Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 499

Tales of a Spirit Lancer – Part 2, Episode 208

Time flowed, and my realm became steadfast. I could sense everything in creation, and even the Upper Heavens felt small to me.

However, there was a shadow in my heart, and I realized that unless I dealt with it, I would not be allowed to achieve greatness.

“Upper Heavens, Upper Heavens… the Upper Heavens…”

I pierced through space, heading straight to the place where I could meet the Upper Heavens.

A sea filled with hazy mist.

It was the Geonwon Sea.

Whoong!

With a wave of my arm, the mist cleared, and the sun, floating in the sky, reflected and sparkled on the water’s surface.

Geonwon Sea.

What floated on the surface of the sea was the sky.

This was the sky of the Upper Heavens.

“Why did Master split the earth and raise the Geonwon Sea?”

Perhaps all of this wasn’t intentional, but something that had to be. Perhaps Master…

Splash!

Entering the Geonwon Sea, only endless darkness greeted me.

What lies at the end of this?

Could it be that the sky we desire is 펼쳐져 [unfurled/spread out] at this unknown destination?

But I cannot dare to approach.

The deeper I go, the more an unknown force pushes me away.

It sucks in my power and instills fear that it will eventually devour even my soul.

Swish.

“I prided myself on knowing everything, but in the end, I am full of ignorance.”

But just a little bit.

If I am given just a little more time, I feel like I can uncover the secrets of this sky.

After that, perhaps I can grant complete death to those whose curses have turned into bloodstains on my hands.

‘Complete death.’

It’s a chilling phrase, but I somehow thought it was true rest.

Some say it’s another beginning, but to me, death is death.

To start something new with death means there is lingering attachment.

Lingering attachment is a chain that binds oneself, so it must be shaken off.

‘I don’t know. Complete death. True death. What is death anyway…’

“San, what are you doing here?”

It was Rin.

“I was just looking at the Geonwon Sea.”

Rin sat on a small rock that had risen on the Geonwon Sea and stared at me silently.

“Is something the matter?”

“No, I heard you were here, so I was curious and came to see. I was also worried that you might go somewhere again.”

“If I go, it will be with you.”

Was that a pleasant thing to hear?

Rin smiled and splashed her feet in the Geonwon Sea, creating ripples.

The splashing water droplets that flew up along with her splashing feet were like a scene from a masterpiece.

“Why?”

“Just. Because it looks nice.”

It’s a sight I want to keep in my eyes forever.

Complete death.

I wanted to give that to Rin at least.

“You look like you have something to say? It’s okay, you can tell me.”

I brushed Rin’s hair back and said.

If I talk about death, this affectionate face might be distorted.

“I want to give you complete… peace.”

“Complete peace?”

Rin tilted her head, not understanding, then smiled brightly.

“Just having you by my side makes me endlessly peaceful, San.”

She reaches out her arms to me.

I put my hands under her armpits and lifted her up, and she hugged my neck tightly.

The scent, the touch. The warm body temperature envelops my entire being.

Then she says.

“Shall we have another child?”

With a bright smile on her face, it’s hard to refuse.

Perhaps complete death was not so far away from me.

“If you wish.”

Soon, I held her and left the Geonwon Sea, and the atmosphere of the Heavenly Palace was unusual.

It’s chaotic.

There was no repair on the outer walls, and everyone was running around busily.

“What’s going on?”

I grabbed a soldier and asked, and he was startled and hesitated.

“I asked what’s going on.”

“Th, that is…”

It was then.

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

The spears of the soldiers who had gathered were pointed at me and Rin.

The number exceeded thousands, tens of thousands, an overwhelming number.

“What is this?”

“You fools! Do you even know who this person is to be doing such a thing!”

When Rin stepped forward and shouted, the soldiers lowered their heads and answered.

“It is an order! The sinner San and his family are accused of plotting a rebellion against the Heavenly Palace, so we are ordered to arrest them and bring them in!!”

His voice is trembling.

The soldiers were also terrified.

At this absurd charge.

It was an enormous number, but it was not a great threat to me.

Rather, I felt sorry for them.

“It’s okay. Don’t tremble. There must be a reason. Lead the way. I need to see who gave the order.”

“San…”

I gestured to Rin that it was okay, and she remained silent.

As I slowly received the guidance of the soldiers, many gazes were cast upon me, but they avoided my eyes.

And soon.

After entering the main building of the Heavenly Palace, Deepa, the massive gate slammed shut.

At the same time, a huge magic circle lit up the floor, and a 금제 [geumje – a magical seal or binding] was activated.

Along with the 금제 that bound me and Rin, someone appeared.

“…Ahgeom.”

It was Ahgeom.

Moreover, he was not alone.

Sinwi was also with him.

And…

“Why are you guys here…!”

My children were also with them.

Seeing the children who were captured and bound as if they had been dragged in a row, I felt an unbearable anger rising.

“Ahgeom, Sinwi. What is the reason for suddenly doing this? There must be a reason.”

“There are many reasons… but would things change if I told them?”

“…Then release the children. This is between you and me.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Your power surpasses mine and the Heavenly Palace, so how could I? If I didn’t have them, I would be torn to death by your hands, so I can’t do that. I have to keep my lifeline in place.”

