Chapter 137
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 137
Splash!
With the sound of water, So-ya’s small body was instantly submerged beneath the surface of the pond.
Glub... glub...
Feeling herself sinking deeper, So-ya opened her eyes underwater.
‘Just now, I’m certain...’
She hadn't misread the sensation. Someone had pushed her from behind.
It was a small hand, but one filled with pure malice.
And So-ya couldn't help but know exactly whose hand it was.
—Little Bird!
—Little Bird!
The Divine Beasts appeared one by one with a series of soft pops, calling out to her in frantic voices.
‘Divine Beasts!’
So-ya looked at them, her face lighting up with relief.
—Are you alright?
—That wicked girl...!
The Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden ground her teeth in fury.
—This is no time to be so calm, Little Bird. Hurry, draw upon my power.
The Dragon God of Cheonghae urged her, his eyes fixed on her.
‘I understand, Dragon God.’
So-ya spread her palms and drew out the power of the Blue Dragon.
A single seed, cradled in a brilliant white light, bloomed atop her palm, and then...
Pop!
With a cheerful sound, it burst and transformed into a large air bubble that enveloped So-ya’s body.
Now able to breathe much more easily, So-ya opened her tightly shut mouth.
“She pushed me, didn't she?”
—Yes.
The Divine Beasts nodded with angry expressions, confirming So-ya’s suspicion.
It was Ri-ri’s doing.
So-ya remembered how, a long time ago, Ri-ri had asked for her to be gotten rid of.
Back then, Ri-ri was still very young, and So-ya had thought it only natural for her to feel resentment, believing that So-ya had stolen her family and her life.
Even though harming another person can never be justified for any reason, So-ya had still tried to understand her.
But Ri-ri was no longer a child. She was fourteen, the same age as So-ya.
Her action of pushing So-ya into the pond just now was something that could never be overlooked.
There was no other way to interpret it: she had intended to kill her.
This was a clear crime.
Even after learning the truth about her birth, So-ya had tried not to pay any mind to the Vermilion Bird Clan.
Whether they considered Ri-ri their biological daughter or not.
Whether they hated and resented her because of it or not.
They were people who no longer had anything to do with her anyway.
However, the way Ri-ri had behaved since they met again here was beginning to change So-ya's mind.
The direct descendants of the Four Great Divine Beast Clans, who ruled the four directions, had a duty to protect young beasts.
The Vermilion Bird Clan, the masters of the South and the leaders of the three hundred and sixty species of winged creatures, was no exception.
A direct descendant of the Vermilion Bird was supposed to protect young birds.
Yet, just a moment ago, Ri-ri had shouted at and chased away the ducklings playing in the water.
She had been furious, claiming they were splashing dirty water on her.
That was not the proper attitude for a direct descendant of a Divine Beast clan.
And...
Clan Head Jeok Ah-yun, who knew that Ri-ri’s past actions were wrong but couldn't say a single harsh word to her.
Jeok Hwa-yu, who had immediately agreed to the malicious request of a child to get rid of So-ya.
They were exactly the same.
They failed to teach her right from wrong, instead shielding her and turning a blind eye to all her wicked deeds.
Since a very long time ago, the Vermilion Bird Clan had been broken and twisted.
If not for the sake of the clan itself, then for the sake of the young birds who would live under their rule, things had to be set right.
To grow up and protect the little birds.
That had been the precious, earnest wish of So-ya’s younger days, back when she was still the young lady of the Vermilion Bird Clan.
‘But first, I have to deal with the demonic beast.’
With a look of determination, So-ya thought to herself and asked the Divine Beasts.
“What happened? Why did a demonic beast appear? I thought they were gone now that Do-ol is dead. Is it possible that Do-ol is still alive?”
—That is not the case, Little Bird.
The White Tiger Mountain Lord shook his head as he explained.
—Do-ol’s ability was to tear through space and create a path connecting this world to the realm of demonic beasts. He summoned them through that passage. But only animal-type demonic beasts can be summoned in that manner.
“Then this is...”
—Someone has awakened a demonic beast that has been slumbering beneath this pond for a long time. And the one capable of such a thing is likely...
—The Peril Beast Do-cheol. It seems that wretch, who managed to escape death, is somewhere nearby.
“...”
There was a Peril Beast inside the Imperial Palace.
The thought sent a chill down her spine.
‘Perhaps the one who lent the power of evil arts to Ri-ri was also...’
So-ya clenched her fists for a moment before asking.
“Please tell me how to destroy the demonic beast.”
—The essence of a plant-type demonic beast also begins with a plant. Therefore, the source of its life lies in its roots.
The Dragon God of Cheonghae explained.
