Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 399

Romance of Nangseon – Part 2, Episode 108

Gyewolseon was a flying ship, sturdily designed within Tongcheonsugung [Palace Under the Sky], to pierce the celestial currents and navigate the heavens.

It automatically generated barriers to withstand the pressure of the atmospheric layers and even to deflect surprise attacks from enemies, providing a degree of protection.

“How long can it hold?”

Jukyeolgyeong stood beside Cheonbeom.

As the navigator, she oversaw most of Gyewolseon’s operations and maintenance.

“Even though Gyewolseon’s barrier is strong, the sheer number of enemies will overwhelm it. It won’t last an hour.”

That was sufficient.

“What are the enemy’s numbers and strength?”

“There are over five hundred.”

That was a considerable force.

Even combining Cheonnyeo’s group and the Munmuseon [Warriors of the Ink Sea] inside Gyewolseon, they wouldn’t number two hundred.

In terms of numbers, they were hopelessly outmatched.

“Except for one, all are believed to be Sangeon [Upper Realm Immortals].”

“Hmm….”

Among those raining arrows upon Gyewolseon’s barrier, one individual’s energy signature stood out as particularly potent.

One out of five hundred was a Hyangseon [Fragrant Immortal], a powerful being.

The rest were Sangeon.

“Tamlang.”

“I will paint a mountain of blood and screams.”

He hadn’t had much action since arriving in the Immortal Realm, so his bloodlust must have been building.

Even with Tamlang, they were outnumbered, but it was worth the fight.

“Munmugwanjang [Grand Master of the Ink Sea], I will assist as well.”

It was Cheonnyeo.

Cheonnyeo and her thirty subordinates.

Rumor had it that Cheonnyeo alone could contend with a hundred ordinary Soo-seon [Water Immortals].

That was a prospect worth anticipating.

“Establish a formation.”

“Understood!”

The Munmuseon sat cross-legged around Cheonbeom, while Gayeon and U Myeong knelt on one knee, guarding him.

The Munmuseon each retrieved their magical implements and began to gather energy. Cheonbeom, at the center, placed dozens of Wongeun [Essence Roots] he conjured from Gongjeonggang [Void Storage] onto the floor.

Wongeun contained Cheonjiwonki [Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth].

In essence, they were crystallized Seonki [Immortal Qi].

Since Hwasin’s [Incarnation Body] was deficient in Seonki, this was used to activate the formation.

‘If I were in my original body, I wouldn’t need this.’

It was wasteful, but unavoidable.

Surely one’s life was more valuable than a few dozen Wongeun?

As he calmed his mind and began to chant Seonchukmun [Immortal Incantation], golden flames erupted from the placed Wongeun, brightly illuminating the surroundings.

And then.

Kwajangchangchang!! [Sound of shattering glass]

Simultaneously, the barrier shattered.

“Gasp!”

Golden clouds of mist spread throughout Gyewolseon, instantly engulfing the area.

* * *

Cheonnyeo, within Cheonbeom’s Hwan Gye [Illusionary Realm], couldn’t conceal her surprise at the mysterious sensation and the comforting Hwasintong [Incarnation Connection].

“You possess intriguing divine powers.”

The Hwan Gye he created with the formation wasn’t menacing.

It was a Hwan Gye filled only with golden lotus flowers blanketing the endless sky and ground.

A Hwan Gye that didn’t evoke a sense of danger.

Instead, it instilled a feeling of comfort.

But Cheonnyeo’s expectations were heightened because of it.

This type of Hwan Gye often lulled opponents into carelessness. Cheonnyeo, a veteran of countless battlefields, was certain of it.

‘I can’t even hear a sound.’

The shouts of the enemies and the sounds of magical implements that had filled the surroundings were now absent.

Come to think of it, none of the golden lotus flowers on the ground had bloomed.

They all remained tightly closed.

Cheonnyeo found that suspicious.

Soon, she touched one of the buds.

The golden lotus twitched, and its petals unfolded one by one, fully blooming.

Inside, she saw a miniature battlefield, with Hwajeong [Fire Essence Soldiers], Heukin [Black-Masked Assassins], and Munmuseon locked in combat.

Startled, Cheonnyeo unfurled several more golden lotus flowers that were still budding.

Only a few Heukin were wandering and flying about, their faces and bodies concealed by black masks.

‘I see. Since they are outnumbered, he secretly sealed them within the golden lotus flowers.’

It was an ingenious Hwanjin [Illusionary Formation].

It was like creating hundreds of separate spaces within a single Hwanjin.

Even she couldn’t have integrated this level of spatial manipulation into a Hwan Gye in such a short time.

