I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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10.

This situation was one that the Young Master of Wi Family should rightfully be indignant about.

However….

The corners of Gong-un’s mouth unconsciously rose.

He couldn’t deny the fact that Seon-o’s appearance had made the competition more interesting.

‘Of course, judging by her appearance, she’ll probably fail right at the first task.’

Gong-un swallowed a quiet snicker and when I-so tried to say something again, he reached out one hand to cover his mouth.

Unaware that she was receiving the focused attention of Gong-un, Hwan, and Baek-ryu, Seon-o quietly swallowed her ragged breathing.

If it hadn’t been for the Ghost Carriage that Yoon-han had sent to wait in front of the inn, she would have almost failed to make it on time. Seeing that he had rented an expensive Ghost Carriage for a whole day, it seemed Ji-woon had safely recovered the wealth he had entrusted.

Of course, there was a barrier surrounding the Great Hall that prevented unauthorized Ghost Carriages from entering, so Seon-o had to run the remaining distance at full speed. It was truly a close call.

Once Seon-o’s breathing calmed down, Cheong-eum, who had been watching her for a moment, unfolded the Divine Scroll again and continued the announcement.

“Now that all six candidates have gathered, I will announce the first task of the competition.”

At the pleasantly low and calm voice, Seon-o glanced at Cheong-eum.

Cheong-eum was the god who appeared most frequently among the Seven Super Gods in the original work, where their appearances were rare. It was described that his beauty could dare to compare with a Heavenly Immortal, and indeed he was as magnificent a handsome man as she had imagined. His silver hair with a slight blue tint didn’t look awkward at all and harmonized beautifully with his clear and refined features.

‘Though he does look a bit colder than I thought….’

At that moment, Cheong-eum’s gaze turned toward Seon-o and their eyes met.

Startled, Seon-o quickly looked straight ahead again and pretended to be calm, but Cheong-eum’s gaze moved to her right hand. All the other candidates’ Yin Stones had already been submitted. Unlike the candidates who had presented their Yin Stones as proof as soon as they arrived, Seon-o was clutching her Yin Stone tightly as if she knew what the first task would be. Cheong-eum soon looked away from Seon-o’s hand and turned his gaze back to the Divine Scroll.

He finally announced the task of the first trial.

“The first task.”

A calm voice quietly echoed through the tense hall.

“Extract the seed hidden within each Yin Stone you have obtained. Only successful candidates will be able to advance to the next trial.”

At the finally revealed task, expectant breathing could be heard from various places. Since it was an unexpected task, the candidates also couldn’t hide their surprised expressions.

“A seed? Oh my, so something like that was hidden inside.”

When Chae-gyo next to her murmured with interest, Seon-o unconsciously glanced at Chae-gyo. While the five candidates would be meeting Seon-o for the first time, Seon-o knew all of them. Among them, Chae-gyo was a person of concern whose madness could be felt even through text, so Seon-o subtly moved a little away from her side and looked down at the Yin Stone in her grasp.

Of course, Seon-o already knew the content of the first task.

The problem was that even knowing it, it wasn’t something that could be easily resolved.

“Each candidate must receive back their submitted Yin Stone and solve the task within two weeks.”

At Cheong-eum’s words, the Temple Officials came up and distributed the Yin Stones back to the candidates.

Two weeks.

Seon-o nervously swallowed dry saliva at the short time to solve such an enormous task, but from beside her came a voice that didn’t contain even a grain of tension.

“What happens if we solve it right here and now?”

When Chae-gyo asked while shaking her Yin Stone, Cheong-eum looked at her silently instead of answering. Chae-gyo also seemed not to expect an answer, placing the Yin Stone on her palm and holding it up high for everyone to see.

“Anyone want to see me crack open a heaven-sent Yin Stone?”

Then excited cheers erupted. Satisfied with the cheers, Chae-gyo grinned and a flashing light burst over her palm. At that tremendous light, So-yoon frowned irritably, and Ga-jin was startled and covered her face with both hands.

Seon-o, who endured the blinding light, persistently watched Chae-gyo’s palm.

“Now, let’s see.”

The blinding light faded, but the Yin Stone on her palm remained unchanged.

