Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 419

Tales of a Wandering Swordsman – Part 2, Episode 128

“What? The weakest one was the director?”

At the absurd outcome, Cheonbeom was speechless. The martial artists looked at each other, and when one of them started laughing, they all burst into laughter as if on cue.

“You were so confident, but how could you lose to a kid!”

“Keuheuhe! To think the elder has become so weak! Kangseon, the eldest son of the Kang family, will not avoid martial training!”

“It would be better to pass the position of Director of Martial Arts to Cheongmyeong Soseon!”

The martial artists were laughing so hard that Cheonbeom couldn’t maintain his composure and ended up laughing as well.

“Ah, I was supposed to be angry.”

He found it a bit absurd himself, so he couldn’t help but laugh.

Thanks to that, Cheongmyeong didn’t know how to react and kept his mouth shut.

“I’ll consider the match as my loss. You don’t have to be so nervous.”

Even in the Jjanjan Kyeongjeongdo [a specific training ground or arena], Cheonbeom’s clone had launched attacks befitting a celestial, but Cheongmyeong’s martial arts were more outstanding than he had expected.

Cheongmyeong’s clone fell only after enduring the Ilchjojik [a powerful martial arts technique] and then unleashing three moves, but the match was already over after Cheonbeom gave up.

“A true man is one who knows how to accept the results. Cheongmyeong Soseon, tell me what you desire. I will grant it to you as long as it is within my power.”

Rare celestial elixirs are good.

Incomparable treasures are good too.

He even had celestial herbs that were hundreds of thousands of years old, as well as rare mystical beasts.

He could offer ancient books and medicinal texts that were no longer obtainable, as well as cultivation manuals from the Insect Realm, and even Law manuals if desired.

He had lost the bet, so he had to accept the results, and as a disciple of Hwanmang, he couldn’t be petty.

These items might not have much effect on Cheonbeom anymore, but for Soseon [a term for a young celestial being], there could be no greater fortune.

“Oh, isn’t that a Won Gyeoldan [a type of celestial pill]?”

“There aren’t many things more valuable to Cheongmyeong Soseon than that.”

From the Won Gyeoldan, a celestial elixir from the Water Realm that made it easier to condense Wonok [a form of celestial energy], to a massive amount of celestial scriptures, as well as celestial herbs that were over ten thousand years old that seemed to intoxicate with their fragrance, and even rare texts, Cheongmyeong, who rarely showed any expression, was surprised and opened his mouth in awe.

“Wow, Cheongmyeong Soseon hit the jackpot today. Most of the things here are so valuable that you’d have to sell your entire fortune to get just one.”

“Director, can you give me a celestial herb too? I’ve been feeling weak lately!”

“Please give me an elixir too!”

They cried out, but Cheonbeom didn’t even glance at them.

“He’s sulking because we teased him for being the weakest.”

“Sigh, be quiet.”

Cheonbeom silenced the martial artists and advised Cheongmyeong.

“How about the Won Gyeoldan? You are still a Soseon who hasn’t ascended yet, so this will be of considerable help. It’s a celestial elixir that helps Soseon, who are facing the biggest hurdle, to condense Wonok more easily.”

Cheongmyeong gulped, sensing the energy of the Won Gyeoldan within the pill.

Every Soseon desired the Won Gyeoldan.

Cheongmyeong would be no different.

“Yes, Cheongmyeong Soseon, there’s only the Won Gyeoldan! Choose that!”

The others also recommended the Won Gyeoldan.

As a Soseon, he wouldn’t have much use for celestial scriptures right now, and as a disciple of Hwanmang, he would have cultivation techniques passed down to him.

Celestial herbs were also tempting, but they were too difficult for a mere Soseon to use, so it was best to choose the Won Gyeoldan or other elixirs.

“So, what will you choose?”

Cheonbeom had no doubt that he would choose the Won Gyeoldan.

“…”

Cheongmyeong carefully looked at the items laid out and pondered, then his eyes sparkled as if he had made up his mind.

“Have you decided?”

Cheonbeom asked.

“Yes, I have decided.”

Cheongmyeong replied.

“Alright, what do you want?”

“Heavenly Elder, you clearly promised me this.”

That he would give him whatever he wanted.

Then Cheonbeom’s eyes curved into crescents.

“It seems you want something other than what’s here.”

“You guessed it.”

The items Cheonbeom had laid out were of immeasurable value.

But to want something other than these, the martial artists, as well as Cheonbeom, were curious about what it could be.

“What is it?”

When asked, Cheongmyeong smiled brightly for the first time and replied.

“Please form a fraternal bond with me.”

At the boy’s audacious request, the martial artists, as well as Cheonbeom, widened their eyes in surprise.

