The Little Baby Snake of the Vermilion Bird Family - Chapter 66

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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 66
***
The Vermilion Bird Family Estate, Reception Room.
“The Family Head is on his way. Please wait a moment.”
Servant girls hurried in to set out refreshments, then slipped back out.
Siyeom sat in a chair of the reception room, gazing absently toward the far side of the estate.
‘It’s changed since the last time I was here.’
They said they’d picked up a baby snake abandoned by the Imperial Palace—was that the reason?
No, that wasn’t it.
She’d already corrected herself.
Not a baby snake abandoned by the Imperial Palace, but Ju Jeokseo’s niece and Ju Myeongyeong’s daughter.
She’d learned in advance that Ju Myeongyeong’s Feather Fan Spiritual Treasure had proven it.
‘It feels like the cruelty of fate.’
The Emperor had rejected Namto, yet a child had been born between the Emperor and the lady of Namto.
Then was the missing White Vermilion Bird in the Imperial Palace? No one could answer that question.
There was no one who could move freely through those towering palace walls.
Moreover, the Family Heads of the Four Divine Beasts families were bound by an ancient covenant that prevented them from defying the Emperor or moving about the Imperial Palace.
They were bound to their lands as if by chains, and in truth, the Family Heads could scarcely bear to leave the earth they governed.
When a Family Head left his land, even briefly, the Divine Beast’s protection withdrew from the soil.
Considering that the balance of the current realm depended on the Divine Beast’s power, a Family Head could never abandon the land entrusted to him.
‘This must be eating him alive.’
Now that the baby snake was confirmed to be Ju Myeongyeong’s daughter, it was certain the Emperor was behind the disappearance.
Yet there was no way to confront the culprit or search the palace for his sister.
She could imagine how dark Ju Jeokseo’s heart must have grown.
‘And that White Vermilion Bird—her fate is no better.’
She’d heard that the baby snake was initially abandoned by the Emperor to die, only to be saved by Ju Jeokseo.
So the White Vermilion Bird had watched her own child cast aside?
‘How could such cruelty exist.’
It wasn’t enough to tear mother and child apart—he’d even tried to kill his own offspring.
As Siyeom clicked her tongue and shook her head, the man who had accompanied her spoke in a confused tone.
“Is something troubling you?”
He was her cousin, blessed with a strong Supernatural Ability, though not quite her equal.
That’s why he often accompanied her when she went out. But he had one flaw.
“Are the refreshments not to your liking?”
‘He has no sense for reading the room.’
But that was hardly a serious fault.
The Black Tortoise Family had plenty of people with worse flaws than that.
Given the nature of Black Tortoise Beastmen who dealt with the dead and wraiths, most were temperamental and difficult.
By contrast, this man—lacking only that sense of nuance—was surprisingly kind and gentle for someone of the Black Tortoise Family.
So she saw no reason to reprimand him.
Siyeom shook her head.
And when she waved her hand to signal him to hold his tongue, the man fell silent.
Several minutes of quiet settled between them.
Before long, the reception room door opened, and Ju Jeokseo walked in.
“Sorry for the wait, Siyeom.”
And the moment she caught sight of Ju Jeokseo, Siyeom’s eyes narrowed.
She spoke at once.
“The Ghost Dragon dealt you quite a blow.”
***
Ju Jeokseo ignored her words and settled the child into a chair.
Hwaryeong and Hwanya were absent. Only Doeui, Baeksa, and Yo Nyeong had come.
Siyeom smiled faintly and asked.
“Where are the birds?”
“They each have pressing matters.”
“Still, you come so rarely—they should have shown their faces.”
But her voice held no real regret. Siyeom quickly changed the subject.
“So you’re Baeksa? I’ve heard about you in letters.”
Baeksa nodded her head eagerly.
She greeted warmly, with admiration.
“Hello!”
Siyeom was a strikingly beautiful woman.
Hair black as ebony was braided and pinned atop her head, and above her long lashes lay a deep green-black pigment.
Her garments too were dark, but unlike the dress of the Vermilion Bird Family or the Imperial Palace, the fabric was thick and the cut generous.
Yet her beauty was so striking that even such plainness could not conceal it, and Baeksa found herself transfixed.
‘There exists such a beautiful Beastman.’
If she was from the Black Tortoise Family, she would be a Xuanwu Beastman, wouldn’t she?
She couldn’t even imagine how beautiful her Beast Transformation must be.
