I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 23

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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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23.

The Mysterious Man lifted his head in excitement.

However, at that moment, he made eye contact with something peeking its head out from behind the massive throne. As that sinister thing slithered smoothly toward him, the Mysterious Man’s breath froze completely.

“No, no…”

The Mysterious Man hurriedly got up and tried to flee, but before he could even take a step, a giant serpent with horns sprouting from its head immediately lunged at him.

“Aaaaaaaah!”

Two fangs pierced the Mysterious Man’s torso as blood spurted out. Yu Yu-an sat on the throne and watched as his demon broke the man’s bones and swallowed him whole in one bite.

“Truly a regrettable matter. To be blinded by greed and commit such foolish acts. My heart aches so deeply.”

Saying this, Yu Yu-an examined his well-manicured fingernails.

“Be grateful that I am showing mercy by sending you off without pain.”

The Mysterious Man was already half-swallowed by the demon and unable to respond. Yu Yu-an watched the scene as if savoring it, then soon picked up a mirror beside him to examine his face, pursing his lips.

“You there.”

At his call, his subordinates immediately entered. An interesting light flickered in his eyes as he gazed satisfyingly at his own beauty in the mirror.

“Find out everything there is to know about someone called Kang Seon-o.”

* * *

Early morning with refreshing sunlight pouring down and birds singing.

Seon-o sat in his room, re-examining the letter that Yawolbang had sent the night before.

The letter contained detailed information about how the Maehwagak incident had been handled. Hwan conveyed that the remaining matters had been transferred to the Imperial Palace and that the treasure found at Maehwagak would be kept as Seon-o’s share, to be requested when needed.

Flustered, Seon-o had risen early in the morning intending to write a reply. The treasure from Maehwagak was not his. Since Yawolbang had helped process all the complicated procedures, it was proper for it to belong to Yawolbang.

‘And right now, treasure isn’t what’s important.’

Having passed through a major ordeal, Seon-o faced a new phase. That thing which everyone in this world was curious about—Seon-o was curious about it too.

‘How is it even possible to brainwash superhumans?’

Byeon Jang-chun had said he cast sorcery on those iron collars. Unlike in the original work, all that evidence would have been delivered to the Imperial Palace through Yawolbang, so tracking that power shouldn’t be impossible.

But even so, a corner of his chest felt stuffy.

‘It must definitely be related to the Yin Cult.’

Thinking about having to investigate those sinister bastards on top of competing in the trials made his head throb.

“Sigh. Let’s handle what’s in front of me first.”

Pulling himself together, Seon-o spread out white paper widely. After calmly grinding ink, he stared intently at the jet-black ink.

It was after a few seconds had passed.

“!”

Ink drops began floating up and soaking into the paper, starting to write down the message in Seon-o’s heart. It was a letter writing technique that only superhumans who had reached quite a high level could perform.

Seon-o muttered in admiration.

“This actually works.”

It was fortunate.

‘My brush writing would probably look terrible anyway.’

As the relieved Seon-o was neatly folding the elegantly written letter, a familiar voice came from outside.

“Sister, are you awake?”

It was Yoon-han. When Seon-o glanced over, Yoon-han outside the door bowed his head at the presence.

“This foolish younger brother humbly offers morning greetings to his heavenly sister.”

From the day Seon-o became a Phoenix candidate, Yoon-han had been acting like this continuously. When the Maehwagak incident became known on top of that, the admiration and respect in Yoon-han’s eyes when looking at Seon-o was beyond description.

It was quite absurd, but since it wouldn’t last long, Seon-o decided to just leave Yoon-han be.

“Come in.”

Then the door opened and Yoon-han entered with his head bowed. Unlike his shabby past days, Yoon-han now had a bright appearance like any noble family’s young master.

It was all thanks to the wealth Ji-woon had entrusted. Thanks to that, Yoon-han no longer had to earn money by selling alcohol and had been attending school for the past few days.

He still seemed awkward with all of this, but Seon-o’s heart was finally at ease.

