The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 26
One mountain climbed, another loomed ahead.
Do Gyeong, now forced to fabricate tastes for a creature that didn’t even exist, looked away.
How was he supposed to know what it liked, anyway?
A chestnut tree came into view at that moment, and Do Gyeong seized upon it.
“Chestnuts, as it happens. I’ve heard it’s fond of them.”
“Chestnuts?”
“Especially sweet chestnuts, so I’ve been told.”
Arin bobbed her head thoughtfully.
Now that she thought about it, the tree where she’d encountered the white lizard had been a chestnut tree too.
‘So it came up to gather chestnuts. How adorable.’
Arin smiled, picturing the white lizard crunching chestnuts between its jaws.
Of all the lizards she’d ever seen, this one was by far the cutest and most endearing.
“Then next time I’ll gather some chestnuts and bring them for it.”
At Arin’s spirited response, Do Gyeong let out a breath of relief.
‘Good heavens—I nearly had her feeding earthworms to the Baek Ryong Clan’s heir.’
Not that it would be unforgivable, but he had no wish to shatter the girl’s innocent dreams.
Yeo Ryeong had mentioned that Baek Muje hadn’t spoken more than three words since arriving at Twelve Zodiac Village.
Everyone knew he resented being sent here for his own protection, and was making a point of it with his silence.
‘They say his hand has no mercy.’
The handmaids who had served him in the palace were famous for being turned out without a second chance if they made even the smallest mistake.
Once he’d taken a dislike to someone, they weren’t permitted within miles of him—he was so fastidious that he preferred his solitude.
It all stemmed from being born with exceptional power and a heightened sensitivity to impure energies.
‘Yet he was fine with Arin.’
According to her account, he’d spent a considerable amount of time beside her.
It couldn’t simply be because they were the same age.
The fact that he’d given her Dragon Scales suggested something about her had captured his interest.
This bore investigating.
If he were taking a romantic interest in his daughter, that would be absolutely unacceptable.
Determined to nip any such relationship in the bud, Do Gyeong hatched a scheme.
“Arin, if you encounter that white lizard again…….”
At his low murmur, Arin’s expression grew uncertain.
“Really?”
Do Gyeong answered with unwavering certainty.
“Yes. He’ll almost certainly like it.”
Picturing Baek Ryong’s horrified reaction, Do Gyeong smiled with grim amusement.
* * *
Geumho Clan bustled with visiting dignitaries and members of the Branch Family.
The clan had opened its doors for Arin’s welcoming reception.
As the gateway to Twelve Zodiac Village, Geumho Clan was ordinarily off-limits to outsiders with rigid strictness.
Of course, the passageway connecting to Twelve Zodiac Village remained sealed behind a Qi Formation.
“The evening banquet shall commence shortly! Please, come inside, all of you!”
At the attendant’s call, the sightseers found their seats.
Among the crowd sat Hong Hyeok-soo, Ahyeon’s childhood friend and grandson of the Grand Elder.
He’d come along because his father had business at Geumho Clan and wanted to see the place.
But as fortune would have it, the banquet had been opened to the masses, and now Hong Hyeok-soo was in a foul mood.
Seated at the very end of the row, he fidgeted restlessly.
“What kind of adopted daughter could possibly warrant opening Geumho Clan? You used to say it happened once a year, if that.”
“I hear she’s quite beautiful, sir.”
The attendant offered this, and Hong Hyeok-soo scoffed.
“Ha! Since when do the Zodiac accept Branch Family just for a pretty face? She must have extraordinary Zodiac Power.”
“Your observation is apt, sir.”
The attendant bowed obsequiously as Hong Hyeok-soo reached for a Pumpkin Jeon on the table with an air of self-importance.
“Even Geumho Clan’s food is nothing special.”
He ate with indifference, barely tasting it.
“Here she comes!”
At the attendant’s cry, Hong Hyeok-soo turned his head—and his face went blank.
“What is she doing here?”
“Pardon? Who is…… Oh! That’s Arin, isn’t it?”
The attendant recognized her too, his eyes widening in astonishment.
The moment Arin entered alongside Do Gyeong, the two men’s faces went blank.
