Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 478

낭선기환담 – 2부 187화

The Geonwon Sea was dotted with countless nameless islands, many of which were uninhabited. These islands often served as strategic bases during conflicts like the Seonsal War.

The Su Gye’s camp was situated on one of these islands.

“Puk, damn it!”

“Heok, heouk! Hooo!”

A divine immortal, having just yanked his sword free from an enemy’s body, gasped for air.

“Hey, you alright?”

“I’m… fine. Hooo….”

Kwaaaang!!

The force of a massive explosion staggered two divine immortals mid-conversation.

The Salsun’s attack, indiscriminate and brutal, raged on, their reason lost to the frenzy.

The divine immortals of the Su Gye tried to hold them back, but they struggled to withstand the sheer power of the assault.

Kuuuuuung!!

“Kueeeuk!”

Unable to endure another explosion, one immortal was hurled backward.

Tuk.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah, Vice Commander Woo!”

“Oh? It’s Court Lady Yang. If you’re tired, fall back. This is when the Hyangseon [warriors of the Upper Realm] are at their most ferocious. It’s better for us Sangseon [high-ranking immortals] to conserve our strength so we don’t get overwhelmed.”

The divine immortal who had been blown away was Yang Mi, the one who had served tea to Cheonbeom. The one who caught her was Woo Myeong, the vice commander of the Munmu Gwanjang [Hall of Military Arts].

“Thank you, Vice Commander Woo.”

Woo Myeong looked at Yang Mi with a heavy heart.

She was covered in blood, a testament to her suffering on the front lines, and her fingers were swollen, evidence of how relentlessly she had swung her sword.

It was a sorry sight.

Not only Yang Mi but all the Su Seon [immortals of the Water Realm] participating in the war were in similar states.

They risked their lives in this war to protect their families and their country.

‘It’s a terrible war.’

On this front line, not only Yang Mi but most of the Su Seon under the Munmu Gwanjang were fighting.

Most of those who had been dormant in the Seon Gye [Immortal Realm] for a thousand years had risen from their beds and rushed to the battlefield with swords and spears.

A war that neither side could win or lose.

It was the soldiers who suffered most in a war of attrition.

“What are you doing!”

It was Vice Commander Pyeong Ga-yeon.

Woo Myeong handed Yang Mi a Bokjobu [healing pill], known for its restorative properties, and urged her to retreat.

“The Gwanjang [Hall Master] will be back soon. You need to take care of yourself until then.”

Woo Myeong comforted Yang Mi before donning his helmet and flying back into the fray.

Unlike Yang Mi, who fought as an ordinary soldier, the two vice commanders were high-ranking and plunged deep into the front lines.

Soon, a massive white cow and a red wolf materialized on the battlefield, wreaking havoc.

“It’s Hwa Girin [Fire Kirin]!! It’s Salsun Sinjang [Demon Subjugation General]!!”

The soldiers cheered.

Far off to one side, the crimson Hwa Girin appeared, radiating like a red sun and setting the battlefield ablaze.

Behind him, several Su Seon charged fiercely toward the Salsun and the Bunggye [Demonic Realm] army.

It was a truly fierce and terrible battle.

Yang Mi chewed on the Bokjobu and opened her eyes wide, her will reignited.

Her body was heavy, and her limbs trembled with exhaustion.

But her spirit burned as brightly as the sun overhead.

Just as she was about to use her eyesul [spiritual technique] and rejoin the battle…

Tuk. Someone grabbed her.

“Just showing off. Get out of the way.”

The armor of the man who grabbed and pushed Yang Mi away marked him as a Hyangseon.

Startled, she lowered her head.

The man noticed the word ‘Double (雙)’ embroidered on Yang Mi’s shoulder pads and narrowed his eyes.

“Are you a Su Seon under the Munmu Gwanjang?”

“…Yes. I served him.”

The Su Seon who had trained under Munmu Gwanjang Cheonbeom had become known as Double Seon, a name that arose because they combined the skills of both Munseon [scholarly immortals] and Museon [martial immortals].

When the war erupted, the Su Seon under Cheonbeom displayed remarkable prowess, earning the respect of other divine immortals.

