Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 305

Crack!!

A scream ripped from the Yellow Dragon’s throat as it was bitten, the sound chillingly loud.

The scream echoed throughout Dragon Vein Valley, carrying far and wide.

Soseons [lower-ranking cultivators] and Sangseons [higher-ranking cultivators], locked in a desperate struggle with the Seonchungs [insectoid monsters], turned to the sky. They saw a dragon, a gaping wound in its side, plummeting towards the valley floor.

For a moment, silence fell.

The Hwang Clan Head and the remaining Yellow Dragons stared in disbelief. Everyone did.

Three Yellow Dragons and one Black Dragon were fighting, yet the Yellow Dragons were losing.

It was unbelievable.

Unsurprisingly, morale in Dragon Vein Valley plummeted.

The Soseons’ faces paled, anxiety thick in the air, mingling with the cold sweat on their brows.

They were still fighting the Seonchungs, but a deep unease had taken root.

“Aaaagh!! M-My, a-arm!!”

A Soseon screamed as a mantis-like Seonchung severed their arm.

The arm fell to the ground, instantly devoured by smaller Seonchungs.

The Soseon was paralyzed with terror.

What can a terrified person do? That was the nature of fear.

“U-Uh… Uwaaaagh!!”

The Soseon, clutching their bleeding shoulder, turned and ran.

And that was the beginning of the end.

“Hey, where are you going!!”

“S-Sorry!!”

“Kuaaagh!”

Deserters began to appear.

The defensive line, which had barely held against the Seonchung attacks, crumbled.

Like a dam bursting, the Seonchungs flooded through.

A collapsed dam couldn’t be stopped, even if dozens of Soseons threw themselves into the breach.

Spilled water was like that – impossible to gather.

“What a mess.”

Far from the chaos stood Cheonbeom.

“Did you foresee this?”

Above, Tamhwa was practically drooling as he eyed the remaining Yellow Dragons.

It was as Cheonbeom had predicted.

Tamhwa was strong. Incredibly strong.

Hwaran finally understood that he couldn’t accurately gauge the difference in power between himself and Tamhwa.

“I vaguely thought it might happen. But even I didn’t expect it to be this severe.”

“…I didn’t realize that child was this strong either.”

He had dismissed Tamhwa as a mere child.

But watching him fight now, Hwaran couldn’t comprehend his strength.

Hwaran had known Tamhwa since he was a palm-sized centipede, unable to speak.

Seeing that tiny creature now devouring dragons filled him with a sense of wonder, and he marveled anew at Cheonbeom’s skill in raising Tamhwa.

“That’s not it.”

“What do you mean, ‘that’s not it’?”

“I’m talking about those guys, not Tamhwa.”

“The Yellow Dragons?”

Cheonbeom frowned, as if something was amiss.

“I don’t know why they’re so weak.”

His surprise wasn’t about Tamhwa’s strength, but the Yellow Dragons’ weakness.

“They’re weak?”

“They’re not even comparable to Dangchun, and weaker than the Chungseon [Azure Immortal] or Hwaseon [Crimson Immortal] I saw before.”

Hwaran’s eyes widened.

The Hwaseon and Chungseon he had seen in the Golden Ring Sacred Ground.

Even the Hwaseon, newly ascended at the time, was stronger.

“Is that true?”

“That’s why I said it’s strange, didn’t I.”

They weren’t holding back.

This was a life-or-death situation; what reason would they have to hide their power?

No matter how strong Tamhwa was, he shouldn’t be able to so thoroughly overwhelm three Sangseons.

‘It might seem like they’re relatively weak because Tamhwa is strong, but that’s not it.’

They were weak.

Objectively, they were weak.

He could tell just by watching Tamhwa toying with them.

‘Why are they so weak?’

Were dragons always this weak?

It was puzzling.

Was it because this place was on the outskirts of the Water Realm?

He was seeing the true bloodline of a dragon for the first time since ascending to the Upper Realm.

But he was also shocked by how weak that dragon was.

‘Why aren’t they using the Sangseon Armor [divine armor]?’

It was fortunate that the opponent wasn’t more formidable, but he was still disappointed by their weakness.

In Cheonbeom’s opinion, they seemed inexperienced in combat.

They didn’t properly utilize a dragon’s strengths, and their Seonsul [divine techniques] were outdated.

‘They don’t even seem to be able to manipulate the Law [fundamental principles of the universe].’

It seemed the Hwang Clan Head would be dealt with by Tamhwa alone, without Cheonbeom’s intervention.

“…Anyway, it’s not a bad thing for you.”

As he subtly raised his head, Saha appeared from behind a tree and bowed deeply.

Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying.

Saha’s face looked both weary and relieved.

“Saha, is this what you wanted?”

Instead of answering, Saha knelt on the ground.

“I couldn’t forgive them.”

At her resolute answer, Cheonbeom put his hands behind his back.

“I’m not scolding you. I’m not in a position to, and I don’t feel any reason to. I’m just curious.”

Why she did it.

“The residents here were originally settled in Sangseo. But after being devastated by the Seonchung attacks, they abandoned Sangseo without hesitation and migrated to Dragon Vein Valley.”

“So you’re going to kill them all?”

If things continued, they would all die.

Even with a few Sangseons, there was no reason for them to protect the Soseons if Tamhwa destroyed the Hwang Clan.

The Soseons of Dragon Vein Valley would all die.

“I was curious. If they couldn’t escape the Seonchung attacks even after leaving Sangseo and coming to Dragon Vein Valley, where would they go?”

“The karma is heavy for something you did out of simple curiosity.”

“I was also resentful. I hated seeing them living comfortably here after abandoning Sangseo.”

Cheonbeom stared intently at Saha before turning away.

