Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 41

Nangseon’s Romantic Tale – Episode 40

Meanwhile.

Sangun and Black Hori descended from Subang Peak and entered the shopping district managed by the sects.

Large and small pavilions showcased their magnificent appearances, each a shop displaying the nameplates of the sects established in Suwol.

“Didn’t you say you needed to buy something? Why do you keep wandering around?”

Sangun didn’t enter the pavilions but kept pacing, as if searching for something, prompting Black Hori to tilt her head.

“The pavilions managed by the large sects overcharge, and their forging techniques are mediocre. The small sects embezzle the byproducts they put out, so I can’t trust them.”

That’s why Sangun was looking around. Black Hori followed, nodding in agreement.

How long had they walked?

Suddenly, Sangun stopped, causing Black Hori, who was trailing behind, to bump into his back.

“Ouch!”

Black Hori frowned, rubbing her nose.

Peeking from behind Sangun, she saw a dilapidated building that looked ready to collapse. Sangun was smiling contentedly as he looked at it.

“Golden Silver Illusionist? Why are you going to a place that’s about to fall apart? Didn’t you say these places steal materials?”

The building had a sign that read ‘Golden Silver Illusionist’.

It was so shabby that it seemed like it would collapse if touched, so she grumbled.

“This place is different. People I know well are here.”

With those words, Sangun strode inside and called out to the owner.

Inside the dilapidated building, various tools and byproducts of spirit beasts were scattered messily. It looked like someone had turned the place upside down.

After a moment, two girls with youthful faces came out and greeted Sangun.

“O-oh, welcome!”

“Welcome……”

They had scarves wrapped tightly around their heads and somewhat comical dark sunglasses on their eyes.

Black Hori looked at them with a slightly surprised expression, but Sangun calmly took out a Processing River [a type of storage artifact] and threw it to them.

“I came to have a Hwanjin Talisman [a talisman made using illusionary techniques] made. It contains byproducts and a core from a Five-Six Grass Crane. I want you to make a Hwanjin Talisman with it.”

One of the girls took it, checked it, and then made a fuss.

“A Five-Six Grass Crane! Isn’t that a spirit beast that thrived in the Manbo era [an ancient era known for its powerful spiritual beasts]!”

One was overjoyed and began rubbing the Five-Six Grass Crane’s fur against her cheek.

“T-to give something like this to us… W-what if we fail….”

One hesitated to touch the Five-Six Grass Crane, and her face turned gloomy.

Sangun smiled and approached them, explaining the design of the Hwanjin Talisman he wanted. They nodded repeatedly, writing it down.

“How much will that be?”

“Hmm… 500 spirit stones!”

500 spirit stones.

That price was enough to buy a decent Hwanjin Talisman.

“San… no, Great Tiger. Don’t you have any spirit stones? Should I give you some?”

“You have a lot of spirit stones?”

“Hehe, don’t be too surprised!”

With those words, Black Hori placed ten spirit stones on the table from her chest.

“How about that! A lot, right? I picked them up while chasing you, Great Tiger!”

Black Hori puffed out her chest, holding her head high as always.

Sangun was speechless and closed his mouth.

The two girls also gave bitter smiles.

They were rolling their eyes, not knowing what to do.

“Blackie, don’t you know how many ten makes 500?”

“Of course, I know! I definitely know!”

“Then how many spirit stones did you take out?”

“The owner of Black Crag doesn’t count such petty things! That’s Hongyeon’s job!”

That was a roundabout way of saying she didn’t know.

For some reason, he seemed to hear Hongyeon sighing.

Sangun pressed his temples with his thumb and sighed.

After a while.

“Sangun, you bad guy.”

Thud.

Roll roll.

Black Hori was kicked out of the building.

With a sullen face, she kicked a stone on the street and cursed Sangun repeatedly.

The way she pouted her lips was quite cute but also looked pathetic.

* * *

‘Annoying guy.’

For some reason, he was worried about her like a child left out in the cold. But soon, he erased her from his mind and focused on the two in front of him.

‘Geummae, Eunmae.’

The names of the two girls wearing hoods and sunglasses were Geummae and Eunmae.

They were characters who also appeared in the Mountain Sea Basaltic Records, and Sangun knew them well.

They didn’t occupy a large portion, but they were major figures who would become famous Hwanjin masters hundreds of years later.

So, he was willing to give them spirit stones if possible.

Sangun had many Processing Rivers from the Taoists, and many of them contained spirit stones.

‘It doesn’t matter much since there’s the April Ritual [a ritual to replicate items].’

It was a bit of a waste, but he could replicate them with the April Ritual, and even if he didn’t, he had many spirit stones, so it didn’t matter.

They must be in a very uncomfortable situation right now. Sangun roughly knew the situation of the two girls who had nowhere to turn.

He didn’t know the details, but they were barely making a living amidst the oppression and pressure from the Taoists.

“Here, take it.”

