Chapter 110
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Chapter 110
"What became of Evil after it fled?"
White Tiger Mountain Lord answered Jeok Soya's question.
"Hmm, who knows. Well, having lost its host, it's probably wandering somewhere on the surface by now, powerless."
"What if Evil appears again?"
Jeok Soya asked, her voice tinged with worry.
This was the very concern that had plagued her ever since Evil's escape.
Before leaving the Northern Lands.
[I understand what Father is concerned about. And I'm not yet ready to reveal myself to the world.]
Jeok Soya had answered Sayeon. She didn't want the world to know that she was the Oracle's master.
[So I hope we can keep this secret among ourselves a little longer.]
If word spread that she was the Oracle's master, her future could be decided against her will.
Perhaps—just perhaps—she might have to enter the Imperial Palace as the Emperor's consort. Even if not immediately.
Jeok Soya thought of Tae Irim, who was in the Imperial Palace.
It wasn't that she disliked him. But...
She still couldn't grasp the idea of becoming someone's spouse.
It felt too strange, and she wanted to think about it later. A little later.
When she was older and could understand what it meant to care for someone in that way.
[Yes, let's do that. Let's keep this secret between us, our baby, and Dad.]
Sayeon chuckled and ruffled Jeok Soya's hair.
His touch was rough yet tender, and Jeok Soya closed her eyes with a soft smile.
And there was a second reason Jeok Soya hadn't told Sayeon that day—one she kept to herself.
'Evil hasn't completely disappeared.'
On the day the Hyun To Underground Palace collapsed, Evil had escaped when Hyun Rabaek's soul core shattered, but it had not been completely destroyed.
"Don't worry too much, little chick. It won't reappear so easily."
This time, the Vermillion Bird Goddess explained.
All living things in this world required both a body and a soul.
It was a rule that had existed since the world's creation.
Therefore, Evil—which had lost its body a thousand years ago and remained only as a soul—could not exert power without a host to replace its body.
So Evil's chosen method was to parasitize the body of a strong Divine Beast, specifically the soul core of one containing the densest spiritual essence.
"Evil's way of seizing a Divine Beast's body is quite cunning."
Cheong Hae Yong Sin spoke in a measured voice.
"It exploits moments when people's spirits weaken, drawing out their wicked hearts. It never relents until they are corrupted by Evil and surrender their bodies—ultimately, their very selves."
"But isn't that dangerous? If Evil seizes another person's body the way it did Hyun Rabaek's...?"
Jeok Soya, who had been listening silently, asked with sudden concern.
"However, most Divine Beasts' bodies cannot withstand such immense Evil. Only the heads of the Four Great Families could barely endure it."
"And even then, they would fail to endure, like the leader of the Hyunmu Clan who died—their soul cores would gradually crack and shatter, leading to a terrible end."
“....”
Jeok Soya fell silent in thought for a moment, then spoke again.
"Then, Divine Beasts. Just a hypothetical question."
Soya's expression grew serious as she furrowed her brow and spoke.
"What if Evil doesn't possess just any Beast Human, but takes over the body of an extremely powerful and formidable Beast Human? For instance, what if a Beast Human stronger than the heads of the Four Great Families appeared and stole my body?"
At Soya's worried question, the White Tiger Mountain Lord and the Vermillion Bird Goddess burst into laughter.
―Our little chick worries so much. But Beast Humans that strong are rare. Unless they're as powerful as the Yellow Dragon who rules all under heaven or an incarnation of Sa Young Soo....
―And normally, a strong body comes with a strong spirit, so they won't easily have their bodies stolen by Evil.
"But Hyun Rabaek was a powerful Beast Human, and he still had his body taken by Evil, didn't he?"
―That is....
The White Tiger Mountain Lord's usually bold voice grew somewhat subdued.
―Sometimes in the human world, tragedies occur that are difficult to bear. Tragedies profound enough to shatter and break even the purest and clearest of souls.
"...?"
Soya tilted her head in confusion.
It sounded as though they were speaking of someone other than Hyun Rabaek.
'I wish Evil would never appear again.'
Soya glanced once more at the Black Tortoise's shield.
Since Hyun Rabaek, the only direct descendant of the Black Tortoise clan remaining, had died, there seemed no way to awaken the Black Tortoise.
'What exactly is the heart of Annihilation?'
It struck her as curious that the White Tiger's divine artifact—a sword that pierces—embodied a protective heart, while the Black Tortoise's divine artifact—a shield—embodied an annihilating heart.
'Is it something different from merely wanting to repel?'
The hearts of the other three Divine Beasts were not difficult to understand, but the heart of devouring living things was far too difficult for Soya to grasp.
'If I had awakened the Black Tortoise, I could have completely obliterated Evil rather than merely driving it away.'
