The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 240

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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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Part 2, Chapter 32

“Seolyeo was my most precious friend who grew up with me in the White Tiger Palace.”

Soya carefully received the black-glowing orb and explained how she had grown up with Seolyeo in the White Tiger Palace all this time.

“So even without you asking like this, it’s only natural for me to save Seolyeo.”

At her resolute answer, a faint smile appeared on the Elder’s face.

“Even in her dying moments, my sister worried about that child. To think that child was able to grow up meeting such good people – my sister sleeping underground would be so happy.”

Though she was trying to speak calmly, overwhelming emotions could be felt from her face.

The Elder turned to look at Saeon and once again expressed her gratitude.

“Though I’m an aunt who hasn’t seen that child’s face even once since birth, I give my thanks to the nobles of the Western Lands who embraced that child.”

“It’s too early to receive thanks yet. If Seolyeo has voluntarily allied with evil to threaten the continent as Hyeonrabaek did, we must eliminate Seolyeo.”

The atmosphere seemed to dampen slightly at Saeon’s following response, but the Elder answered with a faint smile.

“Wouldn’t that also be a path for that child’s sake? Stopping a child who has set foot on the wrong path is the most important thing a guardian must do.”

“…Your words are right. Then I shall accept your gratitude from earlier with a joyful heart.”

Only then did Saeon also smile slightly and nod his head, following the Elder’s lead.

“If by chance the entrance to the Dark Earth Underground Palace is blocked, please use this. It’s a divine artifact passed down among the seven tribes.”

The Elder handed over a small ceramic bottle filled with shimmering water as she saw off the departing guests.

“If you follow the path opened by the divine artifact, you’ll be able to reach the underground palace safely without encountering the phantoms of the dead.”

“Thank you, Elder. I’ll definitely save Seolyeo and bring him back.”

Soya answered with a determined expression.

There were so many things she had to do when she met Seolyeo.

The black shell covering Seolyeo’s chest – that was surely a trace of evil.

Just like what had parasitized inside Hyeonrabaek’s body, it must have nested within Seolyeo’s flesh.

So when she met Seolyeo, she first had to drive the evil from his body, and with Seolyeo’s help as one of Hyeonmu’s bloodline, she had to awaken Hyeonmu.

But more than all of those things…

‘I want to tell him that it must have been very difficult and lonely all this time. But I want to tell him that he’s not alone anymore, that we’re here.’

She wanted to comfort Seolyeo.

“Alright, then let’s all go catch Seolyeo together!”

Gayul shouted while burning with fighting spirit.

* * *

The White Tiger Family’s search party left the black imugi tribe and arrived at the entrance to the underground palace where the Black Marsh had originally been.

However, where the marsh should have been, there was only desolate black earth without even the slightest trace of moisture.

The marsh had disappeared.

“The entrance is blocked, Family Head.”

“It seems to have hidden itself.”

“I’ll use the water bottle we received from the Elder.”

Soya stepped forward and took out the ceramic bottle she had received from the Elder.

When she tilted the bottle, the water inside trickled down to the ground.

Then from where the water had fallen, black water began bubbling up, and soon became a large marsh.

Kugugugugung—!

With a tremendous sound, stone steps carved with the forms of a turtle and snake rose up, opening the entrance to the underground palace.

Soya’s group grabbed the railings of the steps and descended below the marsh.

Thanks to the divine artifact received from the Elder, Soya’s group safely arrived at the underground palace without encountering the phantoms of the dead.

A cold and desolate black palace spread out before them.

When they had set foot in this place five years ago, black water had rippled at ankle height, but now it was nowhere to be seen.

This was because Seolyeo, the master of the ‘black water,’ had hidden his power.

The White Tiger Family’s search party decided to split into several groups to search for Seolyeo since the palace was vast.

Soya moved with Gayul and Su Ri to search for Seolyeo.

But despite searching here and there, they couldn’t find even a single strand of Seolyeo’s hair.

“That Seolyeo fellow – no matter how much we search, he’s nowhere to be seen. Could it be that he’s not here?”

Su Ri, who carried a large black shield on his back, asked in a very suspicious voice.

