The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 131

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 131

 

Suddenly―

 

A bouquet of flowers emerged from behind him, accompanied by a fragrant floral scent.

 

“Hello.”

 

At that languid greeting, Seolyeo turned around reflexively and stepped back in shock.

 

“Y-you are…!”

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

Irim, dressed in comfortable attire, was smiling gently while offering flowers to Seolyeo.

 

“Wh-wh-wh-what is this?”

 

“I saw you looking for flowers.”

 

“…?”

 

“Please deliver this to Soya.”

 

He placed an armful of the bouquet in Seolyeo’s arms with a gentle smile.

 

“You don’t need to mention that it’s from me.”

 

“Why… why don’t you deliver it yourself instead of entrusting it to me?”

 

Seolyeo asked, unable to completely hide his wariness.

 

At that sight, Irim’s lips curved up slightly.

 

“Seeing you use formal speech, it seems you’ve learned etiquette now. Back then you were just like a wild thunderbolt.”

 

Seolyeo’s face turned bright red.

 

Of all people, hearing such words from Irim made him feel strangely ashamed.

 

“If you want to comfort Soya, you could deliver it yourself, couldn’t you?”

 

Therefore, Seolyeo deliberately didn’t accept his command obediently and said this.

 

“The sky is dark. It’s too late to visit a lady’s room.”

 

However, at the words that followed, Seolyeo’s face became even redder.

 

Seolyeo had only thought about comforting Soya and hadn’t considered at all that it was late.

 

Just like the ‘uneducated, foolish tiger who barges into a grown lady’s room’ that the Little Young Master of White Tiger Palace had once talked about.

 

“I-I wouldn’t visit Soya at such a late hour either! So Your Majesty should deliver it yourself when day breaks!”

 

He deliberately raised his voice to hide his embarrassment.

 

“Oh my. Are you defying an imperial command?”

 

At that question tinged with a cold smile, Seolyeo’s body trembled slightly.

 

At this, Irim let out a quiet laugh.

 

“I’m joking.”

 

“…”

 

Watching Irim’s face that looked truly amused, Seolyeo just gripped the bouquet in his arms tightly.

 

Irim gazed quietly at the flower petals that fluttered down to the ground because of this, then suddenly warned.

 

“Be careful of black water. Evil always lurks in dark and damp places.”

 

“…?”

 

“Seeds of evil have flowed into the Imperial Palace.”

 

Seolyeo blinked his eyes, unable to easily understand Irim’s words.

 

However, Irim passed by Seolyeo without any further explanation.

 

Step, step, step.

 

Quiet footsteps echoed through the night air.

 

Irim walked under the moonlight with an expressionless face.

 

‘Seeds of evil’ had flowed into the Imperial Palace.

 

The last demon beast Taotie had disliked the body of the Northern Lands man in which his true master dwelt from the moment the seal was first released.

 

Therefore, Taotie planted ‘seeds of evil’ throughout the continent so that when his master eventually left that wretched man’s body to transfer to another, his master’s power would not be cut off.

 

By infusing part of evil’s power into those with hearts as wicked as evil itself under the name of ‘deals’.

 

They would become nourishment for the evil that had lost its power and fled, calling evil back again.

 

And the place where the sinister malice possessed by those ‘seeds of evil’ was directed…

 

Stop.

 

Irim’s footsteps halted.

 

It was in front of Soya’s quarters where the lights had not yet been extinguished.

 

Even the shadow faintly visible through the paper window was so lovely.

 

Irim’s eyes curved with an affectionate light as he gazed at this.

 

Do you know this, Soya?

 

You are always so beautiful and lovely like this.

 

Like a small, fragile dandelion seed that seems like it would fly away if blown upon, like sweet sugar candy that seems like it would melt if touched.

 

You are so beautiful and lovely, yet also fragile.

 

I worry you might fly away if blown upon, melt if touched.

 

Therefore, I am always careful with you.

 

Though he could reach that place ahead with just a few more steps, Irim couldn’t bring himself to approach any closer.

 

He simply gazed quietly at the shadows faintly visible through the paper window from where he could see her quarters.

 

Until the night grew deeper and long after the lights in Soya’s room had been extinguished.

 

Staying in the same place for so long like that…

 

* * *

 

The next morning.

 

Soya was resting her elbow on the window frame, chin in hand, enjoying the morning air.

 

She had worried because she cried so much yesterday, but fortunately her eyes weren’t very swollen, perhaps because she had calmed down since evening.

 

‘Yesterday was really quite a commotion. So much that even my tears dried up. Because of Gaya…’

 

Gaya had barely calmed down only after Saeon appeared.

 

No, could that even be called calming down?

 

To be more honest, he hadn’t calmed down at all even after Saeon appeared.

 

Seeing him rage like that, Soya worried that her brother might breathe fire from his mouth.

 

It looked like he might even develop a flame ability he never had before.

 

In the end, Gaya, who was subdued by Father’s force, lay collapsed on the floor while still glaring fiercely toward where the Vermillion Bird Family was and trembling.

