Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 6

Nangseon’s Strange Tales – Episode 5

The Great Tiger Lord (天虎君) resided in a massive cave atop Mount Baek, a place brimming with mystical energy.

Lying in his sanctuary, the Mountain Lord reflected on his complacency.

‘Even if I had abandoned her in Eongol Village, Choa would have returned soon enough.’

Considering it wasn’t that far, there was no reason for that leech-like child not to come back. He had underestimated her, thinking of her as just a child.

Choa was not as simple as the Mountain Lord thought.

You could tell just by how diligently she called him ‘Husband.’ Even though this era dreamed of devoted wives and wise mothers, Choa took it to an extreme.

“Husband, these are wild strawberries Choa picked! Try them! Here, ah~”

Moreover, Choa was only seven years old.

At her age, she should have been trying to figure things out, but Choa seemed to have a strange obsession that went beyond that.

[Take it away. I don’t want it.]

Anyway.

Even if he hadn’t intervened, she would have come back in a few days and bothered him as she was now.

“They’re sweet and sour! Here, ah~”

Just like now.

[Ah, I said I don’t want it! Why would a tiger eat wild strawberries!]

Annoyed, he shouted, and Choa threw a wild strawberry into the Mountain Lord’s open mouth.

Gulp.

“Delicious, right?”

[…….]

Of course, wild strawberries were delicious.

He had transformed into a tiger and experienced changes in his diet, but wild strawberries were still tasty.

The Mountain Lord didn’t say anything, wearing a sulky expression, but Choa seemed to understand and smiled brightly, bringing another wild strawberry close to his mouth.

She seemed pleased that he was letting her feed him, focusing solely on feeding him without eating any herself.

‘If she picked them, she should eat them herself.’

Choa’s tiny hands, stained red from picking wild strawberries, looked like delicate ferns. Seeing those hands softened his heart, and he reluctantly opened his mouth.

Chew, chew.

They were freshly picked, so they were sweet and sour, and delicious.

‘Well, they’re not bad.’

“Hehe.”

Choa stroked the Mountain Lord’s head as if she found it cute that he was readily eating them.

[Stop it. Do you think I’m some neighborhood mutt?]

The Mountain Lord shook his head and stood up.

He glanced at the sacks of rice and silk fabrics stolen from the Kim family’s mansion, filling one side of the cave, and the various treasures, then trudged into the mountains.

The treasures were not particularly useful to the Mountain Lord.

Yet, he had taken them simply out of spite. The cave was large, so it didn’t matter if such treasures were there.

‘There will be a use for them someday.’

He was in the form of a tiger now, but as the Mountain Lord’s divine powers increased, he might one day be able to use transformation magic and turn into a human.

“Where are you going?”

[Going for a stroll.]

“I want to go too!”

Ignoring Choa, who was running up breathlessly, the Mountain Lord thought.

How could he get rid of this leech-like child?

If he kept her by his side, he would inevitably be caught up in all sorts of incidents and suffer hardships because of Choa.

For the Mountain Lord, who desired a peaceful life, that was something he had to avoid at all costs.

‘Then what should I do?’

After thinking for a moment, the Mountain Lord decided that he had no choice but to send her further away.

His vessel was too small to contain Choa, and his available force was insignificant.

He had neither the power to protect Choa nor the reason to do so.

So, he had no choice but to send her away.

From Eongol Village to the top of Mount Baek was half a day’s walk for a human.

It was a relatively short distance, so this time he would send her further away.

‘About 7 days away…….’

That wouldn’t be bad.

At that distance, it would take the little one more than fifteen days to walk, and she wouldn’t even think of coming back easily.

Besides, there was a suitable village about 7 days away.

‘Hwajang (花裝) Village [Flower Decoration Village].’

Unlike Eongol Village, it was quite a large village with a large population, so it wouldn’t be too bad to live there.

Like the village name, the whole town was surrounded by flowers, making it a very beautiful place.

Because of this, there were many scholars who enjoyed the arts, and the village itself had a generous heart, so it wouldn’t be bad to take Choa there. Choa would be able to forget the Mountain Lord and live her life according to her destiny.

Children learn quickly and forget quickly too.

“Ouch!”

Thud.

The Mountain Lord couldn’t hide his complicated feelings as he watched Choa fall.

He pitied the harsh fate of this powerless girl, but what could he do?

The Mountain Lord had formed many relationships while living in this world, and he had seen many of them disappear in vain.

Where there is meeting, there is also parting.

Besides, unlike him, who had become a spirit, Choa was human. From the beginning, their ways of life were different, and the lifespan they would live was also extremely different.

In this era, the lifespan of humans was at most 70 years, which was a time that would disappear in an instant compared to the Mountain Lord’s lifespan of over five hundred years.

And that was only when they lived long lives. In this era where medicine was not developed, many people died because they could not treat even a cold in time.

That was how easily and vainly humans died.

“Choa’s okay, no blood!”

