Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 407

Tales of the Divine Swordsman – Part 2, Chapter 116

“I am…”

He looked like a lost child.

Hwanmong Seonsa [a divine hermit or immortal] was originally a mortal too.

Wasn’t he the one who endured arduous and harsh years to rise to the ranks of a god?

So, Cheonbeom understood.

He understood more than anyone.

There is no such thing as a perfect being.

Even those who once had great fame can show such lost appearances.

‘What would other cultivators have done?’

Cultivation is precisely the act of striving for near immortality.

Even if one were to accept the Demonic Tribulation [a trial or ordeal involving demonic energy] and demonic energy rampaged within, accepting it and becoming a Demonic Immortal would make it easy enough to sustain one’s life.

But despite that, the fact that he chose suicide meant that a clear conviction had taken root.

“Isn’t the reason you’ve endured and lived until now not for the sake of taking your own life?”

Hwanmong’s eyes wavered, like the surface of water after a wave passes.

Someday, everything will die and disappear, but there should be no being that lives only to die.

Hwanmong had also cherished his ancestors and persevered for the sake of future generations, hadn’t he?

And naturally, a man should want to unfold his own Great Dao [path to enlightenment or mastery].

“Jangcheon often said, almost as a habit after you left, that he cherishes and carefully takes each step, wondering if the path he walks might tarnish your footsteps or fall short of your expectations.”

Cheonbeom said that and got up from his seat, walking towards the door.

“You were an object of admiration in the hearts of many. Including me…”

Creak, thud.

Beom closed the door and came out.

“Where are you headed?”

It was Yeon-a, who had been waiting outside the door.

“I’m going to go to the Dark Grain Market once more.”

“There again?”

“I think I need to go. Yeon-a, watch over him a bit.”

Even though she was outside, she probably heard the story roughly since there weren’t any particular restrictions or barriers.

“Take good care of him.”

“Understood. Don’t worry and please take care of your business comfortably, Master, and return.”

When did she become so reliable?

It’s a relief that Yeon-a is there.

Cheonbeom sighed deeply and left the inn, heading straight for the Dark Grain Market.

‘I need to find the book first.’

The reason Hwanmong hadn’t committed suicide until now was because he was waiting for a successor to rise up after him.

Since there was no trustworthy person nearby, he had to hide the treasures left by the ancestors of the 탈의 [unidentified term, possibly a clan or sect] and keep them in his possession.

But Cheonbeom appeared, and the path changed. Hwanmong tried to entrust the treasures to him and then commit suicide, but Beom didn’t want that.

“Going to the Dark Grain Market was a divine move.”

Before saving Hwanmong, while browsing through the books of techniques at the Dark Grain Market’s grafting auction, he saw a technique that could be practiced using demonic energy.

He only glanced at it, so he needs to examine it thoroughly, but the fact that hope remains does not change.

‘It’s better than him dying.’

If his whole body has been invaded by demonic energy due to the Demonic Tribulation, then he can just use a technique that utilizes it as his main cultivation method.

Of course, Hwanmong is not a fool, so if there was such a technique, he would have found it and practiced it long ago.

Why would suicide even be a consideration for most cultivators who dream of immortality?

He didn’t know, so that’s why.

Most things stem from ignorance.

Cheonbeom had never even dreamed that such a technique existed before seeing it.

As Cheonbeom flew towards the Dark Grain Market in an instant, scattering golden light, he felt that the atmosphere in the sky was strange.

When he wondered what it was, he saw alien clouds and dark clouds stirring in one corner of the sky.

“Is someone fighting or something?”

Perhaps because the Illusion Realm was deployed, there was no loud noise, but he could tell that powerful currents were colliding.

After looking at the sky for a moment, Cheonbeom shook his head and scattered the golden light.

“This is no time to be distracted by such things.”

It would be a disaster if Hwanmong changed his mind and took his own life.

He needs to quickly find the book of techniques, and if he has the余裕 [leisure or spare capacity], he should also buy the captured slaves along with Hwanmong.

Showing him a purpose to live for is the urgent priority.

The sooner, the better.

Even if someone who has decided to die wavers, how long will that last?

With a hurried heart, Beom operated his 遁術 [a technique for swift movement or escape] to the extreme and headed for the Dark Grain Market.

