Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 62

Nangseon’s Romantic Tale – Episode 61

The Thousand Longevity Changes.

It was a unique formation technique possessed only by the Sawol Clan among the four great clans.

The reason San-gun risked his life to obtain the Geummyeong Command was partly due to the Thousand Longevity Changes.

Ok-seo couldn’t hide his surprise, failing to maintain his composure.

“…I don’t know where you heard about it, but entering the realm of divine enlightenment is like creating another life. Of course, the process of achieving it is on a different level from undergoing ordinary True Fate Transformation. I can help you, but… if the Hermit’s enlightenment is not adequate, you will immediately fall into demonic influence and die.”

Ok-seo sincerely tried to dissuade him, seemingly worried.

“You said the Hermit has only lived for a little over 100 years. In the realm of Eternal Knot, 100 years is an exceptionally young age! So, is there any need to rush?”

As he said, San-gun’s age was just over 100 years.

Since Eternal Knot beings have a lifespan of 1500 years, there was no need to be hasty.

Even if the Thousand Longevity Changes increased the possibility of True Fate Transformation, there were still limits.

The rest depended on the enlightenment of the one performing it, so it was understandable to be worried.

“I appreciate the Clan Leader’s concern, but I must do it even if it means taking risks. As you know, the chaos in the north is spreading to the south. It will spread like an epidemic, staining the world with chaos, so one must take care of their own safety. Therefore, please perform the Thousand Longevity Changes (天壽佾起怯) [a Sawol Clan’s unique formation technique] that the Sawol Clan boasts of for me.”

Upon hearing his words, Ok-seo slowly put down his wine cup.

It was not fitting for a young boy to have a furrowed brow, but this was just an appearance; inside, he was a wolf who had lived for over 2,000 years.

One could only wait, not knowing what kind of anguish was contained within that contemplation.

Ok-seo’s eyes turned to the wine cup.

Only the quiet sound of the wind stirred around them.

Perhaps an hour passed.

Clink.

Ok-seo picked up the wine cup.

He drank it all at once and then put the cup down again. His expression was serious, as if he had made a decision.

“There’s no need to hide it. The Hermit saved my son’s life, so what does it matter if it’s a clan secret!”

San-gun’s eyebrows twitched at the word “secret.”

Several hours later.

San-gun emerged from the main hall alone.

He seemed deeply disappointed, and it was understandable.

He had sought the Geummyeong Command to benefit from the Sawol Clan. He wanted to be protected by them and undergo the Thousand Longevity Changes easily to achieve True Fate Transformation.

However, due to Ok-seo’s answer just now, that plan was completely ruined.

“To think they were stolen.”

There were divine artifacts needed to perform the Thousand Longevity Changes. Among them, the Giryung Brush and Blood Collapse Water were essential tools, but they had been stolen hundreds of years ago.

That was the gloomy reason why they couldn’t perform the Thousand Longevity Changes.

The Blood Collapse Water had a tracking spell attached to it, so they could roughly estimate its location.

However, the whereabouts of the Giryung Brush were unknown.

How could they find the Giryung Brush in this vast land?

Anyone else would have given up.

Life is full of twists and turns, they say.

Such a coincidence could not exist again.

[I never imagined that the brush I obtained back then would be the Giryung Brush.]

Was it true that there were no coincidences in life, only inevitabilities?

Ironically, the Giryung Brush, whose whereabouts were unknown, was the nameless brush that San-gun had obtained in Cheonyo Cave.

Ok-seo was overjoyed and said that if they could find the Blood Collapse Water, he would immediately allow him to undergo the Thousand Longevity Changes, and San-gun readily agreed, having no intention of refusing.

[Are you just going to hand over the Giryung Brush?]

“No matter where the Giryung Brush came from, it’s already in my hands, so there’s no reason to give it away for free. The Sawol Clan has a deep history, so it would be good to exchange it for a treasure worthy of the Giryung Brush.”

Since it was a useless object to him anyway, it wouldn’t be bad to exchange it for a useful treasure this time.

In the first place, it would be good to build a good friendship with the Sawol Clan.

“I need to prepare to leave.”

Snowflakes that seemed cozy were falling in the darkening night sky.

Three days later.

Having finished his preparations, he left the training room.

He decided to leave Taeyang Hwari and Mansam behind, thinking he could return soon this time.

The Taeyang Hwari were parents with children, and Mansam had to take care of the Hangbosim tree and various herbs.

Since he would return as soon as he found the Blood Collapse Water, there was no reason to take them with him.

A little later.

He set out on his journey, escorted by the Sawol Clan. It seemed the rumor that he had one of the clan’s treasures and was going to find the other had already spread.

As expected of the Sawol Clan, who were sensitive to favors and grudges, everyone was making a fuss.

On the surface, they seemed to have kind hearts, but this was because San-gun was the Hermit of the Sawol Clan.

If he were someone other than the Hermit, they would not have reacted this way.

It was a simple yet terrifying clan.

“By the way, why are you following me?”

San-gun turned around and asked the unfamiliar woman. She was a beauty with a sharp impression, and Ok-seo had assigned her to him.

The woman’s name was Geummyeong Jisu.

She was Ok-seo’s third daughter.

“I am also accompanying you by the Clan Leader’s order. It’s not that I’m particularly fond of being with the Hermit either, so keep your complaints to yourself.”

San-gun scratched his nose, feeling embarrassed by her sharp tone.

Everyone in the Sawol Clan held goodwill towards San-gun, but she seemed to be the exception.

