Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 53

Nangseon’s Adventures – Chapter 52

Sun and Moon Sect.

In the Sangmun Pavilion, Hwanseon and Biseon were facing each other.

Behind Hwanseon were four Doseons with deathly pale faces, the Sun and Moon’s Doseons who had barely survived the Old Monster.

“Thank you once again. If it weren’t for the Taoist, my disciples would have been dead.”

“It’s nothing. I was just lucky.”

Sangun waved his hand and smiled, but he was inwardly tense.

Firstly, Hwanseon was right in front of him, and secondly, his spiritual pressure made his hair stand on end.

This Hwanseon was Mae Woong, the master of the Doseons and the enforcer elder of the Sun and Moon Sect.

He glanced back and roared at the Doseons.

“What would you have done if it weren’t for Great Tiger Taoist! I don’t even want to see your faces, get out of here!”

The Doseons couldn’t even lift their heads and left the main hall after being scolded.

Mae Woong looked back at Sangun and smiled bitterly, seemingly ashamed of showing the sect’s flaws.

“The Sun and Moon Sect owes a great debt to the Taoist. I don’t know how to repay it.”

“Debt? That’s absurd. Rather, I am amazed that I cannot fathom the cultivation of Seon Master Mae Woong. Are you perhaps pursuing the Muhakdo [the highest of the Three Paths of Buddhism, representing a state where there is nothing more to learn]?”

When Muhakdo was mentioned, a smile spread across Mae Woong’s face.

How could he not be pleased to hear that he had reached such an esteemed state?

“Haha! Muhakdo? I am just a Hwanseon with much to learn; how can I discuss Muhakdo? Perhaps if I become a Taeseon or Jiseon, then maybe!”

Mae Woong waved his hand and took a sip of tea. Sangun also took a sip of tea, calming the atmosphere.

“In any case, it is true that we owe a debt to the Seonja [a Taoist sage or immortal]. The Sun and Moon Sect, renowned as the best sect in Banggok, cannot simply gloss over this.”

“Ahem.”

Sangun cleared his throat and smiled awkwardly.

“Is there anything you desire? Or perhaps you would like to join our sect? I heard you are an unaffiliated Nangseon [a wandering or unaffiliated Taoist cultivator]…”

Mae Woong looked at Sangun with a glint in his eyes.

‘To subdue the troublesome one in an instant…’

No wonder the Demonic Path is the Demonic Path.

They are unscrupulous and cruel individuals who do not hesitate to commit heinous acts, making them difficult to deal with.

But to easily subdue such a Demonic Warrior, he couldn’t help but be tempted.

They were already experiencing a shortage of manpower due to the war with the Yokai [supernatural beings or monsters], so it was needless to say.

“It’s too sudden, so it’s difficult for me to give you a definite answer.”

“Haha, I may have been too hasty. I will offer you the Horong Peak of our sect. You will have no inconvenience staying there.”

Mae Woong assigned a servant who looked to be about ten years old to Sangun.

The servant was a child in the early stages of Doseon [a stage of Taoist cultivation], and blushed as he looked at Sangun and led the way.

Leaving the main hall, they were guided to a cliff. When the servant rang a bell from his chest, a silver disc flew in from afar.

The servant skillfully climbed onto the disc and stared at Sangun.

It was a flying treasure commonly used in the Sun and Moon Sect. Sangun also climbed onto the disc, and the disc automatically guided him to one of the peaks. At the end of it was a fairly large guest house.

“If you need anything, please call me anytime. If you ring the bell, I will come running right away.”

As the servant with the braided hair disappeared, Sangun sat down in the bedroom and exhaled.

“Hoo-”

-What are you going to do now?

-I need to meet Geummyeongjiryung first. Fortunately, I haven’t been caught as expected, but I don’t know when something might happen. It would be a disaster if I ran into the sect leader or the head elder, so I need to finish my work quickly and return.

If he were to encounter a Daeseonsa [a high-level Taoist master] like the sect leader or the head elder, there was a 70% chance he would be discovered.

But fortunately, he heard on the way here that most of the Taeseons [another level of Taoist master, higher than Doseon but below Daeseonsa] were in secluded training and rarely came out.

They only showed their faces once every few decades or hundreds of years, so even the disciples of the sect rarely saw them, which was a relief.

Sangun sorted out the items he had obtained from the Demonic Old Monster and called the servant when the sun rose.

“D, did you call me?”

The servant’s bangs were slightly disheveled, as if he had rushed over.

Sangun was reminded of someone by the sight, but he shook his head and said.

