The Beloved Baby Deer of the Hwangryong Family - Chapter 126

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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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Seo-yu couldn’t continue speaking.

Yeong-gwi had cursed her father, and Yeong-gwi had attacked Qilin Madam.

She couldn’t believe that it was all Yeong-gwi’s doing.

“But why on earth… Why would Yeong-gwi do such things?”

Dragon Spirit and Seollin had said before that Yeong-gwi had not betrayed the Four Spirits.

Then why did traces of Yeong-gwi keep being discovered in other Four Spirit Families? And always in ominous forms that harmed someone.

She was deeply pondering these unsolved mysteries when—

[Seo-yu, did you notice anything strange in your Spiritual Vision?]

Seollin, who had been quietly listening to the story, spoke up.

“Something strange?”

[Yes, anything at all! Even the smallest detail would be fine, so could you tell me?]

“Hmm, if I had to say something strange…”

Seo-yu carefully went through her memories, then suddenly lifted her head.

“Ah! The shadow disappeared at the end. The shadow definitely attacked Madam, but… huh?”

She blinked her eyes.

“…Why did the shadow look different from the person?”

Seo-yu became very confused. She hadn’t paid attention to it while using Spiritual Vision, but looking back, the shadow was Yeong-gwi while what was visible was a person.

[Child, are you saying the main body was different from the shadow?]

“Yes, Dragon Spirit. It was wrapped in dark energy so I couldn’t see clearly, but it didn’t look like Yeong-gwi. It didn’t seem to be in Beast Transformation.”

Originally, shadows reflect things as they truly are.

But the Yeong-gwi she saw in her Spiritual Vision was not like that. That’s why she couldn’t easily think of Yeong-gwi despite seeing the distinct features of a dragon’s head and turtle’s body.

The two spirits looked at each other silently.

In the heavy silence, countless unfathomable thoughts passed through their exchanged glances.

[Dragon Spirit, you’re thinking the same thing as me, aren’t you?]

[Yes. Though I don’t want to accept it.]

After their cryptic conversation ended, Dragon Spirit’s grave voice broke the silence.

[Child, what you saw might not have been Yeong-gwi.]

“What?”

Seo-yu was flustered. She had definitely seen Yeong-gwi, but now they were saying it wasn’t Yeong-gwi. She couldn’t understand what they meant at all.

[Yeong-gwi is a divine beast that belongs to shadows. Having grown beneath the turtle’s shell, Yeong-gwi is closer to shadows than anyone else. Therefore, it can traverse spaces through shadows and even imitate the appearance of others.]

“That’s right! That person also commanded shadows.”

[I didn’t say commanded. I said belonged to.]

When Seo-yu looked puzzled, Seollin quickly stepped in.

[Seo-yu, when Yeong-gwi uses shadow-related Special Abilities, it doesn’t show its form. It enters into the shadows.]

“But if that wasn’t Yeong-gwi…”

Then who on earth was it?

She thought deeply but couldn’t get a grasp on it. After much deliberation, Seo-yu asked.

“Could there be another beast-person who manipulates shadows?”

[No. Shadows are Yeong-gwi’s domain.]

But what came back was a firm denial.

“But I definitely saw a shadow that resembled Yeong-gwi. The shadow even moved on its own. Unless someone stole Yeong-gwi’s special abilities…”

It was right at that moment when she muttered with a dejected expression.

‘Huh?’

Ting—

A strange sound rang out from somewhere. The moment she raised her head following the sound whose direction she couldn’t even determine, she saw an illusion of cracks forming in her vision.

At the same time, she felt something that had been covering her eyes being lifted away. It was as if an invisible veil had been peeled off.

She remained for a moment in time where even the air seemed to have stopped.

[Do-cheol.]

Dragon Spirit spoke with a much clearer voice.

[One of the Four Evils. A demonic beast with tremendous greed that tries to steal everything it cannot possess.]

The rest of his words followed half a beat later.

[Sometimes even special abilities.]

“It… steals special abilities?”

Seo-yu’s mouth fell open. This was the first time in her life she had heard that special abilities, which were unique powers of beast-people, could be stolen. Though it was hard to believe, Dragon Spirit wouldn’t lie.

[That’s right. Entering shadows is Yeong-gwi’s characteristic, not a special ability, so it seems it couldn’t steal that.]

‘Certainly, that would explain why I couldn’t see Yeong-gwi but only saw the shadow. But still…’

Seo-yu gulped nervously.

“Th-then what about the beast-person whose special ability was stolen? Are they alright?”

[They wouldn’t have died. Do-cheol’s special ability only works when the target is alive.]

“The culprit who cursed Father might be the same person!”

What were the odds of there being two Yeong-gwi that even the head of the Four Spirit Families had never met?

Moreover, since both incidents targeted the Four Spirit Families, it was even more likely that one person was the culprit.

Though she didn’t know when it happened, Hwang Hyeon-rang’s curse still hadn’t been lifted, so the Yeong-gwi whose special ability was stolen must still be alive.

“Then if we catch that bad person, we can lift the curse on Father!”

[Of course we could.]

“And we can also rescue the captured Yeong-gwi.]

[…That would also be the case.]

The second answer came back somewhat slowly, but it was affirmative nonetheless.

Seo-yu was about to let out a sigh of relief but stopped and hesitated. Her eyebrows drooped into a figure-eight shape.

“But the spiritual vision incident was ten years ago. Too much time has passed… How do we find Yeong-gwi?”

[Just find another Yeong-gwi!]

Seollin shouted cheerfully.

[You said Yeong-gwi can travel through shadows. That’s why Yeong-gwi can sense each other.]

“But Father said the Yeong-gwi Family no longer exists.”