Soya felt somewhat frustrated that her own insufficient heart had prevented her from awakening the Black Tortoise.
―Don't be so disheartened, little chick. Truth be told, we hoped you would never understand the heart of Annihilation.
"What...?"
At the Vermillion Bird Goddess's words, Soya's eyes widened in bewilderment.
The heart of Annihilation was absolutely necessary to awaken the Black Tortoise, yet they hoped she would never know it. It made no sense.
―I agree with what the old Phoenix said.
―So do I.
The White Tiger Mountain Lord and Cheong Hae Yong Sin each added their voices.
"But just recently, you encouraged me, saying I absolutely had to awaken the Black Tortoise and that I could do it!"
Soya cried out, her voice tinged with a sense of betrayal.
At that, the three Divine Beasts cleared their throats awkwardly and watched Soya's expression.
"Did you Divine Beasts lie to me?"
―It's not that, little chick....
It was the Vermillion Bird Goddess who spoke first to the sulking Soya.
―The heart of Annihilation is the desire to destroy and erase. It's not quite the same, but in human terms, it resembles 'killing'. However, you're still far too young to harbor such a heart.
"Hmm?"
―Yes, little chick. You're still young, and in the world you'll live in, there are countless shadows you'll encounter as you grow. I wish you wouldn't come to know the darkness of the world so soon.
"Hmm?"
―Even if Evil appears again, couldn't we simply repel it once more, just as we did this time?
"Hmm?"
Jeok Soya crossed her arms at an angle, raising one eyebrow each time the Divine Beasts added their remarks.
The three Divine Beasts exchanged glances, uncertain how to proceed.
"I may not understand everything you're saying, but I do know that the three of you care for me."
Jeok Soya, who had feigned a pout, spoke with a gentle smile.
The three Divine Beasts, confirming she wasn't truly upset, simultaneously let out a breath of relief.
―I thought you were genuinely angry, little chick. My heart nearly stopped.
―You've made my liver shrivel to the size of a bean.
"And yet you don't even have a heart or a liver!"
Jeok Soya burst into bright laughter.
Her mood lifted considerably because of it.
―We simply hoped you wouldn't be too disheartened by that matter. You've already accomplished something truly remarkable.
―That's right. Just as the Divine Beasts said, I've already done something truly remarkable.
Whenever I spoke with the Divine Beasts, my heart felt as warm and secure as when I was with Father.
"But there's one more thing I'm curious about."
―What is it, little chick?
―Ask me! I'll tell you, little chick!
―Tell us anything, little chick.
As if to make up for their earlier moment, the three Divine Beasts crowded around Jeok Soya with bright, eager eyes.
"The thought-form I saw in the Underground Palace Cavern mentioned something called the 'Veil of Time.' What is the Veil of Time?"
―....
―....
―....
All three Divine Beasts fell silent at once.
"Is this also something you cannot tell me?"
They had shared everything with her without reservation, yet there were times when they would fall silent as if bound by some covenant.
Jeok Soya now understood that such matters were related to heavenly secrets.
―Have you heard the term "timeline"?
After a long pause, White Tiger Mountain Lord finally spoke with difficulty.
―Originally, only a single timeline should have existed in this world, but those who broke the taboo created countless Veils of Time layered upon one another.
"They broke a taboo...?"
―Yes. They covered the previous timeline with a Veil of Time and created a new one.
"Is such a thing even possible?"
―It is a challenge to the authority of the Celestial Deities. The price for such an act is extraordinarily severe.
"Who would do such a thing, and why...."
―As I mentioned before, sometimes tragedies beyond human endurance occur in the world of mankind.
White Tiger Mountain Lord offered no further answer.
That was all he could reveal.
* * *
Meanwhile, Seol Yo had begun to emit a subtly different atmosphere since returning from the Northern Lands with Jeok Soya.
Baek Gayul was the first to notice it.
Though Baek Gayul lacked perceptiveness, his keen animal instincts told him something was amiss with Seol Yo's demeanor.
His words had grown sparse compared to before, and he frequently seemed lost in his own thoughts.
And now, of all things...
Seol Yo, who rarely strayed from Jeok Soya's side, was walking through the Garden alone. It was deeply peculiar.
"Seol Yo! Are you sick?"
"...?"
"You've been acting strange for days now. Are you keeping secrets from me?"
Flinch.
Seol Yo's body trembled ever so slightly.
But Baek Gayul was not one to miss such a tell.
"What is it, what is it! What secret are you hiding!"
Baek Gayul asked with keen interest written across his face.
"..."
Yet Seol Yo merely pressed his lips shut before abruptly turning his head and walking away.
"Hmph. Has he hit puberty?"
Baek Gayul scratched his head and muttered to himself.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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