When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Meanwhile, the guards at the gate, noticing the shimmering light, gathered with tense expressions. They hadn't received any prior notice, and the gate's reaction was different from when someone with a pass went through.
However, two women soon emerged from the gate.
The armed guards, recognizing Ju Myoungyoon's daughter, softened their voices.
“What brings you here, Young Lady? You cannot use the gate without the Mystic Ruler's permission.”
“Oh, right. The rules changed, didn't they? What should I do? I don't use the gate often, so I completely forgot… I'm truly sorry.”
Sehwa, flustered and at a loss, gestured to Youngsun.
Youngsun quickly presented the bottles of alcohol she had brought, tied together with a string.
“What is this?”
“I don't know if you've heard, but I've been ordered by the Mystic Ruler to go to the Baek Clan alone.”
As if they hadn’t. Thanks to the Mystic Ruler swiftly spreading the news to prevent Sehwa from changing her mind, there was no one in the Ju Clan’s territory who didn't know about it.
The guards’ eyes filled with sympathy.
“However, I'll be accompanied by one of the guards on this perilous journey.”
“Ah…”
“At the time, I had my reasons and considered it important, so I made such a request to the Mystic Ruler. But I feel incredibly sorry for the guard who will accompany me.”
Ju Sehwa lowered her gaze, appearing distraught.
“So, consumed by guilt day and night, I felt I had to apologize in person, however inadequately, and that's why I came here so abruptly.”
“Has the accompanying guard already been decided?”
“Not yet, but there might be a volunteer. Or, even if someone is chosen, wouldn't you need time to discuss it amongst yourselves? Either way, I thought it would be proper to inform you beforehand.”
“I see. Thank you for your consideration. But why do you want an escort to the Baek Clan?”
“In this recent war, didn't the rebels of the six clans freely use the passage to the Human Realm?”
“Ah… because of that incident.”
“Yes. I heard that innocent guards like yourselves have suffered greatly, wrongly suspected of being potential collaborators.”
“…”
Having endured much hurtful talk, looks of distress spread across the guards’ faces.
“So, while I'm at the Baek Clan, I want to investigate how that happened. However, my efforts alone would be limited. I thought that you, as guards, would be knowledgeable about the gate and could find some clue, however small.”
“I see.”
The one who appeared to be the captain of the guards nodded.
“In that case, we should certainly cooperate. Fortunately, the benevolent Mystic Ruler hasn't dismissed us, but we’ve been struggling to find a way to clear our names.”
“Then, would it be alright if I looked around the outpost for a moment? While the captain's recommendation would be ideal, since I also need someone to accompany me, I'd like to look around and decide for myself, if you don't mind.”
“Please do. I’ll assign you a guide. Yeomseop.”
“Yes.”
Thus, Sehwa, accompanied by the guide, toured the outpost. Many guards came out to greet her, but Sehwa's mind was preoccupied with other thoughts.
‘Back then, the Baek Clan definitely seized the Ju Clan’s outpost. And they said they found it while trying to relocate a Spirit Tree sapling that wasn't growing properly inside the outpost…’
However, no matter how much she looked around the outpost, there wasn't even a weed, let alone a Spirit Tree sapling.
‘What is this? Where is it?’
Unable to find the place she was looking for, she finally cautiously asked the guide.
“Um…”
“Yes, please speak.”
“Are there any Spirit Trees inside the outpost? I smell the sweet fragrance of a Spirit Tree.”
“A sweet fragrance? Spirit Trees are only grown in the northeast part of Central River… Ah. If you go out of the outpost and walk a bit, there’s a small Spirit Tree near the riverside.”
“Could I perhaps go see it?”
“Yes? It’s a Spirit Tree, but it’s in a rather sorry state.”
It was quite a distance from the outpost to the place he mentioned. After leaving the gate of the outpost and walking along the river for some time, she finally saw what she was looking for.
‘That's why it hasn’t been discovered all this time.’
In her past life, when she heard that ancient Spirit Orbs had suddenly been discovered, she had only found it strange. She couldn’t understand how they could remain undiscovered for so long within the Ju Clan’s territory, only to be found as soon as the land became part of the Baek Clan’s.
But now, seeing it firsthand, she understood.
A single small tree, growing feebly on dry land with no bridge or path, wouldn't attract anyone's attention at all. If someone from the Baek Clan hadn't taken pity on this tree, the Baek Clan, too, would likely have missed it.
“It’s small for a Spirit Tree, and the scent is very faint, so you have a keen nose.”
Knowing why the Spirit Tree wasn’t growing properly, Sehwa just smiled at his words.
Beneath that Spirit Tree lay a wealth of ancient Spirit Orbs.
Even though Spirit Trees grow by gathering Spiritual Power from the atmosphere…
‘Too much fertilizer can actually hinder a plant’s growth.’
