When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 114
Chapter 114
The residence was noisy tonight, unlike yesterday.
In contrast to the previous night, when there had been almost no presence felt, armed warriors were now stationed throughout the residence.
Therefore, they had to be even more cautious in infiltrating.
However, they knew the situation they had been waiting for was about to begin.
The time it took for the sliver of a moon to cross the center of the sky felt agonizingly long.
Crouching low on the roof of the large residence, Sehwa was incredibly tense.
So much so that she couldn’t speak, even though she knew Baek Giha was watching her with concern.
How long had they waited?
The moment they had been waiting for arrived at the side gate of the residence.
A commotion was picked up by their heightened senses.
Sehwa and Baek Giha stood up simultaneously and ran towards the gate.
Warriors with grim expressions were entering on horseback.
Perhaps to conceal their affiliation, they weren’t wearing any insignias.
A plain carriage, also without insignias, followed behind them.
Sehwa’s gaze, sensing what was about to happen, fixed on the carriage.
Just then, a languid voice drifted from the residence where they were hiding.
“Did you bring her?”
It was Ju Suyeon.
She was dressed provocatively, in a red robe with the collar pulled down to her shoulders.
But the warrior, instead of being captivated by her exposed white neck, answered quietly, his gaze filled with fear.
“Yes. But Madam, the Mystic Ruler ordered us to bring her to the residence…”
“Are the Mystic Ruler’s orders more important than mine now?”
The warrior hurriedly denied it.
“Of course not, Madam. However…”
He looked as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent and gestured to the person behind him.
One of the soldiers following behind him opened the door of the plain wooden carriage and dragged out the person inside.
Cheon Sua, looking haggard, appeared with her hands tied.
‘!’
Her mother’s expression as she stepped out of the carriage reminded Sehwa of the execution ground.
Her eyes and demeanor were resolute, but an undeniable exhaustion was deeply etched into her entire being.
Her mother was a patient woman, so for her to be unable to hide her haggard appearance, a lot must have happened.
Baek Giha pulled Sehwa back just as she was about to jump out.
“Wait.”
“Why?”
“Look at your mother’s neck.”
Sehwa’s gaze hurriedly followed his words.
‘…!’
Barely visible between her collar was the Ju Clan’s spiritual power suppression seal, used on criminals.
Rage surged through her, making her head spin.
Even so, she had to lower her body as he said.
They didn't know who had the key to unlock it.
A drop of blood welled up on her lip, bitten by her teeth. Her tightly clenched fists were also bloody.
As Baek Giha wrapped his hand around her trembling shoulders, Cheon Sua calmly asked Ju Suyeon, who was standing with a casual posture, “Was it you who called for me unnecessarily?”
From her calm demeanor, one wouldn’t have guessed that her wrists were tied and her neck bore a suppression seal.
Ju Suyeon looked Cheon Sua up and down and said coldly, “You still speak to me like that even after realizing who I am? You should be saying, ‘Did you call for me?’”
Cheon Sua chuckled and looked at Ju Suyeon mockingly.
“Why should I be respectful to you? Do you want respect even though you’re living like a parasite in someone else’s body?”
“…What?”
Cheon Sua, mimicking Ju Suyeon, looked her up and down dismissively and replied, “You’re enjoying yourself in someone else’s skin. You’re not even trying to hide it, so why make such a fuss and drag me all the way here just because I found out?”
At Cheon Sua’s blunt words, the Fifth Madam, who had never been spoken to like this, looked taken aback, her face distorted in disbelief.
“This bitch still doesn't understand the situation. What are you all doing? Make her kneel!”
The warriors rushed forward and pushed Cheon Sua’s shoulders down.
Ju Suyeon, a cruel smile playing on her lips, slowly approached Cheon Sua.
“Well, I suppose you want to provoke me if you’re going to die anyway. I understand. There have been many like you.”
“Haha.”
Cheon Sua’s eyes narrowed.
“Are you looking for a reason for my contempt? There’s no need. I’m just laughing because you’re so pathetic.”
Cheon Sua added, her voice almost singsong, “You couldn't live openly, having to live in a stolen body, could you? Then what did you do all those years? Just eating, sleeping, and excreting, wasn't it? What’s the difference between you and an animal?”
“…This bitch still won’t watch her mouth!”
Slap—!
Cheon Sua’s face was whipped to the side by a harsh slap.
Her cheek reddened instantly and quickly swelled up.
But Cheon Sua raised her head, smiling as if she didn’t feel any pain.
“Do you think the world is at your feet just because others obey and submit to you? Don’t get cocky. You know it too, don’t you? That no one truly respects or admires someone like you.”
“......”
“Well, if you had any sense, you wouldn’t have been preying on young children for so long, clinging to a worthless life. It’s a waste of breath to talk to you, so I won’t waste my words on you anymore.”
The maids standing behind Ju Suyeon and the warriors surrounding them turned even paler.
Afraid of meeting her gaze and incurring her wrath, they stood frozen like statues, barely daring to breathe.
“......”
And Ju Suyeon’s face became expressionless.
Looking down at Cheon Sua coldly, Ju Suyeon ordered in a flat voice, “Untie her shackles. I’m going to rip her guts out.”
A dark, murky killing intent flickered in Ju Suyeon’s eyes.
“But…”
The warrior, who seemed to be in charge, hesitated for a moment, remembering the Mystic Ruler's order to bring Cheon Sua back alive.
But what good were those orders if he died now?
