The Beloved Baby Deer of the Hwangryong Family - Chapter 74
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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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Throughout his life, Gi Tae-ha’s heart had always been like a calm lake without even a breath of wind.
But then a massive rock was thrown into that lake.
The enormous ripples that arose became waves that continued to shake his heart.
It was a very strange feeling he was experiencing for the first time. It was suffocating, frustrating, and painful.
Gi Tae-ha wanted to discover what this unidentifiable emotion was.
‘I must save her.’
He felt that if he saved his wife, he would know the name of this emotion.
However, with existing medical arts, all he could do was grasp onto a thread-thin lifeline.
Thus, from that day forward, Gi Tae-ha threw himself frantically into medical books.
When he could find no answers in medical texts, he rummaged through old storage rooms and read every document he could get his hands on.
During this time, he discovered records of legendary medicinal herbs in an ancestral diary.
— This sacred medicinal herb with transparent petals that shimmer with rainbow colors possesses such powerful healing and regenerative abilities that it can revive the dying embers of life…
Seol Lin-hwa.
Though it was a medicinal herb he had never heard of in his life, the records were very detailed. It was puzzling that it wasn’t included in herbal medicine texts.
But there was a problem.
It was written that Seol Lin-hwa only grew on the Snow-Capped Mountains in the south, in the lands ruled by the Phoenix.
Gi Tae-ha immediately petitioned the Phoenix Emperor. However, the result was not favorable.
‘Family Head Gi, how could I not understand your heart? But unfortunately, the Snow-Capped Mountains in the south vanished long ago. Seol Lin-hwa is also just a legend. How do you not know this?’
Gi Tae-ha despaired.
But he didn’t give up and continued reading the records. After some time, he found faint hope in another journal.
Over the long years, the territories ruled by each of the Four Spirit Families had changed slightly, and there were records of lands that had once belonged to the Phoenix Family being transferred to the Qilin Family.
And after investigation, he was able to confirm that there were indeed several snow-covered mountains remaining at the southwestern edge.
Gi Tae-ha immediately gave secret orders to the family heads living in that area to search for the medicinal herb called Seol Lin-hwa.
However, even then, Seol Lin-hwa was not easily found.
Was it really just a legend? Was he chasing an illusion?
Just when such doubts were arising, a new report came in. An unbelievable report that Seol Lin-hwa had been found.
‘Nok Su-jeong, wasn’t it.’
Gi Tae-ha recalled the daughter of the Great Antlered Deer Family who had brought this Seol Lin-hwa.
Although it was a Seol Lin-hwa that had withered beyond revival, the important thing was that she had found what no one else could find.
Having confirmed that Seol Lin-hwa actually existed, he could now aim for the next one.
‘She’s definitely a child with special abilities.’
Though her first impression wasn’t particularly remarkable, appearances and inner substance could certainly be different.
‘I should tell Tae-eon to keep a close eye on her.’
Gi Tae-ha straightened his tired body, and his gaze turned to a small wooden box in the corner of his desk.
Inside it was carefully preserved the baby’s first clothes that his wife had been making ten years ago.
The vine patterns she had lovingly embroidered were still beautiful despite the passage of time, but only the empty space on the chest remained unfilled.
Gi Tae-ha stared at that empty space for a long time.
* * *
Early morning, not long after the sun had risen.
Yi-ryeong raised her fist with a face still drowsy from sleep.
“Youngest, if anyone bothers you, you must tell me. No, write it in your diary. I’ll scold them all for you.”
Li-gon, who had followed them out while rubbing his sleepy eyes, let out a long breath that could have been either a yawn or a sigh.
“Don’t turn Seo-yu’s diary into your duel list, Hwang Yi-ryeong…”
It was indeed Seo-yu’s first day going to the Medical Academy.
All the Golden Dragon Family members had followed her out to the main gate to see her off.
“Just having Sister and Brother say such things makes me happy.”
Seo-yu smiled brightly.
She wasn’t just saying it—she truly meant it.
She was happy that the Twins, who loved their morning sleep, had fought off drowsiness to come out with her, and that they worried about her until the very end.
“Our Seo-yu, I’m sorry I can’t go with you.”
Bi-yeon approached next, lowering herself to embrace Seo-yu tightly.
Bi-yeon, whose body hadn’t fully recovered yet, was under a long-distance flight ban from Hwang Hyeon-ya.
Though Bi-yeon looked terribly sorry, Seo-yu shook her head vigorously.
“No. Having you take good care of your health is more important to me.”
“Which family’s child speaks so sweetly? Our Seo-yu is the best.”
