Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 567

Trickle, trickle.

A subtle fragrance tickles the nose.

Hwamae Peak, renowned as the highest sacred mountain even within the Upper Realm.

The sight of two women sitting and drinking tea on its slopes was beautiful in itself, but the setting sun amplified its splendor.

“What brings Lady Cheon all the way here?”

One of the women, savoring her tea, spoke first.

Saha, wearing a palace dress embroidered with a Hwagirin [mythical Kirin-like creature with fire attributes] pattern, initiated the conversation.

“I came to the Upper Realm on business and thought I’d share a cup of tea with Lady Sa. There’s no other reason. As you know, he probably wants to spend time with his miraculously reunited wife… so I discreetly slipped away to get some fresh air.”

At Choa’s reply, Saha offered a wry smile.

“That being said, the Upper Realm is growing more and more. It’s larger than when I last saw it, and the population density is also increasing, with a lot of development.”

“The Water Palace is also providing a lot of help. They can’t just abandon the Cheon and Sa clans. They’re providing various conveniences, so it’s a natural progression. Besides, he often shows his face here.”

Choa, having placed her teacup down, subtly rose from her seat and scanned the scenery below the cliff.

Her blue eyes flowed like waves before settling on a specific location.

It was Cheonseonsan [Thousand Celestial Mountain].

Cheonseonsan, situated in the heart of Cheonjeong [Cheon Clan Territory], where the Cheon clan resides, and Sangseo [Sa Clan Territory], where the Sa clan is located.

After gazing at it for a moment, Choa turned back to Saha.

“Yes, because of that, those guys are being more generous to us than necessary, and they’re subtly hoping for a lot in return.”

Saha’s eyes narrowed.

As the current head of the Sa clan, she was undoubtedly aware of what Choa was alluding to.

“You didn’t just come to get some fresh air.”

“It’s a bit of both.”

“I think I know what you’re worried about.”

The Cheonseonsan she had been observing.

What could be the cause of her concern?

“You must be worried about Seon [Sacheon’s given name].”

“Cheon is also one of the children I care about.”

One of the children.

Saha deeply bowed her head.

“Thank you for your words.”

“Don’t bow your head, Lady Sa. We are all just women with the same husband.”

“I’m merely fulfilling the etiquette that I should naturally observe as a mother.”

Choa’s lips curved into a slight smile.

But soon, a bitter feeling washed over her.

“…I heard that Cheon failed his ascension this time.”

“Yes, unfortunately, that’s what happened.”

He’s still remarkably young. It was premature to attempt ascension when he hadn’t even lived for a century.

“Because of my ambition, that child is carrying too much of a burden. It’s my fault.”

“How could that be Lady Sa’s fault? Every parent wants their child to thrive.”

Crunch, crunch.

Choa’s figure, walking for a moment while stepping on the snow piled up at dawn, was truly elegant.

Her snow-white hair and beautiful blue eyes, mirroring the snowfield, compelled one to stare in awe.

“His talent was also acknowledged by my husband. He praised that although his blood is somewhat diluted for the sake of the Sa clan’s bloodline, he is still outstanding.”

It was Cheonbeom’s consideration for Saha, who had to bear the responsibility for the Sa clan alone.

It was also a decision made in honor of the late Cheonwoeyanggun [a deceased general].

The Hwagirin family.

To ensure the continuation of the Sa clan’s lineage.

He intentionally conceived a child with a strong Hwagirin bloodline.

That’s how Sacheon was born.

“You flatter me.”

“You don’t need to worry too much just because he stumbled a little this time.”

Choa seemed to hesitate, opening and closing her mouth as if contemplating whether to speak.

“Rather, what I’m worried about is not that….”

“It’s the temptation that will befall that child, right?”

“Yes. Did you foresee it?”

Saha nodded.

“There are bound to be those eager to get involved somehow… I thought it was about time for them to start reaching out with whatever means they could. Lady Cheon, do you perhaps know something?”

Now, even in the Water Realm, so much time has passed that no one would dare to treat the Sa and Cheon clans carelessly.

The same holds true for cultivators from other realms, so there’s no need to emphasize their renowned status.

“My husband gave me a hint. After reaching the sky, he often gazes into the heavens and utters cryptic words as if foreseeing the future.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

If it’s his hint, there’s no room for doubt. Something must be on the horizon.

Saha pricked up her ears.

The child who will be responsible for the Sa clan in the future is Sacheon, born from the union of herself and Beom.

She couldn’t dismiss the words of the owner of the Upper Realm regarding Sacheon’s future.

“He told me to be careful of Gu.”

“Gu? You mean Gu [Nine in Korean]?”

“Yes. He told me to be careful of Gu, which signifies nine.”

“Gu… What is Gu…?”

“Well, there are surprisingly many who symbolize nine.”

Those who embody the number itself.

Nine brothers.

There are also those whose infamy is widespread, such as nine sisters.

Even if not, there are quite a few who possess nine eyes or nine heads.

“Ah, perhaps….”

“Speak.”

“Are you perhaps talking about Hori?”

Silence descended abruptly.

As if neither of them had entertained that possibility.

“That person-”

“…It’s not that I haven’t considered it, but if that were the case, wouldn’t he have simply stated it directly?”

If the Gu he was referring to truly meant Hori, would he have bothered to phrase it that way?

He would have simply said Hori.

“Of course, there is some validity to what Lady Sa is saying.”

Wasn’t she a woman who caused a great deal of trouble? So it was natural to think that way.

“But even so, that person has also reached the realm of Wonseon [a high level of immortal]. She wouldn’t do anything to endanger the children.”

