The Little Baby Snake of the Vermilion Bird Family - Chapter 59

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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 59
The moment the carriage arrived at the Vermilion Bird Family estate, the Physician became frantically busy.
She had to see to three patients at once, and monitor the white snake’s condition besides.
Noticing that Ju Jeokseo’s state was grave, the Physician examined his wounds first.
Inside the room where Ju Jeokseo lay, the Physician lit Anesthetic Incense. Outside the door, Baeksa caught the scent and glanced toward the gap in the doorway.
The door was closed and she couldn’t see much, but through the crack she glimpsed her uncle lying down.
‘He needs to be all right.’
Worry kept welling up inside her.
Hwanya and Hwaryeong were both receiving treatment in the next room over.
Only Doeui and Baeksa needed no treatment.
The Physician ordered that both of them receive a bowl of calming Herbal Decoction each.
So Sirang took the prescription she’d received from the Physician and was now brewing the medicine.
Baeksa squatted before the door when a shadow fell across her.
The girl lifted her head to see who cast it.
“What are you doing here?”
The shadow’s owner was Doeui.
He offered his hand down.
“Come on, the floor’s cold.”
“Okay.”
Baeksa took Doeui’s hand and rose, dusting off her skirts.
Doeui glanced inside and spoke.
“Let’s go somewhere else for a while. If you keep sitting here while they’re being treated, it’ll make it harder for the Family Head and the young masters to rest easy.”
He grasped the tips of her fingers gently and drew her along.
“Come with me.”
“O-okay…”
Baeksa followed Doeui quickly, but kept turning back to look.
She couldn’t stop worrying about her severely wounded uncle.
Thanks to Sirang, who was alarmed at Baeksa’s appearance and quickly changed her clothes, her dress was now spotless—not a drop of blood on it.
‘But he lost so much…’
She still couldn’t forget that moment when her clothes had been soaked through.
That moment played in her mind like a nightmare, vivid and raw.
‘It was scarier than being trapped.’
Being confined had actually been bearable—she’d been alone, after all.
But when she saw her uncle wounded and bleeding because he’d come to rescue her, it felt as if her mind went white.
That was why she couldn’t help but keep turning back as she walked with Doeui.
Doeui, aware of this, slowed his pace so she wouldn’t stumble even as she looked behind her.
Where Doeui and Baeksa arrived was the Rear Garden—the same place Ju Jeokseo had taken her before.
It was where they’d made flower crowns together.
“Wait here a moment.”
Doeui stopped Baeksa and gathered a handful of plump flowers.
Then he sat down alone and began weaving them together. His hands were clumsy, but far more skilled than most boys his age.
Watching him, Baeksa forgot her sadness from moments before and crouched beside him with wide eyes.
“What are you making?”
“You’ll see if you wait.”
As Doeui’s hands moved busily, a rough Flower Crown took shape at his fingertips.
He turned it this way and that to inspect it, and once satisfied there were no insects, set it gently atop Baeksa’s head.
“There.”
“Wow…!”
Baeksa’s eyes widened as she touched the crown gingerly.
‘He made it so well!’
Though she couldn’t see it perched on her head, she could tell from the feel of it how expertly it was woven.
Last time, Doeui hadn’t been able to make either a flower crown or rings. When had he learned?
“When did you learn to do this?”
“After last time…”
“After making the flower rings?”
“After it was done.”
Doeui turned his head away shyly. Baeksa reached up and touched the crown, then broke into a bright smile.
“Thank you so much…! It’s so pretty.”
“If you cry and then laugh, horns grow on your backside—you’ll have some sprouting soon.”
“Oh no…”
Baeksa gave him an embarrassed look, and this time Doeui laughed.
“I’m joking. Just laugh—I know it’s not a laughing matter, but if you sit there looking like you’re about to cry any moment, it’ll only make the Family Head feel worse.”
“Okay, I won’t cry.”
Baeksa nodded firmly.