Choa, who had jumped up, brushed off her skirt and smiled brightly.

How long would she be able to keep that bright smile? The Mountain Lord looked at the girl with lowered eyes and turned his head.

[Did anyone ask?]

“But where are you going?”

[……I have something to give you.]

“Give me?”

The Mountain Lord closed his mouth and walked silently.

Choa was very curious, but remembering the story that women who talk too much are not loved by their husbands, she covered her mouth with both hands and followed him.

There were many bushes, but the Mountain Lord was large, so he crushed the bushes as he walked, making it easy for Choa to walk.

Choa smiled, noticing her husband subtly caring for her.

How long had they walked like that?

A faint mist hung in the air, the scent of greenery deepened, and the refreshing air made her feel good.

[We’re here.]

The Mountain Lord stopped walking.

“Wow!”

The place they had arrived at was a place with a small lake.

The surroundings were covered in mist, and green fireflies flew around as if they were performing feats, making it a quaint place where immortals might reside.

Choa couldn’t close her mouth and looked around with sparkling eyes before running to the lake.

She scooped up water from the lake with her hands and took a sip.

“Ah! So refreshing!”

The water was clear and refreshing.

The water she drank passed through her throat and cooled her body, which had become hot from the mountain climbing.

Choa, who was happily gulping down the lake water, was startled by the huge shadow cast on the lake shore.

“Hick!!”

Choa quickly jumped into the Mountain Lord’s arms and trembled, calming her surprised heart after seeing her husband’s peaceful face. However, she couldn’t help but be surprised once again at the sight of the huge carp that had revealed its face in the lake.

“Hick! Wh, what’s that…?”

It was a mysterious carp with a body larger than most wolves, scales shining with golden light, and red moss growing on its back.

The red moss on its back emitted a faint red light as if it were burning, showing that it was no ordinary carp.

Was it the owner of the lake?

Choa felt scared, but she tugged at her husband’s fur out of curiosity.

[It’s a Solar Flare Carp (太陽火鯉).]

It is one of the spirits transformed from a carp, and it is a divine beast that possesses the energy of extreme yang [positive, active energy].

If an ordinary person consumes the Solar Flare Carp’s core, they can possess the energy of yang in their body and live longer, and if a Taoist consumes it, they can increase their cultivation. It is a famous spirit that is not easily seen.

The Mountain Lord, who knew the location of all kinds of elixirs, initially treated it as just an elixir and tried to take it, but the Mountain Lord, who pitied the spirit with spirituality being treated as a simple elixir, brought it here.

A spirit that speaks and thinks, like himself. The Mountain Lord was reluctant to kill the intelligent and kind carp spirit just for his own selfishness.

-It’s been a while, Lord of Mount Baek.

[Yes. Are you doing well?]

-Yes, thanks to the Mountain Lord’s arrangement. Thanks to that, I am living a comfortable life.

“Wow…… The carp is talking.”

Choa’s eyes sparkled as if she was amazed that the carp was talking.

[I speak too, but isn’t that amazing?]

“Huh? You’re my husband!”

What kind of logic was that? The Mountain Lord let out a hollow laugh and commanded, looking at the Solar Flare Carp, who was smiling contentedly.

[I need to find something you were entrusted with.]

-Yes, you must be trying to give it to that child……. No, the one who is called Sanbi.

[Don’t talk nonsense.]

After robbing the Kim family’s mansion, it seems that the rumors of the spirits who like to spread rumors have reached the Solar Flare Carp.

The Mountain Lord twitched his whiskers with a displeased face.

-Hehe, please wait a moment.

The Solar Flare Carp went into the lake.

“Sanbi?”

Choa covered her cheeks with both hands and shook her shoulders. He didn’t think she would understand, but she seemed to have understood.

“Hehe, Sanbi, Sanbi!”

Choa blushed and twisted her body as if she was shy.

[It’s noisy.]

The Mountain Lord frowned, looking at Choa as if she was disgusting.

“Why! I am Sanbi!”

This kid.

She’s getting more and more defiant. No matter what, she doesn’t back down when it comes to being his wife.

[You haven’t even dried behind the ears, how dare you talk back!]

“If the blood dries on my head, I’ll die!!”

Hehe.

-You are so affectionate.

The Mountain Lord threw dirt with his front paws at the Solar Flare Carp, who was laughing and teasing him, wondering when it had returned.

[Tsk, if you’re going to talk nonsense, just give me what you have to give me and go in.]

The Solar Flare Carp, who lightly avoided the clod of dirt, smiled faintly and spat out a small wooden box.

It was a luxurious wooden box wrapped in a yellow talisman [a paper inscribed with supernatural powers].

The Mountain Lord nodded slightly, and Choa immediately tore the talisman and opened the wooden box.

“Wow!”

When she opened the wooden box decorated with luxurious ornaments, a strong peach scent filled the space.

Choa, who was intoxicated by the fragrant peach scent, came to her senses and took out what was in the wooden box.

