I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 29

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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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29.

The Emperor asked quietly, trying hard to hide his displeasure. Nevertheless, I-ryeong continued in a calm voice without any change in expression.

“I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince has been suffering from a chronic illness for a long time. I humbly speak up thinking that our Wi Family Estate might be able to offer some help.”

‘Chronic illness…’

At those words, Seon-o also recalled a setting that had briefly appeared in the original work. Something about mysterious hives breaking out all over his body making contact impossible. It was probably a rumor spread by the Emperor’s side.

“Ah. You heard the rumors. It’s true that the Crown Prince is particularly frail, but that’s an illness that even the Wi Family Estate cannot cure. I’ll just accept your sentiment, Young Lady Wi.”

The Emperor stared intently at I-ryeong as if he found it unpleasant that the Crown Prince was even mentioned at this gathering. He was smiling, but his eyes were not.

“Oh my, has the time already gotten this late? I had something urgent to take care of but forgot about it. Let’s end today’s gathering here.”

The Emperor, whose mood had instantly soured, stood up making a halfhearted excuse. The candidates looked at I-ryeong with bewilderment for ruining the atmosphere in an instant, but I-ryeong’s expression showed no movement whatsoever.

‘Could it be that I-ryeong has also noticed the Emperor’s corruption? Is that why she’s trying to meet the Crown Prince?’

Just as Seon-o was trying to figure out I-ryeong’s intentions, So-yoon suddenly stood up from her seat.

“Well done. Thanks to that, we can pass through the gateway a little faster.”

After finishing her brief words, So-yoon turned around and left first, making the atmosphere even more chaotic. Chae-gyo, who had been sipping the remaining alcohol, also stood up from her seat.

“The alcohol tastes good. Well then, I hope everyone returns safely.”

Chae-gyo grinned with a face that didn’t seem to harbor such hopes at all and left the garden. With only the quiet four candidates remaining, Gi-rim spoke up.

“Shall we also take our leave now?”

Her voice sounded mature, as if trying to salvage the awkward atmosphere. As everyone was about to stand up at those words, Ga-jin suddenly spoke in a trembling voice.

“Are you all going to exterminate demons?”

At those words, the three people turned to look at Ga-jin. Ga-jin’s face was deeply shadowed with anxiety and fear that she had been suppressing until now.

“The second gateway must mean to kill demons and raise our Yin Power, right? Isn’t that so?”

Her face looked anxious, as if she wasn’t confident in her own thoughts. But Ga-jin’s words were the correct answer.

The second gateway of germinating the seed seemed like a puzzling riddle at first glance, but everyone living in this land knew what the answer was.

‘Because they compare a superhuman’s awakening to a seed sprouting.’

When the Yin Power contained within the body swelled to its limit and finally reached awakening, the people of this place expressed it as ‘sprouting.’ This was also written in the ancient Divine Oracle, so it was indeed a legitimate interpretation.

As Ga-jin said, the candidates had to raise their Yin Power as much as possible during the month. Then finally, the seed, satisfied with its owner’s Yin Energy, would sprout.

The method to raise that Yin Power was…

‘Only by killing demons and absorbing Those Guys’ Yin Energy.’

Ordinary Yin Energy wouldn’t even come close. Only by eliminating demons of the highest or high-intermediate level would the seed germinate.

“I also expect that to be the case.”

Gi-rim kindly answered Ga-jin’s anxiety.

“Then Hero Gwak will go to the forest. Or perhaps the mountains.”

“Yes. I’m thinking of trying that.”

It was natural. If this gateway required killing powerful demons and taking their Yin Energy, the candidates should rightfully go to lands where their Yin Power could be used most effectively.

‘Fire Power Superhuman Bu So-yoon went to Volcano Mountain, Light Power Superhuman Yang Chae-gyo went to the Land of White Night Phenomenon, and Wood Power Superhuman Gi-rim went to the Dense Forest. And Water Power Superhuman Ga-jin…’

Ga-jin was the precious only daughter of the Cheon family. Of course, she was an outstanding superhuman enough to participate in the competition, but secretly there were rumors that it was all thanks to the wealthy Cheon family. For instance, they hired superhumans to catch demons and present them before Ga-jin. Ga-jin couldn’t escape the whispers that she had increased her Yin Power in such ways and reached the level of occupying the Demon Beast Cave.

But in this competition, such tricks couldn’t be pulled. So now Ga-jin had to eliminate demons by herself.

“I’m… going to try Myo-myo Lake!”

At those words, everyone looked at Ga-jin with apparent surprise. Myo-myo Lake was a lake with legends of a demon possessing tremendous Water Element hiding there. Of course, it was also such a dangerous place that no one dared to challenge it rashly.

