The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 251
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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 43
“…I see.”
The man who had been silently staring at Soya for a long while slowly nodded his head.
“I understand your will. Then let us meet again at the Sacred Tree.”
Having confirmed Soya’s resolve, the man suddenly vanished.
Soya stared blankly at the spot where the man had disappeared and clenched her fists tightly.
It was unpleasant.
To receive advice from Hyongsu.
‘But why earlier…’
Suddenly, a sharp glint settled in Soya’s eyes.
The moment she had rushed forward with the Baekho Sword, the man could have easily raised his weapon to block her.
However, the man did not do so.
He merely offered his shoulder to her and slightly dodged out of the way.
‘Why did he do that?’
An uncomfortable question lingered.
* * *
Soya informed the people about her encounter with Hyongsu.
“The Sacred Tree.”
Saeon muttered with a thoughtful expression.
The Sacred Tree.
A massive white tree known to be at the Northern Frontier, connecting the Heavenly Realm and Earthly Realm that the Divine Beasts once protected.
“But not just anyone can approach it. Only those who have inherited the power of Divine Beasts can access that place.”
Only the heads of the four great families who had inherited the power of Divine Beasts, namely the authority of the Death God Beasts, could approach that place.
“If there’s an exception, it would be His Majesty who inherited the authority of the Imperial Dragon known as the master of the earth and…”
Saeon’s gaze turned toward Soya.
“Soya should also be able to approach it. Since she can directly wield the power of the Divine Beasts.”
“If it’s a trap…”
“Even so, I have to go.”
Soya spoke in response to someone’s worried words.
“Because that’s the only way to defeat Evil.”
“Right. Soya is correct.”
Saeon nodded and summarized.
“Those heading to the Sacred Tree will be me and Soya, just the two of us…”
“I’m going too.”
Interrupting the conversation, Irim spoke.
“Your Majesty. The Northern Frontier where the Sacred Tree has taken root is separate from the earthly realm ruled by the Imperial Dragon. Your power over the ‘earth’ will not work there.”
“I know. But I will go together nonetheless.”
“…”
Saeon looked at him for a long moment, then nodded as if he had no choice.
“Very well. Then it’s decided.”
Those who couldn’t accompany them were disappointed, but they too were given other duties.
“The search operation to find Evil’s location is now concluded. The remaining members shall form a subjugation force in alliance with the Vermillion Bird Family to combat the Demon Beasts.”
The Cheongryong Family members who had finished evacuating the residents of the Northern Lands were also planned to join soon.
Thus, the disbanded White Tiger Family search team would form a united subjugation force together with the other families.
“We will depart immediately at dawn tomorrow. While I’m away, I entrust the command of the family to Gaya.”
“Yes, Father.”
Saeon felt at ease seeing his son nod resolutely.
Soya came outside.
Everyone was already busily moving about in preparation for the subjugation.
Soya suddenly took out her bow and arrows.
Thinking about how Hyongsu had so easily dodged her arrows made her angry.
As she aimed her arrowhead at the empty air,
“Instead of doing that, try feeling the density of the air, Soya.”
At the voice coming from behind, Soya turned her head and her eyes widened.
“Sanyu Elder Brother…!”
“Your posture is very good. It seems Lord Gaya taught you the basics of archery very well.”
Sanyu smiled gently and held her arms and shoulders to check her posture once more.
Then he gently wrapped his broad palm around Soya’s hand that was drawing the bowstring.
“I don’t understand what you mean by feeling the density of the air.”
“Don’t calculate the trajectory the arrow will fly, but accept it through your senses. Like when we fly, naturally riding the air currents as we soar.”
He explained while drawing the bowstring deeper with the hand that wrapped around Soya’s.
“Shooting a bow is like a bird’s Wing Flapping. Remember the sensation from when you flew together with Elder Brother before… Soya?”
Sanyu, who had been explaining gently in an affectionate voice, felt Soya’s body flinch and looked back at his sister.
“What’s wrong, Soya?”
