When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Heungsaeng, who had been looking into the pouch, paused for a moment.
‘……Wait, 'you guys?' She said that last time too. Could she perhaps mean 'humans' when she says 'you guys'?’
“What is it? If you don’t like it because you don’t know what it is, I’ll take it back.”
“Why would you take it back after giving it? Once you give something, it’s mine.”
Though she didn’t know what it was, it must be something good if it was a form of gratitude. Heungsaeng quickly put the pouch away into her bosom.
“And you should also dig one or two wells for yourself. Somewhere secret but within easy reach from your house. You should also store the rice and herbs as much as possible.”
"Why?"
"It won't rain for the next half-year. And perhaps even longer."
Sehwa said, looking up at the clear blue sky without a single cloud.
“You need to dig those wells deep. So they won't dry up in any situation. And the herbs too. Don't forget to prepare them. If they aren't enough, take them from the place you prepared for me.”
“Why the herbs?”
“After the drought, there’ll be heavy rain and epidemics will spread. Even if you have money, it will be hard to obtain herbs.”
“……”
“It’s up to you whether you believe me or not.”
Heungsaeng, who had been gazing at her blankly, nodded. “Thank you. I will.”
And then, she pulled out a piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it over. “This is where the things you asked for are hidden. I'll make sure that no one can access it for the next half a year, so you can go whenever you return and take whatever you need.”
Taking the paper, Sehwa awkwardly expressed her gratitude. “Thank you as well.”
At that, Heungsaeng snickered. “By the way, where are you going? Are you going far?”
“It’s a bit like that. But… when we meet next time, I’ll be a bit different.”
“Hm?”
“I’ll be different somehow. Look forward to it.”
“Different, you say? How?”
“In every way.”
Looking forward to the surprised expression on her face later on, Sehwa gave a brief farewell before waving her hand.
As she watched her receding figure, Heungsaeng tilted her head.
‘She was always difficult to understand from the start, but she’s becoming even more unpredictable as time goes by. Why do I always feel like I’m listening to some ghost story whenever I talk to her?’
“It won't rain for the next half-year. And perhaps even longer. After the drought, there'll be a torrential downpour and epidemics will spread.”
“I need to dig a well first too. And I need to buy rice and herbs, how much money did I have? And where should I store them?”
While recalling Sehwa’s advice, Heungsaeng moved hurriedly.
Having returned to the mansion, Sehwa carefully packed her belongings.
From her small trinkets to clothes and books she would never need in the Mystic Realm, she gathered anything that might be useful.
As she gathered all the items she thought she would need, a small hill was formed in the center of the spacious courtyard.
Youngsun, who had returned from her errand, gasped when she saw the mountain of luggage.
"My Lady, are you really going to take all of this?"
"Yes."
"May I ask what's the reason for taking all this?"
"If I leave it here, Sa Yeonju will surely take it."
"Oh dear, for that reason, wouldn't it be better to leave a few more people to watch over it?"
"No. I'm going to take it all."
While saying this, Sehwa's gaze fell upon an empty chest and a shovel wrapped in cloth, nestled among the items.
Besides the reason she had told Youngsun, there was another reason.
“Did you pack the alcohol too?”
“Of course. We’ve prepared about 40 bottles.”
“What about snacks?”
“We packed those too, of course. We included all sorts of meat: chicken, duck, beef, pork, fish, and there’s even broth, stew, and about 10 casks of pickled radishes.”
“Good. You did a great job.”
“Then, when will you be leaving? Everything is ready now, so you can leave whenever you wish. With so much luggage, it might be difficult to move quickly, so if there is nothing more, shall we just start moving it now?”
Sehwa shook her head.
“No. Just leave it as it is. We’ll leave at night.”
"...At night?"
"Yes."
“How will we travel at night? You don't mean we'll be moving all night in the dark with lanterns.”
"We're going to cross the gate to the Mystic Realm at night. And after a night's rest next to the outpost, we'll depart in the morning."
“…” Youngsun was at a loss about what her words meant.
