The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 87

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

Chapter 87

The day after Ga Hyeon finished his two-week punishment and returned to White Tiger Palace.

Finally, the day that Soya had been eagerly awaiting for the past three years had dawned.

It was the day when the three siblings—Ga Hyeon, Gayul, and Soya—would depart eastward to meet Cheongha.

Ga Hyeon, who had already visited Azure Sea Palace twice in the previous year and the year before, became the guardian of his younger siblings, while Jeoka, Su Ri, and Seolyeo followed as the three siblings’ attendants.

Soya rode on Seolyeo and ran for two full days to arrive at the Eastern Lands, where festival preparations were in full swing.

Soya’s eyes widened as she saw the blue sea for the first time.

“Mother’s words were right. The sea is incomparably larger than any lake!”

Soya exclaimed in a somewhat excited voice.

In the Blue Sea lived various animals and marine creatures that traveled between land and sea.

There were seals, flounders, whales, sea lions, sea otters, hermit crabs, and even puffins with wings and beaks like Soya.

Soya was captivated by the marine creatures she had only seen in books.

The Eastern Lands she had actually come to see were far more wonderful than she had imagined and anticipated in her mind.

The lively and bustling atmosphere and the refreshing sea breeze were both wonderful.

“Cotton Ball! Let’s go eat that!”

Meanwhile, Gayul, whose attention was caught by a fragrant smell, grabbed Soya’s hand and headed toward the food stalls.

Gayul bought skewers of grilled shrimp and shellfish meat with seasoning and handed them to Soya and the group.

Just as Soya was chewing on the shrimp and narrowing her eyes with pleasure.

She felt something gently settle on top of her head.

Looking up, Soya discovered that Ga Hyeon was placing a flower crown on her head.

Soya smiled brightly and offered the skewer she was holding to Ga Hyeon.

“Elder Brother, please try this too. Yul bought it for me, and it’s really delicious.”

“As expected, only our Soya takes care of her elder brother.”

Ga Hyeon chuckled and took a bite of the skewer Soya offered him.

“You seem happy, our Soya.”

“Yes, I’ve always wanted to come here since I was little. To see such a bustling festival, I mean.”

Soya said while looking at the lively seaside.

Yes, it was one of the wishes she had harbored since she was very young.

To hold her elder brothers’ hands and watch a festival.

Although her childhood wish had ended with being abandoned and betrayed.

‘So this is what it’s like to spend enjoyable time with precious people in a special place.’

A seagull flew over to Soya as she smiled gently and looked around.

Soya shared what she was eating with the seagull as well.

Her face brightened as she conversed with the squawking seagull.

“What’s that bird saying, Cotton Ball?”

“It’s welcoming us to the Blue Sea!”

Soya giggled as she answered Gayul, who poked his head out curiously.

While Soya’s group was enjoying the sea festival for some time.

“Greetings, White Tiger Princes! And Cotton Ball Miss!”

A young boy with green hair came running over breathlessly and introduced himself.

“I am Byeol Asaeng, a turtle beastman from Blue Sea Dragon Palace. I have been ordered by Lady Cheongha to escort the distinguished guests from the Western Lands! It is an honor to serve you!”

“It’s been a while, Asaeng. Has it been a year?”

“A turtle beastman?”

“Hello, Lord Asaeng. Please take care of us.”

The three siblings each greeted Asaeng.

Asaeng guided the three siblings on the path to Azure Sea Palace.

“I hope the first impression of the Eastern Lands wasn’t bad for you, Young Lady.”

“It seems very lively.”

“It’s a bit chaotic, isn’t it? The Dragon God Festival will be held soon.”

“I heard from Mother. She said that every spring in the Eastern Lands, a festival is held in front of the Blue Sea.”

“That’s right. There’s also a martial arts tournament to select the greatest warrior of the Eastern Lands…”

“A martial arts tournament? I want to participate too!”

Gayul showed interest in the martial arts tournament and interjected with an excited voice.

“The martial arts tournament is only open to beastmen who have completed their Second Growth Stage.”

“What? That’s not fair.”

“Instead, there will be fireworks on the last day of the festival. How about we all go watch together?”

“Fireworks?”

This time Soya showed interest, her eyes sparkling.

“Yes, yes, they hang firework sticks filled with charcoal powder on long strings…”

“Fireworks falling from the sky sounds so amazing! I definitely want to go see it!”

“Oh, and the biggest attraction of the Dragon God Festival is undoubtedly the ‘Song of Purumir.'”

“I heard from Mother! She said it’s a ritual ceremony that makes life in the Eastern Lands flourish green with the Azure Dragon’s transformation.”

