Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 248

낭선기환담 – 247화

“Pardon? Then why did you look so…”

He was asking why he had seemed angry earlier. If he knew the truth about Hwanmang, there wouldn’t have been a need to act that way.

“I was just showing off. Saying that I have this much power, so there’s no need to worry, and that I also have confidence.”

Unlike before, he was saying that they were not in a superior-subordinate relationship, but an equal one.

“That’s why…”

He had also mentioned the sword stuck in San-gun’s body.

It was unclear whether he said it out of concern or to subtly pressure him.

“Why what?”

“Nothing.”

There was no need to worry him with something uncertain.

San-gun and Cho-ah, on Hwaunbanhong [a flying vehicle or mount], toured the vicinity of Talmyeong Mountain and looked around.

As befitting its name as a sacred mountain, it was a majestic and towering peak with no shortage of spiritual energy.

They spent a pleasant time together, looking around here and there, and only descended from Hwaunbanhong after the servant sent by Jangcheon arrived.

“How was it? Talmyeong Mountain is a place where, except for those belonging to the Tal faction and a very few others, no one can enter.”

He seemed to have some pride in it.

As Jangcheon said, it was a good mountain.

It was a well-maintained mountain, perfect for cultivators, and filled with spiritual energy, so what more could be said?

However, his perspective had changed from that of ordinary cultivators, and he couldn’t help but think that the spirit of a god was melted into this sacred mountain, making him feel solemn.

“Anyway, now that we’ve met like this, shouldn’t we catch up on old times?

Great Tiger, do you know how surprised I was when you fell from the sky covered in blood?”

“Haha, I’m sorry about that.”

Even San-gun would have been quite surprised if Jangcheon had fallen from the sky covered in blood.

As he said apologetically, Jangcheon smiled and gestured.

“It may be humble to offer to you, who have reached the end of cultivation, but I have prepared a simple meal, so I would be grateful if you would enjoy it.”

“I am an uninvited guest, so what would I expect? Rather than what you offer, the friend before me is more important.”

They shared drinks in a friendly atmosphere and told stories of what had happened in the meantime.

Jangcheon said that he had returned to Goseon after San-gun recovered the Myriad Poison Flame and had focused solely on cultivation.

Therefore, he was now at the Middle Stage of the Great Celestial [a cultivation stage] and would succeed Hwanmang when he ascended to immortality.

San-gun sincerely congratulated him and took out a suitable gift from his pocket.

“I cannot accept it.”

“Take it. And stop using honorifics now.”

Jangcheon politely declined, but as before, he forcibly placed it in his hand, preventing him from returning it.

“…How can I accept these precious things?”

In Jangcheon’s hands were various rare spiritual herbs and treasures.

Most of them were obtained from the Golden Ring Sacred Ground, things that even Great Celestials would be eager to get their hands on. There were even sacred herbs and medicinal prescriptions that could never be found here, so how could he not be overwhelmed?

Jangcheon was burdened by the preciousness of the gifts, but San-gun laughed heartily and urged him to keep them.

“I can’t give my friend something insignificant. It has to be at least this much to be called a gift!”

“But…”

“I won’t hear any more. If you really don’t want it, throw it away.”

“How could I do that?”

“I told you to drop the honorifics.”

“O-Oh, how… could I.”

“What do you mean, ‘how’? Just accept it.”

Jangcheon was quite perplexed.

He was already worried about how to treat his friend, who had become an Eternal Emissary [a high-ranking title] equivalent to a Zenith Immortal [a powerful being].

Just that alone was a concern, but now he was being told to drop the honorifics and given such precious gifts, he didn’t know what to do.

Of course, he was happy, but he also felt sorry.

“Don’t make that face.

Compared to Hwanmang Celestial Master, I haven’t lived a long life, but I’ve learned a thing or two from living roughly.”

“What do you mean?”

“That a friend to share your heart with is a hundred or a thousand times more precious than those things.”

It was common sense in the Daoist world that many people completely cut off relationships with others for fear of being betrayed.

San-gun had also been backstabbed more than once, and he had seen countless people die that way.

In such a world, a trustworthy friend was harder to find than any fortuitous encounter in the world, so wouldn’t that be natural?

“Our relationship is more precious and important than those things, so there’s no need to worry.”

It was partly to congratulate Jangcheon, but it was also San-gun’s own way of expressing gratitude. When he was unconscious,

he had heard from Cho-ah that Jangcheon had stepped forward and insisted on saving him.

Considering that a Great Celestial had stood up for him in front of Zenith Immortals, even this much of a gift seemed insufficient.

‘It was like this before too.’

This wasn’t the first time.

Even when the Elder of the Sea Dragon Tribe tried to kill him in the Sword Spirit Island, Jangcheon had faced Yeonggeop in the position of a Transcendent Celestial [another cultivation stage].

What kind of person in the world would give up their own life to protect a friend?

Even a thousand gold coins would not be enough.

“This is…”

Jangcheon put San-gun’s gifts into his arms as if he couldn’t win.

“And you said that you shared a fraternal drink with me, right?”

“That’s… haha…”

It was a lie he had told to save San-gun.

He had done it in a hurry, but he was embarrassed when San-gun teased him like that.

“How could I not know your heart? Although we didn’t become sworn brothers, there is no lack of sincerity in your heart, so wouldn’t it be right to say that we are like brothers?”