Seon-o, who already knew that Ga-jin would go to Myo-myo Lake, wasn’t surprised but didn’t bother to say anything else either.

After a moment of silence, Gi-rim answered in a calm and gentle tone.

“I was going to recommend the sea or river areas to you. But we all have the freedom to choose the path we want to take. I wish you good luck, Master Cheon.”

“Thank you. If I go to Myo-myo Lake, the seed will definitely awaken. Perhaps even without eliminating demons, just the Yin Power that water contains might do it. So…”

At that moment, I-ryeong suddenly stood up from her seat, cutting off Ga-jin’s words.

“I wish everyone good luck.”

After finishing her brief farewell, I-ryeong turned around without lingering. The embarrassed Ga-jin also stood up without saying more. Seon-o, who had been lost in thought for a moment, stood up last, ending the banquet.

* * *

After receiving the second gateway and returning home, Seon-o went to find Ji-woon’s room.

Ji-woon was sleeping with a peaceful expression just like when she first saw him. Seon-o unnecessarily placed her hand under his nose to check if he was breathing, and only after feeling his faint breath did she sit down beside Ji-woon with relief.

“Now it’s the second gateway.”

Conveying the good news to Ji-woon, Seon-o smiled like a sigh. The tension that had built up during the day was finally released now.

Strangely, being by Ji-woon’s side made her feel relaxed. Even though Ji-woon was asleep, he was the only person who knew her secret.

So she was grateful to be able to see him, even in this state.

However, Seon-o had too many things she wanted to ask Ji-woon. How much did he know from the beginning to the end? And how far had he planned everything out?

Did he truly believe that she would pass through all of this and become the Phoenix?

It was a moment when her heart was somehow sinking.

A memory from some time ago surfaced and passed before her blurred vision.

It was when she dropped out of high school at eighteen. It wasn’t a voluntary withdrawal.

She had tried to help a friend who was being bullied in class, but instead Seon-o was pointed out as the main perpetrator of school violence.

The physical fight with the actual perpetrator that occurred in the process was caught on video, and even the victim, overcome by fear, pointed to Seon-o as the perpetrator. Seon-o was placed at a crossroads between voluntary withdrawal and expulsion, and ultimately had to accept a semi-forced withdrawal.

After withdrawing like that, it was Ji-woon who came to pick up Seon-o. He had heard the news while on a backpacking trip in Europe and abandoned his month-long journey to come to Seon-o. He was dressed sharply in a formal suit and even wore conspicuous sunglasses as if there was something to celebrate.

Thanks to that, all the students’ gazes were fixed on the siblings, which was also a vivid memory. As they walked down the hallway that felt like ten thousand li, Ji-woon put his arm around Seon-o’s shoulders as she unconsciously lowered her head, and whispered calmly.

“Lift your head, Kang Seon-o. People who did nothing wrong don’t bow their heads.”

She still remembered how her heart sank with emotion at the encouragement delivered in an unusually serious voice.

Ji-woon happened to be away on his trip during that time, so she didn’t even have time to explain to him that she wasn’t at fault.

“…Do you believe I did nothing wrong?”

What did Ji-woon say back then?

Ah, he pulled down his sunglasses and looked straight into her eyes as he said that.

“I believe with all my heart in you, who beat up those fellows who were bullying Yoon-han so hard they were dusty even on a rainy day.”

At those absurd words, Seon-o, who had been gloomy for days, let out a bewildered laugh. Ji-woon stuck close to Seon-o’s side like a bodyguard and cheerfully waved at the students who had come out to watch.

“I am the older brother of this era’s true Hero, Kang Seon-o, who doesn’t yield even to school violence!”

“Hing, Ji-woon is silly.”

Remembering that day, Seon-o lifted her head straight like that day and smiled. After dropping out, Seon-o took the qualification exam thanks to tutoring from Ji-woon, who was an elite university student, and entered university without difficulty. Ji-woon and their family never once blamed or criticized Seon-o.

So even without hearing it, she could clearly anticipate Ji-woon’s answer.

“Yes, I’ll do it. I’ll definitely succeed.”

It felt like the Ji-woon of the past was encouraging her present self. Even though he was asleep, Ji-woon would surely feel the same way.

“So just like that day…”

Please wake up and be proud of me.

Seon-o swallowed the words that wouldn’t reach him and stood up from her seat.

Before leaving, Seon-o reached out to arrange Ji-woon’s blanket a bit more evenly, but suddenly froze and stiffened.

It was because a very faint blue light was reflected on Ji-woon’s neck.

It was because a very faint blue light was reflected on Jiwoon’s neck.

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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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