With a vast amount of Spiritual Power being forcibly infused through its roots, it was fortunate the tree hadn’t rotted away completely.
And another fortunate thing for Sehwa was the Spirit Tree's location.
‘Here, I can secretly retrieve the Spirit Orbs without having to use the operational rights!’
Of course, having operational rights would allow her to carry out the task more safely, but now that she knew the location, she was itching to dig them up immediately.
‘With those Spirit Orbs…’
After exuviation, she would be able to freely use the power within her body. Then, she would be able to protect her family and herself more effectively from their enemies.
Even so, rushing could ruin everything.
Suppressing her impatience, Sehwa smiled gently at the guard.
“Would it be alright if I took a few Spirit Tree leaves? There are no Spirit Trees in the Human Realm, and I miss their fragrance.”
“Go ahead. It's not my tree.”
Memorizing the exact location of the Spirit Tree, Sehwa gestured to Youngsun, who then plucked a few leaves at random and tucked them into Sehwa’s sleeve.
“Young Lord Kyunghyun has arrived?! At the mansion?”
A high-pitched voice rang out beyond the sliding door. Sa Yeonju, who had been hiding at the safehouse, shot up in surprise upon hearing a servant's report.
She had been worried about Ju Sehwa's movements, so she had placed a spy in the mansion. The news she received was completely unexpected.
She hastily retrieved a mirror to check her appearance, but none of her accessories or clothes seemed to satisfy her.
“Oh dear, I didn't pack anything because I left in such a hurry.”
She had been so shocked by Ju Sehwa’s changed demeanor that day. And she was afraid of being struck again by her seemingly deranged cousin, so she had fled with a swollen face.
In such a situation, what could she have possibly packed?
"But, it's said that he's already gone inside to wait, so he'll probably be gone by the time Young Lady arrives."
“It’s fine. I still have to go.”
Fortunately, she had some money stashed away beforehand, but she couldn’t leave her belongings at the residence forever.
She had been too uneasy to retrieve them until now, but…
‘The Young Lord is at the residence. What does Ju Sehwa matter? Even if there were a hundred Ju Sehwas, I have to go. Definitely.’
He was the destination and embodiment of all her desires.
The Young Lord of the Ju Clan, Ju Kyunghyun, was someone she had to have.
Biting her manicured nails, Sa Yeonju asked again, “Are you sure Sister is out?”
“Yes, of course. However, I don't know when she’ll return.”
Those words made her anxious. Pulling her veil over her face, she rose and immediately left the safehouse.
‘So what if I run into her? Will she dare hit me again in front of the Young Lord?’
She also decided to take this opportunity to gather all her jewelry and valuables from the residence.
With various plans in mind, her steps were hurried.
Meanwhile, Ju Kyunghyun's mood was deteriorating by the minute.
Sehwa's return was taking much longer than he had anticipated.
His gaze flickered upwards.
The sun had set, and the edges of the sky were already tinged with indigo.
‘I clearly came here at sunrise. How many hours is that woman making me wait?’
The red of the sunset was already spreading through the room, and now even the cicadas were beginning to sing.
Yet there was still no word from the one he was waiting for, and the servant who had been busy offering snacks and preparing meals quietly lit a candle in the room and left when the time came.
This was definitely unusual.
‘Could there be some urgent matter that Ju Myoungyoon hasn't informed my father about?’
Otherwise, such an outing wouldn't make sense.
Just then…
“Young Lord.”
A woman's voice came from outside the door.
‘She’s here!’
“Enter!”
Having lost his patience from waiting so long, he responded brightly.
However, it wasn’t the person he had been waiting for who opened the door.
It was Sehwa’s cousin who entered the room, a veil draped over one arm.
Only then did Ju Kyunghyun realize that, in his eagerness, he had mistaken the voice.
“Young Lord, have you been well?” Sa Yeonju asked, gazing shyly at Ju Kyunghyun with her jeogori pulled back to reveal her neckline.
“You were out as well? What about Sehwa? Was she with you? Did you come back together?”
“No. Sister has been busy lately, going out alone for some reason.”
“What? This outing wasn’t her first?”
“First? She keeps going out early in the morning and doesn't come back until late. She doesn't tell me what's going on, which is rather upsetting.”
“Going out early in the morning?”
“Yes. But please don’t misunderstand. Gossipmongers are saying things like she’s plotting something to avoid going to the Baek Clan, or that such behavior clearly means she has a lover… all sorts of nonsense.”
She deliberately paused at the most intriguing part, gauging Ju Kyunghyun’s reaction.
Confirming that he was fully attentive, she quietly sat down before him, even though she hadn’t been given permission, and added, “But my sister would never do such a thing. She will dutifully go to the Baek Clan as the Mystic Ruler commanded.”
Her lips curved upwards slightly.
“And of course, the rumor about a lover is obviously false.”
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