Chapter 260
Chapter 260
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 260
>Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board
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Boom-!
BOOOOOOM-!
Crack!
CRAAAAAAAAACK!
“Uwaaaaaaaaah!”
KABOOOOOM!
The furnishings in the suspicious, sealed-off room were shattering to pieces in every direction. Nothing inside could be seen from outside.
But the sounds alone were enough to guess what was happening within.
“Hongcheon-nim’s episodes are coming more frequently.”
“…I have nothing to say.”
“Enough. It was probably impossible from the start for a mere physician like you to improve the condition of Hongcheon-nim, who became a dragon.”
Banghyu scowled and dismissed the physician.
The one locked inside that room right now was none other than Dragon Emperor Hongcheon.
Why would such a dignified man create this racket and commit these acts of destruction?
It seemed incomprehensible at first glance, but in truth, Hongcheon had been like this for a very long time.
Ever since the day he drank the dragon’s blood.
Hwagmu’s blood had brought Hongcheon many gifts.
Overflowing vitality, a steel mind, enduring youth, and a lifespan without end. The children born of his unions were often kirins.
This virtuous cycle had formed, allowing the Khan to rise even as dragons sought to destroy the East.
At times, it seemed the Khan would prosper forever.
However, every transaction in the world demands a price. Hongcheon, who had endured for over three hundred years, would occasionally lose his reason.
No records remained of it, but in his youth, one such episode had left an entire village in ruins—the aftermath was that devastating.
The cause was a mystery at first, but in time, it became clear: a side effect of a human body accepting dragon blood.
Hongcheon knew his condition all too well.
That was why, before these episodes struck, he restrained himself to ensure no victims emerged.
He had lost his youth, so his strength had diminished.
But vitality had faded too, shortening the intervals between his losses of reason.
“This won’t do….”
Banghyu groaned to himself.
* * *
Beyond Yongseok, Taeyul commanded five more subordinates. Each of these five possessed abilities rivaling the most exceptional Yongseok.
Jinryeo, who had clashed with Kang Seol in the Dragon Palace, was one of their number.
Their names were Songno, Gyujin, Bangso, Gokbi, and Jinryeo.
Songno, sporting a stylish beard, addressed Taeyul.
“Have you heard what the Jegeuk have done?”
“I have.”
Taeyul’s flat tone prompted Songno to read the room.
“Yet you don’t seem surprised.”
“Of course not. It fit their petty, foolish vessels perfectly. Though….”
Taeyul’s expression soured slightly.
“That rogue seems to have gotten innocent Yonghwa caught in the crossfire.”
Gokbi, the woman with the black hairpin, chimed in.
“Isn’t that for the best? They were nothing but obstacles anyway….”
Taeyul fixed her with a cold stare. Chubby Bangso gave her side a light elbow nudge.
“Ah.”
“Watch your mouth!”
Taeyul turned to Gokbi.
“Gokbi, think ahead.”
“What do you mean….”
“Think like a dragon, not a Yonghwa.”
“…….”
Taeyul elaborated for Gokbi, who wasn’t catching on.
“Yonghwa are the pillars who will lead the Khan. Their talents are too valuable to squander like consumables. Rejoicing in their setbacks is the mark of a foolish dragon.”
Gokbi dropped to one knee and bowed her head.
“This girl was shortsighted, obsessed only with the task at hand. I failed to see further. Forgive me.”
“No forgiveness needed. Rise.”
Gokbi flashed a bright smile.
The hulking Gyujin beside her shifted topics.
“That aside, there’s an amusing rumor making the rounds among the Yonghwa.”
“Rumor?”
“Yes. That Kang Seol, Seolhong’s Yongseok, cleaved the Whirlwind River in a single stroke.”
“I heard. But there’s more, isn’t there?”
“…You knew? It was so outlandish, I held back for fear of sullying your ears.”
Gyujin scratched his sideburns.
“That… the rumor he held his own against Fantasy Beast Baegyeong, if only for a moment….”
“Hmph….”
“I doubted my own ears at first. But the source—other Yonghwa who miraculously returned from the Sotcheon world. Which means….”
“It could be true. Right?”
“…Yes.”
Suuuuuuck…
Taeyul addressed the five present—no, six, counting his staunchest ally, Yongseok Masong.
