient times, and it is perfect for a Wood Divine Taoist!

After a while.

Guisu Mountain, where the visitors had disappeared, became quiet as if nothing had happened.