Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 214

Whoosh.

A strangely cool breeze brushed past San-gun’s body.

He glanced back for no particular reason, tilted his head, and then turned back around.

“Are you finished?”

“Yes. We were lucky.”

San-gun nodded as if in agreement.

They were lucky, just as Bong had said.

He never imagined that Chuk-man would possess one of the four divided feather fragments.

“Now that we’ve found one, does that mean we only need to find the other two?”

“That’s right.”

Things seemed to be progressing unexpectedly smoothly.

However, San-gun looked at Bong with a somewhat ambiguous expression.

‘I don’t know if this is a gain or a loss.’

If Bong finds all his fragments and becomes a complete feather, what will happen to him?

‘Will he fly up to the Upper Realm?’

He pondered for a moment but quickly shook his head.

‘It’s not time to worry about that yet.’

This wasn’t the time for such thoughts.

They were in a situation where Chung-sun’s Seonchung [divine energy manifestation] might reappear at any moment.

Now was the time to prioritize escape.

Shaking off his *japnyum* [雜念, idle thoughts], San-gun immediately adjusted Chuk-man’s *gungjang* [宮裝, ceremonial attire], pressed a pressure point on his back, and placed his hand on the back of his neck.

As the *yeongronghan* [瑩瓏한, clear and bright] energy entered Chuk-man’s body, his eyelashes fluttered.

“Ah….”

He let out a groan and looked at San-gun with a dazed expression. Then, he saw Bong standing expressionlessly beside him, and his eyes widened.

“I, this humble *huin* [後人, junior] from the Lower Realm, greets the *seonin* [仙人, immortal] from the Upper Realm!”

He immediately knelt and clasped his hands in obeisance. San-gun wondered if he should do the same, but before he could decide, Bong replied.

“How polite. Unlike some others.”

Bong was looking at San-gun, but he pretended not to notice and changed the subject.

“Let’s get going. I’m tempted by all the treasures here, but we can’t take them all. Besides, Chung-sun is causing such a commotion that we should be careful.”

“Y-yes, I agree.”

San-gun frowned at Chuk-man’s strange *malto* [말투, way of speaking]. He seemed a little embarrassed, as if he knew his own words sounded odd.

San-gun stared at Chuk-man for a moment and then said to Bong.

“Bong, can you handle Chung-sun?”

“Y-you! How dare you speak so disrespectfully!”

“Oh, shut up.”

“How dare you spout such nonsense! This, this person is someone you….”

Someone he couldn’t underestimate, probably.

That might be the natural reaction and the proper course of action, but this wasn’t the time to worry about such things.

Surviving should take precedence over showing respect, shouldn’t it?

Just moments ago, he had almost been helpless against Chung-sun’s Seonchung.

“Who was it that disappeared as if they’d never see me again, only to come running back begging for help?

Thanks to you, I stood at the gates of the underworld and had a refreshing new experience. I feel great.

If you had any shame, you wouldn’t even open your mouth.”

Chuk-man had nothing to say in response and clamped his mouth shut.

“So, what’s your answer? If you can’t handle him, I’ll make an escape plan. But if you’re confident, I want you to eliminate him and grant me a favor.”

There were many things he could do with Bong’s power. First, he could obtain the treasures of the 3rd floor. Second, he could rescue Cho-ah, who was captured by *Choeum Seonnyeo* [초음선녀, Sound Fairy].

He didn’t know how she ended up here, but he couldn’t just ignore it.

He couldn’t save her with his current skills, but it would be different if Bong was with him.

He was a *bunhon* [分魂, split soul] of the Bonghwang [鳳凰, mythical phoenix], a fragment split from the *bunhonjo* [分魂鳥, soul-splitting bird], but even so, his inner strength was not to be underestimated.

If that happened, he could obtain the *geumeocho* [金魚草, goldfish flower], restore Gu-gui’s memories, and take care of all the headaches he had been dealing with.

“That’s difficult.”

But when had things ever gone according to plan? San-gun’s hopes were shattered by Bong’s words.

“Is Chung-sun that strong?”

At San-gun’s question, Bong hesitated for a moment and then shook his head.

“He’s a *suseon* [修仙, cultivator] with some skill, but not enough to make me afraid.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Bong only let out a groan in response to his question. After waiting for a while, he answered with a hesitant expression.

“There seems to be another *suseon* present here besides Chung-sun. I didn’t notice because they were skillfully concealing their energy, but I sensed it when I absorbed my fragment.”

He meant that he would be fine with just Chung-sun, but it would be difficult with another person present.

“*Suseon*? What’s that?”

