I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 5

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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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5.

The bundle that had contained the Gamhyang Wine quickly became heavy with Yin Stones.

However, during that time, the sun was setting.

As Seon-o pondered whether to head into the increasingly darkening mountain like this, or spend the night in a place scattered with demon corpses and blood, her parents informed her that there was a path demons didn’t travel.

“There are mountain temple trees planted there that demons hate, so you can safely cross Jamil Mountain through that path. Let’s go that way.”

Only then did Seon-o understand how her parents had been able to head to this dangerous Jamil Mountain. It seemed they had been able to safely reach Bujin Pavilion through that path known only to merchants.

So the three decided to return through that path. As they left Bujin Pavilion, they could see several demons burned to death in front of it. Seon-o thought of the Bamboo Hat Man. It was definitely his handiwork.

‘Is he a Fire Power Superhuman?’

After briefly recalling the man’s pale face, Seon-o quickly dismissed the idle thoughts and decided to focus only on surviving and returning.

However, the three who had set out soon encountered a carriage that was passing by them.

A carriage that looked incomparably more expensive than the Ghost Carriage Seon-o had ridden stopped in front of her.

“!”

In the unexpected situation, Seon-o immediately stepped in front of her parents and twitched her hands. She was prepared to draw up groundwater again if necessary, but at that moment the carriage door opened smoothly, revealing the figure of a woman inside.

The calm woman’s gaze slowly examined the disheveled appearance of Seon-o and her parents. Soon she spoke.

“Where are you headed?”

It was a calm voice without even surprise or bewilderment at encountering people in such a place. Seon-o looked at the woman who sat looking at her without any change in expression.

The woman wearing fine sky-blue silk clothing was like a young lady from a noble family in a martial arts movie. Her wide skirt hem, without a speck of dust on it, hung down to her ankles. An elegant mother-of-pearl hairpin inserted above her neatly half-tied hair made the woman’s refined atmosphere stand out even more.

The woman, who at first glance seemed to be the daughter of a great family, was a beauty with cool features.

But suddenly a noble carriage and a beauty in such a place? This was a scene she hadn’t seen in the book. It was natural. Unlike her, On Gang had never been to Bujin Pavilion.

Seon-o answered without lowering her guard.

“We’re heading down the mountain.”

“Our destination is Myeonggyeong.”

When Seon-o’s mother calmly added, the woman’s gaze turned to her mother. Myeonggyeong was the capital of Geumhwi Kingdom. It was a distance that would take a full ten days on foot from here.

“I happen to be heading to Myeonggyeong as well. The sun will set soon and it will get dark, so how about traveling together?”

The carriage seats looked soft and the interior looked extremely cozy. It was truly a mouth-watering proposal.

“….”

Unable to refuse hastily, Seon-o calculated the probability that the woman would suddenly turn hostile and try to sell out her family versus the probability of wandering the dangerous mountain and rough roads for ten days and inevitably encountering demons.

Noticing that concern, the woman spoke again.

“I am Wi I-ryeong, daughter of the Wi Family. I’m a Superhuman, so I came to deal with demons and am on my way back. Shall I show you my Yin Stones?”

At her words, Seon-o’s eyes widened.

Wi I-ryeong.

She knew her. As she had just introduced herself, she was the only niece of the Wi Family Head, who was renowned for medical arts, a Superhuman who wielded Air Power, and a participant in this Phoenix Competition.

There was no need to see the Yin Stones for confirmation. To pull such a noble carriage would require the financial power of a family like the Wi Family. Moreover, I-ryeong’s beautiful yet cold face matched too perfectly with what had been described in the novel.

That meant….

‘She’s on her way back after passing the first trial.’

Along with a thrilling realization, belated urgency rushed in.

Yoon-han had said the oracle announcing the competition had already been delivered. That meant there was no time. She couldn’t waste ten days in these mountains. If she did, everything would be over before it even began. The answer was decided.

“Then we’ll shamelessly accept your kindness.”

Then I-ryeong nodded and moved her seat inward. Seon-o helped her parents board first, then climbed onto the carriage. Soon the carriage door closed by itself and the carriage began operating on its own.

It was a smoothness on a different level from the commercial Ghost Carriage that had rattled constantly. The comfort was such that she couldn’t even feel they were moving, and her parents quickly fell asleep.

