Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 298

I was dumbfounded.

Anyone would be, hearing that I suddenly needed to return a Soul Fragment.

Even a venerable Celestial Tiger of countless years would be taken aback.

‘A Soul Fragment….’

The Soul Fragment I possess?

A thought flashed through my mind, but it didn’t seem related to Saha Soseon.

‘It couldn’t be the Phoenix’s Soul Fragment, could it?’

The absurd thought crossed my mind, but it was impossible.

Even though she was a Soseon who wielded Hwasintong [a technique involving fire manipulation], if she were a manifestation of the Phoenix, I should sense the aura of Bongak Cheonghwa [a divine energy associated with the Phoenix].

However.

‘It’s just a slightly superior fire energy.’

The purity of her Hwasintong was decent, but nothing extraordinary.

She didn’t seem related to Bongak Cheonsujo [another term related to the Phoenix].

If she were, Bong would have been the first to approach her and demand answers.

Even though the divided Soul Fragments were gathered, Bong was still just a fragment equivalent to a feather.

There was no way it would be this quiet.

Just then.

-It seems she has a stronger connection with you than with me.

Speak of the devil.

-…When did you awaken?

-Just now. I couldn’t ignore the strange thoughts you were having.

Bong’s appearance brought not joy, but more confusion.

-What do you mean by a connection with me?

-Don’t you possess the Soul Fragment of the woman you cherished?

-What….

I frowned, wondering what he meant, but soon relaxed, thinking it couldn’t be.

‘No way….’

I looked at Saha.

She possessed outstanding beauty, but there was nothing about her that resembled her.

Her voice, her manner of speaking, even her personality—nothing was alike.

But….

“Ji-soo.”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

My heart raced.

I was confused.

I couldn’t be sure yet.

The thought that Saha might be her reincarnation dominated my mind.

Reincarnation, rebirth, and resurrection.

My head spun.

I had ascended and become a celestial, but there was still so much I didn’t know.

I had attained enlightenment and ascended to the heavens, but the heavens still felt high and dark.

The blue of the sky was as clear and beautiful as a lake, but as distant as an unfathomable sea.

‘That’s why it’s called Susun (cultivating immortality).’

I had not yet grasped the principles of the heavens, so I was still a Susun.

A true celestial.

To become a Jinseon (True Celestial), I still had to thirst for knowledge.

“…Let’s say what you say is true. Let’s say I possess the Soul Fragment.”

What happens after that?

“By absorbing the Soul Fragment, you will maintain your wholeness and ascend to immortality immediately. The Won Gyeoldan I took is a Seondan [a type of elixir] that helps condense Wonok [a spiritual energy].”

She says it’s possible because the effects of the elixir still remain in my body. But that’s not what I want to know. That’s not it.

“If I absorb the Soul Fragment, will I also gain the memories it holds?”

That’s what’s important to me.

Can I meet her again?

Can I ask her?

About that question from a thousand years ago.

About her sacrifice in my place.

That’s what I want.

“…I’m not sure about that either.”

“I see.”

Saha, sensing the disappointment on Cheonbeom’s face, felt a sense of relief.

And even anticipation.

She had feared he would dismiss it as nonsense and refuse to listen, but he seemed to expect something and was disappointed.

For a moment, she thought she was going to die, but seeing his troubled expression, she didn’t think she would die unjustly.

A Soseon had committed an act of disrespect to a Sangseon [a higher-ranking celestial being].

It was no different from asking to be killed, yet he didn’t do so.

‘As expected, this person is….’

Just then.

Suddenly, he grabbed Saha’s wrist.

“This isn’t the place to talk.”

“Then….”

“Come with me.”

Cheonbeom took her to the front of the East District.

He waved his hand, removing the Geumje [a type of barrier] and Hwanjin [another type of barrier] of the East District.

The fog spread to the left and right, swallowing the two men and women before closing again.

A moment later.

The grain of a tree near the East District split open, and an eyeball popped out.

The eyeball rolled up and down before closing and disappearing.

* * *

Inside Cheonbeom’s East District in Yongchaebong.

Cheonbeom sat Saha on a chair and stood with his hands behind his back.

Tanhwa was snoring in the sleeping quarters, but he didn’t care.

He couldn’t care.

He was a little excited.

‘If.’

He turned around.

If this woman, who was shrinking her shoulders in tension, was really her reincarnation.

If that were really the case.

‘I….’

His pupils trembled.

He was full of hesitation.

“Um….”

Her bewildered eyes pricked his heart.

Beom quietly looked at her before closing his eyes.

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“I will answer.”

“I was told you have my Soul Fragment, who told you that?”

He had to confirm.

His heart was in turmoil, but he didn’t want to create any unforeseen circumstances.

He had to be sure.

“I learned it through divination.”

“Divination?”

Beom’s brow furrowed.

Saha, sensing his unease, quickly spoke.

“It was said that when the earth and sky meet and intersect, a new god will be born, a god who will shine as brilliantly as the sun with golden light. That god possesses a part of me, so it will naturally return to its place….”

“Who.”

“That’s….”

She hesitated, stammering.

It seemed she had guessed correctly.

He thought it might be a treasure or something, but it seemed someone else had told her.

“Why can’t you answer quickly?”

“A, a distinguished celestial who happened to visit Sangseo gave me the divination. I don’t know the details either….”

“You believed the divination of someone you don’t even know well and committed such rudeness?”

“I didn’t believe it at first, but as the Sangseon appeared as the divination said and I saw him dyeing the surroundings with golden waves, I couldn’t help but believe it.”

