When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 43
Chapter 43
The blue spiritual power that enveloped the young lady's body seemed to be from the spirit orbs.
But even so, one question remained.
Where did that unidentified snow-white spiritual power come from?
Eventually, those spiritual powers began to merge, overlaying each other with their own colors.
Slowly. Very slowly.
Thus, the spiritual powers that lifted Sehwa's body into the air seethed magnificently in the air throughout the night.
As time passed, the power gradually stabilized, transforming into a clear and transparent purple hue.
However, in proportion to this, the pain of the spiritual power settling into her body seemed to intensify.
While Sehwa contorted her body in agony, her expression distorted, Youngsun stayed by her side without once leaving, anxiously pacing back and forth.
The fact that she could do nothing for her precious young lady was utterly heartbreaking.
It was at some moment during the dawn as she prayed for the exuviation to end quickly inside the tent.
Something, without making a single sound, seeped into the tent like the wind.
"……!"
Startled by the massive form, Youngsun stood up.
It was a white tiger of a size she had never seen before.
‘W-Why is such a beast here…!’
Her eyes widened, and her whole body froze in terror.
But the beast showed no interest in Youngsun.
Slowly, the white tiger crossed the tent and stood next to Sehwa, floating in the air.
‘Oh, Young Lady!’
Gritting her teeth, Youngsun trembled in fear but quickly stepped in, spreading her arms wide to block the path between the white tiger and her young lady.
The white tiger's gaze landed on Youngsun for the first time.
Youngsun swallowed, finding herself staring into eyes bluer than the deep sea.
But after their eyes met, her fear strangely diminished.
Somehow, she felt that it would not attack them.
As if to prove it, the white tiger gently nudged Youngsun's head.
The moment Youngsun stepped aside, the beast approached Sehwa closely.
It opened its mouth towards the sky as if howling.
“――!!”
A silent roar spread throughout the tent.
At the same time, a white and blue aura, shimmering like heat haze, rose around the beast's body.
The beast's aura, approaching Sehwa, enveloped her like it was embracing the spiritual powers surrounding her.
Shortly after, the pained look slowly disappeared from Sehwa’s face.
The violent undulations of her spiritual power gradually subsided.
Seeing this, the tension eased on Youngsun’s face, and she involuntarily let out a long sigh.
‘It came to help the young lady.’
She didn't know what that white tiger was, but if it was helping her young lady, then that was enough.
Confirming her young lady's face, now looking comfortable, Youngsun moved to the edge of the tent wall and sat down.
She watched her young lady’s exuviation with a somewhat relieved heart.
It was the time when dawn was just turning into morning when Ju Myoungyoon arrived.
Duddudduddu—.
“It’s Elder!”
“Elder has arrived!”
Those who had been curious about what was happening inside the thick tent recognized Ju Myoungyoon’s arrival from the rough sound of hooves and cheered.
“Where is Sehwa?!”
“This way, Elder. Please come this way.”
He dismounted his horse as if jumping off and hurried towards the tent where people were guiding him.
But he stopped in surprise as he lifted the flap of the tent and entered inside.
‘……Baek Clan Head?’
The giant white tiger was crouched down, its chin on the ground, as if it were in its own home.
He had seen the Baek Clan Head transform into a divine beast on the battlefield, so he recognized it immediately.
‘What is this? Fortunately, did the Baek Clan Head arrive first and help with the exuviation?’
“Elder, the young lady is over there.”
Youngsun, who had been standing since Ju Myoungyoon entered, whispered, pointing to one side.
Following where her finger was pointing, he could see his daughter’s form near the curved waist of the white tiger.
Sehwa had her body leaned against the massive beast with her eyes closed.
Her long, ebony black hair was spread wide across the floor.
Her face had matured so much that she was almost unrecognizable, as if she had become an adult all at once.
She had finished her exuviation.
But Ju Myoungyoon, who should have rushed to check on his daughter’s condition, somehow hesitated at that spot.
‘……What is this?’
The two of them were clearly meeting for the first time.
‘Something is strange. What is it, that tenderness?’
Were his eyes playing tricks on him?
Even after looking several times, there seemed to be an odd atmosphere around the Baek Clan Head as he gazed at his daughter.
Moreover, with the hearing of a divine beast, there was no way he wouldn't have noticed his arrival.
But now, he was staring intently at his daughter with his blue eyes, not even noticing his presence.
His daughter was equally strange.
Right after exuviation, one's senses would be extremely sensitive and tend to avoid unfamiliar scents and touches.
‘Why does she look so peaceful?’
