Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 343

Tales of a Wandering Swordsman – Part 2, Chapter 52

“Hey, what are you doing over there?”

I startled, my eyes snapping open in surprise.

Before me stood the phoenix’s divided soul, appearing as a young boy.

Bong stood there sternly.

At his question, I blankly looked down at my hands before answering.

“I was drifting away.”

This wasn’t a metaphor.

I was literally drifting away.

Like a fallen leaf floating on a stream in a valley, I was simply drifting.

Without knowing the destination, without knowing the end, I was just drifting aimlessly.

But it felt good.

Existing without a thought, simply drifting along the water’s path, felt good.

It wasn’t just the intense allure that captivated me; simply immersing myself in that comfortable stream was also an irresistible temptation.

As I thought this, I realized.

‘I was dying.’

There’s no need to ponder what happens to a leaf drifting down a valley stream.

It’s death, a prelude to reincarnation.

As soon as I realized this, a chill ran down my spine. That comforting and peaceful feeling was the path to death.

What exactly is death?

I pondered for a moment, but couldn’t grasp it.

“Where is this?”

Only then did I see my surroundings.

Everything was golden.

Drenched in gold.

Beneath my feet, the Taehwa [Great Harmony] I had created was abundant, with small Hwajeongs [Flower Essence] floating around.

The Taehwamandeung [Great Harmony Myriad Lights], a landscape in itself.

‘But it’s decaying.’

Decaying in real-time.

Due to something black, akin to poison.

Likely the aura of the Bungma [Demonic Horse].

The Bungma energy was slowly expanding its territory, withering the flowers.

I knew what would happen when all the flowers withered without needing to ask.

“Was it comfortable?”

A gentle tone.

An infinitely soft tone.

But I knew it contained a scolding.

Many things came to mind.

That’s why I was ashamed.

I was captivated by the idea of death.

I just wanted to drift away.

It was so comfortable and cozy that I just wanted to go with the flow.

Without even knowing it was the path to death, I just wanted to do that.

“Life and death are just paths. Even those paths have an end. Which path do you want to take?”

Life and death.

To those who seek the Great Dao [the ultimate path or principle], they are just other paths.

But cultivating doesn’t mean walking every path.

Cultivation is about walking the path that suits you, the path you desire.

The beginning and end of cultivation are not determined by others, but solely by oneself.

So, Bong asked.

Which path do you want to take?

“I can’t die yet.”

There are many things to do.

Many things I want to do.

There are people waiting.

Many connections to forge.

“Then why are you standing there?”

Before I knew it, Bong’s figure disappeared like smoke, and I heard the old man’s voice.

“I don’t want to see you die either, so walk. Endlessly walking is the foundation of the Great Dao.”

Bong, who had disappeared like smoke, transformed into a phoenix feather and soared into the sky.

The golden sky turns blue.

It’s refreshing.

It feels like my eyes have cleared.

The decaying Taehwa regain their original appearance.

The surroundings, which had been decaying black, begin to shine brilliantly in gold.

And at the same time, I understood.

What Bong had done.

“Hoo.”

I calm the surging emotions in my chest.

[Your flame is now golden, but you know better than anyone what color it was in the beginning. There’s no need to jump to conclusions, so there’s no need to be sad.]

Bum closed his eyes.

He knows his wounds well.

A wound that cannot be easily healed.

A blow that led to death.

It’s not something that can be easily treated.

But it was Bong who healed it.

And the children of Eungmyeongcheonchung [Responding to the Mandate of Heaven].

The three wolfberry fruits left by the children.

That and his Yungjeonga Dan [Dragon Essence Pill].

The Naesandan [Inner Elixir] made with Subongwaewa Jeong [Collecting Wind and Gathering Essence].

Bong embraced it, healed Bum, and merged into the Tanhan Yeosan [Crimson Ice Mountain] as one.

I know what that means.

‘There’s no need to jump to conclusions, so there’s no need to be sad.’

But that’s why I feel even more sorry and grateful.

He didn’t die, but it seems I won’t be able to see him for a while.

He did something quite reckless to save me, so there’s no helping it.

I had many things I wanted to say, but I decided to encompass everything into one.

