When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 109
Chapter 109
Now that they had achieved their objectives…
And since even the border guards were eager to send them on their way…
It didn't take long for them to leave the Ju Clan territory and cross the Central River.
The Six Clans’ allied forces were encamped right next to the Central River.
Even though they were already putting enough pressure on the Ju Clan outpost soldiers, the Six Clans’ alliance didn’t let down their guard until the entire procession had crossed.
The archers aimed their bows without a single gap in their formation. The cavalry also patrolled the Central River, threatening the Ju Clan warriors and preventing them from leaving the outpost.
As the procession crossed the river, someone on horseback quickly approached them.
The man, with a helmet shaped like deer antlers hanging by his side, was Cheon Suhan, the Clan Head of the Cheon Clan.
“It’s been a while.”
At Ju Myoungyoon’s greeting, Clan Head Cheon barely nodded before dismounting. He hurriedly pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and held it out.
“One of our soldiers found this yesterday. It was written there.”
“…?”
Ju Myoungyoon unfolded the paper.
<Need. New moon. Midnight.>
Three words were written.
“What is this?”
“It’s a decoded message using the code only known to the direct descendants of the Cheon Clan. It was found near the Ju Clan border, by the Central River.”
“…!”
The coded messages of each clan were passed down only to direct descendants by the Clan Head.
Divulging this information to others was forbidden by an oath sworn on one’s spiritual power.
This meant that even if a woman bearing the Cheon Clan name married into another clan and had children, she couldn't reveal the code even to her own offspring.
Furthermore, to prevent information from being transmitted in this way, people with different surnames were, in principle, not allowed to join others at the border of each clan’s territory.
Only Cheon Sua, Ju Myoungyoon’s wife, had been allowed to join as an exception, due to her position as a healer and as the wife of Ju Myoungyoon, who was leading the war effort.
‘…My wife.’
Ju Myoungyoon’s jaw tightened.
Therefore, the only person who could have written this was his wife. Clan Head Cheon knew this as well.
“I’m telling you this because I received word that you were going to the Baek Clan.”
“......”
“I know your character well. That’s why I didn’t hesitate to choose you as Sua’s betrothed. But the Ju Clan itself has lost a lot of trust due to the long-standing issues.”
Sehwa, in her baby white tiger form, nestled in Baek Giha’s arms, watched her father fall silent, unable to respond.
She could now transform freely.
She had realized something.
If this erratic transformation was due to her spiritual power, if she was already a Divine Beast but in this state due to a lack of harmony…
‘What if I extract my spiritual power in the form of a Spirit Orb, like last time? What would happen then?’
Wouldn’t she lose her Divine Beast form if she ran out of spiritual power?
A perfect Divine Beast wouldn’t lose its form even if it extracted spiritual power, but she wasn't one.
Her guess proved correct, and she returned to her human form by extracting a portion of her spiritual power as a Spirit Orb.
When she reabsorbed the Spirit Orb, she returned to her white tiger form.
‘Mother asked the Six Clans’ alliance for help…’
Her nose felt cold.
She looked up at Baek Giha, and as if he had the same thought, he was looking down at her with a serious expression.
The baby white tiger reached out with a small paw and tapped the man’s firm arm.
He nodded and approached Clan Head Cheon and Ju Myoungyoon.
“Then Clan Head Cheon, please proceed as we discussed.”
“How can I fail a request from the leader of the Six Clans? I will escort them safely. Leave it to me.”
“Elder, please head to the Baek Clan with the Chancellor. I’ve already sent a letter with instructions, so you won’t experience any inconvenience.”
Ju Myoungyoon’s gaze darkened, unable to act himself and having to entrust others with his wife’s safety, even though he knew she was in danger.
“Don’t worry.”
Baek Giha smiled, subtly revealing the inside of his robe.
“I will protect this young lady, as well as the Elder and his family.”
“…Then I’ll leave it to you.”
As soon as he responded, a large whirlwind swirled around them.
The spiritual vortex was so perfectly controlled that it didn’t even graze the nearby Baek Clan warriors.
