When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 55
Chapter 55
The next day, unexpected news arrived.
It happened while Ju Myoungyoon, Ju Sehwa, and Baek Giha were having breakfast together.
"Ah, that's right. Sehwa, we need to have new clothes made for you."
Ju Myoungyoon apologized for not preparing them earlier and added:
"But perhaps it's better that we're doing this after the exuviation. Otherwise, we would have surely made everything in the color of the Red Dragon."
The most preferred color among the Ju clan members who completed their exuviation was red—the color of their progenitor, the Red Dragon.
However, while red would certainly suit Sehwa's current appearance, colors that were softer and more refreshing might suit her even better.
"How about white?"
When Baek Giha interjected with that suggestion, it sparked another brief argument.
"White isn't bad, except for the fact that it's the Baek clan's color."
For some reason, Ju Myoungyoon was showing a more lenient attitude toward Baek Giha than the day before. It was then that—
"...What did you say?"
"The Baek clan's cavalry unit is requesting permission to visit the border checkpoint, sir."
'Cavalry unit? All of a sudden?'
At this unexpected news brought by a warrior, both Sehwa and Myoungyoon's gazes turned to Baek Giha.
Baek Giha questioned the warrior.
"Cavalry unit? Just how many have come?"
The warrior glanced at Ju Myoungyoon, and only after receiving his nod did he answer.
"There might be more hidden guards, but according to the report, fifty-three members, sir."
"Fifty-three? Not just five or six guards, but fifty-three?!"
"Yes, sir."
"Who is leading this cavalry unit?"
"The Baek clan's chancellor, Baek Manyong, sir."
"...That Manyong, again."
Baek Giha closed his eyes momentarily and muttered something in frustration before advising Ju Myoungyoon.
"Don't let them through."
"..."
"To bring an entire cavalry unit at a time like this... They'll only cause discord and disturb the entire Ju clan territory. You must kick them out."
"..."
'...What's going on?'
No matter how you looked at it, this seemed like a loyal subordinate rushing to check on his clan head, who had entered enemy territory alone.
'What kind of half-hearted response is this? Is this how all clan heads treat their subordinates?'
Somehow, she found herself empathizing with the Baek clan's chancellor.
Ju Myoungyoon's cold gaze turned toward Baek Giha.
But Baek Giha was sincere.
"You're escorting him like a guest, not a prisoner?"
"Clan Head! How could you personally welcome the Ju clan's heir, who is our enemy!"
'No, this won't do. If Manyong comes, things will get more complicated.'
Baek Giha shook his head, feeling this was clearly wrong.
'Even now, Father Myoungyoon doesn't entirely approve of me. If Manyong comes here and starts speaking without thinking, what if the Elder really decides to drive me out?'
"Quickly, go and tell them. Don't let them cross the territory border even by a single step. Drive them all back to the Baek clan territory."
At Baek Giha's words, the warrior's bewildered gaze turned to Ju Myoungyoon.
Ju Myoungyoon shook his head.
"Either way, this is for the Mystic Ruler to decide."
"Who would welcome the Baek clan's cavalry unit freely roaming around the Ju clan's territory in the current situation?"
"..."
"So the Elder should... haha. I'll change my form of address. The Elder should first drive the Baek clan's cavalry unit a thousand li away and then report to the Mystic Ruler. The Mystic Ruler will surely praise you greatly for this."
"Is there something you're afraid might be revealed?"
"Pardon?"
"The Baek clan's chancellor would be the closest aide to the Baek clan head, wouldn't he? Seeing how desperately you're trying to drive away such a person..."
The old warrior's sharp gaze studied the Baek clan head's features.
"Perhaps you're worried that things that shouldn't be known might spread?"
"How could you say such things? There's no one more transparent than me."
Beneath Baek Giha's calm expression, his gaze wavered at the pointed question.
Wasn't it obvious?
