When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 85
Chapter 85
"...What did you say?"
The Mystic Ruler gritted his teeth as he asked.
"I'm saying there's no need to keep them alive to investigate their background. It would also reduce the risk of escape. It seems like a very good method."
"..."
As the Mystic Ruler's jaw twitched, Ju Kyunghyun chimed in, "She's right, Father! I suggested cutting off their limbs earlier too. I thought of it even before that child did."
'That... bastard.'
Even the Baek Chancellor bowed his head to the Mystic Ruler and pleaded.
"Mystic Ruler, if there are more people here bearing that mark, it would be disastrous for the Mystic Realm. They are traitors trying to drive a wedge between the Ju and the Six clans' alliance and plunge our realm back into the whirlpool of war just as we've barely restored peace. You must not show them any mercy. Now is our only chance while their escape routes are blocked. Quickly investigate who has the mark and count their numbers. Cut off their limbs so not a single one can escape!"
Ju Myoungyoon, who had never once defied the Mystic Ruler, also looked straight into the old man's eyes and spoke.
"What are you hesitating for, Mystic Ruler? The evidence is clear. Cut off their limbs!"
"..."
The Mystic Ruler's thin Adam's apple quivered.
His wandering gaze briefly swept over the clan members seated around the hunting grounds.
He hoped that someone, anyone, would deny this situation.
But in their eyes, he could only see anticipation for the brutal massacre to come.
"..."
He swallowed his words several times. But there was no way out.
There was absolutely no way out.
"...Very well."
After remaining frozen for a long while, the old man lowered his head and gave his consent.
"...Do it."
At those words, Ju Kyunghyun shouted at the regular warriors guarding the hunting grounds.
"What are you waiting for? From now on, we'll find those who have the mark! Bind them immediately so they can't escape!"
The Mystic Ruler's guards, who had been watching the confrontation with pale faces until now, stumbled backward.
They all knew. There wasn't a single one among them without the mark.
The Baek Chancellor also raised his voice and shouted.
"Warriors of the Baek clan! Take the lead in helping the Young Lord eliminate these shameless traitors. Don't let a single one escape!"
At those words, the Baek clan warriors pounced on the Mystic Ruler's guards who were lined up behind the platform.
Chaos erupted between those trying to flee and those trying to capture them.
"Mystic Ruler!"
One guard couldn't give up and called out to the old man, but he didn't look back.
"Mystic Ruler! Mystic Ruler!!"
Ju Kyunghyun struck the guard's cheek hard as he desperately called out to the Mystic Ruler.
"If you're innocent, that should be enough! Why do you call for the Mystic Ruler? Did you dare think you could escape this place by relying on Father's mercy?!"
There had never been any firm trust or respect between the Mystic Ruler and his guards from the beginning.
They already knew what they meant to the Mystic Ruler.
Something like disposable goods, albeit somewhat valuable ones that could be discarded at any time.
But wasn't this wartime?
They believed he absolutely wouldn't throw away a hundred men at once. That he would find some way not to hand them over.
They had trusted in the situation, but...
'No. Let's somehow escape this place first. If we flee for a while and secretly return to the Mystic Ruler, surely he will hide us after removing our marks!'
The guards exchanged quick glances before simultaneously leaping up to evade the warriors surrounding them.
"!! These bastards?!"
Ju Kyunghyun pointed at the guards scattering in all directions and urged on the warriors.
"Catch them!! Don't let a single one escape!"
The hunting ground guards and Baek clan warriors joined forces to chase after them. However, since the Mystic Ruler's guards were also fighting desperately for their lives, capturing them wasn't easy.
"Kyaaak!!"
Just as the hunting grounds were about to descend into pandemonium from those trying to take hostages among the audience—
Baek Giha slowly rose from a spot no one was paying attention to.
Pure white spiritual power gathered around him like a storm.
Though his expression was calm, a murderous light flickered in Baek Giha's shadowed eyes.
These were the ones who had tortured her for five years. How could he claim to be her husband if he let them escape?
He had been waiting for this moment since his past life when he discovered her whereabouts.
His right foot, covered in white spiritual power, stepped forward.
BOOM-!
"!!"
"Huk!"
"Kuk. What, what is this."
A tremendous wave of spiritual power burst forth all at once.
Those with weak spiritual power fainted, unable to withstand the shock.
Those who barely escaped the impact turned to look at the source of the spiritual power.
On the completely shattered platform, Baek Giha was slowly drawing the sword from his waist.
The one-sided slaughter began from that moment.
"!!"
"Aak!"
"Keok!"
The navy blue robe didn't seem to move quickly, yet somehow it was already before their eyes.
Baek Giha, with eyes cold enough to freeze, dismembered the guards' limbs without a shred of mercy.
Every time he swung his sword, the guards' arms and legs were cleanly severed.
When cutting off their legs, he didn't use spiritual power. He simply struck down as if breaking wood using only brute force.
Bones shattered into pieces and flesh was crushed. Harsh screams that felt like they were tearing through lungs filled the hunting grounds.