It was somewhat absurd.

But looking at her reaction, there seemed to be no lie.

‘She’s a little similar in that she doesn’t think ahead.’

He let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.

“Ah, I shouldn’t laugh.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing.”

His eyes deepened.

His gaze was directed at her, but it was as if he were looking at something else.

His deep eyes seemed to recall a very old memory.

“It reminds me of a boisterous woman I used to fight with… a long time ago.”

It had already been two thousand years.

But even now, when he closed his eyes, the memories of that time were vivid.

In Goseon.

Even at the base of the Palace of Hidden Tigers.

They didn’t like each other, so they fought like children, blowing away a peak.

‘Those were reckless days.’

The times he fought without thinking were among the few in his life.

Except for Hori, she was the only one.

And she was the only one he owed his life to.

A moment later.

He opened his eyes and took out his Gongjeonggang [a type of artifact] from his chest.

Soon, amber light flowed, and a small coffin appeared, spinning around.

Tuk.

The coffin was transparent, as if made of ice.

Inside, a lifeless woman was asleep, surrounded by flowers.

The moment Saha saw her, her heart seemed to sting.

“Ah….”

It was an indescribable feeling.

Saha looked back and forth between the woman in the coffin and Cheonbeom.

She felt it instinctively.

‘It’s my Soul Fragment.’

There were many other things mixed in, but she could feel it at once.

It was weakened as if it would crumble if touched, but it was definitely a part of her.

“If everything you’ve said is a lie and something bad happens to her, don’t forget that I will swear to the heavens to inflict pain worse than death.”

“I understand. Of course!”

“That’s not enough.”

He was still half in doubt.

He couldn’t be relieved by just a verbal answer.

Cheonbeom placed several Geumje on her and received a Shimma oath [a binding oath].

“She must be a precious person.”

At her question, Cheonbeom looked at the sleeping woman and replied.

His expression was calm, but his voice was unusually soft and full of longing.

“I just have something I want to ask.”

Something he wants to ask?

Saha tilted her head.

But she soon dismissed it.

Rather, the fact that the Soul Fragment she had been longing for was in front of her was enough to take her soul away.

“Are you confident? There may be your Soul Fragment inside. But there are also countless wandering souls. You may also be trapped here.”

“I know. Even if it were someone else, it would definitely be possible because it’s my soul.”

Saha gathered her hands neatly.

She gathered them as if receiving rainwater and began to chant a Seonmun [a type of incantation], moving her lips.

It was a strange Seonmun, as if singing a song. Soon, a red aura flowed out, heating up the East District.

Before she knew it, a rhombus-shaped red pattern appeared on her forehead, and red scales sprouted around it.

‘I think I know what bloodline it is.’

No wonder I felt a little familiar.

It wasn’t revealed when she performed martial arts, but when she used Seonsul [a type of celestial art], her bloodline was inevitably revealed.

That’s because she was also a Soseon.

A phenomenon that occurs because she cannot fully handle the blood of the gods.

‘It was the bloodline of Hwagirin [a mythical creature].’

The same Hwagirin as Cheonoe Sin-gun [a celestial warrior].

I don’t know if it’s the same bloodline or what, but it seemed to be related.

Hwaaaa!

While Beom was thinking that.

The Seonsul was coming to an end.

Something whitish escaped from her body and stood in front of the coffin.

It seemed to circle around the coffin before seeping into the body of the Jiangshi [a type of undead being].

“She risked her life.”

The inside of the Jiangshi’s body is a place where all kinds of souls are mixed and cannot be united into one.

Stepping into that place is no different from suicide.

Cheonbeom had left it alone for over a thousand years because he couldn’t do anything about it.

Unless she uses a Seonsul he doesn’t know, she may also be mixed with countless souls and not be able to return.

Inside there is also the Wonok of the Sangseon that he purified. No one knows what kind of reaction will occur.

Whether it will be destruction or symbiosis….

“Tsk.”

Saha’s body, which had been meditating, suddenly vomited blood.

Blood flowed from the corner of her mouth, and her forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Her complexion turned pale in an instant, as if she had been poisoned.

At the same time, unorganized energies flowed out from the body of the Jiangshi in the coffin and spread chaotically.

It was the fierce power of the Incomparable Great Devil.

Magi and evil energy mingled together, and the ghostly wails of ghosts were heard, scattering a chilling energy around.

“How many souls do you want to devour?”

He clicked his tongue and approached Saha from behind.

He placed his palm on her back.

“I don’t know if this is right, but.”

He doesn’t believe everything she says.

But Bong said.

That it was his connection.

Seuaaa.

The golden waves surged.

Illuminating the East District brightly with golden light.

Saha’s complexion returned, and her energy began to recover.

At the same time, the fierce power and ghostly wails emitted by the Jiangshi faltered. The eerie and grotesque shape of the ghost faded in Cheonbeom’s golden energy.

But it didn’t disappear.

He was injecting his power, but Saha’s eyebrows did not relax.

Even the blood flowing from her mouth dripped down, staining her palace skirt red.

Not only that.

Her head couldn’t stay still and convulsed as if startled by something.

And then her complexion turned snow-white, and shadows fell.

Her condition changes rapidly.

The area under her eyes turns black, and blood flows from her eyes, ears, and mouth.

A dark red, ominous energy floods from Saha’s body like a wave.

The fierce power that even he, who had ascended to Sangseon, frowned at, rose up.

Her body is being consumed by the fierce power.

No, she is being submerged in the tens of thousands of ghosts inside the Jiangshi.