Home/The Beloved Young Divine Child of the Twelve Zodiacs/ch 98

Chapter 98

“No, I….”

“Your older brother has come here with me. He misses you very much, so do stop by and see him.”

Lee Jin handed her a note with the address of his lodgings written on it. Then, with a brief glance at the gift box, he took his leave.

“And this is something I prepared for you—I hope you’ll accept it. After all, there’s no point in my taking it back; I have no use for such things.”

Having said his piece, he left the reception room with his servant.

Ahrin watched Lee Jin’s retreating back—almost as if he were fleeing—and said to Dokyung, “That means he’ll come again, doesn’t it?”

“It seems so.”

Dokyung let out a deep, weary sigh, as though the very prospect annoyed him.

“Now he wants to play the father. What on earth is he thinking?”

“I have only one father.”

Ahrin took Dokyung’s hand.

“You know that, don’t you?”

Meeting her steady, unwavering gaze, Dokyung felt a wave of relief wash over him.

He had worried that meeting Lee Jin might shake her somehow.

But seeing Ahrin act as if she understood even that concern, he could not help but feel reassured.

“Yes. You are my daughter. Just remember that.”

“I am proud of you, Father, and of our house.”

Ahrin answered warmly and leaned into Dokyung’s embrace.

That small, fragile child from long ago had grown up and now came to rest in his arms—he had never imagined this day would come.

Dokyung held her close and smiled.

“I am proud of my daughter too.”

---

Under the moonlight, in the dead of night when all lay quiet.

Mu-je slipped through the shadows of a deserted path, leaving no trace of his presence.

A moment later, he entered a crude hut, his expression sinking with exhaustion.

Once again, he had arrived too late—the place was empty.

“Just as I thought. Something’s off.”

This had happened several times already.

Wherever the Yeouiju reacted, someone had clearly fled in haste.

As if they had known he would come.

Because the Yeouiju resonated with each other, they too seemed to be aware of his location.

He had prevented them from using the Yeouiju recklessly, but now he found himself unable to track them in return.

“At this rate, I can’t even use the White Dragon’s power.”

But without using that power, he could not pinpoint their hideout.

As he searched every corner for any possible clue, his eyes fell upon a black pill.

It lay neatly on the table, radiating a strong, ominous energy.

Clearly suspicious at a glance—and strangely familiar.

“This is….”

Mu-je’s expression hardened as he examined the pill.

He had seen U-hyeon consume one just a few days ago.

“No way.”

It was a pill found precisely where the Black Demon Sect’s agents had been hiding.

Lost in thought for a moment, Mu-je wrapped the evidence in a handkerchief and tucked it into his pocket.

---

On the day the Twelve Clan Heads were to gather at the shrine.

Ahrin made her way to the great tree atop the hill in the Twelve Zodiac village.

Below the hill, the village and the academy were clearly visible.

It was a secret spot Mu-je had once shown her, saying it was his favorite place.

[I have something to discuss with you regarding the Black Demon Sect.]

Last night, he had called her here, saying he had matters to speak of in private.

[Come without your bodyguard.]

Moreover, he had specifically excluded U-hyeon, suggesting there was information U-hyeon should not know.

Arriving at the meeting place, Ahrin glanced down at the bridge below.

As she waited quietly, stray thoughts naturally crept in.

‘I don’t want to just be friends with you anymore.’

Ahrin shook her head deliberately, trying to erase the thought.

After all, she had not come today to ask the meaning of those words.

But since this was their first meeting since that day, her mind kept wandering.

And yet Mu-je, who had made that startling confession, had contacted her so casually, as if nothing had happened.

Before long, she saw Mu-je crossing the bridge.

Nervously, Ahrin fidgeted with her hair and straightened her clothes.

Meanwhile, Mu-je climbed the hill lightly, his eyes scanning their surroundings warily.

He was on high alert, checking whether U-hyeon had followed.

When he reached the tree, Mu-je smiled softly.

“Did you wait long?”

“No, I just got here too.”

“That’s a relief.”

He lightly brushed back his wind-tousled hair.

Ahrin gazed quietly at his silver hair, shimmering in the sunlight, then spoke.

“So, what was it you wanted to talk about alone?”

“Ah.”

He touched his lips thoughtfully, then pulled something from his pocket.

“What is that?”

“I found it while chasing the Black Demon Sect. It looks like some kind of elixir—have you ever seen it?”

“Have I seen it?”

“Because I have.”

Mu-je’s eyes flashed sharply, unlike his usual demeanor.

Sensing instinctively that he was targeting U-hyeon, Ahrin spoke.

“Are you suspecting U-hyeon right now?”

“I saw him eating this.”

Mu-je’s expression showed he was already convinced that U-hyeon was colluding with the Black Demon Sect.

Still, just in case, he had come to Ahrin first.

After all, it would be more accurate for Ahrin, a third party, to verify than for him, with his deep-seated animosity toward the Black Demon Sect.

Even so, it was still unpleasant.

“I never liked that guy from the start.”

At his frank confession, Ahrin looked troubled.

“But U-hyeon’s origins aren’t his fault.”

“You’re too soft on him.”

“Aren’t you being too cold, Mu-je?”

Her words, which seemed to defend U-hyeon, made Mu-je press his lips together.

He had not come here to argue with her, yet he could not help feeling uncomfortable.

Mu-je let out a heavy sigh and continued.

“I’ve been trying not to dislike him because you consider him a friend. But even with this kind of evidence, you’re still defending him?”

“All I’m saying is we should hear U-hyeon’s side too—.”

“Have you ever seen a spy confess, ‘I am a spy’?”

“…”

“The Divine Lady has said time and again: do not grow attached where the Black Demon Sect is concerned. So from now on, keep your distance from him and watch carefully.”

At his cold, cutting words, Ahrin fell silent, unable to offer any real rebuttal.

She had not wanted to quarrel on their first meeting in so long.

Lately, it felt as though they kept clashing.

Ahrin lowered her head, looking at her own feet.

She simply could not bear to see his expression.

“Why do you dislike U-hyeon so much?”

“That’s because….”

Because that guy harbors feelings for you.

Mu-je swallowed the rest of his words and composed himself.

The more Ahrin cherished U-hyeon, the less Mu-je could act rashly against him.

Even if a dull blade would fail to cut when the moment truly came.

“That guy attacked you before. He’s someone who can show aggression at any time.”

Mu-je tried his best to reason logically, but Ahrin did not stay silent either.

“That was childish behavior from when we were young. Now he’s a bodyguard acknowledged by my father.”

“You don’t know why Clan Head Geum keeps him around.”

“What do you mean?”

Ahrin looked puzzled.

Not knowing about Dokyung’s contract with U-hyeon, her reaction was only natural.

‘That bastard has been ready to die from the very start—he probably doesn’t even think about what comes after.’

The wounds Ahrin would be left with meant nothing to that man.

But to Mu-je, Ahrin was everything.

He feared she would grow attached to U-hyeon in ignorance, only to be deeply shaken later.

He feared she would grow estranged from Clan Head Geum.

And in the end, he feared she would blame herself.

Knowing Ahrin’s character all too well, he could not help but intervene.

He had to tell her now.

So that she would not be wounded defenselessly.

Even if Ahrin ended up resenting him for revealing the truth, he thought that would be better.

“Clan Head Geum keeps him by his side in order to cut him down. The Geumho Clan is the sword that protects the Divine Lady and executes the Black Demon Sect—their sworn enemy.”

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