The Beloved Baby Deer of the Hwangryong Family - Chapter 132
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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 waited for an answer with a heavy heart. Her chest pounded with worry and anticipation.
“The north…”
Hyeon-rang trailed off. In the silence, only the sound of wings cutting through the wind echoed in their ears. Growing anxious, Seo-yu spoke up again.
“I-I know it’s a land where demonic beasts appear. Of course it would be dangerous, but if the medicinal herbs to cure Father’s illness are there, I really want to go. Treatment is better the sooner it’s done…”
The Golden Dragon’s massive eyes rolled back to glance behind briefly.
Seeing Seo-yu’s clearly nervous expression, Hyeon-rang chuckled softly.
“You’ve picked up his speech habits too.”
“Pardon?”
“That saying about treatment being better the sooner it’s done. That’s something Hyeon-ya says often.”
In truth, Hyeon-rang’s feelings had been quite complicated when he met Gi Tae-ha at the Qilin Family.
Even though they didn’t share the same blood, to think that Seo-yu, who was now no different from his own daughter, had a separate birth family.
It was truly a good thing for Seo-yu, but he couldn’t help feeling strange every time he met Gi Tae-ha.
But Seo-yu was still Seo-yu. His beloved daughter who resembled even the smallest speech habits of her teacher, Hyeon-ya.
‘There’s no law saying you can only have one family.’
Hyeon-rang returned to his gentle tone and spoke affectionately.
“Seo-yu. Dad knows how you feel. I’m so grateful.”
She was a daughter who remembered even the smallest clues that could easily be overlooked, spending her precious time investigating his uncertain illness.
Thanks to her, they had even discovered a treatment for an illness whose cause couldn’t be identified for well over ten years – it was an amazing achievement that mere words of gratitude couldn’t express.
Naturally, he wanted to grant any request she made. He too wanted to cure his illness.
“But the north cannot be visited without the Emperor’s permission. The imperial army guards the Northern Region.”
However, the problem was that the land in question was none other than the north. The Northern Region currently had ‘rifts’ and had to be thoroughly managed to prevent demonic beast invasions.
Unlike the other directions which each had their own masters, the north that had been ruled by Yeong-gwi lost its master and now fell under the Emperor’s jurisdiction.
Central and the Northern Region.
The Emperor, who had to oversee both regions, was forced to divide his military forces, and fearing potential rebellions while central military strength was weakened, he controlled visits.
Thus, while Central where the Imperial Palace was located easily received visit permits due to accessible support, the distant Northern Region was difficult to enter without clear justification.
Moreover.
‘The Imperial Palace is definitely involved in matters concerning Seo-yu and the Qilin Family. Revealing our movements when we don’t know the exact connection wouldn’t be wise.’
Cho-ok, who had now become Seo-yu’s maid, had been diligently searching through the Medical Academy and Qilin Family, gathering all traces left by Su-jeong.
Surprisingly, some of the jewelry Su-jeong possessed was of the highest quality.
Not only was the craftsmanship excellent, but they were items worthy of being presented as tribute to the Imperial Palace.
These were definitely not the kind of items an ordinary trading company could purchase.
Feather Trading Company.
Coincidentally, this too was connected to them. At this point, calling it coincidence would be more forced.
“Then Father, would it be difficult to get separate permission from His Imperial Majesty?”
“As you’ve probably already noticed, Seo-yu, Dad has never revealed his illness to outsiders. It wouldn’t be good news.”
“Ah…”
Seo-yu’s voice quickly became dejected. Hyeon-rang smiled gently and comforted Seo-yu.
“It might be difficult right now, but let’s try to find a way. I’ll discuss it with Bi-yeon and Hyeon-ya too.”
“Yes.”
Seo-yu nodded and quietly leaned against Hyeon-rang’s back. The dawn flight continued without rest all the way to the Eastern Lands.
* * *
After returning to the household, Seo-yu first went to bed.
And as soon as she opened her eyes, she headed to the medical room. It was to deliver news to Hwang Hyeon-ya regarding Hwang Hyeon-rang’s illness.
“So, you not only discovered Elder Brother’s illness on your own, which you had never been told about, but also found a way to treat it?”
Hwang Hyeon-ya, who had been listening intently to Seo-yu’s story without interruption, asked back.
“Well, it’s not certain yet, but I think it’s correct from what I can see. The symptoms are too similar. If only we could obtain those medicinal herbs… Master?”
Seo-yu, who had been answering carefully while somewhat nervous at Hwang Hyeon-ya’s seemingly stiff appearance, was startled. Hwang Hyeon-ya had pulled her into his embrace.
Unlike Hwang Hyeon-rang who occasionally gave her piggyback rides, or Bi-yeon who naturally held hands and hugged, Hwang Hyeon-ya always maintained a certain distance.
It wasn’t that she disliked hugging her master, but since this was unusual, Seo-yu was blinking in confusion when it happened.
A voice that sounded muffled as if soaked in tears echoed in her ear.
“Thank you.”
Hwang Hyeon-ya closed his eyes to control his emotions.
His gratitude had overflowed to the point of becoming overwhelming emotion, and he had no idea how to fully convey this grateful heart.
And rightfully so, as this was an illness that had been making no progress without even obtaining proper clues.
Despite being called the greatest physician in the Eastern Territory, Hwang Hyeon-ya, who couldn’t cure his own brother’s illness, always had to fight against self-loathing.
But now his disciple was trying to fulfill his long-cherished wish.
Hwang Hyeon-ya, feeling the deepest emotion since his birth, murmured.
“I think taking you, Seo-yu, as my disciple might be the greatest achievement of my physician life.”
