Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 50

Nangseon Gihwandam – Chapter 49

10 Years Later.

The Nangseons [Taoist hermits] residing on Subang Peak all rushed out, staring in one direction.

Most of them were Doseons [Taoist ascetics], and strangely, their expressions were similar. They were deeply impressed, but soon sighed and felt a little embarrassed.

“That’s Great Tiger Taoist’s residence.”

“He looked so young, but he’s already a Biseon [ascended immortal]… Heaven is so unfair. I’ve worked so hard on my cultivation until I’m nearing the end of my lifespan.”

The Doseon, with a beard reaching his chest, sighed but couldn’t take his eyes off the strange phenomenon.

The ascension of another Taoist was not something easily seen, and the very thing he desired was happening before his eyes, so he was loath to miss it.

And then, at a certain point, when more than half of the spiritual energy of Subang Peak had disappeared, a huge explosion erupted, shaking the entire Subang Peak.

“I wonder if he failed to overcome his inner demons and suffered Gyesa (界死) [death by realm collapse]….”

“Hush! How can you say such a thing at such a crucial moment! What if it brings bad luck!”

As a Biseon was about to emerge from Subang Peak, someone uttered words tinged with jealousy, prompting a sharp rebuke.

While the Doseons were whispering among themselves, Hongyeon was also outside. She smiled and entered the Mountain Lord’s training room.

The Geumje (禁制) [restrictive spell] and Hwanjin (幻陣) [illusionary array] he had set up meant nothing to her.

When Hongyeon’s figure blurred and reappeared, she was in front of a tiger as big as a house.

Most of his surroundings were collapsed and shattered, likely because he had expelled turbid energy at the end of Jinsumyungwha (眞水命火) [True Water Life Fire cultivation].

The tiger was still lying down with his eyes closed. His body was slightly larger than before, and two horns about a foot long had grown on his forehead.

Other than that, there were no major changes from before, except for the blue flames burning around his body and the stronger spirit pressure.

“Hmm, you’ve come.”

Sangun slowly raised his eyelids and flashed his red eyes.

He seemed to have gathered the energy of the newly created Naedan (內丹) [inner core].

“Congratulations, Sangun. You have ascended to Yeonggyeol (靈結) [Spirit Binding realm].”

“Thank you. What about Hori?”

“It seems it will take a while.”

“I see.”

Sangun closed his eyes for a moment and felt the nine Naedans located in his chest, not his dantian [energy center].

The Naedans were supposed to rise to the head the moment they ascended to Yeongmyeong (靈明) [Spirit Illumination realm], so it was natural for them to be in the chest.

Anyway, Jinsumyungwha itself was about releasing the Naedans and recreating them to reconstruct the bones, but in the realm of Yeonggyeol, one more thing was needed.

‘Yeonggak (靈覺) [Spiritual Awareness].’

He had to put Nyeong (念) [thought] and Ee (意) [intention] into the Hon (魂) [soul], so the difficulty naturally doubled.

Moreover, unlike others, Sangun, who had learned Bunhapsugyeol (分合水訣) [Separation and Union Water Art], had to create Yeonggak with more Naedans, so how much more difficult would it be?

If he hadn’t pre-copied and taken the Seondan (仙丹) [immortal pills] in the medicine bottle and several Okjubakdan (玉珠白丹) [Jade Pearl White Pills], he might have died without overcoming the inner demons.

‘Reaching Yeongmyeong might be difficult with a simple ascension Seondan.’

He thought so, felt the horns sprouting on his forehead and the overflowing power, and closed his eyes.

Soon, light burst from his body and transformed into a human form.

A man with black hair and red eyes. Now, he could freely use Biundeungap (飛雲遁甲) [Flying Cloud Armor] without Yeokgeunhwan (易筋丸) [Muscle Transformation Pill].

“How long has it been?”

Hwaran, who had appeared unnoticed, said so with a bright smile.

Hwaran also made eye contact with Hongyeon.

She had often seen her since she was in Baek Mountain. At that time, she thought she was a Changgui (倀鬼) [a ghost used as a guide or scout].

