The Little Baby Snake of the Vermilion Bird Family - Chapter 51

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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 51
The Emperor’s eyes gleamed as he murmured to himself.
“The Cintamani is responding……?”
His Cintamani possessed a power unlike any other.
It was the power to recognize blood.
Once it absorbed a drop of blood, it would never forget it—no matter where the blood’s owner was, it could find them.
This was a power only the Emperor possessed.
And the only blood the Emperor had ever imprinted upon this Cintamani was a single drop.
The blood of his beloved.
As the Emperor’s Cintamani began to rotate slowly, scattering golden radiance, the Imperial Physicians prostrated themselves even lower, shielding their eyes from the brilliant light.
“……A soul lingers somewhere.”
As he murmured these words with joy, the flattened bodies of the Imperial Physicians trembled in unison.
The Emperor reached out and grasped the Cintamani tightly.
Then, within it, something like a human heart began to pulse, striking his palm with a steady beat.
Rapture flooded the Emperor’s face.
A soul lingering somewhere meant that soul could be recovered and returned to flesh.
He could not explain why the soul had awakened after so long, but his course of action was clear.
“I must retrieve the soul at once.”
Only then could he awaken her.
The Emperor turned sharply and commanded in a loud voice.
“Bring it out!”
The faces of the prostrate Imperial Physicians all paled at once.
***
“You want to go outside?”
“Yes.”
At Ju Jeokseo’s question, Hwanya nodded. He spoke while resting both hands on Baeksa’s shoulders.
“I’ll keep her safe and won’t draw unnecessary attention.”
“Even so, she’d be noticed from a hundred miles away. Baeksa should be careful for a while because of what happened at the Divine Beast Festival…….”
At that moment, Ju Jeokseo caught Baeksa’s eye and hesitated.
The child was gazing up at him with large, earnest eyes.
She seemed to have set her heart on going out. The moment he saw those eyes, he lost the will to refuse Hwanya’s request.
Ju Jeokseo spoke in a gentler voice.
“Do you want to go out, Baeksa?”
“Yes! I want to go out. The other Beast-kin aren’t as scary as they were before…….”
Still, she gripped Hwanya’s hand resting on her shoulder, a trace of nervousness lingering.
Baeksa looked up at Ju Jeokseo and asked.
“Is it all right?”
“You must return quickly. Don’t wander too far.”
At Ju Jeokseo’s answer, Baeksa’s face brightened.
The girl nodded with a smile.
“Yes!”
“Don’t worry, Father. I’ll make sure she returns home safely.”
“I trust you. But are the two of you planning to go alone?”
“No, I’m taking Hwaryeong and Doeui as well.”
“You’ll need quite a bit of money then.”
He withdrew a money pouch heavy with coins from within his robe and handed it to the child.
“Baeksa, go and spend it wisely. If your brothers ask you for money, give them only a little.”
“Oh…….”
“Don’t give them everything. If they try to take it by force, tell me.”
“Who would try to steal Baeksa’s money?”
Hwanya’s eyes narrowed in bewilderment.
“I was just joking. Don’t take it so seriously.”
Playing along smoothly, he withdrew another money pouch and handed it to Hwanya.
“Use this to buy the children some good food, books, and ornaments.”
“I’m grateful for your kindness.”
Hwanya bowed respectfully. Baeksa held the hefty money pouch and giggled.
This was her first time receiving such a thing, so it felt wonderful.
In the Imperial Palace, she had never had reason to touch or spend money.
‘There’s so much.’
With this much, couldn’t she buy everything at the Marketplace?
According to Sirang, the Marketplace was a magnificent place.
A place where there was nothing you couldn’t find, filled with marvelous sights.
Though she added that it fell short compared to the Marketplace in the Capital, there would still be plenty to see.
Baeksa had never seen the Capital’s Marketplace, so she had nothing to compare it to.
Therefore, there was surely plenty that would seem new and exciting.
