Chapter 92
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Chapter 92
However, contrary to Jeok Soya's expectation that her older brothers would come searching for her soon, the search party outside was facing considerable difficulties.
Several hours earlier.
The young lords of the Baekho Family, who had been tailing Jeok Soya since morning, hid outside the Coral Garden and waited for her to emerge.
But after some time had passed.
Jeok Soya didn't appear—instead, the young lord of the Blue Shark Family came out alone, flustered and in disarray.
Baek Gayul, watching the scene unfold, furrowed his brow.
"Huh? Where's the cotton ball?"
"Wait a moment."
It was then that Baek Gahyun sensed something amiss.
"More than that... why does that bastard look like..."
Soon enough, they too realized that Jeok Soya had vanished.
Under normal circumstances, they would have found her quickly, just as Jeok Soya had predicted.
But this place was the Eastern Lands, cradling the Cheong Hae Sea—vast enough to rival an entire continent combined.
The unfamiliar sea breeze masked Jeok Soya's scent, making it impossible to track her.
Had Sayeon been present, they would have located the child without difficulty, but the young lords of the Baekho Family, who had only completed their first growth, floundered helplessly before the immense Cheong Hae Sea.
Eventually, word reached Chung Ha's ears, and sensing the gravity of the situation, she halted the Festival and issued a search order.
Yet Jeok Soya was nowhere to be found.
Not even a single witness could be located.
Though it took considerably longer than Jeok Soya had anticipated, her plan ultimately came to fruition—the young lords of the Baekho Family and soldiers from Cheonghae Palace arrived at the Blue Shark Residence.
"W-what is the meaning of this!"
The Blue Shark Family Head trembled violently as he shouted.
"I am Baek Gahyun of the Baekho Family. My younger sister has gone missing alongside your family's young lord."
"By order of Chung Ha, we are searching for the Baekho Family's youngest lady alongside the young lords. We will conduct a brief search of the residence, sir."
"What? Are you suggesting that the Blue Shark Family, who have devoted themselves to the Eastern Lands all this time, is under suspicion?"
"If you truly have nothing to do with this, there's no reason you shouldn't step aside."
As the Family Head and Baek Gahyun raised their voices in confrontation, Ahan, who had been anxiously fidgeting beside them, interjected.
"P-please, stop! How could our family be responsible when Miss Jeok Soya simply disappeared on her own while viewing the Festival!"
In the midst of the chaos, several people were tangled together in heated argument.
Thud.
A pouch fell from Ahan's breast, and from within it, a small, translucent bead rolled out.
A sharp intake of breath.
"That's the cotton ball's sea pearl!"
Baek Gayul, recognizing the bead's identity, bellowed and seized Ahan by the collar.
"You...! What did you do to the cotton ball!"
"Ugh, let go..."
"This is no time for that! Without the sea pearl, Jeok Soya is in danger!"
While Baek Gayul and Ahan faced off, Baek Gahyun pushed past them and forced his way into the shark residence.
"S-stop them!"
A scuffle erupted between those pushing forward and those attempting to block them, descending into complete chaos.
However, Baek Gahyun and Baek Gayul, who had pushed their way into the residence, could not easily find Jeok Soya, and they simply passed by the place where she was hiding.
Thus, darkness gradually descended upon the estate.
* * *
―Little bird. Little bird.
"Chirp...."
Labored breathing escaped through the tiny beak of Jeok Soya, who slept in the form of a small bird.
―What shall we do? The little bird is struggling to breathe.
―If we stay here any longer, the little bird will be in danger, grandmother.
The Vermillion Bird Goddess and the White Tiger Mountain Lord murmured in grave voices as they gazed upon Jeok Soya.
Thanks to the Blue Dragon's divine water beside her, she could breathe and endure, but....
"Chirp... squeak...."
That crude counterfeit sea pearl that the Blue Shark Family's young master had switched would soon be destroyed.
―Little bird. You must wake up soon. Hey, little bird.
―It's no use. She won't wake.
The White Tiger Mountain Lord lifted his gaze to the sky.
Night was steadily falling.
If it grew any later, the little bird's life would be in danger.
―There's no other way. We can only wait and hope the little bird endures as long as possible.
He muttered this through gritted teeth.
* * *
And outside the inner courtyard of the Blue Shark Residence where Jeok Soya was hiding.
'Soya....'
A boy with black hair and ashen eyes, his face deathly pale, ran frantically through the night air searching for Jeok Soya.
'Soya has disappeared....'
Yet the boy could not find Jeok Soya anywhere.
