The Beloved Baby Deer of the Hwangryong Family - Chapter 78

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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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“You all still know that demonic arts exist, right? That’s all proof that the Four Evils are still alive.”

 

For a moment, the surroundings fell silent. While there were no demonic arts in the Western Lands, no one could deny their existence.

 

Baek-a smiled meaningfully at the tension that filled the air.

 

“That’s why we physicians are needed. It’s our physicians’ duty to treat the diseases the Four Evils have brought to this land and to detoxify the poison of demonic arts.”

 

The sound of clapping hands brought the children back to reality.

 

“Now, you all understand why you need to study, right? Then let’s begin the lesson in earnest. Today we’ll start by learning the most fundamental herb classification.”

 

Though some children made disappointed sounds at the natural transition to the lesson, Baek-a didn’t indulge them any further.

 

“You must build a solid foundation to become an excellent physician. Everyone focus.”

 

And among the disappointed children, Seo-yu alone was quietly taking out her brush.

 

* * *

 

Long after the lesson ended and all the other children had left, two children slowly walked out of the Academic Hall.

 

“Bi-neung, today was really fun, wasn’t it?”

 

It was Seo-yu and Bi-neung.

 

On the way back to the dormitory, Seo-yu walked in step with Bi-neung as she spoke. Bi-neung slowly agreed.

 

“…Yes.”

 

“When I heard we’d learn herb classification methods, I only thought about their uses. But I never knew we’d consider their properties, taste, and even the body parts where their medicinal effects work. This is the first time I’ve organized it so specifically.”

 

Hwang Hyeon-ya was a master who valued practical training over theory. Of course, he didn’t take theory lightly, but that’s where the emphasis lay.

 

That method suited Seo-yu very well, as she had unintentionally accumulated only experience in the Western Lands.

 

But every method has its pros and cons. While learning many things, there were inevitably gaps in theory, so it was very enjoyable to supplement that at the Medical Academy.

 

All the lessons were so interesting that she lost track of time.

 

“Also, the herb preprocessing methods that Physician Myo taught us were so beneficial.”

 

As Seo-yu chattered away, going over each lesson from today one by one.

 

Bi-neung suddenly tilted her head.

 

“I…”

 

“Hm?”

 

“The story… was interesting…”

 

Bi-neung spoke slowly and blinked her eyes.

 

Only then did Seo-yu remember that Bi-neung had been nodding off in the seat next to her.

 

‘She said she still hasn’t adjusted to having her day and night reversed!’

 

It seemed Bi-neung only remembered the very first lesson.

 

“Ah! Right. I found it interesting too. It was the first time I heard detailed stories about the Four Evils. Did you know about them, Bi-neung?”

 

“No… Only a little about the Four Spirits.”

 

“Actually, me too. But it was really amazing. The Four Spirits seem truly incredible.”

 

The story Baek-a told was interesting. Especially the scenes describing the war were so vivid that she naturally fell into imagination.

 

However, when she heard at the end that ‘the existence of demonic arts is proof that the Four Evils are alive,’ she felt quite upset.

 

‘Why did demonic arts have to appear in the Eastern Lands of all places?’

 

As expected, there were many beastkin from the Western Lands at the Medical Academy.

 

Perhaps because of this, when demonic arts came up as a topic, they listened with interest as if it were someone else’s problem, even while being scared.

 

However, for Seo-yu who had family in the Eastern Region, that story didn’t sound entirely pleasant to her.

 

Hwang Hyeon-rang was still periodically going out to the battlefield even now, and the physicians in the medical room were busy day and night treating soldiers injured from fighting demonic beasts.

 

Most importantly, Bi-yeon had been poisoned by demonic beast venom and hadn’t been able to wake up for over five years.

 

Without Jeongdam Herb’s help, she would still be sleeping in the deep sea even now.

 

‘Come to think of it, the Qilin mentioned earlier that it purifies contaminated land.’

 

Suddenly, one part of the story Baek-a had told her came to mind.

 

‘The Qilin breathed life into contaminated land to purify it and revived dying life.’

 

When she thought about it, Jeongdam Herb’s abilities were quite similar to the Qilin’s.

 

Jeongdam Herb also purified contaminated land and detoxified demonic beast poison, didn’t it?

 

‘It even resembled the Qilin…’

 

It wasn’t just Jeongdam Herb.

 

Dragon Spirit and Seollin had the forms of a dragon and bird respectively. They naturally brought to mind the Winged Dragon and Phoenix Emperor.

 

Because they were so familiar, she hadn’t made the connection, but looking at it this way, it was too perfect to be mere coincidence.

 

‘They’re just like the Four Spirits.’

 

That was the moment.

 

Whoosh!