“No! It’s all because Master taught me so well.”
Seo-yu, who shook her head back and forth while still in his embrace, suddenly exclaimed “Ah!” as if remembering something, then pulled out a pouch from her belongings and offered it to Hwang Hyeon-ya.
“That’s right, Master. I also obtained some Crescent Moon Flowers. You said they’re good for stabilizing water veins.”
“You must have gotten them from the Heavenly Medicine Forest.”
“That’s right. The Qilin Family Head said I could take as much as I wanted and gave them to me. He’s really kind, isn’t he?”
Watching his disciple laugh cheerfully, Hwang Hyeon-ya couldn’t help but smile along. It was because he understood Gi Tae-ha’s feelings.
‘If I had such a daughter, what wouldn’t I be willing to give her.’
If even he, who had no children, felt this way, how much more would her real father feel?
Hwang Hyeon-ya lightly ruffled Seo-yu’s hair, then took the medicinal herbs and returned to his place.
“Um, but Master. I have something to ask… Do you happen to remember exactly when Father started suffering from his illness?”
Meanwhile, Seo-yu, who had been watching for the right moment, asked carefully.
‘The Dragon Spirit said Father’s illness is definitely a curse. Then there must be someone who cast the curse.’
Though it was Yeong-gwi’s curse, Father said he had never met Yeong-gwi. Even in the scene Seo-yu saw through her spiritual vision, Yeong-gwi’s true form wasn’t visible.
Then there was only one answer.
‘That man who stole Yeong-gwi’s special abilities cast the curse on Father.’
This hypothesis explained why he was afflicted with Yeong-gwi’s curse despite never meeting Yeong-gwi.
Therefore, if she could find out who Hwang Hyeon-rang met when he fell ill, she might be able to find the culprit.
“I remember. It was after Elder Brother attended the banquet commemorating his coming of age.”
It was the spring when Hwang Hyeon-rang turned eighteen.
The Imperial Family held coming-of-age ceremonies at the Imperial Palace every year to celebrate the young future who would lead Jusang Kingdom, and Hwang Hyeon-rang had also attended the banquet commemorating it.
The image of Hwang Hyeon-rang from that day, displaying his dignified and gallant appearance among countless beast-people, was still vivid in Hwang Hyeon-ya’s memory.
“Did he fall ill right after returning from there?”
“Not exactly. Elder Brother collapsed about a month after that. I just remember it because there were no other events around that time.”
“He collapsed while trying to perform Beast Transformation, right?”
“That’s right. Back then, there were no rifts on our side, so there wasn’t much need for Beast Transformation.”
If only the Demonic Arts had been rampant at that time, they might have noticed the illness even a day sooner. In many ways, the timing was unfortunate.
“Anyway, I’ll discuss the northern matter with Elder Qilin too. That old man has wide connections, so he might know someone.”
Tae-heum would probably exhaust every connection, existing or not, to try to help. Especially if it was to help Seo-yu, the eldest descendant.
“Yes, Master. Please, I’m counting on you!”
Expectation appeared on Seo-yu’s face.
‘Qilin Grandfather has traveled to many places gathering medicinal herbs, so he might really know something.’
Seo-yu planned to visit the mountain hut and have a conversation with Tae-heum as soon as the break ended.
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard.
“Youngest!”
“Seo-yu, Seo-yu!”
It was the Twins’ voices.
Seo-yu reflexively looked at Hwang Hyeon-ya, but he just shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t know either.
Tilting her head in confusion, Seo-yu quickly opened the door.
“Sister Yi-ryeong, Brother Li-gon. Are you done with training already?”
“No, we’re not done yet!”
“What? Then what brings you here… Did someone get hurt?”
Her eyes filled with concern as she hurriedly examined Yi-ryeong and Li-gon. Li-gon spoke up to explain.
“No, Seo-yu. It’s not that. We came because we have something urgent to tell you!”
“What is it?”
“Youngest’s friend came to visit the household!”
Seo-yu’s eyes, which had been tilted in confusion, suddenly widened.
* * *
‘There’s still time before it ends.’
Li-han, roughly calculating when Seo-yu’s class would end, picked up his book again.
Now that his lovely youngest had returned home, he planned to have dinner together and hear about how life at the Qilin Family had been.
‘To think they would grant access to the Heavenly Medicine Forest.’
It was something he should rightfully apologize for, but the gesture was far greater than he had imagined.
Even though he wasn’t particularly interested in medical arts, he knew well how remarkable that forest was, so Li-han hoped this experience would be of great help to Seo-yu.
How long had he been quietly absorbed in reading?
“Brother!”
Just as he was about to put down his book, Yi-ryeong burst through the door with a loud shout.
“Yi-ryeong, you should say Elder Brother.”
Li-han calmly corrected her as he turned around and crossed his arms.
“And I also told you that you should always ask for permission before entering.”
“Hyung, hyung, Li-han hyung!”
Before the lecture could even finish, Li-gon also burst in.
Li-han was about to deliver the nagging he ought to give as the eldest to his restless younger brothers, when Li-gon shouted at just the right moment.
“A friend who goes to the Medical Academy with Seo-yu came to visit the household!”
“Really? That’s wonderful. Seo-yu will be happy.”
It was unexpected, but it was welcome news.
Since Seo-yu had been saying she wanted to invite friends to the household, she would be very delighted to hear this news.
However, there was no reason for the twins to make such a commotion about it.
“Did you two come running to me just to tell me that?”
Li-han asked, somewhat bewildered. It was right after that when he heard an answer he never expected.
“But that friend is a boy.”
“He’s incredibly handsome.”
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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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