I Will Become a Phoenix More Noble Than the Emperor - Chapter 88

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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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88.

‘Her left eye…’

She had torn out her own eye and offered it.

That method was also the last resort that Seon-o, who had experienced Yang Chae-gyo’s eccentricities in the original work, had kept in reserve.

‘…If Flower Cloud Island hadn’t accepted the Immortal Wine, I would have plucked out an eyeball too.’

So he couldn’t blame Yang Chae-gyo for casually sacrificing one eye to become the Phoenix. However, he also couldn’t understand Yang Chae-gyo, who was smiling so joyfully even after losing one eye.

What was Yang Chae-gyo trying to become the Phoenix for?

He could guess the purposes of Gwak Gi-rim, who sought to become the Phoenix for a greater cause, Bu So-yoon, who prioritized ambition, and even Wi I-ryeong, who did it for her family’s honor, but Yang Chae-gyo’s desire was incomprehensible.

Of course, Yang Chae-gyo’s desires were none of his business.

“Please remove it.”

When Seon-o quietly hinted, Yang Chae-gyo tilted her head with a “Huh?” Veins bulged on Seon-o’s forehead at her obvious pretense of not knowing. Yang Chae-gyo’s Light Power was still pressing down on his body.

Not wanting to repeat himself, Seon-o summoned his Water Element and simply swallowed Yang Chae-gyo’s Light Power, causing a light-infused water mass to rise into mid-air.

“Ah, this? You should have said so. I thought it was something else.”

Yang Chae-gyo chuckled as if she truly hadn’t known, pulling the sparkling water mass toward herself to examine it.

“Oh ho, this is quite nice? I’d like to take it home, but there’s probably no way. It’s so lustrous it would look good in the Pleasure House too. Could you make another one when we go down below?”

Seon-o raised his stiff body, stretched his neck, and looked at Yang Chae-gyo, who was poking at the water mass while spouting nonsense.

‘…In the original work, it was Wi I-ryeong who was beside On Gang.’

The Old Man who had rescued On Gang had also rescued Wi I-ryeong, placing them side by side.

He wondered if he had confused the content, but that couldn’t be. Anxiety flashed through Seon-o’s mind at this development that differed from the original. Seon-o hid his inner thoughts and asked casually.

“By the way, where is this place?”

The space with two beds was cozy.

“The Immortal grandpa’s house?”

Ha.

Seon-o suppressed the urge to let out a hollow laugh at that insincere answer and asked again.

“Did you also fall from the bridge, Yang Chae-gyo?”

“That’s right. With only one eyeball left, I couldn’t keep my balance.”

After finishing her words, Yang Chae-gyo burst into laughter at her own comment, going “Puhaha!”

“…”

Seon-o was at a loss for words as he looked at her. Yang Chae-gyo was exactly as he had perceived her in the original work. In some ways, he even envied that audacity and guts that bordered on madness.

He wouldn’t have been able to laugh like that after losing an eye.

Wasn’t that kind of guts exactly the virtue a Phoenix should possess? As Seon-o was thinking about what the most important quality for a Phoenix was, the door burst open and the Old Man entered.

“Noisy, so noisy! All the fish are swimming away!”

Seon-o and Yang Chae-gyo’s gazes simultaneously turned toward the Old Man. The two had the exact same thought at that moment.

‘Wow, he’s really the embodiment of an Immortal.’

White hair tied up in a half-bun, white eyebrows so long they drooped to the sides, and a white beard that reached down to his navel.

The Old Man was exactly the conceptual image contained in the word “Immortal.”

Seon-o and Yang Chae-gyo’s gazes moved to the six dots embedded in the Old Man’s forehead. The dots, neatly arranged in three rows of two each, were proof that he was an Immortal.

Yang Chae-gyo’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Are those dots on your forehead real? Tsk, they look drawn on.”

“Good gracious, what a reckless and wicked thing I’ve seen! How dare you speak such nonsense to an Immortal!”

The Old Man called himself an Immortal. It was natural. Since he was a human on Flower Cloud Island, he would be an Immortal.

“Are you really an Immortal?”

When Seon-o asked politely, the Old Man’s gaze, barely visible due to his eyebrows, turned toward Seon-o.

“That’s what I should be asking. Who are you people? You’re certainly not Immortals… How did you enter Flower Cloud Island?”