“Great Tiger, you…”

“There’s nothing wrong with becoming sworn brothers, but if we do, we’ll become like an older and younger brother, so there’s no need to do that.”

He preferred an equal relationship.

There was no need to become sworn brothers.

“Well, I’m older, so if we were to become sworn brothers…”

Jangcheon would become the older brother.

“Oh, come now, how can you only consider age when discussing older and younger brothers? Originally, there is an order to birth, but the truth is that there is no order to death.”

“That’s right. Even if there is a difference in realm, there is no order in dying.”

San-gun’s hand holding the glass stopped.

“We’re not going to become sworn brothers, but if we were, I would be the older brother.”

“Hahahaha, that’s not true. Being an older brother doesn’t suit your personality. My younger brother would be a perfect fit.”

For a while, the two looked at each other without a word, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

How could they not laugh when they were fighting over something meaningless?

As they exchanged drinks, San-gun and Jangcheon shared stories they hadn’t been able to tell.

They were just casual conversations, but nothing was as fun as this for them.

How have you been living?

How is your cultivation going?

Or, sharing the kind of stories men tell each other, like whether they have a woman in their heart, and pleasantly reminiscing about the past.

It couldn’t help but be a joyful time.

Cho-ah was also in the same place, but she watched without saying anything.

It was almost the first time she had seen her husband chatting with a friend, and she hadn’t known that he thought so highly of Jangcheon.

‘He seems really happy.’

It was also almost the first time she had seen San-gun laughing and enjoying himself so heartily.

Her husband’s appearance was different from when he was with her, which was fascinating.

But unfortunately,

that time did not last long.

“You were sharing friendship in a place like this. This is… I wonder if I’m interrupting.”

It was an interruption.

But how could they show it?

Jangcheon got up from his seat and greeted him.

“Interrupting? Other cultivators would consider it a great honor to even greet Perfected Immortal Wangyeong. Great Tiger, greet him too. He is Perfected Immortal Wangyeong, the one who healed your wounds.”

“Ah…”

Come to think of it, Hwanmang had said that.

He had told him to express his gratitude to Perfected Immortal Wangyeong, not to him.

Cho-ah also rose from her seat and bowed, as she was familiar with him from coming and going.

San-gun, who rose last, greeted Wangyeong and offered him a seat.

“I am late in greeting you. I have heard many stories from my wife and friend.”

“Haha, what have I done? I have only used a few insignificant skills to help with the recovery, hahaha!”

Wangyeong sat down in the empty seat and emptied his glass.

“The taste of the wine is very good.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste… But what brings you here?”

San-gun asked with a smiling face.

He was smiling, but the underlying meaning was, ‘Why did you come?’

“Haha, I’m sorry. As I get older, I become less patient with waiting. And, I also wanted to meet the famous Sect Leader of the White Mountain Sect and share enlightenment.”

Clink.

San-gun put down his glass and wore a faint smile.

“I didn’t know I was so famous. How did you know that I am the Sect Leader of the White Mountain Sect?”

“How could I not know that? Although there are only a few Zenith Immortals in the human realm, we still have a communication network among ourselves, and we are keeping an eye on the situation in the Daoist world through informants, so we know.”

They have a communication network among themselves.

He had never heard of that before.

“Interesting.”

“Haha, if the Sect Leader of the White Mountain Sect wishes, I will invite you to a meeting someday! You are a peerless talent who has reached the Eternal realm in less than a thousand years, so who would object?”

“Even though I am not a Daoist?”

“Haha, how could we, who are about to ascend to immortality and sever ties with the mortal world, be bound by such trivial matters? When we reach our realm, it is natural that we do not care about petty things.”

Whether San-gun was a spirit beast or whatever, he seemed to be looking at him beyond race, as he had reached the end of the human realm.

Well, all that was left for a Zenith Immortal was to ascend to the upper realm, so what did it matter whether he was human or a spirit beast?

“Besides, we are gradually being restricted by the power of this realm.”

“Hmm…”

San-gun also agreed with that statement.

Restriction of power.

San-gun had been constantly feeling an alien pressure since he woke up.

It was a bit ambiguous whether to call this pressure or what.

Just.

‘It’s cramped.’

That was the feeling.

It was like being put in a narrow box.

“Anyway, we occasionally hold what we call a trade meeting to trade or share enlightenment, so I will contact the Sect Leader later!”

Wangyeong, who was not satisfied, gulped down the bottle instead of the glass, and then moved his lips with a subtle expression.

-To be honest, the reason I came all the way here is to talk to the Sect Leader about the bracelet you have.

He sent a telepathic message only to San-gun.

-The bracelet?

As he replied with a puzzled look, Wangyeong smiled slyly.

-I really need that bracelet with the divine power.

-Hmm….

He didn’t expect him to come so directly, mentioning the bracelet.

As San-gun was pondering, Wangyeong nodded as if he fully understood.

-You can refuse my request, but there’s no harm in listening to it, is there?

What harm would there be in listening?

-Alright. I promise to help the White Mountain Sect in times of crisis, regardless of whether you accept my request or not.

Isn’t the White Mountain Sect in trouble right now?

At Wangyeong’s words, which sounded like he was speaking lightly, San-gun’s brow immediately furrowed.

-The White Mountain Sect is in trouble…?

-Didn’t you know? The White Mountain Sect is currently at war with the three major sea tribes of the East Sea.