“*Suseon* (修仙). A title for a *sinseon* [神仙, deity] who refines themselves through training to reach a higher realm.”

Anyway.

“Since there seems to be another *suseon* besides Chung-sun, it’s not wise to engage in a head-on fight. Besides, my current condition isn’t normal… you should abandon your expectations. If I were in normal condition, I wouldn’t have asked you for help.”

That was true as well.

He was filled with disappointment, but there was nothing he could do.

Another *suseon* besides Chung-sun.

That must be why Bong couldn’t offer a definite solution.

“The problem is that one of my *bunhon* seems to be in his hands.”

“What….”

What was he talking about now?

“A fight is unavoidable.”

San-gun’s face contorted.

The situation had become very complicated.

“Are you saying that a feather fragment is in the hands of another guy?”

“Yes. I realized it just now, while absorbing the *bunhon*.”

San-gun’s face twisted.

‘Bong has no choice but to fight one of those guys.’

Because he has to find his own *bunhon*.

Then what about him?

What should he do?

Should he fight alongside him?

“I have an idea.”

At that moment, Bong suddenly gathered San-gun and Chuk-man with a serious expression.

“Chung-sun is tied to this *bidong* [秘洞, secret cave/grotto], so he will chase us down and try to kill us no matter where we go. That’s the contract, and that’s why he’s bound to this place.

So, you have no choice but to help me kill him.”

“But how can we do that?”

Hadn’t he just said it was impossible?

“We have to set a trap.”

“A trap?”

“Do you know why this *bidong* was created?”

“I don’t. If I had known, I would have taken the treasures and run away or not even entered in the first place.”

If he had known it was such a dangerous place, he wouldn’t have set foot in it.

At those words, Bong smiled bitterly and began to explain in a soft voice.

“This place is a trap, a breeding ground, and also an experimental site. But the biggest purpose lies in something else.”

“What is it?”

“You know that Chung-sun appears on the 2nd floor and tries to kill the *sudoja*s [修道者, cultivators] indiscriminately.”

“Yes.”

But why? He was confused about what Bong was trying to say.

“What do you think the reason is?”

“Huh?”

The reason for killing the *sudoja*s.

“To kill intruders….”

Before he could finish speaking, Bong shook his head firmly.

“Didn’t I say? This place is a breeding ground and an experimental site.”

“Please explain it in an easy-to-understand way.”

“Maybe my words were difficult. Why do you think these vines and stems extend from the ceiling?”

“Isn’t it because of that that this lush *gyechung* [階層, layer/level] was created?”

Chuk-man said.

“You’re right. Then I’ll ask again. Is he doing that just to pour *sudoja*s into the 3rd floor to benefit the natural state? Even while keeping Chung-sun of the *Chunggye* [heavenly realm] bound here?”

At Bong’s question, San-gun and Chuk-man’s mouths were tightly shut.

Now that he thought about it, that was true.

He couldn’t help but think, ‘Just for that?’

“Then….”

“It means that the owner of this *bidong* is raising something here.”

* * *

“I don’t know what kind of bastard he is.”

Chung-sun, accompanied by red *unmu* [雲霧, mist], muttered as he *pyeolchyeotda* [펼쳤다, unfurled] his *dunseul* [遁術, stealth technique].

Then, Ye-un, who had been watching him carefully, asked why.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Among the bastards on the 3rd floor, there are two who bother me. I can grasp one of them to some extent, but I don’t know who the other one is.”

Ye-un couldn’t understand well, but he just smiled faintly. His face seemed to find this situation quite amusing. Chung-sun wondered if he should cut off the bastard’s head one more time, but he clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, I don’t know what kind of bastard he is. It’s been thirty thousand years since the footsteps of *suseon*s have ceased here, but to think there would be a bastard who ignores the tacit agreement… Does he have a solid backing?”

He looked like he didn’t know.

“If they are the same *sinseon*, wouldn’t it be possible to *matchwoda* [맞춰다, to align/coordinate] the story well?”

“That’s foolish. At other times, I wouldn’t care, but….”

Chung-sun recalled the energy of the feather in his hand and said.

“Unless he’s an idiot, there’s no way he wouldn’t be blinded by this level of *sinmul* [神物, divine object]. If he’s a bastard who doesn’t know anything, it wouldn’t matter, but if he happens to encounter Bonghwang’s *bunhon*, he’ll know right away.”

* * *

In a forest on the 3rd floor.

“I asked if you knew.”

A man and a woman were being questioned by someone amidst the corpses of *sudoja*s scattered around.

“…I know.”

“Really?”