“Roar—!!!”
An earsplitting roar shook the ground as the enormous white tiger appeared.
Despite his menacing appearance, he securely carried the tiny baby white tiger on his back.
However, only a few of Ju Myoungyoon’s group noticed the small Divine Beast hidden within his fur.
The warriors were too busy marveling at the majestic sight of the Divine Beast, which they hadn’t seen since the end of the war.
The Divine Beast’s large, dark blue eyes gazed at the leaders of the Six Clans’ alliance and Ju Myoungyoon.
At the three sisters, who were watching the baby white tiger with worried eyes, about to leave with him.
And finally, at Baek Manyong.
‘Please return safely.’
When he had said he would be leaving briefly with Sehwa, the Baek Clan Chancellor had looked devastated at the thought of not being able to watch the baby white tiger from close by.
But now, looking at Baek Giha, his face was filled with trust.
‘I will take care of things here. Please protect the young lady.’
This was why he couldn’t help but cherish the Chancellor, despite everything.
The Divine Beast nodded and unleashed a wave of spiritual power as a warning to any potential pursuers sent by the Mystic Ruler.
“—!!”
A powerful roar filled the air.
The Ju Clan warriors, except for those from the Six Clans who had been prepared, clutched their ears and collapsed.
The Divine Beast leaped into the air as if taking flight. He headed towards the Baek Clan, intending to change direction after pretending to head there.
‘…Finally.’
The white tiger’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he gazed forward.
‘Finally!’
At the thought that the situation he had desired had finally arrived, that they would be alone from now on, the white tiger seemed to truly fly.
He sped away at a terrifying pace.
As the warriors watched the enormous white tiger disappear, their eyes filled with awe and admiration at the speed that showcased the sheer scale of a Divine Beast’s spiritual power.
Thump, thump.
A slender figure walked hesitantly along a mountain path where owls hooted eerily. Even in this darkness, the figure wore a hat.
Only the yellow moon persistently followed and illuminated the narrow path.
The figure stopped where the long tree shadows ended, at a deserted ferry crossing.
The pier connected to the river was dilapidated.
A small ferryboat, tied to the pier, quietly rested, bathed in the moonlight.
The anxious figure removed their hat.
Looking around as if searching for someone, the figure then looked up at the moon. Its position indicated that it wasn’t quite time for their appointment yet.
Letting out a long sigh, the figure hid within the tree shadows and sat down, crouching and waiting for the person who had summoned them.
Only the occasional upward glance at the moon revealed a hint of fear and anxiety.
Finally, the moon reached the appointed position.
Suddenly, the leaves above rustled.
Startled, the figure looked up towards the sound.
Someone was there, at the very top of a large tree, in the darkest part obscured by leaves.
The figure, revealing their presence, pushed aside the branches blocking their view.
“My apologies for the wait.”
The unwavering gaze of the figure, clad in a black robe, fell directly on the waiting figure.
“I had to check if you had brought anyone with you.”
Sehwa, jumping lightly from the tree, approached the person who had been waiting for her.
“Are you the one who came after receiving Merchant Ji’s message?”
“…Yes, I am.”
“So you’re the one with the ability to disguise your appearance?”
Merchant Ji, who had to leave before seeing Sehwa awaken, had quietly left these words with the three sisters:
“If you need to conceal your appearances, please seek me out. There is someone among those I trade with who possesses such an ability.”
She had been injured by the Mystic Ruler’s flames, no less.
He didn't know the internal affairs of the Ju Clan, but if he couldn't sense that something was wrong, despite a blood relative of the Mystic Ruler, who had been loyal to the Ju Clan for so long, being between life and death because of the Mystic Ruler’s flames…
Then he should quit being a merchant.
However, the ability to disguise one’s appearance wasn't something to be shared lightly.
Such skills were usually employed by criminals on the run from the clans.
Sehwa hadn’t taken the sisters’ words lightly.
Immediately after secretly infiltrating the Ju Clan territory with Baek Giha, she had sought out Merchant Ji in secret.
That was why this meeting had been arranged late at night.
