Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 348

Nangseon Gi Hwan Dam – Part 2, Episode 57

“To bestow a rank of Senior 4 on a Sangseon [a mid-ranking celestial official]… I truly find it difficult to understand. Don’t you agree?”

Those gathered, conversing amongst themselves, were the Four Heavenly Generals of Munmu Seon [a division of celestial warriors responsible for military and martial affairs].

They were like tigers, having started from the bottom during Munmu Seon’s establishment, arduously climbing to the rank of general.

But now, someone with a higher rank than them had appeared in a position they didn’t even know existed, called Munmu Gwanjang [Grand Master of Munmu]. It was absurd.

“It must be because of exceptional talent. Without any backing, would the Great Heavenly General bestow a rank without reason? Walls have ears. There’s nothing we can change by talking amongst ourselves about a decision that’s already been made, so I’ll take my leave.”

Jucheon Mujang Yang Hwi was also among them, but his opinion differed.

He believed that if they spent the time used for such talk to pay closer attention to official duties, serve the greater good, and train, they would naturally receive higher positions and ranks.

“Still as rigid as ever.”

As Jucheon Mujang disappeared, the remaining Four Heavenly Generals, regardless of whether they were skilled in literary or martial arts, cursed him. Some defended him, but a nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

“We’re not doing this for nothing. It’s said that a rolling stone gathers no moss, but it can dislodge a settled stone. Imagine a fresh-faced newbie who has just ascended ordering me around like a subordinate. Does that make any sense?”

“Nonsense! No matter how the court’s laws may be, that simply won’t do.”

“No matter how high his rank may be compared to ours, he’s just an inexperienced Sangseon.”

“If he acts arrogantly, relying only on his position, it’s our turn to show him the ‘experience’ honed over thousands of years in the palace.”

“Besides the Four Heavenly Generals, there will be many among the Cheonmu Seon [celestial warriors] who are dissatisfied. If we incite them a little, we can teach the Munmu Gwanjang not only the laws of the palace but also the unspoken hierarchy.”

The Four Heavenly Generals of Munmu Seon all wore satisfied smiles.

* * *

Meanwhile.

“The Celestial Realm… you say.”

“Yes, coincidentally, the damage from the Seonsal War [a great war against evil spirits] wasn’t limited to our Water Realm; the Celestial Realm suffered as well.”

He had heard such stories.

That in the Seonsal War tens of thousands of years ago, they had joined forces with the Celestial Realm to defeat the Salsin [evil spirits].

“But why me…”

No matter how capable he was, he was just a Sangseon.

Shouldn’t a Hyangseon [a high-ranking celestial official] with some renown be the one to go?

This was too big a task for a Sangseon to handle.

“We won’t burden the Munmu Gwanjang with a major task. We simply ask that you observe the situation, as the Celestial Realm is currently divided into two factions.”

“Two factions, you say…”

“Are you familiar with Inseon (Human Immortals) and Honseon (Mixed Immortals)?”

“I’m hearing it for the first time, but I think I have a rough idea. Inseon refers to pure humans who have become immortals, and Honseon… refers to those whose blood is mixed who have become immortals, correct?”

“You’re exactly right. The current Celestial Realm is divided into two factions that have long been unable to reconcile.”

That was the perception even in the Lower Realm.

Humans discriminated against and didn’t treat those of mixed blood as equals.

That prejudice had carried over to the Upper Realm, dividing them into two factions.

“Frankly, the Water Realm didn’t care about the Celestial Realm’s internal strife, but the situation has now changed.”

Because of the Seonsal War.

“Inseon and Honseon. Which side do you think the Water Realm should support to gain the most benefit?”

“Wouldn’t it be the Honseon?”

“Why?”

“Because their blood would have been mixed with that of the Divine Beasts.”

He nods as if that was the correct answer.

“The Honseon are few in number, but they possess the advantages of both humans and Divine Beasts. Therefore, they have exceptional talent in both powerful divine abilities and martial arts.”

Although many have violent or eccentric personalities, making it difficult to gather them together, most of them are associated with Divine Beasts, making them easy to approach.