“I heard there is a Boksu [a guardian beast] guarding Yeongnae Mountain? Could you ask the elder if I could have a look?”

“Ah, you mean Geummyeongjiryung. Understood.”

The servant nodded and returned after a quarter of an hour.

But with the servant was an unknown man, a Biseon [a mid-level Taoist master] Taoist.

“I am Yang Pae-pung. Yeongnae Mountain is one of the things managed by the Biseons, so I will be in charge of guiding you. Great Tiger Taoist.”

The man was a clean-cut man with a sturdy build.

“I see, Taoist. Can we go to Yeongnae Mountain now?”

“Yes. The elder has given permission, so I must escort you.”

Sangun nodded and headed to Yeongnae Mountain with him.

It was quick by flying treasure.

Soon, following Yang Pae-pung’s guidance, they entered through the transfer formation and saw a huge wolf lying prostrate with the clear Woljisu [a spring or source of pure water, often associated with spiritual energy].

“This is Geummyeongjiryung, the guardian beast of Yeongnae Mountain that our sect is proud of.”

The man began to talk on and on about the circumstances of capturing this guy and his divine powers, but Sangun listened to his words with one ear and let them out with the other, and sent a telepathic message to Geummyeongjiryung.

-It’s been a while.

-Hehe, so you really came. I thought you had already been caught by those guys and died.

Geummyeongjiryung slightly raised the corners of his mouth and smiled.

Sangun frowned at the words.

-I’ve already been caught.

-But you’re still alive, so your life must be long.

Geummyeongjiryung looked at him with surprised eyes.

He didn’t die to the Three Ghosts, and he was already caught by the Ten Ghosts, but he was still alive.

-There have been some things.

Sangun smiled bitterly and told him about Geumgin.

Geummyeongjiryung narrowed his eyes as he listened silently.

-Jeokroe Jurang, huh? You’ve got a wide foot [meaning he has connections or influence]. It’s rare even among the high-ranking Yeongsu [powerful and spiritually enlightened beasts].

-That’s how it happened.

-Okay. Then there was no need for you to come to me, was there? Your safety would have been guaranteed by being with Jeokroe Jurang. As you know, I have to prepare for Jinsumyeonghwa [a dangerous and transformative process for spiritual beasts] as soon as I leave this place. If that happens, I can’t protect you.

As he said, Sangun didn’t need to keep his promise with Geummyeongjiryung.

It was already known that he was the one who killed the Three Ghosts. It was known under the name of Yoo Jung, but he didn’t know what means would be used to attach the Chusaljo [a type of curse or spiritual binding].

Moreover, even if Geummyeongjiryung was at the peak of Yeongmyeong Hukyeong [a high level of spiritual cultivation for beasts], Jinsumyeonghwa required heavenly luck.

Even those with great talent often became Jinmyeongsumok [a state of spiritual stagnation or failure] or died. Even if Geummyeongjiryung reached Yeonggeop [the highest level of spiritual attainment for beasts], it would take quite a long time at the earliest.

‘I won’t show my face for about 100 years.’

During that time, Sangun would not be able to receive any help from him, so he was surprised.

-If I owe a debt to a high-ranking investigator, there will be a time when I can get help. And I believe that Geummyeongjiryung will succeed in Yeonggeop.

-What is the reason? If I get the Bokjwa-pae [a type of spiritual seal or restraint] and become free, I can catch you with my own hands and offer you to the Ten Ghosts. If that happens, I can easily get Seondan [spiritual pills] or auxiliary Yeongyak [spiritual elixirs] that can easily ascend to Yeonggeop, as well as Beolmo Sesoo with Baekgwi Yageop [rare and powerful treasures] to withstand Cheonsinoegeop [trials or tribulations]! Do you still trust me, Geummyeongjiryung?

At those words, Sangun silently raised the corners of his mouth. Geummyeongjiryung’s eyes narrowed.

-I don’t particularly trust Yuksa [a term for humans, often used derisively by spiritual beings].

-Then?

-I trust Yuksa’s bloodline.

-….

Then Geummyeongjiryung’s momentum became sharp. The Biseon next to him was surprised and shouted something. But Geummyeongjiryung was only staring at Sangun.

-How did you know? Did you know from the beginning?

-Surely not. When I told my friend Jeokroe Jurang your appearance and name, he told me.

The decisive reason why Sangun came here was that.

Sanhaebalsango [a world or realm filled with treacherous individuals] is full of black-hearted bastards, so Sangun doesn’t trust others easily. He only trusts the settings in the novel.

