Chapter 80: The Spearman Who Gained Strength (5)

He, who had been regaining consciousness while receiving treatment, looked at Gugwi with hollow eyes.

“Is what you said… true?”

Desperation was buried in his voice. At the same time, distrust colored it strongly. It was the look of someone who had suffered too many disappointments.

Gugwi nodded.

“It’s true. If only we knew the tomb’s location.”

Tears streamed down the Red Spear Warrior’s face.

“Soul-summoners… huh.”

He forced a bitter smile. Twenty years of accumulated hatred and despair lay hidden inside that laugh.

“You mean the things that come so easily from your mouth — those other men kept secret for twenty years?”

His voice trembled. It was a voice mixed with rage and sorrow.

“How many times did I beg them to save Eunhwa… I told everyone I met.”

He clenched his fist hard. His nails dug into the flesh and dark blood welled.

“The soul-summoners of the Heavenly Sound Cult, the soul-summoners of the Cold Wolf Sect, even the wandering ones….”

His voice grew louder.

“All of them said it was impossible! They said a spirit sealed by a 진인 couldn’t be released without the 진인’s talisman!”

“That’s not it….”

Jang Unhyeok tried to speak about the Spirit Flow Core, but he kept his mouth shut. The Red Spear Warrior did not know about the Spirit Flow Core. He had no interest in that side of soul-summoning.

The Red Spear Warrior glared at Gugwi.

“There were countless men who said the same as you. They promised to unseal Eunhwa and only took my money before vanishing… They all died on me. Not a single one escaped.”

Bang!

He struck the wall with his fist.

Stone dust scattered. Blood dripped from his knuckles.

“But… but if—”

His voice quivered.

“If it really is possible….”

He drew a long breath.

“There are two conditions. If I meet the Cheongheo진인, I will kill him myself. Don’t stop me.”

His voice had turned cold.

Gugwi listened, bewildered by the sudden demand.

“And I will tell you my wife… Eunhwa’s tomb location. As I said just now, you must ensure she ascends. Release the sealed spirit and send it wherever it will find peace — be that the afterworld or wherever.”

“Why would I agree to that?”

Gugwi asked calmly.

The Red Spear Warrior half-ignored Gugwi’s words and looked at Jang Unhyeok.

“I can’t trust this one’s talk. It’s too strange. He looks like someone who doesn’t know how the world works.”

His gaze fixed on Jang Unhyeok.

“But if it’s the Head of the Intelligence Division speaking, I will believe it.”

He looked at Jang Unhyeok with pleading eyes.

“Risk your life and tell me. Can this one do what I ask?”

Jang Unhyeok hesitated for a moment.

He looked at the Red Spear Warrior and read the fierce truth in his eyes.

“You may believe him.”

Jang Unhyeok answered firmly.

“Gugwi can keep his promise. He is the only person who can unseal the sealed spirit. I stake my life as guarantee.”

The Red Spear Warrior’s body trembled.

For the first time in twenty years he felt hope. He wiped his tears and slowly nodded.

“Then….”

He forced himself to rise and tried to kneel before Gugwi.

“What are you doing—!”

Gugwi startled and tried to lift him, but the Red Spear Warrior pushed his hand away.

“Let me do this.”

His voice shook.

“For twenty years… I have waited twenty years.”

He placed his right hand on his chest and bowed deeply.

“Servant.”

He pressed his palm to his chest and lowered his head.

“I offer this life to my liege.”

His voice brimmed with aching sincerity.

“Take care of Eunhwa… my Eunhwa.”

Gugwi placed a hand on his shoulder.

“That’s not something hard. First, get up. What are you doing—”

The Red Spear Warrior lifted his head. For the first time, a calm smile accompanied his tears.

“What am I doing? I’m offering myself as your subordinate. By the way, the martial art of Nanga Sipjang rivals the Twelve True Armies. You’ve gained a remarkable spear. Congratulations. Hahaha! Ugh!”

Jang Unhyeok laughed heartily as if pleased, then clutched his stomach and complained of pain.

Ssshhh!

Namgung Hoyoung, who had treated the Red Spear Warrior, clung to Yeon Sohye.

He had judged Yeon Sohye to be more seriously injured than Jang Unhyeok.

Footsteps sounded outside the corridor.

Reality crashed back down on them. Ma Ungyeol’s underlings had cut through the darkness and swarmed in.

“We’re surrounded… front and back.”

Yeon Sohye said tensely.

Jin Geonmu rose. His eyes had changed.

To him, Gugwi was no longer an enemy. He was the liege who had given hope. And until half a Shi-jin earlier, the Heavenly Sound Cult — the one who had issued orders or requests — was now an enemy.

“These wretches, I will break a path through.”

He gripped the broken spear shaft and said.

“Ha! I can’t get used to this. It’s easier to live comfortably….”

“I will be my liege’s spear from now on.”

Gugwi waved his hand as if there were no other choice.

“All right. All right. Let’s go together.”

The four of them walked toward the entrance they had come through. Ma Ungyeol was surely waiting in the square… They knew that, and yet they could not clash with him. Not now that they knew even the Spiritless Zone had its gaps.

The underground passages were as convoluted as a maze. They had not noticed on the way in, but now that they were leaving, several branches opened before them.

Jang Unhyeok guided them with ease.

“This way. The other path is a dead end.”

He pointed to the left fork.

Urgent footsteps sounded behind them. Ma Ungyeol’s men were closing in fast.

“They’re on our heels… and I can’t exactly tell them to hurry.”

Yeon Sohye snorted a laugh.

Torches glimmered ahead. No doubt the Black Blood Unit warriors were blocking the passage.

