Chapter 175
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 175
“It seems you recognize who I am.”
Despite the respectful attitude of the White Tiger Mountain Lord—one of the Four Divine Beasts—the man looked down at him, arrogantly tilting his chin.
“And yet, knowing that, you dare to stand in my way? How insolent.”
His cold, level voice was laced with fury, causing the White Tiger Mountain Lord’s body to tremble.
The man, the son of the Heavenly Emperor and the Judge of the Heavenly Realm, possessed the most noble blood even among the haughty celestials. He had descended for no other reason than the young Yellow Dragon of the earth, who had defied the Heavenly Secret.
Yi-rim had cast countless Veils of Time to weave together the threads of So-ya’s life. Because of this, So-ya, who should have died before her fourteenth birthday, continued to live.
That was not all. Every time he moved time, an entire world was shrouded beneath the Veil of Time and brought to an end. The timelines stacked beneath it were becoming too numerous to count.
Interfering with the Human Realm was against the laws of the Heavenly Realm, and the young Yellow Dragon had broken far too many taboos. Deciding he could no longer stand by, the man had sought out the Heavenly Emperor.
[Leave it be. The Yellow Dragon will pay the price regardless.]
However, the Heavenly Emperor had only lifted his head with a look of profound boredom and given a listless answer. He was always like that. It had been over a thousand years since he had lost his only, beloved daughter; he had long since lost interest in all worldly affairs.
Thus, the man decided he would be the one to restore order.
Though manipulating time was an Authority of the Yellow Dragon granted by the Heavenly Emperor, whether someone who was meant to die should remain breathing was a separate matter entirely.
‘I shall reclaim the Yellow Dragon’s Orb and punish the young dragon of the earth.’
And so, the man had descended to the earth to take So-ya’s life.
“Step aside, White Tiger Mountain Lord. If you do not, I shall show no mercy, even to you.”
“I cannot step aside…”
But before he could finish his sentence, the White Tiger Mountain Lord collapsed, coughing up blood.
“Mountain Lord!”
The Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden cried out in shock, unfurling her red wings to shield the fallen White Tiger. Simultaneously, the Dragon God of Cheonghae drew a long spear and blocked the man’s path.
“You are the one who needs to stop.”
“…”
“Do not touch the baby bird.”
At her commanding tone, a look of displeasure crossed the man’s face.
“Dragon God of Cheonghae.”
She was the only one among the Four Divine Beasts to hold the title of ‘God,’ and she had lived far longer than the man himself. However, born as the most exalted being in the Heavenly Realm, the man could not tolerate anything that opposed his will.
“Do you intend to stand against me?”
“If I must.”
The Dragon God of Cheonghae leveled her long spear at him.
“I see no reason why I shouldn't.”
“Foolish.”
The man let out a crooked, mocking laugh.
“Does the noble Dragon God truly intend to defy the bloodline of the Heavenly God for the sake of a mere human girl?”
Despite the smile on his face, a sharp, biting anger began to radiate from his body.
“Dragon God! It’s dangerous!”
At the Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden’s scream, an invisible, razor-sharp energy lashed out violently, tearing at the Dragon God of Cheonghae’s skin.
“Urgh…!”
The Dragon God of Cheonghae tried to hold her ground by bracing her spear against the floor, but eventually, her battered and torn body collapsed.
“No…!”
Seeing this, the Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden tried to summon her flames, but before she could even try, an intangible force bound her.
Thump!
Her body was sent flying, slamming into the opposite wall.
“Ugh…”
Having suppressed the three Divine Beasts in an instant, the man approached So-ya with an indifferent expression. With her eyes closed peacefully in the frozen time, not even a breath escaping her, she looked as white and fragile as a wax doll.
Staring blankly at her face, the man reached out and gripped So-ya’s slender neck. He intended to extinguish her life right then and there.
“You will regret this!”
The man snorted at the Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden’s shout.
“I’ve lived a long time, but I’ve never heard anything so absurd. Now I’m curious. What is it about this child that enchanted three of the great Divine Beasts to such an extent—”
Just as the man tightened his grip, intending to snap her neck.
He froze.
The crooked smirk that had been on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of bewilderment.
“Why… this energy…”
Snap!
He whipped his head down to check So-ya’s face once more.
Shing—
A cold blade was suddenly pressed against the nape of his neck.
“…”
The man slowly turned his head. A boy with platinum-blonde hair was pointing a sword at him. Even though time in the Human Realm had been stopped, there was only one being who could still move.
“…Yellow Dragon.”
At the man’s murmur of recognition, Yi-rim’s eyes curved elegantly.
“The officials of the Heavenly Realm, who stood by while evil threatened the earth, cannot tolerate even the slightest slight to their authority. How petty.”
“A mere Yellow Dragon of the earth dares…!”
His face contorting like a demon’s, the man lunged at Yi-rim. Hawk-like talons sprouted from his fingertips, slashing mercilessly toward the boy. It was a fierce assault; a single graze felt as though it would tear one’s entire body apart.
However, Yi-rim did not give an inch, fluidly swinging his blade to parry the man’s attacks.
Boom—!
The clash between the man’s claws and Yi-rim’s sword shook the very foundations of the earth. After a tense stalemate where neither side retreated, a golden light flashed from Yi-rim’s sword, repelling the man.
“Guh…!”
As the man fell back from the recoil, Yi-rim brought the tip of his sword to the man’s chest, his lips curling into a slight smirk. The man looked up at Yi-rim, his eyes trembling in disbelief.
‘Is this truly… the strength of a human?’