“So, the task I have to do in the Celestial Realm is…”

“To interact with the Honseon and provide them with assistance. More details will be given when the time comes.”

“I have so much to do.”

It’s as if two bodies wouldn’t be enough.

He has to supervise the training of the Munmu Seon, handle trivial matters, elevate the Sa Clan to the position of the Five Great Clans, and eventually go to the Celestial Realm.

‘It seems like the Celestial Realm could be handled by someone else, so why are they sending me?’

Even if he doesn’t know anything else, the Celestial Realm is filled with uncertainty.

But going to the Celestial Realm itself wasn’t so bad.

He had to go there once anyway, and it’s not like he’s leaving right away, so it doesn’t matter.

“When will I be going to the Celestial Realm?”

“Orders will be issued at the appropriate time. The Great Heavenly General and I anticipate that there is still plenty of time until the time of the Seonsal War arrives. Judging by the movement of the stars and the timing, it will be at least a thousand years from now.”

A thousand years.

Since there isn’t a fixed lifespan, a thousand years doesn’t feel like such a long time anymore.

The Seonsal War is a thousand years away.

“The Munmu Gwanjang will probably go to the Celestial Realm in about five hundred years.”

That’s adequate.

Until then, he should focus on the Sa Clan and his own training before heading to the Celestial Realm.

‘Five hundred years from now, I might have a wife.’

Cho-ah might have ascended by then, so it’s good to go if he can.

Yeon-ah will also be in the Celestial Realm.

Besides, he wanted to see what kind of place it was.

“I’m not sure if I’m putting too much pressure on you from your first day in office.”

“It would be a lie to say no, but it’s a decided matter, so I’ll have to bear it.”

“That’s a good attitude. Well, I’ve delivered everything I needed to, so I’ll be on my way.”

“Yes.”

After seeing off the Great Heavenly General, Cheonbeom gave a few instructions to Joo Gyul-kyung, who had become his maid, and went into the inner quarters.

His head was so complicated that he wanted to rest immediately.

He soon fell asleep, and as soon as he woke up the next day, he frowned.

“Senior 4 Munmu Gwanjang?! Really?!”

“Too noisy from the morning.”

The guest who came to Munmu Palace from the morning was Saha.

Whether he heard the news late or what he was doing at the inauguration ceremony, he was making a fuss now.

“Shouldn’t we have a feast? For a Gaseon [a member of a noble family] from the Sa Clan to receive a Senior 4 rank… it’s a miracle!”

It’s fun to see him so happy, but it’s too noisy.

“I understand, so be quiet.”

“Ah, now I have to call you Munmu Gwanjang, right? There are eyes watching….”

Saha mentioned Joo Gyul-kyung, who was in the Munmu Palace’s detached building.

She is the Great Heavenly General’s confidante.

She is a maid who serves Beom and also monitors him.

“Just be comfortable when we’re alone. That much should be okay. Saha, I’ve been hearing your name often lately. Are you doing your job well?”

“I’m… struggling as much as I can.”

It won’t be an easy path.

But he seems to be moving forward bravely.

Beom didn’t ask further.

“I’ll support you.”

“Thank you.”

His smile is so pretty.

He looked at the smile and issued an eviction order.

“Now go.”

“Already?”

“It’s the first day of being appointed as Munmu Gwanjang. You can’t be late from the first day.”

“You’re very busy, Gwanjang.”

“I heard that the first vacation comes out a month after the first appointment. I’ll be returning to Sangseo then, so wait for me.”

“Will you be okay without me?”

“You were worried about me, so worry about yourself. It’s not good for the head of the Sa Clan to leave Sangseo for too long.”

Saha answered that he understood.

He was worried about Sangseo and wanted to go back.

He hadn’t properly held funerals for the family members who died here.

“Then I’ll go back. Munmu Gwanjang. If I tell the Sangseo family about you, they’ll be very happy, right? They’ll be as happy as if it were their own business that Geumcheon Seonsa finally rose to a high position.”

Cheonbeom frowned at the excessive nickname, but soon smiled.

“Go in.”

“…Then see you in a month.”