[Just because the family doesn’t exist doesn’t mean the bloodline has disappeared. There should be plenty of descendants remaining.]

[That’s right! Although we don’t know where they are either, we can sense that Yeong-gwi are still alive. We’ll definitely be able to meet them somewhere.]

[Perhaps very…]

Dragon Spirit’s voice, which had been adding words slowly, suddenly became faint. Dragon Spirit frowned.

[I can’t go that far.]

It seemed he had tried to tell her something but failed. Seo-yu realized that the sky had once again silenced Dragon Spirit.

Still, it was fine. Now she knew exactly what she needed to do.

‘First, I need to go north.’

Since it was the land where the Yeong-gwi clan had lived, she would surely be able to find traces if she went there.

“Seollin, would it be okay to tell my parents about this? I don’t think I can go alone.”

[Of course! Those two dragons have very kind hearts, so it’ll be fine.]

[It’s all thanks to the good deeds I’ve accumulated. You reap what you sow, after all.]

[….]

At the Dragon Spirit’s boasting about its descendants, Seollin suddenly closed its mouth and let out a deep sigh that seemed to make the ground sink.

Normally it would have said something, but its inability to say anything at all made it look quite dejected.

Seo-yu felt concerned for no particular reason and spoke up.

“But Seollin, is it okay for you to tell me this much today?”

While she was happy to hear detailed stories about things she hadn’t known before, like the Four Evils and Spiritual Vision, she was worried it might affect the spirits.

[Seo-yu, I told you before, didn’t I? We promised not to reveal heaven’s secrets to the outside world. That’s because we don’t belong to this land.]

[Strictly speaking, we are spiritual beings, after all.]

[But if Seo-yu discovers the secrets first without us telling you, then we can explain those things.]

“Huh? Then could that feeling I had earlier of something disappearing be….”

[That was exactly a prohibition! Seo-yu broke one of the prohibitions!]

A sense of liberation could be felt from Seollin’s face as it regained its energy.

[The closer Seo-yu gets to the secrets, and the more power you develop, the more we’ll be able to tell you. And you’ll also see our true forms!]

“True forms? What I’m seeing now isn’t your true form?”

[Hmph. This tiny body couldn’t possibly be my true form.]

The Dragon Spirit snorted as if the idea was ridiculous. Displeasure could be felt from its fluttering short wings.

Just then, Cho-ok’s excited voice came from outside.

“Young Miss, I’ve brought your meal! They must have taken special care because it looks very delicious! May I come in?”

“Yes, Cho-ok! Come in!”

Seo-yu gestured toward the spirits. Understanding, the two spirits’ bodies gradually became transparent.

[You’re doing very well right now, Seo-yu!]

[Not bad, so work even harder.]

At their affectionate encouragement in their different ways, Seo-yu smiled gently.

* * *

“Snore…zzz…zzz….”

Bi-neung was sleeping soundly on the wooden floor.

The wooden floor situated under the eaves was a perfect spot that avoided the scorching sun while still receiving the warm comfort of sunlight.

“Good grief. What a comfortable life.”

Tae-heum, who had just returned to the mountain hut carrying a hemp sack full of medicinal herbs, let out a hollow laugh.

When she had asked if she could stay at the hut during vacation because her home was too far away, he had told her to go ahead, but she had been doing nothing but eating and sleeping every single day.

Tae-heum carefully set down the heavy sack on the floor, then quietly approached and deliberately raised his voice.

“Hey, you! The sun is at its peak and you’re still sleeping!”

“…Huh.”

Startled, Bi-neung’s eyes snapped wide open.

“Geez…”

“If I get startled twice, my life will be over.”

Tae-heum shook his head and went back up to the wooden floor with his herb sack. He planned to trim the medicinal herbs.

“Should I… help?”

“No need. I’d rather die than suffer. I’ll be stuck doing just this all day long.”

Tae-heum took out his short blade and began trimming the stone calamus from the sack. In summer when food spoiled easily, calamus roots were important medicinal materials that strengthened the intestines and stomach.

Bi-neung, who had been staring at him intently, slowly opened her mouth.

“Old man, sir…”

“Why are you calling me?”

“Why am I… so slow…”

Tae-heum, who had responded curtly, glanced at Bi-neung. Her usually vacant face somehow looked dejected.

‘She is young, after all.’

She had only blinked at his joking criticism, but apparently she had been secretly bothered by it.

Feeling slightly guilty, Tae-heum put down the medicinal materials he was trimming and spoke.

“Everyone is born for a reason. It’s true that you’re slow, Bi-neung, but instead you have the patience to complete any task you’re given. No matter how many days it takes.”

In fact, that was exactly why Tae-heum had invited Bi-neung to the Medical Academy.

While gathering herbs in the deep forest, he had met Bi-neung by chance, and she had watched over herbs that required time and careful observation on his behalf.

Since then, Tae-heum had often entrusted similar tasks to Bi-neung.

“Besides, because you move so slowly, the animals can barely sense your presence. What herb gatherer could have such a talent?”

“Mm, hmm…”

“Just as everyone looks different, their strengths and weaknesses are like that too. If it’s because of what I said, don’t worry about it too much.”

Bi-neung, who had been making an uncertain expression, became quiet. Tae-heum waited for a follow-up question, but unable to wait any longer, he picked up his short blade again.

Scrape, scrape.

He trimmed the dirt-covered roots with skillful hands for quite a while.

“Then… having one horn?”

An unexpected question came flying. Tae-heum furrowed his brow.

“What are you suddenly talking about now?”

“Seo-yu… said so. She’s… a deer but… has one horn… so everyone… looked at her strangely…”

The hand moving the short blade stopped abruptly.

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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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