Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 409

Tales of Nangsane – Part 2, Chapter 118

“How did it seem?”

“The lamp’s flame remained the same color throughout. If he had lied, the flame would have turned black. At least, it’s true that he is an envoy from the Water Realm.”

Thanks to a magic artifact secretly placed to detect lies, he could be sure.

He must truly be an envoy from the Water Realm.

The two elders of Ak Gok Jong [a minor sect] slowly nodded, planning for the future.

“I think it’s a good thing, in a way.”

“The Sect Leader’s son is dead. What’s good about that?”

“You know very well what I mean. The Sect Leader’s son was notoriously ill-mannered. If we think of it as him helping the Sect in some way, even in death…”

Clang.

One of the elders slammed his cup down, frowning.

“Ahem, even so, he was the Sect Leader’s blood. Elder Yong, you should be more careful with your words.”

“But what I said isn’t wrong.”

“No matter how unruly he was, he was still my nephew. When he was young… he was such a bright child… tsk, tsk.”

Elder Cheol lamented his dead nephew, draining his cup.

“But this incident could be an opportunity for our Sect. If we maintain a good relationship with the Water Realm envoys and interact well with them, quite a few benefits will naturally come our way.”

What would happen if this were told to the Seon Palace [a major power], the central axis of the Mixed Realm?

“Yes, we can use this as an excuse to attract a lot of attention. Not only can we criticize Ju Hae-sung for kicking away the fortune that came to them and handing it over to the enemy, but we can also spread the name of Ak Gok Jong far and wide. If that happens, the master of this Hyeonmu Fortress might become Ak Gok Jong instead of Hyeonmu Jong…”

We must take a different path from those Ju Hae-sung bastards who kicked away the fortune that came to them.

“Weren’t Hyeonmu Jong and Mu Gyeol Jong constantly pressuring us in everything we did? Perhaps heaven is helping us.”

But there is one thing that concerns them.

“How will the Sect Leader…”

They don’t yet know how Cheol Nam-chim’s father, the Sect Leader of Ak Gok Jong, will react.

No matter what, his son is dead.

Of course, the immediate priority is to talk with the elders and somehow quell his grief and anger.

“We have to do something. This kind of incident was bound to happen sooner or later. The Sect Leader must endure it. He absolutely must.”

For the sake of Ak Gok Jong’s grand plan for the next ten thousand years.

* * *

“It is the Dual-Knot Prayer.”

“Dual-Knot Prayer…”

The trembling of the hand receiving the scripture was fully conveyed to Cheonbeom.

Hwanmang’s body seems to need at least a hundred years to recover.

If a body that has been training for a lifetime cannot train for healing, that would be more of an ordeal and a struggle.

That’s why Cheonbeom gave it to him right away.

So that he wouldn’t have other thoughts.

And so that he would continue to live.

“Clearly, demonic energy can be said to be a slightly different energy from divine energy. I don’t know the source of it, but demonic energy can also be wielded as a force. The Dual-Knot Prayer seems to be a technique to prevent being consumed by demonic energy and to use it beneficially along with divine energy.”

If he cultivates it well, he might grow even stronger than before.

Of course, he could also die during cultivation due to the clash between demonic and divine energies.

But wouldn’t it be better to try something and die than to commit suicide right now?

Originally, cultivation is always about being prepared for death.

“…May I really accept this?”

“I am giving it to you to accept.”

“But I don’t know how I can ever repay this debt.”

“There will be a time someday. You shouldn’t think about skipping out on it. I can’t stand being in debt.”

Cheonbeom said jokingly, and a faint smile appeared on Hwanmang’s lips.

“And I brought these people, though I don’t know if they’re the right ones. I brought them back from Gongjeong River, remembering what I could.”

He took out two slaves from Noh Seon.

They were a young man and a boy.

“Are they the right ones?”

“…They are.”

“I’ll leave it to Hwanmang to decide what to do with them. You paid the price properly, so it doesn’t matter whether you kill them or let them live.”

He could kill them, or he could let them live and have them serve him for the rest of their lives.

Either way, they are the family’s child and cultivator who tormented him.

“Celestial Disciple Cheon is quite whimsical.”

He didn’t answer.

There are two reasons for bringing Noh Seon, who could be called a bad relationship.

To have them kill them to settle the past and continue on as a new cultivator.

If he doesn’t kill them, he can keep them by his side and constantly think about the mistakes of the past and focus on cultivation.

Whatever choice he makes, it will be the driving force for him to live.

