Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 18

Nangseon’s Adventures – Episode 17

The Mountain Lord, fearlessly navigating the densely foggy Hwanjin [a magical fog barrier], stopped, catching a whiff of water.

[Myunghwa, come out here.]

Shortly after.

The carp spirit, Taeyang Hwari, with whom he shared a deep connection, appeared, startled.

[Mountain Lord! What on earth happened to you…!?]

The Mountain Lord briefly explained the situation, convincing him.

He had fallen into a trap, fought fiercely, and was now being pursued.

[Hwaran-nim… I see. Understood.]

[Ah, and your eggs. I used them well, very precious. There’s only one left.]

Upon hearing this, Taeyang Hwari, named Myunghwa, shimmered with a subtle golden light, wriggling his body.

‘He must be happy.’

[I will prepare immediately. But, are you taking that boy with you as well?]

[Well, I have to. If I leave him, he’ll be eaten by those Doseon bastards.]

Myunghwa paused, muttering silently, seemingly displeased.

[I know your relationship isn’t great, but bear with it. The situation calls for it.]

[Hmph… If you say so.]

Myunghwa agreed, saying he would prepare and asked him to wait a moment before entering the lake.

He was probably going to take care of his wife and children.

The Mountain Lord thought so and turned toward the lake.

Turning slightly, he passed through the dense thicket, and a small clearing appeared, the refreshing scent caressing his blood-stained nostrils.

The clearing was filled with evenly planted wild ginseng and various renowned spiritual herbs.

Among them, a purple flower blooming in the center, emitting a subtle light.

Looking at it, the Mountain Lord spoke.

[How long are you going to stay buried? We have a long way to go, so come out quickly.]

Then, miraculously, crack, crack.

The spiritual herb made a sound and moved on its own! If Cho-ah were here, she would have been surprised and hidden behind the Mountain Lord.

The Mountain Lord smiled wryly and waited patiently.

The creature slowly pulled its roots from the soil and came out, then gradually began to transform into a human form.

The boy, with a subtle purple flower on his head, ran to the Mountain Lord.

[Mountain Lord!!]

[Don’t touch me. You’ll get blood on you.]

The Mountain Lord pushed away the running boy with his front paw.

The boy was a ten-thousand-year-old wild ginseng that had become a spirit, and like Taeyang Hwari, he was a creature the Mountain Lord had intended to take but felt sorry for and took in.

[And Mansam, didn’t I tell you? Don’t try to hug me naked.]

There was nothing more frightening than a boy trying to hug him naked.

The boy, called Mansam, looked down at his body, jumped into the bushes, and brought out a gray robe to wear.

[I’m all dressed, Mountain Lord! Can I hug you now?]

[I said you’ll get blood on you! And we have a long way to go, so quickly gather the ginseng and spiritual herbs.]

At the Mountain Lord’s firm voice, Mansam pouted and reached out to the spiritual herbs.

Then, his hand transformed into a plant, splitting into several branches and digging into the soil.

Mansam, who had quickly collected the planted ginseng and spiritual herbs, showed them to the Mountain Lord, who took them and put them into the Gongjeonggang [a magical storage space].

[Let’s go. We have to take the Myunghwa family with us.]

[What? That fish head too? Why don’t you just abandon them…]

[You rascal. How can I do that when they’ll obviously be eaten if I leave them? Seriously, I told you to get along…]

‘Both are similar beings.’

The Mountain Lord thought to himself and turned.

[Ah! Wait for me!]

And a moment later.

After the bickering faded, only the Mountain Lord’s footsteps were heard in the silent Hwanjin.

* * *

[Hongyeon! Can’t you break the Hwanjin?]

Black Tiger, who was pacing around outside the Hwanjin like a puppy needing to pee, asked the Chang Gui [a type of spirit or imp].

The Chang Gui, called Hongyeon, tapped his finger on his lips and nodded.

“Perhaps, I can.”

[Then let’s break it!]

“…Master. If you do that, the Mountain Lord will be angry. If you want to be hated by the Mountain Lord, I will do as you wish.”

[Ah! Th, that’s no good!]

Hongyeon sighed softly and asked.

“Are you worried about the Mountain Lord?”

[W, well… he came back badly hurt. He looked like he would collapse if I touched him!]

“Yes, I suppose so. The wounds seemed to be healing, but even so, he should originally be in a state where it’s difficult to move. It’s amazing that he’s wandering around like that.”

[Exactly! Instead of falling down and sleeping, what’s so urgent that he’s doing…?]

“Have you forgotten? He said he’s entangled with humans and being chased by the elites of Udunsan. Please think before you speak.”

[Ah, I know! I just forgot!]