The Dark Grain Market was still crowded with cultivators who vaguely concealed their faces.

Slipping into the gaps and placing his hand on the Myo Woon Gi [likely a device or system for accessing information], the auction items instantly appeared before his eyes.

Cheonbeom repeatedly recited about demonic energy in his mind and delved into the numerous books.

Too much information poured into his head, causing a headache, but he was able to find it by recalling his previous memories.

“Found it.”

He only glanced at it, so he was half-doubtful, but it’s a relief that it’s still there.

As expected, since it’s a book about demonic energy, there was no one who bid on it even when looking at the ledger.

Cheonbeom immediately bought the book, adding a premium, and just in case, he looked at the slaves, and a familiar face appeared in his faint memories.

‘These guys.’

They are the ones who have tormented Hwanmong for hundreds of years.

He remembers there being about four of them, but he clearly remembers two.

The price isn’t much either.

“One geun [a unit of weight, roughly equivalent to 600 grams] of silver isn’t that burdensome.”

Hwanmong might not be the type, but if the tables were turned on the cultivators who used to treat him like a slave, he couldn’t possibly not be pleased.

He may be showing such a weak side now, but in fact, he is a man who is advancing with a stronger conviction and Great Dao than anyone else.

Cheonbeom paid the price with a good feeling.

As he was receiving the certificate and waiting to receive the items, the surroundings suddenly became noisy.

“What’s going on!”

“The condition is not good!”

“Outside…”

Outside?

What happened outside?

As the wait grew longer, his annoyance naturally soared.

The cultivators’ murmuring made his ears noisy, and as the wait grew longer, he lost his patience and composure.

And it was at that moment.

“Ah.”

Kwaaaang!!

Along with a shriek uttered by a cultivator, the outer wall made of special clouds collapsed in an instant.

As an explosion occurred and the cloud walls collapsed in succession, the cultivators scattered in all directions in a panic.

“G-get out of the way!!”

“It’s the energy of a Celestial Immortal! Everyone, run!”

“Ah, what is the 악곡종 [likely a sect or organization] doing!”

“Kyaaak!!”

In this unexpected situation, the 악곡종 cultivators who were running the 악곡장 [likely a market or trading area run by the 악곡종] didn’t know what to do, and thanks to that, only the guests using this place were about to suffer an innocent accident.

‘This isn’t good….’

Originally, he didn’t know because of the barrier that was set up here, but when it was erased by the impact, he felt it clearly.

The cultivators in the 악곡장 are those who have lived through thousands and tens of thousands of years, experiencing all sorts of hardships, so they wouldn’t be surprised by ordinary things.

But what is the reason why they are running away in such a panic?

Of course, it was because of the murderous aura of the Celestial Immortal that stung the skin.

‘If I get caught up in this, I’ll die.’

Everyone must be thinking that.

Originally, he should also be running away in a hurry.

It’s not even his main body, and moreover, it’s a weak incarnation, so isn’t it obvious?

However, it’s not like he’s okay with the incarnation being damaged.

It is an incarnation constructed with the essence of the main body.

If this body is damaged, the main body will also suffer considerable damage, so he needs to be more careful than usual.

That’s why the Military and Civil Affairs Immortals and adjutants looked at him as if he were a child being let out near the water.

But unlike those thoughts, Cheonbeom sighed and tapped his forehead with his finger.

That’s because the man who broke through the walls of the Dark Grain Market and crashed was someone he knew well.

“탐랑 [likely a name], what on earth is going on?”

The man who was buried under Cheonbeom’s feet, with his head not visible, was 탐랑, who had been with him since the 충계 [unidentified realm or location].

탐랑 shook his head from the rubble of the collapsed cloud wall and looked at Cheonbeom.

A hint of joy was briefly revealed in his expression, but it was quickly replaced by an uncomfortable emotion.

“I left the 충계 and arrived in the 수계 [Water Realm], and I learned quite a lot. Before, I did everything alone. I lived alone, hunted alone, and walked the path of cultivation alone.”

I don’t know what he’s suddenly talking about.

Cheonbeom was silent, wondering why he suddenly brought up such a story.

He must have a reason for throwing out the preface even though he knows that this is not the time to be doing this.

“But I realized while living with you and eating your food, that living things cannot live alone. They are just mistaken that they are living alone.”

