I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 39
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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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39.
A man appeared in front of the father and daughter who had been walking along together in quiet conversation.
“Are you by any chance a traveling merchant?”
The father and daughter stopped walking at the troubled-looking man’s question.
“Yes. That’s right, but…”
“Ah, this is really perfect! Do you happen to have White Heron Herb Ointment as well?”
At those words, a pleased smile bloomed on No Moon-woong’s lips. White Heron Herb Ointment was an ointment made from White Heron Herb infused with Yin Power, and was highly effective for wounds caused by Yin Energy, making it popular among Superhumans. No Moon-woong naturally always carried White Heron Herb Ointment with him.
“Of course!”
“Ha. What a relief. Please give me one White Heron Herb Ointment—no, two.”
The man grinned as if he had been saved. Seeing him looking for White Heron Herb Ointment, he appeared to be a Superhuman.
“Yes, please wait just a moment.”
No Moon-woong answered happily, then lowered the pack he was carrying to the floor and rummaged through it. Today seemed to be his lucky day. Just as he was searching for the ointment he had hidden at the very bottom since it was precious.
“…!”
A black shadow approached behind Seol, who was standing watching, and snatched her away in the blink of an eye. Unaware that his daughter had been kidnapped, No Moon-woong diligently found the ointment and raised his head to take it out, only to have a sword thrust at his throat.
It was a sword floating alone in mid-air.
Thud.
Startled, No Moon-woong dropped the ointment and froze.
“Why, why are you doing this?”
“Sorry, but I won’t be taking questions. Just get up quietly.”
When the man revealed his true nature with a sinister smile, No Moon-woong’s heart sank with a thud. The thing he had been worried about had finally happened.
Oh no. This was supposed to be the last time…!
No Moon-woong pretended to get up for a moment, then desperately shouted when he saw an opening.
“Run away, Seol! Hurry!”
But at that moment, another man appeared with Seol bound tightly with tree vines.
“Hey. Don’t you understand the situation? If you don’t want to see your daughter die here, get up quietly.”
Seeing Seol’s pale, tearful face, No Moon-woong’s knees collapsed completely.
* * *
‘Those damn bastards.’
Seon-o was holding his breath as he conducted surveillance on the bandits and the father and daughter they had captured.
The guys he had expected to be a simple Human Trafficking Gang were surprisingly Superhumans.
‘Why would Superhumans bother with ordinary humans who don’t even have Yin Power?’
Of course, he knew well that Superhumans weren’t necessarily good and righteous. However, Superhumans gained nothing from killing humans without Yin Power. Their Yin Power wouldn’t increase, nor would they get Yin Stones.
But there were those who used that meager power to bind and sell ordinary humans weaker than themselves.
Guessing that these were exactly such people, Seon-o decided to follow the guys instead of rescuing the father and daughter on the spot.
He could have just passed by since he was busy with his own affairs, but…
‘Heh. Someone who will become the next Phoenix can’t do that.’
As he had confidently told Hwan, this was something he would have to do anyway once he became the Phoenix.
This was also fate—he couldn’t just pass by the father and daughter who had caught his eye.
Moreover, due to the series of events, Seon-o had gained some confidence in his Physical Force. So this was also a good opportunity to test his strength.
Thus, Seon-o decided to destroy this Human Trafficking Gang.
Soon, the guys who would be destroyed by Seon-o bound No Moon-woong and Seol’s hands tightly with tree vines, connecting them and dragging them like slaves. With Superhumans positioned front and back, the pitiful father and daughter couldn’t escape.
No Moon-woong cried and begged them to at least let his daughter go, but immediately a Bundle of Leaves was shoved into his mouth.
Seon-o, who was secretly watching from behind a tree, felt his anger rise. He was truly grateful to have the power to punish such scum.
After pushing deep into the mountains for several hours, the guys finally stopped in front of a cave.
“Hey. We brought the goods.”
The aura emanating from inside the pitch-black cave, so dark that the interior couldn’t be seen, was chilling.
Seon-o climbed up onto a large tree branch in front of the cave and watched the place while holding his breath.
‘A cave? Is human trafficking conducted in places like this?’
As Seon-o felt a strange sense of unease, the sound of someone’s footsteps came from inside the cave.
Everyone held their breath and looked toward the cave entrance.
When something that had been hiding in the shadows finally stepped out, No Moon-woong’s eyes widened greatly.
“Huh…!”
Seon-o was just as shocked as he was, holding his breath in surprise.
What walked out from inside was a demon with a pig’s face. Though it was dressed in clothes pretending to be human and walking with Bipedal Walking, it was a low-grade demon that couldn’t even transform its hands and feet.
That alone was grotesque, but there was another reason why it was even more bizarre.
Behind the rope in its hands, about a dozen Pig Demons the size of human babies were strung together and being dragged along.
“Ugh…! Ugh…!”
No Moon-woong screamed with his mouth gagged and tried to protect his daughter, but his pitiful movements were instantly stopped by the Fire Power Superhuman who shot up circular flames around Seol.
“Move and I’ll roast you right here.”
When Seol screamed from the heat, No Moon-woong collapsed in despair.
‘I’ll… kill them all…’
Suppressing his urge to rush out immediately, Seon-o held his breath to understand this strange situation.
“Now. I brought the goods. Let’s make a deal.”
Then the Pig Demon looked back and forth between No Moon-woong and Seol before opening its disgusting mouth.
“Deal… impossible… Conditions… wrong…”
“What? What are you talking about? Look carefully. There are two of them.”
“Two… big humans… needed.”
The Pig Demon spoke in clumsy language while holding up three fingers.
“That’s three. Are you still confusing 2 and 3?”
“Shut up… Anyway… child… no good.”
“Let it slide this time. Huh? I’ll get you better ones next time.”
As these horrific words were exchanged, No Moon-woong’s face turned pale.
“You guys… use my children… to raise Yin Power… So… must pay proper price…”
At those words, Seon-o’s eyes, who had been keeping low, snapped open.
‘So they’re trading with that low-grade demon’s offspring in exchange for providing it with prey…? And using that to easily gain Yin Power…’
Seon-o’s face turned pale as he finally understood this horrific trade completely.
This deal was a disgusting transaction between Superhumans with low Yin Power and low-intelligence Demons. Schemers who lacked the Yin Power to kill Demons and didn’t have the courage to take such risks were offering up much easier human targets and receiving offspring from that Pig Demon in return.
They were killing newly born weak Demons to raise their Yin Power.
The unexpected disgust made him feel nauseous even though he hadn’t eaten anything.
“Fine. Then let’s do this. Next time I come, I’ll bring three adults. Deal?”
Then the Pig Demon rolled its eyes, struggling with that simple calculation.
“Damn! Do you know how hard it is to get humans these days? If you don’t like it, break off this deal and try finding another demon. Do you think you’re the only demon who wants humans this easily?”
At those words, the Pig Demon grunted and frowned.
“Fine… Deal… agreed…”
Vile smiles appeared on the Men’s faces.
“Bring her… over here…”
As the Pig Demon handed over the rope and reached out, the Superhuman who had been threatening Seol grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and began dragging her toward it.
“Ugh…! Ugh…!”
Just as No Moon-woong was struggling and about to rush forward, the ground where they stood rumbled with a thud, causing not only No Moon-woong but even the Men to stagger and fall.
“What, what is it? An earthquake!”
Just as the panicked Mysterious Man and Demons were looking around, a Water Pillar shot up from beneath the Pig Demon’s feet, lifting it high into the air.
As the Men looked up in surprise, the Water Pillar instantly transformed into a human grip and slammed the Pig Demon down to the ground while holding it tight.
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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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