Chapter 142
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 142
Flutter—
Along with the sound of wings, a young sparrow flapped its wings erratically before suddenly plummeting to the ground.
The fallen bird trembled piteously on the floor.
A pair of small, clumsy hands reached down to pick it up. It was none other than Ga-yul.
“Huh? The bird’s leg is hurt!”
The sparrow’s leg was rotting away, turning pitch black.
Ga-yul, seeing the bird—which was smaller than his own palm—in such pain, didn't know what to do. He carefully tucked it into his shirt and hurried to find So-ya.
So-ya examined the young sparrow’s condition, her expression growing grave.
“Where did you find this bird?”
“I-I don’t know. It just fell right out of the sky.”
“…….”
“What should we do, Cotton Ball? Is the baby bird really sick?” Ga-yul asked, pacing anxiously.
“Don’t worry too much, Orabeoni. I’ll look after it so it won’t be in pain anymore.”
“But…”
Ga-yul looked at the tiny bird with a tearful face.
“It’s so small… It must have been so hard for it.”
“Still, thanks to you, the baby sparrow doesn't have to suffer alone and can get treatment. It’s a relief, truly.”
“Sparrow? It’s not a bunting? I thought it was a bunting.”
Ga-yul, who was notoriously bad at remembering bird names, was muttering the word "sparrow" over and over to himself when it happened.
With a flutter of red feathers, a magnificent and dignified firebird flew down to find So-ya.
“Hieek! A f-fire chicken?!” Ga-yul cried out, his eyes widening in shock.
“It’s not a fire chicken; it’s the Vermilion Bird,” So-ya explained with a giggle.
“What? Vermilion Bird?”
Ga-yul suddenly narrowed his eyes and glared fiercely at the red bird. Unlike his innocent, fretful self from a moment ago when he was worried about the sparrow, he was now radiating a chilling aura.
Poof!
The Vermilion Bird that had come for So-ya instantly transformed into a human.
“Hello, So-ya. And we meet again, Young Lord Ga-yul.”
San-yu greeted them both.
“Welcome, Orabeo—”
So-ya, who had been greeting San-yu with a warm smile, suddenly froze.
“Orabeoni, did something happen with Ri-ri?”
“She treated my injured hand.”
San-yu held out his palm toward So-ya.
“You said you were curious about her power.”
“Orabeoni, I’m asking just in case… You didn't injure yourself on purpose just to check that, did you?” So-ya asked cautiously, taking his hand in both of hers.
“Haha, of course not. More importantly, look—it’s perfectly healed without a single trace left.”
His quick attempt to change the subject was suspicious, so she examined his palm with eyes full of doubt.
His palm was indeed clean, without even the smallest scar remaining from the treatment, but…
‘I smell the scent of evil arts.’
It was giving off a thick scent of evil arts.
And this scent was the exact same one So-ya had sensed from the baby sparrow moments ago.
“Do you feel any discomfort?”
“None at all. It feels perfectly healed. I wonder why the Vermilion Bird granted her such great power…”
“…….”
San-yu muttered with a face that suggested he couldn't understand it at all.
Just as he said, his hand was as clean as if it had never been injured in the first place. It would have been perfect if not for that heavy scent of evil arts.
‘I think I need to see Ri-ri performing a treatment with my own eyes.’
The problem was that the relationship between So-ya and Ri-ri was far from good…
As So-ya pondered for a moment, an idea suddenly flashed through her mind.
*
Ever since the day she treated the people attacked by the lotus demonic beast, Ri-ri had become the center of attention.
Even those who didn't particularly believe in the oracle began to show interest in her.
As the youngest daughter of the Vermilion Bird Clan, Ri-ri already possessed a lineage superior to anyone else.
Though unfortunate rumors had followed her because her spirit core was too weak to allow for beast transformation, she had silenced those rumors in an instant by showing her incredible ability to heal people with the power of purification.
Gifts piled up in Ri-ri’s room, and a steady stream of people came seeking her help for their ailments.
Everyone was saying in unison that Ri-ri would become the next Empress.
Ri-ri hummed to herself as she strolled down the hallway.
Then, she spotted San-yu engaged in a serious conversation with someone.
‘That man is… from the Three-Legged Crow?’
There was a tattoo of a three-legged crow on the man’s neck.
“Ah, Ri-ri.”