Unable to contain herself, Bi-yeon rubbed her cheeks, while Li-han, standing beside them, patted Seo-yu’s head.
“Seo-yu, when you come home for vacation, let’s all go on an outing to the village together. There’s a festival in the Lower Village during summer.”
“I’d love that, Brother! It sounds like so much fun!”
At his warm words, Seo-yu felt her chest tighten with emotion.
‘I have a home to return to now.’
Even when she had decided to leave the Western Region from White Jade Mountain, Seo-yu had nowhere to return to.
But now she truly had a nest of her own.
Just that fact alone made Seo-yu feel like she could accomplish anything with newfound courage.
“That’s enough, everyone. Anyone watching would think Seo-yu is leaving forever.”
Hwang Hyeon-ya, who had been watching from a step away, clicked his tongue.
“Vacation is in three months. How long are you going to be apart?”
“Uncle is so heartless. That’s why all your disciples ran away.”
“My disciple is your younger sister, isn’t she?”
Hwang Hyeon-ya let out a hollow laugh and approached quietly, then handed Seo-yu a small pouch. A sweet fragrance wafted from the pouch.
“What is this?”
“Sweet red bean jelly. Eat one whenever your head hurts from studying.”
“Sweet red bean jelly? Master, when did you make all of this!”
Hwang Hyeon-ya’s special sweet red bean jelly, packed with chestnuts and walnuts, was extremely popular in the Medical Room.
It was perfectly sweet with a delightful crunch from the walnuts, but since he didn’t make it often, the Household Members would hover around whenever the scent of roasting chestnuts came from the Medical Room.
The pouch was filled with such precious sweet red bean jelly. For this amount, he must have stood guard in front of the pot for at least half a day.
“Thank you, Master…”
“Well, that’s nothing. Eat them and work hard. I know you’ll do well.”
The hand that patted Seo-yu’s shoulder encouragingly was affectionate.
Soon Hwang Hyeon-rang, who had been waiting behind them, approached.
“It seems you’ve finished your greetings. Shall we go now?”
“Yes!”
At her spirited response, Hwang Hyeon-rang smiled briefly and performed his Beast Transformation.
Soon his entire body was covered in golden light, and the majestic form of the Golden Dragon appeared in his place.
Magnificent horns, a dignified mane, and scales that sparkled as if they held sunlight.
‘Hwang Hyeon-rang is truly magnificent!’
Seo-yu’s mouth fell open in admiration at Hwang Hyeon-rang’s Beast Transformation, which never failed to amaze her.
Though she had seen many beast-people, Seo-yu was certain that if there was the most magnificent beast-person among them all, it would be Hwang Hyeon-rang.
“Come here, child. I shall carry you.”
Hwang Hyeon-rang gently lifted Seo-yu with his large wings, then moved her onto his back.
‘I never thought the day would come when I’d ride on this back again…’
She suddenly remembered the first time she had ridden on Hwang Hyeon-rang’s back.
At that very moment when she had fallen from the cliff and nearly died, this reliable back had saved her.
‘If Hwang Hyeon-rang hadn’t saved me then, I really wouldn’t have known that life could be this happy.’
She had always been afraid of tomorrow, but since coming to the Golden Dragon Family, every day had been so enjoyable. It was truly something to be grateful for.
Soon her body floated upward. The higher they rose, the smaller her family members became. Everyone was waving their hands, seeing off Hwang Hyeon-rang and Seo-yu.
“Take care, Seo-yu!”
“Our baby, stay strong!”
Perhaps because the most precious people were below?
No longer afraid of falling, Seo-yu looked down and waved her hand with all her might.
“I’ll be back!”
* * *
Seo-yu dozed off on Hwang Hyeon-rang’s back.
It was because last night she had stayed up late chatting with the Twins and Li-han in Bi-yeon’s room, and had barely fallen asleep.
Noticing the child’s head that kept nodding, Hwang Hyeon-rang chuckled softly.
“You’re sleepy, aren’t you? You can lean back comfortably and sleep.”
“No, I want to talk with you, Hwang Hyeon-rang, I want to have a conversation…”
Despite her words, Seo-yu, who was already drowsy, unconsciously leaned slightly against Hwang Hyeon-rang’s back. His abundant mane embraced Seo-yu warmly as if it had been waiting for this.
‘Mmm, so warm.’
It was just as she was about to fall into the world of sleep.
Thump!
‘Huh? That heartbeat just now…’
At the sound that seemed somehow unsettling, Seo-yu blinked her eyes.
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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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