When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 29
Chapter 29
The two brothers stared blankly at each other.
"Did you hear about it too? The Baek Clan Head... that Baek Giha?"
"Well, there's only one Baek Clan Head... But why is he with Father?"
According to the guards, they were alone without any escorts or attendants. The situation made no sense at all.
Why would the Baek Clan Head cross into Ju Clan territory without any companions?
And why was their father walking alone with Baek Giha without any other soldiers?
Where had Uncle Danyoon gone?
With so many questions unanswered, they had no choice but to spur their horses on once again in search of answers.
After riding so fast their horseshoes nearly came off, they finally spotted two figures of different heights in the distance across the plain.
One shadow seemed eager to ride quickly on horseback, while the other wasn't even mounted, appearing to dawdle as if wanting to savor every moment of this time.
It was their father and the Baek Clan Head.
"Father!"
"Gayoon, Gahan! What brings you here?"
Ju Myoungyoon, who had stopped at the sound of hoofbeats, called out their names in surprise.
"Why have you come all this way when you should be guarding the front lines? Has something happened at the territory's borders? Are you on your way to report to the Mystic Ruler?"
Ju Gayoon dismounted after rushing right up to them and answered loudly.
"Something did happen!"
"That's right. How could we stay still after hearing about Sehwa going to the Baek Clan? We're both on our way to offer our necks before the Mystic Ruler and beg for reconsideration of this order!"
"What did you say?"
"How can you burden our fragile sister with such an obligation? Even if we have to lay down our lives, somehow Sehwa must...!"
Looking at his sons' grave faces, Ju Myoungyoon's temper flared up once again.
"You, you..."
These frustrating fools!
"If this could have been resolved by your petition, I would have already done so! Are you saying you abandoned your posts at the front lines to make such a major decision on your own?"
"No, we obtained a week's leave from Elder Jayoon."
"Even Elder Jayoon was involved in this-"
"But Father."
The eldest, Ju Gahan, appropriately cut in while pointing to the person who had been listening to their conversation with interest.
Only then did Ju Myoungyoon realize he had gone too far and introduced the two men to Baek Giha with an embarrassed face.
"I apologize for the unseemly display. Clan Head Baek, these are my sons."
"Yes, I already know of them."
"Gayoon, Gahan, pay your respects."
"Father, first tell us why this person is here. Is the agreed compensation not enough? Has he come to demand more?"
"Brother is right. Has he come all this way because he won't be satisfied until he sees with his own eyes what more he can extract from us?"
"What kind of language is that! How dare you speak that way to a Clan Head!"
"Some Clan Head he is. Father, you might have a decent opinion of him, but I cannot agree. Even on the battlefield, there are limits - kicking someone who's fallen from their horse, using abnormal spiritual power during a one-on-one duel."
"That's right. When we encountered him, he kicked Brother's head and threw my sword into the river. We treated even our prisoners with respect, so how could someone who claims to be a Clan Head and general act so insultingly toward others?"
When his sons spoke up together in condemnation, Ju Myoungyoon's eyes widened.
"Such things happened?"
That's when it happened.
Baek Giha, who had been quietly observing the three's conversation, then became flustered, and gradually turned pale as their accusations continued, suddenly fell to his knees.
Thud!
"??"
"?!"
"..."
The last reaction was Ju Myoungyoon's.
Ju Myoungyoon, who had already become somewhat numb to this man's eccentric behavior in their short time together, looked at him with blank eyes.
He wondered what nonsense would come from those elegant lips this time.
And the words that flowed from Baek Giha's mouth made him understand the phrase 'from bad to worse.'
"Elder Brothers."
"???"
"??!"
"..."
Watching his sons look at each other with startled rabbit eyes, Ju Myoungyoon turned away.
Despite his youthful appearance, the age gap between him and the sons must be less than with myself.
'What kind of frivolous form of address is that? We... I... lost to someone like this?'
Overwhelming self-disgust washed over him, and whatever this situation was, he didn't want to be involved.