“If I cry, the Family Head will be sad, so I won’t anymore.”
“Only the Family Head? Just off the top of my head, there’s already five who’d be upset.”
Doeui held up his fingers with exaggerated seriousness.
Then, as if remembering something belatedly, he reached his hand toward Baeksa.
“Right, let me have that talisman.”
“The talisman…? I, I don’t have it right now. It was sewn into my old clothes, but Sirang changed me into these.”
Baeksa asked worriedly.
“Is it urgent? I can go get it quickly…”
“No, I was just going to say you can throw it away now.”
“Oh?”
“I activated it once, so the Embedded Power will have faded. I’ll make you a new one soon, so don’t worry about it.”
Doeui added.
“And this time, don’t have it sewn into your clothes. Ask them to make a separate Silk Pouch for the talisman instead. That way you can keep it with you even when you change.”
“Yes! I’ll ask Sirang—she has good hands, so I think she’ll make it quickly.”
Baeksa reached out and gently stroked the grass. The blades tickled softly against the back of her hand.
Doeui, watching intently, asked.
“Did you use your Supernatural Ability?”
“Hm?”
“Your hair seems darker. The ends are still mostly white, but they’re getting darker.”
He reached out and felt her hair thoughtfully.
“In a little while, you won’t be Baeksa—you’ll be Blacksa.”
“Oh…”
“I’m saying that not to call you ugly. I like the color black.”
“Yes, I would never think that.”
Baeksa replied.
“You said before too that I wouldn’t look ugly even if my appearance changed.”
“Remember that well. If you ever look in a mirror and feel down about it, recall my words.”
“Hehe, okay.”
“While you were taken… were you all right? Weren’t you scared?”
Doeui flopped down onto his back, stretching his legs out straight as he gazed up at the sky.
Baeksa followed his gaze and tilted her head back.
Clear, serene sky stretched above—no flames, no monster beasts.
The girl shook her head.
“I was scared, but…”
“But?”
“When I thought I had to survive and get out, it wasn’t so scary anymore.”
Baeksa’s voice carried real spirit.
Of course, she’d been afraid inside.
Especially when she caught glimpses of the dead dragons’ memories and heard their voices.
‘I really thought I couldn’t escape.’
But then came Hwanya’s voice and Ju Jeokseo’s voice.
The strength of her mother doing everything she could to protect her.
Before such things, Baeksa simply couldn’t bring herself to say she was frightened. She didn’t want to.
Don’t be scared—so many people were trying their best for her sake.
Still, the awful memories from inside kept surfacing. Baeksa opened her mouth slowly.
“Actually, Doeui… until now, I’d never once thought someone would come to save me.”
Speaking these words, Baeksa felt she had grown a little.
Before, talking like this would have embarrassed her terribly, but now it didn’t seem to.
“But since coming to Namto, everyone keeps saving me, over and over…”
Baeksa fidgeted with her fingers.
“So I guess I started thinking they’d naturally save me every time. That’s why I’m not so scared.”
Baeksa finished speaking with a bright smile.
Doeui watched her face for a moment, then looked away.
Baeksa and Doeui sat in the Rear Garden for some time before the servant girls came looking for them.
The Flower Crown perched on her head bloomed a little more, but no one saw it happen.
***
“Uncle! Brother Hwaryeong, Brother Hwanya!”
Baeksa sat at the head of Ju Jeokseo’s bed, battered and bandaged.
Beside Ju Jeokseo sat Hwanya and Hwaryeong, both having finished treatment and recovered somewhat.
Hwaryeong grabbed Baeksa and examined her state.
“Are you all right? Hm? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
Baeksa nodded.
Only then did Hwaryeong let out a sigh of relief.
“I’ve been worried sick. What if you’d been hurt! Thank goodness…”
“Son, aren’t you going to worry about your father’s injuries?”
“Father’s an adult and she’s just a baby! And I was already very worried about Father’s injuries just now!”

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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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