It was then.

Peeeee.

Two black birds emitting sharp cries flew towards them. The birds, fluttering and transforming into black smoke, morphed into letters and floated in the air.

Choa, snatching them up at once and scanning the contents, displayed a vein throbbing on her forehead. Saha also couldn’t conceal her displeasure.

“It seems to be the same content.”

“Yes….”

Crackle.

Choa, crumpling the letter, spoke with cold eyes.

“It seems that the Gu my husband was referring to was indeed Hori. To think that the place she’s taking the children is Yumu-gan [a chaotic and dangerous space between realms]….”

“What are you going to do?”

What is there to do?

They are children who haven’t even lived for a century.

Taking such infants to Yumu-gan, is that even a reasonable thing to do?

“Lady Sa, you should stay here. I’ll go.”

The letter stated that it was to broaden the children’s horizons, but Choa had known her for a long time.

She wouldn’t attempt to enter Yumu-gan for such a trivial reason.

“She must be up to something unnecessary.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing. The letter says that they’re heading to the Celestial Realm first. I need to leave right away to catch up.”

Celestial Realm….

“If it’s the Celestial Realm, perhaps she’s going to meet his disciple and the Cheonnyeo [Celestial Maiden] of the Celestial Palace.”

“That must be it. Yumu-gan is an extremely dangerous space, so to find a safer passage, she must go to the Celestial Palace in the Celestial Realm.”

“Ah, now that I think about it, isn’t that person also in the Celestial Palace…?”

Choa, about to ask who she was referring to, soon exclaimed.

“Now that I think about it….”

* * *

“Cheongmyeong?”

The group, streaking across the sky while scattering black light, wove tales, leaving behind the rapidly receding scenery.

“Yumu-gan is literally the chaos located in the distortion between spaces.”

Originally, it is an uncharted space that cannot be entered through conventional means.

“Do you know a guy named Cheongmyeong who became sworn brothers with your father?”

“I’ve heard the story.”

Cheonseon, as if familiar with the name, stammered and shared what she knew about Cheongmyeong.

“He had a relationship with Father from the Lower Realm, and because of that, they were connected in the Upper Realm and became sworn brothers. He always spoke highly of him, and he told me that he was like an uncle to me.”

At Cheonseon’s words, Sacheon frowned and averted her gaze.

“Anyway, we’re going to meet that guy. To enter Yumu-gan with you guys, it’s best to go through at least a safe passage, and the guy who is well-versed in such things is your uncle.”

After Sangcheon was enveloped in golden light.

Cheongmyeong succeeded in ascending to Wonseon thanks to his arrangement.

After that, he settled in the Celestial Realm and has been delving into the laws of space.

“Now, what is it, they call him Grand Master Cheongjeon [Grand Master of Azure Lightning]?”

Grand Master Cheongjeon (靑電大師).

“Little Mother, you don’t seem to like Uncle very much?”

Seeing her referring to him as ‘that guy’ every time, she naturally came to that conclusion.

“Hmph, if that guy hadn’t kept coming to see your father so slickly, I would have had three more children!”

She felt like she wouldn’t get a pleasant response if she inquired further.

“Little Mother. How much further do we have to go to arrive? As far as I know, the distance from the Water Realm to the Celestial Realm is over a thousand years.”

Then Hori chuckled and crossed her arms.

“Don’t underestimate your Little Mother too much. Even so, I am a Wonseon Taesa [Great Immortal Teacher]. A month is enough to get to the Celestial Realm!”

“A month? That’s too long….”

“If it were Father, he would have crossed space and arrived in an instant.”

“…Three days! Three days is enough!!”

Three days later.

Thud.

“Ugh.”

Leaving Hori, who had collapsed as if exhausted, Sacheon and Cheonseon looked around.

Even if she was a Wonseon Taesa, the distance between the Celestial Realm and the Water Realm is over a thousand years.

She had completed it in three days, so it was natural that Hori’s condition was not good.

From the beginning, it was doubtful how she had really arrived in just three days.

“Little Mother was indeed a Wonseon Taesa. I had occasionally doubted if it was a lie.”

“I agree with that too.”

Sacheon and Cheonseon observed the numerous officials and palace soldiers who had come to greet them. The palace soldiers exuded an extraordinary aura even in stillness, and greed was evident in the eyes and mouths of the officials.

But the underlying sentiment was awe for the existence behind Cheonseon and Sacheon.

Sacheon frowned.

She didn’t even want to exchange words with those guys.

It was then.

[Come in.]

With a solemn voice, the scenery surrounding Sacheon and Cheonseon shifted.

What they saw was a giant tree.

And a gazebo prepared on one side.

The colossal tree, resembling a pillar of the sky, was densely covered with arrows like the quills of a hedgehog.

And soon, they noticed a handsome young man and a boy beside him.

The boy immediately aimed his bow at Cheonseon and Sacheon.

“Father. Can I shoot?”

“If it is clear whether you are shooting, or the bow is shooting.”

At the ambiguous response, the boy lowered his bowstring.

“Look. Your pathetic arrows are not a threat.”

Sacheon’s lips twisted into a sneer.

As she swung the Twin Annihilation Swords she carried on her shoulder, flames erupted instantly.

The boy’s eyes narrowed at her belligerent attitude.

“…My name is Cheongyeon. I am the son of the great Grand Master Cheongjeon of the Celestial Palace, and the man who will be responsible for the Celestial Realm in the future.”

And.

“The man who will shoot arrows at you.”

Taat.

The bowstring was released in an instant.

Soon, arrows in the form of blue lightning struck the girls from all directions.