The Beloved Baby Deer of the Hwangryong Family - Chapter 129

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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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The Medical Academy’s vacation period when everyone had returned to their respective households.

Yi-eon, who remained alone, sat on a thick tree branch quietly looking down at a letter. It was the letter that Seo-yu had left behind when vacation began.

【To Yi-eon】

The beautiful and neat handwriting gave a round feeling, as if it perfectly resembled its owner.

Was that why? Yi-eon kept looking at the letter he had read over and over again, already memorizing its contents completely.

<Yi-eon, hello! It's me, Seo-yu. I'm writing this letter while waiting for the festival to begin!

I heard from friends that the festival is fun, so I’m really looking forward to it. You said this would be your first festival too, right? I really wish we could have watched it together – it’s such a shame.>

Yi-eon felt the same regret. If anything, Yi-eon probably felt much more regret.

However, Yi-eon had never used his special abilities on a wide scale before.

The divine power that made people recognize him as ‘a Medical Academy student and West Hall keeper’ only worked within the West Hall, so if he rashly extended it outside and problems arose, it would be difficult to handle.

‘She must have been really looking forward to the festival.’

Yi-eon became upset as he stared at the writing that was filled with excitement.

While avoiding the Golden Dragons with their particularly keen senses and watching the festival from afar, Yi-eon happened to see Su-jeong being dragged away by Imperial Palace soldiers.

That bad deer who had bullied Seo-yu since childhood must have caused some trouble.

Sure enough. When he secretly snuck into the Medical Academy and listened to the physicians talking, they said Su-jeong had caused an accident while trying to frame Seo-yu out of jealousy for being adopted into a better household than her own.

He was so shocked and angry to hear that she had even mobilized private soldiers.

Yi-eon blamed himself for not being able to protect Seo-yu by her side.

<Oh right, Yi-eon. Was the urgent matter in your household resolved well? If there are still difficult things remaining, please tell me anytime.

If Yi-eon is okay with it, I’ll listen earnestly. They say sorrow becomes half when shared!>

Yi-eon, who had been reading the letter with a melancholy expression, soon smiled slightly. He could hear Seo-yu’s cheerful voice in the writing.

‘Seo-yu is really kind.’

Yi-eon found that truly amazing. Seo-yu hadn’t had a particularly enjoyable childhood. Far from enjoyable, it must have been very difficult.

Yet Seo-yu consistently never lost her smile and cared for the people around her.

Yi-eon, who had similarly lived a life that wasn’t very smooth, knew better than anyone how difficult that was.

That’s why his eyes kept going to Seo-yu with amazement.

<And if you have time, would you like to come visit our household? I want to introduce Yi-eon to my family.

Oh, I won’t mention that Yi-eon saved me! Since Yi-eon asked me to keep it secret, I’ll keep my promise!

Still, if you come visit, I’ll show you around the herb garden and show you the Cloud Bridge too. It’ll be fun.

If it wouldn’t be a burden to Yi-eon’s family, I really want to invite you, so please come visit anytime.>

Yi-eon’s gaze lingered long on the last paragraph.

There was no family to burden. Yi-eon had been growing up alone from some point on. He had heard there were remaining clan members, but he didn’t particularly feel like seeking them out.

‘I need to avoid places where Golden Dragons are gathered…’

Moreover, visiting their main household would be crazy. Yi-eon knew that well too.

However.

‘…Wouldn’t it work if I hide my special abilities?’

Yi-eon missed Seo-yu that much. His first friend ever, that kind and beautiful girl.

After repeating the same deliberation for who knows how many times, Yi-eon finally made his decision.

Whoosh!

The movement of jumping down from under the tree was incredibly agile. Like a shadow that consistently follows its master.

* * *

Seo-yu enjoyed touring the Heavenly Medicine Forest.

“Wow, Family Head. The Night Light Grass really does glow even under sunlight!”

“That’s because it has the property of absorbing light. The longer Night Light Grass receives sunlight, the brighter it shines.”

“Oh, that tree looks just like a Schisandra tree, but the fruit is white instead of red.”

“You observed correctly. That’s called White Magnolia. It’s an improved variety of Schisandra, with reduced yang energy so it can be used even for those with hot constitutions.”

“Medicinal herb improvement! I learned about it in class, but this is the first time I’m seeing it in person.”

“There are many different improved varieties in the Heavenly Medicine Forest. There are also several species that evolved on their own without human intervention.”

When Seo-yu discovered new medicinal herbs and asked with sparkling eyes, Gi Tae-ha answered as if he had been waiting for the question.

Seo-yu truly enjoyed this time. Her worry about being too awkward to properly examine the Heavenly Medicine Forest proved completely unfounded.

‘The Family Head really loves medicinal herbs too.’

The fact that he knew all the medicinal herbs growing in such a vast forest was truly admirable.

Seo-yu continued walking deeper into the Heavenly Medicine Forest, once again marveling at Gi Tae-ha’s outstanding knowledge.

“Wow!”

There, a breathtaking scene unfolded before them.

A tree that seemed to reach the sky towered high, creating an enormous canopy of shade. When the wind blew, the leaves rustled gently, and the sunlight filtering through them danced.

Behind the giant tree lay a crystal-clear lake. The water was so clean and clear that you could see the white pebbles covering the bottom.

“It’s Jeongdam Herb!”

The Jeongdam Herb was there between them, in a sunny spot that was appropriately moist with just the right amount of sunlight. Seo-yu quickly approached the Jeongdam Herb. A fresh, grassy scent wafted to her nose.

