Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 148

Nangseon Gi Hwan Dam – 147

“Master Beom, what is your relationship with Gu Gui?”

O Gui asked, probing carefully.

I could roughly guess the kind of relationship he was implying.

“I told you, we’re friends.”

“Is that so?”

But O Gui didn’t seem convinced.

“I just asked to be sure. It’s just that I’ve never seen a *Yuksa* [a type of celestial official or warrior] who is friends with Gu Gui before.”

It was obvious what kind of social circle Hori moved in.

And I understood it.

In a world where you can’t trust anyone, how could it be any different?

Forming friendships and trusting others only leads to betrayal and getting robbed blind – that’s just common sense around here.

“If it’s nothing special, then it’s fine. I was just asking in case.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, even if there were some kind of feelings between you two, it wouldn’t matter. What kind of man can’t win the woman he desires!”

O Gui looked at me suggestively, a sly smile on his face.

“I didn’t know O Gui had such feelings.”

I really didn’t know.

And I didn’t *want* to know.

Regardless, O Gui chattered on enthusiastically through telepathy as if something amazing had happened.

“I lost my heart at first sight. It was about 40 years ago…”

After that, O Gui repeated himself like a drunkard.

Mostly about the day he first met Hori.

He said he first met Hori at the Hundred Ghost Night Parade [a gathering of powerful ghosts and spirits] where the Ghost Kings gather, and he lost his heart then and there.

Since then, he’s been suffering from lovesickness, writhing in agony every night, and coming here whenever he has the chance because he wants to see her.

“Do you understand my heart?”

How could I?

I wondered what he saw in Hori.

Thanks to achieving *Talhyeong* [a state of transformation or transcendence], she had the appearance of a girl in her teens.

What made him fall in love at first sight?

‘He’s crazy.’

He was seriously crazy.

It’s been said since ancient times that golden pigs are extremely fond of women and wealth, and it seems that’s not wrong.

‘Hori doesn’t seem to like it either… I don’t need to worry about it.’

If I interfered, it would become troublesome.

He might seem out of his mind, but he is one of the Ten Great Ghost Kings.

His power and divine abilities couldn’t be easily underestimated.

While O Gui and San-gun were talking through telepathy, Gu Gui and Chil Gui quietly shared drinks.

They were patiently waiting for their conversation to end.

However, when O Gui’s telepathy showed no signs of stopping, San-gun cleared his throat.

“Ahem.”

“Ah, haha, I must have been too focused on my conversation with Master Beom because I was drunk! I neglected the beautiful women! As an apology… someone!”

As O Gui called his subordinates and clapped, women wearing thin cloths descended like flower petals and began to dance to the music, as if they had been rehearsing for this moment.

The dancers emitted a strange spiritual power as they danced, which was a bit unusual.

The surrounding atmosphere was subtly changing, and the concentration of spiritual energy was increasing.

Those sensitive to spiritual energy couldn’t help but notice.

San-gun also curiously watched the dance, but couldn’t discern anything particularly special.

However, he could tell that the surrounding spiritual energy was becoming richer due to the dancers’ movements, and their spiritual power was being consumed exponentially.

“This must be the *Donryeongseonmu* (暾靈仙舞) [Sun Spirit Fairy Dance] that the Geumdon tribe boasts of. The dancers’ movements and songs are very enjoyable.”

Chil Gui praised with a satisfied face, and O Gui’s mouth stretched from ear to ear.

“Haha, there’s no need to overpraise it. After all, the *Seonmu* (仙舞) [Fairy Dance] that can be shown here due to restrictions only increases the concentration of spiritual particles. How could that level be satisfactory to those of us at this level?”

“That sounds like it’s not just this much when fully performed.”

“As expected of Chil Gui. You are very clever.”

However, O Gui only laughed it off and didn’t give a proper answer.

After that, just as they were about to wrap up the drinking party with some small talk, O Gui mentioned that he had caught something truly rare on the way here.

“He was so fierce that I almost got seriously injured. If it weren’t for our tribe’s treasure, I wouldn’t have been able to catch him.”

Then, he opened his palm and showed a small golden pig statue.

“This is the Geumdon Sin-sang [Golden Pig Divine Image], a treasure of our tribe, and it’s the best for capturing things. But if I take him out here, it will be a mess, so I’ll just show you the illusion.”

Those watching nodded blankly and watched what he was doing.

The Geumdon Sin-sang he took out was a statue in the shape of a golden pig.

The plump golden pig was sitting in meditation, and its belly was swollen.