The reputation of the Double Seon grew, and the fame of Munmu Gwanjang Cheonbeom, who had trained them, became unparalleled.

“I owe your superior a debt.”

With those words, the man tossed her a Danyang [elixir] from his pouch.

“It will help you recover your strength. If you have any trouble, you can use my name, Hyeoncheon Mujang Mise Pa [Mystic Heaven Martial General Mise Pa].”

Mise Pa vanished in a flash of light.

Soon after, Geo Won [Great Source] appeared on the front line, and a series of deafening roars echoed as if the world itself was being forged anew.

“….”

Yang Mi removed her helmet, let her long hair fall free, and faced the wind.

She swallowed the Danyang that Mise Pa had given her in one gulp, and it dissolved into liquid energy that coursed through her body.

A warm sensation spread evenly throughout her from the inside.

And she leaped back into the battlefield, cutting down Salsun again and again.

One month later.

The soldiers of the 1st front line, locked in a stalemate, took a break to regroup and reorganize.

Yang Mi, who had slept for only ten days, as if in a coma, also took a break to repair her Beopgi [spiritual artifacts].

While she was working on her Beopgi in the assigned barracks, she heard a voice.

“So, you were here.”

“Ah, Vice Commander.”

She jumped to her feet and bowed respectfully. A haggard-looking, red-haired woman was looking down at her.

It was Ga-yeon.

“I need you to come with me somewhere.”

“May I ask where?”

“My Beopgi was damaged in the last battle. It would take too long to entrust the repair to the Sugung [Water Palace], and I hear they have a massive backlog anyway, so I’m going somewhere else.”

The red Byeonrin [scale armor], which she always wore around her waist, was visibly torn in several places, rendering it almost useless.

“It’s not a Bonseon Beoppae [high-grade artifact], but I’m attached to it, so I’m thinking of refining it by collecting other precious materials. Will you come with me?”

“Of course.”

“Okay, then get ready.”

“…Understood.”

There wasn’t much to pack.

Her barracks was a small space with only a place to lie down.

They left together.

After passing through a few gates, they were greeted by a welcome sight.

It was Woo Myeong.

Behind him, most of the Double Seon under the Munmu Gwanjang were assembled.

Yang Mi was overjoyed to see their faces, and her heart swelled with emotion.

“How long has it been?”

When she greeted them with joy, she noticed that everyone wore the same expression as she did.

It was strange.

“What’s going on? Why are you all gathered here?”

Then, with meaningful smiles, they all turned their gaze toward Ga-yeon.

“You must also know the story you heard from Salsun Sinjang.”

“Yes, I heard that Munmu Gwanjang rescued Salsun Sinjang from the Sagyee’s [Four Evil Realms] forces and helped the current Hyeoncheon Mujang complete his secret mission.”

“Yes, and he hasn’t returned since. But while we were fighting this war, we heard a rumor that Oryong [Five-Colored Dragon] was sighted on the Seon Gye’s front line.”

“Oryong!”

“I don’t know why it’s Seon Gye and not Su Gye, but anyway, we have a place where the Seon Gye and the front line meet, right?”

“Yes, that’s right! The 33rd front line and the Seon Gye’s 1st front line are connected….”

Someone said that while patrolling, they saw Oryong heading toward the Seon Gye.

Oryong are rare even in the Sang Gye [Upper Realm], so he paid close attention and got a good look at the person riding it.

“There’s no way that Oryong is unique in all the realms, so we can’t jump to conclusions. But even if there’s a slight chance, we have to go.”

“That’s right! That’s right!”

That’s why they had traveled around the various front lines, gathering the scattered Double Seon.

There weren’t many to begin with, and many had been lost or killed in action during the war.

Only about a dozen remained.

“Tamlang and Baekgeon are said to have gone ahead and are waiting.”

“Then let’s go!”

* * *

Meanwhile.

“This is difficult.”

Cheonbeom was taken aback by the sight of the divine immortals charging toward him.

[Master, shall I intervene?]

“Well, I don’t think they’ll listen if I try to talk, and if I knock them down, it’ll only make things more complicated.”

He never imagined that anyone would remember him after he became a Salsun.

