The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 86

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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 86

Startled, Soya swung the White Tiger Sword wildly as she charged toward the ghost in white clothes.

―Ah, ahhh, ah, child, wait, this is, urgh…!

The ghost tried to say something, but it didn’t reach the ears of the startled Soya.

―I’m not a ghost, urgh, really not, groan…

Only after the tattered ghost collapsed to the floor with a thud did Soya stop hitting while gasping for breath.

―Oh my, what shall we do? The White Tiger Mountain Lord has been beaten to a pulp.

The woman in red clothes muttered in a subtle voice that was hard to tell if it was regretful or pleased.

Soya suddenly felt that the woman’s voice was somewhat familiar.

[Who are you…?]

―So we meet again like this, Baby Bird. I didn’t mean to startle you, I’m sorry.

The woman smiled brightly at Soya and offered a greeting.

[Wh-who are you?]

Soya asked with a wary expression, still unable to let go of the White Tiger Sword in her hand.

―Oh my, she doesn’t remember us at all.

The man who had collapsed on the floor sat up while muttering.

When Soya flinched in surprise and stepped back, the woman scolded the man.

―Stay still, you old tiger. Aren’t you scaring Baby Bird because of your behavior?

‘Old tiger…?’

Soya blinked at that vaguely familiar expression.

―Who’s calling who old? I’ll have you know I’m 500 years younger than that old lady.

―It’s not 500 years, it’s 497 years.

―Same difference.

―How is that the same? This tiger’s judgment has become clouded with age.

―Look here, Suzaku granny. I’ll say it again, I’m 497 years younger than you…

The man and woman began bickering again.

Somehow relaxed by their appearance, Soya cautiously spoke up.

[Um… ghost spirits?]

―Ah, Baby Bird.

―Oh my, Baby Bird!

The man and woman belatedly realized Soya’s presence, stopped their argument, and turned around with an “oops.”

[Um… did you two come looking for me?]

―Ah, well… we are…

The man in white clothes scratched his head, then introduced themselves.

―We’re not ghosts. I am the White Tiger Mountain Lord, and this old lady is the Vermillion Bird Heavenly Lady.

[…?]

―We’re the divine beasts White Tiger and Suzaku that you awakened.

[…!]

Soya’s eyes widened in surprise.

[But back then, you were very large?]

They were floating around the size of a palm, completely different from the White Tiger and Suzaku that Soya had seen.

They were just too small.

―What you saw that day was our true form.

The White Tiger Mountain Lord floated around in front of Soya as he explained.

Since their souls had departed to the Heavenly Realm long ago, it was difficult to maintain their true form’s appearance for long in the Earthly Realm.

[I’m sorry. I thought you were ghosts because you were floating in the air.]

―It hurt a little, but it’s fine, Baby Bird. Rather, I’m relieved to confirm that you’re so spirited. Hahaha!

The White Tiger Mountain Lord burst into hearty laughter with a large bump on his head.

[But if you keep visiting like this, won’t people be surprised?]

―Hoho, don’t worry too much, Baby Bird. Only you can see our appearance and hear our voices.

―That’s right. Only you are connected to us through your Spirit Core.

[My Spirit Core?]

Soya quietly raised her hand and placed it on her chest.

She could feel her Spirit Core beating rapidly.

―We’re always inside you, so whenever you have questions, please come find us.

That was already half a month ago.

Since that day, Soya had often conversed with them like this.

‘The problem is that no matter what conversation we start with, it always leads to their bickering.’

Listening to the squabbling conversation between the White Tiger Mountain Lord and Vermillion Bird Heavenly Lady, she flopped down on the grass field.

Then the birds she had just healed sat on the folds of her skirt and sang, while the wild animals scurried around her, grazing on grass.

[Borrowing power from beings with strong power, that’s your true Special Ability.]

Three years ago, the ‘beings with strong power’ that Irim had told her about. Soya now knows who they are.

Southern divine beast, Vermillion Bird Heavenly Lady.

White Tiger Mountain Lord, divine beast of the west.

Cheonghae Yongsin, divine beast of the east.

Hyeonto Yeomwang, divine beast of the north.

The four divine beasts who long ago protected this land.

White Tiger Mountain Lord lent the strong and solid power of metal, while Vermillion Bird Heavenly Lady lent the precise and gentle power of fire.

Thanks to this, Soya could now ignite purification flames without any medium and heal sick people and animals like this.

Though she hadn’t used it once since the Mountain Lord Festival three years ago, she had also gained the power to protect those precious to her.

‘I want to show His Majesty too.’

Irim, who had explained special abilities to her, had become the perfect emperor of Taehwa Kingdom over the past three years.

And during these past three years growing up as the Young Lady of White Tiger Palace, Soya had learned one more new fact.

Namely, that as a direct descendant of the White Tiger Family, she had to become a candidate for the Dragon Emperor’s Bride representing her family.

‘That feels a little strange though…’

To become a bride candidate for someone who was a childhood acquaintance.

Of course, Father had said she didn’t need to worry about such a position and should keep her heart light.

As Soya pondered about the Dragon Emperor’s Bride, a certain doubt suddenly occurred to her.

“But about that oracle. The oracle saying the Dragon Emperor’s Bride will awaken the divine beasts. It seems a little strange.”

At Soya’s voice, Vermillion Bird Heavenly Lady and White Tiger Mountain Lord stopped their bickering.

“I’m not the Dragon Emperor’s Bride yet, am I?”

―That’s because you possess the Imperial Dragon’s Yeouiju.

“I do?”

Soya’s eyes widened at White Tiger Mountain Lord’s words.

A Yeouiju.

Wasn’t that the legendary sacred jewel that the Imperial Dragon gives to his companion?

―White Tiger Mountain Lord.

Vermillion Bird Heavenly Lady erased her playfulness and called White Tiger Mountain Lord in a firm and solemn voice.

―…

White Tiger Mountain Lord’s mouth immediately shut tight.

Soya was curious about what it meant to possess a Yeouiju, but they wouldn’t answer any further.

* * *

The Imperial Palace of Taehwa Kingdom.

The fourteen-year-old boy emperor was reading through a report sent from White Tiger Palace in the west.

“Family Head Saeon of the White Family has perfectly handled the epidemic.”

“I see.”

A faint smile appeared on Tae Irim’s lips as he quietly listened to the report.

It was a tender smile, as if recalling someone very dear to him.

Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise at seeing this inhuman emperor, who had slaughtered his own blood relatives with an expressionless face, smile so gently.

But just as they blinked, wondering if they had seen wrong, the smile on the emperor’s face vanished without a trace.

Irim slowly rose from his seat and headed to his bedroom.

The palace attendants who had followed closed the door and left, and he was alone in the room.

Where his gaze turned, a large painting hung on one wall of the spacious bedroom.

It was the Five Directions Divine Painting, depicting Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Suzaku, and Black Tortoise in the four directions, with a golden-scaled Imperial Dragon painted in the center.

“Suzaku, White Tiger. Next is… the one who sprouts in the east, Azure Dragon.”

As he slowly surveyed the painting, he suddenly looked at the golden dragon painted in the center.

The Imperial Dragon ruling the center was a symbol of authority and harmony.

The Imperial Dragon’s power was earth. Solid but scattered.

This entire world that all beast-people stood upon was his domain.

Though he possessed power strong enough to destroy and recreate a world, strong power inevitably came with an equivalent price.

Suddenly he felt a burning pain.

Tae Irim glanced down.

Black scales that had fallen to the floor caught his eye.

He looked at the black scales with cold blue-green eyes.

The price of the great power that had overturned the world was festering black.

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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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