“What is Baegyeong?”
“Well….”
“A monster from ancient times, isn’t it?”
“A whale the size of a building. They say the sheer scale shocks anyone who sees it up close….”
As the others replied, Jinryeo added hesitantly.
“Its power, built over eons, rivals that of a dragon….”
“That’s nonsense.”
“Pardon?”
Oops. Should’ve kept quiet.
Jinryeo inwardly kicked herself as she waited.
“No matter how mighty Baegyeong’s power, it can’t compare to a dragon. Have you ever seen one?”
“Goodness, who alive has? I’d love to meet them… Ah, Hongcheon-nim has.”
“Correct. And so have I.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. Though it was long ago, when I was very young.”
“Incredible….”
“Nothing incredible about it. I glimpsed it once by chance, but someone sees them regularly even now.”
“Pardon? Who?”
“Sinyo.”
The five listeners froze.
“Sinyo? She saw it with you back then too?”
“No. Sinyo’s master is a dragon.”
“…Pardon? I thought she was a wandering Taoist descended to the mortal world. Rumors say so.”
Taeyul shook his head firmly.
“She trained under a dragon. The one I saw as a child was her master.”
“Hah… unbelievable.”
“That’s why no Yonghwa can match Sinyo’s Tao arts. Her talent was prodigious from the start, of course.”
“News to me. A dragon as master? Incredible. But with a dragon backing her, isn’t it unfair?”
“If those teachings helped her navigate this crisis splendidly, it’s a blessing.”
Talk of Sinyo’s master wrapped up, returning to the prior subject.
“But if Baegyeong lags far behind a dragon….”
“Even then, it’s a monster beyond human ken. Its power has peaked, letting it roam Sotcheon’s Fantasy Realm unchecked. Known as fiercely aggressive, yet he withstood its onslaught awhile… the Eoduksini business too. Hm….”
“What’s on your mind?”
“Kang Seol is stronger than Jangdu. Far stronger. He may be the mightiest Yongseok.”
Masong, Taeyul’s Yongseok, startled amid the quiet listeners.
Flinch!
“This punk flinched! Taeyul-nim’s own Yongseok, slacking on training—a total parasite! Masong! He’s lounging around listening even now!”
“W-What are you saying! I train daily!”
“And that’s your level? Lying now too! Daily training would make you strongest! How long against Baegyeong?”
“…Could escape, maybe?”
“With your lord?”
“No, couldn’t protect Taeyul.”
“Lord, grant me leave to tan this fool’s hide. One strike, done.”
“Don’t you dare grant it, Taeyul!”
Taeyul propped his chin.
“Trouble. One’s a dragon-taught Taoist, the other holds the strongest Yongseok… What arms do I have against them?”
“Us, obviously?”
The atmosphere plunged.
“…My apologies.”
“What for? I mean it sincerely.”
“Urk… if only Masong were stronger….”
“Why target me! Deny it, Taeyul!”
As they pivoted to fresh chatter, Jinryeo unrolled a scroll listing trials issued to the Yonghwa.
“What’s wrong?”
“Other trials make sense, but this top-scorer? Hard to swallow.”
Masong and the others, mid-spat over trifles, turned to her in unison.
“Jinryeo’s clueless?”
“You don’t know what it is?”
Jinryeo scratched her cheek, baffled.
“Wilderness Command? Huh?”
Atop the list: Recover the Wilderness Command.
Taeyul fielded it.
“An artifact to command demons. Legendary in Khan lore, though.”
“Then we snag it!”
Laughter rippled through the group.
“Jinryeo’s so earnest, adorable.”
“Kid’s pure as fresh snow.”
Taeyul eyed Jinryeo’s bewildered look.
“No one knows where the Wilderness Command is.”
* * *
Seolhong endured her worst day ever on solid ground.
After beheading the Jegeuk, she barricaded herself in her room for days.
Everyone fretted over her.
Thud!
Thud!
“I wanna die….”
Chiwu bashed his head on the table over and over.
【Need a hand?】
Bitan asked, concerned.
Chiwu ignored it.
“…What now?”
Kang Seol met Chiwu’s plea with silence.
“What to do? Nngh….”
After an age of that, Kang Seol had to respond.
“Why?”