‘It’s amazing that so many Jeongdam Herbs are gathered together in one place.’

While the Golden Dragon Family had exactly one root of Jeongdam Herb, the Heavenly Medicine Forest had countless Jeongdam Herbs blooming in clusters.

Seo-yu realized why the medicinal herbs in the Heavenly Medicine Forest were particularly fresh and vibrant. With so many Jeongdam Herbs purifying the soil, they all had no choice but to overflow with vitality.

While examining the Jeongdam Herb with curious eyes, Seo-yu discovered a familiar medicinal herb and her eyes lit up.

“You’ve placed Snow Scale Flowers here too! Oh, but…”

Seo-yu blinked. The Snow Scale Flowers were in worse condition than she had expected.

She had thought they would have recovered after receiving the healthy energy of the Jeongdam Herb, but they were still wilted and lacking vitality.

“I transplanted them after hearing your words. Thanks to that, they’re in much better condition than when they were planted in the Eternal Snow.”

Gi Tae-ha kindly explained to the puzzled Seo-yu. Relief could be felt from his smiling face, but Seo-yu fell into contemplation.

‘I suppose it’s because there’s no Dragon Spirit Herb here.’

Come to think of it, the withering Jeongdam Herb had flourished dramatically after meeting the Dragon Spirit Herb.

‘For the Family Matriarch’s sake, you’ll need Snow Scale Flowers in the future too…’

Having even one more root of medicinal herbs was completely different from having none at all.

However, she couldn’t immediately take out the Dragon Spirit Herb and plant it in the Heavenly Medicine Forest. To explain the Dragon Spirit Herb, the story of spirits would be essential.

‘Ah! Couldn’t I borrow a little of Dragon Spirit’s power?’

Since she herself didn’t have great power anyway, she couldn’t make the Snow Scale Flowers bloom immediately.

Still, if the soil could gain even a little strength, that alone would seem sufficient.

At that moment, Gi Tae-ha knelt on one knee and sat in front of the Snow Scale Flower. Then he looked down at the withered Snow Scale Flower and asked.

“Would you perhaps like to learn communion?”

“Co, communion? But I’m not from the Qilin family, so I don’t have such special abilities.”

When Seo-yu spoke in confusion at the sudden question, Gi Tae-ha wore a faint smile.

“If it’s a special ability, then it is one. But there’s no need to define it so strictly. It’s simply the act of sharing hearts with nature.”

Sharing hearts…

Somehow those words touched her heart, and Seo-yu crouched down beside Gi Tae-ha.

Gi Tae-ha gently placed both hands on the soil where the Snow Scale Flower was planted, as if demonstrating.

“It’s not difficult. Just carefully caress the soil like this and convey what you want to say. Then your heart will be transmitted.”

This is similar to what I used to do with my flower pot!

At first she was a little scared, thinking it was something she couldn’t do, but hearing the explanation gave her courage.

Seo-yu followed Gi Tae-ha’s example, placing her hands on the fine soil and quietly closing her eyes. Then she conveyed what she wanted to say to the earth in her heart.

‘It must be hard holding so many medicinal herbs, right? But thanks to you, many people have been able to heal their sick bodies and gain a healthy future. Thank you so much.’

Come to think of it, she had always received precious medicinal herbs but had never properly expressed gratitude to the earth.

Seo-yu sincerely expressed her gratitude to the earth that had grown the medicinal herbs so well, and prayed inwardly.

‘So won’t you gather your strength just one more time? I’ll give you energy so you can find strength.’

Then she called upon the Dragon Spirit.

‘Dragon Spirit, please lend me your power. Please help me so that Snow Scale Flowers can grow abundantly on this land and the Family Matriarch can awaken.’

A solemn voice came along with a gentle breeze.

[If that is your will.]

Swoosh—

Gi Tae-ha, who had been silently watching Seo-yu, suddenly felt a strong life force.

‘Special abilities?’

For a moment he wondered if he had unconsciously deployed his abilities, but he had never made such a mistake.

Moreover, the sensation he was feeling now was similar to his Growth ability yet different. It was a more intense and fundamental power.

Gi Tae-ha unconsciously followed the power with his gaze and froze in place.

Verdant green was blooming from the child’s fingertips.

Life force resembling a clear stream like spring water that bubbles up daily flowed endlessly and continuously seeped into the soil.

A subtle tremor arose in the earth where the green energy had gently spread. It was as if the earth itself was breathing.

Soon the entire earth was covered with green breath and emitted a subtle light as if expressing joy.

Under the sunlight, all vegetation sparkled as if holding dewdrops, creating the illusion that the world had suddenly brightened.

Gi Tae-ha was speechless for a long time at the magnificent sight.

The scene of the Heavenly Medicine Forest breathing alive beneath Seo-yu’s hands was so wondrous that he dared not open his mouth.

And then, a single tear that had formed without him knowing dropped down.

It was a tear he had never shed once in the past ten years, or even in his entire life.

‘She really is my daughter.’

Despite having various circumstantial evidence until now, he couldn’t easily accept that fact.

There was no other reason. He was simply afraid.

Afraid that he might lose a child once again to false hope, afraid that he might have to let go forever of the blood relation he couldn’t bear to part with even for a moment.

Because he, who was more rational than anyone, simply could not accept the fact that he had to bury forever in his heart a child whose face he had never even seen.

“Family Head, Communion seems like a difficult thing… Oh, Family Head. Are you crying?”

He had been forcing himself to look away, but his child was truly alive.

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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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