Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 196

Tales of the Spirit Lancer – 195

His appearance, and even his very aura, was perfectly concealed.

Mountain Lord stood still, wearing the earring, but Young Miss So kept calling out as if she couldn’t see him.

“Yook-gwi, where did you go?”

She really couldn’t see him.

Young Miss So called out a few more times and then peered around the room.

“What… where did he go?”

Seeming truly unable to see or sense him, So-mang looked around for a long time before pursing her lips and changing her expression.

“Is there anything I can take?”

Mountain Lord was unknowingly raising a thief.

So-mang rummaged around for a while, starting to put useful items into her pockets.

Mountain Lord, who had been blankly watching her, asked in disbelief, “What are you rummaging for?”

“Oh my!”

Startled, Young Miss So quickly rolled her eyes and then smiled awkwardly.

“When did you get here?”

“I’ve been here from the start. I see I’ve been raising a master thief.”

“A, a master thief! People might misunderstand if they hear you!”

“There’s nothing to misunderstand, is there?”

He had directly witnessed her trying to steal right in front of him, so what more needed to be said?

However, Young Miss So neatly folded her hands and calmly said,

“It’s a misunderstanding.

I was just wondering if there was anything I could borrow for a moment.

And the Yook-gwi I’ve seen so far is a person of reason and virtue, who knows how to share his possessions with his neighbors and live together.”

“…So?”

She was very eloquent.

For some reason, he wanted to hear more.

Compliments make even whales dance, so there was no reason not to listen more.

“I was just looking for something I needed, as always, and not trying to steal anything at all.

The word ‘master thief’ has no place on my path of cultivation, only the Great Way [the ultimate truth or path to enlightenment], so please don’t misunderstand.”

Mountain Lord nodded involuntarily and walked over to grab Young Miss So’s cheek.

“Ouch!”

“Putting sincerity into nonsense makes it very persuasive, very persuasive.”

“Y, you shouldn’t pull a lady’s cheek like that, Yook-gwi!”

“Lady, my foot! You were sneaking around to steal something, looking exactly like a petty thief, so what lady are you talking about! ‘A needle thief becomes a cow thief’ [a small transgression can lead to larger ones], the old saying is never wrong. Today, I must correct So-jeo’s… no. Why would a petty thief need honorifics!

So-mang! I must correct your habits today!”

Then, So-mang was startled and widened her eyes.

“Y, Yook-gwi! Even though we’ve known each other for decades and live without barriers, don’t you think treating me like this is rude?!”

“Nope.”

Mountain Lord answered instantly without hesitation, and So-mang’s hand immediately formed a hand sign [a symbolic gesture used in Taoist practices].

But how could he let that happen?

He grabbed her hand with his left hand to stop the hand sign, and her face contorted.

“Don’t resent me, Yook-gwi!”

Crack!

The sound of bones echoed as So-mang’s hand, held by Mountain Lord, moved.

Her essence was a hybrid.

A creature combining a Taoist and a spirit beast.

Naturally, her physical abilities were also on a different level from ordinary Taoists.

“No, what strength…!”

But Mountain Lord’s hand didn’t budge.

Who was he?

A spirit beast’s body that had mastered various secret arts of body strengthening and achieved Gyuncheon Bohwa [a high level of physical and spiritual attainment].

Even a Hon-gwa [a unit of weight, roughly equivalent to 16 pounds] with a thousand pounds of strength could not escape Mountain Lord’s grip.

“Ugh!”

So-mang’s face turned pale from Mountain Lord’s strength, and then she moved her lips.

Then, her body flickered like a mirage, and steam leaked out.

She had instantly turned into mist.

What kind of divine power was it that even the hand holding her turned into a handful of mist and disappeared?

“Hoo.”

Cheee… The mist quickly filled the room, making it impossible to see even an inch ahead.

Mountain Lord’s red eyes, which had been watching with interest, subtly caught one spot.

Ping!

Instantly flicking his finger, he shot out a black gold needle, and the mist stirred.

Taeng!

The gold needle bounced out of the mist, and the corners of Mountain Lord’s lips curved up.

“A useful sword. No, is it Cheon-in [a type of celestial being or artifact]?”

So-mang clicked her tongue at his divine power, which had instantly found her hidden technique.

“It’s my Bonseon Beopbae [a Taoist magical artifact], Cheonui Mubeong [Heavenly Feather Dance].”

“Cheonui Mubeong, what a grand name.”

Beside So-mang, a thin cloth that was fluttering and transparent was floating in the air.

