I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 6

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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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6

Seon-o picked up the fallen letter and unfolded it.

It was a letter Ji-woon had left for her. The neat handwriting made Seon-o’s throat tighten. As expected, Ji-woon had predicted this entire situation.

Her parents and Yoon-han were the type of people who, no matter how much Ji-woon was in a coma, would never carelessly rummage through someone else’s room. So Ji-woon had set things up before falling into his coma so that only Seon-o would be able to find them.

Seon-o fully opened the book from which the letter had just fallen. What had been disguised as a book was actually a kind of safe with the inside hollowed out. Seon-o sat down on the floor and took out the contents one by one to examine them.

“….”

They were things Seon-o had never anticipated.

Land and mine documents for a certain region, and a gold token that could be used to reclaim wealth deposited with an escort agency.

These were also settings from the Phoenix Chronicles. Originally, On Gang’s family clan had been wealthy mine owners, but they had fallen due to someone’s schemes. However, in the Phoenix Chronicles, On Gang only reclaimed these things halfway through the novel. Only after experiencing countless dangers and hardships.

Ji-woon had skipped that process for her. For her sake.

“….”

Looking at these incredible items that could restore her family clan in one stroke, Seon-o fell into thought.

In the novel, there had been someone who threatened On Gang and her family. Because the novel was incomplete, it was never revealed who they were or why they did such things, but their existence was certain.

That meant the same was true for her in this world.

Seon-o’s eyes suddenly froze and hardened.

Then could the accident on that side also have been….

“The investigation will continue, but it would be best not to expect too much.”

That’s what the detective in charge of the accident had told Seon-o after the funeral. There were some suspicious points so the investigation would proceed, but it would be difficult to find clear evidence.

Remembering that the truck driver who had been drunk driving had purchased a bottle of soju just before getting behind the wheel, and had followed her family’s vehicle for about thirty minutes, chills ran down Seon-o’s neck.

But why…?

Seon-o’s parents had been ordinary office workers, so the probability of them becoming targets of someone’s resentment was low. That’s why Seon-o had thought it was just a terrible coincidence even while hearing about the suspicious points, but now she realized that wasn’t the case.

Everything was planned. Someone here might soon target her family too. Ji-woon had brought her here to prevent that.

Seon-o weakly dropped the book and slowly raised her knees to bury her face.

‘Who on earth.’

She asked herself, but there was a place she could guess.

It was the ‘Yin Cult,’ the greatest villain in the original work.

But if the Yin Cult was really her opponent….

“….”

She had no confidence. The Yin Cult was as sinister as a snake, an organization that had never revealed a clear outline even in the original work.

“Ha….”

Everything that had rushed in at once was so heavy she felt like she might suffocate. After remaining motionless like she was dead for a moment, Seon-o slowly raised her head to look at Ji-woon lying straight on the bed.

“…Wake up, Kang Ji-woon.”

You must know the answer, brother.

Cruelly, Ji-woon’s answer did not come. But there were things that were certain even without hearing an answer.

That power was needed to protect her family. That she absolutely had to become the phoenix.

Seon-o’s eyes became firm once again.

No confidence? Such weak words were a luxury.

“This time I won’t lose them.”

Absolutely not.

Murmuring like a vow, Seon-o lifted her tired body. When Seon-o left the room carrying what Ji-woon had given her, the gazes of her family members, who had been waiting with dinner prepared, turned toward her.

Seon-o faced them and opened her mouth.

“From now on, everyone listen carefully to what I say. We’ll eat after I finish talking.”

The rumbling sound from Yoon-han’s stomach, who had given up on his sister’s endless strange behavior, quietly echoed through the empty house.

* * *

“Ah! Have you fellows heard that news? The news that demons were massacred en masse at a place called Bujin Pavilion on Jamil Mountain two days ago.”

At the words of someone heavily drunk, all the scattered gazes in the inn focused on him.

“Bujin Pavilion? That sounds familiar. Ah, that place. Isn’t that where they sell elixirs?”

“That’s right, but it turns out that place was actually a den of high-level demons. Dozens of demons were pretending to be human and devouring passing guests. More than ten superhumans fell victim to those creatures, you know?”

“Hah, really. The demons’ schemes are becoming more cunning by the day.”

“Anyway, when the Imperial Palace found out about it and went to eliminate those bastards, ah, someone had already slaughtered them all!”

Stories of powerful superhumans always captured public interest, so everyone’s ears perked up.

“Dozens of high-level demons? What kind of superhuman could do that?”

“That’s the thing. Nobody knows, apparently? The demons’ corpses were torn to shreds and scattered everywhere, but there were no other traces. Ah, though those who went there said all the water in the garden pond had dried up… But there’s no way a Basic Technique user who can dry up pond water could have wiped out all those high-level demons disguised as humans.”

“Could it have been Hero Gwak who dealt with them?”

“Ah, that can’t be it. Because, you see, that very night Hero Gwak finally conquered his fifth Demon Lair!”

“Wow, as expected! Hero Gwak is participating in the competition too. He’s going to become the Phoenix.”

“You never know. It might be Miss Cheon? She’s truly beautiful, after all.”

“What a crazy fool. Do you think the Phoenix Competition is a beauty contest?”

The late-night inn quickly became noisy with talk about the Phoenix Competition that had resumed after 500 years.

Hwan, seated in one corner of the dining hall, quietly ate his meal while listening to the excited chatter of the drunkards. The entire continent was swept up in excitement at the news that a Phoenix would finally be born, and every night the inn was filled with expectant drinking sessions.

And rightly so, as this was indeed a competition held for the first time in 500 years since the last Phoenix Competition ended, just as they said. During that time, the Yin Energy in this world had grown stronger day by day, demons that fed on that Yin Energy poured forth like a tide, and humans suffered tremendously as a result. In this situation, the Phoenix’s existence was their only salvation and hope.

The Phoenix was the only master who could gather and control the scattered superhumans acting on their own, and with that power, they were the Yin administrator who could suppress the rampaging demons and manage the Yin Energy of this land to reduce the number of demons. Since this was a competition to select such a magnificent Phoenix, the outpouring of interest was naturally tremendous.

Thus, a truly long-awaited festive atmosphere pervaded all of Geumhwi Kingdom. Every night, everyone was drunk and excited.

Just then, someone stumbled past Hwan’s seat.

“Oh my, I’m sorry.”

“…”

Hwan gave no particular response and simply poured alcohol into his empty cup. At his indifferent attitude, the drunkard muttered quietly as he moved away, then very skillfully opened the inn door and fled.

“…”

Hwan’s gaze turned to his sword sheath that the man had just brushed past. At that moment, a guest who had been sitting behind Sa Hwan quietly eating stood up, paid for his meal, and followed that man outside.

It seemed they were the man’s accomplice.

Hwan leisurely drained his cup while thinking about how to deal with the drunkard who had just brushed past him. However, before long, the inn door burst open again. The guest who had been sitting behind him until just moments ago was entering again through that door. Hwan’s cup froze mid-motion as he noticed him. Without hesitation, the figure walked steadily toward Hwan.

When those steps finally stopped in front of him, Hwan finally raised his head. A woman with a face wet with water was looking down at him intently.

“You almost lost this.”

She held something out to Hwan. It was the sword ornament that had been stolen just moments ago.

“…”

So she wasn’t an accomplice.

But even so, had she followed that man outside to retrieve something that wasn’t even hers?

Hwan’s gaze moved to Seon-o’s wet front.

“Ah, though those who went there said all the water in the garden pond had dried up… But there’s no way a Basic Technique user who can dry up pond water could have wiped out all those high-level demons disguised as humans.”

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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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