“Wanted the best banquet ever, but it turned disastrous. Why am I so useless?”
Swish…
Hwaa approached, unable to stomach Chiwu’s self-lashing.
“No helping it, Chiwu-nim.”
“Hm?”
“Special countermeasures meeting time!”
“Special what now?”
“To plan ways to lift Seolhong-nim’s spirits! Everyone, here!”
As Seolhong wrestled her torment from her room’s corner, the rest crammed around a tiny table.
Hwaa, Cheonga, Hwiah.
Seolhong’s maid, Cheonju.
Guest Chiwu and Yongseok Kang Seol.
Even Bitan.
“Feed her tasty stuff!”
“Hear hear!”
Bitan and Chiwu volleyed.
First idea tanked; all groaned.
Hwaa shook her head.
“Please, you two—stay out of the driver’s seat.”
“Huh?”
Cheonga proposed next.
“We host the banquet? A proper one.”
“Not awful, but Dragon Struggle looms. Time’s tight, no guests either.”
Chiwu, uncharacteristically sound:
“And flop this one? No do-overs.”
“Fair. Cheonju-nim?”
“First time for Seolhong-nim… Never skipped meals before….”
Cheonju mirrored Chiwu’s funk. Slim help.
“Hwaa-unnie?”
“Let it blow over? Our fussing might not even register.”
“Maybe… Untreated wounds fester forever….”
“Don’t omen it… Hwiah?”
Hwiah rubbed her nose bridge.
“Hwiah goes out when things get tough.”
“Out? Now?”
“Yup! Fresh air, people-watch.”
“…Why?”
“Suffering folk, joyful ones, even worse-off than me. All empowering. World’s not just you?”
“Eugh, nope. Veto.”
“Who died and made you boss, Chiwu-nim!”
Hwaa tallied up.
“Nothing solid. We’re all on edge, but act normal for Seolhong-nim’s sake. Good ideas, speak….”
Then.
Screeeeech…
Seolhong’s door creaked open.
Bang!
Crash!
“…….”
Scattering amid the clatter.
“…What’s with everyone?”
“Oh, n-nothing….”
“P-Porcelain… gotta polish the porcelain….”
“Bathroom’s slick! I’ll handle it….”
Hwaa and Cheonga abruptly buffed pristine china or dove into bathroom scrubbing—pure oddity.
- lmao said act normal tho...
- faking chill till seconds ago kekeke
- suspicious af lolol
- kyungyu uncle optional; instant cam fodder.
Seolhong eyed their weirdness suspiciously.
Clink…
Cheonju toted the teapot to the table.
Shiver shiver…
Clink clink clatter…
Tea gushed wildly.
“T-T-T-Tea, h-have a c-cup….”
- Suspish queen enters! - Cheonju! Live!
- Geezer… tails…
- Hongcheon’s kicking!
- Geezer… surges ahead…
- Vibes quake?
- Vid lagged out, fix plz.
“You look beat, Cheonju. Rest up.”
“C-C-Can’t… m-maybe rest?”
“Yeah. You’re sweating buckets.”
“Got it. R-rest it is.”
Seolhong approached Kang Seol.
“Fancy some air.”
Every head in the lodging swiveled her way.
“Out… ing?”
“Yes. Outing.”
Rustle.
Chiwu bolted upright.
“Outing now? Incident was days ago, but still too soon….”
Stinging glare hit; Chiwu glanced over. Hwaa’s murder eyes.
“Too much? Then forget it….”
“Perfect! I’ll tag along, yeah? Outings rule.”
“Chiwu’s an outing fan too?”
“Sure… er….”
Hwiah lip-synced behind Seolhong.
“F-Fresh air, peep folks. Toilers, merrymakers, the miserable. Strength in numbers?”
“Didn’t peg you for the type, Chiwu.”
- Cuz he wasn’t. Till like, now.
- Sue for IP theft.
- Hwiah’s mug kekeke
- Lips flapping nonstop! She’s cursing! Hwiah’s mouthing swears!
“Right. Where to?”
“See Yushin. Been ages.”
“Got it, Yushin… Wait—Yushin?”
“Yeah.”
“G-Goblin Street Yushin?”
Goblin Street narrowed Kang Seol’s brow.
Goblin Street was Hongyeon’s slums.