“Nothing. I just heard similar words recently.”
“Really? How curious. This is something I learned… in the family when I was young.”
Sanyu trailed off mid-sentence.
More precisely, it was something he had learned from his father when he was young, but somehow it was difficult to bring up their father’s story to Soya.
“Someone taught you the ways of the Southern Lands, I’m curious who it was.”
Sanyu spoke with a gentle smile as if it were quite an interesting matter, but Soya couldn’t smile along with him.
Soya lowered the bow and arrow she was holding and asked Sanyu.
“I saw a man in the Northern Lands wearing a black shroud and shooting red arrows. Is he perhaps someone from the Vermillion Bird Family?”
Sanyu’s face, which had been gentle throughout, suddenly hardened.
“Where did you see that person?”
“When I first arrived in the Northern Lands and just a little while ago. Actually… the Hyongsu who came looking for me was that person.”
“…!”
Sanyu’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
“Elder Brother…?”
“…”
Though Soya called him with a worried voice, Sanyu couldn’t easily regain his composure even at his sister’s call.
“…I’ll go with you too, Soya.”
Only after a long while did he finally manage to speak.
“I think I need to confirm that man you mentioned with my own eyes.”
* * *
Thus, Sanyu also joined Soya’s group heading to the Sacred Tree.
“Tch. I should have secured the Family Head position a little earlier like that bastard enemy.”
After seeing off those who were leaving, Gaya, who had set out leading the subjugation force, let out a disgruntled voice.
Though he had quietly followed his father’s decision, he couldn’t help but feel regret.
But what could he do? Even if he followed Soya, those who weren’t Family Heads couldn’t approach the Sacred Tree.
Rather than being helpful, he might only become a burden.
So rather than dwelling on pointless regret, it would be more helpful to do his job here.
More than that, he was worried about the third tiger.
Given Gayul’s usual temperament, he should have been grumbling with his mouth running, saying he wanted to follow Soya, but he was strangely well-behaved.
Ever since he had been seriously injured that day and recovered, Gayul had been unusually quiet.
It seemed he thought he hadn’t properly protected Soya.
While throwing his entire body against the resurrected evil to protect that child….
Gaya glanced sideways at Gayul, who was silently swinging his sword at the demon beasts.
This was the same Gayul who used to sing about wanting to join the demon beast subjugation, but now he was fighting with his mouth tightly shut and his face rigidly hardened.
‘Even the youngest tiger grows up like this.’
Even while thinking that, Gaya couldn’t help but worry about Gayul.
‘Well, eighteen is about the age when one starts to mature.’
Of course, Gayul and the phrase “becoming mature” didn’t quite match well together.
It was then.
Flinch.
Suddenly, an eerie presence was felt nearby.
‘What is this…? Don’t tell me, a malicious beast…?’
At the ominous aura, Gaya tightened his grip on his sword hilt and turned around.
When he looked in that direction, there was Ga Hyeon, who had originally come as the Emperor’s attendant but joined the subjugation force, catching demon beasts with a face more vicious than the demon beasts themselves.
It was hard to tell who the demon beast was.
Even the members of the subjugation force were avoiding his vicinity.
Seeing this scene, Gaya approached Ga Hyeon and asked.
“What are you doing?”
“I am subjugating demon beasts.”
Ga Hyeon answered in a calm voice.
However, his appearance of mercilessly swinging his sword and weaving through the demon beasts was closer to massacre than subjugation.
Ga Hyeon knew rationally that he would be a burden if he went with Soya.
He also knew that going with Father or the Emperor would be most helpful to Soya.
He understood all of this with his head, but still felt unpleasant about it.
So he was taking out his frustration on the innocent demon beasts.
Swish—
Leaping into the midst of clustered demon beasts, he swung his sword and created a whirlwind.
The demon beasts screamed as they were torn to pieces and crumbled away.
“….”
Gaya, who never thought the day would come when he’d feel sympathy for demon beasts, fell silent watching Ga Hyeon’s display.
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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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