“Are you disappointed?”

“I didn’t expect anything, so what is there to be disappointed about?”

“I know you’re helping me because I’m the reincarnation of that person. If I were just an ordinary Soseon with no ties, you would have established a new clan in Sangseo by now.”

Cheonbeom’s eyebrows rose.

It wasn’t sarcastic, nor was it a complaint.

“What do you want to say?”

“…What should I do now?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t forgive them, and I just did it because a way was prepared. Yes! I did it in a fit of anger! It felt so refreshing to see those bastards dying! I want to take their heads to Sangseo right away and comfort the spirits of my deceased parents and uncles!!”

“But?”

“But innocent people are dying with them, so the sin I committed is weighing me down.”

Revenge and another feeling warred within her.

She seemed confused.

The truth she had suddenly learned and the resentment that had arisen were resolved before they could even take root. The scale of the event was too large for her to handle alone.

“Sangseon, what should I do?”

“….”

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

The tears gathered on her chin and fell.

Her hand, touching the ground, was stained with blood.

The tears that fell on her bloodied hand did not wash the blood away.

‘She’s fragile.’

In his memory, she was neither so weak nor so honest.

‘She does resemble her hasty temperament, though.’

She was still young and immature.

“If they are innocent, then you should save them.”

They had lost their home, so taking them to Sangseo would be a great help.

If she could forgive them.

“The choice is yours.”

I have things to do.

Cheonbeom looked up at the sky.

Tamhwa and the two Yellow Dragons were locked in a fierce battle.

The pitch-black poisonous fog spewed out by Tamhwa covered the surroundings, and black chains sprung out from within, binding the Yellow Dragons.

The Yellow Dragons coughed up black blood and writhed in agony.

The Hwang Clan Head, in dragon form, broke free from the chains, but the remaining Yellow Dragon couldn’t and was devoured by Tamhwa.

The victory was decided.

Dragon Vein Valley was finished.

“Keuh, cough!”

The Hwang Clan Head coughed incessantly, spitting out blood, seemingly poisoned.

His body was battered.

Cheonbeom ascended into the sky and stood before the Hwang Clan Head.

“You, you bastard!! How dare you repay kindness with enmity! Do you think you’ll be alright after this! If I inform the Tongcheon Water Palace [Heavenly Water Palace], you will be torn limb from limb and suffer the sins of Cheonrak [Heavenly Punishment] immediately!!”

Cheonrak, sins.

‘Is he talking about the sin that the Cheonoe Yanggun [Heavenly Outlaw General] suffered?’

He must be referring to the punishment of being imprisoned under a mountain, eventually becoming the mountain itself.

The Hwang Clan Head spat blood and raged, but Cheonbeom sneered.

“What are you talking about? Dragon Vein Valley was simply unlucky and suffered a Seonchung swarm. What did I do to deserve punishment?”

“You bastard!! Do you think I don’t know that you used Mochui Harbor [Seonchung lure] to gather the Seonchung swarm with that damned Black Dragon!!”

“You were the one who used that Mochui Harbor to bring down Sangseo. If the Tongcheon Water Palace finds out about that, who do you think they will blame?”

“T-That’s….”

“Dragon Vein Valley, like Sangseo, was simply attacked by Seonchungs. And very unfortunately, unlike Sangseo, it was destroyed.”

“As long as I’m here, Dragon Vein Valley will never fall! Never!!”

Skeok.

A sword was already in Cheonbeom’s hand.

“Devour it.”

The Hwang Clan Head’s head rolled to the ground and instantly transformed into a dragon’s head.

It let out a ferocious roar, but behind it was Tamhwa, mouth wide open.

[Damn… it!!]

Koo-oong!

Leaving behind the Hwang Clan Head, who had disappeared into Tamhwa’s mouth, Cheonbeom looked at the empty air and said.

“Have you arrived?”

Soon, ripples appeared, and Bong, in the form of a boy, appeared.

“You’re the only one in this world who would make me steal.”

“I’m still ignorant.”

Bong threw the Gongjeong River [river of treasures] to Cheonbeom and disappeared, turning into a small feather.

‘Is it over now?’

When he infused the Gongjeong River with divine power, it filled with countless rare items and wealth.

These were items from the Hwang Clan.

Since they had decided to stay in Sangseo, these items would be useful.

“Will you come with us?”

Cheonbeom, on Tamhwa’s head, asked the Sangseons below.

They were external Sangseons, Chochan and Tangomal, not related to the Hwang Clan.

They seemed to think Cheonbeom was the cause of this, for whatever reason.

They were wary.

“There were circumstances.”

“How can we believe that?”

“A clan has collapsed. If there is no legitimate reason, we have no choice but to inform the Tongcheon Water Palace.”

Cheonbeom took a medicine bottle from his pocket and threw it.

“This is Mochui Harbor, which attracts Seonchungs. The Hwang Clan was using it to intentionally cause Seonchung attacks in the surrounding areas to gain profits. They received the punishment they deserved.”

Chochan and Tangomal exchanged disbelieving glances.

Then, they nodded.

“I want to hear the details.”

“I’m going to Sangseo.”

Dragon Vein Valley was destroyed.

There was one remaining member of the Hwang Clan, but it would be difficult to rely on that person alone.

Chochan and Tangomal were immortals who had ascended from other Lower Realms like Cheonbeom.

They were thoughtful and quick to judge.

“You’re the only one left.”

Cheonbeom said, looking at Saha.

Dragon Vein Valley was still in chaos with the Seonchung swarm, and the surviving Soseons were desperately trying to survive. Among them were powerless children and women.

Whether to save them, or to kill them, was in her hands.

“What will you do?”

“I….”

Saha hesitated.

But soon, she made a decision.