Sangun took out a bag of spirit stones from the Processing River and threw it.

It fell on the table with a heavy noise, and Geummae hurriedly picked it up and checked the quantity. Eunmae shouted, ‘You really gave it to us!’ and covered her mouth in surprise.

The actions they took, not yet free from their girlishness, were innocent and made him smile.

“I know the price is higher than other places. So, instead, I want to participate in the production of the Hwanjin Talisman…”

“Yes?!”

“T-that’s……”

The words ‘I want to participate in the production of the Hwanjin Talisman’.

At first glance, it might seem possible. You might dismiss it, but the reality is different.

Hwanjin masters refer to those skilled in Hwanjin. Therefore, the Hwanjin used to make Hwanjin Talismans inevitably contains their own secret techniques.

It was the same as asking them to reveal their trade secrets, so it was natural for them to be flustered.

Others would have been furious and chased him away. But Geummae and Eunmae needed spirit stones for some reason.

In that situation, they couldn’t coldly chase Sangun away, so they could only fidget.

“If you don’t want to, I’ll go find another Hwanjin master. There are plenty of Hwanjin masters who want to touch the Five-Six Grass Crane.”

He raised one corner of his mouth and spoke, and Geummae and Eunmae rolled their eyes.

* * *

“When is it going to end?”

Black Hori was squatting outside the Golden Silver Illusionist.

It had been over half an hour, but Sangun showed no sign of coming out, so she was bored.

She blankly rested her chin on her hand and watched the people passing by.

Many Taoist immortals passed by, and among them were Taoists wearing white robes.

She thought there were all sorts of strange people and watched them closely, and she felt like even the Taoist wearing a bamboo hat was looking at her.

“The girls inside are strange, but that Taoist’s energy is also very peculiar.”

It was a strangely familiar yet foreign energy. As she was watching the humans, the sun was setting before she knew it.

“This is too much!”

It took too long. No matter what, this was too much.

Just as she was about to go back in.

“Move. The Suwol Sect’s Taoist immortal is passing by!”

“What are you talking about?”

Turning around, she saw a man shouting at Black Hori to move.

‘Taoist immortals are like spirit beasts who have risen to fame, right?’

Thinking that, Black Hori’s brow furrowed.

What was so great about a human of similar realm to her that he was telling her to move?

“Hey! This guy.”

“That’s enough.”

The Taoist immortal behind him stopped the man who was about to say more and clasped his hands.

“It seems the Sword Immortal didn’t recognize the realm of the immortal. I apologize on his behalf.”

“Hmph.”

“But what brings the immortal to this remote place?”

“Um, this lady’s… cl… a.”

Come to think of it, her relationship with Sangun was ambiguous.

You could see them as friends, but the expression ‘rival’ was more fitting.

Black Hori crossed her arms and pondered for a moment. Then, she saw the Affectionate Thread tied to her wrist and twitched her lips.

“Ahem! Th, that’s it. Th… so, someone who will become my spouse… could you say that?”

“Yes?”

“Ahem! Th, that’s what it is! My spouse is inside!”

“Ah, yes……”

The Suwol Sect’s Taoist immortal tilted his head for a moment, then nodded, thinking that was the case.

“But why did you come here? I also know the Suwol Sect. Isn’t it the biggest sect here?”

“Haha, I don’t know what to do with myself since you’re gilding the lily so much [exaggerating the praise].”

“I didn’t say that? Isn’t it the biggest?”

The Taoist immortal stared at her with a blank face for a moment before answering.

“Y, yes, that’s right. Ahem! My name is Hansu, and I belong to the Suwol Sect.”

“Um! This lady is Black Hori.”

“Ah, I see you’re not a Taoist from Bangok. I’ve met Taoists with that name in the south. I can call you Hori Immortal, right?”

“Um um.”

Black Hori put her hand on her hip and nodded. The Taoist man smiled, finding that amusing.

“Ah, we came here to ask for help from the Taoist immortal here.”

“Help?”

She tilted her head and asked at the word ‘help’.

“Yes, our Suwol Sect has decided to open the Heavenly Rock Cave (天搖洞), which has been blocked by a ban. However, the area is made up of Hwanjin from the Manbo era, so it’s easy to get lost. That’s why a Hwanjin master is essential.”

Black Hori rolled her eyes and tried to understand the story.

“But the Golden Silver Taoist immortal is reluctant to join us, so we’re getting impatient. This opening of the Heavenly Rock Cave is before the full moon rises. If we miss this opportunity, we won’t be able to enter for 100 years.”

“Why are you trying to go in there?”

There must be a reason for trying to go in.

Then, as if waiting for it, he speaks.

“The Heavenly Rock Cave contains treasures from the Manbo era. There may be elixirs or pills that are especially helpful for ascending to become a Flying Immortal, so of course we have to go!”

The Hansu Taoist smiled brightly and asked subtly.

“Perhaps, are you not interested?”