Clang, clang!

At the same time, the martial artists, who had been laughing and chatting until now, drew their spears and swords and held them to Cheongmyeong’s neck.

“Stop it.”

“But Director, even if he is a friend’s disciple, Cheongmyeong Soseon’s request is too rude. It’s also suspicious that Soseon endured the Director’s Ilchjojik, so please don’t stop us!”

It seemed they knew what the martial artists were thinking.

If they became sworn brothers, he might receive all the items in front of him, and even if not, Cheonbeom held the position of Director of Martial Arts, a rank 4 official in the Celestial Realm, with great treasures.

“Unlike simply calling each other brothers, if we form a sworn brotherhood in the Celestial Realm and share a cup of blood, we will truly become brothers, not just in name. Cheong Soseon probably knows this and is making this request!”

“That’s right! No matter what purpose he has, there’s no benefit for the Director to form a fraternal bond! It’s not too late to clarify Cheong Soseon’s identity!”

They couldn’t stand by and watch him try to become sworn brothers with ulterior motives.

The martial artists, who usually acted like fools, were reacting sharply only at times like this.

Cheonbeom pondered for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“Put them away. Are you trying to make me a man who can’t keep his promises?”

The martial artists reluctantly lowered their weapons and looked at Cheongmyeong with uneasy expressions.

“A sworn brotherhood… Is that really what you want? Why?”

“I am an orphan who has never seen his parents’ faces due to the war. Therefore, I have no siblings and nothing to my name. But about a month ago, an elder who seemed to be of similar age to me seemed to be close to my master. At that time, I couldn’t help but think.”

How reassuring would life be if he had a brother like Cheonbeom.

“Is that all?”

“I also thought that if we became sworn brothers, you might give your younger brother a gift or two.”

Cheonbeom couldn’t help but chuckle at his shy confession.

“A sworn brotherhood….”

He did have someone who was like a brother, but he was only a friend.

‘I wonder what that guy is doing.’

That was before he was sucked into this world. So much time had passed that he might have returned to the soil by now.

Cheonbeom closed his eyes and recalled the memories of that time, then took out an old liquor from his chest. It was a liquor that had been aged for thousands of years.

“We can’t form a fraternal bond without alcohol.”

“Are you really going to form a sworn brotherhood?”

“I can’t break my promise. I also have no reason to refuse since I’m getting a smart younger brother.”

The martial artists were dumbfounded.

Cheongmyeong, who had formed a sworn brotherhood with Cheonbeom through a single bet, was the target of immense envy and jealousy.

Even in the Celestial Realm, a rank 4 official was someone that ordinary villagers couldn’t even dare to look at.

Not to mention Cheonbeom, who held the position of Director of Martial Arts, was unmatched among the celestial beings, and even surpassed the fragrant immortals, though it was not widely known.

The martial artists had gathered because they were drawn to his power, so it was only natural that they felt regretful, thinking they should have done the same when they saw how easily the sworn brotherhood was formed.

“What a stroke of luck.”

“Given the Director’s personality, he’ll bestow a treasure of heavenly fortune. Wow, I’m so envious!”

Cheongmyeong paid no attention to the envious and jealous gazes of the martial artists and took Cheonbeom’s cup.

“We may not have been born on the same day, but seeing us meet like this and form a fraternal bond, it seems that you and I are destined.”

“It is a great honor, Elder.”

“Haha, what’s with the Elder? Now you and I are inseparable brothers.”

Cheonbeom took out a dagger, made a cut on his finger, and dropped a drop of blood into the liquor bottle, and Cheongmyeong did the same.

Afterward, he took out a giant mystical beast from his chest and used it as a sacrifice, burned incense, bowed together, and shared the liquor cups.

“Once you drink this cup, you and I will be blood brothers. Our resolution has been witnessed by the heavens and heard by the earth, so it can no longer be undone.”

“I understand.”

Cheonbeom and Cheongmyeong, holding their cups high, looked at the incense rising to the sky and shouted.

“I, Cheonbeom, and Cheongmyeong, though our surnames may be different, from today onwards, we form a sworn brotherhood, sharing our hearts and joining forces to help each other in times of difficulty and danger! We were not born on the same day, but we wish to die on the same day, and may the heavens and earth watch over our hearts, and may those who forsake righteousness and grace be punished and killed by the heavens and people!”

After completing the oath, Cheonbeom and Cheongmyeong emptied their cups at once.

“Although it was due to a bet, I, Cheonbeom, do not dislike you, Cheongmyeong. I will treat you as my younger brother with all my heart, so you too, treat me as your older brother with sincerity and build a bond of brotherhood.”

“I will certainly do so, Brother!”