Sangun glanced at the chaotic surroundings and stomped his feet. Then, blue flames spread out like ripples from his feet, erasing all the debris.

“Cheongyeom (靑焰) [Azure Flame] has become more powerful.”

Hwaran said with a pleased smile.

“Does it look like it?”

He also raised the corners of his lips, but still thought it was not enough. Originally, Bongak Cheonghwa (蓬岳靑火) [Bongak Azure Fire] was not just this much.

Sangun went outside with them because his enhanced senses had identified those outside.

As he removed the Geumje and Hwanjin, the Doseons of Subang Peak gathered in groups. They checked his realm, widened their eyes, and bowed their heads.

“Congratulations on ascending to Biseon, Great Tiger Taoist!”

Everyone offered their congratulations and subtly looked at him.

“Which sect will you go to?”

“Sect?”

“As a Biseon, many places will be looking for the Great Tiger Taoist. It would be better to belong to a sect in many ways and benefit from cultivation.”

Being a Biseon meant entering a suitable sect and taking a position.

‘That’s a good way to die,’ Sangun thought wryly.

Sangun answered appropriately and asked about the Geumeun sisters.

Before Sangun entered closed-door training, he gave each of them a Seondan.

It was a kind of investment.

They had extensive knowledge in making Hwanjinpae (幻陣牌) [illusionary array tablets] or Bopae (寶牌) [treasure talismans], and he thought they would be very helpful to him if he became a Biseon.

But they had left this place five years ago, and no one knew where they had gone.

‘Their whereabouts are unknown.’

After sending all the Doseons back, Sangun looked at Hwaran and asked.

“Do you know where they went?”

“I heard that they learned special Tongsul (通術) [mystical arts], so it was difficult to cultivate here. Therefore, their whereabouts have been unknown since they left to find a suitable place.”

“They are smart children, so we don’t have to worry.”

He was a little disappointed, but when he thought about the Tongsul they were learning, he couldn’t help but nod.

As descendants of Manbyeongakgwi (萬變角鬼) [Ten Thousand Transformations Horned Demon], the Hona bloodline, the Tongsul they were learning was not ordinary.

“What about Myeonghwa and Mansam?”

“They have been diligently building up their cultivation and have reached Yeonghwa Junggyeong (靈化中境) [Spirit Transformation Middle Stage]. They are spurring on their cultivation, saying it will be helpful to Sangun.”

When the time is right, it wouldn’t be bad to bestow the remaining Seondan to them and have them form Yeonggyeol.

They are his people whom Sangun has taken in, and both are spiritual beasts with special divine powers.

He doesn’t know now, but they will be helpful later.

‘The Saweoljehang (四月祭缸) [April Offering Jar] is full of Seondan.’

He had to find new Seondan needed for higher realms, but he could copy as many Seondan or Yeongcho (靈草) [spiritual herbs] as he already had, so he was relaxed.

Although the size of the jar was small and he couldn’t put in large objects, and living things couldn’t be copied, it was still a great divine power.

“What are you going to do now?”

Hwaran asked, sounding curious.

Now that he had reached Yeonggyeol, he had to retrieve his Bokjwa Pae (復座牌) [Restoration Tablet] according to the agreement with Geummyeongjiryung (金名地靈) [Golden Name Earth Spirit].

However, with about 400 to 500 years left in his lifespan, there was no need to rush.

Frankly, he could just keep his mouth shut and pretend not to know. The Golden Name Earth Spirit wouldn’t be able to budge from that place.

But his cultivation level…

And his lineage, were too good to waste.

‘Besides… it’s only a matter of time before they find out.’

Sangun thought about the escaped Geumgin and re-entered the stone chamber.

To reach Yeongmyeong [a higher realm of cultivation], one needed many fortuitous encounters, Seondan [spiritual pills], and the help of others. Jinsumyeonghwa [a rare spiritual essence] was something one had to risk their life for.

* * *

The white-haired woman looked down at the man beneath her feet with cold eyes.

