Part 2 Chapter 1
Translator: RaidenTL
Part 2 Chapter 1
The White Tiger Mountain Palace, a mountain fortress nestled at the foot of Mt. Horim.
If anyone were to ask what the most precious thing in that magnificent white palace was, everyone would answer in unison.
It was the "Cotton Ball Lady"—as white as snow and as sweet as a sugar confection.
The Cotton Ball Lady, whom the Clan Head had stolen—no, picked up—off the street.
Ho Jeok-yeong, the representative of the Red Fox Clan and aide to Clan Head Baek Sa-eon, once said:
[Our Clan Head has earned the right to be free from any criticism for the next thousand years just by picking up the Cotton Ball Lady.]
That was how profound the Cotton Ball Lady’s influence on the White Tiger Palace had been.
She had found the White Tiger’s divine object, which had been lost for hundreds of years; she had healed the Clan Head’s contaminated spirit core; she had melted the second young master’s heart and helped him reconcile with Lady Cheong-ha; and she had even treated the sick beasts and birds of the Western Land...
And though it was a secret known to no one, it was also the Cotton Ball Lady who had defeated the leader of the Black Tortoise tribe, who had conspired with the Evil, thereby ending a long war.
Thanks to her, Madam Cheong-ha and Young Master Ga-ya were able to return to the arms of their family. Above all, she was the one who filled the White Tiger Palace with love and laughter.
[Indeed. Our darling youngest daughter is the most valuable wedding gift Baek Sa-eon ever brought home.]
Madam Cheong-ha, the mistress of the White Tiger Palace, did not deny Jeok-yeong’s words and let out a hearty laugh.
[Tsk. I should have picked up Som-som before Father did.]
Baek Ga-ya, the eldest son of the White Tiger Clan, always lamented the fact that he was only second in his younger sister’s heart, losing out to his father.
(Of course, the claim that he was even second in So-ya’s heart was merely Ga-ya’s own assertion, one that his other brothers did not acknowledge.)
[Give it up, Ga-ya. Whether as the Cotton Ball’s papa or as the coolest tiger to her, I am the only one. Our Cotton Ball said she likes her Papa best in the whole world.]
Baek Sa-eon wore a proud expression, beaming with the prestige of being So-ya’s father.
[But So-ya, you promised to live with your older brother when you grow up. Don't you remember? When you were nine...]
Meanwhile, the second son, Baek Ga-hyeon, would take every opportunity to bring up stories from her childhood that she couldn't even remember, slyly trying to win her over.
[Cotton Ball! I’ll give you all the kumquat preserves that came in today! They’re my favorite, but I’ll give them all to you! So cancel your plans to go play at the Galho residence with Brother tomorrow and come with me instead!]
The third son, Baek Ga-yul, was willing to give up his cherished snacks in an attempt to monopolize So-ya.
This was despite the fact that So-ya was no longer a child who could be swayed by food—and in truth, she had never been one to be swayed by treats even when she was very young.
[Yul-i orabeoni, didn't you say you didn't want to go to the Galho Clan because you were pouting at Lady Ah-rang?]
[T-that...! I changed my mind!]
[Then let’s all go play together nicely. And you should eat plenty of those kumquat preserves yourself, Orabeoni.]
When So-ya spoke with a giggle, the willful youngest master and the seemingly dissatisfied second master would both nod obediently without a word of complaint.
Everyone in the White Tiger Palace loved the Cotton Ball Lady.
However, Jeok-yeong knew.
Even if the Cotton Ball Lady hadn't found the White Tiger Sword, even if she hadn't healed the Clan Head’s spirit core, and even if she hadn't defeated Hyeon Ra-baek to end the war, everyone would still have loved her.
Because the Cotton Ball Lady was the treasure of the White Tiger Palace, someone who brought happiness to everyone just by existing, without having to do anything at all.
One might expect a child showered with such unconditional love to grow up a bit spoiled, but the Cotton Ball Lady did not.
She was always consistently gentle and kind to everyone.
Perhaps influenced by So-ya, the young masters—who used to be somewhat sensitive and aggressive—now strove to act as softly as she did.
In any case, it had been eight years since this precious and lovely Cotton Ball Lady arrived at the White Tiger Palace.
So-ya was now seventeen, a fine young lady standing on the threshold of her Second Growth.
When she first arrived at the palace, So-ya had been small for her age due to the absence of a spirit core and malnutrition.
It was to the point that Ah-rang, who was the same age, naturally assumed she was So-ya’s older sister.
But So-ya, growing up nourished by the abundant love of the White Tiger Palace, had shot up like a beanstalk. The roundness of her childhood face had given way to the refined features of a mature lady, shedding her adolescent look.
And that wasn't all.
She had grown so beautiful and fair that the beastkin of the Western Land and even the beasts of Mt. Horim would turn back for a second look, and even the birds fluttering through the sky would fold their wings and stare blankly.
[Wow, seventeen already? Our Cotton Ball Lady could get married now!]
A few months ago, when Su-ri said those words while celebrating So-ya’s seventeenth birthday, everyone glared at him.
