I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 12

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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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12.

-Thud thud thud thud.

As the vibrations grew stronger, the pavilion where the two sat, the table, and even the tea cups began to shake more and more violently. It was at the moment when Cheong-eum’s gaze turned toward the rippling tea water.

The entire pond surrounding the pavilion reversed its flow and shot upward.

-Whoooooosh!

The water that shot up exploded and scattered in all directions, delivering a fierce baptism of water to both Cheong-eum and Seon-o.

Patter patter, the sound of scattering water echoed, and soon the garden became as quiet as if water had been poured over it.

Cheong-eum, who had suddenly been drenched, slowly closed his eyes and opened them again. He could see the garden’s landscape as if a fierce downpour had just passed through. Water was dripping down from his entire body.

“…”

Cheong-eum’s eyes, seeing the pond that had dried up in an instant, slowly turned toward Seon-o again.

Meeting his gaze, Seon-o answered boldly without even being asked.

“I clearly told you I was clumsy.”

At those shameless words, Cheong-eum’s eyes filled with bewilderment. He moved his lips as if to say something, then closed them again.

He had never seen such a superhuman before. To be able to use this level of power while not even knowing how to control himself yet.

Being able to use only tangible power like pond water and having that power evaporate was clear evidence that Seon-o was still a beginner. Superhumans with high Yin Power could draw upon forces that lingered in this world even if they weren’t tangible. Any superhuman participating in the Phoenix Competition should naturally be capable of that.

‘How on earth did he manage with such skills…’

However, being a beginner wasn’t a violation of the competition rules. Though he wouldn’t be able to pass the next trial in this state.

Cheong-eum finally parted his lips.

“You may return now.”

* * *

Seon-o boarded the ghost carriage prepared by the Great Hall.

Since the competition had officially begun, candidates could receive assistance from the Great Temple.

“Hah…”

Having spent the night in the Demon Lair, experienced a life-threatening crisis, and rushed straight here, fatigue was weighing down his entire body. He could feel the effects of the elixir he had bought with a fortune wearing off.

‘I can’t rely on elixirs forever.’

Realizing this clear limitation, what he needed to do next became clear.

However, right now he was too tired to even think about those tasks. Though he had pretended to be calm, going up on the platform and receiving everyone’s attention was also an uncomfortable experience for Seon-o for the first time. After enduring the private meeting with Cheong-eum as well, all the tension in his body had truly been released, and he felt like lying down right there.

Seon-o recalled Cheong-eum’s face as he quietly looked at him after being hit by the water bomb he had launched.

‘…I feel a bit sorry.’

But even Seon-o hadn’t expected the water to shoot up that high.

Seon-o’s serious gaze turned to the water stains dripping from his wet sleeve ends, drop by drop, wetting the carriage floor.

This was serious.

The water power he had barely managed to obtain…

‘I can’t control it at all.’

The water power that was already uncontrolled had been rampaging fiercely since the Demon Lair incident.

When using water power just now, Seon-o vividly felt the energy running wild above his heart. If he had been even slightly off, the water element might have turned aggressive regardless of his will.

Seon-o couldn’t control that overwhelming energy at all.

‘At this rate, there’ll be problems from the first trial.’

The method to break the Yin Stone given as the first trial.

If that method was the same as in the original work, Seon-o would have to suppress this rampaging energy within two weeks and master how to handle water elements. And to a very precise level at that.

Of course, since On Gang in the original work had passed the first trial, Seon-o also knew the method to reach that level.

“…The fact that the method is Energy Circulation Breathing is a very big problem.”

Seon-o crossed his arms and muttered self-deprecatingly as he slowly tilted his head back.

In the original work, On Gang succeeded in Energy Circulation Breathing to control his mind and heart with someone’s help, and finally mastered that method. But the novel never had a setting where On Gang couldn’t control his water power in the first place.

On Gang’s power in the early stages was moderate, and On Gang only needed slight adjustment. There was definitely a subtle crack in the flow between the original work and this place.

