Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 397

Tales of a Wandering Swordsman – Part 2, Episode 106

A few days later.

Gayeon approached Cheonbeom, who was studying puppet techniques and related methods.

“Master.”

“…Do you really have to say ‘Master’?”

Feigning a gruff tone out of sheer awkwardness, Gayeon also seemed embarrassed.

“When I was young, I grew up listening to stories from my mother about our ancestors. My father was different, but my mother considered serving a master as a matter of course.”

So….

“Having a master is a point of pride for the Jeokroejurang [a clan known for their loyalty and service].”

“So you’re saying you’ll keep calling me that.”

“Yes, I’ve admired it since I was little.”

Good grief.

She admires the strangest things.

He let out a hollow laugh, and she blushed, seemingly a bit ashamed herself.

Cheonbeom quietly looked at Gayeon, reminiscing about the past.

“When I was in the Lower World, I had a connection with a Jeokroejurang. A woman named Hongyeon.”

Gayeon, deeply interested in her master’s past, perked up her ears.

“She was also a Jeokroejurang, serving my old friend as her master. I was a little envious back then.”

Anyone would have thought so, seeing how meticulously and sincerely she handled everything while serving her master.

“Now….”

“Well, I’m taking silence as good news. Both Hongyeon and my friend.”

Cheonbeom put down the puppet he had been idly touching and looked straight at Gayeon.

“It’s your choice, so I won’t stop you. But don’t you dare make me ashamed of being your master.”

“That’s enough for me.”

Gayeon gently grasped the hem of her skirt and bowed gracefully.

This was a woman who was prepared to abandon her family name for his sake.

Even though he was on hostile terms with her father, a true man couldn’t be petty towards her for going this far.

She is she, and the Peng family is the Peng family.

Cheonbeom patted Gayeon’s shoulder and began to focus on the puppet he was making again.

He considered working on Guigyul, the zombie, instead of the puppet, but decided against it.

Although its condition had stabilized after absorbing Wonok last time, he couldn’t shake off a lingering unease.

‘It’s not just Yehu’s soul inside….’

Perhaps she is still alive inside, incomplete as she may be.

Whether that’s a gain or a loss is unknown, and he didn’t want to face her in her current imperfect state.

It would be better to keep it sealed until the right time comes.

“So, I’m hastily making a few puppets….”

There are plenty of materials.

It’s not difficult to make them, as he had many spirit stones and rare items from the Water Realm.

‘But I’m not satisfied.’

He used the leftover Miseonbang [a rare and flexible material] to create several decent puppets.

Ten in total. They were made in a hurry, so there are differences in performance, but they should be useful.

“You made them with Miseonbang.”

“I used its property of expanding when heated and applied it to the puppets.”

However, the performance is not very good, considering he recklessly used Miseonbang to make them.

‘Part of my consciousness was taken by the Origin Spirit, and the rest is with the main body, so it’s not easy to use puppets.’

He made ten, but it would be better to break about four of them and use them to reinforce the rest.

“But what’s the matter?”

Come to think of it, there must be a reason why Gayeon came to him.

“Yes, the cultivators from Juhaeseong have come again.”

“Juhaeseong? Ah… those guys.”

Cheonbeom’s consciousness was awake when they came, so he knew.

He heard them causing a ruckus and being utterly defeated by the Celestial Maiden after picking a fight with her.

‘I don’t know what face they have to come back after just one day.’

After pondering for a moment, Cheonbeom raised the corners of his lips.

“Come to think of it, I heard that the Cheonbeop Blood [Celestial Law Blood] was created by improving the Wolbeop Blood [Moon Law Blood].”

“Yes, I heard that too.”

Beop Blood [Law Blood] is a type of stimulant and elixir that amplifies the power contained in the blood and improves the constitution of the drinker by affecting their blood.

Cheonbeom had even used its blood to form his Avatar Body, so it was a mysterious elixir.

‘I made this much of an Avatar Body with Cheonbeop Blood, so what about Wolbeop Blood?’

He couldn’t help but be curious.

What would happen if he combined his Blood Collapse Skill with Beop Blood? What if he infused it into a puppet or zombie?