 

‘Having someone get angry on my behalf feels really warm and comforting.’

 

Although Gaya had turned the pavilion upside down, and Father had to grab the back of his neck several times because of it… even so, Soya felt grateful to Gaya.

 

Because she knew that at the foundation of his actions was a heart that cared for her.

 

Meanwhile, because of that commotion, she couldn’t have much conversation with Sanyu, which Soya found a little regrettable.

 

Sanyu, who had bowed his head to Father and her brothers, tried to turn away after leaving a greeting with affectionate eyes toward her.

 

If Soya hadn’t stopped him, that really would have been the last time.

 

[Elder Brother…!]

 

Soya ran to him as he was leaving, grabbed his sleeve, and said.

 

[Thank you for coming to tell me this today.]

 

[Soya…?]

 

[For letting me know that at least one person was my family… For making it possible for me to remember my childhood that I always wanted to cut away, to not forget it and cherish it as a memory. Thank you so much, Elder Brother.]

 

[Soya…]

 

[And someday. If there’s ever a chance… I want to show you too, Elder Brother. Me spreading my wings and flying. I even had my first growth at White Tiger Palace, and I’m very good at flying.]

 

[Ah…]

 

Then he made a short exclamation and smiled sadly.

 

[Really amazing. To fly so magnificently when no one taught you, our Soya is really cool and amazing, my baby bird.]

 

These were the words Soya had always wanted to hear someday.

 

[Elder Brother is also very curious about Soya’s grown form. I really want to see it. So next time let’s fly together, Soya. Let’s climb high mountains and pierce through clouds, flapping our wings powerfully together like that.]

 

[Yes, Elder Brother. Definitely.]

 

Soya smiled brightly and hooked her pinky finger with his.

 

And quite mysteriously, after he left, the inexplicably drooping mood that had persisted for a while completely disappeared.

 

Even when thinking of other Vermillion Bird Family members, she no longer felt gloomy.

 

‘Will the day come when I can show my beast transformation form in front of Sanyu?’

 

When she had previously faced him in baby bird form, the Spirit Core’s power was partially sealed so her red feathers weren’t visible.

 

‘If Elder Brother sees my red feathers… he’ll cry even more sadly than yesterday.’

 

Soya, I felt the same way. When I learned that I wasn’t a fake, I was so heartbroken and wronged that I cried a lot.

 

If it was kind Elder Brother Sanyu, it was obvious he would be even sadder than me.

 

‘Still, someday I definitely want to show him. My true self.’

 

Chirpy chirped encouragingly as if cheering on Soya.

 

“Thank you, Chirpy. When that time comes, I’ll specially let you join Elder Brother and me in flight.”

 

Soya chuckled softly as she stroked Chirpy’s head.

 

The Grand Banquet that had greatly honored the generals’ achievements had ended, and from today, large and small banquets were densely prepared.

 

Today, an archery competition and boat excursion were prepared.

 

Soya, whose eyelids were a bit heavy from crying too much yesterday, planned to rest well during the morning hours and go on the boat excursion in the afternoon.

 

Seolyeo came to visit Soya’s room after she had finished preparing with Yeonjeong’s help, intending to take a morning walk to get some fresh air.

 

“Welcome, Seol Yoya.”

 

Soya greeted her with a delighted voice.

 

“Sanho told me to help with your morning walk…”

 

Seolyeo scratched her head and deliberately added.

 

As if to make it known that she definitely hadn’t come barging into a lady’s room on her own.

 

“Thank you. You’re not bothered by me when you’re busy, are you?”

 

“Ab-absolutely not!”

 

Seolyeo shouted out, worried that Soya might tell her to go back if she was busy.

 

“Then let’s go for a walk together, Seol Yoya.”

 

Soya, who was chuckling and about to go outside, spotted the flower vase on the table and spoke as if suddenly remembering.

 

“Oh right, Seol Yoya. About the flower blossom in the vase. You brought it last night and delivered it to Lady Yeonjeong, right?”

 

“Uh, huh? Mm-hmm.”

 

“Thank you. I like this flower. It’s a flower that’s hard to find in White Tiger Palace, so I didn’t know it would be here.”

 

Soya said with a smile. However, Seolyeo couldn’t readily respond and hesitated.

 

I should tell her that flower was given by that man, not me… She felt both reluctant to tell her and somehow uncomfortable about pretending not to know.

 

‘Why did that man leave this to me.’

 

Soya seemed to really like the flower, burying her nose between the flowers and leaves to savor the scent.

 

‘She’s pretty, Soya…’

 

Seeing that lovely sight of Soya, Seolyeo suddenly understood why that man had said she didn’t need to reveal who gave it.

 

Because seeing Soya’s face buried in the flowers made her feel that it didn’t matter who gave the flowers.

 

But then, a commotion could be heard from the entrance of the pavilion.

 

Running toward where the sound was coming from, Sanho was having an argument with someone.

 

Soya’s eyes hardened slightly as she recognized the other person.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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