Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 354

Nangseon’s Adventures – Part 2, Chapter 63

“Hmm….”

Cheonbeom, having arrived at the Military Arts Palace, sat in the seat of honor, lost in thought.

As the Head of the Military Arts, he was beginning to grasp his duties, finding nothing particularly difficult.

It would suffice to impart teachings to the Military Arts Disciples and occasionally administer tests for them.

Even now….

“Are you serious? This isn’t the correct answer?”

The lower-ranking officials of the Military Arts Palace, who had confidently believed they had found the answer to yesterday’s test question, were now racking their brains again because Beom had said they were only half right.

‘They’ve seen the Form-Breaking Strike, but if they haven’t seen the Union with the Divine Sword, they’re only half right.’

They began to tear apart the test papers in various forms, focusing on reassembling them.

Anyway.

‘There are no major difficulties.’

Some veteran Cheonmu [Heavenly Warrior] and Cheonmun [Heavenly Scholar] Disciples were asserting their pride, acting like they were trying to establish dominance, but it wasn’t something to worry about.

The same went for those belonging to the Four Great Generals, their superiors.

They were just grumbling, afraid of suffering the same public humiliation as the Yangs.

Therefore, fulfilling his duties as the Head of the Military Arts was not difficult.

‘Now, all that remains….’

Is to continue his own training in his spare moments.

And to elevate the Sa family to the ranks of the Five Great Clans.

‘There’s also the bet with Ju-yak, and the promises with the Gon and Hu families.’

The tasks were as numerous as mountains.

Besides that, there were many other things to consider….

“Woo Museon. I have a few questions for you. Is that alright?”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Do you know what surname the Great Cheonmu General uses?”

“I believe she uses the Ju surname.”

Ju.

‘Won-shin’s name was also Ju-yak….’

The maid she had given him was also Ju Gyeol-gyeong.

However, he had never heard of a Ju family clan.

“What kind of place is the Ju family clan?”

“Hmm, the Ju family clan is a family that has rarely shown its face since ancient times. I don’t know much about them either.”

“Is that so?”

“But why do you ask? If you need it, I can find out for you.”

“No, it’s alright. There’s just something that’s been bothering me… Thank you for considering it.”

Even though she sits in the position of Great Cheon [Great Heaven], her power is not absolute.

Behind the families are the Wonseon Grand Masters [Grand Masters of Primeval Divinity], and she is merely someone who takes care of the Water Palace on their behalf.

Therefore, she has no choice but to turn a blind eye to the clandestine operations of various families.

The fact that she sent Cheonbeom the Gon Silk was also due to such circumstances.

‘The families have too much power.’

The Water Realm is vast, and there are many families.

However, among them, the power of the three families that possess Wonseon Grand Masters is immensely strong.

The Woo family clan.

The Mi family clan.

The Ji family clan.

They could be called the real powerhouses of the Water Realm… One of these three must be the family that attacked the Gon family.

‘I can’t leave out the Paeng family either.’

Even though they don’t possess a Wonseon, they were a family that participated in the conspiracy.

They cannot be excluded from the list of suspects.

“Head of the Palace.”

“…What is it?”

“Would you please take a look at these documents?”

Suddenly, Paeng Ga-yeon came with a large stack of documents and placed them on Beom’s desk.

“What is this?”

“These are people who wish to register with the Military Arts Palace. They are the ones the Head of the Palace previously sent back, but they have written and sent proper documents.”

“….”

He flipped through them and it was true.

They were self-introductions that included personal information, their family background, aspirations, and so on.

“Originally, there were twice as many, but I filtered out half of them on my own.”

“On what basis did you do that?”

“I narrowed it down by assessing their character, qualifications, and understanding of the Military Arts Palace.”

If she had done it based on family, he would have scolded her severely, but that was not the case.

‘She’s surprisingly good at her job.’

Even though he didn’t like her.

“But does the Military Arts Palace need more manpower?”

There was no reason to specifically hire more people. Even now, most of the people were idle, so what benefit would there be in hiring more manpower here?

“Originally, these people are members of the units under the Four Great Generals, regardless of whether they are Munseon or Museon [Warrior or Scholar]. If we accept them and create a Military Arts unit under the name of the Military Arts Palace, we can achieve results.”

“However, the position of Head of the Military Arts itself is aimed at promoting smoother training and improving the quality of cultivation for both Munseon and Museon. If I create a unit in the Military Arts Palace, it will be that much more difficult to oversee the training of other Military Arts Disciples.”