Annoyed, one of Chae-gyo’s eyebrows shot up and light began shooting out madly from everywhere. The light falling horizontally, vertically, and randomly made it seem as if fireworks were exploding inside the Great Hall.

“This is too much of a nuisance.”

When So-yoon, who couldn’t stand it anymore, quietly complained, a lightning-like great light fell down with a final brilliant flash, ending the spectacular fireworks festival. However, the Yin Stone still didn’t have a single scratch on it.

At the same development as the original work, Seon-o swallowed a sigh with feelings half of disappointment and half of relief.

“…So it can’t be broken with Physical Force.”

Gong-un, who had been watching, muttered with interest. However, Chae-gyo showed no sign of disappointment and giggled while grasping the Yin Stone again and putting it in her bosom.

“It wouldn’t be fun if it were easy.”

Disgusted by that sight, I-so muttered.

“That crazy woman.”

Unlike him, Cheong-eum showed no sign of being flustered or troubled by Chae-gyo’s antics and summarized the situation with the same calm face as before.

“Extract the seed and come here within two weeks. Candidates who solve the task will advance to the second trial.”

Having finished speaking, Cheong-eum gave a small bow as if his work was done and stepped down from the platform. Then cheers of support for each candidate burst forth. Several names echoed mixed together, but Seon-o’s name did not exist among them.

Seon-o, who had no leisure to worry about such things, let out a sigh she had been holding in and made eye contact with I-ryeong.

“….”

I-ryeong’s gaze, which seemed to remember her, was peculiar. When Seon-o bowed first in greeting, I-ryeong also nodded briefly in response. I-ryeong didn’t have the cold look in her eyes like So-yoon beside her, but she didn’t show any signs of pleasure either.

‘She wouldn’t be happy about more candidates appearing.’

Anyway, I didn’t participate in this competition to become friends with them.

From So-yoon and Chae-gyo who were openly looking her over, to Ga-jin who was timidly glancing around worried about being rude, and even Gi-rim who was deliberately not looking at Seon-o in case it made her uncomfortable.

Ignoring the subtle tensions from the candidates directed at her, Seon-o turned to go down from the platform. However, Seon-o suddenly spotted a familiar black bamboo hat somewhere in the audience seats and stopped walking. When Seon-o’s eyes met with Baek-ryu, who had been continuously watching her, Seon-o’s eyes widened.

Huh…?

‘The underground water keeper from Bujingak.’

At that moment, a priest approached and whispered softly to Seon-o.

“The High Priest wishes to see you, Seon-o. Please follow me.”

After finishing his words, the priest turned and led the way. Seon-o was about to follow him but looked back at where the man from Bujingak had been sitting. However, the black bamboo hat was no longer visible.

In the end, Seon-o gave up searching for him and followed behind the priest. The candidates’ gazes pierced into Seon-o’s retreating back and remained fixed there.

* * *

The priest wearing black and white silk robes guided Seon-o through a corridor leading into the Great Hall.

After passing through several crossroads in the maze-like hallways, a hidden garden appeared. Cheong-eum, who had arrived early at the Central Hall in the garden, was sitting there. He stood up from his seat upon seeing Seon-o.

“Please have your conversation.”

When the priest who had guided Seon-o turned and disappeared, only Cheong-eum and Seon-o remained alone in the garden.

“Please sit.”

Cheong-eum politely gestured to the seat in front of him. Seon-o concealed her awkwardness and crossed into the pavilion to sit before Cheong-eum. A clean pond surrounded the pavilion where they were seated.

Cheong-eum only sat back down after Seon-o had taken her seat. He personally poured tea for Seon-o.

“Ah, thank you.”

Seon-o took a sip of the warm tea and glanced at Cheong-eum. The beauty of the man with his quiet, cold aura was breathtaking up close. From his calm expression, she could sense the weight of someone born with such a tremendous destiny.

Cheong-eum waited until Seon-o set down her tea cup before speaking.

“I apologize, but I have several things I must ask before the competition, so I called you here.”

Seon-o nodded as if she understood.

“Yes, please go ahead.”

The sudden sixth candidate must have been a perplexing existence for the Temple and High Priest who were overseeing the competition. This scene didn’t appear in the book, but it was probably omitted.

Cheong-eum nodded slightly as if grateful for her understanding, then continued speaking.

“I would like to know about the demon cave that you conquered.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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