The Blue Dragon Clan’s Very Suspicious Little Chick - Chapter 22

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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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Episode 22

“Yes, Father.”
The obedience in his reply suggested the Library had been quite stifling for him.
“It’s been difficult, I’m sure. Still, I hope those hours have been worthwhile for you.”
Having confined him to the Library to learn the bearing of a lord, Ui-cheon could hardly lift the punishment without confirming what his son had studied.
Ui-cheon recalled the several books he had recommended to Tae-o and posed a question.
“The Book of Governing speaks of ruling through virtue—what does it say will happen?”
Tae-o answered at once, as though the question required no thought.
“Just as many stars turn toward the North Star when it holds its place, so too will the people naturally follow.”
Though Ui-cheon had come to reproach him, a smile crept across his lips before he could help it.
Tae-o, the youngest, was twelve years apart from his elder brothers and twenty-two years younger than the eldest.
How could he not seem precious in Ui-cheon’s eyes?
Even if he had spent a week lounging about idle, it would have been endearing; but to accept his punishment and study besides—that was admirable indeed.
Ui-cheon erased his smile where the boy could not see and posed another question.
“The Book of Law—Law Does Not Flatter the Noble.”
“Law shows no favoritism to the highborn.”
Without being asked to elaborate, Tae-o continued readily.
“It means law and punishment must be impartial and strict.”
Ui-cheon thought that would suffice, but on impulse asked one more.
“Which serves a lord better—to be loved or to be feared?”
“Given the choice between the two, being feared is the better course.”
Ui-cheon was startled by the boy’s unhesitating answer.
He had posed the question merely to probe his son’s thoughts, but it came from a book of considerable depth on the art of kingship.
A week in the Library was hardly a long time.
Yet in that span, the boy had deliberately sought out and read a difficult book Ui-cheon had never even recommended?
“…… Your reasoning?”
Now Ui-cheon could not smile, but his son’s answer came forth without hesitation.
“People forget kindness, but they do not forget punishment.”
Ui-cheon’s lips parted as if entranced, and the next title escaped them.
“Speak of the Law of Shang Jun.”
“Shang Jun held that what profits the state more than the old ways is what is truly right.”
“…… The Royal Way Section.”
“The superior man cannot govern without action, nor can he govern and fail to transform those under him.”
The questioning continued at length thereafter, yet Ui-cheon could find no question to make Tae-o falter.
He stared down at his son in bewilderment and asked:
“Have you read every book in this Library?”
This time Tae-o paused, very briefly, before answering.
“I thought you meant for me to read them all.”
Of course he had said that—or so he had thought he had.
Ui-cheon had nothing more to say and simply rose from his seat.
“…… Well done. You may return to your room now.”
There was nothing left to teach, and shock had left him needing time to think.

***

That same afternoon.
While Ui-cheon sat in his room mulling over his youngest son, Si-baek, his trusted retainer, came hurrying in.
“My lord, did you perhaps send out the Six-Eyed Turtle a moment ago?”
Ui-cheon, bewildered by the strange question, shook his head.
“I did not.”
Disappointment crossed Si-baek’s features.
“Then…… you should come with me and see for yourself.”
Following with an uncertain step, Ui-cheon found himself back at the Library.
Tae-o was nowhere to be seen—not in his room, apparently.
Only scattered papers lay about, far more crumpled and disarrayed than they had been that morning.
“What are the servants doing……”
Ui-cheon’s reproach about the Library’s state of disarray died in his throat as his eyes came to rest upon something standing upright on the desk where Tae-o had been sitting.
Si-baek spoke, his lips trembling.
“It appears the youngest lord drew the summoning talisman himself and called forth the Six-Eyed Turtle.”
Ui-cheon furrowed his brow and picked up the paper from the desk.
There, inscribed with astonishing precision, was a hexagonal summoning talisman.
Last time, when Tae-o had pestered him to send a gift to the youngest of Blue Dragon Palace, he’d used the summoning board once in front of the child.
Could he have memorized and redrawn what he saw then? But even if he had—how could such a thing actually summon?
Not even the household head himself had ever attempted such a thing.
Ui-cheon ran his fingertips over the characters on the impossibly perfect summoning talisman.
“Are you telling me Tae-o summoned the Six-Eyed Turtle with nothing but a scrap of paper and no summoning board? Where is the boy?”
Si-baek bowed his head, shame written across his face.
“He’s nowhere to be found. We’re searching for him now.”
It was then.
Guards rushed in from outside, clamoring.
“Household head! We found the youngest lord collapsed in one of the corridors!”
Ui-cheon and Si-baek rushed to find Tae-o lying motionless, as if asleep.
“Gung-ui! Where is Gung-ui!”
Gung-ui appeared in haste and quickly felt Tae-o’s pulse.
When he withdrew his hand, tilting his head in puzzlement, Ui-cheon spoke in a low voice, as if sharing a secret.
“What is it? It seems Tae-o may have accidentally used Direct Lineage Authority. His Divine Meridian isn’t even complete yet—he must have spent far too much vital energy. Please tell me he hasn’t exhausted his life force……!”
“Household head, the youngest lord…….”
The physician smiled somewhat sheepishly and continued.
“He appears to have simply fallen into a deep sleep.”
“……What?”
After turning the entire household upside down with his unexpected antics,
Tae-o, the youngest, had merely fallen asleep with the satisfied face of one who’d finished strenuous exercise.
“How on earth is this child……”
Ui-cheon let out an exasperated sigh, the tension draining from his shoulders.
“I haven’t the faintest idea how to raise him…….”

