I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 48

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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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48.

“I got a confession from a Maehwagak staff member. They said Maehwagak mixed an unknown substance drug into the superhumans’ meals. So you should be careful about what you eat from now on.”

At those words, Cheong-eum’s breathing slowed. His eyes, instantly confused, fell into mid-air. If this suppression was achieved through ingestion…

“That can’t be.”

The voice that emerged after a long while was cold. That would mean there was a spy in his family clan. Someone who had been secretly feeding him Lunar Power Suppressant since childhood.

Seon-o replied calmly.

“That’s what I’ve found out so far. I’ll need to investigate more to be certain.”

“…”

“First, we need to find a way for you to achieve Dragon Transformation.”

“I’ll handle it myself.”

The voice that shot back defensively had become even more sensitive.

At those prickly words, Seon-o’s eyes, which had barely calmed down, turned sharp again.

Irritated, Seon-o grabbed Cheong-eum’s collar again, which she had just released, and pulled him close in one swift motion.

“Listen carefully.”

For the first time in his life, and twice in a row by the same woman no less, Cheong-eum’s lips parted slightly as his collar was grabbed. He had never experienced such humiliation in his entire life.

“This isn’t the time to show off that kind of pride.”

Within the voice lowered to its limit was an explosive heat ready to burst.

“If you fail to achieve Dragon Transformation and ruin everything.”

Cheong-eum looked into the eyes of Seon-o, who had pulled him right up to her face.

“I absolutely won’t let it slide.”

The gaze reflecting his face was colder than he had ever seen, leaving even the usually unflappable Cheong-eum speechless. Since she was a woman who wanted to become the Phoenix, Seon-o’s anger was natural. If Cheong-eum couldn’t achieve Dragon Transformation, her goal would ultimately crumble too.

But the desperation contained in Seon-o’s eyes right now seemed somehow not to stem from that ambition. Cheong-eum intuited that Seon-o had another reason why she absolutely had to become the Phoenix.

Feeling as if he had become an obstacle interfering with that important goal, Cheong-eum was bewildered. His stiffened lips barely moved.

“I am…”

“Enough.”

“…”

“You must achieve Dragon Transformation no matter what. There’s no other answer.”

Without giving him a chance to respond, Seon-o commanded like a warning and abruptly released his collar as she stood up.

“If I find out anything more, I’ll share it. You do the same.”

You…

At this form of address he’d never heard before in his life, Cheong-eum’s gaze wavered subtly.

Seon-o looked at the lake again with a complicated expression.

‘I wasn’t trying to kill her.’

In the original story, Ga-jin had her Yin Power absorbed by a Yin Stone, not by On Gang.

Since subduing Ga-jin who had lost her Yin Power was far too easy, On Gang subdued Ga-jin and handed her over to the Imperial Palace. Of course, Ga-jin, having lost her Yin Power, eventually lost her mind.

Seon-o had also tried to subdue Ga-jin and take her to Yawolbang. However, Ga-jin died, and the means to find out who she had joined hands with and how she had tried to make Cheong-eum her slave also disappeared.

She had no generosity to mourn Ga-jin, who had already killed countless people and tried to kill her too, but her heart wasn’t at ease.

“I’ll testify about Lady Cheon. You don’t need to worry.”

Understanding Seon-o’s complexity as being about the killing of Ga-jin itself, Cheong-eum offered calm words. Unlike his earlier prickly tone, his voice had somehow become more subdued. When Seon-o turned her head, she saw Cheong-eum standing up from his spot.

Testimony. That would mean having to explain everything that happened here.

Starting from how she knew there was a Root Barrier beneath Myo-myo Lake, she would have to confess everything, including why Cheong-eum hadn’t achieved Dragon Transformation to escape.

With countless matters to resolve already, she couldn’t be held back by such things. She couldn’t let her heart waver over something like this and ruin everything.

Having made up her mind firmly, Seon-o spoke in a calm voice.