“A hairpin?”

[It’s called Domochae (桃慕齊) [Peach Yearning Together], made from a thousand-year-old peach tree.]

It is a hairpin with a deep story, made by a Taoist who longed for his lover from a peach tree.

Unlike what you would expect from something made of wood, the hairpin was white and smooth.

The pattern was also antique, so it was likely that a very precious woman had used it before.

When she smelled it, a deep peach scent wafted out, making her lips curl up.

-And peaches have the power to ward off evil spirits from ancient times.

That’s right.

Moreover, it is a treasure made from a thousand-year-old peach branch, so its power is doubled, so even the average goblin or the Changwi [a type of malevolent spirit] that appeared before will not be able to harm Choa.

There was no better gift for Choa, who attracted evil spirits with a few drops of blood.

The Mountain Lord didn’t need it, and he got it as a bonus when he brought other things, so he didn’t feel bad about giving it away.

“Husband…….”

Choa held the hairpin tightly in both hands and looked at the Mountain Lord with affectionate eyes.

She had thought that her husband was a blunt tiger who was not honest with his emotions, but that was not the case!

He was thinking of her and caring for her more than anyone else! Choa couldn’t control her pounding heart and her eyes welled up with tears.

She seemed to be very moved, and she got closer and closer to the Mountain Lord.

“I’ll cherish it!”

And at the moment she flew and tried to hug him tightly!

Thud!

“Ugh!”

She rolled on the floor.

The Mountain Lord had quickly turned his body to avoid Choa when she tried to hug him. Choa sent a resentful look to her husband who had avoided her.

“Hmph! Mean!”

[Hmph! Let’s go.]

-Oh, and Mountain Lord.

[What.]

-It’s not much, but please take it.

There were five golden, fingernail-sized beads.

[Huh? Aren’t these your wife’s eggs??]

-That’s right. Unfortunately, they are children who were not born.

[But why are you giving these to me.]

-If the Mountain Lord takes them, they will surely be helpful. Even if you don’t take them, they will eventually return to the soil. Please accept them.

Due to the nature of fish that externally fertilize, there are bound to be unfertilized eggs.

Moreover, since they are the Solar Flare Carp’s eggs, they can be used as medicine or tonic just by eating them.

The effect may be less than that of the Solar Flare Carp’s core, but it is still precious enough.

The Mountain Lord looked down at him for a moment and opened his mouth.

[……I’ll take it since you’re giving it to me.]

-My wife will be happy too.

[Okay, give her my regards.]

-Next time you come, you will be able to see my children too. Will you name them then?

[Well……, okay. We’ll see.]

The Mountain Lord made Choa carry the Solar Flare Carp’s eggs and immediately turned his body.

“Ah! Le, let’s go together!”

Choa, who was hurrying after the Mountain Lord, smiled brightly and held the hairpin he had given her tightly.

* * *

And the next day.

The Mountain Lord, who was looking at Choa, who was drooling and sleeping in his arms as usual, got up.

“Hic!”

Choa, who was startled, fumbled around with eyes that wouldn’t open, and only after confirming that the Mountain Lord was there did she wipe the drool from her mouth with relief.

“Slurp, a, are you awake?”

[We have a long way to go. Prepare yourself simply and follow me.]

“A, are we leaving? Where to?”

[We are going to Hwajang (花裝) Village [Flower Decoration Village]. We have to walk for a week, so keep that in mind and follow me.]

“Yes!”

As soon as the Mountain Lord finished speaking, Choa began to pack food and clothes in a bundle.

He silently watched Choa, who was humming and packing her things.

-Do you really have to do this.

At that moment, a beautiful voice was heard in his ear.

The Mountain Lord silently nodded in response.

[I don’t want to get caught up in that child’s fate.]

-Don’t you think that becoming Sanbi is also that child’s fate?

He couldn’t find a suitable answer to the question of whether becoming the Mountain Lord’s rain was also the child’s fate.

It was absurd to say that the fate of a person had changed due to his intervention, but it was true that Choa and he had formed a relationship because of it.

-Are you still afraid of forming relationships?

[Shut up. It’s not like that.]

-Then why are you pushing her away? Aren’t you the one who hates fate so much that you shudder at it?

[……Even if I think about it rationally, it is right for humans to be in the human sphere. And I……. You’re enough to be a nuisance.]

-But…….

[It’s noisy. You don’t change even when you get older, chattering like a sparrow.]

-Hmph! The Mountain Lord is getting old too. They say that tigers become smarter and more intelligent as they get older, but that must be all nonsense! How did you turn into such a stubborn old man……, did you eat your age with your butt!

[What!? This is really……!]

“I’m done!!”

Thanks to Choa, who came running at the right time, the Mountain Lord had to swallow his anger without saying a word.

The Mountain Lord, who had been opening and closing his mouth for a while, barely swallowed his anger and said in a slightly weakened voice.

[……Let’s go.]

“Yes!”