The man was one of the finest warriors in the Heavenly Realm, strong enough to defeat three Divine Beasts in an instant. Yet, the young Yellow Dragon of the earth had suppressed him as easily as one might handle a child.
Even for a Yellow Dragon, this was excessive. Generally, the power of Celestial Beings was proportional to the years they had lived. If so, how many years had this young Yellow Dragon lived to obtain strength that surpassed his own, while trapped in the body of a mere beastkin on earth?
“Stop interfering in the affairs of the Human Realm and return to your own world.”
Yi-rim’s blade pressed firmly into the man’s chest. The man glared at Yi-rim, gritting his teeth, before suddenly bursting into a loud laugh.
“Do not be so arrogant just because you have defeated me, young Yellow Dragon of the earth. The only reason the Heavenly Realm leaves you be is because they know you will eventually destroy yourself.”
“…”
“The price for defying the Heavenly Secret will be yours alone to pay.”
With those curse-like words, the man’s body faded away. Simultaneously, the frozen time began to move once more.
“…”
Left behind, Yi-rim let out a shallow breath and lowered his sword. Only then did the scene in the room truly register. He watched blankly as the Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden rushed to the two fallen Divine Beasts, then turned his gaze away.
His eyes fell upon the vase by So-ya’s bedside. The flower he had left on her windowsill earlier was now beautifully arranged inside. Seeing it, Yi-rim began to approach the vase with a faint smile.
Then, he stopped.
Yi-rim’s expression instantly hardened into a fierce scowl.
Someone had disturbed the Veil of Time.
* * *
An hour ago, right after So-ya’s birthday party had ended.
Seol-yo stole glances at the adults who were cleaning up.
[Please continue to be a good friend to our So-ya for a long time, kind Seol-yo.]
He remembered what the Madam of the White Tiger Palace—So-ya’s mother—had said while stroking his fur.
Kind Seol-yo…
‘Because I’m the kind Seol-yo.’
Just as Seol-yo reached out to help the adults.
“That’s enough, little one. It’s time for children to go inside and sleep.”
“I-I’m not a child!”
Seol-yo shouted, feeling unnecessarily defensive. He wasn’t sure if being called a ‘child’ was a bad thing, but hadn't everyone said so? That they weren't children anymore, so they should play gracefully instead of playing games like hide-and-seek.
Seol-yo, who had been secretly looking forward to playing hide-and-seek together again this year, had felt a sharp pang of guilt at those words.
“Oh, really? You don’t even know your exact age, do you?”
“…N-no. I’m fourteen.”
Poked in a sore spot, Seol-yo mumbled his answer.
“Since So-ya is fourteen, I’m fourteen too.”
“What? Who decides their age like that?”
“I just decided it that way.”
The worker from the White Tiger Palace laughed as if it were absurd, then gestured for him to go.
“Fourteen is still young, you little rascal. Now go inside and get some sleep.”
“Okay…”
Seol-yo retreated, scratching his head. Was it really strange to decide his age like that?
But I’m So-ya’s friend, so it’s only natural to follow her lead. Even just this evening, we played together because we’re friends.
Of course, So-ya has many friends besides me…
There’s Jjaek-jjaek, and the Brown Tiger…
…
Suddenly, Seol-yo’s light footsteps slowed.
‘So-ya is my only friend… but So-ya has so many friends besides me…’
The mood that had been soaring until a moment ago plummeted instantly.
‘I… only need So-ya…’
Recalling So-ya laughing brightly while surrounded by her friends, Seol-yo’s heart began to churn again.
‘…I hate it. I hate So-ya playing with other friends.’
Gradually, a murky darkness settled into his gray eyes.
‘I wish she would only play with me. Yes, so… if I lock her away in a place where only I can find her…’
Startle!
Snapping back to his senses, Seol-yo shook his head vigorously.
‘Why do I keep having these strange thoughts?’
Seol-yo was suddenly terrified by the thoughts he’d just had. If So-ya found out he had such wicked thoughts, she might hate him. At that thought, tears threatened to spill over.
In the end, Seol-yo didn't go to his room but crouched down in the dark garden, sobbing quietly.
‘What should I do? Is it because I’m the son of that evil man who tried to kill So-ya? Is that why I have such bad thoughts too?’
Until now, he had known he was that man’s son but had tried to deny it…
But even that was no longer possible. Because for some time now, the Black Water had been following him.
Drip. Drip.
Seol-yo squeezed his eyes shut as he saw the Black Water shimmering and pooling at his feet as he cried. This was the exact same power that evil man had used when attacking So-ya.
‘I hate it. I don’t want to be like that man.’
As Seol-yo was whimpering in distress.
Boom—!
Startled by a massive impact, Seol-yo stopped crying and lifted his head.
‘Just now…’
It was a collision so immense it made his heart turn cold. Yet, the surrounding birds and insects remained peaceful, as if they hadn't felt a thing.
Looking around, Seol-yo discovered a small rift that hadn't been there a moment ago.
‘What is… that…?’
Seol-yo approached it as if possessed.
[Sa-eon! This isn't scary at all…]
‘So-ya…?’
[Ahaha! Young Master Yul, you look like a snowman—no, a snow tiger!]
From within the twisted crevice, he thought he could hear the faint sound of So-ya’s laughter.
‘Why does it sound like So-ya’s voice is coming from here?’
Gulping, Seol-yo cautiously reached out to touch the rift.
“Wha— Whoa!”
In an instant, Seol-yo’s body was sucked past the fluttering Veil of Time.