The Beloved Baby Deer of the Hwangryong Family - Chapter 148

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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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“Young Master Li-han would never stoop to eavesdropping.”

Seo-yu flared up.

Because Nok Su-gyu’s words sounded exactly like he was treating Li-han as some ill-mannered, senseless person.

Nok Su-gyu slightly raised his eyebrows at the sight of Seo-yu looking straight at him with both eyes wide open.

‘How very spirited she is.’

He couldn’t believe that this half-breed who couldn’t even make proper eye contact before was now facing him as an equal.

And all to defend the Golden Dragon, who wasn’t even real family.

‘She doesn’t seem to know yet that she’s of Qilin bloodline.’

It was quite amusing, but also fortunate in a way.

If her origins had already been revealed, not only the Golden Dragon but the Qilin Family would have joined forces to cause an uproar.

If that had happened, his father’s sins couldn’t have been repaid even with death, so it was truly heaven’s blessing.

‘Indeed, heaven is on my side!’

Nok Su-gyu had no intention whatsoever of wasting the fortune given to him.

“Still, it’s our family’s shame. Since I’ll be the one governing this family now, I want to pay attention to it. Let’s go to the pavilion to talk.”

Saying this, Nok Su-gyu cast his gaze outside the window. In the back garden of the sarangchae, there was a spacious pavilion for enjoying the scenery.

It was a place Seo-yu had never once used during her stay at the Great Antlered Deer Family.

“I won’t take up much of your time.”

At her firm reply, Nok Su-gyu smiled good-naturedly and nodded readily.

“Don’t worry. I’ll just tell them to bring some simple refreshments, so would you go ahead first?”

“I will.”

Not wanting to prolong the conversation unnecessarily, Seo-yu decided to quietly follow his words.

The two left the guest room together.

Nok Su-gyu, who had headed down the corridor opposite to Seo-yu, flung open a door.

“How did it go?”

Nok Su-jeong, who had been pacing frantically around the room, rushed over in one bound.

Originally, Su-jeong was in a situation where she couldn’t leave Thunder Prison, but with her father Nok Sa-pyeong’s death, she had come out under the pretext of attending a direct ancestor’s funeral.

However, it wouldn’t be good if others caught them having a private conversation with Su-jeong.

Nok Su-gyu, who had hastily closed the door worried someone might see, said:

“I’ve called that thing out to the pavilion separately. You know what you need to do, right?”

“Of course!”

Su-jeong’s face lit up as she nodded vigorously.

“You must finish the job within one moment… no, within one watch period. It’ll be troublesome if you drag it out and those guys notice and come running.”

Nok Su-gyu, who had lowered his voice completely while giving the warning, added coldly:

“If you fail, there won’t be a next chance for you. Whether you rot in Thunder Prison or not, no one will come visit you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve been waiting for today alone.”

Su-jeong’s hand dug deep inside her sleeve.

Hidden there was ‘that thing’ which would destroy Seo-yu and bring her freedom.

Just imagining it sent thrilling shivers down her spine. Her eyes glittered coldly like a viper’s.

“Elder Brother, just watch carefully. I will definitely take back everything that’s mine.”

* * *

As they entered behind the sarangchae, a tranquil back garden appeared.

In the pond where clear water flowed, silk carp swam leisurely, and behind it stood a pavilion decorated with splendid dancheong.

Everywhere the eye could see was a landscape that clearly showed careful attention.

Seo-yu slowly walked forward, taking in the unfamiliar scenery.

‘Still, I’ve lived in this household for nearly ten years and never knew such a place existed.’

And that wasn’t all. Today was the first time she had ever set foot in the sarangchae.

The sarangchae was a space exclusively for hosting honored guests.

On days when guests came, Seo-yu was thoroughly isolated and couldn’t even go near that area.

‘I was never once family in this clan.’

It was a fact she already knew, but it felt bitter anew.

Seo-yu climbed up to the pavilion and looked down at the pond.

Her face was faintly reflected on the water’s surface. Her golden hair and eyes were swaying underwater.

