Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 313

Tales of a Wandering Swordsman – Part 2 Chapter 22

The center of the Water Realm.

A massive palace hung at the edge of the high sky, its roof shimmering gold as if it had absorbed all the sunlight.

Floating serenely, it presented an unparalleled mystical appearance.

This was the pride of the Water Realm.

The Tongcheon Water Palace, steeped in the history of the Water Realm.

“Yang Hui, Cheonmu General of the Tongcheon Water Palace.”

As he raised the Cheonmu Token, a gatekeeper materialized from within the barrier surrounding the palace.

It pierced the barrier with a bizarre spear, tearing it open as if it were cloth.

The gatekeeper’s appearance was as grotesque as the spear it wielded.

It *was* the palace gate itself.

The gate was its mouth, the roof its head, and its arms were spears.

The gatekeeper, having removed the barrier, looked at the Cheonmu Token and opened its maw.

Yang Hui entered directly, handing Hwang On, bound in silver cloth, to an approaching soldier.

“A criminal to be exiled. Imprison him.”

“Understood!”

Yang Hui passed through several gates, presenting the Cheonmu Token each time.

The palace, which appeared vast from afar, was even more immense up close, a testament to the power of spatial laws.

After traveling for two days and nights, Yang Hui finally stopped before a large palace.

“Zhu Cheonmu General Yang Hui. I have returned and offer my greetings.”

As he knelt on one knee and clasped his fist, all the doors of the palace burst open, and a thick fog poured out.

Soon, the surroundings darkened, and a low, oppressive gaze weighed down on him.

[It is fitting that the Mu General of the Nine Heavens should return swiftly and prepare for the lifting of the *janjan-gyeongjeongdo* (a type of seal or restriction). Why are you so late?]

Beads of sweat trickled down Yang Hui’s forehead at the stern reprimand.

“I apologize.”

[The Zhu Cheonmu General must hasten preparations to meet the time of the *haegeum* (lifting of the seal).]

“I shall obey the command.”

[However, I am curious. I don’t believe the Zhu Cheonmu General has ever failed to meet a deadline before.]

“There were…circumstances.”

[I sense the scent of the Lower Realm. Could these circumstances be related to the newly ascended cultivator who appeared in Zhucheon?]

“I am in awe of the Great Cheonmu General’s insight.”

*Swish.*

The dense fog slowly dissipated.

A woman and a girl appeared, accompanied by the tinkling of eerie bells.

“Originally, newly ascended cultivators should appear within the Gyeolhyeol Control in the Water Realm.”

The woman, wearing a black veil, spoke. The Gyeolhyeol Control was located in a corner of the Tongcheon Water Palace.

Most newly ascended cultivators appeared there and were distributed among various families.

“There have been few newly ascended cultivators who appeared outside the Gyeolhyeol Control throughout history.”

Even in the Water Realm, with its long tradition and history, such individuals were rare.

The Gyeolhyeol Control was created with such laws in mind.

However, occasionally, individuals emerged who defied these boundaries.

“Do you know the reason for this?”

Yang Hui bowed his head.

“Because of the mysteriousness of the Geonwon Sea….”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s all because of that strange cloud sea called the Geonwon Sea.”

Those who appeared there could not escape the Geonwon Sea upon ascension, often going mad or disappearing.

Most of them died.

“But some survive.”

Yang Hui’s face turned cold.

“In the old days, even the one who plotted treason, turning the Tongcheon Water Palace upside down….”

“Appeared from the Geonwon Sea.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The woman, who seemed to be the Great Cheonmu General, shuddered. Then, the girl beside her struck Yang Hui’s head with a bell.

*Ting!*

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s on your mind.”

“I am merely grateful to be able to see the Great Cheonmu General’s *weonshin* (spiritual body or manifestation).”

Yang Hui trembled with even more fear than when he faced the Great Cheonmu General.

The Great Cheonmu General lifted the girl.

“Let’s talk in more detail inside. There’s no harm in hearing the story of the newly ascended cultivator who appeared in the Geonwon Sea.”

* * *

Meanwhile.

