Chapter 138
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 138
Meanwhile, immediately after So-ya fell into the water.
"Oh my, what should we do? The poor thing slipped and fell into the pond all by herself!"
Ri-ri cried out, stomping her feet in feigned distress.
Splash!
Seol-yo, who had been dangling from the scruff of his neck in Ga-ya’s grip until then, immediately wriggled free and dove into the pond to find So-ya.
However, the water was thick with mud and small stones stirred up by the demonic beast, rendering it impossible to see anything. In the end, he was forced to resurface without finding her.
Beside him, Ga-yul had also leaped into the pond, but he was now on the verge of tears, having failed to locate her as well.
Splaaash—
With the sound of cascading water, a massive white tiger climbed out of the pond.
Ga-ya had descended to the very bottom in his beast form, but even he could not find So-ya. To make matters worse, being underwater meant he couldn't catch her scent.
Roaaaaar—!
Ga-ya let out a thunderous roar.
The roar of an adult white tiger who had completed his Second Growth caused the surface of the water to tremble violently. It was a chilling cry, one that froze people in their tracks and even caused the demonic beast’s attacks to cease for a fleeting moment.
In the midst of the commotion, Sa-eon and Ga-hyeon also realized that So-ya had fallen into the water.
The demonic beast was still holding its ground in the center of the pond. The members of the White Tiger Clan left the beast to San-yu and the other warriors, turning their full attention to scouring the pond for So-ya.
Watching them, Ri-ri scoffed inwardly.
What is she to them that they’re searching like that?
She couldn't understand it. To search with such desperate faces for a child who wasn't even their real flesh and blood, but someone they had just picked up from somewhere.
Ri-ri stepped off the small boat and headed toward the area where those attacked by the demonic beast were gathered. Some had simply fallen into the water, but others were bleeding from wounds inflicted by the beast’s attacks.
"Hello. I want to help as well."
"Are you not the young lady of the Vermilion Bird Clan?" asked a palace attendant who recognized Ri-ri’s red hair.
"I am Ri-ri of the Vermilion Bird Clan. I believe I can help. Actually..."
Ri-ri’s lips curled into a slight smirk as she recalled her conversation with Do-cheol.
[Tomorrow, there will be a small disturbance in the Imperial Palace. You are to heal the people with the power I gave you.]
[You want me to heal people with this power?]
[Indeed. This power will make you the Bride of the Yellow Dragon, little cuckoo.]
Last night, to test this power, Ri-ri had broken the leg of a young sparrow and tried to heal it. To her amazement, the sparrow’s leg reattached and the wound vanished instantly.
A power that could heal the sick and injured! It was truly magnificent.
In that moment of surprise, Ri-ri had an intuition: this power would make her the most noble woman in the world!
"You have the ability to heal people, My Lady?"
"Yes. I’ll show you."
Before the skeptical crowd, Ri-ri unleashed the power of the evil arts she had received from Do-cheol. A flame as red as blood bloomed upon her palm. As it seeped into the wounds of the injured, their pain vanished and their injuries were cleanly healed.
Just as the people nearby began to burst into exclamations of awe—
"The—the demonic beast has fallen!"
The lotus demonic beast, which had been indiscriminately attacking the boats, suddenly lost its strength and shriveled up. The black mud that composed the beast sank back to the bottom of the pond.
Even then, Ri-ri didn't pay it much mind. She indifferently assumed the beast had simply died when its time was up, since it had only been sent to facilitate her grand entrance anyway.
That was until a man emerged from the pond, carrying So-ya in his arms.
"Your—Your Majesty...!"
"So-ya!"
"Cotton Ball!"
At the sound of the murmuring crowd, Ri-ri whipped her head around.
And there... was Yi-rim.
A soaking wet Yi-rim was walking out of the pond with So-ya.
Drip. Drip.
Water fell to the ground with every step he took. The people gathered with looks of consternation at the sight of their drenched Emperor. The members of the White Tiger Clan, upon seeing So-ya lying unconscious in his arms, turned deathly pale.
Why... why is that girl...!
Ri-ri’s eyes shook violently.
How did this happen? Did His Majesty actually dive into the pond himself to save her?
But no one had seen the Emperor jump in.
No way. It must be a coincidence... There’s no way His Majesty would dive into a pond just to save a girl like that.
Yes, it had to be a coincidence. He was the Emperor, the master of this palace. He must have come to investigate the report of a demonic beast and happened to find the child and bring her out.