“I just hope there aren’t any marching troops up ahead.”

Jang Unhyeok spoke worriedly.

Gu Gwi approached Jin Geonmu.

“I have something to tell you about my ability.”

His voice was serious.

“Please speak comfortably. I’m a subordinate.”

“That’s easier said than done. You’re around my father’s age, so how can I talk down to you? Even calling you ‘subordinate’ feels strange.”

“I understand.”

Jin Geonmu nodded and listened carefully.

“I have something in my body called the Spirit Flow Core… when it activates… hmm! How should I put it? What I’m saying is, when a blue light spreads like frost, it drives away spirits.”

Gu Gwi pointed at his chest.

“Then all of the Spirit Union martial artists vanish. They can’t use Spirit Union Martial Arts.”

Jin Geonmu’s eyes widened.

“Such an ability…”

“I called this the Spiritless Zone. Until now, I’ve been creating the Spiritless Zone while attacking at the same time. But from now on, I’m only going to focus on the Spiritless Zone. It seems to have some weaknesses too.”

Gu Gwi extended his spear to Jin Geonmu.

“Watch closely for when the blue light appears and focus on the attack. Use mine while I ready my own.”

Jin Geonmu accepted the spear.

The heavy weight pressed into his hand.

“But this… it didn’t work on someone like Ma Ungyeol. I’ll tell you whether it works or if it’s blocked.”

“Understood.”

Jin Geonmu replied firmly.

At that moment, footsteps echoed from the front of the passageway.

Seven martial artists of the Black Blood Unit appeared. In their hands, each held a different weapon.

“There they are!”

One of the martial artists shouted.

Gu Gwi calmly focused on his Spirit Flow Core. Regardless of the enemies around him, he paid them no mind and stepped into the Realm of the Threshold. A blue light began boiling up from within his chest.

Paaang!

A blue wave swept through the passageway.

The Spirit Union spirits of the Black Blood Unit were forcibly driven out. Those whose identities were unknown vanished in an instant.

“One!”

Gu Gwi shouted.

No sooner had the word left his mouth than Yeon Sohye moved.

Paaaaat!

The Silver Spirit Technique exploded outward. Silver mist filled the passage, blocking their sight.

Jin Geonmu and Jang Unhyeok moved almost simultaneously.

The enemies, deprived of their Spirit Union spirits, panicked.

“Ah! My Spirit Union!”

One martial artist cried out, but it was already too late.

Jin Geonmu’s spear shot out like lightning, piercing his chest.

Jang Unhyeok swung his twin blades. The blades flashed left and right, severing the neck of a nearby martial artist.

Puuuuk! Puk!

“Uwaaaagh!”

The martial artists fell helplessly.

The spirit summoners here were mostly at the Initial Contact or Spiritual Sensitivity level. Those who were not spirit summoners were not strong either. In such a state, with their sight blocked, how could they possibly defend against the onslaught?

Swoooosh!

Jin Geonmu’s spear arts flowed like water. The spear tip spun and turned, felling the third and fourth martial artists in succession.

Jang Unhyeok’s twin blades did not stop either.

A dazzling sword dance unfolded, severing the arm of the fifth martial artist.

“Aaagh!”

The man whose arm had been cut off screamed and stumbled back. But Jin Geonmu’s spear was already aimed at his heart.

Puuuuk!

The sixth one fell.

The remaining martial artist tried to flee in terror. But Jang Unhyeok’s sword was faster.

Flash!

His head fell.

In an instant, all seven were down.

“This way!”

Jin Geonmu turned toward a passageway.

“That’s not the way we came?”

“There’s a path here too! Almost no one knows about it, so there won’t be any traps. Follow me!”

Jin Geonmu led the way.

The group ran at full speed.

The passageway grew narrower until at last the end came into view. A small hole let in light from outside.

“There’s the light!”

Yeon Sohye pointed.

Blinding sunlight greeted them.

As they crawled out of the small hole, a vast mountain range unfolded before them. They were deep in the mountains, far from the Black Blood Fortress.

Fresh air filled their lungs.

Their bodies, soaked in rot and the stench of blood, felt cleansed.

“Haa! Did we escape?”

Jang Unhyeok let out a sigh of relief.

Gu Gwi turned back to look at the Black Blood Fortress.

The dark-red stronghold was visible in the distance, still exuding a sinister aura.

“What good is escaping? We have to go back in.”

Yeon Sohye spoke heavily as she stared at the Black Blood Fortress.

“No, we don’t need to go back in.”

“What? Isn’t the Hall of the Forgotten Souls there?”

“The Hall of the Forgotten Souls is at the main headquarters of the Heavenly Sound Cult.”

“Then why did we come here?”

“To find a secret message from the Intelligence Division. It said the Black Blood Fortress would be empty, so I thought it would be fine to rest for a few days… but that… haah! It must have been Kang Hwi’s bait. A trap dug by Ma Ungyeol.”

“I thought the Hall of the Forgotten Souls was here. Couldn’t you have at least told us? We almost died.”

“You don’t need to thank me for getting this friend here.”

Jang Unhyeok patted Jin Geonmu on the shoulder.

But suddenly, Jang Unhyeok clutched his arm and groaned.

“Ugh…”

Black veins surfaced on his arm. The wound from Kang Hwi’s poison dart had flared up.

“Huhu! Treat me, please.”

He looked at Gu Gwi.

“I can’t die here. I have to save my son.”

His eyes burned with desperation. His yearning for his son was what kept him going.

Gu Gwi called Namgung Hoyoung.

“Namgung Hoyoung.”

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