Cheonbeom gathered the young *seon* (immortals) from the *sangseo* (administrative office) and examined their wrists one by one.

The young *seon* reached his waist and chest; most were young, but soon they would shed their childish appearances.

If that happened, no one would object to them becoming pillars to support the *sangseo*.

“You are fire. Go over there.”

He was classifying their divine powers.

“What about me?”

“Hmm, you are water.”

Hwaran was writing down their names and distributing identity tokens.

There was another reason for classifying them like this.

The *sangseo* would grow even larger in the future.

That was only natural, since Cheonbeom himself would be placing his enemies there.

Even if that didn’t happen, he would *make* it happen, so he was preparing in advance.

By classifying them, teaching them the right techniques from a young age, and finding them suitable vocations based on their aptitudes, he intended to make them beneficial to the *sangseo*.

Fire, water, wood, and metal were of little use to ordinary mortals in the Lower Realm, but it was different for the young *seon* here.

Born with *seongi* (divine energy) flowing from birth, they could wield divine powers.

Even without cultivation, they could use it as naturally as a child crawling and walking.

Cheonbeom was trying to use that to provide early education.

‘Welfare, welfare.’

It was a welfare benefit unique to the *sangseo*.

Something like that.

Wasn’t it better to prepare in advance for a comfortable retirement?

It might seem useless now, but the effects would appear later.

“Okay, next.”

Moreover, some of them had excellent aptitude for cultivation.

Of course, he would respect their wishes, and if they had the will, he would accept them as young *seon* of the Sa Clan and help them with their training.

“What is your name?”

“Wan-hyeong.”

An excellent talent.

Unlike mortals, the young *seon* of the Water Realm possessed *seongeun* (divine roots) in their dantian [energy center], and their aptitude was determined by how large or small it was.

Those with *seongeun* as small as millet grains found it difficult to become *sangseon* (high-ranking immortals) no matter how intelligent they were, but those with large *seongeun* had a very high probability of becoming *seungseon* (ascended immortals).

‘Somang had something similar… I wonder what that child is doing.’

“Immortal?”

“Ah, yes, right. You were born to good parents. Are your parents here?”

“They have all passed away.”

“Ah, yes… ahem.”

It seemed he was a victim of the *seonchung* (immortal worm) attack.

Anyway, the child named Wan-hyeong possessed a fairly large *seongeun* with *hwashintong* (fire divine power).

If fortune favored him and it blossomed, he would become a great figure.

After a while.

“Oh, I’m tired.”

“You’ve worked hard. Are you tired?”

“I’m stiff.”

Cheonbeom slowly looked around at their lives with Hwaran. Looking into the aptitudes of all the young *seon* of the *sangseo* was not easy.

No matter how small the *sangseo* was, the number of young *seon* exceeded eighty.

He wondered if those who came to the *sangseo* from Yongmagol would ostracize those who originally lived there, but it didn’t seem to be the case.

“Well, that’s something you do when you have enough to eat, but we’re not in such a prosperous state right now.”

It was hard to say it was prosperous, even as a lie.

They weren’t starving, but they were barely making ends meet.

They had no time to care about others.

“At least there’s no chance of *seonchung* swarming, so it will gradually get better over time.”

If they were bored, Tamhwa would catch and eat the *seonchung* nearby.

At first, some of the young *seon* were afraid of Tamhwa, but after a few days, they realized it was harmless and got along well.

“Next… well, let’s go there while we’re out.”

“Geukyangsangsan?”

“What a grand name.”

The *sangseo* had always been adjacent to the *chunggye* (worm realm).

Being at the southern end of the Water Realm, *yeongisul* (spiritual energy technique) had developed because of that.

However, when the fire of the volcano was extinguished, there was nothing they could do, and even the *yeongisa* (spiritual energy masters) disappeared due to the *seonchung* attack, becoming nominal.

“Let’s go there while we’re out.”

He was restless from sitting on Hwamaebong and reading books all the time.

It wouldn’t be bad to see Geukyangsangsan, which was said to be the pride of the *sangseo*.

Even though the fire was extinguished, he might have a way to reignite it, and even if not, it wouldn’t be too difficult to take a look around.

