Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 65

Nangseon’s Adventures – Chapter 64

*Whack.*

The woman turned her head, tilting it as if something were amiss.

Her white hair fluttered in the wind.

The moonlight, now free from the clouds, shone softly as if only for her, and her blue eyes sparkled as if to see through everything.

“Who are you?”

Her clear and pure voice was like that of a nightingale.

Then, a woman with dark red hair emerged from the bushes, giggling.

“There’s no need to be so wary. I was just passing by.”

She was a woman draped in animal furs.

Brushing snow from her eyes, she strode forward without hesitation.

But for some reason, she was a woman to be avoided.

The woman in the bamboo hat gripped her sword hilt and warned,

“Just pass by. There’s no need for conversation.”

But even with such a warning, the woman did not lose her smile.

“Haha, isn’t it fate that we met like this? Why don’t we become friends and travel together? It seems we’re heading the same way anyway.”

“Why should I do that?”

“Are all Goseon’s Taoists like this? So heartless, it almost brings tears to my eyes.”

“I am not a Taoist of Goseon.”

“Hmm? Ah, that’s right. My mistake.”

The woman, still smiling, spread her hands. It was a gesture to show she had no intention of threatening.

“Why is a Taoist heading to Goseon?”

“I don’t think I have an obligation to tell you.”

“How prickly. I’m going to see my partner.”

She started telling her story without even being asked. She was a truly peculiar woman.

“Well, I’m also going to see my subordinates here. My partner took something I cherish. A very troublesome person.”

In the past, she would have ignored her.

But perhaps it was because they had the commonality of going to meet their partners.

The woman in the bamboo hat opened her mouth.

“You must miss your partner very much.”

To be making her way through this snowy field. Even in the middle of the night.

“Haha, that’s right. Our separation was unintentional… Yes. Yes, I want to see them soon.”

Their separation was unintentional.

She didn’t particularly like the woman, but they unexpectedly had a lot in common.

“Why are you heading to Goseon, Taoist? You’re walking without delay, so you must have urgent business?”

“…I am also going to see my husband.”

“Ah! It seems fate has brought the Taoist and me together.”

The woman with dark red hair gave a captivating smile. But the end of that emotion seemed to be affection.

“Words are amazing. Doesn’t expressing them like this make the longing even stronger?”

“…Yes. I think so.”

Hearing her words, she naturally thought of him.

Perhaps that’s why she kept answering.

“Please tell me more. This is the first time I’ve had such feelings, so I don’t want to miss this opportunity.”

“That…”

“What does it matter? We’re both women, and the road ahead is long.”

Was this what it felt like to be possessed by something? She began to tell this strange woman all sorts of stories.

Just as she said, the road ahead was far, and her longing for her husband was deep.

“Oh my. How amazing! A connection [缘 – yuan, fate or destiny] that has continued since childhood!”

“Not really…”

“No. Such a sublime story… I’m truly impressed! I never knew the affection between a man and a woman could be so deep and broad.”

She seemed truly moved, her face flushed with excitement.

Thanks to that, the embarrassment was the woman’s burden.

As she pressed her bamboo hat down deeply, the fur-clad woman’s eyes curved like crescent moons.

Although she omitted the fact that she was not human, the other party seemed very satisfied.

“Ah, it’s already dawn. I should go this way.”

“Yes.”

“If fate allows, we’ll meet again. It was nice meeting you.”

“Me too… it wasn’t bad.”

Giggling, she revealed her figure with the rising dawn.

“Come to think of it, we didn’t even exchange names. I’m Yehu. What about you, Taoist?”

“Baek… No, I’m Choa.”

They shook hands and smiled at each other.

“Then, see you next time.”

“Yes.”

It wasn’t a bad encounter.

The two parted ways and walked along their respective paths.

“Interesting.”

The woman who identified herself as Yehu clenched and unclenched her fist, muttering to herself.

“Will you be taking it?”

Several Taoists clad in black appeared beside her, as if they had always been there.

“No, it’s okay. It was quite enjoyable.”

She was the kind of woman who felt like thorns would grow if she didn’t get her hands bloody for even a day.

But these days, she hadn’t seen blood, so her subordinates found it difficult to predict whether this was a good or bad omen.

“I have a feeling I’ll meet that woman again. When the time comes, she’ll be something.”