***

This was already the third time the Six-Eyed Turtle had appeared at Qing Lian Pond.
By now, the Blue Dragon Clan guards hardly startled at the sight of the enormous, peculiar tortoise.
The letter the Six-Eyed Turtle brought was delivered to Cheong-un through Hui, and upon unfolding it, Cheong-un burst into laughter.
He then returned the letter to Hui, instructing him to bring it to Aran.
Thus Aran, in her splendid new room in the main palace, heard Tae-o’s letter read aloud in Hui’s voice.
“To the youngest of the Blue Dragon Clan.”
Hui began in a voice tinged with what sounded like amusement. Aran made no effort to read the letter herself, choosing instead to listen to his voice.
“You know Hyeonmoo Palace practices meritocracy, yes?”
“Chirp?”
(Well now, what’s a tiny thing like you going on about meritocracy for?)
Hui continued reading, scratching at his ear.
“My abilities are so exceptional that everyone in the palace is wary and oppresses me, making life quite difficult for one so young.”
“Chirp……?”
(Wait, oppresses……?)
Aran straightened up, suddenly tense.
Come to think of it, Hyeonmoo Palace’s principle of Survival of the Fittest is quite famous across the continent.
A youngest brother born with supernatural abilities from birth—could he be facing threats from his own siblings?
If Tae-o spoke the truth, she ought to look after him as promised to the god.
Hui continued reading the letter, observing Aran’s worry.
“How wonderful it would be if I could find comfort in meeting you.”
After reading the final line, he too burst into laughter, just as Cheong-un had.
“The youngest of this house has a sense of humor, doesn’t he? Why’s he acting so familiar with Aran, whom he’s never even met?”
“Chirp.”
(That’s true, come to think of it.)
When she thought about it, the fact that he knew Aran wasn’t a true dragon but a foundling—and yet deliberately kept sending her letters and gifts—was suspicious.
It had to be the Hyeonmoo God’s doing.
Why was he being so much more proactive than in her previous life?
Surely he was aware enough that her previous life had ended in ruin?
Just then, as Hui was folding up the letter, he discovered something inside the envelope.
“Hm?”
Inside was a thin, light string bracelet adorned with a small piece of obsidian.
“Another gift, it seems.”
Hui withdrew the bracelet and showed it to Aran.
“Should we try putting it around your neck? If it’s this light, even you can manage it, Aran. It weighs almost nothing.”
Aran had never worn jewelry in bird form before…
Suppressing her embarrassment, Aran let Hui guide her as she fastened the bracelet around her neck.
She had yet to gain a human body and hadn’t been able to write a single reply, so she didn’t want to ignore even a child’s gift.
“Chirp.”
(Yes, it’s light. I’ll keep it on.)

***

For several days, Aran devoted herself more intently to flight practice, but ultimately concluded that flying all the way to Hyeonmoo Palace would be far too difficult.
Besides, it was still spring, and the further north she went, the colder it would become.
“Chirp?”
(Should I ask Hui to write a reply for me in the meantime?)
As Aran made her way toward Hui’s quarters with this thought in mind, she encountered Soo-rim.
“Little one, are you looking for your brother? He went to the Training Ground.”
“Chirp?”
(The Training Ground?)
Just then, So-rim, who had followed along, provided the answer to Aran’s unspoken question.
“Yes, young lady. There’s an Archery Tournament in the Imperial Capital next month. At least one member of the Four Deities Palace’s direct line must attend without fail.”
Aran of the Suspicious Blue Dragon Household — Episode 22
E-book Publication Date | August 5, 2026

Author | Ravioli
Publisher | Odd Eye
Submissions/Inquiries | [email protected]

UCI | G720:N+A101-20260722065.0022
Cover Price | 100 won

ⓒ Ravioli 2026

This e-book is protected under copyright law.
This e-book has been published under contract with the author and may not be republished, reproduced, distributed, or shared without written consent from both parties.

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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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