It looked like a fairy’s winged clothes.

It looked like it would tear if you just touched it, but seeing it deflect the gold needle, its strength was not to be underestimated, as it was at the level of a decent treasure sword.

“Would you like to test whether it’s grand or not?”

So-mang, who had readily fallen for Mountain Lord’s provocation, flared up and charged.

The crimson Cheonui Mubeong wound around and shot out. The fluttering appearance was like a butterfly, but seeing it quickly roll up and shoot out like a spear, it was like a bee, eliciting admiration.

The saying ‘flies like a butterfly, stings like a bee’ seemed to be about her, making him smile.

“Since you’re so confident, shall we see some of your supposed thousand-pound strength?”

Hwarueuk!

Blue flames soared from his hand, and before he knew it, a thin, blue treasure sword appeared.

Mountain Lord’s Bonseon Beopbae, Hwaran [Blue Orchid].

Kkaang!!

Mountain Lord, who had instantly brushed aside Cheonui Mubeong, smiled leisurely.

“Shall we make a bet?”

“A bet?”

“If you can touch even a single hair on my head, I’ll grant you any one wish.

Whether it’s an object or anything else.”

Then, So-mang’s eyes lit up.

There was a difference in skill between her and Mountain Lord, but they were still at the same level.

If she gave it her all, she should be able to touch at least a hair on Yook-gwi’s head, no matter how powerful he was.

“Really?”

“But if you can’t, you’ll have to grant me one wish.”

“Of course! No take-backs!”

Sarak!

So-mang’s figure disappeared in the hazy mist, and only the sound of the wind swayed.

Then, Mountain Lord’s figure also disappeared, and sparks flew in the empty air, creating a metallic sound.

Kaang!! Chaeng! Kkang!!

The fleeting glimpses of So-mang and Mountain Lord whenever sparks flew indicated that their sparring was continuing.

But even that was only for a moment.

Chaaak!

So-mang, who had been pushed back, scraping the floor, appeared with Cheonui Mubeong wrapped around her body.

“Please be a little more considerate!”

“I’m being considerate enough?”

Kkadeudeuk.

So-mang gritted her teeth.

His innocent expression, as if he was clueless, was even more infuriating.

He held a sword in one hand and maintained a leisurely attitude throughout.

She could almost hear Cheonui Mubeong groaning, wondering what kind of sword it was. Her arms and Cheonui Mubeong, which trembled whenever they came into contact with the sword, were gradually reaching their limit.

Moreover, the difference in skill was obvious.

So-mang couldn’t touch a single hair on Mountain Lord’s head.

They were clearly at the same level, but she couldn’t understand why there was such a difference.

She was extremely frustrated, but as he said, Mountain Lord had leeway in his movements.

Even if she had no experience, she knew that much.

He was Yook-gwi, who possessed countless treasures, but he was only holding one sword, so she couldn’t help but know.

Because of this, she was furious, but conversely, her pride was plummeting.

“Really…!”

She shouted as if she was about to die of frustration, and then emitted a powerful spirit pressure.

Ghoulish energy settled in her eyes, and the surrounding area greatly vibrated from the powerful spirit pressure.

Kugung!!

“Since you’re so confident, you can block it even if I give it my all, right?!”

Woowoong!

Cheonui Mubeong moved as if dancing, and thick afterimages followed its wake.

Soon, a round light source appeared behind her back, and a dazzling halo glowed.

The light, which seemed to illuminate the entire world, drew a Dharma gate [a gateway to enlightenment or another dimension] with several rings and turned like interlocking gears in a metaphysical way.

“Let’s see if you can still be so relaxed after facing this girl’s Nagyeong Palgwae Gong (羅經八卦功) [Compass Eight Trigrams Skill]!!”

Huuuwoong!!

The hazy mist instantly cleared, and the Nagyeong Palgwae, scattering dazzling radiance, created five colors of light.

At this point, even Mountain Lord couldn’t hide his surprise.

‘It’s a similar aura to Gyuncheon Ogwang [Heavenly Jade Five Lights].’

It was a weaker aura than Mountain Lord’s Gyuncheon Ogwang, but it was quite similar.

‘As expected, Cheon-geun [Heavenly Root, referring to innate talent or potential] is….’

Soon, Cheonui Mubeong stretched out, wrapped around the surroundings, and lashed out like a whip.

The movement was like dancing, and it was as soft and fierce as a single petal.

At the same time, the five colors of light created by Nagyeong Palgwae became increasingly fierce.

