Call Of The Spear [EN]: Chapter 91

The next day,

Yeon-ah opened her eyes and was surprised to find herself naked in her bedchamber.

Her heart sank, wondering if Uran had finally taken advantage of her.

However, she soon recalled San-gun and remembered being tempered with Bongak Cheonghwa [a mystical blue flame].

Yeon-ah straightened her posture, sat in a lotus position, and felt the faint but significant blue flame nestled in her dantian [energy center located in the abdomen].

A strand of blue flame purer and clearer than any other fire.

She then opened her hand, and a strand of blue flame rose above her palm, igniting into a fire.

It resembled a blue lotus.

She gazed at its clear, shimmering beauty for a long time, her eyes welling up with tears.

The blue flame held a profound meaning for her.

When she was captured by the Baekjija family.

The fire that instantly erased the thatched-roof house and changed her destiny.

Now that it had become her own fire, how could she not be deeply moved?

Moreover.

Perhaps because she had accepted Bongak Cheonghwa, the toxins in her entire body had been purged, making her feel much more comfortable. It was as if she had undergone a complete transformation, and her sensitivity to spiritual energy had become clearer.

Furthermore, even her skin texture had changed, becoming as soft as a baby’s.

Perhaps due to becoming a Hwajeong physique [a physique highly attuned to fire energy], all unnecessary body hair had disappeared.

Yeon-ah extinguished the blue flame and blushed as she examined her body.

How could she not know who had bestowed such grace upon her?

She hurriedly put on her clothes and left her residence.

Just as she was about to head to the Cheonhogun [San-gun’s residence], she stopped upon seeing the spirits gathered around.

“You guys!”

They were the ones who had been suffering from Uran’s Geumje [a spiritual restriction or curse].

They were also her comrades who had protected Mount Baek with her.

“What happened?”

As expected.

While she had been asleep, the master of Mount Baek had come and easily lifted the Geumje.

Yeon-ah suppressed her overwhelming emotions, shared a reunion with them, and rushed to the Cheonhogun.

She was breathless.

She entered the place marked as Cheonhogun.

There, scriptures and letters floated in the air, and a man sat examining them.

“You’ve come.”

It was her teacher.

San-gun.

She couldn’t even answer and bit her lower lip.

It felt like her tears would burst out at any moment. But she couldn’t just stand there blankly.

She bowed deeply.

“There were some who were suffering, so I lent a hand. I heard they were the ones who shared joys and sorrows with you while protecting Mount Baek.”

“Yes, yes…. Thank, thank you!”

“I thought you were all grown up, but you’re still a crybaby. You’re just like Cho-ah.”

She was embarrassed, but not ashamed.

His gruff voice didn’t sound harsh; instead, it had a comforting feel to it.

“My lord, really….”

Cho-ah, bringing tea with a sulky look, scolded him.

“Isn’t it true?”

“It’s not! Even if she cried, you shouldn’t say things like that in front of Yeon-ah!”

“What’s wrong with that? It’s Yeon-ah, not someone else. It’s okay.”

He looked at her as if asking, ‘Isn’t that right?’

Yeon-ah wiped the tears from her cheeks with her sleeve and gave a bright smile.

The lump that had been stuck in her chest seemed to melt away.

“Ah, right. Take this.”

San-gun took out a sword from his chest and handed it to her.

It was a treasure made by refining Yeon-ah’s original sword with other rare materials.

“I named it Geunhwa Shinyeon (斤化訊延) [A sword name signifying ‘Transformation and Extension’].”

“Geunhwa Shinyeon….”

“I melted down the treasure I had. It was a treasure good for grabbing opponents with the mystery of Cheongeun-chu [a technique involving capturing enemies with a heavy object], but now it’s a sword, so how you use it is up to you.”

He melted down a treasure.

It was too much for her, who was only at the level of Doseon [a stage in cultivation].

Yeon-ah swallowed hard and pulled the sword out of its scabbard.

Sreung. With a pleasant sword cry, a red blade revealed itself.

The blood-red blade was covered with dense inscriptions.

Yeon-ah infused it with spiritual energy.

Then, the sword flashed, and a weight of a thousand geun [a unit of weight, approximately 600 kg] pressed down on her.

Koo-oong-!