‘I didn’t even know that Geummyeongjiryung was from the Sawolrang clan of the South.’

Sawolrang, one of the four major clans of the South.

Even among wolf Yeongsu, they are a fairly noble bloodline, a rare clan whose lineage has been maintained since the Manbo era [an ancient era].

They do not serve a master like Jeokroe Jurang, but they are the only Yeongsu clan in this world that the entire clan is willing to help with favors and grudges.

It was a mysterious clan that made one wonder why it hadn’t been wiped out long ago.

‘Yoo Jung was quite hurt by Sawolrang later.’

Yoo Jung, who was preparing to become a Daeseonsa and move on to the Seon world [a higher spiritual realm], accidentally killed some Sawolrang, and after that, Yoo Jung fought with Sawolrang for hundreds of years and went through hardships.

It was a clan that should never be antagonized.

-Now, tell me. According to your arrangement, I have mastered Biwundungap [a technique or skill] and achieved Yeonggyeol [a state of spiritual connection or attainment].

-…Okay, good. Whatever your scheme is, you’re the only one I can ask for help, so I have no choice but to trust you!

Geummyeongjiryung carefully told him the plan one by one, and Sangun nodded slightly and put it in his head.

* * *

“So, what do you think?”

Elder’s office.

Enforcement Elder Mae Woong asked Yang Pae-woong.

Yang Pae-woong knelt on one knee and confessed what he had felt.

“I didn’t see anything particularly suspicious. But is it really certain that he killed the Biseon of the Guigang Sect?”

“Your Sajae [junior disciple] said so. He subdued them in an instant, and the disciples thought he was a Hwanseon, so what more is there to say?”

“Then that’s really amazing! Several Biseons were defeated by that guy, but he subdued them in an instant.”

“Yes. That’s why I’m worried. I was already worried because the movements of the Demonic Path guys have been unusual these days. If we can coax the Great Tiger Taoist well, we can blow our nose without having to use our hands [meaning to achieve something easily].”

“Ah, do you mean to include him in this joint operation?”

“Yes. I didn’t like it very much anyway, but it worked out well. It would be great if the Great Tiger Taoist joined our sect, and even if he doesn’t, if we coax him well, it’s like blowing our nose without using our hands.”

“Is that possible? He seems to be quite cautious…”

“He’s just a Biseon. If things go wrong, we can just poison him with Jawoondok [a deadly poison] and put a Geumje [a spiritual restriction or seal] on him.”

It was one of the top 10 deadly poisons that turned the whole body, including the hair color, purple and killed.

Yang Pae-woong inwardly stuck out his tongue at his Sabe’s [master or teacher] cruelty and bowed his head.

“We’ll have to do that in the worst case. You don’t want to drop your other Sajae into hell, do you? The Seondo world [the world of Taoist cultivation] of Banggok has become strange. I don’t know why they send their disciples to their deaths like that.”

Mae Woong shook his head and issued an order to leave. Yang Pae-yoon left the main hall. His mouth was bitter, but what could he do? He had no choice but to follow what his Sabe said.

‘Are these really the ones who cultivate the Tao…’

He sighed, thinking of the man who was driven to his death one way or another.

* * *

The next day.

Sangun, who was staying at Horong Peak, was sitting in his bedroom, tossing and turning all night, worrying.

-But Sangun. Why is the Sun and Moon Sect only keeping Geummyeongjiryung to guard Yeongnae Mountain?

-As you know, it’s probably because of Geummyeongjiryung’s bloodline. They somehow managed to capture him, but if that fact becomes known, the Sun and Moon Sect will have to deal with the entire Sawolrang, so that would be a burden.

-I see. But what are you so worried about, Sangun? According to Geummyeongjiryung, you can easily take out the Bokjwa-pae.

-Even so, it’s not easy. Besides that, I have to undo the unique Geumje that is on Geummyeongjiryung’s body, and to undo that, I need something called Haebongseok [a stone or artifact capable of removing spiritual restrictions].”

The Haebongseok itself, which could undo the Geumje, was not an easy thing to obtain. Moreover, although it was easy to explain the Bokjwa-pae, there were one or two things that had to be done in advance, so it was natural to worry.

-They’re praising me as a benefactor, but the longer I stay, the worse it is for me.

Because I don’t know when something will happen and my identity will be revealed.

He looked down at the medicine bottle in his hand and sighed.

‘I never thought I would receive the top 10 deadly poisons from Geummyeongjiryung.’

Sangun, who had been staring at the medicine bottle blankly, called the servant.