The Beloved Baby Deer of the Hwangryong Family - Chapter 139
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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 next day at noon.
‘Why isn’t Yi-eon coming out?’
Seo-yu looked toward the window of Yi-eon’s quarters and kept rising up on her tiptoes and coming back down for no reason.
Today was the day she had planned to tour the mid-mountain village with Yi-eon, so she was waiting for Yi-eon in front of the pavilion.
But for some reason, Yi-eon didn’t appear even when the round sun poked its face up over the rooftop.
‘Could it be that his body still isn’t well?’
Worried, Seo-yu immediately went to Yi-eon’s room and knocked on the door.
“Yi-eon, are you sleeping? I was waiting outside, but since Yi-eon didn’t come, I came to get you.”
She called out once and spoke to him again, but no sound came from inside the room.
“Yi-eon?”
Seo-yu’s heart grew anxious and she stamped her feet, then finally carefully opened the door and went inside.
“Huh?”
Seo-yu blinked her eyes. The guest room where Yi-eon should have been was completely empty. From the neatly arranged bedding and missing clothes, she could tell that Yi-eon had left the household.
Panicking and rolling her eyes around, Seo-yu discovered a letter placed on the desk.
‘To Seo-yu?’
Seeing her own name written on the outside, Seo-yu opened the letter as if entranced.
The letter said that urgent business had arisen and he had to leave at dawn, with an apology for leaving without saying goodbye.
【I’ll definitely deliver the letter you entrusted to me. I hope I’ll be able to bring you good news, Seo-yu. It will surely work out well, so don’t worry too much.】
The writing in neat handwriting was gentle just like Yi-eon. A smile gradually appeared on Seo-yu’s face as she read through the affectionate words.
【Oh, I really want to try the rice cake you mentioned. If it’s okay, would you invite me again next time?】
With that postscript written at the end, the letter came to a close.
“Of course!”
Seo-yu nodded her head as if Yi-eon were listening right there.
Even though the time spent with Yi-eon was short, it had been extremely enjoyable, so it seemed like they could have even more fun next time.
Just as Seo-yu was leaving the room, putting her regret behind her, someone standing in front of the door stepped back in slight surprise.
“Ah, excuse me. I was just about to ask if anyone was inside…”
It was none other than Li-han.
“Young Master Li-han?”
“Seo-yu.”
The siblings who had unexpectedly encountered each other called out to one another in bewilderment. Li-han soon frowned.
“Wait a minute, Seo-yu, why are you coming out of this room… That scoundrel!”
Without giving her time to stop him, Li-han entered the room with an angry face and looked around. Then, noticing that no one was there, he tilted his head with a “Hmm?”
“Elder Brother, Yi-eon went back home. He must have left urgently because he had something to do. He left this letter before departing.”
“Ah, I see. I thought…”
Seo-yu waved the letter she was holding back and forth to show him. Only then did Li-han, having cleared up the misunderstanding, trail off his words.
“Did Elder Brother also come looking for Yi-eon? Oh, if you had made an appointment separately, he might have left a letter for you too!”
“No, Seo-yu. I didn’t come after making an appointment in advance.”
When Seo-yu, puzzled and confused, tried to go back into the room, Li-han stopped her.
Li-han cleared his throat once with an embarrassed face and said,
“I heard about what happened yesterday from Yi-ryeong and Li-gon. That we were rude to Seo-yu’s friend. I wanted to apologize for that too, so I came. But he’s already left…”
When Seo-yu first came to the Golden Dragon Family, the person who was most wary of her was undoubtedly Li-han.
However, now that time had passed and they had become family, if you were to pick the person who cherished and treasured Seo-yu the most, that would also be Li-han.
As the eldest, Li-han wanted to protect his younger siblings. Preventing some scoundrel from hurting his sister naturally felt like something he had to do.
However, he had absolutely no desire to hurt his sister because of that.
So he had come to apologize in case his actions had caused problems between Seo-yu and Yi-eon. Though it had been a wasted trip.