“How could I lie? I know well a person who uses *osaek* [五色, five-colored] energy similar to *seonsa* [仙師, immortal master].”

Hooh.

The man crossed his arms as if he was interested.

Beside him, *geogeom*s [巨劍, giant swords] that had soared high into the sky were plunged into the ground.

Underneath them, the bodies of *sudoja*s were scattered, but no one cared about it.

“He is one of the *yukgwi* [六鬼, six devils] of the *siphaemancheokgwi* [十海萬尺鬼, ten seas, ten thousand feet devils] in the Lower Realm, and he is a person who uses blue flames, purple lightning, *osaek* energy, and numerous swords as *mugu* [武具, weapons].”

As he knelt and answered politely, the corners of the man’s lips rose.

Yu-jung and Ji-sol, who were looking at him, had beads of sweat forming on their backs.

The oppressive feeling and energy that was felt even without doing anything made their knees stick to the ground as if they were being pulled down.

‘He’s not a figure from the Lower Realm.’

Even a *jiseon* [地仙, earth immortal] couldn’t emit this kind of oppressive feeling.

“I feel good to meet a smart bastard after only beating down *gisedeungdeunghan* [氣勢騰騰한, high-spirited/arrogant] bastards. There’s no point in committing unnecessary killings, so you don’t have to be so nervous.”

However, they didn’t do the foolish thing of relaxing at his words.

The man chuckled, waved his hand to make the *geogeom* plunged into the ground disappear, and strode past them.

“Follow me. I know he’s here, but I don’t know his *yongmopagi* [容貌把持, description/likeness], so you have to tell me directly.”

Yu-jung’s eyeballs rolled.

Soon, his lips rounded.

He smiled eerily and replied.

“That’s not difficult at all.”

* * *

“It’s here.”

*Choeum Seonnyeo* and Cho-ah *dolgo dora* [돌고 돌아, going around and around] arrived at a lake.

In the middle of the lake, a giant lotus flower was located, and the surrounding area was full of round lotus leaves.

*Choeum* and Cho-ah stepped on the lotus leaves and approached the lotus flower as if flying.

Unlike the previous *gusaeng geumeocho* [九生金魚草, nine-life goldfish flower], the lotus flower was not closed. In the middle of the lotus flower, which was in full bloom with *euneunhan* [殷殷한, faint/subtle] gold and silver light, a *geumeocho* with ten flower buds open was blooming.

“I found it.”

*Sipsaeng geumeocho* [十生金魚草, ten-life goldfish flower].

It was in full bloom.

The *geumeocho*, shining with a harmony of gold and silver, was a mysterious and wondrous sight that could truly be called a *seoncho* [仙草, immortal herb].

Cho-ah was about to reach out her hand, but *Choeum* stopped her.

“Don’t touch it carelessly. If you touch *seoncho* without any preparation, you may be eaten or lose your life.”

*Seoncho* wasn’t called *seoncho* for nothing. *Choeum*’s voice, sternly warning her, was serious.

That was then.

Just as Cho-ah was about to withdraw her hand.

Kururureuk.

With a sound, something was moving from the bottom of the lake.

*Choeum* and Cho-ah made eye contact, and at the same time, they turned into a handful of cold air and disappeared.

Chwajajajak!!

At the same time, a bundle of green *choksu* [觸手, tentacles] stabbed in like a spear from the bottom of the lake.

*Choeum* and Cho-ah, who had *chukjihan* [縮地, teleported] above the sky, couldn’t rest assured.

“Annoying thing has come out again.”

*Choeum* clicked her tongue, and as she fluttered her sleeves, several pure white chains moved like snakes and rushed towards the *choksu*.

Kwaaang!!

The chains and *choksu* collided, and a roar like an earthquake erupted.

Because she was relatively close, Cho-ah was swept away by the aftermath and lost her balance. The green *choksu* didn’t miss the opportunity, and several *choksu* shot out towards her like lightning.

Dozens of *choksu* stabbed towards her abdomen and chest.

‘I can’t avoid it.’

Just as she was about to take out a protective *bopae* [寶牌, talisman].

Cho-ah felt it.

The moment the air became a little warmer.

Hwaaaaaaaak!!

At that moment, blue flames soared in front of her in an instant, and a cozy warmth enveloped her.

She was *jeongsini hana-do eopseotseuna* [정신이 하나도 없었으나, out of her mind], it was the *pogeunham* [포근함, coziness] and warmth that she had longed for for hundreds of years.

For a moment, tears welled up in Cho-ah’s eyes.

What she saw when she raised her head was.

A man with red eyes looking at her with sorrowful eyes.

It was San-gun.