I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 27

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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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27.

Cheon Ga-jin quietly praised Seon-o and smiled shyly. It seemed as if a floral fragrance wafted from that smile.

‘They say her nickname is the White Lotus of Geumhwi, and she’s truly extraordinary.’

Cheon Ga-jin was a peerless beauty who had been especially mentioned in the original work. While all the candidates possessed their own unique beauty, Ga-jin’s pure and elegant looks were enchanting enough to captivate even Seon-o, who was a woman herself.

“Thank you for thinking so. I was just lucky.”

At Seon-o’s humble response, Ga-jin’s large eyes sparkled brightly.

“Um… were there really Superhuman slaves there?”

That question made Seon-o feel a bit troubled. In truth, Seon-o had also been unaware that there were methods to brainwash Superhumans when she had set her plan in motion. If she had known beforehand, she wouldn’t have made such a grand spectacle that spread fear throughout the entire country.

Since things had turned out this way, the only option was to spread the knowledge widely so people would be cautious.

“From what I saw… yes, that’s how it appeared.”

“My goodness.”

Ga-jin covered her mouth as if horrified. Soon, admiration filled Ga-jin’s eyes.

“I heard you handle Water Power. Do you happen to know that I also handle Water Power?”

“Of course I do.”

“May I ask what you used to break the Yin Stone? I should tell you mine first, shouldn’t I? I broke the Yin Stone with tears. I tried it just in case, and I was so moved when it worked.”

Ga-jin, who had relaxed somewhat, was chatty and lovely. Her large, sparkling eyes were so innocent they seemed capable of melting away any wariness.

Ah, right. Tears would be the smallest water droplets.

Seon-o nodded in understanding and answered.

“I used the Water Element lingering in the air. I made it seep into the Yin Stone.”

At this, Ga-jin clapped her hands as if delighted.

“Then the most minute Yin Power really was the answer!”

Seon-o nodded in agreement. Soon, both their gazes naturally turned toward Wi I-ryeong. I-ryeong, who had been silently staring at her fingertips with no intention of joining the conversation until then, felt their gazes and looked up.

Ga-jin asked with a bright smile.

“What did you use to break the Yin Stone, Lord Wi?”

Seon-o somehow thought I-ryeong wouldn’t answer, but contrary to her concern, I-ryeong slowly opened her mouth.

“I broke it with the breath left by someone in deep sleep.”

It was a quiet and concise answer.

‘Since I-ryeong is an air Superhuman, breath would indeed be closest to the right answer.’

I-ryeong had also grasped the meaning of the first test and used the weakest power.

‘Someone in deep sleep… could it be a newborn baby?’

But since she couldn’t ask that far, Seon-o simply nodded. Meanwhile, the Ghost Carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace. When the door opened, Ga-jin got off first.

Just as I-ryeong was about to follow and stand up, Seon-o, who had been watching for the right moment, suddenly grabbed I-ryeong’s arm.

“Wait a moment, Lord Wi.”

I-ryeong paused and looked back at Seon-o. Seon-o quickly released her arm and spoke.

“I’m sorry. Actually, I went to your house yesterday, but you weren’t there.”

“Yes, I heard about it.”

When I-ryeong answered, Seon-o briefly recalled Wi Gong-un’s face. She became momentarily curious about what Gong-un, who had become her enemy, had told I-ryeong, but it didn’t matter now.

I-ryeong sat back down and asked.

“Do you have something to tell me?”

“I wanted to repay you for the help you gave me last time.”

She was referring to when I-ryeong had given Seon-o and her parents a ride in the Ghost Carriage on their way back from Bujin Pavilion. I-ryeong seemed to remember that incident as well and looked at Seon-o without saying anything particular.

“I didn’t do it expecting repayment.”

“Yes, of course I know that. But I was so grateful.”

If it had been just her alone, she wouldn’t have been this grateful. Thanks to I-ryeong, she had been able to safely escort her parents home. So she couldn’t just let it pass.

“Please think of it as a small token of my appreciation.”

Seon-o smiled and took out what she had prepared, quickly pressing it into I-ryeong’s hand. Then she rapidly got off the carriage so I-ryeong couldn’t return her gift or stop her.

“…”

Left alone in the carriage, I-ryeong looked down at the small something Seon-o had pressed into her hand. It was a Treasure Pendant about the size of a pebble. Treasure Pendants were a type of tool that contained Yin Power, and the one now in I-ryeong’s hand contained a Magic Technique that would maintain a constant body temperature wherever the bearer went.