That evening, Su-ri was dragged to a secluded spot where a group of masked tigers plucked a handful of his butt fur, leaving him to flee toward Mt. Horim in tears.
Though they were all wearing masks, Su-ri saw them clearly.
The youngest master, his blue eyes flashing fiercely as he swung sharp claws!
The eldest master, laughing eerily while the jewels on his clothes jingled!
And even his own flesh and blood, San-ho, was among those tigers!
Su-ri, who had fled to a corner of Mt. Horim and sobbed, "I didn't say anything wrong, so why is everyone doing this to me!", was then terrified by the silent shadow of a blue dragon pouncing on him, forcing him to run and run until daybreak.
The Cotton Ball Lady was no longer a child, but for some reason, the protectiveness of the young masters and the people of the White Tiger Palace only seemed to intensify.
But it couldn't be helped.
As the lady grew more beautiful by the day, suitors from all over were constantly eyeing her.
Just recently, the White Tiger Palace was turned upside down when a marriage letter arrived from a young lord of a certain house who had supposedly fallen in love with So-ya at first sight and was suffering from lovesickness.
Sa-eon and Cheong-ha, despite having married at eighteen themselves, argued that So-ya was far too young to discuss betrothals. The three young masters flew into a rage, declaring that any clan attempting to spirit the Cotton Ball away from the White Tiger Palace was their enemy.
Regrettably, the person in question, So-ya, didn't seem to have much thought on the matter.
"There, all done!"
So-ya, who had just treated a baby bird with a broken wing, shouted with a bright smile.
The baby bird carefully fluttered its wings, and upon realizing it was completely healed, it began to chirp and dance with joy.
"Be careful not to get hurt again."
So-ya smiled tenderly and patted the baby bird’s tiny rump, just as a white tiger as large as a house appeared before her, carrying a mouthful of flowers.
"Cotton Ball!"
When the tiger opened his mouth, a shower of colorful blossoms tumbled out in front of So-ya.
"How is it?"
"Wow, you picked so many, Yul-i orabeoni."
"Look at this, Cotton Ball! It's the Sky Flower you like!"
Ga-yul shouted, pointing a front paw at a single sky-blue flower among the pile.
"...!"
So-ya’s eyes widened. It wasn't yet the season for Sky Flowers to bloom.
'I heard Father and Jeok-yeong worrying about the recent abnormal weather... could it be because of that?'
"There was only one! I climbed all the way up the cliff to pick it!"
Ga-yul puffed out his chest proudly and wagged his tail from side to side.
"You're truly amazing, Orabeoni."
So-ya giggled and stroked Ga-yul’s soft head fur.
At her touch, Ga-yul twitched his nose and let out a contented purr.
With every purr, his dainty tiger whiskers quivered.
Ga-yul was now a fully grown adult tiger who had completed his Second Growth, yet in front of So-ya, he still acted like a cub, showing a form of affection that was almost like acting cute.
Unlike his older brothers, who were appalled by their grown brother’s antics, So-ya was always consistently sweet in her response.
Perhaps because of this, Ga-yul, who was naturally prone to acting spoiled, became even more charming whenever he was with her.
So-ya neatly gathered the flowers Ga-yul had brought and placed them in her basket.
Purr, purr. Ga-yul, who had been lazily watching her while lying on his belly in the grass, suddenly perked up his ears.
"Gasp...!"
He suddenly scrambled to his feet in a panic.
"Yul-i orabeoni?"
So-ya turned her head in confusion at his pale face.
From a distance, she could feel the presence of someone who was very angry.
"Oh? This is San-ho’s..."
"I-I'm in trouble, Cotton Ball. Tell her I'm not here—"
"Young Master Yul-i—!"
San-ho’s thunderous voice echoed through the valleys of Mt. Horim.
"Eek!"
"Orabeoni, did you skip your lessons again?"
"It's not that... Aaaah!"
Before he could even answer So-ya’s question, Ga-yul bolted down the mountain.
Immediately after, a massive wolf with bluish-gray fur chased after him, snorting steam from its nose.
"Oh dear, Yul-i orabeoni. He's eighteen years old and still skipping class."
So-ya shook her head and was about to stand up.
"I should head down too..."
"Chirp!"
"Hmm? You want to play more?"
"Chirp, chirp!"
The baby birds pecked at So-ya’s sleeve with their tiny beaks, whining for her to stay.
"Alright, alright. Then what shall we play?"
So-ya laughed softly and sat back down on the grass, humming a song with the baby birds.
And a short distance away, three sets of eyes were watching her.
—She resembles her more and more as she grows.
—It is only natural, for they share the same soul.
The affectionate voices of the Vermilion Bird Celestial Maiden and the White Tiger Mountain Lord drifted toward So-ya.
—...I am glad to see that smiling face again.
At the Dragon God of Cheonghae’s murmur, the three Divine Beasts fell into a solemn silence together.
Unaware of the tender gazes fixed upon her, So-ya simply crinkled her eyes beautifully and continued to frolic with the baby birds.
Rustle. The sound of grass being stepped on reached her ears.
So-ya looked up reflexively, her eyes widening in surprise.
Soon, her eyes curved into a soft smile.
"San-yu orabeoni...!"