The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 27

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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 27
Should have cut it down at the root from the beginning.
Because he hadn’t, he’d left behind chaff that lingered to this day.
Likely they were after Yeo Ryeong, who’d stolen the sect leader’s power.
But that was an adult’s concern alone.
Do Gyeong was simply content watching the children flushed with excitement over the festivities.
“Arin, how were the children you met today?”
“Well, we played hide-and-seek and had lots of fun.”
“Father, your little one speaks well. You should’ve seen how perfectly she landed a strike on Geum Hee-jin.”
“A strike? What do you mean?”
“I taught her the Sure-Win Strategy.”
When Do Young clenched his fists, Cho Ryeong, who’d been following along, shook her head vigorously.
She’d witnessed the whole wretched scene with her own eyes.
“Well, the thing is……”
As Cho Ryeong explained the situation roughly, Do Gyeong swept Arin into his arms and put distance between himself and Do Young.
“If you keep spending time with that runt, you’ll ruin her. Why did you teach her to kick between the legs, and why personal attacks?”
“But why! The first-strike Sure-Win was what you taught me!”
“When did I ever?”
“That time when Elder was saying something, you broke the chair……— mmph!”
Do Gyeong clamped a hand over Do Young’s mouth, cutting off the rest of his sentence.
Even as Do Young chewed his hand in frustration, Do Gyeong didn’t so much as blink.
Watching them, Arin spoke up quietly.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Wrong? You did wonderfully!”
“Then why me?”
Regardless of Do Young’s grievance beside him, Do Gyeong bounced Arin up and down affectionately.
“You did splendidly. As long as you’re fine, what else matters? That granddaughter from that house was tedious anyway!”
“I made a friend! We promised to visit Se Yeon’s house later—can I go?”
“Hmm.”
The friend she’d made happened to be Geum Hee-taek’s granddaughter.
Though Geum Hee-taek was somewhat awkward, his background was clean enough—it wasn’t a bad choice.
Still, his true motive might be to meet Do Hoon rather than Arin.
That doddering old man was particularly skilled at charming children.
Anticipating trouble, Do Gyeong gave firm instructions.
“You may go if Do Young goes with you.”
At least having his son along would be better than sending her alone.
By the time they arrived at the heart of the festivities, Arin was overwhelmed.
There were far more people than she’d expected, and the weight of all those gazes pressed down on her.
Yet Do Gyeong, as if to make a point, sat Arin on his lap and fed her directly.
He paid no mind to the shock that flooded the Elders’ faces as they watched.
Everyone was clearly curious about Arin, but they were too frightened of Do Gyeong to speak to her first.
It wasn’t until Arin finished her meal that a procession of greetings began.
After exchanging pleasantries with strangers throughout the festivities, it happened.
Something odd caught Arin’s eye.
A servant pouring wine had something like black heat shimmer clinging to him.
The menacing aura was unsettling enough that Arin nestled closer into Do Gyeong’s embrace.
“Arin?”
Do Gyeong found this strange.
Ting.
“Geum Geum?”
At the familiar, clear chiming sound, Arin’s eyes turned toward its source.
Yeo Ryeong was entering just then with Geum Geum.
And in that very moment.
Arin caught sight of the servant trailing the black heat shimmer drawing a dagger from his robes, and she cried out.
“Watch out, Priestess!”
Screee!
Nearly simultaneous with Arin’s shout, the dagger that flew through the air had its trajectory twisted by a songpyeon that Do Gyeong had hurled.
Crack!
The songpyeon, hardened to stone by the Golden Tiger’s Energy, struck the pillar alongside the dagger, embedding both.
Yeo Ryeong, as if she’d been waiting, opened her fan and made a gesture as though to slit the assassin’s throat.
“Cough!”
As the wind Yeo Ryeong summoned sent the assassin flying backward, So Cheon, who had been waiting for his moment, subdued him.
