Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 210

낭선기환담 – 209화

When Chungseon’s Seon Poison transformed into crimson mist and spread in all directions,

Two streaks of light discreetly escaped the scene.

One was a man, and the other was Jisul, the very person who had summoned Chungseon.

Jisul’s eyes were filled with suspicion, but the man glanced at her and offered a faint smile.

The man had a neat appearance, though one of his sleeves fluttered, suggesting a missing arm.

“Why did you help me?”

She was the one who summoned Chungseon, which also meant her life was in danger.

She knew what he would do first upon arriving….

‘Exterminate the cultivators.’

That was the reason for the relic’s existence and the mission Chungseon had to carry out.

Knowing the general details, she took a gamble.

If she hadn’t summoned Chungseon, she would have had no chance to escape; however, if she didn’t summon him, she would eventually be killed by the demonic leaders of Magok.

So, she couldn’t help but wonder.

How could a human Taoist save her in that pandemonium?

“There’s no such thing as a free favor in the Taoist world. There’s always a reason.”

Despite his gentle tone, there was an undeniable edge to his words.

“What do you want from me?”

“I won’t deny an interest in the treasures of the Immortals, but more than that, I simply want help leveraging the position and authority you possess.”

“…Excuse me? What does that mean?”

The man smiled faintly.

“I need you and the East Sea.”

Jisul’s face fell.

Despite her composed expression, her mind raced, but she couldn’t decipher his purpose. Any other Yooksa [a powerful warrior or official] would be one thing, but he was a human Taoist.

If he needed power, he could covet the power of humans, so why bring up the East Sea and say he needed her?

“For now, just know that much. I don’t intend to make any unreasonable requests, and I don’t want to put the Princess in a difficult position because of it, so there’s no need to feel burdened.”

How could she not feel burdened when he said that? An ally who might not be trustworthy is more dangerous and burdensome than an enemy.

‘It’s better not to have one at all.’

But when she considered his divine power, she hesitated.

The skill and boldness to secretly extract her even with Chungseon nearby.

If he was a man with that level of judgment, skill, and boldness, it wouldn’t be bad to work with him.

‘This is Geumhwan Seonhyang, after all.’

Jisul pondered for a moment and suggested placing a Geumje [a magical restriction or oath] on each other’s bodies. After some compromises, they placed the Geumje.

“What are you going to do now?”

Jisul hesitated for a moment.

She was unsure how much she should tell him.

She couldn’t tell him everything, but it wouldn’t be bad to provide him with some information.

“I’m going to go down to the 3rd level. That’s where the treasure I want will be, and it won’t be bad to avoid the attention of others.”

“The 3rd level? It seems you can go lower than this place.”

“Yes, this Bydong [a type of cave or underground structure] is called Chanjeodong (餐貯洞) [literally ‘Meal Storage Cave’] and has a total of 5 levels, but the place we are heading to is the 3rd level, the forest area. I have a reason to go all the way to the 5th level.”

If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be able to escape this place or survive.

“You really know a lot.”

It was a meaningful question, but Jisul chuckled and replied as if it were obvious.

“Of course. Chanjeodong was created by the distant ancestors of the Haeryong Clan!”

* * *

At the same time.

“….”

San-gun let out a groan as he looked at the woman in front of him.

Thud.

“Ugh.”

Before her, two men were groaning as they were dying. They were Sagui and Samgui.

They had been beaten so badly that there was no part of their bodies that was unscathed.

“It’s been a while. I haven’t forgotten you for the past four hundred years.”

San-gun sighed softly.

“What’s the matter?”

The green-haired woman flicked her hair back and said.

“You should know without me telling you, right? What business would I have with you?”

Saying that, the woman took a step forward and exuded a thick murderous aura.

“First, I have to retrieve my Bonseonbeoppae [a sacred artifact or treasure].”

Thud.

As she took another step, blue moss gradually spread across the sand-covered desert, and a verdant energy permeated the area.

“Second, you killed my sect’s disciple and stole the Bonseonbeoppae.”

Koo-oong.