“That’s right. Lady Cheongha, the keeper of the Azure Dragon’s transformation, will personally oversee the ceremony.”

As they walked and talked for a while, dolphins were poking their heads above the water surface.

“Ah. We’ve already arrived. Everyone please take one sea orb each.”

The Eastern Lands managed by Cheongha are divided into the Land Zone and the Underwater Zone.

Among these, the Azure Sea Palace of the Azure Dragon family was located in the Underwater Zone, and visitors from outside needed these sea orbs to enter the Underwater Zone.

These sea orbs, said to be blessed by the Dragon God, helped land beastmen and animals breathe underwater.

For the past three years, Chirpy had been able to travel to and from Azure Sea Palace delivering letters between Soya and Cheongha thanks to these sea orbs.

However, the Dragon God’s power was so strong that young beastmen whose spirit cores hadn’t fully healed could experience side effects from the sea orbs.

‘But now I’ve completed my First Growth, so there’s no problem!’

Soya tucked the sea orb that Asaeng handed her into her pocket with an excited face.

After confirming that her group had each mounted a dolphin, Asaeng transformed into a turtle with a ‘Pop!’

“Then I’ll see you at Azure Sea Palace.”

As Asaeng dove into the seawater first, the dolphins carrying Soya’s group also followed behind, cutting through the waves.

Splash!

The refreshing sound of water rang clearly in their ears.

Soya slowly lifted her eyelids underwater and immediately burst into admiration.

‘Wow…!’

The underwater scenery was so magnificent.

Colorful starfish, mysteriously colored coral reefs, small schools of fish, and turtles grazing on seaweed…

While Soya was captivated by various sights, her group finally arrived at their destination.

The beautiful and mysterious panorama of Azure Sea Palace, called the Underwater Palace, greeted them.

* * *

Cheongha was suffering from headaches due to the recent continuous anomalies in the Eastern Lands.

Originally, the Azure Dragon was a divine beast that governed life, and the Eastern Lands under its influence never lacked the blessing of life.

However, recently the plants in the Eastern Lands had been withering away, and it had been some time since the cries of new life had ceased.

“This is serious trouble.”

Cheongha’s expression was deeply grave upon receiving this report, especially when she was already busy preparing for the Dragon God Festival.

“Lady Cheongha, Lady Cheongha! I’ve brought the guests from the Western Lands!”

Asaeng came running over hurriedly to announce the visitors’ arrival.

“The children have come?”

Cheongha’s expression immediately brightened as she stood up to greet the guests.

“Mother!”

“Mom!”

“M-Mother…!”

Ga Hyeon and Gayul, and between them Soya who had grown so beautifully she was almost unrecognizable, were looking at her with delighted faces.

“Welcome, my children.”

As she smiled brightly and spread her arms, the three siblings rushed into her embrace at the same time.

“When did our youngest baby become such a young lady?”

“I-I wanted to meet Mother! I wanted to meet Mother so I listened well to Father, ate my meals properly, and studied hard!”

Though she had often exchanged letters with Cheongha during this time, calling her ‘Mother’ directly with her own voice still felt a bit unfamiliar and made Soya’s heart flutter with excitement.

“Congratulations on your magnificent growth, Soya.”

Cheongha smiled gently as she patted the head of Soya, who had grown so much taller in the meantime.

A bright smile bloomed across Soya’s face as well.

After catching up for a while.

“Mother, I want to see the Azure Dragon Painted Halberd.”

“The Fire Halberd?”

“Yes!”

“Fufu, my adorable youngest baby. Then shall we go tour the Sacred Hall together with Mother?”

At Soya’s words as her eyes sparkled, Cheongha took the child’s hand and guided her to where the Divine Artifact was enshrined.

The Azure Dragon Painted Halberd looked similar to the toy Fire Halberd that Soya had received as a gift from Cheongha three years ago. Of course, this one was much larger and more magnificent.

Hidden in Soya’s embrace was a single spring flower branch.

Before departing for the Eastern Lands, the Vermillion Bird Heavenly Lady and White Tiger Mountain Lord had told Soya that awakening the Azure Dragon required ‘a heart that nurtures life.’

So she had brought along a spring flower branch that had bloomed in early spring and then withered.

‘I’ll make the spring flowers bloom and give them as a gift to Mother.’

Since Mother had been away from White Tiger Palace for so long, she would surely be delighted to receive these spring flower branches that had bloomed and fallen in White Tiger Palace’s Garden.

Thinking this made her giggle inwardly again and again.

Soya concentrated on her Spirit Core to awaken the Azure Dragon, with a heart hoping that life would sprout anew in the branch.

But then.

‘Huh…?’

There was no reaction whatsoever from the Divine Artifact.

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