Yeon-ah couldn’t bear the weight and dropped Geunhwa Shinyeon, causing the ground to crack.

It was an immense weight.

She stared at the sword in disbelief, then looked at San-gun, who smiled contentedly.

“Train harder.”

Yeon-ah smiled bitterly.

She had many questions, but it was her teacher’s gift, and she had to find the answer.

“Take this too and work hard on your training.”

San-gun handed her a Gongjeonggang [a spatial artifact, like a bag of holding] containing several scriptures and medicine bottles.

“Since you fortunately possess a fire-attribute Geumdan [a core of concentrated spiritual energy], these are related techniques. I’ve also included some useful secret arts and Seondan [elixir pills], so it would be best if you could make them your own.”

He no longer needed these items.

It was better for Yeon-ah to have them.

“How can I take so much….”

“You call me your teacher, but I haven’t done anything for you, so I’m trying to make up for it now. Anyway, they’re like a white elephant to me, so take them. I can’t be stingy with my only disciple. If I’m mean to my disciple, it’s like spitting on my own face, so it’s only natural.

Don’t feel burdened and take them.”

What could she say?

Yeon-ah bowed deeply in gratitude.

“That’s enough. I know your hardships…. Well, let’s take this opportunity to talk about what we haven’t been able to. How have you been?”

After that.

San-gun and Yeon-ah ate snacks and shared stories for several hours.

Among Yeon-ah’s family, the second child had built a merchant group and was steadily accumulating wealth, while the first child was following Yeon-ah in cultivating the Tao.

Her father and mother had lost their lives, swept away by a group of spirits coveting Mount Baek.

Besides that, there were many who coveted Mount Baek as it gradually regained its spiritual energy, and many lives were lost because of it.

In the midst of all that, Uran had appeared and quickly taken control of Mount Baek.

Yeon-ah spoke calmly about everything from trivial matters to important issues.

Among them was a familiar name.

Baekjija was still alive.

“Oh, that fellow is still alive.”

“Yes, he’s no different from an old man in the back room, but he’s still hale and hearty.”

More than 40 years had passed since then, so she thought his lifespan would have ended.

But to hear that he was still alive, she felt both glad and resentful.

“Since then, he has turned over a new leaf and has been working for the village in his own way. Please don’t resent him too much.”

“What feelings would I have for a mere mortal? I think my wife would have resented him more than I did.”

As he said that, he looked at Cho-ah, who smiled gently.

“I was there, so I was able to marry San-gun. If I think about it that way, they are rather grateful people.”

She knew she had been bullied. When she was young, she was called a ghost by the villagers.

But she had no resentment, so how could he not praise her heart?

San-gun and Yeon-ah continued to share stories they hadn’t been able to tell for a long time before parting ways.

* * *

The next day.

San-gun wandered around Mount Baek with Cho-ah.

Then, he found the rabbit that had been by Yeon-ah’s side and was displeased.

“Your lifeline is quite long.”

[Oh, somehow…. I’m sorry, sir!]

It was the rabbit spirit who had made fun of San-gun when he was a spirit and had been severely punished.

“Fate is a funny thing. Isn’t that right? It seems like only yesterday that I was deceived by this guy and called a rabbit San-gun.”

It was when he first met Yeon-ah.

It was now a distant memory.

“Such a thing happened. But he’s not evil, so he’s my friend now. Please don’t be too angry.”

That mountain rabbit had been with her for 40 years already. It had saved Yeon-ah’s life dozens of times.

It was quite ironic.

“Help my disciple well.”

[O-of course!]

San-gun smiled bitterly and passed by him, heading into the thicket with Cho-ah.

“It’s been a while.”

The thicket was also a familiar space for Cho-ah.

“You were so harsh when I was young. You didn’t even say a kind word when I fell.”

She said, pouting her lips.

It had been more than 40 years.

“You fell so often for some reason. You kept falling when there was nothing there, so why wouldn’t I be like that?”

“Tch, but why are we here…. Ah.”

As if something came to mind, her face turned round.

“Come to think of it, there was a lake here.”

With carp as well.

Cho-ah closed her eyes at the sight of Mount Baek’s lake, which she hadn’t seen in a long time, and reminisced about the past.