The disguise expert, momentarily captivated by Sehwa’s face in the moonlight, quickly lowered their gaze.
It was their first time conversing with a mystic from a clan.
Those who usually requested their services were mostly those on the verge of death after offending the clans.
They knew firsthand how much these high-ranking mystics despised lowborn mystics like them, how little they valued their lives.
So they gulped nervously and answered.
They had only come because Merchant Ji had persistently asked them, using both threats and promises.
Otherwise, they would have run a thousand miles away the moment they heard a clan mystic wanted to request their services.
“Y-… Yes… ahem. T-That’s correct.”
Just then, a man’s voice spoke from behind Sehwa.
“How long will it take?”
‘Oh dear. There’s another one. Two high-ranking mystics…’
Their lips trembled as they asked, “Are both of you planning to undergo the transformation?”
“Yes.”
“Then it will take about two hours… but as you may have already heard from the merchant, this transformation technique isn’t foolproof.”
The expert nervously clasped their hands and explained,
“The duration of the transformation depends on the amount of spiritual power you possess, but even then, it won’t last more than half a day.”
“Half a day? Then what if we use it again immediately after it wears off?”
“That’s impossible. You must maintain your original appearance for at least half a day. It will also wear off automatically if you’re sick, injured, or unable to maintain your spiritual power.”
“......”
“Moreover, the most important thing is that you’ll be easily discovered if you encounter someone who knows you.”
“Discovered? Even in the transformed state?”
“Yes. It’s merely an illusion cast over your appearance, making it slightly different from your true form, so it’s not perfect.”
Worried that they might be reprimanded for the technique not being as advertised, the disguise expert, Mr. Yeong, desperately explained further.
“If you encounter someone you know, you might be able to pass by unnoticed if they aren’t paying close attention, but they’ll likely recognize you if their gaze lingers even for a moment. So you must leave the area immediately in such cases… Do you still wish to proceed?”
“Yes.”
“......”
Mr. Yeong glanced up at the two mystics standing before them.
Both of them were so captivatingly beautiful that they must possess an abundance of spiritual power.
And judging by how completely Merchant Ji seemed to be under their thumb, they must have considerable backing as well.
Mr. Yeong hated getting involved with such high-ranking individuals.
They didn't want these people to discover their ability to change appearances, lest they be implicated in some trouble later on.
But now that they had come this far, they couldn't run away.
“…Then please have a seat.”
With a reluctant expression, Mr. Yeong focused intently and completed the procedure on the two mystics.
Worried that they might be blamed later if something went wrong, they reiterated the precautions.
“Please remember what I said. It lasts for half a day at most, and it won’t hold any longer than that. Once the transformation wears off, you’ll need another half day before you can use it again.”
“Understood.”
After Mr. Yeong left, Baek Giha and Sehwa looked at each other.
Words of admiration naturally escaped their lips.
“Wow.”
They now understood what it meant to be easily recognized by anyone who knew them if they paid even a little attention.
But it was still better than expected.
Because of their striking appearances, there was no way for them to walk down the street without attracting attention.
So they had hoped to at least tone that down a bit…
“…This is amazing. It’s you, but not you. But it’s still you.”
“Same goes for you. This is really good.”
“He said it lasts for half a day, right? It’s midnight now, so we can be like this until noon?”
“Shall we test it out?”
“Test it? Are we going to wait here and see how long it lasts?”
“What are you talking about?”
Baek Giha shook his head and smiled meaningfully.
The border area where the marketplace was located wasn't far from here.
Since it was a fairly developed and bustling area, and given the Ju Clan’s fondness for festivities, the lights rarely went out, even at night.
“We need to save time. Let's go scouting.”
There was still some time left until the new moon midnight that the Madam had mentioned in her letter.
Since there were always night markets in such bustling areas of the Ju Clan, they could enjoy themselves for one night, putting aside their worries for a while, under the pretext of scouting the area.
“Scouting?”
“That’s right, scouting.”
Right, right.
They were just trying to get a feel for the atmosphere, not because they wanted to spend time together, of course not.
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