Hongyeon, glaring at his master as if he couldn’t trust him, suddenly turned his head and looked at the Hwanjin.

“Then, when the Mountain Lord comes, say you’re worried. Ask if there’s anything Master can do to help.”

[B, but the Mountain Lord finds me annoying…]

Swish.

[Are you still here?]

The Mountain Lord, who suddenly appeared from the Hwanjin, tilted his head, seeing Black Tiger still there.

He was the type who occasionally appeared to cause trouble, but perhaps because he wasn’t feeling well, he felt annoyed just looking at his face.

[Ah! Mountain Lord! Seeing you, you w, weakling, makes me feel full just standing here!! Eukakaka!]

Hongyeon sighed openly at his master’s foolish behavior, and the Mountain Lord frowned.

[What’s with this idiot.]

[B, b-idiot!? H, how can you say such harsh words!]

[Move, I’m busy.]

[I, I won’t move! I haven’t finished speaking yet!]

The Mountain Lord looked at Black Tiger with a disgusted expression and thought.

‘Should I just kill him?’

Unlike his appearance, he was originally a weakling, so one blow of the Azure Flame Tiger Claw would be enough to finish him off.

If the Mountain Lord could just hit that foolish-looking face with his proud front paw kick, he could do it.

‘It’s not like he wants to fight, so why is he being so annoying.’

The Mountain Lord was impatient.

Why wouldn’t he be? For all he knew, those guys might have already approached within striking distance.

He needed to hide quickly and fully recover from his injuries.

After that, he had to take Dobonghwan [a type of elixir] to raise his realm, and use Yeokgeunhwan [another type of elixir] to disguise himself… He had a mountain of things to do.

But, this black mutt was blocking his way, so he couldn’t help but be annoyed.

‘Haa, let’s just let it go.’

His physical condition wasn’t great, and if he missed the Azure Flame Tiger Claw, he might have to fight him right away.

If that happened, the Mountain Lord would obviously be at a disadvantage.

Besides, even though Black Tiger annoyed him, he was always a guy who demanded a fair fight.

The Mountain Lord didn’t dislike such a guy.

In a world where most people only tried to satisfy their own desires, such a simple idiot was rare to see.

[Th, that’s to say- Ack!]

“Mountain Lord. Would you listen to what I have to say?”

Just as Black Tiger was about to say something, the Chang Gui, who had been quietly standing by, pushed Black Tiger’s head with his butt and stood in front of the Mountain Lord.

[What is it?]

“I heard that the Mountain Lord is being chased by enemies. But the Mountain Lord is alone, and his body is not well.”

“So, how about accompanying my master?”

“What?”

“Huh?! M, me with Mountain Lord!?”

Hongyeon silently glared down at Black Tiger as if telling him to shut up. Black Tiger lowered his tail and turned his head away, pretending not to notice.

Mountain Lord felt a strange sense of incongruity, looked at them, and then looked at Chang Gui [a type of spirit subordinate to tigers].

“Black Tiger only wants to compete with Mountain Lord. Of course, after you have fully healed.”

As she finished speaking, Mountain Lord’s expression became strange.

It wasn’t a bad proposition.

It seemed like Chang Gui was up to something, but Black Tiger was still under Mountain Lord’s control, and Mountain Lord knew that this fool wasn’t such a bad guy.

So, there was nothing inherently wrong with them asking to join him.

‘It’s a bit of a long way to Mangsudan.’

Mangsudan (望守團) [lit. Watching and Guarding Group].

A secret base only Mountain Lord knew, located ten days southeast of Mount Baek.

It was built underground, making it the perfect place to hide, and more than anything, it was the closest location to Mount Baek.

But the closest distance was ten days away.

There was no guarantee that he wouldn’t be ambushed by enemies in the meantime.

For Mountain Lord, there was no reason to refuse. Rather, he was in a situation where he needed assistance.

“How about it? My master will be able to compete with Mountain Lord at the right time, and Mountain Lord will be able to safely reach his desired destination without the threat of enemies.”

But Mountain Lord remained silent.

The conditions were perfect. However, Mountain Lord’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Black Tiger and Chang Gui.

‘The conditions are too good.’

That was rather suspicious. Even though he had known him for a long time, that didn’t mean he could trust him.

Looking at that dumbfounded face, it seemed meaningless to harbor such doubts, but he lacked the confidence to blindly trust him.

Mountain Lord had already fallen into Woodan’s trap, and it had brought him to the brink of death.

It was impossible to trust so easily.

“I refuse. I can’t trust you guys. I’d only be anxious traveling with someone who might stab me in the back.”

Even without them, Mountain Lord was confident he could reach Mangsudan.

He had bought time with Hwaran’s base.