Even with the unfamiliar aura of the divine beast, his daughter had half her face buried in its warm fur, leaning on it while sleeping.
Like someone who was being protected very peacefully.
Ju Myoungyoon couldn’t understand the atmosphere that seemed to push away the approach of others, as if only the two of them were left in the world.
‘……It must be my imagination.’
Yes. The two had just met for the first time today; there was no reason for them to be tender.
‘I keep suspecting the Baek Clan Head, so now everything seems odd.’
That must be it.
‘Let’s check on Sehwa’s condition first.’
Just as Ju Myoungyoon took one step forward, trying to get closer—
“Keureureureu.”
The large white tiger bared its teeth, its throat vibrating.
Its sharply narrowed blue eyes recognized the intruder and turned towards him.
A hostile growl was directed towards Ju Myoungyoon, but just as it was about to reach him—
“!”
The white tiger’s eyes widened upon recognizing Myoungyoon's face.
And as if it had never threatened him, it calmly retracted its teeth and went silent.
‘Baek Clan Head?’
The white tiger was clearly flustered, enough for Ju Myoungyoon to notice.
Ju Myoungyoon watched the white tiger, who was not knowing what to do, with a puzzled expression.
‘Why is he doing that?’
But that was not the important thing.
He needed to check on his daughter's condition first.
“I will get closer for a moment.”
At his words, the beast nodded its head.
It also carefully moved its body, ensuring he didn’t wake Sehwa, creating some space for him.
Ju Myoungyoon hurriedly went to the side of the white tiger, who still seemed somewhat stiff.
‘How hard it must have been for her, all alone.’
He sat down next to the white fur and placed his hand on his sleeping daughter’s head.
‘I wanted to be there to help with your exuviation, yet I failed again this time. Still, I am so glad that you completed your exuviation safely…… Huh?’
Ju Myoungyoon stopped for a moment as he stroked his daughter's hair.
‘Something feels strange. What is it? Why does the spiritual power feel like this?’
Usually, right after exuviation, the spiritual power of one's true form grows stronger.
It meant that one could feel the power even without using spiritual energy, which meant...
Since the source of the Ju clan is fire, when he touched his daughter's head after her exuviation, it should have felt warm, or her body temperature should have been elevated as if she had a fever.
‘But why is it the same as usual?’
Her appearance clearly indicated that her exuviation was complete, but her aura didn't feel like someone who had just finished their exuviation.
‘Could this be related to the fact that she began her exuviation without any signs?’
That was why he called Baek Giha to ask him about the exuviation process.
“Baek Clan Head.”
“……!”
‘This fellow, why has he been acting like this since earlier?’
He was obviously acting too tense, so while there was nothing really suspicious he somehow appeared suspicious.
But no matter what he asked, he didn't think this old fox would answer properly, so after a brief moment, Ju Myoungyoon decided to change the person he was probing.
“Youngsun.”
“Yes, Elder.”
“Did you greet the Baek Clan Head?”
Even as it was, Youngsun was in shock when Ju Myoungyoon mentioned the title of the Baek Clan Head.
“Not knowing that you were the Baek Clan Head, I have been very rude. I am Sa Youngsun, who serves Lady Sehwa, the daughter of Elder Myoungyoon.”
“You foolish child, would there be anyone besides the Baek Clan Head with such presence and grace? You should have recognized him as the Baek Clan Head immediately.”
“I am truly sorry. Please forgive me.”
“Other than not greeting him, did you do anything else rude? You didn’t interfere with the Baek Clan Head’s tasks, did you?”
“Not at all. He arrived here around the end of the Ox hour, and after he came in, I watched him help with the young lady's exuviation and moved aside to avoid being in his way.”
“……Is that so? You moved aside after watching him help with the exuviation; is that all?”
“Yes. And he was supporting the unconscious young lady like that all the time. There were also pieces of the palanquin that the young lady had ridden in, which were destroyed by the spiritual power, so I was grateful and was waiting with him for the young lady to awaken.”
‘Is that all?’
Ju Myoungyoon narrowed his eyes for a moment.
But if that was all, it wouldn’t change the fact that this Baek Clan Head was his daughter’s benefactor.
Of course, even if he hadn’t helped, nothing might have happened, but did such a speculation matter?
Looking at his daughter’s current condition, something might have gone wrong, and he arrived in time to help, so it was an act that he should be thankful for.
“Thank you, Baek Clan Head. It seems safe to move the child now that the exuviation is over, so let’s move. I’ll carry my daughter out, so please transform back.”
As Ju Myoungyoon lifted his daughter into his arms, the massive white tiger finally rose to its feet.
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