Looking at that sight, Seo-yu thought.

‘But it’s okay. I have real family.’

Hwang Hyeon-rang and Bi-yeon, Li-han and the twins.

Because she had precious family, Seo-yu could rise above the wounds of the past.

‘I need to hurry and hear the story, then go back.’

Once she heard the story about her parents, there would be no more reason to be entangled with the Great Antlered Deer Family.

Though it was a connection that had never been properly formed, this time she would cut it off forever.

Just then, she felt the rustling presence of someone behind her.

When she turned around, a maid with her mouth covered by a face veil, apparently working in the kitchen, was setting down a tray on the table with her head bowed.

“I brought refreshments.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Gangjeong, honey rice cake, dasik, and even jeonggwa.

Various types of refreshments were arranged on the tray. There were just as many plates.

Seo-yu quickly approached to help the maid and was setting down bowls on the table together with her.

‘What kind of mark is that?’

Seo-yu noticed red marks on the maid’s wrist.

But the shape of the marks was somewhat strange. They looked exactly like traces from being bound by something. As if by chains.

“How did this happen…”

It was the moment when Seo-yu, who had frowned at the painful-looking wound, raised her head.

Seo-yu’s eyes widened greatly. The maid was glaring at her with fiercely narrowed eyes.

The dark brown pupils belonged to someone Seo-yu knew well.

“M-Miss Su-jeong?”

The flustered Seo-yu stepped back, but Su-jeong immediately closed the distance by exactly that much.

“Long time no see, mutant.”

Su-jeong pulled up the corners of her mouth as she threw off her face veil.

With her face covered and her head bowed, Seo-yu hadn’t been able to tell, but the maid was Su-jeong herself.

“You seem to have lived well while I was gone. You look really comfortable.”

Every time Seo-yu stepped backward, Su-jeong slowly followed. Soon her back touched the railing.

“Where are you running to? I never gave you permission to leave.”

“I don’t know how you’re here, but I have nothing to discuss with you, Young Miss. I should be going now.”

“Who said you could leave?”

Su-jeong’s eyes gleamed dangerously. A bad premonition struck her.

“Li-han, oh…!”

It was the exact moment Seo-yu was about to shout.

Something like powder was sprinkled on Seo-yu’s face.

“Cough, cough!”

From the acrid aura spreading through her nose and mouth, Seo-yu coughed repeatedly. But somehow, her coughing sounds grew weaker and weaker.

“…!”

“Your voice isn’t coming out, is it? This is that kind of medicine. It works better than I thought.”

Seo-yu hurriedly opened her mouth, but truly no sound came out. It was a strange feeling as if her throat was completely blocked.

‘Tongue-Sealing Grass!’

Tongue-Sealing Grass was, as its name suggested, a medicinal herb that blocked the tongue to prevent vocalization.

Since it was a dangerous herb, it wasn’t the type that could be obtained just anywhere, and Seo-yu couldn’t tell where Su-jeong had gotten it.

“It’s nice now that you’re quiet. It’s just like the old days. You couldn’t even open your mouth in front of me.”

Watching Seo-yu clutch her throat, Su-jeong smiled with satisfaction.

The distance had closed to just one step away.

Su-jeong took something out from her sleeve. It was a black fragment.

‘What is that?’

An unknown black aura was rippling from the fragment, and Seo-yu somehow thought that aura didn’t feel unfamiliar.

Noticing Seo-yu’s gaze, Su-jeong smiled ominously.

“You don’t need to stare at it like that. It’s a gift I’m giving you anyway.”

Crack!

Having finished speaking, Su-jeong broke the fragment in two.

Then she brought it to Seo-yu’s mouth. Whatever it was, she seemed intent on making her eat it.

“Ugh!”

Seo-yu resisted by turning her head away. But Su-jeong roughly grabbed Seo-yu’s head.

“Stay still! You ruined everything!”

Su-jeong shouted in excitement.

“I was supposed to become the daughter-in-law of the Qilin Family. I could have lived luxuriously as the Daughter of the Commander! But you ruined it all. Someone like you! A mutant like you!”

