The events that took place on the Crowd Road were proof.
Those who challenged becoming a Dragon were, ultimately, human.
And that only by surpassing that could one beco a Dragon.
Tae Yul's bold deanor and Shin Yo's flawless appearance imprinted upon the people who thought that the Dragon's Flower were different beings from themselves.
And yet… Seol Hong, who sought their help while covered in filth, made people think that the Dragon's Flowers were just people like them.
Seol Hong was the only Dragon who had reached out to the masses.
And so, ti passed.
The Dragon Ascension Ceremony, where the title of Dragon Emperor would be passed down from Hong Cheon, was fast approaching.
It had been a year since the events of the Crowd Road.
The news that three Dragon Emperors would succeed Hong Cheon and rule over Khan shook not only Khan but the entirety of Pandea.
It was shocking, yet also understandable.
Hong Cheon was a transcendent hero who had single-handedly slain a Dragon, but his Dragon's Flowers were from a generation that had never seen a real Dragon.
What Hong Cheon could do alone, they could achieve together.
Their goal was to ensure that Khan, with its vast territory, could thrive. That was why, ultimately, three Emperors ca to rule Khan.
"Oh my God…"
"Does it look awkward…?"
"N-No. It… It really… suits you…"
The woman's sleeves hung loosely. However, it didn't look unseemly. Instead, it accentuated her noble status.
The fabric, the patterns, the garnt's shape—everything revealed her standing.
The woman was Seol Hong, clad in dragon robes.
"Sob… Sob…"
Cheon Ju, who had been watching, burst into tears.
"What's wrong… Cheon Ju."
"Everything… seems to be passing by. Only now does it feel real."
"Yes… you're right."
Seol Hong reminisced about the past.
How could she not love this old woman who had followed her while carrying a bundle as big as herself while panting and struggling?
How could she not embrace her?
"So you've truly beco a Dragon…"
Cheon Ju muttered as she slumped down.
"Yu Hwa… are you watching…? Your daughter did it… she beca a Dragon…"
Chi Woo helped Cheon Ju up and left the room.
He, too, was overjoyed more than anyone about Seol Hong becoming a Dragon.
Like the long sleeves of the Dragon Robe she wore, Seol Hong's mories now stretched endlessly.
Many mories eventually reached a lonely backstreet.
"Truly… Many things have happened."
She was abandoned by people, yet saved by the people.
She was hurt by people, yet healed by people.
By letting go of people, she had gained people.
Even after becoming a Dragon, she would most likely walk the Crowd Road for the rest of her life.
Even in the future, once she becos a Dragon, she shouldn't forget this stream.
"…"
Now alone, Seol Hong sat before a mirror. The mirror reflected not only herself but also what lay behind her.
That empty space felt even more desolate today. Many people had co and gone in that empty place in her heart.
Sotis, it was Chi Woo, and other tis, it was Jin Ryeo and Cheon Ju.
She couldn’t even say the na aloud. Sotis, she even wanted to shout it.
I have beco a Dragon… Truly, thank you.
She wanted to tell him that.
Seol Hong suddenly snapped out of her thoughts and noticed sothing strange in the mirror.
The woman in the reflection wasn't gazing at the mirror—she was staring directly at her.
"What…"
A lullaby, the kind sung to soothe a child, reached her ears.
A song she had never heard before.
- My child… My child… Grow up healthy…
"Mother! Is that you?"
Seol Hong frantically pressed her hand against the mirror. As she reached out her hand toward it, the woman inside simply lowered her hand.
"Were you watching over …?"
With a faint sound, the final line of the song flowed out.
- The whole world will protect you…
"No… don't go…"
Whir…
The woman in the mirror was sucked into Seol Hong's hand mirror—the keepsake Yu Hwa had left.
Seol Hong clutched the hand mirror to her chest and wept.
"No… Why… Why is everyone leaving …"
Seol Hong cried for a while, then forced a smile.
She looked at the mirror again.
This ti, she was certain of it.
Even though Yu Hwa was gone, Seol Hong hadn't changed. She still looked like herself.
She was no longer that little girl from back then.
Now, there was a Dragon.
"Wherever you are, please watch over ."
She had already risen on her own.
* * *
"Oof…"
The only Soul Eyes Tribe mber who lived in the Dragon Palace, Dal Yeong—who read the skies—was soone cherished by the Dragon Emperor Hong Cheon.
He was a human who could read the will of the sky. Everyone couldn't help but be interested in such a person—especially soone in the position of an absolute ruler.