“Hahaha! That’s good to hear. Call me Brother one more time!”

“I will call you as many times as you want. Brother!”

Cheonbeom, in a good mood, put his arm around Cheongmyeong’s shoulder, poured a drink, and a feast began.

Due to the unexpected sworn brotherhood incident, a feast was held on the deck of the Gyewol Ship [a type of celestial vessel], and the martial artists, as well as Joo Gyeolgyeong and the court ladies who were usually not seen, gathered to enjoy it together.

“Now that we’ve become blood brothers, I can’t just stand by. I have to make sure my brother, Cheongmyeong, is up to par!”

Cheonbeom, who seemed quite drunk, stuffed Won Gyeoldan and high-quality celestial scriptures into Cheongmyeong’s pockets.

“I, Cheongmyeong, did not form a sworn brotherhood hoping for this! I absolutely cannot accept this!”

“Hey! What kind of younger brother doesn’t accept his older brother’s grace! If you are a true younger brother, you should gratefully accept this older brother’s gift.”

Put it in, put it in.

He stuffed the large items into his pockets, and Cheongmyeong’s shabby pockets tore.

“Hwanmang, why did that old man dress the kid in such shabby clothes! Go change into the clothes I’m giving you right now!”

Cheonbeom took out a few suitable spare clothes from his chest to put on him, but stopped and pondered for a moment before taking out a blue robe.

“It’s useless to me, so I kept it, but it’s made quite sturdily. It looks like an ordinary robe on the outside, but it will block most attacks from magical artifacts.”

This was also one of the items he had obtained from the Dark Arena.

“I don’t know if I can accept so much.”

“It’s useless to me anyway, so I’m happy if you use it.”

“If you don’t need it, please share some with us!”

The martial artists were making a fuss next to him, but Cheonbeom didn’t seem to hear them and put his hand on Cheongmyeong’s shoulder and said.

“You are my brother now. Think of this as the heart of this older brother who hasn’t been able to do enough for you and accept it gratefully. I have a brother to share my heart with in the ruthless world of cultivation, so how can I not give you this much? Just accept it gratefully.”

“Your grace is like the heavens, so I don’t know how to repay it.”

“There will be a time someday.”

You never know what will happen in the world.

He had a good teacher and was exceptionally talented, so he would soon become a celestial being.

As time passed, he might become a famous cultivator in the Celestial Realm.

‘Why? Why can’t I distrust this young boy?’

Something about him was like that.

For some reason, it was like that.

He kept feeling pity and wanted to do something for him.

“Ah, I have something to tell you, Brother.”

“What is it?”

“It’s about the Jeolmyeong Sinmok [a sacred tree].”

Come to think of it, he had forgotten.

Cheongmyeong had come because of that matter.

“That’s welcome news. Did you find out anything?”

“Yes, I did, so I came to find you!”

With that, Cheongmyeong took out an old book from his chest and gave it to Cheonbeom.

“It’s a hard-to-find ancient book.”

“Geoncheon Gimok (愆千奇木) [Register of Extraordinary Trees]?”

If you translate the meaning as it is, it means a thousand strange trees created by a mistake of the sky.

As he glanced through it, as expected, it was a list of strange trees.

There were pictures and descriptions of trees that Cheonbeom had never seen before, and many parts were written in Seonchuk script [an ancient celestial script], which contained several letters, so cultivators with little learning or low levels could not even read it.

Ancient books written in Seonchuk script contained powerful energy in themselves, so if you tried to interpret them carelessly, you could be bound by evil energy and suffer from madness or damage your Qi and blood, causing internal injuries.

“Did you read this?”

“Yes. Although your younger brother grew up as an orphan from a young age, I have some talent because I have done everything to survive.”

That was truly an amazing talent.

“How did you get this?”

“Brother, please look at this side.”

“Hmm.”

As he looked as he was told, the Sinmok that Cheonbeom was looking for was written there.

“Jeolmyeong Sinmok.”

The sacrifices needed for its growth.

And the properties that appeared when the fruit ripened and bloomed were written in detail in the ancient book.

Cheonbeom couldn’t take his eyes off the article about Jeolmyeong Sinmok and looked up at Cheongmyeong.

“This kind of ancient book is not something that is scattered everywhere. How did you get this?”

It was an ancient book that contained more than a thousand Sinmok of the Upper Realm.

If it was a book containing such things, it must have been recorded by a high-level cultivator.

In that case, obtaining it itself would not have been easy.

Although he couldn’t know for sure, even if he combined the Won Gyeoldan, celestial scriptures, and various texts that Cheonbeom had given to Cheongmyeong, it would not be more valuable than this.

“Where did you get this?”

Cheongmyeong’s answer was refreshing.

“I stole it.”