“…!”

“It’s all because of you. My life became like this because of you.”

No, this can’t happen!

Seo-yu struggled desperately, but the difference in strength was too great.

“Mmph!”

Though she tried to endure somehow, against the brutal hands blocking her nose and mouth, Seo-yu eventually swallowed the fragment.

The moment the fragment went down with a gulp, ecstasy swirled in Su-jeong’s eyes.

Su-jeong quickly swallowed the remaining piece and said.

“So you take responsibility.”

What kind of ridiculous…!

Seo-yu, who was about to protest, froze stiff.

‘Th-the shadow is moving?’

She was clearly standing still, yet the shadow cast in the pavilion was moving on its own.

As if separating from its owner, her shadow moved away and headed straight toward Su-jeong.

Conversely, the shadow that separated from Su-jeong approached Seo-yu.

Feeling like she shouldn’t let it touch her, she tried to pull back, but there was no more space.

Soon, Su-jeong’s black shadow engulfed Seo-yu.

“Live well in prison in my place. It’s the perfect place for you.”

With that strangely echoing voice as the last thing she heard, Seo-yu lost consciousness completely.

* * *

When she opened her eyes again, all she could see was darkness.

“Ugh…”

Seo-yu unconsciously let out a groan, then came to her senses at the sound escaping her lips.

‘My voice is coming out.’

The Tongue-Sealing Grass’s effect ended after half a shichen. So at least half a shichen had passed since Su-jeong attacked her.

“Mmph, mmph.”

However, while sounds came out, she couldn’t speak. There was a gag in her mouth.

Moreover, her hands and feet were bound, so she couldn’t even move her body freely.

She couldn’t see anything, couldn’t call for help – it was truly a hopeless situation.

‘What should I do… Ah!’

As Seo-yu was stamping her feet in frustration, one method came to mind.

‘Seollin, Dragon Spirit!’

Seo-yu urgently called out to the spirits in her mind. She hoped that those two, who didn’t need to communicate through words, might respond.

Pyorong!

With the familiar sound, Seollin appeared first.

[Yes, you called… Ahhh, Seo-yu! What happened! Why are you like this!]

[What’s all the sudden fuss… Oh my. You’re in quite a state.]

Dragon Spirit, who appeared a beat later, clicked his tongue.

The spirits, who weren’t earthly beings, couldn’t manifest at will unless Seo-yu called them.

So sometimes they waited on earth, but mostly they stayed in their own world.

During those times, they had no way of knowing what was happening on earth.

‘You came!’

Seeing the two spirits made her tearfully happy, but first she had to explain the situation. Seo-yu spoke urgently.

‘Miss Su-jeong made me eat something strange. After eating it, I lost consciousness… and when I woke up, I was here. This seems to be a storage shed.’

Each time Seollin and Dragon Spirit flapped their wings, the light they emitted illuminated the surroundings, revealing the scenery around her.

Looking at the piled-up objects, it seemed like a shabby storage shed that people rarely visited. She was familiar with such places, having been locked up in them often as a child.

‘I need to get out of here. Could you possibly help me?’

[That won’t do, Seo-yu. We can’t carelessly interfere with earthly matters. We don’t know what kind of influence it might have.]

Seollin shook her head apologetically, then spoke with a determined expression.

[But it’s not like there’s no way. You can use your own power, Seo-yu.]

‘My power?’

Seo-yu was puzzled, but the Dragon Spirit calmly continued speaking.

[Look below you. There’s earth, isn’t there? Where there is soil, there is always life. It’s a power you can handle.]

Just as he said, the old storage shed had no proper flooring and was filled entirely with dirt.

However, Seo-yu couldn’t understand at all what this had to do with her power.

‘Life, you say… I don’t understand what you mean. I don’t have that kind of power.’

[What are you talking about? You’ve already used your power. Countless times, in fact.]

‘I have?’

When she asked back in confusion, the Dragon Spirit spoke as if frustrated.

[Don’t you remember making the vines grow at the Medical Academy?]

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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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