Saha left, and Beom put on the prepared official uniform.

Of course, Joo Gyul-kyung, who was waiting, put it on for him.

“What do you do when I’m not here?”

“I guard the Munmu Palace and take care of cleaning and maintenance. In my remaining time, I help with work in other departments or focus on training.”

“…Anyway, since we’re together, there’s no reason to be petty as a man. When I’m not here, guard the Munmu Palace with Bibi and live comfortably, and focus on your training.”

“I am deeply grateful for the Munmu Gwanjang’s consideration.”

Beom immediately left the Munmu Palace.

As he walked down the road, he felt glances looking at him.

There were palace maids and Munseon [celestial officials skilled in literary arts] and Museon [celestial officials skilled in martial arts] on official duty.

Has the rumor already spread?

He could hear whispering.

[That’s the one who was newly appointed….]

[A Sangseon but a Senior 4? Where is he from to get such a position….]

[Sa Clan? Ah… that Hwagirin [a prodigy or rising star].]

When he glanced at them, they lowered their heads and disappeared as if they had never whispered.

Soon, he entered the Munmu Palace, and palace maids and Munmuseon appeared, as if they had been waiting, and greeted him.

“We greet the Munmu Gwanjang.”

“We greet the Gwanjang.”

There was one familiar face.

No, there were two.

‘Why is that woman here?’

The woman standing with the palace maids in the Munmu Palace was Suseon [a celestial official] of the Paeng Clan.

It was Paeng Ga-yeon.

“You are….”

“I am Woo Myeong, a Cheonmu Seon of the Woo Clan. I will work for the Munmu Palace as a direct subordinate of the Munmu Gwanjang.”

It’s one of the Five Great Clans, the Woo Clan.

And the Paeng Clan.

It seems that those two are the subordinates who will come one each from Cheonmunseon and Cheonmuseon.

‘There’s nothing I like.’

First of all, if it’s one of the Five Great Clans, it’s a reality that you can’t help but view them with prejudice.

Moreover, since his direct subordinates are like that, he’s already sighing.

‘A wolf and a cow, huh?’

Paeng Ga-yeon is the Red Wolf of Jeokroejurang [a famous martial arts school], and Woo Myeong is probably from the White Cow clan, which is famous even in the Water Realm.

Red wolf and white cow.

‘And Beom.’

Cheonbeom scratched his head and answered that he understood, and sat on the head seat of the Munmu Palace.

The work that the Munmu Gwanjang has to do on the surface is to supervise the training and improve the quality of both Munseon and Museon.

The official duties to be handled are also closely related to that.

“I don’t get it.”

He doesn’t know where to start.

“Then, how about going on an inspection first? You might find the answer by going on an inspection of the actions of the Cheonmunseon and Cheonmuseon and the execution of official duties.”

“I agree with Paeng Munseon’s words.”

“That makes sense.”

What would become of sitting at a desk from the beginning? The work of the Munmu Gwanjang is a position for Munseon and Museon, and raising their quality is the work of making the Water Realm stronger, so first of all, it is necessary to find out what Munmuseon is lacking and what is needed.

“Where would you like to inspect first?”

He roughly knows what Cheonmuseon does.

He knows that most of them go out on external affairs by dividing into platoons.

They also deal with conflicts between families or strong monsters or Seonchung [celestial insects].

Cheonmuseon is not the one who takes the lead in work that requires force, but the Pyeongmuseon [lower-ranking celestial warriors], who are lower in rank, but Cheonmuseon takes the lead in work that they cannot handle.

Cheonmuseon’s rank is by no means low when viewed within Sugung [the Water Palace], so to put it simply, they are high-quality personnel.

“Shall we go to Cheonmungung [the hall of celestial officials skilled in literary arts] first? I know most of the work of Museon, but I haven’t been able to grasp the work of Munseon.”

“Then I will prepare.”

And after a while.

Beom pressed his temples.

“How dare you, as a Munseon, tell me what to do!”

“How dare you, Museon, who can only use strength, run wild without knowing your place!”

Because Munseon and Museon suddenly tried to fight in groups.