"Sothing isn't right…"
Today, Dal Yeong looked troubled after reading the skies.
"What are you trying to tell ?"
The night was red.
Moreover, a cot streaked past a large star, its light murky and dim.
All of it was strange.
To think all of this would happen at the sa ti.
WHOOM…
It seed that it was about to rain.
Soon, dark clouds covered the sky.
Dal Yeong, who had been biting his nails, imdiately headed to the heart of the Dragon Palace.
In this vast Dragon Palace, only two people could freely enter this place besides the Dragon Emperor—the Chancellor Bang Hyu and the astronor Dal Yeong.
Is this what it ans to be a lifelong guest?
Swoosh…
'What…?'
Before entering, Dal Yeong instinctively hid himself.
Soone else had co to the Emperor's room.
'Bang Hyu?'
What brought Bang Hyu here at such an hour?
'I know I shouldn't do this, but…'
As expected from a mber of the Soul Eyes Tribe, Astronor Dal Yeong was well-versed in many things.
Tiny ants entered the Emperor's room.
They beca Dal Yeong's eyes and ears.
Bang Hyu rambled on for a while in front of Hong Cheon.
"Have your seizures improved?"
"You don't need to worry… It seems I've caused you concern."
Seizures?
Dal Yeong had only heard that the Emperor had been reclusive lately due to worsening health. So this was a detail he hadn't heard before.
"Oh, Dragon. In my youth, I saw and heard about your majesty. Your tales beca legends, passed from mouth to mouth, from paper to paper."
"Yes. You've told that. And that's why you wanted to enter the palace."
"Correct. The Great Hero Hong Cheon. Who, as a human, reached the pinnacle of martial arts and stood before the Evil Dragon Hwagmu, the one who had thrown the East into chaos. And according to the records, you've said."
Bang Hyu, with a bitter tone, spoke calmly.
"Dragon, I have co for you."
"…"
"Those words shook the heart of the young Bang Hyu, leading to seek you out here. And now, Bang Hyu has beco an old man who struggles to even chew at."
From a young boy to an old man, a lot of ti passed, and the end of their lives was nearing.
"Since when was it?"
"Your questions are tiring. Speak clearly."
"The Great Hero Hong Cheon… Since when did he disappear?"
"…"
Dal Yeong, who was eavesdropping, gasped.
'What…?'
The answer ca.
"It's just that the ti has co."
"Hwagmu…"
Bang Hyu knelt.
"The one I served was a human. Not a Dragon like you!"
"You probably know that you won't be able to exchange many more words with . Who else knows about this?"
"I didn't tell anyone. Until I saw it with my own eyes, it would have been blasphemous."
"Loyal but foolish… Since we've spent a lot of ti together… Do you have any final wish?"
Bang Hyu smiled and said.
"Send to my lord's side."
Slash—
Bang Hyu's head floated in the air.
The ants had seen it, and so did Dal Yeong.
Dal Yeong slowly turned and left the garden.
Only the ants rembered that he had been there.
Dal Yeong ca out of the garden and started running.
"Oof… Oof…"
The Evil Dragon had resurrected—and he was inside Hong Cheon.
'So that's why the sky…'
Bang Hyu was gone.
Nurous rumors would spread, and a fitting funeral would probably be held.
No one would probably even imagine that it was Hong Cheon's doing. Or perhaps, even if they knew, they wouldn't care.
Dal Yeong pondered about who to tell this news first.
His steps lead him there.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
He grabbed the doorknob roughly and knocked.
There was no response.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
Creak…
Opening the door revealed soone's glare.
Swoosh…
"Lord Astronor… is that you?"
"I have sothing… urgent…"
A voice ca from inside.
"Did you get caught in the rain?"
A graceful voice.
"Lady Seol Hong…"
Dal Yeong suddenly realized that he was drenched.
"The rain is heavy. So why now…"
He quickly replied.
"Yes… but soon, an even greater rain will fall…"
"It seems it's sothing important…"
"There probably won't be any news more important in Khan than this."
"Hwi Ah, let's go down…"
Seol Hong called Hwi Ah and spoke briefly.
"Go do what you must."
Nod…
Hwi Ah disappeared, and as Seol Hong pressed the wall of the residence, it shifted.
Drrr…
"It seems that this isn't the place to talk. So let's go down."
* * *
The basent's structure was quite peculiar. Such a structure couldn't be built in the Dragon Palace.
It seed to have been built less than a year ago.
After descending underground, a space surrounded by curtains with a round table ca into view.