Wasn’t it here that she received the hairpin she still wore in her hair?

Cho-ah could never forget what happened here, no matter who else it was.

It was the first gift she had received from him.

Besides, hadn’t she cried and laughed endlessly, looking at Domo [a type of spiritual being]?

“I can give you something better.”

“Oh, really?”

“Is there anything you want?”

At his question, she smiled brightly.

“No. I received plenty last night. It’s okay.”

She twisted her body, covering her lower abdomen. She seemed quite shy.

San-gun also coughed for no reason and looked at the lake. This lake was originally where the Taehwaryeong family lived.

That’s why he came to give it back.

“Come out, Myeonghwa.”

When San-gun called, a light flashed from Gongjeonggang, and a red figure jumped into the lake.

It was Myeonghwa and his wife.

And his children.

The young ones splashed around in the water.

“From now on, you will never leave this place.”

He had also ascended to Yeongmyeong [a higher spiritual realm], so he would never be threatened while on Mount Baek. The reason he brought them in the first place was because he was worried that they would be left behind and eaten by others.

Now that Myeonghwa had also moved beyond being a spirit and ascended to Yeonghwa [another spiritual realm], and was about to reach Yeonggyeol [yet another spiritual realm], he would take care of himself.

[Thank you for San-gun’s consideration.]

As if understanding his intentions, Myeonghwa bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude.

Nodding, he greeted them and took out Mansam and put him down.

Mansam, who appeared in the form of a child, trembled as he looked at Cho-ah.

“…It’s nice to see you again. Madam.”

“Do you still feel uncomfortable with me?”

“Uncomfortable? Not at all. Now that you have become a true Sanbi [a mountain spirit], you must be very happy, haha….”

Mansam and Cho-ah were not on good terms. The reason was unknown, but according to Cho-ah, he unilaterally saw her as a thorn in his side.

San-gun was curious as to why the two were like that, but he didn’t pay much attention to it.

Soon, when he took out the Yeongcho [spiritual herbs] and Shinmok [divine trees], Mansam began to classify and plant them.

“How is the state of Hangbo Shinmok [a specific divine tree]?”

“Neither bad nor good.”

“Is it because you transplant it often?”

“Probably. I’m managing it especially, but one of its branches was broken, and its spiritual energy has weakened, so it needs to be replenished.”

The condition had not improved for nearly 40 years. He had been reaping the benefits of Hangbosaingeom [a technique or item related to the Hangbo Shinmok] by breaking off a branch of Hangbo Shinmok, but he was very disappointed that he could not make more because the condition of Shinmok was not good.

He knew the secret art of safely moving Shinmok, but growing it into a mature tree was another matter.

Fortunately, Mansam was there to prevent it from deteriorating, but he had to find another way.

‘If I made 12 Jinbeopdae [altars or platforms for a specific formation] and installed them throughout Mount Baek, I could see the effects of enchantment as well as subjugation of demons….’

It was a pity, but it couldn’t be helped.

He couldn’t cut open the belly of the goose that laid the golden eggs.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes, don’t worry!”

After that.

San-gun toured Mount Baek with Cho-ah.

The passing spirits and Taoists sensed his energy and either ran away or approached him with respect.

“It’s good.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. In those days, I couldn’t even dream of this kind of life. The days I’ve been dreaming of are unfolding, so I want to pinch my cheek to see if it’s a dream.”

Cho-ah suddenly pinched San-gun’s cheek with a playful expression.

“Does it hurt?”

“Why are you pinching my cheek…, it hurts, let go.”

San-gun could only smile bitterly at her grinning face.

After that, they wandered around and reminisced about the past. When they went down to Baek Village, there was also a storyteller who gathered the children and told them stories about Mount Baek.

The main content was about the tiger that dominated Mount Baek, which was the story of San-gun.

As an old man with a cane on his chin began to tell the story, Cho-ah pulled San-gun’s arm and listened.

“The master of Mount Baek was truly amazing. His movements were like the wind, so the arrows of mediocre hunters never hit him. And his strength was so great that once he stomped his feet, the ground would open, and once he jumped, his head would reach the clouds! San-gun’s daily routine was to jump into the sun during the day to warm his body there, and jump into the moon at night to drink!”

‘What nonsense is this?’