The black-clad men simply bowed their heads.

* * *

As dawn broke, the Mountain Lord, who had come down from the mountain, woke up the man who was still out of his mind.

Originally, he was going to investigate with Geummyeongjisu, but the situation had changed.

He didn’t want to exchange words with such a woman, and since discord had arisen, it was only natural.

*Slap! Slap! Slap!*

The sound of the slaps was so loud that it echoed throughout the village.

Startled by the noise, the rooster in the yard crowed at the top of its lungs.

“Wh-what, cough!!”

The Mountain Lord, grabbing the neck of the man who had regained consciousness, said with a chilling gaze,

“If you answer only what I ask, I’ll kill you nicely.”

There was no option to let him live from the start.

The man, trembling at the Mountain Lord’s murderous intent, could only nod.

“Okay, then die.”

*Crack!*

The man, his neck snapped in an instant, died without even uttering a single word.

[Unnecessary venting is not good.]

Hwaran said, unable to watch any longer.

The Mountain Lord pretended not to hear and chanted a spell.

In the first place, there was no need for interrogation.

He had already placed a curse on him, and he could see his memories with it.

The Mountain Lord, who was chanting the spell, brought his hands together and spread them out. Tiny, millet-like characters made of spirit energy hovered in his hands.

He stretched it straight to the man’s head. The magic symbols that had been circling his fingers entered the man’s head and stirred.

After a quarter of an hour.

The Mountain Lord frowned and stood up. The divine power he had unleashed was a secret technique he had learned from Hongyeon called Jinhonsul (進魂術) [Soul Advancement Technique].

[Did you find out?]

“There wasn’t much.”

The guy was a Soul Aberration created by the machinations of the Demonic Path, and he was an experimental subject who had somehow escaped their curse.

Then, he met a gang of bandits, beat them down, and arrived here to take over a village.

It was an insignificant memory for the Mountain Lord, who had to find the Blood Collapse Water.

“But there are still some things that bother me.”

[What is it?]

First, the place where the guy escaped was not far from here, and second, their residence felt somehow familiar.

“Do you know about Gu poison (蠱毒) [a sorcery using poisonous insects]?”

The Mountain Lord stroked his chin and said.

[Isn’t that a sorcery that puts poisonous insects into a jar and makes them fight each other?]

“That’s right.”

Gu poison is one of the sorceries that makes poisonous creatures fight each other to create a more powerful poison.

“Originally, it’s a sorcery focused on poison. But the Demonic Path doesn’t use it that way and uses it in a slightly twisted way. Such Soul Aberrations are created as a byproduct of it. But…”

It’s strange.

The conversation between the Demonic Path disciples in the guy’s memory was particularly disturbing.

“I don’t know if that’s right or not.”

There’s no good in getting involved with the Demonic Path for no reason.

Goseon is a place where quite a few powerful people are hiding, even if it’s not him.

Even if something happens, they can take care of it on their own. There’s no reason for him to care even a bit.

But there is a suspicious point.

If that is the Blood Collapse Water, the Mountain Lord will inevitably become involved with the Demonic Path.

But if it’s not the Blood Collapse Water, it’s no different from a moth flying into the fire, so he has no choice but to worry.

“…I have to check.”

The Mountain Lord, having organized his thoughts, immediately approached the residence. He immediately unleashed the Danryeong Geumjeong [a technique, likely involving heightened senses or spiritual awareness], lit up his crimson eyes, and found a woman hiding in the residence.

“I have something to ask.”

“…What is it?”

The woman appeared like a ghost from behind a pillar. She seemed to be using Silver Arts [likely a stealth or concealment technique], but she couldn’t avoid the Mountain Lord’s Danryeong Geumjeong.

He thought.

The Sixth Company of Sawolrang [likely a group or organization], who had been waiting here.

Her mission must have been to find the whereabouts of the Blood Collapse Water here.

Then he needs her clue.

Especially in a situation where he is not sure as now.

“Clue of Blood Collapse Water.”

Originally, the Mountain Lord would have treated her, a member of Sawolrang’s clan, with respect, but after what happened last night, he didn’t feel like doing so.

“The Princess also coughed, so together…”

The Mountain Lord’s eyes sharpened.

His spiritual pressure pressed down on Yun.

Yun’s brow furrowed.

