Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 71

Tales of a Wandering Swordsman – 70

The Great Elder of the Gungbihu.

The implications of that title were significant.

Moreover, what was her realm? Yeonggeop.

Yeonggeop, a realm where one commands the elements, traverses the land with ease, and comprehends the very essence of nature. [Essentially, a state of near-immortality achieved after overcoming significant trials.]

Wasn’t it the realm called eternal, attained after enduring the Heavenly Tribulation!

“What can you offer?”

Out of the blue, he used Hwan-gye [a specific martial art technique], making me wonder if he had lost his mind. I don’t even know how Yeong-gyeol [a lower-level martial artist] uses Hwan-gye. Putting that aside, such a confident attitude towards Yuksa [a high-level martial artist] of Yeonggeop, who has achieved Yuksin-tong [supernatural powers]!

If she were to find fault with him, even a flick of her finger could mean his head flying off.

Yet, he’s demanding something!

Geum Myeong-jisu was so surprised that his jaw almost dropped. Ryun seemed no different, unable to close his mouth.

He’s crazy.

I couldn’t understand it unless he was insane.

“What to… Haha, you are indeed audacious. A man should have that much boldness to be trustworthy. But…”

Her eyes changed.

The scenery reflecting Go-seon went dark and began to flow down like liquid.

The floor sank, naturally leading to an endless abyss.

I frantically hugged Ryun, but nothing changed.

I tried to regain my balance, but the murderous intent tearing my body apart made it impossible.

“Ugh, uh-uh!”

Ryun was on the verge of losing his mind.

I was barely holding on, but that alone prevented me from doing anything else. How is that man enduring it? I raised my head, but all I saw was pitch-black darkness.

“Shouldn’t you discern who your opponent is?”

The chilling voice sent shivers down my spine. My hair stood on end, and I instinctively cowered.

It was an irresistible force.

‘More than Father…’

Vicious.

Sharp, as if my body would be torn to shreds.

The pressure made it hard to even speak.

She pleaded.

Where she was, what she was doing.

Though unseen, she begged.

Please, don’t provoke the fierce tiger!

“Don’t you think I’m doing this because I know who you are?”

But contrary to her wishes.

The man seemed fearless.

“Heu-at!”

As soon as his voice was heard, the scenery changed once more.

The surroundings were still dark, but my feet were on solid ground.

And in the air, feathers emitting a faint light were gently falling. It was a beautiful sight, but I didn’t dare to touch them. They contained strange spiritual power, and the fact that they were feathers stirred up caution.

“How interesting.”

Then, Yoho’s eyes curved like a crescent moon. The corners of her mouth stretched like a ghost, chilling me to the bone and making my legs tremble. Like the uncontrollable tyranny of nature, there was nothing she could do.

“You’re not relying on your paltry status as a hermit of Sawolrang, are you? If so, I’ll be quite disappointed.”

“Surely not. Would I be so bold as to speak to Yuksa of Yeonggeop with just that?”

The man didn’t flinch even in front of the tiger baring its teeth.

Whether it was the recklessness of a child or something else, only he would know.

“Then let’s hear it! If I don’t get a satisfactory answer!”

Yoho said with a grin.

“Something quite enjoyable will happen.”

Geum Myeong-jisu closed his eyes.

Even if there were oaths between the four great clans, there was no reason she couldn’t kill them if she wanted to.

She could create any justification, and if she erased the traces of their arrival here, there would be no problem.

Sawolrang would suspect, but wouldn’t act rashly against other clans based on suspicion alone.

As I was thinking this.

“The fifth Ghost King of Siphaemancheok.”

He flinched.

“And the Hwanmang of Tal (Mask).”

Yoho’s energy faltered.

The breath that had been blocked began to flow.

The pressure that had been crushing my body loosened.

Geum Myeong-jisu looked up at the two.

The Great Elder had a smiling face, but the mask was already cracked.

The artisan was wavering, and his complexion seemed to be a mix of various emotions.

‘The Hwanmang of Tal…’

There are a total of five forces in Goseon.

The four great clans located in the east, west, south, and north.

And the force that encompasses them.

Tal.

The exact name is unknown.

They always wear masks carved from wood, so they are called that.

But the power of Tal cannot be overlooked. The reason why the four great clans exist here is due to their oath with them, so it was natural.

And their leader, Hwanmang (Return to the Void).

The man was talking about him.

I can understand.

If it’s the Hwanmang of Tal, then Jiseon (Earth Immortal) [a being who has achieved a high level of spiritual cultivation].

A Taoist who is closest to becoming an immortal among humans. One who is on the verge of ascending to immortality.

That was Hwanmang.

Moreover, there are two more Jiseon in Tal, so it is natural that the four great clans fear them.

And also hate them.

‘But why does the Great Elder care about the Ghost King of Siphaemancheok…’

Why would the Great Elder care about those Parakho [a derogatory term for ghosts] who call themselves ghosts?

I couldn’t understand that.

In the awkward silence, she swallowed hard. As her Adam’s apple moved up and down without her knowing, attention was focused on her.

Perhaps she didn’t like that.

The Great Elder waved her hand at her.

Whoosh.

Suddenly, a gale blew.

She and Ryun were blown away.