If she wanted to leave in the morning, they could just depart at dawn and rest comfortably at the mansion.
'Why did she have to camp out?'
But since her young lady had already decided, she must have her reasons, so it was not her place to interfere.
‘As long as it's not something that's going to harm my young lady, it's not my job to interfere.’
‘I’ll go and recheck if everything was packed correctly or not.’
While Youngsun was comparing the checklist with the gathered items, suddenly she noticed a commotion near the main gate, and someone came running toward them.
It was Ju Kyunghyun.
“What is all this?”
His expression was bewildered as he looked at the luggage piled up in the courtyard.
“Are you packing all of this to take to the Mystic Realm? There's no need for all of this. We’re just going to the Baek Clan Head's welcome banquet, and as soon as that’s over……”
But those words were soon cut off.
He had just remembered that, contrary to his assumptions, Ju Sehwa, who was about to leave for the Baek Clan, might be killed or maimed and would never return to the human realm.
Unlike in her past life, Sehwa, who could see right through Ju Kyunghyun's feelings, released a dejected sigh.
‘I was truly blind. How could I have been so oblivious to his transparent thoughts?’
Back then, she had assumed that his silence meant that there was something unavoidable preventing him from speaking.
That his apologies after making a mistake were due to the restrictions placed on him by his position.
That his trembling voice was his deep feelings for her, as he waited for her longingly.
'Without knowing such venomous intentions, what a fool I was.'
“At any rate, if you intend to take all this luggage with you, I’ll help you. Should I call for more men and guards from my residence?”
“Young Lord.”
Sehwa had a cold expression and interrupted him.
“I clearly told you yesterday that I would go alone, that there was no need for you to come here again."
“…”
Ju Kyunghyun, who had been stunned into silence, spoke in a low voice.
“You should remember what I clearly said yesterday as well. That you should never speak to me like that again. Today is the only day I'll tolerate your uncouth language. Don't you remember?”
“What will you do if you don't tolerate it?”
“What?”
“I was curious as to what you would do if I didn't restrain myself. "Would you cut out my tongue, or would you have me beheaded for daring to insult the Young Lord? You would put my severed head on display in the plaza and throw my body to the dogs, wouldn’t you?”
"You-"
Ju Kyunghyun's jaw hardened.
His expression, which had been gentle moments before, now revealed his unmasked anger, and his voice grew hoarse with warning.
“I'm tolerating your insolence because you’re afraid of leaving for the Baek Clan. But that's enough. I won’t tolerate any more of it, so you better watch your mouth from now on.”
"..."
“Yes. You might not be subject to my punishment because of the arrangements the Mystic Ruler has made, but what about your family? What about your mother, and father? What about your brothers? Shall I show you what would happen if I didn’t hold back by using them?”
“That would be ill-advised. Because I'll take my own life."
“…What?”
“I’m serious. If you're curious, you can try it. It’s up to you if you want to test that.”
“……”
“But you probably won't. Since you know that if I die, you will have to go to the Baek Clan instead. Until then, you won't be able to kill me no matter what."
Sehwa's gaze scanned Ju Kyunghyun from head to toe once again.
‘Coward.’
She hadn't uttered those words, but Ju Kyunghyun seemed to have understood her meaning from her gaze alone.
His face, which had been filled with anger a moment ago, was now completely blank.
“Sehwa.”
His voice as he called her was trembling.
“Sehwa, what happened to you? Hmm? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
“Why, you ask?”
“Why are you acting like this? What happened? Did someone upset you to the point where you're so distressed? Who was it? If you tell me, I'll resolve everything for you. What happened, please?"
“……”
“If you act like this when you go to the Mystic Realm, it will be disastrous. Even if I tolerate it, others won't, so you must be aware of that.”
How could she not be aware of it?
She knew that better than anyone.
She knew that in order to get what she wanted, it was better to present a more docile front right now, even if it meant putting on an act of her past self.
But.
‘That alone.’
Her white fingers that had been dangling out of the sleeves of her clothes curled forcefully inwards.
‘……That alone I can’t do.’
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