 

A warm energy swirled around her shoulder area, and soon the small form of a dragon appeared. It was Dragon Spirit.

 

[How frustrating. You finally figured it out.]

 

Almost simultaneously, rainbow-colored feathers gently bloomed on her other shoulder. Seollin’s quiet voice echoed in her ear.

 

[That’s right, Seo-yu. We are spirits imbued with the essence of the primordial Four Spirits.]

 

“Huh?”

 

Startled, Seo-yu stopped dead in her tracks.

 

“…Hm?”

 

Even as Bi-neung, who had stopped along with her, slowly turned her head toward Seo-yu, Seo-yu couldn’t properly understand this situation.

 

* * *

 

At the same time, in Hwang Hyeon-rang’s office, the Golden Dragon brothers were having a serious conversation.

 

“Jeongdam Herb has completely come back to life.”

 

Though it was certainly something to celebrate, Hwang Hyeon-ya’s expression as he delivered the news wasn’t particularly bright.

 

“The herb garden’s condition is excellent too. I haven’t seen such a clean field in years. It’s almost as if it’s returned to how it used to be.”

 

Hwang Hyeon-rang’s gaze deepened. He too was clearly feeling the change.

 

He couldn’t help but know. The condition of the land he encountered while traveling between the battlefield and home was starkly different from before.

 

This change had occurred even though the number of demonic beasts remained the same and the war wasn’t over yet.

 

There was only one thing he could guess as the cause.

 

“It seems Seo-yu really is a Qilin.”

 

“…”

 

Hwang Hyeon-rang closed his mouth. He had already sensed it intuitively, but it was difficult to accept easily.

 

To think that the child he had coincidentally saved and brought from the Western Region might actually be of Qilin bloodline.

 

How on earth was he supposed to accept this absurd situation?

 

“The Qilin Family Head began secluding himself ten years ago.”

 

“…Right. It was the year rumors spread that the Madam had miscarried.”

 

Though the Qilin Family had never officially acknowledged it, stories had quietly circulated among the Four Spirit Families.

 

In fact, it had been exactly that long since the Qilin Family’s Madam had disappeared from sight, so now everyone accepted it as truth.

 

And coincidentally, Seo-yu was exactly ten years old this year.

 

‘But… would such a thing even be possible?’

 

This wasn’t just any family—it was the mighty Qilin Family.

 

It would be no easy task to deceive the eyes of the Qilin Family Head, renowned as the most skilled physician in Jusang Kingdom, and spirit away a newborn infant.

 

‘Even if it were possible, who would do such a thing?’

 

It was exactly the kind of vicious act that only the Four Evils would commit.

 

But if it were the Four Evils, they wouldn’t have handled things so secretly. If they had the power to break through the barrier and ascend to the surface world, they would have already turned the world upside down.

 

“Hyeon-ya, suppose for a moment. If Seo-yu really is a child of the Qilin Family…”

 

Hyeon-rang, who had spoken carefully, closed his mouth for a moment.

 

Should they tell Seo-yu the truth, or not?

 

It was something he had been pondering ever since his first conversation with Hyeon-ya about Seo-yu’s origins at the Dragon Palace.

 

After a brief silence, Hyeon-rang spoke.

 

“I think it would be right not to reveal it for now. Neither to the Qilin Family nor to Seo-yu.”

 

If the Qilin Family was caught up in some suspicious conspiracy, there was no telling what might happen when Seo-yu’s existence was revealed.

 

Unless they first understood what purpose drove such actions, they must not expose Seo-yu to danger.

 

That was Hyeon-rang’s judgment as both parent and guardian. It was also a conclusion he had reached after long discussions with Bi-yeon.

 

“Of course. Who knows what might happen.”

 

Hyeon-ya agreed as well.

 

Most important was Seo-yu’s safety, but he also didn’t want to stir up storms in the heart of a child who was only just beginning to find stability.

 

‘Someday she’ll learn of it, and it’s something she’ll need to know, but…’

 

Truth that one isn’t ready to hear can sometimes become an unbearable burden.

 

Adults should know how to protect a child until they have the strength to handle the truth.

 

“First, I’ll try meeting with Elder Qilin. The Elder might know something.”

 

Hyeon-ya recalled the old connection he had made at the Medical Academy.

 

Seeing that there was no reply letter even after sending correspondence, it seemed he was wandering somewhere in Jusang Kingdom again, searching for medicinal herbs.

 

Knock knock.

 

It was then that the sound of knocking on the door was heard.

 

“Family Head, it’s Hwan-wol. I have something to report.”

 

“Come in.”

 

Hwan-wol soon entered the office. He opened his mouth with a somewhat urgent expression.

 

“News has arrived from the Western Region.”

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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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