Meanwhile, the other Ju clan warriors cautiously backed away, fearing that the enemy leader's cruel blade might accidentally fly their way, while the Baek clan warriors—
"Ha. Did you see that? Don't even blink—engrave this scene perfectly in your minds. This person is our leader, the eternal pillar of the Baek clan, who reached the realm of Divine Beast alone, like a great tree that takes root even between rocks in the harsh environment of our declining Mystic Realm. Thus, our Baek clan's prestige— mmph!"
The Baek clan warriors quietly covered Baek Manyong's mouth and took him away, shielding him from others' view.
Their leader wore a cruel expression completely different from usual. Now was the time to keep quiet.
Meanwhile, hot blood continued to spray into the air, heating the atmosphere.
It didn't even take half a moment for a hundred guards to be reduced to crawling on the ground.
The guards with severed legs tried to crawl away, but it was impossible.
The sharp blade flew without a moment's hesitation, chopping off their remaining arms from the wrists up.
"Aaagh!"
Ju Kyunghyun, who had been speechless for a moment at that terrifying majesty and fearsome cruelty, stammered.
"Baek-, Baek Clan Head! Wh-why are you handling this so hastily when we haven't even confirmed the marks yet?!"
Baek Giha shook the blood from his blade with an expressionless face and answered.
"There's no way men who try to flee so desperately wouldn't have the marks."
The sharp blade carelessly slashed across the body of a guard who had fallen miserably. Red lines appeared as the torn clothing fell open.
"Here's the mark."
This time he slashed across the body of the one next to him.
"Here's another one."
Another mark was revealed before the watching crowd.
"Come here, Young Lord. I've cut off one arm and leg, but haven't they still got more? I left those for you."
In Baek Giha's eyes as he called Ju Kyunghyun, there was still an undisguisable cruel killing intent.
"Although the Baek clan also suffered damage, this is ultimately a Ju clan matter, so you should rightfully finish it. Come tear these people to pieces to establish the Ju clan's authority and set an example."
He added with a brief smile.
"The Mystic Ruler will be very pleased."
The bathroom was filled with hazy steam.
Ju Kyunghyun, who had immersed his body in the warm medicinal bath, let out a long sigh at the drowsiness.
"...Damn that Baek Clan Head bastard."
Just thinking about Baek Giha teaching him as if dealing with a child made him curse involuntarily.
"I had already uncovered every detail, yet he butts in late and acts like he solved everything."
How is it that the Ju clan members praised only that Baek Giha even after seeing the situation? Instead of being appalled by his cruel dismemberment of the guards, they lauded him as a great man who took action for the Ju clan.
'Those empty-headed clan members. This is why I need to become Mystic Ruler quickly. So I can instill respect and fear of me in those hollow skulls.'
He was confident he could perfectly fill in that part where his benevolent father had somewhat failed.
'Father's reaction was too lukewarm today. Was he unable to bear watching those who had stayed by his side die so miserably?'
Throughout the execution of those with marks, his father had kept his head bowed and gaze lowered.
'Or perhaps, given how long it took to reach a decision and how it wasn't discovered earlier, is he blaming himself?'
In any case, he had worked hard today.
Regardless of how Baek Giha had interfered or how the Baek Chancellor had meddled, today's matter was essentially resolved by him.
Thinking that way made him feel quite proud.
'But all hundred of them had marks. Who could have infiltrated so many assassins into the Mystic Ruler's residence, and for what purpose?'
While he was pondering this unsolvable question, the sound of the bathroom door opening was heard.
When he turned around, Seowol was entering with graceful steps, dressed in a white bathrobe.
Ju Kyunghyun's gaze softened slightly at the gentle smile on her small face.
"This is a place the Mystic Ruler gave me for treatment. How dare you set foot in the Mystic Ruler's bathroom? Do you want to be punished?"
"Don't be like that. When you speak that way, Seowol feels hurt."
Seowol pattered over and caressed Ju Kyunghyun's sweaty face while pouting her lips.
Her long, white fingers touched his nape.
"When I heard you were injured, I rushed here without even dressing properly, yet you speak so coldly? Besides, it was the Mystic Ruler who allowed Seowol to enter here."
She gently massaged his wet skin like silk, loosening the tense spots.
"Father did?"
"Yes. The Mystic Ruler was so worried about the Young Lord. When I hesitated to enter the Mystic Ruler's medicinal bath, he sent me in and told me to take good care of the Young Lord."
'Even though Father must have been greatly distressed today. Yet even then, he thinks of me like this.'
"I see. Indeed, the one who cherishes me most in this world must be my father. Even today, when I was slightly injured, he was so worried."
"But what happened today? Why were you injured? Did you receive treatment?"
"Of course. Don't worry. Treatment or whatever. Today I showed off my intelligence and immediately executed those who dared threaten my father."
"What? Groups threatening the Mystic Ruler?"
"That's right. Anyway, Father must have seen me in a new light today. Now he'll probably start giving me successor training."
Ju Kyunghyun let out words like a sigh as he completely surrendered himself to Seowol's touch.
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