Three doppelgangers resembling her appeared like ghosts and pointed their weapons at San-gun.

“Third, you became a Guiwang [a powerful ghost or demon king], forgetting my, Chongman’s, friendship, and you shamelessly use Manikpyeon [a powerful artifact or technique] even after killing my sect’s disciple!!”

Kwaang!!

From the verdant place, tree vines transformed into spears and aimed at San-gun all at once.

Hiding in the sand dust that had risen, San-gun frowned.

‘You killed my disciple? What….’

Was she saying that Chongmunkyung was dead?

But San-gun was wronged.

He was the one who tried to kill him, and he only received the Manikpyeon in exchange for saving his life.

“The sin you have committed is not light, so atone with your death!”

Sasa삭!

Her three doppelgangers grabbed San-gun from behind in an instant.

One emitted an energy like Mount Tai and thrust a spear, while another shone a mirror and shot a beam of light.

The last doppelganger suddenly popped out from under the sand and grabbed his ankle tightly.

It was small, but its strength was so great that it didn’t seem easy to shake off.

“It’s over!!”

Kwaaaang!!

A huge explosion occurred.

No matter how long he had lived, he could not survive the combined attack of Samchwiokwha [a powerful technique or formation].

It was a satisfying strike.

But that was only for a moment.

Chongman’s face was filled with bitterness.

“Why did you do that… you shouldn’t have.”

‘You shouldn’t have killed him.’

If he hadn’t, this wouldn’t have happened….

Tsk.

Chongman clicked her tongue and shook her head as if she was sorry, then moved her feet.

Fate is such a thing.

This is how unpredictable and changeable relationships are, so one side of her heart is sad, but she can only accept it as the karma of heaven.

“Why did you do that, why….”

Chongman, who was muttering to shake off her sad heart, was startled and stepped back. Soon, she narrowed her brows and formed a hand seal to summon her doppelgangers.

Sasa삭.

The doppelgangers holding the spear and mirror stood by her side in an instant. But the doppelganger who didn’t hold any weapons, like a sore finger, didn’t come.

Hoo-oong.

Suddenly, a strange wind blew and the smoke began to clear.

“Keuhm….”

What was visible as the smoke cleared was a giant black centipede coiling around. The centipede’s carapace was smooth without a single scratch.

Chongman’s eyes sharpened.

“Tamhwa….”

Cheureureuk.

Tamhwa’s body unraveled, and San-gun’s figure was revealed through the gaps.

“You bastard!!”

San-gun, who had revealed himself, was holding the doppelganger’s neck in one hand without a single scratch.

His eyes were endlessly sunken, and his body was slowly floating upwards.

The moment Chongman’s eyes met San-gun’s, her body stiffened.

San-gun’s Danryeong Geumjeong [a type of spiritual energy or technique].

It was the divine power of Gwaebiyeogak [a specific type of magical ability].

Hmm.

When Chongman turned her body and regained her senses, the scenery had changed strangely.

The desert inside the Bydong had disappeared without a trace, and only chillingly cold blue flames were surging on the flat ground.

[Great Chongman. I think you’re misunderstanding something.]

“What misunderstanding! The very fact that you have my sect’s Manikpyeon is proof! How dare you try to deny it in front of me!”

[How can that be proof?]

The voice heard in the illusion was mixed with complex emotions.

[I never killed Chongmunkyung, and I didn’t even know he was dead. And Chongman, didn’t you not enter the Geomryeongdo [Sword Spirit Island]?

So what proof do you have that I killed Chongmunkyung?]

“The fact that Chongmunkyung is dead and you are alive is proof, why wouldn’t it be? And do you think I wouldn’t have checked? I already went into Geomryeongdo and checked! Not only the disciples of Choksan, but all the people of Geomryeongdo were covered in blood and dead!

If that’s not proof, what is!”

All the Geomdoja [sword practitioners] of Geomryeongdo are dead?

Even San-gun couldn’t easily ignore that.

‘…Is it his doing?’

It wasn’t certain, but it was highly likely. After achieving Gyuncheonbohwa [a state of enlightenment or power], he heard that someone wielding the Osaek Geo Geom [Five-Colored Giant Sword] was looking for him.