“Go now and come back soon. Have you told Hwaryeong and Doeui?”
“I told them before coming here.”
“You were certain I’d allow it?”
“Even if you hadn’t, I was going to take her anyway.”
“You cheeky thing.”
Ju Jeokseo reproached Hwanya without real heat. Hwanya, accustomed to such exchanges, shrugged.
Ju Jeokseo reached out and stroked Baeksa’s round head.
“Have a good time and see wonderful things. When you return, tell your uncle what you saw.”
“Yes!”
Baeksa nodded vigorously.
“I’ll keep my eyes wide open and look carefully, and tell you all about it……!”
At the child’s spirited words, he broke into a warm laugh.
***
“Did Father agree?”
“He did. Are you ready?”
“Of course!”
Hwaryeong nodded eagerly. He had already changed into his outdoor clothes.
Doeui had also changed into outdoor attire, though as Baeksa’s guard on this outing, he wore the garb of a bodyguard.
Hwaryeong’s eyes lit up as he saw Baeksa with her hair braided into two neat plaits.
“Wow! That’s such a cute hairstyle! Who did it for you? Sirang?”
“Hehe, yes. Since we’re going out to play, she did something different from usual.”
“It’s absolutely adorable! Wear your hair like that next time too!”
Baeksa laughed shyly, nodding.
“Yes, I will.”
“Then let’s go now, Hwanya. The carriage is ready.”
Doeui pointed to the carriage. A driver waited for them at the front of it.
“Right then, let’s go, Baeksa.”
Hwanya approached the carriage and swept Baeksa up into his arms.
He set her down inside first, then turned back to Hwaryeong.
Hwaryeong’s expression twisted as he shook his head.
“I don’t need help!”
“Then do it yourself.”
Hwanya nimbly climbed into the carriage, followed by Hwaryeong and Doeui.
Baeksa, already seated inside, blushed deeply, swinging her legs slightly.
‘It feels nice being all together in one carriage.’
During the Divine Beast Festival, she hadn’t been able to share a carriage with Hwaryeong and Doeui. Ahee had been there, and there were other Beast-kin watching.
But now, all four of them were in the same carriage together.
‘I’m so happy.’
Baeksa clamped her mouth shut, worried her racing heartbeat might be heard outside. She glanced sideways out of the carriage window.
The carriage was slowly pulling away from the Vermilion Bird Family Estate.
Baeksa’s mouth fell open slightly.
“Wow…….”
This was only her second time leaving the Estate.
But this was her first time going out to play. Baeksa was afraid of showing how excited she felt.
‘I’d be embarrassed if I looked too excited…….’
So I should sit with a little more composure.
She made that resolve, but her head kept turning toward the carriage window.
The window was set quite high, so she had to stretch her neck to see out, but the world beyond was so captivating she didn’t mind at all.
As Baeksa couldn’t tear her gaze from the window, Hwanya, who had been watching her, suddenly lifted her into his arms.
“Oh!”
“Sit here.”
He set her on his lap and gently pressed her cheek, saying,
“You’ll have a better view from up here. See? Much better, isn’t it?”
Before Baeksa could adjust to sitting on Hwanya’s lap, the open world beyond came into view, and her heart soared.
A cool breeze drifted in, tickling her hair. Baeksa beamed and nodded.
“Yes! I can see so much better!”
“Do you like my lap? I could let you sit on mine too!”
“You’re too small for that.”
As Hwanya chided him, Hwaryeong pouted.
“I became friends with the little one first. We’re closer than you two.”
But Hwaryeong’s attention quickly returned to Baeksa. The boy’s eyes sparkled as he asked,
“Aren’t you happy to be outside? Should we come out more often?”
Baeksa, still gazing out the window, smiled broadly and nodded.
“Yes! I want to come out more often!”
With her small hands folded modestly on her lap, she spoke in a soft, slightly bashful voice.
“I’ve never been outside before…… so it’s really amazing and wonderful to be able to see the world like this.”

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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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