“I will be staying here in Hyeonmu Fortress for a while. Somehow, things have turned out that way, so I will have to settle down here.”

“Celestial Disciple Cheon, you said you came here as an envoy from the Water Realm.”

“That’s right.”

“As far as I know, this place is Hyeonmu Fortress in the Mixed Realm, so the Water Realm is with the Mixed Faction…”

“We don’t know what will happen. However, all decisions will be made after careful consideration, so there is no need to think about it now.”

Cheonbeom’s opinion may not be directly conveyed to the higher-ups in the Water Palace.

Besides, he didn’t want to choose one side if possible.

With the Seonsal War approaching, it’s ridiculous to choose while calculating each advantage.

‘The Water Realm needs the power of the Celestial Realm, not the Human or Mixed Factions.’

For the sake of the greater good, it is better to act as a bridge between the Human and Mixed Factions without leaning to either side.

“Hmm, I said something unnecessary. Please forget it.”

“No. If we divide it, Hwanmang is also a Human Immortal, so it must be bothering you.”

Hwanmang was born as a human and became a Taoist and ascended to immortality.

It would be a lie if he wasn’t curious.

“How long will you be staying?”

“Well, I think I will be staying here for about a hundred years.”

Depending on the situation, he may stay longer.

When he thinks about it, Hyeonmu Fortress has decent defenses against external invasions and is close to the border between the Human and Mixed Factions.

He can send Yeona to the Heavenly Palace in the Human Realm to interact, and it wouldn’t be bad to send U Myeong or Ga Yeon to the Seon Palace in the Mixed Realm.

If he attaches Tamlang as a guard, nothing dangerous will happen.

‘No, Tamlang might bring danger.’

He doesn’t know what will happen.

“Rest. The Dual-Knot Prayer is also a very interesting scripture to me. If Hwanmang’s internal injuries are healed, I will help you control the demonic energy inside.”

There is nothing he has to do.

Of course, now that he has settled in Hyeonmu Fortress, he will not refuse exchanges with Ak Gok Jong and other sects.

But even so, since he cannot return to his original body, it is better to gain knowledge of various studies and wait for the time to come.

‘About eight hundred years from now.’

A long or short time.

It is the period until the Great Tribulation arrives.

‘To reduce the power of the Great Tribulation by using the Tribulation Stop of the Water Palace, at least…’

He should return to the Water Palace in six hundred years.

It is not known whether the heads of the noble families will allow him to use the Tribulation Stop, but the Seonsal War is imminent and they are also cultivators, so he doesn’t have to worry too much.

“Why do you go so far?”

“Didn’t I say I have a debt of the heart? And think of it as helping because you are a teacher of my friend. And who knows? If you achieve great success in the Dual-Knot Prayer and become a great cultivator, you might save me someday.”

Cheonbeom finished speaking and left Hwanmang’s room.

Because he felt like it would only be embarrassing to stay any longer.

“Master.”

“Oh, Yeona, you came.”

“I heard about the general situation.”

“Baek told you.”

“Yes, I heard that you will be staying here for a while.”

“Yes, that’s how it turned out. Well, there’s Hwanmang’s matter, so it’s not a bad thing.”

He was saying it nonchalantly, but the fact that he was frustrated hadn’t changed.

Yeona narrowed her brows as if she was dissatisfied with something.

“What do you not like?”

“No.”

“Tell me. You haven’t been good at saying what’s on your mind since before. If you just keep it in, nothing will work out and only the pus in your heart will build up.”

As he comforted her, Yeona hesitated for a moment and then opened her mouth.

“I am not weak.”

“Who said you were weak?”

He shrugged as if she was saying something funny and sat down. Yeona naturally took out a teapot, put in tea leaves, and brewed tea, wrapping the teapot with both hands.

She poured the tea and handed it to him. Beom took a sip and put it down.

“Yes, what is it?”

All of a sudden, she said she wasn’t weak.

“I know that you have been unintentionally tied to Hyeonmu Fortress.”

“That’s right. But as you know, it was to save Tamlang.”

Although he caused an accident, Tamlang is the only Hyangseon [a type of celestial being] in the envoy.

Besides, they are not strangers, and just staying here for a while and interacting with them is the right thing to do if a bloody storm doesn’t break out.

“But there is no need to keep the promise with them. Master. If the repair of Gyewolseon is finished, you can go to the Heavenly Palace and safely tour the Celestial Realm under the protection of the palace soldiers.”

“Well, that might be the case. But…”

He doesn’t want to go to the Heavenly Palace.

