Chapter 139
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Chapter 139
Members of the Baekho Family gathered around Jeok Soya, who lay upon the bed.
Yeon Jeong and San Ho had dressed her in fresh, fluffy clothes, and though they had dried her hair once, it still clung damply to her face.
Sayeon, who had been quietly observing this, gently brushed the wet strands from her cheek.
The Physician had visited not long before.
Fortunately, he had assured us there was no danger to her life, yet watching the child lie there with such a pallid complexion offered little comfort.
Sayeon gazed at her with somber eyes.
So it was Jeok Soya who had dealt with the demonic beast that appeared in the Palace Pond.
The Yellow Dragon cannot speak falsehoods, so that account must be true.
When I heard that Jeok Soya had fallen into the pond.
Though I knew the child possessed a power unlike any other, my worry was beyond my control.
I immediately dove to the spot where she had fallen and searched the pond's depths thoroughly, yet the child was nowhere to be found.
At that moment, the demonic beast in the center of the pond trembled violently, exhibiting a strange reaction.
Sayeon glanced toward where the beast lay and pondered.
'Perhaps....'
If I knew Jeok Soya as I believed I did, from the moment the beast appeared, she would have been devising how to vanquish it and keep everyone safe.
'Yes, Jeok Soya would surely....'
With that thought, I immediately swam toward the center of the pond.
Unable to see clearly underwater, I relied on instinct alone as I made my way toward the pond's heart.
Then, faintly, I caught her scent in the water.
Soon after, I found her.
The child's small body was sinking deeper into the water.
Just as I lunged toward her in desperation.
A low rumble echoed—
A shimmering golden light rippled through the pond, the water churned violently, and a figure that tore through space emerged, cradling Jeok Soya in its embrace as it surged above the surface.
'The Yellow Dragon...?'
I stood dazed for a moment, watching that golden trace, before my senses returned and I broke through to the surface.
Tae Irim walked out of the water with Jeok Soya in his arms, his expression calm and composed amid the murmuring crowd.
After laying Jeok Soya here, Tae Irim summoned the Physician to assess her condition, then quietly withdrew.
In Tae Irim's manner, I sensed something subtle.
It was more than mere kindness extended to a childhood acquaintance.
It was a signal sent by a father's instinct.
"I saw it, Father! That wretched Red-haired Demon pushed Jeok Soya!"
Baek Gayul spoke with a reddened nose, his voice trembling.
"I saw it too."
Seol Yo nodded vigorously beside him.
They too were thoroughly drenched from having torn through the pond searching for Jeok Soya.
Meanwhile, Gaya stood with a deathly pale face, saying nothing, his gaze fixed only upon the sleeping child's features.
His ashen lips moved silently, as though calling out her name.
Then, the corners of Jeok Soya's eyes twitched slightly.
"Soya!"
Baek Gahyun, the first to notice her movement, called out to her.
Slowly, Jeok Soya's eyelids fluttered open.
"Father and my older brothers...? Are you all safe...? *Cough, cough.*"
A dry cough escaped from Jeok Soya's lips.
"Cotton ball!"
"Soya!"
"Soya!"
"Miss!"
At this, the members of the Baekho Family rushed to surround Jeok Soya.
Sayeon quickly helped her sit up.
"Are you alright, cotton ball?"
Sayeon asked, examining her complexion.
"I'm sorry. I've worried you all greatly, haven't I?"
"The Physician was here just a moment ago, Soya. Fortunately, you have no injuries, but you need to keep your body warm."
Baek Gahyun received a warm rice gruel from Yeon Jeong and brought a spoonful to Jeok Soya's lips.
"Let's soothe your insides with this warm gruel and have you take medicinal broth to recover, our Soya."
Though not hungry, Jeok Soya wanted to reassure her worried family, so she obediently opened her mouth and accepted the gruel that Baek Gahyun fed her.
Baek Gayul, Seol Yo, and the others all huddled close beside Jeok Soya, watching her eat the gruel.
With everyone's attention focused on her, Jeok Soya felt a little embarrassed.
As she deliberately rolled her eyes around, she suddenly realized that Gaya was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is older brother Gaya?"
"Huh? He was here just a moment ago."
Only then did Baek Gayul, realizing that Gaya had disappeared from beside him, tilt his head in confusion.
While everyone looked around searching for Gaya, only Sayeon gazed knowingly at one spot.
Following Sayeon's gaze, Jeok Soya discovered Gaya crouched in the corner.
"Older brother, why are you sitting there like that?"
*Slowly...*
Gaya lifted his head from where it had been buried in his knees.