Originally, she might have resisted.

Wasn’t she an equal Sixth Company! But Yun bit her lip as she remembered the Princess’s words.

“Speak.”

His low-muttered voice is heavy.

Yun’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

The fur she had hidden seemed to be sticking out.

She subtly avoided his eyes.

They are at the same level of spiritual knot, but there is no room for doubt that there is a difference even at that level.

He possesses all sorts of treasures.

Not only that. He is the Mountain Lord with an unusually large number of inner cores due to the Bunhap Su Gyeol [likely a technique or state related to power].

If he threatens her with all his heart, she has no choice but to be intimidated.

“No, nothing special… But there is a suspicious part, and Hansan (漢山) [a location] is considered the most promising…”

Yun bit her lip.

“Hansan… The very center of Goseon?”

He closed his eyelids and rolled his eyes.

The place where the King of Criminals is located.

Hansan.

“Sorcery generally draws a formation around a medium, systematizes it with techniques (術) [súl, arts or skills], and manifests it with spirit (靈) [líng, spirit or soul].”

“…?”

Yun tilted her head, looking at him muttering out of the blue. He had been emitting murderous intent as if to kill her, but suddenly he was muttering and pondering, so it was only natural.

But the bewilderment was only temporary.

It soon turned into embarrassment.

“Where are you going!”

Suddenly he turned his back.

“Is there a reason why I should tell you that?”

Yun shuddered at his bitterly scolding voice.

“I heard that the Hermit wants the Cheonsu Ilgigeop [likely an item or resource]… Then, there will be nothing good for you to maintain such an attitude towards me and the Princess.”

Yun straightened her trembling body and said.

Sawolrang treats him as a hermit, but no matter how much that is the case, if he acts arrogantly, they cannot treat him kindly forever.

Sawolrang is a clan that values 恩(favor) [ēn, kindness] and 願(wish) [yuàn, desire]. At this point in time, they have received a favor from him, but Sawolrang can change to 怨(grudge) [yuàn, resentment] at any time depending on his attitude.

“There is no courtesy or respect to be shown to those who have insulted my friend. Sawolrang is a clan that values favors and grudges, right? But the princess of that clan despised my friend, who is a hermit, and gave him humiliating shame. If I tell that to Okseo, the head of Sawolrang, and Geummyeongjiryung, who do you think they will side with?”

“Th, that’s…”

certainly.

If he says that, she will have nothing to say.

The attitude shown by Geummyeongjisu was obviously not the attitude of treating a hermit.

Furthermore, she openly despised the ghost who claimed to be his friend, so how much more would it be.

Yun was sweating and moving her lips. She wanted to make an excuse, but there was no room to refute his words.

If this matter reaches the ears of Okseo and Geummyeongjiryung, it was clear that not only the princess but also she would receive a great punishment.

She didn’t know what to do.

In the first place, she didn’t even know why she had to think about excuses.

The culprit of everything is Geummyeongjisu.

She is the princess of Sawolrang.

But at that time.

A familiar voice pierced her ears.

“Then I apologize.”

Geummyeongjisu.

She came out of the detached house.

Yun doubted her ears.

Apology? The word apology came out of Geummyeongjisu’s mouth.

From the mouth of that highly self-respecting princess.

“To those who have favored Sawolrang.

And I have committed great rudeness to his friend. As a daughter of April, I have done something I should not have done. Yes, I know it well enough.”

Having said that, Geummyeongjisu neatly gathered her hands and bowed her head.

“It may be a simple greeting now, but if I return to the palace (闕) [궐, a traditional term for the royal palace], I will give you one of the things you want as an apology. So please, relieve your anger.”

It was amazing.

I didn’t know she would change her face like this and bow her head. But if this is what it takes to resolve it, she wouldn’t have shown her teeth.

“Hwaran, come out.”

From his arms, evil energy came out and formed a shape.

She had a slightly uncomfortable expression.

“It’s not just me that you have to apologize to.”

Geummyeongjisu, realizing the meaning of those words, bowed her head to Hwaran once again.

The Mountain Lord, who watched it with satisfaction, spread his index and middle fingers.

“Two.”

Yun’s mouth, who was watching, slowly opened.

“You have insulted not only me but also my friend, so you will have to hand over two of the treasures you possess.”

A faint smile was already hanging on his lips.