The Beloved Baby Deer of the Hwangryong Family - Chapter 160
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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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Yi-eon was desperately holding on in the cracks of the rift.
‘Damn it…!’
He had cast sorcery to prevent the ancient tree roots from being pulled out, but as the rift grew larger, that power alone was insufficient.
Moreover, demon beasts below the cracks were struggling desperately to climb up to the surface.
‘This won’t do!’
Yi-eon instinctively spread his shadow wide and completely covered the entrance of the massive rift.
Kugugung!
The demon beasts that had been struggling to reach the surface writhed as they were blocked by Yi-eon’s barrier.
Even in his formless shadow state, he could feel the pain.
The impact of countless demon beasts crashing into him with their entire bodies was transmitted directly throughout Yi-eon’s being.
‘Ugh!’
The pain of using his own body as a barrier was beyond imagination, but Yi-eon gritted his teeth and bound the texture of his shadow even tighter.
If even one of them escaped outside right now, Seo-yu on the surface would be in greater danger, so he had to prevent that at all costs.
‘…Why does the phoenix possess our clan’s shell?’
Even while enduring the pain, his mind was dizzy with unanswered questions.
‘The phoenix summoned demon beasts to this land? But why?’
The phoenix was a Death Spirit who had protected this land for a long time, and also the Emperor of Jusang Kingdom.
This wasn’t even the first time. The Phoenix Family had already been inheriting the imperial throne for several generations.
Why would such a phoenix do something to destroy the land he ruled himself?
It was completely incomprehensible.
Suddenly, Seo-yu’s voice flashed through Yi-eon’s confused mind.
‘The merchant from Feather Trading Company said that if you extract thread from feathers, it sparkles with light. Then wouldn’t it look transparent under sunlight? Like spider webs!’
That strange thread that had been controlling Yeong-gwi in the Shadow World was definitely not an ordinary object.
‘If it’s thread made from phoenix feathers, it’s entirely possible.’
Though he couldn’t reach the level of Yeong-gwi who freely wielded divine power, the phoenix was also a Death Spirit with considerable knowledge of sorcery.
‘But why?’
The pieces fit together, but the situation still didn’t make sense.
Why would the phoenix, who was the Emperor, try to plunge Jusang Kingdom into chaos, and why did he curse the Golden Dragon Family Head, who was a fellow Death Spirit?
Also, if it really was the phoenix using Yeong-gwi, then who was that Yeong-gwi and where were they now?
Thud!
Another fierce impact shook his body. Yi-eon gritted his teeth while suppressing a groan.
‘First, I need to inform Seo-yu.’
He couldn’t reveal everything since his identity as Yeong-gwi must not be discovered, but at least he had to tell her that it was the phoenix who gave the shell to Su-jeong.
Once they learned that the Imperial Palace was involved in this matter, the Golden Dragon Family wouldn’t just stand by either.
‘For now, I need to block this rift first…’
Sorcery that interfered with nature was of the highest order.
No matter how excellent his divine power was as Yeong-gwi, he couldn’t easily use sorcery to fill the cracked earth.
It was just when he was contemplating whether he should move the rift itself to another place where there were no people.
Whoooosh—!
Yi-eon suddenly felt the sensation of shadows becoming blurred. It was because tremendous light had burst forth from somewhere and cast over the rift.
The amazing spectacle unfolded next.
The demon beasts that had been clamoring and clawing at the shadows trying to burst out to the surface stopped moving one by one as soon as they touched that light, then turned into smoke!
‘…They’re being purified?’
The scene of the aura that had dyed the rift black gradually clearing away was truly spectacular.
‘That light is…’
Yi-eon, who had been staring blankly at that sight, recalled someone from the gentle and warm green light.
As if enchanted by that aura, Yi-eon emerged from the shadows and surveyed the surface.
Soon, Yi-eon’s body froze solid as he looked at the place where the light had flowed from.
At the center stood a qilin he had never seen before.
Clear green light flowed from its brilliant body, and the horn on its head emitted sacred light.
Though it was definitely a beast-person he was seeing for the first time, it didn’t feel strange at all. The aura the qilin was emitting was far too familiar.
It was exactly that aura that Yi-eon loved and cherished most in the world.
‘…Seo-yu was a qilin?’
The tenderly warm aura, the single horn.
There was no mistake.
That was Seo-yu.
‘Why…’
Yi-eon’s world shook.
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Seo-yu looked directly at Su-jeong.
“Stop this now!”
Following her resolute voice, sacred green light burst forth explosively.
Lush roots that sprouted from the ground completely subdued Su-jeong.
“Grrrr!”
Su-jeong struggled desperately at the end, but it was useless before such powerful force.