The war had barely ended, and naturally, this wasn't the time for pleasant words about the Ju clan to be exchanged.
He was terribly worried that their previous conversations might leak from Manyong's mouth.
While Ju Myoungyoon seemed to have received quite a good impression of him before their close encounter, Baek Giha had never had even a nail's worth of good impression about the entire Ju clan.
Therefore, around this time before traveling back in time, he and his closest aide, Baek clan chancellor Baek Manyong, would often curse the Ju clan members until their mouths hurt.
Baek Giha, who could become scarier than fire when angered, awkwardly smiled as he thought about his past actions.
Either way, having the chancellor here now would do no good.
"In any case, may I personally meet with the Mystic Ruler and advise him to kick them out?"
Baek Giha made his request while swallowing the unspoken 'please' in his mouth.
"What a fool!"
The old man's thin fist slammed down on the armrest of his chair as he returned to the Ju clan territory in the Mystic Realm from the Human Realm.
Ju Kyunghyun endured the shouting with his gaze lowered.
"When you heard she was asking for help with her exuviation, you should have at least gone to check! How could you give such an opportunity to someone like Baek Giha! How could you!"
"...I apologize."
"What was the purpose of deliberately entrusting Baek Giha to Ju Myoungyoon! Now if they show closeness, what can we say when they explain it's because he helped his daughter's exuviation!"
"..."
"Did you ignore that child because you didn't know how many people follow Myoungyoon? Who cares if that girl lives or dies when no one's watching! But you shouldn't have done that when others were present!"
The Mystic Ruler ground his teeth as he shouted.
"That girl was decided to go to the Baek clan in your place, and if word spreads that you abandoned such a child during her exuviation and left her on the street, how will you explain that!"
"I didn't abandon her, originally that child was going through exuviation-"
"Ju Kyunghyun!"
"...I apologize, Father."
The old man shook his head and wearily supported his head.
Just then, an informant quietly approached and whispered something in the old man's ear.
"What did you say? The Baek clan's cavalry unit?"
"Yes. What should we do?"
"Did Baek Giha call them in?"
"It doesn't seem so. He actually begged Elder Myoungyoon to drive the entire cavalry unit a thousand li away."
"...What?"
"From the flow of the conversation, Elder Myoungyoon said that since the one leading the cavalry unit is Baek clan chancellor Baek Manyong, perhaps he's being cautious about some secrets spreading from his mouth..."
"And Baek Giha? How did he respond to that?"
"He just begged to meet with the Mystic Ruler to plead for them to be driven back to the Baek clan territory."
"..."
The old man furrowed his brow as if he couldn't make sense of it.
It was strange enough that he had entered the Ju clan territory alone despite being a Divine Beast.
Now he was asking them to drive away what appeared to be his guards?
'Just why?'
After quietly contemplating something, the old man waved his hand at Ju Kyunghyun.
"You may leave now."
"...Yes."
After Ju Kyunghyun had vacated the audience chamber, the old man asked the informant again.
"Why do you think that Baek clan head came here?"
"Well, he must have thought the Young Lord would be heading to the Baek clan. He's probably trying to make sure he doesn't escape, intending to accompany him to the Baek clan."
"Then why is he asking to remove his guards?"
"It must be an expression of confidence. After all, he is a Divine Beast."
But even with that explanation, there were many strange aspects to this Baek clan head's visit to the Ju clan.
'For someone trying to take the Young Lord to the Baek clan, he didn't even show his face when Kyunghyun went to Myoungyoon's residence...'
"What reason could there be for him to not even show his face at Myoungyoon's house all this time, making excuses about his body being unwell after helping with the exuviation?"
The old man narrowed his eyes and tapped the armrest at a steady pace as he continued to think.
"There's something. There's something more, but I just can't figure out what it is."
Therefore, the old man had only one option.
"...The numbers aren't too large either. For now, bring in all of that Baek clan cavalry unit."
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