That brat is so lucky. To end up in His Majesty’s arms of all places...
Ri-ri bit her lower lip hard.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
"Your Majesty, how could you..."
Yi-rim gave a curt response to the people who had gathered with bewildered expressions.
"The daughter of the Baek family defeated the demonic beast."
At those words, everyone looked at So-ya in Yi-rim’s arms with faces full of shock.
"What? That little lady did?"
"Something that dozens of warriors couldn't handle..."
The people muttered in disbelief, but Yi-rim offered no further explanation.
In the meantime, palace attendants arrived with thick blankets, wrapping them around the Emperor’s wet shoulders and So-ya’s body. Yi-rim tucked the blanket securely around So-ya and began to walk, still carrying her.
"Your Majesty."
Sa-eon called out to him, his face pale.
"Moving So-ya to a safe place comes first. Lead the way, Sa-eon."
"...Understood."
Sa-eon turned to lead Yi-rim toward So-ya’s quarters.
Ah, this isn't the time for this!
Ri-ri, who had been staring blankly at the scene, suddenly snapped out of it and hurriedly pushed through the crowd toward Yi-rim.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, are you alright? I..."
"..."
Yi-rim cast a sidelong glance at Ri-ri as she blocked his path. Ri-ri flinched instinctively at the overwhelming pressure emanating from him. He hadn't said a word, but his gaze was so cold and eerie that it seemed to freeze anyone who met it.
Nevertheless, Ri-ri summoned her courage and spoke again.
"I—I can heal you! I just finished healing all the people injured by the demonic beasts! So please, allow me to check Your Majesty’s imperial body."
"My Lady, you must not block His Majesty’s path," the palace attendants tried to restrain her, but she did not budge.
Instead, she began to rattle off her prepared words.
"After coming to the Imperial Palace and seeing Your Majesty, I awakened the power of purification."
Ri-ri spread her hands, conjuring a small flame.
"This is the Purification Flame granted to me by the Vermilion Bird."
Upon seeing this, the faces of everyone present were filled with astonishment.
"The young lady of the Vermilion Bird Clan has awakened the power of a divine beast..."
"But the only one who can awaken such power... is the Bride of the Yellow Dragon..."
"Did she not say she awakened it after seeing His Majesty? Then perhaps, reacting to the power of the Orb held by His Majesty..."
The people began to whisper, adding speculation upon speculation. Ri-ri had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling.
"After seeing Your Majesty’s face from afar at the banquet yesterday, I had a strange dream. The Vermilion Bird appeared and told me I was the Bride of the Yellow Dragon... and that he would give me the power of purification..."
She tried to explain in the calmest voice possible, but she couldn't help the excitement that seeped through. Especially when she mentioned being the "Bride of the Yellow Dragon," she even felt a bit bashful.
She could feel the crowd wavering at her statement.
"Your Majesty..."
Ri-ri looked up at Yi-rim with a face full of expectation. Yi-rim’s expressionless face made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
However, she could be certain of one thing: seeing Yi-rim’s face up close was incomparably more beautiful than seeing it from a distance.
"So, please let me examine Your Majesty’s body."
As Ri-ri said this, she reached out toward Yi-rim.
"The Bride of the Yellow Dragon?" Yi-rim asked back in a chilling voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Last night, the Vermilion Bird appeared in my dream and told me—"
Ri-ri’s confident voice gradually trailed off. She had noticed the cold sneer playing on Yi-rim’s lips.
He doesn't believe a word I’m saying.
Ri-ri clenched her fists inside her sleeves and swallowed hard. His reaction, as if he were listening to utter nonsense, made her feel anxious.
"O-or, I could at least heal this child..."
Thinking she had to do something, Ri-ri forced an awkward smile and tried to speak to him again. It was the moment she tried to touch So-ya.
"Stop."
Ri-ri’s hand froze at his command.
"Do not attempt to touch this child any further," Yi-rim said, pulling So-ya closer, blanket and all.
At that frigid voice, which felt like it could freeze her to the bone, Ri-ri flinched and took a step back. She was overcome with embarrassment at Yi-rim’s protective stance over So-ya, as if her very touch were something filthy.
But Yi-rim didn't give Ri-ri a single glance. He immediately turned and headed toward the White Tiger Clan’s pavilion. Sa-eon, the White Tiger Young Lords, the rest of the clan, and the palace attendants following the Emperor all hurried after him.
In an instant, Ri-ri was left standing there all alone. Her face flushed bright red with belated shame.