“No, Elder Brother. Yi-eon would have definitely said it was fine. Sister Yi-ryeong and Brother Li-gon apologized so many times too!”
“That’s a relief then… but just in case, I should write a letter. Seo-yu, could you deliver it to him later?”
“Of course!”
The siblings who had left the guest room walked down the corridor, chatting amicably.
“So you were originally planning to go down to the village. You must be disappointed you couldn’t go.”
“I was going to eat those bean rice cakes that Elder Brother bought for me before. They were so delicious… I was a little sad I couldn’t let him taste them.”
“You mean those snacks they sell on the street? Next time we go, I’ll buy you even more.”
Chatting away as they walked, it didn’t take long to exit the pavilion.
Seo-yu casually looked up at the sky due to the shadow falling over her head and was startled.
A Golden Dragon was gliding with its massive wings spread. The overwhelming size made it clear it was Hwang Hyeon-rang.
“Huh? It’s Father! Where is he going?”
“You haven’t heard yet, Seo-yu. Father is going to inspect the front lines. It’s a time when demonic arts are active since food is abundant.”
“But his health still isn’t good…”
Seo-yu watched Hwang Hyeon-rang disappearing into the distance with worried eyes.
‘If he keeps using beast transformation, it will strain his body.’
Hwang Hyeon-ya had said it was fine, but that was only to reassure the twins who were present. In truth, Hwang Hyeon-rang’s condition wasn’t good. Seo-yu knew this well.
She was unable to take her eyes off the sky, feeling deeply anxious, when Li-han spoke with a voice tinged with a faint smile.
“I actually saw Father this morning, and I don’t think you need to worry. He looked to be in very good condition.”
“This morning?”
“Yeah. He said his body felt light for some reason. He said it felt like he had gotten younger. Even from my perspective, it didn’t seem like he was just saying that.”
In Li-han’s eyes, Hwang Hyeon-rang was always a strong father and a reliable family head. But precisely because of that, there were times when he seemed tired.
But today’s father had seemed unusually at ease. Remarkably so.
“I think it might be thanks to the medicinal herbs Seo-yu brought from the Heavenly Medicine Forest. What was it called? That moon flower.”
“Crescent Moon Flower! I said it was an herb that contains all the nutrients good for beastkin.”
“Maybe his health improved after taking that?”
“Hehe, do you really think so? I hope that’s the case.”
“With good medicinal herbs plus Seo-yu’s care, it’s bound to be so.”
After finishing her light walk with Li-han, Seo-yu headed to the medical room.
In the front courtyard, the Jeongdam Herb that had recently been moved outside greeted her.
The Jeongdam Herb, now having completely regained its energy, was purifying the surrounding land clearly, preventing any toxic energy from even approaching.
“Jeongdam, good morning!”
[Did you sleep well, Seo-yu? I thought you’d come late today, but you’re here early.]
“My friend had something to do so he went back first! That’s why I came to the medical room early.”
[You’re going to do ‘that thing’ again today, aren’t you?]
“Yes! I’m going to practice, so please help me.”
The ‘that’ Jeongdam was referring to was communion. The communion learned from the Qilin Family Head gave a feeling of the earth becoming stronger with each repetition, so Seo-yu had been continuously communing with the earth even after returning to the household.
Especially when communing with the earth where Jeongdam was, she felt her heart somehow becoming full and overflowing.
“Then I’ll give it a try!”
Seo-yu sat down neatly with her knees bent, placed her hands on the soil, and closed her eyes. Feeling the fresh scent of earth reach her nose, Seo-yu prayed inwardly.
‘Please grow healthily, everyone. I hope you’ll be strong and not get sick.’
According to the Qilin Family Head, the most important thing in communion was conveying sincerity.
Seo-yu, who had prayed with sincerity for the lives dwelling in this earth as always, opened her eyes and gasped at the sight that suddenly entered her vision.
“Oh, Jeongdam! You’re glowing!”
Unlike usual, the Jeongdam Herb was emitting a pale green light. It looked just like seeing Night Light Grass shining in the darkness.