Dal Yeong spilled everything he had seen today. If anyone had heard that Hong Cheon’s body had been taken over by Hwagmu, they would surely faint from shock.
However, Seol Hong listened calmly.
In fact, she was so calm that Dal Yeong's agitated reaction looked strange.
"Lord Hong Cheon… Lord Hong Cheon is already gone. What sits on the Dragon throne is the Evil Dragon."
"Who else have you told this…?"
"I ca to Lady Seol Hong first."
"Why…?"
"Because Lady Seol Hong, you're the only one I can trust."
"?"
"I've watched your struggles for a while. You… Haven't you always been a loner?"
She could be trusted because she was a loner—it was a very Dal Yeong-like reasoning since he was also a loner.
"Khan's founding hero, Hong Cheon, is no more. He had been devoured by Hwagmu, reduced to a puppet. That creature… has been hiding inside Hong Cheon's body… Waiting for the right mont. He… He…"
Swoosh…
Seol Hong raised her hand and stopped the story. She wanted to calm Dal Yeong down.
"Do I have to believe that?"
"I can prove it if you wish. I can use a Swear Shamanic Spell."
It was the sa shamanic spell the Great Shaman Wang Zhu had used on the Dragon's Flowers before they began walking the Crowd Road—one that would curse anyone who didn't fulfill their oath.
"I see. Wang Zhu, are you there?"
"What…"
There was no way Wang Zhu was here. Why would the Dragon Palace's Great Shaman be in such a basent…
But then, a voice was heard from behind the curtain.
"Yes… Dragon."
Soone joined the round table from behind the curtain.
"Wang Zhu… why are you here…?"
"Hehe… I'll ask you later why didn't you co to first… But for now, let's check this out."
CLAP—!
Wang Zhu cast a shamanic spell and delved into Dal Yeong's mind.
"Ugh…"
"Just bear with it a bit."
The chaotic events that had unfolded were transferred from Dal Yeong’s mind to Wang Zhu.
"Oh my goodness…"
"How is it?"
"How could this be… It's all true. Just as Dal Yeong said, the Dragon Emperor Hong Cheon is… Hwagmu. Since when…"
"…"
Upon hearing Wang Zhu's words, Seol Hong's brow furrowed deeply.
"I can't handle this alone."
"Lady Seol Hong!"
"You ca here because you trust , right?"
Dal Yeong cautiously nodded.
"Then, trust until the end."
Swoosh…
Two more figures appeared from behind the curtains.
"Human trust begets trust, after all."
Swoosh…
The curtain was drawn.
"I trust my siblings."
The ones who appeared from behind the curtain were Shin Yo and Tae Yul. They walked toward the round table.
"If this is true, why hasn't he awakened yet?"
When Tae Yul asked, the Great Shaman Wang Zhu replied.
"Perhaps… he can't awaken."
"Hmm…"
"He's already lost his body once and has been devouring Hong Cheon's mind. But his past body won't return. What he's after… is most likely his own body."
Shin Yo said.
"Shouldn't we call for help?"
"There's a Dragon residing in Khan's heart, so co and help us… Even if we say that, they won't believe us. Not only that, but if Hwagmu notices anything suspicious, he’ll act. We can’t let him know that we've discovered him—that's our only advantage."
"It makes sense."
"Perhaps… striking first before he acts is the best decision."
"I wonder what he is after… What mont is he waiting for to rise…?"
In everyone's minds, a single event that would soon happen flashed simultaneously.
"The Dragon Ascension Ceremony!"
"It's the Dragon Ascension Ceremony!"
"He's definitely after the Dragon Ascension Ceremony…"
A gathering where all of the Dragon's Flowers would be present and a mont that would capture the attention of all the citizens of the empire.
Hong Cheon would undoubtedly be present at that event.
Tae Yul said.
"There are two ways. We either cancel the Dragon Ascension Ceremony and flee from Hwagmu or…"
"Are you thinking of abandoning the Empire's people?"
"We can't do that!"
"I'm just stating the options. The other way is… for us to target the Dragon Ascension Ceremony too…"
Tae Yul cautiously said.
"If all the Dragon's Flowers gather in one place, even a Dragon could be caught off guard and eliminated."
However, one problem remained.
How to 'deal' with Hwagmu.
Whether it was Hong Cheon or Hwagmu, no one could match him.
They needed to ambush him with an attack so fierce that he couldn't react.
At that mont, Seol Hong smiled faintly and said.
"There's a way."
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