The Little Baby Snake of the Vermilion Bird Family - Chapter 28

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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 28
Ju Jeokseo dismissed his subordinate with a wave of his hand.
Then he stepped toward a wooden box sitting in a corner of the office.
The finely crafted wooden box gleamed, looking as though someone had polished and cared for it diligently.
Click.
When he opened the wooden box, a beautiful white fan revealed itself.
The most special object a Vermilion Bird beast-kin could create using a sacred object.
The Feather Fan Spirit Treasure.
A treasured fan made of feathers.
Vermilion Bird beast-kin could turn feathers into sacred objects, and use those feathers to make a fan.
A fan made this way wielded tremendous power, but the drain on one’s energy was so immense it was said a person could only make one in a lifetime.
And this was the spirit treasure Ju Myeongyeong had finished the day before she vanished.
The method for creating a spirit treasure was unique.
It was not simply a matter of weaving several sacred objects together; the owner of the abnormal ability had to shed their own blood to bind the spirit treasure to themselves.
After undergoing that process, the spirit treasure became capable of recognizing its master.
Which meant, as long as he had this spirit treasure, Ju Jeokseo would be able to recognize Ju Myeongyeong whenever she appeared.
However, the power of the spirit treasure was not absolute, so it could only recognize its master when Ju Myeongyeong was close by.
Furthermore, after its master, Ju Myeongyeong, disappeared, the spirit treasure’s power had continued to bleed away.
Fearing that the power would vanish entirely before he could find Ju Myeongyeong at this rate, Ju Jeokseo had sealed the spirit treasure inside a special wooden box that locked the energy away.
“Myeongyeong.”
His white-haired younger sister. A pair of siblings who got along well.
When he lined up pleasant words, the image of Ju Myeongyeong and himself playing affectionately always appeared at the end.
Ju Jeokseo swallowed a bitter aftertaste and murmured.
“Another child is staying in your residence now. You would like her too if you saw her.”
Perhaps Ju Myeongyeong and Baeksa might have been a great comfort to each other.
Ju Jeokseo stared at the feather fan for a long while, and it was just as he was about to place it back into the wooden box and close it.
Hummmm.
Suddenly, the white feather fan reacted.
Startled, Ju Jeokseo hurriedly snatched up the feather fan.
“This is…”
The spirit treasure was calling its master.
The blood of Ju Myeongyeong bound inside the feather fan was searching for her true body.
Did that mean Ju Myeongyeong was nearby?
Ju Jeokseo rushed urgently toward where the spirit treasure was leading.
The feather fan moved straight ahead without hesitation as if it knew the path, but it grew confused along the way.
Yet it did not go outside the house.
Ju Jeokseo was bewildered.
‘Myeongyeong’s reaction is inside the estate?’
Did that mean she was in here?
That made no sense.
Whether it made sense or not, the feather fan wobbled and flew off somewhere.
Then it stopped at a certain spot, losing its strength as if it could no longer find any trace of its master.
Ju Jeokseo stood dazed, staring at the place where the feather fan had arrived.
“……”
It was the residence where Ju Myeongyeong used to stay.
Through the slightly open door of the residence, he could see Hwaryeong, Doeui, and Baeksa playing and giggling together.
For a fleeting moment, Ju Myeongyeong’s face overlapped with Baeksa’s.
The feather fan dropped with a thud onto Ju Jeokseo’s hand, as though its job was done.
At that moment, seeing Baeksa’s clear face, Ju Jeokseo murmured blankly.
“…They look alike.”
It was not his imagination.
Baeksa’s face really did bear a slight resemblance to Ju Myeongyeong’s.
But…
‘Baeksa is an imperial princess.’
The bloodline of the emperor, abandoned by the Imperial Palace.
There was no way Ju Myeongyeong would have gone all the way to the capital to have a child with the emperor.
Besides, if Baeksa were truly Ju Myeongyeong’s child, the feather fan would have reacted more strongly.
Instead, the feather fan had lost its power right before her.
Ju Jeokseo stood frozen, watching the children through the crack in the door.
Thump, thump.
His heart beat wildly, as if it were racing.
He could not fathom what this feather fan spirit treasure was trying to tell him.
Had it simply followed the lingering traces of Ju Myeongyeong left in this residence?
If that were the case, this spirit treasure had never once reacted like this until now.