At that moment, Ju Gahan, who was the first to recover his senses, quickly moved to help Baek Giha up.
...Or tried to.
But as if glued to the ground, Baek Giha's knees wouldn't budge.
The confused Ju Gahan pulled harder, but he remained immovable.
"What, what are you doing? How can the head of the Six Clans kneel before someone who isn't even his parent?"
"That's right. Don't you have any pride? Get up at once! Don't you know that a general should never kneel in any situation?"
"How could I not know? As a Clan Head, as one who bears the hopes of the Six Clans, I know the weight of these knees better than anyone. But knowing my past wrongdoings, how could I spare these knees?"
Baek Giha continued with a gloomy face.
"Though I may be a bit... just a tiny bit older than you two, I was struck with fear when I first saw you two generals on the battlefield. Despite being just a tiny bit younger than me, I recognized that you both far surpassed me in character, skill, spirit, and every other aspect."
"...What?"
"Pardon??"
"That fear made me act that way. Though apologizing a hundred times wouldn't be enough for my past actions, I had hoped that if I ever met you two again, I could explain that it wasn't my true intention, that it was because of the battlefield. As the leader of the Six Clans alliance, I couldn't afford to lose. Because I had people I needed to protect, I resorted to such discourteous actions."
"..."
"..."
"I wanted to at least explain that I acted that way because I was overwhelmed by your valor."
"...Hmm."
"...Ahem."
"There's no excuse for my actions toward you both, so you may rebuke me as you see fit. However, there is one thing I desperately want you to know."
Baek Giha added with a convincing voice as he looked up at the two brothers.
"How sincere all these words are. How I was filled with admiration upon meeting you, knowing you would soon become two of the most outstanding generals in the Mystic Realm. How I believed age would be no barrier to me addressing you as my elder brothers."
Though Baek Giha's words flowed like a clear stream, Ju Myoungyoon's gaze grew increasingly cold, having heard similar words before.
His two sons, who had never received such high praise from anyone, blushed as they alternated between surprise and joy at the words pouring from Baek Giha's mouth.
Though their father found their reaction pathetic, it was admittedly hard to doubt.
The act of kneeling itself was a gesture of extreme respect for the other party.
Moreover, this was Baek Giha - the leader of the Six Clans alliance and the only Divine Beast in the Mystic Realm.
Considering the difference in their abilities, even if he had some ulterior motive, it wouldn't warrant going so far as to kneel.
So his words gained credibility.
He couldn't blame his sons.
"You... you thought so highly of us?"
"Gahan, he's just saying kind words. Quickly show your humility, pay your respects, and step back."
"We are honored by the Divine Beast's words."
"Gayoon, I told you these are just courteous remarks, so hurry and show your humility, pay your respects, and step back."
"Mere courtesy? Not at all, Father. I truly am impressed by these two generals-"
"If you really think of me as your F.a.t.h.e.r, would you please stand up first?"
Ju Myoungyoon, who had already heard the term "father" about 300 times on the way here, muttered as if giving up.
The dirt-stained knees immediately lifted from the ground.
When he stood up, his two sons, as if they were his attendants, each took one of Baek Giha's knees and dusted them off.
They had clearly been deeply moved that this Divine Beast held them in such high regard.
"Please, you two shouldn't do this."
Baek Giha's waist bent as if trying to stop the sons.
As if receiving a bow, the sons' waists bent even lower.
"No, we were the ones who pushed too hard, knowing it was wartime and knowing that we all had people we needed to protect by any means necessary."
"I'm grateful for your understanding. But I went too far with you both."
The Baek Clan Head's waist bent again as he repeatedly apologized with a gloomy face.
Then the two young generals' waists bent again...
Then the Baek Clan Head's waist bent again...
Then his sons' waists bent again...
'Even if it was the Mystic Ruler's order, I should have sent someone else to escort the Baek Clan Head.'
Deeply regretting this fact, Ju Myoungyoon closed his eyes for a moment.
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