And he wasn’t sure if the Great Cheon Generals would allow it.

“Shall we submit a petition?”

“A petition?”

After pondering for a moment, Cheonbeom shook his head and stood up from his seat.

“This is perfect timing.”

He had several things he wanted to ask the Great Cheonmu General, so why not just go and meet her? He didn’t know why he had been pondering such a simple problem.

“Do you have a good idea…?”

“I’m going to meet the Great Cheonmu General.”

“I will follow.”

Paeng Ga-yeon and Woo-myung followed behind, and the lower-ranking officials and palace maids of the Military Arts Palace saw them off.

As they walked down the road, they could feel the glances of others.

“Where is the Great Cheon Palace?”

The Water Palace was so vast and large that he still hadn’t memorized all the roads.

Soon, guided by the adjutants, they arrived at a teleportation array guarded by soldiers.

“Identify yourselves.”

“This is the Head of the Military Arts Palace, a Rank 4 official.”

“Confirmed.”

The guard, who had a stern face, smiled and replied after hearing the rank and position.

“I am also trying to solve the problems of the Head of the Palace that are spreading among the people. It is an honor to meet you.”

“Haha, is that so? Work hard.”

He patted him on the shoulder and used the teleportation array, and a massive palace appeared at once. It was the Great Cheon Palace.

“That guard smiling is the first time I’ve seen it. The fame of the Head of the Military Arts Palace is widespread within the palace… It wasn’t a lie.”

Paeng Ga-yeon muttered as if she was amazed. Beom felt the same way.

He was a little embarrassed by the sudden friendliness, but it wasn’t a bad feeling.

It meant that he was gradually becoming a member of the Water Palace.

“Is this the Great Cheon Palace?”

“Yes, it is.”

However, there were many other cultivators gathered at the Great Cheon Palace besides them, and the line was unbelievably long.

It was a line of at least three hundred people.

“Who are these people?”

“They are all people who wish to meet the Great Cheon’s Munjang [Military General] and Mujang [Civil Official]. All the major and minor affairs of the Tongcheon Water Palace are settled in the Great Cheon Palace.”

“Do I have to wait too?”

“Of course, you do.”

He hadn’t thought of this.

“How long do I usually have to wait?”

“I know that you have to wait at least a day, and at most a month.”

‘Crazy.’

A curse word automatically came out.

It seemed that it would not be easy to meet the Great Cheonmu General by ordinary means.

As she said, some of the cultivators who were waiting were seen changing shifts.

It seemed that they were waiting for several days to meet the Great Cheon General.

‘I don’t have a reason to meet her to that extent.’

He had made a wasted trip.

If he had known in advance, he wouldn’t have come.

It was a shame, but he would just submit a petition and leave the rest for another time.

“Let’s go back.”

“Are you just leaving?”

“It’s not that urgent, and even if it is urgent, she’s not someone I can meet right away, so I have no choice but to postpone it. I can’t just stand in this long line and wait for a month.”

Then Paeng Ga-yeon and Woo-myung looked at each other and couldn’t hide their bewilderment.

“But the Head of the Palace is a Rank 4 palace cultivator. It won’t take as long to wait as those people.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, those are outside palace cultivators, so their turn will naturally be long, and we are inside palace cultivators, so we will be connected to a different turn.”

If that was the case, they should have said so earlier….

After a while.

Paeng Ga-yeon, who had entered the Great Cheon Palace, came out and guided Cheonbeom.

“You can go in now.”

Many gazes from the outside palace cultivators pierced Cheonbeom’s back.

He lightly ignored them and entered the Great Cheon Palace with the guidance of the palace maids.

“I greet the Great Cheonmu General.”

He could see the Great Cheonmu General sitting in the seat of honor and the figures of other cultivators.

“You are the Head of the Military Arts Palace who has been gaining fame these days. I also saw the problem you sent to the Military Arts Disciples. I was quite surprised that there was so much contained in something drawn on the spot.”

“It’s just a trivial skill.”

“If that’s trivial, then all the Munmu Disciples [Disciples of both Military and Literary Arts] in the palace who still haven’t solved it are worse than that, so you should take back those words.”

At those words, smiles bloomed on the faces of the surrounding cultivators.

There were those among them that Beom knew well.

‘Gyo-cheong….’