If there was one difference between then and now in this residence, it was only that the occupant had changed.
Standing frozen to the spot as if nailed down, Ju Jeokseo stared at Baeksa before hurriedly leaving the area.
As if the feather fan’s reaction had been a dream, it did not stir even once on his way back.
***
“Find out about Baeksa’s mother.”
That was the very first order Ju Jeokseo handed down.
Jo Yeong grimaced in trouble.
“Family Head, nothing has been publicly disclosed about the mother of the imperial princess, Baeksa. It is only known that she was an imperial palace maid of humble origin, so accurate information…”
“I don’t care what it is, find out.”
Ju Jeokseo was firm. Jo Yeong shut his mouth and nodded.
“Understood, I will look into it. Since the Azure Dragon Clan is maintaining a friendly attitude, I shall send a letter to them.”
“Make haste. And come up with a name for the child too.”
“Huh? May I come up with one as well?”
“Why not? The name will ultimately be chosen by the divine beast anyway.”
He issued a stern warning.
“Put your heart into it and make it pretty. If you bring a terrible name, I won’t let it slide.”
“Ah, do not worry! When it comes to pretty names, I am your man. I will rack my brains to the absolute limit.”
He chuckled and asked.
“By the way, Family Head, when do you intend to give her the name?”
“I am thinking of the Divine Beast Festival.”
“The Divine Beast Festival? The retainers will object fiercely.”
“Which is exactly why it must be announced at the Divine Beast Festival.”
Ju Jeokseo spoke firmly.
In truth, he had already planned to reveal Baeksa at the Divine Beast Festival before this.
Only then would others think twice before daring to touch the little snake.
However, seeing Ju Myeongyeong’s spirit treasure react near Baeksa’s quarters a moment ago made his resolve even firmer.
Even though he thought it impossible since Baeksa carried the bloodline of the Imperial Family, the thought ‘what if’ kept rearing its head.
That feeling was something Ju Jeokseo could not control at will, which left him quite perplexed and troubled.
In this difficult situation, the only thing Ju Jeokseo could do was protect Baeksa with all his might.
So that the child would not be wounded by the stares and prejudices of others.
“I have decided to welcome that child as family and care for her. If not me, there is no one else in Namto who can protect her so completely.”
Possessing such a supernatural ability, she would surely come to harm if entrusted to someone with wicked desires.
“I will determine the child’s name at the Divine Beast Festival and welcome her into the family. Inform the others as well.”
“As for the retainers…”
“Do you even need to ask? Do not tell them. How much of a blessing would those old men even give the child? Just tell Doeui and Hwaryeong to decide on their name candidates in time.”
“Yes, understood, Family Head!”
***
“The Divine Beast Festival?”
Baeksa asked, her eyes sparkling.
Hwaryeong nodded.
“It’s an event where we pray to the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast, who watches over Namto, asking for the next five years to pass safely without any trouble.”
Doeui popped a sweet pastry into Baeksa’s mouth as he chimed in.
“It’s a gathering where almost all the beast-kin of Namto come together. The Family Head will give you your name at the Divine Beast Festival.”
Chew, chew. Baeksa eagerly ate the sweet pastry and swallowed.
Then she spoke with a slightly worried expression.
“Um, is it really alright for me to be mentioned at such an important event?”
“It’s precisely because it’s such an important event that we talk about you!”
While Doeui continuously fed Baeksa sweet snacks, Hwaryeong was grunting as he tied her soft hair.
He was trying his best, saying it had been his wish to tie a younger sister’s hair if he ever got one, but in Doeui’s eyes, there wasn’t much progress.
“I’ve already chosen my candidates for your name. The divine beast will definitely like my name best.”
“Why? My name could be better, young master.”
“No way, let’s see whose name gets chosen!”
While Doeui and Hwaryeong bickered, Baeksa smiled brightly and accepted another bite of the pastry.
Thanks to becoming quite close with the two of them in the meantime, playing together in the same room didn’t feel awkward at all now.
‘A Divine Beast Festival, how wondrous.’
Baeksa had never attended a banquet in the Imperial Palace even once.
Therefore, the mere fact that she could attend such a festival made her heart flutter.
‘How grand will it be?’
And how fun would it be?
The child chewed the sweet pastry and grinned happily.

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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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