The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 77

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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 77

 

Under the night sky that was particularly desolate with the moon hidden behind clouds.

 

Chirpy was dozing off on the perch, blinking drowsily, when suddenly it began flapping its wings frantically.

 

Flap! Flap, flutter—!

 

Chirpy flapped its wings violently, then began gasping and struggling as if suffocating…

 

Gack! Gack-gack, gack-gack!

 

Like a cow regurgitating, it vomited up what it had eaten and then collapsed with a thud.

 

The fallen Chirpy’s body turned pitch black, and something black and plump protruded from between its beak.

 

“Grrrrr…”

 

The poison insect slowly began to swell its body.

 

“Grrrrr… Grrrrr…”

 

The first to rush out at the commotion was none other than Soya.

 

“Chirpy!”

 

Soya screamed as she saw Chirpy collapsed with its entire body turned black and the poison insect swelling up.

 

“Grrrrrrrrrr…!”

 

Unlike its weakly dying appearance during the day, the poison insect began roaring with its massively swollen body.

 

Horror spread across the faces of Saeon and the people who rushed out upon hearing the sound.

 

“Good heavens, a poison insect!”

 

“It’s dangerous, Cotton Ball!”

 

Gayul shouted in alarm from among the people.

 

At that moment, the poison insect charged toward Soya.

 

“Grrrrr…!”

 

Crash—!

 

Saeon quickly snatched Soya with one arm, and at the same time, the wall behind them collapsed.

 

The surroundings instantly became chaotic.

 

“Baby Cotton Ball, are you okay?”

 

Saeon asked while keeping his eyes on the poison insect and tightening his grip on the arm holding Soya.

 

“Yes, Father. I’m fine. But the poison insect…”

 

“It’s because there’s no light. It seems it was waiting for an opportunity inside Chirpy’s belly and crawled out when the light disappeared.”

 

Qiongqi’s poison insects boasted terrifying power comparable to formidable demonic beasts in places without light like now.

 

Every time the poison insect drooled, the spots where its saliva fell corroded with a sizzling sound.

 

“Everyone take cover!”

 

At Saeon’s shout, people took shelter inside the main gate.

 

The poison insect turned its head while growling in search of people and spotted Gayul who hadn’t managed to escape.

 

In an instant, the poison insect charged toward him.

 

It was faster than lightning, unimaginable for such a massive body.

 

However, Saeon was slightly faster.

 

Saeon quickly kicked off and leaped, snatching Gayul with his remaining arm and twisting his body.

 

Then he set Soya and Gayul down in a safe place.

 

“Stay put here obediently, children.”

 

Saeon drew his long sword and approached the poison insect.

 

“Father, your wound…!”

 

Soya belatedly noticed blood dripping from Saeon’s sleeve.

 

He had been grazed by the poison insect in the process of saving the two children.

 

However, Saeon rushed out without any change in expression and cut down the poison insect with a single stroke.

 

Slash—

 

“Grrrrrrrrrrrk…!”

 

The poison insect’s corpse convulsed in its final struggle, then soon shriveled up with a hissing sound.

 

It was when Saeon frowned at the disgusting sight and turned around.

 

Startled.

 

Saeon’s expression hardened eerily at the presence he felt from behind.

 

Just as he was about to turn around again, gripping his sword hilt tightly.

 

“Father!”

 

As Soya ran toward him, the poison insect’s corpse exploded with a ‘bang!’

 

Black bodily fluid splattered in all directions, writhing as if it would corrode the entire world.

 

“Cotton Ball, you!”

 

Saeon, who had dodged by a hair’s breadth, pulled Soya into his arms.

 

“…!”

 

However, his eyes shook violently as he looked at the child.

 

He had discovered the poison insect’s black bodily fluid splattered on the child’s pale cheek.

 

Sting—

 

“Ugh.”

 

Soya winced at the chilling sensation of it corroding and penetrating her skin.