‘On Gang never went to Bujin Pavilion, so it must have gone wrong from there. Tsk, did I stab the heart too hard.’

But he didn’t regret it. Because he was able to save his parents in exchange.

‘…First, I need to solve that matter.’

Feeling the fatigue weighing down his entire body, Seon-o closed his eyes. Though things had gotten slightly twisted, knowing what would happen in the future was truly an enormous advantage. Because he didn’t have to worry or hesitate about what to do.

Finally, when the carriage arrived in front of the house and came to a stop, Seon-o got up.

In front of the house, three people—her parents and Yoon-han—had come out to greet her.

“Seon-o!”

“Elder sister!”

The three people were shocked to see Seon-o in such a ragged state and rushed toward her.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Mother, let’s feed her first. Father made the braised meat that Seon-o likes.”

“Please come inside quickly, elder sister.”

A few days ago, Seon-o had made a tremendous confession to the three of them.

It was the terrifying confession that she would participate in the Phoenix Competition and become the Phoenix. Therefore, the three people knew where Seon-o had been.

Even though they must be extremely curious about whether Seon-o had succeeded or failed in that grand plan, they deliberately pretended not to know and changed the subject without asking. Seeing this, warmth welled up in Seon-o’s heart. With that warmth, the hardships of the past few days melted away like snow, and the fact that had hardly felt real finally hit home.

She had finally passed the entry gate and would participate in the competition.

When Seon-o rummaged through her pocket and pulled out the Yin Stone, the three people’s gazes turned to it.

“Th-this couldn’t be…”

Yoon-han stammered with a trembling voice and covered his mouth. Seon-o looked at Yoon-han and raised the corners of her mouth.

“Now I have to pass the first gate.”

At that calm announcement, the family’s eyes opened wide. The three people were speechless for a moment, looking at each other, then soon became emotional and rushed to Seon-o.

“You finally did it. Seon-o, you did it.”

“I knew our daughter would do it! Whose daughter is she, after all!”

“Father, you cried yesterday thinking elder sister might have died!”

“Hey, what are you talking about! That was because of the onions!”

Watching her family embrace her tightly while sobbing, Seon-o steeled her heart once again. If she could protect this warmth, she wasn’t afraid of anything.

There was no way back now, nor did she have any intention of turning back.

She absolutely had to pass the first gate.

* * *

Hwan was sitting upright, looking at something.

What was placed on his table was a document containing Seon-o’s information.

Hwan quietly read through the document that contained everything from her name and age to family relationships, and even the life stories of those family members. Seon-o’s document was excessively simple compared to other candidates, but there were several notable points.

One was that Seon-o’s family clan, which had been quite wealthy from the mining business, suddenly fell into ruin when Seon-o was eleven years old, and another was that Seon-o’s elder brother, who was three years older, had fallen into a coma a year ago and still hadn’t awakened.

Of course, family clans falling into ruin from pushing business too hard, or cases of people falling into comas from greedily pursuing Yin Energy, were common occurrences.

However…

‘It wouldn’t be common for a member of such a family clan to become a Phoenix candidate.’

As if proving this point, all the other candidates’ family clans except Seon-o were prestigious and renowned families. To compete in the Phoenix Competition would require enormous funds and solid backing, so relatively speaking, Seon-o would be at a disadvantage from the start.

Hwan recalled the mocking laughter of the audience who had ridiculed Seon-o’s appearance on the platform. However, the qualifications of a Phoenix were not things like assets or splendid backing.

What the woman who would become his master needed was…

“…”

When the image of Seon-o’s firm gaze on the platform flashed before his eyes, a strange satisfaction filled Hwan’s pupils.

Just then, someone knocked on Hwan’s office door. Hwan answered without taking his eyes off Seon-o’s name.

“Come in.”

With his permission, the door opened and Heo Seop, his subordinate, entered. Heo Seop gave Hwan a precise bow and then stood before him.

“Master. This is information that candidate Kang Seon-o’s parents reclaimed the Jinseol Mine yesterday.”

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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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