—Cut the demonic beast's roots. Then it will no longer be able to regenerate and its life will end.
So-ya turned her head toward where the demonic beast would be.
Beneath the pond, the light was dim, and the muddy water made it difficult to see ahead.
So-ya took out the light bead she had received as a gift from Ga-hyeon.
Immediately, the light bead brightly illuminated the dark water.
With her vision secured, So-ya was able to find the body of the demonic beast without much difficulty.
She slowly approached it.
Following the large, thick stem downward, she saw thick, sturdy roots firmly planted in the bottom of the pond.
—In the water, the strongest power is that of the Blue Dragon, which possesses the energy of wood. So, use my power, Little Bird.
So-ya shook her head at the Dragon God of Cheonghae’s advice.
“If it becomes known that I, a bird beastkin, used the Dragon God’s power, everyone will think it’s strange.”
The energy of wood becomes stronger when it meets water.
However, if So-ya used the power of the Blue Dragon, her identity as the Bride of the Yellow Dragon would be revealed immediately.
“Since there are so many eyes watching, I will only use the Mountain Lord’s power here.”
Though she was a bird beastkin, So-ya was the Sword Keeper of the White Tiger Sword.
Therefore, even if she defeated the demonic beast using the White Tiger Sword, it wouldn't seem too out of place.
“And the Mountain Lord’s power is plenty strong enough.”
So-ya smiled brightly as she looked at the White Tiger Mountain Lord.
—There is no breaking this Little Bird’s stubbornness.
—Our Little Bird simply has an excellent eye for Divine Beasts.
As the Dragon God of Cheonghae stepped back with a chuckle, the White Tiger Mountain Lord replied with a somewhat arrogant expression.
“Then, I’m counting on you, Mountain Lord.”
So-ya summoned the White Tiger Sword.
Then, with the white blade, she struck down with all her might at the top of the lotus demonic beast's roots exposed on the pond floor.
Thwack!
The lotus demonic beast vibrated violently in the water from the impact.
So-ya’s small body was nearly swept away by the shockwave.
“Ugh...!”
—Little Bird!
So-ya gripped the hilt of the White Tiger Sword, which was lodged in the beast's root, and held on with her eyes squeezed shut.
A moment later, as soon as the vibrations stopped, So-ya quickly pulled the White Tiger Sword out and struck the same spot again.
Thwack!
As the spot she struck repeatedly began to chip away, the demonic beast vibrated even more violently than before.
Sensing that something was tormenting it from beneath the pond, sharp thorns sprouted all over the demonic beast's stem.
—It’s dangerous, Little Bird!
The sharp thorns were shot out in all directions.
Some of them struck the air bubble surrounding So-ya, sending faint tremors through it.
Nevertheless, So-ya gritted her teeth and did not stop, continuing to strike the demonic beast's root.
The root, which was as thick as So-ya’s torso, was being cut away bit by bit.
‘I think I can do it. Just a little more...’
—Watch out, Little Bird! The air bubble is about to burst!
At those words, So-ya snapped her head up.
Just as the Dragon God of Cheonghae had warned, the air bubble protecting her was bulging as if it would pop at any second because of the thorns embedded in it.
‘No. Just a little more, really...’
So-ya prayed fervently in her heart and raised the White Tiger Sword high.
The power of the White Tiger grew even stronger when there was a desire to protect something.
With the heart to protect the people who had found peace after a long war.
With the heart to protect the happy times of those reunited with their families after a long wait.
So-ya struck down with all the strength she could muster, pouring even more conviction into the blow than before.
Crack!
With that single strike, the root of the lotus demonic beast finally severed.
Screeeeeech!
Along with a piercing sound, the demonic beast's stem began to twist and writhe, and then, in an instant...
Thud!
The lotus demonic beast turned into black mud and settled onto the bottom of the pond. The demonic beast was dead.
“I did it...!”
The moment So-ya shouted with a bright smile, the air bubble surrounding her burst with a pop! and scattered.
—Little Bird...!
Glub, glub...
Water rushed into her mouth.
So-ya quickly shut her mouth and held her breath.
‘This is no time for this. I have to get to the surface.’
She needed to swim up, but perhaps because the tension had snapped, her body felt strangely weak.
To make matters worse, she had dropped the light bead she was holding when the demonic beast was thrashing about earlier.
‘Ah... I have to get up quickly...’
Spin—
Her head felt dizzy.
Just as she felt she was about to lose consciousness.
‘Huh...?’
Beyond her fading vision, she saw a shimmering light.
A warm embrace wrapped around So-ya’s small body.
Soon, she felt her body surging toward the surface, and then...
Splash!
With the sound of water, a man who had rescued So-ya emerged from the surface.