And after a while.

Cheonbeom and Hwaran got lost.

“I never thought I would get lost at this age.”

His age was roughly 2100 years old.

He couldn’t believe he was getting lost at this age, not even a child.

“Don’t you know the way?”

“How would I know?”

Why was she so confident!

“No, you have a map!”

Certainly, she held a map showing the *sangseo* in her hand. But it was useless.

“There are so many mountains that I don’t know. This mountain looks like that mountain, and that mountain looks like this mountain, so how would I know?”

Hwaran frowned.

He didn’t know why she was doing that to him.

He told her to trust him and follow him.

“Wouldn’t San-gun know better than me? You’re close to the mountains.”

“What do you mean by being close to the mountains?”

“You’re a tiger. A very big tiger. You used to cross this mountain and that mountain when you were young, but now you’re old and have no strength?”

“When was that… and what does crossing mountains have to do with getting lost? Where is Geukyangsangsan! Where is Geukyangsangsan!”

“Oh my. This old man is now acting like a child… If it were another woman, she would have run away, saying he was senile, but I’m a loyal woman, so I’ll take good care of you. Just don’t smear poop on the walls. That’s a bit disgusting for me too.”

She covered her nose and glared at him with affectionate eyes. He wished she would just hate him or like him.

“…My head hurts, so shut your mouth.”

“I did cover my nose.”

“Are you trying to find the way or tease me?”

“San-gun.”

“What.”

“If there were gold and silver bars on the road, which would you pick up?”

“Of course, the gold bar.”

But Hwaran shook her head.

“You should pick up both.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“So do I.”

“…So you’re saying you’re going to find the way and tease me at the same time?”

Then Hwaran smiled brightly.

She stroked his head as if he were admirable.

“You got it right. You’ve really grown up now, San-gun. This mother is already tearing up.”

“…Shut up and let’s find the way.”

He wondered what she was talking about, but she was just spouting nonsense again.

He was so dumbfounded that he wasn’t even angry.

“You’re a tiger. Try to find it somehow. It’s literally called Geukyangsangsan, so it must be a place with high *yang* energy.”

“Even a tiger doesn’t know what it doesn’t know. How would a tiger know that?”

“Can’t a tiger even do that?”

“Are you belittling tigers right now?”

“Does San-gun belittle sword spirits?”

“When did I ever!”

“I never did either.”

A quarrel broke out, but the sun was disappearing over the mountain.

If they delayed any longer, they wouldn’t be able to find Geukyangsangsan and would only waste time.

“The *hwagi* (fire energy) has completely disappeared, so it’s all so similar that I can’t find it.”

If he had known this would happen, he would have brought a guide.

He trusted the map too much.

“What do we do now?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Then who should I ask?”

“You *mureusyeo nohgo* (asked so well) last night, do you want to *mulgo shipeushin* (ask/bite) again?”

“Here we go again.”

“Hmph, I can’t help it. If you want to *mulgo shipeushimyeon*, *mureuseyo*! (If you want to ask/bite, ask!) You can do whatever you want with my body like a toy, but you can’t do anything with my heart!”

When there were young *seon* around, she only had stiff, business-like conversations, but when he was alone with her, she spouted such nonsense again.

“Again! Again! Nonsense!”

“It’s my joy in life, so accept it.”

“Is it your joy to torment me?”

It was then.

“Um….”

While he was arguing with Hwaran, a young child came to him.

“Oh, surprise… what is it.”

It was the child he saw in the village earlier.

“Was it Wan-hyeong?”

“Ah, yes!”

“But what are you doing here?”

“That’s… what I want to ask….”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I live here.”

“You live here?”

It was quite a rugged place for a child to live alone. It was a bit dangerous because it was a bit far from the village.

“Alone?”

He nodded.

It seemed he really lived here alone.

“Where is your house?”

“Over there.”

Looking at the place he was pointing at, there was a small gap on the hillside.

It seemed he lived in a natural cave.

The tiger made eye contact with Hwaran and nodded.

“Wan-hyeong. Do you happen to know where Geukyangsangsan is?”

“Yes, my house is Geukyangsangsan.”