As O Gui floated the Geumdon Sin-sang and cast a spell, a small light leaked from the statue’s belly and floated into the air.

Soon, the small light swelled up and grew, as if crossing the center of the festival.

And what appeared was an illusion of a centipede made of pure white light.

The surrounding ghost beasts were also swallowing hard, surprised by the enormous size and grotesque appearance.

“Haha, I was heading to Honghae when this guy was flying leisurely, so I approached him out of curiosity and finally caught him after a three-day chase. I don’t know what kind of spirit insect he is, but his divine abilities and the hardness of his body are comparable to an old monster, so he will be indispensable in preparing for the upcoming war!”

He seemed to be speaking quite confidently.

Chil Gui couldn’t hide his surprise at the illusion of the giant centipede.

However, everyone except Chil Gui was looking at only one man.

Gu Gui, as well as Hong-yeon and Hwa-ran, were all staring at San-gun, who was looking at the centipede illusion with emotionless eyes.

‘Ha, I knew something was strange.’

I had my doubts.

Tam-hwa should have arrived a long time ago. I was wondering why he was so late, but now the question was finally answered.

‘I don’t know what the Geumdon Sin-sang is, but it must be something special. To be able to perfectly conceal the connection with Bok-chung like this.’

Perhaps if O Gui hadn’t excitedly taken out the Geumdon Sin-sang, San-gun would have passed by without knowing. Since I couldn’t even sense it, I didn’t even know Tam-hwa was there.

I was still lacking in many ways.

The path of enlightenment was far away.

I became a little conceited after becoming a *Yeong-geop* [a high level of spiritual attainment], but this incident immediately dispelled my arrogance.

“Why is everyone reacting like that…”

O Gui looked around, sensing something was wrong, and examined the expressions of the others.

At that moment, San-gun rose from his seat and gave a bitter smile.

“It seems… O Gui, you and I are destined to be together.”

As he said that, O Gui’s eyebrows shot up.

It was clearly a provocative tone.

O Gui was a little dumbfounded by the sudden change in attitude.

“I wish you would explain what you mean in a way that I can understand. Have I made some kind of mistake?”

“No, it’s just that I was worried because the child I sent on an errand hasn’t returned, but since O Gui kindly brought him here, I think I should give you a separate thank you.”

He was smiling, but murderous intent was soaring from his blazing red eyes.

When O Gui’s eyebrows twitched.

San-gun’s murderous aura fell in all directions. It was San-gun’s murderous aura, which had accumulated a truly enormous amount of slaughter. The *Yeong-myeong* [a level below Yeong-geop] level ghost beasts knelt down, and those below them vomited blood and collapsed, becoming one with the ground.

“Master Beom! How dare you do this to me! If you want something, say it properly. It’s not that I can’t use my strength, it’s that I’m not using it!!”

He roughly grasped the situation, but the opponent was a *Nangseon* [a type of celestial being] in the early stages of *Yeong-geop*. There was no need for O Gui, who was in the middle stages of *Yeong-geop*, to bow his head.

He was only leaving room for consideration because of his friendship with Gu Gui.

‘How dare a *Nangseon* scrub with no power reveal his murderous intent to me!! If he weren’t Gu Gui’s friend, I would have corrected his manners in an instant!’

But he couldn’t show it.

“Speak calmly! That’s how you’ll know what’s going on and take action!”

At his words, he withdrew his murderous intent and pointed to the Geumdon Sin-sang floating in the air.

“The guy trapped inside is a child I especially cherish.”

Only then did O Gui, who had grasped the situation, fail to erase his awkward expression.

It was only natural since he was about to give away the guy he had worked so hard to catch for free.

Besides, he couldn’t show weakness with Gu Gui and Hong-yeon watching.

‘I’ve been working hard for years to win that woman’s heart! How dare a *Nangseon* try to ruin my face?’

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. Gu Gui, as well as the ghost beasts of Honghae, have all seen it, so there’s no need for evidence.”

“Beom is right. You caught him well, he had great divine abilities…”

Even Gu Gui affirmed, and O Gui’s face frowned deeply before returning to normal.

“I see…. But there are a vast number of centipede spirit insects if you look for them. So, you may have been mistaken by seeing the illusion? You can easily see this many centipedes just by wandering around Honghae.”

“Are you… saying that I and Gu Gui are lying?”

San-gun’s eyes turned fierce for a moment.

O Gui raised the corners of his lips.

“That’s not it, I’m saying you might be mistaken.”