Especially not an immortal from the In Gye [Human Realm].

Cheonbeom formed a Sugyeol [hand seal] with one hand and activated Ilsim Mancheonokgyeong [One Mind Myriad Heavenly Jade Mirror].

A small mirror appeared from his fist, spinning and growing in size.

The mirror flashed a dazzling light and transformed into a massive Hosinmak [protective barrier].

Kung, kung kung kung! Kuung!

The divine immortals’ Beopgi couldn’t penetrate Cheonbeom’s Mancheonokgyeong.

There were only a few hundred now, but reinforcements would soon arrive, bringing the total to thousands.

It was best to escape quickly.

[Is Great Master Cheon a bad person?]

“Out of the blue?”

[The Salsun and the divine immortals of the Seon Gye are all attacking Great Master Cheon. If it were just one side, I wouldn’t say anything, but other forces are also trying to kill Great Master Cheon….]

That’s what he must have been thinking.

“Hwadam-ah. If Great Master Cheon was truly a bad person, would he have saved you when you were dying? Do you really think so? Did your head really turn into that of a beast after becoming a deer?”

“Okay. I guess you could see it that way.”

If you put yourself in his shoes, you could understand his perspective.

“Judge for yourself. You are not some starving country boy, but a powerful Hwan Su [Mystical Beast]. You should be mature enough to discern right from wrong.”

[….]

“Throughout our journey together, Hwadam, did you ever think I was evil?”

[That’s not true….]

“If that’s the case, don’t be swayed by their words. Good and evil are only relative.”

With those words, Cheonbeom commanded Tamhwa and Hwadam to transform.

The two, who had taken the forms of a girl and a boy, were soon enveloped in a golden aura, and a blue wind began to swirl.

It was Yeonjabo Yeonghwabi’s Byeokryeok Cheongpung [Green Jade Treasure Eternal Radiance’s Azure Lightning Wind].

“Hold on tight.”

Kuwaaaaaaaa!

A roar that seemed to tear the sky apart erupted, and when Cheonbeom flapped his wings once more, his figure vanished in an instant.

“Catch him!!”

Soon, the divine immortals who were confident in Dunsul [escape techniques] gave chase.

Some transformed into thin silk threads, while others became birds or talismans.

Several even used a treasure called Dunbo [escape artifact].

Most of them transformed into forms that would minimize air resistance and employed fast Dunsul, but Cheonbeom did not.

Kwaang!

A roar that seemed to split the sky echoed with every flap of his wings.

It was a veritable storm.

He moved forward as if breaking through everything in his path, unconcerned with air resistance.

And the direction he was heading…

‘If I continue in this direction….’

It’s the enemy’s lair.

He was heading toward the stronghold of the Salsun, Bunggye, and Sagyee soldiers, who were locked in a stalemate.

Unfortunately, the divine immortals of the Seon Gye could only watch helplessly as he fled like a dog chasing a chicken.

A little later.

Cheonbeom, having landed on the 1st front line of the Seon Gye, set down Tamhwa and Hwadam.

“Why did they go in the direction we came from?”

“That’s because they were fooled by my illusion. Even divine immortals who have trained for many years become fools when they are deceived by my illusion.”

Hwadam hadn’t even noticed when Cheonbeom’s illusion, which had fooled most of the hundreds of divine immortals, had been cast.

He had only sensed that his vision was slightly different than usual.

Hwadam, who had never seen him fight properly, couldn’t help but be amazed by Cheonbeom’s skills.

‘Still, when a battle breaks out, he will have no choice but to rely on me and Tamhwa….’

Hwadam strengthened his resolve as he looked at Cheonbeom’s empty sleeve.

When Cheonbeom stroked his face with his remaining hand, his handsome features transformed into those of an old man with white hair.

“I’ll have to keep a low profile for a while.”

He never expected to come to the Seon Gye’s front line, and he certainly never thought that there would be a divine immortal who remembered his face.

‘I need to hide and find a way to get to the Su Gye’s front line.’

Beom took a small boat from Gongjeonggang [River of Fairness] and placed himself and the children inside.

At the same time, he moved his lips, and the boat seeped into the fog and disappeared.