The roots wrapped around Su-jeong firmly, but without causing injury.
Soon brilliant green light enveloped Su-jeong.
Then the pitch-black demonic form gradually crumbled away and began returning to its original appearance.
The process of the grotesquely protruding horns shrinking and rough hide transforming into smooth clothing was brief but wondrous.
Soon something was ejected from Su-jeong’s chest area along with black smoke.
What came flying through the air in an arc was none other than a shell fragment.
Seo-yu instinctively reached out and tightly grasped the shell that landed in her palm.
After hurriedly securing the shell, Seo-yu rushed over to Gi Tae-ha.
“Family Head, are you alright?”
Gi Tae-ha stopped in place and quietly gazed at Seo-yu.
In those golden eyes that so closely resembled Seo-yu’s, deep regret and overwhelming emotion that words could not fully express swirled together.
“I should have protected you… but in the end, you protected me.”
Gi Tae-ha’s voice trembled slightly. Seo-yu shook her head and carefully grasped his arm.
“No. If the Family Head hadn’t blocked the front, I would have been seriously injured by now.”
As soon as she confirmed that Gi Tae-ha was safe, Seo-yu hurriedly turned her head to survey the battlefield. She could see her family members who had been fighting the demon beast horde.
When her eyes met Li-han’s, who was looking at her with a dazed expression, Seo-yu finally felt relieved and showed him a bright smile.
Her face showed no awareness of what tremendous change had occurred in her own body.
“Young Master Li-han! All the demon beasts have disappeared…”
Seo-yu’s voice, which had been calling out brightly, weakened and faded.
In an instant, the world swayed greatly and her vision went dark. The price for unleashing such vast power all at once was heavier than expected.
Seo-yu’s body collapsed helplessly to the floor.
“Seo-yu!”
With Hwang Hyeon-rang and Bi-yeon rushing over urgently, and Li-han reaching out his hand while calling her name like a scream, Seo-yu sank into deep darkness.
* * *
When rifts occurred simultaneously in the Southern and Western Lands, emergency summons were issued to all ministers.
Outside the conference hall window of the Imperial Palace, countless birds flew about busily, delivering real-time news from each region.
“What has become of the rift in the Southern Region?”
At Gon Hak-yeo’s question, one retainer stepped forward.
“The rift in the Southern Lands occurred near the Phoenix family territory, so retainers were immediately deployed to prevent the disturbance from spreading. It appears suppression will be possible in the near future.”
“What great fortune.”
“Your grace is immeasurable.”
Sighs of relief burst forth from throughout the conference hall.
Gon Hak-yeo nodded and waited for the next report.
“What is the situation in the Western Lands?”
“A large rift also occurred in the west, but fortunately the Golden Dragon Family Head was present at that location.”
“With Eung-ryong there, it must be reassuring.”
“However.”
The retainer continued cautiously.
“The Qilin Family’s forces are not suitable for dealing with demon beasts. I believe it would be proper for the Imperial Palace to send reinforcements.”
At the retainer’s opinion, Gon Hak-yeo inwardly suppressed the smile spreading across his lips.
This was a golden opportunity to legally deploy Imperial Palace soldiers in the Western Lands.
Everything was flowing exactly as he had hoped.
“Then let it be so…”
Just then.
Flutter!
A bird flew urgently through the open window.
At the extremely urgent appearance of the messenger, Gon Hak-yeo inwardly expected good news. Something like someone’s misfortune.
But the words delivered by the messenger who had released their beast transformation and become human were completely unexpected.
“News that the rift in the Western Lands has closed!”
“What?”
Gon Hak-yeo quickly shut his mouth. He couldn’t hide his bewilderment. Fortunately, his reaction was buried among the questions his retainers poured out.
“A rift that just opened has closed? What on earth does that mean!”
“There has never been such a thing until now!”
“With both the Qilin Family Head and Golden Dragon Family Head gathered in one place, wouldn’t this be a miracle?”
Among the pouring speculations and relieved retainers, only Gon Hak-yeo hardened his expression stiffly.
He suppressed his ominous premonition and fixed his gaze on the Messenger’s lips.
The Messenger continued with an excited voice.
“They say a newly born Qilin purified the land and drove away the Demon Beasts!”
In an instant, the Imperial Audience Hall was engulfed in silence.
It didn’t take long for the retainers to understand the weight of those words.
“A new Qilin…!”
“Then wouldn’t that mean another Death Spirit has been born!”
“Joyous! Truly a joyous occasion!”
Cheers erupted.
But only Gon Hak-yeo did not smile.
No, he could not smile.
“Hah.”
An uncontainable sigh burst through Gon Hak-yeo’s parted teeth.
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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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