“Dying during the competition is common. When, where, and how Cheon Ga-jin died is something neither the High Priest nor I know. We never met here.”

At those words, Cheong-eum wasn’t surprised, but he looked at Seon-o steadily with eyes that didn’t seem to particularly agree either.

“It could make things more complicated if it’s revealed later.”

“Ah, then why don’t you go advertise to the world, ‘I’m a Super-Deity who can’t achieve Dragon Transformation. So this Phoenix won’t be born because of me. Everyone should give up their vain expectations.'”

When Seon-o calmly mocked him, Cheong-eum’s pride was painfully crushed. Nevertheless, Cheong-eum looked at Seon-o without wavering and opened his mouth.

“You still haven’t answered. How did you know all of this?”

At Cheong-eum’s persistence, frustration surged up in Seon-o’s throat again. Starting with Wi Gong-un, then Wolbi, and now even Cheong-eum.

She had no explanations to give to these insolent Super-Deities.

“Do whatever you want, then. Go tell them or don’t.”

Annoyed, Seon-o turned around coldly. Cheong-eum could only stare intently at her retreating figure, unable to hold onto her any longer.

At that moment, a demon hiding in the bushes burst out and rushed toward Seon-o. Before Cheong-eum could even move, water element erupting from the ground exploded and sent the creature flying.

“….”

Faced with such anger that seemed like a warning directed at him, Cheong-eum lost his words and closed his mouth. Finally, as Seon-o disappeared boldly through the bushes, Cheong-eum’s gaze fell helplessly into the air.

A delayed sense of impact rose from his belly and constricted his dry throat.

He had revealed his secret to someone.

A fatal weakness he had never told anyone.

“….”

Only then realizing what had happened to him, Cheong-eum’s lips parted helplessly as a faint sigh escaped.

Cheong-eum noticed that what was flowing from his lips was not fear, but relief.

“You must undergo Dragon Transformation no matter what. There’s no other answer.”

That he had been desperately waiting to hear such resolute words from someone.

The despair of having his most carefully hidden secret discovered by someone had instead become like a breathing hole. The moment he realized that a faint pleasure was seeping through that hole, Cheong-eum was engulfed in deep bewilderment.

What had flashed in Seon-o’s eyes when she learned his secret was not pathetic mockery or the triumph of having found a weakness, but despair. The same despair that existed within him.

“….”

He couldn’t understand why that despair felt like comfort.

Slowly wiping his wet face, Cheong-eum recalled a conversation he had with someone before coming here.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet. I came to see you because I have questions about the recent incident at Maehwagak.”

“Speak.”

The man, who was also an Initial God Realm cultivator but whom even Cheong-eum had never met until this incident occurred, was Sa Hwan, the Night Moon Sect Leader. Hwan readily cooperated with Cheong-eum’s request to meet.

“I heard that there was an incident at Maehwagak where a superhuman’s Yin Power was suppressed. Is this true?”

“It is true.”

“Has anything been revealed? About what method was used to suppress the Yin Power, I mean.”

“It’s under investigation. I cannot share it externally yet.”

“Even if it’s the Great Temple?”

“Even the Imperial Palace would be no exception.”

“…Is it also true that Master Kang Seon-o, a candidate in the competition, is involved in this matter?”

Hwan, who had been giving straightforward answers, didn’t readily respond to that question and stared quietly at Cheong-eum. Without hearing an answer, Cheong-eum calmly replied.

“So it is true.”

“Is that a problem?”

At the nonchalant question, Cheong-eum also met Hwan’s gaze without wavering.

“The Sixth Demon Beast Cave was not written in the Divine Oracle.”

“But it existed. And so Master Kang’s name was placed on the first trial list.”

As Hwan subtly defended Seon-o, Cheong-eum’s expression became complicated.

“Will you help Master Kang?”

“…Well.”

Hwan gave an ambiguous answer and let out a quiet laugh.

“That’s not something I can decide.”

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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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