At the sight of his ashen face, Jeok Soya was startled.
"Older brother? Are you hurt somewhere?"
It was not he who had fallen into the water, but Jeok Soya, yet Gaya's face was even paler than hers.
"I..."
Gaya opened his mouth, his pale lips trembling.
"I was in that place..."
In an instant, a single tear glistened like a jewel at the corner of his eye and rolled down his cheek.
"Oh, older brother!"
"Your eldest brother takes after Father—he has a tender heart. And plenty of tears."
Unlike the startled Jeok Soya, Sayeon spoke with deliberate composure.
"The young master's appearance closely resembles the family head in his youth."
"The eldest young master hasn't changed one bit since before he went to war."
Yeon Jeong and San Ho chimed in agreement with Sayeon's words.
"Delicate, you say?"
Baek Gahyun, who had been clearing away the empty rice bowls, glanced sharply at Gaya.
Then, in a calm yet cutting tone, he offered his assessment.
"It's not delicate—it's immature. What kind of shameful display is this, acting like an underdeveloped tiger in front of your younger sibling, brother?"
"Shameful? Gahyun, that's too harsh."
Sayeon bristled on Gaya's behalf.
"Your mother said such behavior was endearing."
He added this in protest, his voice dropping slightly.
At that moment, the tips of Sayeon's ears flushed a delicate red, though unfortunately no one noticed.
Gaya had captured everyone's attention.
"...I'm sorry, Fluffy."
Tears streamed endlessly down his face.
"Oh dear, what do I do? Older Brother, please don't cry."
Jeok Soya, flustered, tried to comfort Gaya.
"I'll twist that red-haired demon's neck."
Gaya spoke through a torrent of tears.
"What?"
"I'll pluck out every feather and crest."
"The crest and feathers...how exactly?"
"I'll twist its neck so it can never bother you again, and fold its body..."
"No, wait, please don't go that far..."
"...fold it up and feed it to the tigers on Horim Mountain..."
"Older Brother!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Jeok Soya raised her voice and cut him off.
"Please don't say such frightening things! I'm truly fine!"
"Fluffy...?"
"Stop crying right now."
"Yes...I'll stop..."
Gaya nodded, lowering his gaze.
Yet the moment he nodded, fresh tears spilled from his eyes once more with each movement.
"I jokingly called our older brother a baby, and now he's truly become one."
Jeok Soya wiped Gaya's eyes with a handkerchief, laughing softly.
"And as for that one, just leave it to me."
"...?"
"Since that creature made our older brothers cry, I'll take revenge on their behalf. Please don't strain yourselves, older brothers."
Jeok Soya spoke with a gentle smile, her expression deceptively soft.
"...??"
Gaya blinked his tear-dampened eyes.
Jeok Soya and revenge.
Could two words be more mismatched than these?
"Oh, what a shame. I was planning to pluck out every single feather from that wretched bird who tormented our Jeok Soya."
Baek Gahyun sighed with exaggerated regret.
"So was I. I wanted to show what it means to become tiger food."
Baek Gayul leaned the back of his head against his interlaced arms, expressing his disappointment as well.
"If the young lady takes action, there's nothing we can do."
"Right, little cotton ball. If that's your resolve, Father won't interfere either and will wait. But my patience has limits—I can't wait too long."
"If it takes too long, I'll write a letter to Mother and tell her everything that red-haired demon has done."
At Baek Gahyun's addition, Jeok Soya burst into bright laughter.
"Oh my, if Mother finds out, things will get really serious, won't they?"
"The Imperial Palace might even crumble."
"Given Chung Ha's temperament, we'd be fortunate if only the Imperial Palace fell."
While everyone chatted away in cheerful harmony,
"What? Is everyone out of their minds?"
Gaya, unable to follow the conversation alone, protested in bewilderment.
"Jeok Soya says she'll take revenge with that soft, flour-like face of hers, smiling so prettily, and you all just laugh and let it go?"
"Once Jeok Soya makes a decision, her execution is exceptional."
Everyone nodded at Baek Gahyun's words.
"That's right. And when the little cotton ball smiles with her eyes narrowed like that, she's truly angry. When you make her angry, real trouble follows. I know from experience."
Baek Gayul had been scolded countless times for unintentionally mischievous behavior toward Jeok Soya due to his careless nature.
"Older Brother Gayul, really. That was your own fault...."
It was when Jeok Soya was laughing and saying something to Baek Gayul.
"Oh, that's right...!"
As if suddenly remembering something, Jeok Soya let out a small exclamation.
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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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