And since he had rushed to Mount Baek without delay, he would be some distance away from them.

“Wh, what! What about me is untrustworthy-”

“Then let’s do this.”

Chang Gui, who once again stopped his master’s outburst, took something out of her sleeve.

In that moment, a familiar light flashed in Mountain Lord’s eyes from within the sleeve, but he pretended not to notice and waited quietly.

“This is…….”

“Perhaps, do you recognize this?”

There was no way he wouldn’t recognize it.

What she took out was a Bokjwa牌 [Bokjwa牌 (복좌패): Spirit Tablet].

To those who didn’t know, it would just look like an ordinary wooden nameplate, but the subtle spiritual energy flowing through it told him that it was one of the spirit tablets.

The Bokjwa牌 was used to enslave spirits as servants, as its name suggested.

It was a treasure that allowed you to write a name on the nameplate, create a spell, and put a part of the spirit’s soul into it to use it as you pleased.

“What is that?”

“Master, please be quiet.”

Black Tiger, scolded by Hongyeon, snorted and turned away.

Regardless, Mountain Lord was confused and didn’t know what to do.

Because engraving his name on the Bokjwa牌 was like giving the person who held it control over his life.

‘Why…….’

Why would she go this far?

Mountain Lord couldn’t understand at all.

“Mountain Lord must be thinking this. Why are we trying to do this?”

Mountain Lord narrowed his eyes and stared at Chang Gui.

Come to think of it, it was strange.

Chang Gui were beings subordinate to tigers.

Not only could they not disobey the tiger’s words, but the tiger could also tear their souls to shreds if they wanted to.

Besides, the light that subtly flashed in her sleeve for a moment.

It was the light of Gongjeonggang [a rare and powerful spiritual artifact].

Although the color wasn’t very bright, Mountain Lord’s eyes couldn’t be fooled by the unique amber light of Gongjeonggang.

‘Come to think of it, this Chang Gui doesn’t feel any ghostly energy.’

Was she really a Chang Gui?

She had taken out the Bokjwa牌 to gain Mountain Lord’s trust, but he was rather nervous about this situation.

“Why are you hesitating so much? You wouldn’t say you don’t know that we can’t harm Mountain Lord if we hold the Bokjwa牌.”

Hongyeon, smiling kindly, handed two Bokjwa牌 to Mountain Lord, waving her hand as if telling him to take them quickly.

“Ah, my. How could someone like me make such a mistake.”

With those words, Hongyeon bit her thumb, drew blood, and wrote her name on the spirit tablet.

With that, Mountain Lord was convinced.

‘She’s not a Chang Gui.’

Chang Gui couldn’t bleed.

She wasn’t a Chang Gui.

But strangely enough, he couldn’t feel any energy from her.

That made Mountain Lord even more afraid.

‘The fact that she can hide her energy so perfectly means she’s at least a few steps above me as a spirit beast.’

Hongyeon didn’t care about such Mountain Lord and wrote her name on the nameplate, took Black Tiger’s blood, wrote his name on the nameplate, recited the incantation, and put her soul into it.

Black Tiger’s was with her too.

“Ugh, what is this!”

Black Tiger jumped in surprise as a small lump of light flew from his body to the spirit tablet.

“Please be quiet, Master.”

‘Master……. Master. Yes……, that’s right.’

There was only one spirit beast like that among the spirit beasts.

A strange spirit beast that served and protected the person they had chosen as their master.

Mountain Lord, recalling that, nodded his head.

“Now, take it.”

Hongyeon handed Mountain Lord the Bokjwa牌 written in blood.

Mountain Lord reluctantly took it and lightly poured spiritual energy into it.

Thump.

The nameplate pulsed for a moment and then disappeared into Mountain Lord’s body in an instant.

With this, the two became Mountain Lord’s servants.

Mountain Lord was dumbfounded by what had happened so quickly.

But now that they had gone this far, he didn’t have to worry about them betraying him.

“It’s okay. Mountain Lord, who we’ve seen all this time, wouldn’t threaten us by holding our lifelines. I’ve seen you for nearly 50 years, so my eyes wouldn’t be wrong.”

“Wh…, th, that’s right? Mountain Lord isn’t a coward! Of course!”

Black Tiger pretended to know, showing off without even knowing what he had done.

Mountain Lord stared blankly at the two with a dazed look, then suddenly let out a chuckle.

“Wh, what’s so funny!”

“No. It’s nothing. Ha, it’s really absurd.”

It was absurd that they trusted him, who was also called a tiger.

Mountain Lord had many questions, but he put them aside and turned his body.

“Let’s go, we have a long way to go.”

“Y, yeah! This Black Tiger will kindly follow you since you look like that!”