‘Munmugwanjang is currently in Hwasinche, so he can only exert half of his original strength….’

That’s what she had heard.

But even so, he was capable of this much?

He was becoming someone she increasingly didn’t want to make an enemy of.

‘But why did he leave me outside?’

Just as she began to wonder, one of the golden lotus flowers bloomed as if of its own accord, and a Heukin burst forth.

Immediately, Cheonnyeo understood.

“It seems it’s not omnipotent.”

It appeared that highly skilled assassins were somehow escaping.

Since there were so many of them, he must have positioned her here to deal with those who managed to break free.

Cheonnyeo drew her sword from her waist and advanced towards the assassins.

“Judging from the fact that they attacked Gyewolseon, they are narrow-minded and petty individuals. I have a general idea of who they are, but….”

“Shut up!”

Four assassins had escaped from the golden lotus.

A number she could easily handle.

Cheonnyeo waved her sleeves, creating a blue cloud of mist, and then charged towards them.

As the tip of her straight sword danced, the assassins’ screams echoed.

* * *

Within the particularly dense cloud of mist.

Cheonbeom, seated amidst several Munmuseon, slowly opened his eyes.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…No.”

Gayeon’s expression was troubled, leading him to wonder if something had occurred, but Beom remained silent.

Thus, he couldn’t know.

As Gayeon was at the heart of the formation, she could perceive events within the Hwan Gye.

Despite being outnumbered, they were holding their own within Munmugwanjang’s Hwan Gye.

The Munmuseon were eliminating the assassins within their respective golden lotus flowers, and Cheonnyeo was dealing with every escapee without exception.

Even Hyangseon, who had infiltrated the ranks of the assassins.

‘Tamlang is performing admirably.’

Tamlang was fulfilling his role.

But Munmugwanjang’s expression was grim, causing her concern.

Meanwhile.

Cheonbeom’s golden eyes darted about aimlessly.

He was observing every movement within the Hwan Gye through the eyes of Jin [Truth], but he couldn’t tear his gaze away from Cheonnyeo’s battle.

She was undoubtedly an exceptional Soo-seon.

He had heard that she single-handedly suppressed the final battle, but he hadn’t grasped the extent of her power, having only heard tales.

Cheonnyeo’s swordsmanship was extraordinary.

He had heard that she had mastered a thousand sword styles, and her constantly shifting techniques confirmed it.

But if that were all, Cheonbeom wouldn’t have been so shaken.

The reason for his unease was when her sword abruptly transformed into a thousand Bigeom [Flying Swords] and began to flutter in all directions.

And when the thousand Bigeom swirling around her were suddenly absorbed back into Cheonnyeo’s body, emitting the light of Gyuncheonogwang [Five Lights of Heavenly Balance].

Beom couldn’t help but be appalled.

The fact that she wielded Gyuncheonogwang meant that she, too, was learning the swordsmanship of Gyuncheonbohwa [Heavenly Balance Preservation], just like Cheonbeom….

It was as if she was another sword of Geomno [Sword Master].

The fact that she had mastered Gyuncheonbohwa and could manifest Gyuncheonogwang was proof.

She didn’t seem to realize it yet, but what would happen when Cheonnyeo discovered that Cheonbeom was also learning Gyuncheonbohwa?

‘She will try to take me away, just like Dangchun.’

If that happened, a clash with her would be inevitable.

Besides, she was Cheonnyeo of Cheongung [Azure Palace].

Why hadn’t he considered that?

Geomno must also be a Soo-seon who had ascended to the realm of Inseon [Human Immortal].

She was one of his swords, stationed in Cheongung for training.

His heart was troubled.

His heart pounded for no apparent reason.

The forgotten anxiety seemed to spread through his blood vessels like poison.

The situation was dire.

He had encountered her while trapped in this weakened body.

‘Should I flee?’

That was one option.

Now that he had learned that Geomno was an Inseon, what if he fled to the realm of Honseon [Chaos Immortal]?

Or even leaving Seon Gye [Immortal Realm] altogether wasn’t a bad idea.

Although he had been given a mission by Sugung [Water Palace], his life was paramount.

Yes, he should run.

He should leave Seon Gye and spend time in another place, a safer haven.

If he bided his time, he could receive Chogeop [Transcendence] and ascend to Seon [Immortality], and later, Seonsaljeon [Immortal Extermination War] would commence, allowing him to join Sugye [Water Realm].

No one would care about his whereabouts amidst the chaos of war, and even if they raised the issue later, his achievements in Seonsaljeon would silence any objections.

‘No, no.’

He didn’t have to run.

Wasn’t this a favorable opportunity in some ways?

Since unknown assassins had infiltrated, the story of Cheonnyeo’s death wouldn’t seem far-fetched.