In the end, he answered heavily, “Understood,” and approached Cheon Sua.
Sehwa watched, unable to blink.
She planned to rush out and rescue her mother as soon as the suppression seal was unlocked.
But it was at that moment.
“Open the gate! The Mystic Ruler has arrived! Open the gate!”
Just as the outside became noisy, a messenger, who had run ahead, began banging on the main gate.
Ju Suyeon’s irritated gaze shifted towards the gate.
The messenger had run so fast that the Mystic Ruler arrived long after the servants had opened the side gate.
He usually used a carriage when going out due to his old age, but today, he was on horseback.
“Fifth Madam, you cannot kill this woman yet.”
The Mystic Ruler spoke as he dismounted, supported by his guards. He didn’t seem to care that his trembling muscles were clearly visible.
“We won’t keep you waiting long. We can easily fabricate a reason, so please bear with us until then.”
“Why should I? We can just kill her and announce the reason later.”
The Mystic Ruler shook his withered face.
“It’s not that simple. Myoungyoon’s popularity has grown during the war, and things have become a little complicated due to him settling the compensation by clearing out the residence and leaving for the Baek Clan to take responsibility for the disappearances.”
“......”
“I’m not trying to stop you, so please give me some time.”
The Fifth Madam’s breathing grew slightly ragged.
The Mystic Ruler sensed a possibility of agreement in her reluctant silence and let out a long breath.
Did he want to save Myoungyoon’s wife? No. But he still needed her to draw out Myoungyoon's daughter.
So he had rushed here the moment he heard that the Fifth Madam had taken Myoungyoon's wife. No one else could stop her.
“Then I’ll take her with me.”
“No. You can’t just take her.”
Ju Suyeon bit her bright red lip and spat out, “If I can’t kill her, I’ll at least rip out her tongue. I’ll rip out that insolent tongue so she can’t speak so carelessly again.”
The Mystic Ruler nodded.
“That much is fine. As long as there are no visible external injuries, you may do as you please.”
Cheon Sua, watching this, let out a low chuckle.
“Mystic Ruler, what a pathetic sight you are.”
She couldn’t seem to stop laughing.
“Even if you’ve abandoned your conscience and sense of responsibility for your desires, you should at least maintain a shred of dignity. Are you planning to grovel like that in front of all these warriors?”
“Watch your tongue, even though it’s about to be ripped out. Just because I’m taking you from here doesn’t mean you’re safe.”
The Mystic Ruler spoke menacingly, as if gritting his teeth.
“Those aren’t words for someone who rushed here like a frightened dog, worried that I might die before you could get to me.”
Cheon Sua simply shrugged, still smiling.
“And what are you saying, when you rushed all the way here, your legs trembling, worried that those loyal to my husband might start a riot against you, the untrustworthy Mystic Ruler?”
Cheon Sua's gaze swept over the surroundings, then returned to the Mystic Ruler, scanning him from head to toe.
“But now that I see it, your groveling seems quite natural. So let me give you a piece of advice: you should call that woman Mystic Ruler instead. Then people would at least understand that the Mystic Ruler’s position has changed.”
“…You!”
“So you shouldn't tarnish the title of Mystic Ruler. You may have abandoned your own dignity and thrown it away like dog droppings on the street, but you shouldn’t drag the blood of the Ju Clan down with you.”
“Y-You…”
The old man’s jaw trembled, his teeth gritted.
“…Ha.”
His face turned crimson, as if his anger had reached its peak.
“On second thought…” the Mystic Ruler said in a menacing voice, “She doesn’t need her limbs. If we pad her clothes, no one will notice if she has arms and legs or not.”
“The Mystic Ruler is finally making a sensible decision.”
Ju Suyeon laughed, pleased with his response.
“You’re quite something. You can provoke anyone with just a few words.”
“You’re one to talk. You’re making people angry just by breathing. I bet many people here are hoping you’ll drop dead right now. You should be more careful with your words.”
“......”
“You don’t actually believe that the Ju Clan Head wouldn’t do the same just because he's being respectful and asking you for favors, do you? I bet he wants you dead more than anyone. It’s humiliating for him to have to bow his head to you like that. It would be strange if he didn't.”
“......”
“......”
The Mystic Ruler’s eyes turned crimson at the deeply insulting words.
The Fifth Madam, who had received ten insults in return for one, let out an exasperated sigh, thinking she had never met such a crazy bitch before.
“Bring me… a knife. I need to cut out that tongue myself.”
One of the maids, pale with fear at Ju Suyeon’s menacing appearance, hurriedly brought a dagger.
Ju Suyeon, without even looking at the red scabbard, pulled out the dagger and threw it on the ground. She walked towards Cheon Sua, grinding her teeth.
Cheon Sua watched her approach, unfazed.
“This is your own fault, so don’t blame me, no matter how much it hurts.”
“Haha. You’re really something. Are you even afraid of being resented? What do you have to lose in your pathetic, parasitic life?”
“…This crazy bitch! Hold her down! Grab her tongue and pull it out!”
Just as Ju Suyeon, gripping the dagger tightly, shouted at the warriors holding Cheon Sua down…
Seizing the moment when Ju Suyeon’s gaze shifted momentarily, Cheon Sua kicked her foot up.
The ripped sock on her ankle flew off along with her shoe, scattering a cloud of powder.
“Oh my god! Hold your breath! It’s poison!”
It was at that very moment.
Sehwa sprang forward like an arrow shot from a bow.
She landed, cutting through the poisonous powder that was spreading like fog.
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