“Aaaagh!”

Thud!

I landed on my butt and looked around, and it was an unnamed peak in Howiikjan.

The peaceful atmosphere, as if what had just happened was a dream, left me dumbfounded.

It seemed that the Great Elder had moved herself and Ryun using spatial divine power.

She laid Ryun down and sighed deeply, as if the ground would sink.

“Hoo-.”

What is what.

Along with the relief of surviving, a strange irritability arises. My head is dizzy and not properly organized, but I knew one thing.

“It’s all because of that bastard.”

Frowning, she recalled the culprit of the incident and cursed San-gun for a long time.

* * *

I could clearly feel the agitation, but I couldn’t let my guard down.

I had taken the initiative.

But the difference in power was clear, so I had to keep my wits about me.

“How much do you know?”

The honorifics had disappeared.

He raised the corners of his mouth, which wouldn’t go up.

“Everything?”

“Nonsense. What are you to claim to know everything? Even I, who have lived for over three thousand years, cannot claim to know everything!”

Of course, that’s how she would react.

Her realm has a lifespan of at least four thousand years. How absurd would it be for a spirit beast who has lived for only about 100 years to talk in front of her?

But it’s not wrong.

He is both a living being and one who has seen everything.

“If you dismiss it as nonsense, then think so.”

He smirked and looked down.

It was a look and expression as if looking at a cheeky little child.

“Is that okay? I want to erase you from this world right now.”

A chilling tone.

But instead of speaking, he raised his hand. There was a bracelet around his wrist.

It looked like a snake was wrapped around it.

“Aedeoksa? What about it…”

“If you harm me, my colleague will know immediately. And will go straight to Tal.”

Yoho’s lips twitched.

Aedeoksa can detect not only the location of the other party but also if the bracelet is damaged.

Aedeoksa is originally a pair, male and female.

The Great Elder couldn’t possibly not know its meaning.

“The colleague who entered Tal will say this. Gungbihu is trying to break the long-standing oath, join hands with Siphaemancheok, and use the tricks of the Demonic Path.”

Even if it’s other places, when coming to Goseon.

Gungbihu’s residence, Howiikjan, tried to come by any means.

They were greedy for what they possessed, and unlike other clans, Gungbihu were scheming bastards.

With so much to gain from a few words, how could they stay still?

“I heard that the appearance of O-gwi is Gungbihu itself with a pair of wings. Moreover, he has unique gray fur, so no one would think that he inherited the characteristics of Jin-hyeol too much.”

About 2,000 years ago.

A Gungbihu left Howiikjan. That is the current O-gwi, and the Yoho in front of me’s older brother.

Their relationship cannot be denied.

If so, their purpose is also transparent.

From the beginning, the four great clans have held a long-standing grudge against the group called Tal.

Why would they, who are called the four great clans, only be stuck in the mountains?

It’s all because of the oath made a long time ago.

It’s all because of that.

And they all want to erase that oath.

“Are you threatening me?”

“Depending on how you hear it, it could be a threat or a negotiation.”

She can’t kill me.

She has been running towards one goal for thousands of years, and she wouldn’t want it to collapse so futilely.

Whether Gungbihu breaks the formation or causes harm has nothing to do with me.

If the two fight and self-destruct, that wouldn’t be bad either, and even if both are strong, there will be no harm.

I was worried about bluffing.

But how could she find out about it?

Due to her position, status, and personality, she has no choice but to reach out to me.

“Even if it’s not Aedeoksa, you know what will happen if something happens to me. Aren’t you wise?”

Yoho looked at Aedeoksa with trembling eyes. San-gun, as if he had said everything he wanted to say, waited with his arms crossed.

Yoho bit her lower lip tightly.

It would hurt her pride to be manipulated by a Yuksa who belongs to a lower line. But what can she do!

Originally, those who have a lot in their hands have a lot to lose, and those who are in need will spread their palms.

After a while.

Time flowed equally and gently for everyone. From the beginning, she had no choice. I wanted to seal him here, but if he’s not there, my plan will go wrong….

‘A rogue-like bastard.’

Her lips trembled as she cursed inwardly for a long time.

Her voice was subdued, but she couldn’t hide the slight trembling mixed in.

“I will place a Geumje (禁制, prohibition) [a magical restriction or binding].”

A voice like a murmur.

But San-gun smiled with satisfaction at the voice.

“An excellent choice.”

After that.

Only Yoho was in the pavilion where San-gun had left, contemplating something with a serious face.

“Are you okay?”

At that time, an old man who suddenly appeared asked cautiously. Yoho glanced at him and tucked her hair behind her ear.

“What if I’m not okay? There’s no way to confirm whether his words are true or not, and if they are true, we have too much to lose.”

I don’t know how he knew, but the secret he knew was not light.

For the sake of the greater good, there is no choice.

So, it is better not to provoke him now.

“I didn’t know I would suffer such humiliation from a mere Yeonggeol brat. If I touch him, the Tal people will find out about the oath, and if that happens, my brother will have worked in vain…. How could I do that?”

“…….”

“But I can’t just sit back and take it.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“If I don’t, I’ll have to give up my position as the Great Elder!”

The old man retreated with relief at the terrifying smile.