Home/The Beloved Young Divine Child of the Twelve Zodiacs/ch 74

Chapter 74

It seemed connected to the strange weather outside.

"What's wrong? Are you in pain?"

Arin asked, but Muje didn't answer. He only repositioned himself with a dazed look and murmured,

"The Yeouiju is calling me."

"What?"

"I have to go."

Like a man possessed, he tried to leave the hall. Arin blocked his way, but it was useless.

"No, you can't! It's dangerous outside."

Worried someone might see his eyes, she stood in his way. She tried to find Dohun or Doyoung, but the crowd was too thick.

What do I do?

She couldn't stop him alone—it was clearly a scheme by the Black Demon clan. Just as she was about to hold him back, a familiar voice spoke.

"Long time no see."

Startled, Arin turned—Ahyeon and Sosso were there, about to leave the hall. Sosso glared at Arin's hand holding Muje's.

Ahyeon, too, was surprised to run into her. He had spoken because she was right there, but he didn't know what to say.

"Have you been well?"

He tried to sound casual.

"Of course. Have you been well, Young Master Ahyeon?"

Young Master Ahyeon.

The changed address made his brow twitch—its meaning was all too clear. He replied gruffly, as if unfazed.

"Nothing new."

"Good to hear."

Arin smiled awkwardly, her eyes searching for Dohun and Doyoung. She seemed distracted, and Ahyeon felt irritated.

What is she looking at?

After so long, she didn't seem glad to see him—she looked more troubled. Yet she had been laughing with her fake brothers all night. He had known they'd meet again someday, but this lukewarm response stung. He knew the old Arin would have smiled warmly.

Then his gaze fell on Muje, who had his back to them. He had heard they were close. Hoping to use Arin to get closer to the Crown Prince, Ahyeon addressed him.

"Your Highness, that was an impressive performance earlier."

He reached out to shake hands—but Muje used the moment Arin's attention was divided to slip away.

"Muje!"

Startled, Arin called after him, but it was useless. She stomped her foot, torn between inside and outside, then reluctantly chased after him.

Ahyeon, left with his hand outstretched, froze. He had never been so ignored in his life. He clenched his fist and let out a hollow laugh.

"Unbelievable."

Sensing his anger, Sosso subtly egged him on.

"She's still rude. After all this time, to act so dismissive."

"She must hate us."

Ahyeon scoffed, pretending it didn't matter—as if that was the only way to shake off the feeling. Sosso was relieved Arin had ignored Ahyeon, but it also bothered her to see Arin chasing after Muje.

What are they to each other?

Rumors of them meeting daily were already widespread. The Crown Prince, who had no close friends, was close to only one person—and of all people, it had to be Arin.

Following Ahyeon, Sosso pouted and turned toward where Muje had gone.

---

Thunderclaps and heavy rain poured from a clear sky. Reading the energy mixed with the rain, Baek Hyeonje's expression hardened. The power to control the weather belonged to the White Dragon—and the Black Demon clan's small fry were using his son's Yeouiju to play tricks. It made his blood run cold.

"How dare they..."

Since the Yeouiju's owner wasn't using it, Muje must have been affected. He couldn't recklessly intervene, lest withdrawing the power harm his son. Clenching his fist, he glared at the darkened sky.

The elders, sensing Muje's power, looked up and murmured.

"Isn't that the Crown Prince's power? Could they have actually taken the Yeouiju..."

They all trailed off, glancing at Hyeonje. The weakness he had worked so hard to hide was now exposed for all to see. Not only had they dared touch his son, but they were also misusing his power—Hyeonje could no longer contain his fury.

Securing Muje's safety was the priority.

"Jicheon."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Go to Muje immediately."

At his command, Jicheon vanished silently. Watching Hyeonje fidget, eager to run to his son, Dogyeong said,

"I told you, you could stay by his side."

"As king, I cannot—especially not in front of the enemy."

Hyeonje answered calmly, as if he had never been agitated. His gaze at Woo-hyun was icy cold.

When he first heard of Woo-hyun's existence, Hyeonje had to suppress his murderous rage—a boy who was both a clue to his enemy and bore the likeness of the villain. His eyes held not a trace of pity.

Yeoryeong had struggled to persuade him, and she was almost grateful when the assassins appeared.

After the rain began, energies mixed, making it hard to distinguish friend from foe. They must have used their power to hide their infiltration.

But the formations allowed tracking of Woo-hyun's location and the enemies' movements. Soon, she sensed assassins gathering around him. She signaled, and the ambush team took their positions.

Unaware of the trap, the assassins moved quickly. Just as they reached for Woo-hyun—

Crash—!

With a deafening roar, the pre-set formations activated—the ground split and tree roots erupted. A giant cage of wooden bars rose around Woo-hyun. The startled assassins tried to flee, but it was too late. Wherever Dogyeong reached, earth engulfed and bound them. Woo-hyun also tried to dodge—and one assassin blew a whistle.

An ominous, brain-piercing sound.

"They use strange flutes to control people."

Already aware of their methods from Woo-hyun, Yeoryeong acted without hesitation.

"Not so fast!"

She struck her staff down, and divine power wrapped protectively around Woo-hyun. The eerie whistle was silenced, and Dogyeong snatched the flute away. Woo-hyun quickly took cover beside Yeoryeong.

Within minutes, the assassins were incapacitated. As their morale crumbled and they stopped resisting, the elders who had been watching from a distance approached.

"Truly the Black Demon clan," one elder observed with interest.

"Just as Master Geum said—that child must be quite important to them."

"Indeed. Even while he was in Geumho Village, the pests kept coming for him."

"With proof like this, Master Geum should keep a close watch on that child."

After Dogyeong, even Hyeonje chimed in, and the elders could no longer demand Woo-hyun's execution. The operation had turned public opinion in his favor. As the elders gave silent assent, Hyeonje ordered the royal guards.

"Bind them and take them away."

As the operation wrapped up, Dogyeong headed back to the banquet hall—when Yeoryeong stopped and stared ahead.

"Dogyeong."

"Yes?"

"Didn't you tell Arin not to leave the hall?"

"She wouldn't—she's probably eating and having fun inside."

"Then why do I sense Arin's power over there?"

She pointed outside the hall, and Dogyeong frowned. The heavy rain from the Yeouiju's effect made reading energies difficult. Urgently, he pressed her.

"Which direction?"

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