'Soya... Soya isn't visible.... Nowhere....'
Three hours had already passed since she vanished.
What if Soya disappeared forever like this?
If I could never see Soya again like this....
'This can't happen.'
Thump.
The boy, Seol Yo, bit his lower lip hard as fear and dread surged through his chest.
It was all his fault.
He should have protected Soya, but he had failed.
When he saw Soya playing with someone else, all he felt was resentment.
How foolish of him....
The sky had already turned pitch black.
The thought that he might never see Soya again terrified him so much that tears began to fall.
Please, please let me find Soya.
If I can just find Soya, I can do anything.
So please....
It was then that Seol Yo earnestly prayed in his heart.
―Really?
At the sound of a voice coming from somewhere, Seol Yo stopped running and stood rigid.
―Can you truly do anything?
'What is this? Where is that voice coming from?'
Seol Yo gasped for breath and glanced around frantically.
―This is hardly the moment to be thinking of other things.
Then the voice chuckled mockingly, as if ridiculing Seol Yo.
―That child you're searching for is dying even as we speak.
'Jeok Soya is... dying?'
Thump―!
In an instant, Seol Yo's heart plummeted.
"I'll do anything! Anything at all! Just find Jeok Soya for me! Please...!"
Seol Yo cried out, consumed by stark terror.
―Good. You must remember those words precisely.
The voice, brimming with satisfaction, whispered to Seol Yo like a hypnotic incantation.
And in that moment.
"Wh...?"
Flash!
A brilliant light erupted before his eyes, and Seol Yo's body was transported across space to somewhere else.
Thud.
Collapsing onto the dirt ground, Seol Yo remained dazed for a moment, unable to comprehend the situation, before he spotted a small bird lying limply on the earth.
"Jeok Soya!"
He sprang to his feet and rushed toward her.
Then he carefully lifted the small bird's body.
"Chirp... peep...."
From her pallid form came faint, irregular breathing.
"Jeok Soya...."
She appeared to be struggling to breathe.
If things continued this way, she would be in danger.
"I need to call someone."
Seol Yo immediately transformed into a massive wolf and howled.
Awooo―
At that mournful and anguished cry that reverberated through the Blue Shark Residence, everyone inside who had been locked in tense confrontation suddenly froze.
Awoooo―
"This is...."
"It's Seol Yo's voice, Young Master!"
The Baekho Family members rushed toward the source of the sound.
And there, they discovered a massive black wolf and beside it, a small bird lying motionless.
"Soya!"
"Cotton ball!"
"Young Miss!"
At their arrival, Seol Yo released his beast transformation and collapsed onto the ground with a thud.
"Soya... she's having trouble breathing. She can't breathe properly."
Seol Yo spoke through tears streaming down his face.
Baek Gahyun quickly placed the small bird's body on his palm and examined her condition.
"The sea pearl..."
"I have it here, Young Master."
Jeok A, who had cleverly retrieved the sea pearl that Ahan had dropped during the commotion, extended it to Baek Gahyun.
Baek Gahyun placed the pearl on the small bird's plump belly.
Soon the pearl's light seeped into Soya's spirit core, and her faint breathing gradually stabilized.
"Wait, isn't that the Blue Dragon's Extreme Technique?"
"Why would a divine dragon's treasure be here...?"
The Cheonghae Palace soldiers who arrived late discovered the Blue Dragon's Extreme Technique and murmured among themselves.
And through their ranks, Chung Ha emerged, her blue hair twisted high atop her head.
Swoosh—
As she drew her spear, the aquatic plants wrapped around it fell away and the seal shattered.
The Blue Shark Family Head, watching from behind, went pale.
'This is bad. I need to escape this place first...'
Just as he was about to flee with that thought.
Thunk—!
A long spear pierced the ground before him.
He flinched and turned to flee in the opposite direction.
Whoosh—!
With a sound like wind itself, Chung Ha blocked his path in the blink of an eye.
"Ugh, ugghhh...!"
The Blue Shark Family Head's face turned ashen as if he'd encountered death itself.
"You tried to harm my child in front of me."
Chung Ha's lips twisted into a cruel smile.
"You'll have to pay the appropriate price for that, won't you?"
At that chilling voice, the Blue Shark Family Head involuntarily stumbled backward.
"P-please, Chung Ha... wait... noooooooo!"
Soon a harrowing scream echoed through the air.
Amid all that terrible commotion, only a small bird rested peacefully in my older brother's palm, breathing in steady, rhythmic breaths.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org