“Thank you.”

As if responding, a blue volcano permeated him.

And when I opened my eyes again.

Kwaang!!

It was with the sound of a volcanic eruption.

“Bum!!”

Saha greeted him.

His eyes were wide like a rabbit’s.

His face showed that he didn’t know whether to be sad or happy, or what to do.

Bum just gave him a bitter smile.

Because it wasn’t just Saha who was welcoming him.

Ho Junseong was also welcoming him.

“It seems you are favored by the heavens. Cheon Suseon [Heavenly Water Immortal].”

Bum didn’t answer and instead observed his body.

‘It’s insane.’

That’s all that came to mind.

His body was perfect.

It couldn’t be better.

It goes without saying that the wounds were healed, and the Seon’gi [Immortal Qi] itself was recovering.

And that is still continuing.

‘It’s drawing in the Cheonjiwon’gi [Heaven and Earth Origin Qi] from the surroundings.’

Something Bum couldn’t easily do.

Seon’gi that he couldn’t easily accumulate even with sufficient formations and precious objects.

But now, it was rushing into his body like a flood.

To the point where Bum himself was becoming scared.

The reason this was possible was the wolfberry fruit created by the children of Eungmyeongcheonchung.

Bong mixed the mysteries contained within with other things.

Bum could feel it.

The three-in-one wolfberry fruit was no longer there.

All of them were consumed and influenced other things, allowing him to survive.

‘In the end, you guys saved me.’

The children’s lives disappeared, but now the different mysteries of divine powers were connected as one and bound together.

Tanhan Yeosan descended beside Bum in the form of a small volcano.

A blue volcano.

Now, this is everything.

Bong accomplished what Bum couldn’t and fell asleep.

So, I can’t help but be grateful.

He sacrificed himself for me, even foregoing finding his true form.

Tanhan Yeosan must have become Bong himself.

It is both a magical artifact and Bong, combining Subongwaewa Jeong, Yungjeonga Dan, and the mysteries of Eungmyeongcheonchung.

Of course, because of that, it will be difficult to see Bong manifest for a while.

For the time being, that is.

But it’s okay.

It’s not a permanent farewell.

‘So, there’s nothing to worry about now.’

With Tanhan Yeosan, he can easily convert Seon’gi into Seon’lyeok [Immortal Power].

‘Although there isn’t much Seon’gi around.’

This is enough.

Whooooong-

Blue wind dwells on the two pairs of wings.

The Cheongpung [Azure Wind] skillfully crisscross and mesh together in a miraculous way.

Then, Bum flapped his wings once.

Hooong.

With the sound of an empty wind, his figure disappeared.

“My back still throbs. I’ve been hit hard, so I need to return the favor.”

Ho Junseong’s eyebrows twitched.

‘…Fast.’

A speed beyond imagination.

He didn’t even notice that Bum had taken his back until he said something.

This is the true Yeonghwabi [Shadowless Flight].

But Ho Junseong answered calmly.

“Try it if you can.”

As he formed a hand seal, hundreds of Geongwon Rings [Firmament Rings] split and flew towards him.

But Bum scoffed and disappeared, turning into a blue wind.

And soon, he soared into the sky and spread his two pairs of wings wide.

His wings were swirling with Cheongpung, and Bum raised one corner of his mouth and shouted.

“I’ll show you the taste of Byeokryeok Cheongpung (霹靂靑風) [Thunderclap Azure Wind] possessed by Yeonghwabi!”

Byeokryeok Cheongpung!

Upon hearing those words, Ho Junseong frowned, even though it was a divine power that only a Sangseon [High Immortal] could use.

Yeonghwabi is not just a simple escape technique.

Yeonjabo [Swallow Step] is a natural treasure whose mystery cannot be expressed in words.

The reason why Gon-ga’s Yeonghwabi is famous is because it deals with the Byeokryeok Cheongpung contained within.

“Tsk.”

He was half-doubtful, but the one who said those words was not just a simple Sangseon, but Cheonbum [Heavenly Bum].

Ho Junseong highly valued him, and as a result, it was the correct answer.

Whooooooooooong!!

Crack, crack!

“Keuk!”