At that moment, San-yu turned toward Ri-ri with a gentle smile. The man he had been talking to immediately bowed his head and withdrew.
“You seemed to be in the middle of an important conversation.”
“No. We were just discussing what happened while I was away from the mansion. No matter how important a conversation is, could it ever be more important than you, my sister?”
At those words, the corners of Ri-ri’s mouth curled upward.
At first, she thought San-yu didn't care much for her compared to the other family members, but in the last few days, he had become a brother who would do anything for her.
Of course, he was occasionally dense and couldn't immediately tell when she was in a bad mood.
For instance, like when he had just stood there blankly when she ran into the White Tiger Clan people by the pond.
‘Well, it can’t be helped. No one is perfect. Since he’s a bit slow, I’ll just have to be the bigger person and understand.’
It still annoyed her when she thought back to that time, but Ri-ri decided to be exceptionally generous and forgive him.
“By the way, Ri-ri. I heard So-ya still hasn't recovered.”
“What? Who?”
Ri-ri’s expression soured the moment that name left San-yu’s mouth.
“So, I was wondering… could you perhaps treat her?”
“Me? Treat her?” Ri-ri asked back, her voice thick with reluctance.
She had just decided to be understanding of his denseness, but this was too much. He wanted her to heal that girl? Was he insane?
“I know she makes you uncomfortable, but her brother is a very dear friend of mine,” San-yu explained in a deeply distressed voice.
“It pains my heart to watch him suffer because his sister won't wake up. So I’m asking you this favor, Ri-ri.”
“I heard she’s just some kid picked up from the streets. I doubt your friend actually cares about someone like that.”
Ri-ri retorted, pouting her lips.
‘Why should I heal her? It would be better if she just stayed sick and died.’
As Ri-ri harbored such wicked thoughts, another idea occurred to her.
‘Wait. Maybe this is an opportunity…’
A truly sinister thought crossed her mind.
“But since you’re asking so earnestly, Orabeoni, I’ll take a look at her as a special favor.”
Ri-ri spoke with an air of great benevolence.
That afternoon, Ri-ri arrived at the pavilion of the White Tiger Clan.
A man with long, reddish-brown hair greeted her with a bright smile.
“Welcome, Young Lady of the Vermilion Bird Clan. I am Ho Jeok-yeong of the Red Fox Clan, in charge of the affairs of the White Tiger Palace. Thank you so much for coming all this way.”
Jeok-yeong led Ri-ri to So-ya’s room.
The room was somewhat dark, as all the windows were closed and no lights were lit.
“I will leave you to it, so please examine her at your leisure.”
With those words, Ho Jeok-yeong withdrew.
Ri-ri approached the bedside with a bored expression.
On the large bed, a small, snow-white bird lay tucked under a blanket.
Because the room was so dark, its body seemed exceptionally white.
Part of her wanted to pluck every single feather off this little bird, but…
‘I, the benevolent Bride of the Yellow Dragon, couldn't possibly do something so horrific.’
Instead, Ri-ri smiled wickedly and pulled something out from her robe.
*
A few days later.
Ri-ri headed toward the Altar of the Yellow Dragon, holding her father’s hand.
It was said to be the most sacred place in the Imperial Palace, usually closed to the public.
A ritual was being held in front of the Altar of the Yellow Dragon to celebrate the victory in the recent war, and the altar was being opened to everyone visiting the palace for this special occasion.
Upon arriving at the altar, she saw the prepared seating.
‘They said the altar is also where the Yellow Dragon receives his bride.’
As Ri-ri gazed at the altar with enchanted eyes, the announcement of the Emperor’s arrival rang out.
Everyone rose from their seats and bowed toward the Emperor.
Soon, the Emperor ascended the altar.
The seats for the White Tiger Clan were still empty.
Glancing at those empty seats, the corners of Ri-ri’s mouth crept up.
Since that day, So-ya had been unable to get out of bed and could no longer be seen at official functions.
[I did my absolute best, so it’s very strange that she still hasn't recovered. Could she have been cursed by the Heavenly God?]
Of course, Ri-ri had said those words in front of others with a face of feigned confusion, but that girl would likely never wake up again.
Because…
Ri-ri’s train of thought came to a dead halt.
Her eyes trembled as she spotted the late arrivals.
‘How is that girl…!’
So-ya had appeared, walking alongside the members of the White Tiger Clan.