Or it wouldn’t be bad to absorb it into the Avatar Body, and it wouldn’t be bad to analyze the components and create his own Beop Blood.

‘Since I have the Blood Collapse Skill….’

It wouldn’t be impossible for Cheonbeom, who had examined the composition of Cheonbeop Blood.

He coveted Wolbeop Blood, but ultimately, if he could learn the manufacturing method of Beop Blood, it would be of great help to him.

“There’s no need to be rude to guests who have come to visit.”

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

Gayeon was worried about Cheonbeom’s condition.

His skills were weak now, as he was in an Avatar Body and couldn’t exert his original power.

The Juhaejong cultivators they had seen before were extremely belligerent, so she was worried that a pointless quarrel would break out and he would get hurt.

“It’s alright. Even though it’s an Avatar Body, they’re still just Upper Immortals. Besides, the Celestial Maiden from the Heavenly Palace is with us in Gyewolseon, so nothing big will happen.”

“But….”

“Our goal is to side with either the Human Immortals or the Chaos Immortals, but that’s not definite. We thought we would side with one side because they would want that, but if we decide, standing by is not so bad.”

To those who want the end of the war, the Water Realm’s envoy is a godsend.

They might think that the fate of the war depends on who seizes it….

‘There’s no reason why that war has to end with someone’s victory.’

It’s a matter of the Immortal Realm anyway.

It has nothing to do with him, who belongs to the Water Realm.

It doesn’t matter who wins.

“Rather, wouldn’t it be better to take advantage of the conflict between them?”

“…Is that possible?”

“Well, that’s up to the young master or young lord of Juhaejong to decide.”

Cheonbeom put the puppets in his sleeve and fluttered his clothes to tidy them up.

“Tamhwa, protect this place.”

“Okay! I’ll protect Father’s main body!”

He was relieved with Tamhwa around.

Cheonbeom opened the door, thinking of Ran as he passed through the path filled with golden lotuses.

Creak.

Outside the door, U-myeong and the Munmu warriors [elite warriors] were waiting, standing at attention.

It was the first time he had seen their faces in nearly a hundred years.

But it felt as familiar as if he had seen them yesterday.

“Lord Manager, you’ve become quite young.”

“You’ve rejuvenated?”

They said so, but their faces were full of joy.

Come to think of it, he heard it from Gayeon.

They came every day to ask about his condition, and as soon as they arrived in Juhaeseong, they went out to find spirit herbs and elixirs good for internal injuries without being told to do so.

“Little food. It’s gotten even smaller.”

Tamlang was also with them.

Cheonbeom looked at them and took out the puppets from his sleeve.

‘I did something meaningless.’

They are better than these mediocre puppets.

He is no longer alone.

For their sake, who believe in him without a doubt, Cheonbeom should also believe in them as a matter of course.

Cheonbeom threw away the puppets that had turned into dolls and shook his sleeves, dismantling them in an instant.

“Didn’t you spend all day yesterday making them? Why suddenly….”

To Gayeon’s question, Cheonbeom smiled bitterly and replied.

“I don’t need them anymore because I have them.”

With those words, Cheonbeom walked confidently between the Munmu warriors.

* * *

A little later.

On the deck of Gyewolseon, seats were prepared for the Chaos Immortals of Juhaejong and the Celestial Maiden’s group from the Heavenly Palace, sitting on either side.

“You have quite the nerve. You clearly went back yesterday, but you came back again the very next day.”

“It was the Celestial Maiden who didn’t specify a time limit. I didn’t break my promise.”

“….”

That was certainly true.

But it was infuriating to see a cultivator making such petty jokes and not knowing shame.

“Juhaejong….”

Just as she was about to say more.

“So, you were here.”

The representative of the Water Realm’s envoy.

Munmu Manager Cheonbeom appeared.

As he appeared, the Celestial Maiden and Gyeolcheon stood at attention and paid their respects.

Cheonbeom, who received the greetings, took a seat at the head of the table, and Gyeolcheon, who was seeing him for the first time, stared intently.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re the heir of Juhaejong, who is in charge of Juhaeseong.”

“Nice to meet you. I am Gyeolcheon, representing Juhaejong.”