The Hyeonmu Iron Shield strapped to his back was something Soya had brought in preparation for any possible situation, but he had taken it instead, saying ‘I can’t let our Young Lady carry something so heavy!’

“But if he wasn’t hiding here, there would be no reason to block the entrance.”

“That’s true, but…”

Listening to Gayul and Su Ri’s conversation, Soya silently searched for Seolyeo.

‘Yul is right. Seolyeo must definitely be here.’

Soya recalled memories of playing hide-and-seek with Seolyeo when they were young.

Hide-and-seek was Soya’s favorite game, and Soya and Seolyeo played hide-and-seek together all around the White Tiger Palace and Horim Mountain.

And Soya always found Seolyeo.

[Found you!]

Even when he was hiding in a tree hole with just his head poking out.

[Behind that rock there, that’s Seolyeo, right?]

Even when he was crouched quietly behind a rock by the stream, holding his breath.

[Oh? It’s Seolyeo!]

Even when he was lying flat among the dense thicket with his head buried.

[Come out now, Seolyeo. I just saw your tail.]

When Soya called out like that, Seolyeo would appear while scratching his head.

Seeing that sight, she would burst into giggles, and Seolyeo would laugh along with her…

‘So this time too, I’ll definitely be able to find him.’

But no matter how much she searched, not a single trace of Seolyeo could be seen.

He wasn’t in the tree holes where he used to love hiding, nor behind the large rocks, nor among the thickets – he was nowhere to be found.

‘Where on earth could he be?’

Before she knew it, Soya had become quite separated from Gayul and Su Ri, but she was so focused on finding Seolyeo that she didn’t realize this fact.

‘Where on earth…’

“Peep…”

Chirpy, who had been following Soya to search for Seolyeo, sat down on the ground with exhaustion.

Normally, Soya would have affectionately asked Chirpy if he was okay, but she didn’t have that luxury.

While examining the area around an old building, leaving Chirpy behind.

She stopped.

Feeling a sudden sense of incongruity, Soya stopped walking and stared intently at the back of the building.

Swoosh—

Though the sound of wind could be heard, only in that direction were the leaves not swaying.

Soya carefully approached that spot and reached out her hand.

Thunk.

Her hand was blocked by something transparent and couldn’t go any further.

‘A barrier…?’

She remembered a conversation she had once had with Ga Hyeon long ago.

Now already seven years ago, when Soya had been isolated in the mountains while being chased by wild beasts due to Eun Siyo’s scheme.

[I went to find you, but a transparent barrier blocked the way.]

[A barrier?]

[Yes. It was a thick and solid barrier… as if it was protecting someone.]

Ga Hyeon looked suspiciously at Seolyeo, who was clinging closely to Soya’s side.

Come to think of it, after encountering Seolyeo, the mountain beasts no longer approached them…

[Seolyeo, did you create that barrier by any chance?]

[Kyuung?]

Seolyeo just tilted his head as if asking what he was talking about.

At that time, Seolyeo was trapped inside the demon beast’s shell and couldn’t communicate.

Since then, it had been forgotten from memory, so they hadn’t been able to discuss that day’s barrier.

Therefore, whether the barrier Ga Hyeon mentioned was really Seolyeo’s doing remained unknown.

However…

Clang!

Soya immediately summoned the White Tiger Sword and struck down at the barrier.

Naturally, the barrier didn’t break.

With a sharp sound, the sword bounced off, and a tingling pain traveled to her wrist.

—Baby Bird, the White Tiger Sword is a sword for protection. You cannot break a barrier with the intention to destroy something.

“I’m not trying to destroy it, Mountain Lord.”

However, Soya didn’t stop and gripped her sword again, striking the barrier once more.

Clang! Clang!

“Seolyeo…!”

Soya gritted her teeth and shouted.

“I’m trying to protect my friend Seolyeo!”

At that moment, white light poured out from the White Tiger Sword.

Crash!

The barrier that had been blocking her shattered.

“…”

Soya panted heavily as she looked inside the barrier.

Inside the dark barrier where no light entered.

A black-haired man was looking at Soya with a surprised expression.

“Seolyeo…!”

A fierce cry burst from Soya’s lips.

Soya had, once again, found Seolyeo.

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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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