A brief silence fell at the suspicious question.

“No one has been able to enter Flower Cloud Island for thousands of years.”

While Seon-o was inwardly shocked by that eternal span of time, Yang Chae-gyo answered indifferently.

“Well, we’re here now.”

The Old Man’s eyebrows twitched with displeasure. However, Yang Chae-gyo had no interest in the Old Man’s mood.

“More importantly, grandpa, what does Blooming mean on Flower Cloud Island?”

A strange silence filled the room. After a moment, the Old Man stroked his beard and answered.

“Don’t you even know how to read? When spring comes and flowers bloom, that is blooming.”

Hmm. Chaegyo thought that couldn’t be right, but didn’t bother to argue.

“So we have to figure that out ourselves too.”

At Chaegyo’s muttering, Seon-o’s eyes darkened. However, the Old Man didn’t give the two time to think.

“Now that you’re awake, get up quickly. You must undergo an examination.”

“An examination?”

“Flower Cloud Island is not a place just anyone can enter, nor a place just anyone can stay. Therefore.”

The Old Man’s previously invisible eyes suddenly flashed with light.

“The Immortals will judge whether you are qualified to be here. So get up!”

At his urging, the three boarded the Old Man’s boat and headed to the Central Largest Island of Flower Cloud Island. It was an island with a massive peach tree.

Seon-o knew that the dreamlike palace on that island was Hwawoon Palace. Seon-o and Chaegyo followed the Old Man into the palace. By some means, the sky was visible directly through the palace ceiling.

Thanks to this, other Candidates were already seated in the palace that resembled a heavenly garden. Beside them were two other Immortals. They seemed to have brought Candidates here like the Old Man.

Gwak Gi-rim, Wi I-ryeong, and Bu So-yoon looked at Seon-o and Chaegyo entering.

“Wow, did everyone make it in? How impressive.”

As Chaegyo sat down with admiration, their gazes also turned to Chaegyo’s bandage. The Candidates’ faces showed various expressions of bewilderment after immediately recognizing what Chaegyo had sacrificed.

“Don’t tell me you sacrificed your eyes?”

When Bu So-yoon asked in disbelief, Chaegyo smiled brightly.

“Having two was cumbersome to carry around.”

“What? Then why don’t you cut off one arm and one leg too?”

“Eh, but that would be inconvenient for walking around. Are you stupid, Bu So-yoon?”

When Chaegyo asked with genuine bewilderment, veins popped on Bu So-yoon’s forehead. As Bu So-yoon was about to retort, the Old Man shouted again.

“Be quiet, be quiet! You must be quiet in Hwawoon Palace!”

Just then, Immortals riding clouds came flooding through the palace entrance.

“There were intruders on Flower Cloud Island?”

“Who is it! Who dares set foot on Flower Cloud Island!”

“Ah, are these the ones?”

“They’re definitely not demons, but humans.”

The Immortals descended from their clouds in an instant and observed the Candidates with curiosity. Seven Immortals had gathered in Hwawoon Palace. They were the representatives among the Immortals.

Seon-o, who already knew them, looked over each one.

Starting with the Old Man who had brought him, who was an Immortal himself, there was a Fairy-like Young Woman, a Shaman-like Middle-aged Woman, a Noble Young Man who looked slender and clever, a General-like Man who was burly with a thick black beard, a Monk-like Bald Man with a good build, and finally a Melancholy Young Woman who emanated a somewhat gloomy aura.

Though the seven Immortals had different appearances, they all had six identical dots embedded in their foreheads. These were marks proving their status as Immortals.

“How on earth did these people enter Flower Cloud Island?”

When the Fairy-like Young Woman asked anxiously, the Old Man answered.

“I haven’t received an answer yet.”

Then the Immortals’ gazes turned toward the Candidates.

“Tell us how you entered this place!”

When the General-like Man with a thick black beard spoke like he was barking orders, several Candidates’ eyebrows shot up at his rudeness.

“What is your purpose for coming here?”

When the Old Man asked again, Gwak Gi-rim finally answered.

“We are participating in a competition.”

“A competition?”

The Immortals looked at Gwak Gi-rim with interest. Gwak Gi-rim explained politely while wearing a peaceful smile that would put anyone at ease.

“Yes, the Phoenix Competition.”

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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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