I-ryeong’s eyes grew strangely deeper as she looked at the Treasure Pendant. After steadying her breath that had been wavering for a moment, I-ryeong soon stood up as if nothing had happened.

* * *

The candidates entered the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace, where everything was grand and everything was dazzling, was truly like another world. The large Yin Stones embedded everywhere proved the majesty of the Imperial Palace.

“This way, please.”

The welcome banquet was held in the Peony Garden, said to be the most beautiful place even in this dazzling Imperial Palace. True to its reputation, the Peony Garden was more splendid than any garden Seon-o had ever seen. Magnificent flowers she had never seen in reality towered as high as a person’s height, creating a spectacular sight.

The candidates were seated three on each side of the dining table prepared in the Peony Garden.

“His Majesty is coming to the Peony Garden.”

At those words, Seon-o recalled the original story’s setting once again.

In this world, just as the Phoenix was the administrator of Yin, the Emperor was the administrator of Yang.

Long ago, the descendants of heroes chosen by God ruled the country as Emperors, managing Yang Energy – this was the setting for the Imperial Family here.

Therefore, all the Imperial Family members were also Superhumans. They played the role of protecting the increasingly scarce Yang Energy instead of the overflowing Yin Energy, and half of this world’s Yang Energy was sealed within the Emperor’s heart.

It was practically the last bastion.

‘If the Emperor were to die, that Yang Energy would disappear completely and this world would become a Yin Den. Now that I think about it, he really is an important existence.’

So the Emperor and Imperial Family had the duty to protect the world by guarding the last Yang Energy. They were beings who had to maintain peace by achieving harmony between Yin and Yang through cooperation with the Phoenix to eliminate demons.

However, unfortunately, power tends to cloud people’s vision.

‘The current Emperor wasn’t pleased that the Phoenix Competition was held during his reign. He was afraid his position would weaken if a Phoenix appeared.’

Being late after arranging such an occasion was also because of this. He was already engaging in psychological warfare. To make clear who held the upper hand.

Of course, given his origins, the current Emperor wasn’t part of the Yin Cult or on the demons’ side, but the world isn’t divided by such simple dichotomy.

In the latter part of the original story, when On Gang needed the Imperial Palace’s help, the Emperor did not help On Gang.

‘I need to prepare for that time too.’

Of course, there was a way.

‘The Crown Prince.’

On Gang, who had noticed the Emperor’s corruption, had tried to meet the Crown Prince.

‘He was said to have seized victory in the fierce succession struggle and ascended to Crown Prince.’

Though not as much as the Emperor, he possessed the next greatest Yang Energy and was someone who could become Emperor someday and cooperate with them.

‘But they kept the Crown Prince completely hidden and absolutely refused to introduce him.’

Thanks to that, the Crown Prince never appeared even once in the original story. Only rumors abounded.

As Seon-o was pondering how she might be able to meet the Crown Prince, a gentle voice flowed from beside her.

“It’s been two weeks since the competition began, and now we finally have a chance to greet each other.”

At those words, everyone looked at Gwak Gi-rim. Gi-rim smiled without any sign of embarrassment, stood up from her seat, and slowly bowed.

“I am Gwak Gi-rim. I’m extremely pleased that we all passed through the gates together.”

It was a voice that put one’s mind at ease just by listening. Gi-rim was around thirty years old, probably the oldest among them, but her attitude was respectful.

Seon-o knew Gi-rim well too. A great Superhuman who had rushed to dangerous places that other Superhumans avoided, solely for the peace of all the common people, to eliminate demons. She donated all the Yin Stones she obtained to poor people, and not content with that, she even studied medicinal herbs and created new herbal combinations for the people – a genius.

‘And yet she has a humble nature without arrogance.’

Gi-rim had been the character she felt most favorable toward even when reading the novel. Of course, meeting her as a competitor made her an incredibly nerve-wracking opponent.

When Gi-rim sat back down, a quiet silence fell. Gi-rim seemed unbothered, but since Seon-o felt uncomfortable, she also stood up.

“I am Kang Seon-o. Please all take care of yourselves… and I wish you good luck.”

Seon-o sat down after finishing her brief greeting. Cheon Ga-jin, who had responded with quiet applause, was about to stand up when Bu So-yoon spoke indifferently.

“We all know each other’s names anyway, so are introductions really necessary?”

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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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