The Jeongdam Herb rustled its leaves gently.
[This is the heart that Seo-yu conveyed to me.]
“Me? My heart is shining like that?”
[Of course. A kind heart displays such beautiful green light. The reason this Jeongdam can purify the earth like this is all because Seo-yu has cared for me with a good heart.]
“No way, that’s not true. It’s all because Jeongdam did well!”
While saying this, Seo-yu was secretly pleased, but then opened her mouth with a question that suddenly occurred to her.
“But Jeongdam, I have something I’m curious about.”
[What is it?]
“Why doesn’t Jeongdam show a separate form like Seollin or Dragon Spirit?”
Unlike those two who spoke to her in spirit form even when they weren’t together, she could only converse with the Jeongdam Herb when the herb was present.
Therefore, even though quite some time had passed since they met, Seo-yu had no idea what Jeongdam looked like.
‘Come to think of it, I think I saw something once in a dream…’
She had a vague memory and tried to recall it, but couldn’t remember clearly. She definitely remembered seeing green light rising from a flower pot though.
It was some time later that Jeongdam’s voice, which had been silent for a while, was heard.
[We can meet anytime, Seo-yu. As long as Seo-yu recognizes me.]
“Huh? But Jeongdam is Jeongdam.”
[Hehe, that’s right. And Seo-yu is Seo-yu. That fact will never change in the future either.]
When Seo-yu tilted her head at the riddle-like words, Jeongdam whispered affectionately.
[As long as you don’t forget that, Seo-yu will be able to accomplish anything.]
* * *
“Father, are you really going to just stay still like this? Do you truly intend to keep being pushed around by someone we don’t even know who they are?”
“Shut your mouth! What do you know to speak so carelessly!”
Nok Su-gyu clenched his fists at Nok Sa-pyeong’s shout that came flying as soon as he finished speaking.
After that foolish younger sister, Nok Su-jeong, caused a major incident, the atmosphere of the Great Antlered Deer Family had changed considerably. The household that had been full of vigor became gloomy.
The cause was Family Head Nok Sa-pyeong.
He should have denied what could be denied and taken advantage where there was benefit to be gained, but by taking too submissive an approach, things got twisted instead.
To the Qilin Family, he apologized excessively and even promised compensation, and to the Imperial Palace, he bowed his head and waited for punishment.
As a result, the Qilin Family coldly kept their distance, and the Imperial Palace actually let the Daughter of the Commander be imprisoned.
‘Why did he lower his stance so much over something with no witnesses!’
Nok Su-gyu couldn’t understand Nok Sa-pyeong at all.
“Then you should just tell me! Who exactly made our family like this? Who is this person that makes Father bow down so submissively!”
“What would change if you knew? Stop tiring this father any further and just leave!”
He protested with a frustrated heart, but each time Nok Sa-pyeong wouldn’t even listen to his words. With both eyes and ears blocked, it felt exactly like talking to a wall.
In the end, having gained nothing today as well, Nok Su-gyu was driven from the office and paced around his personal room.
‘At this rate, if Father even loses his position as Sa-ryeong-ryeong, it might interfere with my future path. I must prevent that at all costs…’
Nok Su-gyu bit his lips irritably and clicked his tongue.
‘That wench Nok Seo-yu just had to become a member of the Four Spirit Families!’
Though it wasn’t widely known, as long as Nok Seo-yu existed, the sin that Nok Su-jeong had committed would not disappear and would follow the Great Antlered Deer Family.
It was no different from dark clouds casting over Nok Su-gyu’s future.
“Young Master, this is a bill sent from the Feather Trading Company.”
Just then, words that touched Nok Su-gyu’s already irritated nerves reached his ears. Nok Su-gyu shuddered and opened the door.
“What on earth is wrong with that Nok Su-jeong’s head that bills keep flying in… What?”
However, the maid who had been respectfully reporting was nowhere to be seen. Nok Su-gyu’s frowning gaze fell to the floor.
There lay a single letter.
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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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