“Okay, I’ve already exchanged greetings with this side, so can we get straight to the point, as I don’t like such formalities?”

As he nodded, Cheonbeom asked a question that hit the nail on the head.

“I heard that you promised Wolbeop Blood to our adjutant when you boarded Gyewolseon yesterday. Is that correct?”

The Celestial Maiden’s face contorted, but Gyeolcheon’s face, on the contrary, turned bright.

“That’s right!”

Confidence springs from his face as he speaks confidently.

Cheonbeom smiled back and said.

“The reason I’m asking is because the Celestial Maiden of the Heavenly Palace kindly gifted me Cheonbeop Blood yesterday. I’m asking because I don’t know the value of Beop Blood in the Immortal Realm yet.”

“Cheonbeop Blood!”

The expressions of the Chaos Immortals changed as if they had eaten dung at the word Cheonbeop Blood.

“Throw it away immediately! With such things, the hypocrisy of the Human Immortals further degrades the true efficacy of Beop Blood!”

“The hypocrisy of the Human Immortals… What do you think, Celestial Maiden?”

“I call it the ignorance of the Chaos Immortals.”

Cheonbeom shrugged, watching their war of nerves.

Soon, he sipped on something that looked like tea or alcohol, placed by Yangmi, and said.

“Whether one is better or not is not my concern. The Celestial Maiden of the Heavenly Palace kindly gave me Cheonbeop Blood, thinking of my body. But it suits me quite well, so I became interested in Wolbeop Blood as well.”

To be exact, he was interested in Beop Blood itself.

It wouldn’t be bad to nourish the Avatar Body with Wolbeop Blood, but Cheonbeom wanted the manufacturing method of Beop Blood itself.

If it is Beop Blood that can be made with the blood of the Chaos Immortals, then it might be possible to make it with the blood of the Water Realm’s divine beasts.

Furthermore, if he could create a large amount of Beop Blood with the Blood Collapse Skill he obtained in the Lower World, it might be easier to prepare for the upcoming Immortal Extermination War.

“It’s not difficult to give you Wolbeop Blood! But there is something you must promise in return.”

The price of the promise was not much different from what he had said yesterday.

To establish friendship with the sects they want within the Chaos Immortals.

To give strength to the Chaos Immortals and the Immortal Palace.

“Is that so? The Heavenly Palace just gave me Cheonbeop Blood out of kindness.”

He said subtly, but Gyeolcheon scoffed and looked down on the Celestial Maiden.

“Hmph, Cheonbeop Blood only has that much value!”

Then the Celestial Maiden slammed the table.

“Cheonbeop Blood is a high-level elixir that enhances the efficacy of Wolbeop Blood made by the Chaos Immortals and reduces its risks. The Heavenly Palace spends hundreds and thousands of years to create one Cheonbeop Blood. Don’t speak carelessly about the efforts of those medicinal immortals.”

“Celestial Maiden, you shouldn’t speak carelessly. Beop Blood cannot keep up with the efficacy of Wolbeop Blood made by the Chaos Immortals. How dare you talk about medicinal immortals when you’re just imitating us!”

Cheonbeom created a wind to calm the overheated atmosphere.

“Calm down.”

“I’ve shown you an unsightly sight.”

The Celestial Maiden apologized, but Gyeolcheon said nothing.

Cheonbeom chuckled as if amused and nodded.

‘I was wondering if I could just get Wolbeop Blood, but it seems difficult.’

It seems like I’ll have to change my route. The Chaos Immortal of Juhaejong seems to be the type of person who doesn’t listen.

“But what is the reason why Gyeolcheon Cultivator visited Gyewolseon again? I heard that you lost in a match against the Celestial Maiden yesterday and went back.”

“A man doesn’t look back on defeat. The reason I came back is to tell the Water Realm’s envoy something.”

“I’ll listen.”

Gyeolcheon glared at the Celestial Maiden once and sent a telepathic message.

-I can give you Wolbeop Blood for free. If you can grant me one request.

One request.

-What is it?

As he asked with a faint smile.

Gyeolcheon answered immediately.

-The Celestial Maiden of the Heavenly Palace.

Gyeolcheon’s lips twisted.