 

It was the moment when the poison that had instantly penetrated turned her skin pitch black and rushed toward Soya’s spirit core.

 

“Cotton Ball…!”

 

Along with Saeon’s single cry—

 

Crack!

 

Soya’s pupils dilated as she felt something surrounding her spirit core shatter.

 

“Ah…!”

 

Soya involuntarily gasped.

 

In an instant, the entire world flashed pure white.

 

Crackle, crackle. Crackle—

 

In the midst of complete silence, only the sound of flames burning echoed through the space.

 

Soya had experienced a similar feeling once before.

 

That strange feeling as if time and space had stopped, where only she seemed to be alive and breathing…

 

—Child.

 

Soon, a magnificent firebird adorned with massive and brilliant flames appeared before Soya’s eyes.

 

—You have finally found me, baby bird.

 

A voice that was gentle and soft yet simultaneously carried majestic authority resonated in her head like telepathic communication.

 

“You are…”

 

Soya gulped.

 

Crackle, crackle—.

 

Soya had seen this magnificent firebird with brilliant red feathers like burning flames somewhere before.

 

Long ago.

 

That is, when Soya was staying at the Vermillion Bird Mansion.

 

She had seen such a massive and beautiful being in the Suzaku paintings drawn throughout the mansion.

 

The ancient divine beast, Suzaku.

 

“Lord Suzaku…?”

 

As Soya murmured in an unbelieving voice, the red bird spoke with a voice tinged with gentle laughter.

 

—Yes. I am the purifier of the southern lands. The divine beast, Suzaku. Long ago, you awakened me. Baby bird of the south.

 

“…!”

 

Soya’s eyes widened like saucers.

 

‘The voice that had been calling me all this time was Lord Suzaku?’

 

—Since you awakened me, I shall give you the Flame That Purifies All Things.

 

Soon, blazing flames warmly enveloped Soya’s body, then disappeared like smoke.

 

At the same time, a small flame flickered to life on Soya’s palm.

 

The moment she saw it, Soya knew.

 

I could now freely manipulate this Purification Flame above my palm.

 

Just like when I received the White Tiger Sword from the White Tiger and instantly knew how to move it….

 

―Fire is precise yet small. However, this single small spark can grow large enough to devour the entire world at any moment.

 

Soya raised her head at Suzaku’s voice.

 

―So always be careful, Baby Bird. Lest you yourself be consumed.

 

“….”

 

Soya remained silent for a while.

 

She just stared blankly at the flame that had bloomed from her hand.

 

―Child?

 

It was then that the brilliant firebird tilted its head and dropped a red feather.

 

“I… awakened you, Suzaku?”

 

Soya raised her head again to look at Suzaku.

 

“That’s impossible. How could I awaken you, Suzaku? I… I’ve never met you before!”

 

At Soya’s outcry, Suzaku smiled gently.

 

―That day was exactly like this, when a red moon rose like these blazing flames.

 

Soon flames roared up and encircled Soya.

 

―Let me show you the day we first met.

 

“Ah.”

 

Soya squeezed her eyes shut as the flames grew fiercer.

 

And when she opened her eyes again.

 

“This place is….”

 

The Suzaku Mansion bathed in blood-red moonlight greeted her.

 

Soya looked around with a bewildered expression.

 

At that moment, a man with red hair passed in front of Soya with an anxious face.

 

Startled.

 

Surprised, Soya raised her head to get another look at the man’s face.

 

“That person is…!”

 

He was a little younger than Soya remembered, but it was definitely him.

 

Jeok Ayun.

 

The head of the Suzaku Family, and the man Soya had long thought of as ‘Father.’

 

‘Why is that person here…. Is this an illusion…?’

 

As Soya stared blankly up at the man’s face, Suzaku’s voice echoed in her head.

 

―It’s both an illusion and the actual past. From 12 years ago. It was the night when the red moon rose, child.

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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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