Home/The Beloved Young Divine Child of the Twelve Zodiacs/ch 48

Chapter 48

Intended as a consideration for Doyoung, his words were taken differently.

"...What!"

At Muje's calm, unmalicious tone, Doyoung bristled.

"We'll see who's better after we spar."

"That's what most people say."

"...Are you always this insufferable?"

Doyoung's lips twitched as if convulsing. If Arin weren't present, he would have attacked right then.

Muje, however, was puzzled by Doyoung's reaction.

Is he that eager to spar?

He had seen plenty of people come wanting to learn from him. Since Doyoung was said to love swords, a match might be good.

"Just tell me the time and place, and I'll oblige."

This brat...!

Doyoung's appetite, along with his patience, snapped.

"Tomorrow at the hour of the Dragon (7–9 AM), at the training grounds."

Muje replied, "That time wouldn't be ideal."

The hour of the Dragon was when dragons ascend—the energy of the Dragon Spirit Beast was at its peak.

"It would be better to do it at the hour of the Tiger (3–5 AM)."

That was the time when tigers stretch, and the energy of the Tiger Spirit Beast was strongest—he meant it as a consideration for Doyoung.

Is he looking down on me?

It only irritated Doyoung further.

"No way! Let's make it fair—the hour of the Horse (11 AM–1 PM)."

And so the duel was quickly set, while Arin was left out. Not knowing swordsmanship, she murmured softly,

"I want to learn too..."

She didn't need to be as skilled as her brothers—she just wanted to be part of the conversation. But Doyoung, already excited, missed her voice.

Muje, however, heard her clearly and whispered,

"Shall I teach you?"

"Really?"

"I have plenty of time for now."

He smiled faintly, as if it were no big deal—his peers, who had been rejected countless times, would have been shocked to see this.

Muje lowered his head shyly and added,

"Instead, cheer for me tomorrow. That will be your lesson fee."

Cheering, she could do. Relieved she wouldn't be a bother, Arin clenched her fists and declared,

"Okay!"

---

Yeoryeong headed to the cave behind the shrine. In its secret space, a black-haired boy was confined. After being rescued from the streets, he had repeatedly tried to escape, forcing her hand.

The moment he saw Yeoryeong, he grabbed the iron bars and snarled.

"Let me out, you old hag!"

"I'll release you if you promise not to run away again."

The boy had tried to force his way out of the Village of the Twelve Spirit Beasts and ended up covered in wounds. Despite the powerful barrier, he recklessly charged—he would have died trying to break through with his bare hands. Having dragged him back unconscious several times and treated him, Yeoryeong was exhausted. She dismissed his shouts lightly.

"As I've said, once you're here, you can't leave without my permission."

"Where is this place?!"

"The Village of the Twelve Spirit Beasts. And I am not an old hag—I am the Divine Maiden Yeoryeong."

She introduced herself, but the boy, ignorant of the Twelve, spat on the ground.

"Pfft! Whatever—still an old hag."

"..."

"I don't care what this village is—I don't want to stay here a single day, so let me out now!"

Yeoryeong was at a loss where to begin teaching him. He had the power of the Twelve but knew nothing about them. Clearly connected to the Black Demon clan, he refused to say who was chasing him or who his parents were.

"If you leave, do you want to be caught by those who were chasing you? They won't be as merciful as I am."

She had already seen the bruises and needle marks all over his body—he had clearly escaped after being tortured.

"If you stop acting like a wild beast, I'll let you move freely within the village."

"What if I refuse?"

"Then you'll stay here—training without seeing the light of day."

"I'd hate that even more!"

He shook the bars violently. His strength was immense—the cage rattled as if about to collapse. His eyes flashed gold, and Yeoryeong sighed.

"I'll have to seal that power first."

She reached out and touched his forehead—a lotus petal mark appeared and faded. In that instant, he felt his strength drain away.

"What did you do?! Give it back!"

For the first time, his eyes wavered.

"No. For a disobedient child, this is the cure."

"Y-you damned old hag!"

"First, learn about the Twelve. Memorize all the books I give you, and I'll let you out."

With a glance from Yeoryeong, Geumgeum grew large and carried a pile of books inside. As the boy tried to seize the chance to escape, Yeoryeong warned him,

"Don't even think of harming my sweet mouse. He's very fierce."

Realizing his intent had been seen, the boy shuddered.

"...Damn it. Do what you want! I'll never do things your way!"

Like a stubborn general, he sat facing the wall, refusing further conversation.

Geumgeum clicked his tongue at his obstinacy.

That brat needs serious discipline! Daring to call you an old hag!

The boy was particularly hostile toward the Twelve Spirit Beasts. A child of the Twelve who despised them—to Yeoryeong, the elder of all twelfth-years, it seemed pitiful. Perhaps, like Arin, he had suffered severe abuse.

"Take good care of him, Geumgeum."

Don't worry.

After Yeoryeong and Geumgeum left, the boy lay flat on the floor. When he had collapsed, his body had been covered in blood—but now he found traces of treatment all over. It must have been that old hag. Seeing her, who kept bothering him, reminded him of someone—which made him want to push her away even more. His eyes reddened.

"Grandma, I miss you. I need to avenge you soon..."

But he couldn't face them with his own strength alone. Reduced to a fugitive, he had never slept comfortably—until he came here, where he ate well and slept well. At first, he refused the food, suspecting poison, until that creature—Geumgeum—tasted it first to prove it was safe. Only then did he eat to gather strength, but his escape attempt that night failed. After three failed tries, he had accepted he couldn't leave.

His gaze fell on the books Geumgeum had left.

"The Twelve. Disgusting."

After a long moment of ignoring them, he opened a book and scowled.

"Shouldn't she first check if I can even read? Damn old hag."

---

That night, Dogyeong came to sing Arin a lullaby and was startled by what she told him.

"Doyoung challenged Muje to a duel?"

"Yes. I'm going to watch tomorrow—will you come too?"

Unaware the duel had stemmed from her, Arin thought it would be a fun spectacle.

"It should be quite a show."

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