As Bum flapped his wings, a blue wind swept through the area like lightning.

The sharp Byeokryeok Cheongpung tears apart and destroys the surroundings.

Ho Junseong hurriedly protected his body with Sahyeng Geuksan [Four Forms Extreme Mountain].

However, even his Sahyeng Geuksan’s barrier cracks under the Byeokryeok Cheongpung.

A truly terrifying divine power.

‘How can a Sangseon use that divine power….’

Is it because he came back from the dead?

I couldn’t know, but what I could know was that Bum’s Seon’lyeok was still full.

The tables are turning.

Literally, Bum’s wind is starting to change something.

Ho Junseong’s heart was inwardly excited, but he calmly suppressed it.

The Byeokryeok Cheongpung is lurking around, tearing everything apart like a wildcat, and is constantly aiming for Ho Junseong.

Now, it seems that the Cheongpung has become a typhoon and a storm, creating a vortex and plotting to devour him.

“If you come out like that, there is a way.”

He cut his palm with a dagger and drew blood.

As he sprinkled Jeonghyeol [Pure Blood] on the Sahyeng Geuksan, the Geuksan began to tremble all over.

The Sahyeng Geuksan, spinning around in the form of a small triangle.

Its barrier swells up, drawing a vast circle.

At the same time, Ho Junseong tore off his sleeves and wrote words in blood from his wrist to his forearm, constantly moving his mouth.

Soon, his voice was low in all directions, as if chanting Buddhist scriptures, and his appearance changed into a grotesque figure.

He began to become a Sammyun Gwisan [Three-Faced Devil] with one head and three faces.

As his face changed like that, his whole body turned into the form of a black devil, and the four Geuksan turned behind his back and rotated.

A hideous horn grew on his forehead, and sharp fangs like a beast grew, so much so that one would believe that an evil god had manifested. The ferocious energy goes without saying, and the thick Bungma energy stretched out in all directions as if to devour everything.

쿵!

He puts his enlarged form together.

Then, the three mouths began to chant several spells at the same time, but the voices were different.

The voices of a boy, a young man, and an old man were heard at once, and they were chanting different spells at the same time!

Bum couldn’t help but be surprised by the bizarre divine power.

But now is not the time to be surprised.

His Geongwon Rings were hidden in the Bungma energy that spread in all directions.

It is entangled in Byeokryeok Cheongpung.

Soon, it splits and goes wild.

As it permeates the Hoepoong [Demonic Wind] like a poison that contaminates the surroundings, the power of Byeokryeok Cheongpung is gradually but repeatedly decreasing.

And as it falls into the Hoepoong and hundreds of Geongwon Rings fly in all directions, it is not easy to even move.

Ho Junseong’s mouth twists.

At this rate, Byeokryeok Cheongpung will rather threaten Cheonbum.

“Ha.”

But Cheonbum is not one to just watch it.

탁!

Bum, who had violently put his hands together, moved his mouth and emitted a dazzling light from his whole body.

Then, the blue Tanhan Yeosan trembled.

“Go!”

Kuoong!

As he flicked his finger and blew in Seon’gyeol [Immortal Art], Bongak Cheonghwa [Phoenix Cry Azure Flame] was emitted from Tanhan Yeosan with a kwang! sound.

Hwaaaaaaa!!

Instantly, the surroundings become a sea of fire.

The Hoepoong accepts the Cheongyeom [Azure Flame] and begins to further enhance the hot Bongak Cheonghwa.

“Kueueueuk!”

Ho Junseong frowned and vomited black blood.

Since Bongak Cheonghwa has turned the surroundings into a sea of fire, there is no choice but to have an impact even on the barrier of Sahyeng Geuksan.

It is a flame that burns and purifies everything.

Being in the middle of such a sea of fire, even Geuksan gradually loses its light, and the barrier begins to burn strangely.

‘Could this Cheonghwa be….’

It’s not that I don’t have any guesses, but now is not the time to think about that.

I have to somehow clean up this sea of fire.

He began to cast spells again, making hand seals and using the three faces of his mouth.

But Ho Junseong’s six eyes saw.

The tip of a spear aiming at him.

And the figure of Bum holding it.