He knows that there is a cultivator related to Geomno there.

He heard it from Yeona, so he naturally wants to stay away from that place even more.

If Geomno finds out that he is in the Celestial Realm, he is not confident that he can handle it right now.

“I am not the same as before.”

Yeona took her master’s hand and said as if she was earnestly asking.

“The power I possess is not small. I am no longer a child who is always protected by Master. So, please allow me to serve Master.”

Cheonbeom’s eyes widened.

It was an unexpected word.

In an instant, his heart was touched and a deep emotion surged.

There were people who worried about him, but no one had ever said this.

A ripple of unfamiliar emotions slowly spread through Cheonbeom’s heart.

“Thank you.”

He said it sincerely.

How could he not be grateful for a heart he had never received from his own children?

Cheonbeom held Yeona’s hand tightly with sincerity.

“But it’s okay.”

“Master.”

“I know what’s on your mind. But this master is not as old as you think.”

“I, I didn’t mean it that way. I just…”

“I know.”

Thud.

He got up from his seat, bloomed Golden Celestial Flower in his hand, and blew breath into it.

The sparks flew in all directions, building a formation and creating a strong wind.

Soon, the scenery fluttered, and everything around him was erased and created.

It was Cheonbeom’s illusion world.

“Master, this place is…”

“Isn’t it a place you miss? It still appears in my dreams from time to time and shows me happy moments.”

So he wanted to show it to her.

The towering Baek Mountain.

“It was also here that I met you.”

When he thinks about it, it’s a long and long relationship.

He didn’t know it would lead to this at that time.

By chance, a relationship was formed, and he gave help and gave her a sword so she wouldn’t die.

Who would have known that she would become a respectable immortal and want to serve him?

“It’s a nostalgic landscape.”

It is also a landscape that can never be returned to. Originally, memories are like that.

“It’s more beautiful because it seems to be within reach but cannot be returned to.”

“When I was in Baek Mountain, I just thought that my mission was to protect that place until the day my life ended.”

Yeona’s talent was not very outstanding. She also knew that, so she probably didn’t dream of many things.

That’s why she was chosen by the Cheonro Lantern and ascended to immortality.

“But it’s not now.”

“A lot has changed.”

Things have changed a lot.

She became an immortal and gained great power, and there is also the Heavenly Palace to support her.

“I can protect you. If you go to the Heavenly Palace… it is also possible to receive a position there.”

“I am a cultivator of the Water Realm.”

“Master has always been outstanding. Therefore, there were many who envied and were jealous of Master, and that is why you have always had many enemies.”

“….”

He knows what she wants to say.

“I heard from the Munmu Seons that there are many who are after Master even in the Water Realm, so you came as if you were running away.”

It seems like they said a lot of unnecessary things.

“Master. There is no need to take such risks. Why don’t you stay safely with me in the Heavenly Palace? If it’s me, I can safely protect Master from anyone’s hands.”

Cheonbeom could not shake off the hand of his disciple, who was holding his hand.

But he couldn’t affirm it either.

He knew the heart of his disciple who was thinking of him, so he felt even more so.

“I have a friend.”

“A friend…”

“A friend who saved my life. I also have no affection for the Water Realm, but I can’t bear to see my friend alone.”

He is a friend who is still fighting a lonely battle alone.

“I’m sorry. It was the first request you made to me.”

Yeona was someone who didn’t ask for anything.

She was such a disciple.

He can’t help but feel sorry for having to reject the first request she made.

‘She has changed a lot.’

It would be right to say that she has grown.

“I am glad that what you have achieved in the Celestial Realm seems to have become yourself.”

Cheonbeom gently stroked Yeona’s hair.

“But Master…”

“Then I will ask. If I abandon the Celestial Realm and follow you to the Water Realm, will you follow me?”

At his question, Yeona paused and couldn’t say anything.

“Of course…”

“Just as you have achieved many things and made many connections in the Celestial Realm, so have I in the Water Realm. So, how about you understand my heart that I cannot grant your request?”

Yeona opened her mouth in disappointment and then smiled bitterly.

“I was careless.”

“It’s okay. At least it was good to hear.”

Beom patted Yeona’s shoulder, who was dejected, and asked with a smile.

“Is the sword still heavy?”

At his question, Yeona answered.

“Yes, it is still heavy to me.”

But she smiles so brightly as if her heart has become much lighter.

“That’s a relief. It seems I still have something to teach.”

Beom and Yeona looked at each other for a long time and smiled.