However, Seon-o didn’t fall asleep. Everything she was experiencing felt like a dream.

Seon-o’s gaze briefly swept over I-ryeong’s profile.

“….”

I-ryeong was exactly as she had imagined while reading the novel. She was calm and dignified, with a cool demeanor that carried some intimidating presence.

‘She was a candidate who made it to the final trial.’

In the novel, I-ryeong was a somewhat suspicious character to Seon-o. She was so quiet that it seemed like she might have some sinister side. However, until the competition was almost over, I-ryeong only followed the righteous path and showed no other ulterior motives.

‘Since the novel was cut off before the final trial began, I can’t know what happened after….’

Unable to believe that she was facing a character from the novel, Seon-o unconsciously let out a quiet laugh. When I-ryeong smoothly turned her head to look at Seon-o, the startled Seon-o quickly turned her gaze away.

A quiet voice flowed from beside her.

“May I ask your name?”

Only then did Seon-o realize she had been rude and turned to look at Iryeong again.

“Ah, I’m called Kang Seon-o. Those people are my parents. I apologize for the late introduction. Thank you for giving us a ride. I don’t know how to repay this kindness…”

Then Iryeong gazed at Seon-o quietly for a moment.

She had been preparing what to say if he asked what business people who weren’t even Superhumans had at Jamil Mountain, what they had been doing before returning, or what was inside their bundle, but Iryeong didn’t ask such things.

“We’re going the same way, so we’re just traveling together. Don’t feel burdened.”

After leaving those words, Iryeong turned his head again and looked out the window. As the carriage became quiet, Seon-o’s heart also settled calmly. She was grateful that Iryeong didn’t ask more questions.

The carriage arrived in Myeonggyeong in an hour.

“Thank you. I will never forget this kindness.”

When Seon-o got off the carriage and bowed politely, Iryeong also nodded his head slightly in response. Soon the door closed and the carriage moved away. Seon-o sighed softly and looked back.

Just like when she first regained consciousness, a world completely different from where she had lived was spread out before her. Then Seon-o’s mother and father gently touched her shoulders.

“Let’s go home.”

At that warmth, Seon-o’s confused heart became peaceful. Seon-o nodded her head.

* * *

When they arrived home, Yoon-han, whose face was pale white, ran out to greet them.

“Mom! Dad! …And some person.”

It seemed there was still resentment toward Seon-o, who had taken all the family’s wealth and disappeared without explanation, as Yoon-han’s eyes were full of reproach.

However, that resentment quickly disappeared at the sight of his family’s wretched state.

“Why does everyone look like this! Did you meet demons? No, if you met demons, there’s no way you’d come back alive…”

Yoon-han looked at Seon-o with shock while seeming to have some understanding. Having witnessed Seon-o’s potential together before departure, he seemed to guess that Seon-o was a Superhuman.

“That kind of thing happened. How about brother?”

When Seon-o answered calmly, Yoon-han’s face became confused. I shouldn’t say this in front of our parents, right? Yoon-han glanced at his parents’ expressions and then answered composedly.

“…Same as always, what else. The elixir? Did you bring it? I really hope it has some effect.”

“No, there’s no elixir that can wake brother up.”

At Seon-o’s firm words, Yoon-han’s face went blank. The parents also seemed dejected, realizing that unless it was a scam, such a thing didn’t exist.

“Th-then what about brother?”

“I’m going to wake him up.”

At Seon-o’s firm answer, all three people turned to look at her simultaneously.

“How can sister…?”

“Somehow.”

Seon-o, whose eyes had become somehow resolute, finally put down the bundle she had been clutching tightly to her chest for fear of losing it. Then she went straight to Ji-woon’s room, glanced at Ji-woon who was still wandering in deep unconsciousness, and began rummaging through his room.

“This person is doing it again…”

Yoon-han, who had followed her in, muttered with a pale face.

The parents had faces full of questions about why Seon-o had suddenly come to Jamil Mountain, what the scattered demons and water-soaked Bujin Pavilion were about, and why Seon-o was suddenly rummaging through Ji-woon’s room, but they didn’t ask anything and took Yoon-han with them as they left the room.

Though her stomach rumbled, Seon-o didn’t eat and spent hours thoroughly searching through Ji-woon’s belongings.

In the midst of this, when something finally fell out of an old thick book, a clear light flashed in Seon-o’s eyes.

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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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