탐랑 got up at once, dusted off his clothes, and put his hand on Cheonbeom’s shoulder.

“I am not alone. I have small food. You are here. I’m so glad.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“It means we are of one mind.”

“That’s not how you use that phrase.”

“No, it’s right. We are one!”

Looking at the situation, I think I know roughly why he’s doing this.

“Who is the opponent, and how many are there?”

“Two, I don’t know who they are. I killed one arrogant guy, and they attacked me out of the blue! It’s unfair! Those guys are evil! I am good!”

While living with the Military and Civil Affairs Immortals, 탐랑 has shed a lot of the 충선’s [likely a type of being or resident of the 충계] traits.

There is no good and evil in the 충계.

There are only the weak and the strong.

It’s so absurd to hear 탐랑, who took that for granted, talking about evil.

“Two, huh….”

Two Celestial Immortals.

So, 탐랑 is being pushed back.

At first glance, there were a few more scratches than usual, but there were no major injuries, probably because he was fighting well in his own way.

“탐랑, I think you’ve forgotten, but I’m an incarnation.”

“What, I know. I have no doubt that your dirty three-inch tongue will be able to ridicule those guys without using force. Your strength is not your fist but your tongue! That tongue!”

I don’t know if it’s an insult or a compliment.

But I think I should slowly take out the jokes. 탐랑, who likes to fight, knows that his life is important.

That’s why he’s asking for help in such a humble yet not so humble way, isn’t he?

‘This is difficult.’

How can I win over two Celestial Immortals who are full of anger with rhetoric?

What kind of eloquence should I use?

Cheonbeom had no confidence.

For no reason, he thought of a guy who was skilled in rhetoric at times like this.

‘What would Yoojeong have done?’

He thought about it for a while, but no answer came out.

Only the meaningless answer that he would have done something echoed in his head.

Cheonbeom closed his eyes for a moment and organized his thoughts, then looked around.

The Dark Grain Market is collapsing due to the impact.

And the place where the items were handed over was destroyed by the aftermath of 탐랑 blocking it.

탐랑 stepped on a cultivator he was crushing several times and kicked him away.

It is a cultivator who organizes and distributes auction items at the Dark Grain Market.

Cheonbeom’s eyes reached the several 공정강 [unidentified objects, possibly storage containers or bags] that the cultivator possessed.

He instantly put dozens of 공정강 into his sleeves and 포권 [a formal greeting or gesture of respect] towards the approaching energy of the Celestial Immortals.

“I am Cheonbeom, the Military and Civil Affairs Director of the Tongcheon Water Palace, who has walked the 수계 for a long time and arrived here! Harming me is antagonizing the 수계, and antagonizing the 수계 is the same as joining hands with the Demonic Immortals in the upcoming Seonsal War!!”

The silence filled the hall at Cheonbeom’s voice, which echoed loudly.

And soon, two men with unpleasant expressions appeared through the clouds.

“Tongcheon Water Palace?”

“수계?”

They are two Celestial Immortals with fierce faces, many scars on their faces, and dressed like bandits.

Cheonbeom knew very well those who went around 현무성 [likely a location or star system] like thugs in such ragged clothes.

Beom, who had 포권 towards them with all his might, introduced himself once again.

“I am Cheonbeom, the envoy who came to the 선계 [Immortal Realm] representing the 수계. Judging by your strong energy, you must be the 악곡종 Elder, who is said to be the most generous among the three major sects in 현무성.”

As Beom’s words ended, the two 악곡종 Elders smirked and replied.

“You said you came representing the 수계.”

“That’s right.”

“How can we believe that?”

“If you don’t believe me, how about you cut off my head right now?”

It’s an extremely bold tone.

“Do you think I can’t do it if you tell me to? A 상선 [likely a rank or title] dares to interfere in the affairs of Celestial Immortals!”

“Even if you are truly the representative of the 수계 envoy, we will punish anyone who blocks our 악곡종!”

The voice that burst out was filled with the energy of a Celestial Immortal, making it seem like his knees would buckle.

But Cheonbeom did not back down and said.

“If you do that, 악곡종 will turn not only the Demonic Immortals but also the 수계 into enemies.”

At his words, the Celestial Immortals’ expressions crumpled.