“So don’t hide and come out! Don’t say you don’t know your sins! As the Great Sifu [master] of Choksan, Daeho, I will soothe the souls of my dead disciples with your blood!”

Seureureuk.

Suddenly, San-gun’s figure appeared in the air. He was frowning as if he was annoyed.

“I’m already in a bad mood, and you’re really bothering me. I didn’t kill Chongmunkyung. Rather, Chongmunkyung tried to kill me, but I made it up to him by receiving the Man-ik-pyeon!!”

“Nonsense! What reason would Chong Sajil [a respectful title for a senior disciple] have to kill you, Daeho! If you’re going to talk nonsense, meet Chong Sajil in the afterlife and apologize!!”

Shusyusyuk!

The green Bido [a type of flying weapon] thrown by Chongman Daein [a title of respect] headed towards San-gun like lightning.

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue and waved his hand.

Suddenly, blue flames appeared in the air and scattered the trajectory of the Bido as if water was flowing.

“!”

Even though this place was his illusion, Chongman’s eyes widened at how easily he deflected her Bido.

It was surprising that he had risen to Yeonggeop Junggyeong [a level of cultivation] in the meantime, but the divine power he possessed was also not to be taken lightly.

‘It’s a Hwasintong [a type of fire-based magic]….’

It wasn’t compatible with her.

“It’s no use talking….”

“Shut up!!”

Chongman, who was furious at San-gun’s sighing, summoned the Hwasin [incarnation] of Samchwiokwha.

Then San-gun stood still and lightly gestured and recited.

“Suppress them.”

Swish!!

Then Tamhwa, who was next to him, and Gwiyul, who had permeated the air, appeared.

Tamhwa rushed in, wailing sharply in the form of a centipede, and Gwiyul rushed in, displaying the illusion of Bul Gu Daechunma [a powerful demonic entity] and causing fierce power.

Koo-oong!!

It was a close battle that was transmitted to the body, but as time passed, the victory was slowly tilting to one side.

“This…!”

Chongman’s body trembled, surprised as if she couldn’t believe it. Soon, she was startled and used Chukji [a technique for rapid movement], and with a sound of Chwaak!, a double-edged sword pierced the spot where she had been and flew away.

It was San-gun’s Hwabhwan Hohwan Geom [a specific sword technique or weapon].

Chongman, who was chilled to the bone, bit her lower lip and drew up her Yeongryeok [spiritual energy].

She was angry that her pride, Samchwiokwha, was being defeated like that, but the guy was constantly frowning as if he didn’t like it.

“Chongman Daein. This is not the time for us to be fighting like this.”

“You’re already talking as if you’ve won! Don’t think that my divine power will end with just this!”

Chongman, who quickly formed a hand seal, kept moving her mouth and chanting a spell.

Her hair rose strand by strand, the ground turned green, and hundreds of stems intertwined on top of it, transforming into a giant tree.

As an unknown tree appeared, its energy began to disrupt even San-gun’s illusion.

It didn’t seem like an ordinary divine power.

“No matter who you are, you won’t be able to do anything about my Gyuyujuru [a powerful spell or technique]….”

Chongman, who was confident, stopped talking.

Jjeojjeojeok!!

In front of her, huge hands suddenly appeared, tearing through space and punching her.

It was San-gun’s Gogu Cheonwoo [a powerful technique or ability].

“You coward…!”

“The one who talks a lot is the one who gets hit.”

Kwaang!!

Blue flames fluttered wildly in all directions, and what was visible was…

The tree of Gyuyujuru, which had been shattered into pieces, was scattered, and San-gun was standing in front of it with a blank face.

“Now, will you listen to me?”

Chongman bit her lower lip as she sat down as if she was frustrated.

“Keuk… Kill me!”

San-gun was dumbfounded at the sight.

Anyone who saw it would think she was a frail woman being attacked by thugs.

It was a sight that San-gun, who knew Chongman’s inner strength well, couldn’t help but frown at.

“……I think I’m really going to kill you.”