Hong Hyeok-soo’s expression shifted, growing peculiar.
“Did someone deceive the head of the Geumho Clan?”
Unless that were the case, a clan as prominent as the Geumho would never register such a defective creature into its ranks.
Knowing that Arin couldn’t Transform, Hong Hyeok-soo felt the urge to speak with her, and he fidgeted restlessly in his seat.
But there were far too many people, and their places were too distant; even catching her eye proved impossible.
“Damn it, how many people are packed in here!”
It was while Hong Hyeok-soo was grumbling thus.
“There you are. I’ve been searching everywhere.”
“Father!”
“We’ve been fortunate in our timing. Thanks to this gathering, I can establish connections with the Elders. Hyeok-soo, I hear that the Elders’ sons and daughters from the Geumho Clan have all come—make sure to get to know their faces.”
“But Father, have you seen her? There’s an adopted daughter in the Geumho Clan—Hong Arin! That defective half-breed I told you about!”
“What did you say?”
Startled, Hong Hyeok-jae looked toward the front of the hall. There, Do Gyeong was seated with Arin on his knee, feeding her meat.
Seeing Do Young assisting beside them, it was clear they cherished her beyond measure.
“What in the world is this…?”
Just months ago, this child had been locked away in the Byeolkwan—so why was she here in this distant Geumho Village?
To him, unaware that Yeo Ryeong had traveled to Hong Sachon during this expedition, Arin’s presence here seemed profoundly strange.
He had been one of the Elders who had insisted forcefully that she be confined to the Byeolkwan.
‘Could the head of the Hong Clan have made some sort of agreement with the head of the Geumho Clan?’
Any other explanation rendered Arin’s presence here inexplicable.
He resolved to learn more during his stay here.
It was then that his tactless son raised his voice.
“I think that girl must have lied her way past the Geumho Clan head. She can’t even Trans— Ugh!”
Hong Hyeok-jae quickly clamped his hand over the boy’s mouth, muttering with deliberate weight.
“For now, we need to investigate. And you—keep quiet about this.”
* * *
Outside Maehwa Hall, it was nothing short of a sea of humanity. So many guests had flocked to welcome her to the Geumho Clan.
Arin looked bewildered, her eyes darting about.
“It’s not a daily estate opening, which is why there are so many people.”
Do Gyeong grasped Arin’s hand firmly, as if he’d expected this all along.
To ensure she wouldn’t be swept away by the crowd and lost.
Not to be outdone, Do Young seized Arin’s other hand.
“Little one, hold this brother’s hand tight, yes? If you don’t, you’ll get swept up and lost in the crowd.”
“No, that can’t happen!”
Arin, gripped by fear, squeezed both hands with all her might.
With Do Gyeong on her left and Do Young on her right, she looked every bit like a princess flanked by her royal guards. The feeling delighted Do Young so much that he puffed out his chest.
“This might look open to everyone, but Father is using Zodiac Power to keep Impure Entities from entering. What do you think? Impressive, isn’t it? Aren’t you glad to be my sister?”
“Yes, it’s amazing! I like it, it’s cool!”
When Arin answered with enthusiasm, Do Young beamed.
Do Gyeong’s expression turned incredulous.
“So Father performs the feat, but you take the credit?”
“Well, my turn to show off will come someday!”
“That’s precisely what I’m here to prevent, you fool!”
Do Young yelped as Do Gyeong flicked him on the forehead.
In truth, this opening of the Geumho Clan was not solely to welcome Arin.
[They appear to be moving again.]
Recalling the letter that had arrived days earlier, Do Gyeong maintained a more intricate Qi Formation than usual.
The Yeonha Kingdom had only recently achieved its current peace—less than ten years ago.
Before that, factions vying for the throne had constantly watched for any opportunity to stage a rebellion.
It was the Baek Ryong Clan, Yeo Ryeong, and the Geumho Clan who had subdued Heuk Ma, the leader of the rebellion at that time.
As a result, Yeo Ryeong’s power had diminished greatly, and both the Baek Ryong Clan and the Geumho Clan had suffered considerable losses.
‘These wretched offspring refuse to die, and they keep resurfacing.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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