“Why, why are you doing this! Does, does the Ice Palace know about this!?”

The man was an old man wearing a green robe, his whole body frozen except for his head.

“This has nothing to do with the Ice Palace. If you think I’m trying to make the sect worry about the Seon Battle, you’re wrong. This is simply to repay a grudge.”

Indeed.

The old man who couldn’t move beneath her feet was Nokbang, from whom Sangun had been robbed of the Dobonghwan [a precious artifact] 14 years ago.

He had been forced to wander the battlefields for the crime of having the Dobonghwan stolen. But as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining.

He had accidentally obtained a fortuitous encounter and become a Biseon [a type of cultivator].

But his joy was short-lived.

Suddenly, a Taoist from the Ice Palace appeared and held a sword to his neck with tremendous divine power.

A transparent sword.

But the coldness and sharpness it contained chilled his heart.

“A, a grudge! I’ve never seen you before in my life, how could there be a grudge!”

“14 years ago. Don’t you remember the Sangun of Mount Baeksan that you killed!?”

The woman, who had not shown any change in expression while suppressing him, frowned for the first time.

But even that was beautiful, and the old man was momentarily stunned before regaining his senses.

“14 years ago? How could you know that…”

“I’m avenging my husband whom you killed, so don’t blame me for being unfair.”

The white eyelashes of the White Lotus fluttered. How long had she waited for this moment?

From the moment he died, she had lived only for this moment.

Her chest swelling, she took a deep breath. Her breath turned into white vapor and scattered in the wind.

The wind was just cold enough, and it was more than enough to cool her heated heart.

A blood-soaked thicket.

A puddle of blood.

A tiger lying in it.

And a severed head.

Her grip tightened as she recalled the moment when her heart had collapsed.

“My husband can finally rest in peace.”

The moment she was about to cut off his head as he had been, she heard,

“H, he’s not dead!!”

Abruptly.

Her sword stopped.

The old man’s blood trickled down his neck and fell onto the white ice.

“Don’t talk nonsense! Are you calling what I saw with my own two eyes a lie!?”

“No! I was also deceived! He disguised a Mudang disciple as himself!! He, no, Sangun is alive!!”

Surely not.

No, that couldn’t be.

Hadn’t she seen it then?

Hadn’t she cried endlessly looking at his dead body?

But.

He’s alive?

“I have a Chuchimban [Finding Compass] that was used to find Sangun! I put his fur in it, so if you activate it, you’ll know!!”

Her blue pupils trembled endlessly.

Her heart pounded as if it was drumming throughout her body.

Her whole body trembled as if she was ill.

“If you’re trying to trick me, you won’t die easily.”

Even as she said that, her heartbeat only grew louder.

With her white hand, she grabbed the old man’s Gongjeonggang [storage pouch] and scanned the contents with divine sense, pulling out the Chuchimban.

A Chuchimban about one cheok [a traditional Korean unit of measurement, approximately 30cm] in size.

In the center was a strand of light brown fur.

Her Adam’s apple bobbed.

Her heart pounded even harder.

As soon as she poured in her spiritual power, the needle spun wildly before pointing north.

“I, is it okay now? Sangun is not dead! I’m the victim! Because of him, what humiliation I suffered…!”

Swish!

Her sword sliced off Nokbang’s head in one swift motion, and his head rolled away.

Soon, a streak of light burst from his body. The moment she swung her sword, white flames blazed on the transparent blade, burning away Nokbang’s Yeonggak [spiritual consciousness].

[Why!!]

Leaving behind his last dying scream, he disappeared like that.

“Even if my husband didn’t die, there’s no doubt that he was hurt because of you.”

‘Because of that.’

She swept back the white hair that fell on her forehead and looked up at the sky with a blank expression.

Various thoughts and delusions swirled in her head. Her complexion, deepened with sorrow, contained the same word as his last dying scream.

‘Why.’

If this Chuchimban is true.

Why didn’t he come to me?

If what’s inside is his.

Why didn’t he come to me and tell me he was alive?

“I still can’t believe it.”