It was Gyo-cheong of the Gyo family, whom he was acquainted with, and the cultivators of the Hu family whom he had seen at the Martial Arts Competition.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. I heard that my younger brother was in your care… Now that I see it, he had no choice but to drink the bitter cup [suffer defeat]. His opponent was none other than the Head of the Military Arts Palace.”

He was the eldest son of the Hu family.

The current head of the Hu family, Hu-ma.

“It was just luck.”

Hu-hae, the youngest son who had competed with Beom, silently bowed his head with a swollen face.

‘Even if the youngest is useless, at least the eldest son is outstanding, so I don’t have to worry.’

Unlike the youngest, who was hit by Cheonbeom and fell out, the eldest son, Hu-ma, had a noble face, so the Hu family didn’t have to worry as much as the Gon family.

“Come to think of it, isn’t the Head of the Military Arts Palace’s original body also a Beom [Tiger]?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then that bloodline may also be related to the Hu family.”

“…Yes?”

“Didn’t you know? The Hu family is a family that inherited the blood of the same Gongho [Winged Tiger] as the Head of the Military Arts Palace. The original body is also a Beom with horns and wings like you.”

Beom’s expression twisted.

It was a face that he hadn’t thought of.

‘Come to think of it, I heard that the founder of the Gongbiho also succeeded in ascension….’

That family could naturally remain in the Water Realm.

“Then the cultivators of the Hu bloodline….”

“Have horns and two pairs of wings. Haha, the Head of the Military Arts Palace and we may be distant relatives.”

Hu-ma laughed happily, saying that there was such a connection, and Hu-hae frowned as if he was disgusted.

“But what brings the Head of the Military Arts Palace here?”

At the Great Cheonmu General’s question, Cheonbeom took a breath and looked around.

Then, the cultivators of the Gyo and Hu families, with their good sense, stood up from their seats.

“Head of the Military Arts Palace, please come to the Hu family next time. Although it is faint, we have inherited the blood of the same ancestor, so we cannot be called strangers.”

-There are also a few things I want to ask about my father.

Hu-ma secretly transmitted his voice and disappeared with Hu-hae.

Gyo-cheong also sent a subtle look and retreated.

“So, what’s the matter?”

“What the Great Cheon gifted me is too burdensome, so I came to see you like this.”

“Was it that burdensome? Gyeol-gyeong, that child, shouldn’t be that much trouble.”

She pretended not to know and feigned ignorance, so he just stared at her silently, and she chuckled.

“I know. It’s because of the Gon family’s daughter.”

“Although that child’s circumstances are pitiful, I’m barely able to take care of myself.”

“Is that so? In my opinion, it seems like you can handle that much burden….”

“I want to know the reason.”

“The reason?”

“Why me?”

“I think you know that better than anyone else. If you received something from the Gon family head, you should do that much.”

Beom’s face hardened.

“Only I know, so there’s nothing to worry about. Gon Sa-chun. No, the Gon family head was a clever man. He was someone who cherished his only daughter, and he was always preparing for the possibility of his own death. So, he created a secret technique to know the location of the Yeonghwa Silk [Eternal Blossom Silk] and told me about it.”

If she knew that much, there was nothing to say.

“Those who are after the Silk are probably looking for the whereabouts of the Yeonghwa Silk. The Head of the Military Arts Palace should be able to do well. If you received the Yeonghwa Silk, you would have also received the Gon family’s secret arts and techniques.”

“Even though you know that much, is it still difficult for you?”

She is the Great Cheonmu General.

Excluding the Wonseon Grand Masters, she holds the highest position in the Water Realm, in the Water Palace.

Even if she couldn’t punish them, shouldn’t she be able to provide protection?

But she nodded her head.

“The position of Great Cheon is ultimately for the sake of the Water Realm. Moreover… Jiranwi, one of the Wonseon Grand Masters who had not shown himself for a long time, recently appeared, so the power of the Ji family is soaring. If I cause unnecessary conflict, the Water Realm will become a complete mess, and it will be in chaos due to internal strife even before the Seonsal War [War of the Immortals and Demons].”

“Even so….”

“If I interfere with the Five Great Clans in every matter, I don’t know how I will die either. If I die, the chaos will accelerate and the order of the Water Realm will be a mess.”

The Great Cheonmu General stood up from the seat of honor and held Cheonbeom’s hand tightly.

“So, please help me, Head of the Military Arts Palace.”

At her earnest gaze, Cheonbeom pondered for a moment and replied.

“Then what will you give me?”