Siyeom, seeing the child’s expression, smiled as if she found it endearing.
“You’re adorable, but why do you carry Doeui’s soul?”
“I gave it to her.”
Doeui answered curtly.
Siyeom’s gaze flicked briefly past Baeksa’s shoulder to Doeui, then withdrew.
“Is that so? Keep it safe with you always. One day it will save you.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Baeksa, this woman is an Incantation Spell practitioner of the Black Tortoise Family. You can call her Siyeom.”
“Siyeom……!”
“That’s right, you’re so cute. Your uncle could be satisfied just looking at you.”
“But why did you come yourself? Where are the other practitioners?”
“Bukto is also in turmoil these days. Everyone’s occupied, and there are no spare practitioners. Besides, it would set your mind at ease if I came personally.”
Siyeom replied smoothly.
“But a Ghost Dragon—has His Majesty truly gone mad? At this rate, we should start calling the Emperor the Deranged Sovereign.”
She started to add something about Ju Jeokseo’s wounds, her lips parting, but then closed them firmly instead.
And she said.
“What was your reason for requesting aid? Because of the Ghost Dragon?”
“Originally we requested help from the Azure Dragon Clan first, before coming to your family. To show them this child.”
He gently pushed Baeksa forward.
“Look at this child’s bead. Have you ever seen a Snake Beastman carry such a bead?”
“Is that a Cintamani?”
“Doesn’t it look similar?”
Siyeom studied intently the small bead floating gently beside Baeksa’s head.
Then she shook her head.
“It resembles one, but I don’t sense the Spiritual Power of the Dragon Tribe in it. It’s more like a clever imitation.”
She added.
“Of course, that’s merely my opinion. For something definitive, you’d do better to ask the Azure Dragon Clan directly. If you can ask them at all, that is.”
“Has something happened to the Azure Dragon Clan?”
“They’re in chaos over a succession dispute. Their internal affairs are so tumultuous and occupied that they won’t reach Namto for some time.”
Siyeom looked at Baeksa.
“Little snake, I’m sorry I cannot provide a proper answer about your bead. But I am a tortoise. Matters of dragons are better asked of dragons.”
“It’s all right! I don’t need an answer about my bead!”
Baeksa answered spiritedly, and Siyeom blinked, looking somewhat surprised.
“Then?”
“There’s a more urgent matter. Siyeom, it seems Ghost Dragon Fragments are drifting about Namto.”
At Baeksa’s words, Siyeom’s eyes narrowed sharply.
She asked again.
“Ghost Dragon Fragments?”
***
“Did you have a good time?”
Ha Seolyeong embraced her daughter warmly with a smile.
Ha Je-ui nestled into her mother’s arms and nodded eagerly.
“Yes! Next time they invited me to visit our family estate. Baeksa is so kind and gentle and lovely.”
“Ha ha, if she’s the daughter of Ju Myeongyeong, she would certainly be. She was always such a good and virtuous woman.”
“But I haven’t seen any books about Ju Myeongyeong yet, or so it seemed.”
“The Divine Lord may not have shown them to her yet, so she won’t be confused.”
“Oh… I already asked her to look at books together and watch a play next time. Was that rude of me?”
Ha Seolyeong shook her head gently.
“How could that be rude? I’m glad you’re becoming good friends with Baeksa. Do continue to befriend that little snake. She must be very lonely.”
“Yes! I think we’ll be good friends. Mother, what about Je-ryu?”
Je-ryu was Ha Je-ui’s younger sister, not yet two years old.
Ha Je-ui treasured her little sibling as if she were made of gold.
Ha Seolyeong laughed softly and said.
“Your father is likely minding her now. Go in and greet him properly. And remember to wash your hands well before holding Je-ryu.”
“Don’t worry, Mother!”
Ha Je-ui, just returned home, rushed to the Inner Quarters without even changing her clothes.
In the Inner Quarters, the matriarch of the Ha Clan was tending to Je-ryu with the help of a nursemaid.
“Father! I’m home!”
“Did you have a good time? How was it?”
“It was wonderful and so much fun. I told them you should come next time when the young Beastmen have competitions.”
Ha Je-ui knelt forward nimbly and reported all that had happened today, then crept toward the child.
“Je-ryu, were you good?”
The girl tapped the baby’s soft cheek as he grinned.
And in that moment.
Flash.
Something black flickered between the two sisters for an instant, then vanished.
But it had been so fleeting that no one saw 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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