“Then release the spirit insect from the Geumdon Sin-sang. Then the answer will come out.”

As San-gun said that, O Gui’s face twitched slightly.

“Ah… that’s, I haven’t performed the ritual of ownership yet, so if I take it out, the area will be in chaos, so I can’t do that.”

“Ha.”

As San-gun gave a small sneer at the clearly visible intention, O Gui flared up.

“Are you mocking me now? Even if you are friends with Gu Gui, you shouldn’t do this to me!”

Then, the *Yuksa* of the Geumdon tribe gathered around him. As they threatened San-gun, Gu Gui slammed the table and stood up.

“Are you trying to show off your strength in Honghae? If that’s the case, I can fully respond! Hong-yeon!”

“Yes, did you call me?”

“Tell all the ghost beasts of Honghae.”

Gu Gui, who said that, glared at the Geumdon tribe and O Gui with sharp eyes.

“Tell them to brew plenty of alcohol because they will be able to fill their bellies with pork!”

It was a clear provocation.

O Gui couldn’t remain calm when Gu Gui came out like that.

O Gui subtly looked at Chil Gui.

“I will not interfere.”

He drew a clear line.

It was a wise attitude.

Even if left like this, the victory or defeat had already been decided.

Even a stray dog eats half in his own home, so how could he survive by causing trouble in Honghae?

However, San-gun didn’t want such a commotion either.

“Is there a need to make such a big deal out of this? I just want to refrain from unnecessary commotion, and O Gui probably didn’t intentionally capture my Bok-chung. So, let’s do this.”

“What do you mean?”

O Gui asked in a chilly voice, and he smiled and said.

“Although it’s said that it wasn’t intentional, my face won’t be good if we just gloss over it like this, so if you can withstand my three moves, I’ll pretend nothing happened. Isn’t that a bad condition? Surely O Gui, who has risen to the middle stage of *Yeong-geop*, isn’t afraid of my three moves, who is in the early stage of *Yeong-geop*.”

“Ha! Is there a need to go as far as three moves? If you do it in one move, I’ll give you the spirit insect as well as the Geumdon Sin-sang, which is a treasure of our tribe! But if you properly block it, understand that there will be no more talk about the spirit insect!!”

As San-gun nodded, joy spread across O Gui’s face. He heard that he hadn’t been in *Yeong-geop* for very long.

He rose to *Yeong-geop* at a young age, so his divine abilities and treasures must be lacking.

He could fully withstand the one move of such a person if he was in the middle stage of *Yeong-geop*.

Even if it was a fellow *Yuksa*, he was confident, so how could he not receive the one move of a lower realm!

‘You stupid bastard.’

O Gui, who cursed San-gun inwardly, immediately took his place and made a hand seal.

Flash! A group of lights spread out, and O Gui’s appearance began to grow.

He had returned to the appearance of his true form, the giant golden pig. O Gui, who had turned into a golden pig, sat in meditation and took out four tin staffs from his mouth and planted them in the east, west, south, and north.

As he struck the staffs with a spell, they trembled and a small Bodhisattva illusion was created.

The Bodhisattva illusion created a golden, brilliant, square protective barrier, and bizarre spell letters floated above it and solidified.

It was a protective barrier that looked very powerful just by looking at it.

But O Gui wasn’t satisfied with that and changed his hand seal and moved his mouth.

His body twisted, and spell letters were densely engraved, and his skin hardened and turned into insect armor.

Only then did O Gui’s face become much more comfortable as if he was relieved, and he shouted.

“Come on, I’m ready, come in!”

San-gun drew a curve at the corner of his mouth at his boldly speaking appearance.

It was a rather eerie smile.

“I haven’t been in *Yeong-geop* for very long, so please understand that I’m not good at controlling my strength.”

Five shining lotus mandalas floated behind San-gun, scattering five-colored light.

Not only the ghost beasts but also Hong-yeon and others were startled by his divine abilities.

This was because a mysterious energy descended in all directions, creating a difficult-to-grasp energy that was both oppressive and enveloping.

But it was too early to be surprised.

San-gun raised his fist, which was scattering five-colored light, and added ominous red flames.

It was the chronic poison flame that he had been accumulating in his body to build up his resistance.

“Since we have agreed, let’s not resent each other even if we die!”

San-gun’s fist stretched out to O Gui.

The petals of the five-colored mandala were woven into a giant fist and flew away.

Soon, an earth-shattering roar spread in all directions, and the sound of a pig being slaughtered spread far and wide.