[That’s understandable. You rejected the marriage proposal, so she has no choice but to be cold.]

That’s right.

She was the woman to whom Ok-seo had proposed marriage to San-gun.

The sly old man seemed to want to bring San-gun into the family as a son-in-law by sending her along on the journey, no matter what.

San-gun swallowed his breath as if he had committed a crime and looked at the distant mountains.

“What are you doing? We have a long way to go, so let’s move quickly. It seems like you want to get away from me as soon as possible.”

Geummyeong Jisu passed by San-gun with a sulky look and glared at him. San-gun followed her with an awkward expression, cursing her father in his heart.

* * *

In Goseon, there are four great spirit clans.

They are scattered in the east, west, south, and north directions, and the Sawol Clan was located in the south among them.

“So, you’re saying that even the Immortal doesn’t know the exact location.”

“That’s right. I don’t know. If we knew, our clan would have already taken action. Would we be just pacing around like this?”

The Blood Collapse Water could estimate the approximate location, but it couldn’t pinpoint the exact location.

Therefore, San-gun felt like he was pulling a rickety cart from the start.

“Even so, the answer that it’s somewhere in Goseon is too…”

“Irresponsible? I’m sorry. I was so irresponsible that I casually proposed marriage, and you rejected it.”

‘Ugh.’

On top of that, San-gun was on pins and needles. No matter what he said, the story went off on a tangent. No matter what the beginning was, it always concluded with marriage.

“I didn’t expect you to reject me with just the cultivation of Eternal Knot, even though you’re an Immortal. Or, did you know your place? Well, it wouldn’t have been easy to accept a woman of higher cultivation than yourself. Besides, I’m even beautiful, so it must have been burdensome. Yes, I understand. I guess this is when you say it can’t be helped.”

San-gun left Geummyeong Jisu, who was chattering to herself, alone and pondered about the upcoming schedule.

“But what makes me angry is that my opinion was not included in that marriage proposal! And that I was rejected before I even knew about it!”

Although the location could not be pinpointed, fortunately, the Blood Collapse Water was in Goseon.

Goseon did not have as large a land as Banggok, so if he was determined to find it, it would not take more than a year.

Moreover, the Blood Collapse Water itself was a very special treasure, so if he gathered clues and searched for it, he might be able to find it in the near future.

The Sawol Clan had also been steadily searching for clues, so it wouldn’t be bad to slowly tour Goseon.

“You rejected the marriage proposal with me as if you had something special, but I’m glad it’s not. You just realized that I’m like a flower on a cliff that you can’t climb.”

There were also several treasures in Goseon that he remembered. If he was lucky, he might be able to find an elixir that was good for reaching the late stage of Eternal Knot.

“Hey, are you listening to me?”

“Yes, I’m listening. Everything the Immortal says is right.”

San-gun answered vaguely.

[You’ll be punished if you answer so vaguely.]

Hwaran also said something, but San-gun didn’t listen. What was important to him was the Thousand Longevity Changes, not a woman.

“I’m glad you understand. Of course, I’m grateful that you saved my brother’s life. But that’s that, and this is this.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, by any chance, are you into men?”

“No.”

First of all, this place was the southern end, so he would have to go north to find it.

It was said that there were Yuksas [Sawol Clan’s scouts] dispatched from the Sawol Clan at each major point, so it was best to prioritize joining them.

“Now, let’s go. If we go up a little further from here, there will be a village. It’s a village of humans, but men and women are different, so we can’t camp out, can we?”

San-gun nodded.

He was already wondering how to shut Geummyeong Jisu’s mouth.

He wanted to summon Tamhwaogong and wrap her mouth tightly with golden paper, but her cultivation was Divine Illumination, and she was Ok-seo’s precious daughter, so he couldn’t do that.

If he could get a room in the village, he wouldn’t have to listen to Jisu’s chatter. Moreover, he might be able to find clues about the Blood Collapse Water in the village, so he should definitely go.

“I’m not usually a talkative woman, so don’t misunderstand.”

“I won’t.”

He answered emotionlessly to Geummyeong Jisu’s non-stop chatter and moved forward.

* * *

On the pure white mountain, two women shared tea intimately. The two chatted for a long time and then got up from their seats.

“Are you leaving?”

A woman leaning a worn sword on her shoulder asked.

“I have to go. I don’t know what you’re doing, but I’m not a woman who just waits for her husband.”

A woman wearing a pure white robe put on a bamboo hat. The two were Yeona, who guarded Mount Baek, and Baekryeon of Banggung.

Baekryeon had followed San-gun to Banggok and then traveled south again to visit Mount Baek.

Since they were the only ones who could talk to each other about San-gun, the two had become close friends.

Baekryeon, who had finished preparing, looked at Yeona and asked.

“You’re not coming along, are you?”

Yeona replied with a faint smile.

Baekryeon had asked out of regret.

She had to protect Mount Baek by his order, so it was natural.

Baekryeon smacked her lips in regret and took out a medicine bottle from her bosom and threw it.

Clink.

Yeona, who caught it, tilted her head.

“Two Dobeonghwan pills [rare and potent elixirs]. They’re useless to me anyway, and how can I pretend not to know when you’re working hard on behalf of my husband.”

Baekryeon said that and turned her back.

“Don’t die.”

With that, Baekryeon turned into a white bird and soared through the sky. Yeona held the medicine bottle and bowed her head for a long time in the direction she had flown, but when she raised her head again, she was already gone.