“Sister, the second trial is already tomorrow.”

“That’s right.”

As Yoon-han said, it was already tomorrow. Tomorrow at the Great Hall, the list of candidates who passed the first trial would be announced and the second trial they must overcome would be revealed.

Of course, Seon-o already knew what that trial would be.

“May I also come along to cheer you on?”

“Mm. No. Go to school.”

“…Yes.”

Disappointed, Yoon-han looked dejected but stole glances at his sister who had changed dramatically, as if reborn, in just a few days.

Seon-o’s appearance, wearing new silk clothes that their father bought as if releasing his resentment, with her hair neatly tied up in a half-bun, had a dignity that even he, her blood relative, had to acknowledge.

‘She was always more manly than me anyway…’

However, the fact that his sister was a superhuman, and moreover would participate in the Phoenix Competition, was something he had never even dreamed of.

Not only that, but Seon-o had also retrieved the treasure that Ji-woon had entrusted long ago, instantly raising their family’s wealth.

And now even collaboration with Yawolbang…

At such jaw-dropping developments, Yoon-han had been in a dazed state throughout, but coming this far, a truly faint hope began to well up.

It seemed like Seon-o might really awaken Ji-woon.

As Yoon-han stood there looking at Seon-o with affection for no particular reason, Seon-o’s face turned fierce.

“I told you to go to school.”

“Yes, sister, I was just about to go.”

Sensing danger, Yoon-han hurriedly turned around and left the room. Only then did Seon-o also rise from her seat.

As Yoon-han said, tomorrow was the day the first gateway would end and the second gateway would begin. And according to the original story…

‘They should be here by now.’

Seon-o finished preparing to leave and went outside.

* * *

The place Seon-o headed to in her newly prepared carriage was the Wi Family Estate.

When an unfamiliar woman stepped down from an unfamiliar carriage, the Wi Family guards politely blocked Seon-o’s path.

“There were no scheduled visitors for today. Who might you be?”

“I am Kang Seon-o. Could you please tell them I’ve come to see Master Wi?”

At those words, the guards’ eyes widened. There was no one in the capital now who didn’t know Seon-o’s name. But for that candidate to suddenly visit the Wi Family?

“When you say Master Wi…”

Ah. Right. This is the Wi Family. Only then realizing that this place was the den of the Wi masters, Seon-o awkwardly added.

“Master Wi I-ryeong.”

The guards’ faces became even more puzzled, having no way of knowing about the slight connection between I-ryeong and Seon-o. However, they couldn’t ignore her since there was clearly a common denominator between the two.

“Please wait a moment.”

One guard who bowed and turned around quickly went inside. Seon-o looked up at the Wi Family mansion that the guard had entered.

‘It’s like a palace.’

Well, it was the continent’s foremost medical family, with a superhuman capable of becoming a Phoenix candidate and even one of the Seven Super Gods as the family head, so it was only natural.

Soon the guard returned. However, what appeared accompanying him was not I-ryeong.

A tall man wearing a deep navy long robe approached and stood before Seon-o. He gazed at Seon-o penetratingly for a moment, then smiled and bowed silently.

“It’s an honor to meet you like this.”

After finishing his greeting, he raised his head and looked at Seon-o leisurely.

Long, narrow eyes. Snake-like pupils with white showing on three sides. Unusually long eyelashes and the sinister gaze hidden beneath them.

The smooth exterior of this man who skillfully concealed his sinister inner nature was like a very well-maintained python.

It wasn’t difficult to figure out who this man with somewhat dangerous beauty was.

‘Wi Gong-un.’

Since she had thought she might encounter him when coming to the Wi Family, Seon-o wasn’t surprised. As the family most actively involved in the Phoenix Competition, she had expected to meet him someday.

However…

‘Do they select Super Gods based on looks?’

Following Hwan and Cheong-eum, even Gong-un’s beauty was so remarkable that it was simply amazing. It made her curious about the appearance of the remaining Super Gods.

Gong-un was likewise inwardly quite surprised by Seon-o’s appearance.

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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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