With everything happening at once, the onlookers’ attention scattered between Yeo Ryeong, Do Gyeong, and the assassin.
But Geum Hee-taek, standing nearby, kept his gaze fixed on Arin alone.
‘That child sensed Killing Intent?’
She was barely more than a girl who had never properly learned martial arts.
‘She must have detected it before the assassin even struck.’
He himself had felt nothing—his bewilderment was complete.
Sensing that piercing stare, Hee-taek’s face went ashen.
At some point, Do Gyeong had begun glaring at him with unmistakable severity.
Do Gyeong’s lips moved soundlessly in warning.
‘Keep quiet.’
…….
Hee-taek clamped his mouth shut and exhaled a heavy sigh.
Even as the head of the family who represented the Elders’ interests, he had never done anything to bring shame upon his house.
But watching how Do Gyeong grew strangely sensitive the moment Arin was mentioned, Hee-taek felt a strong conviction take root.
That child was hiding far greater power than anyone had bargained for.
For now, the chaos kept attention scattered, away from her; it would be wise to excuse himself before the focus shifted.
“It seems Miss Arin was quite startled,” Hee-taek began carefully.
The moment he spoke, Do Gyeong rose from his seat as though he had been waiting for an opening.
“So it seems. There was a brief disturbance, but it’s been handled well enough. Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
Do Gyeong settled Arin into his embrace as he spoke to Hee-taek.
“I entrust the Priestess to your care while I’m away.”
“Have no concerns. Please go at ease.”
“Little one, are you all right? Were you frightened?”
Do Young peered anxiously at Arin, who was nestled in Do Gyeong’s arms and trembling slightly.
“You’ll only scare her more, you fool. Stay here yourself. I’ll calm her down and return shortly.”
When Do Gyeong told him not to follow, Do Young grumbled and settled back into his seat.
As Do Gyeong left, he exchanged a silent signal with Yeo Ryeong.
In truth, Yeo Ryeong’s late arrival had been part of the plan all along.
Do Gyeong had known from the start that an assassin was hidden among them; he had merely waited for the moment when he would make his move.
‘But Arin had to sense the Killing Intent, of all things.’
It seemed only Geum Hee-taek had noticed this.
‘Of course the cunning old fox saw through it.’
Do Gyeong knew all too well how troublesome Hee-taek could become over a matter like this.
Already weary, Do Gyeong’s brow furrowed deeper.
Turning his thoughts to other matters, he arrived at Maehwa Hall.
“Where is the Priestess?” Arin asked, her voice still trembling as she finally began to calm herself.
Do Gyeong patted her back gently and whispered softly to her.
“She’s safe, thanks to you.”
“That’s a relief…….”
“But little one, there’s something I need to tell you.”
It had been arrogant of him to think that as long as he and Yeo Ryeong kept silent and careful, everything would stay hidden.
Arin’s growth had been far too rapid.
‘When the child’s vital energy has recovered and she begins to sense things, send word to me. There’s no harm in her learning to protect herself beforehand.’
From the beginning, Do Gyeong had intended to accept Arin as the Priestess’s disciple at an appropriate moment.
But her awakening had come sooner than expected, and now doubt gnawed at him.
The thought that she might have already awakened back when she was still at Hong Sa House made his chest tighten with urgency.
“Did you feel something from one of the servants just now?”
“There was a dark, unsettling energy clinging to him. Is that servant all right? I have a feeling he’s been possessed by a ghost.”
“That’s what we call Killing Intent.”
“Killing Intent?”
“It’s the aura that emanates from someone harboring the desire to harm another.”
“Ah.”
“For you, it’s an opposing force—an element at odds with your nature. That’s why your body trembles so.”
Do Gyeong slowly channeled the earth’s energy into her, allowing her to settle and find peace.
Feeling the same stability as standing in a vast, open field, Arin’s agitation gradually subsided.
Yet her expression grew darker than before.
“It’s my fault again, isn’t it?”

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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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