‘It’s possible.’

He was in a weakened Hwasinche, but it was still possible.

If it was him, it was possible.

She might be revered as Cheonnyeo and an invincible Soo-seon, but even from his perspective, he could see her flaws.

Her Gyuncheonbohwa was still incomplete.

It was an imperfect skill.

“Hoo-”

He took a moment to gather his thoughts.

It was a cruel fate for her, but wasn’t that the way of the world?

A world where it was natural for someone to die so that he could live.

It was not uncommon to nip problems in the bud and eliminate threats preemptively.

The Hwan Gye had stabilized to some extent.

Even if left unattended, the Munmuseon would continue fighting in their respective spaces. Sending the victorious ones to another space would be sufficient for those remaining. Beom didn’t need to stay here.

Having reached a decision, he rose from his seat.

He retrieved a suitable magical implement from Gongjeonggang.

It was a treasure sword he had obtained after killing Paeng Gongyeon.

It contained the energy of Sangeonbo [Upper Realm Treasure], which would suffice.

“Where are you going?”

Gayeon and U Myeong were startled and cried out.

‘….’

Cheonbeom gazed at them without a word.

It would require a lengthy explanation to make U Myeong and Gayeon understand.

Convincing not only them but all the Munmuseon would be a difficult and arduous task.

Cheonbeom pulled a mask from his chest.

“You guys stay here.”

“What do you mean?”

“What…!”

As Beom touched his earring, his figure vanished into thin air as if dissolving.

“Vice Minister U! Munmugwanjang’s condition is abnormal. I’ve never seen him so shaken!”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but we need to find him quickly!”

“Yes!”

* * *

Seureureuk [Sound of rustling fabric].

Cheonbeom, clad in attire similar to the assassins, materialized in the space where Cheonnyeo was battling.

Kwang, Kwachachachang!! [Sounds of clashing metal]

She was still overwhelming the assassins, maintaining the upper hand.

It was four against one, yet she seemed to be handling it with ease.

Yes, she would be.

Having mastered Gyuncheonbohwa, her entire body was like a treasure sword.

Gwongeok [Fist Strikes] were like stabs from a treasure sword, and the price [Unclear meaning, possibly referring to a technique] was like a sharp cut.

Furthermore, the mysteries of Mangeukilgeom [Ten Thousand Calamity Sword], Golhwacheokgeom [Bone-Melting Crimson Sword], Danheomanggeom [Severing Illusion Sword], Hyeolyeongnangeom [Blood Shadow Chaos Sword], and Salseonggapgeom [Killing Star Armor Sword] would all be integrated into her style.

Thus, at the level of Sangeon like her, there would be no one who could withstand her.

Cheonbeom, who had experienced and utilized the power of Gyuncheonbohwa more than anyone else, knew.

Her strength.

And her weaknesses.

Seureureung [Sound of a sword being drawn].

The cold name of the sword echoed from Beom’s treasure sword as he unsheathed it.

‘Among the energies of Gyuncheonogwang, the power of Mangeuk [Ten Thousand Calamities] is weaker than the others.’

That meant her Sinshik [Divine Sense] was comparatively lower.

A lower Sinshik meant a greater reliance on her five senses.

Therefore, if he could temporarily disrupt her five senses, her reaction time would be significantly reduced.

Seuk [Sound of a quick movement].

As Beom formed a Sugyeol [Hand Seal] with one hand.

Udeudeuk!! [Sound of cracking wood]

“Gasp!”

Suddenly, a lotus flower emerged from beneath the ground and closed its bud, trapping Cheonnyeo.

Instantly, Cheonbeom’s sword pierced the lotus flower in a straight line as he propelled himself forward.

It unleashed a stab of light, scattering golden flames.

Puk! [Sound of a piercing blow]

It had worked.

He felt a sensation in the hand gripping the sword hilt.

Beom’s sword must have pierced Cheonnyeo’s chest accurately.

It wouldn’t take her life, but it would have severed the Giheol [Qi Meridian] that led to Wonyuk [Core Energy], disrupting the flow of Qi.

‘The assassins here will take care of the rest.’

But then.

Hwareureuk [Sound of flames igniting].

Blue flames began to rise from the lotus flower pierced by the treasure sword.

Simultaneously, Cheonbeom’s eyes widened in shock.

Blue flame.

And the red sword that tore through the budding lotus petals, hurtling towards Beom.

Both were things he knew intimately.

‘Bongakcheonghwa [Azure Lotus Flame].’

And the name of the red sword was.

“Geunhwasinyeon [Root Fire Divine Flame].”

The sword he had given to his disciple.

This time, it stabbed him.