It’s an incredibly brazen attitude.

“You will regret it, Ahgeom.”

Gritting my teeth and revealing my energy.

Crack, crack, crash!

The 금제 that had been binding my whole body was shattered in an instant, and an intense force enveloped all directions.

Kugugugung!

The walls cracked and shook as if an earthquake had occurred.

“San!! Do you want to see your children die to be doing this!!”

Ahgeom grabbed my son and held him over a huge pond.

“You wouldn’t say you don’t know the Geonwon Sea Well, which is Master’s possession!! Those who fall into this place will not leave even bones and their souls will scatter and disappear!!”

“San!!”

Gugugugu.

The tremors subside.

Rin’s touch, desperately grabbing my hand, stops me.

Rin looked at me with the expression of a mother who had lost her child.

“…All the friendship we’ve built over the years is useless. How futile.”

“San, stab yourself with the sword. A total of one hundred and twenty-eight swords. Use them to stab each of your 경혈 [gyeonghyeol – acupoints or meridian points] to seal your power. If you don’t, I will throw your children into the Geonwon Sea Well.”

“Ahgeom!! Why are you doing this to us!! We are fellow disciples! We are friends!!”

Ahgeom did not answer.

“Stab.”

Swish.

Ahgeom’s sword slowly approached me. It’s a thin, short sword.

“Hurry!!”

“Father!! Don’t do it!! You mustn’t do that because of us!”

Slap!!

“Cough!”

“Stab it quickly, San.”

“San…!”

Rin didn’t know what to do and just sat down and cried. I comforted Rin and grabbed the sword.

‘Was this what she was talking about.’

Even in this urgent situation, my mind was unusually calm.

All sorts of emotions swirled, but they all transformed into her voice, which had spoken the prophecy, and made me understand.

[You will meet a miserable death.]

Her voice, which had said that, was still whispering in my ear.

‘I won’t be able to achieve complete death.’

I stabbed my body.

Thud.

“Kuh-uck…!”

After that, it was a time of pain.

And only patience and desperation.

After stabbing one hundred and twenty-eight swords into my body, I was cut off from all spiritual energy.

I couldn’t use any strength to the point where I couldn’t even pull out a single sword myself.

From then on, my mind was hazy.

Rin kept holding me and sobbing, and my children shed tears of blood.

Soon, leaving behind Ahgeom, who was laughing gleefully, and Sinwi, who had a sad look in his eyes, I fell into the Geonwon Sea Well.

In the endlessly 펼쳐져 [unfurled/spread out] Geonwon Sea Well, I slowly disappeared.

The body and mind were separated, the soul and spirit were separated, and everything slowly disappeared one by one.

It’s futile.

Everything is a futile thing.

Even if I reach the end of the sky, all of it disappears like a dream, so what will open my eyes?

It’s better this way.

I want death as it is.

I will find peace in complete death.

Even if I haven’t achieved anything, I hoped that I alone could reach complete peace.

There is another path in peace.

Ah. I think I know why.

Only by letting go of everything and reaching death can I be enlightened.

Only after abandoning all selfish things can I, I can finally reach peace.

I can reach complete death.

My body seems to be floating.

After abandoning the binding body, I feel a freedom I didn’t know before.

Only then could I break free from all kinds of bonds and head to the true meaning of the sky, I thought.

This is complete death.

I was convinced that complete death was the path to that place.

It was a pity.

If this death was the death I chose.

If it was a death I chose after completely abandoning everything!!

No, it’s not too late now.

If I throw off the shackles of the flesh and abandon the selfish world even now…!

But then.

Splash!

The waves of the Geonwon Sea Well rippled.

What these surging waves foreshadowed was utter despair.

It’s not just me.

My children also fell into this place.

‘Ahgeom!! Did you break your promise!!’

Unspeakable anger seized me.

But that’s it.

I can’t do anything because I’m caught up in emotions, so all that awaits is an incomplete death.

A miserable death, just as she said.

That’s all.

* * *

Waking up in a daze, I lifted my heavy eyelids.

But all I see is nothing.

Only endless darkness.

‘Am I dead.’

Am I dying and reincarnating?

Am I becoming a single 분혼 [bunhon – a separated soul fragment] and heading somewhere as nothing anymore?

Is the reason why my soul, which should have been extinguished, remains all due to the arrangement of the Phoenix?

You did a useless thing.

What can I, a failure who has lost everything, do by coming back to life?

He has already taken my power, and many bloodlines will have died.

Even if I come back to life now… there’s no way I can do anything.

It was then.

A faint soul approached me.

The strange soul, which seemed like it would crumble if I held it or fly away if I blew on it, flew to me and stuck by my side, becoming another me.

Is this also the will of heaven?

Or is it the arrangement of a planned person?

Anyway, I’m just watching.

I’m just watching me.

That is the beginning and the end of a story that is me and not me.

“I see. You’ve been with me all along.”

The man who was looking at me with eyes full of dizziness as if he had realized everything reached out his hand.

“Take it. The complete death you desire. I will make it happen.”

I took his hand.

Hoping desperately, and desperately, that it would be my complete death.