It felt as if Hwagwa Mountain [a mythical mountain] would collapse at any moment.

Kung! Kwang! Kugugugugugu!!

In the storm-like barrage.

Mountain Lord raised the corners of his lips and disappeared.

Kwaaaaaaaang!!

A thick cloud of smoke filled the air.

It was impossible to know what had happened.

But soon, a gust of wind blew away the dust, revealing.

“That’s cheating.”

Young Miss So, who had collapsed as if she was wronged, and Mountain Lord, who was pointing his sword.

“Where is there cheating in a life-or-death struggle? The one who survives is the best in the world.”

“Still, it’s cheating! Hiding your appearance with the Seongjok earring [an earring that conceals one’s presence]! How can I attack if you do that! T, this is blatant fraud!”

No matter how fierce the attack, it won’t hurt if it doesn’t hit.

Young Miss So was being unreasonable, but the world was not easy.

Mountain Lord flicked the earring on his left ear and replied.

“The one who gets hit is the stupid one.”

Tuk, Mountain Lord, with Hwaran on his shoulder, smiled and looked at Young Miss So.

“It seems like it’s my turn to have you grant me any wish.”

So-mang, biting her lower lip tightly, closed her mouth as if she was wronged.

“My wish is….”

Soon, Mountain Lord’s lips moved.

After a while, So-mang’s face contorted at his words.

* * *

“Do you know Geumhwan Seonhyang [Golden Ring Immortal Scent]?”

Choeum Seonnyeo [First Sound Fairy] asked.

“I know. I heard it’s a good place to go to die.”

Cho-ah, who answered coldly, closed her eyes again and formed a hand sign.

“If I want to make you a Jiseon [Earth Immortal], you’ll have to go there for a while. You come with me too.”

“Is there a need for that? What could threaten you, a Jiseon?”

“You know one thing but not two. Geumhwan Seonhyang is dangerous in itself.

Other guys think of that place as a chance-born Gokgongjigan [a place where one can achieve great merit], but the reality is not at all. It’s not an artificially created place either, but… Geumhwan Seonhyang itself is a place where a life dwells.

Anyway, it will be a great study for you, so follow me without saying anything.”

It was then.

Seureureuk!

Suddenly, a huge chill surged from under Choeum Seonnyeo’s feet.

The chill soon turned into a giant lotus and instantly devoured the old woman, turning into a bud.

But in an instant, cracks appeared in the bud.

Kwachachang!!

It shattered and scattered in all directions.

“It’s Geumhwan Seonhyang after a thousand years. You might encounter Yeongcho [spiritual herbs] or Yeongmok [spiritual trees], etc., that can only be found there, which will help you, and you can hunt down blind Taoists who have come in because their lifespans are urgent and take them as Haneum (寒陰) [cold yin energy] to help your cultivation.”

The old woman said as if nothing had happened, and Cho-ah frowned.

“I don’t do such vulgar things.”

“What’s vulgar or not in the path of cultivation! The very thing to do in cultivation is to climb up by any means if you can! You must still have plenty of lifespan left, so you don’t seem to have any urgency, tsk tsk. Open your eyes and look.

There are countless Yeoseon [female immortals] who are willing to offer their bodies to become Nojeong (奴情) [cultivation slaves] in order to raise their level or for comfortable cultivation.

Is it only Yeoseon who do that? Namseon [male immortals] are no different in front of the path of cultivation!”

There are many Bangjung techniques [sexual cultivation techniques] that enhance cultivation through the Ssangsu method [dual cultivation].

Therefore, Taoists often deliberately seek partners or buy Yeoseon who are sold to Amjang [brothels] as Nojeong.

Yeoseon, as well as Namseon, are willing to do Samboilbae [a deep bow of respect] to be able to form Ssangsu with Taoists of high level.

That can also be said to be a chance, and if you’re lucky, you can become a partner or concubine through Seungseon [ascension to immortality], so isn’t it a smooth road?

Those without backing rather deeply desired to become Nojeong.

“It’s a pity, since you’ve learned my unique Gongbeop [cultivation method], the man who embraces you would have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If you weren’t supposed to become a Jiseon, I would have sold you to another sect as an expensive Nojeong! I was originally going to match you with a guy named Yoo-jeong and have you form Ssangsu, but it’s a pity.

He’s a guy with outstanding talent, so it would have been a good Haneum to help your cultivation!”

Cho-ah clenched her fist until it bled. But until the old woman’s chilling laughter disappeared, there was nothing she could do.